as nurses and as physicians, to labor among their own people in this country and also in that dark land. I truly believe that woman has a place in medical mission that can not be otherwise filled.

She has a place, as nurse in a sick-room, and she alone can successfully fill it, for there is no earthly hand that can administer to the sick with so much tender care as she when well trained.

I also believe that for the present, at least, it would be well for the colored ministry in the pulpit of this country to know medicine to the extent that they could intelligently deal out many of the much needed remedies to the poor of the community and congregation.

I also believe that if the Women's Baptist Home Mission Society of the West would supplement the education of their female missionaries sent among the colored people of the South, they would meet a twofold end and therefore prove a much greater blessing than they can otherwise ever hope to be, in caring for the poor and neglected of the race.

And now, although we have to confront these discouraging features of the race, yet we may console ourselves with that grand idea, that, in many respects at least, the race has made unparalleled advancement, and that just beyond this dark cloud we have a bright future still before us for the day has already dawned upon medical missions. Therefore, let us not despair, let us be uncompromising and unswerving in every effort, and like men, like determined heroes in the very heat of battle, amid all the discouragements that surround us, catch new inspiration, and with a steady gait and a firm tread press solidly to the front, face the enemy and stand abreast with every other race in the great contest.

And then, in His own way and at His own time, God will give to us incalculable and untold victories.

EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

News and Notes.

-The yellow fever at Jacksonville and Live Oak, Fla., has prevented the opening of the school as usual. President Fish and his associates expect to be on the field the latter part of November.

-Roger Williams University opened with about double the number of students in attendance at the same time last year.

-Benedict Institute reports nearly twice as many young women as were present in October of last year, and over twenty per cent. larger attendance of the whole school, than then. The addition to Colby Hall is finished just in time to receive the increased attendance of young women.

-Indian University rejoices in complete steam heating apparatus. No more shivering and peril to health when the bleak "northers " blow with the thermometer near the zero point.

-Steam heating apparatus is being put into the large building of Jackson College, Miss., mate of that region. President Ayer, who atwhere it is greatly needed in the very wet clitempted to reach Jackson the latter part of September, was compelled when within a hundred miles of the place to return, on account of yellow fever, and together with others was not

reached. It was a very tedious trip. But the permitted to leave the train until Illinois was school opened about November first.

"Packard Hall" at Spelman Seminary is finished, and steam heating apparatus is being

introduced. Of course the school will be crowded as usual.

-The friends of State University, at Louisville, Ky., are in high spirits over its extrication from the mortgage debt which threated its existence. From the Coburn fund the Society appropriated $7,800 to extinguish this debt, Resoleaving the property unencumbered. lutions expressing the thanks of the colored Baptists of the State have been passed and sent to the Society, and a great Jubilee effort is to be made to pay off all the floating indebtedness besides. Speedy success to the effort!

-At the November Board meeting, decided steps were taken for the erection of a large building on the new site for the Atlanta Baptist Seminary, which has been too long sorely cramped in the matter of accommodation. It is expected that work will be commenced early in the spring and the building ready for use by or before January, 1890. But Dr. Graves' appeal for about $10,000 more than is available for this purpose should be heard and receive hearty

responses.

-Hartshorn Memorial College enjoys the satisfaction of enlarged accommodations, the rooms in the upper story having just been finished by assistance from the Coburn Fund.

MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT.

Suffering in North Dakota.

Large sections of North Dakota were visited in August with a severe frost, which utterly ruined the crops on which people relied for their support during the coming winter. Church members are unable to contribute for the support of their pastors as they had hoped, and, in many instances are reduced to abject poverty and great distress. Letters from some of our missionaries in the district referred to express the gravest anxiety about the approaching winter. They are asking the Society for increased appropriations, inasmuch as the people have little or nothing to give toward their support. Relief will be needed for many families before the winter is over. It is proposed that this relief be furnished by Baptist brethren in the East, through the American Baptist Home Mission Society. The Society's facilities for wisely dispensing benefactions of this character are an assurance that the best possible disposition will

be made of them.

The following are extracts from some letters recently received. The first is from our General Missionary in North Dakota:

"There are portions of my field where frost fell in August and destroyed the harvest. There are thousands of acres of straw now standing uncut, where before the frost there was a prospect of a yield of twenty-five bushels or more to the acre. Of course, in those districts our missionaries can realize but little from the people." The following is from one of our local missionaries in the district referred to:

"We are in the midst of discouraging circumstances. The crops which promised so fair till just before harvest to give a large yield have proved to be by early frost nothing but chaff in the heads of the wheat. Hence the farmers have been compelled instead of reaping to burn the standing straw, losing an entire season's toil, and no return for the expense of seeding, etc. This is the condition of our country on the verge of our extremely long and severe winter. Many have nothing with which to procure fuel or clothing, and there certainly will be much suffering unless some unforseen providence visits us, and that, too, very soon, for fires are a

daily necessity now in order to comfort. People are wondering how they themselves will get through the winter."

