withheld Chinese merchants from trading with other nations, and
is adopting a policy of encouragement to a wide-spread foreign
commerce. The Chinese Ambassador at Washington stated that a
steamer, commanded and manned by Chinese wholly, would soon appear
in San Francisco laden with the products of Chinese industry.
--The Chinamen, who walk over bridges built two thousand years
ago, who cultivated the cotton-plant centuries before this country
was heard of, and who fed silk-worms before King Solomon built his
throne, have fifty thousand square miles around Shanghai which they
call the Garden of China, and which has been tilled for countless
generations. It is all meadow land, and is raised but a few feet
above the rivers, lakes, and canals, and is a complete network of
water-communication. The land is under the highest cultivation,
and three crops a year are gathered from it. The population is so
dense that wherever you look you see men and women in blue clothing
in such numbers that you fancy some muster or fair is coming off,
and that the people are out for a holiday. Missionaries of several
societies are at work in this locality.
--A Christian Chinaman at Sacramento, in California, was present at
the annual festival of the Chinese school on June 4th. When asked
whether Christian influence really made the Chinaman better, he
replied:--
“Oh! yes, all much better men. Do not steal. Do not gamble. Do not
do any bad.”
“How about smoking?”
“Oh! no opium! Some not even smoke cigars. We can tell. All other
Chinamen watch Christian Chinamen. If they see him go wrong, tell
us. Then we tell him. Then he stop. If he did not stop, then he
must leave here.”
“But, suppose you don’t watch him. Will he be good without it?”
“Oh! yes, most times. When he is converted and believes truth, it
makes him good inside, he don’t want to go wrong any more.”
“How do you like it as far as you have gone?”
“Oh! me like very well. If all Chinamen be Christians, then no more
trouble about ‘must go’! All more happy and good to each other.”
* * * * *
THE CENTRAL SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE.
This religious body held its autumn meeting with the Second
Congregational Church, Memphis, Tenn. Delegates representing the
Churches in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, were present.
The following programme illustrates the orderly way and the
practical character of the brethren engaged in our church work
South:--“Annual Sermon,” Rev. Wm. H. Ash, Florence, Ala.; “Church
Extension,” Rev. Jos. E. Smith, Chattanooga; “Education,” Rev. G.
W. Moore, Nashville; “Missions,” Professor H. S. Bennett, Fisk
University; “How to Develop the Benevolence of the Churches,”
Professor A. K. Spence, Fisk University; “Absolute Necessity of
Education for the Colored People,” President Magoun, of Iowa
College.
In addition to the foregoing exercises, the Conference examined
and licensed for one year Mr. B. F. Foster, of Arkansas, a former
student of the Theological department of Fisk University. It also
renewed the licensure of Rev. W. H. Fuller, a student of the
Theological department of Talladega College. During the session
a council was organized for the examination of Mr. B. A. Imes,
a graduate of Oberlin College and Theological Seminary, with
reference to his ordination and installation as pastor of the
church in which the Conference was convened. Rev. Dr. Roy was
Moderator of the Council, and the examination was very thorough
and satisfactory. Dr. Magoun, whose daughter is the accomplished
teacher of music in the Le Moyne Institute, was present to
preach the ordination sermon, and Rev. G. Stanley Pope, of
Tougaloo University, to give the charge to the pastor. This young
conference, which already numbers twelve churches, possesses the
elements of a steady and helpful growth, indicative of a better era
for pure religion at the South.
* * * * *
ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.
WILMINGTON, N. C.--Pressure for admission to the lower classes
still continues. The school is crowded and there already is an
overflow room. Others are knocking morning, noon and night for
admittance.
MACON, GA.--School opens unusually full, but better than that is
the fact that we have a good school. I can truly say that I feel we
are doing well in every part of the work.
