At the recent Triennial National Council of Congregational Churches held in Portland, Oregon, reference to the pressing of Christian educational work into Cuba was greeted with enthusiastic applause. And now there come letters from those who desire to volunteer for service under the American Missionary Association to enter upon this work in Cuba and Porto Rico. This Association has not the power to issue bonds for the expense of such missionary campaign, nor to levy war taxes. The significance, however, of these new fields of work and the especial fitness of the American Missionary Association to enter them must be apparent to all our constituents. The inhabitants of both these islands are largely of a mixed race. The splendid band of young colored people in the South have been trained during the years in the American Missionary Association schools and are excellently well qualified for carrying this Christian work among the peoples of these island regions. They are acclimated, born and reared in the southern climate. Some even are immunes. Is it not a special providence that this band of young people have been trained for just such work as this opening to our Congregational fellowship in Cuba and Porto Rico? The volunteers for work in these islands, however, are not confined to any one race. The Oberlin Alumni suggest an "Oberlin Band" to be organized and sent into this field. From the far West and from the far East we receive letters from well-trained, earnest and godly teachers and preachers anxious to volunteer for this service. The sinews of war for this magnificent Christian campaign are wanting. The responsibility of promptly entering these fields that God is opening to Christian conquest and an intelligent and free gospel rests upon those who can furnish these sinews of war. Shall Cuba and Porto Rico be taken for Christ and an intelligent gospel? * * * * * A WHITE MAN'S COUNTRY AND A COLORED MAN'S COUNTRY. The government of the United States has just issued bonds to secure a loan of $200,000,000 for the costs of war. It may be interesting to our readers to know that every one of those bonds must be signed by Mr. Judson W. Lyons, a colored man, who succeeded ex-Senator Bruce as Register of the Treasury. On the ordinary paper money his name is engraved, but on those bonds it must be written with his own hand, else the bond is invalid. This will make necessary his signing his name 40,000 times, and he is now engaged in doing this. * * * * * Before the war began there was in the United States army only one negro commissioned officer; now, as we count them, there are more than one hundred and fifty. If we are correct in our figures there are as the war closes about one hundred and sixty-four colored Americans who bear U. S. commissions. These rank from second lieutenant up to colonel. * * * * *