‘_just_’ method could be found of restricting immigration, whether
European or Mongolian, our country’s future would be less full of
peril. But they have not felt that, for this purpose, it could be
safe to violate the inalienable rights of men, or contradict those
truths which our forefathers declared to be _self-evident_, and
which constitute the very vitals of our body politic. And in this
view, as we humbly believe, our General Association would be found
in unanimous accord with Christian people elsewhere in our land.”
THE WORK.
The story of hindrance from cruel race-antipathies has been so
often told of late, that to continue it would be tedious. But the
hindrance still exists, and what with the meetings of so-called
“workingmen,” held every evening to nurse a mob-spirit, and the
perpetual droppings of venom from our daily press, we cannot tell
when it will be removed. “Nevertheless, the foundation of God
standeth sure, having this seal: The Lord knoweth them that are
His.” And while the attendance on our schools is diminished, and
one of them is for the time suspended, still the Spirit finds and
saves His own. At our next communion in Bethany Church, we are
expecting to baptize and welcome to membership five Chinese; and
several others, as I understand, will soon present their names to
the First Church in Oakland. We do not hasten this step. All who
are thus received, have been on probation in the Association of
Christian Chinese, for six months or more, and they come before the
church only when recommended by vote of their brethren. Meanwhile,
others are listening; and we hope to reap our harvests even in
the midst of the storm. Mrs. Denton, writing from Sacramento,
says: “Our school has been one of unusual interest this past month
(October). ‘He leadeth me,’ seems to be the choice song of my
pupils. After singing it last evening, I explained it to them:—how
God leads us by his word and love, through care, sickness, sorrow,
death, on towards heaven. All were _so attentive_, that I felt
sorry to see the hour-hand pointing to nine. The harvest truly is
ripe.” Another teacher writes: “To those engaged in the work, every
week gives fresh proof of the power of the simple truths of the
Bible to reach the heart, and elevate and purify the life. They
say, ‘I hear about God’s love for us all—how Jesus came to die to
save us—that is something new. Then when I hear He with us all the
time, ready to hear and help us, I think it much better to pray to
Him than to idols; and now I pray to Jesus; I _know_ He helps me.’
It is the unanimous testimony, when asked what they pray for, ‘I
pray Jesus help me do right—to know more about the right way.’ So
we are not disheartened, for surely they that be with us are more
than they that be against us.”
Words of cheer from other quarters might be cited, but I fear that
I have trespassed already too much upon your space.
* * * * *
COMMUNICATIONS.
* * * * *
PROTECTION BY DEVELOPMENT.
BY REV. C. H. RICHARDS.
There are two methods of protection against dangers that threaten
from without. One is the artificial method that builds up walls of
defence on the outside. The other is the vital and Divine method
that develops inward power enough to ensure safety. God braces the
oak against the storms, not by outward props, but by growth of
inward strength. He gives a man successful life, not by providing a
nurse to carry and feed him half a century, but by teaching him the
art of self-development, which makes him capable and masterly.
In the great problem of Southern reconstruction, which is so
slowly being solved, two parties feel themselves in danger. The
colored man finds himself at an immense disadvantage amid the
prejudices, the ambitions, the wider experience, the superior
knowledge and skill of the whites. The old yoke is removed, but
his new life is oppressed with a thousand petty exactions, which
the strong are always able to make upon the weak. With the ballot
thrust into his hands, he hardly knows how to use it wisely, and
suspects that it may be snatched from him again.
Now this outward guardianship of law and force has been needed;
just as the transplanted flower needs special shelter and the
upholding aid of the stick to which it is tied, _until_ its
vital power can build it into independent strength. It is still
necessary, to a certain degree, though God’s providence is fast
showing us that law and force can do but a transient work for the
race, and must soon be superseded by something better; and that
something better is the development of the colored man himself into
wisdom, and capability, and moral power.
The only permanent safety for the blacks is in their intellectual
and religious education. A weak race, helpless in its ignorance and
corrupted by immorality, will always be kept down. The ambitious
and intense desires of those who are wiser and stronger will
take advantage of its weakness, and will crowd it to the wall.
