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THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY.
APRIL, 1889.
VOL. XLIII. NO. 4.
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL.
THE REMEDY--BUT WHO IS TO FURNISH IT?
SOME CURIOUS AND SUGGESTIVE FACTS
PARAGRAPHS
NOTES FROM NEW ENGLAND
PROTESTANT AND PAPIST--AN OBJECT-LESSON--SCHOOL ECHOES
A DOCTRINAL SERMON--BOOK NOTICES
THE SOUTH.
DEDICATION OF BALLARD BUILDING
TEN YEARS AT THE FRONT
PROGRESS OF EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH
NEW ORGAN AT THOMASVILLE, GA.
THE INDIANS.
VISIT TO PARK STREET CHURCH STATION
THE CHINESE.
SAN DIEGO CHINESE MISSION
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
NOTICE OF A CONFERENCE OF OFFICERS
TEMPERANCE WORK IN TENNESSEE
FOR THE CHILDREN.
CHRISTMAS AT S'KOKOMISH RESERVATION
RECEIPTS
* * * * *
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
Rooms, 56 Reade Street.
* * * * *
Price, 50 Cents a Year, in Advance.
Entered at the Post Office at New York, N.Y., as second-class matter.
* * * * *
American Missionary Association.
PRESIDENT, Rev. WM. M. TAYLOR, D.D., LL.D., N.Y.
_Vice-Presidents._
Rev. A.J.F. BEHRENDS, D.D., N.Y.
Rev. ALEX. McKENZIE, D.D., Mass.
Rev. F.A. NOBLE, D.D., Ill.
Rev. D.O. MEARS, D.D., Mass.
Rev. HENRY HOPKINS, D.D., Mo.
_Corresponding Secretaries._
Rev. M.E. STRIEBY, D.D., _56 Reads Street, N.Y._
Rev. A.F. BEARD, D.D., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
_Recording Secretary._
Rev. M.E. STRIEBY, D.D., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
_Treasurer._
H.W. HUBBARD, Esq., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
_Auditors._
PETER McCARTEE.
CHAS. P. PEIRCE.
_Executive Committee._
JOHN H. WASHBURN, Chairman.
ADDISON P. FOSTER, Secretary.
_For Three Years._
J.E. RANKIN,
WM. H. WARD,
J.W. COOPER,
JOHN H. WASHBURN,
EDMUND L. CHAMPLIN.
_For Two Years._
LYMAN ABBOTT,
CHAS. A. HULL,
J.R. DANFORTH,
CLINTON B. FISK,
ADDISON P. FOSTER.
_For One Year._
S.B. HALLIDAY,
SAMUEL HOLMES,
SAMUEL S. MARPLES,
CHARLES L. MEAD,
ELBERT B. MONROE.
_District Secretaries._
Rev. C.J. RYDER, _21 Cong'l House, Boston._
Rev. J.E. ROY, D.D., _151 Washington Street, Chicago._
_Financial Secretary for Indian Missions._
Rev. CHAS. W. SHELTON.
_Field Superintendents._
Rev. FRANK E. JENKINS.
Prof. EDWARD S. HALL.
_Secretary of Woman's Bureau._
Miss D.E. EMERSON, _56 Reade St., N.Y._
COMMUNICATIONS
Relating to the work of the Association may be addressed to the
Corresponding Secretaries; letters for "THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY," to the
Editor, at the New York Office; letters relating to the finances, to the
Treasurer.
DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
In drafts, checks, registered letters, or post-office orders, may be
sent to H.W. Hubbard, Treasurer, 56 Reade Street, New York, or, when
more convenient, to either of the Branch Offices, 21 Congregational
House, Boston, Mass., or 151 Washington Street, Chicago, Ill. A payment
of thirty dollars at one time constitutes a Life Member.
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS.--The date on the "address label," indicates the
time to which the subscription is paid. Changes are made in date on
label to the 10th of each month. If payment of subscription be made
afterward, the change on the label will appear a month later. Please
send early notice of change in post-office address, giving the former
address and the new address, in order that our periodicals and
occasional papers may be correctly mailed.
FORM OF A BEQUEST
"I bequeath to my executor (or executors) the sum of ---- dollars, in
trust, to pay the same in ---- days after my decease to the person who,
when the same is payable, shall act as Treasurer of the 'American
Missionary Association,' of New York City, to be applied, under the
direction of the Executive Committee of the Association, to its
charitable uses and purposes." The Will should be attested by three
witnesses.
THE
AMERICAN MISSIONARY.
* * * * *
VOL. XLIII. APRIL, 1889. No. 4.
* * * * *
AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
* * * * *
THE REMEDY--BUT WHO IS TO FURNISH IT?
President Harrison's Inaugural gives in a brief sentence the remedy for
the great Southern difficulty, viz. EDUCATION.
"If, in any of the States, the public security is thought to be
threatened by ignorance among the electors, the obvious remedy is
education."
The Southern situation has been vigorously discussed in the last few
months on the platform, and in the magazines and newspapers, and the
conclusion to which the minds of thoughtful men is rapidly coming is
that announced in the President's Message.
