All were provided with a good supply of suitable temperance
reading, which they distributed in connection with schools taught
by them both on Sabbath and week days. This work was followed up
by family visits and lectures and personal work, so that in some
counties the vote was carried for prohibition under the local
option law.
* * * * *
Georgia Conference.
The Conference of this State held its annual meeting in Atlanta, at
the First Church—Rev. C. W. Hawley’s—from the 2d to the 5th inst.,
Rev. Jos. E. Smith Moderator, and Rev. S. E. Lathrop and Prof.
S. B. Morse, Secretaries. Rev. J. R. McLean preached the opening
sermon, upon the encouragement to run the Christian race from the
example of Christ. It was a refreshing and edifying discourse, too
much in earnest for an introduction, but made three points and
stuck to them and stopped at the end. The preacher is a graduate of
Talladega.
As a good example for other Conferences, one evening was given
to addresses in behalf of the several Congregational Societies,
with alternation of color as to the speakers, but not as to the
speeches. Supt. Roy reported the anniversary of the A. M. A. and
the St. Louis triennial, and gave an address upon the independence
of our churches as related to their fellowship. Rev. P. Snelson
and Prof. C. W. Francis led off on “Church Discipline,” President
Ware opened on “The School and the Church,” showing their natural
relation as evangelizers. A half day was given to a visit at the
Atlanta University, and one evening to a sociable. Two “church
houses” have been built during the year at Marietta and Cypress
Slash. The Conference missed Rev. R. F. Markham’s stirring way,
but rejoiced in the coming in his place at Savannah of Rev. B. D.
Conkling, whose transition from the moderatorship of the fortieth
annual meeting of the Wisconsin Convention to a place in this
humble body did not appal him. His sermon at the University was
greatly appreciated. His combination of pulpit and business talent
will find full scope in this work. _The Atlanta Constitution_ gave
a report of the Conference each day.
On Monday the members of the Conference, called by letters missive,
repaired to Marietta, twenty-one miles out, to sit in Council for
the installation of Mr. E. J. Penney, a graduate of the Atlanta
University and of Andover Seminary. The young pastor is taking hold
of his work grandly. Let it be observed that the Congregational
Churches of the South are seeking after the old paths. This is the
third installation of a colored pastor within a month. The others
were Rev. B. A. Imes, of Memphis, and Rev. J. W. Roberts, of Paris,
Texas.
* * * * *
ALABAMA.
A Visit to Marion.
REV. G. W. ANDREWS, TALLADEGA.
Marion was reached Saturday night, a grand old town of three
thousand inhabitants, and an educational centre for the State. As
the hacks were full, a colored brother, an old friend, and deacon
in our church at this place, took my bag, and I hastened along the
sidewalk a mile or more to what was once the “Teachers’ Home,” but
now the parsonage, a house to which I was introduced ten years ago
when I left my Connecticut pastorate for a winter in the Sunny
South. I cannot tell you how I felt, passing along the streets,
as I recalled the experiences of ten years ago. I shuddered as I
neared the house where my friend, now of Chattanooga, came near
losing his life in the small hours of the night by the hands of
masked and armed men. The rush, the rope, the tree, the cries
for help, the final deliverance, and much more, were very vivid
and real to my awakened mind. I thought, also, of those eight
consecutive nights when none of our family lay down to rest as
usual; of the armed guard of twenty brave men in and about the
house all those nights; of the warning letters received, the
threats made, the Henry rifles in our chairs when we bowed around
our family altar; of the preaching with hands in my pocket on my
revolver; of the fear and trembling that seized us when special
danger threatened; of our isolation from all except the poor we had
come to bless by our labors. I thought, too, of the school-house,
the three hundred eager learners, the little church of a dozen
members, the precious meetings, the great outpouring of the
Spirit, the hundreds of conversions, the “never to be forgotten”
prayers and songs—in all the most precious revival of my life. As
a drowning man recalls the events of a whole life in a moment, so
in an incredibly brief space of time passed before me those early
experiences of missionary life in this strange land, impossible
for me now to relate. All is changed now. To-day the missionary is
welcomed by many Christian people in Marion. The dreadful past is
fading from our minds in the love and friendship of the present.
