people: “Some of you cannot read; all of you are very busy and find
it difficult to get time to read; so I have concluded to give you a
brief review of the week’s news each Sabbath evening.” He then read
a summary of events relating to education, temperance, religion and
politics. Thus these churches are training the people to a wise
exercise of their citizenship.
* * * * *
The three theological students from Fisk University who were
ordained at the State Association in Nashville, in November, find
ready opportunity to prove “their calling” by preaching in the
church at Goodlettsville. This church was organized last year, and
has not yet secured a settled pastor.
* * * * *
Rev. John Kershaw, who was recently appointed General Missionary
of the A. M. A. in the Cumberland Mountains, reports twenty-one
hopeful conversions as the result of a series of meetings held
by himself and Bro. Barton, of Robbins. So the work goes forward
encouragingly in Scott County. The large army of men who poured
into this region during the construction of the Cincinnati
Southern R. R., have moved on. The vast number of drinking places
this unsettled multitude created a demand for has been greatly
reduced. Society has settled to its normal condition. _Now is
our opportunity._ Let us plant churches, strengthen and multiply
Sunday-schools, establish Christian schools, and thus keep out
saloons and places of evil resort. It is always easier to keep the
devil out than to get him out.
* * * * *
Many of our A. M. A. Sunday-schools are rejoicing in new libraries,
the gifts of the “Congregational S. S. and Publishing Society,” and
the “Western Tract and Book Society.” The thoughtful Secretaries of
these societies have the hearty thanks of the field workers.
* * * * *
CHRISTMAS AT McINTOSH, GA.
Christmas came at the end of a series of revival services which
have been held here with encouraging results, some forty young
people professing to find Christ precious to their souls, a number
of whom will be after due care and examination received into church
membership. The members, too, have been cheered and helped in their
Christian life, and have resolved to be more fully consecrated
to God’s service. We commenced the day with a short service at
6:30 a.m., when we had a little talk on the topic, “The Birth of
Christ.” At 9 o’clock the schoolchildren assembled with parents
and friends to the number of four-hundred or more, to undertake
their exercises, which were very satisfactory, doing great credit
to the teachers. Hymns appropriate for the occasion were gone
through admirably in the church, which had been gaily decorated
with evergreens, palmetto grass, redberries and moss, the Christmas
tree being a most conspicuous object, heavily laden with all kinds
of good things. The distribution of the various articles followed,
and all, both young and old, received a gift. They then turned
out, _en masse_, after singing “Praise God from whom all blessings
flow,” into the school grounds, where their happiness reached its
height, the people witnessing some good old fashioned English games
undertaken by the boys, including flat-race, three-legged race and
sack-racing, (which caused no end of merriment) running high leap
and pole-leaping. The girls, too, were delightfully entertained
by the teachers’ partaking in corresponding games, which were
enhanced by the strains from the brass band in attendance. Later
in the afternoon fourteen persons, including Rev. Floyd Snelson,
the teachers, and others, started upon an eight-mile drive. A halt
was made at McIntosh proper, where holiday festivities were being
indulged in by a large number, I am sorry to say, to the detriment
of all present. Whilst waiting to give the horses rest, it was
plain to be seen that whiskey had been freely partaken of both by
male and female, and a disturbance arose in which we could see from
the distance the excited people fighting, the women taking the most
prominent part. At another settlement on the other side of us, we
heard there had been disturbances mainly caused by the “fire-water”
drinkers. As I stood looking on, I could not but thank God for the
contrast, so plainly set before me in the day’s proceedings, and
to bless God for the work and workers, whose influence is at least
felt for miles around, both among old and young, whom they have
under their training. I cannot speak too highly of the teachers
here, although my acquaintance with them has only been of three
weeks’ duration; yet travelling about as I do both in England and
America I have learned to form some idea of work in my Master’s
cause, and say that the work here is worthy of the sympathy and
prayers of all God’s children, on both sides of the water, on
behalf of these once downtrodden sons of Africa.
