President Grant's Peace Policy, by which the agencies were assigned to
the several missionary societies, which were to nominate their
respective agents. This was one of those which were assigned to the
American Missionary Association. In 1871 the Association nominated to
this Agency Edwin Eells, Esq., the eldest son of Rev. Gushing Eells,
D.D., who was one of the mission band that crossed the Rocky Mountains
in 1838, under commission of the American Board, to be associated with
Dr. Marcus Whitman's series of Indian Missions. Here is an illustration
of the wisdom of that policy, which has secured a highly successful
management in all the secular, educational and religious affairs of the
Agency, and one that has been continued on through the changes of
governmental administration, and also one that has resulted in repeated
promotions, until now Agent Eells has charge of five of the seven
distinct Reservations in the State of Washington. His present
headquarters are at the Puyallup Agency, near Tacoma, where he has just
completed an eight thousand dollar building to displace an old one, for
the Government Boarding School. In all these five reservations, lands
have been secured in severalty to the Indians, and largely through his
persistent devotion to their welfare. For two or three years his father
had care of the S'kokomish Mission under the American Missionary
Association, and in 1874, his brother, Rev. Myron Eells, was appointed
to the same work, in which he still abides. Besides the preaching, the
care of the Sunday-school and the prayer meetings and the pastoral
work, in which he gets around among his people as often as once in a
month, he has also the charge of the Indian Church among the Clallams,
near New Dunginess, the brethren of that station, in the pastor's
absence, maintaining stated worship. The people at S'kokomish have
gotten beyond Government payments; they live on their own allotted
lands, in cabins or frame houses, wearing citizens' dress, and doing
business as white men do it. One of Pastor Eells's first Sundays at the
mission was noted for the celebration of Christian marriage on the part
of seven or eight couples who had been living together under their
heathen way of taking up. So they have been shuffling off their
polygamy. While we were there, a man of middle life came to the
pastor's house with his first wife, to be married to her after the
Christian form, having made a satisfactory pecuniary arrangement with
the second, who was a sister of the first. In this case there were no
children to complicate settlement. After I had addressed the church
upon their duty of doing more for the support of their pastor, even as
I had betimes had to do before in white home missionary churches, the
several responses were as decorous and assuring as could be desired.
As another advantage of this Grant plan, the Government School and the
Mission are found to be in entire harmony, the principal, Mr. Foster,
and his assistants and the industrial teacher all being Christians and
caring for the moral advancement of their pupils. Nor does the
missionary administration come in any way to overlie the governmental.
From the herd of cows kept for the service of the boarding school,
neither is one set aside for the pastor's family, nor is he allowed to
buy their milk. He gets his supply from outside. Nor does the preacher
use from Uncle Sam's wood pile. He buys from the Indians.
Some may wonder how a man in such a field can keep from drying up. Come
with me into this missionary study. The first thing that strikes you is
a growth of English ivy, from its root in the earth outside creeping
through a crack in the siding and climbing up one corner and then
around the upper corners of the four sides of the room. That evergreen
wreath is a symbol of the fresh intellectual life in that study, which
has all the air and fix of a workshop. On the shelves, besides the
ordinary outfit, there is an extensive geological collection, which
in its classification and nomenclature shows scientific investigation.
Then there is a fine cabinet of Indian relics and curios, appropriate
to the calling of the incumbent: and there is a supply of Indian
literature, historic and scientific, out of which this student is
transmuting the essential elements of the Indian problem of the Pacific
Northwest. And so it is a small library of his own that has thus been
elaborated. The first is a "History of Indian Missions on the Pacific
Coast," published by the American Sunday-school Union; and the second
is "Ten Years at S'kokomish,"--1874-1884--published by our own
Congregational Sunday-school and Publishing Society. These books would
make an enrichment of any Sunday-school library, giving the very
essence of romance and of heroism along with Christian instruction. The
others are monographs, among them the following:
"Marcus Whitman, M.D.: Proofs of his Work in Saving Oregon to the
United States, and in promoting the immigration of 1843;" "Justice to
the Indian;" "Indian Traditions as to Religion;" "Hand of God in the
History of the Pacific Coast;" "Papers on the Anthropology of the
Indians of Washington," as published in the Smithsonian Report of
1886-7. Another such monograph he now has ready for the press--"God's
Hand in the Missions to the Indians beyond the Rocky Mountains," a
paper read at the recent fiftieth anniversary of the organizing of Dr.
