having received training in a Christian school, where I was led to
Christ and felt called to the Christian ministry. When I lived on the
plantation, before I went to Mobile and received instruction in the
Christian school, I had heard the uneducated colored ministers preach
and they had endeavored to lead me to Christ, but I could not accept
Christ in the way they had presented Him to me. I remember well how they
told us that in order to find Christ we must fast and pray for a number
of days. I remember, too, the unsuccessful attempt which I made to give
myself to Jesus in this way. I was a farm boy and was plowing hard every
day, and it was hard work for a boy of my age to follow the mule all day
in the tough grass, and I always felt like eating when meal time came,
but still I tried to become a Christian by doing as the minister said I
must, and so for a few days I ate no breakfast, no dinner, and no
supper, though I worked on. They told us, also, that we must not go to
bed at night, for if we did the wicked one would make us sleep all night
and we would fail to pray through the night, and they said we must pray
all night. For several nights I did not go to bed at all, but would lie
down upon the doorstep that I might get up often through the night and
go down the hill to pray, for we were instructed to "go down in the
valley." Of course after a few days I became tired, sleepy and
discouraged, and gave up. I did not make another attempt till I became a
student in Emerson Institute. One of the lady teachers in that school
became interested in my soul's salvation. She read the Bible to me,
talked to me, and prayed for me, and made the way of life and salvation
seem so plain and simple that it was not long before I accepted the Lord
Jesus as my Saviour.
My heart overflows with gratitude to that Christian lady whenever I
think of my conversion. There is no favor which one person can do for
another so great as that of leading him to Christ.
Soon after I was converted I felt inclined to enter the ministry, and
was advised to go to Talladega College and there take a theological
course. I wanted to go but did not see any way to get there, to say
nothing of how I was to stay there, but a lady from the North had been
visiting one of our lady teachers at Mobile, and heard me deliver an
oration in a prize contest. She said she liked it, and after she went
back home she sent me $25 to help me in my education. I had been praying
that a way might open for me to go to Talladega, and I felt that the $25
came in answer to prayer. I used up the money in getting ready and in
going to Talladega. I wrote Dr. G.W. Andrews, who has for a number of
years been instructor in theology there, that I was anxious to go and
enter his department, but I had no money, and he wrote me, if I had
money enough to get there, to come on. Thank God that I went, and that a
way was provided for me to stay there and finish the course of study;
and now I am out in the ministry and trying to do something for Him who
has so wonderfully led me and blessed me.
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
* * * * *
PERILS OF MISSIONARY LIFE.
Rev. T.L. Riggs, our missionary at Oahe, Dakota, thus describes the loss
of a team and the peril of his fellow missionary, Rev. J.F. Cross:
"I wished to cross my team on the ice to the west side of the Missouri
and keep it there for use during the breaking up of the river. Being
very busy with some writing, I asked Mr. Cross to take my team over when
he started to return to the White River, sending a man with him. Mr.
Cross's team went over safely, but mine, which Mr. Cross himself was
driving, broke through and were drowned, in spite of every effort of the
two men. Mr. Cross had a narrow escape. He managed to save the wagon,
but the horses went down with harness on as they were driven. Mr. Cross
took the loss so to heart, that together with the strain and agony of
the moment, it quite prostrated him. He started for White River in a day
or two after, though I felt that he was hardly fit to go."
* * * * *
FIRST FRUITS.
REV. C.L. HALL, FORT BERTHOLD, DAK.
In the fall of 1879, a young Gros-Ventre Indian named _Dahpitsishesh_,
"The Bear's Tooth," began to attend the day school at Fort Berthold, and
although he was over twenty years old and not very quick to learn, he
surpassed the younger pupils by his industry. He attended the day
school, in the day time or in the evening, quite regularly during the
winter, and became a help to the missionary in translating parts of
Scripture into the Gros-Ventre language.
He wore his long hair braided behind, and banged and plastered with clay
in front so that it stood upright, and he dressed in blanket, breech
clout, leggings and moccasins, and the lower joints of several of his
fingers were cut off in accordance with the Indian custom of mutilating
themselves at the burial of a friend. His first appearance to a new
teacher who came the following spring caused her no little trepidation,
but she soon learned to prize him as her best pupil, and the next year
the influence of God's word upon him was seen by his saying, after
recounting some of his Gros-Ventre religious fables, in which his belief
had been shaken; "I have been coming to school now more than a year.
Since reading these books about God and angels I cannot sleep at night,
but have had dreams. I think some harm will come to me. I am poor and
cannot help myself, but I pray God to keep me from harm, and I want to
trust him."
From that time on, we hoped he would take a decided stand for Christ. As
yet, none among his people had been converted. A few passages of the
Bible and a few words of song had been given to the Gros-Ventres in
their own tongue, and every Sabbath there were attentive Indian
listeners, but would there ever be a Gros-Ventre convert? "The Bear's
Tooth" continued to come to us, and learned to understand quite fully
the requirements of our faith. He became a trusted helper in charge of
the mission cattle and the milking, working regularly as few Indians
would do at Berthold, and he soon had stock of his own in which he took
great pleasure. He read the Bible on Sabbath afternoons with one who was
soon called to her reward; it was almost her last prayer that he might
be saved. He came in spite of dissuasions, jeers, and even persecutions
from his people, and yet he took no stand for Christ. Three years after,
there were Indian inquirers, and he helped to explain to them the
demands of Christ, but they all felt that "the way was too hard for
them" and "went away sorrowful."
Some of the young people who had been taken away to school and removed
from the opposition of their people had confessed Christ, but there were
none to face it here and say that they loved him. "The Bear's Tooth"
took a wife in the Indian way, unwilling to marry, and removed, as it
seemed, away from our influence, to a claim forty miles up the river
from our mission station.
But God dealt with him and afflicted him in the loss of his babes, and
of his stock, so that he said, "It seems as though I could acquire
nothing. Explain it to me; the Indians say it is because I follow your
teaching." I taught him from the book of Job, and the words of Christ.
His soul was hungry, and when he came once in two weeks for his
government rations, he sought the bread of life at the mission. Finally,
after nearly eight years, one summer day he came and sat on a bench in
the shade of the house in a little flower garden, and after we had
talked awhile, he said to the missionary: "Good Voice, now I can; I will
be faithful to my own wife, I will keep Sunday, I will pray and avoid
the dances and other heathen customs; when you think best I will come
down and be received into the church." That was a glad moment. To clasp
the hand of the first Gros-Ventre brother in Christ, won through a
strange tongue and from a people who had sat in darkness for eighteen
hundred years since the great light shone in Galilee!
I said, "Bring your wife and friends with you to Christ." He went home
but soon returned, saying sorrowfully: "My wife and my friends are none
of them willing. If I join I think it must be alone." "Well," I said,
"let it be so," and it was. His clothes were second-hand and old, and he
had no natural attractiveness of appearance; but in a simple, manly,
determined way, he made his confession and was baptized before an
audience of Indians in the little mission chapel, (July, 1887), a poor
Indian, but another Daniel standing alone.
Then, as the man of Gergesa, he went home to tell his neighbors what God
had done for him. He had a Bible in Dakota, of which language he
understood something, and a few Gros-Ventre translations in writing, and
some attempts at hymns, and some pictures. With these he preached, in
neighbors' houses, and then he would report to me of his reception, and
ask me questions about the Christian life. A veritable man "Friday" had
come to me; I was no longer alone. Then why did his health fail, and he
forty miles away where I could not see him? But so God willed. Soon they
brought me the word: Your friend has gone. I gathered up his last words,
questioning his wife and lame old father. He wanted to see _his friend_
and tell him some things. He thought he did see him come in and then go
out before he could speak. He said, "I thought it was difficult, but I
joined with those who pray, and I find now it is only a _short_ way. I
am going above." With his last breath and his Bible open, he asked to be
shown the way, that he might go in it.
The influence of a genuine life is strongest at home, and so it comes
that the wife is seeking to follow her husband. There are other converts
with us now, but we shall never forget this first Gros-Ventre "friend,"
(madakina); and although the story of his life is not a peculiar one to
white men, nay for that very reason, we are glad to write this record of
a once lowly, but now glorified, believer.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
LOS ANGELES CONGREGATIONAL CHINESE MISSION.
BY REV. ROBERT G. HUTCHINS.
Our First Church has recently enjoyed two peculiarly impressive
occasions; one the anniversary on the 17th of last month, of the Chinese
school, established by Dr. Pond; the other the reception, on the 3d
instant, of six Chinese brethren to church membership. To appreciate the
significance of these scenes, one must remember how contemptuous is the
prejudice which prevails on this coast against these inoffensive
strangers.
Nine or ten young Chinamen delivered addresses at the anniversary. They
spoke with remarkable simplicity, perspicuity and accuracy of English
pronunciation. In view of their perfect self-possession and propriety of
manner in the presence of the crowded congregation, one could scarcely
realize that nearly all of them were utterly inexperienced in public
speaking. The success of these humble representatives gave a hint of the
possibilities of a Christianized China. One of the speakers gave an
account of the conversion, sickness, death and Christian burial of a
member of the school, a youth of eighteen. The heathen relatives and
friends had attributed the illness to the boy's desertion of the
religion of his fathers, and had begged him to allow the burning of
idolatrous incense. But he had calmly resisted their appeals, and, in an
alien land, far from his father and mother, had pillowed his dying head
on the breast of the Saviour of mankind.
Low Quong, who superintends the mission, and who is true-hearted,
prudent and influential with his countrymen, showed with clearness, the
relation between the conversion of the Chinese in California and the
evangelization of China. It was news to many of his hearers that the
Christian Chinese of America are supporting native missionaries of their
own in China.
The recitation by the school in concert of some of the sweetest and most
familiar of the Psalms and Scriptural promises, melted the hearts of the
hearers into sympathy. The old truths borrowed a new tenderness and
emphasis from these voices accustomed to recite heathen prayers. The
pupils sang in solo, in duet and in chorus. When "Over the Ocean Wave"
was rendered, some of us queried in our minds on which side of the ocean
wave God thinks the poor heathen live--the side from which these gentle
friends have come, or the side where their countrymen receive such
unchristian welcome?
Nothing could more effectually knock in the head mean prejudice than the
grateful words and kind spirit which characterized this anniversary.
Whatever may be the prospect of the Chinese over-running us, they
certainly _had_ us that Sunday evening. Mrs. Sheldon, who has had large
experience in the work, and Miss Watson, are devoting themselves to the
mission with a beautiful fidelity and consecration.
Dr. Pond, who conducted the anniversary service, closed with an address
only too brief, but most felicitous and convincing. To the opponents of
Chinese immigration he is accustomed to reply: "Can there be any better
way of keeping the Chinese at home than to have it known among the
fathers in China that their sons, if they come to this country, are
likely to be Christianized?"
Nothing could be sweeter or more cordial than the spirit of welcome with
which the six Chinese brethren were received into covenant. Not an
officer or member breathed an objection to their reception. Had there
been in any heart any lurking Phariseeism concerning them, it would have
been rebuked, if not exorcised, by hearing them sing with us at the
Lord's table, in broken accents, "Rock of Ages," by observing their
devout bearing and by witnessing the affecting baptismal scene. These
brethren came to the church approved by Dr. Pond, by the Chinese
missionary, Low Quong, and by the vote of the Christian Association, and
after an examination by the pastor.
* * * * *
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
MISS D.E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.
* * * * *
WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS.
CO-OPERATING WITH THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
ME.--Woman's Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. C.A. Woodbury,
Woodfords, Me.
VT.--Woman's Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. Henry Fairbanks,
St. Johnsbury, Vt.
VT.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Ellen Osgood, Montpelier,
Vt.
CONN.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Hotchkiss, 171
Capitol Ave., Hartford, Conn.
MASS. and R.I.--Woman's Home Miss. Association, Secretary, Miss Natalie
Lord, Boston, Mass.[1]
N.Y.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. William Spalding, Salmon
Block, Syracuse, N.Y.
ALA.--Woman's Missionary Union, Secretary, Miss. S.S. Evans, Birmingham,
Ala.
MISS.--Woman's Miss. Union, Secretary, Miss Sarah J. Humphrey. Tougaloo,
Miss.
TENN. and ARK.--Woman's Missionary Union of Central South Conference,
Secretary, Miss Anna M. Cahill, Nashville, Tenn.
LA.--Woman's Miss. Union, Secretary, Miss Jennie Fyfe, 490 Canal St.,
New Orleans. La.
OHIO.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Flora K. Regal,
Oberlin, Ohio.
IND.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. W.E. Mossman, Fort
Wayne, Ind.
ILL.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C.H. Taintor, 151
Washington St., Chicago, Ill.
MINN.--Woman's Home Miss. Society, Secretary, Miss Katharine Plant, 2651
Portland Avenue, Minneapolis, Minn.
IOWA.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Miss Ella E. Marsh,
Grinnell, Iowa.
KANSAS.--Woman's Home Miss. Society, Secretary, Mrs. G.L. Epps. Topeka,
Kan.
MICH.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Mary B. Warren,
Lansing, Mich.
WIS.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C. Matter, Brodhead,
Wis.
NEB.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. L.F. Berry, 734 N Broad
St., Fremont, Neb.
COLORADO.--Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Packard,
Pueblo, Colo.
DAKOTA--Woman's Home Miss. Union, President, Mrs. T.M. Hills, Sioux
Falls; Secretary, Mrs. W.R. Dawes, Redfield; Treasurer, Mrs. S.E.
Fifield, Lake Preston.
[Footnote 1: For the purpose of exact information, we
note that while the W.H.M.A. appears in this list as a
State body for Mass, and R.I., it has certain
auxiliaries elsewhere.]
We would suggest to all ladies connected with the auxiliaries of State
Missionary Unions, that funds for the American Missionary Association
be sent to us through the treasurers of the Union. Care, however,
should be taken to designate the money as for the American Missionary
Association, since _undesignated funds will not reach us_.
* * * * *
The Woman's Home Missionary Association, which has its office in the
Congregational House in Boston, held its semi-annual meeting in
Providence, April 3d, the first since it has come into co-operation with
the American Missionary Association in its administration and with the
other national benevolent societies. Rev. G.A. Hood represented the
Congregational Union, Rev. Joshua Coit, the American Home Missionary
Society, Rev. J.A. Hamilton, D.D., the College and Education Society,
Rev. C.J. Ryder, the American Missionary Association, and the Rev. G.M.
Boynton, D.D., the Congregational Sunday-school and Publishing Society.
These all expressed their sympathy with the closer alliance of the
Woman's Association with the national societies through which they have
elected to work, and to which they have committed the administration of
their benevolence in their respective fields. We cordially welcome the
Woman's Home Missionary Association as the representative of the States
of Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the sisterhood of co-operative
societies.
* * * * *
At the meeting of the Woman's Missionary Association of Alabama, held in
connection with the Congregational Conference at Mobile, April 1st, the
Constitution was amended, enlarging the sphere of work to cover both
home and foreign missions, and thus we have the "Woman's Missionary
Union of the State of Alabama." The actual working of this woman's
organization had already been varied. It was most interesting at their
meeting to hear the reports of the auxiliaries. All reported aid to
their respective churches and relief to the destitute in their parishes,
and then their contributions took other directions--to the American
Missionary Association for its Indian work; to the American Board for a
girl in Smyrna; for a Hindoo girl; for work in South Africa; to the Home
Missionary Society for work in the West. Thus these churches in the
South are being trained to a world-wide interest in missions.
* * * * *
THREE NEW ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SOUTH.
A Woman's Missionary Union for the State of Louisiana was organized in
connection with the Congregational Association of the State. The meeting
of ladies was well attended, and the interest was manifested in their
hearty response in favor of joining the sisterhood of State Unions. The
officers of the Union were selected from both the white and colored
churches, the church at Hammond being thus represented.
At the annual meeting of the General Association of Congregational
churches of Mississippi, which met at Tougaloo, March 28th, a Woman's
Missionary Union was organized. Mrs. A.V. Whiting was chosen President,
Miss Julia Sauntry, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Miss S.J.
Humphrey, Secretary. Although it is but a small beginning, we hope the
day is not far distant when Mississippi will take her place with other
States in missionary work.
The Woman's Missionary Union of the Central South Conference was
organized April 13th, at Knoxville, Tenn.; Secretary, Miss Anna M.
Cahill, of Nashville.
* * * * *
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
* * * * *
HOW THE PENNIES GREW.
Not the pennies that lay hidden away in the bank, nor the pennies that
were spent for candy. O no; but the honest, hard-working pennies that
had a work to do and the heart to do it.
These work-a-day pennies fell into the hands of a mission band called
"Willing Workers." It was in the summer-time when they began to stir
about and see what they could do for missions, and when winter came
along there was a pleasant little festival, and the pennies came
together, and brought just as many with them as they possibly could.
For these were "talent" pennies, and they had been invested for the
Lord. One of the very pleasant features of the festival was the reading
of little papers, telling how the pennies grew. And we are going to let
the children see some of these very papers. For all this is exactly
true, and took place in a pleasant village in the State of New York.
About ten dollars grew out of a little more than twenty pennies. We have
not room to publish all the little papers, telling how the pennies grew
into dollars, though all are of great interest. In some cases the
original penny was invested, and then turned over and over. This is an
instance:
"With the original cent I bought some darning-cotton and darned
stockings, some for a cent a stocking, but most of them for a cent a
hole. I then bought thread and crocheted some lace which I sold for 25
cents. I hemmed two aprons for 5 cents apiece, and some towels for one
cent apiece. Afterward, I bought another card of darning-cotton. After
paying for the thread and cotton, I have left the sum of one dollar.--
PHEBE."
"Rosie," who brought in $1.66, says nothing about her penny, but tells
how she earned money, as: "Hitching up horse for grandpa, 10 cents;
topping carrots, 12 cents; keeping the fowls off the wheat, 25 cents;
sweeping, 17 cents," etc., all showing honest, hard work. But the penny
started it all, perhaps.
Here is "Nellie's," with an idea in it:
"With my penny I bought a pen and holder, and sold it for 10 cents. I
dug a pailful of potatoes for 3 cents, and mended a hole in grandpa's
sock for one cent. I then bought a little chicken for 5 cents, and let
it grow into a big chicken, and sold it for 36 cents, making a total of
50 cents."
Well done for Nellie!
Only one more of these charming little papers can we give in full,
though we should love to have our little readers see every one of them.
"The first thing I did with my penny, I made some edging which I sold
for 10 cents; then I sewed it on for 5 cents, which made 15. Then mamma
said if I killed 15 flies she would give me a penny, and so I earned 14
cents in that way. Then I had 29 cents. I then took away 25 cents and
bought some ice-cream, and sold it for 8 cents a dish, and received 48
cents for it. Now I had 52 cents. Then I took 8 cents away from it for
some linen, and 4 cents for some braid, with which I made some lace and
sold it for 70 cents, which leaves me $1.11. Then I sold some flowers
for 14 cents, making $1.25. This is what I did with my penny.--LIBBIE."
"Freddie" and "Tusie," little brother and sister of Libbie, did well
with their pennies. Tusie increased hers to 35 cents, while Freddie's
grew to 48 cents. Each of these little people gathered all the string
they could find and made it up into balls, which they sold.
"Meda" made a ruche for grandma, crocheted lace, and speculated in
butter, gaining in all 66 cents.
"Davie," Meda's brother, found a generous customer in grandpa, who
bought a pen-holder and then gave it back to be sold over again. Davie
also speculated in tallow, and increased his penny to 50 cents.
"Helen" invested in a penny tablet, sold it for 3 cents, and crept up by
degrees to the place where she could buy material for an apron which she
sold for 35 cents. She made another apron and a tidy, and cleared 55
cents.
"Lulu" bought a penny rubber and sold it for 2 cents, bought darning
cotton, pins, cloth for apron, etc., and increased her penny to 50
cents.
The pennies have been growing, and that is good. But love has been
growing too, in these young hearts, and that is better!
May the "Willing Worker" bands multiply all over our great land!
S.S. ADVOCATE.
* * * * *
RECEIPTS FOR MARCH, 1889.
MAINE, $179.96.
Camden. David Fowler $1.00
Castine. Prof. Fred W. Foster 1.20
East Otisfield. Mrs. Susan Lovell, 5;
Rev. J. Loring, 2; Mrs. Millie Knight, 1;
Miss Sally Spurr, 1; Mrs. Caroline Turner,
1; Miss Hattie I. Loring, 1; Mrs.
Mary H. Jennings, 1 12.00
Farmington. First Cong. Ch. 18.76
Gardiner. Bbl. of C., _for Selma, Ala._
Hiram. Sewing Material, _for Meridian, Miss._
Madison. Cong. Ch., 27; Cong. Ch. of
North Anson, 5, to const. FRANK DINSMORE
L.M. 32.00
Portland. "A Friend." 5.00
Portland. High St. Sab. Sch., _for Rosebud
Indian M._ 5.00
Portland. King's Daughters, Alpha Ten
Silver Cross, Package of Basted Work,
_for Selma, Ala._
Waterford. Douglass Seminary by Miss
H.E. Douglass, _for Freight to Tougaloo
U._ 5.00
West Falmouth. Second Cong. Ch., Bbl.
of C., _for Macon, Ga._
Woodfords. Bbl. of C., _for Selma, Ala._
Yarmouth. First Parish Ch. 100.00
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $494.52.
Amherst. "L.F.B.," _for Storrs Sch.,
Atlanta, Ga._ 20.00
Atkinson. Joseph Grover 8.00
Berlin Mills. Parish Ch. of Christ 8.46
Concord. "A Friend." 5; "C.L." 50c. 5.50
Dartmouth. Dartmouth Sab. Sch., 25;
Mrs. S.A. Brown, 5, _for Rosebud Indian
M._ 30.00
Dumbarton. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., _for
Mountain Work_ 21.00
Dumbarton. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., _for
Wilmington, N.C._ 10.00
Dumbarton. Miss Lizzie F. Burnham,
(1 of which _for Indian M._) 2.00
Epping. Cong. Ch., 29.65, to const. DR.
FRANK W. SPAULDING L.M.; Mrs. J.N.
Shepard's S.S. Class, 3 32.65
Exeter. Mary E. Shute, 50; "A Friend," 35 85.00
Greenville. Cong. Ch. 17.00
Hanover. Cong. Ch. at Dartmouth College 10.00
Hanover. A.H. Washburn, _for Indian M._ 10.00
Hudson. J.G. Proctor (3 of which _for Jellico,
Tenn._) 10; R.E. Winn, 2 12.00
Kingston. Prof. A. Wood 10.00
Lancaster. Mrs. A.M. Amsden 5.00
Londonderry. Chas. S. Pillsbury 1.00
Mason. Y.P.S.C.E., _for Ind'l 'Sch.,
Thomasville, Ga._ 5.00