Other testimonials similar to these might be given. But these are sufficient to indicate the necessities of the people, and it is believed to insure a favorable and generous response. Some small gifts have already been received, but they are a mere pittance compared with the necessities of the case.

Persons desiring to assist may send their contributions designated for this purpose to the American Baptist Home Mission Society.

News and Notes.

DAKOTA.-Rev. T. M. Shanafelt, D.D.,

General Missionary for Southern Dakota since the middle of last May, is getting well in hand his work, as shown by extracts from his address

at the recent Convention :

churches have been organized in South Dakota. During the year just closed thirteen new

Two of this number are German churches and

three are Scandinavian. Three houses of wor

ship have been dedicated, and another will be soon. Three others are nearly completed and two more churches are preparing to build. The Scandinavians at Dell Rapids are erecting a chapel near the city. Four parsonages have been built, one by a German church and three by Scandinavian churches. Eight new ministers have been added to our force, and five have removed from the Territory, leaving a net gain of three. None of our preachers have died and none have been added by ordination. We have fifty-five American churches, fourteen Scandinavian and ten German, a total of seventy-nine. These are divided into five associations.

I have travelled 4,200 miles, preached 56 sermons, delivered 42 addresses, attended 86 meetings and organized (or assisted in) five churches.

For the nearly four score churches that have been established in South Dakota, and for what they have done, we ought to be thankful to God. But the ground that we occupy is small compared with the land that yet remains to be possessed. The opportunities lying before us are very great, and we will do the cause that we profess to serve a serious wrong if we falter and hesitate when we ought to be up and doing. There are many counties in which we have not yet planted a single church of our denomination. While therefore we endeavor to strengthen the

things that remain, and maintain the ground that we already possess, we must obey the command to "go forward."

DAKOTA. Rev. F. Purvis, of Deadwood, in the Black Hills, writes that he has just organized a church in that city, and that on November 11th he baptized four persons. The needs of the various fields are so great that he is pressed "as a cart with sheaves" under his burdens. Services are held in the court-house, which is becoming too small for the congregations. A meeting house will be needed next year.

IOWA. The past year's work, as exhibited in the reports of the Convention held in October, has been very cheering. For missionary purposes in the State $8,474.69 was received, of which sum $6,974.69 was raised in the State, the balance being appropriated by the Society. The increase of $1,032.29 over receipts of last year is most gratifying. Thirty-four missionaries have been under appointment. churches have become self-supporting, and twelve new fields have been taken up. The

Seven

churches of the State have also contributed separately to the general work of the Society. That this has not interfered with contributions to the State work is shown by the increase in receipts already mentioned.

KANSAS.-Dr. Woods furnishes items about the work in this State the past year. Collections amounted to $4,507.12, which, with last year's balance, $1,866.72, and the amount appropriated by the Society, made the year's available resources sufficient for the support of 59 missionaries, who labored in 70 churches. Twenty-one churches have been recently organized, 18 meeting-houses dedicated, and 9 more in process of completion. About 227 churches in the State are without meeting-houses, and 23 counties and 30 county seats where there are no regular Baptist services so far as known. Sixteen new fields have been occupied and 22 churches have received aid for the first time. Churches without pastors, 150; churches having full service every Sunday, 97; churches having half-time service, 141; churches having one-quarter time service, 100. Number of churches in the State, 650, with about 30,000 members. Most of the churches are small, as the average number of members to each is 46. The drouth has very seriously affected portions of the State.

COLORADO.-The Rocky Mountain Baptist Union met in Denver, and, as Dr. Woods states, was the most inspiring and encouraging ever held. The receipts from the State itself were $1,755.60, and the coming year it is proposed to raise $2,500, There are about 2,700 Baptists in Colorado. Twenty-two missionaries were employed last year. Dr. Woods writes: "I was amazed at the number of towns of from 800 to 1,500 population that are entirely unoccupied," and pleads for larger appropriations by the Society. Alas! that the Society cannot respond to the call. Larger contributions must be received before increased appropriations can be made.

