When the books of Heaven are opened, it will then be seen how much of silent self-sacrifice, how much of grand living and grand doing, is set down to these Southern missionaries.  Much called inglorious now, will be glorious then, and “the last shall be first.”

The anniversary exercises of the University commenced on May 24, by oral examinations, which continued two days.  They were in all departments, classical, normal, preparatory and industrial.  The classical department, though small, as in all these institutions, has always been very high in Atlanta; the chief advance, however, the past few years, has been in the normal and industrial divisions, and this appeared in the fact that all the graduates this year, numbering thirteen girls, were in the normal department.  The work is done by teachers from the North, experienced in the best normal methods, and nothing on the Southern field can be more vital and important.  Three-quarters of the students going out from these higher institutions devote themselves to teaching, and when the North has some realization of the dense ignorance of the Southern black population, the need of this will readily appear.  In the State of Alabama are 80,000 colored voters who cannot read, and though the children of a small proportion of these voters do learn to read, the greater number do not, and cannot till the Northern churches open their eyes to facts, and do more to remedy this monster evil.  And this ignorance of the blacks means not only ignorance, but grossest immorality.  Alabama in this respect is an average State; Georgia is a little better, others much worse.

The industrial work of Atlanta consists, first, in farm-work.  The farm of sixty acres, which is the most beautiful spot in the State of Georgia, and under the superintendence of a Massachusetts farmer, speaks for itself.  The young men learn, also, wood-work, draughting and forging; they exhibit some exquisite specimens of lathe and chisel-work, and the young carpenters readily find employment in the city at the highest wages.  The girls not only do much of the work of the boarding-houses, but have special and daily lessons in cooking and sewing; and I can testify to their practical skill.

The baccalaureate sermon was preached on Sunday, May 27, by Rev. C.W.  Francis, the pastor of the University church, and, the past year, Acting President, also.  It was a notable occasion.  The commodious chapel of Stone Hall was packed, the many students of course filling a large space, while their friends and former students filled in the background.  Colored people are by nature ardent and magnetic, and when education and religion have developed their characters and toned down their absurdities, they are a very interesting and attractive people.

Forward on the platform and side seats were Dr. Strieby and Dr. Beard, of New York, the honored Secretaries of the American Missionary Association, Dr. Woodworth, of Massachusetts, Dr. Pentecost, of Brooklyn, N.Y., with Mr. Stebbins, his sweet singer, now holding revival meetings in Atlanta, and the faculty and workers generally of the University.