THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY
August, 1888.
Vol. XLII. No. 8.
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
FINANCIAL.--A CONVERSATION
THE VERNACULAR--THE LAST GOVERNMENT ORDER
ENDORSEMENT OF SOLICITORS--PROF. LAWRENCE
LONDON MISSIONARY CONFERENCE--GETTYSBURG
BOOM IN PRICE OF A SLAVE--EXTRACTS FROM EXAMINATION PAPERS
ON DR. JAMES POWELL'S PORTRAIT--PARAGRAPH
THE SOUTH.
NOTES IN THE SADDLE. By District Secretary Ryder.
ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
COMMENCEMENT AT FISK UNIVERSITY
AN HOUR AT STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY
CLOSING EXERCISES AT TILLOTSON
THE INDIANS.
PARAGRAPH FROM OAHE
SEWING WOMEN AT FORT BERTHOLD
AN INDIAN CHURCH SOCIABLE
THE CHINESE.
ITEMS
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
PARAGRAPHS
NOTES FROM MISS COLLINS
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
THE TRUE BLUE CARD
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 Reade Street, N.Y._
Rev. A.F. BEARD, D.D., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
_Treasurer._
H.W. HUBBARD, Esq., _56 Reads Street, N.Y._
_Auditors._
PETER McCARTEE.
CHAS. P. PEIRCE.
_Executive Committee._
JOHN H. WASHBURN, Chairman.
ADDISON P. FOSTER, Secretary.
_For Three Years._
LYMAN ABBOTT,
CHARLES A. HULL,
J.R. DANFORTH,
CLINTON B. FISK,
ADDISON P. FOSTER.
_For Two Years_
S.B. HALLIDAY,
SAMUEL HOLMES,
SAMUEL S. MARPLES,
CHARLES L. MEAD,
ELBERT B. MONROE.
_For One Year._
J.E. RANKIN,
WM. H. WARD,
J.W. COOPER,
JOHN H. WASHBURN,
EDMUND L. CHAMPLIN.
_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.
_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.
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.
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. XLII. AUGUST, 1888. No. 8.
=American Missionary Association.=
* * * * *
*FINANCIAL.*
Our receipts for the nine months ending June 30 are $214,434.40, an
increase of $10,913.66, as compared with the corresponding months of
last year. The increase of receipts from legacies is only $184.81,
showing that almost the entire increase is from collections, and this
we regard as the genuine test of the confidence of our patrons in the
work of the Association. On the other hand, a large part of this
increase is for special objects, and does not aid us in meeting
regular appropriations. We must add, also, that our expenditures
during the last nine months have been $21,828.95 greater than for the
same months last year. These facts point inevitably to the
trilemma--debt, curtailment or increased receipts.
It is easy to say "retrench," and if it is the unmistakable call of
the churches, we must do it. But we wish to present another aspect of
the subject. In a case where enlargement in the way of new or
improved buildings is imperatively demanded to ensure the usefulness
of the school, and where there comes to us Providentially, and
without solicitation on our part, the proffer of the money to make
those enlargements, is it our duty to refuse that money? If our
constituents have the facts before them, we, as their agents, will
cheerfully abide their decision. To this end will be found below the
sketch of a conversation, not imaginary, but which actually occurred,
and which will present some of these facts. We ask our patrons to
read it and then to decide whether our action in these cases was
right, and, if so, whether it should be a guide for the future.
* * * * *
*A CONVERSATION--ITS RESULTS, ITS LESSONS.*
About two years ago a gentleman came to this office, and said to one
of the Secretaries:
"If a person has eight or ten thousand dollars which he would like to
devote to some good object, where would you advise him to give it?"
To this the Secretary promptly replied: "To the American Missionary
Association, of course."
"All right," said the gentleman, "but to what special purpose would
you advise it to be applied?"
"Our great need," said the Secretary, "is to meet current expenses,
and I would advise that it be devoted to that."
A little further conversation revealed the pleasant fact that the
gentleman had that sum of money at his disposal, but that he had a
very decided wish that it should be used for the erection of
permanent buildings. The Secretary suggested the obvious fact that
added plant meant increased expense, and that we hardly dared to
promise to meet that.
"But," said the gentleman, "are there not places in your work where
new buildings are greatly needed?"
"Most assuredly," the Secretary replied, "there are many places where
such buildings are needed."
He was asked to give details, which he did.
Among the schools mentioned by him was one in which the scholars were
inadequately provided with dormitory and recitation room facilities,
and where the industries were crowded into old cabins and attic
rooms.
After hearing these details, our visitor, who is a judicious and
prosperous business man as well as a benevolent Christian, said,
"These new buildings are needed. I offer you the money for the two
buildings at the place you have last named. I know it will increase
somewhat your current expenses, but _can't you trust the churches to
come to your help?_"
The results of that and subsequent interviews are two fine buildings,
one giving adequate school accommodations, and the other giving a
large and commodious shop, facilitating both instruction and
production.
