[Illustration: JUNE, 1883.
VOL. XXXVII.
NO. 6.
The American Missionary]
CONTENTS
PAGE.
EDITORIAL.
BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK 161
HON. J. J. H. GREGORY—JOHN F. SLATER EDUCATIONAL
FUND 164
OUR FINANCES—PARAGRAPHS 165
PARAGRAPHS—VALUABLE BOOK ON INDIAN MISSIONS 166
BENEFACTIONS 167
GENERAL NOTES 168
THE SOUTH.
A REMARKABLE TRIBUTE 171
REVIVAL WORK AT FISK UNIVERSITY—EMERSON INSTITUTE 172
EMERSON INSTITUTE, MOBILE, ALA. (cut) 173
INDUSTRIAL WORK AT ATLANTA UNIVERSITY 174
AFRICA AT ATLANTA—ONE DAY 175
A JUBILATE 176
GREEN COVE SPRINGS (cut). COLOR LINE IN FLORIDA 177
WOMAN’S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION 178
NOTES FROM THE FIELD 179
THE CHINESE.
THE NEW MISSION IN SOUTH CHINA 180
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
THE COMING OF THE ORGAN 181
MOUNTAIN FAMILY SINGING PSALMS 182
RECEIPTS 183
COPY AND MAIL 188
PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 189
* * * * *
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PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION,
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THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
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PRESIDENT.
HON. WM. B. WASHBURN, LL.D., Mass.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.
Rev. M. E. STRIEBY, D.D., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
TREASURER.
H. W. HUBBARD, Esq., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
AUDITORS.
M. F. READING.
WM. A. NASH.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
JOHN H. WASHBURN, Chairman; A. P. FOSTER, Secretary; LYMAN
ABBOTT, ALONZO S. BALL, A. S. BARNES, C. T. CHRISTENSEN, FRANKLIN
FAIRBANKS, CLINTON B. FISK, S. B. HALLIDAY, SAMUEL HOLMES, CHARLES
A. HULL, SAMUEL S. MARPLES, CHARLES L. MEAD, WM. H. WARD, A. L.
WILLISTON.
DISTRICT SECRETARIES.
Rev. C. L. WOODWORTH, _Boston_.
Rev. G. D. PIKE, D.D., _New York_.
Rev. JAMES POWELL, _Chicago_.
COMMUNICATIONS
relating to the work of the Association may be addressed to the
Corresponding Secretary; those relating to the collecting fields,
to the District Secretaries; letters for the Editor of the
“American Missionary,” to Rev. G. D. Pike, D.D., at the New York
Office.
DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
may be sent to H. W. Hubbard, Treasurer, 56 Reade Street, New York,
or, when more convenient, to either of the Branch Offices, 21
Congregational House, Boston, Mass., or 112 West Washington Street,
Chicago, Ill. A payment of thirty dollars at one time constitutes a
Life Member.
FORM OF A BEQUEST.
“I BEQUEATH to my executor (or executors) the sum of —— dollars, in
trust, to pay the same in —— days after my decease to the person
who, when the same is payable, shall act as Treasurer of the
‘American Missionary Association’ of New York City, to be applied,
under the direction of the Executive Committee of the Association,
to its charitable uses and purposes.” The Will should be attested
by three witnesses.
* * * * *
[Illustration: Estey
Organ
The excellences of the ESTEY ORGAN may not be told in an ordinary
advertisement. Our Illustrated Catalogue, sent free, containing
engravings from photographs of elegant styles, with full
description, is more satisfactory
J: ESTEY & Co BRATTLEBORO VT.]
* * * * *
THE
AMERICAN MISSIONARY.
* * * * *
VOL. XXXVII. JUNE, 1883. NO. 6.
* * * * *
American Missionary Association.
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BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.
APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY.
It gives us pleasure to announce that in following out the
arrangements fore-shadowed in the May “Missionary,” the Executive
Committee of the A. M. A. has made choice of Miss D. E. Emerson as
Secretary of its Bureau of Woman’s Work. Miss Emerson is well known
in the mission fields of the Association, having been a teacher, a
lady missionary and also at the New York Office doing service in
connection with the correspondence for the Southern work. In the
latter position, covering a period of several years, she has had
occasion to visit localities occupied by our lady missionaries, and
in these and many other ways has gained a very extensive knowledge
of the wants and the methods of help needful for the elevation of
the colored people. Her ability for her new position has already
been tested, and the Association has great confidence in her
capacity to meet the requirements of all interested in the great
work that lies before her. Correspondence relating to the Bureau
should be addressed to Miss D. E. Emerson, at the office of the A.
M. A., 56 Reade St., New York.
METHODS OF WORK.
Our Bureau inaugurates no new woman’s missionary society. It is
simply a plan for giving more efficiency to the work already in
hand. We leave the mode of co-operation on the part of the ladies
of the North entirely to themselves, and we can think of no better
plan for such co-operation than that given on the next page in the
letter of Miss M. E. Smith of Gorham, Me., which describes the
methods in use the past year in that State.
