I know that these are _material_ considerations, that they are upon a low plane of working, and very unlike those which actuated our New England fathers, with whom the school-house was collateral to the Church, and the spelling-book to the Bible. This of our fathers is the higher plane of effort occupied by the American Missionary Association. Political economists and statesmen can perceive the material bearings of this subject, and, little by little, as light spreads, the Southern States will be compelled for those reasons to see that their people have facilities for education, will comprehend the truth that school-houses and school-teachers add to the value of acres—as the President lately said at Nashville. Meanwhile, this Association, through its Normal Schools and Universities, is training up colored teachers and preachers to labor, as leaders, among their own people, as school systems shall be founded and maintained by law. It is not enough that the different States of the South adopt a liberal system of public schools. Where, among colored people, shall suitable teachers be found? This race, like every other, must work out its own salvation. Favored ones must mount high, and reach down a helping hand to those below them. It cannot depend wholly upon white teachers. Oh, if there could rise up from among them gifted men and women, who were willing to devote themselves to _their own race_, to different classes of their own race, just for the sake of lifting them up from degradation! This is the aim of these institutions of the American Missionary Association—to train up the better, the choicer minds among colored youth, for the work of teaching and preaching; so that they may be eager to devote themselves to the mental and moral uplifting of their own race! If this “land that was desolate is yet to become like the garden of Eden”; if the thrift and industry of the more favored portions of this land are yet to be seen in all portions, I believe that no one agency will have been more instrumental in this, than the institutions of learning early established for the colored people! At this time, the American Missionary Association limits its sphere to schools of the higher class. If it can train the _teachers_; if it can mould the minds and kindle the hearts of those who are soon to mould the minds and kindle the hearts of the thousands of colored children and youth, who are to be the colored men and women of the future, it could not have a higher mission; it could not do better, whether for the country or for the human race. Brethren, this is no longer a _Southern_ question—a question which the South must be left to solve for themselves. We must help them, as involved in the destiny which they work out for us, as well as for themselves. For, if this millstone of ignorance be not taken from their necks, we go down with them into the depths of the sea! * * * * * FROM A LIFE MEMBER.