hastened thither and took his mother to his home. Early the following
autumn I joined dear ones at Skokomish. A new departure was named. In
pursuance thereof, with the interpreter, a devout Indian, I conducted
divine service at the Indian village. It was continued with
gratifying results.
In July, 1874, a church composed of whites and Indians was organized.
I was chosen pastor. About that time my younger son, Rev. Myron
Eells, arrived at Skokomish, with the intention of making a brief
stop. To me my early Indian charge, the Spokanes, together with the
sparse white settlements in the vicinity, were attractive. I resigned
the charge at Skokomish. It was committed to Rev. M. Eells. The seed
of the word cast among Spokane Indians did not spring up quickly. It
had slow growth, but a rich harvest has been gathered. But I may not
enlarge. From my experience and observation the so-called peace
policy, when fairly tested, is a success. Connected therewith the
ideas and work of the A. M. A. are specially applicable to efforts
for the elevation of the Indian. In my judgment the vexed Indian
problem may thereby be solved--solved to the mutual profit of our
Government and the Indian.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
LETTER FROM OAKLAND, CAL.
BY REV. GEO. MOOAR, D.D.
There is little more for me to do in noting down my observation of
the work of A. M. A. among the Chinese here than to indorse the
statements made by the Rev. Dr. McLean in the April number of this
magazine. As far as the school work for the Chinese in the English
language is concerned, the honor of beginning it belongs, I think, to
Mrs. Elizabeth L. Lynde, now deceased, a member of the First
Congregational Church in this city at the time. Her heart, which was
singularly alert in behalf of the neglected and unfortunate, set her
in the year 1867 to teaching two or three Chinese at her house. These
were servants in families. Meantime the boy employed in my own
house--since favorably known as our chief helper in missionary work,
Jee Gam--was spelling out, by the aid of my little girls and their
mother, the mysteries of our English language, and little by little
learning the great mystery of godliness. Interest deepened in the two
or three who were thus drawn together. So, Mrs. Lynde's little class
was transferred to our chapel, and soon became a prominent and
hopeful department of our Sunday-school. It was a rare pleasure given
me to receive, in 1870, the first three Chinamen known as admitted to
membership by confession of faith in an English-speaking church in
this land.
For several years I had the opportunity of direct participation in
this new missionary movement, often taking my place as teacher of the
new alphabet and guide to the pronunciation of many unphonetic words.
At first there was novelty about it and it was comparatively easy to
obtain even the numerous teachers which this work requires. But as
the novelty wore off it became more difficult to find and keep
volunteers in sufficient numbers. Besides, a demand arose for more
than the hour of the Sunday-school service. The eagerness to learn
and the increasing acquisition of some called for a more constant and
continuous drill. So has come about the system of schools carried on,
under the American Missionary Association's appropriations and our
California gifts, by the "California Chinese Mission."
I bear glad witness to the large measure of devotion with which this
work has been conducted. It is precisely the kind of work to bring
out the best qualities of Christian character in those who are
responsibly engaged in it. The motives for engaging in it drawn from
any other than the purest Christian fountains are few indeed. The men
and women, who, within my knowledge, have given their time and heart
to it, have long been among my "evidences of Christianity." To the
poor the Gospel has been preached by them. Several of those most
interested during the early years, as superintendents or teachers,
have been laid aside or have "gone home." But there can be no doubt
that the Master has said to them, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the
least of my disciples, ye have done it unto me."
For this is pre-eminently the work which makes its appeal to the few.
To sustain it pecuniarily as well as otherwise, must pertain to those
who give, hoping for nothing in kind again. Those here who would
give, perhaps, to help Africans on the Congo, cannot always be
appealed to in behalf of this cause. A worthy Christian friend who
has charge of a Sunday-school consulted me about a gift he was
interesting his scholars to make to some missionary. Whom could I
suggest? It was natural, being on this Pacific sea, to suggest a
laborer in northern China. It was amusing to see how quickly he
dropped my suggestion as if it were something very hot. Why, it would
not do at all to mention China in that school. It would kill his
darling missionary proposition completely. This illustrates not by
any means a universal feeling here, but a feeling which is quite too
prevalent. And there are many who would help to teach the Mongolians
if they were to be taught _where they belong_, who would be almost
offended to be asked to help in their education here. So all the more
admirable, in the face of public sentiment here, is it that so many
noble workers and givers have been found to sustain this work. For is
not this, of all others, the enterprise which "takes the gold right
out of the country?"