Subsequently, the same large-hearted and liberal gentleman repeated
his benefaction where equally needed enlargement will soon be
furnished.
Once more. In a Southern city our school building is too small, the
lot does not permit industrial work, and changes in the population
have surrounded the locality with saloons and houses of ill-fame. A
change must be made or we must abandon the place. A lady who knows
these facts offers to give us $2,000 with which to purchase four
acres of land most eligibly situated for our work, and to give us
the money to build a school-house with eight large school-rooms with
commodious fixtures and appliances. All this, of course, implies more
teachers and additional running expense. Shall we accept the gift and
trust the churches to furnish the money? Or, to state the matter in
general terms: When the need for enlargement is very great, and God
sends to us benevolent donors, who are willing to furnish the means
for the enlargement, are we wrong in trusting the churches for their
part of the needed help? We believe we are not. We think the
churches would regard us as recreant to our trust if we refused to
take the funds thus providentially proffered to us.
But our story is not all told. Other donors in the last few years
have done likewise, and there still are cases where the pressure for
enlargement is as great as in any of the instances given. We must
mention one. In a large Southern city our school building is so
inadequate that the Principal writes: "We have an extremely large
school, and yet nearly three hundred pupils were turned off for lack
of seating capacity." In addition to this, the Teachers' Home
adjoining the school building, which was once a Southern home, is
unhealthy from inadequate under-drainage. We have repeatedly
attempted to remedy this difficulty and at considerable cost. We are
satisfied that to spend more money for such a purpose is a waste.
The only true remedy is to remove the present home, connecting it
with the school-building for additional school-rooms, and then, on
the vacant site, to erect a new home with proper foundations. If any
benevolent person should offer us the means for making these
changes, we fear we have not the self-denial to refuse, unless the
churches or benevolent individuals for whom we act shall command us
to do so. We await the response they will give.
* * * * *
*THE VERNACULAR. THE LAST GOVERNMENT ORDER.*
THE ORDER.
We give below a copy of the last order received from the Interior
Department in relation to the vernacular.
"1st. In Government schools no text-books and no oral
instruction in the vernacular will be allowed, but all text-books
and instruction must be in the English language. No departure
from this rule will be allowed, except when absolutely necessary
to rudimentary instruction in English. But it is permitted to
read from the Bible in the vernacular at the daily opening of
school, when English is not understood by the pupils.
"2d. In schools where Indian children are placed under contract,
or to which the Government contributes in any manner, the same
rule shall be observed in all secular instruction. Religious
instruction in the vernacular may be allowed in such schools,
both by the text-book and orally, provided not more than
one-fourth of the time is devoted to such instruction.
"3d. In purely mission schools--that is, in schools toward whose
support the Government contributes nothing--religious and other
instruction may be conducted in the manner approved by those who
maintain the schools, provided that one-half of the school hours
shall be employed in instruction in English.
"4th. Only native Indian teachers will be permitted to teach
otherwise in any Indian vernacular, and these native teachers
will only be allowed so to teach in schools not supported in
whole or in part by the Government, and where there are no
Government or contract schools where English is taught. These
native teachers are allowed to teach in the vernacular only with
a view of reaching those Indians who cannot have the advantage of
instruction in English.
"5th. A theological class of Indian young men, supported wholly
by mission funds, may be trained in the vernacular at any
missionary school supported in whole or in part by missionary
societies, the object being to prepare them for the ministry,
whose subsequent work shall be confined to preaching, unless they
are employed as teachers in remote settlements where English
schools are inaccessible.
"6th. These rules are not intended to prevent the possession or
use by any Indian of the Bible published in the vernacular; but
such possession or use shall not interfere with the teaching of
the English language to the extent and in the manner hereinbefore
directed."
COMMENT.
This order presents a great and gratifying modification of those
extreme rulings of the Department which occasioned so much
dissatisfaction among the churches. While we rejoice in these
modifications, we must not conceal from ourselves or our readers
the fact, that the main point against which objection has been so
strenuously urged--the right of the churches to be guided by their
own wisdom and experience in expending their own funds--is not
granted by this order, as will be seen in Article 3. "In purely
mission schools," "toward whose support the Government contributes
nothing," it dictates that "one-half of the school-hours shall be
employed in instruction in English." So far as the principle is
concerned, nothing is yielded. The Government still assumes to
control these schools, and to tell the missionaries how much of the
vernacular they may use, and how they must divide the hours between
the two languages.
The regulation, moreover, fixes upon "one-half of the school hours"
without any obvious reason for taking that number rather than
one-fourth or three-fourths, for it does not take into account the
different conditions of the pupils as to their knowledge of the
English language. It requires a double set of text-books if the
vernacular be taught at all. Whether the churches will acquiesce in
this regulation, will depend, we think, upon how rigidly it is
enforced. We regret that the Government, while attempting to meet
the wishes of the churches, could not have done it in a more broad
and generous method, by conceding their right to manage their own
missionary affairs without interference or dictation.
* * * * *
The numerous solicitors from the South for the benefactions of our
friends at the North impel us to increased caution in regard to our
endorsements. We are anxious that our friends should give, but we are
equally anxious that they should not be imposed upon. Hereafter, we
shall give a letter of commendation to any of our workers who may be
authorized by us to come North for help, signed by one of the
Secretaries or one of the District Secretaries, and these will be
good for one year from the date, and any pastors or friends of the
Association can feel at liberty to ask for the letter. If persons
assuming to solicit funds for any part of the A.M.A's work cannot
produce such letters, the failure may be taken as a reason for
withholding confidence. We think this is due to our friends at the
North and to our faithful and honored workers at the South.
* * * * *
Professor Lawrence, of Jellico, Tenn., who was so seriously injured
by an unprovoked and cowardly attack, is, we are happy to learn,
slowly improving. Suffering, both from excruciating pain and from
great nervous prostration, all that a human being can endure and
live, yet he has borne it uncomplainingly. Large expenses have been
necessarily incurred for surgeon's, doctor's and nurse's bills, and
Mr. Lawrence is a poor man, working on a missionary salary, when he
might have received more elsewhere. As Professor Lawrence received
his injuries in the simple discharge of his duties as a teacher in
an A.M.A. school, our Committee will feel it their duty to render
him some pecuniary aid, and if any of our friends are disposed to
assist us in rendering such help, we shall be glad to receive their
donations for that purpose.
* * * * *
*THE LONDON MISSIONARY CONFERENCE.*
This large and important gathering of the friends of Christian
missions throughout the world, held its session in Exeter Hall,
London, June 9-19.
This is the fourth great Missionary Conference. The first was in
Liverpool in 1860, the last was in London, held ten years ago. This
Conference far surpassed its predecessors in the numbers present, in
the completeness of the previous arrangements, and in the range and
importance of the topics discussed. The members numbered over 1,200,
gathered from all parts of the world. Nearly forty American Societies
were represented, six Canadian, fifteen Continental, and
fifty-four English, Scotch and Irish Societies.
One topic that received deserved attention was the curse of deluging
Africa with liquor by Christian nations, and the continued curse of
the opium traffic which England inflicts upon China.
From the brief reports which have reached us, we judge this
Conference to have been a very able and enthusiastic one, and that
it will probably give a new impulse to Christian missions throughout
the world.
* * * * *
Secretary Beard represented the American Missionary Association in
the London Missionary Conference, agreeably to appointment by the
American Committee of the Conference. His paper was entitled,
"Christian Missions among the North American Indians." He also read
a paper which Secretary Strieby had prepared, by appointment of the
American Committee, on "The Freedmen of America as Factors in
African Evangelization." Dr. Beard attended the Conference on his
way to Europe to bring his family home. He is expected to return
about the first of September.
* * * * *
*GETTYSBURG, FRATERNITY, FREE BALLOT.*
The meeting of the Blue and the Gray on the field of Gettysburg at
the late anniversary celebration marks an era in national fraternity.
The orator of the day, George William Curtis, did a noble, perhaps we
might say courageous, deed in lifting the enthusiasm of the glad hour
above the remembrance of past heroism and present harmony to the
great duty of the nation--a free and fair ballot. A few lines culled
from the oration will give the thought.
"The suffrage is the mainspring, the heart of our common life.
If ignorance and semi-barbarous dominance be fatal to civilized
communities, no less so is constant and deliberate defiance of
law."
"No honest man can delude himself with the theory that this is a
local question. If there be a national question, which vitally
interests every American citizen from the Penobscot to the Rio
Grande, it is the question of a free legal ballot."
"Can we wrest from the angel of this hour any blessing so
priceless as the common resolution that we shall not have come to
this consecrated spot only to declare our joy and gratitude, nor
only to cherish proud and tender memories, but also to pledge
ourselves to union in its sublimest significance?"
To this we add: The brave deeds of the soldier at Gettysburg, and the
wise counsels of the orator, should be followed by the patient toil
of the teacher and the preacher. It is hard to choose between the
ballot withheld and the ballot cast by ignorance and vice. Blood and
treasure flowed like water in the war. Shall treasure and toil be
wanting for the work of peace--preparing the ignorant voter to cast
the free ballot intelligently and honestly?
* * * * *
*A BOOM IN THE PRICE OF A SLAVE.*
One of our best educated and most efficient colored ministers in
the South furnishes us the following sketch of his experience on
the auction block. He not only was sold "early and often," but
always at advancing prices. We do not wonder at this, for he has
shown himself to be so valuable as a _man_, that we are sure the
boy must have promised to be worth a great deal as a slave.
I was sold in 1862 at the age of ten years, for $400, by the widow B.
of Virginia. As a rule, after the first sale, I was upon the auction
block every day for three months. How often I was sold during those
three months I cannot tell, but on Davis' auction block in his
sale-room I was sold five times in one day. The last sale at the end
of the three months was made in Tennessee, to the Rev. H.F.S., a
Baptist minister, who paid $3,500 for his property. The Rev. Mr. S.
was a "Yankee" from Philadelphia, Pa., and came South at the
breaking out of the war.
* * * * *
*EXTRACTS FROM EXAMINATION PAPERS.*
Ques. Give a rule for the use of the period?
Ans. Every period must begin with a capital.
Ans. A period is a dot written to the end of a sentence and is used
to low the voice.
Ans. A period is used for the topage of a sentence and to make our
reading sound better than if we had no period.
Ques. What is the chief occupation in the South Atlantic States?
Ans. The ocoopations cold in the north part, but in the lower part
rain seldom fails.
FROM A SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
The lesson was on The Ten Virgins, and the next Sunday the review
question was asked, "What was the lesson about last Sunday?" and a
bright boy gave the prompt answer, "About ten gals that went to a
weddin."
COMPOSITION LETTERS FROM YOUNG PUPILS.
My dear teacher, God be with you witch I know he will, as the Song
says God can see me every day when I work and when I play. again God
is always near me when I pray. I shall nor for get Miss H. her name
shall never die out Christ have mercy upon her If God calls her I
will spect to meet her in heven at the last trumpet shall sound. I
will be thair. Yours truly,
Robert ----
Dear teacher, I wish I could write good. I have not done my duty. I
will try the next time and do better. I am very sorry. I will try and
do better. May God help me to obey my teacher. Miss F. is sick. I
hope she will get better. I will try to be like Jesus. I have sign
the pledge and have kept it. Now I will close my bad lines. I hope
you will come back next year. Good by.
Your aff Scholar,
James ----
* * * * *
*ON JAMES POWELL'S PORTRAIT.*
BY J.E. RANKIN, D.D.
O face, all radiant with the light of love,
O eyes, so laughing in their tenderness,
So quick to read the language of distress;
O lips, so touched with flame as from above,
O man, with godhead stamped upon thy brow,
And manhood beating in thy pulses strong,
To stir thee up to stamp thy heel on wrong,
That earth should have no more thy pattern now!
No more should see thee on the wings of mercy sent!
Thou hads't thy mortal years so wisely spent,
That Heav├źn seemed too soon to crown thy brow;
The veil of flesh was prematurely rent,
And earthly glory with celestial blent.
* * * * *
A college commencement is a marked event to all parties concerned,
and a good sketch of such an occasion furnishes interesting reading
to a very wide circle. We call the attention of our patrons to the
reports we make of the anniversaries in our Southern institutions.
Some of these reports appeared in the last MISSIONARY, some will be
found in this number, and others will be given in the next.
* * * * *
=THE SOUTH.=
*NOTES IN THE SADDLE.*
BY REV. C.J. RYDER, DISTRICT SECRETARY.
Orthodoxy and orthography are by no means inseparable, as the
following letter proves. Correct views of Divine Sovereignty and very
indifferent spelling may go together in the same epistle.
"Dear Miss ----
"Dear Teacher, I am so much Thank you for your kindness of the
medicine which you have sent to me yesterday, until I cannot express
my gladness and feeling unto you in this world, but I hope God will
take good care off you even on death if I never have the plegure of
seeing your good and happy looking face any more.
"Your medicine has help me demegiately as I have took it. I hope God
will ever to be with in your Jerney throught life in well doing."
This letter came from a young lad in one of the lower grades of
school work. He had been seriously sick for weeks, and the teacher
to whom he wrote sat with him and ministered to his comfort after
the weary hours of her school work were over. This lad appreciated
her self-forgetful kindness; his heart was touched, and as she left
the malarial atmosphere of this Southern country for brief rest in
her Northern home, this boy sent her this letter. His letter is
"phonetic" and of the individual type, but I venture that the
tearful prayer going up to God from his grateful, loving, simple
heart may reach the Father's ear, and bring down a blessing upon his
loving friend as "demegiately" as the rounded periods of learned
lips. He evidently is no dusky Claudius whose confession must be:
"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below;
Words without thoughts never to Heaven go."
"What a privilege it is to be prayed for by such confiding souls,"
said the teacher as she handed me this letter.
* * * * *
Speaking of prayer among the colored people, calls to mind a petition
offered for myself, when Field Superintendent, soon after my
appointment. An old black woman in New Orleans was called upon to
pray, after I had spoken to the people. She chanted her words in
soft, melodious tones, keeping time with her body swaying back and
forth, as she prayed. She prayed for the former superintendent, Dr.
Roy. She thanked God for his patient, loving care of the people. She
told the Lord how he went as a prophet of Israel, back and forth
among them, bringing the bread of Heaven to their hungry souls. She
sought Divine blessing, rich, full, free, upon him and all his loved
ones. Then she chanted in the liquid accent of the Creole, "And now,
O Father, bless our young brother the new superintender. Let him down
deep into the treasury of thy word and hide him 'hind de cross of
Jesus." And the heart of the "New Superintender" said "Amen and
Amen." That experience was what he needed.
How close to the great throbbing heart of God these simple children
of cotton-field and cabin come! In gaining intimate acquaintance with
them one is reminded of Heinrich Heine's confession in his notes on
Uncle Tom's Cabin:
"Astonishing! That after I have whirled about all my life over all
the dance floors of philosophy, and yielded myself to all the orgies
of the intellect * * * without satisfaction, like Massolina after a
licentious night, I now find myself on the same standpoint where poor
Uncle Tom stands--on that Bible. I kneel down by my black brother in
the same prayer! What humiliation! * * * Tom, perhaps, understands
these spiritual things better than I. * * * But a poor negro slave
reads with his back and understands better than we do. But I, who
used to make citations from Homer, now begin to quote the Bible as
Uncle Tom does. Poor Tom, indeed, seems to have seen deeper things
in the Holy Book than I."
* * * * *
The letter quoted at the opening of these "Notes" hints another
thing. The A.M.A. teacher must frequently be a doctor, too. One lady
teacher in Alabama opened her chest of medicine and showed me a small
drug store curtained off from the sitting-room of her home. She had
made _materia medica_, a special study, and was a competent physician
in common diseases. Her house was a public dispensary, visited
frequently by her afflicted colored neighbors. What cannot these
teachers accomplish going out into these dark, diseased and
sin-smitten places of our own land, if only they go out in "His Name"
as they so often do!
* * * * *
How all loyal hearts will rejoice in the good news that comes from
brave Lawrence's sick room! He is slowly improving, and there is
strong hope of his recovery. Thank God!!
A large public meeting has been held in Jellico, Tenn., in which the
"law-abiding citizens," expressed their intense condemnation of this
"brutal, but cowardly act of shooting Prof. Lawrence." This body of
citizens voted to prosecute the scoundrel Chandler, who did the
shooting, and raised the money _at once_ to carry forward that
prosecution! Good for Jellico, say we all!! Will Iowa permit
Tennessee to surpass her in the execution of whiskey murderers?
* * * * *
"The Pansy Society," consisting of a company of seven girls and boys,
sent to the New England office of the A.M.A. $13 which _they had
themselves earned!_ What society of young people will be "next"? Here
is a work, especially a children's and young people's work, for
establishing schools, planting Sabbath schools, sending missionaries
into homes to teach the Ninety thousand mothers in a single Southern
State who cannot read! In a company of fifty children, the A.M.A.
teacher asked: "How many of you ever knelt at your mother's knee, or
at all in your home, and prayed?" _Not a single hand went up in all
that company!_ "Children's work for children;" "Mother's work for
mothers," are watchwords of the A.M.A., that should awaken
enthusiastic response and greatly increase the benefactions of all
toward this effort to Christianize the homes of our land!
* * * * *
*ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.*
BY MISS E.B. EMERY.
This is a marvelous institution. It is a reproduction of New England,
and that the finest; therein lies its supremacy and its _offense_.
The Glenn Bill, designed to ruin the institution, has had the usual
effect of such devices; it has improved decidedly the fortunes of the
school. Nothing advances a cause like persecution; the peculiar
advantage and irresistible power of the University are more manifest
than ever, and in the space of a few months it has gained a
reputation over the country, and won a place in the hearts of all
good people, which twenty years of ordinary work could hardly have
done; still, we must not be blind to the fact that this is _really_
due to the twenty years of hard work, prayer and self-sacrifice.
When the books of Heaven are opened, it will then be seen how much
of silent self-sacrifice, how much of grand living and grand doing,
is set down to these Southern missionaries. Much called inglorious
now, will be glorious then, and "the last shall be first."
The anniversary exercises of the University commenced on May 24, by
oral examinations, which continued two days. They were in all
departments, classical, normal, preparatory and industrial. The
classical department, though small, as in all these institutions, has
always been very high in Atlanta; the chief advance, however, the
past few years, has been in the normal and industrial divisions, and
this appeared in the fact that all the graduates this year, numbering
thirteen girls, were in the normal department. The work is done by
teachers from the North, experienced in the best normal methods,
and nothing on the Southern field can be more vital and important.
Three-quarters of the students going out from these higher
institutions devote themselves to teaching, and when the North has
some realization of the dense ignorance of the Southern black
population, the need of this will readily appear. In the State of
Alabama are 80,000 colored voters who cannot read, and though the
children of a small proportion of these voters do learn to read, the
greater number do not, and cannot till the Northern churches open
their eyes to facts, and do more to remedy this monster evil. And
this ignorance of the blacks means not only ignorance, but grossest
immorality. Alabama in this respect is an average State; Georgia is
a little better, others much worse.
The industrial work of Atlanta consists, first, in farm-work. The
farm of sixty acres, which is the most beautiful spot in the State of
Georgia, and under the superintendence of a Massachusetts farmer,
speaks for itself. The young men learn, also, wood-work, draughting
and forging; they exhibit some exquisite specimens of lathe and
chisel-work, and the young carpenters readily find employment in the
city at the highest wages. The girls not only do much of the work of
the boarding-houses, but have special and daily lessons in cooking
and sewing; and I can testify to their practical skill.
The baccalaureate sermon was preached on Sunday, May 27, by Rev.
C.W. Francis, the pastor of the University church, and, the past
year, Acting President, also. It was a notable occasion. The
commodious chapel of Stone Hall was packed, the many students of
course filling a large space, while their friends and former students
filled in the background. Colored people are by nature ardent and
magnetic, and when education and religion have developed their
characters and toned down their absurdities, they are a very
interesting and attractive people.
Forward on the platform and side seats were Dr. Strieby and Dr.
Beard, of New York, the honored Secretaries of the American
Missionary Association, Dr. Woodworth, of Massachusetts, Dr.
Pentecost, of Brooklyn, N.Y., with Mr. Stebbins, his sweet singer,
now holding revival meetings in Atlanta, and the faculty and workers
generally of the University.
The sermon was preached without notes, as is usual with Prof.
Francis, and with his usual quiet earnestness. The discourse was as
tender as it was able and wise, and ever to be remembered by the
thirteen girls sitting just before him.
Of the singing on such an occasion, no Northern audience can have any
conception. The closing hymn was that grand one, "Guide me, O thou
Great Jehovah!" It is almost an anthem, and when it is known that the
voice of the colored man or woman is three-fold more powerful, richer
and sweeter than that of the white, one may try to imagine the effect
of nearly a thousand voices.
Commencement was held May 28, in the Friendship Baptist church. The
house was filled, many standing for the nearly three hours. The
singing was by a large chorus of students, trained most faithfully
and successfully by the music teacher of the University, Miss Rebecca
Massey. One Jubilee Song was given, "March On"; other selections were
classical; the chorus from Mendelssohn's Elijah, "Thanks be to God,"
being especially fine. The exercises were closed by a spirited
rendering of the Anvil Chorus.
Miss Massey is a native of Ohio, and a graduate of Oberlin Musical
Conservatory, and is one of the most thoroughly educated musicians in
the South. Recently she bought a reserved seat to Gilmore's concert
in Atlanta, and in the Imperial City of the Empire State of the South,
in the noble city of the reconstructed Henry W. Grady, she was marched
out of the hall by a policeman, simply and solely because her blood is
one-quarter colored!
The commencement essays of the thirteen young ladies would have done
credit to any Northern institution; they were in good taste,
thoughtful and high-toned, indicative of culture and a missionary
spirit. These girls may never be famous, but they will be useful and
successful, which is infinitely better.
* * * * *
*COMMENCEMENT AT FISK UNIVERSITY.*
PRES. E.H. CRAVATH, D.D.
Fisk University held, on the 13th of June, its twenty-third
anniversary, reckoning from the founding of the Fisk School. The
weather was perfect, and all the exercises of the day were highly
satisfactory. Five were graduated from College. One member of the
class had been called away during the year by the death of his
father. The commencement address was delivered by Rev. C.H. Richards,
D.D., of Madison, Wis. Subject, "Making Life Beautiful." The address
was admirable in thought, style and delivery, and greatly delighted
the vast audience of citizens and students. Dr. Richards paid a high
compliment to the graduates, and those who had furnished the music
for the occasion. The commencement dinner called forth very pleasant
reminiscences of the early days, and many confident predictions
concerning; the growth of the University in the future.
One noticeable and hopeful feature of this anniversary was the large
increase in the attendance of alumni. Heretofore, anniversary week
has come before the close of the schools in which the larger part of
our alumni are employed. This year it came three weeks later than
formerly. This change was made to better accommodate the little army
of student-teachers, which is sent out annually to the country public
schools. It was found that by far the larger number of these schools
do not begin until the first of July.
Fisk is fortunate in having alumni who are everywhere noted for their
love and loyalty, and the University points to them and their work
with great pride and rejoicing. The anniversary exercises of the
Alumni Association this year were excellent. Mr. Crosthwait spoke of
"Nehemiah's Plan," and most beautifully and forcibly applied it to
the work to be done by the colored people to build up the walls of
their city. Prof. L.C. Anderson, Principal of Prairie View Normal
School of Texas, spoke of our "Public School System," in a very
instructive way. Mr. Anderson is doing a noble work at Prairie View,
and has made the school the pride of the State which supports it.
Nearly $300 was contributed toward the alumni endowment fund, as the
result of the movement to persuade each graduate to contribute
annually one per cent. of his earnings to help his _alma mater_.
The number of students in the past year has been the largest in the
history of the University. The catalogue shows an enrollment of 475.
There has been marked growth in the numbers in the Department of
Music. Students begin to seek the University for instruction in this
department alone. During the year the Mozart Society rendered the
oratorio of "Elijah," both in the city and at the University, with
marked success.
The address at the graduating exercises of the Normal Department was
delivered by Rev. C.S. Smith of Nashville, Secretary of the
Sunday-school Union of the A.M.E. Church. It was an earnest and
forcible appeal to the colored people of the South to respond to the
efforts made in their behalf by Northern friends, by doing the utmost
possible for themselves. Many readers of the MISSIONARY will remember
Mr. Smith as the delegate of the A.M.E. Church to the Triennial
Council in Chicago. The Sunday-school Union has just purchased a
handsome building on the public square in Nashville as a publishing
house, and under Mr. Smith's management has been eminently
successful.
The missionary sermon on Sunday morning, June 10th, was preached by
Dr. Warren A. Candler, who has just been honored by being elected
President of Emory College, Oxford, Ga. All will remember that this
place was vacated some two or three years ago by Dr. Atticus G.
Haygood, that he might devote himself entirely to the work connected
with the administration of the John F. Slater Fund. Dr. Candler is a
strong, liberal and earnest man, who will wield a great power
wherever he labors.
The President of the University preached the baccalaureate sermon
from the words, "My kingdom is not of this world." The anniversary of
the Literary Societies was held Friday night, June 8th, and the
Senior Preparatory class had its exhibition on Thursday night, the
7th, at which time eleven were admitted to College, having passed
satisfactory examinations. Necessarily the growth of numbers in the
higher departments of education must be slow in the case of
institutions founded for a race so recently emancipated and laboring
under great poverty and unusual disadvantages. This, however, should
serve to strengthen purpose and intensify effort, for it shows the
vital necessity of well-trained leaders from among the people
themselves. Professional training without previous course of liberal
education cannot provide the men that are required for this day and
generation among the colored people of the United States or for
missionaries on the Dark Continent.
* * * * *
*AN HOUR AT STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY.*
BY MRS. A.B. SHATTUCK.
Two Congregational pilgrims found themselves on the first day of
March in New Orleans, prepared to do all the sight-seeing which the
daylight of forty-eight consecutive hours permitted.
On our way in the horse-cars to one of the beautiful cemeteries, we
approached a group of large buildings on the left, and some one said,
"That is the university of the colored people," and then we saw
"Straight University" in bold letters upon the front of the central
building. Now "Straight" was down upon our list of "points," but we
had not looked up its location and supposed it farther from the
center, so we were glad to stop on our return and save an extra trip.
Three plain substantial structures occupy a handsome corner lot,
leaving space for the additions already so much needed. The location
is very fine, so near the heart of the city, upon that broad,
beautiful avenue, whose name is suggestive of anything but breadth
and beauty to New York or Chicago people--Canal street. Windows and
doors were open, and, seeking entrance at the nearest, we found
ourselves in the dining-hall, and were ushered across the yard to the
central building and up a flight of stairs, at the head of which, in
a small, crowded office, was President Hitchcock.
The sight of a tourist at that season, when the city is overrun with
them, could hardly have been more welcome than a book agent to that
busy man, but there was not a trace of annoyance in his greeting. He
sent away his companions and devoted himself to the duties of a
cicerone as cheerfully as though that were the chief end of the
president of a university. We went the rounds of class-rooms, halls
and dormitories, our interest and our leader's enthusiasm continually
increasing.
The primaries are in two long, narrow rooms, lighted only on one side
and not nearly large enough. But how the little throats did roll out
the music and what time they kept, when called upon for a song!
Another treat was a song from a young lady who was practicing in the
music room. The modest grace with which she complied when asked to
sing for us, is almost as pleasant a memory as her beautiful voice.
Up close to the roof, in a low attic, we found the industrial
departments, a printing press and a cabinet shop. Creditable work of
both kinds was shown. A paper is edited and printed by the students,
and the housekeeper of the party shut her eyes and said the tenth
commandment over a certain little table in one corner. Industrial
training is not a specialty at Straight. What is done in that line is
more a recreation than a branch of study. We were told, with evident
pride in the fact, that all the outfit we saw was purchased by the
students themselves. Not a dollar of the funds of the Association had
gone toward it. Every class-room seemed crowded. The statement that
applicants had to be turned away every week needed no confirmation.
Coming so recently from Tougaloo it was interesting to note the
difference between the two institutions. A comparison cannot be
invidious, because they belong to different states in every sense of
the word. Since the aim of the American Missionary Association is the
elevation of the colored people, there is room for a diversity of
institutions and methods. Tougaloo is admirably situated for
industrial departments. Straight has neither room nor time for them,
but meets the demand for a higher grade of scholarship, and draws its
students from a wider range and from a class who have more home
training, more money, and, therefore, more leisure for a full course
of study. They come from the whole circumference of the Gulf, from
Cuba and from Central America. Many more could be drawn from abroad
if there were room to receive them. The most inveterate hatred of
puns can hardly keep one from spelling Straight without the gh. Many
of the students are largely of Creole blood and have the traits of
Gallic ancestry well defined.
"In two respects," said our host, "I have been greatly disappointed.
I was told before I came here that I would have trouble in teaching
the pupils habits of neatness, and that they were naturally lazy. I
find them just the opposite. They are exceptionally neat and tidy
about their persons and their rooms. As for being lazy, we could not
ask for more diligent students as a rule, and they are up in the
morning earlier than we want them to be."
No notes were taken of the many interesting statements made, for
there was no thought of this article then. But the recollection of
the talk as we passed through rooms and halls toward our exit, always
brings regret that the audience had not been two thousand
Congregationalists instead of the two who went their way with a firm
conviction that Straight University is a place where the investment
of a few thousand dollars of the Lord's money would bring speedy and
large returns. It is fortunate that in this case, as in the famous
one of the deacon's wife, all have not the same taste and judgment.
The advocates of industrial training need not hoard their money
because Straight has so little manual labor. Tougaloo will gladly and
wisely use all they have to give. And those who hold that the moral
and intellectual training of teachers and pastors is the only proper
work of such schools, need not look askant at the workshops of
Tougaloo, lest some of their benefactions should be spent for saws or
anvils or solder, while Straight is crying out for room to hold those
who want exactly that kind of training.
* * * * *
*CLOSING EXERCISES AT TILLOTSON.*
Of the six chartered institutions of the A.M.A., Fisk, Atlanta,
Talladega, Tougaloo, Straight and Tillotson, the last is the
youngest, the most remote and the most deprived of Northern aid and
sympathy. In plan and aim its work is identical with theirs; in
quantity its work is less, because, in part, it has less resources,
but in quality we believe our closing exercises would show our work
at least not inferior to some of the others.
Our examinations occupied the whole of Friday and extended through
Monday and Tuesday forenoons. The questionings through which the
students passed were not only creditable to them and their
instructors, but satisfactory to visiting teachers and others invited
to join in testing their knowledge of the studies pursued. The
exhibition of the sewing and the practice of the calisthenic class
attracted special attention.
On Saturday, May 26, came Tillotson Day, designed, like Alumni
Associations, to foster in the minds of present and past students,
not only a love of the institution, but of the great work of
educating and uplifting the colored people. Last year the day was
inaugurated with a programme a little more extended than that of this
year. Among other speakers then Miss M.J. Adams, our first matron and
now our special missionary, gave reminiscences and a gracefully
written narrative of the opening of the school in January, 1881. Mrs.
Judge Garland read a valuable paper on the work done by Tillotson in
connection with her own school in another part of the city. In '81
she sent her older classes up to the Institute. The next year her
large school outside was considered a part of us and so counted in
the catalogue. In '83 she joined our teaching force, naturally
attracting many of her old pupils within our walls. In '84 and '85
she took other work, but neither herself nor Judge Garland has lost
interest in the welfare of the Institute.
This year the Rev. Dr. Wright, our only trustee in Austin, gave us
an excellent address, concluding with extracts from Mr. Tillotson's
letters and a very interesting account of the procuring of the site
on which our building now stands, generally thought to be the finest
and most conspicuous in the city. After this came a few words from
one of the Faculty, and four short speeches from as many
representatives of the students, after which came refreshments and a
social time on the grounds.
On Sunday morning the president preached before the students the
closing sermon of the year. On Tuesday evening the annual concert
and exhibition was given to a full house and an enthusiastic
audience. The commencement exercises of Wednesday, consisting of
essays, original orations and musical pieces, not only brought out
the ability and attainments of the students, but seemed to impress
patrons, friends and visitors present, with the quality of the work
done and the standard maintained at Tillotson.
In spite of some disappointment caused by the great severity of last
year's drought, our numbers have somewhat increased and the year has
been a good one.
Never has the work of _Christian_ education, in which the A.M.A. is
engaged, seemed so absolutely necessary as at this hour in uplifting
the people and purifying the churches.
H.L.H.
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
We are in the midst of the closing exercises of school for the year
past. Some three or four hundred Indians, chiefly relatives of
pupils, are now encamped about us. These have come some as far as
ninety miles, and some few a hundred and twenty-five miles, to attend
the exercises and take their children home.
T.L. RIGGS, OAHE, DAK.
* * * * *
SEWING WOMEN AT FORT BERTHOLD.
To one coming in sight of the Berthold Mission, curiosity would be
aroused by the sight of blanketed forms, two or three together, not
walking side by side, but gliding along, one after another, with
rapid steps toward the mission-house.
It is the afternoon of the Women's Sewing Meeting, and, although it
does not begin until two o'clock, by one the room is generally
full--yes, crowded, so that, in passing around among them, one has
to stumble quite often over feet which have no place of retreat. We
do not pretend to offer chairs to all. The floor holds as many
without chairs as with, even tables and wood-box do not remain empty,
but perched on each are the blanketed forms, from many of which the
blankets have not fallen, at least not more than to show the face
or head. Here the women sit patiently.