Miss Plimpton has in her class-room 72 scholars, Miss Robertson
74 and Miss Dox 84, Miss Cutler taking the responsibility in a
great measure of the household duties. They are taxed to the very
utmost of their strength and have turned away between fifty and
sixty children, who would gladly walk many miles each day, if they
could be accommodated. The Bible readings at some of the sisters’
houses, held twice a week, and also the Bible instruction and
society meetings which are held at the teachers’ home, are all
undertaken after school hours, so that an idea can be formed as
to the exceedingly heavy task bearing upon them, but the promise
is still as certain to-day as of old, “As thy day so shall thy
strength be.” Towards sun-down the young folks began to scatter to
their respective homes, everybody seeming to be delighted with the
day’s proceedings, and wishing in their hearts that Christmas day
came once a month.
JAMES WHARTON, Evangelist.
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
* * * * *
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SANTEE.
BY MISS EDITH LEONARD.
An outside view of any community is always different from an inside
view, yet both may be true. I am going to try to give you some of
the impressions I received of the Santee school, during the first
days that I spent here, before I began to feel that I was a part of
it.
The teachers and scholars were just returning after vacation. The
teachers seemed especially happy in meeting the scholars and one
another, and beginning work again. I had never known a company of
people with so much care who seemed so light hearted and hopeful,
and I thought “They love their work.”
The boys and girls seemed happy, too, and when I looked at their
faces in the chapel and met them later in the home and school, I
found in many of them a gentleness and frankness, a trustfulness
and willingness to be taught, that surprised me. I had looked for
less of these qualities than in white children, but I found more
than would be found in most white schools.
Their reverence and attention in church, too, was in striking
contrast with what I have seen in many places where the children
seem to take no part in the worship. These children always take
the attitude of devotion during prayer, and sit quietly and
with serious demeanor through three or four services on Sunday.
They seem to enjoy it, too, even when there is a part that they
imperfectly understand, on account of the use of two languages in
these services. They love Bible stories and hymns, and accept what
they are taught concerning religious things, with a simplicity that
I have been used to finding only in the youngest. Perhaps it is
because they are so shut in by themselves here. They know little
of the indifference or half concealed hostility to religious truth
that is so common in larger communities, even among those who
attend church regularly.
During the first weeks here, while our windows were constantly
open, I was struck by the amount of singing I heard. From more
than one of the houses where the scholars live I could hear the
hymn sung at morning prayers; then came the voices of the school
in their opening exercises, and later of the music classes. Beside
this we often heard the boys and girls singing in recreation hours
for pleasure, and again at night before retiring, their evening
hymn. The sacred words and the young voices could not fail to bring
good thoughts, and I was reminded of Luther’s saying, “The devil
always flies from music, especially sacred music, because he is a
gloomy spirit, and cannot bear joy and gladness.”
I am conscious that after three months here I see many things in a
different light from that in which I first saw them. I have learned
that there are some peculiar hindrances to teaching the Indians,
so that it is by no means always easy. I have learned, also, that
the teachers, with all their happiness in their work, see enough
of sickness and ignorance and evil many times to make their hearts
ache.
Yet the cheerful view I received at first was not a false one.
There is more to make one sad here than in many other places, but
there is also much to make one glad. There is the constant contact
with young life, the opportunity to see how much the every-day
blessings of home and school are worth to those who have not had
them, the sympathy that comes from a common purpose frankly avowed,
and in addition there are abundant opportunities and favorable
conditions for teaching these boys and girls to love Christ, and to
feel concerning themselves,
“He’s fitting us to enter
Into His service sweet.”
I think nearly all who are here, both teachers and scholars,
feel that this lonely little cluster of buildings away off on an
Indian reservation, is, for them, one of the best places the earth
contains.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
BY REV. W. C. POND.
“A great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are
many adversaries.”—1 _Cor_., xvi, 9.
What Paul experienced at Ephesus, we find to be true in our humble
work among the Chinese in California. We are grateful that the door
is open, and that it is as great and as effectual as it is. We
cannot deny that there are also “many adversaries.”