MARIETTA, GA.--Our work here is decidedly encouraging. No new
members yet, but three or four candidates are waiting to be
admitted whenever we deem it proper to receive them. One of these
is a man who brings a nice family to our Congregation; he has six
very bright children, five of whom are old enough to attend our
Sunday-school. I have been laboring in a quiet way, spending much
of my time in visiting the people, and with better acquaintance
with them I hope to do good work here. Sunday-school is already
showing an increase. Our monthly and quarterly concerts are doing
much good. Our choir meetings are helpful; in connection with the
practice of songs for the Sabbath we teach vocal music, and allow
all who wish to attend; thus far the plan has worked well. Our
organ is our greatest present burden, but we hope to be able to pay
for it at the stipulated time.
ANNISTON, ALA.--Last Sabbath was our regular communion day, and a
very precious day it was to us. We were gathering up the fragments
of our protracted services. There were seventeen conversions during
the revival, and thirteen of the converts united with us. The
church has been quickened by the Spirit and backsliders restored.
TALLADEGA, ALA.--Our opening this fall was most favorable. The
first day saw Foster Hall nearly full, and Swayne Hall well
occupied. If the pupils continue to come, we shall soon be
compelled to ask what we shall do with them. Both pastors of the
colored churches here enter the normal department, and one the
theological.
MOBILE, ALA.--I feel constrained, by the reports of the coming
applicants, to request an additional teacher. Yesterday and to-day
we have turned away thirty or more applicants, nearly one half of
whom wish to enter the B intermediate department, and nearly one
half are former pupils. Some went away crying because there was no
room for them.
SELMA, ALA.--Our new missionary, supported by the ladies of Maine,
writes as follows: “Have been here one month, and am prepared to
say that I like the work and find ample opportunity for doing good.
I have already called upon every member of our church. A good
degree of interest is shown by the Sunday-school, also an increased
interest in the church is seen and felt by all. We are hoping and
praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and trust that we
are remembered by our Northern friends in this respect as well as
others. I am rejoiced that I am permitted to labor in this cause;
encouragements far out-weigh discouragements, and when the people
of the North fully realize the amount of good accomplished by the
A. M. A. they will be more ready to sustain it than they have yet
been.”
MEMPHIS, TENN.--School opened most hopefully. We now register over
one hundred and forty pupils, and I have already refused children
for the primary and intermediate rooms. I expect every seat will be
taken in the normal room by the end of this month. Our entire work
has never before opened so hopefully as this year.
PARIS, TEXAS.--Rev. J. W. Roberts writes: Enclosed please find $1,
a collection which my Sunday-school sends for “Mendi Mission.” I
gave them a missionary talk yesterday on the work the A. M. A. was
carrying on in Africa, and urged them to aid her in sending the
Gospel to that land. The Sunday-school voted unanimously to do it.
Thus they send this as a beginning.
* * * * *
THE FREEDMEN.
REV. JOS. E. ROY, D. D.,
FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.
* * * * *
GLEANINGS.
L. A. P.
Letters from student-teachers often furnish truer insight to the
homes and sentiments of the people than can be learned in the
higher schools. Ten miles from a leading city a young lady writes:
“This is such a wicked place that out of ninety day scholars I can
get only forty to come to Sabbath-school. I begin school at eight,
and close at half-past five in the evening. Parents think the
children are not learning anything unless they stay in school as
long as the field hands work.”
A young man, whose recitations in class are always excellent, says:
“I have professed a hope in Christ, and joined the church. The
letter you wrote me two or three years ago concerning religion was
in my mind all the time before I professed hope. Please tell me
where in the Bible I can find the place where a woman once cooked a
Bible in a loaf of bread to keep it from being destroyed.”
This question aptly illustrates the lack of general intelligence
in the community. It is quite possible for young people to leave
school with fair knowledge of the text-books, yet profoundly
ignorant of everything else, unless access to libraries and
thorough Bible training accompany the regular school work, and are
made a part of it.
Another young man reads books and papers, and induces his patrons
to provide themselves with good reading matter. Under the same date
as the foregoing letter, he writes: “I have an enrolment of 120 in
day school. Sabbath-school numbers 143. I wish you could step into
my school-room, and see how busy and earnest all seem to be. You
cannot imagine how the colored people of this vicinity are grasping
after education. I lectured to a large audience last Monday night.