I overheard an intelligent gentleman, a member of Congress, and born
in my native Massachusetts, express the duly considered opinion that
the Chinese mind is so organized that it cannot be expected to
entertain the Christian ideas. It illustrated the sad fact that it
takes a long time for even Americans to entertain and be molded by
those ideas. This gentleman might easily have found scores of humble
servants and laborers of this "unassimilable" race in his own city
who had come as truly in the power of Him, who is the Truth, as any
of us. For it is the testimony of all who are acquainted with the
facts that as large a proportion of those Chinese who take the
Christian name "adorn the doctrine" as do those who take that name
from among the Caucasian families. Indeed, the proportion may,
perhaps, be larger. For what can ordinarily induce a Chinaman to
espouse the Christian standing here unless it be the genuine
appreciation of Christian truth and the response of his heart to the
love of God as shown in the cross of Christ?
* * * * *
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
MISS D. E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.
Our readers will recall an article issued in this department of the
April "Missionary" entitled "A Plan with Reasons." We are happy to
report that a good many cheering words in approval of the plan have
reached us, and not a few of a practical character. We select from
the latter the following:
FROM NEW YORK.
--I have received a delightful letter from our teacher at the Santee
Agency, and our Committee are much pleased with her account of her
work. I have directed our Treasurer to send to your A. M. A.
Treasurer the first quarterly payment on account of the $150
appropriated, and trust it will reach you in due season. Our payments
will be made hereafter May 1, Aug. 1 and Nov. 1, as we are dependent
on our weekly collections, and hence cannot pay oftener than
quarterly.
--Inclosed find $40 for two shares in support of a missionary
teacher, from whom we may receive a monthly letter.
FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
--Inclosed please find $20. Our Ladies' Benevolent Society wish to
take one share in the expense of a lady missionary teacher, from whom
we shall enjoy letters, hoping in this way to call out more interest
in the work.
--A recent circular from you was read to our ladies by our pastor's
wife, to whom it was sent. We have no separate organization for the
Am. Miss. Assoc. but our ladies contribute something to its
funds--though probably not enough to take a full share in the support
of a teacher. Encouraged by what you say in the circular, we write to
ask that we may be included in the list of those to whom monthly
letters will be sent, as promised to those who take one or more
shares. We are small and few, but the interest is genuine, and we
want to increase it. Our contribution goes into the general fund.
FROM MINNESOTA.
--Last week, on a very stormy day, with less than twenty ladies
present, the subject of taking shares in the support of a missionary
teacher was introduced, and a little over $40 pledged, to be paid
before October. I felt very much encouraged, and shall do all I can
to increase the amount, though I am too much of a stranger--having
been here but a year--to have any idea what we can raise. You
promised us letters from our missionary if we took but one of the $20
shares; so we shall hope to receive them. After another month I hope
to send you word about a much larger pledge.
--Ours is a country church, laboring under the disadvantage of
constant depletion of our younger members; the twin cities of St.
Paul and Minneapolis are close by, and our broad frontier also
attracts strongly. Last year a determined few, by great exertion,
raised almost $100 for division among the Am. Board, A. H. M. S. and
A. M. A. The outlook is not encouraging for this year, and, as a
regular correspondent might add interest to our small meeting, we
voted yesterday to take one share; and should we succeed better than
we hope, our rule of division will give you one-third, whatever the
amount may be. We need more prayer for warm hearts and the open hand.
FROM OHIO.
--We have been reading "A Plan, with the Reasons," and like it much.
We have a class of young girls in our church who ought to be in
missionary work. Can you give us a little fuller account of the work?
and do you have teachers among the poor white women of the South?
Please let us hear soon from you; we want an object to work for. We
may not be able to do very much, but would like to do something.
