inquiring friends,' that I expect to leave on or before Jan. 1st,
1940, and that though I hoped to vote for 'St. John and
Prohibition,' I have now decided to vote for 'Blaine and the
Protection of all citizens in their political and civil rights.'"
When he gave me this letter, he took a promise that it should not be
published until after his death. He passed away in the triumph of his
sweet, but heroic faith a few months ago. He died where he had
suffered and dared for Christ's sake, in the midst of this ignorance
and sin.
Such stories as his ought to be told. It is cowardly timidity for
those of us who know them, to keep them from the Christian public.
Heroes and heroines answer to the roll-call of A.M.A. workers. I have
met them and mingled with them, the past three years, and I know the
sinew and fibre of their courageous faith. You, who send them out, and
who support them in the field, ought to know what they endure, and
hear, now and then, an incident of their heroism.
* * * * *
Two cases of heroic self-denial have come under my notice recently. In
Macon there lives a colored woman whose husband is in an Insane
Asylum. Their home was recently burned to the ground. She has four
{164} small children with her, the eldest of whom is eleven years old,
who are dependent upon her for support. She earns just eight dollars
per month, and yet she sends one girl, aged fifteen, to Atlanta
University!
A young man, whose father was a white man and who is himself a blonde,
has been urgently invited by his white grandmother to come to her home
and take the position of her son's child. She is a wealthy woman,
owning a large plantation. The young man's father, her son, is dead.
The boy would have all the privileges of a wealthy young white man and
inherit the property on his grandmother's death. The sole condition
which the grandmother makes is that he shall give up all association
with his octoroon mother and refuse to recognize her in any way. Thank
God, the boy is too true to his gentle and loving mother to enter into
any such arrangement, even though the bribe offered is thousands of
dollars and a social position of great attractiveness. There is a
great deal of this quiet but heroic self-sacrifice among the colored
people in the South, that never finds its way into print.
* * * * *
THE ALABAMA ASSOCIATION.
PRESIDENT H.S. DEFOREST.
The thirteenth annual meeting of the Alabama Association was held at
Salma, March 30th to April 3d, when the floods were at their highest,
yet fourteen of our seventeen churches were represented. The
Sunday-school Association convened a day earlier, and one afternoon
the Woman's Missionary Association had a session by itself.
The opening sermon by Professor Andrews, was a powerful exposition of
Christian love, from the 13th of 1st Corinthians. One evening was
given to the higher, Christian education; one to three papers on "How
to Secure Homes," "The Home Indoors," and "Home Piety;" and the last
to three phases of the temperance question. Pastor C.B. Curtis, whose
church most generously entertained the Association, read a very
suggestive paper on "Self Support of the Churches," a pressing and
difficult question. Almost of necessity, when there is so much to be
done, and the resources are so small compared with the magnitude of
the undertakings, practical rather than theoretical questions come to
the front and engage earnest attention.
After a most satisfactory examination, six young men from the
Theological Department of Talladega College were licensed to preach,
and it is noteworthy, that, besides this latest gift of Talladega to
the ministry, eleven of the fourteen churches represented at this
meeting of the Association are ministered to by Talladega College or
its graduates. It is a wonder that some man wishing to put a
comparatively small sum of money where it would increase with a
compound interest of blessedness till the latter-day glories have
fully come, does not endow the chair of Theology at Talladega, and his
brothers take up the same line of usefulness till both {165} College
and Seminary are presided for. Some who were taking the rudiments of
learning here but a few years ago, and who have continued their
training at very email expense, are now acceptably filling difficult
and responsible positions in school, in business and in church. There
is more of this work to be done, and to be allowed to help seems a
privilege precious enough to make life vastly desirable.
* * * * *
TEMPERANCE WORK IN OUR SCHOOLS.
Our esteemed neighbor at 58 Reade Street, Mr. J.N. Stearns,
Publishing Agent of the National Temperance Society, recently made
a visit to Florida. On his return trip, he visited several of the
A.M.A. schools in the South, and his practiced eye of course
detected the facts in regard to temperance instruction and
influence. We quote the following items:
At Beach Institute, Savannah, under care of the American Missionary
Association, Miss A.A. Holmes principal, I found 230 pupils and a
strong temperance sentiment. The entire school receives sound
temperance instruction. Stirring temperance songs ring through the
halls. A Band of Hope holds regular meetings. "Mother Goose and Her
Temperance Family," was performed with great satisfaction by the
pupils, and a photograph group of the actors taken and preserved as a
memento of the occasion. "Alcohol and Hygiene" and the "Catechism on
Alcohol" are among the studies.
