Rev. John E. C. Smedes, Principal.Assistants: Rev. J. C. Cooper, Annie Haywood, Jane Thomas.

In the nine months' session of St. Augustine's Normal School and Collegiate Institute, Raleigh, N. C., begun in October, 1875, and ended in June, 1876, we registered seventeen male and thirteen female boarding-scholars. Our enrollment of day scholars, numbering one hundred, and nearly equally divided between the sexes, brings up our total registry for the session to one hundred and thirty scholars.

The three assistant teachers, trained in the school, and still under tuition, who were with us the previous session, were retained, and, as far as it could be done, were promoted to the charge of more advanced classes. They fulfilled their duties faithfully and efficiently, and with very slight interruption from sickness or other hindrance.

During the past two sessions, the duty of matron and housekeeper has been discharged, not as before, by one of the assistant teachers, but by an official who has no other functions, and who fills her post in many respects to the satisfaction of the Principal.

During the term, considerable repairs were made on the school buildings, and a fence, enclosing some ten or twelve acres of the school land for a vegetable garden for the school, was put up by order of our Executive Committee. An effort has been made, with a fair measure of success, to cultivate this enclosure the present season, the labor of the scholars being used, for the purpose, as far as possible.

Mr. George A. C. Cooper, one of our assistant teachers, who has, for three years, pursued his studies in this school, was ordained to the Diaconate on Whitsunday last, the 4th of June. The Ordination Services, held in St. Augustine's Chapel, in this city, were very interesting. Bishop Lyman, who officiated at the request of the Bishop of the Diocese, delivered, with his customary force and earnestness, an appropriate discourse to a congregation of Colored people which filled the Church. The Rev. J. A. Oertel, of this Diocese, was present and took part in the Services. The Candidate was presented by the Principal of St. Augustine's Normal School, who has pastoral charge of the Colored congregation of Raleigh, worshipping in this Chapel. It is a plain wooden structure, but it has the distinction, dear and honorable in the eyes of some of its worshippers, of having been the scene, within little more than two years, of the ordination of two Colored men, one an Afric-American, from the Northern States, the other an Afric-Anglican, from the West Indies; the latter, Mr. Cooper, retains his connection with our school, purposing, D.V., to continue with us until he is ready for Priest's Orders.

Three weeks before this Ordination, on the Fourth Sunday after Easter, the 14th of May, Bishop Lyman administered Confirmation in the same chapel, the Principal of St. Augustine's Normal School presenting the Candidates--twelve in number, and among them some of his scholars, of whom thirty-two have been added by this Apostolic rite to the Communion of the Church, since June, 1873. The Rev. J. A. Oertel and the Rev. Bennett Smedes assisted at this Service. The congregation was larger than the Church could accommodate with sittings; and Bishop Lyman, in his sermon and address, powerfully stirred the hearts of his hearers.

One other Service held in this chapel since my last report should be noticed. The Right Rev. J. T. Holly, D.D., Bishop of Haiti, officiated 00077here on the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity, the 3d day of October. In the morning he preached an able sermon ex tempore, and at night read his interesting lecture on the planting of the Church in Haiti. At the night Service, among his hearers in the Chancel were Bishop Lyman, the Rev. A. Smedes, D.D., and the Rev. M. M. Marshall, D.D. The offerings of the congregation on this occasion were devoted to the work of the Church in Haiti. Bishop Holly came to Raleigh for the purpose of placing his two sons and another Haitian youth in St. Augustine's School. We were thankful for his visit; his words of wisdom ought to come with peculiar force to men of his own race; and the honor with which the Church has invested him, though an unworldly one, reflects upon his people a lustre which they are not slow to recognize.

Our school, we trust, is doing a good and growing work, as one of Church's handmaids, in training for her altars a priesthood who, as their "kinsmen according to the flesh," may most acceptably minister the Gospel to our home-born Africans in the South. Besides four Candidates for Orders (one belonging to this Diocese, two to Tennessee, and one to our Foreign Missionary Jurisdiction in Liberia, West Africa), we had with us, during the whole of the past session, two postulants (one of this Diocese and one of Haiti), and four others desiring, and nearly ready, to be admitted as postulants. These ten, with one exception, will all be with us the next session, beginning October 2d; and, in addition to them, we have promised to receive four others, whose applications have come to us from as many different Dioceses, to be trained for Holy Orders.

