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SOUTHERN FIELD NOTES.

REV.  GEORGE W. MOORE.

The mission station recently opened at La Pine, in the black belt of Alabama, is a door of hope to that needy people.  The people came for miles around to greet the missionary and to hear the Gospel.  At another point in Alabama we found a promising field which one of our theological graduates from Talladega had opened.  He began the work in a rented hall at his own cost, and after he had gathered a congregation and found it a needy and at the same time a hopeful field he raised the “Macedonian cry” to the American Missionary Association for help.  The Pauline heroism of this brother in preaching the Gospel in his own hired house is shared by our brethren in various parts of our Southern field.  The work is so large and the needs of the people are so great that this spirit of Christ must be more fully expressed, both in gifts and service, to reach the pressing calls for help.

I met three interesting characters in the black belt of Georgia.  The first was named Moses.  On meeting him he addressed me with “You don’t knows me, does you?  My name is Moses.”  His friend “Uncle Plenty” lived in a little cabin by the roadside.  He had heard of the Association, and was glad to greet me as one of its missionaries.  He told me that he felt so thankful for what the Northern friends had done for his people that he wished his little cabin and half acre lot to be bequeathed to the American Missionary Association.  I dined with “Uncle Plenty” and met Father Joshua, a poor old blind man ninety years of age, in his cabin.  They told me the story of their lives in slavery and how they had prayed to see this day of freedom and light.

Moses and Joshua and “Uncle Plenty” are types of the old people and times that are giving place to a new generation and a brighter day.

Among the new enterprises reported at the meeting of the Georgia Association at Thomasville, Ga., were two churches and several missions from the vicinity of Columbia, S.C.

I spent Thanksgiving Day at Lowell, N.C.  Our mission at this point is the only church in that vicinity.  It was the first Thanksgiving service they had ever enjoyed or even heard of.  It was held in a log cabin.

Lowell is the center of a large negro settlement; the people have had a hard lot, and but little opportunity to improve their condition.  They are very grateful to hear the Gospel.

Forefather’s day was observed by the Nashville churches in the theological hall of Fisk University.  We “spiritual children” of the Pilgrims honor the fathers whose descendants have enriched us through the A.M.A. by the schools and churches that have been planted among us.  The church at Lexington, Ky., had a season of “refreshing” in December, when several heads of families united with it.  Howard church, Nashville, also had an awakening with good results.  This church has increased its membership fifty per cent. in fifteen months.  Jackson Street Church, Nashville, held a recognition service for its new pastor in January.