At Charleston I found Avery Institute slowly recovering from the
effects of the earthquake which effectually scattered its students.
Over 200, however, were now in attendance, under the auspices of the
American Missionary Association, with Professor M.A. Holmes principal.
Temperance is a cardinal virtue here, but they greatly need a
temperance library and other literature. All these schools have a
severe struggle to sustain their ordinary work, and must depend
largely upon outside help for temperance literature. They can use to
great advantage and carefully distribute, without expense, to the
community round about if only the material is furnished.
At Wilmington, N.C., a great work has been accomplished. It has 20,000
inhabitants, 12,000 of which are colored. In 1881, when the vote on
prohibition was taken in the State, it was all against the
proposition. A wonderful change for the better has taken place. I had
a most pleasant visit to Gregory Institute of 250 pupils, Mr. George
A. Woodard principal. This is also under the American Missionary
Association. "Alcohol and Hygiene" is taught in the higher branches
and temperance pervades every department. An open temperance society,
with Rev. George S. Rollins president, holds regular evening meetings,
with temperance songs, recitations, dialogues, essays and speeches,
for entertainment and instruction. The regular meeting occurred the
evening I was in town, and I greatly enjoyed the exercises. Carolina
Mills was proposed for {166} membership, and a committee of three
appointed to "investigate and report." The report was "favorable," and
read in regular order and adopted. The candidate came forward to take
the pledge, and proved to be a young man of genuine African descent.
The entire programme was rendered with great credit to all concerned.
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
LETTER FROM AN INDIAN CHIEF IN DAKOTA.
My Dear Sir:----Will you Please I have got your letter and I was
vey glad--and vey Good letter--and I tell My Indian friends all
good men and We are vey glad to see your good paper. And, Now, We
Mandans Indian We are maken houses this River south sides and We
are farmes And we have Great fields--and We like Vey much the White
man Ways--and We are White mans--and We are a Friends to the White,
and We hear much talk of you and we are good Indians Mandans. We do
not do foolish to the Whites, and We are a good Friends to the
Whites----And now I wants to know the Great Fathers Wishes to us.
Please good tell me the Great fathers what he say to us--When you
get this letter Please Write to me Yery soon. Good buy--
I am Very your truly friends,
MR. WOLFE, Chief.
Fort Berthold West, 30 miles from here I live and have 16 acres and
I am glad. I have a cow, 6 horses, a wagon, a plow. I have three
houses and a store. I live south side this River. Yours,
MR. WOLFE, Chief.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
EVANGELISTIC WORK.
It is now nearly five months since our evangelists went forth, and the
record of their work, if I had both grace and space to give it in
graphic detail, could not but interest the readers of the MISSIONARY.
Chin Toy was to labor in our more northern missions, viz., Stockton,
Sacramento, Marysville and Oroville, and Loo Quong was to go south to
Santa Barbara and San Diego and certain other cities where Chinese had
congregated, but in which there appeared to be none to care for their
souls. Subsequently another brother entered the field, Yong Jin,
laboring first at Santa Cruz, and now at Tucson, Arizona.
The intention was to give one month of service at each mission, and
one gratifying feature of our experience has been that at no point has
this {167} one month been deemed sufficient. In every case an urgent
plea has come for a longer visit and a larger work. In some cases, as
with Chin Toy in Sacramento, and Loo Quong at San Diego, it has been
necessary to yield to these appeals. The work needed could not be
fulfilled in the month assigned. But in general we have adhered to the
original plan, so as to cover the whole field.
The results have justified the undertaking. The work of these brethren
has been greatly blessed, first of all, to those who were already
believers in Jesus. They have been taught the truth more perfectly.
They have had their conceptions of a Christian's duty and a
Christian's privileges raised. They have been brought into closer
harmony with each other. It is too much to expect, perhaps, in view of
facts as they transpire in churches of American Christians--Christians
"to the manner born"--that our little groups of Chinese believers born
as "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the
covenants of promise," should be free from all envies and jealousies,
walking always in brotherly love. We wish it were so, but our wish is,
as yet, but partially fulfilled. Our evangelists have so presented
Christ, and so magnified the duty and the blessing of brotherly love,
and so exercised, also, their gifts of Christian diplomacy, as to
become peace-makers, and to restore a truly spiritual order at points
where chaos seemed impending.
