* * * * *

ECHOES.

An old man who teaches in the country heard we had a number of Sunday-school papers, and asked us if we had any “overtures of Sunday-school literature” to give him.

One of the older boys was obliged to leave school to work.  In the last prayer-meeting he attended he said:  “It makes me feel very sorry when I think that next week my seat will be filled with my absence.”

Another prayed that he might walk more “citcumspotly before the world.”

* * * * *

“FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE.”

(Written for a Missionary Concert held in the interests of the A.M.A.)

     So free are the gifts of heaven,
       So many the blessings which fall,
     That, should we attempt to count them
       We could not number them all.

     For God is a generous Giver. 
       Who sows with a liberal hand
     Shall reap a bounteous harvest
       And gather the fruits of the land.

     For ’tis God that gives the increase,
       And oft it’s a “hundred fold,”
     And men are reaping in many ways
       Aside from lands and gold.

     The blessings of home and fireside,
       Of friendship, of books, of health,
     Of knowledge, of church, of worship,
       All these are a part of our wealth.

     But off in the sunny Southland,
       In a part of our country large,
     Are needs, which with us are blessings,
       And to us there comes this charge:—­

     Freely received are God’s mercies;
       And now will ye freely give?
     It will be a glorious mission
       To help a nation live.

BLUEHILL, ME.

M.

* * * * *

THE SOUTH

* * * * *

ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.

BY FIELD SUPERINTENDENT F.E.  JENKINS.

NEW CHURCHES.

Two new Congregational churches in connection with our work completed their organization with communion services on Sunday, September 1st.  Both were organized by Northern people who have settled in the South in places which are likely to grow by immigration from the North.  One is in Roseland, La., and is under the pastoral care of Rev. C.S.  Shattuck.  It starts with eleven members.

The other is in North Athens, Tenn., and for the present is cared for by our general missionary, Rev. G. Stanley Pope.  It begins with thirteen members.  Both will come into the regular State organizations of Congregational churches.

The First Congregational Church of Alco, Ala., was organized August 25th, with twelve members.  Rev. James Brown, a graduate of the last theological class at Talladega College, is the pastor.