if the white man was to tell them that on the other side of Hell
they could get as much rum and wine as they could get free, many of
them would try to cross over. Many of them have given up all they
have for it, and will go anywhere to get it. This is awful, but it
is the truth. Our work will tell in the end in saving those that
believe. Please excuse any rough expressions, but this is not half
like it is. I am not able to tell just how the people do act here;
still they are my people, and I must do all for them I can. Pray
for me, that I may have courage to do my part of the work.
* * * * *
A Lady’s Sunday-School and Missionary Work.
MISS O. B. BABCOCK, MACON.
My infant class in Sunday-school has grown from five to forty-five
since I came; and, as I visit all my scholars, it keeps me busy.
Monday afternoons I give to practising music in the Sunday-school;
Wednesday, we have our school prayer-meeting; Thursday, a mother’s
meeting, for prayer and conversation. This last has always been an
interesting feature in my labors among the poor, and I trust it
will be so here. Friday evening, I have a meeting for Bible-reading
and prayer in the cabins near by. The reading is greatly enjoyed
by the people. Sunday evenings I usually spend in the same
way. Saturday, at 2 P.M., I have the sewing-school, numbering
seventy-five, and weekly increasing in numbers and interest. The
mothers are delighted, and the children not less so. As the entire
burden of the work rests on me, with no white help, you can see
that my moments at home are all occupied with cutting and basting.
I have finally succeeded in getting some colored teachers, and may,
in time, have help in preparing work. I try to visit the homes of
all the scholars, that I may know their condition and needs. This
is one of the very best means of access to the people, and helps
to fill up the Sunday-school with needy ones. I feel as much at
home as if I had always lived here, and can go to any part of the
city with perfect ease. I have visited Vineville, Unionville, East
Macon, Tybee, Sandy Bottom, etc., the suburbs of the city.
There was one dear old colored aunty here who was sick for months,
but always so tender and thoughtful of me that my visits were a
comfort and even pleasure. She went home last week, after a blessed
death, singing with her last breath: “I’se passed over Jordan!
Hallelu! Hallelu!” I wouldn’t have believed that I should miss her
as I do. I don’t find many like her.
I feel very grateful for the barrels that I have received; I
have received one barrel from Boston, a cask and barrel from
Newburyport, one from Wentworth, N. H., one from Chicago. I have
written letters to nine different Sunday-schools, and keep up a
constant correspondence with my own church and Sunday-school, also
with the Ladies’ Society in it. This was at first a burden to me,
but it becomes easier and more of a pleasure. I find I have made
150 calls during January, and though this is not a large number,
still it implies a great many miles of walking. I often can make
but one or two calls in half a day, the distances are so great
and there is no way to ride. I have spent a great many hours in
teaching children their A B C’s and reading to them. I carry
primers with me and find plenty of teaching to do.
* * * * *
A Communion Season—District Meetings.
MISS E. W. DOUGLAS, McINTOSH, LIBERTY CO.
It was our Communion Sabbath and eleven united with the church,
one by letter. Five were baptized, four by sprinkling, one by
immersion. While a few went to the water to witness that ordinance,
the many gathered in the church for a season of prayer, and I think
that hour gave tone to the services of the day. I have seldom,
if ever, seen so much quietness and seriousness in so large a
gathering of this emotional people as there was that day. I refer
to the greetings after the close of the service. There is usually
much loud talking and laughing. The lesson of the morning hour was
that they should not forget that the object of the Lord’s table
was not to draw a crowd together to meet one another, but to meet
the Lord and “remember” Him, and the chapter read and explained by
the pastor when he returned from the water led our thoughts to the
Crucified One. Three of those who united with the church professed
conversion during the week of prayer.
As the members of this church are so widely scattered that it is
difficult for the pastor to visit them often, they are arranged in
seven districts, each having its “watchman,” whose duty it is to
sustain district prayer-meetings and to report to the pastor any
thing needing his attention. I have attended one of these district
meetings, and hope to attend at least one every week.