Neither are the means for promoting the objects of our Bureau new;
they are based on twenty years’ experience and extend to all the
branches of home, school and church life. We can aid directly in
the elevation of women and children through the varied work of
the ladies engaged in our different mission fields. Our method of
giving information to the Christian women of the North will be not
only by correspondence through the Secretary of the Bureau, but
also by direct information from the lady missionaries and teachers,
who will attend the meetings of ladies at the conferences,
associations, and, as far as practicable, local societies in
connection with the churches.
METHOD OF CO-OPERATION.
FROM MISS MARY E. SMITH, MAINE.
In answer to your inquiry as to the mode of collecting, I would say
that we have _no_ organization. The ladies talked the matter over
and decided that as there are so many organizations already as to
be almost bewildering, we would carry on this work with as little
“red tape” as possible. At each annual conference a meeting of all
ladies interested is held, a report read of the amount collected
the past year and a committee of three chosen to carry on the work
for the following year. This committee appoints a collector for
each conference, and each conference collector engages a collector
in each church in her conference. The collectors of the several
churches report progress and send money obtained to the conference
collector, and she forwards it to the chairman of the State
Committee, who keeps the bank account and forwards the money in due
time to the A. M. A.
By so simple an arrangement we also save in expense. With the
exception of a very slight amount for printing of circulars for
distribution through the States, the only expense is that of
postage, etc., which being divided among so many is borne by the
several collectors and does not take from the sum collected. So
far the working of our plan has been, I think, as successful as we
could reasonably expect.
LETTERS OF SYMPATHY.
FROM MRS. HENRY L. CHASE, IOWA.
It is with great satisfaction that I learn that a “Bureau of
Woman’s Work” has been organized in connection with the A. M. A. It
seems to me that such an organization is not merely a valuable help
but a manifest necessity in the effective prosecution of “Woman’s
Work for Woman” in the South—a work which lies upon the hearts of
very many of the Christian women of the North and which ought to
lie upon the consciences of all.
A very limited experience teaches that in every kind of benevolent
work _information_ is the root from which interest and action
grow. Probably in no other way can the facts which will quicken
the interest of the ladies of our churches in work among the
Freedpeople be so thoroughly and influentially presented as by
means of this Bureau. Specific objects of effort, concerning
which details may be furnished, will often win the practical
attention of those who are comparatively indifferent to the idea
of general needs. And the sanction of the A. M. A. being implied
in any appeals made thorough the Bureau for definite objects, will
give assurance that our gifts and our labors are to be applied
in the wisest way and where the need is most urgent. But perhaps
nothing accomplished by this organization will be more gratefully
appreciated or more productive of the desired results than the
visits of missionaries to the churches which support them, and
their statements by word of mouth in regard to the appalling needs
and encouraging successes in their various fields. This new branch
of work has my warmest good wishes and my earnest prayers for its
fullest success.
BRIEF RESPONSES.
Miss A. W. Johnson of North Brookfield, Mass., writes: I am very
glad that a “Bureau of Woman’s Work” has been organized, and
believe it will open up new avenues for work among our ladies. I
respond at once, hoping I can do something to interest them in this
direction.
Rev. S. E. Lathrop of Macon, Ga., writes: I rejoice in the new
“Bureau of Woman’s Work.” It is a necessary and hopeful acquisition.
BUREAU REPRESENTED IN OHIO.
AT the Ohio State Association which convened at Akron, May 8,
Dist. Sec. Pike in his address set forth the plans of our Bureau
of Woman’s Work, referring especially to the methods proposed for
bringing the condition of the colored people more fully before the
Christian women of the North. He was accompanied by Miss Rose M.
Kinney, who had just returned from her field of labor at McIntosh,
Liberty County, Ga., and who, in behalf of our Bureau of Woman’s
Work, gave an interesting account of her mission services, which
had included that of organizing a Woman’s Missionary Society among
the colored women. Miss Kinney also addressed the Woman’s meeting
held during the sessions of the Association. Arrangements have
been made, as far as practicable, with other States for a like
presentation of the varied work carried on by this Association.
* * * * *
In the next and future numbers of the MISSIONARY, the details of
the “Bureau of Woman’s Work” will appear in a separate department
under the above heading.
* * * * *
THE LORD’S BLESSED ONES.—A recent visitor to the Teachers’ Home,
Storrs School, Atlanta, writes that on his arrival, about nine in
the evening, he was met by the lady teachers, who were returning,
two by two, from attending cottage prayer meetings in the parish,
of which there had been six that night. “Coming in,” he says,
“from such work in the lowly homes of a despised people, cheerful
and delighted with the meetings, they made a profound impression
upon me as the Lord’s blessed ones. If He hasn’t got any mansions
up there quite worthy of them He’ll go to work and fix up some
especially for their use.”
THE readers of the MISSIONARY are not ignorant of the benefactions
of Mr. J. J. H. Gregory, of Marblehead, Mass., to this Association.
The following extract from a Wilmington paper indicates the
appreciation in which he is held not only by the colored people,
but also by leading citizens South.
