The American Missionary — Volume 32, No. 04, April 1878Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 32, No. 04, April 1878
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Now, the older people are being reached. Friday evening a man came
in late to escort his wife home. Saturday he came early, and at
the very first opportunity was on his feet, saying, “For forty
years I hadn’t thought I had a soul till I came in here last night.
Help me to find Jesus.” He went forward, fell upon his knees, and
was so penitent it did not seem strange that that very night the
publican’s God sent him “to his house justified.” As he met our
pastor the next morning at church, he exclaimed, “Mr. Alexander,
you convinced me, but Jesus saved me.” It would do a stoic good to
look upon his beaming face and see what grace has done for that man.
It seems to me that the most interesting feature of the A. M.
A. work in New Orleans is its leavening influence upon Roman
Catholicism. I was talking, after service one evening, with a
beautiful girl who had been forward for prayers, and whose face
wore a genuine look of deep contrition. On asking her if she
attended church here regularly, she replied, “No; I go to the
Catholic Church.” Another girl was sitting beside a member of our
family one evening, when a boy behind whispered to her, “Don’t you
ask for prayers! if you do, I’ll tell the priest!” I hear that a
large number in the school are professed Catholics, but are allowed
to attend on account of the superior instruction.
* * * * *
TENNESSEE.
Le Moyne Normal School.
MEMPHIS, TENN., _Feb. 16th, 1878_.
The Le Moyne teachers, last year, organized among themselves
a reading circle for their own pleasure and improvement. Each
Thursday evening was devoted to the study of an author. After
a while, other friends were invited to join them for a single
reading. The custom was continued after the long vacation, and
became a part of the family life.
So much interest was manifested among the occasional guests, that
some of them proposed that the circle be enlarged to include all
the colored teachers of the city. The proposal was favorably
received, and the new literary society has superseded the original.
The character of exercises has been changed to meet the demands of
this wider and different element. The programme this week was as
follows:
_Historical_: “Benjamin Franklin—his public life; his private
life.” _Poetical_: “Longfellow—sketch of his life; selections
from his writings.” _Debate_: “Resolved, that the Crusades were
a benefit to the world.” “Humorous Reading.” _Scientific_: “Cell
Life.” “Budget.”
Music is interspersed, and discussions upon different topics are
presented. Ten minutes is the utmost time allowed each participant.
The only drawback is the lack of books of reference. Our small
library furnishes some assistance, and the additions made to it
from time to time help us in our preparations for the literary
society.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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