They have been "in labors abundant." The following from Yong Jin, at
Santa Cruz, puts in fewest words their ordinary work: "This school has
nineteen or twenty scholars. About sixteen come to take the lesson
every evening. Mrs. Willett teach and I teach. [_i.e._ during the
usual school session from 7 till 9 p.m.] After the school is out, I
teach them the Bible lesson about half so long. [_i.e._ from 9.15 till
10.15 p.m.] Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings gave them the Bible
lesson of Chinese. Wednesday and Friday evenings, the Bible lesson of
English. Saturday evenings we have meeting. Sunday noon, I did preach
in the street--three times since I came here." With this is associated
constant visiting of such Chinese as either cannot or will not attend
the school, seeking to sow beside all waters. Also study; in some
cases aided through the kindness of some resident pastor, for these
brethren have entered upon this work untrained except in the work
itself, and one point of greatest moment in their present service is
to learn how to render better service in the years to come. Street
preaching is undertaken wherever possible. What a hearing can be
secured if only some American Christians will cooperate, was well
illustrated in the experience of Loo Quong at San Diego. I cite the
following sentences: "This afternoon we have a grand time in preaching
the good news of Jesus to the Chinese. There were more than _ten_ good
people who had gathered there to help me in the singing. After half an
hour of hard talk, [_i.e._, earnest laborious speaking,] then Mr.
Kirby, an old gentleman, next is Rev. Dr. Harwood, then a stranger.
{168}
All these speakings I have put in Chinese and they were listened to by
at least a thousand Chinese and whites. Among the helpers were Mrs.
Noble and Mrs. McKensie and the whole family of Rev. Dr. Harwood.
Besides these were many other good Christian ladies who stood around
me and were given willing lips to join the singing. I cannot tell you
all about our street preaching here. I will leave it for you to think
about and enjoy. Amen."
God has used this preaching of the Word, not only to edify the
brethren, but to bring men to repentance. The numbers may seem small
when compared with those reported by our American evangelists laboring
among the tens of thousands in our great cities, but, under the
circumstances, they are very cheering. At Stockton, 1; Sacramento, 1;
San Buenaventura, 3; San Diego, 3; Oakland, 4; San Francisco, 5;
Tucson, 5; Santa Barbara, 7; Santa Cruz, 11. Total 40. This is the
harvest of the past five months. If the work of the whole year should
yield corresponding returns, it will be the most fruitful of our whole
history. Much remains unsaid, for which I may find space hereafter.
WM. C. POND.
* * * * *
The Chinese have been considered by many impervious to Christian
influence, but the following paragraph shows that by "deeds, not
words," the Oriental, sometimes, expresses his gratitude. Sometime ago
a Chinaman in a Sunday-school was taken ill, and, through the
influence of its superintendent, admission to a hospital was secured,
until he was able to return to his native land. But no word of thanks
was given for the faithful care and unwearied attentions he had
received, and only the assurance of the Master's approbation cheered
the hearts of those who had sowed the gospel truth in his name. The
weeks went by, when from over the sea came a living testimony of the
gratitude of this Chinamen in the form of his young son, whom he had
sent to America with the injunction to find the unforgotten
superintendent, and go to her Sunday-school. For five months now he
has been under her care, and at the recent reception given by the
Chinese scholars to their teachers, on their New Year, he wrote in a
clear, well-defined hand, every word correctly spelled, this letter to
his teacher, who had sent him her regrets that she could not be
present.
My Dear Teacher:
I thank you for your letter. I am sorry you could not come to the
supper last Monday night. I am glad you can teach me every Sunday.
I like to go to Sunday-school. Please write to me again.
Yours truly----
Five months ago this boy was unable to speak or understand a word of
English; now he can read, write, and repeat the Lord's Prayer from
memory, a task he studied long and patiently to accomplish.
* * * * *
{169}
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
MISS D.E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.
* * * * *
WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS.
CO-OPERATING WITH THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
ME.--Woman's Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. C.A. Woodbary,
Woodfords, Me.
VT.--Woman's Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. Henry
Fairbanks, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
CONN.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Hotchkiss, 171
Capitol Ave., Hartford, Conn.
N.Y.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C.C. Creegan,
Syracuse, N.Y.
ALA.--Woman's Missionary Association, Secretary, Mrs. G.W. Andrews,
Talladega, Ala.