* * * * *
Church and School must Work Together.
REV. S. E. LATHROP, MACON.
During the last session of the Georgia Conference at Savannah, a
debate took place on the subject of the church and school work as
of necessity going together in this Southern field, which impressed
me deeply. It was mainly carried on by the young colored brethren,
both ministers and laymen, and in matter and manner showed that
they knew whereof they spoke, and were deeply impressed with its
importance. Any person who may have doubted the vital necessity
of the school to the church work here, would surely have been
convinced by the earnest arguments of these brethren, most of
whom came to the church through the educational department of the
mission work.
Said one young preacher: “The school is the primary department
of the church. It trains the children and youth to think, and
hence to accept of a thoughtful religion like ours, instead of
the mere shouting and emotional style to which the ignorant and
untrained cling. The true religion is one which teaches us to love
God and our neighbor supremely, and this can be done best by the
intelligence which comes only through the school training.”
Another said: “Our people never had any mental training, or any
encouragement to think for themselves, and did not know how, until
the A. M. A. schools awakened these powers. We, as a race, are not
naturally a reasoning people. We are too much governed by impulse,
by emotion, by instinct, by passions, and too easily offended, with
little self-control. Slavery was a very poor mental discipline,
and when freedom came, there were many extravagant ideas and
ignorant impulses that led the people to extremes. The utter lack
of public schools for our race made us at first prize most highly
the advantages offered so generously by the A. M. A. Afterward,
as the slumbering intelligence slowly awoke, we saw not only the
intrinsic value of education, but we were more able to appreciate
the kindness which suggested the sending of these faithful teachers
and missionaries. Gratitude prompted us, in many cases, to break
away from the old superstitious churches, and growing enlightenment
helps us to see more clearly the superior advantages of an
intelligent religion. The consecrated teachers of the Association
have many of them done grand missionary work, although very few of
them are open to the charge of sectarianism. Congregationalism, by
its broad, liberal, unsectarian policy of churches and schools, has
done a vast amount of good to all the other denominations. They
are being leavened more and more by true intelligence, and the
ancient foundations of ignorance and hierarchy are slowly giving
way. Upon their ruins shall arise more beautiful temples to God,
more enlightened worship, more worthy conceptions of daily life and
religious duty.”
Another speaker claimed that “The day-school brings about sympathy
of the day scholars with the church and Sunday-school work. The
religious exercises of the schools cause the impression that there
is a soul as well as a brain to be trained. The knowledge that the
teachers are universally engaged in Sunday-school work, by the very
law of cause and effect, calls attention to that work also. The
sympathy that always exists between the preacher and teachers, and
the hearty interest in the children that is shown by the ministers,
cause both parents and children to think that the work is all one,
as it really is. New England ‘blossoms as the rose’ to-day, because
the church and the school-house have always been built together,
and in their mutual work are as inseparable as the Siamese twins.
May the day hasten when it shall be so in the South.”
The young delegate from Atlanta said: “The first church of Atlanta
is the outgrowth of the Storrs School, whose devoted teachers have
always sought after the spiritual as well as the mental welfare
of their scholars. They have been true missionaries and worthy
co-laborers in the Gospel with the pastors of the church.”
A young preacher, who is also the successful teacher of the
day-school in his parish, said that “The training of the school
children to be punctual at the morning roll-call, teaches also
the very necessary habit of punctuality at church, in which our
people are so deficient. The promptness, the discipline of order,
cleanliness, good behavior and attention, which is taught in
school, has also a corresponding effect in the church services.
If our people were educated and enlightened, perhaps the church
could get on without the school; but in their ignorance they must
be taught to think, before they can get a right idea of Bible
religion. The intellect must go with the heart, preparing the way
for the coming of the Lord. Superstition is still a formidable
enemy in our church work, and nothing but sanctified intelligence
will ever defeat that adversary.”
