we need not be discouraged. Our feet
will get upon a rock and our goings be established; for which we pray.

LEADERS.

The _Home Mission Monthly_ of the American Baptist Home Mission Society,
in an article upon "Leaders," agrees with us in saying: "A different
style of men is needed as leaders of the colored people to-day from that
of those who aspired to leadership twenty-five years ago; the race has
made great progress; there are multitudes now of Negro men and women who
have had the advantages of the common schools, many who have a college
education, and some who have university culture; to wisely influence
them in their thought and action is more difficult than to control the
masses of the illiterate and untrained. It is especially worthy of
consideration that among the Negroes of the South to-day are some men of
power and of education who are leaders; but whose leadership,
unfortunately, is in the wrong direction. This renders it all the more
urgent that the Mission Society and kindred organizations should seek to
supply them with a class of leaders who, by reason of their godly
character, their knowledge, their training, their consecration, will be
able to counteract the evil influences now at work, and to lead their
people into paths of righteousness.

"The Mission Society does not attempt to provide a college education
for the multitudes of Negroes; even this would be a task beyond its
resources. What it does aim to do is simply to secure, if possible,
the education of a comparatively few young men and young women, who
shall become leaders among their people; men and women who by their
knowledge, training, culture, power, will be able to organize and
direct the energies of the masses of the people. Leaders are needed,
and these should be thoroughly competent for leadership; it is a hard
task to influence successfully the development of a race of eight
million people, and those who attempt the work require natural
qualities of a high order and also unusual attainments."

What is to prevent these people who have been enfranchised from
becoming the prey of demagogues and designing men who wish to use
them for unchristian purposes and in unchristian ways, unless they have
large minded, thoroughly educated leaders with knowledge of history
and of life who can lead their own people in the ways of righteousness?
Events now transpiring give significance to this question.

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