* * * * *
ALABAMA WOMAN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
MISS M. K. LUNT.
The annual meeting of the Alabama Woman's Missionary Association was
held in the prayer-room of the Congregational church in Montgomery,
Monday, March 31. The devotional exercises were conducted by the
President of the Association, Mrs. H. S. De Forest, who gave the
opening address, welcoming the members of the local societies, now
numbering seven.
The reports of the Secretaries and delegates showed an increase of
interest, labor, and funds collected, as well as a constant growth in
missionary intelligence.
Nearly all the societies have remembered the foreign work and the
Indians, in addition to their own needs and people, and have shown a
deep interest in the advancement of Christian education.
Mrs. Ragland, the wife of one of the Talladega theologians, read a
paper upon Home Influence, the prominent points of which were filial
obedience, the important place the wife, mother, and daughter fill in
the home, and the importance of training the daughter in domestic
duties.
Mrs. Ash, whose husband was an acceptable pastor in one of the A. M.
A. churches, and who not long since was called home, read a paper,
giving a comprehensive history of the work of the American Missionary
Association in the South, relating incidents connected with the
earlier teachings, and showing how the work had broadened, and
brought into the ranks the colored people.
Mrs. Andrews, of Talladega, prepared a paper on the "Origin and
History of Our Alabama Movement in Woman's Work," read by Miss
Partridge, giving a full development of the organization and growth
of the society during its seven years' existence, and showing how
much greater results are accomplished by organized effort and unity
of action, and advising that the relation of this society as an
auxiliary to the W. H. M. A. of Boston be severed and become allied
to the Woman's Bureau of New York, which has the Southern field under
its special care; referring also to the interest, courtesy and
sympathy which the Boston society had always shown toward the Alabama
branch.
Mrs. O. F. Curtis, of Emerald Grove, Wis., was present, who has two
sons in the South as missionaries and one on the foreign field--Rev.
W. W. Curtis, of Japan--who addressed the meeting on the condition of
the women and girls in that country; what is being done by the
missionaries to lead them to Christ; also speaking of the hindrances
to the Christian religion.
This interesting meeting could not fail to awaken a deeper interest
in the hearts of all present, and we believe that no one left without
feeling that she had gained a new impulse to renewed consecration and
work for the Master.
* * * * *
SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK AT TOUGALOO.
MISS JOSEPHINE KELLOGG.
The Sunday-school of this Institution has always--under the present
management at least--been considered one of the most important, if
not the most important means of grace and spiritual enlightenment.
The power of sustained attention and consecutive thought is greatly
lacking in all untrained minds; hence the superiority of the
hand-to-hand question-and-answer method of the class-room over the
sermon as a means of informing the mind and clearing away the rubbish
of superstition and the misapprehensions of meaning, derived from the
ignorant preachers who have been in many cases the only previous
expounders of the word, and resulting also from a very vague and
limited understanding of the language of the Bible, the
preacher--even the teacher.
It would be impossible for one new to the work to even _grasp at_ the
distorted images and superstitious misconceptions connected with
religious subjects in the minds of the more ignorant colored people
without the free interchange of personal conversation. So for years
the Sunday-school has been placed at the head of the Sabbath services
here, and given the forenoon, the review by the Superintendent
occupying the time of a short sermon, with the lesson for the day,
already explained and impressed by the several teachers, for its
text. Later in the day class prayer-meetings are held, and here young
Christians learn to take up the cross of bearing testimony for
Christ, and making audible prayer for themselves and others. Many of
the scholars feel these meetings to be very valuable.
At the close of the school year a Sunday-school Convention is held,
and it is urged as a duty upon all Christian students who go out to
teach that they should organize and conduct Sabbath schools in
connection with their day schools.
We have recently received two donations of library books, so that we
now have enough to go once around, and we loan them out each Sunday.
We also generally have papers to distribute, sent us by kind and
careful Sunday-school scholars in the North who make their papers do
double duty. If some school changing song-books would send our school
a hundred or more well-preserved copies of those they lay aside, it
would be a gift highly appreciated.