MINNESOTA.-Minnesota Baptists number 12,788, in 187 churches. Last year they raised for State Missions, including $910 raised by the Women's Society, $8,003.94. Number of missionaries, 53; churches served, 69; also 61 outstations. There were 1,005 baptisms, and 1,043 additions otherwise, reported for the year. No Convention surpasses that in thorough-going efficiency.

WISCONSIN.-Fifty years ago, in 1838, the first organized mission work of Baptists in Wisconsin Territory was begun, so this year the Convention held a Jubilee Meeting. The first church was organized in Milwaukee in the autumn of 1837, under the labors of Rev. Richard Griffin, who was sent to the Territory by the Home Mission Society in 1836. The meeting was one of exceptional interest. During the past year 46 missionaries have been employed, who have supplied 80 churches and out-stations. Five houses of worship have been completed, and several others are in process of erection. The newer parts of the State call loudly for more missionary service. The general work of the Convention, which continues in co-operation with the Society, never looked more hopeful and cheering.

NEBRASKA. The meetings at Lincoln, the capital of the State, were largely attended. Educational matters received much attention, and a satisfactory decision was reached. The number of missionaries for the year has been 35, who, in addition to their 36 regular appointments, have occupied 44 out-stations and organized 54 Sunday schools. Seventeen houses of worship have been dedicated during the year, and others are being erected. Western Nebraska has barely been touched by us. The

Society is requested to make larger appropriations. It is extremely sad to be compelled to answer that there is no money for an increase.

CALIFORNIA.-Rev. G. W. Gregory, General Missionary for Southern California, has a

large, growing field, in which our cause is making some progress, as shown by statements from his late report:

In San Diego County some progress has been made in church building. San Diego, Fallbrook, National City, Old Town, Escondido and Oceanside have built the past year. And churches have been organized in Redlands, Ontario, Alhambra, South Pasadena, The Palms, Santa Paula, Ventura and Paso Robles. Church

houses are building in Paso Robles, Lompoc

and Rivera.

Los Angeles has many opportunities, growing at the rate of nearly 1,000 population per month. This, like San Diego, affords a magnificent field for Baptist aggression. I wish space could be spared for a full and detailed account of this beautiful yet religiously destitute country. How much needs to be done! It appalls me when I think of it, but I can only go on and do the best I can, with the Master to guide.

We have done a little, and commend to your prayers the fourteen new churches organized the past year in this district, the names of some being given in this sketch. The boom is not so brisk, and money, though plentiful, is in fewer pockets than one year ago, the most of them being very hard to get at for the Master's work. Pray for us.

Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY. -Rev. De Witt D. Forward writes of our interests in the heart of Mormondom, as follows:-Your little Baptist Church at Salt Lake City is alive. Death and removals have made inroads, the membership is scattered, and the flock has been pastorless for eleven months, yet the records of the past year show a small gain. Brother Smith's presence blessed us; other brethren, though few, are strong, trustworthy men; our sisters are active and faithful; we

are united, so from within the outlook is bright.

Already our city is well and favorably known. Choice fruits, a delightful climate, most popular bathing resorts, a fertile valley and superior commercial advantages attract invalids, people of leisure, real estate agents, business men and ailway corporations; Mormonism cannot stand rbefore hosts of good citizens and the steady advance of Christianity.

The Latter Day Saints have taught Christians one good lesson, at least, for here the churches and schools are most intimately related.

Evangelical churches have their own day schools adjoining the church property. Sunday-school scholars attend the denominational day schools and vice versa. Consequently, our Baptist Church has received most valuable assistance from its excellent day school. For this should the Woman's American Baptist Home Mission Society receive much creditthe good women have done well. But through sunshine and storm a faithful teacher has filled her appointed place, and while she has gained

the confidence and esteem of the people at large

among local Baptists she has always been specially admired and beloved. For our own growth and well being she seems an essential factor. Friends would delight to hear the detail of her good work, but a recital would involve many of the best pages in our church history. For the present, time and space cannot be given to this matter, but I must call your attention to one discouraging fact. Though Miss Berkeley has an able co-worker in Miss Mann, of the Primary Department, the present teaching force can not give instruction in all the common branches, nor can the demands of the young people who desire to fit for college be met. To-day, the arts and the higher branches can

not receive due attention in our school. The best instructors if required to control too many grades and teach too many subjects, will not reach the highest success in education. Our denomination should be prepared to meet the reasonable claims of this important field. And we now need more room and more teachers. If "Good Samaritan" friends could see our needs, we should begin the next school year with ample advantages for a higher grade. Pass "by on the other side" and the brightest and best of our older students will no longer be subject to the direct influence of our church. Even Catholics and Mormons have reason to rejoice that the Baptists cannot complete the