Our Chinese brethren think that some of these, among their
own countrymen, and even among the pupils in our schools, are
peculiarly annoying. Jee Gam was telling me, a few days since, of
an experience with one of these, which I asked him to write out for
the readers of THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY:
“Several months ago, while Mrs. Lamont, Gin Foo King and myself,
were busily engaged in teaching the other scholars at the Barnes
school, our attention was diverted by the voice of one who was not
studying, but talking aloud. He was a pompous fellow, who, though
he is only a servant, dresses like a very rich man. Working for $16
per month, he wears a purple figured silk coat and a gold bracelet.
He puts on the appearance, in the school-room, of high breeding and
great learning. As we listened to him, this is what we heard: ‘What
doctrine have the foreigners? They have no duty between Emperor
and officials, parents and children, elder and younger brother,
husband and wife, or even between friends; but we, Chinese, are
taught by our great sage, Confucius. His teaching on these duties
is above all that men ever taught on earth. The foreigner has not
the son of heaven (meaning the Emperor). When he is 21 years old
he leaves his home and thinks no more of his parents; not only so,
but leaves them to take care of themselves. The husband lends his
wife to his friends, who walk with her arm in arm on the street.
The way of courtship and marriage is like that of beasts. He knows
no politeness, no integrity, no modesty, and no shame; in fact,
all foreigners are barbarians. Confucius said: “I have heard of
barbarians becoming Chinese, but have never heard of Chinese
becoming barbarians.”’ He continued at length in that way. Gin Foo
King and I listened till patience failed us. ‘Where did you get
your knowledge about the foreigners?’ I asked. ‘What do you know of
the Bible?’ He gave no answer. ‘Who are these people that Confucius
called barbarians? Were they Americans, or English, or Germans?
Would you take your teacher, Mrs. Lamont, for a barbarian? Would
you claim that you are more enlightened than she?’ I then explained
to him that those whom Confucius called barbarians were people
within the Chinese Empire; his China was a small country, covering
only a few of the present central provinces, and all the people
outside that district were esteemed to be barbarians. There were
no Americans when he lived, and as to English and Germans, he knew
nothing about them. He did not call _them_ barbarians.”
When the pupils heard this, they laughed at the pretentious
scholar. Since then he does not loudly and boastfully contend; at
least, in our presence; but I have reason to think that he works
against us privately. We pray for him, and we hope that God will
answer our prayers and open his eyes and change his heart, so that
he may see the beauty and the excellence there is in Christ.
Our brethren are justified in praying for such adversaries. Some
years ago one who had (for the sake of learning English) been very
constant at the Oakland school, on becoming a Christian confessed
that for months he had carried a pistol in his pocket, determined,
if he could with safety, to shoot Jee Gam because of his zeal
in leading his countrymen to Christ. We did not labor for that
“adversary” in vain.
Another was formerly a constant attendant at the Bethany school,
and a constant student of the New Testament. But it was in search
of material with which to counteract the influence of helpers and
teachers, and hold his fellow pupils firm to the ancestral faith.
Among other passages he came upon that one in Matt. ix, 17, which
speaks of the new wine in old bottles. It served his purpose
admirably. “China,” he said, “is an old bottle, very old; you must
not put this new doctrine into it; it will burst.” But Hong Sing,
who was then a member of this school, answered him well: “It is not
China that is old and weak, but our heathen customs of worshipping
ancestors and buying luck at the shrine of Joss, etc., etc. Put the
doctrine of Christ into these and it will burst them certainly; but
put it into China, and it will make her stronger and fairer than
ever.”
One Sunday evening, sitting in my study, preparing for our evening
service, while the Chinese Sunday-school was going on in an
adjoining room, I overheard some Chinaman vigorously exhorting the
pupils. I went out to see who it was. It was this “adversary.” I
asked what he was saying. “He is telling us,” a pupil replied,
“that he has found out that Jesus is the true God and only Saviour,
and asking us all to believe in Him.”