“The reception of Mr. Gregory took place in the Mayor’s office in
the City Hall yesterday at noon. There was quite a large attendance
of our prominent citizens, including a few colored men, all of
whom gave evidence of the esteem entertained for the distinguished
visitor and their pleasure at the opportunity thus afforded them
of forming the acquaintance of one who has devoted so much of
his fortune to the advancement of the educational facilities and
interests of Wilmington. Mr. Gregory was introduced to those
present by Mayor Hall in a few brief and appropriate remarks, which
were responded to by Mr. G. in fitting terms. Short speeches were
also delivered by Rev. Drs. Taylor and Wilson, in the order named,
and at the conclusion of their remarks, Mayor Hall again spoke,
and at more length. The meeting was a very pleasant one, and we
have reason to believe that Mr. Gregory was much pleased at the
heartiness of his reception.”
* * * * *
THE Trustees of the John F. Slater Educational Fund met in New
York April 25 and 26. It was voted to appropriate $20,000 during
the coming year to such schools as are best fitted to help young
colored people to become useful to their race, preference being
given to those institutions which furnish industrial education.
Over seventy institutions have already reported to Rev. Dr. A. G.
Haygood, the Secretary. It is not conclusive from the reports that
have reached us that the sum named above is the entire amount that
will be applied the coming year for educational purposes, or that
the income of the fund will be principally used for industrial
education. We believe the plans of the Trustees are as broad as
the necessities of the colored people for education in every
department. The meeting of the Board was fully attended, and the
place made vacant by the death of Wm. E. Dodge was filled by the
election of his son. We commend the Trustees for their careful and
conscientious endeavors to provide for the uplifting of the colored
people and the welfare of the nation.
* * * * *
THE average attendance at the 30 conventions of the Co-operative
Societies in Connecticut was 136. The number of churches
represented was 230, of the 297 in the State. The average
attendance of similar meetings in 1872 was 104. On the whole the
recent meetings were of marked interest, and of much encouragement
to the missionary work done by Congregationalists.
* * * * *
OUR FINANCES.—During the seven months of the fiscal year closing
April 30, our receipts from collections and donations have amounted
to $109,275.73. The collections and donations for the same months
last year were $138,094.35, a decrease of $28,818.62. The legacies
for these months last year were $23,447.81, while for this year
they have been $42,121.18, an increase of $18,673.37. The total
receipts thus far this year in collections, donations and legacies
have been $151,396.91 against $161,542.16 for the same period last
year, a decrease of $10,145.25. We earnestly urge the friends of
this Association to study these figures. Our last annual meeting,
in view of the pressing work before us, recommended the increase
of our receipts 25 per cent. for the present fiscal year. The
added expenses of our Indian work and the pressing calls for
enlargement of our school and church work South, make this increase
imperative—and especially as the openings before us in these lines
of effort are exceedingly auspicious and encouraging. If the
increase named is received, we can go forward; if not, we must
leave undone what ought to be done. Under these circumstances, we
ask individual donors whom God hath blessed with the means and the
heart to help, to give special attention to the facts we present,
and we also respectfully request pastors to bring before their
people our financial necessities, so that during the next five
months we may be able to go forward without debt or diminution of
work.
* * * * *
THE CHURCH BOOK, Hymns and Tunes, for the Uses of Christian
Worship, prepared by Leonard Woolsey Bacon. New York: D. Appleton
& Co. Several novelties are presented by this book. The more
prominent of these are (1) the typographical arrangement, which
allows the hymns to go in without the usual limitations of space,
(2) the number of hymns, which is less than half that usually found
in books of the kind, (3) a combination of the standard tunes
with the best of the English lyrical compositions. We believe
there is common sense in Dr. Bacon’s idea that the church will be
better served with a smaller number of the choicest hymns. As both
the standard and (so called) classical tunes are selected with
excellent judgment, we see no reason why the Church Book may not
prove a valuable addition to the hymn-and-tune-ology of the day.
The typography and binding of the book are of the best.
* * * * *
GENERAL LITURGY AND BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, prepared by Prof.
Hopkins, is the title of an attractive volume of 137 pages,
published by A. S. Barnes & Co. A feature of especial interest
is the “Table for Scripture Readings for Divine Service on every
Lord’s Day throughout the year,” embracing a period of two years.
The volume is tastefully prepared and printed in red and black,
thus assisting the eye in selecting the different parts of the
service. We believe it will be found helpful in the pulpit, in
families and in mission work at home and abroad.
* * * * *
THE _Home Missionary_ for May appears with new cover and
an addition of eight pages, four of which are devoted to
advertisements. The reading matter, embraces a wide range of
discussion on the different interests of home missionary work, and
as usual was prepared especially for this excellent organ of the
Home Missionary Society. It gives evidence of an advance along the
line, and will be welcome in its approved appearance among its
numerous readers.
* * * * *
THE _Church Building Quarterly_, No. 2, is out, and gives to its
readers a hundred pages of excellent reading relating to the
interests of the Congregational Union. Plans, specifications and
cuts of 26 varieties of church edifices are given with suggestions
as to cost, materials, conveniences, title to property and other
information of value. Cuts and specifications for three varieties
of parsonages are also given. The Quarterly is attractive and we
congratulate the brethren who manage the affairs of the Society on
their enterprise and success.