No legislation can prevent the working of this natural law in
the struggle for prosperity. But a strong race, with vigorous,
well-disciplined minds, balanced with virtue, will always hold its
own in the world. Cobden used to say that he must see a Turkish
ship, wholly built, equipt and manned by Turks, sailing from a
Turkish port, and freighted with genuine products of Turkish
manufactures; and then, and not till then, would he believe in
Palmerston’s dream of Turkish regeneration. So when the colored man
shows by his deeds that he is able to do all that a white man can
do, he will hold his footing of equality secure. The race is to be
tested by results.
The political safety and social elevation of the negro race depend
on the resolution, patience and enterprise with which it takes up
this work of self-development. And the only way the friends of
the black man can permanently protect him, is to help him gain
this inward power. The primer and the Testament, well used, will
be a better paladium than Congressional enactments. The grammar
schools and colleges, the industrial and theological schools, and
the churches, where a more reasonable and sober religion may be
taught them, will do more to secure their rights as freemen than a
standing army can do.
The other party, looking out for “rocks ahead,” is the nation
itself. Victorious in the struggle for its very existence, it
has been ever since in constant perplexity as to the way of
readjustment which would make its future safe. For a dozen years
the Southern question has been one of commanding interest and
momentous importance. The wisdom of our statesmen has been taxed to
the utmost to avert calamities continually impending. But although
time, and the steady purpose of the North to have equal rights
for all recognized and enforced everywhere, and the new policy
of pacification, have done much to change the perilous condition
of things, and bring quiet, the danger is by no means gone. It
has changed its complexion, but it lurks there still. The dense
ignorance, the wide spread immorality, the pride of blood, the
antagonism of races, the prevalence of mischievous notions about
capital and labor, the indolence and “shiftlessness” of great
numbers of the working class, the ambitions that will seize and
manipulate these diverse elements with shrewdness and trained
skill, still exist all over the great South, and are likely to make
it a turbulent caldron of contentious elements for years to come.
Race conflicts and class feuds are likely to arise, and sectional
hatreds are ready to break out again, with new danger to the whole
country.
How can the nation protect itself against such dangers? Only by
this method of self-development. The South must become homogeneous
in itself, and harmonious with the North by the spread of
intelligence and right principles. Education and a reasonable
religion will bring all up to a higher level, break down walls of
difference, give broader and better ideas. They would so change
the whole structure of Southern society, and unify its various
elements, that the causes of dissension that now exist would exist
no longer.
The American Missionary Association, then, is giving to the colored
race its best and only permanent protection. It helps the black
man to develop his inward power, so that his defence shall be in
himself. And its work is the nation’s safeguard, for by promoting
intelligence, integrity and moral power throughout the South, it
increases the elements that alone make a Republic safe. Every
motive of philanthropy and patriotism urges us to push forward its
work more earnestly.
MADISON, WIS.
* * * * *
EDUCABILITY OF THE BLACKS.
BY A VIRGINIA COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
The great mistake most people make, in regard to the education
of the negro, is that too much is expected in a short time.
Education in its broad sense is by no means confined to the study
of text-books, however well these may be learned. It takes a
generation to correct evil tendencies and predilections, and the
fruits of a systematic course of instruction do not appear at once.
It takes time to do this; and not only is this true of the negro
race, but of all other races as well. The entire history of our
foreign missionary efforts goes to prove this. It would be folly to
argue that no effort should be made to enlighten and Christianize
the heathen, because the fruits were not apparent in a few years.
This is just the case with the negroes among us. Although they have
been in contact (in a certain sense) with the white race for a
considerable period, yet no systematic or general effort has been
made for instructing their minds or educating them in morals.
Having for the past six or eight years had abundant opportunity
to compare the relative advantages of our system of public
education on the white and colored races, I am free to say that,
considering the advantages of the former over the latter, I am as
much encouraged to go on with the effort to instruct the blacks
as the whites. It is true that where intellect is concerned, the
white greatly excels, but it is not so with regard to memory. The
colored pupil memorizes as rapidly as the white, but lacks the
faculty of applying the things learned to everyday life; and I am
of opinion that this will remain so for a considerable time—till
habits of thought and individuality of ideas are educated. A great
deal depends upon home influences; and here the colored pupil is
decidedly at a disadvantage, and must remain so till home influence
is changed to a great extent. These are general rules, to which
there are noticeable and valuable exceptions. Take, for instance,
the graduates of Hampton Normal School, and they make not only
better men and women in a general sense, but better for every
special calling in after-life. This, however, is due in a great
degree to the constant drill, the daily systematic exercises, the
thoroughly qualified instructors, and to their separation for the
time from associations with the vulgar.