Said another delegate: “I came into the church through the
night-school. I was working hard all day and could not attend
day-school, but went at night and studied as well as I could. There
I first heard of the Congregational church. I found by inquiry that
it was a church which had been very active in the anti-slavery
times, and believed in free speech, free schools, free churches and
equal rights in church and state. That attracted me, and I inquired
more, until finally God forgave my sins and I united with the
church. I love more and more the freedom and fraternity I find, and
I believe in the church, which makes so much of schools, and has
educated so many of my people.”
Said another: “The church must go with the school, because
education alone only sharpens the mind for greater mischief. In
the very nature of things, every school teacher ought to be a true
Christian, to exert a Christ-like influence in the school, to
encourage pupils to attend church and Sunday-school. The teacher’s
power is greater over scholars here than in the North.”
Dr. Roy spoke of the many mission Sunday-schools and churches which
had sprung up around Talladega College, the result of labor by the
Christian students. He also recalled the history of the mission
schools in India, which, on account of some complaints, were at one
time given up, to the great detriment of the missions.
This is but an outline of the remarks made upon this important
subject, which would have cheered the hearts of all philanthropists
to hear. The decorum and general manner of expression throughout
would have done honor to the most dignified deliberative body.
* * * * *
ALABAMA.
Notes from Marion.
MRS. GEO. E. HILL.
Sundays are our grand working days. As we have services morning and
night, the afternoon is left free to meet the people in other ways.
Sometimes the women come to the “Home” for a prayer-meeting, or
the little children come in to hear Bible-stories told or read.
Sometimes I have a Bible-reading for _boys_. They come, bringing
their Bibles, and pencil and paper, and I read them some of the
precious verses marked in my own Bible, or choose some story like
that of the Shunamite, which they are not familiar with.
Many of them read imperfectly, and so lose the full meaning of
the words, and we find that the “old, old story” becomes new and
strangely sweet as we read it aloud to them, with fresh emphasis
and expression.
An old man once said to me, “If I had a hundred dollar bill, I’d
give it in a minute if I could read the Bible.”
Last Sunday, I invited several boys to come and see me. I seated
them round a table, and gave them eight or ten copies of “Life
and Light” and “Missionary Herald” to look over. Choosing for my
text the _pictures_, I talked an hour with them, and selected an
interesting fact or incident for each one to give that night at our
monthly missionary meeting.
A fine, large missionary map has been donated to the church by the
Sunday school in Weymouth, Mass., which is very useful in showing
the people the great world, about which they know so little.
The girls’ sewing-class has sent $38 to the Mendi Mission.
Our Sunday-school numbers about eighty, and is the pleasantest
and most orderly school I have seen at the South. The children
come to their classes neatly dressed, after the Saturday’s washing
and ironing, and give quiet attention during the hour. We find
blackboard illustrations helpful in fixing the thoughts of the
lesson. One Sunday, twenty maps of Palestine were handed in, in
connection with the lesson.
The Sunday-school concerts are a special attraction, and are
attended by many from other churches. At our last, several
prominent white citizens were present.
We wish our friends at the North could see how well these colored
children carry through the Bible Exercises and other recitations.
Every Monday at 4 P. M., the women meet at the “Home” for an hour
of prayer. They have no clocks to tell the time by; but as most of
them live in sight, I hang a white flag on the gatepost, fifteen
minutes before the hour. We call this our “Gospel flag!”
The prayers of these women are marked by an unquestioning trust.
They ask directly for what they want, without getting entangled in
the formalities of more educated Christians, and they evidently
feel that they speak into a listening ear.
Their faces often beam with pleasure as they hear the reading
of the Bible. “What a glorious chapter this is!—it _feels so
holy_!”—one of them said.
They need these hours of prayer, for life with them is hard, and
pinched, and poor, and in their small houses of one or two rooms,
full of little children, washing and ironing, and cooking, these
mothers have no “closet” where they may shut themselves in for
communion with Jesus, and get patience and strength for the day.