Sabbath morning I looked out upon the many cottages and cabin homes
in the woods and fields all about, while near by I saw the church
edifice with its graceful and airy bell-tower in which hangs a
choice bell from the foundry of Veasy & White, of East Hampton,
Connecticut, and the gift of the people there. The house will seat
three or four hundred, is well proportioned, nicely painted and
frescoed,—the most handsome and best kept church edifice of the
colored people in the State.
I wish it were possible for me to give some suitable account of
the Sabbath greetings and services. A few touches only, and your
imagination must supply the rest. The bell called us to the house
of God at 9 a.m. You first meet the men and women who joined
the church ten years ago, and are now pillars in it and in the
Sabbath-school. And such a welcome!—such hand-shaking, such glad
hearts! You very soon know Paul’s warmth towards his beloved Church
of Philippi, his first love in Europe, as this was my first love in
Alabama. It was nearly five hours before these morning greetings,
the Sabbath-school, the preaching and then more hand-shaking, were
ended, and the people willing to go to their homes. The promise,
“He shall bring all things to your remembrance,” seemed that day
fulfilled. Precious memories of the wonderful work of grace that
drew so many of them into the fold were present to all with power.
“Our hearts burned within us” as we talked of these things there,
and “by the way.” The night service, the Monday calls, the informal
social gathering, the eager questions, the manifest Spirit’s
presence, the next day’s farewells—all made a deep impression on
us, and led us to feel anew that this missionary work is God’s
work, for it was that work that inspired our hearts and was our
theme from first to last.
This church has already put five young men into the Christian
ministry, and is in morals, intelligence and management a pattern
worthy to be copied.
Since my arrival home the one question that presses heaviest on my
heart is, how can we provide for the boys and girls of Marion and
other places visited that want to come to the college to school? In
Childersburgh, Shelby Iron Works, Calera, Selma and Marion, places
along the line of my journey, I found many smart boys and girls
anxious to become educated men and women. In one place I found
twenty-five eager to come, not one of whom could pay more than a
small part of necessary school expenses. Low wages, poor crops, the
cotton worm and inherited poverty keep them where they are, and so
far as I can see they must live and die there in their poverty and
hopelessness, unless those whom God has more highly favored are
moved to help them. Our college expenses are so low that seventy
dollars will keep one pupil in school one year, and sometimes,
on account of labor done or aid from home, a much smaller amount
will suffice. We need more than one thousand dollars to be used in
this way this year, above the amounts already pledged. Christian
education transforms these boys and girls. I wish you could see the
eight young men that were graduated last June from the Theological
Department of the college, and hear them preach the word to their
people; you could but say, “Verily, this is God’s way and I
must chime in with it.” Several young men are just now entering
the Theological Department who are every way worthy, but wholly
dependent for means to prosecute their studies to the end.
* * * * *
TENNESSEE.
Revival at Memphis.
PROF. A. J. STEELE.
I know you will rejoice with us at the outpouring of the Spirit
which just now is so manifest.
Our evening prayer-meetings, held for the past week each day
immediately after school, are being greatly blessed. One of the
students, a young man, professed Christ three days ago; the
earnestness since then has deepened. The meetings of yesterday
and the day before were especially blessed, and this morning two
promising girls of the school rose directly after devotions, and
before the entire school, gave most earnest and clear testimony
to Christ as their Saviour. In this afternoon’s meeting, to which
nearly the entire school remained, two smaller girls and two
prominent young men professed, with rejoicing. The entire school
seems moved, many are seeking most earnestly, and this evening, at
seven o’clock, we have a special meeting in the sitting-room at the
Home.
We are all rejoicing, as we doubt not angels are, over the
repentance and return of those estranged from God. Will you not
give thanks with us and pray for a continuation of the presence of
the Spirit with us in our work!
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
“CALIFORNIA CHINESE MISSION,”
Auxiliary to the American Missionary Association.
PRESIDENT: Rev. J. K. McLean, D.D. VICE-PRESIDENTS: Rev. A. L.
Stone, D.D., Thomas C. Wedderspoon, Esq., Rev. T. K. Noble, Hon.
F. F. Low, Rev. I. E. Dwinell, D.D., Hon. Samuel Cross, Rev. S. H.
Willey, D.D., Edward P. Flint, Esq., Rev. J. W. Hough, D.D., Jacob
S. Taber, Esq.
DIRECTORS: Rev. George Mooar, D.D., Hon. E. D. Sawyer, Rev. E. P.