* * * * *
A VALUABLE BOOK ON INDIAN MISSIONS.
INDIAN MISSIONS is a volume of 270 pages, published by the Am. S.
S. Union, from the pen of Rev. Myron Eells, missionary of the A.
M. A. among the Indians in Washington Territory. Mr. Eells is the
son of a missionary, who gave himself to the work on the Pacific
Coast in 1838. He grew up in that country, and is perhaps as well
qualified as any man living to write the history and results of the
work of different benevolent societies among the Indian tribes of
that section. In the book before us he gives in order the history
of the early missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church and those
of the American Board, making mention of the development of the
work in ten localities among as many different tribes. The progress
of civilizing agencies is recorded with a fidelity and minuteness
that adds much to the value of the volume. It appears that most of
the missionaries believed that the Bible and the plow should go
hand in hand, and that through their influence the Indians were
stimulated to cultivate lands, build houses, abandon polygamy,
become temperate, connect themselves with churches, and place
their children in schools. The author expresses the fear that his
statistics relating to such matters may be considered too large,
but affirms that they have been taken from official reports. He
comforts himself, also, in the words of another, to the effect
that “if one-fourth of all that is reported has been accomplished,
a great work has been done.”
Part II. of Mr. Eells’ book treats of the reflex influence of the
mission upon the whites. His claims are no less interesting than
surprising. He says: “Indian missions brought the first white
woman overland to Oregon, opened the first emigrant wagon road to
the Columbia River, furnished Oregon with the first United States
officer, gave the first governor to the Territory, established the
first permanent American settlement here, so that without this aid
the Provisional Government would, without doubt, never have been
organized, brought the first American cattle to the Willamette
Valley, and saved the country, or, at least, an important portion
of it, to the United States.”
Indeed, when he tells the story of Dr. Whitman’s winter journey
to Washington, pursuant to the vote of the missionaries, “to make
a desperate effort to save the country to the United States,”
he is not only graphic but eloquent. His description of the
hardships of the winter’s campaign and of the grand success of the
return journey with scores of emigrants, who illustrated beyond
question that women and wagons could cross the mountains, and that
missionaries at least had the enterprise needful to provide the
agency for establishing a provisional government at the focal point
in the history of our western territories, is full of interest.
It is impossible, however, in our limited space, even to allude to
all the topics touched upon. We must ask our readers to purchase
the volume. It is well suited for Sabbath-school libraries, and
will be welcomed by good men everywhere who love mission work. As
a testimony in behalf of the far-reaching influences of missionary
endeavors, it is of rare excellence. We hope its circulation will
be swift and extensive.
* * * * *
BENEFACTIONS.
Hon. Peter Cooper left by will $100,000 to the Cooper Institute,
New York.
Senator Joseph E. Brown, of Atlanta, has donated $50,000 in bonds
to the University of Georgia.
The late Jos. J. Cook, Esq., of Providence, left to Trinity College
$5,000 for the purchase of books.
Carleton College, Minn., has received a gift of $12,000 from Mr. E.
H. Williams, of Philadelphia.
Mrs. Jonathan Adams, of Concord, N.H., bequeathed $5,000 to
Holderness Academy as a scholarship fund.
Middlebury College, Vt., has come into possession of $1,500 by the
death of the widow of Rev. T. A. Merrill, D.D., by which it offers
three prizes to the sophomore class.
The will of the late Hon. J. N. Hungerford, of Corning, N.Y.
bequeaths $25,000 to Hamilton College, in addition to $15,000
given by him to that institution a year or more ago.
A gentleman in New York State has recently contributed $5,000 to
the Atlanta University to be used as a fund, the interest of which
can be applied for annual scholarships.
Mr. Moody’s Mount Hermon School for Boys is to receive the entire
cabinet of fossil footprints, shells and minerals belonging to the
late Roswell Field, of Gill, Mass., and also the sum of $1,600 to
provide for its preservation and enlargement.
The Vermont Academy at Saxton’s River, Vt., has just received a
gift of $12,000 from four prominent Vermonters—$3,000 each from
Lawrence Barnes, Julius J. Estey, Jacob Estey and Levi K. Fuller.
The widow of John Evans, of South Meriden, has given $2,000 to
Wesleyan University to found the John Evans scholarship, open to
candidates for the ministry in junior or senior classes.
_It has been estimated at Washington that the annual profit to the
country by the conversion of illiterate into educated labor cannot
be less than $400,000,000. If so, money given for the endowment of
educational institutions at the South, like those of the A. M. A.,
would yield a hundred fold in half a generation._
* * * * *
GENERAL NOTES.
AFRICA.
—The caravan of English missionaries conducted by Mr. Stokes has
reached the extreme south of Victoria Nyanza, a little to the west
of Kaghei.
—Mr. Resteau has established at Ambrisette the first factory of the
Belgian Company for African commerce. He has sent the plans for
another establishment that the company will found in the region
south of the Congo.
—The Committee of English missions has accepted for its stations on
the Niger the services of Dr. Percy Brown, who offers himself for
work in any part of the mission field.
