Christian journals of the day, as to so-called “mixed churches,”
the following incident may show to the Christian world the attitude
taken by the African Methodist Episcopal Church—400,000 strong—with
whose work I was very pleasantly connected last year. One of our
preachers, a Rev. C. J. Croom, having charge of the Hamburg circuit
in the East Florida Conference, was last year holding a series of
revival meetings. The spirit waxed hot, and large numbers came
rolling in from every quarter night after night. Conversions began
to crown the efforts of the pastor, among the colored members of
the congregation. As is very often the case several white friends
were in attendance. One night after a soul-stirring sermon the
preacher called on all who wanted to be prayed for to come and bow
at the front seats. A great many came, and among these a white
woman, who that night was deeply convicted. Her mother, brother
and sister were terribly enraged, that she should be out so late
at a “nigger meeting,” and came down on her very heavily. The
next night, however, found her, more anxious than ever, at the
“nigger revival.” The mother, who would not go herself, sent her
son and daughter to bring their sister home. On arriving they
became so much interested in what was going on that they decided
to remain. They began to feel “funny.” Still they sat and looked
on and saw their sister again press forward for prayer. They
still felt “funny,” but couldn’t go. By and by the sister, who
sat in the audience, went to get her anxious sister, and take her
home. No sooner had she put her hands on her than she herself
fell under conviction, and both that night were happily converted
to God. Their brother at once became deeply concerned, and was
soon rejoicing with his sisters and the Negroes in the “liberty
wherewith Christ doth make his children free.”
“Big Sunday” came, day for communion and reception of members.
Candidates received on profession were to be baptized, either by
sprinkling or immersion. Our white brother and his two dear sisters
having been received into full membership chose to go down under
the water, which they did with several others, being baptized by
Bro. Croom. Some of the white neighbors were a little offended at
the conduct of both the colored preacher and his white brother
and sisters in the Lord, and asked him to leave. But he told them
frankly that he didn’t convert the candidates, and that if the same
God who had changed their hearts, led them also to seek admission
into his church, there was nothing, either in his Bible or his
discipline, that would prohibit their becoming regular members of
his church. Bro. Croom tells me that these three converts are among
the most faithful of his members, and that he “would be glad to
receive many more such members into the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, for God is no respecter of persons,” and why should we be?
* * * * *
WOMAN’S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
BY MISS M. K. LUNT, SELMA.
The Alabama Branch of the Woman’s Missionary Association held its
annual meeting in the Normal room of Talladega College, March
27. The attendance was good, and the reports from the local
societies very encouraging. The officers, with but two exceptions,
were re-elected to serve for the coming year. After devotional
exercises, Mrs. De Forest gave an address of welcome, in which
she reminded us of the important work God had put in our hands to
carry on, and that _our_ part is to be _doers_, leaving results
to Him. The local societies have given considerable time to
industrial work, disposing of clothing, quilts, and fancy articles,
aggregating the sum of $175, disbursing for Foreign Missions and
home interests $116.85, leaving a balance for further distribution.
Mothers’ meetings, children’s meetings, and sewing classes have
received their share of attention. At the public meeting in March,
in Selma, Mrs. McDougal, correspondent of the New York _Weekly
Witness_, was present, and all enjoyed her fresh, practical and
inspiring words.
Several papers were listened to with interest, the first read by
Miss Jillson, on “Our Duty to Foreign Missions and the means by
which an interest may be Promoted.” Miss Plimpton and Mrs. A. W.
Curtis followed in discussion on the subject. Mrs. Curtis spoke
of the joy her husband’s mother felt in giving three sons to the
missionary fields; how this love had been awakened in her children
by reading to them from the _Missionary Herald_. Mrs. Andrews read
letters of greeting from the President and Secretary of the Boston
Association. Miss Chafin sent a paper, on “Do we owe a Tenth to the
Lord?”
A poem was read by Miss Partridge, “So Much to do at Home.” In
this an African Chief is begging for some Christian teachers to go
with him to lead his people to the Saviour, but is denied because
there is so much at home to be done. Mrs. Fay gave a talk on “How
to organize Missionary Societies,” urging the members of those
churches who have no such organization to form one at once.
