VOL. XXXIV. No. 3.
THE
AMERICAN MISSIONARY.
* * * * *
“To the Poor the Gospel is Preached.”
* * * * *
MARCH, 1880.
_CONTENTS:_
EDITORIAL.
PARAGRAPHS 65
ZEAL FOR STUDY 66
TROPICAL AFRICA 67
THE NEGRO IN AMERICA AND AFRICA 69
DR. BLYDEN ON THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY 70
REV. CHAS. B. VENNING—ITEMS FROM THE FIELD 71
AFRICAN NOTES 73
THE FREEDMEN.
AT TALLADEGA: REV. J. E. ROY, D. D. 74
NORTH CAROLINA—McLeansville School 75
SOUTH CAROLINA, CHARLESTON—Church and School Work
—Cause of the Exodus 76
GEORGIA—Report of Board of Commissioners on Atlanta
University 78
ALABAMA, TALLADEGA—Why he likes it: Rev. H. S. DeForrest 79
ALABAMA, ATHENS—Building Progress—Missionary Spirit 80
MISSISSIPPI, TOUGALOO—Student-Conversions—Crowded Rooms 81
TENNESSEE, MEMPHIS—School work and Week of Prayer 82
TEXAS—Two Hours’ Work by Student Canvasser 82
THE INDIANS.
AN INDIAN BOY’S LETTER 83
THE CHINESE.
ANNIVERSARY AT SACRAMENTO 85
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
HOW TO MAKE MONEY FOR THE MISSIONARIES 87
RECEIPTS 88
CONSTITUTION 93
AIM, STATISTICS, WANTS 94
* * * * *
NEW YORK.
Published by the American Missionary Association,
ROOMS, 56 READE STREET.
* * * * *
Price, 50 Cents a Year, in advance.
Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., as second-class matter.
American Missionary Association,
56 READE STREET, N. Y.
* * * * *
PRESIDENT.
HON. E. S. TOBEY, Boston.
VICE-PRESIDENTS.
Hon. F. D. PARISH, Ohio.
Hon. E. D. HOLTON, Wis.
Hon. WILLIAM CLAFLIN, Mass.
ANDREW LESTER, Esq., N. Y.
Rev. STEPHEN THURSTON, D. D., Me.
Rev. SAMUEL HARRIS, D. D., Ct.
WM. C. CHAPIN, Esq., R. I.
Rev. W. T. EUSTIS, D. D., Mass.
Hon. A. C. BARSTOW, R. I.
Rev. THATCHER THAYER, D. D., R. I.
Rev. RAY PALMER, D. D., N. J.
Rev. EDWARD BEECHER, D.D., N. Y.
Rev. J. M. STURTEVANT, D. D., Ill.
Rev. W. W. PATTON, D. D., D. C.
Hon. SEYMOUR STRAIGHT, La.
HORACE HALLOCK, Esq., Mich.
Rev. CYRUS W. WALLACE, D. D., N. H.
Rev. EDWARD HAWES, D. D., Ct.
DOUGLAS PUTNAM, Esq., Ohio.
Hon. THADDEUS FAIRBANKS, Vt.
SAMUEL D. PORTER, Esq., N. Y.
Rev. M. M. G. DANA, D. D., Minn.
Rev. H. W. BEECHER, N. Y.
Gen. O. O. HOWARD, Oregon.
Rev. G. F. MAGOUN, D. D., Iowa.
Col. C. G. HAMMOND, Ill.
EDWARD SPAULDING, M. D., N. H.
DAVID RIPLEY, Esq., N. J.
Rev. WM. M. BARBOUR, D. D., Ct.
Rev. W. L. GAGE, D. D., Ct.
A. S. HATCH, Esq., N. Y.
Rev. J. H. FAIRCHILD, D. D., Ohio.
Rev. H. A. STIMSON, Minn.
Rev. J. W. STRONG, D. D., Minn.
Rev. A. L. STONE, D. D., California.
Rev. G. H. ATKINSON, D. D., Oregon.
Rev. J. E. RANKIN, D. D., D. C.
Rev. A. L. CHAPIN, D. D., Wis.
