It seems that all political power is fast passing out of the control of the colored people. It may be a blessing in disguise for them, because they are now turning their attention to something else to find out the cause of such a sudden change, and I may say that they are now admitting themselves that the reason that everything has taken such a turn was because they were not enlightened enough to act right and wisely. There is so much ignorance on the part of the colored people and corruption among the whites.

I believe that ere long the National Reform movement will be the great movement among the colored people. I give as a reason for this, the fact that all the colored people firmly believe that they owe their freedom to God. They seem to understand much better than one would suppose, that man was only God's instrument in giving them liberty. Very often, when some of the rebels are abusing Mr. Lincoln and the Yankees for taking away their slaves, they are often silenced by some old colored man or woman, who replies, "La, Missie or Massa, wan't Mr. Linkum nor de Yankees that give us our freedom; it was God."

We continued the Sabbath school in the absence of Mr. Elliott, on Sabbath morning, and at the close of the Sabbath school we have prayer meeting. The attendance on Sabbath was pretty good. We are hopeful that Mr. Elliott shall be permitted to return in the fall with authority to hold communion.

I believe I have told about all of importance. The weather is very hot. Everybody says it is awful. It has been 103° in the shade several days. The weather is very dry, too.

I send my regards to all the members of the Board. I shall be glad to know whether we shall have a church soon or not.

J. W. SPROULL,

Sec. C. B. M.

THE following letter to Mrs. McKee from Mrs. McKinney, contains the latest news from Camden:

As for mission news I have but little that is new, excepting that the Sabbath school is increasing every Sabbath, both in interest and number. Sabbath a week ago I was not able to attend. Mr. McK. got two of the best teachers to take my room, but the little folks got too much for them, and Mr. McK. had to leave his room and take mine. When I went back last Sabbath I expected to have trouble with them, but they were as good as I could wish. I have over forty, and last Sabbath took in two new teachers to help me. I have kept the worst, and get along nicely with them. They are learning the short questions and 34th Psalm. None of them can read, so they have to be taught orally, and for every five questions they learn I give them a picture card. They all try hard to get a card every day before we dismiss. I take them all into Mr. McK.'s room, when he asks all the questions they have learned for several Sabbaths back. A good many of the parents come as spectators, and they seem quite proud to have their children say their questions this way in public. Mr. McK. puts his whole school, teachers and all, through the same drill on the Shorter Catechism, commenting on some one of them before I take my school in. So the spectators have a chance to see what all are doing. He gives the Sabbath school papers you sent as a reward for perfect lessons in Catechism. Give our very warmest thanks to Mrs. Mawhinney for her kindness to us and the mission, and tell her we gratefully accept of it. I have forgotten what you said about the $5 she gave,

but if it is for the use of the mission, we think of spending it for Sabbath

school papers.

Mr. McK. has two prayer-meetings started, and when the Fourth is past expects to have more. Some of the old folks are much pleased with these prayer-meetings. He also, wherever he visits, tries to get the heads of families to keep family worship, and in some cases has succeeded.

We are very busy preparing for the Fourth. We expect quite a crowd of strangers, and some of the country schools have been preparing for the past two months. They hope to get ahead of our school, which we do not intend to let them do if we can help it, although many of them are farther advanced

than ours.

I have four girls taking music lessons, and they will all, I think, be able to play a piece on the 4th. Lila will likely have three or four; she learns very fast.

The day school is growing smaller; the parents are taking their children to hoe cotton. Some of our very best are gone, but if all reports are true, the school house will not hold them in the fall. This is the night of teachers' meeting. They will not be here though till after nine o'clock, and we will not likely get to bed till near twelve. It is so with all our meetings, and is very hard on both of us, especially Mr. Mc., who has to study on Saturdays and teach after the prayer-meetings. We sometimes go out and spend the evening and be back long before any one comes; but I wish you could see them bending over their books, trying to study out the questions; you couldn't help thinking well of them. Most of them try hard to have their lessons prepared for Sabbath.