—The new king of Cayor has made a visit to the Governor of St.
Louis, promising to aid with all his power the construction of the
railroad. In two or three weeks the section from Dakar to Rufisque
will be finished.
—The British and African Steam Navigation Company, which has
already 20 ships for service on the west side of Africa, has
constructed two others of less draught that they may leap the sand
banks of the lower rivers. They will be named the Lagos and the
Calabar.
—Unwilling to yield to any one the territory of Liberia, the Senate
of Monrovia is prepared to place the question of the southern
limits of this State, a subject on which it disagrees with England,
to the arbitration of the United States.
—Mr. Piazzi Smythe has communicated to the English journal
_Nature_, from a correspondent at Santa Cruz, capital of Teneriffe,
that the peak of Teyde, which has not had an eruption since 1798,
has broken out again since the commencement of 1883. A river of
lava descends from its summit, still covered with snow.
—The Baptist missionaries settled at Manyanga and Stanley Pool,
where their stations have taken the names of Wathen and Arthington,
in honor of the two principal supporters of their work, have felt
more and more obliged to free themselves from the protection of the
armed Zanzibarites of the Belgian expeditions. Since the attack in
which M. Peschuel Locsche was wounded they have felt that the route
along the northern side of the river from Manyanga to Stanley Pool
was safe only for strong caravans well armed, and they have sought
one upon the southern side. There the Belgians, after having burned
Ngombi, whose chief was disposed to attack the caravans, have
made a new route to Stanley Pool, and Lieut. Valcke has founded a
station at Ngombi and organized a service of caravans between that
point and Stanley Pool. The missionaries have one independent of
the Belgians, so that caravans pass every four or five days. The
security of transport is greater, but the price of everything is
greatly increased.
—The combats between the people of Stanley and the natives have
arrested the advance of the missionaries of the Livingstone Inland
mission. After having gone 50 kilometres beyond their station,
they were obliged to found a new station upon the Loukounga in
the midst of a population always well disposed toward them. Also
the missionaries of this mission have decided not to establish
themselves at Stanley Pool, and have actually gone to work in
the region near their stations, 50 or 60 kilometres apart, over
an extent of 170 kilometres. During the five years in which they
have lived there they have never had a quarrel with the natives,
who respect them and confide their children to them. They have
learned the language of the country, prepared many pupils to become
teachers, and found the natives eager to furnish them the products
of the country and at their service for porters along the route
from one station to the other.
THE INDIANS.
—The last session of Congress appropriated $300,000 to the
Cherokees as payment for the lands now occupied by the Nez Perces,
Poncas, Pawnees and Otoes.
—The Indian Homestead Colony at Flandreau, D.T., reports that
ninety-four homesteads have been taken by the Indians to be held at
least five years by them.
—Four hundred thousand dollars have been appropriated by the
general government for the support of Indian day and industrial
schools and for other educational purposes.
—Capt. R. H. Pratt is to receive $68,500 for the support of the
Indian Industrial School at Carlisle, Pa. This amount is to cover
all expenditures for transportation of Indians, and for the salary
and support of teachers and students.
—A new Industrial School for Indian girls has been started by the
Government at West Branch, Iowa. Mr. Benjamin Miles is to have
charge of the enterprise. The school has capacity for fifty pupils,
and by the terms of the appropriation, none can be received who are
under fourteen years of age.
THE CHINESE.
—According to Missionary Butler, of China, as Buddhism has no
heaven for women, the Chinese damsels labor with might and main to
lay up merits that they may prevail with the judges of the lower
world to let them be born again as men, so that they may have a
chance to get there.
—More than 280 Christian women are banded together in England,
daily praying for blessing to rest upon the work among the poor,
degraded and down-trodden women of China. Three of the members of
this Woman’s Prayer Union for the Women of China have been accepted
by the China Inland Mission, and are hoping soon to leave for their
future sphere of work.
—A happy thought for a Christian wedding party found expression at
Norwich, England, on the occasion of the marriage of Rev. J. O.
Hoare, son of Canon Hoare and Principal of the C. M. S. College,
at Ningpo. After breakfast it was proposed to make a special
collection for the China mission, which resulted in subscriptions
amounting to about $2,200.
—The edict against Christianity in Japan has never been repealed.
At first, only teaching was permitted, and that was to be secular;
then preaching in private was tolerated; then followed assembles
for Christian worship, and the organization of Christian churches;
and in October, 1880, the natives held a meeting in the open air on
the grounds of a hotel in the public park at Uyeno; some four or
five thousand people were present, and the meeting lasted two days.
It was openly advertised in the native newspapers and publicly
announced by large post-bills which met the eye in all parts of the
city, and one of which was on the very spot where the old edict
board used to stand. And yet the government does not interfere.
* * * * *
THE SOUTH.
REV. JOSEPH E. ROY, D.D., FIELD SUPERINTENDENT.
PROF. ALBERT SALISBURY, SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.
* * * * *
A REMARKABLE TRIBUTE.
HOW IT PAYS TO EDUCATE COLORED MINISTERS.
