English, of Chin Toy. Dr. Pond introduced him as having been a shoemaker
at San Francisco, who, upon conversion, about to be baptized in his
church, was locked into his apartment of the shoeshop by some of his
pagan friends, who thought that after the passing of the baptismal
occasion of Sunday morning he would get over his desire to be a Jesus
man. So, Sunday afternoon, he was released. But at night he appeared at
the Bethany and was baptized into Christ. He is now with Loo Quong, an
A.M.A. evangelist, and at present is serving as "helper" at the San
Diego mission. His address was a logical and eloquent setting forth of
the difficulties in the way of the Chinese becoming Christians; and, at
the end, it was an appeal to American Christians to improve their
opportunity to become missionaries to the heathen whom God had brought
to their door.
Short addresses were then made by Rev. F.B. Perkins, of the Second
Church, and by District Secretary Roy--the former declaring that that
meeting alone was enough to repay all effort in that line; enough to
remove all prejudice. Indeed, only this week, a former pastor of that
church, Rev. J.B. Silcox, now of the East Oakland Church, told me that a
similar anniversary held in that same Tabernacle a year ago, had melted
down all prejudice. Indeed, it is now, as in the days of the primitive
Christians: wheresoever it is seen that people of the despised classes
have received the Holy Ghost, that is the end of caste distinction.
"Forasmuch, then, as God gave them the like gift as He did unto us who
had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I that I should
withstand God?"
* * * * *
A COLORED MAN SPEAKS FOR HIS RACE.
Address at the Annual Meeting in Chicago,
BY THE REV. GEO. M. MCCLELLAN.
About eleven years ago, out in the country, near Louisville, there was
born a little colored girl. She was her father's first child, and he was
justly proud of her, and calculated that there must be some fitting name
for her somewhere, and that he must get it out of a book. He could not
read, but he could spell a little, and therefore he got him a copy of
Webster's blue-backed speller, and spelled the book half way through
until he found the word "heterogeneous;" therefore that little girl was
christened "Heterogeneous." This morning this programme was handed to
me, and I saw on it "Chinese, Indian, Negro, White;" and I couldn't help
thinking of Heterogeneous. As I looked over the subjects, and thought
that I would have to speak about something, I thought that "Chinese,
Indian, White man and Negro," was quite a subject for a speech. But I
was inclined to be fair, like a certain minister, who was always
preaching on infant baptism. He preached on infant baptism, no matter
what the text was. The deacons and the people of the church got tired of
it, and they concluded to give him some text that would relate to facts,
before there were any infants. So they turned to the Book of Genesis,
and found the text "Adam, where art thou?" And when the minister came to
the pulpit Sunday morning, the deacons gave this text to him and told
him, "Here is a text we want you to preach upon." He demurred a little
and wondered why they had not given him more time, but finally concluded
to preach on this text. He got up and said: "There are three points in
this text: First, that men are always somewhere; second, that they are
very often where they ought not to be; third, the text is dead set
against infant baptism; and as the time is short, I will speak on point
third." Now, I said to myself that either of these themes was a worthy
one; but as Chinese comes first, Indian second, and Negro third, and, as
the time is brief, I will speak on point third.
Not long ago I saw in an illustrated paper President Harrison with his
Cabinet, represented as all lolling over asleep; and in the group there
stood a Negro, his mouth open, his collar open, his teeth showing, and
with a large scroll in his hand. Beneath this picture was this remark:
"Wake up to the question of the day," and on that scroll which the Negro
had in his hand were the words: "What are you gwine to do with the black
man?"
Now, that question has been asked here indirectly to-day: and, my
friends, do you know that sometimes, as we have heard this question
discussed, we wonder just exactly how people do consider us in this
country. There have been some who have advocated colonization. Some have
said that we would have to be sent back to Africa or out West, or to
South America. One man thinks that extermination will be the final
thing to be resorted to. It may be a fault in my education, it may be
that this American Missionary Association has not educated me all
right--for I am a product of the Association,--but I have been taught to
suppose that we Negroes were free, independent, American citizens, at
liberty to choose where we will stay and how long we will stay. It seems
that very eminent men are discussing the feasibility of sending us to
Africa, and whether it is wise to go to the expense if it is thought
best to send us there. Now, my friends, it does not seem to me that
there is any question about it so far as we are concerned. The whites
may go if they want to, but we are not going to budge! So long as this
is a free country we are going to stay here; it satisfies us. It seems
to me God has so settled it.
The question is not, what are you going to do with the colored man, but
what are you going to do for him? A great deal has been done, and it has
been said that more has been done for the Negroes than for any other
people. That is true: and the Negro has done more in these last
twenty-five years than any other people on whom money and time and labor
has been expended. The American Missionary Association found out long
ago what the Negro problem was. They established schools and sent
teachers among us, and when they came to us, they came at once,
assuming--not as Senator Eustis has done, that the Negroes have an
inherent sense of inferiority, and that they should take an assigned
place; not as Governor Lee has insisted, that the all-important thing
for the white man to do is to keep the Negro down; and not as Senator
Gibbs of Georgia, who a few weeks ago insisted that the white people are
in imminent peril, and even went so far as to bring a bill before the
Legislature as to whether the Negroes should be driven out of that
State. That is not the way these teachers have come down to us. They
have assumed that we are as capable as other people, that we have the
same needs; and because they have come to us with this assumption to
begin with, because they have received us in this way, we have made the
progress that we have.
Now, of all things that are most needed to be done for us, we need a
good theological seminary in the South, where the ministry can be
educated among us. It is only an elevated Christian citizenship that
will save us, and make us what other people are; and we must have a
theological seminary to aid us toward that end. You have given us
colleges, normal schools, industrial training schools, and schools of
common branches, and we have now young men and young women filling all
the schools through the South. We can get good teachers for our schools
in the remotest places, in Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi, or anywhere
else. So it is not a question as to what kind of teachers we will have.
But the churches have not in their pulpits ministers well prepared to
preach the gospel of Christ. They have not kept up with the young people
in the work done by the schools. In the North, one of the pleasant
things we find wherever we go, is that in all your churches there is
something for the young people to do. You have Christian Endeavor
Societies, and various organizations by which the young people may be
reached. Therefore, you gather them in from the beginning and have them
trained so that they can take your places as soon as you are ready to
step out of the work. It is not so with our churches. Our ministers have
not advanced to that degree where they can take up such work. In these
little Congregational churches that have been planted, we have educated
ministers, who are able thus to work, especially among young people. We
do not have people at our hand as other churches have, but we are trying
to get hold of them. In Fisk University there were last year, I believe,
510 students, of whom, perhaps, there were 100 Congregationalists. So,
after all, it is Methodists and Baptists that you are educating there.
This is all right, because the great masses of the people are found in
those churches. If we had a Congregational Theological School we could
reach these people just as well through the pulpit as we reach them in
the schools.
I was asked to give a little of my personal experience. I dislike to do
this: but if narrating any of my personal experience will give an
insight into the work that the American Missionary Association is doing,
I will gladly consent. My story is the story of hundreds of young men in
the South. Only in the larger cities can we get a good English
education, except we go to schools established for us by this
Association. I went eight years to Fisk University. I have a brother
there now in the senior college class. This is his tenth year, and I
have a sister who is also in her tenth year there. It takes a long while
to get through. My father had no money to send me to school. In his
slavery days he had stolen a little bit of learning, and had learned how
to write and read and a little arithmetic. I was about four years old
when the stroke for freedom was made. My father began to teach me
arithmetic, and many a day in his shoemaker's shop, as I sat and kept
the fire going, he would teach me and carry me as far as he could; and
he put into me the idea of getting an education. At fifteen he told me I
might have my own time. At that age I had advanced far enough to pass
the examination of the district school, and, having passed, I made my
way to Fisk University. I had not known that there was such an
institution in the land, or such a thing as the Missionary Association;
but going once into an adjoining county, I happened to fall in with some
Christian young men from Fisk, and they told me about that school. I had
always had a great desire to be educated, and so I went down there. When
I arrived there, I thought it was a strange place. I was familiar with
white people, but I think I had never up to that time had one of them
shake hands with me. When I found what they were doing there, and that
it was an earnest Christian school, my whole soul was uplifted, and I
determined to seek for better things. I thought I was pretty well
educated, but when I found myself down stairs among those learning
grammar and arithmetic, and that there were nine years before me, I
concluded that after all I was not very well educated, but I set out to
go through that long course of study.
During all those years of study I taught school every summer. For nine
years I was not out of the school room a month in the year. I was either
a pupil or a teacher. Wherever I was teaching, I would try to set up a
little Fisk University of my own. You know that the school teacher who
goes out into these country places is everybody and everything. He is
law and gospel, and he must know everything--at least, he must not let
people know that he does not know everything. So I was not only school
teacher, but I organized a Sunday-school, and preached, also. Especially
in Mississippi I did that kind of work, where there was much need of it.
This is the way that hundreds of young men have gone through Fisk
University and other institutions. We get our education sometimes at
great cost, and at great hardships. Sometimes we break down under this
constant strain of teaching. Many a time in Mississippi swamps I have
waded up to my knees in water going to school, and many a time have I
taught lying sick on my back; but the money had to be made. This is the
way we get through, and not only the young men but the girls. There are
two things which it teaches us: It teaches us how to be men, and it
teaches us how to work. We are forced to do it for the money's sake, and
it is not only for the money's sake, because we are sure that these
young men and young ladies go out with a Christian desire to do good,
and a young man, whether he is a Christian or not, feels that he must do
Christian work when he is teaching in the summer. He is hardly
respectable if he does not do that sort of thing during his service as a
teacher. In that way the great masses of the people are being reached by
Christian students going out among them.
So it seems to me as though the problem were being slowly yet truly
solved, and by and by the Negroes will be lifted up on the same footing
with other people. That is the only thing we want. We are not fighting
for social equality, or this or that thing. No intelligent Negro has any
desire to put the South into the hands of the Negroes for rule. No man
who is intelligent could wish the government of the South to come into
the hands of any ignorant and inexperienced people, whether white or
black, and that is what we are as a mass. But we do want recognition, so
far as we have those qualities that would cause the same thing to be
granted to us if we were not Negroes. This is the only thing that we ask
for, and this is what is withheld from us. There are those even in the
South who are willing to give us this recognition, and little by little
they are getting over some of their prejudice and are inclined to
recognize us so far as we have a right to their respect. Of course there
are those who are determined to keep the Negro down; but these are
coming over slowly but surely, and by and by there will be in this land
no Negro problem.
* * * * *
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
MISS D.E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.
In our February number, in mentioning the special work of some of the
Woman's Organizations, we referred to the four teachers of the Woman's
Home Missionary Association. These have been assigned them from the
ranks of the American Missionary Association additional to their former
work in the Southern field. They having transferred to the American
Missionary Association their former work, have now eleven missionaries
under our auspices.
We also failed to mention in our February number the Woman's Union of
Iowa, which is rendering us so substantial aid in the support of our
Beach Institute at Savannah, Georgia.
And here comes yet another pledge--the Union of Kansas starting in with
three hundred dollars toward the support of a missionary. Nebraska has
also come forward with a pledge of a definite amount.
* * * * *
The State Unions organized in the South have begun their growth in the
right direction. The Union of Louisiana shows its right to live by the
following words from its Treasurer: "I have just had the privilege of
sending off three postal orders, $8.00 to the A.M.A., $7.00 to the
A.H.M.S., and $3.00 to the W.B.M.I., which at least is a beginning. We
hope the little acorn planted last April may yet be a grand live oak."
* * * * *
The following from one of the auxiliaries of the Union of Tennessee and
Kentucky is also cheering. "The inclosed $6.00 is an offering of our
Ladies' Missionary Society of Trinity Congregational Church to the
American Missionary Association, the first fruits, financially, of the
little organization. Be assured the small gift is accompanied with
large-hearted gratitude for the work of the Association in elevating the
colored people, and earnest prayers for the continued success of the
Association in its beneficent work in every field."
* * * * *
MICHIGAN,--"We have we think, a model Missionary Society in our church.
We take up the study of our six great Societies and give two months to
each, just preceding our church collection for the same cause. We study
them as thoroughly as possible and our collections for the two months go
to the object of our study. November and December are A.M.A. months with
us. At our meeting this week we had reports from the Chicago meeting. We
always aim to have at least one leaflet to put into each family once a
month--on the study we are on--hoping in this way to gain the attention
of those not interested."
* * * * *
A NOVEL DISH.
A barrel of clothing recently sent from Putney and Dummerston, Vermont,
received its first installment of gifts from a Christmas plum pudding,
which formed a part of the Christmas exercises. A wash-tub was covered
with brown paper to represent a pudding. At the proper time a young man
dressed to represent a cook, with white cap and apron, and wand of
office, entered the room followed by two boys, also in white caps and
aprons, and carrying a pudding dish. Placing this in the center of the
platform, the chief cook advanced to the front, and after appropriate
words of greeting and of explanation, the assistants passed down the
aisles and gathered the various ingredients, or "plums" which the
audience had brought. When ready it was started on its way to the South.
We venture to say it will last longer and do more good than any plum
pudding that ever was served.
* * * * *
OUR MANY-SIDED MISSIONARY WORK.
One of our efficient ladies, Principal of a large school embracing the
grades from primary to the high school and normal department, and in
which the scholastic standard is creditably maintained, writes as
follows:
"Our school is on the whole in good condition. The teachers are earnest,
efficient and united. The students are of a better average than ever
before. There has been a healthful religious interest all the year.
During the past two weeks there have been several conversions in every
room, (unless, perhaps, in the primary). Every room has had some
religious services conducted by the teachers. A few union services were
held, attended by those interested. These were mostly conducted by Miss
B. In Miss S.'s room the conversions are very hopeful young men and
women.
"The industrial classes of boys and girls were never so large before,
and among the girls the spirit of real work and helpfulness through work
seems to be developing true womanly character. In the tool-room there
are five classes of from eight to fourteen boys every day. A little
printing-press is set up, and one boy has begun to set type. The shop is
a busy place when fourteen boys are in it shoving their saws and planes,
running the lathes, carving or hammering, and they usually seem very
happy. We are looking with anxious longing for that new teacher
promised. The number of country students this year makes it imperative
if we reach these surrounding counties, as we want to do, but the new
teacher must come soon, or we must send away thirty-five or forty
scholars, nearly all from the country. This is written that you 'also
might know our affairs and how we do.'"
* * * * *
WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS.
CO-OPERATING WITH THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
MAINE.
WOMAN'S AID TO A.M.A.
Chairman of Committee--Mrs. C.A. Woodbury, Woodfords, Me.
VERMONT.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. A.B. Swift, 167 King St., Burlington.
Secretary--Mrs. E.C. Osgood, 14 First Ave., Montpelier.
Treasurer--Mrs. Wm. P. Fairbanks, St. Johnsbury.
MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND.
[1]WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
President--Mrs. Alice Freeman Palmer, Cambridge, Mass.
Secretary--Miss Nathalie Lord, 32 Congregational House, Boston.
Treasurer--Miss Ella A. Leland, 32 Congregational House, Boston.
[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.]
CONNECTICUT.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. Francis B. Cooley, Hartford.
Secretary--Mrs. S.M. Hotchkiss, 171 Capitol Ave., Hartford.
Treasurer--Mrs. W.W. Jacobs, 19 Spring St., Hartford.
NEW YORK.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. Wm. Kincaid, 483 Greene Ave., Brooklyn.
Secretary--Mrs. Wm. Spalding, 6 Salmon Block, Syracuse.
Treasurer--Mrs. L.H. Cobb, 59 Bible House, New York City.
OHIO
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. J.G.W. Cowles, 417 Sibley St., Cleveland.
Secretary--Mrs. Flora K. Regal, Oberlin.
Treasurer--Mrs. F.L. Fairchild, Box 932, Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
INDIANA.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. C.B. Safford, Elkhart.
Secretary--Mrs. W.E. Mossman, Fort Wayne.
Treasurer--Mrs. C. Evans, Indianapolis.
ILLINOIS.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. B.F. Leavitt, 409 Orchard St., Chicago.
Secretary--Mrs. C.H. Taintor, 151 Washington St., Chicago.
Treasurer--Mrs. C.E. Maltby, Champaign.
IOWA.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. T.O. Douglass, Grinnell.
Secretary--Miss Ella E. Marsh, Box 232, Grinnell.
Treasurer--Mrs. M.J. Nichoson, 1513 Main St., Dubuque.
MICHIGAN.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. George M. Lane, 47 Miami Ave., Detroit.
Secretary--Mrs. Leroy Warren, Lansing.
Treasurer--Mrs. E.F. Grabill, Greenville.
WISCONSIN.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. H.A. Miner, Madison.
Secretary--Mrs. C. Matter, Brodhead.
Treasurer--Mrs. C.C. Kealer, Beloit.
MINNESOTA.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
President--Mrs. E.S. Williams, Box 464, Minneapolis.
Secretary--Miss Gertude A. Keith, 1350, Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis.
Treasurer--Mrs. M.W. Skinner, Northfield.
NORTH DAKOTA.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
President--Mrs. A.J. Pike, Dwight.
Secretary--Mrs. Silas Daggett, Harwood.
Treasurer--Mrs. J.M. Fisner, Fargo.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. A.H. Robbins, Bowdie.
Secretary--Mrs. T.M. Jeffris, Huron.
Treasurer--Mrs. S.E. Fifield, Lake Preston.
NEBRASKA.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. T.H. Leavitt, 1216 H. St., Lincoln.
Secretary--Mrs. L.F. Berry, 724 No. Broad St., Fremont.
Treasurer--Mrs. D.E. Perry, Crete.
MISSOURI.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. C.L. Goodell, 3006 Pine St., St. Louis.
Secretary--Mrs. E.P. Bronson, 3100 Chestnut St. St. Louis.
Treasurer--Mrs. A.E. Cook, 4145 Bell Ave., St. Louis.
KANSAS.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
Presidents--Mrs. F.J. Storrs, Topeka.
Secretary--Mrs. George L. Epps, Topeka.
Treasurer--Mrs. J.G. Dougherty, Ottawa.
COLORADO AND WYOMING.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. J.W. Pickett, White Water, Colorado.
Secretary--Miss Mary L. Martin, 106 Platte Ave., Colorado Springs,
Colorado.
Treasurer--Mrs. S.A. Sawyer, Boulder, Colorado.
Treasurer--Mrs. W.L. Whipple, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. Elijah Cash, 927 Temple St., Los Angeles.
Secretary--Mrs. H.K.W. Bent, Box 426, Pasadena
Treasurer--Mrs. H.W. Mills, So. Olive St., Los Angeles.
CALIFORNIA.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
President--Mrs. H.L. Merritt, 686 34th St., Oakland.
Secretary--Miss Grace E. Barnard, 677 21st St., Oakland.
Treasurer--Mrs. J.M. Havens, 1389 Harrison St., Oakland.
LOUISIANA.
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. R.C. Hitchcock, New Orleans.
Secretary--Miss Jennie Fyfe, 490 Canal St., New Orleans.
Treasurer--Mrs. C.S. Shattuck, Hammond.
MISSISSIPPI.
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. A.F. Waiting, Tougaloo.
Secretary--Miss Sarah J. Humphrey, Tougaloo.
Treasurer--Miss S.L. Emerson, Tougaloo.
ALABAMA.
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. H.W. Andrews, Talladega.
Secretary--Miss S.S. Evans, 2612 Fifth Ave., Birmingham.
Treasurer--Mrs. E.J. Penney, Selma.
FLORIDA.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. S.F. Gale, Jacksonville.
Secretary--Mrs. Nathan Barrows, Winter Park.
Treasurer--Mrs. L.C. Partridge, Longwood.
TENNESSEE AND ARKANSAS.
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION OF THE CENTRAL SOUTH ASSOCIATION.
President--Miss M.F. Wells, Athens, Ala.
Secretary--Miss A.M. Cahill, Nashville, Tenn.
Treasurer--Mrs. G.S. Pope, Grand View, Tenn.
NORTH CAROLINA.
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Miss E. Plimpton, Chapel Hill.
Secretary--Miss A.E. Farrington, Raleigh.
Treasurer--Miss Lovey Mayo, Raleigh.