Dr. Burgett, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Mobile, was first called upon. He said: “I fully endorse all the efforts of the A. M. A., and congratulate it, and all present to-day, because of its high and praiseworthy efforts, its success in the past, the immediate present, and the bright prospects of the future. I have visited the school in former years, and never heard better recitations anywhere, nor saw greater advancement.” His speech was full of good thoughts, as his talks always are; and just before he closed, he turned to the teachers, and said: “I cannot understand the composition of a man who will oppose your efforts here. As a representative of the Christian people of Mobile, I speak authoritatively when I say you deserve their sympathy and hearty co-operation, and you have it. Deep down in the heart of every Christian here, there is a kindly feeling for you and your work.” The next person called upon was Rev. E. D. Taylor, one of the oldest colored ministers of the M. E. Church in this place. He said “I have cautiously watched the movements of these teachers, and their school work, and I am convinced that they are here for lifting up of my race, and as I go down the steps of life, I look back upon this school, and these teachers, with a great deal of pleasure, knowing that they are leading my people out from a bondage worse than slavery. I thank God that we have these friends to help us.” Rev. Mr. Bryant, a former pupil of Atlanta University, spoke of the many thousands of children taught in the South, as the direct result of the work of the A. M. A. through its teachers and pupils. Some of the white brethren expressed much surprise at the figures he presented, and were astonished at the magnitude of the work, both direct and indirect, of the Association. Rev. Mr. Walden said: “Deep down in my heart there is a little niche held sacred to the memory of that good old mother who cared for me when a child, and for that little colored boy who was my playmate in childhood. I have lost sight of them, but their memory is still sacred, and I hope to meet them in eternity. There is much in common between the white and colored people of the South. We cannot afford to be anything but friends, for we must be saved by the same blood, we must walk through the same ‘valley and shadow of death,’ and if saved, we must spend eternity in the same kingdom.” And then, turning to the teachers, he said: “May God bless you in your noble work—Christian work. Yours is a Christ-like calling, and I say that you not only deserve the hearty sympathy, co-operation, and support of the Christian people of the South, but you have it. I repeat it, _you have it_.” At this point all sang, “Hold the Fort.”