education is of serious moment. All our institutions of higher
learning are living from hand to mouth, with no endowment, and the
North's purse-strings are growing tighter as the years go by. On the
other hand, prejudice strikes savagely at our State appropriations.
This year, in the advanced State of Tennessee, the white State-student
gets one hundred dollars while the colored gets only twenty-two
dollars and a half. In his poverty what can the Negro student do with
this sum in the way of educating himself?
I could take you in the homes of those whom you have educated, then
could you appreciate the wisdom of your investments. It is around the
fireside, and in the conduct of the children, that your noble work is
manifesting itself so clearly. The intellectual, moral and spiritual
life found there are the true and only guarantees that old things are
passing away.
The abject condition of the great body of Negroes appeals to Christian
religion and philanthropy for the help that must come to redeem their
lost minds and souls. The South cannot give them a Christian
education. The cry goes up to the great, warm heart of the North. We
crave the crumbs that fall from your God-given, bountiful table.
* * * * *
A PASTOR'S FIRST VIEW.
A pastor who was educated at the North and who was graduated at the
Hartford Theological Seminary, has for the first time made the
acquaintance of his race in the South. He had never met his own
people as a race until he entered into the service of the American
Missionary Association. His impressions and testimony have,
therefore, an additional interest.
In reference to the field: it is large and interesting, and requires
more {133} than ordinary attention, both to that part of it under
cultivation and that which is not yet. I have arranged my visits in
such a way as to make it practicable for me to do justice to both;
visiting church members the last week in each month (except in case of
sickness), and using the rest of the time (apart from other necessary
duties) for visits outside.
I am thus brought into direct contact with our people and learn a
great deal about their condition. In some places it does seem actually
as if liberty and civilization are still mysteries to them.
When I was in the North and heard or read descriptions of the
condition and mode of living of the colored people of the South, I
often thought that those descriptions were very highly colored, but I
am now perfectly cured of all my doubts. My visits furnish me with the
most plausible attestation of the facts. Squalor, with its long train
of attendants, may be commonly seen in every direction, and perhaps
not confined to the lower-conditioned of our people either. The
desecration of the Lord's day is actually frightful. It is very
literally used as a "day of rest from labor." On every hand the people
are seen resting--resting from labor in the houses, on the stoops and
on the streets, instead of being in the house of God. In very many
instances, however, we succeed in getting some of them to attend
church, but the work is somewhat uphill. I trust that this abnormal
condition to which slavery has reduced them will eventually succumb to
the effective educational weapon that is being brought to bear upon
them, that of the American Missionary Association especially, and may
the time soon come for the South when the Holy Spirit working in and
through the various missionary Boards, and also other agencies, shall
spread righteousness and education and the true art of living, among
these benighted people. I am praying, others are praying, and you,
too, must help us to pray and to wait for the quickening influences
and a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit.
* * * * *
TALLADEGA FRUIT.
BY MISS E.B. EMERY.
The missions of the American Missionary Association at the South are
like orange trees, perennial, evergreen, and continually bearing
golden fruit, and of these there is none more abounding in vitality
than Talladega. All the year round the foliage glistens, the
blossoming sheds its fragrance, and every winter there is an ample
harvest. Sometimes one from abroad comes in to shake the tree and
gather the fruit, and sometimes not; but however that may be, the soil
is previously and thoroughly prepared by these consecrated
missionaries, the tree is watered and nourished and tended the year
round, and the harvest _expected_, and it comes.
Are there no spiritual frosts to blight? They are impossible, if the
{134} spiritual atmosphere be kept clear, and the Holy Ghost be a
daily and hourly companion and friend.
It is by no means unusual in Talladega for every unbelieving pupil in
the boarding department to be converted. This year there were over
forty hopeful conversions, and Rev. James Wharton, an English
evangelist, by his earnest preaching was of very great assistance. It
is noticeable that if any who have had little _previous_ training are
converted through the preaching of an evangelist, they are not likely
to hold out well.
On the first Sunday in March, twenty-seven of the converts were
received into the college church, with two from the Baptist Church.
More will come later as the fruits of the revival, while a few will
join other churches. Eighteen of the number were young men, and among
them were the two sons of Pres. DeForest, one fourteen, the other
nine, years of age.
Prof. G.W. Andrews, D.D., the pastor this year, conducted the
services; there was no sermon proper and no time for any, but there
was much of the beautiful music of these colored people; they sing out
their fervid souls with their rich and powerful voices. Nearly all
were baptized, and much more was made of the right hand of fellowship
than is usual in any Northern church. And it is needful for these
children, for they will call for constant help months and years to
come. With few exceptions, they are not reared in Christian homes, are
not educated from the cradle in the Christian faith. The services were
both solemn and joyful, and very tender and touching.
