THE FREEDMEN.

FLORENCE, ALABAMA.

A Good Work Well Finished.

REV. L. C. ANDERSON.

I closed up my work at Florence on the first Sabbath of September. Rev. William H. Ash was present, to take charge, in good time. The Lord blessed the end more than the beginning of my labor at F. We were permitted to work in a revival, beginning about the middle of August and lasting up to September 1st. This brought out great numbers of the people, and gave opportunity to reach many. The Spirit was manifested from the beginning, in converting power. About twenty were converted, fifteen of whom joined our branch of God’s Church. So you see that we had great cause to be thankful, when, on the 1st inst., we came together at the Lord’s Table, to re-dedicate ourselves to Him who first loved us and gave Himself for us, to make to Himself a people zealous of good works.

Nothing is more potent than the Spirit of God to break down opposition and remove prejudice. The outpouring from on high turned away the stream of opposition, and so melted the hearts of the people that we could say with David, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

The first part of my labor at F. was a work of sowing, and stirring up the hearts of Christians, so that, in God’s time, we should be prepared to enter and gather sheaves for the Master. During my labor, twenty-one were added to the church, nineteen on profession of faith. Seven children were christened, and two unworthy members were cut off. In these seventeen months, the little church of twenty members became thirty-nine.

Brother Ash enters upon the work with good promise of success, and has a live church to work with.

A MEMPHIS LETTER.

The following letter, from Rev. Mr. Mallory, will explain itself. It was written immediately after his recovery from the yellow fever:

Memphis, September 27, 1878.

Rev. M. E. Strieby: Dear Brother.—Your kind favor, dated September 2d, has to-day come to hand, with the $50 all right. I have not been able to go so far as the post-office before this, and it lay in the registry office. Thank you for your warm sympathy. May God reward your kindness. I was quite sick; suffered considerably from want of proper care, but none from lack of means; was among the first in our neighborhood to have the fever, and the people were afraid. With two or three exceptions, every member of the church remaining in the city had an attack of the fever. A. J. Barker—one of the oldest, and, as it seemed to me, the man whose life was most important to the future of the church—has died, and one other. The loss seems an irreparable one; but the Lord has done it, and we try to say, “Let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him.”

In this vicinity, and I think throughout the city proper, the sickness has greatly abated, but is spreading and increasing fearfully in the outskirts and adjacent country.

The supplies in the hands of the Howards and Relief Committee are ample, but there is such a routine imposed upon the poor colored people that many of them get out of heart before they reach the end.

I will not appropriate any of the $50, but use it among the people. Had already bought a barrel of meal and side of meat, and begun work; and now that I can write, will let you hear oftener.

Yours, in hope,

W. W. Mallory.

A NEW ORLEANS LETTER.

The following letter is one of several received by us in acknowledgment of moneys sent by and through the Association, to the sufferers by the yellow fever in the South. It is most gratifying to know that it has been expended with such care, that a return of names and amounts given has been made to us:

New Orleans, September 30, 1878.

My Dear Sir: Allow me, on behalf of several of our sufferers from yellow fever, in this city, to thank the American Missionary Association, through you, for great relief—a draft of $50, sent them in this time of dire need.

None but they who are here can fully know the terrible suffering to which our people are reduced; and I beg to assure the Association that this act of charity will never be forgotten by them.

I sign myself, on their behalf, as well as my own,

Yours, very gratefully,

C. Hunt.

SCHOLARSHIP LETTERS.

Extracts from Students’ Letters to their Benefactors.

Straight University.

Dear Benefactor,—I am happy to say that I am at school, striving to accomplish all I can before the ending of this session. I have been wonderfully blessed of the Lord these few years that I have been serving Him; and I cannot stop serving God, he is so kind to me. O, I love to work for Jesus; He is always willing to help the poor. Last October I was thinking how I could manage to continue at school this session, having only $21.50 to commence. I thought that I would continue trusting the Lord and ask Him to help me. Then I went to school, and found the teachers ready to receive me. I told them that I would begin school Nov. 1st. Thus the Lord has blessed me to commence, and I think He will help me to the end. I wish again to thank you for the aid you have furnished me toward getting an education. During the holidays last Christmas I built a house 12×24 for an old gentleman who was very anxious to help me get my schooling, and he paid me; then I was able to buy an overcoat. If the Lord is willing, I will continue in school two years longer. Pray for me that I may be able to help my people.

C. H. C.

Talladega College.

Dear Sir,—I am glad to have the opportunity of writing you this my third letter. You know that this is my third year in the seminary, and that I was to finish my course of study at the close of it. Among all my benefactors there are none to whom I feel so grateful for my education as to you. By the assistance, which I have received from your charitable hand, I shall be enabled to complete my studies and enter upon a field of labor at our next Commencement. It would be impossible for me to repay you for what you have done for me during these last years of my course, though I had bags of “fine gold.” I know that my getting an education was not the ultimate motive that actuated you to give your money; but that I might be prepared thereby for the Master’s service, and to go into His vineyard and help build up His kingdom. This is the fruit which, I perceive, you expect to find growing upon the vines which you have planted and watered; and, by the help of my Master, this shall be the labor of my life. I feel that I have a work here in the South among my people, which God would have me do, that no other man can do. When I look abroad and see what is to be done to raise this people out of chaos, and the almost overwhelming responsibility that is resting on us who are being prepared for the work, it almost discourages me; but I have made up my mind to die in the work.

The most encouraging thing among us is the fact that most all of the schools and colleges which have been founded here for the education of the colored people are conducted and taught by Christians. The colored people, though the majority of them are unlettered men, seek for Christian teachers—even in our common public schools—as a general thing.

The mission work carried on by the theological students is still full of interest, and promises a bright future for the many thousands who are being brought to a knowledge of the truth. The students of the college go out into all parts of the State and teach day and Sunday-schools, and by so doing exert a Christian influence over their pupils.

I trust that the good Master, who sees the doings of all His children, will increase your store, that you may continue to help lift up those who are bound to ignorance and degradation. Remember especially the American Missionary Association, which has been instrumental in doing so much for the Christian elevation of this people. It has pressing need of funds to carry its work successfully.

If I never have the opportunity of writing you again, or of hearing from you at any time, I trust we shall meet each other in the kingdom above, where we shall remain together forever, and give God all majesty and praise.

From your ever grateful servant,

J. D. S.

Howard University.

Dear Sir,—It becomes my delightful as well as grateful task to drop you a line in recognition of your kindness. The opportunities for us who were lately transformed from chattels into citizens to enjoy the advantages of a collegiate or theological training are a rarity. Schools, seminaries, universities are many; they abound in every quarter; but we are either barred out of them by poverty on the one hand or proscription on the other. Therefore, when the philanthropic hearts of our friends at home and abroad are moved to institute places of learning for our benefit, and aid us in securing the wherewithal to attend them, we experience a joy, an inward pleasure, a sense of gratitude, I may say, unspeakable.

Our University, I am glad to say, is in a prosperous condition; no opposition daunts it in its upward march, and I am warranted by every circumstance in heralding the fact that “we are rising.” I entered the Theological Department here last autumn and am pursuing a regular course. If at the completion of my studies I shall go into the world and shall there prove faithful to my trust, fulfil the office of the ministry, reflect honor upon this institution and credit upon myself, then I shall feel that your kind benefaction was not bestowed in vain. Accept my sincere thanks for the interest thus manifested in our welfare.

W. A. S.