Baker, James. M. Haven, Esq., Rev. Joseph Rowell, Rev. John Kimball.
SECRETARY: Rev. W. C. Pond. TREASURER: E. Palache, Esq.
* * * * *
LETTERS FROM PUPILS.
REV. W. C. POND, SAN FRANCISCO.
I often receive letters from pupils in our schools, and still more
frequently read letters addressed to their teachers, which I have
wished I could show to the Christian friends who are enabling us to
carry on our work.
It is encouraging to see how much of saving truth they have
contrived to learn, and still more to feel all through the
throbbings of a Christian heart. The English is often in a sad
tangle, but the effort to get hold of idioms so utterly opposite
to their own sometimes gives an appetizing quaintness to their
utterances such as freshens even oldest truth.
I venture to fill our columns for this month with a few extracts,
realizing the fact that our interest in them may be wholly due to
our personal interest in the writers, and that I incur the risk of
their falling quite flat on the ears of others.
Here is one from Gin Sing, a member of the Presbyterian Church in
Santa Barbara, now in Mexico: “Dear Sir, Mr. Pond: How are your
health now? I hope you alway strong and able to do things. I have
leave off [left] the city of Santa Barbara last Jan. 21st, but
we living in Sonora of Mexico the county, at place of San Felix
Mine. * * * I like to stay Santa Barbara very much, and so I have
a chance to go church every Sunday; and this country none have
church, and not very good country, but only mine was good, and
country was dry the all time, and hot, too, and cold—sometimes
was cold as can be. Oh, Dear Sir, I hear from Ah Foy [a Chinese
brother, member of the Congregational Church] sometime ago. Tell
me about Lee Wing Tie [a Baptist brother from San Francisco] been
to Santa Barbara; done many good things for mission boys before he
left; but Mission boys like him very much indeed, and very happy
that time, and large school, too. Now Miss Clarke write me very few
boys come. I am sorry. Sorry as can be. * * * Be prayerful, patient
and pleasant, and never lose faith that the love and help of God,
the Father, are with us in every hour. May God bless you always.”
And here is one recently received from Ny To Ging, a Stockton
brother: “Mr. Pond: Dear Friend * * * Since I left you so long
time, I never written to you any. Alway do I remember your
kindness. I hope God will bless you and give you much strength to
do his work. We are all sinners, and have wandered from God like
lost sheep that have gone astray from the fold, but God is ready
to forgive and take us back again in order to save us; so that we
ought immediately to repent and become the disciples of Christ
and be always prepared to do the will of Jesus. The Bible is the
word of God. Holy men wrote it as the Holy Spirit taught them. The
truths of the Bible never change. Every word is true, and God’s
truth shall last forever. * * * I write to let you know and two
Chinese [are to be] baptized in Stockton Church Congregational
the next Sunday. I do not know how to write a letter well, but
I make the attempt to write a little, hoping you will overlook
all mistakes.” [In some portions of the above I think that as to
the English our brother must have had the aid of his teacher’s
corrections but the thoughts, I am sure, are his own.—W. C. P.]
This is from Jou Mow Lam, recently baptized in Bethany Church,
addressed to his teacher in Stockton: “My dear teacher, Mrs. L.
Langdon, I write few words to you. I think you good take care your
scholar. I leave you long time. I do pray to God, hope you very
well. I was very sorry, can get no work, know you help me. Pray
to God to change my new heart [change my heart: make it new] no
make me darkness. Soon I have baptized [shall be baptized]. I have
read also in the gospels about Jesus; he rose from the grave on
the third day after he was crucified, and went to heaven. I wish
to be a Christian that I may go to heaven. I do not cease to pray
for the pardon of my sin, and a new heart. I cannot tell you how
I long to meet you my dear Christian friend.” This one is from Ny
King, a beloved brother in Bethany Church, addressed to teachers
who had recently removed from San Francisco to Stockton. It was
written just as he was about to sail for China: “I sorry I can not
write all I want, but I will try to write a few words to you. You
are kind and patient to teach our Chinese, and I am very sorry you
have to go to Stockton and leave us. Still we are glad, for you
shall have a good chance to do much good for our Christian Chinese
up there. I hope you remember me while you pray, that I may go home
to China, to hold up the light of Christ, and tell the kindness
of your Christian people to my own countrymen which they might
receive it. One day, one of my heathen friends call up to me in a
store: ‘Ny King,’ said he, ‘are you go home next steamer? I will
tell you something, that you might not forget it. Now you say you
are a Christian, but in about a month more, you will say you are
something thing else,’ for he thought the Christian only good for
here, and never can be in China. If the power of man, it might be
so, but God who is the highest [is] _Almighty_. Now I must close my
letter. I have no time to write any more. Good bye.”
