Emerson Institute has rounded out a year of peculiar disappointments and has crowned the last days with a brighter bow of promise than ever. The seven teachers have sought a well-earned rest in their cooler homes of the North. Their heroism at the burning of our church and school building last January, and their cheerful endurance for Christ’s sake of the hardships that have followed, have been beautiful object lessons to their pupils and any spectators. As the scattering of the early disciples from Jerusalem advanced the Kingdom, so our dispersion to two different sections of the city, it is believed, has accomplished the hope of our night. No colored man has co-operated with us more efficiently than Rev. A. F. Owens, pastor of the Third Baptist Church. He and his people, after our fire, offered us the use of their house for school purposes. No mention of pay was permitted beyond that involved in some repairs necessary to adapt it to our purposes. The marks at the written examinations fell below those of last year, as might have been expected in the midst of such privations. But at the oral examinations, on the 25th, the various classes gratified their teachers and visitors. Among the latter were our staunch friend, Rev. Dr. Burgett, and three colored pastors. The brightest color in the bow appeared in the anniversary exercises. The preparation had not interfered with regular lessons, but their thoroughness was manifest in the hearty testimony of the leading white M. E. pastor in the city, Rev. J. O. Andrews, who had offered the opening prayer. The exercises were witnessed by over 800 people, some of them outside, at the window. Those within entered by tickets, an experiment which fully succeeded in the presence of those who have some real interest in the work, and in securing better attention. The new Music Department was justified by its fruits, especially in a short cantata in which the Queen of the Fairies crowned the virtues. Like the latest wonder, the exhibition is universally declared the finest ever witnessed here. The deliverances warned against alcohol, tobacco, ignorance and laziness, and recommended labor and piety. The advanced point made was the presence and remarks of the Recorder (Mayor) of the Port, R. B. Owen. He was accompanied by his wife. As his honor came upon the platform, before the closing song, the Superintendent grasped his hand, exclaiming, “The North and the South, one and inseparable!” to which he responded, “That is my sentiment.” In a few well-chosen words he expressed his pleasure in the efforts of the colored people to gain an education; declared that the time had come for intelligence and morality to be the recognized mark of a man, and said he was “infinitely gratified” with the performances of the young people at this time, and grateful for the opportunity of witnessing the results here obtained, and of giving a word of cheer to all engaged in the work of education.