S. D. SMITH, Esq., Mass.
PETER SMITH, Esq., Mass.
Dea. JOHN C. WHITIN, Mass.
Hon. J. B. GRINNELL, Iowa.
Rev. WM. T. CARR, Ct.
Rev. HORACE WINSLOW, Ct.
Sir PETER COATS, Scotland.
Rev. HENRY ALLON, D. D., London, Eng.
WM. E. WHITING, Esq., N. Y.
J. M. PINKERTON, Esq., Mass.
E. A. GRAVES, Esq., N. J.
Rev. F. A. NOBLE, D. D., Ill.
DANIEL HAND, Esq., Ct.
A. L. WILLISTON, Esq., Mass.
Rev. A. F. BEARD, D. D., N. Y.
FREDERICK BILLINGS, Esq., Vt.
JOSEPH CARPENTER, Esq., R. I.
Rev. E. P. GOODWIN, D. D., Ill.
Rev. C. L. GOODELL, D. D., Mo.
J. W. SCOVILLE, Esq., Ill.
E. W. BLATCHFORD, Esq., Ill.
C. D. TALCOTT, Esq., Ct.
Rev. JOHN K. MCLEAN, D. D., Cal.
Rev. RICHARD CORDLEY, D. D., Kansas.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.
REV. M. E. STRIEBY, D. D., _56 Reade Street, N. Y._
DISTRICT SECRETARIES.
REV. C. L. WOODWORTH, _Boston_.
REV. G. D. PIKE, _New York_.
REV. JAS. POWELL, _Chicago_.
H. W. HUBBARD, ESQ., _Treasurer, N. Y._
REV. M. E. STRIEBY, _Recording Secretary_.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
ALONZO S. BALL,
A. S. BARNES,
GEO. M. BOYNTON,
WM. B. BROWN,
C. T. CHRISTENSEN,
CLINTON B. FISK,
ADDISON P. FOSTER,
S. B. HALLIDAY,
SAMUEL HOLMES,
CHARLES A. HULL,
EDGAR KETCHUM,
CHAS. L. MEAD,
WM. T. PRATT,
J. A. SHOUDY,
JOHN H. WASHBURN,
G. B. WILLCOX.
COMMUNICATIONS
relating to the work of the Association may be addressed to the
Corresponding Secretary; those relating to the collecting fields to
the District Secretaries; letters for the Editor of the “American
Missionary,” to Rev. Geo. M. Boynton, at the New York Office.
DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
may be sent to H. W. Hubbard, Treasurer, 56 Reade Street,
New York, or when more convenient, to either of the Branch
Offices, 21 Congregational House, Boston, Mass., or 112
West Washington Street, Chicago, Ill. A payment of thirty
dollars at one time constitutes a Life Member.
THE
AMERICAN MISSIONARY.
VOL. XXXIV. MARCH, 1880. No. 3.
American Missionary Association.
* * * * *
We are glad to be able to announce the safe arrival of Prof. Chase at
Sierra Leone, about the 8th of January, and hope before our next issue
to receive valuable advices from him.
* * * * *
We call attention to the Thirty-third Annual Report of the Association,
recently published. In addition to the general survey which was read at
the Annual Meeting at Chicago, and the minutes of that grand gathering,
we have given, as usual, a detailed report of our work, and we suggest
to pastors and others who may desire to inform themselves in regard to
particular aspects of it, that if they will notice, they will find all
this matter so classified in the Report that they can easily select
just what they want. Thus, after the list of institutions and teachers,
they may find the following headings: Delay in Opening Schools, Quality
of the Work, Closing Exercises, Industrial Departments, Growing Favor,
Buildings, Rented Property, Libraries, Student Aid, Religious Character
of Schools, Colored Teachers, Theological Departments. The Church Work
and other main departments are analyzed in the same way. We have done
this, hoping to make the Report a helpful document and one easily used
by the friends of the Association. Dr. Storrs’ sermon is also printed
with it.