But the remedy will not apply itself, and the means for an adequate
supply of educational facilities must be furnished promptly or the time
will soon come when the case will be hopeless.
WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF THIS SUPPLY?
1. The public school funds of the States themselves. This must be the
main source. We recognize the fact that the Southern States are
comparatively poor, and the further fact, so greatly to their credit,
that some of them are paying as large a per cent. on the assessed value
of their property as do some of the Northern States. But all the same,
the supply of school houses and teachers is utterly inadequate.
2. From the National Government. The Government has done something in
this direction; in giving lands to the States for educational purposes
and in establishing the Freedmen's Bureau. It is urged to do more by the
passage of an Educational Bill. It has been said that there are
objections to every possible way of planting a hill of corn. But a good
deal of corn has been planted, and it grows. There are objections to any
possible Educational Bill that can be framed. Some of the funds will be
wasted, some will be expended in favoritism and some will be neglected
and not expended at all. But yet a large share of the money will be
spent and well spent, and the great good will over-balance the minor
evils. But even the appropriation, under any Educational Bill that has
been proposed, will be but a drop in the bucket.
3. Another source is from Northern charitable funds. The North owes an
immeasurable debt to both races in the South. It emancipated the slave,
and in so doing, assumed its share of the responsibility for the
consequences. It cannot shrink from the duty under the plea that it is a
Southern question, or even because some of the people at the South
protest against its interference.
The duty of the North is two-fold--educational and religious. It is
bound to aid in primary, industrial, normal and higher education. It has
the teachers and it has the money. It has a special obligation to impart
_religious_ instruction. The public school funds of the South and the
money of the National Government cannot be applied to distinctively
religious education. But there is no such restriction on the Northern
schools in the South; they can give religious instruction in all
departments, and they can train up religious teachers and preachers. The
North, too, has an urgent call to found pure and intelligent churches
among the masses in the South.
The North has not been idle in these respects. The public in both
sections of the country have, we believe, a faint conception of the
amount of money already expended in the South by Northern charitable
individuals and societies. For example, the American Missionary
Association, including some institutions which it founded and for a time
sustained, has expended $7,124,151.26; and including, also, books and
clothing and the amount collected and spent in connection with its
boarding departments, the total sum, as near as can be computed, would
be not far from _ten millions of dollars_ since 1862; and this money has
been economically and wisely expended. It is due to the Association and
to those who have supplied it with the funds, that the grandeur of its
work should be recognized. But, if now, to all this is added the amount
expended in the South by other religious bodies and by the Peabody and
Slater and Hand funds, it will be seen that a mighty force is at work,
unobtrusive as it is helpful, arousing no antagonism in the South, and
blessing in its rebound the benevolent contributors at the North.
THE INADEQUACY OF THE SUPPLY.
But, as the disciples said in regard to the five barley loaves and the
two fishes, "_What are these among so many?_" The means in both cases
are utterly inadequate, and the need of multiplying is as imperative
here as it was on the shore of Galilee. We have a Negro population of
eight millions, which has doubled in the last twenty years, and
increases at the rate of six hundred per day--requiring, if adequately
supplied, the founding of a new Fisk University or Talladega College
every twenty-four hours. There are 1,500,000 illiterate voters in the
South, and how can the North, while admitting with President Harrison,
that if the public security is threatened by this ignorance the remedy
is education, withhold its share of the necessary means?
How can the churches of the North, who know that the future destiny of
these ignorant masses depends upon their _religious_ far more than upon
their secular education, refuse the needed gifts for that purpose? Here
is where the miracle wrought on the shore of Galilee needs to be
repeated. Our Lord and Master is not here now in bodily presence, and he
entrusts to his church the duty of multiplying the bread of life for
these vast perishing masses. The churches of the North must awake to
this great duty. If done at all, it must be done promptly. Present means
are wholly inadequate. Every individual Christian at the North should
feel his personal responsibility and should respond by a great increase
of his contributions for this purpose. It is not too much to say that
the religious influences sent from the North in school, in industrial
training, in the preparation of Christian ministers and teachers, and in
the planting of Christian churches, will well-nigh constitute the
pivotal point of the whole movement. A loss now can never be regained,
but the achievements of the present should be a stimulus for the future.
The North withheld neither treasure nor blood to save the Union and to
free the slave. Treasure and toil will now save the South and the
Nation.
* * * * *
SOME CURIOUS AND SUGGESTIVE FACTS.
What proportion of the funds contributed by living donors to missionary
societies comes directly from church collections? We presume the answer
from a large majority of the contributors would be, three-fourths or
four-fifths. But the curious fact is, that, for the three years, 1886,
1887 and 1888, the average contributions to the American Missionary
Association from church collections are forty-seven per cent., from
Sunday-schools seven per cent., from Woman's Missionary Societies five
per cent., from individual donors forty-one per cent. It thus appears
that less than one-half the total sum comes from collections in the
churches. Another curious fact is, that these receipts directly from the
churches are uniform, not differing to the extent of three per cent. in
the past three years. So that, with all the importunity and pressure,
the plate collections in the churches have not increased.
Another curious fact is, that one-third of the amount donated by
individuals is for special objects, mainly for the increase of plant,
and thus adds to the cost of running expenses, and is so far forth a
burden and not a relief on regular appropriations for current expenses.
What, therefore, is the stable reliance of missionary societies on which
to make annual appropriations? It cannot be on legacies. It cannot be on
the special contributions of individuals. It ought to be based on church
collections. These should carry current expenses, and the additional
plant should come from outside sources. If this be so, and the societies
are to increase their work at all from year to year; if, indeed, they
are to meet the additional cost of the new plant given by individuals,
then the church collections should be increased proportionately.
Are we not, therefore, making a legitimate appeal, when we urge upon
every church member the duty of increasing his individual gift put into
the plate when the collection is taken? A vote of the National Council
or of the Annual Meeting of a missionary body, or of a State Conference,
that a society should receive an increase of funds amounts to little,
unless the individual donor in the church will increase his gifts.
A little increase here aggregates much. If every member will add five
per cent. or ten per cent., it will be little to each, but will be great
in the total. May we ask our readers to lay this to heart with the query
of each to himself, "Is it not _my_ duty to increase my individual
contribution?"
* * * * *
PARAGRAPHS.
We have many appeals by letter and in person from colored people in the
South, for help from the Hand Fund, to aid in sustaining enterprises
which these people are endeavoring to carry forward. Some of these
schools are heavily in debt. Others are greatly lacking in necessary
facilities, buildings, furniture and teachers. Others are crippled for
want of means to meet current expenses. Many of these institutions are
unwisely located, others have no adequate financial basis to warrant
their existence, and some seem to lack the necessary provision for
supervision and responsibility. Taken all together, they furnish
additional warnings to the people of the North against contributing to
individual or local enterprises in the South without most careful
scrutiny into the facts in each individual instance.
* * * * *
A colored missionary teacher in one of the most desolate parts of North
Carolina writes us as follows:
"In making out my bill, you will perhaps not understand what I mean by
the amount to be 'deducted.' I desire to give one-tenth of all my
earnings to God. Of course it is His by right. Our missionary has
brought the matter plainly before me, so I desire that you will deduct
$2.00 every month, which will be one-tenth of my entire salary, and put
it where it will be used for the service of Christ."
* * * * *
Rev. Frank G. Woodworth writes from Tougaloo University.
The school is progressing well. If we have the necessary accommodations,
I see no reason why the school should not enrol 500 pupils within the
next two years. We have had nearly 340 thus far, and probably will reach
375 by the end of the year, and we have refused between 30 and 40 girls
because we had no room for them.
* * * * *
In the last MISSIONARY we gave quite an account of special religious
services held in connection with the Le Moyne Institute, Memphis, Tenn.
In the brief extract below, from a letter of Prof. Steele's, we see some
pleasant results:
"Our special meetings in connection with Mr. Wharton's stay of two weeks
are closed. There have been some eighty or more conversions in church
and school; over sixty are students in school. The work seems very
genuine."
* * * * *
The announcement of the winners of the Tunis Quick prize for grammar and
spelling has been made by the faculty of Rutgers College. The prize was
equally divided between James E. Carr of New York City, and Milton
Demarest of Oredell, N.J. Carr is colored. Last year he took the highest
honor at the grammar school commencement, delivering the valedictory and
winning a prize scholarship. He has only one eye.
* * * * *
We would continue to remind pastors and churches of our Leaflets, which
we will be happy to furnish, on application, to those taking collections
for our Association.
* * * * *
NOTES FROM NEW ENGLAND.
I recently spoke in a manufacturing town in New England. In the forenoon
service, a man, evidently an operative in one of the mills, sat in a
front pew with a whole row of little children beside him, his wife at
the end of the line with a baby in her lap. In the evening, the same man
and family, minus the mother and baby, occupied the same pew. After the
service, this man came to me, and with deep emotion said: "I am only a
working man; you saw my large family of little children; every penny I
can earn counts, but I feel that I must divide the living of my children
with these poor people you have told us of to-day. We can get on with
poorer food to give them the gospel."
This was said in the accent that told that this Christian nobleman came
from old covenant-making and covenant-keeping Scotland! Not a very
"dangerous foreigner!" Money given from such extreme sacrifice is
sacred. Would this spirit were universal!
* * * * *
The close relation existing between the work of the American Missionary
Association for the colored people in America, and that of the American
Board for the colored people in Africa, is most interestingly
illustrated by a contribution which has recently reached this New
England office. Rev. B.F. Ousley of Kambini, East Africa, sends a
contribution of ten dollars for the Theological Department in Fisk
University, Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Ousley and wife are graduates of Fisk
University and went out as missionaries to Africa under the American
Board, four years ago. After these years of experience they realize that
Africa must be evangelized by colored people trained by A.M.A. schools,
and they make this generous contribution to this grand work.
