and a large percentage of our students are constantly engaged in the missionary work such as a city like Louisville affords.

The Commencement exercises were not a whit behind those of former years, and by the press they were pronounced the best.

Two graduated from the regular Classical Course, taking the degree of A.B., and eight received certificates of graduation from the Normal Department.

Under the circumstances, a good healthy state of things in general existed among the students. But, not only to the best good of all concerned from a hygienic standpoint, and that of morals, but in order that the school may hold its own, more room is absolutely indispensable. In fact we have comparatively no room at all for young men, and very meagre accommodations for young ladies. Our enrollment the past session was 250, and there was very little falling off until the end of the term. We used five rooms for the accommodation of young men on the grounds, and nine rooms for young ladies. Anyone can see at a glance that fourteen rooms were wholly inadequate for the accommodation of 250 students.

The students seeing and feeling the necessity for more and better accommodations, as soon as the idea of a new dormitory was sprung they were perfectly wild! It only took a suggestion to bring the young men to the grounds with shovels, spades, picks and wheelbarrows, and with their own hands they made the excavation for the foundation of the so much needed dormitory.

We need everything in the way of furniture and repairs, but the one thing necessary to the very existence of the University is the new building.

May God raise up some friend to come to our aid in this hour of our peril.

Roger Williams University. Propositions have been made by Nashville parties for the purchase of the Roger Williams University property. While this property is not in the market, yet the Board have had to give the proposition due consideration, inasmuch as in the judgment of some the large sum for which it might be sold would enable the Society to secure another excellent site, much better buildings, and leave a handsome sum toward an endow

ment. Naturally, many who have become attached to the locality because of its associations are reluctant to have the change made. Dr. Owen, President of the Institution, writes:

In my report published in the August number of the MONTHLY I said there was

quite a general feeling that if the property could be sold and better buildings secured, etc., it might be best to sell.

"I think it proper to say that notwithstanding the advantages that might accrue in the matter of buildings and endowments, the sentiment of the colored people is strongly against a sale. They believe the location and associations outweigh any pecuniary advantage. How far they are right I cannot say. But I think I ought to correct any misapprehension in regard to the real feeling among those interested in the welfare of the school."

Bishop College.

Rev. S. W. Culver, after ten years of arduous and successful work voluntarily retires from the Presidency of this flourishing Institution which owes so much to his labors. Honorable mention should also be made of Mrs. Culver, who has been a very efficient assistant in the work from the beginning. They took the school from its foundation; they leave it with a large attendance and wide influence for good throughout the Southwest. "Bishop College" is a name that stands for high ideals in education and in Christian attainments. There have been difficulties and at times serious embarrassments in the prosecution of the work, but the outlook for the Institution was never brighter than now. In coming years the invaluable services which President Culver has rendered to the cause of Christian education for the colored people of Texas, will be appreciated even more highly than now. He returns to his native State and will make his home for a time at least in Walworth, N. Y.

Rev. N. Woolverton, for many years at the head of Woodstock College, Ontario, Canada, is expected to take the Presidency. He will bring to his task many special qualifications for the development of the Institution, which is destined undoubtedly to take a front rank among the Society's schools for the colored people,

Florida Institute, Live Oak, Fla.

Rev. Geo. P. McKinney, of Live Oak, bears testimony to the good work done by and through the Institution at Live Oak. He says: "I doubt if any of the Society's schools under exactly the same disadvantageous circumstances could have done, in the same time, better or more lasting work.

"Dr. Fish was true and faithful. His methods of instruction and discipline were too thorough to win the popularity of the masses; yet the highest interest of my race demands just such thorough instruction and rigid discipline as he gave.

"A large number of young men and women have gone forth from the school, and fill positions of trust and honor, both to the credit of the school and of the Society, and to the pride and joy of the denomination in the State.

"The school has done excellent work in toning up the morals of the youth and the ministry of the State. In this particular it supplied a great need. Among the ablest colored preachers of Florida are some of the young men trained at the Florida Institute; and among Florida's best colored educators may be found some of our students."

CHURCH EDIFICE DEPT.

A Gift Returned.

In 1884 a gift of $200 was granted to the church at Dayton, Wash., to enable them to erect a house of worship. The church has recently decided to build a new house, and the pastor of the church, Rev. C. P. Bailey, writes as follows:

"The church has concluded to build a new house, and we have secured lots and expect to build this fall. The railroad runs by the door of the old church, and we are compelled to change our location, and being able to build we thought we could serve your Church Edifice Department a favor by returning her gift to us of $200, and she can give it to some other needy field.

"We as a church feel very grateful for the help given us in our time of need, and we will remember you in our prayers as well as with our money."

Practical Work.

Rev. W. W. Tinker, General Missionary for Southern California, writing from Julian, says: "I am here superintending' the building of the church at this place. Have carried and made mortar, laid rock, and worked as hard as I ever did in my life to get this thing on its feet. We will make it succeed and then the first church of any kind will be in this community. Its influence will extend for miles around as it is the only church in this section. The people are taking hold with a good heart and the house will be finished in about a month."

This shows what thoroughly practical men some of our general missionaries are and with what economy and efficiency our church edifice work is conducted. We need twice as much as we receive, to enable these leaders to pre-occupy fields in this manner.

E. J. Henry, Colored People in Salisbury, Md.

William Kohler, First Swedish Church, Cleveland,

Ohio.

Edward Elisha Tyson, Second Church, Duluth, Minn. John W. Dunjee, Bethesda (Colored) Church, Minneapolis, Minn.

Martin Dahlquist, District Missionary for the Swedes in Iowa.

"John A. Kees, Pocahontas, Iowa.

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James Henry Hoke, Colored People in Arkanas.

Harrison Napoleon Bouey, Colored People in Missouri.

Amos J. Essex, General Missionary for the Indian Territory.

Lucius M. Whiting, Council Grove, Kans.

Rees Price Evans, First Church, Kansas City, Kans. Fielding W. Houcheus, Horton, Kans.

Perry G. Shanklin, Dodge City and Garden City, Kans.

Adam Alfred Hammar, Swedes in Kansas City, Kans. P. Reynolds, Larned, Kans.

J. B. Sundt, Scandinavians in Brookings and Huron, South Dak.

Myron C. Miner, Steele and vicinity, North Dak.

Miles Lee Rickman, Stevensville and vicinity, Mont.

James Overstreet Burroughs, Bellevue and vicinity,

Idaho.

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James N. Edwards, Colgate, Ind. Ter.

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Charles W. Morrison, Yukon and vicinity, Oklahoma. Malcom Wood, Vinita and Claremore, Ind. Ter.

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Wash.

"Job H. Scott, Port Townsend, Wash.

Charles William Townsend, Emmanuel Church, Vic

toria, British Columbia.

Teofilo Barocio, City of Mexico, Mex.

Seferino Guajardo, Ebanos and vicinity, Mex.

The following teachers were appointed :

At Roger Williams University, Nashville, Tenn.-J. W. Johnson, Miss Clara Mann, Mrs. M. Kenney, Miss Myra Handy, Miss Burtis.