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[Illustration:
VOL. XXXVI. MAY, 1882. No. 5
THE
American Missionary
“THEY ARE RISING ALL ARE RISING, THE BLACK AND WHITE TOGETHER”
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION,
ROOMS, 56 READE STREET.
* * * * *
Price, 50 Cents a Year, In Advance.
* * * * *
Entered at the Post-Office at New York, N.Y., as second-class
matter.]
CONTENTS.
* * * * *
EDITORIAL.
PAGE.
PARAGRAPHS 129
BENEFACTIONS 130
CONCERNING ENDOWMENTS 131
DEATH OF REV. J. M. WILLIAMS 133
GENERAL NOTES——Africa, Indians, Chinese 133
CUT OF MODOC FUNERAL 135
ANNIVERSARY ANNOUNCEMENTS 136
THE FREEDMEN.
REVIVAL NEWS——From Tougaloo, Chattanooga,
Macon, Atlanta, Hampton, Paris and McIntosh 137
OUR YOUNGEST, THE TILLOTSON 140
TEACHER’S INSTITUTE AT TALLADEGA 140
HON. WM. E. DODGE AND ATLANTA UNIV. 141
ATLANTA TEACHER AT MACON 141
AFRICA.
MR. LADD’S JOURNAL 142
ELEPHANT HUNTING (cut) 143
THE CHINESE.
STATISTICS FOR FEBRUARY——Chinese New-Year 147
JAPANESE PLEASURE PARTY 149
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
THE GRASSHOPPER TEACHER 150
RECEIPTS 151
* * * * *
American Missionary Association,
56 READE STREET, NEW YORK.
* * * * *
PRESIDENT, HON. WM. B. WASHBURN, Mass.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.
Rev. M. E. STRIEBY. D.D., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
TREASURER.
H. W. HUBBARD, Esq., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
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, Rev. C.
L. Woodworth, Dist. Sec., 21 Congregational House, Boston, Mass.,
or Rev. James Powell, Dist. Sec., 112 West Washington Street,
Chicago, Ill. A payment of thirty dollars at one time constitutes a
Life Member. Letters relating to boxes and barrels of clothing may
be addressed to the persons above named.
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.
* * * * *
The Annual Report of the A. M. A. contains the Constitution of the
Association and the By-Laws of the Executive Committee. A copy will
be sent free on application.
THE
AMERICAN MISSIONARY.
* * * * *
VOL. XXXVI. MAY, 1882. NO. 5.
* * * * *
American Missionary Association.
* * * * *
The friends of the A. M. A. who examine the receipts acknowledged
in this number of the MISSIONARY will be gratified to see a total
of $31,976.58 for March, thus making up in some measure for the
falling off in February. But too much encouragement must not be
taken from this single item. Let it only stimulate our friends to
a steady effort to round out the year with the $300,000 called for
by the annual meeting and by the imperative needs of the work. To
reach that sum $168,000 will be required for the remaining six
months of the year, or $28,000 per month.
* * * * *
The most infamous enactments of the Congress of the United States
have been made in response to the demands of caste prejudice; as
for example in the Fugitive Slave Law. A parallel to this is found
in the recent bill prohibiting Chinese immigration——an enactment
injurious to this country, a wrong to China and a violation of the
fundamental principles of the Declaration of Independence, and of
the law of God. It is a shameful repudiation of our boast that
this land is an asylum for the oppressed of all nations, and it
is a cowardly acknowledgment that a hundred thousand inoffensive
Chinamen can so excite and alarm a nation of fifty millions of
people. It is with great gratification that we chronicle the
veto of this bill by President Arthur. We only regret that he
has not put the veto more squarely against the principle of such
prohibition.
* * * * *
Popular virtue is spasmodic. It was a spasm of public righteousness
that overthrew Wm. M. Tweed in New York. But the spasm soon passed
and New York was again misgoverned. Sudden uprisings of enthusiasm
in the temperance cause have given us prohibitory and other
stringent laws, but soon again the tides of intemperance have swept
onward. In missionary as well as reformatory work is the evil of
these spasms felt. Some new developments of special need or of
special encouragement arouse the churches, and unwonted streams of
contributions pour into the treasuries of the Mission Boards. On
the strength of these gifts the mission work is enlarged and new
responsibilities are assumed, but ere long the decay of the special
impulse leaves the Boards to face their newly-created obligations
with an empty treasury.
This has been specially true in regard to the work among the
Freedmen. On the proclamation of Emancipation, and the enactment of
laws giving the ballot to the blacks, the popular enthusiasm knew
no bounds. Liberal benefactions called into life the Freedmen’s Aid
Societies and filled the treasury of this Association. At length,
however, the Freedmen fell into the hands of the politicians, and
the nation lost interest in the conflicts of parties and factions
over them. The Aid Societies were abandoned and the A. M. A. with
its vast machinery was left in debt. Now, again, within the last
few years has the public attention been aroused to the education
of the colored people as their only hope and the nation’s only
safety. Presidents Hayes and Garfield have voiced the feelings of
the North, and Senator Brown and Dr. Haygood have re-echoed the
sentiment for the South. During these late years the treasury of
the A. M. A. has felt the new impulse, and again it has ventured
upon enlargement. Shall it once more be left on the sands of a
retreating tide and the work for the Freedmen be again crippled?