Miss Mickle presented another paper on “Hath She Done what She
Could?” Mrs. Steele of Chattanooga, Tenn., was present and offered
the closing prayer. Singing was interspersed, and we felt that the
hours had brought to us an encouragement and strength which will
make us more hopeful for the future.
* * * * *
NOTES FROM THE FIELD.
—A Welsh Cong. Church has been organized at Rock Creek, Tenn., with
22 members, by the Rev. Wm. H. Thomas.
—Rev. L. C. Joell, a recent graduate of the Theol. Dept. of Howard
University, has been appointed for church work at Greenwood, S.C.
—More than two score souls are reported to have been converted at a
series of meetings conducted by Revs. Imes and Fields at Memphis,
Tenn.
—A revival is reported in connection with the labors of Rev. B. F.
Foster at Fayetteville, Ark.
—Rev. Milus Harris, of Talladega, is conducting school and church
services at Tecumseh, Ala., in the building erected by the Tecumseh
Iron Co.
—A church of fourteen members has been recognized by Council at
Jackson, Miss. The sermon was by Supt. Roy. Most of the members had
been students at Tougaloo University.
—The Mississippi Association of Cong. Churches and ministers was
organized at Tougaloo, Miss., March 31. Pres. Pope and Rev. C.
L. Harris were elected as delegates to the National Council. A
missionary committee was appointed to take charge of two missions
already established.
—Supt. Roy has organized a church of ten members at Knoxville,
Tenn., which was recognized by Council April 22. Rev. Simon Peter
Smith, from Washington, has been assigned to this charge. A church
edifice has been secured.
—The Central Church, New Orleans, under the ministration of Rev.
Dr. Alexander, has received forty new members during the year. The
church pays $50 a month towards the pastor’s salary.
—Miss Gerrish, who has been sustained by the ladies of Iowa, as
missionary, in connection with the Central Church, New Orleans, has
been greatly blessed in her work done in the mothers’ meeting and
the sewing class. Twelve hundred calls were made by her during the
first six months of her service.
—A church was organized at Fayetteville, Ark., with nine members,
April 15. Supt. Roy and Rev. B. F. Foster, the pastor of the
church, were in attendance. At the first communion season the
church was made happy in the use of a new communion set and an
outfit of chapel lamps from Rev. Geo. M. Boynton’s people, Jamaica
Plain, Mass.
—The Spirit of God has been poured out upon both church and school
at the Le Moyne Institute. In the normal department of the school
there are but six or eight who do not profess Christ. Eighty per
cent. of all the students are reported to be seeking to lead
Christian lives. Over fifty souls have recently professed faith in
Christ, about twenty of whom will soon be added to the church.
—Prof. Hitchcock, of Straight University, New Orleans, has
interested parties on the ground to provide for orange and other
fruit trees to be planted on the square in connection with the
University buildings. He is anxious, however, to secure additional
funds in order that the planting may be sufficient and immediate.
—A new church has been organized at Birmingham, Ala., under the
guidance of Supt. Roy. Rev. Andrew J. Headen has been chosen
pastor, and the work is now being carried on with good success.
—Rev. C. W. Francis, of Atlanta, reports the conversion of eighteen
students in connection with the University. One is a member of the
graduating class and another has been a Roman Catholic.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
THE NEW MISSION IN SOUTH CHINA.
BY REV. W. C. POND.
The memorable event of the month of February—so far as our work is
concerned—is the inauguration of the mission of the American Board
to Hong Kong, and through Hong Kong to those districts of South
China from which most of our Chinese have come. Rev. C. R. Hager, a
recent graduate of our Pacific Theological Seminary, and for more
than a year past a very successful and greatly beloved pastor at
Antioch, in this State, having offered himself to the Board as a
Foreign Missionary, was at our own suggestion and request appointed
to take charge of this new work, and was ordained as a Missionary
at Bethany Church, on Friday, Feb. 16. One of the exercises at the
ordination service was an address by Jee Gam, a portion of which,
I trust, can be crowded into the space allotted in the MISSIONARY
to our work. It will scarcely be necessary for me to add anything,
unless it be to say that to my faith this work thus begun looms up
in grand proportions, as fraught with most beneficent results. I
am prepared in spirit patiently to wait—prepared, if such be God’s
will, utterly to fail—but my faith feels so strong, my hopes are so
high, so bright, so confident, that I seem to myself already to be
entering on the harvest, and the joy of harvest fills my heart.