Most of our students of this class have remained at the school during the present vacation, pursuing their studies under the superintendence of the Principal, and receiving their board, as during the session, from the treasury of the school, which could have helped them in this way, but for the valuable aid which the Commission has extended to us. During the previous vacation, also, a similar arrangement was made for their benefit, the cost of their board at that time, however, being defrayed, not by the school, but by a gift of two hundred dollars obtained by Bishop Lyman from the executors of the Avery Estate, at Pittsburgh, Pa.

Our examinations this year occupied more time and were more formally conducted than at the close of previous terms. Among the School Trustees and other visitors who attended them, and encouraged as with words of favor and approval, were our venerable and beloved Diocesan, Bishop Atkinson, and the Hon. Kemp P. Battle, President of the University of North Carolina.

Respectfully submitting the above report, and tendering to the Executive Committee of the Commission, on behalf of the Trustees, Teachers and Pupils of the School, an expression of our hearty thanks for their liberal aid for the session of 1875-6.

P.S.--In answer to your question relative to the names of those of our 00088former pupils who have been or are now engaged in teaching, I can only say that the earlier catalogues of our students are not in my possession. The following list, while correct as far as it goes, is necessarily imperfect. Females: Hermina Alston, Alice Dowd, Julia Gray, Olivia Grant, Harriet Hughes, Annie Haywood, Matilda Smith, Mary Smith, Laura Smith, Jane Thomas, Sarah White, Lucy Williams, Mary Whitted, Julia Wethington, Cynthia Winsted, Virginia Stator, Nancy Stator, Harriet Crenshaw, Adianna Killian, Anne M. Killian, Elizabeth Thompson, M. E. Pettipher, Mary F. Holmes, Rhoda Mitchell, Mary Gray, Alice Davis, Gracie McLain, Lizzie Gibson, Eleonora Thomas, Luthera Gray, Laura Webb--31.

Males: Cicero Bustin, Geo. W. Bridgford, Redmond Albretton, John W. Burgess, Daniel Foreman, Louis Johnson, Robert W. Perry, Rev. P. T. Rogers James Gatlin, Frank Debnam, Robert Gray, Sandy Locke, Theo. Blackman, Isaac Patrick, Isaiah Hayes, Aaron Bridges, Leonard Bell, Jerry Campor, Robert Flagg, Iram Hill, Norfleet Jeffreys, David Outlaw, Tazewell Outlaw, Stephen Powers, Turner R. Speller, Geo. A. C. Cooper, Jason Powell, Warren Boddie, Albert Battle, Cain Barnes, J. Bell, P.C. Williams, G. S. Mabry, W. W. Cheshire, Aaron Brown, Samuel Cannon, Henry Islay, Joseph Hall, James Middleton, Cornelius Waddell, Henry Leith, Calvin Matthews, Amos McCullough, Isaac Smith, D. F. Hayes--45. Total, 76.

The Missionary at St. Mary's, Washington, D.C., begs to report that, to all outward seeming, his work appears prosperous and progressive. He trusts that it is based in true spiritual reality. Services during the year, since his last report, have been held without interruption on all Sundays, on the greater Festivals, and on Wednesdays; and the attendance on Sundays has filled the chapel to its utmost capacity, and frequently crowded it. The collections during the current year, have exceeded those of 1875 by over $100; and besides this, the congregation are giving extra sums towards building our new church, which is to be called St. Luke's.

The Sunday-schools at St. Mary's and St. Peter's chapels, are continued with their usual success and numbers. Within the last six months we have begun a new effort in Mission and Sunday-school work, in South Washington, in the section known as the "Island." The school commended on its first Sunday with forty-five children; but now has an attendance of from eighty to ninety. The place now occupied is most illy fitted for the purpose. With a proper hall we could easily gather together from one to two hundred children, and commence regular Sunday 00099Services with a large congregation. The people--many of them Church people by training--are constantly asking for Sunday Services.

In the early part of July, ground was broken, and the foundations laid of our new church-- St. Luke's. The walls have been built up seven (7) feet from the ground, and more than half of the stone work has already been completed. And here our endeavors are arrested from the lack of funds! We appeal most earnestly to Church people in all sections, to aid us in building this Church. For, if there is any work in our Church which is truly National, which rests equally and alike in its burdens and responsibilities upon Churchmen in all quarters, it is Church work in Washington for the Colored people. For this population (43,000) comes from every State and Territory; and the city, being small in numbers and resources, can't well meet all the demands made upon it.