It is gravely contended by some, whose opinions are worth a good
deal, that the negro is below the white man because of deficiency
of cerebral matter, and that an examination of the brain will
demonstrate this average deficiency by weight or cubic inches. I
do not know whether this is true or not, but this I have observed,
and have had abundant evidence of, that the average colored pupil
will, and does, keep pace in learning with the average white, _if
the white associations are the same as the colored_, i.e., if the
parents and kinsfolk or acquaintances of the white are as ignorant
and ill-bred as the black. All things being equal, the black will
outstrip the white in acquiring knowledge and applying it. I have
noticed a greater facility for rising above caste in the colored
youth than in the white.
R. W. P.
* * * * *
CAMPAIGN IN CONNECTICUT.
DIST. SEC’Y, POWELL OF CHICAGO.
Perhaps it may interest some of the “MISSIONARY’S” readers to learn
a little concerning the speaking campaign in which Rev. G. D. Pike,
Rev. Temple Cutler, of Chattanooga, and myself, have been engaged
the past few weeks in Connecticut. For the gratification of such I
send you the following sketch:
Our first meeting was a convention—Greenwich the place, and the
afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 30, the time. We met in the church; the
audience was small but representative, and as our object was to
talk to people whose _weight_ rather than number was to be taken
into the account, we had no reason to complain of our send-off.
Four churches greeted us in this meeting. Rev. Chas. R. Treat,
son of the late revered Secretary of the American Board, gave us
cordial welcome, and spoke words of hearty endorsement of our work
and mission. At Norwalk we held a convention similar in character,
and, so far as appearances went, similar in results. Rev. Messrs.
Hamilton, Dunning and Bradford were present, and despite a
rain storm that had set in with violence and long continuing
determination, we had a good audience. “Come again,” said the
brethren, “and you shall have a rousing reception”—a remark which
in substance we heard at many other places, and a remark which I
interpret to mean—“You can count on us as co-workers with you in
your grand work.” There is inspiration in such interpretation, and
with such co-workers as Norwalk and South Norwalk contain, we can
rightfully jot down our visit to Norwalk as a success.
Our next meeting was in Danbury, the home of the “News-Man.” We
did not notice that he was present, and, for that matter, we could
hardly see that there was any other man. Nobody was to blame. The
_dryness_ of the news-man’s jokes, I presume, has had such an
effect upon the citizens of Danbury that they have not even the
ordinary love of mortals for wet weather; but, were it otherwise,
they were excusable for not coming out “to hear about missions” on
that particular night. Noah’s Deluge was distantly suggested by
that terrible and incessant down-pour of rain. We went through with
our meeting, however, and it did seem as though Brother Cutler,
extracting courage out of desperation, was bound to do his very
best. The memory of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, beneath
whose frowning battlements stands his home at Chattanooga, must
have been vivid, for “he carried the night.” Rev. Mr. Hough, just
home from Detroit and Syracuse, weary from the long journey, and
suffering from a severe cold, ought to have stayed at home, but his
determination to give us at least an audience of _one_ brought him
out, even at the peril of his health.
Our first Sabbath was spent in New Haven. At nine o’clock in the
morning we met the students of the Theological Seminary. Had I
remained silent and Mr. Pike taken all the time, the students would
have had occasion to be under obligation to me. He was in good
trim, full of his subject, and effective in speech. Africa was his
theme, and he handled it in such a way as to hold the continuous
attention of the young men. During the day we spoke in several
of the pulpits, and in the evening held a “Union Meeting” in the
Center Church, which was well attended. The venerable Dr. Bacon was
in his chair in the pulpit, as the “Emeritus” pastor of the church;
Rev. Dr. Noble, the present pastor, and Rev. Dr. Hawes, of the
North Church, were also on the platform, while the presence of Rev.