* * * * *
A suggestion made in the Boston "Ministers' Meeting," on the question,
"How to conduct a prayer meeting," might be very appropriately applied
to missionary concerts and addresses. This was the suggestion: "Keep the
temperature warm, the atmosphere clear, and don't pommel the
Christians!" Applied to missionary concerts and addresses, this sound
advice would read: Keep the missionary temperature warm by telling
incidents of missionary experience; keep the missionary atmosphere clear
by presenting the grand hopefulness of the glorious work, and don't
pommel those who attend these meetings and give to these causes!
* * * * *
Patriotism is all aglow among the boys and girls of New England just
now! More than twelve hundred have enlisted recently in the army of the
"True Blues." Pastors, Sunday-school superintendents and teachers,
officers of Young People's Societies of Christian Endeavor, and other
missionary societies have been the enthusiastic recruiting sergeants,
and still there is demand for more recruits. Who will enlist next?
* * * * *
In the last "Notes from New England," we recorded the gift of an aged
friend. Now comes this touching letter:
"Dear Sir:--Please find enclosed $5.00 for the A.M. Association, the
Christmas present of a son to a father. The father is eighty-one years
old to-day. He has been with the A.M.A. from its organization, and
wishes its continued prosperity until its great work is accomplished.
Yours truly,
AN OLD-TIME FRIEND."
* * * * *
Is there any work, North or South, at home or abroad, that requires more
versatile gifts or breadth of training than the work of this
Association? Here are a few lines from the letter of a missionary in
Alabama, which illustrate the many-sidedness of this work:
"I have organized a Woman's Missionary Society. I have an industrial
class for girls, and give them instruction in sewing, in housework on
the principle of the kitchen-garden system, without the practice, as I
have not the articles to use for that purpose. Then a lesson from the
Bible, also, comes in, and some amusement in the way of puzzles. The
girls are pleased to belong to a society of King's Daughters. I have a
class for instructing the women in darning, patching, button-hole making
and so on. We have a Society of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union
in which I have the Department of Social Purity.
"You will be able to believe that my time is pretty fully occupied. I
rejoice that I am able to be here, for I am never so happy as when I am
engaged in this beloved work."
Is not here a splendid field for missionary work for the King's
Daughters throughout the land? Why cannot the loyal daughters of the
King, at the North, support such missionaries as this in their
self-sacrificing work for the down-trodden daughters of this same Divine
King in the South?
* * * * *
PROTESTANT AND PAPIST: AN OBJECT-LESSON.
In the communication below, an esteemed friend finds in our
Annual Meeting at Providence an object-lesson in the Christian
recognition of the colored man, which he very properly sets over
against a like example in the convention of colored Roman
Catholics recently held in Washington, D.C. Our friend is right.
The American Missionary Association stands square on that
subject. We only wish that everybody else, even at the North,
stood with us on that plank of our platform.
"In THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY for February, 1889, I read extracts and
notices from Catholic sources with regard to the universality of that
church organization that 'knows neither North, South, East or West, that
knows neither Jew nor Gentile, Greek, Barbarian nor Scythian,' and
emphasizing the fact that a colored priest had celebrated mass in
company with two white clergymen.
"I am thus reminded of the Annual Meeting of one of the most prominent
national organizations of a religious nature in our land. A few months
ago in the city of Providence, in one of the finest churches of that or
of any city in our land, before as refined and cultivated an audience as
could have been convened in our country, addresses were made by colored
men who sat in the pulpit with some of the most distinguished white
clergymen in the country. If one is an object-lesson, is not the other
quite as much so?"
* * * * *
SCHOOL ECHOES.
I shall let the students, small and large, speak for themselves a little
while, that you may see them as we do. And first--
Ques.--"What are the divisions of North America?"
Ans.--"Maine, New Hampshire, Illinois, North Pole and South Pole and
Augusta."
Ques.--"What is a unit?"
Ans.--"A unit is a number used instead of a name."
Ques.--"What makes the water rise in an artesian well?"
Ans.--"The upward pressure of the rocks under the water."
Ques.--"Where do the collar bones meet?"
Ans.--"Round the north part of the body where the collar fastens."
Ques.--(In woodworking class.) "What is the object of this exercise?"
(An exercise in lining wood.)
Ans.--1. "This exercise strengthens my mine and my character." 2. "The
object of this exercise is wood."
Ques.--"Define the kinds of sentences."
Part of answer.--"A purgatorial sentence is one that answers a
question."
DEBATE.--_Resolved, that Arithmetic is better than Grammar._
Affirmative: "Arithmetic is better, because without it we could not buy
or sell anything, build houses, bridges or railroads, measure lands or
even count. Can a man make money by knowing the grammar? Ain't no sense
in grammar noway. It's always been my experience that
'A naught's a naught, and a figure's a figure,
All for the white man and none for the nigger.'"
Negative: "To prove that grammar is better, take the Tower of Babble.
They built it, I suppose, many miles high, and the Lord looked down and
mixed up their grammar. So if a man was on top of the tower he would
call down, 'John, bring up the hammer,' and John would come up with a
saw. Then he would send him down for the hammer again, and John would
bring up the nails. How much could we learn of religion, of history and
the world around us, if it were not for grammar? Would 1-2-3 tell us all
that?"