* * * * *
BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.
* * * * *
A WEEK AT A NORMAL SCHOOL.
A visitor at one of our normal schools in the South asked the
principal for a schedule of a week’s work, _outside_ of the regular
school duties. The visitor reports this school to be equal to
Northern schools of the same grade and one where the aim is not
only to promote good scholarship but also to develop earnest and
intelligent Christian character.
SCHEDULE.
Sunday, 9 A. M. Miss H. S. S. Teacher’s Meeting.
Sunday, 10 A. M. S. S. Church and Choir.
to 1 P. M.
Sunday, P. M. S. S. Class, Reading and
Prayer Meeting.
Sunday, 7:30 P. M. Church Service.
Monday Miss P. Mothers’ Meeting.
Monday 3:30 P. M. Miss L. Girl’s Society.
Monday 3:30 P. M. Miss F. School Visitation.
Tuesday, 4 to 5 P. M. Miss F. Class Prayer Meeting.
Tuesday, 7:30 P. M. Church Prayer Meeting.
Wednesday School Visitation.
Wednesday 6 P. M. School Teacher’s Meeting.
Wednesday 7:30 P. M. Miss H. Reading Circle.
Thursday Miss F. and Girls’ Prayer and D. B.
others Work.
Thursday 3:30 P. M. Teacher’s Class.
Thursday 7:30 P. M. Daniel’s Band, Bible Study
and School Prayer Meeting.
Friday School Visitation.
Friday Miss L. Primary Teacher’s Meeting.
Friday Individual Work.
Saturday Cleaning, Mending, etc.
Saturday Miss H. Music Lessons.
In addition to this regular missionary work every week and every
day in the week, there are Temperance and Missionary meetings, the
preparation of Missionary letters and various incidental Christian
works. This school is a fair illustration of all.
* * * * *
HOW WE RAISED THE DEBT.
Mother was East and father had gone to the Association at
Plankington. Only _Taute_ was left to keep us straight. We had run
through the list and done most everything, except going swimming
and the pillow-fight. There were still several raw September days
to be disposed of.
Putting the play-room to rights one day, our throats just ached for
chocolate creams. We would make Taute pay so much a sight of the
play-room in apple-pie order. Taute would not be taxed, but would
like some jumping-jacks and nuns for her little Oahe girls, and we
could come by our chocolate creams honestly.
It would be hard to tell how it all came about, for one said one
thing and one another, until out of all the Babel and confusion we
decided on a fair, a real missionary fair. How our tongues wagged
while our fingers flew! How the jumping-jacks multiplied, and
the sedate little nuns came trooping forth each with prayer-book
and rosary, after whole families of pert-looking acorn dolls!
As by magic the bright bits of paper grew into kites, mats and
book-markers, and pen-wipers and pin-cushions; how could one have a
fair without them!
The day came at last. We had from Thursday evening until the next
Monday afternoon. (What a trying day Sunday was. Do you think it
was very, very wicked counting our jacks and nuns, and seeing how
much they would bring?)
The dining-room table Mamma let us have, and a string running
across the room made a splendid trapeze, where the nuns flirted
and danced with their jacks, the tea-kettles bubbled and the acorn
baskets turned somersaults. Oh! ’twas just shocking! And the acorn
dolls that kept watch over the fancy articles didn’t behave a bit
better. They bowed and curtseyed until their heads bobbed off. Even
the brave potato-man, who was marshal of the day, could scarcely
sit still on his potato-horse. Perhaps they felt good because they
were going to raise the A. M. A. debt.
And it was just as Mabel and Olive had said: Miss Haynes did buy a
jack and Miss Leonard a nun, and Miss Ilsley and Miss Pratt both
took dolls. Then those who had jacks wanted nuns and those who had
nuns must have jacks, and no one could resist the acorn dolls,
their heads rolled off so easily. Our buttonhole bouquets, too,
were just one cent, and little Ruthie Chadbourne’s papa and mamma
thought missionary candy very good for her, so they bought ever so
many little scallop-shells full at five cents apiece.