Messrs. Todd, Williams and other ministers in the audience, showed
that it was really a union meeting. The work, needs and claims
of the A. M. A., I think, were clearly presented and discussed;
though, judging from a report in one of the Monday papers, things
were rather mixed; for example, one of us was represented as saying
that “the colored people are going down to eternity, and if nothing
is done by the people in the North they will drag the white people
with them”—a very alarming statement surely, and well calculated
to fire the popular heart, but I cannot find that either of my
companions acknowledges its authorship, and I don’t quite like to
assume it myself. The reporter must have been experimenting with
a telephone. On Monday, the ministers very kindly accorded us a
hearing.
We were indulging the hope that at last we had entered upon
the favorable time for our meetings. New Haven had furnished
us something of a field day, and strong desire, stimulated by
encouragement, was shooting out into confidence; but that “one
swallow does not make a summer”—a trite old adage we are in danger
of forgetting just when we should remember it, was forcefully
brought to our minds as we went to New Milford. The storm king came
out in full force, with wind and rain, to give us welcome, and
right pitilessly did he continue to rage all the night long. We
hastily took back all we had thought and said about Danbury. There
we had merely a distant suggestion of Noah’s Deluge—here we had an
advance section of the genuine thing; yet so thoroughly had Rev.
Mr. Bonar advertised our coming, and so strongly urged his people
to attend, that we had a goodly number out to hear us.
We struck Waterbury on election day; still the union of the two
churches, under the lead of Rev. Messrs. Beckwith and Anderson,
furnished us with a fine congregation and a profitable meeting.
These brethren are both in special sympathy with the work of our
Association. At Norfolk, elevated thirteen hundred and sixty
feet above the level of the sea, we encountered the opposition
of a minstrel troupe, which paraded the town with a brass band
just about the time our meeting was to commence. It affected our
audience very little, however, as the church-going people in that
region are not given to such things. A well filled house greeted
us, and with the aid of Pastor Gleason, whose earnest words gave
us welcome and introduction, we had what appeared to be a very
interesting meeting.
Winsted favored us with another rainy reception, but a fair
audience, while a well trained choir was present, which, by the
excellent rendering of an introductory anthem, as one of the
newspapers facetiously put it, “gave tone to the meeting.”
New Britain was the next place, and may be noted as the turning
point in the adverse circumstances attending the Connecticut
campaign. A pleasant evening and a large audience here greeted us,
and an interest evoked that was decidedly manifest. From this time
onward until the last day, which proved rainy, we had good weather,
and, with only one or at most two exceptions, well-attended
meetings. What has been said regarding the co-operation we received
from the ministers in the preceding places is true of all.
Everywhere the ministers gave us cordial help, and to them is owing
very largely the success of our meetings. Milford, Manchester,
Glastonbury, Southington, Colchester, Danielsonville, New London
and Stonington are the remaining places visited on week days;
Bridgeport, Wethersfield, Hartford, Berlin, Wallingford and Meriden
on Sundays. In Bridgeport, we had a hearing in all four of the
churches, with a union meeting in the evening. In Hartford, three
of the churches—Pearl street, Fourth and Dr. Burton’s—gave us
audience. Mr. Cutler spoke in the morning at Wethersfield, greatly
enjoying the service by reason of the three-mile walk he took in
order to reach the church, and yet he does not speak in favor of
ministers taking such walks. He thinks the Scripture is right in
saying that “bodily exercise profiteth little.” As just intimated,
the last day of the campaign in Connecticut, Sunday, Nov. 25, was
rainy. The closing meeting was held in Meriden. It was a union
meeting of the First and Second Churches, Rev. Messrs. Hall and
Hungerford entering heartily into it. A good audience braved the
storm, and gave interested attention to our message.
We contemplate a short campaign in Massachusetts during the month
of December, of which I may give some account in the future.
* * * * *
THE CHILDREN’S PAGE.
* * * * *
DEAR S. S. FRIENDS:
The other day I heard one of our teachers say, “I’d rather anybody
would be really blunt, if he means what he says, than ever so fine,
if I cannot depend upon him.” Yesterday, I heard another teacher
say, “Mrs. J. is not deceitful enough to be decent.”
