Your Committee desire to commend the patient adherence, not only of the Association, but of the churches themselves, to this principle. They would also acknowledge with gratitude the prosperous condition of the churches, as set forth in the more detailed reports submitted. With hardly an exception, they are provided with houses of worship, they are substantially free from debt, discipline has been thoroughly maintained, mission work has been earnestly carried on, benevolence has been largely increased, the pulpit has been well supplied, and in many cases there have been most gracious proofs of the special work of the Spirit of God. The present number of churches is 73, an increase the last year of 5, with a present membership of nearly 5,000, an increase of 635. The question of greatest urgency connected with the department of Church Work, is that of education for the ministry. Three of the schools have a theological department—Fisk, Talladega, and Straight. There is also a theological department connected with Howard University, partly under the care of the Association. But no one of these has any endowment. No permanent provision whatever has been made for the instruction or support of those studying for the ministry. The work is carried on under every possible disadvantage. Meanwhile, the demand for an educated ministry is steadily and rapidly increasing. The work of education has now reached the point where the ratio of increase will soon be enormous. Over 150,000 children have been under instruction the past year. The material for churches will soon be abundant. The only question will be, can it be used? Other denominations, too, are looking largely to the schools of the Association for ministers. And England, in her missions for Africa, naturally turns to the Freedmen of America for missionaries. Your Committee would call the attention of the churches to the growing prominence of the religious question at the South, and would most earnestly advise the patrons of this Association to make fit provision and endowment for the permanent work of educating men for the ministry. WM. J. TUCKER, _Chairman_. * * * * * OUR DISADVANTAGES AND ADVANTAGES. FIELD SUP’T J. E. ROY, D.D. Our church work at the South has its disadvantages, its advantages, its obligations, its encouragements. I.—ITS DISADVANTAGES.