But I have not left much room to tell about the good side. Many of the
papers, for neatness, accuracy and clear expression, would do credit to
any children in the world. Especially is this true of the younger
pupils, who have received the training of the lower grades of the
school. One essay on Slavery, by a member of the Ninth Year Class,
written in two days, contained twenty pages, with scarcely an
unnecessary word, and very few mistakes. I wish you could hear some of
the sensible talks in prayer-meetings, and fervent prayers for
classmates, teachers, and the kind people at the North who are trying to
help them.
* * * * *
A teacher from North Carolina sends the following:
There is not a girl in my school who uses tobacco, and that is saying a
good deal. I cannot be so sure about the boys, but none use it in school
or on the play ground.
One day our grammar lesson was changing possessive modifiers to
equivalent phrases, and the sentence "Washington's farewell address"
came up. One boy wrote, "Washington's farewell address was made of
broadcloth."
A colored minister, after reading his text on Sunday, said, "I shall put
the greatest distress of my remarks on the latter clause of the verse."
Another minister said, "At one of my stations there were men who called
themselves conjurers. One of these with his followers went to church to
challenge me. He asked me if I could cast out devils. I told him I
could, and as _he_ was the only man in the house who had a devil, if he
would come up to the stand, I would cast the devil out of him. The
conjurer abused me terribly, became so excited I started down towards
him, and dared him to meet me, and he turned from me and ran out of the
house, so you see if I could not cast the devil out of him, I cast both
him and the devil out of the house."
At another place, he said, the people became very much stirred up
concerning the temperance cause, so much so that many closed their
bar-rooms and took their Jimmy Johns and poured the contents out on the
ground. Said he, "the liquor said _good, good, good_, as it ran out of
the Jimmy Johns, and the people shouted for joy."
* * * * *
A DOCTRINAL SERMON.
By the kindness of a Baptist missionary, we are furnished with the
following doctrinal sermon:
_Text._--"Ye are the salt of the earth."
Scene in a Baptist church. Nineteen candidates awaiting immersion.
My text am, "Ye are de salt of de yarth."
You all knows what salt am good for--it is good to sweeten things--good
to season things--good to keep things from spilin'. We all likes salt in
our victuals, some people likes lots of salt and dey has it too; some
likes jes a little, and dey gets it too, but when you eats a whole lot
of salt, you gits mighty thirsty, and you wants _water_, tea nor coffee
won't satisfy you neither. You cries _water_, and you cries till you
gits plenty of it. Bredren--de text says, "Ye am de salt of de yarth."
What does it mean? Christians am like salt--we'se put here to keep this
old yarth from spilin'--to sweeten and to season it. Some Christians
have a heap more salt about 'em then others, and when dey is full of de
salt of God's grace, their soul cries--_water_--_water_--and a few drops
on der head won't satisfy 'em neither. You must take 'em down to de
river and put 'em in. And that's what we'se goin' to do--come chillen.
* * * * *
BOOK NOTICES.
_Report of the Centenary Conference of Protestant Missions, London,
1888._ By REV. JAMES JOHNSTON, F.S.S., Revell, Bible House, New York.
These two neat and well-printed volumes give a full sketch of the
proceedings of one of the most remarkable Missionary Conferences ever
held in the world. The addresses, papers and discussions emanated not
from theorists, but from men actually engaged in the management of the
great missionary organizations of Christendom, or who were actively
employed as missionaries in foreign fields. In addition to these, there
are papers and addresses by honored pastors on both sides of the
Atlantic, by travelers, and by students of the progress of the church in
modern times. The possessor of these volumes will have a treasury of
missionary literature of inestimable value.
_The Path to Wealth._ By A BLACKSMITH, B.F. Johnson & Co., Richmond, Va.
This is a unique book. It purports to give the addresses of a practical
blacksmith, some of them delivered in his shop to a few neighbors, but
the audience becoming larger, the rest were given in an adjacent church
building. To most persons, the title affords a slight clue to the drift
of the book, which is to show the duty and the benefits of giving the
tithe of a man's income to the Lord. The author's bottom thought is
based on this statement in the preface: "God pledges himself for the
success of that individual who renders obedience to the divine
money-claim." In other words, the path to wealth is the path of
benevolence. The obligation to give the tithe is earnestly enforced by
the ordinary Scripture quotations, and by arguments drawn from other
sources. Whatever the reader may think of the theory of the book, he
will find in it a good deal of valuable and practical truth.
_Yale Lectures on the Sunday-school._ By H. CLAY TRUMBULL. Philadelphia:
John D. Wattles.
This book contains Dr. Trumbull's addresses before the Yale Divinity
School in the course of the Lyman Beecher Lectures for 1888. They were
not only heard with interest, but the Faculty of Yale College expressed
their thanks to the author, and their wishes that the discourses might
soon be given to the public. Such an author in such a presence and with
such a theme, may well be supposed to have presented whatever is
interesting and valuable on a subject of such vast importance to
Christian families and the Christian church. We commend the book most
cordially.
_Cooking and Sewing Songs and Recitations for Industrial and Mission
Schools._ Edited by MRS. J.R. ROMER. J.W. Schermerhorn & Co., New York.
