ith its ignorance, superstition
and immorality, presented his credentials and applied for admission into
the Congregational Association of the State. This action of his is a
straw which shows which way the wind of religious thought blows among
the intelligent colored people of the South. The weather-vane points
toward Congregationalism. An aged pastor, who had endured ostracism and
violence in New York State in the early times, on account of his
anti-slavery opinions, was present during the meetings of the
Association, and added greatly to their interest. It was a thrilling
sight to him to look upon these colored brethren during their earnest
and often eloquent discussions, and to remember how much he had suffered
in their behalf in other days. Trinity School opened its doors wide and
offered generous hospitality to the pastors and delegates. On the whole,
it was one of the best meetings the Association has ever enjoyed.
* * * * *
The Congregational Association of the State of Georgia met with the
church at Macon, November 9th-14th. The church and its new pastor, a son
of Connecticut, did their utmost to make the meetings pleasant and
helpful. The band of earnest Christian teachers of Lewis Normal
Institute, the A.M.A. school at Macon, joined hands with the church and
pastor in helping to make the sessions of the Association profitable.
Here, too, as in the Central South Association, the temperance question
held a prominent place in the discussions. There was not a member of the
Association but was heartily in favor of prohibition. The Atlanta
campaign was on in all its heat and passion, and beseeching requests
were made by the delegates from that city that prayer might be offered
for them as they passed through the heat of this battle against
legalizing crime. Almost every church in the Association was represented
in this meeting and one new church applied for admission. This church
stands near the old prison pen of Andersonville and so the blood of the
martyrs proves the seed of the church, whether they wear the monk's cowl
of a Huss or the ragged blue of our country. The church at Charleston,
S.C., reported two missions just established in the destitute parts of
that city. All the churches in this Association assisted by the A.M.A.
are struggling towards self-support under helpful pressure from that
Society. I am glad to report that the church at Savannah has taken upon
itself the su
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