The gift of more than a million of dollars by Mr. Hand for the education of the colored people of the South, was a noble deed—­alike patriotic, philanthropic and Christian.  The gift was wisely made.  It was after mature deliberation; it was during his lifetime, and thus avoids the possibility of future litigation; it is bestowed upon a race with whose wants Mr. Hand had become thoroughly familiar; it was given to a Society that from the first, amid obloquy and danger, has been true to the colored man; and it is made a permanent fund, the income only to be used, thus securing its perpetual usefulness.

The conditions of the grant are simple, easily applicable, practical and not liable to render the fund inoperative by any change of circumstances.  It aims simply to give to the colored people a training that will fit them for every day life, or to become teachers of their race.  Hence it will be confined to primary, industrial and normal education.  We have no doubt that Mr. Hand values the missionary future of the African in his native land; that he realizes the importance of his religious training in this country, and that he appreciates the need of the higher education of a portion of the race; but his gift, large as it is, cannot cover everything, and he has, therefore, wisely chosen the definite sphere in which his money shall accomplish its work.  Opportunity is thus given others equally liberal to provide for other parts of the great work to be done for the negro race.

Mr. Hand may not live long enough to see for many years the practical working of his far-reaching gift, but generation after generation of the Negroes of the South will rise up to call him blessed.

* * * * *

The announcement of the gift.

[Abridged from the Providence Journal.]

The Address of Secretary Strieby.

It is my privilege, and I esteem it a great honor, to be called upon to announce one of the most surprising and gratifying facts, financially considered at least, that has ever occurred in the history of this Association.  The American Missionary Association has this week received the largest gift ever made in this country by a living donor to a benevolent society.  Daniel Hand, an aged resident of Guilford, Conn., formerly a merchant in the South, has given to the Association $1,000,894.25, in interest-bearing securities, to be held in trust and known as “The Daniel hand educational fund for colored people,” the income only to be used for the education of colored people in the Southern States.  Mr. Hand, having made his money in the South, and having seen the ignorance and consequent disadvantages of the colored people there, felt that he could not use it better than in providing for their education, and has chosen to entrust to the American Missionary Association, whose work is so largely devoted to the elevation of that people, the care of this magnificent gift, and the disbursement of its income in accordance with the provisions of the trust.