NUAL MEETING.

The Annual Meeting at Providence, R.I., will long be remembered in the
annals of this Association. Its general characteristics were
earnestness and enthusiasm. The interest did not flag from the
beginning to the end. We were glad to welcome our newly-elected
President, Rev. Wm. M. Taylor, D.D., who, by his dignity and facility
as a presiding officer, as well as by his able addresses, added largely
to the interest of the meeting. The sermon of Dr. Little was an uplift
at the outset; the Memorial Service for Dr. Powell was a loving tribute
to his memory; the papers read were of a high order, and dealt in a
practical way with living themes bearing on the work of the
Association; the reports on the several departments of that work were
discriminating, and showed a mastery of the subjects reviewed; and the
addresses of Drs. Mears, Behrends and Taylor, on the last evening were,
by their fervor, their broad range of thought and spiritual power, a
fitting close for the whole series of meetings.

But the marked and peculiar feature of the occasion was the
announcement of the munificent gift of Mr. Daniel Hand, of more than a
million of dollars, to aid the Association in its efforts for the
colored people of the South. This event, so inspiring in its immediate
effect, and so far-reaching and permanent in its beneficial results,
deserves full and special mention.

* * * * *

THE DANIEL HAND EDUCATIONAL FUND FOR COLORED PEOPLE.

The gift of more than a million of dollars by Mr. Hand for the
education of the colored people of the South, was a noble deed--alike
patriotic, philanthropic and Christian. The gift was wisely made. It
was after mature deliberation; it was during his lifetime, and thus
avoids the possibility of future litigation; it is bestowed upon a race
with whose wants Mr. Hand had become thoroughly familiar; it was given
to a Society that from the first, amid obloquy and danger, has been
true to the colored man; and it is made a permanent fund, the income
only to be used, thus securing its perpetual usefulness.

The conditions of the grant are simple, easily applicable, practical
and not liable to render the fund inoperative by any change of
circumstances. It aims simply to give to the colored people a training
that will fit them for every day life, or to become teachers of their
race. Hence it will be confined to primary, industrial and normal
education. We have no