OHIO.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Flora K. Regal,
Oberlin, Ohio.
ILL.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C.H. Taintor, 151
Washington St., Chicago, Ill.
MICH.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Mary B. Warren,
Lansing, Mich.
WIS.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C. Matter, Brodhead,
Wis.
MINN.--Woman's Home Miss. Society, Secretary, Mrs. H.L. Chase, 2,750
Second Ave., South, Minneapolis, Minn.
IOWA.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Miss Ella E. Marsh,
Grinnell, Iowa.
KANSAS.--Woman's Home Miss. Society, Secretary, Mrs. Addison
Blanchard, Topeka, Kan.
SOUTH DAKOTA.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. S.E. Young,
Sioux Falls, Dak.
* * * * *
The Woman's Missionary Association of Alabama held its annual meeting
in connection with the State Association, April 2d, at Selma. The
meeting was well attended, and encouraging reports were had from many
of the auxiliaries. The advantage of the local missionary societies to
the church and Sunday-school work was emphasized, and a desire for
more thorough local work was very apparent in the meeting. Many
subjects of interest were discussed. Among them the following:
Industrial Training in our Schools; Industrial Training in our Homes;
Should there be a Woman's Missionary Society in every church? If so,
the reason why every sister in the church should be a member; What
shall we do to make our Local Societies more active?
Greetings of the Second Woman's Temperance Union of Alabama, were
presented at this meeting. This Union is composed of colored women of
various views, together with Northern missionaries and teachers. There
is no doubt that their work for purity and sobriety is most efficient,
yet this Union can have no dealings with the other Union, though color
hinders neither of the vices which the Unions oppose.
* * * * *
The Woman's Home Missionary Union of Michigan leads with "Lesson
Leaves" for its auxiliaries on the work of the different National
Societies. We give the programme for the A.M.A. for the benefit of any
who may wish to follow this example.
_Hymn._--"Work, for the night is coming."
_Bible Reading._--I Chronicles 29: 1-18.
{170}
_Special Subject for Prayer_.--That obstacles in the way of the speedy
coming of Christ be removed.
_First Topic_.--When, Where and How did this Society originate? (See
"History of American Missionary Association," also "A Catechism.")
_Second Topic_.--What are some of the results and a general summary of
the work done in forty-six years? (See same papers, and also "Pamphlet
No. 10--Forty Years of Missionary Work, Past and Present.")
_Third Topic_.--What are the four grand divisions of its work, and
where are its various fields of operations? (See same papers.)
_Fourth Topic_.--When was the Bureau of Woman's Work organized, and
what is its special department? (See "Forty Years of Missionary
Labor," page 17; also, Leaflet "Bureau of Woman's Work," "Freed Women
of the South," and "Sewing Needed.")
For pamphlets and leaflets mentioned above, apply to Miss D.E.
Emerson, 56 Reade St., New York.
* * * * *
The ladies in the North who are engaged in every good work for the
Lord will be glad to find that there are those in the South who share
their burdens, and their faith, also. The letter below was written by
one of our most intelligent and earnest Christian workers--a colored
lady educated in one of our schools.
"Our usual lines of work have gone on with about the same results,
except among the women. Our Woman's Prayer Meeting shows unusual
fervor, and we are expecting to make this meeting _felt_ in the
community and church. Satan seems on the war-path, and we women feel
that we must be wide-awake and closer to the Lord, if the power of
evil is to be checked. In our last meeting the one feeling each
expressed was: 'What can _I_ do? I feel that I am called to work for
the Master, but _what_ can I do for Christ?' In the struggle for
bread, the time of many of the women is used all the day; then the
house must be cared for, and when this is done, strength fails. I
tried to impress the thought that much is gained when a soul is
anxious to work for the Lord, and that such a soul will not be left
unguided, which seemed to comfort many a tired mother.
"_My_ difficulty is different. I am perplexed to know which of the
many phases of Christian work to adopt for these women, and how to
keep up interest and attendance without multiplying meetings. I am
confident that our regular four weekly meetings and the regular
monthly meetings are all they can attend, yet they _need_ others. I am
often reminded of my dear mother's prayer which she used to cry out
when greatly tried in the days of slavery: 'Oh! for Job's patience and
Joshua's resolution, that we might all pull together like Pharaoh's
horses.' And I would add: 'Oh! for Solomon's wisdom and Samson's
strength, that we might understand and do the Lord's work.'"
* * * * *
{171}
RECEIPTS FOR APRIL, 1888.
MAINE, $224.38.
Acton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $5.00
Camden. Elm St. Cong. Ch. 22.70
Castine. Class 9, Trinitarian Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Tougaloo
U._ 1.26
Center Lebanon. "A Friend" 5.00
Bingham. Cong. Ch. 3.15
Blue Hill. "Pansy Band," _for Woman's Work_ 2.00
Brewer. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 16.50
Gorham. Sab. Sch. of First Cong. Ch., _for Selma, Ala._ 10.00
Greenville. Cong. Ch. 23.00
Kennebunk. Rev. G.A. Lockwood, _for Pleasant Hill, Tenn._ 5.00
Lincoln. Cong. Ch. 2.00
Phillips. By Miss C.T. Crosby, _for Freight_ 0.68
Portland. Y.P.S.C.E. of Williston Ch., _for Wilmington, N.C._ 8.00
Portland. Ladies of Maine State Reform Sch., _for Woman's Work_ 6.00
Portland. Miss Marie Holt's S.S. Class, Box of Basted Work, etc., _for
Selma, Ala._
Portland. Mrs. Mary C. Ingalls 2.00
Scarboro. Rev. A. Smith 5.00
Searsport. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., _for Pleasant Hill, Tenn._ 6.09
Sidney. Mrs. A. Sawtelle, _for Woman's Work_ 1.00
Woodfords. By Mrs. C.A. Woodbury, Bbl. of C., _for Selma, Ala._
--------
124.38
LEGACY.
Bethel. Estate of Sarah J. Chapman, by A.W. Valentine, Ex. 100.00
------
$224.38
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $189.75.
Atkinson. Cong. Ch. and Soc., bal. to const. DANIEL W. REYNOLDS, L.M.
10.50
Berlin Falls. Parish Ch. of Christ 5.00
Concord. "A Friend" 5.00
East Jaffrey. "Friends," Bbl. of C., _for Greenwood, S.C._
Hinsdale. Cong. Ch. 9.75
Kingston. "A Friend" 5.00
Littleton. Mr. and Mrs. D.C. Remick, 10; Benj. W. Kilburn, 5, _for
Atlanta U._ ..15.00
Littleton. Mrs. B.W. Kilburn 5.00
Nashua. First Ch. 30.00
North Hampton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 17.00
West Lebanon. Cong. Ch. 37.00
Penacook. Cong. Ch., _for Indian M._ 5.00
South Newmarket. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.00
Stratham. Cong. Ch. 24.50
Sunapee. Sab. Sch., _for Lexington, Ky._ 7.00
Winchester. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch. 4.00
VERMONT. $385.88.
Berlin. First Cong. Ch. 16.00
Brookline. Mrs. S.G. Hastings 5.00
Burlington. Y.P.S.C.E., First Cong. Ch., _for Indian M._ 20.00
Burlington. Y.P. Soc. of C.E., Bbl. of C., _for McIntosh, Ga._
Charlotte. "Ladies," by Mrs. Ellen D. Wild, _for McIntosh, Ga._ 15.00
Clarendon. Mrs. N.J. Smith 5.00
Dorset. Cong, Ch. (10 of which from Col. L.N. Sykes) 26.23
East Poultney. Cong. Ch. 3.50
Fayetteville. Cong. Ch. (1.75 of which _for McIntosh, Ga._) 6.52
Holland. Y.P. Soc., 2 Bdls. of C., _for McIntosh, Ga._
Ludlow. Cong. Ch. 10.38
Lyndon Center. Alice L. Ray 5.00
Morgan. Lucy Little 0.50
Newbury. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 55.25
Newport. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $10.00
Peacham. Cong. Ch. and Soc., 46.74; Young People's Miss'y Soc., 3.26;
Rev. H.M. Andrews, in memory of Mrs. R.C. Andrews, 5; Bessie Varnum, 2
57.00
Pittsford. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., _for McIntosh, Ga._ 25.00
Rupert. Class in Sab. Sch., M.E. Ch., Large Pkg. Cards; Class in Sab.
Sch., 5, _for Saint Augustine, Fla._ 5.00
Rutland. Y.L.M. League, _for Indian Sch'p_ 70.00
Tyson. Cong. Ch. 0.50
---- "A Friend," _for Indian M._ 50.00
MASSACHUSETTS, $6,576.89.