JEE GAM’S ADDRESS.
It was ten years ago when our Chinese brethren first felt the
need of a mission in China at or near the districts from which
most of our brethren came. They grew more and more anxious for
this mission, when they heard of the aid and refuge given to the
persecuted Christians by the other mission in Canton city.
The first three years we often expressed our great desire among
ourselves for this mission, but never thought of telling our
superintendent, Rev. W. C. Pond. Not a word was said to him
until at our usual Wednesday afternoon Bible class, about seven
years ago, when the subject of foreign missions was accidentally
mentioned. We then told Rev. W. C. Pond what we so much desired.
He at once approved of it. Hong Kong was chosen for the seat of
this mission, and Mr. Pond requested that those who were able to
write a letter should do so, explaining why this mission was so
much needed. He accordingly forwarded these letters to the American
Missionary Association. Though the Association sympathized with
us in our want, yet how this mission could be established looked
very doubtful. The matter was left to stand; but we remembered
that James tells us to ask in faith, nothing wavering, and we knew
that God was able to supply all our needs; so we kept on praying.
In the first part of October, 1879, I was greatly surprised by the
very generous invitation which the American Missionary Association
tendered me to attend its annual meeting at Chicago. I started for
the East, but thought nothing of this Hong Kong mission until at
the annual meeting, when I felt moved by the Holy Spirit to make
an earnest plea for it. I also spoke for it at all the meetings I
attended while East.
On the evening of the 4th of August, 1882 (the same day the Chinese
Restriction bill went into effect), the good news came through our
superintendent that the American Board had consented to establish
the Hong Kong Mission. Oh, how my heart, filled to overflowing,
went out to God in thanksgiving and praise! Immediately we called
the brethren to tell them the good news. Christ has told us to
ask and we shall receive; yet, when this ten years’ prayer was
answered, it seemed almost too much to believe, and we are here
this evening to praise God once more for his love to us and our
benighted countrymen in China. * * *
Having Hong Kong for headquarters, missionaries and teachers can
be sent from there to preach and teach in the villages from which
our young men come. Besides this, the English language is used
more in Hong Kong than in any other part of China, and the Chinese
living there, or those visiting that place, could not be reached
in a more efficient manner than by opening the same kind of free
schools for them that you have opened for us here. They need to
know the English language. Of course there are public schools,
where both the English and Chinese languages are taught by the
British Government, but all have their sessions in the daytime:
consequently, the children are the only ones benefited by these
schools. There remains the laboring class unreached. If a free
evening school is opened, I have no doubt that much good could
be done among them. Moreover, Hong Kong is a great highway to
all foreign ports, especially San Francisco. Through Hong Kong
nearly all the Chinese in the United States have come and will
return. If a general mission could be established at this port,
much co-operating work could be accomplished between our missions
here and that at Hong Kong. Christian Chinese returning home would
receive letters of introduction to the superintendent of the Hong
Kong mission. This superintendent would have pastoral care over
them, and would be a very great help in time of persecution.
Converts would be made firmer in faith, and more earnest in leading
others to Christ.
The Congregational Association of Christian Chinese, at its last
annual meeting, voted to give $500 toward the establishing of this
Hong Kong mission, and do all in its power to help in the future.
God be praised, for he has shown his wonderful love to China. He
is to be praised for this beloved brother, who so kindly offers
himself for the Master’s service. He is to be praised for the
American Board which sends him. May the Lord raise up many more
like workers, who shall devote their lives to China.
