work!  If there was ever anything to which the American Christian people are called, they are called to this.  If there was ever a great opportunity before the Christian church, here it is.

     Ah, my friends, don’t say “It is too great a work.”  It is going
     to be done!  You and I may do or may not do our part in it.  It is
     going to be done!

* * * * *

MISSIONARIES TO ALASKA.

As announced in the last number of the MISSIONARY, we have appointed two men as missionary teachers for the new station to be opened at Point Prince of Wales, Alaska.  The names of these brethren are H.R.  Thornton, of Hampden Sydney, Virginia, and W.T.  Lopp, of Valley City, Indiana.  The credentials furnished by these young men are very satisfactory, and they enter upon the field with the full realization of its difficulties and even dangers, and yet, cheerfully trusting themselves to the hand of God, are ready to go forward with undaunted faith.  We bespeak for them the prayers of God’s people.  It is expected that they will leave home about the middle of May and sail from San Francisco June 1st.  Dr. Sheldon Jackson and Dr. Pond will aid them in providing materials for the building and the necessary outfit.  They will, therefore, be well provided for, though long months must elapse before they can again have communication with the civilized world.

* * * * *

IN A NUTSHELL.

WHICH IS THE WISER WAY?

There are some people who seem to see only the ignorance and vice of the Negro, and the inveterate race-prejudice against him; or at least they appear to be so occupied in dilating upon these hindrances that they have no time to devote to their removal, and, so far as their influence goes, they discourage others from doing anything.

On the other hand there are those who, while they see all these difficulties, only find in them the strongest incentives to the most earnest efforts to relieve the Negro from them.  Which of these two classes is the wiser?

Some persons propose as the solution of the race problem, disfranchisement; and they point to the bad legislation of the blacks in South Carolina and Louisiana a quarter of a century ago, when scarcely any of them could read, and almost none owned property.  On the other hand, there are those that are industriously trying to educate the blacks and inspiring them to the acquisition of property, and not in vain.  More than two millions of the blacks can now read, and more than two hundred million dollars’ worth of property is now owned by them.  They are thus being prepared to vote wisely.

Which of these two classes of persons is solving this problem to the best purpose?

There are other persons, in Congress and out, urging the deportation of the blacks to Africa, a thing impossible to be done, and, if possible, it would be harmful to those that were sent, as well as useless to benighted Africa.  On the other hand, there are those who are training the colored people of this country in education, industrial habits and stable Christian character, thus preparing them as missionaries to Africa.