now in Rome and in the
Catholic schools and colleges of the United States, preparing for work
among their people in America, and Africa as well, while to-day
missionaries are everywhere busy, sowing the seeds of Catholic belief
and worship. These teachings are eagerly accepted by the colored
people. The cause of this success among them is not far to seek. The
Catholic Church, of all which are ruled by whites on this continent,
is the only one offering the Negro communion on terms of equality.
While the Southern Protestants are setting up separate synods,
councils, presbyteries and conferences for the Negro, and the
Y.M.C.A., with the same narrow spirit, is refusing colored men seats
in its councils, while Northern Protestants are either neutral in this
matter of caste or only half-hearted in crying down upon the
sin of it; the Catholics alone have accepted in a full and liberal
sense the command, "preach my gospel to every creature," and have
extended fellowship to all, regardless of race, color or condition. It
matters not what their motive is. The fact stands boldly out. True,
instances are occurring of outbreaks of color-prejudice among the
Catholics, but the policy of the church is openly and boldly against
discrimination of whatever sort among its members. The fear of "social
equality," that shadow of a something that never did, and never can,
exist, that bug-bear of illiberal minds and narrow culture, does not
stand guard at the doors of this church to drive away the colored
worshipper or compel him to sit at the second table at the Lord's
feast. Is it to be wondered at, then, that the colored people are
flocking to the Catholic fold? This they will continue to do, so long
as the spirit of caste dictates the policy, and governs the action, of
the white Protestants of the United States.

* * * * *

THE SOUTH.

VACATION ECHOES.

REV. G.S. ROLLINS.

I wish some of our home friends who complain of dull, unprofitable
prayer-meetings could step into one of the kind we have in our colored
churches. One soon loses sight of mispronunciation and wretched
grammar in listening to the sensible, meaty, forceful ideas which many
of these negroes can express. You cannot go to a prayer-meeting
without bringing something away.

One good old mother in Israel said to me lately, in regard to the
weekly prayer-meeting: "I begins in de mawnin' to lay my plans fur dat
meetin', an I don stop ter eat so's to