* * * * *
Let me add that besides this gift of money, our mission sends with
Mr. Hager one of our very best helpers, Lee Sam. We shall miss him
greatly, but we have plead for this new work, expecting that it
would draw upon us in that way largely. To raise up and train men
for Gospel work among the millions beyond the sea, will now be one
of the chief ends to be kept in view in our work in California. And
because of this, we ask with an intensity of desire scarcely known
to us before, a place in the prayers of God’s people throughout our
whole land.
* * * * *
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
THE COMING OF THE ORGAN.
BY MRS. WALTER E. C. WRIGHT, BEREA, KY.
“Pine Grove College,” as it is called in Jackson County, needed
an organ; there was no doubt about that. But the likelihood of
obtaining it seemed small. Away up there in the mountains of
Kentucky, there were few who had ever seen an organ, and only
the teacher knew how much it would help in the day school, the
Sunday-school and the preaching services. So Miss Barton sang
herself hoarse trying to teach the children to sing by rote, and on
Sunday the minister had to line the hymns for want of books. (Your
grandmamma can tell you what I mean by “_lining_ the hymn.”) In all
the mountain churches, both colored and white, the people always
sing in that way, and having no organ to keep them together, they
come out at the end one behind the other, like the “rounds” you
sing at school.
[Illustration: MOUNTAIN FAMILY SINGING PSALMS.]
One day a teacher from Berea went up to visit the school, and when
she saw the bright, eager faces of the children, and the effort
the teacher was making to have them learn to sing, she said, “Why,
how much you need an organ here. It would lift these children
into a whole new world of ideas.” “Yes, I know it,” answered Miss
Barton, “but where is it to come from?” Well, Miss D. went home and
thought it over, and then wrote to Miss Barton that if the people
there would raise thirty dollars, she would see that they had an
organ. Miss Barton did not feel much encouraged, for the people in
that region are not rich, and one dollar looks very large to them.
However, she read Miss D.’s letter to them at Sabbath school, and
explained what an advantage it would be to have the instrument to
use. To her great surprise they pledged the amount at once, though
many of them cannot afford sugar in their coffee, or butter on the
corn bread, which, with bacon, is the staple of their living. I
have not time to tell how Miss D. raised the rest of the money,
how she found a dealer who had a very fine organ to sell at second
hand, and who threw off fifteen dollars when he found for what
she wanted it—nor how one friend in Tallmadge and another in Akron
helped on, and at last the organ was ordered and sent. It was
expected on a certain Saturday, and on Sunday morning you might
have seen the people gathering in unusually large numbers. All who
did not walk came on horseback. There a mother with her baby on
her arm, and a little girl behind her on the family horse. Here
the father, with a three-year-old boy behind him on the colt, and
yonder three older children on another horse, all sitting with that
easy security they express when they say “I was born on a horse,”
and thinking no more about it than you do when you ride in a street
car.
But when the people reached the school-house their faces fell as
they came in one after another and saw there was no organ on the
platform. The wagon had broken down bringing it over the almost
impassable roads from the station twenty miles away, and at last
Sunday-school was commenced with a feeling of disappointment in all
hearts. Even brave Miss Barton felt a lump in her throat, for she
had counted on it like the meeting of an old friend in a strange
land. But just in the middle of the lesson the creaking of wheels
was heard and some men came in with _something_ still encased in
the box in which it was packed. No more lesson that day. Every boy
and girl, colored and white, was as eager and curious as if this
was a stray cage from some menagerie. Finally, with some little
trouble, the packing-case was removed, and there was a plain, quiet
little walnut thing, looking some like a small cupboard, and now
the question arose on which side was it made to stand? The teacher,
seeing the dilemma, suggested the proper base, on which it was
firmly placed. Then a chair was brought, some books piled on it—and
_then_ they found there was no key. But somebody produced a nail,
the cover was lifted, and there was their organ smiling at them
and showing every one of its pretty white teeth. And oh, when the
wonderful thing began to sing, how pleased they were! The children
forgot that they too could sing
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow,”
while listening to the beautiful, strange voice. Presently they
gained courage and joined in the Gospel hymns (which the common
people _do_ sing gladly), and sang, and sang, and sang, all through
the time for Sabbath school and all through the time for preaching.
