difficulty and disappointment, still exists. Letters from Uganda
bring intelligence down to Aug. 14. It appears that Mtesa had
engaged Mr. Pierson to build him a boat, and that Mr. Litchfield,
in company with Mr. Mackay, had made a journey to Uyui, arriving
at that point June 5. As the locality proved favorable to
Mr. Litchfield’s health he intended to remain there with Mr.
Copplestone, while Mr. Mackay had gone back to Uganda. These
brethren are cheered by the belief that the hearts and minds of
many of the heathen with whom they have labored have been prepared
for the Gospel.
Mr. Litchfield writes: “I have invariably found the poor people
ready and eager to listen to the story of the cross. Numbers of
instances rise up before me as I write, where the hearers have
testified their astonishment and joy at the love of Jesus in dying
for them. Do not give away an inch,” he says, “if the place is
proposed to be given up. On Dec. 23 we had that crushing vote to
reject Christianity and stop our teaching. Now things are changing
and public opinion is coming round in our favor. The hand is on the
plow and we must not look back.”
—The Jesuits have purchased a large tract of ground near
Alexandria, Egypt, and purpose to build a convent for the reception
of the members of their order who have been expelled from European
countries.
—A short time since, the Khedive of Egypt commissioned Col. Sala
to take charge of an expedition for the capture and liberation
of slaves who are brought down the Nile from the Soudan into
Egypt. The expedition crossed the Nile at Assouan and searched
several localities where slaves were illegally retained. After
much difficulty and many fruitless endeavors, Col. Sala succeeded
in surprising a village during the night time, and capturing
and liberating twenty-one negroes. This endeavor set on foot by
the young Khedive indicates a more hopeful condition of affairs
relating to the East African slave trade than any other event of
recent occurrence.
—_News from Mr. Stanley._—A letter from Mr. Carrie, superintendent
of the Mission at Loango, gives interesting details gathered from
Mr. Protche, a French naturalist, concerning Mr. Stanley and his
operations. Mr. Protche visited him for the purpose of connecting
himself with the expedition, but failed in his object.
He reports that Mr. Stanley was living at Vivi, in a village which
he had built with lumber from Europe. The houses were said to be
quite comfortable. Mr. Stanley had already constructed a road
extending three leagues east of his village, and was performing a
large amount of work in a way that must be quite assuring to those
who are responsible for his expeditions.
* * * * *
The Indians.
—The number of Indian youth learning trades in work-shops at
the agencies under the care of the United States Government has
increased from one hundred and eighty-five last autumn to three
hundred and fifty-eight this year. Brick-making has been begun,
and houses for the Indians are now almost exclusively built by
the Indians themselves. The aptitude shown by the Indians for
mechanical work, has, in many cases, been surprising.
—Nearly two thousand freight wagons have been in use by the
Indians this year, with the result of saving considerable money
to the government compared with the amounts formerly paid for the
same transportation (of supplies, &c., to the agencies), besides
furnishing a civilizing and welcome employment to a large number of
otherwise restless Indians.
* * * * *
The Chinese.
—Two Chinamen were baptized and received into the Church at
Stockton, Cal., Nov. 7. They were the first of that nation to join
any church in that city.
—_Restriction of Chinese Immigration._—A treaty has been made by
the United States with the Chinese Government which practically
leaves the subject of regulating Chinese immigration to the
authorities at Washington. Owing to the fact that the Chinese
Government has never been anxious to have its citizens emigrate to
any country, little difficulty was found in negotiating the treaty.
—The _Christian Advocate_ has a very interesting report of the
sermons preached by the native pastors at the Methodist Conference
at Foochow, China, in October last. We select one. Rev. Sia Sek
Ong preached from the single word “Go:” “Leave father, mother,
friends, fields; preachers go thus; world-men don’t like to go in
that fashion. Where must we go? To the sea, for the fish. They are
not on the surface; they are in the depths. We may find shrimps
in shallow water, but we must go to the deep water for the large
fish. Go to the mountains to seek the lost sheep. There are lions
and tigers and snakes in the mountains; but we must go, not to
find sport, but to find the sheep. Go to the vineyard, to work,
to watch, to plant, to water. Go to the field to sow seed. Study
the soil, and sow accordingly. Field-work is not play. Go to
the market-place, and bid guests to the Master’s feast. Go into
the army, to fight, to wrestle with the devil, to put forth your
strength, and to come home singing songs of victory.