Miss Hunter, of Greenwood, was here, and had to buy out of
politeness, and when it was all over Mamma bought us out—that was,
we are quite sure, out of kindness. We had forgotten to say that
Father and Mother had come home. They had to come to help buy the
things, you see. Now that it is all over, we want you should know
what a happy time we had, and send you our pennies to raise the
debt with. Your friends and co-workers,
THREE LITTLE RIGGS CHILDREN
AND THEIR THREE RIGGS-WARNER COUSINS.
P. S.—We have forgotten all about our chocolate creams.
SANTEE AGENCY, Neb., September, 1886.
* * * * *
RECEIPTS FOR DECEMBER, 1886
* * * * *
MAINE, $421.41.
Bangor. Hammond St. Cong. Ch., ad’l, 37.50;
First Cong. Sab. Sch., 17.51; Cen. Cong. Ch.
and Soc., 10. $65.01
Bangor. W. S. Dennett, 26; John L. Crosby, 2
_for Pleasant Hill, Tenn._ 28.00
Bath. Mrs. James Covel. 1.00
Blue Hill. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.00
Brewer. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.00
Calais. First Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Talladega
C._ 10.00
Castine. Mrs. C. M. Cushman, _for Student Aid,
Tougaloo U._ 6.00
Castine. “Your loving little friends.” Mary
and Margaret J. Cushman, 2 ea. 4.00
Cumberland Mills. Warren Ch. to const.
FREDERIC D. LARRABEE and HARRY H. MELCHER,
L. M’s. 67.23
East Orrington. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Pleasant
Hill, Tenn._ 21.00
Farmington Falls. Cong. Ch. 7.00
Gorham. First Cong. Ch. and Soc., ad’l to
const. MRS. SARAH J. HAMBLIN, SUMNER L.
OSBORNE and GEORGE W. CROCKER, L. M’s. 22.03
New Gloucester. By Mrs. A. R. Jordan, 4; Two
bbls. and one box of goods, _for Selma, Ala._ 4.00
Norridgewock. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 30.00
North Anson. Mrs. Eunice S. Brown. 10.00
Norway. Mrs. Mary K. Frost. 2.50
Orono. Cong. Ch. 1.00
Portland. Williston Sab. Sch., to const. DR.
A. K. P. MESERVE and EDMUND T. GARLAND, L.
M’s. 60.00
Saco. First Parish Cong. Ch. 10.64
South Gardiner. Cong. Ch. 6.00
South Paris. Cong. Ch. 6.00
Union. By Mrs. S. L. Norcross, 5; Two bbls. of
goods, _for Selma, Ala._ 5.00
Waterford. Cen. Cong. Sab. Sch. 5.00
Wells. “Christmas Club of Little Children,
Second Ch.,” Pulpit Bible, _for Pleasant
Hill, Tenn._
York. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 29.00
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $579.13.
Bennington. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.32
Bennington. Children of Cong. Ch., _for
Rosebud Indian M._ 2.10
Bradford. “E. B. G” 1.00
Bristol. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.00
Campton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 3.00
Concord. Cong. Ch., 76 87; David E. Willard,
5; “A Friend,” 5 86.87
Derry. Ladies of First Cong. Ch., _for Woman’s
Work_ 20.00
Durham. Miss Carrie Mathes, _for Student Aid,
Atlanta U._ 10.00
Goffstown. Mrs. M. A. Stinson, 10; Ladies,
bbl. of Clothing, etc., val. 8, _for Brewer
Inst._ 10.00
Gorham. Cong. Ch. 2.50
Great Falls. First Cong. Ch. 20.00
Haverhill. Cong. Ch. 12.15
Hollis. “A Friend, Christmas Offering” 20.00
Keene. First Cong. Sab. Sch., to const.
LEONARD J. TUTTLE, WM. G HALL, MISS LAURA B.