Nothing will avert such a result but conscience and Christian
principle on the part of the friends of the colored race. If this
work ought to be done, and what patriot or Christian doubts it,
then the patriot and the Christian must give it their steady and
generous support.
* * * * *
BENEFACTIONS.
Mr. Garry Brooks has given $30,000 to found a Brooks Professorship
at Oberlin College.
The medical department of Dartmouth College receives $2,000 from
the will of the late E. W. Stoughton, of New York.
Hon. Frederick Billings, of Woodstock, Vt., has given $5,000 to
the fund now being raised for an additional gymnasium building at
Amherst College.
Gen. James M. Coale, of Maryland, bequeathed $10,000 each to
Georgetown College, D.C., and St. Mary’s Industrial School for
Boys, Baltimore.
The Marquis of Bute offers to add £10,000 to the fund to the
proposed University College of Wales, provided the institution be
established at Cardiff.
Ex-Gov. Morgan, of New York, has given $100,000 to Williams College
for a new dormitory building. The gifts of Gov. Morgan to Wells
College amount in all to $275,000.
Miss Sarah Burr, of New York, bequeathed $95,000 for educational
purposes in connection with institutions already established and
$60,000 towards founding new ones.
* * * * *
_During the past twelve months we have recorded under the head of
“Benefactions” $9,118,500 to different educational institutions
in the United States. The greater part of this was given for
endowments and permanent educational facilities——a portion of it
had been provided by donors during previous years, and a part
still remains unpaid. Of the grand total only $66,500 was for
Freedmen——the money for their support having for the most part come
through the contribution boxes._
* * * * *
CONCERNING ENDOWMENTS.
The success already achieved by the institutions of this
Association and the favor already won by them among all classes of
the Southern people, amply justify the work hitherto carried on. It
is believed that the time has fully come when this work should be
put upon a more substantial basis. Permanent endowments are needed
that these institutions may achieve that larger success which is
rightly expected of them.
Certain phases of our work, sometimes overlooked, greatly emphasize
this need. Careful attention is invited to the following points:
1. _The unusual difficulties attending the successful prosecution
of our work._ It is no ordinary school teaching that we have
undertaken to carry on in the South. Our pupils bring to the
class-room absolutely no inheritance of scholarly mind. Only two
or three generations separate them from the heathenism of the most
uncivilized continent in the world. Some of them come with the
most meagre vocabulary——a few hundred tattered and torn remnants
of English words. Many of them have no equipment of general
information, such as other children absorb from their parents. But
worse than all is the evil inheritance which many of our pupils
bring from centuries of heathenism and slavery. Let us be frank and
add that even the great boon of freedom, so righteously conferred,
has, by the very suddenness of its bestowal, unavoidably brought
peculiar peril and damage to many of the freedmen.
It is not a light task to deal with such material as this. Moral
character must be developed at the outset and carefully nurtured
all along. The rubbish of incorrect speech must be cleared away,
and a correct and copious vocabulary formed. The commonest facts
of general information must be imparted. Of course, in our higher
institutions there is less of such work to be done; but a still
more responsible and difficult task takes its place——that of
preparing college and normal students to perform this same arduous
primary work as teachers and leaders of their own people. Never was
such a mass of ignorance thrown so suddenly upon the educational
resources of a civilized people. But there is a brighter side.
2. _The unprecedented facilities now available for the prosecution
of our work._ Never was a civilized people so well prepared as
our nation now is to meet this great emergency. The progress made
in the science of education was never so great as it has been
in recent years. The adaptation of methods of teaching to the
varying necessities of pupils was never so well understood as now.
Text-books and school apparatus, juvenile literature and helps for
Biblical study were never so excellent as at present. The value
of industrial training, even as an element in the most liberal
culture, is receiving unwonted emphasis. In short, the accumulated
wisdom of the latest and best century stands ready to serve us, if
we only summon its aid. Much of it is in service already; but far
more is needed than our present financial resources can command.
3. _The necessity of a high order of talent in the teachers and
managers of our work._ To understand thoroughly the needs of such
pupils as crowd our schools, and to apply successfully the most
approved educational methods, requires something more than an
ordinary teacher. An eminent advocate of popular education has
stated it as his belief that the most interesting and valuable
improvements yet to be made in pedagogical science will be made in
connection with the education of the colored people. But tyros and
bunglers in teaching will never give us much that is interesting
or valuable. The very best teaching ability must continually be
employed in our schools and colleges, and be properly remunerated.