My subject was ‘Education in the South.’”
Another student records his experience thus: “The school had no
black-board, no writing desks--well, in fact, it was not provided
with anything. I now have a black-board, 8 ft. by 4; also very
good writing desks. The children were very much surprised at the
black-board, as they had never seen one before.”
* * * * *
GEORGIA.
Extracts from the Report of the Board of Visitors to the Atlanta
University.
For three days we listened to examinations of the scholars
conducted orally by the teachers, and written examination work from
the higher classes was laid before us. We were also present at
the anniversary exercises of the Institution. It is with pleasure
that we bear testimony in behalf of the accuracy and thoroughness
manifested both by the teachers and scholars. We have never
seen stronger proof of careful and successful teaching, and the
discipline and government cannot be surpassed in any Institution.
The scholars were neat in appearance, orderly in deportment, and
serious in application. The teachers were remarkably proficient in
their several departments, and the scholars seemed to be impressed
with a deep-seated earnestness, calculated not only to advance the
intellectual status of the colored race, but also to make of them
better men and women.
The practical sciences are not neglected. A visit to the culinary
department showed us that the female students had been thoroughly
taught the art of cooking good dinners, without which even the
intellect would pine and languish. Calisthenics, also, constitute a
part of the training.
We found the buildings and grounds in the best of order, evidencing
the same watchful eyes which overlooked the entire Institution.
The school-rooms and furniture were entirely free from defacements
of any kind, showing a marked difference in this respect between
the Atlanta University and most other colleges.
An interesting feature is the Library, composed of a collection of
about five thousand volumes, selected wisely for the purpose of
interesting as well as instructing the scholars. To the library
there have been added during the past year, three hundred new books
of recent publication.
In connection with the library is a reading room, in which can be
found the leading magazines and daily papers.
The future of the University seems truly bright, and a better
opportunity can never be given our colored citizens for a thorough
education.
We commend the entire corps of instructors, and must express the
confidence which we feel in the capacity of the president, Mr.
Ware, and in his fitness for the position which he occupies.
In conclusion, we think it proper to dwell for a moment upon the
fact that the Atlanta University, besides the influence which it
wields directly upon its scholars, reaches, through the many who
pass out from its walls as teachers, almost the entire colored
population of our State. While the mental man is being developed,
the moral man is carefully trained, and temperance and religion are
important parts of the instruction given.
From this College, Georgia is sending out missionaries for the
amelioration of a large class of her citizens. Who can doubt the
wisdom of continuing the appropriation?
* * * * *
ALABAMA.
Church, School, and Brick-making.
MISS M. F. WELLS, ATHENS.
I reached Athens on Saturday, Oct. 2d, found very little advance
on the brick-yard, the kiln of 118,000 being completed but not
burned, everybody discouraged, young people and children scattered
to the cotton fields, trying to earn enough money to buy their
winter shoes. Of course words of cheer and encouragement in view
of the _great work_ (for them the making of 200,000 brick _is_ a
great work, however small it may seem to those who do not know
their poverty, and the great sacrifice this has cost them) already
accomplished, made their heavy hearts lighter, and in the three
weeks since Oct. 1st a great change has come over the aspect of
things.
Men and boys are in the woods cutting wood to burn the kiln made
this season; women and girls are contributing their dimes, nickels,
half dollars and dollars to raise a fund to haul the wood, and the
prospect is that the brick will be burned before Christmas. But
you will not wonder that down in my secret soul there is sometimes
almost a moan. How long, O Lord, how long before the completion of
the school-house?
During the summer the church has kept up the public worship once
a day; a Cumberland Presbyterian Minister (colored) has generally
preached. When he was not well enough to preach a prayer meeting
was held.
The Sunday-school has been pretty well attended, and is now very
enthusiastic. We are going over a short course of Bible History and
Chronology, in addition to the regular lessons of the International
course. We are to have an examination for promotions at Christmas
and all are striving to complete the course. Our prayer meetings
are increasing in interest and numbers, but we need a minister,
indeed we must have one.
