ve, as has been that of our schools,
small and great.

[Illustration: NORTH CAROLINA STATE ASSOCIATION, McLEANSVILLE.]

NORTH CAROLINA STATE ASSOCIATION, McLEANSVILLE.

[Illustration: AT THE CHURCH DOOR, OAKS, N. C.]

AT THE CHURCH DOOR, OAKS, N. C.

It is an interesting and important fact that the great work of Christian
education in behalf of the colored people which has been carried on by the
Association is now producing results in a new direction. Our former
students and pupils, grown into manhood and womanhood, find the church
life of their communities greatly inferior to that in which they were
trained in our schools. They are reaching after something more pure,
free and spiritual. The leaven of their intelligence and higher standard
of morality is taking hold of many families about them. From many centers
the call reaches us for the organization of Congregational churches,
churches which shall stand for morality, equal membership rights and a
more rational type of piety. At the same time there is an uprising in
various churches against the centralized forms of church government, which
they feel to be oppressive. They refuse longer to be bound to systems
which, as they believe, invade individual Christian rights. From these and
other causes appeals are coming to us from different quarters for the
recognition of churches which have become independent. A number of these
churches have already been received by council into Congregational
associations, and the indications are that this number will be largely
increased during the year to come.

[Illustration: THE SPRINGS CABIN AT LOWELL.]

THE SPRINGS CABIN AT LOWELL.

[Illustration: THE LOWELL CHURCH RUINS.]

THE LOWELL CHURCH RUINS.

Of these popular movements toward the Congregational way, that at Lowell
is a typical illustration. Some of the colored people near this little
hamlet desired to build for themselves a church. With infinite pains and
self-denial and labor they gathered the material for a small, wooden
building and put up the frame with their own hands. Being refused the
official encouragement they felt they had a right to expect from their own
denomination, they began to consider the whole question of church
relations and polity, and made up their minds to become a free church.
They held their services i