Page:The Story of the Jubilee Singers (7th).djvu/43

 CHAPTER IV.

LIGHT IN THE EAST.

Mr. White had laid out the plan of his trip with special reference to reaching Oberlin in time to sing before the National Council of the Congregational Churches, which was to assemble there on the 15th of November. Consisting as it would of leading Congregational ministers and laymen from all parts of the land, and specially representing the constituency of the American Missionary Association, he argued that to get a hearing before it would give him leverage of great advantage for his work. And his reasoning was not at fault.

The Council consented to hear a few pieces during a recess in their deliberations. Everybody was delighted. A collection of over $130 was taken upon the spot; and the seed sown was destined to bear much richer fruit after many days. Two of the secretaries of the Association were present, and they agreed that it was advisable for Mr. White to push on eastward. To relieve him of some of his overload of care, Mr. G. S. Pope, formerly in the service of the Association in its work among the freedmen,