Many other letters lie before me, each with its own point of
interest, but I shall trespass on another’s space if I indulge
in any more extracts. I will venture, however, to give without
connection, the following sketch of a sermon from Wong Ack, a
helper recently introduced into service, and from whom our readers
have not heard before.
The text is Matt. ii., 28: “Come unto me all ye that labor,” etc.
1. The world is now already led by Satan, that who follows him, it
is heavy labor he has to bear: and every grief in his heart that
never feels any comfort, so that Jesus has shown His kind heart,
and sound His merciful voice that whosoever will leave the devil
and come to Him, they will receive His rest.
2. Jesus now on this world is like to what?—Like a gong which is
sounding on the place while the thieves surround the people at
night, and might wake them up, so they know the mischief was near,
and try to escape out of the murderers’ hands, and hope they might
save their life.
3. Our friends, this mischief nobody is able to deliver you from,
but only Jesus who is our Saviour: He will preserve us, if we trust
in Him. Oh! how sorry for them now which are asleep! Their hearts
were full of dreams, and their eyes were closed up by Satan’s
plans. Wake up, our friends, wake up! Come, come to Jesus as
possible as you can [as quickly as you possibly can]. He is ready,
waiting for us. * * *
4. That labor which I had spoken of is in this world. But you
ought to know beforehand _that labor_ which [is in] the world to
come. Now turn to Luke, xiv chapter and 24th verse: that will tell
you how that is. Therefore Jesus said, “Come unto me.” What you
think of this voice? * * * Now, our friends, should we all come
to Him? Should we rather love to go to heaven, than go to hell?
Yes, we must all come to Him, and turn our hearts toward the way
of heaven, and hope our Lord Jesus Christ lead us in to His glory
forever and ever.
* * * * *
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
* * * * *
A CHRISTMAS GIFT LIKE BELL BENNET’S.
MRS. T. N. CHASE.
“Annie, will you please come in a minute?” called Mrs. Duncan to
a merry maiden tripping home from school. Annie Bennet looked
up, nodded, and turned toward Mrs. Duncan’s mansion. As soon as
her feet touched the grand stone steps, she felt changed into a
dignified young lady, as quickly as ever Cinderella turned into a
fairy. And as handsome Will, just in from the same school, opened
for her the massive doors, some fresh roses jumped into Annie’s
cheeks and some fresh sparkles into her dancing eyes. As soon as
the three were seated in the cosey bay-window, Mrs. Duncan said,
“Annie, you know, with my lame foot, I cannot go to see your
mother, so I called you in to tell you my Christmas plan for our
little May. You know how the child loves your little sister Bell.
Well, last night while the little darling was saying her prayers,
she added, ‘Please, Lord, tell Santa Claus to bring a Christmas
gift to Bell just like the one he brings to me.’ Now we had planned
getting her a tiny diamond ring, it would be so lovely on her
dainty little hand, and I thought if your mother knew of May’s
sweet little prayer, she’d like to strengthen the child’s faith by
getting one for Bell like it.” Annie thought it was a beautiful
idea and hastened home to tell her mother.
As soon as Mrs. Bennet heard Annie’s story, a greater pain came
into her heart than had been there for many a day; for they had
lately received a fortune from a rich uncle, and she felt that
her motives for simplicity and economy would not be understood.
Her greatest anxiety, however, was for her children. How she had
prayed that the love of this money might not be to them “the root
of all evil,” and “pierce them through with many sorrows.” She
well knew how her precious Annie would now be petted by the gay
and fashionable, and here had come her first great trial in this
irresistible message from charming Mrs. Duncan. Annie understood
her mother’s hesitation and said, “Mamma, wouldn’t it be a pity to
have little May think her prayer was not heard?”