I think the angels hearing the sounds must have rejoiced that day
with great hope for the souls that might be won to repentance
through the Coming of the Organ.
* * * * *
RECEIPTS FOR APRIL, 1883.
* * * * *
MAINE, $215.13.
Bath. Central Ch. and Soc., 45; Winter St.
Cong. Ch. and Soc., 35.15 $80.15
Bethel. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.24
Brewer. Cong. Ch. 9.50
Buxton. North Cong. Ch. and Soc. 4.00
East Orrington. Cong. Sab. Sch. 2.04
East Otisfield. Mrs. Susan Lovell, 5; Mrs.
Sarah P. Morton, 2; Rev. J Loring, 1.75;
Mrs. A. Lovewell, 1; Mrs. M. H. Jennings, 25c 10.00
Gorham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.78
Gorham. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Needmore Chapel,
Talladega C._ 19.17
Newport. Mrs. M. S. Nickerson 0.50
South Paris. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.25
Norway. Mrs. M. K. Frost 0.50
Waldoborough. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Wells. Barak Maxwell 20.00
Winthrop. Cong. Ch. 17.00
York. “A Friend,” by Rev. D. B. Sewall 3.00
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $430.07.
Amherst. Cong. Ch. 15.70
Atkinson. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.00
Colebrook. “E. C. W.” 2.00
Concord. North Ch. Sab. Sch., _for Student
Aid, Talladega C._ 10.00
Exeter. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 122.08
Exeter. Cong. Ch. 2 Bbls of C., _for Tillotson
C. & N. Inst._ Mrs. Odlin _for Freight_ 3.00
East Alstead. Rev G. A. Beckwith, Box Books,
_for Library, Macon, Ga._
Great Falls. Mission Fund, Cong. Soc. 11.25
and Bbl. of C. _for Student Aid, Talladega
C._ 11.25
Hillsborough Bridge. Cong. Ch. 3.00
Keene. First Cong. Sab. Sch., 32.55; George
Cooke, 5 37.55
Lisbon. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 14.00
Mason. Cong. Ch. 9.00
Nashua. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 16.74
New Boston. “A Friend” (of which 50 _for
Chinese and 25 for Indian M._) 100.00
New Ipswich. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Student
Aid, Atlanta U._ 20.00
North Hampton. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Lady
Missionary, Savannah, Ga._ 21.00
Orford. Cong. Ch. and Soc., 16; “H. H. C.,” 1.
“F. B.” 25c 17.25
Orfordville. D. T Hale 5.00
Piermont. Cong. Sab. Sch., 5; E. Ford, 5 10.00
Portsmouth. Rev. W. W. Dow 2.00
Shelburne. Mrs. Mary C. Ingalls 2.50
Wilton. Rev. A. E. Tracy, Bbl. C., _for Macon,
Ga._
VERMONT, $530.68.
Brattleborough. Helen J. Preston, _for Student
Aid, Fisk U._ 25.00
Brookfield. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.35
Cambridge. Mr. and Mrs. M. Safford 38.52
Clarendon. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.27
Granby and Victory. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.00
Newport. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.65
Norwich. Mrs. H. Burton 2.00
Manchester. Cong. Ch., 122.68; A. Hemenway, 5 127.68
Rochester. Ladies of Cong. Ch., Two bbls. C.
_for Talladega C._
Rutland. Cong. Ch. 243.74
Saxton’s River. Rev. William Sewall, Pkg. of
C., _for Atlanta U._
Thetford. Cong. and Soc. 12.14
Townshend. “Miss E. M. B.” 5.00
——. “L. G.” 5.00
West Brattleborough. Cong. Ch., and Soc. to
const. MRS. MARY W. CLARK L. M. 31.53
West Brattleborough. Ladies of Cong. Soc., 2
Bbls. of C. _for Talladega. C., 5 for
Freight_ 5.00
West Hartford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. (ad’l) 2.00
MASSACHUSETTS, $13,166.38.