Saturday A.M. was largely spent in the able and effective presentation of the topic, “The Holy Spirit, His Personality and Work,” by Rev. R.B.  Johns, of Nashville.  We agreed to carry the discussion further on our knees before God.  Saturday P.M. nine young men were examined for licensure to preach.  With few exceptions, their intelligent answers and general clearness of thought were creditable indeed.  These young men belong to different college classes.  They have taken instruction in theology with Prof.  Bennett, at times crowded in between regular work in their classes.  With these was Brother J.D.  Pettigrew, a former Fisk student, who returned recently from Paris, Texas, to be ordained.  His examination was conducted with something of scrutiny, and it was apparent that a clear head, studious mind and consecrated heart afford reason to expect for him a useful career.  He seems devoted and teachable.

Sunday at eleven A.M.  Prof.  Bennett gave the sermon from “I magnify mine office.”  Then followed the solemn act of ordination.  Rev. Jos.  E. Smith, H.S.  Williams, Prof.  Bennett, and B.A.  Imes, the latter offering the prayer, laid their hands on the kneeling brother’s head and “set him apart for the ministry.”  All present seemed impressed with the solemn ceremony.  The afternoon brought us to the Lord’s table.  Five young people were taken into the church.

At night a service of song led by Prof.  Spence and his “sweet singers,” together with addresses by Rev. George Smith, President Cravath, Rev. Eugene A. Johnson and B.A.  Imes closed the delightful day and another meeting of the Central South.

Florence, Ala., is to be the next meeting place.

Rev. J.H.  Frazee of Knoxville Pilgrim Church was received “by letter” into the Central South Association.  Also Rev. Lot Lake of the Welsh Church, and Rev. F.E.  Jenkins of New Decatur.  The latter reported his church as expecting to join in the near future.  The Plymouth Church Knoxville, was received in response to its application, by letter; the two delegates appointed, business men, were hindered from coming.  However we have these tokens of the blessed Gospel spirit uniting these churches in fraternal union, we hope in spirit as well as name, and casting out from the Lord’s people the demon of color-caste.

Not the least interesting feature of our gathering was the presence of the many bright and promising young people at Fisk University.  And we renewed our appeal for a Theological Seminary, which is greatly needed.

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“SIX DAYS SHALT THOU LABOR.”

A superintendent in our Mountain Work writes: 

I left home on horseback last Wednesday, after dinner, rode twenty-one miles to Crossville, stopping on the way to contract for some lumber, arriving in Crossville in time for an eight o’clock supper; spent an hour after breakfast with brother Cameron, rode twenty-seven miles to Deer Lodge, half the way in a hard rain, getting pretty wet.  The monotony of the trip was broken, Thursday, by picking my way through the brush rather than following the road.  For ten miles before reaching Deer Lodge, I followed closely the track of the storm, the week before.  Trees were torn up, houses and barns unroofed, the fragments, in some cases, being strung along the way for rods.