“My child, May did not pray for a diamond ring, but for a gift like
Bell’s. Perhaps if you tell Mrs. Duncan I cannot conscientiously
grant her request she will get a simple gift like one we get for
Bell.”
“Oh, mamma, I never could tell Mrs. Duncan that. Don’t you think
the habit of economy, that of necessity you have practiced all
these years, may be mistaken for conscience?”
“The habit doubtless makes it easier for me to obey conscience,
but I cannot think I am mistaking one for the other,” replied Mrs.
Bennet.
“But, ma, do you think it proper for us to live as simply now as we
did when papa had a salary of only $2,000 a year?”
“Annie, dear, have we not been able to dress respectably, has
not our table always had well-prepared, wholesome and appetizing
food, has not our little cottage contained all that was absolutely
necessary for real home comfort?”
“Yes, ma, we have a sweet home: you know I love it. I was not
complaining of the past, but why did God give us this fortune if He
did not wish us to enjoy _luxuries_ now as well as comforts?”
“I think He did, Annie. I’m sure we can all now enjoy the luxury of
doing good as we never have before. Then just think what a luxury
it will be not to weary ourselves with making over worn garments.
We can now give them to the needy and help still others by hiring
them to make our new clothing,—not that we may be idle, but that we
may have ‘a heart at leisure from itself to soothe and sympathize.’
We can have dear grandpa and grandma with us all the time. We will
have several cosey bed-rooms added to our cottage, and shall not
feel too poor to invite our less favored cousins and many dear
friends to spend long vacations with us.”
“But, ma, we might do all this and still appear poor, while if we
had a grand home like Mrs. Duncan, and exquisite curtains, and
a fine carriage, and Bell had her diamond ring, and we all wore
expensive and stylish clothing, everybody would know papa was rich.”
“Yes, Annie, and what good would it do people to know papa was
rich?”
“Well, I cannot think of any good it would do them.”
“What good would it do _us_, darling, to have people know it?”
“Oh ma, it would be so pleasant to have every one polite to us, and
treat us beautifully as they do rich people.”
“Do not all who _know_ us treat us well, Annie?”
“Oh yes, ma, _very_ well; but you know even _strangers_ admire
those who dress, dine, and drive as only the rich can.”
“Now think, Annie, what this consideration of strangers costs.
Friends envy us, the poor hate us, the irreligious question our
sincerity, our own hearts are made vain, if not proud, millions
are spent in useless luxuries that might bless the poor, and—well
Annie, this is enough for once, isn’t it? When you have been in the
city did you ever notice boys slowly pacing the streets and often
ringing a bell, who were all covered over with an advertisement of
some sale or show?”
“Yes, mamma.”
“Well, I often see young ladies on the street who always remind
me of these advertising boys, as their dress makes them a walking
advertisement of their father’s wealth. One Sunday night, after
attending service in a very wealthy church, I dreamed that all
the ladies wore pocket-books on their heads instead of bonnets.
Some were too full to be closed, and small coin often dropped out.
Others were tightly clasped and ornamented with all manner of
precious stones. A few were thin and worn, but all were labelled
with the exact amount of contents. And when one lady walked in with
$2,000,000 blazing in diamond figures on her pocket-book how all
the congregation bowed down.”
“Oh mamma, what a funny dream!”
“Now Annie, if Christian women would all feel that they were
Christian stewards of their Lord’s money, and could see what
foolish vanity it is to wish the world to know of their wealth,
then we should all have some comparatively definite standard of a
Christian style of living. But as long as Christian women have no
guide but the varying length of a husband’s purse, we shall have no
standard, no conscience in the matter, and the world will continue
to jeer and the poor to suffer.”
Annie’s dread lest Will Duncan and his mother should think them
old-fashioned or Puritanical, or possibly avaricious, was a sore
temptation to her, and once more she plead—“But ma, would it not
be right to call this ring a thank-offering for the great dowry we
have received?”
“My dear Annie, I cannot see how a gift that would simply be a
badge of our wealth, and tend to flatter the vanity of our innocent
little Bell, would be a suitable thank-offering to the Lord. I
believe in thank-offerings, however, and have written my dear old
friend Mrs. W——, who is engaged in missionary work South, you
remember, inquiring how I can best help her. Perhaps when her reply
comes you will feel differently.”