Baptism, Adults, 3; Infants, 17=20. Burials, 9. Church Services, 200. Sermons, 200. Holy Communions, 25. Communicants, 107. Confirmations, 2 (one 15 and 6=21). Marriages, 6. Parish School Teacher, 1; Scholars, 40. Sunday-schools, 3; Teachers, 16; Scholars, 200. Church Contributions, $407.03. Communion Alms, $20.50. Contributions from Washington Churches, for salary of Missionary, $353.00. Contribution from Washington for new Church, part in material, but chiefly in cash, about $700.00.

During the session beginning October 1, 1875, and ending June 30, 1876, I have had under instruction as many as 400 scholars, with an enrollment of 300 regular scholars. Number of paid teachers employed besides myself, four. Names of teachers: Giles B. Cooke, Mrs. G. B. Cooke, Miss Nettie Weddell, Miss Eliza Pannill and Mrs. C. W. Bragg. The school was divided into five departments, viz.: First or Normal, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth. The final examination showed that the children had progressed in their studies, especially so in the Normal Department, as a class of eight would go out as teachers, four of whom are now teaching. If all the First Class secure places as teachers next Fall, I will have then turned out from my Normal Department thirty-seven teachers in five years; besides the unlooked for prosperity of the school in numbers. I have been enabled since last report to form another Sunday-school; this was done by requiring the children to attend either the Morning or Afternoon Sunday-school if they desired the privilege of attending the Day-school during the week. When I announced my intention of opening a Morning School, certain failure was predicted on account of apparent insuperable difficulties, and because such a step 001010had never been attempted before. In spite of all these prophecies and difficulties, I opened a Morning Sunday-school, on the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, July 4, 1875, with an attendance of thirteen scholars, and by the Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 26, 1876, the school had increased gradually to 127, the highest number actually present during the session. The highest number actually attending the Afternoon Sunday-school during the session, was 168, making the attendance at both schools about 300. Of the nine who have been confirmed in St. Stephen's since last report, three were members of the School, and one was an old scholar. Thus far, the Normal School has added, by Confirmation, eighteen to the Church; since last report, have baptized eleven, either members of, or connected with the School. At the end of the first session, the examinations were held during the day for two weeks, and at night for a week before the session closed; the children assembled in the lecture room and Church, and rehearsed before their parents and others, such suitable pieces as had been selected for them. Usually there has been only one exhibition, but the school was so large this session that four nights were appropriated to this pleasing and, I trust, profitable exercise. The last night, Thursday, we had with us Rev. Drs. C.J. Gibson, H. W. Weddell and Kinloch Nelson. On Friday, the annual pic-nic was given at a cool and beautiful place, within walking distance of the Church. From early morning till nearly sunset, the children, with many of their parents, enjoyed themselves at this delightful place, eating ice cream and cakes, drinking lemonade, and listening to a band of music. This is the third annual pic-nic that we have had, and the children always look forward to it with a great deal of pleasure. The Christmas tree is also an occasion of great moment with them. The annual pic-nic and Christmas tree, properly managed, will, I think always prove beneficial to the scholars. Within the past session I have had several applications from young men who desired to study for the sacred ministry, but was compelled to decline taking them in the school, as it has not yet risen to the dignity of a training school for ministers. I would respectfully suggest that another department be added, and competent professor be employed, for the benefit of the Colored young men in Virginia, who are anxious to enter our ministry. The work ought to be increased and put upon a surer foundation, for we have bitter enemies among the Colored Baptists, who are doing all they can to pull it down.

I am convinced more and more by my experience in working amongst the Colored people, that their only salvation is in being properly educated. Should the Church neglect her duty as to this vital matter, I see nothing in store for this class of our people, save degradation and misery. I cannot close without commending in unmeasured terms, those of our Colored population, who, in the face of social ostracism and unrelenting persecution, from their own race, have had the good sense and 001111courage to become members of the Episcopal Church. If they hold out faithful unto the end, they will have much to afflict them in this world, but thanks be to God! they will surely obtain a blessed reward in the world to come.

