TOPEKA, Kansas.—The relief work proves quite a tax on our time and strength. Six mornings out of the seven are devoted to the people for their instruction and improvement. Monday evening we hold prayer meeting; Tuesday evening is devoted to Bible study for the young people. A good number attend. Friday evening I have a class in singing. The Sabbath is a busy day for each of us. We have a full Sunday-school and need twice as much room, and Sabbath evening the Chapel is well filled. With not a few worthy exceptions the people are ignorant and wicked, but this does not discourage us. Already we can perceive a change for the better. In all our exercises the people are more orderly and attentive. WASHINGTON, D.C.—“I have organized a Doing Good Society in the girl’s school, which is doing effective work and interesting all. We appoint a committee of two to visit the sick every week. I give them something to carry in food and clothing, playthings and picture-books, for the sick, and taking the Bible and song-book they read and sing, often gathering a whole family in to hear them. Each Saturday a report of their visits is read, and once a month the school brings pennies to buy food. My prayer meetings among the mothers and girls are often very full of tenderness. And yet, among this people it is so easy to have good prayer meetings that I don’t think as much of it as I used to at the North. More and more I feel the importance of teaching them that temperance, purity and a desire to do something for others is true religion.” * * * * * THE FREEDMEN. REV. JOSEPH E. ROY, D.D., FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA. THE SOUTHWESTERN CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION. BY REV. W. S. ALEXANDER, D.D. The time and place (June 1, New Orleans) proved propitious. They gave the ministers and delegates an opportunity, by anticipating the meeting, to be present at the anniversary exercises of the University. I think a fire has been kindled which will not be quenched when our brethren reach their homes, and we shall find, when the new school year opens, that new connecting lines have been established between Straight University and the interior towns.