Of a very different style and size from the book above noticed is this
little neatly-printed pamphlet with flexible covers, occupying sixty-six
pages, of songs, to be used by pupils in connection with their
industrial labors. They are vivacious, pithy, adapted to the purpose in
hand, and doubtless would cheer and brighten many an hour that might
otherwise pass in the humdrum of an unrelieved toil, and at the same
time impress upon the memory and heart a good deal of salutary truth.
_The Songs of Praise_ with tunes. Published by A.S. Barnes & Co., New
York and Chicago.
Contains 500 choice Hymns with music well adapted to meet the
requirements of social worship. Such churches as do not desire a larger
collection will find this an excellent book of social song.
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THE SOUTH.
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DEDICATION OF BALLARD BUILDING, MACON, GA.
MRS. LIVA A. SHAW.
The dedication of Ballard Building took place Thursday, February 14th.
The services were attended by a large number of the patrons and friends
of the school, among the latter some of the leading white citizens of
Macon. After the opening exercises, short addresses were made by Prof.
Zettler, Superintendent of Bibb Co. schools, Dr. Greene, a leading
colored physician, and the following city pastors; Dr. Warren, First
Baptist; Dr. Jennings, First Presbyterian, and Mr. Miller, Washington
Avenue Presbyterian, (Colored). These were followed by Corresponding
Secretary Dr. Beard, of New York.
The music was appropriate and beautiful, and made a deep impression upon
some of our white friends, who were both pleased and surprised. Prof.
Zettler gave expression to his interest in all educational matters in
this county, and renewed his assurances of good will and gratitude if he
can do even a little to help on a good cause.
Dr. Warren said that he had known this school and church through all its
past history, having been present at the dedication of the old church
twenty years ago. He has watched the growth, and considered the
character of the influence here exerted, and so far as he can judge, it
has been, and is, elevating. He spoke of the value of a practical
education, and he said he could trust these Yankees with their skill and
energy to make the training they are giving in this school eminently
practical. He expressed gratitude for the privilege he has had of
knowing and loving a number of teachers and pastors engaged in labor
here, and he invoked the divine blessing upon all these consecrated
women who have left their homes and friends to do this work among the
poor and needy.
Dr. Jennings spoke to the young people of the need of a high aim and
firm purpose in accomplishing any important work in life. His words were
full of inspiration to the young men and women who heard him. He stood
upon the broad platform of Christian brotherhood, and while he
congratulated the American Missionary Association upon the grand work
being done, he especially congratulated the citizens of Macon, all of
whom are reaping the benefits of this work.
Dr. Greene's message was one of counsel and instruction for his own
people. He dwelt upon the generosity of the donor of this beautiful
building with its furnishings, the improved facilities afforded for
teaching, and the great need of a higher appreciation of the benefits
thus brought within the reach of a larger number than ever before. He
deprecated the common attempt to solve the Negro problem by stirring up
discontent among the people, and making them dissatisfied with present
conditions, unless a remedy is recommended and placed within their
reach. He looked upon every Christian school in the South, every man or
woman who walks uprightly and deals honestly, as helping to the only
true solution of the Negro problem. He rejoiced in the raising of the
standard of fitness to teach, on the part of the County Superintendent.
His words had the ring of successful, manly effort in them, and
commanded the respectful attention of all his hearers.
After returning thanks to Mr. Ballard for his noble gift, which brought
the assembly together, to Messrs. Pettit and DeHaven for the fidelity
with which they have wrought, to Prof. Zettler for his counsel, and to
the Christian friends who have helped and encouraged the work by their
sympathy, Dr. Beard gave an address full of information, concerning the
work of the American Missionary Association, its aims, encouragements,
and results. He emphasized the importance of making a right use of
blessings, and spoke of the danger that attends all effort to help
others, that it may become a hindrance instead of a help, according to
the way in which it is received. He left a well-defined impression that
it is the aim of the organization which he represents so to supplement
the efforts of those who are trying to help themselves, that true
independent manhood and womanhood shall be developed. He then introduced
the subject of a change of name for Lewis Normal Institute. He stated
that it was with the hearty concurrence of Gen. Lewis that he now
announced that this school should be henceforth known as BALLARD NORMAL
SCHOOL.
When Dr. Beard closed, Mr. Furcron, President of the Macon Sunday School
Union, (Colored,) rose and made a motion in behalf of the colored people
of Macon, that a rising vote of thanks be tendered to Mr. Ballard for
this beautiful building and its convenient and tasteful furnishings. Dr.
Warren made a special request that the franchise be extended so as to
include the white friends present, that all might vote. It was responded
to by the whole assembly's rising. After the benediction, the various
rooms were visited and admired. The beauty and convenience of the rooms,
the fine pictures on the walls, the beautiful desks and chairs for the
teachers, the elegant Steinway piano, the bell, and the handsome stoves,
were all noted and heartily commended.
The day passed off pleasantly with but one regret, viz; that Mr. Ballard
was not with us to share in our joy and to let us all see his happiness
in doing good to others.
* * * * *
TEN YEARS AT THE FRONT.
BY REV. STANLEY B. LATHROP.