Since my last report I have baptized 48 Colored Children and 4 adults. Burials, 15 Colored. Marriages, 14. Number of Services on Sundays, 141; other days, 151; whole number, 292. Number of Communions, in public and private, 22. Communicants, 95.

The Franklin Street School I visit on all Fridays, to catechize and exhort the children, and I am glad to say, that the children give great attention. I trust through these instruments, man will be brought to Christ; and we, through the blessed Saviour, will unite with those little ones and the countless multitudes in Heaven, to praise God for his love and salvation.

Three years ago I was approached by several of the leading Colored men in this city, and asked if I would hold Service and preach to them if some house or hall could be found. Two Sundays before Easter of that year, we held the Service in a Masonic Hall. It was capable of seating forty or fifty persons. We continued to hold Service there still fourteen or fifteen months ago, when we moved to a larger building, the hall being too small for the congregation. When I came to Columbia (now nearly five years) I was appointed by Bishop Davis, Missionary resident in this city. Upon the organization of the movement which began in St. Luke's Parish, the present Bishop renewed the appointment. I have acted in all my work wholly within the Canons, Church, and with the advice of the Bishop. The Parish is incorporated under the general statutes of the State, but has not had a very animated existence in its corporate capacity. The Bishop has visited the Parish thrice and has confirmed in all thirteen persons. There are now thirty communicants. The leading and most characteristic feature of the Parish has been its Sunday-school, composed of about seventy-five children, instructed by several teachers. I have also a Postulant for Orders, Mr. Thaddeus Saltus, a young man who is at present in the University of South Carolina, and one of the beneficiaries of the State; a most promising young man and a good scholar. He has the entire charge of the Sunday-school and much of the parochial work. The people are of the better class of Colored people, but are not possessed of much money; at present they are suffering severely from the financial difficulties of the State and can give but little. I am striving to lay a good foundation for Church work among these people in Columbia, and pray God to bless the efforts we are making towards building up His Kingdom in this city and in the hearts of men. Offerings (every Sunday), $125.22; Sunday-school offerings, $37.37; Ladies' Society, $25.00; Organ and Chancel furniture, $200.00; presented to Rector, $54.00. Total, $441.59. The immediate and most pressing need of the Parish is a church building. Had we a place of worship we could call our own, our further growth and prosperity would be secure. With $1,500 in hand this could be effected.

I am happy to be enabled to report progress in the work in which, by the providence of God, I am permitted to be engaged. There has been a steady increase in the number of communicants. We report for the Ecclesiastical Year, ending March 31, 1876, one hundred and fifty-one 001313communicants, with an average attendance of about one hundred; while some have moved temporarily to other localities, others are detained by various causes. There have been added by first communion during the year ending as above, seventeen; baptisms, 46. From April 1, to July 20, 1876, added by first communion, 18; baptisms, adult and infant, 27. The loss by death and removal is small. The Services are, on all Sundays of the year, as follows: Morning Prayer at 11 A.M.; Sunday-school Service at St. Barnabas School-house, 3 P.M.; Confirmation class at St. Mark's Church at 5 P.M.; Evening Prayer at 8 P.M. On Holy days, Morning Prayer at 9 1/2 A.M.; Evening Prayer at 5 P.M. Also, during the Lenten Season, daily Morning and Evening Prayer at the hours of 7 1/2 A.M. The Parish school is visited by your Missionary every morning, and its exercises opened with the reading of the Holy Scriptures and Prayer; on Fridays, the children are instructed in the Catechism and singing. The average attendance at the Church Services is quite large; at the Sunday-school, 120; at the Week-day or Parish school, 120. Thus the Services are regularly conducted every week during ten months of the year, and it is gratifying to observe a marked progress in the Parish, especially among the children; the latter are better dressed--I mean more neat and cleanly--better behaved, and more correct in deportment generally; while the congregation of St. Mark's will compare favorably with any in the county as regards respectability. The Parish also is gradually exerting an influence on the community of Colored people generally, especially among those who are becoming educated--the rising generation.