One of our neighbors is a good Mother in Israel, who has always taken
a warm interest in this institution in all its departments and
appreciated its uplifting influence upon her people. She belongs to
one of the branches of the Methodist Church, and felt that she wanted
something done for the improvement and revival of interest in the
schools of that denomination in the vicinity. Accordingly, she worked
up a S. S. Convention among them last Fall, and invited Mr. Pope and
some others of us to go and help to make it profitable. We could not
get off until after dinner and might as well not have gone at all.
Soon after our entrance a young man introduced a resolution that
superintendents and teachers be _compelled_ to be at their schools at
the hour set for opening. One of the preachers rose and said that
teachers _could not_ be _compelled_, and moved as an amendment that
they be _acquired_ to come promptly.
Then ensued along, windy, wordy controversy on "compelling" and
"acquiring." Seeing no prospect of a conclusion we withdrew. The good
auntie who had invited us followed us out in deep humiliation. I
said, we are sorry to go without contributing something to the
interest of the meeting, but this is such a waste of time, there is
no coming to the point. "That's jus' so, dear," she said, "but that
their ign'rance. Ign'rance _does_ waste time, honey. _Ign'rance can't
come to a pint._" That last sentence struck me as a piece of
epigrammatic wisdom.
* * * * *
CHILDREN'S PAGE
* * * * *
WONG NING'S IDEAS
AS EXPRESSED BY HIMSELF.
[Wong Ning is no imaginary character. He is a real
flesh-and-blood Chinese boy, living in San Francisco, and much
interested in the new and many sided life going on about him. So
we are glad to give you, in his own words, a few of his
observations on American life and manners.]
My name is Wong Ning. I born on home China, come to this country when
thirteen years old, and been here now seven year.
Little boy have very hard time on home China. Have to get up and go
to school at six o'clock--very early that--come home, get breakfast
at eight o'clock, and lunch at twelve o'clock; then stay till six
o'clock in the day. I no think American boy like that!
Little girl no go to school _at all_! Very funny, that! Have one big
house, on home China, where all the girls go every day; learn to sew,
make the pretty things, the flowers, the birds, everything! by the
needle. Little girl no speak to the boy--no! never! on home China.
On home China every one like the mother very much; give everything to
she. If a China boy no like the mother, no work hard for she, no send
she everything--Oh! horrible! _very bad!_ All the sons marry, bring
home the wife to wait on she. Not like the wife so much as the
mother, on home China.
The woman--the wife, the mother, the little girl--all work in the
house--sew, cook, make the cloth, everything! When they make the
dinner or the lunch, set the table very nice, put on everything; then
run behind the curtain (no have any door on home China), and then the
man--the father, the son, the little boy--all come in, sit down, eat
the dinner; eat him all up. Pretty soon, by and by, the woman--the
mother, the wife, the little girl--come quiet, lift up the curtain.
If he all gone, can come eat; if no, can not come. _Yes! Sure!_
I go to school at night, learn to read and write; I think English
very hard. I been work for the Jew family, the Irish family, and the
Spanish family. I think my English get too much funny--so many kinds
of language. Now I work for the American family; like it more better.
I been here so long, and go to school so much, that I understand the
English more better than China. _Very funny that!_ When my cousin, at
the wash-house, send me the letter to come take dinner with he, he
have to write it in English, and the lady I work for, she laugh very
much.
I get one letter this morning. (My American name Charley). Here the
letter:
"Mr. Chily, you Please come to Kum Lee this evening to take
dinder, because Lee chong go to home China this week. Ah Do and
Ah Sing all come in to if soon as you can good by WONG VOO."
I know plenty stories about on home China. You ever hear about Kong
foo-too?--American call him Confucius--he very great man.
Maybe you like, I tell you one story. He live about two, three
thousand year ago, _yes!_ _sure!_ He travel every city, teach
Chinaman--that very good.
One city he no came--that Canton--one very big place inside three big
walls. Kong-foo-too, or Confucius, he come to Canton, and try to come
in the gate--very big gate.
One little boy there seven years old. I think that little boy too
smart. He making play of a little city, and building three little
walls around it, all the same like Canton. He took up too much room,
and talk too smart, so that Confucius cannot get in.