Such an avowal is the most significant of all things, anytime,
anywhere, but here we know that every life is to be one of toil and
bitter struggle, a fight in which the odds are, to appearances, all
against them; more than all, that this young man, that young woman,
with the dusky face, the mellow voice and the eager spirit, now in
covenant with us, is to be a missionary to the heathen, and of his own
people. What may he not accomplish? What may she not do for Christ?
And these heathen are in our own country; they are our own people.
These young missionaries are very peculiarly ours, and it is through
the Northern churches that they are trained for their work. Shall not
then those churches adopt them in their hearts, carry them in their
prayers, and let them suffer no lack in their preparation? Their work
in the future for the Master's kingdom will depend very much upon us
Christians of the North.
Talladega College is exceedingly prosperous. The day-school is very
large; the Sunday-school packs the chapel, and the Sunday congregation
is much too crowded for health or comfort in a room seating but two
hundred and fifty. The college is working all the time, for a church,
earning many small sums. The result, with some gifts, amounts to about
$400. Where is the man or the woman to aid in this godly enterprise?
to share in this work so essential and so abundantly fruitful?
{135}
* * * * *
THREE PICTURES FROM LE MOYNE SCHOOL, MEMPHIS, TENN.
BY MISS ESTHER H. BARNES.
I would like to bring before you three pictures which I saw this week.
The first is the interior of a single room. The tattered, soiled bed
and the fireplace took up a large part of the room, and the rest was
nearly filled with the confusion of odds and ends that make up the
belongings of such a home. A feeble fire rested on the uneven bricks
of the fireplace, and the chimney above was covered with newspapers in
the last stages of dilapidation and dirt. There was no window, but a
little sliding shutter, moved aside a few inches, admitted light
enough to make the darkness visible as it fell on the smoke-stained
boards, and the dusky faces of the inmates seated close to the fire on
old chairs and boxes. A home more forlorn than this little pen, which,
with a smaller back shed, is the only residence of at least five human
beings, I can hardly conceive.
Now for a more cheering picture. It is a cozy sitting-room, papered
with taste and furnished in harmony. Everything looks neat, from the
snowy bed-spread to the pretty clock on the mantel, and the dainty
bunch of pansies on the wall above. Open doors give glimpses of other
rooms as well ordered as this, while intelligence and kindness beam in
the dark faces of gentle mother and cheery bright-eyed daughters. When
people ask us how we can bear to teach "niggers," they generally have
in mind those tattered, lazy persons, who are most wont to show
themselves on the street corners, and so make the deepest impression
on the average white mind.
But look at my third picture, and you will see both how we can like
our work, and what is one of the things that make a difference between
the second home I have described and the first. The large school-room
is filled. More than one hundred and twenty-five students are arranged
in classes, most of whom are standing in their places ready to pass to
recitation rooms. One of their number is at the piano. Another stands
at the desk to give the word of command. Now he strikes the bell and
the pupils in long file pass out, marching with their heads up. Not a
teacher is in sight. Everything is orderly and is running of itself,
as it does every day. This is nothing wonderful, of course, though I
know some white schools which could not be trusted to this degree to
the control of monitors. But it is only a sign of the influences that
here lead to self-reliance and self-control. Every year a new set of
uncouth and undeveloped young people come shambling in, looking around
with bewildered eyes. But they soon begin to straighten up and fall
into step. Their vague ideas get settled, and their minds, slow at
first, wake up. In a few years they will be made over new, not
perfect, but vastly improved. They will be out teaching, spreading
light from scores of new centres, and sending new pupils to "Old Le
Moyne."
{136}
* * * * *
THE EVANGELIST AT WORK.
The last night of the three weeks' series of meetings at Marion was a
memorable one. Every night the church, which was a large-sized
building, was well filled with an attentive congregation, hungering
and thirsting for the bread and water of life. After singing and
prayer and hearing the testimonies from the young converts present,
who told with unmistakable clearness how they had given their hearts
to God, a few words were spoken, especially to them, showing what God
requires of them now they have become Christians. Afterwards the
gospel was preached to the unconverted and an invitation given for
those who wished to become Christians to signify their desire. A
number responded, including an old man supposed to be at least ninety
years of age. The old man had long thought of being a Christian, but
never could get to the point of decision until now. He looked back
upon his long life of sin; he wept, he prayed, he arose and confessed
that he had then and there taken Christ as his Saviour. Was not he a
brand plucked from the burning?
It was most encouraging to see a young lady bringing along to the
pastor's house nearly every day some two or three of her school
companions or friends, to be prayed for and spoken with about the way
of salvation. The Christians worked faithfully visiting the houses of
their friends to pray and speak with them and to bring them out to the
meeting at night.
At Mobile, although the first week it rained six days in succession,
yet the people came out well and were repaid for their faithfulness.