I must pause here to say a word in commendation of the excellent management of the present principal of St. Barnabas school, Mrs. Fannie Jackson, together with her assistant, Miss Alice M. Brady, and of the untiring efforts on their part to assist me in furthering the great work, and their care of the morals, as well as the scholastic training in Arithmetic and Grammar, etc., of the parochial pupils, also in the recitation of Psalms from the Psalter, and singing, by which we trust there is being laid a firm Church foundation, among the growing population of St. Mark's Parish, upon which, after we have finished our work here, others may build a superstructure of immortal souls, precious in the sight of Him who hath redeemed us unto eternal life in Himself, even "Jesus Christ" who is "the beginning and the ending," "the first and the last," the "all and in all," and to him be all the glory.

Since my last annual report, the congregation of St. Mark's have shown great energy in their endeavors to complete the wood finish, and coloring, oiling, etc., of the interior of their church. By their efforts they have succeeded in oiling a portion of the woodwork and in kalsomining the walls a pale blue, which produces quite a cheerful and appropriate effect.

The year past has been one of extreme hardness, and the people have found it difficult in many instance to get along, their efforts having been greatly crippled, yet we have got through the year comparatively free from debt. We hope to begin our work this Fall with renewed vigor, and to press it on towards the great end, i.e., the ingathering of the many precious redeemed souls among the Anglo-African race in America.

Thus the work moves on. More could be done, if we had means at our disposal; but we are thankful to say, that thus much has already been accomplished, and we hope our efforts to sow, may be acceptable to Him Who giveth "the increase," and Who calleth "All men everywhere to repent."

St. Mark's Parish, as you know, is in union with the Diocesan Convention, and is yearly represented by the Minister in charge and delegates. And I am extremely gratified to bear testimony of the hearty and cordial reception of the delegates who represent Colored Parishes by the Bishops of the Diocese as well as by the Clerical and Lay delegates. All goes on in harmony and in Christian sympathy with the weaker brethren, and it is quite apparent that we are growing more and more in favor each year of our existence with the community, and especially Churchmen and the Clergy. It is needless to add, that our position is a peculiar one, and needs great caution and prudence on our part, in these the infant days of the Church among the Anglo-Africans of the South. I feel that we are but laving the foundation of a great work--a mere preface--that is to extend not only all over the South, but from this "vine" will extend living branches which shall reach to the islands of the sea and throughout our Fatherland--"Africa."

The session now closed has been marked by no new features, so far as school life is concerned. In proportion to the number of scholars in attendance, we have had a greater share of old pupils than former years, and this circumstance has given an appearance of more decided progress than heretofore; yet, I do not so consider it myself, though a somewhat higher level has been attained by having had a more advanced point for the beginning.

The school has been large; the yearly roll numbers two hundred names; during the winter months there were a hundred and fifty-five pupils on the list, giving an average daily attendance of one hundred and eighteen. The teachers could not give the requisite attention to so many, did we attempt a variety of studies. I have classes in arithmetic, geography and grammar, in each of which the pupils advance satisfactorily. Could I have another assistant I would be glad to introduce different 001515branches of study, but the thing is impossible without more aid. We have the regular Morning Service, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Price, and there is a readiness and heartiness in the responses seldom found in any body of adults; on Fridays we have special Bible teaching and Catechism--this supplements the instruction of the Sunday-school, which averages 118 scholars. The moral tone of the children has decidedly improved within the past two years; so marked is the change that even indifferent observers cannot fail to notice it. There is every encouragement that ought possibly to be expected in a work of this character. Of course, wonders are not accomplished, except in books. Casual lookers-on may be disappointed in the seemingly small results en masse, but this is not the total amount; the seed scattered abroad is springing up in the by-ways, and the fruit will not be garnered by our hands. Every now and then I am called upon by a former scholar who has made his home in some distant county, and my heart is gladdened by the account of a life struggling upward in the moral scale whilst diligently earning an humble and honest subsistence. I am aware that organized churches cannot be formed from such scattered elements, but the spirit is often there, and also the requisite knowledge to avail, if circumstances should ever bring the individuals in contact with the Church and its ordinances. How earnestly I desire the coming of the time when there shall be an educated Colored Ministry for this people, yet we cannot make haste in this matter, but in the mean time, may God bless the efforts that are being made toward the much to be desired end.