But are not their prayers heard, as they stand by the tub, washing
for the rich?—or bend over the cradle, in which, for some, there is
always a baby—or cook the meal, which to us would seem so scanty?
A woman once told me, that in slavery times, she went down in the
garden, among the butter-beans, to pray—and there she had such a
season of joy, that when she came in, and took her place at her
master’s table, to brush away the flies, “’pear’d like glory was in
de fly-brush!”
For the last five months, we have had an afternoon school for
children under 14 years of age, here at the “Home.” A large room
on the back gallery was fitted up for them, and here twenty-five
children come every day and are taught from 1 to 4 o’clock.
Besides the ordinary book lessons, their young teacher instructs
them in good manners, neatness and simple fancy-work, and gives
each day a half-hour talk on birds, plants or animals, illustrated
by pictures on the blackboard.
The children are quick to learn and eager for all kinds of
information, which they take home and repeat to their parents, when
the work of the day is done.
Some of these parents who cannot even read themselves, are “proud”
to hear their children talk intelligently about Washington, or
Napoleon, or Henry Bergh.
This is our third winter among the Freedmen, but we feel that we
are just learning how to be missionaries, and how to get at the
people, and meet them in their great needs. Are we happy in our
work? Yes; happy and content. Even in our “small corner” we have
the Master’s presence, and feel it a privilege to work among His
lowly ones.
* * * * *
MISSISSIPPI.
A Brother’s Devotion.
MRS. G. STANLEY POPE, TOUGALOO.
When we first came to Tougaloo, two years ago last fall, we found
a young man who had been here a few days, Frank H——. He had run
away from his uncle, because of his cruelty to him. He was then
about nineteen years old. He was anxious to get an education;
and although he had not a cent of money, he proved to be such a
faithful boy, both at his books and at work, that with but little
help he managed to earn his board and pay his way in school. He
had been a very wicked boy, but Christ wrought a great change in
him, and before the year closed, he became a most conscientious
Christian.
He remained right here, working on the farm during the summer, and
studying when school was in session, until about two months ago,
when he left and went to work. He had often spoken of a sister who
was still with his uncle, and he was anxious to get her away, and
have her in school. A little over a week ago, he received his pay
for his work, and went to get his sister. He tried to persuade
his uncle to let her go, but he would not listen to it, and said
she should never leave him. Frank found out from her that she was
greatly abused, and that she wanted to leave and come with him. She
is not more than fourteen years old, and small for her age, but
when Frank found her she was burning brush and helping to clear up
new land. Her whole work has been in the field, plowing and hoeing,
picking cotton and “pulling fodder.”
Frank finally made up his mind to “kidnap” her; so a little after
dark, when she was feeding the mules, he told her his plan, and
they left at once for the swamp, as it would be less easy to track
them there. After going through that, they walked till nearly
midnight to get to a railroad station farther away than the one
they usually went to, as Frank knew his uncle would be down there
in the morning to find them. The girl, whose name by the way is
Leah, had no clothing on except a cotton dress and a bit of an
old shawl over her head; so, early in the morning, Frank went
to a store and got calico for two dresses, and hired them made,
both being finished (after a fashion) by night, he paying a dollar
apiece for the work. He also bought her some shoes and a few other
things, and a little after dark they took the cars for this place,
arriving here about midnight. Frank stayed over the Sabbath, and
then went back to his work to earn money to keep her in school. He
said to me, “she’s all the sister I’ve got, and I want her to do
well.” She did not know a letter, but she is quick and bright, and
during the few days she has been in school she has done well; she
knows nothing about housework, but is willing and tries to learn.
I asked her yesterday if she knew about God. “Not much.” “Have you
ever been to Sabbath-school?” “No.” “Ever been to church?” “Twice.”
“Do you know about Jesus?” “Never heard of him.”
Oh, Christian women of the North! do you need to go to India or
Turkey to find heathen? I assure you, Leah is not an isolated case;
she is a fair sample of thousands in the South.
