The American Missionary | Page 9

central institution. At one of these points, Deer Lodge, a fine
church building is just nearing completion. The community is all loyal
to the American Missionary Association, whose help it has received
and appreciated. A good many Northerners are coming into this section,
induced by climate, whose co-operation in his work Mr. Pope is very
prompt in securing.
Glen Mary is a mining settlement hidden in the oak forest about a mile
from the above mentioned railroad. Here, Mr. Pope recently found a
small Sunday-school battling against great odds. Intemperance and
profanity were rife, and the demand for gospel labor was very urgent.
Meetings were held with blessed results, so that shortly ago a church
was organized, now one of the strongest in this region. One consecrated
young man is at the bottom of the whole movement. Two years ago, he
started a Sunday-school with no assistance. At first, he met his pupils in
the colored people's meeting house, but was obliged to change after a
time, because of the prejudices of color which started among the blacks!
He then took an axe and cleared a spot in the woods to which he invited
his school. Here Mr. Pope found him. After the interest began to grow,
a subscription was started among the miners, resulting in money
sufficient (including help from the mining company) to erect a
comfortable little church edifice. This building has recently been
enlarged by one-third, to accommodate the crowds. The membership of
the church is less than forty, and yet it has raised one collection for the
American Missionary Association amounting to _twenty-four dollars_!
These people have no pastor. They are dependent on the scattering
ministrations of two or three of our overworked missionaries from
other points, who have undertaken to supply them by turns. There are
one hundred and fifty families in the community, fifty being colored,
without pastoral training. I am assured that it would not be hard to
raise money enough in the community to nearly, if not quite, support a
minister. The people are hungering and thirsting for teaching in
spiritual things. After repeated and urgent invitations your pilgrim was
prevailed upon to suspend his trip for a day or two, that he might tell

these people of the "good news" of Jesus Christ. It was evidently of the
Lord, for last night at the first exhortation, eight persons, two men and
six women, gave themselves to the Master. The entire congregation
seemed to hear the word with gladness. It is a great field. And so it is in
many places, I am told. Glen Mary is anxious for a resident minister
and a Christian teacher. The influence of an educated, godly woman is
sorely needed in these homes. The gospel has already done much for
the place, but there is still a great work to do. Thank God for such
tireless, self-forgetful men as Mr. Pope. With the brain of a general and
the zeal of an apostle, he is planting the cross of Christ so firmly on this
plateau, and in such commanding positions, that it cannot be dislodged,
but will shed its saving influence far and wide forever. After preaching
once more I hope to move on to Nashville in time for the
commencement.
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WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY, WHITLEY CO., KY.
BY MISS EDITH WILLIAMS.
In this land where the people live by their crops, it was most
encouraging to see the number of older boys who remained in school
till the last of the term. Two of our boys remain with us during vacation,
to do the needed work. They are earnest Christians and faithful workers,
and appreciate the home influences here.
Many of the girls tell me that their fathers used to be "moonshiners,"
and they say that at that time they thought it all right; did not realize the
evils of alcohol until taught about it in the school. We believe, however,
that the morals of this part of Kentucky are steadily improving, and feel
confident of it in our own little town.
Last week I visited a country school house about four miles from town.
It was made of logs. Three small holes were cut in the logs for
windows. The benches were split logs, and the floor was the earth. The
great stone chimney, (the only spacious thing about the building,) was
beginning to crumble away. This is a typical log school house of the
past, but much better ones are going up all over the country, giving
brighter hopes for the future.
With the better school buildings through the country, our Academy will
be ready to furnish them with better teachers than they have had in the
past. Our hope for the future among the Mountain Whites is great.

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