I am glad to inform you that I am now comfortably domiciled in the new Mission House. Our Missionary work here is progressing at a moderate rate. The number of scholars at present attached to our Mission School is, boys, 62, girls, 69; making an aggregate of 131. The whole number registered since I took charge of the school, November, 1872, has been, boys, 116, girls, 120; making a total of 236. Of this number six have become teachers, after having passed the required examination, and received their certificates from the proper authorities. The names are as follows: Thomas Brown, George Ratliff, John Whitesides, George Harrison, Richard Johnson, Hattie Estes. In this way the beneficial influences of our Mission are gradually eddying out in circles of usefulness. Our annual examination took place March 3. Several gentlemen and ladies were present on the occasion, and all expressed themselves highly gratified with the manner in which the children aquitted themselves, in their several exercises. The examiners were: Rev. D.H. Buel, principal of the "Ravenscroft Theological Training School," Asheville; Captain 001616Patton, F. Randall, Esq., and others. Gen. Martin and family were present. The organ which was sent to us some time ago is doing good service; a few of our scholars have been taught to play upon it, and it is now regularly used at our Church Services.

Our Easter Day Services were particularly interesting, rendered so chiefly by the special efforts manifested by the children to awaken interest, not only by their singing, their chanting, and their hearty responses, but also in their floral decorations. I had previously made a request that all the children who had been baptized by the Rev. Dr. Buxton or myself, since the commencement of our efforts in the Chapel, should show their presence in the Chapel on Easter morning. We have together baptized 30 children since 1872. But the number of children present on Easter morn, bearing their floral tokens, was far beyond that. The collection for Missions taken up on that day amounted to about eight dollars. We have an excellent Sunday-school, one which I fancy is entitled to rank among the best of the kind in the Diocese. It is under the special direction of Gen. Martin. We received, last month, a box of new ready-made clothing for the girls of our Mission School, from the Missionary Society of Holy Trinity Church, West Chester, Pa.

I think that I have not yet informed you that the members of our Freedmen's Chapel presented me on Christmas last with a purse of money containing forty-five dollars, for the purpose of purchasing furniture for my new dormitory.

Communicants connected with the Chapel, 29. Confirmations, 9. Offerings, $69.95.

I have been ministering to St. Joseph's Colored congregation for nine months past, with scarcely a single interruption. The Services have been very well attended by attentive congregations, which at times have filled our Chapel to overflowing. But the general depression has affected them as every one else, quite seriously. Besides the regular Sunday Service, they have organized a Guild, which is well kept up. The Sunday-school is very thoroughly organized and managed by the Superintendent, Mr. Jno. Leary. The singing of the Sunday scholars is remarkably sweet; I think that I have rarely heard more touching singing than they gave us at the Christmas gathering. There has been, also, during Lent, regular Wednesday night Lectures, and proper Lectures for the class preparing for Confirmation. For this class, three adults were baptized, and the number presented for Confirmation was nine.

The school in connection with the Parish has been under the management of one of the former pupils of the Rev. Mr. Rogers, who had while 001717in charge, quite a large and flourishing school. The attendance during the past six months has varied considerably, beginning with only ten or twelve and mounting up to nearly thirty, with an average attendance of twenty-one. Miss Rebecca Cain has done very well with the material which was gathered in part from the streets.

With many drawbacks, which have not permitted us to extend our work as broadly as we desired, yet we have a great deal to be thankful for, and by no means feel that we have not gained ground. In fact, the School and the Guild have done and will do very much more in banding our congregation together, and making them feel that they are in one brotherhood.

Baptisms, Infants, 16; Adult, 3. Confirmations, 9. Number of Communicants, 48. Offerings, $112.00.

It gives me pleasure to forward this, my first report respecting St. Stephen's. The difficulties that almost invariably accompany a new congregation, in the way of harmonizing incongruous elements, accustoming them to the ways of the Church, and of collecting funds for the erection of a house of worship, have not been mine--this having been well begun by the late Bishop Elliott and his fellow-helpers, and continued by Bishop Beckwith and others. My work, therefore, has not been initiatory, but chiefly to build upon foundations laid by others, deep and broad, twenty years ago.

Our Services generally are well attended, and the people are profoundly ignorant of the arts of whispering the responses and sitting irreverently when they "come before His Presence with a song."

This congregation, by its reverence in worship, its quiet and unassumed dignity, and its exclusion of the "dead fly from the apothecary's ointment"--political clamor--protests against the too common excesses of many religionists.