Every night for the past three weeks large numbers of all classes have
been personally interested, and with the exception of one service, we
have had cause to thank God for conversions. Fathers and mothers are
rejoicing over sons and daughters brought to Christ. A large number of
young people from the Sabbath-school as well as from the day-school
have started on the new life. The teachers say that a marked change is
observable and that the young converts seem to be trying their very
best to live up to their profession. Forty-six were received into the
church and will have the instruction that is so much needed by young
converts.
One of the teachers and myself, while visiting some of the converts,
found five young women in one house rejoicing in the pardoning love of
God. "Truly," said the old grandmother, "salvation has come to this
house." We found that, some years ago, three mothers had died and left
five orphan children, who were taken by the grandmother and who had
now grown into womanhood. Two sisters first became Christians and the
others soon followed. One said, "I used to be so fond of going to the
theatre, but now I have no heart for that sort of thing; I mean to
live a good Christian life and do all I can for my Saviour." They were
all received into church, and joined as well the Young People's
Society of {137} Christian Endeavor, which is a good thing for young
people, as it trains them for future work, and to be active and useful
in the service of Christ.
JAMES WHARTON.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
LETTER FROM REV. W.C. POND.
Our anniversary was an occasion of much interest. The attendance was
large, and our brethren acquitted themselves well. The _Record-Union_,
the principal daily of Sacramento, published both the addresses in
full.
We have good news from our evangelists. They are doing great good, if
we can judge at all by what we see: and they are in training, I
believe, for larger and better service in the years to come. I shall
have much to write about this for the _next Missionary_, much more
than I can crowd into the space allowed me.
The new work at San Buenaventura opens finely. It is already one of
our largest interior schools; and two or three, possibly _four_, of
the Chinese have already been led to believe; so that before Low Quong
returns he expects to organize an Association and get Christian work
into systematic operation.
I am greatly pleased also with the reports from Tucson. Yong Jin, who
has done excellent evangelistic work at Santa Cruz, goes to Tucson
next week. He is an earnest Christian, and though somewhat deficient
in English is better educated in Chinese and is an excellent preacher.
* * * * *
FOUR MONTHS OF EVANGELISTIC WORK.
BY LOW QUONG.
In January last I was asked to do some evangelistic work in the
Northern part of this State. The first place I visited was Oroville.
There we have a branch mission with a fine mission house, or, we might
call it a Chinese church and school combined. The church has a
membership of about fifteen. The evening scholars were usually about
twenty or more. This school has a faithful teacher, and all together
makes a fruitful mission. Although I was there only about a month--yet
I enjoyed the work very much, and my acquaintance with the brethren
there and their kindness to me I can never forget. I will now give you
some little incidents of my work there. The town has about three
hundred Chinese inhabitants, and most of our brethren and scholars
live in the town, but there were also a good many outside of the town.
These are mostly miners. But even these hard-working men, when they
got through their day's work, {138} came to town at night to attend
our evening school; and on Sundays also, to hear the preaching of the
gospel.
At the end of the month, when Mr. Pond came to Oroville, we had the
Lord's supper in our little Chinese church. It was held in the
evening. One far-away brother was informed by letter, and he came over
a long, rough road to attend the Lord's table. It was about eight
o'clock when he reached the church. We asked him what time he started
to walk; he said at one o'clock in the afternoon. He had walked fully
seven hours just for the Lord's supper, and early in the morning he
had to walk back again to his place, while we took the train for
Marysville. During my stay at Oroville, four members were added to the
Association and one was baptized and received to the church. We would
have had two, but one had gone to work in a place sixty miles from
town. He had waited for Mr. Pond to come up for nearly a whole month,
so he could be baptized, and he had gone only a week when Mr. Pond
came. Lately I have received a letter from him, that he has returned
to Oroville.
The Chinese inhabitants at Oroville are very kind to the Christian
Chinese. They never trouble them and always send their boys to the
evening school. I heard not long ago from their teacher, that the
whole mission house has been renovated and a new floor put down at the
expense of the brethren and scholars.
* * * * *
CHIN GAING IN CHINA.
[EXTRACT FROM AN ADDRESS IN ALAMEDA, CAL., BY CHIN GAING.]
It is over eleven years since I left my home in China. Near the end of
1882 I began to attend the mission school in San Francisco. After
being there about two years I joined the Christian Association, and
six months from then I was baptized and joined Bethany Church.
Two years ago I returned to China. My friends there knew that I had
changed my religion, and so, when I went back they asked me many
questions.
My relatives wanted to know about the people in this country, what
religion they had and what gods they worshiped. And whether the
Chinese who went there believed the same as the American people.
I told them we believed in one God. They said, "Which one?"
I answered, the one that created the heaven and the earth, and all
things in the world and the sea. The God who has all power and whom we
ought to worship.
My mother then came up and said: "Do not talk such things; we are
Chinese and must keep our customs."