4. _The relation of our work to the future of education in the
South._ The justification of all Northern missionary teaching in
the South has been that it was designed to accomplish what the
Southern people were not prepared to do themselves. To whatever
extent they may in the future take up our work, it will still be
our mission to maintain that helpful leadership which it has been
our privilege to exercise from the beginning. Our institutions
should be the best and do the best work of any in the South. We
should be the first to discern the peculiar needs of Southern
pupils and the first to introduce whatever is new and excellent
in educational appliances. We ought, for instance, to have
at once industrial departments connected with all our larger
institutions. Every normal and college graduate should be able
to use intelligently either the wood-working or the iron-working
tools; and the same expenditure of time and money which the Harvard
and Yale boys make in learning to wield the oar and the bat would
accomplish this much desired end. Already our institutions are
being visited by Southern teachers eager to witness the advanced
methods of teaching already introduced. We should always be able to
reward such visitors by showing them something which they have not
seen before. Above all, we should send out from our institutions
such noble specimens of young manhood and womanhood as shall prove
a stimulus to the whole educational work in the South.
The destiny of the colored race is to be largely determined by the
character of the young men and women now crowding forward into
active life. The immediate future will demand all our resources,
and more, to save these young people. In the more distant future,
our success as influential leaders in education will depend largely
upon the promptness with which our institutions are _now_ put upon
a substantial basis. Every consideration of past success and of
present and future need enforces our plea that these endowments
should be provided at once.
* * * * *
REV. J. M. WILLIAMS, of the Mendi Mission, died at Freetown,
February 21. Mr. Williams was a native of British Guiana, and born
in 1828. He was early impressed with a love to the Saviour and
to Africa by his grandmother Christina, a native of the interior
of Congo. He was educated in Ebenezer Chapel School, and studied
theology with the pastor of the church; became assistant minister,
then tutor in training school at Clarkson. But in his own words:
“The promise of my childhood made to my grandmother that I would
carry the word of God to Africa for her, when a man; this promise
made with no other object than to soothe her in her tears for
Africa, grew up with me, till I felt I would rather travel from
town to town with my Bible, reading and publishing Christ the
Saviour to my benighted brethren in Africa, than fill the most
exalted and lucrative position in British Guiana or anywhere else.”
In 1861 he went to Africa, and with the exception of three years
spent in England remained there till the time of his death. Mr.
Chase, who visited him in 1880 at Kaw Mendi, where the last five
years of his life were spent, says: “For Africa Mr. Williams’
effort may be considered a success. Very few missionaries could
accomplish so much in so short a time in any field in Africa.”
* * * * *
GENERAL NOTES.
AFRICA.
——West Central Africa is to receive four missionaries from Oberlin,
who will go out under appointment of the A. B. C. F. M.
——The London _Standard_ has received from Durban a dispatch
announcing the return of Mr. Richards, a missionary, who has been
well received by Oumzila. The King has permitted him to establish a
mission in his possessions.
——Of forty physicians who offered themselves to accompany to the
Gold Coast Mr. Praetorius, sub-inspector of the Basle Missions, the
committee has chosen Dr. Ernest Maehli, of Swiss origin.
——A survey is to be made for a light railway from the West African
Gold Coast through the mining regions of the Wassan. If this road
is constructed it will open up a country rich in palm oil, India
rubber and precious metals.
——John Smith Moffat has been sent to Lessouto as British
representative. Born at Kourouman and brought up in England, he
has still passed nearly 25 years in Africa, and exercised in the
Transvaal a civil magistracy among the natives, whose interests,
material and moral, he has always protected.
——Capt. Foot, commander of the ship Ruby, has accepted a call of
the Sultan of Zanzibar, with a view to the suppression of the slave
trade, which appeared concentrated at Bemba. The Arab bark with
which Capt. Brownrigg joined combat has been captured. The French
and English governments have taken up the matter.
——The Arab influence is said by the missionaries of the C. M. S. to
be destroyed in Mtesa’s kingdom. “No fear of starving now,” writes
Mr. O’Flaherty. “We can water our garden, which bears fruit twice
a year. We live like lords on native food, have flesh meat twice a
day. The climate is lovely, country beautiful, people affable and
kind, and we are happy. Our work is so increasing daily that we do
not know where to begin or what to do first.”
——A section of the Geographical Society, of Lisbon, has been formed
at Horta, chief town of Fayal, one of the Azores, and has commenced
to seek means for establishing a help station for shipwrecks, a
measure desired for a long time in this latitude where violent
tempests so frequently surprise one.
——Messrs. Thornycroft & Co., of England, are constructing a steamer
for the use of the Baptist mission on the Upper Congo. The steamer
is to be of steel, having twin screws for her more easy control
and management amid the currents and sand-banks of the river. Her
length will be 70 feet and she will draw only 12 inches of water.
The lightness of flotation is secured by a singularly ingenious
arrangement of the screws. The contract price of the vessel,
complete and packed for transmission to the Congo, with a steel
boat and duplicates of the most important portions of the machinery
and gear, has been fixed at £1,700. To this will have to be added
about £150 for sundry stores, so that the entire cost of the vessel
will not exceed £2,000.
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
——There are 5,500 Indians drawing rations at the Agency of Standing
Rock, Dakota.
——During the present session of Congress 140 bills relating to the
Indians have been introduced, an average of one to about every
1,700 Indians.
——Thirty descendants of Indians in Delaware have asked to be
admitted to the Maryland Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church.
——There are 1,000 Indians in the Everglades of Florida, speaking
their own language. They are said to be friendly and honest in
their dealing with the whites.
——Among the 275,000 Indians reported in the United States there
are 219 churches and 30,000 church members. Out of 70 tribes, 22
are stated to be self-supporting.
[Illustration: MODOC FUNERAL.]
——The Choctaw Nation, in the Indian Territory, have long had a law
to prevent excessive cruelty to animals; inspired, it seems, not
from any example of the whites, but from their own instincts of
humanity. The penalty is a fine of thirty lashes.
——A sub-committee appointed by Presbyterians to prepare a memorial
for Congress relating to the Indians, adopted the following: “For
Indians we want American education, we want American homes, we want
American rights——the result, of which is American citizenship.”
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
——Shanghai, China, has a temperance society with 400 members.
The Chinese pupils at Stockton and Oroville have purchased cabinet
organs for their respective schoolrooms.
——In order to introduce telegraphy into China, the authorities
grant the free use of the wires to the people for a month.
——A decree has been issued exempting all Chinese converts to
Christianity from all levies for idolatrous worship, processions or
theatrical performances.
——The Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong says that the Catholic mission
there took 400,000 Chinese children last year to bring up in the
faith of their church.
——A tract which is being distributed by the Japanese says:
“Christianity is spreading like fire on a grassy plain, so that in
capital and country there is no place where it is not preached.”
——According to the latest statistics on the subject, there are
at the present time 310 Protestant missionary agents in China.
Reckoning the population of China at 350,000,000, a ratio is found
of _one_ missionary agent to a population of 1,129,032.
* * * * *
ANNIVERSARY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, D.C.——The anniversary of the
Theological Department will be on Friday evening, May 5, when
addresses will be made by five young men, who will graduate,
and who will be addressed at the close by some person yet to be
selected.
FISK UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE, TENN.——Friday night, May 20, public
exercises of Class A., and the conferring of normal certificates.
Sunday, 3 P.M., Baccalaureate sermon by President Cravath. Sunday
night, Missionary address by Rev. C. L. Woodworth, of Boston,
Mass. May 23, 24 and 25, examination of classes. Thursday, May 26,
Commencement Day, Anniversary address by Rev. R. G. Hutchins, of
Columbus, Ohio.
TALLADEGA COLLEGE, TALLADEGA, ALA.——Baccalaureate sermon, Sunday
morning, June 11, by President De Forest. Missionary sermon in the
evening by Rev. Edward W. Bacon, of New London, Conn. Examinations
on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Monday night, exercises of the
Literary Societies. Tuesday night, address by Rev. E. W. Bacon.
Thursday, Anniversary exercises and graduation of two from the
Theological Department. Commencement concert in the evening.
TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY, TOUGALOO, MISS.——Examinations Thursday. Friday
and Monday, May 25, 26 and 29. Sabbath-school Convention, Sunday,
May 28. Annual sermon by the President, Sunday night. Exhibition,
Tuesday night, May 30. Literary exercises of graduating class,
Wednesday morning, May 31. Annual address, Wednesday, P.M., by Rev.
Truman N. Post, of St. Louis.
TILLOTSON COLLEGIATE AND NORMAL INSTITUTE, AUSTIN, TEX.——Public
examinations, June 5 and 6. Closing exercises, June 7.
WILMINGTON, N.C.——Examinations, June 1. Exhibition in Memorial
Hall, June 2.
CHARLESTON, S.C.——Commencement exercises, May 31. Address by Rev.
E. J. Meynardy, D.D., of the Bethel M. E. Church.
BEACH INSTITUTE, SAVANNAH, GA.——Closing exercises, May 31.
Examinations and grading for next year during the week preceding,
ending May 26.
MACON, GA.——Friday, May 26, close of primary school. Saturday,
closing exhibition of sewing-school. Sunday, address to the
students of the Lewis High School, by J. W. Burke, Esq. Monday and
Tuesday, examinations. Wednesday, May 31, closing exhibition, with
presentation of certificates of scholarship. Wednesday evening,
concert for the benefit of the school.
LEMOYNE SCHOOL, MEMPHIS, TENN.——May 28, annual sermon. May 29,
Junior exhibition. May 31, graduating exercises and the annual
address.
MOBILE, ALA.——Written examinations, May 23 and 24. Oral
examinations, May 25. Closing exhibition on the night of the 26th.
MONTGOMERY, ALA.——Examinations and closing exercises, May 30 and 31.
* * * * *
THE FREEDMEN.
REV. JOSEPH E. ROY, D.D., FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.
* * * * *
REVIVAL NEWS
RELIGIOUS INTEREST AT TOUGALOO.
For the past two weeks there has been a great deal of religious
interest among the students here. At the meetings, which have been
held nearly every night during this time, twenty-nine persons have
told us of their determination to serve God for the rest of their
lives.
Many of those who have lately begun this new life are young people,
who have a good deal of influence over their classmates and
associates. We feel glad to know that now they are on the side of
Truth and are ready to use whatever influence they may have in the
best way. Not only have sinners been converted, but Christians have
been stirred up to do better work.
One night, after a sermon upon the subject “Confession,” from the
text: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me,” an invitation
was given to all who felt it to be their duty to confess any sins
that were weighing upon them. The first who arose was a young
man who was converted a year or two ago, and who has ever since
been foremost in every good work. He said that he had been guilty
of an act of dishonesty which had caused him much sorrow. In a
lesson that he had written upon the board a few days before he
had misspelled a word. One letter was wrong, but as it happened
to resemble very closely the right letter, he reported it as such
when he saw his mistake. For the next three or four days he had
no peace. He knew that he ought to confess the act to the teacher
whom he had deceived, but he was afraid that she would lose all
confidence in his integrity. He also tried to persuade himself that
it was a very little thing, hardly worth reporting. Why not keep
quiet about it? No one would ever find it out. But these thoughts
brought no comfort with them. The more he thought about the matter,
the more he felt convinced that his act was not a little thing. He
knew that it was a _sin_, and therefore not a small thing.
After praying about the matter, this suggestion came to him: “Since
you have asked the Lord to forgive you, you have done all that is
necessary. You need not ask your teacher’s forgiveness.”
He soon saw that he ought not to expect God to pardon his sin until
he had done what he could to set the matter right with his teacher.
He felt now as if the very salvation of his soul depended upon
his making this confession. As soon as possible, after coming to
this conclusion, he went to her and acknowledged his sin. With this
acknowledgement came peace.
Other confessions followed this. Some told of similar acts of
dishonesty, which they had committed. All who spoke expressed a
sincere determination to do better for the future. We felt as if
these confessions had cleared the moral atmosphere and made it
possible for more effectual work to be done for those who did not
profess to be Christians.
Among the number recently converted is a middle-aged woman from the
neighborhood. For at least thirteen years she has fully realized
that she ought to lead a better life, but has been so much under
the influence of old superstitions and ignorant associates, who
told her that she could not be called a Christian until she would
say that she had seen all sorts of impossible visions and had
numerous strange experiences, that she has hardly known which way
to turn. Now she has come out from under her yoke of bondage and
feels as if she had seen a great light, a much clearer and better
one than that for which she watched so many years.
We are hoping and praying that the good, work which has been begun
here may continue: that those who have started in the right way
may have strength of character enough to keep in it, even when the
prospect looks dark and they do not feel so full of enthusiasm as
now.
_Miss F. J. Webster._
A SUMMER SHOWER.
It fell out of a clear sky, without foretokening of cloud or of
electric display. It was at Chattanooga, in Pastor Joseph E.
Smith’s church. At the regular Wednesday evening prayer meeting a
young man announces that he has made up his mind to turn and live a
Christian life. Good Deacon Morford asks of the pastor: “How would
it do to have a meeting to-morrow night?” It is appointed. Two or
three more at that time come out on the Lord’s side.
Then a meeting every night is agreed upon, with a sermon from
the pastor; and every night souls are hopefully born again. The
series continues two weeks. For the last few days Pastor Penney and
Superintendent Roy drop in to help glean a little. Over two-score
souls are numbered among the believers. Forty are examined and
approved by vote for membership in the church.
But there was some preliminary work after all. The lady missionary,
Mrs. Almira S. Steele, of Revere, Mass., who is sustained by the
ladies of the Congregational churches of Chelsea, besides her
general service, has had a Friday afternoon sociable for the
women, which not only worked as a preparation but was used all
through the revival with marked spiritual results. So her service
in the Sunday-school, with the handling of the review intrusted
to her, had borne upon the happy issue, and all the people, who
are delighted with their lady assistant, trace the work back
in part to her influence. The pastor, who had become almost
discouraged, becomes a new man. The church is confirmed. This
fruitage encourages the patient culturing of the Sabbath-school. It
rewards proper teaching. There was no noise, no confusion. None of
the inquirers were looking for visions and dreams, for long-drawn
agonies, for “the power.” They were just marched up to the question
of immediate submission and trust. This work shows how our little
churches that are striving for purity and order and character may
be spiritually empowered and built up.
REFRESHING AT MACON.
It will gratify our friends to know that our A. M. A. mission in
Macon has been spiritually refreshed. There was a growing religious
interest among the children of our day-school and Sunday-school,
and early in February we were enabled to secure the aid of Rev.
E. E. Rogers, of Orange, Conn. The neighborhood prayer-meetings
and house-to-house visitation by day were followed by powerfully
impressive meetings at night. The work spread remarkably among
the children, many of whom have started out in the new life. For
more than three weeks the scholars of our Lewis High School would
voluntarily leave their play and spend the whole half-hour of noon
recess in prayer and religious instruction at the parlor of the
Mission Home to the number of sixty and upward. At one memorable
pray-meeting in the school-house there were twelve or fifteen of
the students who gave their hearts to God. It was a Pentecostal
season, a time of great rejoicing to the faithful teachers who had
so long prayed for their pupils. The clear, decided testimony of
one bright little Sunday-school boy, eight years of age, who was
converted in one of the Sunday-school prayer-meetings, would put
to shame the half-way, timid professions of some older people.
“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected
praise.” Sixteen members of our Sunday-school have joined our
(Congregational) church. Twenty-two in all have united, of whom
eight are heads of families, while eight or ten of the students
have joined other churches, where their families are connected. The
daily meetings continued for six weeks, with the efficient help
of Rev. D. Sherrell, of Savannah, for a few days, after Brother
Rogers’ departure.
GOOD HARVEST.
The religious interest in Atlanta University, which was reported
to you some time since, has continued for five weeks without any
abatement, and a good harvest has already been gathered. The
meetings have been well attended, in spite of some sickness and bad
weather, and have been marked by an earnest attention to the truth
and a fervent spirit of prayer. We have good reason to believe
that many more than a score of souls have chosen the service of
Christ, and they show a tenderness of devotion and a carefulness of
demeanor which promise well for their stability.
Scarcely one is left among those who made their home here who has
not been deeply affected, and who has not taken some steps in
advance. We do not expect any reaction or falling away from the
uplift which the whole school seems to have experienced.
INCREASE IN PRAYER MEETINGS.
The prayer meetings at Hampton are well sustained, and the
religious feeling in the school is good. There has been a marked
increase in our prayer meetings this year. We often have 200 in
our Sunday morning meeting conducted by the students, where last
year there were only thirty or forty. We have kept up two Indian
meetings during the week, in which a verse of the Bible is read in
English by one of the students, then by all who can read English in
concert, then by one in Dakota. Then it is explained. After trying
several ways, this seemed to be the most satisfactory. Prayers are
offered in Dakota, in Arizona and in English by the students.
A meeting is kept up by the English-speaking students among
themselves in order to fit them to take part when they go back to
their homes.
PARIS, TEXAS.
We are in the midst of a special work of grace. Nineteen have given
evidence of having been born by the Holy Spirit. They all have been
added to our church. Besides these, one came by letter from another
denomination. Others are anxiously inquiring the way of life. All
these converts, with two exceptions, are from the Sunday School.
Among these “new-born babes” one is the wife of a minister and one
is the wife of a deacon. The two oldest children of the pastor are
among those that professed a hope in Christ.
M’INTOSH, LIBERTY CO., GA.
Last Sabbath was a “high day” with us. We have been holding extra
meetings about four weeks. The result was the conversion of about
fourteen persons, among whom were several of our most promising
scholars. Our communion season came off last Sabbath, when nine of
these converts came to unite with us.
* * * * *
OUR YOUNGEST——THE TILLOTSON.
The Austin branch of the Texas Central, a few miles below the
capital, falls into the valley of the Colorado. As you run up that
lovely vale, you soon see on the right, just out of the city, the
Tillotson, a five-story stone and brick edifice, crowning a ground
swell that overlooks the river and town. Its neat fence and the
grounds graded by nature are attractive. As we roll up the valley,
I see a fine carriage standing at the door; and this, as I come
up to the place, I find to be the turnout of Gov. Pease, who has
brought his family up to visit the institute and to call upon
the family of teachers. An original Connecticut man, 30 years a
resident of Texas, her Governor for a term, during which a fund of
$2,000,000 was set apart for public schools, and now a trustee of
the Tillotson, his interest and influence are worth much to such an
institution at the South.
But, so soon, the house is full to overflowing, in its
assembly-rooms, in its dining-hall and in its dormitories. So that
already the call is for another building. I find 140 scholars, of
whom 65 are boarders. I find enthusiasm and spring in these freshly
gathered students. In this State the colored people are getting
land faster than in any other: partly, for the reason that, from
the beginning, there was here the least opposition to their doing
so; and, partly, from the fact that Texas is a new and largely a
Western State; and so, these more well-to-do parents are ready to
avail themselves of the advantage of such a school. The father of
one of these young men was a slave, but now owns 500 acres of land,
on which he has paid $6,000 of the $7,000 purchase money.
The President, Rev. W. E. Brooks, who left his pastorate in West
Haven, Conn., to take this position, is supported by Prof. J. J.
Anderson, a graduate of Beloit College, with a dozen years of
experience, and by Misses Hunt and Topping, graduates of Olivet,
who are born teachers and disciplinarians. The President, besides
teaching several classes, preaches on the Sabbath in the chapel,
and also conducts a Sunday-school. He is welcomed to the pulpits of
the city, and is on the friendliest terms with the first citizens.
Rev. Dr. E. B. Wright, pastor of the Northern Presbyterian Church,
is one of the trustees, and is greatly attentive to the interests
of the Institute. Mrs. Brooks, an accomplished pianist, has
_twenty-eight_ colored pupils in piano music, which shows the
zest for cultivation. Once a week a lecture is delivered before
the students by teachers or prominent citizens. The wife of Judge
Garland, who has had an A. M. A. school in Austin for fifteen
years, continues in a primary school near at hand; and the Judge
himself, for the present stress, is volunteering a half-a-day of
teaching for a month. A New Hampshire schoolmaster, he became a
lawyer, then a judge in Texas, under appointment of Gov. Davis.
A grand future is apparent for the Tillotson in this Empire of a
Commonwealth. The only question is whether it can keep up with its
opportunity and its demand. It gives us no time to rest. No sooner
is it opened than it calls for more room. The growing brain makes
room for itself, and so must this educational enterprise.
* * * * *
ALABAMA.
TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE AT TALLADEGA.
_President, Henry S. DeForest._
Of late it has been the custom to end the spring term at Talladega
College with a teachers’ institute, giving special training to
those who are so soon to go out and teach. The one just held at
the last of March has been very pleasant and helpful. Prof. A. J.
Steele, of the Le Moyne Institute, Memphis, Tenn., was present,
bearing a large part in its instruction, and giving it the
choicest fruits of his own training and experience. The Hon. H.
Clay Armstrong, State Superintendent of Education, had a place on
the programme, and Rev. Daniel Duncan, the County Superintendent,
was present at every session from beginning to end. Three years
ago, at the beginning of the series, he said, that was “the first
institute ever held in Talladega County, from the creation of the
world.” This one, especially, roused all his enthusiasm, and again
and again he gave his testimony to the good that was effected.
The need of such institutes and of the steady, persistent work of
a college to train teachers and preachers is most apparent, when
it is considered that probably not more than one in ten of the
blacks, in a State where they make about half of the population,
can read so as to make the sense, and half of the voters of all
colors are unable to read either God’s Law or the amendments to
the Constitution. Some are teaching who have never been at school
themselves. School-houses are few, and often without floor, or
window, or fireplace; desks and school-books are scarce; the
school-year averages only 67 days, and the appropriation _per
capita_ for the year is 97 cents.
* * * * *
GEORGIA.
HON. WILLIAM E. DODGE AND ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.
_Mrs. T. N. Chase._
Some of you doubtless remember seeing a recent account of a very
cordial welcome given Gov. Colquitt, of Georgia, at a handsome
reception in the home of Hon. William E. Dodge, of New York. The
courtesy was soon reciprocated, and a few days ago the Atlanta
_Constitution_——a democratic daily which stands at the head of
Southern journals——announced the expected arrival of Mr. and Mrs.
Dodge in Atlanta.
This good man and his noble wife have made frequent trips to
Georgia and Florida during the past ten years, always stopping to
say a cheering word to Atlanta University and shake hands with
two or three needy students, who each year for all this time have
been supported by the generosity of these good people. To-day they
visited the school, accompanied by Mrs. Gov. Colquitt and one of
her lady friends.
Mr. Dodge said he remembered well the first time he addressed the
students. He wondered how many had a purpose to go out and gather
forty and fifty about them to do for those in the dark places what
had been done for them by their teachers on this hill. He begged
them to remember that unless they sought first the kingdom of
Heaven and its righteousness all other knowledge would be vain. He
said he must add a word about temperance, in which he knew they
were so much interested. He could not believe any before him would
ever reel through the streets a staggering drunkard, but their only
safety lay in total abstinence.
His words were so instructive and his benign face so inspiring
that the very instant he took his seat the entire school burst
spontaneously into the plantation melody:
“Do you think I’ll make a soldier?”
I might as easily describe an exquisite fragrance as these choruses
of young voices from our 250 students, especially when singing this
“spiritual,” whose words so touchingly portray the mingled hopes
and fears of those deep, emotional natures. But, when in verses
second and third they triumphantly sing:
“We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
Every round goes higher, higher,”
our hopes with theirs conquer our fears, and we sympathize with
Mrs. Colquitt when she remarks: “I feel like making a speech to the
school myself.”
* * * * *
ATLANTA TEACHER AT MACON.
_Miss Julia A. Goodwin._
Everything here is new to us, and we enjoy the country-like city
in its irregularity, broad streets, steep ascents and descents,
its profusion of flowers, especially its roses. Then it is a real
pleasure to compare the workings of the school and church with our
own. We think we could not accomplish what these teachers do who
are obliged to teach some of the time——two of them in one room,
each conducting a recitation at one and the same time; but they
work admirably together, without a particle of friction, and are
a very happy family. Mrs. Lathrop’s sewing-school is also very
interesting. As we walked into the room last Saturday morning,
two old ladies, who were sewing just as busily as the children,
arose from their seats and came across the room to greet us. One
of them, whose sprightly manner and unwrinkled face would never
have betokened her great age, said to us: “I am ninety-two years
old if I live till Monday. I can’t do much, my hands are so stiff;
but I thank the Lord that I can come here and sew a little;” and
she showed us her patch-work squares with as evident satisfaction
as any of the younger pupils. Ninety-two years old and learning to
sew! Ah, thought I, most old ladies are through with their needle
at that age. These sewing-schools must bring some comfort into many
homes.
* * * * *
AFRICA.
* * * * *
MR. LADD’S JOURNAL.
_Saturday, Dec. 3._——We started from Assiout at five o’clock
this morning on our voyage up the Nile. The air to-day has been
wonderfully fine. The landscape, too, has presented a constantly
varying panorama full of novelty, full of interest, full of beauty.