* * * * *
Miss Parmelee’s paper, read before the Woman’s Meeting at the
Anniversary in Chicago, excited so much interest at the time and
since, and gave so vivid, so faithful and so sympathetic a view of
the perils of the girls of the South, that we have, besides giving
a portion of it in a former MISSIONARY, re-printed it in full, and
have sent it largely to the Christian women of our churches. We
beg them to read it, remembering that its statements are facts,
and that the evils of which it speaks are among the better class
of the colored women of the South, and hardly suggest the depths
below, in which the mass are at home, and into which education and
enlightenment only make the fall more fatal. May God’s spirit move
the hearts of our Christian women to save their sisters.
One of our colored ministers, trained in an American Missionary
Association school, in stating some incidents of his life to a friend,
said that he was led, when about sixteen years old, to give up gambling
and licentiousness, simply out of regard for his teacher, fearing that
she would learn of his evil ways and despise him. That teacher little
thought then, and has never learned even, of the blessed influence
upon that young man, of her pure and consecrated life, which, through
the providence of God, led to the transformation of a gambler and
profligate, into an efficient and esteemed Christian minister, through
whom she is now preaching to hundreds and even thousands.
* * * * *
The Superintendent, scouring through Georgia, came across Rev. Mr.
Thomas, a choice man, who has charge of two colored Presbyterian
churches at Union Point and Woodstock, under commission of the Northern
General Assembly, and who got all his schooling—three years—at our
Lewis High School in Macon, Ga. So the fruit of our tree of knowledge,
is falling over into other church lots, and we are glad of it. Such
fruitage is a great encouragement to the teachers of our minor schools.
* * * * *
_A Bible Example of Reconstruction._—It was after the return from
Babylon. Civil and the moral reformation went hand in hand. The
first Governor, Zerubabel, who was a grandson of a former king, had
the high priest, Joshua, to lead in the worship, and the prophets,
Haggai and Zechariah, to preach and to teach. The next Governor,
Ezra, instituted for the instruction of the people an extensive
system of Bible-readings. “So they read in the Book, in the law of
God, distinctly and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the
reading.”
The next Governor, Nehemiah, was a reformer. He put down the practices
of taking heathen wives, of violating the Sabbath, and of exacting
illegal interest. No improvement has as yet been made upon that style
of civil reconstruction. Religion and education, the church and the
school, must go along with the re-ordering of the State. So we find our
work at the South in the line of a Divine pattern. The Bible gives us
its ideal of dealing with freedmen by taking into its sacred canon the
five books of Moses for the emancipated Israelites, the books of Ezra,
Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah, for the restored captives.
* * * * *
ZEAL FOR STUDY.
A good deal has been said, from time to time, of the abatement among
the colored people of that eagerness to learn, which marked the days
immediately following their emancipation. Of course, much of it is
true; many found by trial that it was not so easy or instantaneous
a process to learn to read as they had supposed; the pressure of
self-support drew away the attention of others from their aspirations
after an education; unduly excited ambitions and crude hopes were seen
to be unfounded, and in the disappointment many were discouraged.
But all of it is not true. There are many instances yet of the early
eagerness to learn among the young, and even among the old; we give
an instance from a teacher’s letter: “One woman, 39 years old, lives
in the country, and walks six miles to school, and six miles again
after school to her home. Her seat has been vacant only on one or two
of the rainiest days since the school opened, September 1st. At home,
she has all her household affairs to look after, and finds time to
study at night even then; and if, on account of helping her husband to
pick cotton in the fall, she would go late to bed without ‘knowing her
lesson,’ it ‘worried’ her so, she said, that she ‘could not get a wink
of sleep,’and her husband would waken to find her up and studying. She
is gaining slowly in rudimentary knowledge, and is very much pleased,
or, as she would say, ‘proud’ of her success. Several such ones, eager
to learn, I have under my care, and though they can learn but slowly,
it is really better than that they should never know anything, though I
think we would count it hardly worth while to take such pains so late
in life; yet, better to get upon the first round of the ladder than not
to rise at all.”
* * * * *
TROPICAL AFRICA.
The Three Lake Missions.
