n the cabin depicted in the accompanying
illustration, and sought to push forward the completion of their little
and rude church building. A furious storm blew the frame down. With sore
hearts they piled up the lumber neatly around the foundation frame and
felt that they must give up their cherished hope of having a church
edifice. Having learned of the Congregational way, which superimposes no
centralized church government over the people and seeks to aid the poor
rather than to oppress them, they organized themselves into a
Congregational church, and were recognized in our fellowship by a council.
Afterward they were visited by a representative of the Association, whose
form is seen in the foreground of the picture of their ruined church. A
cheering conference was held with them. In this conversation a single fact
came out which shows something of the labor and self-denial in the
movement. It was found that the young minister of this, and a similar body
of colored people several miles away, although he was afflicted with an
ulcerated ankle, which might well have laid him up in his house, had
repeatedly walked seventeen miles over the heavy roads in order to keep
faithfully his preaching appointments. The people were willing to do their
very utmost. It is hoped, with the aid of our Church Building Society,
that they will now be able to put up their little church building and
prosper in their Christian endeavor of having a free Congregational church
for their religious home.

[Illustration: REV. A. W. CURTIS, D.D.]

REV. A. W. CURTIS, D.D.

In Raleigh, the State capital, the colored people form a little over half
of the population. Our church work here for a number of years has been in
the charge of Rev. A. W. Curtis, D.D., who is most highly esteemed
everywhere. The convenient, comfortable, and tasteful church building was
erected in 1891. It has a seating capacity of 250. In the political
transformations of the State the race question keeps its prominence. It
was a significant fact that the Legislature voted a few weeks ago to
adjourn in respect to the memory of Fred. Douglass. About the same time
the legislature also voted that the national standard should be raised on
the State house; and, for the first time since the reconstruction days,
our country's flag streamed above the old granite capitol of North
Carolina.

[Illustration: STATE CAPITOL AT RALEIGH