We have called for a few moments at a number of villages to leave
the mail. We have been peering through our glasses, as we sat under
the awning on deck, at the natives along the banks in their varied
costumes, and in almost no costume at all, at the high bluffs,
which in some places rise abruptly from the river, and at the
wonderful tombs with their hieroglyphic inscriptions cut out high
up in the rocks. The river is full of boats of one kind or another
coming and going.
_Sunday, Dec. 4._——One misfortune of travel on the Nile is that any
discussion of the weather becomes monotonous and trite. Every day
is like every other day, beautiful, bright and balmy. No church
bells ring for us to-day, so our thoughts naturally turn homeward.
The views, as we slowly steam up the river are charming. We pass
some bold headlands, call, as yesterday, at many villages by the
way, and witness many interesting and peculiar scenes. A fringe of
“shadoofs,” with half naked men hard at work at them watering the
crops, keep up a constant creaking. We notice also great numbers of
birds of every size and shape. We tie up for the night at Keneh,
celebrated for its porous jugs, its dates, and once on a time, its
dancing girls, whom the march of civilization has driven higher up
the river.
_Monday, Dec. 5._——We have seen something of what is left of the
great city of Thebes, its magnificent temples, its stupendous
halls, its wonderful colossi, its interesting tombs——Karnak and
Luxor, on one side, Gourna on the other. It is hard to realize what
pomp and splendor were once displayed among these ruins, still so
grand in their desolation. The strong current of the river got
the best of us to-day. The steamer in rounding a point could not
be made to obey her helm, and before we knew what was going to
happen, with full steam on we ran bunt up against and on to the
steep bank. The men pushed and grunted, and finally we got clear
and righted up again. We have witnessed a nearly total eclipse of
the moon this evening, soon after it rose, which for the manner
in which it came on and went off was very remarkable. We could
hear the natives in their villages trying to frighten away the
dragon which was supposed to be swallowing the moon. We tied up at
Esneh for the night. Here we went ashore with torches and lights
to visit a portion of a temple, which is in an excellent state of
preservation. I first went to see the Mudir to get him to telegraph
for us to Korosko for camels. He had retired for the night, but as
our business could not be transacted at any other time, I sent in
our orders from Cairo, and he soon appeared. Coffee was served, our
papers made out, viz.: An order to the governors of places where we
might call within his _mudirieh_ to show us proper attention, and a
telegram signed by the Mudir to provide camels for us at Korosko.
Then joining the rest of the party we visited the temple. The top
of it is only a little above the successive deposits of ages, and
one has to descend a long flight of steps to reach its floor. It is
completely covered with sculptured work, which is finely preserved.
This, however, is only the portico of the real temple, the entrance
to which is walled up.
[Illustration: ELEPHANT HUNTING]
_Tuesday, Dec. 6._——Our steamer made a long stop at Edfou to-day,
as is customary, to let passengers see its splendid temple. This is
the most complete, and the best preserved in Egypt, and gives one
the best idea of ancient Egyptian architecture. Its massive pylons
had long been in sight as we steamed up the river. As soon as the
steamer stopped we took donkeys and started toward them through the
winding mud-walled streets of the little town. What a temple! A
book would fail to do it justice! Every inch of it is covered with
the most beautiful carving. I have not space nor time to tell of
how we climbed the pylons and wandered through the dark mysterious
chambers, and stood in admiration before those beautiful and ever
varied pillars, and explored dark winding passages built in the
walls themselves. One has an overwhelming sense of sublimity and
awe as he stands under the shadow and in the profound hush of these
sacred monuments of a departed glory. We tied up for the night at
Gebel Silsileh, a narrow, rocky passage, through which the river
seems to have burst its way. Here we went on shore and with the
help of torches examined the tombs and chapels and noted quarries.
The perfect silence here was almost painful. There was not even the
usual gentle murmur of “backsheesh.” Returning to our steamer we
took a moonlight row up the river, and over to the opposite shore.
Ruins and moonlight, and a boat ride on the Nile! Could anything
be more romantic? Here is a picture hung upon the walls of memory
never to be forgotten.
_Wednesday, Dec. 7._——We have run aground twice to-day. We passed
the ruins of Comombo early this morning, and now we are at Assouan,
with another stage of our journey accomplished. We have visited
the bazaars, where all sorts of curiosities from Nubia and the
Soudan are sold, and had crowds of wild-looking, long-haired,
grease-smeared and more than half naked desert Arabs thronging
around us, and have been besieged with strange looking people with
stranger looking things to sell, of which we bought none. In fact,
our novel experiences in and about the town would, if all told,
be a tale too lengthy for these brief pages. We also visited the
island of Elephantine, with its ruins of pottery, human skeletons,
and interesting Nile meter. Ibrahim was dispatched the first thing
on our arrival, to secure a dahabeyeh for us. He has returned, and
reports that he has found one, such as it is, which will take us
and our baggage from here to Korosko for £5. We have agreed to take
two men, Mousa and Ibrahim Cohen, with us to Khartoum to lighten
our expenses. Then we have Mongades, the Bible Society’s man with
us, so that we shall really have to pay for the dahabeyeh only
about £3. We have been invited to see a “fantasia,” but our taste
not being cultivated in that direction we declined.