He watch him a little while, then he say, "I guess Canton all right;
this boy can teach Canton. I go some other place." _That very bad!_
Next year that boy died--_very strange that_! So Canton never get any
teaching, not from boy, not from Kong-foo-too. I think not very good
for little boy to be too smart.--_St. Nicholas._
* * * * *
RECEIPTS FOR APRIL, 1884.
* * * * *
MAINE, $257.77.
Augusta. "J. S." (5 of which _for Indian Work, Hampton
N. & A. Inst._) to const. REV. ARTHUR F. SKEELE L.M. $30.00
Belfast. Miss A. L. McDowell, _for Selma, Ala._ 1.00
Bluehill. Cong. Ch. 5.00
Brewer. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.00
Camden. R. Bowers, 20; Abner Howe and wife, 3; Jonas
Howe, 50c.; Mrs. Myra A. Mansfield, 3.50; E. D.
Mansfield, 3 30.00
Gorham. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 65.85
Gorham. Sab. Sch., by J. S. Hinckley, _for Student Aid,
Selma, Ala._ 26.42
Limington. "A. B." 2.00
Lyman. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.50
Machias. Center St. Cong. Ch. 5.00
Portland. Fourth Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.00
Saint Albans. Rev Wm. S. Sewall 3.00
Scarborough. "A friend in Cong. Ch." 50.00
South Berwick. Mrs. J. H. Hodgden's S. S. Class, _for
Student Aid, Talladega C._ 10.00
South Berwick, Ladies of Cong. Ch., Bbl. of C., _for
Wilmington, N. C._
Woodfords. ---- 1.00
Yarmouthville. Rev. A. Loring 1.00
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $237.16.
Amherst. Cong. Ch. 5.82
Colebrook. "E. C." 2.00
Hinsdale. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 13.54
Keene. First Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Sab. Sch. Work_ 15.42
Lyndeborough. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.50
Marlborough. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.40
Mason. Cong. Ch. 6.00
Milford. Willing Workers, _for Student Aid, Tougaloo
U._ 50.00
New Boston. ---- (30 of which _for Cal. Chinese M._) 100.00
New Ipswich. A. N. Townsend 1.00
Northwood. Dea. J. J. Cate, _for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 1.00
Peterborough. Ladies' Circle Union Cong. C., _for
Freight_ 2.04
Winchester. Cong. Sab. Sch. 22.44
VERMONT, $716.94.
Cambridge. Mr. and Mrs. M. Safford 38.52
Cambridge. "Friends," by Mrs. S. P. Wheelock, Box of C.,
_for Tougaloo U._; "Friend" 2, _for Freight_ 2.00
Dorset. Women's H. M. Soc., _for Student Aid, Atlanta
U._ 15.00
Greensborough. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.50
Jamaica. Mrs. William Hastings 5.00
Manchester. Miss Ellen Hawley 70, _for Student Aid_, 25,
_for repairing Piano, Talladega C._ 95.00
Manchester. Rev. and Mrs. A. C. Reed, _for Student Aid,
Atlanta U._ 25.00
Manchester. A. Hemenway 5.00
Milton. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 14.40
Newport. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 13.65
North Cambridge. "A Friend" 5.00
North Ferrisburg. Cyrus W. Wicker 10.00
Norwich. John Dutton 10.00
Rutland. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 109.48
Saint Albans. M. A. Stranahan, _for Student Aid, Fisk
U._ 50.00
Saint Johnsbury. North Cong. Ch., 113.25; South Cong.
Ch. Sab. Sch., 61.22 174.47
Springfield. Cong. Ch. M. C. Coll., _for Indian M._ 8.69
Stockbridge. Rev. T. S. Hubbard 10.00
Townshend. "A Friend" 5.00
West Brattleborough. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.23
Williston. W. L. Seymour 2.00
--------
$626.94
LEGACY.
Grafton. Estate of Mrs. Caroline B. Akin, by Wm.
Hastings, Ex. 90.00
--------
$716.94
MASSACHUSETTS, $6,300.43.