“Ask the Master for Peter’s hook to bring up the right fish; for
David’s crook to guide the sheep aright; for Gideon’s torch to
light up the dark places; for Gospel seed, without any tares in
it; for Moses’ guiding rod; for the brazen serpent, to cure the
bites of the world’s snakes; for David’s sling to prostrate your
giant foe; for the armor inventoried by Paul in the last chapter of
Ephesians; but above all, for the wonderful Holy Spirit, to help at
all times. If we have all these, it is no matter where we go. We
will come with rejoicing to conference next year, with songs and
shouts of victory.”
* * * * *
ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.
NASHVILLE, TENN.—During the latter part of November a precious work
of grace was going on in Fisk University, more than fifteen of the
students having decided to come over upon the Lord’s side.
CHATTANOOGA, TENN.—As a result of some special meetings held by
pastor Jos. E. Smith, assisted by Rev. E. J. Penney, of Marietta,
Ga., the Church was greatly confirmed and six or seven were added
to the company of the disciples.
TOUGALOO, MISS.—In the University Chapel, on the last Sabbath of
November, Superintendent Roy preached a sermon, and delivered a
missionary address before the young people, who were about to
organize a Society of Inquiry in addition to their mission school
association, and was permitted to rejoice on that day with the
teachers over the conversion of a young man, who had been the
occasion of a great deal of solicitude to them. Half a dozen others
have been coming along this fall in a quiet way; whereas, one
year ago, the Spirit appeared almost as a rushing, mighty wind,
leaving nineteen students to the Saviour within twenty-four hours,
all of whom are still holding on their way beautifully. There are
now 107 boarding students, while not a few have been turned away
for lack of room. The new house for the home of the President is
nearly completed. A third story is to be put upon the Ladies’ Hall,
and other enlargements are sufferingly needed. The industrial
department is in vigorous condition.
PARIS, TEXAS.—On the 23d of Nov., an Ecclesiastical Council, at
this place, after an eminently satisfactory examination, ordained
two young men, graduates of the theological department of Talladega
College, licentiates of Alabama Conference,—Mr. J. W. Roberts as
pastor of the “African Congregational Church” of Paris, and Mr. J.
W. Strong to go to Corpus Christi, to take the church work, while
Rev. S. M. Coles, who has been doing double service there, will
retain the charge of the school. Rev. W. C. McCune, of Dallas,
preached the sermon, Rev. R. H. Read of the other Congregational
Church, of Paris, delivered the charge. Rev. Albert Gray, who has
had charge of the Church for several years, having been an old-time
African preacher, extended the right hand of fellowship, and Supt.
Roy, the moderator, offered the prayer of ordination, having spent
five days in confirming and preaching for the cluster of churches
in the country about, that have branched off from this one. These
are Pattonville, New Hope, Paradise and Shiloh. The mother church,
which, in 1868, paid $112 in gold for an acre and a half lot in the
suburbs, has now bought a more central lot and will work toward a
new “church house.”
THE FREEDMEN.
REV. JOS. E. ROY, D. D.,
FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.
* * * * *
THE “CENTRAL SOUTH.”
PRES. G. F. MAGOUN, D. D.
MY DEAR DR. WARREN:—Across the street from where I write is a
Freedmen’s church, of modest pretensions, in which the Central
South Conference of churches (Congregational) is sitting. It
comprises the churches and pastors of Tennessee, Mississippi and
Alabama. Just within the door a low pillar in the centre supports
an “offertory,” to use an English, but hardly an American word,
with the legend “Help us.” It is from great poverty and hardships,
as well as great wrong, that this scion of ecclesiastical New
England has grown, and the people are still needy. Behind the
pulpit is the motto, “Take my yoke upon you;” they have accepted
that of Christ as they have rejected that of man. Very happily,
the earnest and intelligent young pastor elect, in welcoming
the members of this Conference this morning, reminded them that
they come to a Memphis unlike that of antiquity, from which the
task-master has forever passed away.
