A few months of experience impress me with the conviction that the school is the “John the Baptist” of the church. We cannot do without each of them. But we are still in the “school” state; and if either is to suffer, it must be the church work. Each, in fact, bears the same message to the masses. The church is doubtless to “increase” greatly; but it will yet be many days (years) before the school will “decrease,” if we are wise. It has sometimes been said that the colored people have what has been called, “a genius for piety.” How much this means can only be understood by one who has been with them in their religious assemblies of the better sort. They have a faculty for getting hold of, and being interested in and by, the things which are most elaborate and profound and spiritually significant in thought, which continually surprises one. They know “meat” from “milk,” and are ready every time for the former. They might not follow one who gave them Rowland Hill’s fine “river of words, and only a spoonful of thought,” but if any man can speak thoughts in words which accurately mate each other, I invite him to my pulpit, assuring him that he will have an attentive and appreciative hearing such as delights the heart of the messenger who has something to say. My impression is that the Negro is to have a decided and beneficent influence upon the Christianity of America, if not upon that of the whole world:—but in precisely what direction I am not clear. I have a truly noble little band of co-pastors in these churches scattered here-abouts. They do not know what they are doing—nor do any of us, I think—in planting the seeds of a decorous and an intelligent church life, and one which insists upon honesty, sobriety, “whatsoever is of good report,” etc., as fundamental therein, among these people who are slowly but surely getting into a secure and respectable place in the body politic. In view of their position and its opportunities one cannot help feeling—and no one can feel it as keenly as they themselves do—that it is a pity that their early advantages had not been greater. Nevertheless it is my impression that the next fifteen years of A. M. A. work will be more important, if possible, than the last fifteen years have been; and this, whether we consider negro or white, State or Nation, America or Africa. Conclusion: Prayers and gifts were never more needed, or more likely to do lasting good than just now. * * * * * The Southern Winter of 1880-81. REV. S. E. LATHROP, MACON. For this season, at least, the name of “Sunny South” is a misnomer. Beginning in November last, there have been almost four solid months of cold, sour, dismal, cloudy, stormy weather.