But I am unable to dispossess myself of the belief that a Parish School, entirely under Episcopal influence and control, is the "one thing needful" for the "increase of the body" among Colored people. There are two large public and several private schools in this city for the education of our children, but mental development is the principal aim and object. It is true, numbers of the pupils attend religious services of some sort on Sunday; but our Church's great educator the Prayer Book, is unused and, probably, unthought of. If the children of my Parish composed a day-school, and were caused every morning to "meet together to render thanks for the great benefits they have received at His Hands, and to ask those things which are necessary as well for the body as the soul," there 001818would be a healthful blending of spiritual and mental growth; and, "rooted and grounded" in the Faith, they would finish their course in the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Within our parochial bounds the work has prospered, but schools such as those at St. Mary's, Baltimore, in Charleston, S. C., and in North Carolina, are, in my judgment, indispensable to the enlargement of our Church among the descendants of Africa all over the South.

Number of families comprising St. Stephen's Parish, 53. Baptisms, Infants, 5; Adults, 7. Conformations, 13. Communications (added by first Communion, 13) 131. Sunday-school Teachers, 13; Scholars, 75. Offerings: Communion Alms, $30.77; Missions (Diocesan), $9.99; Episcopal Fund, $3.40; Special, $1.00; Home Missions to Colored People, $12.50; Parochial purposes, $1,268.35. Total, $1,326.01.

In rendering you an account of the work performed during the past eighteen months, it will be proper for me to remind you that most of the work has been strictly of a Missionary character.

This Diocese is suffering very much for want of a supply of Clergy. Many country Parishes are vacant and Mission fields unworked in all parts of the State. Others, once flourishing, furnish but a meagre support for their Ministers. This has been attributed to the general depression in values, and the disturbed condition of the country. You are doubtless aware that the Colored congregation in this city was first started under the care of the Rev. Mr. McKinney, a Deacon who ministered to them very successfully for several months. After his departure the Parish was left vacant, but the pulpit was filled by the Clergy of New Orleans, notably, by the Rev. Mr. Burford, Rector of Calvary Church, who gave all of his time, not otherwise occupied by his Parish duties, to their service, visiting among their families and baptizing their children. Also by the Rev. Dr. James Saul, of the Diocese of Pennsylvania. The Bishop of the Diocese also gave his aid and counsel, and subscribed liberally from his limited means in furtherance of the enterprise. In addition he recommended this work to the Clergy and Laity of the Diocese, empowering the Rev. Mr. McKinney to solicit for subscriptions, in which I learn he succeeded to the amount of twenty-three hundred dollars in pledges, nearly seven hundred of which has been collected and safely deposited. Owing to the want money and the impossibility of procuring a suitable place of worship, the progress of the Church has been slow. This to a certain extent was obviated by a tender, on the part of the Congregational Missionary Society of New York, of a small but neat chapel in the rear of their church building in this city for Evening Services, free of charge. This Service was kept up with increasing congregations for about one year, when, there being a prospect of selling the property, it was found necessary that the premises should be vacated, and the poor Colored people again found themselves without a place of worship.

In regard to the attendance, I will say that in numbers it is very encouraging, averaging about eighty persons, about one-fourth of whom are communicants, and the balance will be as soon as they can be properly instructed. Had it been possible to have had a Morning Service and Sunday-school, I have no doubt but the number would have been trebled, nay, quadrupled. No better evidence could be desired than is furnished by this struggling band of colored people, of the adaptiveness of Services of the Church to their spiritual wants. Their responses are heard like the sound of many waters. The music as rendered by them 002020is chaste and in perfect harmony, and the behavior of the people reverent and devotional.

Our Church has a great mission to fulfill in this State, but one which it will be impossible to accomplish, unless we can have the sympathy and support of our brethren elsewhere. There is no Mission field on earth which presents more urgent claims upon Christians and philanthropists. In four weeks hence God willing, the Services will be resumed. We have no building yet. Not even one in view, but doubtless He will provide. A valuable property, consisting of a wooden church holding about three hundred persons, a chapel attached, suitable for a Sunday-school, has been offered at seven thousand dollars, being in a central locality. The money subscribed would not be lost to the Church, even in the event of a failure, which no one here anticipates, and it would have the advantage, in the event of returning prosperity, of being sold for three times the amount, which would build them any kind of a church they would wish, to accommodate their doubtless increasing numbers.