This is a genuine Congregational body save in hue—one cannot long
say just that, for we are to have many of the same hue. Its modes,
motions, votes, reports, papers on appointed subjects, discussions,
care to recognize the precedence of churches over mere officers
of churches, and its devotional spirit, are like those of Maine
Conferences. But in the half a hundred brethren and sisters who
are present forenoon and afternoon, white faces are to be seen
only here and there; those who possess them are admitted, so far
as I can see, to an entire equality with others! The moderator
is a white professor of languages in Fisk University; the scribe
a colored pastor at Nashville. The preacher last evening was a
colored minister from Alabama; a white minister from Iowa assisted
him, whose daughter, teacher of music in the Normal Institute for
Freedmen here, led the choir. In one corner sits Rev. Dr. J. E.
Roy, the A. M. A. Field Superintendent in the South. The (white)
chairman of the business committee is at the head of a church
and one institution supported by the Association in Mississippi.
Fervent and spiritual, yet orderly as a Northern prayer-meeting,
were the devotional exercises of the first hour this morning.
Narratives from the churches coming first in the proceedings,
indicated the practical working character of the Conference. One
of them was the story of a church holding on its way without a
pastor, growing in steady Christian work in its prayer meetings
and in its Sabbath attendance, and fostering an institution of
learning the while. Another was a written apology from the pastor
for absence, because of conversions and a promising work of grace.
Another was a thrilling narrative of a brotherhood whose main body,
thirty strong, went two years ago to Kansas, and its Sabbath-school
has twice since been swept away; yet it has come up from six to
forty-five in numbers, built a pleasant house of worship, and
made Christian education victorious over the deadly opposition of
secular public education. I learned of another, not represented
to-day, whose real acting pastor is a lady teacher, nineteen years
at her solitary post. The dashing heroism of anti-rebellion days
has been succeeded by the quiet, persistent heroism that is often
the greater of the two; and the self-sacrifice of many of both
races for the cause of Christ is wonderful.
There is hopefulness among these brethren and sisters as to the
reviving of God’s work in the special direction of practical
righteousness. With all the immense moral evils of a Federal
election, they feel that conscience has been stirred, and profound
gratitude to God for the result has been awakened among the
Freedmen. Thought and energy, it seems to them, are more likely
to turn in the direction of religion now than in any other great
common channel, and they have courage and cheer for coming work. No
salvation movement among them can overpass their need.
I add, at a later date, that an afternoon given to church extension
and the spread of education was of the deepest interest. Between
the two papers, or addresses, was another on more generous giving
by the churches, entirely in keeping. How vast a work in both
church and school is laid upon them, one needs to be among them,
and to see and hear them, in order to realize. How the treasury of
the A. M. A. could fill to repletion if all who support it could
have an inside view. In conversations at Andover on two different
occasions, Prof. Park uttered the strongest and most anxious
impressions respecting our national future and the condition of the
South. I am sure that he and all deep-sighted and far-sighted men
would find them intensified on actual examination of the facts.
The task before us is vast, and, but for divine help, overwhelming
and impracticable. Nothing in church order and work can save these
people but the freest and most intelligent system; nothing in
education but practical training for the duties and competitions
with a more favored race, guided and inspired by thorough Christian
principle.
Another afternoon was given to an ecclesiastical council, called
by the 2d Congregational church of Memphis, to advise as to the
ordination of a pastor. The examination of the young man who
had been preaching to them for some months was a thoroughly
delightful one, specially full and rich in the recital of Christian
experience. The young brother is a light colored man, a native of
Pennsylvania, of an earnest, intense nature, studious, modest,
instructive as a preacher, and edifying to a group of Northern
white teachers in Le Moyne Institute, and bore himself as to
clearness and soundness of doctrine, in a manner so admirable,
that many candidates for the ministry from the more favored race
might well look up to him. Very tender and sweet was his testimony
to parental faithfulness, and the divine blessing upon it in
the Presbyterian church in which he was brought up, and to the
providential leading that guided him into the ministry “for the
sake of the work in the South.” The Conference, at an earlier
session, licensed two other young brethren, whose work in gathering
churches and schools is sorely needed in the communities they
represent. One of these preached before it.
Twice this week I have given before Freedmen’s institutions
lectures prepared for Northern college audiences. One’s respect for
these institutions and for their students could only be raised by
the intelligent attention given. The city press—Democratic—has made
courteous and even generous notice of the religious proceedings
of the week. Dr. Roy and myself were promptly invited to occupy
Presbyterian pulpits in the city, and were most kindly and
respectfully received. We were assured that we should be heard
with pleasure again, and that the Gospel which we preached was
that which they received, knowing “no North, no South.” On Sabbath
evening the place of worship of the 2d Congregational Church—the
first is of white people—was crowded with attentive hearers of both
races while the ordination exercises were held. The young pastor
had been chosen by the Conference delegate to the National Council
at St. Louis, and the people, at the close of the ordination,
raised a sum of money to defray his expenses. I have never seen
more genuine and grateful joy among a Christian flock at the gift
of a pastor and teacher than these people showed as they crowded
up to take his hand after he had pronounced the benediction. They
are ordinarily more social and demonstrative at all religious
gatherings than white Christians.
Some views of their future, and of the great and grave problems
involved in their elevation by a free Christianity and by Christian
education, were deeply impressed upon me during my week among them,
to which I may give utterance hereafter.—_Christian Mirror._
* * * * *
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Tannerism in Church Work—Charm of Old Songs—Temperance Revival.
REV. TEMPLE CUTLER.
Two years ago Plymouth church, Charleston, was in the hands of
a man whom it believed to be a good man, and in the enthusiasm
of the moment it undertook to support him without aid from the
Association. They ran the church nine months, and then were glad
to get back under the sheltering wings of their cherishing mother.
They did not return a moment too soon. Life was at a very low ebb,
and the church required very tender nursing to bring it up. The
most I can say of it now is, that it is convalescing. The pulse
is regular, the digestion normal, the eye is brighter and more
hopeful, there is a degree of buoyancy in the step, the skin is
more healthy, and if there shall be no relapse, we may confidently
hope for full recovery. But I would not advise a repetition of such
experiments. It isn’t a good plan to try how near we can bring
ourselves to the gate of death and then get back. _Tannerism_ isn’t
good for church work.
The greatest burden of the church now, is a debt of $1,200 which
it owes to the A. M. A. We would like to pay this off, and no
doubt the money would be of great use in some other department of
our great work, but the people are very poor. They are willing to
do what they can, but we find it hard to pay the interest on the
mortgage. If any of the readers of the MISSIONARY desire to help a
worthy cause, let them send their donation to Dr. Strieby, to be
set to the credit of Plymouth church in Charleston.
We have been revising our list of membership. In the spring we had
a solemn renewal of fellowship, and from that renewal we made up
our list. In doing this we were obliged to drop from our record
twenty-five names. We number now, present and absent, 180; but, I
am sorry to say, some of them who are in the city, and who solemnly
covenanted to walk in the fellowship with the church, still absent
themselves from all our services. Still they regard themselves as
exemplary Christians, and resent the imputation that they are not
living consistent lives. It is here, as everywhere, a few faithful
ones are the bone and sinew of the church.
I wish I could take you into one of our prayer meetings, such a
one as we sometimes have, for they are not all of the same degree
of spiritual fervor, but one of our good meetings is exceedingly
enjoyable. The songs are so weird and the prayers are so fervent
and frequent, and their attitude so devout—well, perhaps your
fastidious taste would be shocked, but somehow I am drawn a little
nearer Heaven here than anywhere else. I can’t help saying “Amen”
down in my heart. And when they sing my body sways with theirs,
just as the sailor rolls his gait with the motion of the deck. We
sing a good many of the old time tunes, and some that have not
yet been translated into written song. Our people sing their good
old household hymns to these tunes. They have a happy faculty of
adapting the words to the music, no matter what the metre may be.
For instance, the tune in the Jubilee Songs, “I will die in the
field,” is made to fit the hymn, “When I can read my title clear.”