Now I know I ought not to write you a sermon, but these two
sayings, like texts, will stay in my mind when I think of you.
A good many of you have been to school enough to study U. S.
history, and you remember about the stern old Puritan who settled
in New England and the Cavalier who settled in the South. Well, we
Puritan Yankees, many of whom have been taught to feel that it is a
sin even to greet an acquaintance with “I’m glad to see you,” when
for some reason we cannot be glad at heart, are very much annoyed
when we come South, by being so often deceived, because we cannot
tell how much allowance to make for expressions which were intended
only to please. For instance, I explain a difficult problem,
and ask if it is understood. “Yes, ma’am,” is the prompt reply.
Surprised, as well as delighted, at the brightness of my pupil, I
ask, “Are you sure you understand perfectly?” “Yes, ma’am,” with as
much assurance as before. The next day I assign the problem to the
confident pupil, and he knows nothing about it. Or, a pupil comes
to me for assistance in a problem. I give it, and he replies: “I
started to do it that way, but thought it was wrong.” Of course,
such a strange thing as thinking we were wrong when we were right,
could not happen very often. But when the same words—“I started to
do it that way, but thought it was wrong,” and other expressions
equally suspicious, are often repeated, with what weight they come
to fall upon our hearts, almost burying our hope and courage as we
see how hard it is to be simply true.
So you see there was some reason for my first friend’s saying she
preferred honesty to refinement.
Now, perhaps some frank, brave little boy or girl is thinking—I’m
not deceitful; I always say what I think, whether people like it
or not. My dear little friend, do not be too proud of that honest
tongue! Does not the same Bible that teaches us to be truthful,
also say, “Be courteous,” and “Be ye kind!” Need I be either a
severe Puritan or an insincere Cavalier? You see we old people
cannot help feeling that somehow these Puritans and Cavaliers
helped to make people believe that one must either be blunt and
honest or refined and deceitful. It is a great pity that we should
ever think beautiful, lovely Truth, must always speak cold or
cutting words.
Now we ought not to fret because we cannot make everything straight
in this crooked world, but should we not be a great deal happier if
every man and woman and boy and girl who speaks the truth, would
always speak it kindly and courteously; and if every one who is
truly polite would always be thoroughly truthful? When that time
comes, no one will ever think of making such a strange remark as
my second friend did yesterday—“She is not deceitful enough to be
decent.”
MRS. T. N. CHASE.
ATLANTA, GA.
* * * * *
RECEIPTS.
* * * * *
MAINE, $186.92.
Bangor. Hammond St. Soc. $53.18, and Sab. Sch.
$25.; First Parish $16.19. “A Friend” $2.;
Central Ch. Sab. Sch. $25 $122.17
Belfast. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 13.50
Dennysville. Peter E. Vose, Box of C., val. $40
Machias. “L.” of Centre St. Ch. 10.00
Milltown. Miss. F. M. A. 0.25
Norridgewock. Hattie Boardman, Bbl. of C.
Searsport. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.00
Woolwich. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $9; Mrs. J. P.
Frott $2 11.00
West Newfield. Samuel C. Adams 10.00
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $632.53.
Acworth. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.00
Amherst, L. & L. K. Melendy, _for Wilmington,
N. C._ 300.00
Centre Harbor. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.68
Fisherville. J. C. Martin, $5.; Geo. S.
Meseroe, $2 7.00
Great Falls. First Cong. Ch. 47.00
Keene. Second Cong. Sab. Sch. 50.00
Lempster. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.00
Milford. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch. 60.00
New London. Mrs. L. M. Trussell (deceased) by
Mary K. Trussell, $10.; M. K. T. 25c. 10.25
Plymouth. Cong Ch. and Soc. 14.26
Rindge. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.87
Salmon Falls. Cong. Ch., _for Wilmington, N.
C._ 15.00
Sanbornton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.00
Sullivan. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.00
Temple. Cong. Sab. Sch. 22.70
West Lebanon. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.50
Wilton. Second Cong. Ch. 6.27
VERMONT, $1,489.96.