The American Missionary | Page 6

UNIVERSITY, THEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, D.C.

By Prof. J.H. Ewell, D.D.
The American Missionary Association was obliged to reduce the
appropriation for our work by one-fourth this year. This has occasioned
so much extra work, care, and anxiety, but the good hand of our
Heavenly Father has been upon us, and the teachers have increased
their hours in the classroom, and kind friends and churches have lent a
helping hand. Grateful mention should be made of large assistance
from the First Congregational Church, of Washington, and of aid from
young churches with heavy burdens upon them. One devoted and
steadfast friend who gave according to her power, yea, gave beyond her
power; whose means were small, but whose charities were large,
because she spent so little upon herself, Miss Mary F. Andrews, of
Millbury, has been called home during the year. Who will take her
place? I wish there were space to speak of all who have co-operated
with us by giving. Almost every gift has some association that has
made it specially cheering.
Our Anniversary Exercises received the heartiest commendation. The
class numbered eight more than four years previously. We are greatly
encouraged by the good work that our graduates are doing. May the
Lord reward all of our beloved supporters! We always pray for them
and for the Association, and for all our varied workers under its
auspices, and we ask especially that all who are interested in our work
will pray for us that Charles Wesley's petition may be fulfilled in us,
"Write Thy new name upon my heart, Thy best new name of Love."
* * * * *
LINCOLN ACADEMY, KING'S MOUNTAIN, N.C.
By Rev. A.W. Curtis.
Lincoln Academy is beautiful for situation, in the midst of groves of
young pine, on a considerable plateau sloping southward, overlooking
the valley of a little creek with the grand old mountain towering above
them on the farther side. A quiet restful spot removed from the

temptations of town life, four miles from the village station; just the
place for the great family home school which I found on this occasion,
Wednesday night, busy as bees preparing for the great event of the year.
The boys had put up a brush arbor in the grove near by, and provided
plenty of plank seats beneath.
We had a rousing Christian Endeavor meeting that night, the last of the
session. All of the students belong to the Senior or Junior branch, and
with the schedule topic, "The Widening of Christ's Kingdom," brought
home and made personal, "What can I do to extend Christ's Kingdom
during this vacation?" Many very practical talks were given, and many
pledges of best endeavor to this end in the home life or where they
were expecting to teach through the summer. Strange noises were heard
during the night, which the morning light explained by the covered
wagons, prairie schooners we would call them at the West, which had
come in and camped out near the spring. As the hour approached a
perfect string of nondescript vehicles bringing the whole family, and
many others on muleback or on foot, came pouring in from near and far,
until by 10 A.M. nearly one thousand people had gathered in and
around the arbor; some of them coming from thirty to fifty miles
overland.
"Old Glory" had been floating from the flagstaff above the central
school building all the morning, and now the scholars, neatly dressed,
came marching up the hill and crowded the platform to sing their
welcome song. Prayer was offered by one of the first graduates, now a
minister. Then the principal, and lady general, gave out the orders for
the day in such a womanly and winning way as showed her fully
mistress of the situation.
"No smoking anywhere on the school-grounds; no changing of seats
during any exercise; no selling of liquors or even ice cream, lemonade,
or other refreshments--not because these latter were not good in
themselves, but because of the temptation to spend money which they
could not afford in these hard times, and while complaining that they
could not raise money for the schooling of their children, they must not
spend their nickels in such ways. Take care of their nickels and they

would soon count up to dollars."
Several hucksters and peddlers, who had come with their wares, the
principal succeeded in driving off, and in a region where whisky has
flowed freely and smoking is almost their vital breath, she that day had
an orderly assemblage of nearly a thousand, on uncomfortable seats,
quiet and interested for four and a half hours without any intermission!
It was a very carefully prepared program; speeches, essays, recitals,
dialogues, and such splendid singing as only these trained voices of
colored students can give. It was no