Among the great movements of this stirring age, none are, perhaps,
more far-reaching than those for the exploration and evangelization of
Tropical Africa. The splendid achievements of Livingstone and Stanley
crown and complete the efforts of their heroic predecessors. Africa’s
three great central lakes and her two great rivers—the mysteries of
the ages—are now explored and mapped.
The missionary efforts that have followed these discoveries reveal an
enthusiasm, and a consecration of talent and life, worthy of the vast
field thus opened. In the promptness of the response, the money and the
lives devoted and the number of missions founded or projected, the last
five years give a history that probably has no parallel in the records
of Christian missions. The story of these adventures in discovery and
evangelization has the fascination of romance, and is pathetic in the
piety and the sufferings of both travellers and missionaries.
We select as illustrations the three Lake Missions of Tropical Africa.
1. The Victoria Nyanza Mission.
On the northern shores of this greatest of Africa’s central lakes is
the dominion of King Mtesa—a name now familiar to the civilized world.
He rules over two millions of people, has a navy of 300 war canoes and
an army of 150,000 warriors. In 1875, Stanley reached his capital. The
welcome was cordial, and for two months the traveller taught the King
the principles of Christianity with such happy results that the Bible
was studied, and in obedience to its teachings, an enemy and rebel,
conquered in battle and doomed to death in accordance with African
morals and invariable practice, was spared! Stanley appreciated the
true value of the King’s “conversion,” and saw the need of having his
own incipient teaching followed up by steady missionary labors. His
appeal for such labors was written in Africa and appeared in a London
paper Nov. 15, 1875. The prompt response should be noticed. Three
days after it appeared, came an anonymous offer of $25,000 for the
founding of the mission, and soon another equal sum was proffered.
The venerable and efficient Church Missionary Society undertook the
work. The consecrated money was soon followed by the consecrated
men. In 1876, the company of missionaries landed at Zanzibar, and
travelling the 800 miles of jungle in six months, and marking their
first disaster in the death of one of their party, reached Mtesa’s
capital. They were welcomed with enthusiasm, and when the name of Jesus
was uttered, a salute was fired. The work was begun immediately, but
soon the second great disaster came—two of the company, Lieutenant
Smith and Mr. O’Neill, were murdered at no great distance from the
capital. But instead of discouragement, these disasters called forth
new enthusiasm. Three young men were promptly sent out by the Church
Missionary Society. They took the Nile route, but a journey that should
have taken three or four months was protracted to nine by the floating
islands in the Upper Nile and the ignorance of the Arab captain. One
of the missionaries received a sunstroke and was obliged to return. At
length they reached Uganda and were joyfully received, but soon came
the greatest calamity—a week after their arrival two French Jesuit
priests came also, and succeeded in so disaffecting the mind of the
King as to arrest the work, and lead to the withdrawment of most of the
missionaries. The summary at the latest dates is: Sixteen missionaries
in all have been sent, of whom six have died and three have returned
sick. Of the seven still in Africa, four have been permitted to go on
various duties and three remain at Uganda without the facilities either
to carry on their work or to withdraw.
2. Tanganika Mission.
Ujiji, the location of the Tanganika Mission is endeared to the friends
of Livingstone. Here he made his temporary home, and here, almost ready
to die, he was discovered by Stanley, to be restored to vigor and to
toil still longer for Africa, till at last he was found dead upon his
knees. The plan for a mission here was formed by the London Missionary
Society, scarcely less venerable than the Church Missionary Society.
Mr. Arthington of Leeds, Eng., one of the generous and prompt donors
of $25,000 for the Nyassa Mission, gave a like sum for this. Four
ordained missionaries, one scientific man and one builder, left
London in March, 1877. Their journey from the coast of Africa was
protracted over thirteen months in consequence of the many obstacles
and vexatious delays. Added to these trials, death did its fearful
work. Under these discouraging circumstances, Dr. Mullen, the intrepid
and beloved Secretary of the Society, obtained the reluctant consent of
the Directors to lead in person an additional force, and to hasten the
progress of the supplies. But he had gone only 200 miles from the coast
when death closed his useful career. No event in the last five years
has cast such a gloom over mission circles in Great Britain as the sad
fate of this noble man.
