me, keep my commandments." Friday morning devotional meeting found a
good number of one accord in one place, asking for the renewed anointing
of the Holy Spirit. The business session began with Brother Yancy B.
Sims, of Little Rock, as Moderator, Rev. S. Rose, Recording Secretary.
After roll-call, the narrative of the state of religion in the churches
showed not any flattering condition of prosperity, but in general a
state of hopefulness. Some of the churches are evidently becoming
established, while pastors, laboring amid all the trials incident to the
common poverty, the want of general culture, and of experience in self
government, have occasion to walk by faith oftener than by sight. "_To
patience, experience_," is a phrase we are studying in the original.

"Christian Benevolences and their Administration," was the title of a
paper presented by B.A. Imes of Memphis. The general discussion was
animated. It was agreed we should understand that contributions to the
cause of religion are not gifts. When we offer to the Lord we only pay
what we owe. Religion has too long been made to go a begging.

Prof. H.S. Bennett spoke on "Ministerial Support."

On Friday night, members of the Association found themselves
"complimented" with tickets, and crowded in the chapel of Livingstone
Hall, where Prof. Spence and the Mozart Society, of Fisk, treated us to
an excellent rendering of Haydn's great oratorio, "The Creation." Many
came over from the city, whites from "best families," all crowding
in--listening, wondering, enjoying! How the music of those well-tuned
instruments and voices caught us up and carried us away! Color-line
melted and faded out! How we wished the politicians all might have been
brought under that magic spell of solos and choruses! Next morning yet
they were ringing in our heads, and stirring our hearts with the praises