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278 editorial and its valuable comments will suffice to prove our subject a terse, able, and thoughtful writer. He is an honored member of the journalistic corps.

The most prominent man, exclusive of the bishops of the C. M. E. church, is Rev. Mr. Hamilton. He was born near Washington, Arkansas, September 3, 1858. He attended the schools of his state, private and public, and afterwards spent sixteen months in the Theological Institute at Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

He was licensed to preach Nov. 9, 1878. He has served in several of the most prominent positions in his denomination, among which has been that of Presiding Elder of the "Washington district. He had contemplated the practice of medicine, and to this end devoted two years' study to fit himself for it, but gave it up to accept the positions he now holds,—editor of The Christian Index and agent of the book department of his church. To these he was elected in May, 1886, at the General Conference, which met at Augusta, Ga. His prominence in church circles has been the cause of his being its representative in many of its conspicuous gatherings. The Index, of which he is now editor, was the origin of the C. M. E. Church. He has issued two books, with reference to the church of which he is a member, viz.: "Conversations on the C. M. E. Church," and, "A Plain Account of the C. M. E. Church."

When he took charge of The Index, it was issued monthly, while the outfit for its publication was very limited, the entire material being worth but seventy-five dollars. Since assuming control, and managing the business for three years or more, he has put in one thousand dollars' worth of material, and established a job department, in which the entire work is done by Afro-Americans.