“In the battle of Milliken’s Bend, a color bearer was seen far in advance of his company.  The captain shouted to him, ’Bring those colors back to the army!’ The reply was sent back, ’Bring the army up to the colors.’

“Just so, in the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and the South generally, our church is lifting up the standard, and although men are constantly trying to get the standard bearer to fall back to the army of biased, narrow humanity, the church ever shouts back the reply of the immortal color bearer, ’Bring the army up to the colors.’

“Every man and woman going out from our schools is imbued with the thought that he or she is to hold up the standard of God—­not man—­for the people.  Every church, school or mission fostered by the A.M.A. is holding up the highest ideals of all life.  And while our work does not grow in numbers as rapidly as we could wish, we are broadcasting the good seeds of the Kingdom over all the land, and here and there they are springing into life, bringing forth fruit—­some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold; so we go on grinding out the grist ever and anon holding one for toll.  I am not ignorant of what other churches are doing, and some are doing nobly, but ours is the great work.  It has been my observation, that wherever an enterprising work is being carried on in church or school, the leading force is generally the product of Congregational effort, directly or indirectly.  So take away our work, then it would be like blotting out the sun, moon and most of the stars from the sky.”

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A COLORED MAN WINS.—­Charles W. Wood, of Chicago, a colored contestant for oratorical honors, has won the first prize in Beloit College, Wis.  A few years ago he was a newsboy upon the street, but he made up his mind to have an education.  With the aid of a generous patron he has nearly completed his college course and justified the high hopes of his many friends.

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TILLOTSON, AUSTIN, TEXAS.

BY SECRETARY A.F.  BEARD.

In the year 1875 the Rev. George J. Tillotson, of Connecticut, visited various points of the South with a view to the establishment of a school.  He was accompanied by a secretary of the Association.  After a careful survey they selected Austin, Texas, as the most promising point.  About twenty-five acres of partially wooded land just beyond the eastern boundary of the city of Austin were purchased for $5,000, the gift of Mr. Tillotson.  In the following year a charter was obtained and the work of raising money for the building was entered upon.  The funds were finally secured, and in 1879 the foundations were laid, and the building, 104 feet in length and 42 in depth, constructed of white pressed brick with dress stone trimmings, rose to its five stories in height.  On the 17th of January, 1881, the school opened.  Two of the five floors were then open spaces.