mental improvement, fitting her for the noblest enjoyments of life, spiritually, mentally and socially. Mrs. Cheeny read a paper prepared by Mrs. A. W. Curtis, of Marion, on “How to Reach Mothers in their Homes.” Since Mrs. Curtis is an invalid and a great sufferer, being unable to visit among the homes, it seemed at first an unfortunate topic for her consideration; but when we listened to her paper and saw how she had been directed of the Lord to reach the mothers and help them by bringing them to her own home, and there giving them the perfect illustration of what a true Christian home may be, and of counseling and instructing them, we were led to say, “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. Man deviseth his ways, but God directeth his steps.” This paper was an inspiration, must have been, to every mother present. To this contact with the mother at her own home, Mrs. Curtis points as the first seed dropped which led to the revival at Marion, where such a harvest was reaped for the Lord. Mrs. Deforest, of Talladega, read a paper on “How shall we Increase the Interest in our Work?” These brief mentions are only crumbs which fell from our bountifully loaded table, the fragments, hastily and poorly gathered together, but we hope that you may gain some faint idea of the good which came to us by our mutual exchange of thought and sympathy, and the encouragement we received to persevere in our good work. * * * * * THE SOUTH-WESTERN CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION. Annual Meeting at Terrebonne, April 6–8. REV. W. S. ALEXANDER, D.D., NEW ORLEANS. The Association met with a most cordial welcome by Brother Clay and his church at Terrebonne, the place of our last annual meeting. The good pastor has been sadly afflicted during the year by the loss of his devoted wife and daughter, but he has met his troubles with the faith and fortitude of a true Christian. Terrebonne—worthy of its name, “good-land”—is situated in one of the most beautiful and productive sections of Louisiana. The chief staple is sugar, and it requires only capital and enterprise to cause the entire country to bloom like a garden of roses. To those who believe that it is a prime necessity to the Freedman to own his homestead and to become a part of the “_realty_” of this Southern country, it is especially gratifying to see the modest homes and fruitful gardens and cultivated acres of our newly made citizens, and to hear them say: “This is mine; no man holds a mortgage on my home.” Our annual meeting was regarded as in some respects the best we have ever held. The brethren feel that they are climbing a little higher each year. Every church but the smallest mission church was represented, and several delegates came 100 miles to the meeting.