3. Nyassa Mission.
Again is the stimulus of Livingstone’s labors seen, and his name and
memory honored in the founding of another mission: the Livingstonia on
Lake Nyassa. It was a labor of love for the Free Church of Scotland,
aided by sister communions to undertake this mission. In the Spring of
1875, the expedition started, having been furnished with all needed
supplies, including a beautiful steel steamer and two boats for the use
of the mission on the Lake. After a tedious journey up the Zambesi and
Shiré and a toilsome land journey of 60 miles, around the Murchison
Falls, the Lake was at length reached.
After a brief search, a site was selected that held out unusual
hopes of coveted advantages—there were no mosquitos and a favoring
lake breeze gave promise of health. But alas for the unforeseen
and insignificant difficulties that sometimes defeat the greatest
undertakings—the fatal tsetse fly compelled the choice of a new
location. But we cannot give space for the subsequent details.
The disasters and deaths in these missions have had a depressing effect
upon the hearts of Christians in Great Britain, and we fear that the
discouragements will to some extent be felt in this country. But we
must guard ourselves against hasty inferences and unwarranted fears. We
should remember:—
1. That trials at the outset are often God’s means of arousing a
deeper faith. The history of missions, modern and Apostolic, is
full of examples. The Teloogoo Mission where such an unusual work
of Divine grace has recently been experienced and the converts have
been numbered by thousands, was for a long time the scene
of unfruitful labors. Bishop Crowther’s Mission in West Africa, now so
strong and growing, had an early experience of toils and persecutions.
The Apostles themselves encountered imprisonments and death not only,
but their labors were sometimes followed by defections, perversions of
doctrine and scandals in life.
2. We should take courage from the fact that the slave-trade, the worst
foe to missionary labors in Africa, is feeling the effects of the
earnest efforts of Great Britain for its overthrow. Sir Samuel Baker,
and after him Col. Gordon, the stout old Covenanter—the Havelock of
Africa—have crippled its power on the Upper Nile, while the labors
of Sir Bartle Frere, and subsequently of Dr. Kirk at Zanzibar, have
been equally effective along the coast, so that the Church Missionary
Intelligencer feels authorized to say that “the slave-trade if not
killed, is scotched.” The missions themselves, though hindered in many
respects, have had a salutary influence in shaming and arresting this
fiendish traffic.
3. Finally, the church of God must bear in mind that the Saviour’s last
and great command, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel,” is
accompanied by that all-comprehensive and all-sufficient promise, “Lo,
I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” God will redeem
the whole world, and in the Saviour’s heart and plan, Africa is not
forgotten.
* * * * *
THE NEGRO IN AMERICA AND AFRICA.
Dr. Edward W. Blyden, of Liberia, Africa, is the author of an
interesting article in the _Methodist Quarterly Review_ for January,
1880, from which we gratefully reprint elsewhere his tribute to
our work. Anything which comes from the pen of this distinguished
gentleman—one of the most cultured men of the race whose cause he
pleads—is well worth reading and consideration. With much that the
Doctor says, we are in full and hearty agreement, but beg leave to make
one or two suggestions, growing out of what seem to be at least not
unwarranted deductions from his positions.
No one can regret more than we do the prejudice which exists, in this
country especially, against the colored man. And there is no doubt
that, as Dr. Blyden observes, even among those who are not unmoved by
the story of his wrongs, and who are earnestly engaged in philanthropic
efforts for his uplifting, this personal prejudice and sense of
superiority does exist. That it is not so to anything like the same
degree in England and on the Continent, is suggestive in the light it
casts upon the fact among us. On what is the difference of feeling
founded? Certainly not altogether in the natural race-prejudice. That
is a fact not to be denied. There is a prejudice which is universal
between all people of distinct races of men. It is felt by the original
inhabitants of Africa against the Caucasian, as Dr. B. shows, as well
as by the white man in his own home against the black. But in this
land, the prejudice is intensified by the position and the character of
those who have made up the negro population.