Two delegates have been appointed by the church to attend the
Conference at Memphis. It would be a pleasure to me, as one of the
appointees, to represent the church at that meeting, but there
seems no possibility of my going, as the school is filling up
rapidly, and the wood-cutters have to be provided with dinner, and
it requires eternal vigilance to look after all the interests in
such a way as to keep the “ark a moverin.” I should have written
sooner, but every day has brought some unexpected emergency--so
mixing church and school and brick-making, that no line of thought
or action was marked with sufficient distinctness to express itself
on paper. But now, things are more settled, all the interests
seem harmonized, and the chaos has given place to order. We are
all happy and busy day and night, bright faces and glad, earnest
spirits inspire hope in the teacher’s heart, and give vigor to
every effort to move forward.
* * * * *
MISSISSIPPI.
Patient Work.
REV G. S. POPE, TOUGALOO.
Sometimes we hear of incidents in the lives of our students plainly
showing that what we have said to them about hard, patient work
hasn’t ended with talk.
One of the graduating class last June spoke to us of “Labor.”
A letter just received by one of the teachers tells how his
school-house was so uncomfortable that he thought something must be
done. He had a public entertainment to raise money to get lumber
for ceiling. He did not realize enough and footed the bill himself.
When the lumber arrived he asked the people to come together to do
the work, but they did not respond and he ceiled the house himself.
Four of our girls taught near each other, their schools over 40
miles from the railroad. One of them had taught before 14 months in
the same neighborhood. The people failed to pay her. At one time
she needed some money and persuaded a man who was owing her to kill
a hog and let her have it. She put it in a sack and started on
horseback to peddle it out. She has an invalid mother and one or
two brothers and sisters nearly dependent upon her. She is anxious
to educate herself, but the outlook is pretty dark.
Two of them started together for their new field; went to B----
by railroad, paid a man $5 to take them 20 miles, reached town
about dark and tried four places before finding any one who could
keep them over night. The old woman who took them in was not able
to give them anything to eat, but made a cup of coffee for each.
One of them had a little lunch with her. They ate part of it and
put the rest aside. The next morning one woman who had refused to
keep them over night called and invited them around to see her;
they took dinner there and went back to the old woman’s house to
stay over night again, as they could not find any one to take them
further before the Sabbath. They were going to finish their lunch
for supper, but the ants had finished it for them, so they had
nothing more to eat until about noon, the next day. A man charged
them $7 to take them 22 miles. The Lord sent them some lunch
through the same woman who fed them the day before. One of them
only obtained a two months’ school. She received $36, and had to
spend $13 in traveling expenses and $12 for board. She thinks she
will have hard work to get through the year on what remains.
In one church there were three ministers and only one Testament.
These girls induced them to buy several Bibles.
They wrote for the fourth one to come. She went as far as B----and
had to wait two weeks for her trunk. She then went half-way to her
school with the mail carrier and waited there another week before
she could get any conveyance to her school. She taught two months,
and after purchasing what clothing she absolutely needed, and
settling board bills, only had about five dollars. She has just
written me that she is picking cotton now, hoping to get a bale to
sell, so she can return to school. We have enough such incidents to
make a book.
* * * * *
LOUISIANA.
Indications of Good in School and Church--Revival Meetings.
W. S. ALEXANDER, D. D., NEW ORLEANS.
We watch with peculiar interest the indications of the first month
of church and school work, in their relation to the general results
of the year. The first month has passed, and we have abundant
reason to take courage and press forward. Never did a year begin
with fairer prospects of success. Never before, perhaps, have so
many students reported on the opening day of the University.
The completed roll of the Academic, Law, and Theological
Departments would show nearly, if not quite 200 names. Many
students are detained upon the plantations--new scholars are on the
way, and we expect by the holidays to have all we can well provide
for.
* * * * *
STONE HALL.
The new dormitory, which will bear the name of our generous
benefactress, Mrs. Stone, of Malden, Mass., will soon be a reality.