This Church, though still in its infancy, is blessed with steady and healthy increase. During the year past the baptisms have been 14 adults and 64 children; total, 78. Twenty have been confirmed, and in spite of deaths and removals, there are now about 50 communicants. There is a large and flourishing Sunday-school, and the children conduct the musical part of the Service with much spirit and propriety.

The back-bone of the whole Mission is a day-school, which is continued without interruption during the whole year.

Although we have to compete with the several free schools of the city, and we receive no scholars except on condition of their being trained up in the Church, the day-school is uniformly full and prosperous. No pains or expense are spared to render this Mission an agency for good; and the cost to the founder (the Rev. Dr. Norton, of Christ Ch.) is about $2,000 per year.

As the time comes for the annual reports, I know you will be asking for a record of the fruits of our labors. If a list of these is alone looked for, it must be small indeed. The work here is but yet in its stage of struggle and toil. Blessed be God it does struggle and toil; for it is surely one of His miracles that the "bruised reed is not broken and the 002121smoking flax quenched." I will not dwell upon our special discouragements, but present a few facts, and then take the liberty of saying something of our great wants.

We still keep up our schools and congregation with monthly Services at Dry Grove and Terry. These congregations go on with the whole Service, singing all that is to be sung with the assistance of a few who can read. The music is hearty and joyous. Most of them know all the responsive portions by heart, including the first selection of Psalms, used instead of the Psalter for the day of the month. On one Sunday I gave out as rewards in the congregation at Terry, thirty Bibles, to as many who could repeat the General Confession, in addition to the Lord's Prayer, Creed and Commandments, which all are taught. This congregation has also recently made an offering of $6.50 to the Mission in Japan, under the Rev. Mr. Cooper, whom they gratefully remembered as officiating from them shortly before he left for his present field. On Sunday, April 2d, Bishop Green, during his visit to this neighborhood, officiated for them, baptizing five children and one adult. He speaks of this in his address to the Council, thus: "I will highly gratified with the manner in which they sang and performed the Evening Service; and was glad to administer baptism to one of the leaders or teachers of the School."

The first great want is money; if for no other reason, at least for this, that the work of the Church is now brought into striking contrast with those in which money is used freely. The official reports of the Methodist Conference, show that $10,000 is annually expended among the Freedmen of Mississippi. The Baptists, during the past year have bought and fitted at the expense of $25,000, a building for the Theological Seminary, to educate Colored Ministers. The Congregationalists have two Normal Schools and Seminaries, one aspiring to the name and appointments of a University. Next, we need men. All of the Institutions mentioned above are in the hands of men admirably fitted for their work. A few years since, I made the acquaintance of one of the agents of a Missionary Society for work among the Freedmen in this State. He was receiving the large salary of $2,500 per annum, for his duties in this State, and his presence from time to time infused new energy into the humblest local efforts.

Can you give us even a thousand dollars for modest Church? Can you induce some leading Presbyter, brilliant in rhetoric, earnest in labor, practical in organization, to leave his admiring flock and go about among this people?

Shall we go on forever claiming to be the Church of God, while we are deaf to the cry of God's children? But it may be urged that the facts mentioned above show that these are already sufficiently cared for without the necessity of exertion. I have heard that it was an excuse for the passing by on the other side of the Priest and the 002222Levite, that the Good Samaritan was at hand. Does this not the rather set our negligence in the stronger light? But the question may be asked, why do not the Southern Bishop and Clergy themselves, undertake this work? I will speak for the Diocese of Mississippi, having been for years Secretary of the Diocese. I can testify that there is not one of our Clergy that has not already on his hands more than one man can well accomplish. In our poverty we are obliged to multiply the number of our congregations to which we minister. In those cases where zealous Laymen have undertaken the care of Colored Sunday-school, it has been a matter of difficulty, sometimes an impossibility, to procure the books and other necessaries for carrying on the work.

Suddenly brought into a condition for which no previous experience had qualified them, no wonder that the Freedmen have fallen victims to many of the perils of their position. Yet they are our brethren; their errors and their weaknesses prove that they our common humanity. With all its other burdens, the task of Christianizing this people, is more than the Southern Church, unaided, can bear. Brethren, come to the rescue! Ethiopia stretches forth her hand; grasp that outstretched arm with a hearty strength come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty!