The Methodist Episcopal Church had from the first co-operated with
the undenominational Aid Societies in the care of the Freedmen, in
relieving physical suffering and in giving instruction in primary
education. But it concentrated its efforts by the organization, in
Cincinnati, Aug. 6, 1866, of “The Freedmen’s Aid Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.” This Society now reports six chartered
institutions, viz.: Central Tennessee College, Nashville, Tenn.;
Clark University, Atlanta, Ga.; Claflin University, Orangeburg,
S.C.; New Orleans University, New Orleans, La.; Rust University,
Holly Springs, Miss.; Wiley University, Marshall, Texas. Four
theological schools, viz.: Centenary Biblical Institute, Baltimore,
Md.; Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga.; Baker Institute,
Orangeburg, S.C., and Thomson Biblical Institute, New Orleans, La.
One medical college, viz., Meharry Medical College, Nashville,
Tenn.; and 14 institutions not chartered. Total number of
institutions, 35; teachers, 95; pupils, 3,506. It gives special
attention to Biblical instruction, and at Clark University a
Department of Industry is established. The African Methodist
Episcopal Church founded and sustained Wilberforce University at
Xenia, Ohio, with 13 teachers and 170 students.
THE PRESBYTERIANS.
The “Presbyterian Committee of Missions for Freedmen,” was
organized by the General Assembly in 1865 and began its work
at once, by sending preachers and teachers to the South. Its
efforts thus far are confined to the two Carolinas, Virginia and
Tennessee, with a few missions and schools in Georgia, Kentucky
and Florida. It has under its care three chartered institutions:
Biddle University, Charlotte, N.C. (with a Theological Department),
Wallingford Academy, Charleston, S.C., and Scotia Seminary,
Concord, N.C.; 2 normal schools; 3 graded schools, and 50 parochial
schools. Total number of schools, 58; teachers, 108; scholars,
6,088. Lincoln University (Lincoln University P. O.), Oxford, Pa.,
has an able corps of 13 professors and 200 students—18 theological,
100 collegiate, 82 preparatory. The United Presbyterians have two
schools, one in Abbyville, Va., with 4 teachers and 245 students,
the other in Chase City, Va., with 3 teachers and 251 students.
THE EPISCOPALIANS.
The “Protestant Episcopal Freedmen’s Commission” was organized
October, 1865, and in a few months it opened schools in Petersburg,
Va., Wilmington and Raleigh, N.C. The first year the teachers
numbered 23, and the scholars, day and night, 1,600. The Committee
for Domestic Missions (under whose care this work now is), reported
in 1882, 2 normal schools with 8 teachers each, and 11 schools with
one teacher each. The normal schools are at Raleigh, N.C., and at
Petersburg, Va.
THE ROMAN CATHOLICS.
The Catholic Directory for 1882 reports for the Archdiocese of
Baltimore 1 academy for colored girls, with 60 pupils, and 4 other
schools with 693 pupils; total, 753; Archdiocese of New Orleans,
7 schools, 330 pupils; Archdiocese of St. Louis, 1 school, 120
pupils; Diocese of Louisville, 6 schools, 332 pupils; Diocese of
Natchez, 3 schools, 80 pupils; Diocese of Natchitoches, 2 schools,
40 pupils; Diocese of Savannah, 2 schools, 75 pupils; Diocese
of St. Augustine, 6 schools, number of pupils not given. Total
schools, 30; pupils reported, 1,730.
* * * * *
THE SOUTH.
REV. JOSEPH E. ROY, D.D., FIELD SUPERINTENDENT.
PROF. ALBERT SALISBURY, SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.
* * * * *
THE HEMENWAY FARM.
BY GEN. S. C. ARMSTRONG.
In 1878, when the 150 acres of arable land of the Hampton Institute
could offer no more farm work to the increasing number of negro
and Indian students, a generous lady, of Boston, Mass., gave,
principally for the benefit of the Indians, the sum of nine
thousand dollars, to purchase a fine grass and grain farm of 350
acres, five miles from the school, to which was added, by purchase,
250 acres more, and to it has been given the name “Hemenway Farm,”
as a memorial to the husband of the giver.
