The year past has been a remarkable one in our history.  Our attendance has varied little from four hundred pupils in all grades of the twelve years’ course, while our enrollment for the year has reached five hundred and twenty different pupils.

Every interest of the school has been prospered and greatly blessed and strengthened.  The utmost harmony and earnestness has marked the work of the year, both among teachers and pupils.  During the past session, as many as sixty of our pupils have started out in the Christian life, giving evidence of change of heart and an earnest purpose to live for Christ and His work in the world.  We rejoice over this more than over all other results of our year’s work.

The whole spirit and tone of our work has been such that even our trials and losses, from fire and from breaks in our working force, have seemed to be turned to means of blessing and sources of strength.  Our trials and difficulties have been to us opportunities.  We look forward hopefully to the future, as we look thankfully back to the past.

Our partially destroyed building, from the fire of March 3d, is rebuilt and greatly improved.  We hope our corps of instructors, so uniformly faithful in the discharge of duty, may remain unbroken, the same for the coming year.

At the close of the term, the promotions were made in all grades by the principal, and the pupils given the “forms” they are to occupy the coming year.  In truth, the formal “Commencement” for the year was made at the close of this session.  Every pupil knows exactly his grade and place, and few will be absent at the opening, October first.

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AVERY INSTITUTE, CHARLESTON, S.C.

Anniversary week of this Institute is always an occasion of the deepest interest to the colored people of Charleston and vicinity; and those who succeed in obtaining tickets of admission to Avery Hall consider themselves most fortunate.  This year proved no exception, and the demand for tickets, and the enthusiasm of those in attendance, have never been surpassed in the history of the school.

The exercises throughout the week were of a high order.  The Sub-Normal Exhibition and the Prize-Speaking Contest by the normal classes were unanimously declared to be the best ever given in Avery.  At the commencement on Wednesday, every foot of space within sight or hearing of the platform was filled by intelligent and appreciative listeners.  Eleven graduates—­ten ladies and one gentleman—­received the diploma of the Institute and joined the hundreds who have preceded them in the grand work of elevating their race.

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THE NEW CHURCH AND SCHOOL AT ALCO, ALA.

BY REV.  R.C.  BEDFORD.