The month of November, 1888, completed the cycle of ten years of my
active service in the work of the American Missionary Association. They
have been years of intense interest and great enjoyment. Ten years of
study, four in the army, and eight years of pastoral labor in Wisconsin
preceded; but of all these marked periods, none have been more truly
enjoyable and fruitful than these last ten years of preaching the gospel
to the poor. It has been my good fortune to visit at various times most
of the prominent points in the work of the Association in the South,
both in the colored and in the mountain white departments.
And so, from this decennial standpoint of experience and observation, I
want to put on record a few thoughts which have been simmering in my
mind.
1.--The vast importance and far-reaching influence of the work that has
been done. From all these schools and churches, scattered through this
Southland, there have come forth, year by year, hundreds of young
colored men and women, whose minds have been disciplined and characters
deeply impressed for a good life. Thousands have gone out to teach and
labor among their own people, with hearts aflame with true missionary
zeal. They have labored among innumerable trials and discouragements, in
leaky, rickety log-cabins, without desks, without blackboards, maps,
charts, or other educational necessities. They have been eager and
zealous workers for Sunday-schools, for temperance and righteous living,
even when oftentimes opposed by the old-time preachers and
church-officers of their own race, and sometimes opposed by the whites.
So the leaven has spread far and wide. A great work has been accomplished
by these schools and churches. These ten years have seen a most decided
uplifting of character and power among the colored race. They are
steadily acquiring property, building homes and improving their
surroundings. There are now over eighty newspapers published by colored
men in the former slave States of the South. Some of these are very
creditable specimens in typography and in ability, and they have great
and increasing influence. The great majority of these editors and
teachers have been educated in the A.M.A. schools. There are also
several colored lawyers, dentists and physicians, who have almost
without exception been educated in our schools. The direct results in
our Congregational church work are not as plainly apparent, because most
of the students when coming under our influence are already connected
with other churches, or else their parents are, which amounts almost to
the same thing. So the Baptists and Methodists have reaped rich harvests
through the training of their sons and daughters in our schools. But
these same denominations have been through this means greatly uplifted
and purified, so that great good has come to all these strong and
numerous churches, besides the steady growth of Congregationalism as
well. Rev. Dr. Curry, one of the leaders of Southern thought, said in a
recent address before the Georgia Legislature, "The Congregationalists
have done more than all other denominations for the education of the
Negro--they have done grandly, patriotically." To my eyes, which have
been wide open during these ten years, there are most marked and
gratifying signs of progress apparent in every way. Far and near the
leaven has spread, the older denominations are improving, the principles
of industrial and Christian education are accomplishing untold good.
2.--There is also manifest in these ten years a marked improvement in
the feeling between the races. When a man has lived for ten years in the
South, he will begin to see how deeply rooted and immovably imbedded in
the Southern mind is the sentiment of inborn contempt for the Negro.
This was greatly intensified and brought to the surface by the passions
and prejudices of the war, with the volcanic upheavals and chaotic
events of the "carpet-bag period" which followed. Considering all these
things, there has been in my opinion a remarkable loosening of the grasp
of prejudice, a gradual melting of the caste principle, especially in
the minds of the better class among the whites. I say this deliberately,
with personal knowledge of the agitation of the infamous "Glenn Bill" in
Georgia, and notwithstanding the prejudice in Alabama which broke up the
colored normal school formerly existing in Marion, and afterward
successfully opposed its re-establishment in Montgomery, or rather
refused the previous State aid. Having been for many years on the Board
of Trustees of Atlanta University, and being personally acquainted with
a number of the members of the Georgia Legislature, yet I am prepared to
state this astonishing paradox--that even the legislators who voted for
the Glenn Bill have a much higher regard for the colored race and for
the A.M.A. schools than they formerly had. I cannot take time to explain
this singular phenomenon, but it is true. One of the prominent members
of the Georgia Legislature said to me on the streets of Macon, when he
heard the news of President Ware's sudden death at Atlanta University:
"Mr. Ware was a hero of the nineteenth century, and deserves a monument
to his memory from the State of Georgia." So, notwithstanding Col. Glenn
and his followers, the same Legislature of Georgia has recently added
two million dollars to the school fund of the State. The efforts of such
brave and fearless leaders as Rev. Dr. Haygood, Rev. Dr. Curry, Hon.
Walter B. Hill and others have not been in vain, and the good results of
the A.M.A. work have commanded respect and even wonder from its
bitterest opponents, whose number and zeal decreases. Wisdom and
discretion in future will rapidly increase its friends.
