number of its teachers from the Normal
school. We consider this missionary work of the students most important
in keeping up their interest in their own people, and in developing the
Christ-like spirit of work for others.

Our school for Bible study, though cramped for room, is exerting an
important influence on this community. Almost all the colored pastors of
the place have received instruction in its classes. All the white
pastors of the place, with one exception, take part in the instruction
of their colored brethren. This school has sent out colporteurs under
the American Tract Society into the country about. With what knowledge
they have received here, they have been able to unite the office of
teacher and preacher in the country districts; they have earned their
way by the work of their hands and so secured a chance to preach. In
this way, they are able to stay in one community during the whole year.
One of these men went over to the eastern shore of Virginia last year;
worked on the railroad during the day, taught a night school in the
evening, got together a congregation, put up a comfortable church,
building it largely with his own hands, and came back to school in the
fall with money enough for his next year's expenses. One of the class
sailed last spring for Africa.

* * * * *

DEVELOPING PATRIOTISM AMONG THE COLORED PEOPLE.

REV. G.S. ROLLINS.

The security of any nation rests largely upon the patriotism of its
people. America is in danger, not from foes without, but from within her
own borders. How to Americanize the foreign element, is the problem
which confronts the people of our great cities; a question which more
directly concerns the Northern portion of our country.

Here in the South is a different case. We have eight million negroes--
born Americans. The one all-absorbing question is, how to fit them for
citizenship--how to make patriotic citizens of them.

Is patriotism in danger among the colored people? Yes, and mainly for
two reasons.

First, because of their ignorance of our country; its history,
constitution and government. Some will think that this is a danger which
will soon pass away, as the older and more ignorant ones die. It is true
that the number of those who were advanced in years at the close of the
war is rapidly decreasing, but there is an astonishingly large number of
those who were young at that time and are now in the prime of life. The