Dr. Blyden objects to our calling the Negro, Indian and Chinaman
“the despised races.” He even dislikes to have Africa called “the
Dark Continent.” Of course, our brother knows that the sympathies of
this Association are, as they have always been, with these people of
his land, and that our toils and labors have not been limited, nor
of brief continuance, in their behalf. All this he most fully and
kindly acknowledges in his article. It is hardly necessary for us to
say, then, that we have used the term as describing what is, and as
contrasted with what ought to be. It is true, rightly or wrongly,
that they have been looked down upon and are still despised. And
we have used the word as setting forth the fact, and as, therefore,
the strongest plea to Christian sympathy and help; for we have been
sure that where we could enlist these, the term would no longer have
application. The good Samaritan did not despise the poor Jew who had
fallen among thieves, as he held him up on the ass which bore him to
the inn. He was too busy pitying and helping him. Perhaps this is
enough to say. We have used the term “the Despised Races” not as an
epithet, but as a plea.
A fair inference at least from the Doctor’s article is, that he sees
no hope for his people on this continent, and that their only way to
success is to emigrate to the land of their mothers, and to make its
reclamation their ambition. But how does that affect our work and the
present generation? The American Colonization Society, as seen by
its last published report, sent out to Africa during the year 1878,
one hundred and one colonists; during the same year the bark Azor
transported two hundred and forty. It is but a spoonful dipped from
this deep sea. It is but the smallest possible percentage even of the
increase of the colored population of America. Meanwhile, what are we
to do with the five millions who remain, and with their children and
their children’s children? What we do for them we must do for them here.
We, too, believe in colonization; in the evangelization of Africa by
Africans; and the only difference in our aim and purpose from the
work with which the Doctor is so fully identified, is that we want to
distribute our colonists more widely. It is well to have a Christian
republic in Africa. But it is our desire to plant small colonies
of twenty-five or thirty, among whom shall be both ministers and
mechanics, here and there through the still “dark continent”—points
of radiation for the light of life and of Christian civilization which
they are to hold forth.
We are full of sympathy and interest with the good work in Liberia.
May the Lord bless it abundantly. But the work here is not hopeless.
Hundreds of thousands of the Freedmen still answer, from amid all their
disappointments and disabilities, “We are rising.” Our plan and purpose
desire to take part in both hemispheres of the whole rounded work—to
save the African in America and in Africa alike.
* * * * *
DR. BLYDEN ON THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
The American Missionary Association, whose publications we have
prefixed to this paper, in their work of lofty and noble purpose
through the South are endeavoring to prepare the negro for higher
spheres of labor than “cotton-fields, turpentine orchards, and
rice-fields.” Every negro who is at all acquainted with matters in the
United States must have the highest admiration for it. Almost alone
among the benevolent institutions of that land in the days of the great
struggle, they never for one moment yielded to the imperious dictates
of an oligarchical monopoly, but gave expression to the idea which they
inscribed upon their banner, that one of the chief purposes of their
organization was to resist the tyranny of the autocracy which doomed
the negro to perpetual servitude. No one could be enrolled among its
members who was a slave-holder. They have the gratitude of the negro
race.
But history will have a brighter page than even that with which
to adorn their annals, when she comes to recount the devotion and
sacrifices of the hundreds who have been sent forth under their
auspices, as uplifters of the prostrate host in the South, to whom,
left as they were, paralyzed by slavery, free movement and real progress
were intrinsically impossible without the aid of such agencies as the
American Missionary Association. As time rolls on, the romance which
clings to those heroes who fought to unfetter the body of the slave,
will fade beside the halo which will surround these who have labored to
liberate his mind.
(_Methodist Quarterly Review._)
* * * * *
REV. CHARLES B. VENNING.
One of our most earnest and devoted missionaries at the Jamaica
Mission, after severe and protracted suffering, has entered into his
rest. Mr. Venning went about fifty years ago, when Negro-slavery was at
its height, to work on a Jamaica sugar estate. He was then an ardent
young Englishman, and easily led into dissipation and vice. But the
Lord arrested him, and the course of his whole life was changed. He
entered the Mico Institute, a Training College for Schoolmasters, and
was a successful teacher. He then became interested in the efforts of
the American Missionary Association, and desired to devote himself
entirely to school work and religious teaching among the Negroes in
the country districts of the Island. His name stands on the list of
missionaries in our first Annual Report, and he has labored faithfully
every year since—while his health would permit by active efforts, and
when on a bed of suffering by example and counsel.
We quote the following from the letter of a fellow missionary: “I never
saw a man who so entirely devoted himself to the work as he did. He
had the true missionary spirit. He not only preached the Gospel in his
own church, but from house to house and in the most out-of-the-way
places; indeed everywhere where men would give a listening ear. No
other missionary in the Island did so much for the education of his
people as Bro. Venning, and outside of the towns there could be found
no people so intelligent as his. He watched over his flock with almost
a painful interest—encouraged and reproved. He gathered the poor that
were otherwise uncared for about his own door, gave them shelter, fed
them from his own table, and clothed them from his own wardrobe.”
One who knew him intimately at the Island writes: “He labored literally
night and day most earnestly for the salvation of souls and the welfare
of those who had been converted. Being a born educator, he has left
his mark upon the generation that has grown up under his instruction.
As a private Christian, he was most real and honest, and free from all
guile, exemplifying in all his life, in the most striking manner, those
beautiful words of Scripture ‘harmless’ and ‘blameless.’ His faith
triumphed nobly in the end. In my interviews with him of late, it has
been most interesting to see with how firm a grasp he held fast to the
assurances of God’s blessed word, and thus found perfect rest and peace
to his soul.”
* * * * *
ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.
NASHVILLE, TENN.—Religious interest is reported in the school. Six
persons have professed their faith in Christ. The day of prayer for
colleges was observed and we hope that good may result from the day.
* * * * *
MCINTOSH, LIBERTY CO., GA.—Pastor Snelson writes: We observed the week
of prayer. The weather was mild, and consequently we did not have to
go into the Academy for the use of the stoves. Last Sabbath, eleven
were received into the church by confession and one by letter. It was
a blessed day with us. There is much here to do. Miss E. W. Douglass is
a great help to us. The people all like her. She is at work any and
everywhere. They call her in some places the lady-preacher. I would to
the Lord that more missionaries like her were sent throughout the field
of the American Missionary Association. Pray for us.
* * * * *
ANNISTON, ALA.—On Thursday night, December 25th, the colored church
was crowded to its utmost capacity to witness the exercises of the
school children, which consisted of songs, recitations, etc. The Rev.
P. J. McEntosh has had this school and church at Anniston in charge
for a number of years and has labored with untiring energy to elevate
the colored people, and has met with a great deal of encouragement.
After the school exercises, the presents from the Christmas tree were
distributed among the children. Several white visitors were present and
spoke very highly of the management of the church and school. On Friday
night, they gave a fair at which they realized $56.80.—_Chattanooga
(Tenn.) Times._
* * * * *
GREENWOOD, S. C.—Mr. J. D. Backenstose writes: I have just closed my
first week of school for this year (1880), and am glad to be able to
report a larger number of students than ever before at this place.
I have had to rent a room of one of my neighbors, and we have as many
boarders now as we can well accommodate, even with our new house, and
more are to come in the middle of the month.
The house is 18×36, containing two rooms 18×18, with two windows and a
door in each room and a chimney in the middle. Each room is to contain
three bedsteads, and from six to nine chairs. The house completed and
furnished will cost $228.68, a little more than we calculated, but it
is large, well built and well furnished.
* * * * *
TALLADEGA, ALA.—Both of the barns, one being new and very valuable,
with most of their contents, including hay, grain, corn, and
corn-fodder, 300 bushels of cotton-seed, with tools and farm-implements
and three cows, were burnt Wednesday night, Jan. 7. Evidently it was
the work of an incendiary, but not instigated at all by any prevailing
ill-will toward the College. Subscriptions were at once circulated
among citizens, both white and black, and while the amount raised is
not large, the number and willingness of the contributions prove the
interest felt by this community in the College. Efforts will be made to
rebuild at once. The loss is estimated at $1,200. It falls heavily on
the agricultural department, which is becoming an important factor in
the college work. The farm does much toward feeding the large family,
and gives opportunity of self-help to the young men.