TILDEN, MRS. J. L. WYMAN and AZRO B.
SKINNER, L. M’s. 161.06
Londonderry. C. S. Pillsbury 1.00
Nashua. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 44.50
New Ipswich. Children’s 24th Annual Fair (1 of
which from a little boy _for Indian M_)
14.85 and Cong. Sab. Sch., 20, to const.
MISS CARRIE B. WILSON, L. M. 34.85
New Ipswich. Leveritt Lincoln. 10.00
Pelham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 41.28
Penacook. Cong. Sab. Sch. 6.00
Portsmouth. (——). 5.00
Stratham. Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. MRS.
MARIA H. THOMPSON, L. M. 39.00
Suncook. Mrs. Elsie G. Green. 5.00
Wilton. Second Cong. Ch. 24.50
Winchester. Cong. Sab. Sch. 8.00
VERMONT, $890.67.
Barnet. Mrs Mary W. Boardman, 100; Cong. Ch.,
adl., 67.10. 167.10
Barton Landing. Ladies Aid Soc. of Cong. Ch.,
_for McIntosh, Ga._ 5.50
Bellows Falls. Cong. Ch. (30 of which to
const. MISS LUCIA E. ADAMS, L. M.) 49.60
Bennington Center. First Cong. Ch. 28.00
Bradford. Mrs. E. C. Redington, by Mrs. Henry
Fairbanks, _for McIntosh, Ga._ 5.00
Cabot. Cong. Ch. 16.00
Chelsea. Cong. Ch. 49.04
Duxbury. Cong. Ch. 5.70
Essex. “Cash”. 4.50
Glover. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.00
Granby and Victory. Cong Ch. and Soc. 3.34
Guildhall. Ladies, by Mrs. Geo. Hubbard, _for
McIntosh, Ga._ 5.00
Hartford. Second Cong. Ch., 29.60; “A Friend,”
16. 45.60
Jamaica. Ladies, by Mrs. A. W. Wild, _for
McIntosh, Ga._ 3.00
Manchester. Mrs. Anna B. Burton, to const.
GEORGE G. BURTON, L. M. 30.00
Manchester. Ladies of Cong. Ch., bbl. of C.,
_for Atlanta U._
Marshfield. Cong. Ch. 7.42
Middlebury. Cong. Ch. 34.68
Montpelier. L. C. Bowen. 5.00
Newbury. Hon. P. W. Ladd. 5.00
New Haven. By Mrs. L. W. Stowe, Two bbls.,
_for Oaks, N.C._
Newport. Ladies, _for McIntosh, Ga._, by Mrs.
Henry Fairbanks. 27.75
Newport. “A Friend, Christmas Offering”. 10.00
Norwich. Cong. Ch. and Soc., 10; Mrs. H.
Burton, 1 11.00
Orwell. Cong. Ch. 40.00
Peacham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 42.03
Rupert. Cong. Ch. 17.04
Rutland. Gen’l W. Y. Ripley, 25; Hon. Redfield
Proctor, 25, _for Atlanta U._ 50.00
Saint Johnsbury. South Cong. Ch. and Soc. 99.87
Springfield. Mrs. B. D. Forbush, _for Macon,
Ga., freight_ 1.80
Stowe. Cong. Ch. 44.00
Townshend. Proceeds of Harvest Festival held
by the boys and girls of Cong. Sab. Sch.,
_for McIntosh, Ga._ 14.66
West Brattleboro. Cong. Ch. 11.19
West Randolph. Cong. Ch. 20.00
Ladies of Vermont, _for McIntosh, Ga._—
Barton Landing, 1 bbl., freight 2.00
Essex Junction, freight 1.80
Hartland, 1 bbl.
Ludlow, 1 bbl., freight 2.00
North Craftsbury. ½ bbl. freight 2.00
Wallingford, 1 bbl. freight 1.00
Walpole, 1 bbl.
Windham, 1 bbl. 2.00
West Charleston, 9.05
———— 19.85
MASSACHUSETTS, $5,329.42.