Sometimes the hymn is divided up, and the chorus sandwiched in
between the lines most ingeniously. But, however incongruous it may
be to the rules of music, it has a peculiar charm.
The church was well supplied during the vacation by Rev. David
Peebles, of Dudley, N. C. Bro. Peebles kept them together and
strengthened their hands. His ministry was most acceptable to the
people. If nothing happens to us we have every reason to expect
the church now to grow. We need the baptism of the Spirit. We are
looking forward to a meeting, soon to be held in the city, under
the direction of Rev. H. E. Brown, who has been laboring in the
interest of the colored people in the South with great success. The
Minister’s Union has taken hold of the matter, and stands ready
to give him a hearty co-operation. Bro. Brown’s method introduces
Bible Readings in public, and from house to house. This is what we
need, and what the people want. We hope for a large blessing to
follow.
There is a large territory spiritually to be occupied in
Charleston. We have a population of 50,000, a large part of whom
are colored. In this county there are 71,000 colored people and
only 30,000 white. There are 604,000 colored people in the State,
and 391,000 white. The colored vote is 40,000 in majority. There
is great wickedness among these colored people. They copy and
improve upon the vices of the whites, in addition to their natural
depravity. Gambling, profanity, drunkenness, licentiousness and
Sabbath-breaking abound. Some of these vices have been born of
freedom, others have been increased by it. Drunkenness was rare
among the blacks in slavery. Gambling was comparatively unknown.
Now both of these vices prevail to an alarming extent. Outside
the city limits on Sunday groups of men and boys are to be seen
everywhere, throwing dice or engaged in some other form of
gambling. An effort is on foot to reach these outlying masses and
bring them under the influence of the Gospel. I know of but one
missionary who gives her time to the work of visiting the thirty
thousand colored people of this city. We could use advantageously a
dozen.
Oh, how much there is to be done, and how few to do it; and how
weak all our instrumentalities in the face of these obstacles! May
God help us! Oh, that the churches at the North could see what a
field is open to them here in the South! If we could have at least
one more missionary here in Charleston we would be glad, and the
money it would cost would be well expended.
The white people are waking up to more effort in missionary work.
They have commenced in the temperance reform, and already a
petition with 5,000 names attached has been presented to the Mayor
and Council, asking that no more licenses be granted for the sale
of intoxicating drinks. It is a beginning. A noble Christian woman,
Mrs. Chapin, has been the prime mover of this endeavor. We hope its
influence will not be lost if the petition is rejected. May God
give us other and stronger petitions until the authorities see that
Christian people mean business.
* * * * *
GEORGIA.
Atlanta University.
REV. C. W. FRANCIS.
Several facts of interest are connected with the opening of the
school year at Atlanta University.
1st. We are in possession of several valuable improvements,
which give increased facilities long greatly needed. These are
in consequence of recent gifts, the first fruits of which a
conjunction of favorable circumstances made thus early available.
They consist of an addition to the building for girls, nearly
doubling its capacity for lodgers; to the dining room, furnishing
nearly forty more seats; to one school room, furnishing desks for
sixty pupils, and two convenient recitation rooms. And these are
all in full demand, and the inquiry presses, “What shall we do next
when the January rush comes on?”
2d. A largely increased attendance, especially of girls, 79
being now present as boarders, and these new pupils come largely
from remote regions, some traveling more than 300 miles to reach
school. This increase is the result of no special appeals or
inducements—indeed, until much more extensive preparations were
made it would not be safe to invite a larger attendance—but grows
chiefly out of the interest awakened by old pupils in their own
community, and in the schools taught by them during the summer
vacation.
3d. A very satisfactory report of vacation work by nearly all of
the more than 150 who engaged in it.
(_a._) Every pupil who was competent and desired a situation in
the public schools, obtained one, and many were taken who had made
but little progress in studies, and after all were gone, more than
a score of applications were made for teachers to be sent from
here, which could not be met from any source, and the schools were
disbanded.
(_b._) No obstacles were met by any pupil caused by any of the
white citizens of the state, but on the contrary, much assistance
and support was cheerfully given, and that too, in many remote and
rude regions.