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LINCOLN SCHOOL, MERIDIAN, MISS.

By Mrs. H.I.  Miller.

Our school closed its doors on the night of the 26th of May.  All went away saying “It was the best commencement Lincoln has ever had.”  I heartily endorse the opinion.  There were seven graduates—­six young men and one young woman.  There were six orations, and all were so good that a higher institution might well be proud of them.  At our Social meeting on the morning of the 26th, we had pleasant talks and addresses, after which the industrial work, papers on nursing and examination papers were exhibited.  There were dresses, aprons, undergarments, sets of button-holes, quilts, skirts, cushions, specimens of darning and patching, and various fancy articles, some of them exceedingly well done.  We also had delicate work from the kindergarten and primary rooms; paper folding and card sewing, showing great neatness of little fingers.

Among other papers of interest were those from the general history class.  Each pupil selected some country or character for review, and so our work extended from old China and Egypt to modern Africa.  One young man writing on the last named country was induced to give the article to the State through the newspapers and it has been published.

Some of our young people are teaching, and others are at other work.  There are very few summer schools here now, and those opened are only for primary grades.

The Lincoln school is reaping honors at Tougaloo University.  Two scholarships this year were won by two of our ex-graduates, and this gives Lincoln the honor of five such prizes won in that institution.

We shall greatly rejoice when the pulpits and places of great responsibility are filled with intelligent leaders.  We cannot but feel amused, yet distressed, at the mis-read Scriptures.  One brother in his morning lesson from the pulpit said:  “Brothers, we should be of the same mind—­one body and mind, for it says here, ’the twins shall be one flesh.’” A young man came to us, and asked help in writing his sermons.  He had no Bible; I urged his purchasing one, as he could read.  One day he came and said his text was the 14th of John.  I inquired the passage.  “Oh,” he said, “I takes the whole chapter, and so I don’ have to say much.”  It surely was the best way for his audience.

Our class motto was “The Future needs us,” and I trust all the class will fully realize how much they are needed.

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ITEM.

There is an old colored man in Wilkes county who has never had his membership changed from the white people’s church at Independence.  He belonged to it when a slave and has held on to it.  He attends services regularly and does not intrude upon the congregation, but sits quietly on the steps and listens to the sermon.—­Atlanta Constitution.