MOUNTAIN WORK IN TENNESSEE.

BY DISTRICT SECRETARY C.W. HIATT.

I have found the man of iron. In one short day, he travelled one hundred miles by rail, walked twelve miles over a steep and rocky mountain, rode fourteen miles horseback through a pouring and drenching rain, and at nightfall preached an earnest, telling sermon to an audience of railroad employees, besides performing the duties of organist and janitor. The next morning he was up at four o'clock and away for other tasks of similar sort. One who watches Brother Pope, must do it on the run. One of the fairest spots on the Cumberland Plateau is Grand View. Here the American Missionary Association holds a strategic position. The wild, magnificent scenery and the cool, bracing air, tingling with ozone, make it an ideal spot for a great religious and educational centre. Already eyes are turning upward from the surrounding valleys to this mountain school. The first words I heard on landing at Spring City, six miles away, were in its praise: "They've got a mighty good school up thar." Such is the fact. What is needed now to balance things is a "mighty good school" building. If the insignificant frame structures which are hidden among the trees, and only half supply the needs of the institution, could be exchanged for a good, roomy, handsome edifice, placed on the summit of the mountain, where it would be visible for miles along the line of the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, besides being a benefaction to the cause, it would be the best, cheapest and most attractive advertisement of our mountain work, conceivable. It is to be hoped that someone will visit this beautiful spot ere long whose enthusiasm will not all run to words.

Within easy reach of Grand View are various churches flanked by their educational departments, which will one day become tributary to the great central institution. At one of these points, Deer Lodge, a fine church building is just nearing completion. The community is all loyal to the American Missionary Association, whose help it has received and appreciated. A good many Northerners are coming into this section, induced by climate, whose co-operation in his work Mr. Pope is very prompt in securing.

Glen Mary is a mining settlement hidden in the oak forest about a mile from the above mentioned railroad. Here, Mr. Pope recently found a small Sunday-school battling against great odds. Intemperance and profanity were rife, and the demand for gospel labor was very urgent. Meetings were held with blessed results, so that shortly ago a church was organized, now one of the strongest in this region. One consecrated young man is at the bottom of the whole movement. Two years ago, he started a Sunday-school with no assistance. At first, he met his pupils in the colored people's meeting house, but was obliged to change after a time, because of the prejudices of color which started among the blacks! He then took an axe and cleared a spot in the woods to which he invited his school. Here Mr. Pope found him. After the interest began to grow, a subscription was started among the miners, resulting in money sufficient (including help from the mining company) to erect a comfortable little church edifice. This building has recently been enlarged by one-third, to accommodate the crowds. The membership of the church is less than forty, and yet it has raised one collection for the American Missionary Association amounting to twenty-four dollars!

These people have no pastor. They are dependent on the scattering ministrations of two or three of our overworked missionaries from other points, who have undertaken to supply them by turns. There are one hundred and fifty families in the community, fifty being colored, without pastoral training. I am assured that it would not be hard to raise money enough in the community to nearly, if not quite, support a minister. The people are hungering and thirsting for teaching in spiritual things. After repeated and urgent invitations your pilgrim was prevailed upon to suspend his trip for a day or two, that he might tell these people of the "good news" of Jesus Christ. It was evidently of the Lord, for last night at the first exhortation, eight persons, two men and six women, gave themselves to the Master. The entire congregation seemed to hear the word with gladness. It is a great field. And so it is in many places, I am told. Glen Mary is anxious for a resident minister and a Christian teacher. The influence of an educated, godly woman is sorely needed in these homes. The gospel has already done much for the place, but there is still a great work to do. Thank God for such tireless, self-forgetful men as Mr. Pope. With the brain of a general and the zeal of an apostle, he is planting the cross of Christ so firmly on this plateau, and in such commanding positions, that it cannot be dislodged, but will shed its saving influence far and wide forever. After preaching once more I hope to move on to Nashville in time for the commencement.