It was placed in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. H. Vanison, both
graduates of Hampton, but has been under the general control of Mr.
Albert Howe, formerly of Dorchester, Mass., manager of the Normal
School farm.
During the three and a half summer (vacation) months, the sixty
Indian boys, excepting about one-third who go to Berkshire Co.,
Mass., to work with the farmers, spend by turns, in squads of
twelve or fifteen, two weeks at a time at this farm, taking part
in the stock and farming operations, which are carried on on
a larger and simpler scale than at the school. They thus get
a wholesome change from life in the workshops, besides useful,
practical knowledge. A general knowledge of agriculture and stock
is important for those who are learning trades.
The steady working force of the farm is composed of from eight to
ten colored boys, who begin October 1st each year, working till the
next October, ten hours a day, studying every night from seven till
nine o’clock, under the direction of Mrs. Vanison. They receive,
besides their board, from $8 to $10 a month, which, excepting $3 a
month for clothing, they are expected to save to pay future school
expenses. They are an ignorant, destitute class, but, as a rule,
are most willing, earnest and deserving students. After working all
day, they study harder at night than any others in the school. Ten
hours of handling lumber at the saw-mill, or steady work on the
farm, or in the machine shop, is no trifling duty, but they are
eager for their night lessons.
The ten at the Hemenway Farm are a part of 130 “work students,”
thirty of them girls, employed in the various industrial
departments, constituting about one-third of the colored pupils
at Hampton. They devote a preliminary year to day labor and night
study, to fit themselves to enter the junior class of this year’s
course, and to accumulate a small fund, averaging $75 for the year,
to help meet cost of board, ten dollars a month, besides clothing
and books. This is done in part by working two days each week of
the regular course. With strict economy and working all vacations,
they maintain themselves through the entire course graduating
without receiving a dollar in charity, some, however, need help the
last year and none are more worthy of it.
The effect on their characters is excellent. Good as it is, that
they shall earn and learn in this way, it is even better for the
habits, ideas and manliness it promotes. The entire class is
mature, averaging 19 years of age. Mr. Vanison is as excellent a
manager as we care to have; his wife keeps house, sees to the boys’
meals, rooms and washing, and teaches them nights, besides raising
some 500 chickens, at which she has a wonderful “knack.”
The farm was cultivated last year as follows; 75 acres in wheat,
80 acres in oats, 112 in corn, 35 in clover and orchard grass,
the rest in pasture, a few acres being devoted to vegetables and
an orchard. Much was done in clearing old ditch banks. The stock
consists of 50 hogs and pigs, 110 sheep and lambs, 6 colts, and
from 10 to 20 beef cattle, which are bought in the neighborhood,
fattened on the pasture and killed at the school, two or three a
week being required there.
The Hemenway farm, of 600 acres, some 60 acres of it marshy, is
situated in Elizabeth City County, on Bach River, which is an
estuary half a mile in width. The house is a famous, but plain,
old Southern mansion, in which Gen. Washington once dined. Until
1878 it had been for many generations in the hands of an old
aristocratic family, whom the war impoverished, and their place
was sold for debt. The location is a beautiful one; the region is
quite Englishlike in appearance, with its rich, level fields and
its hedge-rows. In summer, delicious breezes blow up the river from
Chesapeake Bay, four miles distant.
Oysters and fish abound in its water front; a handsome lawn and
fine old trees surround the house, all of which are a delight to
the boys, especially to the Indians, who have long summer mornings.
The past season a plain but pretty cottage was added to the old
house, which was too small, containing a dining-room, kitchen,
laundry, and bedrooms for the boys upstairs. This leaves rooms, as
was intended by the giver, for tired teachers to come and rest for
a night from the cares and din of the institute, to whom the quiet
and beauty of “Shellbanks,” its former name, is a great comfort.
I must not forget to mention the ample barn, stable, cow-shed,
tool-house, corn-crib, extensive stacks of straw, and wind-mill for
pumping water for the stock.
[Illustration: HEMENWAY FARM.]
This is entirely a negro affair; no white person lives on the
place. Its Christian character and influence are earnest and
emphatic. Nothing in the Hampton system is more satisfactory
than this farm. I hope others like it will be provided for other
institutions, but to fit up an old Southern farm after buying it,
costs about as much as the land costs.
An unexpected advantage of the farm is its being an excellent place
for a badly-behaved Indian boy, when only one is sent there. He
is punished by being separated from his old friends, but the ten
colored fellows carry him along in their daily routine of work and
study; he has no one to “cut up” with; he improves in spite of
himself; the plan has never failed to work well; he finally likes
it and returns changed for the better.
* * * * *
REVIVAL IN CENTRAL CHURCH, NEW ORLEANS.
W. S. ALEXANDER, D.D.
It has been our custom in previous years to begin our special
religious meetings the first of January in connection with the
“Week of Prayer.” But this year the Church seemed in readiness at
an earlier date, and we felt that we were obeying the call of the
Lord to “go forward” when we began our special effort to reach the
impenitent, on the night of December 1st. The Friday preceding had
been observed as a day of fasting and prayer. For many days the
spirit of prayer and consecration had been evidently deepening upon
the part of the great majority of the Lord’s people. People who,
for some trivial reason, had been alienated, came together in the
spirit of forgiveness. A great desire was expressed, and I have no
doubt felt, to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. Our lady
missionary with unsurpassed devotion, visited all the families of
the congregation, making in the short space of ten weeks some 600
visits. The effort was made to reach every one who sustained even
a nominal relation to our church, as a member or casual attendant,
and invite him to our revival services.
The result was all and more than we anticipated. The church was
thronged every night. The very first night several presented
themselves for prayer. The number of inquirers increased till we
counted more than fifty. One by one, with a quietness and depth
of feeling that impressed every heart, these earnest inquirers
came into the light, and were made to “rejoice in hope of the
glory of God.” The two manly and dearly beloved sons of the Dean
of our Faculty, were among the first to share in the blessings of
the revival. God only knows our joy when they came forward with
the rest, and bowed before God as suppliants for His mercy and
forgiveness. Never did the words of Holy Writ, which have fallen
from the lips of so many believers, sound sweeter than when one of
these young men recited as his verse at the breakfast table, the
morning after his conversion, “I know that my Redeemer liveth.”
A pleasant and somewhat unusual feature of this revival has been
its influence upon the men. On more than one occasion we counted
twelve men on the “Mourners’ seats.” Thirty-four professed
conversion. We hope and believe they have been “born again.” A
class of 35 are waiting in joyful anticipation of taking the vows
of God upon them in the Church, and of receiving their “first
communion.”
I should do injustice to my own feelings did I not speak of the
earnest sympathy and hearty co-operation of all the teachers in the
University in this religious movement. We moved in this matter as a
united body, with but one object in view: the glory of God, and the
upbuilding of the Kingdom of His Son.
ADDITIONAL REPORT OF THE REVIVAL.
PROF. R. C. HITCHCOCK.
The revival which has been in progress for several weeks at Central
Church has been to me a constant wonder. Even in sedate old
Connecticut a revival season is usually a scene of much emotional
excitement, and it is often impossible to tell how much is sincere
and permanent; but this revival has been all through marked by a
quiet, deep and reverential character. It was my first opportunity
for observation of such meetings among the colored people. I had
heard and read a great deal of the tumultuous excitement on such
occasions, and each night I looked to see, when they should be
fairly “warmed up,” such scenes as I had had pictured. What I
actually did see was this. Each night the pastor preached a short,
practical gospel sermon, packed full with reasons why religion
should be chosen and chosen now, to an earnest, attentive audience.
Then he stepped down in front, and in kind but strong words invited
all who felt the truth of what had been said and wished to become
Christians, to come forward for conversation and the prayers of
the church. Most of those who accepted the invitation were men of
middle age and young men; a few were young ladies.
Night after night this went on; while the pastor and others were
talking with those who came forward, the audience engaged in
singing. No general invitation was given to speak or pray, a few
only being called on each night to take part. Each night some
souls found peace and joy. It was my good fortune to talk with
nearly every one of the converts, and I found all, so far as I
could judge, thoroughly in earnest; no one scared or urged into
confessions, but each, as the new hope was born in his soul,
rising, generally with streaming eyes, to tell what God had done
for him and ask for fellowship and prayerful help.
* * * * *
SCHOOL AND CHURCH WORK AT FAYETTEVILLE, ARK.
BY REV. B. F. FOSTER.
We began work here on the 5th of September, and opened school
under very favorable auspices. We have had 92 pupils enrolled.
Our school is the only one for colored children within a radius
of 65 miles. We are giving some attention to church work, and are
using our school-house as a place of worship. We have service
every Sabbath morning at eleven o’clock—the audiences are large.
We are gratified to say that the influence of the teachers takes
fast hold upon both parent and pupil. We have Sunday-school
every afternoon at three o’clock, and these services are largely
attended. Thanksgiving day was appropriately commemorated. A
sermon was preached in the morning by the missionary pastor. All
who were present seemed deeply impressed with the word. The chapel
was beautifully and tastefully festooned with autumn leaves and
berries, and the walls were embellished with appropriate mottoes
of the sacred Scriptures. At seven o’clock in the evening a very
large number of patrons and friends of the school gathered, and
partook of a repast prepared as a thanksgiving token for them by
the teachers and pupils. Toasts were responded to by the several
pastors of the town and teachers. I said we had service in our
chapel at 11 A.M. every Sunday. We could induce as many to come
in the evening if we had lamps to light up our chapel. Equally as
good results would come from a weekly prayer-meeting, if we had
sufficient lights. We heartily accept this opportunity of asking
the friends of some of our Northern churches to give us of their
old ones—chandelier lamps. The Lord’s Supper was celebrated the
first time, since beginning our work here, last Sunday. Truly,
the Lord was with his people on that solemn occasion. At this
service the missionary pastor’s first and only little daughter was
baptized, which increased the interest of the meeting. To carry
this blessed Supper to Christ’s brethren and sisters, Mrs. Foster’s
pie-pans were used for the emblems of his body, and two borrowed
mugs for the emblem of his blood. From this the friends of God’s
poor will see we would thank them very much to assist us in getting
a communion set. The people among whom we are working are very
poor. Few of them have homes.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
REV. W. C. POND, SUPERINTENDENT.
* * * * *
MISSION WORK—GOOD RESULTS.
SACRAMENTO MISSION.—Mrs. Rilla Carrington, who for the last three
years has most faithfully and successfully conducted the Sacramento
Mission, is required by the state of her health to take a vacation.
It will be only a vacation, and I hope and expect that two or
three months of recuperation will bring her back fresh and strong,
and good for another three years of steady and faithful service.
During her absence, her sister will take her place, and will fill
it well. In communicating her desire for this respite, she indulges
in some reminiscences which, I am sure, will interest our readers.
“During the past three years and a quarter, more than 450 have, for
a longer or shorter period, been members of our Sacramento school.
I would that all who come with us in the school could remain until
they are converted and ready to work for the salvation of their
people. We know of the good service of many who have gone out from
us to visit their homes. For instance, Fong Get Roy, who wrote you
something of his work while in China: he has not ceased to labor
for Christ since his return; Fong Gee, whose father, now dead, was
a heathen priest, was always zealous while here with us; sometimes
speaking to his country-men for an hour or more at a time, showing
them, in the most ridiculous light, the folly of idol and ancestral
worship, and holding up Christ as the only hope of salvation. His
health gave out, and he was compelled to return to China—being
helped by the brethren of San Francisco and Sacramento to do so.
There he is working at his trade for a mere pittance, and giving
what time he can for the conversion of his country-men. Wong Loung
visited his home a year ago, and was married, in accordance with
Chinese customs, to one to whom he had been betrothed in childhood
by his parents. Because he had renounced the religion of his
fathers, he suffered much indignity from members of his family—the
persecutions becoming so great he was obliged to leave home. But
the result was that he returned to America more determined than
ever to hold fast to Christ. Louis Sing, too, was under great
pressure while in China to take part in worship with his relations,
but could not, he said, because he knew the uselessness of such
worship. We hear of Gwan Lee, our organist, as standing firm amidst
the powers of darkness—holding fast to the living faith. He is one
of those whom the present law prohibits from returning to this
country. We all feel as though we could not give him up, and that
some way must be found by which he may come back.
“We are not only made glad by work done far away, but workers are
here with us—true hearts that love to do something for Jesus
every day. Several have joined the Association this year; among
them, Fong Bow, who is one of the class for whom I requested your
prayers several months ago. He seemed to have much to hold him
back; outside influence made it hard for him to decide. He has been
a member of the school so long that we feel more than usually happy
in his coming. May we not hope and still pray, in faith, for the
other members of the class? This mission work is ever a source of
comfort and pleasure to me, and I know I cannot remain away from it
if blessed with health.”
LOU QUONG, ON HEATHEN PRAYERS AND REAL PRAYER.
Each Wednesday afternoon I meet the Chinese helpers in the schools
of this city for a drill in Bible study, and to receive and remark
upon the sketches of sermons, which they have prepared during the
week. Here is one which Lou Quong brought in yesterday. James 5:16.
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
My subject is all on prayer to-day, and it is very needful to all
Christians, especially to those who really mean to be the followers
of the Lord Jesus, and to be workers in the Master’s field. I
will mention a few things of the heathen prayers, which were
occasionally offered to the heathen gods in China as well as in
this city. So far as I can judge there is no true prayer which was
ever offered to their gods, and I, having been born in a heathen
nation, therefore know them well. Each certain prayer belongs to a
certain god. You cannot take one god’s prayer to pray to others; if
you do, you will get no blessing, because you got the wrong prayer,
their prayers not having to come from the heart, but being learned
only from the history of a certain god, so they mostly repeat the
words as near as they can remember. There is not a single prayer
that really comes from the heart. They come only from the lips;
and besides this, when they pray, they do not, like our Christian
people, pray for bad and good, and even for our enemies, and for
all nations; their prayers are only for a certain thing, a certain
matter, for riches, for honors, and for glory, and to have more
sons born than girls; for their father and mother, brothers and
sisters, that they might have a long life. If they have any one
which they do not like, they would pray their God to destroy his
whole family. By this we know that such a prayer our true God will
not hear, but rather punish them. I have a great deal more to say
about the heathen prayer, but I have no time for it just now. So I
must go on to the true prayer, which our Lord Jesus Christ taught
his disciples to say. Yet even such a true and short prayer as
that, which we have repeated every evening in our schools, many of
us would forget before we go to bed at night. This won’t do, my
Christian brethren. We must give all our hearts to God before we
shut our eyes. We cannot pray to God for a certain thing that must
be done while our hearts are on something else, or are doubting
whether God could hear us or not. Suppose to-morrow you intend to
go out and look for a place, so you would pray to God to help you
and to give you one, and you believe he will do it, and then when
to-morrow comes you would lie in bed until afternoon. Then you got
up, thinking that was too late, and would not go. This, indeed,
would make you think that God did not hear your prayer last night.
This is the whole trouble that sometimes God don’t answer our
prayer; but I am very sure that God has heard all my prayers and
has answered all which are for good. When we have a certain matter
that we cannot manage at all, and when we would bring it to God, we
must first make our hearts ready to pray and then without doubting
draw out the true thoughts of our hearts and feel that God is above
us and Jesus is on one side. Then comes the Holy Spirit into our
hearts to teach us how to pray. After we got up from prayer I am
sure we can feel that we were heard, and if we are not answered
on a certain hour we must wait and pray without ceasing until it
comes, for God not, like man, would fail you sometime. This is the
kind of prayer that God does hear. So James says, “The effectual,
fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much;” that is, God does
always hear and answer the true prayer.
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
* * * * *
[Illustration]
MISSIONARY MUSIC.
Have you ever brought a penny to the missionary box—
A penny which you might have spent like other little folks?
And when it falls among the rest, have you ever heard a ring,
Like a pleasant sound of welcome which the other pennies sing?
This is missionary music, and it has a pleasant sound,
For pennies make a shilling, and shillings make a pound;
And many pounds together the gospel news will send,
Which tell the distant heathen that the Saviour is their Friend.
And oh! what joyous music is the missionary song,
When it seems to come from every heart and sounds from every
tongue—
When happy Christian little ones all sing with one accord
Of the time when realms of darkness shall be kingdoms of the Lord!