The plans and specifications have been completed, bids have been
invited, and we shall soon hear the click of the mason’s trowel,
and the welcome sound of the saw and hammer. If Prof. Chase, who
will supervise the construction of the building, had any doubt of
our joy at his coming, he has not the perception with which we
credit him. Our most grateful thanks go out to Mrs. Stone for her
large-hearted benevolence. The blessings of thousands of God’s poor
people whom we are trying to serve will be part of her reward.
* * * * *
THE LAW DEPARTMENT
Numbers already 23 students, only four of whom are colored. This
department is entirely self-sustaining, and a fee of $56 per year
is exacted as compensation for the four able professors. It is a
source of great regret to us that more colored young men, in whose
interests the department was organized, do not avail themselves
of its advantages. It is conducted with rare ability. One of the
professors has been upon the Supreme Bench of this State.
* * * * *
CENTRAL CHURCH.
This church has paid all its expenses during the summer. The
pulpit has been supplied by a young man of ability, Mr. Albert,
formerly a student at Atlanta, and at present a member of our
senior class. I found the church in a good spiritual state, the
congregation somewhat scattered, but they soon rallied, and we have
now fair and increasing audiences.
The one desire and prayer of the church is to witness an earnest
and extended revival, and I am grateful to be able to say that
this hope seems about to be realized. Three years ago, Mr. James
Wharton, of Barrow-in-Furness, England, visited this city to engage
in evangelistic work, if Providence should open the way, among the
colored people. He is a business man, but an earnest Christian,
endowed with fine gifts as a persuasive speaker.
He wrote to me in the summer asking if the way would be open
for him to conduct revival services in Central Church if he
should visit New Orleans in October. I lost no time in sending
him a cordial invitation to come, and promised him our hearty
co-operation. He has arrived in the city accompanied by Mr.
Richard Irving, a man of kindred spirit, and next Sunday, Nov.
7th, they will begin a series of meetings which will be continued
indefinitely, so long as souls can be gathered into the Kingdom.
Printed notices of the meetings have been widely circulated, and
earnest workers are canvassing, going from house to house, and
entreating the people to come to this Gospel feast. Dear friends in
the North, pray for us, and the success of this movement. As Bro.
Wharton wrote me from England, “Pray mightily for us.” I pray God I
may have glad tidings to send you soon. These dear brethren come at
their own charges, and ask only the privilege of preaching a _free_
Gospel to the needy and perishing.
* * * * *
TENNESSEE.
Fisk University.
REV. E. M. CRAVATH, NASHVILLE.
The sixteenth scholastic year of Fisk University has begun under
very favorable conditions and with very encouraging prospects.
1. The number of pupils in attendance for the first two months of
this year is greatly increased over that of last, although that of
last year was larger than any previous year since the occupancy
of Jubilee Hall. The number from outside the city of Nashville is
thirty per cent. greater than at the same time one year ago.
The result is that the limit of our boarding accommodations has
been already nearly reached, and the anxious inquiry is forcing
itself upon us, What shall we do with the large number of students
who desire, and are planning, to come during the next three months?
2. The grade of scholarship in the case of new students is
considerably advanced over that of former years. There have been no
additions to the regular college classes, but four have entered the
senior, three the middle, and six the junior college preparatory
classes. As advanced students are the ones desired in such an
institution as this, it is a source of great encouragement that the
number of such is steadily increasing year by year.
3. There is on the part of the students a growing comprehension
of the value and of the necessity of a thorough education, and
consequently a very much stronger desire and purpose to take long
courses of study. This is one of the most hopeful facts connected
with our work. It required a wonderful amount of determination and
patience on the part of both professors and students to engineer
the first classes through a college course of study. There was no
public sentiment in the community, and no sentiment among parents
or friends of the students, to encourage and stimulate to long
courses of study. But a great change for the better has been
wrought. The steady, persistent work of the past fifteen years,
which has resulted in the graduation of five small classes from
the college department, has created an atmosphere and established
conditions which stimulate the desire for a liberal education, and
foster the purpose of those who undertake to secure it.