Whitman's church. And beyond all this literary work is the occasional
supply of destitute white congregations round about, and service as a
Trustee of the Pacific University in Oregon, and of the Whitman
College, at Walla Walla, Washington. Surely in literary work, to the
names of Jonathan Edwards among his Stockbridge Indians, and John Eliot
among his Naticks, and S.R. Riggs among the Dakotas, and not a few
others, maybe added this of Myron Eells among the S'kokomish.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
JOTTINGS.
BY REV. W.C. POND, D.D.
If I were to attempt to place before the readers of the MISSIONARY, in
such setting as would be needed for a comprehension of them, all the
interesting minor facts and scenes that pass under my observation in
our work, there would be no room on its pages for anything else. Let me
give a few examples of these.
A young Chinaman is being examined with reference to baptism, and is
asked why he decided to turn from the worship of idols. "God is
_true_" is the reply, a very simple reason,--a trite one possibly;
but there was something in the tone and emphasis of it which thrilled
me. I saw the emptyness of heathen worship at a point from which I had
never looked at it before. A God that is _true_, that can be
absolutely trusted! Where will you find one in any heathen Pantheon?
Conceive now a thoughtful, honest man passing from the timorous worship
of such gods to the rest and comfort and courage which come from
knowing and trusting Him who is true, and you will begin to realize
what that simple answer meant.
"What are your people making such a noise for?" was asked of a Chinese
brother at Ventura, during the Chinese New Year's Festival. "To scare
away the evil spirits," was the reply. "And why don't _you_ scare
them away?" was the next question, for all was quiet at our little
mission house, "Evil spirits stay away when Holy Spirit comes," was the
reply. I am not confident that I recall the exact words, but I have
certainly given the idea, and it meant emancipation for the man that
uttered it, an entrance into the liberty wherewith Christ makes us
free.
"When I get discouraged, as I often do," writes a teacher, "I think of
the five who are studying the Testament, and of a remark one of them
made to me, 'I love Jesus more all the time when I read about him.'"
This brother took his religion with him to China, and brought it back
unharmed.
One of the brethren worked in a hotel where to specially toilsome
service was added a treatment far from kind. He said to his teacher
that he remembered how much Jesus had to bear and so he "had patient."
The wages received he spoke of as the "hardest money" he had earned
since coming to California, and _so_ he took part of it to buy a
nice Bible. An American said scoffingly to him: "Are you one of the
Christian Chinamen?" "Yes," he replied. "I love Jesus; I am not ashamed
that I love Jesus."
One of our Santa Barbara brethren rents quite a tract of land, much of
which he devotes to the culture of small fruits. On a visit to his
place a year or two ago, friends saw strawberry plants heavily laden
with luscious looking fruit so arranged in front of our brother's door
as to spell out this sentence, "God loves the earth."
"It seems," said Jee Gam once, "as though I could recall his very
words, and hear the tones of his voice as he prayed for the conversion
of his countrymen." It was the closing prayer of a gospel service among
the Chinese in Oakland. The brother who offered it was a Chinese
merchant of that city. Two days afterwards he was shot in his own store
by a Chinaman because he refused to submit to blackmail. A policeman
hastened to the spot and saw him die, and testified in court that his
last words were those of prayer to our true God; this testimony, though
given probably by an ungodly man, being such as to draw tears from many
who listened. Yet some say there are no real Christian Chinamen; that
you can't convert a Chinaman; that they are throughout a race of
hypocrites.
It may not be safe to say _every_ month without exception, though
that is the impression made upon me, but it is certainly safe to say
_almost_ every month brings some report to me of pupils beginning
to believe in Jesus and professing their faith in him. This extract
from a letter will serve as an example: "I have some very good news for
you concerning my scholars. Two of them have promised to join the
Association [i.e. of Christian Chinese] next week. One of them I have
been praying for especially, for nearly a year.... There are three
more who, I trust, are born of God, but are not yet brave enough to
take a stand for him. One says his brother will kill him if he joins in
Christ's name." And here is a word from another teacher: "Five of the
brethren unite with the church at the coming communion. I do not feel
that this is through my effort, as I have not known how to work
individually. It is the Lord that 'giveth the increase.' Two of them
have been ready to come into the church for a long time. The others
show their conversion by face and manner as well as by testimony and
prayer."
I fear that I have exhausted my space, though I am far from the end of
possible "jottings." I will close with a few sentences from a letter
received from a Chinese Christian living at a roadside tavern beyond
Oroville. "Since I am determined to be a Christian, has very much
surprised my elder brother. When he heard about I join the Association
he make a great deal of trouble to me. Then I ask our brothers to pray
for that matter, till one day I go and entreat him; also, tell him all
about the gospel of Christ how good for us and redeem us from our sins.
Then he said, 'Do not talk such things to me; we are Chinese; must keep
our customs.' I say, 'I cannot keep anything wrong; idol worship is
against God. Four thousand years ago our Chinese population have no
idol to worship. Don't you search a thing before you keep it?' Then he
answer: 'If good then you keep it,' and then I received baptism; then
do no more persecution to me afterwards." This extract merely hints at
facts which, if related, would show that for our Chinese Christians at
least, the days that _try_ men's souls are not yet past.
* * * * *
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
MISS D.E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.
The thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Woman's Missionary Union of
Alabama met with the Congregational Church in Marion, March 31. This
Union has contributed during the year to the A.M.A. for Indian work, to
the A.H.M.S. for Bohemian work, besides aiding a missionary in China,
and one in South Africa. All the auxiliaries have also done good work
in aiding the churches and the poor in their respective localities. The
meeting was pleasant and profitable, and the Union starts upon another
year with the prospect of adding greatly to its strength and
efficiency.
The first Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Missionary Union, held at New
Orleans, April 3, was also full of encouragement. The new interest
awakened, simply by the gathering together to report the progress of
the year, indicates how much can be accomplished. Not only will the
missionary cause receive direct benefit, but there will be a reflex,
healthful influence upon the churches thus represented.
The first Annual Meeting of the Woman's Missionary Union of the Central
South Association, held in Nashville, Tennessee, April 5, was in all
respects encouraging. One of the peculiar features of these Southern
Unions is that the State Association is always likely to meet at a
school centre, as in this case at Nashville, Tennessee, and the older
students thus are enthused and stimulated to missionary purpose and
activity, whether in the ordinary experiences of church life at home,
or as special missionaries.
There was a good representation of auxiliaries, and encouraging word of
new ones soon to be received. The interest in the meeting was intense,
and the reports from the different societies showed a deep and
heartfelt sympathy with the cause of missions. It was very interesting
to note how anxiously some of those who represent a people burdened
with poverty, planned for the work of the coming year, taking for their
field--the world. Considering that this Union is only a year old, its
growth seems remarkable.
The question is sometimes asked, whether the Mountain girls appreciate
the opportunity of education that is now afforded them. We reply by
giving extracts from the letter of a pupil obliged to leave school. The
letter was written to a school-mate, and is but one of many instances
of the kind.
"MY DEAREST FRIEND:--I would have written sooner, but I thought I might
get a chance to go to school, and that is why I have delayed so long.
It is impossible for me to go now, the boys are preparing 'for to make
a crap,' and I can see how much they are needed at home. We have but
one horse, and I cannot go alone. Oh! how glad I would be to see my
teacher. I know I shall never be able to reward her for her kindness to
me, but the Lord will reward her. I never have met the people who were
so kind to me as those people. I still have a desire to get an
education; sometimes I think I will not get to go to school any more,
but where there is a will, there is a way, and I know I have a good
will. My sisters all married before they were twenty. I am twenty-two
now. I want an education more than I want to marry. My folks tell me I
have enough education, but I think I know better than they. To be sure,
I can read and write a little, but that don't satisfy me, I have a hope
yet that I may still get higher, that is if the Lord is willing. We
cannot do anything unless the Lord is willing and will help us. Give my
love to all the girls. Please write and tell me about the school.
Remember me in your prayers.
Your true friend, ---- ----."
* * * * *
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
_Dear Children_:--The first morning I entered my school-room
South, such a mass of little dark faces as greeted me! At first it
seemed so strange to me, they all looked alike, but in a short time I
was able to pick out Simon, and Tommy, and Mollie, and Janie. Most of
them want to learn, and are quite tidy in their appearance. One of the
exercises they enjoy most is the singing. It would be hard to find a
colored boy or girl who does not sing, and many of them have very sweet
voices. They are able to sing the alto with very little practice. It
often surprises me to find how well they keep their parts. One day we
had a very severe shower, and it was so dark we could not see the
black-boards or see to work, so I let them sing for nearly an hour. All
over the building, if you could have visited the different rooms, you
would have enjoyed listening to them. One of their own pieces which
they like to sing, is "Roll, Jordan, roll." They pronounce it "Jurdon."
Many of the parents are working very hard to give their children an
education, and I am glad to say that the children themselves are glad
to learn. One little girl said, "I've got on a _terrible_ bad
looking shoe, and the big girls out doors were laughing at me
yesterday, but I thought I'd rather come to school with the bad shoe,
than stay away a day and not come at all. I pray every day that God
will help me to do right and be a good girl in school. Last night papa
was out of a job, and I prayed that he might get another one, and now
he's got another one." Then looking at her shoes, she said: "I'd rather
wear these ragged shoes than not to pay for my schooling at all."
And now, children, will you come with me for a little drive? We are
going in a phaeton with our good horse, Maud. We drive about a mile out
of the city, cross a little bridge, and finally drive through a
gateway. The ground is sandy, in some places so white that it almost
reminds one of snow. The trees are still green. Our attention is
attracted by a procession moving slowly forward. There is one carriage
and the friends, men and women, are walking. The words they are
chanting show it to be a funeral procession. Every one wears a green
badge, for most all the colored people belong to some order. Finally
they come to a stop and gather about the grave. The mourners break out
into a wail, and they begin to chant the words: "And must my trembling
spirit glide into a world unknown?" The chant I can never describe, for
there is no music in it, and we cannot distinguish any tune. Then the
minister preaches, and they begin another chant. Let us look around a
little. I am sure you are already interested and surprised at what you
see. Here is a group of three little graves; on one, we find three
dolls' heads, a quantity of shells, marbles, dishes and other toys with
which the children used to play. On another, is a tin kitchen, a bell,
a doll in a chair, a marble under a sugar-bowl cover, and part of a
tea-set. On another, that of a grown person, is a long pipe with a
paper of tobacco, medicine boxes with powders. A little further away we
find one on which is a tooth-brush, ten medicine bottles, two lamps, a
basket filled with sand, vases, tumblers, a toy boat made out of bark,
and pieces of glassware. Among other decorations we find a ball and
bat, pitchers, bits of colored glass, pill boxes, teapots, etc. But it
is already growing dark, and Maud is anxious to start; I think you have
seen enough to make you wonder at the curious customs, and I am sure
that you want to help them to know a better way.
One day a little girl said to her teacher: "I got religion last night."
Shall I tell you just here, something of what they mean by "getting
religion?" It means bad air, late hours, shouting, screaming, and
general excitement. Sometimes they sit for hours, and go night after
night saying over and over the same words. When they finally do "get
religion," they jump up and shout, and run about the church, falling
into the arms of those standing nearest. I think the children are
looking for some strange experience. They expect, from what they are
taught, to see some vision, or hear some voice. I try to show them the
simple way of salvation by just taking Jesus at his word.
And now let us turn to a brighter scene. One Sunday about a month ago,
our pastor preached a sermon, which led us to feel that the Lord was
especially near us, and that we had only to do our part to receive an
outpouring of God's Spirit. Some of us agreed to pray for this. Then we
began to pray for our scholars, and to invite them to our meetings. At
first only a few came, but more kept coming every night, and we kept
bringing in seats, until the mission room was so full we had to change
to the large hall up stairs. Every night some would rise for prayers,
and we would stay and talk with them quietly, and try to show them the
way to Jesus. I think there are about forty now, who have expressed a
desire to live a Christian life. Many of them are children and young
people. Four are boys in my Sabbath-school class. We have held prayer
meetings for this after school, and many are glad to come. About twenty
joined our Christian Endeavor Society as active members, at our last
consecration meeting.
And now, dear children, do you know that this is all given us in answer
to prayer? We have simply asked and received. I knew that the home
friends were praying for us. Their prayers are a constant help. Will
you not pray this month that these little ones may be kept from
falling, and that they may grow to be bright and shining lights in the
world, to lead their own people out of the darkness of sin and
ignorance?
Sincerely your friend,
MINNIE T. STROUT.
* * * * *
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.
[A]MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND.
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.
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.
Presidents--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. Keeler, 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. Fisher, Fargo.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.
President--Mrs. A.H. Robbins, Bowdle.
Secretary--Mrs. T.M. Jeffris, Huron.
Treasurer--Miss A.A. Noble, 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. A.W. Benedict, 3841 Delmar Ave., St. Louis.
Secretary--Mrs. E.H. Bradbury, 3865 Washington Ave., St Louis.
Treasurer--Mrs. A.E. Cook, 4145 Bell Ave., St. Louis.
KANSAS.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
President--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.
WASHINGTON.
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
President--Mrs. W.E. Dawson, Seattle.
Secretary--Mrs. N.F. Cobleigh, Walla Walla.
Treasurer--Mrs. W.R. Abrams, Ellensburg.
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, 13239 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. Whiting, 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, 2519 Third Ave., Birmingham.
Treasurer--Miss M.K. Lunt, 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--Mrs. E.M. Cravath, Nashville, Tenn.
Secretary--Miss A.M. Cahill, Nashville, Tenn.
Treasurer--Mrs. G.S. Pope, Grand View, Tenn.
NORTH CAROLINA.
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION.