dedication of our new building; and to the teachers and pupils,
and all friends of the school, it was a glad day indeed. Just in
proportion as the former days of the school were dark, so this was
bright and joyous. It seemed that the sun never shone more clearly,
that the sky was never brighter, and that all nature rejoiced with
us. At an early hour the people began to gather, and at eleven
o’clock, the doors of the new building were thrown open, and the
chapel was soon filled by an eager, expectant multitude. A few
moments later the school, about one hundred in number, filed in,
and took seats in front and to the right of the platform. Upon this
were seated Rev. Drs. Burgett and Walden, pastors of the First and
Third Presbyterian Churches of Mobile; Rev. W. S. Alexander, of
Straight University, New Orleans, and Rev. Wm. H. Ash, pastor of
the Congregational Church of Mobile: and to the left were several
ladies of Mobile, invited guests; the Rev. Mr. Owens, pastor of one
of the Baptist Churches; Dr. Murrell, a leading physician of the
city; Mr. Wheeler, the oldest merchant of Mobile; D. S. Richardson,
Principal of Mobile Military Academy, and others.
The exercises were opened by a chant—the 121st Psalm—sung by the
school; appropriate passages of Scripture were read by Rev. Mr.
Walden, and prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Ash. The little folks
then sang “Marching On!” after which a short oration was delivered
by one of the boys of the school, and an essay read by one of
the girls. One spoke of the past, and the other, of the present
and future of our school. After this, the principal gave a short
history of the school, and in a few words explained the object for
which it was established, and the aims of the American Missionary
Association in the South.
We told them that we are here for no political ends, but that our
whole aim is to cultivate the minds and hearts of our pupils, to
lift them up to higher planes of true manhood and womanhood, and to
fit them for usefulness to themselves, to their people, to their
employers, to all with whom they come in contact, to the world,
and especially to God. That our aim is to send forth cultivated
and Christian hearts, endowed with the nobler aims and aspirations
in life, and fitted for efficient work in the vineyard of our
Master. If mistakes had been made in the past by workers under
the Association, it was not in accordance with the will of its
officers, their expressed wish being that we ignore politics. That
ours is a mission work, and finally, that if the people of the
South and we have not fully understood each other in the past, we
hope that in the future we may know each other better. As for us,
we earnestly and sincerely ask the sympathy and co-operation of the
Christian people of the South; we need it.
The school then sang one of the Jubilee Songs, “We shall walk
through the valley and shadow of death,” after which Mr. Alexander
offered the dedicatory prayer. The original plan was to have one
regular address, and possibly a few words from others present, but
the plan was changed, and it was concluded to have an informal talk
from the invited guests, the colored ministers present, and others,
and as the programme was carried out it became more and more
evident that the latter was a fortunate choice.
Dr. Burgett, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Mobile, was
first called upon. He said: “I fully endorse all the efforts of
the A. M. A., and congratulate it, and all present to-day, because
of its high and praiseworthy efforts, its success in the past,
the immediate present, and the bright prospects of the future. I
have visited the school in former years, and never heard better
recitations anywhere, nor saw greater advancement.” His speech was
full of good thoughts, as his talks always are; and just before he
closed, he turned to the teachers, and said: “I cannot understand
the composition of a man who will oppose your efforts here. As
a representative of the Christian people of Mobile, I speak
authoritatively when I say you deserve their sympathy and hearty
co-operation, and you have it. Deep down in the heart of every
Christian here, there is a kindly feeling for you and your work.”
The next person called upon was Rev. E. D. Taylor, one of the
oldest colored ministers of the M. E. Church in this place. He
said “I have cautiously watched the movements of these teachers,
and their school work, and I am convinced that they are here for
lifting up of my race, and as I go down the steps of life, I look
back upon this school, and these teachers, with a great deal of
pleasure, knowing that they are leading my people out from a
bondage worse than slavery. I thank God that we have these friends
to help us.”
Rev. Mr. Bryant, a former pupil of Atlanta University, spoke of
the many thousands of children taught in the South, as the direct
result of the work of the A. M. A. through its teachers and pupils.
Some of the white brethren expressed much surprise at the figures
he presented, and were astonished at the magnitude of the work,
both direct and indirect, of the Association.
Rev. Mr. Walden said: “Deep down in my heart there is a little
niche held sacred to the memory of that good old mother who cared
for me when a child, and for that little colored boy who was my
playmate in childhood. I have lost sight of them, but their memory
is still sacred, and I hope to meet them in eternity. There is much
in common between the white and colored people of the South. We
cannot afford to be anything but friends, for we must be saved by
the same blood, we must walk through the same ‘valley and shadow of
death,’ and if saved, we must spend eternity in the same kingdom.”
And then, turning to the teachers, he said: “May God bless you in
your noble work—Christian work. Yours is a Christ-like calling, and
I say that you not only deserve the hearty sympathy, co-operation,
and support of the Christian people of the South, but you have it.
I repeat it, _you have it_.” At this point all sang, “Hold the
Fort.”
Dr. Murrell said: “I endorse every word of Drs. Burgett and Walden,
but I feel just a little jealous, as I would like to stand in the
place of those who have contributed to erect this building; and if
I had the means, I would have just such a building in every county
in Alabama. I heartily feel with you, and ask God to bless you.”
After the exercises closed, he showed us his good will by offering
his professional skill to the teachers free of charge.
Mr. Wheeler was not in the habit of making speeches, but he
heartily sympathized with us in our work, and wished us a great
deal of success.
Rev. Mr. Owens said: “My heart is full of joy to-day at being able
to be here. I can only endorse all that has been said.” And, after
the exercises were over, he showed his sincerity by asking me to
meet his people in their church, and talk to them of our work.
Many good words were spoken by Rev. Mr. Ash, and Rev. Mr. Evans,
of State Street M. E. Church. Rev. Mr. Wilson, of Little Zion
Church, was called upon, and said: “Since listening to Dr. Burgett,
and others, whose words were like drops of gold, I must decline.
I am like the uncultivated pear-tree which Dr. Burgett spoke of.
Education knows education, therefore I must keep silent lest I
betray myself.”
Mr. Alexander, as the closing speaker, made some very happy
remarks. He told the colored people that by trying to get on too
fast, and to begin at the top instead of the bottom, and by seeking
to fill positions which they could not, they had set themselves
back twenty-five years. He advised them to claim the right to
nothing till they had earned that right; to work patiently, and
_wait_ for results.
A spirit of earnestness and sincerity pervaded all the exercises,
and, as the old colored man said, the words that fell from the lips
of Dr. Burgett, and others, were truly _drops of gold_, utterances
from the depths of sincere hearts, and all went away feeling that
it had been good to be present, and that during those three hours a
new era had dawned upon the work of the A. M. A. in this city.
* * * * *
The Church and the Literary Club.
REV. WILLIAM H. ASH, MOBILE.
I found my church in rather a discouraging condition, when I came
in November last; since that time, I have been greatly encouraged
to see the work prospering in my hands.
My congregation has increased to three times the number which I
found when I came to Mobile, and principally of people who have
never visited our church before. But the great difficulty is that I
am not able to hold a permanent congregation of the better class,
or to reach the young people, because of the want of a church with
better facilities for the needed work. The Sabbath-school has
increased from about a dozen to forty scholars. This is remarkable,
because one half of the time I have had no one to assist me in the
work of teaching. Four have united with the church, one of whom is
a young lady, who promises to be of great service to the church.
The prayer-meetings have been kept up well, considering that
my members are hard laboring people, and there is a growth in
spirituality and purity of life, such as is consistent with the
Bible. It is a custom in the fairs here to have a table devoted to
the punch-bowl, and different kinds of wines, to raise money for
the church or minister’s salary; but my church is a model so far as
temperance is concerned, feeling that it cannot encourage a demon
that destroys the happiness of so many homes, both North and South.
Another fact, to show the influence of our church, is the
organization of a literary club among the young people, which has
proven a success. About three months ago, I sent out notices to the
ministers, and some of the better class of colored people, to meet
at my church for this purpose; an organization was completed, and
since that we have met from church to church.