I don't know as any of this will interest you, but you are anxious for mission news, and this is all, or nearly all, old to us, so I'm afraid it will not interest you much.

Our Sabbath school was small yesterday, only 88 scholars. Judge Henderson was there again, and spoke to the school. We had just distributed the shorter catechism, and he told the scholars that it was one of the first books he studied, that he had committed all the questions and was glad of it, hoped he was a better man to-day for it, and that they would more than repay them for all the trouble of study, but that they need never expect to master themthat he considered them the very essence of Bible truth-" and the Psalms, the dear old Psalms-study them, boys and girls, and they will be a lamp to guide you through life, and at death will lighten up the dark valley of the shadow of death." He said much more, but I can't remember it. He is a good friend to the school, and his influence will be great.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

THE Committee appointed by Pittsburgh Presbytery to attend to the ordination and installation of Mr. J. R. Wylie, met in Springfield Church on June 29, 1877. Mr. Wylie delivered a lecture from 1 Peter 1: 16-19, and sermon from Eph. 17.

These discourses were unanimously sustained.

Rev. J. C. McFeeters preached the ordination sermon from Isaiah 58: 8; after which Mr. Wylie was ordained to the work of the ministry, and installed in the usual form into the pastoral charge of Springfield congregation, Rev. J. C. Smith offering the ordination prayer.

N. M. Johnston addressed the pastor, and Rev. S. J. Crowe the people. The audience was large, and gave undivided attention. The sacrament of the

supper was observed by the congregation on the following Sabbath; Revs. Smith and Johnston remaining with them. Eight members were added to the congregation by profession and certificate. The harmony, earnestness and life manifested by the congregation in so promising a field, are pledges of future growth and prosperity, and greatly encourage the young pastor in his new work. N. M. JOHNSTON.

REPORT OF IOWA PRESBYTERY.

IOWA Presbytery met during the session of Synod, in the Central Church, Allegheny, May 23d.

E. G. Elsey was chosen Moderator, and M. A. Gault, Clerk. Isaiah Faris was released from the pastoral charge of Walnut City congregation, and W. P. Johnston appointed to preach there at his own convenience, and declare the pulpit vacant. R. Hutcheson was continued stated supply at Elliota. Two calls were laid on the table for D. H. Coulter, one from Winchester, Kansas Presbytery, and one from Southfield, Lakes Presbytery. The former was by him accepted. R. C. Wylie was appointed to preach at Barclay Centre as often as he could afford.

Dr. Cannon was appointed to visit, at his earliest convenience, the congregations of Lake Reno and Round Prairie, to moderate in the sessions, and to administer the Lord's supper.

Presbytery adjourned to meet in Hickory Grove Church on Wednesday, October 3d, at 7 o'clock, and to hold Presbyterial communion on Sabbath for lowing. M. A. GAULT, Clerk.

When the ark-bearing priests on dry ground stood,
Twelve stones were set for memorial good. Josh, 4: 3.
When God to man his holy will made known,
He wrote with his own hand on page of stone.

When Jacob from his brother fled away

And sought repose at close of weary day,
He made the stones his pillow, and was blessed

Exod. 31: 18.

With visions of his future, better rest. Gen. 28: 11.

When guilty man profaned the Sabbath day,

Stones did the Sabbath-breaker justly slay. Num. 15: 32.

As stones are polished oft by earthly flood,

May we by Christ's all-cleansing precious blood

Be fitted and employed for house divine,

Which shall forever in the heavens shine.

The stone from mountain cut, though first so small, Dan. 2: 34..

Is used to typify the Lord, of all—

Who tiny infant once in manger laid,

Is crushing now, each day, the serpent's head.

When fierce Goliath challenged Israel's band,
Their courage failed, and weak were heart and hand,
Forth came young David, raised by help above,
To save the people God had deigned to love.