3.--I could say much more concerning the colored work, in which (at
Macon, Georgia) I spent eight and a half of the happiest years of my
life. That branch of work needs to be sustained and extended for years
to come. Having now been for eighteen months in the mountain white
department of work, and having visited nearly all its most important
posts, I am prepared to say that this, also, is a most needy part of the
great missionary work which this Society has undertaken. Here are nearly
two millions of people, scattered here and there over this great
Cumberland Plateau, who because of their inaccessibility, their poverty
and indifference, have been largely passed by until recently. The great
tides of missionary effort have swirled and risen to the east, the south
and the west, but have reached only a little way up into the caves and
valleys of this great island plateau, which towers a thousand feet above
the surrounding country. The inevitable effects of isolation, of
intermarriage, of stagnation and neglect in mental and spiritual
matters, has brought about a condition of things which calls for the aid
and sympathy of all good Samaritans. They have not suffered in the same
way as the colored race, from the former oppression and contagious vices
of a superior race; but left alone in their mountain fastnesses, left
behind in the march of human progress, they have been a nation of
Robinson Crusoes, deteriorating and retrograding from the inevitable
nature of mankind when left to itself. Having no momentum from outside,
feeling nothing of the swing and swell of progress, hearing little and
knowing little of the outer world, they need now our help to uplift and
enthuse and save them. Schools, churches, industrial instruction, mental
and spiritual training, help for the poor and the ignorant and the
degraded is sorely needed. This is comparatively a new field of work,
and is still largely unexplored and obscure. There is much to be done,
and it should be done now. The results of a very few years of work are
encouraging. Pray, friends, pray! Give, friends, give! Help, friends,
help!
* * * * *
PROGRESS OF EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH.
PROF. H.H. WRIGHT.
I call your attention to the fact that the Board of Education of the
city of Nashville have extended the course of study in the public
schools for the colored population, so that there is in existence now a
fully-fledged High School for the colored youth, having precisely the
same course of study as that of the white youth; and the members of the
school are subjected to the same written and oral tests as those of the
white school. So far as I know, this is the first instance of the kind
in the South. Most boards _graduate_ the colored children from the
eighth, or at most, the ninth year of school.
The colored High School of Nashville had public exercises in the Grand
Opera House in June, when a class of seven graduated. The Superintendent
of Public Schools, the Board of Education, and prominent citizens, white
and colored, occupied the platform and gave their approval of the
innovation by their presence.
The first class of the white High School was graduated twenty-eight
years ago and numbered seven. This class of colored graduates also
numbered seven.
A member of that first white class is now the President of the Board of
Education, and presented the diplomas to the members of this colored
class. Altogether, the occasion was auspicious for better things in the
public school system in Tennessee.
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THOMASVILLE, GA.
One incident that has brightened our year is the arrival of a pretty
school organ, the generous gift of Mr. S.D. Smith, President of the
Smith Organ and Piano Company, Boston, Mass. It chanced that at the same
time, Mr. Hall, our Superintendent, came to visit us, and one morning
early we found him at work with his own hands removing it from its box.
On its being taken into the school-room where all the pupils were
assembled for the morning exercises, Mr. Hall in a felicitous manner
presented it to the school in Mr. Smith's name, taking from the children
in return a hearty "Thank you" for the donor, and a promise to make use
of the organ "in the cause of temperance and for the Lord Jesus Christ."
Then the first notes pealed forth from the sweet-toned organ, notes of
praise, accompanying the children's voices in the Gloria Patri. Then
holy hymns and temperance songs filled the air with melody.
The jubilee ended with grand old "America," and as we came to the
closing lines, how truly our hearts echoed the prayer:
"Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light,
Protect us by thy might,
Great God, our King."
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
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VISIT TO PARK STREET CHURCH STATION.
BY MRS. T.L. RIGGS.
For a long time I have wished to see something of the people and of the
work at White River. The station there, Park Street Church Station,
so-called because the church of that name in Boston contributed the money
for its establishment, was almost the only one under Mr. Riggs's care
that I had not visited. Although the supervision of it, and of the whole
Rosebud Agency field, has recently been assumed by Mr. Cross, Mr. Riggs
continues to confer with him in regard to the management of it, and for
this purpose made a journey thither a few weeks ago. A happy combination
of circumstances at home made it possible for me to accompany him.
After three days of travel in pony-cart, we came in sight of the White
River, and before descending into the valley and crossing the river
caught a glimpse of the station building and the villages on the hills
near it. Climbing the hill at the rear of the station, we drove into the
yard, completely surprising Mr. Cross, who, nevertheless gave us a most
hearty welcome.
As soon as the news of our arrival had spread, we began to have
visitors, but, knowing that I should not see many of the people,
especially the older women, unless I went to their homes, I arranged
with Mr. Cross to take me to the different villages. We spent two days
in going about.
I should think there are between forty and fifty houses in the three
villages near there. In each of two houses, we found _three wives_ and
ten children, and the others were well populated. All were in ignorance,
and filth, and degradation, pitiable to see. Some babies nearly a year
old had never been thoroughly washed since their birth. Some of the
older people had never been to the school-house. A few rather pride
themselves upon keeping aloof from the native teacher and the various
exercises he conducts. We were pleasantly received at all the places.
Some of the people had heard of "The Sacred Herald's" wife, though they
had never seen me.
Wishing to have all the women come to the school-house, that I might see
more of them and have them meet Virginia De Coteau, the teacher's wife,
we invited them to a feast. This is something the Dakotas are very fond
of, though usually it is connected with some of their dances or other
heathen customs. Some of the old women wished to know if I was going to
_preach_ to them, evidently wanting to fight shy of anything of this
sort, but I told them no, it was to be a real feast, not a prayer
meeting.