It is an interesting and important fact that the great work of Christian
education in behalf of the colored people which has been carried on by the
Association is now producing results in a new direction. Our former
students and pupils, grown into manhood and womanhood, find the church
life of their communities greatly inferior to that in which they were
trained in our schools. They are reaching after something more pure,
free and spiritual. The leaven of their intelligence and higher standard
of morality is taking hold of many families about them. From many centers
the call reaches us for the organization of Congregational churches,
churches which shall stand for morality, equal membership rights and a
more rational type of piety. At the same time there is an uprising in
various churches against the centralized forms of church government, which
they feel to be oppressive. They refuse longer to be bound to systems
which, as they believe, invade individual Christian rights. From these and
other causes appeals are coming to us from different quarters for the
recognition of churches which have become independent. A number of these
churches have already been received by council into Congregational
associations, and the indications are that this number will be largely
increased during the year to come.
[Illustration: THE SPRINGS CABIN AT LOWELL.]