has taught here for five years. His school is pronounced the best in the
region for white or colored. The pastor of this church has charge also
of the Congregational Church at Goliad.

Corpus Christi is a curious town on the Gulf of Mexico. It has about
6,000 people--Americans, Mexicans, Negroes, Italians, Greeks and
Chinese. The Negroes here hold an unusual position, being regarded as in
every way superior to the Mexicans and Italians. Our pastor here is
popular with all classes and has been chosen an alderman of the city,
and is treated with as much consideration as any other of the City
Council.

Our church is one of the oldest Congregational churches in the South,
and has had a very interesting history. With the exception of the Roman
Catholic church it has the best house of worship in the city. On Sunday
afternoon, Rev. Mr. Strong, the Congregational pastor, and myself
attended service at the Roman Catholic church. We went into the body of
the church and took a first class seat, and the fact that one was
colored did not even draw attention to us. It was taken as a matter of
course. The colored people of Texas are taxed for $20,000,000 of
property. In the cities they make up about one-third of the population.
An enlargement of our church work in this State is greatly needed.

Straight University in New Orleans, La., is an inspiring place. I found
the buildings packed full--seats full, chairs in the aisles, in the
corners and on the teachers' platforms--all full. About one hundred and
fifty applicants had already been sent away for want of room, and they
were still coming, as many as ten often being refused in a single day.
They were here not only from the States, but also from Mexico, the West
Indies and Central America. I saw here some remarkable work in moulding