Every student above the eighth grade is now a Christian, I believe, with possibly one exception, and that one is a young man of fine promise, who said publicly last night that his supreme desire was to be a Christian, and that a great burden had been upon him, night and day, for many weeks. We think that his only difficulty is that he desires the experience he has seen in others and does not see that faith is the door by which he must enter that experience. I know that you will rejoice with us in this great blessing. * * * * * SELF-SUPPORTING CHURCH. THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ATLANTA, GA. BY REV. H. H. PROCTOR. The first Congregational Church of Atlanta was founded in 1867 by Rev. Frederick Ayer and wife, of Wisconsin, the former of whom has entered into his rest, but the latter is still living at a ripe old age in her native State. The church grew out of the Storrs School, the pioneer educational institution of Georgia for the colored race, and was a response to the conscious need of a more enlightened Christianity. The chapel of the Storrs School was its first place of worship, but there was soon felt a need for a regular meeting house. By the aid of the American Missionary Association and of the C. C. B. S., a handsome and substantial structure was built at the corner of Courtland avenue and Houston street. The $2,000 contributed by the people for this building represented no little sacrifice. All of the work on the building was done by colored men, and the neat, slate-covered brick structure, most appropriate in architectural design, is an ornament to that elegant portion of the city in which it is prominently located. A well-appointed eight-room parsonage stands hard by the church, built by students of Atlanta University. The funds for the erection of the parsonage came in part from a benevolent Northern lady, but the greater part was contributed in pennies and nickels and dimes by the people themselves. The church building and parsonage are located in a community settled chiefly by white people. Once they made vigorous protest, but since they found it is not a "shouting" church, no complaint is heard. They often listen to the services from their verandas, and not a few worship with us from time to time, and express themselves highly pleased. The church has been blessed in having such an excellent line of pastors from New England. The first was Rev. C. W. Francis, now a pastor in Connecticut. Then came Revs. E. E. Rogers, C. W. Southgate, S. S. Ashley, C. W. Hawley, Evarts Kent, and S. H. Robinson. All of these brethren are remembered for their sterling character and their faithful labors. The present pastor finds living monuments to the toil of every one of them. They have written their names individually on the hearts of the people.