Your “Woman’s Board of Missions” is doing a good work for God and
humanity. I would not underestimate its value; but while you are
responding so liberally to the calls for help from afar, are you
not forgetting this work of no less importance which lies nearer
to you, the work of giving Christian education to the despised and
degraded colored women of the South?
We are very sorry to have Frank out of school. He can not afford
it, neither can you afford it, for if he could be in school for
one or two years longer, he would make a very fair teacher for the
country schools.
He hopes to be here next year; but if he has to clothe himself and
his sister, and pay seven dollars apiece a month for their board,
I don’t see much chance for him. Does any one feel called upon to
take the responsibility of her board bill?
* * * * *
Report
_Of the State Superintendent of Public Education to His
Excellency Governor J. M. Stone, and the Honorable Legislature of
the State of Mississippi._
TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY.
This institution, under the direction and control of the American
Missionary Association, is doing a most excellent work in the
education of the colored youth of the State. For a number of years
after its establishment an annual appropriation was made by the
State, supplementary to the funds contributed by the Society, and
a Board of Trustees was appointed on the part of the State. This
Board still exists; but inasmuch as the last Legislature failed
to make appropriation for the University, and as the property
belongs to the Missionary Society, it would appear to be useless.
The Principal, writing on the 20th of December, 1879, says:
“The improvement in the school is very marked. This is seen in
the general training of students, in the greater number who are
desiring to complete the regular course of study, the increased
number in attendance in the higher grades, in more frequent visits
from patrons, and by the friends it is making among the whites
where our students have been at work.
The management of the institution is admirable, its teachers
are superior, and everything connected with it is in excellent
condition, as I have had occasion to learn from personal
observation. As a recognition of the good work being done by the
American Missionary Association in the education and elevation of
the colored people of the State, it is recommended that a liberal
appropriation be made, that it may be rendered still more useful.”
J. A. SMITH,
_State Supt. of Public Education_.
* * * * *
LOUISIANA.
Revival in the Central Church—Theological Department—Church
Dedication.
REV. W. S. ALEXANDER.
The hope expressed in my last letter that I might have glad tidings
to send you, has been fully realized, and it is my happiness to
record one of the most precious revivals in the history of the
Central Church. I do not forget the history of the past four years,
and the seasons of spiritual awakening through which the church
has passed. The present movement differs from the preceding, if
at all, in a more intelligent grasp of the truth, and in a deeper
spiritual tone. The past summer was a time of preparation for the
scenes that were to follow. The Revival was the constant theme
of conversation and prayer. It was the one burden upon their
hearts. Sunday, January 4, the first day of the week of prayer,
was marked by evident signs of deepening interest. On that day,
eight were received to the church, of whom three came on profession
of their faith. For twenty-seven consecutive evenings, we met in
our lecture room. The Gospel was preached with directness and
earnestness. A “church in earnest” took hold of the work and
pressed it forward. Beginning with an audience of 75, the numbers
in constant attendance rapidly increased to 200. The interest
suffered no diminution to the last night, when six came forward to
the “mourners’ seats” with the cry, “Pray for us.” Some continued
in an anxious state for two, three or four weeks, while others,
coming in from motives of curiosity merely, were stricken down by
God’s Spirit, and as quickly brought into the light and liberty of
believers.
An old man of 70 years was brought into the Kingdom, and is as
happy as the youngest convert. Another, much in political life, and
who publicly said, “I have been an awful sinner,” seems now to be a
reformed and converted man.
Four of our University students have joyfully professed Christ.
While incidents occurred daily which touched our hearts, and added
to the tenderness and deep solemnity of our meetings, they cannot
of course be faithfully recorded, and I do not attempt it.
Let me say that there was no undue excitement, and not the
slightest approach to merely physical and emotional demonstrations.
The work was too intelligent, too spiritual for that. In prayer, in
song, and in appeal, human agency was forgotten, and the converting
power of the Divine Spirit was reverently recognized.