The tiniest member of our quiet race, 1 Sam. 17: 49.
Lay in the murmuring brook, a lowly place,
But, chosen by David in eventful hour,

To aid him in averting tyrants' power,

He slung the stone, which sunk in giant's brain,
Its work complete, ne'er seen by man again.

So may we all who hear the old, old story,

Accomplish some good thing and leave to God the glory,
Content, indeed, if chosen by his hand,

To aid in working out his least command.

R. F

ENIGMA.

My first is in Old, but not in New.

My second is in Trouble, but not in Despair.
My third is in Window, but not in Door..
My fourth is in Bird, but not in Sparrow.
My fifth is in Light, but not in Darkness.
My sixth is in Language, but not in Greek.
My seventh is in Salvation, but not in Grace.
My eighth is in Soul, but not in Spirit.
My ninth is in Rain, but not in Water.
My whole is a Theological Professor.

A READER OF THE R. P. & C.

THE initials of the following form the name of a place where David smote the Philistines:

1. A son of Solomon.

2. The father of Aminadab.

3. A son of Haggith.

4. One of the sons of Seir.

5. One of the sons of Judah.

6. One of the sons of Israel.

7. The mother of Boaz.
8. A son of Eliakim.

9. The father of Joab.

10. One that was beheaded.
11. The daughter of Saul.

S. L. MADDIN, Antrim, O.

BEHEADED RHYMES,

Who can fill the blanks, and answer the questions?

1. Who called for salt once, in a new
And showed the people 'twas for no
By making the waters fit for -?

2. What writers in the Bible

The story of one, who, with false pride

John's life would have saved, when it proved too

?

3. Where does he, who for sin, with his blood did
Invite us all, in the kindliest

To come and be saved, even every

?

QUI.

3d. Where does it say, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian-who said it, and whom to?

4th. Where does it say, Jesus wept, and what did the Jews say about him weeping? M. E. F.

ANSWERS.

Transposed Command-" Remember the Sabbath Day." Enigma-"Evil pursu

eth sinners."

TO BIBLE QUESTIONS.

First. It was Judah's sin that was written with a pen of iron and the point of a diamond. Jeremiah 17: 1.

Second. It was Jeremiah that was told to go down to the potter's house to hear the words of the Lord. Jeremiah 18: 2d.

Third. It was Jehu that proclaimed a solemn assembly in subtilty, with the intent to deceive the worshippers of Baal, so that he might slay them at one stroke 2 Kings 10: 20.

Fourth. Zedekiah's name, before it was changed, was Mattaniah, changed by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. 2 Kings 24: 17. Answers given by Maggie J. Miller, Enfield, Conn.

OBITUARIES.

WE publish by request the following elegy, first published many years ago, on the death of Rev. Wm. Stavely, minister of the congregation of Kell's Water:

Awake, my muse, awake in plaintive strains,
Conjoin the grief that swells the mourner's veins,
Condole each throbbing breast that sobs and sighs,
For Stavely, who in yonder valley lies.

Low, low beneath the earthly clod doth lie
The head that did in gospel brightness vie,
Those able lungs, that loud the trumpet blew,
Have ever to the pulpit bid adieu.

Those active limbs that oft did roam abroad,
While he surveyed the sanctuary of God,
Are now benumbed in earth's cold dusty bed,
Consigned to clay, and numbered with the dead.

Lament, lament, ye heralds of the cross,
The fall is great, and still as great the loss,
A great man in our Israel fallen is,
The loss is ours, the benefit is his.

For Sion's King and laws he dauntless stood,
To yield a hoof is what he never would;
No price could buy, no royal favor bring,
That love he bore for Sion's only King.
The royal headship boldly did proclaim,
'Gainst all invaders of the sacred name,
As King of saints, set up on Sion's wall,
Destined to rule the heathen nations all.

The royal standard never once did flinch,
No foe could ever make him yield an inch,
Unbendingly displayed the banner given,
For all the sacred truths revealed by Heaven.