cular attention of their Sunday schools to this work. It should encourage our better supplied Eastern schools to help their less fortunate Western cousins, when these Western schools are doing what they can to help themselves.

-If your Sunday school has neglected to send for the Chapel Day Exercise, it is not too late to do so yet. The service would be just as interesting in April or May, and the contribution just as useful and acceptable. Our Sunday schools in the West need many more chapels

than we shall be able to build, if every school in the land should make a contribution.

-This year we have extended a formal invitation to the Sunday schools in the South to aid in our chapel building work, and although this is a new thing in that latitude, we are glad to say that some of these Southern schools are responding to our invitation.

-Rev. J. W. Osborn says:

"Our churches do not take regular contribu tions for this object. Has not the time come when they should? This chapel building is too closely related to our denominational growth to be longer neglected."

EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH.-Recent investigations have shown that nearly a million pupils are in the public schools of the southern states; that the amount of money expended annually for schools is $11,545,000, and that since 1880 the number of public schools has been increased from 45,000 to 61,583.

JACKSON COLLEGE.-Rev. Charles Ayer reports 217 enrolled to February 1st-118 have boarded in the buildings. They are full to overflowing, from four to six in several rooms.

The industrial work, recently begun, systematically, is developing finely.

Brother Barber has had in hand ten or fifteen of the men, giving them teaching how to build, as he built the shop, and they could now put a little house together; having distinct ideas o the planing, and framing, and covering.

They are now using tools inside, and some are skillful to a degree with the lathe.

A larger number, including these, have had a night hour with lessons and blackboard work on a variety of things, such as framing, the board rule, the kinds and qualities of everything required for three various houses-the putting the materials together, the bevels, pitch, lengths, etc., etc., shingles, laths, nails, etc., etc.—all worked out.

Then they took up such things as bottoming pails, the amount of square timber in a standing mechanical work, etc., tree, and the applications of geometry to various

etc.

Mrs. Sackett has had in daily instruction—all personal-about eighty girls, beginning at 8:30 A. M., and continuing till 3:30 P. M., with hour out, with eighteen of them in a Bible lesson.

They have made 20 dresses, 12 basques, I cloak, 6 night-dresses, 6 skirts, 9 aprons, 17 pair drawers, 13 chemises, 4 pair pillow slips, I pair sheets, 6 pair curtains, 15 new comforters for beds, 15 old repaired, 60 holders, 50 needle books.

Besides these, a great variety of making-over and repairing, and a great deal of other work that is not classified. These eighty girls have all been compelled to pull their work apart whenever it was not thought to be good. Some began at the beginning, and were kept at the beginnings for a good while. Some use the machine with skill.

If you have had patience to look through this you will see a sort of beginning has been made in these work rooms. We are very fortunate to have had these two teachers, both of whom teach a class daily in the Scriptures.

President Ayer, February 29th, reports total enrollment, to date, 236, of whom 31 are studying for the ministry. Fourteen students have been converted during the month, eight of whom have been baptized.

STATE UNIVERSITY, KY.-Rev. W. J. Simmons, February 29th, writes that he has just baptized twenty-five out of thirty-one converted, the rest joining other churches.

SPELMAN SEMINARY.—It is very gratifying to lay before our readers the following letter, written by Mr. C. F. Currie, of Camden, N. J., after a visit to this institution. It was written to Miss Packard and Miss Giles, principals of the school:

"I was so much pleased with my visit at your school yesterday, that I have been thinking of it ever since, in fact, I have become quite enthusiastic over it; so much so, that I have done

"The religious interest has extended among the boys, too, and many have asked for the prayers of Christians.

"At our prayer-meetings there is not a minute lost. One can scarcely wait for another. Work at the institution has never been more earnest since I have been connected with the school.

"Professor Bacone is a wonderful worker and manager. Only those who witness it, can realize how he does work and endure for this school. And the school is a power in this country. Beside our regular work here, Miss Ada Bonham and myself have organized Sunday schools among the colored people near us. Each are assisted by pupils of our school.

"We first met in a little old log pen-no door, no window, no seats, and a very little floor. The people have since fixed up a good board house, and furnished it with all necessary equipments for carrying on the school. One of the native boys holds services for them every Sunday, beside the Sunday school.

"Rev. Crosby also preaches to them occasionally, and there is a deep religious interest manifested. Rev. Crosby and his most excellent wife are doing a good work here."

TULLEHASSEE SCHOOL, I. T.-Prof. E. H. Rishel, in a recent letter, refers to a need which somebody in the West may be able to supply:

"We have a weekly teachers' meeting, at which we compare notes, talk over methods and plan new work. At our last meeting we planned to conduct a mission Sabbath school about three miles from here.

"I wish some good brother, who has worn the new off his two-seated buggy could be made to feel how useful it might be to us, if it is only strong. We are good hands at repairing harness, too. If the ladies knew I am writing this, I think they would say, 'speak for a sidesaddle too.'"

CHOCTAW ACADEMY.-Miss Mary Rounds, writing in February, says:

"It is with gratitude that I write. I am thankful to say that there are many signs of improvement and an increasing interest on the part of pupils and parents, and yet our work has been much interfered with during the past month on account of the very severe weather we have had. The children attend school under great difficulties. Many of them wade in the water and walk two and three miles to school. Our school

was never larger than at present, nor was the work ever more of a necessity. There are many disadvantages under which we have to labor, and yet we have much for which to thank God and take courage."