Last night the club gave its first special entertainment. It was
certainly a credit to the members who took part, and compared well
with similar entertainments which I have seen in New England. The
following notice is from the Mobile _News_:
“THE ARISTOTLE LITERARY CLUB.—This club, whose members are
among the most cultivated of Mobile’s colored citizens, gave
its first entertainment, last night, at St. Emmanuel Church, at
eight o’clock. The exercises consisted of literary and musical
recitations, debates, etc. The programme was a choice one, and
the large audience in attendance enjoyed the occasion very much.
The ‘Aristotles’ are the true representatives—or rather, the best
representatives—of the colored population in our city, and we bid
them God-speed in their earnest efforts to elevate themselves
above the low standard that generally prevails among our colored
people.”
* * * * *
Montgomery—Swayne School—A Year’s Work—Closing Exercises.
MISS MARTHA J. ADAMS, PRINCIPAL.
My first school year’s work among the colored people at the
South, has just closed. What a history it has! How rich in new
experiences!—experiences which I should deeply regret to have
stricken from my life.
How vividly do I recall that sunny morning, the first day of
October, 1877, as I stood upon the steps of “Swayne School”
building, with five lady teachers at my side, while before us, in
almost military lines, were drawn up some three hundred colored
children and youth. These were our pupils. What a work lay before
us! We have been repeatedly told, since our arrival, that the
general feeling was, “No woman can control this school.” We, too,
knew, in the depths of our hearts, that without Divine aid, we
should utterly fail. But God has been true to His promises, and has
given us a quiet, happy and successful year in our work, and one
full of kindly, appreciative testimony from those among whom we
have labored.
Our school, with only a few days’ notice, closed half a month
earlier than we had expected. This, of course, interfered greatly
with preparations for the closing exercises. Besides, two or
three Sunday-school May festivals and picnics had been previously
arranged to take place the same week, and so many of the pupils
were absent; but we did the best we could, under the circumstances,
each teacher having in her own room reviews and examinations of
her classes, which have borne abundant testimony to the earnest,
faithful and kindly work they have done.
On Thursday night we had an exhibition in the Congregational
Church. It was a lovely moonlight night. The church was crowded to
its utmost capacity; many, indeed, were unable to gain admittance,
so great was the throng. The exercises, consisting of declamations,
essays, recitations, and songs, were listened to with great
interest and apparent delight.
One young woman read an essay upon P. P. Bliss, whose visit here is
lovingly remembered, closing with reciting the last hymn he set to
music:
“I know not what awaits me;
God kindly vails mine eyes.”
The Secretary of the City Board of Education, now acting
Superintendent, and another member of the Board, were present the
entire evening, and expressed gratification at what they had seen
and heard. As they passed out of the church, they were heard to
remark to each other: “That was _good_.” “Yes, it _was_ good.”
I will close in the words which one of the colored boys printed in
large letters in colored crayons upon the Sunday-school blackboard,
“GOD BLESS SWAYNE SCHOOL.”
* * * * *
A Surprise Party in a Southern Church.
REV. CHARLES NOBLE, MONTGOMERY.
That our people can do a pleasant thing, and do it gracefully,
they proved the evening before our departure. The Sunday previous,
we had had a business-meeting of the church, and at its close
one of the brethren requested me to leave them, as they had some
business on hand in which my absence would assist them more than
my presence. Of course, we inferred from this that “something was
up”; but were unable to discover what it was. Nothing happening,
however, until the close of the Wednesday night prayer-meeting,
we had all come to the conclusion that whatever was intended had
probably proved impracticable. We were sitting together at the
Home, talking over the experiences of the year, when the notes
of a guitar struck our ears, and a few voices began singing the
“Sweet Bye-and-Bye” very softly and sweetly. I supposed that some
of the people had come down to give us a little serenade, and
stepped to the door to return thanks for the pleasure the song
had afforded. When I opened the door, instead of the half-dozen
singers I expected, a perfect throng of merry faces met me. The
yard was crowded, and they seemed to reach out indefinitely down
the road. I had barely sufficient presence of mind to ask them
in, and then met the wave of increasing congratulations with very
much the sort of feeling with which one meets a good big wave at
the sea-shore. It was exhilarating, but bewildering. An enormous
freezer of ice-cream, and strawberries, raspberries, and cakes
_ad infinitum_, were brought in, and our rooms were soon crowded
with about one hundred and fifty as happy-looking people as I ever
saw. Young and old, grave and gay, Christians and worldlings,
Methodists and Baptists, as well as Congregationalists—it was a
thoroughly representative gathering. Our own people were out in
force, and there were prominent members of all the other colored
churches. For about two hours they amused themselves and us with
conversation, singing, and playing. There was not a rude word or a
boorish action. It was a gathering that would have done credit, in
its behavior, to any community. They made the pastor and his wife,
with the teachers, gather together and partake of the delicacies
so generously provided, and then attacked them (the delicacies,
not the teachers) on their own account, with right good will. For
two hours they made the house echo with merry laughter and with
singing—patriotic, sentimental, and religious—and then, after a
siege of hand-shaking, which made me realize somewhat the trials
our popular Presidents have to undergo, and with many pleasant
words of kindly appreciation, they took their leave.
* * * * *
Another Female Missionary Needed.
The work at Montgomery stands greatly in need of more visiting
than the pastor can accomplish. While the church and congregation
are small, the field includes the whole colored population of the
city and suburbs—not far from 10,000 souls—and no form of labor
seems so likely to be fruitful as the work of a good woman in
the homes of the people. One of our good teachers has kept up a
Bible-reading in one of the poorer neighborhoods, and has thus
reached a number whose ignorant prejudice renders them inaccessible
to the Congregational minister. She has been able, also, to reach
the hearts and homes of many others, and has shown herself to have
the power to win their affection and sympathy, and lead them to
higher thoughts and purposes. The attempt to combine this labor
with her school duties, and the vexatious responsibilities of the
matron of the Home, had its natural result in broken health and
depressed spirits. Is there some church or society, or generous
individual, who, in addition to regular contributions, would be
willing to provide for the maintenance of a “Woman Missionary”
in this field, that this faithful worker may be able to use her
talents more efficiently, or, if she cannot return, that some other
good woman may take her place? “But when He saw the multitudes, He
was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were
scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto
His disciples: The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are
few. Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that He will send
forth laborers into His harvest.”
* * * * *
A Blessed Work.
REV. GEORGE E. HILL, PASTOR, MARION.
We had an interesting day last Sunday. Seven were admitted on
profession and six children were baptized—a new thing here. The
audience was the largest we have had, quite filling the church, and
the floral decoration of the pulpit and its surroundings added to
the effect.
Our Sabbath-school is flourishing. Mrs. H. and my daughter both
have classes. A few Sabbaths since, I drew a map of Palestine
on the blackboard, and proposed to the scholars to “go and do
likewise.” They have brought in twenty-five maps; some of them
would do credit to any school at the North. There is a good promise
for the future of the church in the children, many of whom already
give evidence of a change of heart.
At a recent “praise-meeting,” we had testimony from twenty-five
different persons, who mentioned special causes for gratitude.
The people all seem eager to be helped, and to improve every
opportunity. We enjoy our work more and more. It is a blessed,
blessed work!
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
“CALIFORNIA CHINESE MISSION.”
Auxiliary to the American Missionary Association.
PRESIDENT: Rev. J. K. McLean, D. D. VICE-PRESIDENTS: Rev. A. L.
Stone, D. D., Thomas O. Wedderspoon, Esq., Rev. T. K. Noble, Hon.
F. F. Low, Rev. I. E. Dwinell, D. D., Hon. Samuel Cross, Rev. S.
H. Wiley, D. D., Edward P. Flint, Esq., Rev. J. W. Hough, D. D.,
Jacob S. Taber, Esq.
DIRECTORS: Rev. George Moor, D. D., Hon. E. D. Sawyer, Rev. W. E.
Ijams, James M. Haven, Esq., Rev. Joseph Rowell, E. P. Sanford,
Esq., H. W. Severance, Esq.
SECRETARY: Rev. W. C. Pond. TREASURER: E. Palache, Esq.
* * * * *
Last month I gave an account from the pen of our missionary helper,
Fung Affoo, of the Sabbath services at our Mission House in San
Francisco. Jee Gam, at my request, has prepared the following
statement respecting the method pursued at Oakland, where his
labors are specially centred. I am sure that it will be read
with interest, the very simplicity with which details are given
rendering more vivid and distinct the picture.
“OAKLAND, CAL.
“REV. W. C. POND:
“_Dear Friend_—As I am requested to give you a little outline
about our manner of conducting the Christian work in Oakland,
I will try to do so. On Sunday morning, those brethren who
can get out in time from their occupations generally attend
church, but this number is comparatively small, owing to the
way in which they are situated. Our Chinese Sunday-school is
held immediately after the morning service in the church, and
continues till fifteen minutes of two P.M. The average number of
scholars during the last few months was about fifty-five. Mr.
E. P. Sanford is our superintendent, and I am the assistant.
The school is generally opened by singing two hymns in Chinese
and two in English, followed by a prayer. After the latter,
each teacher proceeds to take charge of his own class; and when
the lesson ends, passages of Scripture are recited by most of
the Bible-reading pupils. Then the notices are given for all
the exercises of the following week. The Lord’s Prayer is then
recited in concert, and the school is dismissed.
“From 6.30 to 7.15 P.M., we assemble at our Christian Association
Room (a small house of five rooms) for prayer-meeting. This
meeting is conducted by the president of the Association. The
exercises consist of singing, praying, and speaking from two of
the members who are appointed by the president at the previous
meeting. After these speakers get through, eight to ten minutes
are allowed to all who wish to speak or pray. The meeting is
closed with the Doxology and prayer. From this meeting we go back
to the chapel where we held our Sunday-school. There we open our
regular Sunday evening service. The average attendance is about
twenty-five. The first part of this service is singing from 7.25
to fifteen minutes of eight. The singing is conducted by Mr.
Sanford, assisted by Miss L. Gill and Miss Sanford. To these
persons we are greatly indebted for their kindness in teaching
us, especially Mr. Sanford, whose labors for us are unspeakably
great. After the singing and prayer, Mr. Sanford takes the Bible.
He then reads, and explains to them in English; I take the same
lesson and explain to them in Chinese, after which the meeting
is closed with a prayer in Chinese. On Wednesday evening our
prayer-meeting is conducted entirely by myself. Its average
attendance is about the same as that of Sunday evening. Thursday
evening I have the whole Bible-class, consisting of from ten to
eighteen pupils. Beside this Bible reading we also have another
very interesting Bible exercise in the Association Room every
evening throughout the whole week, with the exception of Saturday
and Sunday evenings. This exercise commences immediately after
the brethren get back from school and continues until ten P.M.
We begin by reading and explaining the Scripture alternately.
If one fails to explain his verse correctly, the one who sits
next to him follows it up, and if he fails also, the third,
fourth, and so on to the last one in the class. If he fails to
succeed, I then explain the verse to them again. When this lesson
is through, I read and explain to them the new lesson for the
following evening. Then this exercise is closed with a prayer in
English by one of the brethren successively.
“Yours respectfully, JEE GAM.”
* * * * *
THE CHILDREN’S PAGE.
* * * * *
“KING DAVID’S DANCE” AND THE “HOLY MARCH.”
The signification of the above terms may not be familiar to
all our readers, and hence a description of them may prove of
interest. They are religious exercises, and constitute a part of
the regular Sabbath worship of the colored Baptist Church of Mount
Vernon, Ala. The members of this church are very emotional, and
exceedingly demonstrative in their religion. The order of services
each Sabbath are as follows: A Union Sabbath-school is held from
nine to half-past ten A.M., after which one of the leading brethren
conducts a prayer-meeting for about an hour.
Then preaching begins. The young minister preaches a sermon first,
and he is followed by the old minister, who preaches another sermon
from the same text. Mourners are then called for, the doors are
opened to receive members, and other necessary business transacted,
after which the benediction is pronounced.
It is then about three P.M. Instead of going home, the members
all remain, move the benches aside, and prepare for “King David’s
Dance” and the “Holy March.” The first consists in forming a
circle—or “ringing up,” as they term it—joining hands, and jumping
up and down, keeping time to the tune of some lively “spiritual
song.” This performance is carried on for some time, and then they
march the “Holy March.”
This is done by forming in single file, each one placing his hand
on the other one’s shoulder, and marching around and around, going
through a number of bodily contortions, better seen than described.
They march and dance alternately until about sundown, when,
completely exhausted, they go home.