BISHOP COLLEGE.-Rev. S. W. Culver writes: "School opened for the winter term yesterday, and there came in a rush. We have to day somewhere between seventy and eighty boarders. Our theological class is not large yet, but is excellent in quality, consisting of some of the best ministers in the State. I have my theological and Bible classes in the forenoon, and the school hours are all taken up with class work in the afternoon. The new recitation room is not quite ready for use, but will be in a few days, and will be greatly needed."

SELMA UNIVERSITY.-We have enrolled up to date 313 students, the largest number in the history of the school.

We are doing all in our power to make the work telling upon the State for good. One of our graduates, addressing the school to-day, said that the beauty of our students was that when they go in a place once to work they did their work so well and behaved so good that they were always welcome again. We take that as a high compliment.

Oh! if you and the dear friends could only see the eager, anxious crowd we have to deal with, you would pity us; and, if there was any possibility, help would come.

JACKSON COLLEGE.--President Ayer writes, January 4th: "We are full. Our chapel is crowded. There are 106 in the buildings, and every bed up that we can find room for. We are liable to have an additional influx of persons, who come without warning us. Our classes are too large, but we cannot divide, as we have no rooms to assemble any more classes.

"Our shops for industrial work are in order, and quite a number are anxious to learn in it. All the girls sew from a half-hour to an hour every day.

portant work being done by the American Baptist Home Mission Society, both in this State and in others, they are manifesting their interest in this work strongly and in many ways.

"Leland University has a fine attendance of young men and ladies, with an excellent faculty. The brethren are trying to establish district schools, preparatory to Leland University. Many additions have been made this year to churches throughout the State."

WOMEN'S SOCIETIES

the

WOMEN'S BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY 2338 MICHIGAN AVENUE, Chicago, Ill.

President-MRS. J. N. CROUSE, 2231 Prairie Ave., Chicago, Ill. Corresponding Secretary-Miss M. G. BURDETTE, 2338 Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. Recording Secretary -MRS. H. THANE MILLER, Cincinnati, Ohio. Treasurer-MRS. R. R. DONNELLEY, 2338 Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill.

District Visiting.

Hardly second in importance to the Bible lessons daily given at our Missionary Training School, is the system of district visiting. Personal contact with the people whom the missionaries hope to help, seeing their modes of home living, meeting and answering objections and questions, is a necessary part of the work upon the field and is therefore an essential feature of the preparatory training. That part of Chicago, sometimes designated as the "Black Hole," has been chosen as the territory most available for this work, although the visits are not confined exclusively to this district. Thursday of each week is "visiting day," and the following Tuesday jour. nals are read in the class room, giving detailed accounts of the visits then made. Criticisms are

suggested as each case may demand; and special prayer is offered in behalf of those who have been thus visited. From recent journals the following extracts are given, as fairly representing this part of

Miss Wilson.-Going down from the sidewalk, we

"I am glad to say there is marked improvement in the colored Baptists of Louisiana. The ministers have concluded that they must educate, and that in the future they will exclude from the ministry Bible beaters and pulpit disgracers. We are not to be always what we are to-day. Thank God there is advancement as well as encouragement. In many places where

the man if the children were home, he replied, "I guess you'll find some of 'em in there" (pointing to a low door way), "there's generally half-a-dozen of ourselves in a small room without any daylight, the 'em around." Passing through the door we found only piece of furniture being an unmade bed; from this we entered the living room. A small four-pane window admitted a few struggling rays of daylight, which were helped by a smoking lamp. Two rickety chairs and an old table and stove comprised the fur

niture. Everywhere was dirt, and I doubt if there had been any genuine, pure air in the room for some months. We found three ragged children in this wretched place.

Afterward, stopping at a corner to speak to a group of children, we found one boy, about ten years old, who said he had never heard of Jesus, and knew nothing of God or the creation. He seemed to be intelligent in other matters.

Mrs. Bennett.-Another Thursday afternoon, with its many opportunities. As usual we started out two and two, in the district assigned us for visiting.

We had the address of a lady who had been in trouble and needed our sympathy and aid. According to the direction given us, we entered a dilapidated looking building, a place where we would hardly dared to venture, had it not been that we thought there was some one within the walls to whom we could render assistance; and though the stairway was dark, the floors being covered with broken plastering and torn papers, we timidly went forward, fol. lowing the sound of distant voices, until we came to a room separated from the hall by a board partition. We rapped, a man's voice said "come in." As the door stood ajar, we saw several men seated at a table playing cards. When we made our errand known, one man kindly came out, as if to help us. After knocking at another door and catching a glimpse of the scene within- -a congregation of men, with bottles scattered about-we abandoned the search and with fear and trembling found our way to the

street.

We next commenced the search for a young man, who had been very ill; this time we were successful, and were very gladly welcomed. After reading a Psalm and praying we went forth to the work with renewed courage.

At one home the baby was sick. The mother was feeling weary and discouraged, but had been strengthened by the reading of God's word.

At another home, the lady, although a Christian, said there were times when she was depressed in spirit. We repeated the twenty-third Psalm together and had prayer. She said she was "so glad we came in just now." We met a young man who said his mother had for many years been praying for him. His brother was a preacher, but he had never confessed Christ. We told him God may have sent His message to him through us, in answer to his mother's prayer, and repeated a part of Ecclesiastes, 12th.

Miss Hyde.-The first place we visited the Lord had a blessing in store for us. The woman upon whom we called was so different from what she was when we called there the last time. I noticed it in her face as soon as I saw her. Then she was under deep conviction and clung to us as if she could not let us go. We tried to point her to Christ, marking several passages for her to study, viz., John 3:14, 15:16, and ii Peter 3:9, and after praying with and for

her left her to Him. Now she is as happy as she can be, and wanted to pay us for coming there. We told her we did not wish any pay, that we were thankful for the privilege, and we felt more than paid to know the Lord had so richly blessed her. We asked her what had led her to decide for Christ. She said: "It was that about His being lifted up you know for me." She gave us fifty cents for our Sunday school and wished it was more, then gave us twenty cents for our car fare. We talked to her of the importance of daily Bible study.

We called upon a Catholic woman, read to her of the birth of Christ, and also of His love to us as recorded in the 3d of John. She said she had no Bible, so we gave her a Testament for which she seemed grateful and promised to read it every day.

Miss Malmberg.-To-day we visited eight homes and learned that they were all Catholic except one; at this one, the children told us they were Hebrews. They all seemed to take great pride in speaking of their unmovable faith in the one only true church.

One lady said we might know who she was by looking at her pictures. They then showed us a picture of their priest, and told us what he had to do; then we told her about our High Priest and what He has done, and repeated Hebrews 4:15, then we opened our Bibles and asked her to read out of it Hebrews 9:11-12, which she did, though with much hesitation.

Miss Seils.-Miss Kopp and I had a blessed time this afternoon. Our first visit was in a home where we visit about once a month. They seemed very glad to see us even the little boys who used to be so bashful went to have their faces washed and came to greet us. We taught them a verse and they sang a song with us. The oldest son is a cripple-and is so glad of the reading matter we bring him. At another house, very small outside and very crowded inside, the woman was busy ironing. She was somewhat surprised when she found out what our errand was. She is a Catholic and thinks of God as far off and that He can only be reached by presents.

Miss Scott.-One of our visits was to a saloon. The family live right in the saloon; the mother tends the bar, but she sends her children to our Sunday school.

We were not invited to sit down, and, as we talked to the mother and children, the men gathered around us curious to hear what we were saying, one man staggered so he almost fell against us. The mother was very unwilling to talk and after a few words left us with the children, and went to give this man who was so drunk still another drink. How can we reach these people? The children are our only hope.

Miss Reynolds.-As Miss Bacon and I were going down Clark Street this afternoon, a child ran up to us and said: "She's dead, Angie 's dead!" Angie was a

little girl about eleven years of age, she had been ill nearly a year with spinal disease. We had been to visit her several times, and always found her so patient and happy, though she must have suffered greatly.

She had been a member of our Industrial school and always enjoyed coming.

The child who told us Angie was dead was a younger sister-she has never attended our schools, as it was necessary for her to remain at home with her sick sister. The lady with whom Angie lived said she had asked for us, and wondered why we didn't come oftener to see her. Just before she died she replied to some question that was asked her concerning her condition. "Jesus has put something in my heart, and I am not afraid to die.”

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. He alone knows whose hand sowed the seed which took root in the heart of this little child, and brought forth fruit abundantly, but it is an encouragement to "sow beside all waters."

NOTES.-The present class numbers eighteen. Want of space forbids our giving extracts from the remaining journals.

A very interesting letter comes to us from Mrs. H. E. Genung, Columbia, S. C. Mrs. Genung was formerly our State Vice-President in Connecticut. In the Autumn, her husband, Rev. G. F. Genung, accepted a position as teacher in Benedict Institute, and Mrs. Genung also decided to teach in the same school, her support being partly assumed by our New England Society. We quote from her letter.

"We have no time to mourn over the loss of "Society," even if we had the disposition. We have our work and that so fills our hearts and hands we have no time for anything else. Before coming here,

although I firmly believed in the need of these schools for the Freedmen, I never realized the need as I do now. Between seven and eight million of colored people, and only a few schools compara. tively, even when we count all denominations represented in the work. Let me tell you about our particular work here in Columbia. Benedict Institute was founded by our American Baptist Home Mission Society in 1871. Mrs. Benedict of Pawtucket, R. I., made the first purchase, and has ever been a liberal supporter. The main object of the school is to thoroughly prepare preachers, teachers, and others for the work so much needed among the colored people in this State. President Becker, who is now in his seventh year here, has worked the school up to a high standard, and the grading is being constantly improved.

The grounds on which the buildings are situated, are just outside the city limits and comprise a beautiful park of some eighty acres. It was once a part of a large plantation, and must have been a lovely Southern home. The mansion house-a typical Southern planter's residence, still stands-used by the Faculty for a family gathering place, at meal time, for officers,

etc.

Colby Hall is a three-story building used exclusively as a dormitory for young women. Then we have a large three-story brick building, in which are dormitories for nearly one hundred young men. On the ground floor is our chapel, with four recitation rooms surrounding it. Between Colby and the Mansion is the students' dining hall.

There are also several other buildings used for Industrial purposes. The school is not a charitable institution. The highest regular scholarship only meets one-half the cost, but by working in the Industrial Department a student may greatly reduce the expense.

The young men and women do all the work in the care of the entire buildings. Every young woman is required to take instruction in house-keeping and sewing. The young men are taught carpentry, cabinet making, shoe making and type setting. The school this year is very large. We have about one hundred boarders, and sixty day pupils. Most of them are over eighteen years, many over twenty-five. The discipline is perfect, and we attribute this to the prayer-meetings. The young men have a prayermeeting each morning before breakfast in the chapel, and the young women have one at the same hour at Colby Hall. We also have a prayer-meeting Wednes day evening, and on Sunday evening after the sermon. All seem to be faithful, earnest, young people. If we can only teach our girls to make a home as we understand it, a mighty power for lasting good will be set in motion. What some of these homes, so called, are, I will tell you at some future time. Many are here who work so hard during the summer. Two of our most promising girls worked all summer in the cotton fields, doing a man's work.

At our meeting yesterday three asked for prayers. The great need, the dreadful degradation of the people outside in the country can hardly be told. We need all the help we can gain from the prayers of all interested in our work."

This letter, from one who was such an efficient worker in the Home field, must inspire all who were privileged to know her, with more devotion to those who need help, in this our own beloved land.

-A letter from Rev. G. W. Dallas, of Kulli Inla, Indian Territory, awakens much sympathy for him in his work. Mr. Dallas receives the warm recom- | mendation of Rev. Daniel Rogers, our general missionary, as an earnest devoted servant of Christ.

Miss Mary Rounds, an assistant in Mr. Dallas's school, felt obliged to accept a position in a more destitute part of the Territory early in the Autumn. She finds, however, that she was mistaken in her idea of the urgency of the need in this new field, and has again returned to Kulli Iula. We gladly welcome Miss Rounds again as our teacher, and pray that she may be abundantly blessed in her work.

-The school house at Salt Lake City is finished and the school work prospering under the care of Miss Berkley and Miss Pearce. The five hundred dollars pledged for the new school building at the annual meeting has been paid into the treasury. The Society finds, however, that five hundred dollars does not cover the furniture of the house. A bill for seats, stoves, etc., amounting to $398, must be paid at once. The extra gifts which many churches have made to Spelman rebuilding has made it impossible for us to meet these bills and our teachers' salaries.

Most of the money sent in last month was designated. We look to our Circles and Bands for money at this trying time. Our faithful teachers look to us for their salaries. In our great interest for individual schools do not forget that all are doing the Master's work, viz., leading lost souls to Christ.

-If some object is needed to arouse the interest of some indifferent ones, cannot a part of the salary of some teacher be raised? We believe our churches will come to the rescue, when they remember that it is Christ's work. "The noblest end of life is to live for the service of God. And everything is His service, by which we can be or give a blessing to another."

What shall I wish thee? What can be found
Bringing the sunshine all the year round?
Where is the treasure, lasting and dear,
That shall insure thee a Happy New Year?

Faith that increaseth, walking in light;
Hope that aboundeth, happy and bright;
Love that is perfect, casting out fear-
These shall insure thee a Happy New Year.

-Frances Ridley Havergal.

MISCELLANY.

THE IRISH IN THE UNITED STATES.

The Chautauquan contains an article on this subject by John Hull, from which the following extracts

are taken:

"There are about two million people of Irish birth in the United States to-day, but the number of persons of Irish blood in this country has been estimated by some authorities as high as twenty-two million, or about one-third of our entire population. At first blush this estimate may appear exaggerated, but when it is taken into consideration that the Irish numbered one-third of the population of the colonies at the close of the Revolutionary war, that they have been coming in multitudes ever since, and that their fecundity is not excelled by any other people, it will be readily admitted by an unbiased mind that the estimate is not much overdrawn.

"The Irish emigrant who lands in America to-day is better endowed with education than his predecessors. There was a time in Ireland, and that not so very long ago, when it was a crime punishable by law to teach Irish children to read or write; and when these disabilities were removed, the growth of the school-house on that unfortunate island was slow, so that a multitude of the Irish peasantry who came to our country before our civil war were wholly illiterate, and were, by lack of education, unfit for any employment except manual labor.

"According to the census of 1880, nearly four hundred thousand persons of Irish birth resided in the New England States. Of these, Massachusetts, the home of the Pilgrims, contains more than two hundred and thirty thousand. The State of New York has five hundred thousand Irish born persons inside her borders, and Pennsylvania come the Empire State with about two hundred and forty thousand. Illinois leads the Western States with one hundred and twenty thousand, and the remainder of the two million are scattered over the other States and Territories.

omes next to

“In 1880, 140,307 Irish were engaged in agriculture in the United States; 115,854 were engaged in professional and personal services; 338,518 in trade and transportation, and 284,175 in manufacturing, mechanical, and mining industries. Included among the agriculturists were 24,236 farm laborers, 107,708 farmers and planters, and 6,298 gardeners and vinegrowers.

"Among the Irish engaged in professional and personal service were included all the professions, and 122,194 domestic servants. Engaged in trade and transportation were 339 bankers and brokers of money and stocks, 10,480 clerks in stores, 117 clerks

and bookkeeepers in banks, 22,911 draymen, hackmen, and teamsters, 32,407 employés of railroad companies (not clerks), and several thousand dealers and traders in different sorts of merchandise.

"Among the Irish engaged in manufacturing, mechanical, and mining industries were 12.742 blacksmiths, 17,438 boot and shoe makers, 1,665 builders and contractors, 14,268 carpenters and joiners, 19,732 cotton mill operatives, 12,611 leather curriers, trim. mers, dressers, finishers, and tanners, 16,200 mil. liners, dressmakers and seamstresses, and 25,462 miners. Indeed, the Irish are represented in every trade, profession, and occupation in the United States.

"An edict has gone forth from the agents of Rome to establish Roman Catholic parochial schools in the United States. This means war on our free school system; and I believe that in the coming contest between Roman authority and Irish American Catholi cism the Italian priesthood will be worsted."

are constantly projected. The land and the water must be brought together by these artificial means, or they must remain separate and worthless.-New York Sun.

It should be remembered, however, that in Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska, within the last ten years, grasses have advanced by self-propagation many miles into what was once regarded a desert region, while the rainfall has increased and agriculture is carried on, where once it was regarded impossible. Over enormous stretches where the rainfall is slight, nutritious grasses which require almost no moisture for their growth, abound, so that though diversified agriculture may be impossible, yet enormous herds of cattle can be profitably fattened for the markets of the world. Besides all this, the marvelous mines of all the precious metals make up for the lack of favorable agricultural conditions that are found elsewhere. On the whole, therefore, this part of the West is a great country.

Irrigation in the United States.

The Committee on Public Lands of the House of Representatives, in a recent report, announce the startling fact that "the arid region of the United States, whereon agriculture is not successful without irrigation, measures, in general terms, that portion of the public domain which yet remain undisposed of.” According to Prof. Powell, this region "embraces something more than four-tenths of the whole country, excluding Alaska." He defines as arid lands those whereon the annual mean rainfall is less than twenty inches; but says that "at twenty inches, agriculture will not be uniformly successful from sea son to season; many seasons in a long series will be fruitless." This region, which can only be made productive by irrigation, embraces the whole of the States of Colorado and Nevada, and the Territories of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, with large portions of Southern California and Eastern Oregon, and portions of Washington and Dakota Territories. To make this vast region productive, the water must be taken from the streams, which are distant from each other, and carried many miles through canals, and thence through cross ditches. From the latter, the water is distributed by artificial and skilfully regulated overflow, finally doing its work by the various processes of flooding lateral percolation and absorption. The art of irrigation is studied and applied by our enterprising people in the far West in the light of the experiences of India, China, Japan, Egypt, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Chili and Peru. Take a small example. In Southern California, fifteen canals and ditches, aggregating 409 miles in length, and with a surface width of 750 feet, convey water from King's River through 1,000 farms containing, all told, 125,000 acres. Other great irrigation works are now. in construction, and still others

General Notes.

-What are the facts as taken from the records of the Government in regard to the enormous reduction in national taxation since 1865, the year the rebellion was closed, when the internal taxes were $310,906,984? For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, when they were only $116,902,869?

Here is a reduction of only $194,069,984 of internal taxes! Is this nothing of a decrease of war taxation?

The duties on imports have been reduced from $216,138,916 in 1882 to $189,410,448 in 1886, a reduction of $26,728,918.

The only internal taxes now are on spirits, tobacco, fermented liquors and bank note circulation, all others having been repealed.

The debt of the United States in 1865 was $2,756,431,571.43. It has been reduced, according to the statement of the Secretary of the Treasury made October 1, 1887, to $1,255,526,397. This is a reduction of the public debt of the United States in twenty years of $1,480,905,174, a reduction of debt per capita from $78.25 to less than $24, and of interest from $4.29 per capita to less than 80 cents per capita.

As a nation we are taxed less than any people in any civilized country on earth. Our expenses per capita of our population are within a fraction of $4 a year.

--According to some recently published statistics there are now 370 colleges and universities in the United States, with 3,000 professors and 35,000 students. Of these students about 80 per cent. or 10.000 are in denominational institutions. Institutions for higher education, by which are meant, we suppose, schools for secondary education, falling short of college or university rank, under control of Evangelical