THE MEMPHIS SCHOOL.-This school was organized by the colored people the past year, and a gentleman in Illinois has given several thousand dollars for buildings, etc. The Society makes no appropriation to the school, but consents that Rev. H. Woodsmall shall give two or three months in the winter to the instruction of ministers therein. He writes:

"It seems that I could not have done a better thing than to stay here and take charge of this work at Memphis. I could not have done anything elsewhere, and have had one of the best classes I have had since I left Selma. We have enrolled thirty-nine preachers, and I have never had a class that attended more regularly.

My health is poor. The malarial attack I had the last of December after working in the Arkansas swamps, left me so debilitated, that it is hard for me to recruit, especially with all of these preachers on my hands."

ARKANSAS BAptist CollegE.-Rev. Jos. A. Booker, of Little Rock, Ark., writes of the school started there, and of which he has charge. The Society at present can give it but incidental aid:

success.

"It may be of some interest to you and the many readers of the MONTHLY to have a word or two from this work. Indeed, it may seem singular that little or nothing has been said before now in this way about the Arkansas Baptist College. Our silence is due to our busy and quiet struggle for existence and growth. So far, it may be acknowledged a We have had a successful session from October until now, with no indication of an adverse change. We have more than one hundred students in regular attendance, most of whom are preachers and teachers-material of our own denomination. Several of the ministers are pastors in actual service. They go to school during the week days, and attend to their churches on Sabbath.

"As yet, we have but three teachers for this great work, and most of them are uncertain as to how they will pay for their bread. But they have resolved to work till the last beam fadeth.'

"Good old Dr. Stone, of Lebanon, Ohio, is

here, at a great sacrifice, in order to help in the pressing demand. He has a class of twenty-five preachers.

“We have purchased a desirable site in the western part of the city. Have made one payment. Terms of subsequent payments are very

easy, but we shall struggle the harder to meet them. We have not begun to improve the site. A building is leased to us reasonably. But if our school grows any more (and why not?) this building will not accommodate us--cannot do so. We aim to work up such a large attendance as to make it impossible for the present leased building to give room.

“The members of the Board are calculating on erecting a temporary building in the summer so as to give more room, and also place us on our own soil. The students are so much assured that the idea of the Board will be speedily carried out, they have raised money enough to purchase

a corner stone.

"The Arkansas Baptist, State organ for the colored Baptists, is published here, with a scanty supply of type. Our students compose The Arkansas Baptist, and send forth a thousand neat copies every fortnight.

"I have been trying to help them cultivate a spirit of industry and true religion—a spirit that was breathed into my being so long at our beloved Roger Williams University. We need sympathy, prayers, material aid."

BOOK NOTICES.

MEN OF MARK. By Rev. Wm. J. Simmons, D.D., Louisville, Ky. Publishers, Geo. M. Rewell & Co., Cleveland, Ohio. 1887.

This book of 1,141 pages is written to set forth the capabilities and the attainments of the negro race in America, and in other lands where they have enjoyed the privileges of Christian civilization. Though in this country the untrammeled career of the negro race has been comparatively brief, yet it has given abundant evidence of ability, under proper training, to take rank with other races in the civil, business, educational, and religious affairs of the world. The book contains sketches of 177 men, with 106 portraits. The work is well done by Dr. Simmons, now District Secretary of the Home Mission Society for the Southern States. In the introduction he says:

not, they suffered with their brethren because of color. 1 wish the book to show to the world—to our oppressors, and even our friends-that the negro race is still alive, and must possess more intellectual vigor than any other section of the human family, or else how could they be crushed as slaves in all these years since 1620, and yet to-day stand side by side with the best blood in America, in white institutions,

grappling with abstruse problems in Euclid and difficult classics, and master them? Was ever such a thing seen in another people? Whence these lawyers, doctors, authors, editors, divines, lecturers, linguists, scientists, college presidents, and such, in one quarter of a century?"

Well inay he say, “I have faith in my people. I wish to exalt them. I want their lives snatched

from obscurity, to become household matter for con

versation."

Dr. Simmons is entitled to much credit for preparing this work in the midst of other and arduous duties.

NATIONAL PERILS AND OPPORTUNITIES. The discussions of the General Christian Conference held in Washington, D. C., December 7, 8, and 9, 1887, under the auspices and direction of the Evangelical

Alliance for the United States. New York: The Baker & Taylor Co., 1887. 8vo., pp. 417. Paper, $1.00; cloth, $1.50.

The meeting of the Evangelical Alliance in Wash

ington was one of the most notable gatherings ev

ever

held in this country. The addresses and discussions were of a very high order, and the proceedings were marked by great enthusiasm. The facts and arguments embodied in these addresses on the great practical questions which Christianity in America is compelled to consider, comprise a treasury of information and suggestion, of great value to every Christian minister and, indeed, to every intelligent church member who would have an understanding of the times and the tendencies of things on this continent. A good index adds to the value of the volume. We heartily commend the book, confident that it will give breadth of view, strength of purpose, and healthy enthusiasm to every one who peruses its pages.

SABBATH AFTERNOONS WITH THE CHILDREN. By Rev. O. E. Mallory, Lowell, Mass. 207 pp., heavy paper, with 50 full-page illustrations.

This is written in the form of brief sketches of leading Bible incidents and characters, each sketch followed by questions and answers that bring out the teaching of Scripture on the fundamental questions in theology, the whole admirably adapted to interest and instruct the youthful mind.

-From the American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia, Pa., we receive four books, beautifully bound, and well adapted to the maturer minds in the Sunday school: