The divineness of the gift, however, precluded such a fear. There is
too much consecration in the hearts of God's children to keep back a
single offering for those for whom Christ died. The great promise of
the Master will prove itself true; "To him that hath shall be given."
Turning to the members of the Executive Committee, the suggestion was
made that the manner in which they should guard this great gift would
be a potent factor in urging greater gifts from the churches. In such
hands was left the burden of showing that only a blessing and not a
curse was possible. Be true to your great trust. His closing words were
in recognition of the blessings sure to rest upon the venerable giver
whose last days have been so near heaven as to catch the beams of holy
light.

* * * * *

SKETCH OF MR. HAND'S LIFE.

Daniel Hand was born in Madison, Conn., July 16, 1801, and was
therefore in the eighty-eighth year of his age when he made his gift
for the education of the colored people at the South. His ancestors
have resided in that town for several generations and were always
landholders, industrious, quiet and respectable. To this ancestry Mr.
Hand is probably indebted under God for his physical vigor, long life,
strength of character and success in business. He was the fourth son of
seven, and was on the farm under his father's direction until he was
sixteen years of age, when he was put in charge of his second brother,
Augustus F. Hand, who was then a merchant at Augusta, Ga., and whom he
succeeded in business. In 1854 Mr. Hand went to New York in connection
with his Southern business, and remained there in that capacity until
the beginning of the war in 1861. He resided in some portion of the