I said I could not keep those which were against God. So they said:
"If you have anything good, then keep it."
While in China I could not help seeing how much the people spent in
{139} foolishness. They have so many idol processions, which cost a
great deal of money. The people gladly give to keep up their worship,
as they are in darkness and know not the name of Jesus, which is the
only name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
But how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how
shall they hear without a preacher?
And so it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach
the gospel of peace."
* * * * *
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.
Woodsbury, 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.
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 B. 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.
* * * * *
"Twenty-three unanswered letters look down upon me. Eighteen came
to-day." Such is the burdened sigh of one of our earnest, self-denying
missionaries, who is upon the mission field that she may relieve the
suffering, teach the ignorant and save souls, and for whom the days
are all too short for these duties alone.
Have our readers ever felt the burden of unanswered letters? Pastors,
Sunday-school teachers, housekeepers--busy people that you are--have
you ever felt the twinge of unrest, almost discouragement, because
some friendly letter, which you enjoyed receiving, lay unanswered
waiting a spare hour? And have you ever had to "brace up" to what, in
a life of leisure might be a pastime, but in a life so full of care
and responsibility becomes a task? Then you will surely be ready
unselfishly to
SPARE OUR TEACHERS.
How can it be done? Not by withholding your letters from them. If any
missionaries anywhere need words of appreciation and good cheer they
are those who year after year sacrifice social life and religious
privileges to mingle with the ignorant, uncultured--yes, and
impure--that they may lift them up into the healthful ways of
righteousness. Write to them, encourage {140} them, but do not ask for
a special letter for your next missionary meeting. Tell them _not to
write_, that you have heard or can hear from them every month through
their letters sent to the officers at New York and that you learn of
the work through the A.M.A. magazine. Thank them for making this
monthly missionary letter so full and interesting.
"But that monthly letter is a copied letter," some one answers, "and
we wish our teacher to write to us, _to us alone, and in her own
hand_." Yes, it is a copied letter in order that it may be sent to
others who are interested in, and helping, the same work, and that the
missionaries' time may be given to the work about them instead of
being spent so largely in writing. But it is a fresh letter. It has
the latest monthly news and was written for you, and if not in the
same hand is as truly yours as a typewritten letter, which is the sort
most of us receive and give in the high-work pressure of now-a-days.
We provide _The American Missionary_, furnish our printed leaflets
freely, and will send the monthly missionary letters to all who desire
to hear thus from their contributions--as we hope all do--thus giving
the very best information that the field affords; but we most
earnestly hope the missionaries may be allowed their time for their
missionary duties pressing upon them. _The Missionary_ is the word
from your missionary. Read it, and if you do not like it, write us,
and we will try again next month.
* * * * *
RECEIPTS FOR MARCH, 1888.
MAINE, $146.84.
Augusta. South Cong. Ch. and Soc. $21.45
Bangor. Sab. Sch. of First Parish Ch. 13.85
Belfast. _For Wilmington, N.C._ 1.79
Brewer. Mrs. C.S. Hardy, _for Pleasant Hill, Tenn._ 30.00
Brewer. "A Friend." First Ch., _for Indian M._ 10.00
Brunswick. "Little Folks," _for Indian Sch'p_ 25.00
Castine. Prof. F.W. Foster 1.00
Cumberland Center. By Miss J.G. Merrill, Bbl. of C. for Selma, Ala., 2
_for Freight_ 2.00
Limington. By Rev. Chas. H. Gates, _for Freight_ 2.00
Machias. Sarah Hills Sab. Sch. Class _for ed. Indian boy_ 2.50
Portland. Fourth Cong. Ch. 15.00
Portland. Mrs. W.W. Brown's S.S. Class, 10; Class in Bethel Sab. Sch.
1.75; _for Rosebud Indian M._ 11.75
South Berwick. Mrs. Lewis' S.S. Class, _for Wilmington, N.C._ 1.50
South Paris. Cong. Ch. 7.00
Woodfords. By Mrs. C.A. Woodbury, _for Freight_ 2.00
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $190.30.
Alstead. Miss Eliza Gorham 1.00
Bedford. Milton B. George, _for Indian M._ 1.00
Concord. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 28.35
Epping. Mrs. Geo. N. Sheppard's S.S. Class, Cong. Ch. 4.00
Exeter. "Friend" 30.00
Haverhill. Members Cong. Ch. 18.30
Hudson. Cong, Ch. and Soc. $3.00
Lancaster. Mrs. A.M. Amsden 5.00
Lyme. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.65
Mason. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.00
Pembroke. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., _for Wilmington, N.C._ 2.00
Piermont. Cong. Ch. and Individuals 15.00
Stratham. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch. 10.00
Tilton. Cong. Ch., 40; Class of Boys _for Student Aid_, 2 42.00
VERMONT, $394.93.