REV. W. W. PATTON, D.D., WASHINGTON.
Facts are worth more than abstract theories. Let the people
have the facts. Howard University has for a number of years
been carrying on a theological department, which has educated
many colored ministers for all the evangelical denominations in
this country, besides sending several missionaries to Africa.
This department is mainly supported by the American Missionary
Association, and its principal professorship has been partially
endowed by Mrs. Stone. From this institution went forth a few years
since, a young man (Rev. A. J. Henry) of unmixed African blood,
who took as his field of labor a benighted county in Virginia. As
the result of his patient, self-denying toil, several churches and
schools have been established, and a new character has been given
to the whole community. In proof of this, I am permitted to quote
the following letter, voluntarily sent by the Prosecuting Attorney
of the county to Mr. Henry:
“AMELIA COURT HOUSE, Va., Jan. 31, 1883.
DEAR SIR: There has been such a marked improvement in the
conduct, character, morals and intelligence of the colored
population of this county, and crime has diminished to such
an extent with the past several years, that it is natural
that an observing man should at once consider the cause or
reason for such a changed state of affairs. In doing so, I am
at once constrained to believe and to attribute it to your
untiring zeal in the laudable effort to do good to that race
whose training has been so long neglected. Your boldness in
condemning the wrong and asserting and approving the right,
has not only impressed the colored people and influenced their
conduct in the right direction, but it has at the same time won
for you the confidence and esteem of all the thinking portion
of the white race who are interested in good government, and a
well-ordered and law-abiding community. It is not surprising to
thinking men that an immense amount of crime should have been
the result of liberating the vast number of colored people of
the South, and throwing them suddenly upon their own resources,
with their wants unprovided for and with no training, when it
had not been their habit to think or provide for themselves.
Consequently, the sad result was that crime was prevalent
throughout this whole Southern country. It therefore became
sensible men to undertake to provide a remedy; and the remedy
is, to educate and Christianize the race; and I am glad—indeed,
happy—to be able to say that you have contributed your full
share toward bringing about that happy result, for which this
community ought to be profoundly grateful.
“Now, for a moment, let us contrast the present state of
things with the past, which is vivid in our recollection
because of its sadness. I qualified as Prosecuting Attorney
for this county at the April Term of the County Court 1870,
and have held that office (with the exception of one term of
four years) from that time to the present. It was no uncommon
thing—indeed it was a common thing—to prosecute from two to
four cases of felony at every term of the court, and I have
prosecuted as many as seven felonies at one term of our Circuit
Court, and the jail was full or crowded with those awaiting
trial. But for the last four or five years crime has gradually
diminished, until now it is a rare occurrence that we have a
prisoner in jail awaiting trial or a felony to prosecute; and
the jail is nearly all the time without an inmate. The present
state of things is so different that it is a subject of remark.
May He who directeth all things spare you long in the good work
in which you have accomplished so much. Very respectfully and
truly your friend,
T. K. WEISIGER.”
This statement speaks loudly, not only as regards the particular
case mentioned, but as regards the system which we are pursuing to
elevate the colored people. Mr. Henry, during his studies in Howard
University, was aided by funds contributed in Great Britain for the
assistance of needy colored students, and it will be cheering to
those benefactors to hear of the good which is being accomplished
by this beneficiary. Will not other benefactors come to our help by
furnishing other endowments and scholarships?
* * * * *
REVIVAL WORK AT FISK UNIVERSITY.
REV. H. S. BENNETT.
The religious history of Fisk University divides itself into two
portions, that before New Year and after. Before the New Year, the
week given to the Young Men’s Christian Association passed, and
the work of holding nightly prayer meetings was taken in hand by
the students. Several conversions resulted. After the new year had
set in and I had returned from my Northern trip, I felt that the
time had come for direct effort for the conversion of the students.
I, therefore, directed my preaching to that end and held nightly
meetings for inquirers. As a result two or three of the students
were converted. At length, being convinced that I could do little
more, I made no appointment for other meetings. At this point the
young men in Livingstone Hall came forward and offered to carry
on the meetings in their own way. I was glad to give them the
opportunity to go forward. This they did, visiting from room to
room and inviting the unconverted out. The result was that there
was a large increase in the interest. The inquiry meetings were
full, and from ten to fifteen were seeking Christ every night. This
work went on for several weeks and resulted in the conversion of
fifteen or more—twenty-two for the whole year. There is still some
interest, although other things have interfered to divert the minds
of the students from the direct effort for the salvation of souls.
* * * * *
EMERSON INSTITUTE.
BY MISS EMMA CAUGHEY, MOBILE, ALA.
The accompanying cut of Emerson Institute presents it in its
new and enlarged proportions. Oct 3d, 1882, with much joy and
thanksgiving, we dedicated its new walls, “Pro Christo et
Humanitate.” It is a fine substantial building, well adapted to
our school work. A basement play-room under the entire building
furnishes protection to the children on rainy days. The first floor
contains three pleasant school-rooms, four halls and a library.
Four stair-ways lead to the play-room, and the same number lead up
to the second floor, where are three more cheery, well ventilated
school-rooms, separated from each other by uplifting sash doors,
by which the entire upper story may be thrown into one large hall.
Here we assemble for morning devotions, hold our public rhetoricals
and evening socials. Contributions from friends at the North have
enabled us to place a reading table in one corner of the normal
room, furnished with the best weeklies and monthlies, a handsome
clock and some tasteful mottoes on the wall, each of which we may
hope is a little rill flowing into that stream of silent influences
which serves not only to brighten the lives of the pupils but
to help them to a nobler manhood and a purer womanhood. We have
enrolled during the year three hundred and twenty-one different
pupils under the care of six teachers. We have an industrial
department connected with our school, in which sewing and fancy
work are taught. We meet for two hours each Friday evening at the
close of the regular session of school. This evening hour is a
happy climax to the week for the girls, but is a great tension upon
the nervous force of the teachers at the end of the week’s wear and
tear. We close this department of our school with a fair, where the
articles made by the girls are offered for sale, the proceeds of
which are to be divided between foreign missions and our own worthy
poor.
[Illustration: EMERSON INSTITUTE, MOBILE, ALA.]
* * * * *
INDUSTRIAL WORK AT ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.
MR. H. M. SESSIONS.
Having been connected with this institution more than a year,
we have learned from the boys in school from all parts of the
South, as well as from our own observation in the State, of the
limited scope of the agricultural products in this section. Most
of the boys have been accustomed to farm work, and in answer to
the question, “What kind of crops have you been used to raising?”
they reply invariably, “corn and cotton.” It has been the custom
of the planters here to use their means, men, teams and credit to
raise cotton. While they are raising crops they run in debt for
provisions, and at the end of the year frequently fail to realize
enough from the crops to pay the bills. Some are learning the
better way of raising a variety of crops for the family, and a few
acres of cotton for a money crop. The great want of successful
farming is fertilizers. The land is so impoverished that there is
no use in trying to raise a crop without. With plenty of manure,
we can secure as good crops as can be raised anywhere. Our tables
were supplied last summer with a great variety of vegetables and
our barns filled with fodder. Twelve acres only out of the sixty
owned by the Institution have been under cultivation, our own table
with 240 boarders making a market. The advantages of climate enable
us to raise two or three crops a year on the same land. The soil
is capable of producing any and every variety of crops that can be
raised elsewhere in the United States.
Whatever possibilities may be attained in literary pursuits for
generations to come, most of the manual labor at the South will
be performed by the colored man. The great want at the present
time is skilled laborers. The abundant resources are awaiting men
as well as means for their development—men skilled in all the
useful trades, educated in both muscle and brain, such as can
plan as well as execute. There is a surplus of ignorant laborers
South who cannot set themselves to work at anything but the most
menial service. If the present generation can be instructed by
skilled labor how to get a good living and earn money to educate
their children, then the next generation can take a step higher.
The opportunities offered the boys here to learn the useful arts
will be enlarged. At the present time we are only developing the
agricultural department in a small way for want of means. We are
trying to utilize the labor of the boys for their advantage, as
well as profit to the Institution. With a fair supply of mulberry
trees, we propose to commence the culture of silk. This spring we
have twenty-five boys competing for the premiums offered for the
largest product of early garden vegetables grown on the square rod.
The work is to be done during play hours and the crop harvested
before the close of the term, the 15th of June. Monthly lectures
on important farm topics are given to the students. We need an
endowment of $30,000 for a school of agriculture, and the same
amount for the mechanic arts.
* * * * *
AFRICA AT ATLANTA.
In a private letter Mrs. Chase writes about a young man from the
west coast of Africa as follows: I must tell you about Philip. We
had very interesting meetings last week. Thursday the topic was for
the church. Philip who had not had courage to speak in meetings
before this year, got up and said he was ashamed of having been so
afraid of being laughed at by the boys; he expected in a few years
to teach about Jesus in his own country—and it is your country,
too. He then went on with his intense earnestness and broken
English to tell of his home—how dear it was to him and how dear
his people were—how sad it was that they did not know about Jesus,
till I do not think there was a dry eye in the room. The meeting
the next night was a larger one, as we have no study hours Friday
night. We saw the effect of Philip’s thrilling words. More than
one referred to them. A young woman who decided to be a missionary
to Africa last year, said every word Philip spoke seemed meant for
her. “To think that boy, who was a heathen such a little while ago,
could justly say such things to us with our privileges, made me
feel condemned. I want to preach the gospel to the heathen. I pray
that I may be fitted for the blessed work. I don’t want money, I
don’t want fame, but I do want such a spirit that it shall be my
meat and drink to do my Father’s will.” Philip’s Bible, which he
brought with him, is very fine print, and has no references. He
wanted a new one, so as he had earned some money in summer, one of
the teachers purchased him one. He is so pleased with it he takes
it to bed with him. One day he asked his teacher if he could not
buy some silk to cover it with. When she suggested covering it with
paper, he did not like it at all. I am so glad he is with us, he is
a great power.
* * * * *
ONE DAY.
BY MISS ADELE BREWER, RALEIGH, N.C.
Would you like to spend Sunday with us among the colored people
at the South? The bell for Sunday School sounded at nine o’clock.
At three, we answered the call for church. We saluted the sexton,
a pretty girl, who was ringing the bell as we entered. The neat
little church still had its Christmas trimmings. We were delighted
with everything, the earnest minister, the good organ, the
well-trained choir. Every word of the responsive reading was so
clearly enunciated that it was a pleasure to listen. The pastor’s
wife came in with her manly son and her wee baby. That smallest
auditor behaved well. The missionary was there with the orphan she
is training. Notices for the week were given out—Lyceum, Church
prayer meeting, and the Women’s prayer meeting.
After the benediction, before we had hardly thought of turning in
our places, we felt the pressure of a baby’s hand. Little Clara,
aged five, had hastened to us. She had come to church alone. It was
sweet to look at her and know what an angel of light she is. Her
mother, though an invalid, takes in washing. She hires some one
to carry the clothes. Clara wishes to grow. “Why?” “So I can tote
de clothes.” In former days, long before she came to earth, her
parents were prosperous. They bought land and built two houses, one
for themselves and one to rent. Her father, still in the prime of
life, is paralyzed and blind. Day after day he sits by the fire,
unable to read, or work, or move. We have seen his blind, twitching
face light tenderly at the touch of his only child. Clara led us
along slowly, and we chatted with the missionary and her friends.
One young lady has bought land, built a house for herself and
furnished it well with carpet and organ. She is helping her sisters
in their education. We met many whose friends were at school. We
shook hands with the good deacons.
Some young girls were waiting at home for us. They wished to talk
about “going North.” As soon as they had left, a friend sent by
us an orange to Mrs. Knowles. In her one dark room, over a smoky
fireplace, she was sitting, paralyzed, rheumatic and very “painy,”
without kith or kin to help her, dependent on neighbors for food,
wood and water; her lot did not seem an enviable one. “The children
are mighty kind to me.” Boys come in and cut a stick of wood at a
time. She cooks meal, her chief article of food, in three different
ways, “so as to have a little variety, you know.” Often suffers for
“suthing t’eat;” seldom knows whence the next dinner will come.
As we left the room we heard crying. Leaning by the fence, alone
and screaming, was a little girl. “What is it?” “A boy threw a rock
and hit me here,” showing her side. “Where is your home?” “Right
over yonder.” “Shall I take you there?” “No; mother is not there.”
It proved that her sister and friend were frolicking and helping
(?) Mrs. Knowles. Her sister answered the appeal for help. “Hush,
Queen; quit making such a fuss.” The friend explained: “She never
did like to be hit by a rock, nohow.” We noticed the feet of the
friend. A piece of leather tied around them, showing the bare toes.
Many children can not go to Sunday-school because they have no
shoes.
After tea we went to the S. S. Concert. In giving out the subject,
the teacher said she did not want to call it a Lying Concert,
though the verses were about lying, so she called it a Truth
Concert. The room was full. Little Clara’s mother could not go,
so the wee maiden invited a young lady to be her escort. The
concert was excellent. The texts were well recited and the pastor’s
remarks summed up the matter. At the close an appeal was made in
behalf of a poor and sick scholar. A member of her class carried
around the basket, and a dollar and seventy-nine cents was given
in response. This little church takes up three collections a day,
yet its members are very poor and the winter has been hard on all.
One family stayed in bed till late in the afternoon to save wood
to cook supper. A young man, sick with consumption, had nothing
provided for him but bacon and cornmeal, which his delicate
appetite loathed. It is hard to earn much, receiving thirty cents
a week for a washing. We asked a widow if she was comfortable when
her husband was alive. “Oh yes; I had plenty to eat, plenty to
eat. He was cross sometimes, as men are, but I always had plenty
to eat.” We lay down to rest that night with new feelings of
gratitude and shame. “What shall we render unto the Lord for all
His benefits?”
* * * * *
A JUBILATE.
(Composed for the Commencement Exercises of Tillotson Institute.)
BY MISS ANGIE FULLER.
A song, a song of joyous exultation,
That where but late was darkness and despair,
Harps upon the willows, hopeless lamentation,
Sighing and moans, and foolish superstitions,
The cringing fear and terror stricken wail,
With all the miserable, the pitiful conditions
Gross ignorance and bondage can entail,
There now is light that promises to brighten,
There now is thankful prayer and notes of praise,
There now is hope, sweet hope, to cheer and lighten,
A race oppressed and wronged in many ways;
There now are minds aspiring and expanding
And daily demonstrating they are strong,
To answer to Progression’s stern demanding
And take a place among the cultured throng.
God-speed to those who lead this van of progress,
Who work as pioneers in Wisdom’s fields;
Proving to all the wondering, doubting people
What grand results, fair mental culture yields.
Still may they press undaunted onward, upward
Greater achievements and successes win,
While hopeful millions in their footsteps follow,
And Heaven smiles approval most benign.
[Illustration: GREEN COVE SPRINGS, ST. JOHNS RIVER, FLA.]
COLOR LINE IN FLORIDA.
BY REV. ALBERT P. MILLER.