Long before the abolition of slavery, this organization bore a consistent and faithful testimony against that stupendous wrong.  When it was abolished this Association did not disband nor discontinue its work, but went forward as earnestly as ever to advance, enlighten and elevate the colored people of the South.

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There is a beautiful story told about a little child in the orphanage of John Falk at Weimar.  They were having supper in the dining hall, and the teacher gave thanks in the ordinary way before the children began their meals, saying, “Come, Lord Jesus, and be our guest to-night, and bless the mercies which Thou hast provided.”  One little boy looked up and said, “Teacher, you always ask the Lord Jesus to come, but He never comes.  Will He ever come?” “Oh, yes, if you will only hold on in faith, He will be sure to come.”  “Very well,” said the little boy, “I will set a chair beside me here to-night to be ready when He comes.”  And so the meal proceeded.  By-and-by there came a rap at the door, and there was ushered in a poor, half-frozen apprentice.  He was taken to the fire and his hands warmed.  Then he was asked to partake of the meal, and where should he go but to the chair which the little boy had provided?  As he sat down there the little boy looked up with a light in his eye and said, “Teacher, I see it now.  The Lord Jesus was not able to come Himself, and He sent the poor man in His place.  Isn’t that it?”

Aye, that is just it.  And so, brethren, the Lord Jesus isn’t able, according to his plans for this world, to come personally yet among us, but He has sent these colored people, Chinese, Indians and heathen, to make appeal in His behalf to us, and who among us will set a chair for Him?  There are many friends with whom I hardly agree who are very anxiously waiting for the appearance of the personal Christ among us, and they are wondering what they shall do to welcome Him.  Would that the eyes of these brethren, and our own, too, were opened to the perception of the Christ that is already here, in the persons of those needing to be helped and educated and elevated, and that their ears could hear His words, “Inasmuch as ye do it unto one of the least of these his brethren ye do it unto Christ.”  That is the Christian philosophy of giving, and if a man does not feel the force of these considerations, I should be disposed to say he has not yet begun to be a Christian.

REV.  WILLIAM M. TAYLOR, D.D.