months, the people greeted me with enthusiasm, and said to me, “You
find us a united people. God has kept us together during this sad
summer. We are ready for work. When will the revival begin?” I told
them we should begin special meetings with the “Week of Prayer;” but
the time for earnest labor was already at hand to prepare the people
for the work of grace, which I felt sure God had in store for us. Our
prayer meetings were largely attended, and I could see that the Church
were longing and praying for a glorious revival. What a joyful duty it
is to preach to such a people! The “Week of Prayer” came, and with a
deep feeling of dependence upon God we gathered for our first special
meeting. Night after night the attendance increased. Christians yielded
themselves to the spirit of the meetings; the flame of religious fervor
burned more brightly; and when, in sympathy with the Christian world,
we had considered the topics assigned by the Evangelical Alliance,
we felt ready to enter upon the holy work of winning souls, and of
directing all our thoughts and energies to this object. For four
weeks we gathered every night, with an attendance ranging from 80
to 150, seldom falling below 100. Members of other churches flocked
in; unconverted men and women heard the good news and joined the
waiting throng. The result has been joyful—blessed—glorious. In
some respects I have never witnessed a revival of greater spiritual
power. The work has been quiet as the under-current of a river, but
deep, heart-searching and vital. The number of converts has been less
than in some previous revivals; but when the position and influence of
those who have been reached, one-half of them heads of families, is
considered, the general result is highly important. A few instances
will illustrate the nature of the good work. During a previous revival
a fair young girl was one of the joyful converts. She has been a
steadfast Christian, honoring by a consistent, holy life her vows as
a church member. One year ago she was married to a young man of many
attractive qualities, and the centre of influence in a wide circle
of friends. During this revival not only the husband, but the mother
have found Christ, and to-day there is great joy in that household.
On the night when the mother uttered the exultant cry, “Christ has
set me free; I am redeemed!” the child, who had prayed for her
husband’s and her mother’s conversion, fainted from excess of joy and
emotion. Another mother is made happy by the conversion of her son,
and expresses her joy with fast-falling tears. Now a student from one
of the country parishes yields to conviction and takes his stand as
a Christian. Another, a painter by trade, who says he knew nothing
of Christianity before, seeks earnestly till he finds the Saviour. We
shall never forget his impassioned eloquence when he announced his
conversion. It was the utterance of a deep, overwhelming joy. A young
man, whose home teaching has been all wrong, walks for days beneath the
dark shadow of doubt and fear. On one night he rose in meeting, and
weeping freely said, “Why do I not find peace? Why will not God have
mercy? Oh, pray for me and help me!” Such agony of soul cannot continue
long. It was the profound darkness before the dawn. To-day his faith is
strong and joyful.
There came into our meeting a wife, in whose conversion peculiar
interest was manifested. Listening with eager interest from the first,
she soon became intensely engaged in her own salvation. Near the
close of one of our services she exclaimed, so soon as her emotion
would permit her to speak, “God, have mercy! Everybody pray for me!”
Earnestly she inquired the way of life, and after a brief but bitter
struggle the light came beaming in upon her soul, and she goes from
house to house, spreading the glad tidings and telling what great
things the Lord has done for her. Last year a married woman—a public
school-teacher—experienced this blessed change of heart, and the
religion of Christ has been the absorbing theme of her life since. Now
her daughter, an interesting girl of sixteen, shares the faith of the
mother, who says, “Have I not reason for loving God as I do?” One who
became a Christian years ago, but who, through indifference, had lapsed
from the enjoyment of the Christian life, has been recovered. When she
sought my counsel, I said, “Don’t expect to be converted over again.
Take your place as a Christian woman, and live as a Christian should
live.” The change with her has been like a new conversion. The cloud
has been dispelled, and she rejoices in the restored favor of God.
On the last night of our special services fully 150 people were
present. I think we shall begin another special campaign the 1st of
March. Pray for us that a great light may be kindled here, which God
will never suffer to go out. Oh, the progress of this dear church these
last three years! Their self-respect, their pure lives, their faith in.
God, give cause for Christian confidence, affection and recognition.
The true church of God will not withhold them.
* * * * *
TENNESSEE.
=Fisk University—The Day of Prayer, etc.=
PRES. E. M. CRAVATH, NASHVILLE.
The meeting for prayer for the Association and its work was held on
Monday afternoon, January 6, at three o’clock, in the chapel. The
number in attendance was very large, and there was an unusual freedom
in prayer and a deep and tender interest in all the exercises. Prof.
Bennett spoke of the falling off in receipts, of which you had made
mention in a recent letter to him, and this called forth very earnest
supplication that God would move men’s hearts to liberal giving, so
that the good work among their people might not suffer. The occasion
was one of unusual interest.
There have been two very clear and interesting cases of conversion
since Christmas, and some among us are anxious. There has not yet been
so large an increase in the number of students since New Years as we
had expected. The weather has been intensely cold and money seems to be
very scarce.
The health of teachers and pupils is good. At the Baptist Institute
they were compelled to suspend school on Monday because of sickness
resulting from the unusual cold and exposure.
* * * * *
=Woman’s Work—Relief Fund—Health Matters—Cottage Meetings—Northern
Helpers.=
MISS HATTIE A. MILTON, MEMPHIS.
The outlook seems much more encouraging this year than last, for
several reasons, one of the most important of which is, that the
relief fund gives us access to many more families. Last Sabbath five
new scholars came to Sunday-school, all from families which had been
benefited by the relief. One of the boys, eleven years old, who belongs
to a very poor family, but who is quite a hero among his neighbors,
because of his honesty and industry, I often met last year with others
on the commons, but he could not come to Sunday-school because he was
so ragged. As he was very anxious to attend, a suit of clothes was
given him last week, and Sabbath morning he came to the church before
his teacher was dressed for breakfast, and waited patiently during the
three hours until the exercises began, enjoying his improved appearance.
The past few weeks have been very cold for this climate, and many a
widow with her little children has been made to rejoice as she gathered
her family around the bright fire and partook of the wholesome food
provided by the A. M. A. relief. The yellow fever made terrible havoc
in many families—indeed in some none are left to tell the tale of woe!
For a few days, now, the weather has been very warm and there is much
sickness, and the death rate is very high among the colored people—in
many cases, no doubt, resulting from want of proper attention. A few
days since I visited a man suffering with indigestion and cold; he had
called a doctor, but was not relieved; his wife was anxious to help
him, but knew not what to do; so she was told to let the light in from
behind, instead of in front of the patient, as it was very painful to
his eyes, then to apply cloths wet in hot water to the aching head and
chest, and hot bricks, steaming with vinegar, to his feet. In half an
hour he was relieved and the next day was almost well, only needing
directions about food and ventilation. This is but an instance among
many of those who suffer for the want of such simple remedies, of the
use of which they have no knowledge. As the demand for nurses has been
very great during the past year, we propose giving some attention to
this branch in our school, which has filled up since Christmas and is
doing well.
The industrial department is getting in good working order. I have
about forty women and girls under my general supervision, the more
experienced assisting me in teaching the others to cut and make
garments. They seem much interested in the work. This department is
looked upon with approval by most of the people, as but few mothers are
capable of teaching their daughters these accomplishments, though they
are very anxious that they should learn them.
My field of work is already twice as large as last year. Members of
the different churches welcome me into their houses, and invite their
neighbors to our cottage meetings, of which we have five every week in
different neighborhoods. The pastor of the leading Methodist church
here gave me the names of several members of his church who would be
glad to have me hold mothers’ meetings in their houses, which was a
great help in my work, as it did much to remove the suspicion with
which they have regarded me. Some who are not professed Christians have
invited me to their houses, saying they hope by so doing they may see
the way more clearly. Many colored people look upon the epidemic of the
past season as a judgment from God on account of their sins, and try to
be more religious lest a worse evil befall them.
The Ladies’ Missionary Society, of Roseville, Ill., have become
interested in this work, and have forwarded a box, for which we are
thankful.
The “Little Girls,” of Crete, Ill., who last year sent a box, have this
year formed a society, which they have named “_The Milton Busy Bees_,”
have met every two weeks, and with their friends have prepared a box
of very valuable clothing, which has been received, and has made many a
heart beat warmer. May God bless all our kind friends at the North who
aid us so much by these substantial signs of their sympathy.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
=Summary of Mission Work among the Chinese.=
REV. WM. C. POND, SAN FRANCISCO.
At the annual meeting of the California Chinese Mission I was requested
to append to the report then presented an account of the work of other
missions. I venture to hope that that account will be of interest to
the readers of the MISSIONARY, and offer it as my contribution for this
month. The facts were obtained not from printed reports, but by special
inquiries.
=The Presbyterian Mission= reports four evening mission schools, one in
each of the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento and San José,
with an average attendance of 70, 60, 35 and 24 respectively. Four
American missionaries, speaking the Chinese language, are employed,
four Chinese preachers, and six other teachers. There is also, in San
Francisco, a day school for boys and girls, with two teachers, one
English and one Chinese, and an average attendance of twelve pupils.
There are six preaching places, three in San Francisco, three in
Oakland, two in Sacramento, and two in San José. Twenty religious
services are held each week, with an attendance which varies from a
very few to one hundred. Two Chinese churches have been organized, one
in San Francisco and the other in Oakland. The former has 40 members,
of whom two were received the past year. The latter has 29 members,
of whom six were added the last year. The San Francisco church has
been in existence many years, and has received to membership from its
organization 103 persons. In connection with the Sacramento Mission,
21 Christian Chinese have been received to the Presbyterian Church of
that city; fifteen are still members of the church, and of these, eight
were received last year. In connection with the San José school there
are seven Christian Chinese, members of the Presbyterian church of that
city.
=The Ladies’ Foreign Missionary Society= of the Presbyterian church
sustains in San Francisco a Home for Chinese women, which has now
eleven inmates, who must, of course, be not only taught, but sheltered
and boarded, and, often, protected from the brutes in human form who
claim to be their owners.
The total number of laborers connected with the Presbyterian Mission is
thus seen to be fifteen. The total average attendance at the schools,
212. The total number of church members, from the first, is 160, of
whom 69 have been removed by dismissal to churches in China, by death,
or by the dropping of their names from the roll. The total number who
hear the gospel from the lips of the missionaries or native preachers
cannot be estimated, but must run far up into the hundreds, if not into
the thousands.
Of the =Methodist Chinese Mission=, Rev. Dr. Gibson, Superintendent,
makes the following succinct and clear report:
“Five evening and day schools, with a total average attendance of
149; five Sunday-schools, with a total average attendance of 246;
four preaching places, with a total average attendance of 170; public
preaching, daily prayer meetings, praise meetings, class meeting and
Bible class, weekly, 78 Chinese members and 10 probationers; baptisms
last year—adults, 19; children, 3; cost of girls’ boarding-school,
$1,900; cost of all other work, $7,600.
“One of our schools is a boarding school for Chinese girls and women.
We call it the ‘Asylum.’ As to churches, our plan is a little different
from yours. We have classes at different places, but all are members of
the one church at San Francisco.”
At Los Angeles, from a Chinese Mission School, which was sustained for
many years by the California Chinese Mission, twenty in all have united
with the Presbyterian church in that city.
=The United Presbyterian Church.=—This church, also, sustains a
mission school in Oakland, which has an average attendance of about
forty pupils.
=The Woman’s Union Mission= to Chinese Women and Children has been in
operation nearly nine years. As its name indicates, it is a union work,
and is sustained for the most part by ladies in the different churches
of San Francisco and Oakland. The Society has been aided materially
this last year by the Chinese themselves, having received a gift in
money from the “Six Companies,” and also from the Chinese merchants.
The special work of this Mission is among Chinese children, and for
them a day school is sustained in the second story of the old “Globe
Hotel,” at the corner of Dupont and Jackson streets. With this special
work is also combined visitation among Chinese families. The number of
scholars on the roll the past year is fifty-two. Thirty-two of these
are boys and twenty girls. There are two teachers employed, an English
teacher and a teacher of Chinese. The running expenses of this Society
are about eighty-five dollars a month.
If, now, I add to this statement the following statistics touching _our
own_ =Congregational Mission=, the exhibit of missionary work among the
Chinese in California will be complete.
We maintain 11 schools: at Oakland, Petaluma, Sacramento; in San
Francisco, the Central, Barnes and Bethany; San Leandro, Santa Barbara,
Stockton, Visalia and Woodland; in which 16 teachers are employed.
1,492 pupils have been enrolled during the year. The average attendance
for the 12 months’ has been 244–647 being the largest number reported
in any single month. 93 profess to have ceased from idol worship, and
75 give evidence of conversion.
There is, outside these organized missions, considerable work done
by the churches in Chinese Sunday-schools, no complete or reliable
statistics of which could be easily obtained. At those sustained by
Congregational churches the total average attendance is, of pupils
about 250, and of teachers about 100.
There is furthermore, we may trust, in Christian households scattered
throughout the State, a work done for Chinese employed in them, which
cannot be reported here, but whose record is on high. There, too, its
fruit will appear, gathered into everlasting life.
* * * * *
AFRICA.
* * * * *
A CHRISTMAS IN AFRICA.
MRS. H. L. JACKSON, AVERY STATION.
To-day we have celebrated the birth of our dear Saviour. The first
thing was the giving of presents to the laborers, which Mr. Jackson did
from his own earnings. It was the custom of the former missionaries to
give the laborers each a Christmas present, and they are not a people
who forget very soon any favor shown them by the former missionaries.
This present consisted of two goats and two bushels of rice, which was
divided among them. I watched with pleasure their happy faces as each
one received his portion.
At ten o’clock the first bell rang for services, and at the ringing of
the second bell the chapel was filled to its utmost capacity with the
heathen, who came from miles around to hear and learn of Jesus, and
why we celebrate this eventful day. There were so many present that
we were obliged to bring in extra seats. They gave very good attention
and seemed to drink in the truths of Jesus Christ as they were given
them. It would have been encouraging to you could you have seen them
when they were told that this dear Saviour whom we celebrate is a God
who hears in Mendi, Sherbro, Timony and all other languages, and if
they come to Him with pure and contrite hearts He will wash away their
sins and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. From their cheerful
countenances one could read that their happy hearts sung forth praises
to God. I am, as you may know, a lover of singing, so we selected
some of the most beautiful and appropriate hymns for the occasion. As
we sung, I, like the heathen, could but exclaim praise to God in the
highest. Surely Africa will be redeemed from the curse of ignorance and
sin, and her sons and daughters learn to bow in reverence to the true
and living God.
After service, Mr. Jackson and I prepared a dinner, to which we invited
the chiefs of the Bargroo river. They seemed to enjoy themselves very
much indeed. The dinner consisted, as nearly as possible, of their
country dishes and a plenty of pure cold water. Having a country cook,
the dishes were all served up in regular country style. We had our
interpreter to dine with them, so that we might be able to converse
with them on the meaning of Christmas day and how they should celebrate
it.
We are greatly encouraged to go forward in the work. It is true that it
is a hard and tedious one, but when we lean on Jesus it is made light.
You would, perhaps, be pleased to know of some of our encouragements.
There is an unusual amount of interest manifested on the part of the
natives in religion. They take hold of the truths imparted to them as
if their souls were thirsty for the living bread of heaven. They are
also gradually laying aside their country fashions, such as gregrees,
charms and fetiches. All of these are features of interest to one who
labors among them.
* * * * *
Although we are thus encouraged, the habit of drinking rum is spreading
among them. This is a great curse to Africa. No evil could be
perpetrated among these people more injurious to them than the selling
of rum. Really, many of them seem to think that rum is the staff of
life, and in order to exist they must have it. This idea has been
brought to them through the medium of a civilized people, whose highest
aim should be to wipe this evil practice out of existence. Mr. Jackson
endeavored to impress upon their minds as clearly as possible the great
sin of drinking rum, and I am sure that many were convinced of it.
* * * * *
The church is progressing both in interest and in strength. The first
Sunday in this month was communion day. The presence of the Lord seemed
near each one. Five persons joined the church and were baptized. Among
the number was one chief. We have now three chiefs belonging to our
church, and we believe that they are really converted men.
* * * * *
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
* * * * *
LITTLE SALLIE.
PROFESSOR A. K. SPENCE, OF FISK UNIVERSITY.
(Written from Dundee, Scotland.)
Little Sallie was born a slave, but became free through the
Emancipation Proclamation of Abraham Lincoln. She had learned to read
elsewhere, but came to the school connected with Fisk University to
pursue her studies still further. There she soon saw she was a sinner,
and needed a Saviour. She sought long, but did not find peace to
her soul. She was very sorrowful, and her trouble appeared in her
down-cast face. She often sighed and sometimes wept. She prayed much
and read her Bible. Her teachers felt sad for poor little Sallie.
At last light came. The Bible says, “Sorrow continueth for a night,
but joy cometh in the morning.” Her joy was great. Any one could see
that she had met a change. Her countenance was all aglow. A sweet smile
played on her lips. Her voice was full of music as she told what God
had done for her. Her eye kindled as she spoke of her dear Saviour.
All the affection of her young heart was given to him. It was sweet to
listen to her prayers, in which she often said, _dear Jesus_.
But Sallie wished to do something for Him who had done so much for her.
All young converts feel in that way. Old Christians feel so, too. Paul
says, “The love of Christ constraineth us.” But what could she do? She
was so young, and only a girl. Even if she were a woman, she could not
go into the pulpit and preach. Only men do that. What could she do!
This perplexed little Sallie.
One of her teachers, knowing her trouble, said to her, “Well, Sallie,
you can read, can you not?” “Oh, yes!” she replied, for she was a good
reader. “There are many colored people who were long slaves, and cannot
read, are there not? Would not you like to read the Bible to some of
them?”
This thought pleased little Sallie. Soon after she put on her hat, took
her Bible, and went out, Christ’s little missionary. She stood erect,
she stepped light, she looked happy; she was going out to do good for
Jesus. No doubt His love was warm in her heart just then. We always
feel love to God when for His sake we try to do good to men.
She did not know it, but the teacher who suggested her mission followed
to see what she would do. When she turned a street corner, he turned it
soon after her. At last she entered a little house, such as many of the
colored people live in. It was made of boards, one story high, and had
only one room. The day was warm. The door was open. He went to it and
looked in. I will try to tell you what he saw.
Sallie sat in a chair with her Bible in her lap, reading. One colored
woman was, seemingly, busy at a table, ironing clothes. But her
iron went back and forth nearly in the same place, while she looked
away, eyes and mouth open, to little Sallie, to whom she listened
attentively. Another had ceased from her work, and, leaning against
the wall, looked down upon our little missionary in a most loving,
motherly way. A third was sitting at her feet and gazing with her
great, dark face into the face of Sallie, who, in a low, sweet voice,
was reading: “He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for
our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with
His stripes we are healed.” Was it not beautiful? You know this is a
prophesy of Christ, written many hundred years, before the sufferings
it describes, which Jesus bore for us. Find the fifty-third chapter of
Isaiah and read it for yourselves, my young friends, and think that
Sallie read it to those poor colored women; and as you go over these
verses, may the same love and joy fill your hearts as filled hers.
* * * * *
Remember, also, that you, too, may be workers for Christ in some way.
It may not be in Sallie’s way. She used to sing “There’ll be something
in Heaven for children to do.” There is something for them to do on
earth, too. Seek God’s guidance and He will show you what. Christ says
that if we give even a cup of water to any one, for His sake, we shall
not lose our reward. Sallie did not work for pay, but she had her
reward in the consciousness that she was pleasing Jesus and doing good
to those women.
* * * * *
Many years have passed since the time of this narrative. Little Sallie
is now a young woman. Through the aid of kind friends she completed
the course of studies in the Normal department of Fisk University, and
is now teaching colored children in the far-off State of Texas. The
freed people of the South need such teachers; they need also ministers
of their own race; and many missionaries are needed for Africa.
* * * * *
One way, my dear young friends, in which you can serve the Lord, is
this: Help us to educate these young people. When you put a little
piece of money into the box for this cause and for Jesus’ sake, He sees
it and will say to you in the last day: “Inasmuch as ye have done it
unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
* * * * *
RECEIPTS
FOR JANUARY, 1879.
* * * * *
MAINE, $749.02.
Bangor. Hammond St. Ch. (bal.) $34.41; Hammond St.
Sab. Sch. $15 $49.41
Brownville. Hon. A. H. Merrill, $100; Cong. Ch.
and Soc. $15 115.00
Buxton. Rev. Joseph Kyte 3.00
Gorham. First Cong. Ch. to const. SAMUEL T. DOLE,
MOSES FOGG and JOHN S. LEAVIT L. M.’s 83.21
Hallowell. Emma French, half bbl. of C
Machins. “A Friend.” 3.00
Monson. Rev. R. W. Emerson 20.50
North Dixmont. Mrs. M. E. K. 1.00
Norway. Mrs. Mary K. Frost 5.00
Portland. State St. Ch., $344.90;
High St. Cong. Ch., $100 444.00
Searsport. J. Y. B. 1.00
Skowhegan. Mrs. L. W. Weston, $5; Miss S. A. T., $1 6.00
South Bridgton. Mrs. R. Hale; 3.00
Wells. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. (ad’l) 0.50
Winthrop. Mrs. E. H. N. 1.00
Yarmouth. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.50
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $10,653.97.