been settled in the minds of the people here, is
that the education and moral elevation of the Negroes is a matter of
painful exigency; that the forces employed by the American Missionary
Association in that field must be largely multiplied. The President of
the Old Colony Club summed up the discussion of the evening by saying
most earnestly that all this meant that the contributions to the
American Missionary Association must be largely increased among the
churches represented in that Club, if we would solve this terrible
Southern problem, and save our country from this threatened danger.

* * * * *

In this connection I was interested the other day in making an
investigation as to the per cent. of church membership in the South and
North. I discovered the following rather surprising comparison. The per
cent. of church membership in some of the New England States as compared
with that in the Southern States is as follows, not including the Roman
Catholics: Massachusetts, 13 per cent.; Connecticut, 20 per cent.; New
Hampshire, 19 per cent.; South Carolina, 32 per cent.; Georgia, 28 per
cent.; Florida, 25 per cent.

It is evident from the comparisons that a larger percentage of the
population in these Southern States are members of Protestant churches
than in the Northern States. Notwithstanding this, this horrible system
of persecution goes on. There are noble and true men who protest against
it, but if the churches united in condemning it, we all know it would be
stopped. What they need is not more churches, but better churches, those
who emphasize the brotherhood of man as well as the fatherhood of God in
this Southern portion of the land.

* * * * *

The stereopticon lectures which are being delivered by Rev. S.E.
Lathrop, are attracting much attention and receiving general
commendation. Last Sunday, at Peabody, the people were so enthusiastic
that they took a special collection of nearly one hundred dollars. Many
churches in New England have enjoyed this treat, and receive the
inspiration which the facts of the American Missionary Association must
always give when really known and understood. Brother Lathrop is on his
way into New Hampshire and Maine, where arrangements have been made in
many churches.

* * * * *

Some benevolent New England friends who have been in Florida, and have
seen the destitution of the colo