* * * * *
NORTH CAROLINA.—While Islay Walden’s people in Randolph county
were hauling in logs for the lumber of their new church, the mill
was burned, and a part of their boards. The owner not being able to
rebuild, and there being no other mill near, the people came together
to help him, the young colored preacher putting down $25 from his
scanty salary. They hope to have the mill under way again in three or
four weeks. Meantime they will hurry in their logs, to be the first of
the new sawing.
* * * * *
TOUGALOO, MISS.—We have a colored man visiting his daughter to-day;
his first visit to Tougaloo. He says he is keeping his daughter in
school with the money saved by himself and wife on snuff and tobacco
since signing the pledge; the result of the work of one of our students
who taught in his district.
* * * * *
NEW ORLEANS, LA.—The Central Church is having a wonderful
revival. Mr. Alexander has preached every night since the beginning
of the year. The interest is remarkable, crowding the room
every evening with a quiet, orderly, and earnest audience; many have
been converted. Twenty-eight united with the church Feb. 1st.
* * * * *
AFRICAN NOTES.
—The long delayed tidings have been received by the London Missionary
Society from Messrs. Hore and Hutley at Lake Tanganika. The particulars
of Mr. Dodgshun’s death are given. Annoyances and delays interposed
by the Arab slave-traders are rehearsed. We give a few extracts from
letters:—
“During the seven months of our stay here, we have done much towards
making friends with the natives; they have closely observed us, and
admit that they can see nothing bad; but the influence of the Arabs
is so powerful that they, the Wajiji, are afraid to make any definite
negotiations with us apart from the Arabs.
* * * * *
“The slave-trade at Ujiji is merely a small local affair—slaves
captured in war, &c., amongst surrounding tribes, and passed from
hand to hand, till they finally come to a stand in some Arab’s
_shamba_: this used to be done in the market, but since we came here,
it has all been kept out of sight. Once only some Wajiji offered us
a slave for sale as they passed by our _tembe_. The traders owning
these domestic slaves, have from twenty to one hundred of them
(I think Muniyi Heri reaches the larger number); they are their
domestics, boatmen, carriers, body guard, and cultivators, and, of
course, form the principle population of the place, filling up with
huts the spaces between their masters’ larger houses.
“Slavery amongst the natives is another matter. The Wajiji are great
slave-holders, slaves being as common as domestic servants at home;
but no great numbers are owned by individuals as among the Arabs. A
common present between chiefs is one or two slaves, and Mirambo sends
small parties from time to time to buy both slaves and ivory. When
the Portuguese and Arab slave-trades are crushed out, or nearly so,
we shall see and more fully realize the extent of native slavery,
or slave customs, which cover the continent through its length and
breadth. The former will have cost an immense outlay of the power and
influence of civilized Europe ere it is swept away. The latter will
take years of faithful mission labor to eradicate.
“To fulfil my promise to an Arab, to whom I said, ‘We do not want to
buy except for our own use; but I will send your words to England,’ I
add these few lines:—The Arabs say, ‘If the white men will come here
and buy, we will grow as much sugar and rice, and spice and oil, &c.,
as they want, and would much rather get our money in that way, than
in dangerous [and, as they admit one by one privately, _illegal_]
slave-hunting.’ I keep telling them that the slave-trade is dying
out, and they had better look to something else before they are left
in the lurch.”
* * * * *
—“I have great trouble with my sailors who of course are _not_
sailors. On one occasion I was close off Cape Kiungwe. About two A.
M., pitch dark, a heavy squall burst on us from the northward, with
sheets of rain. I could not see one foot in front of my eyes. This
lasted for two or three hours, the boat sweeping along at a great
rate without a stitch of canvas, and a nasty foaming sea. All six men
became perfectly helpless, and huddled together inside the cabin. The
good little binnacle, however, kept the compass-lamp burning, and by
it only I knew where to steer; had it gone out, none of them could
have put it to rights. I could not possibly let go the tiller; they
were perfectly unable to work the paddles had they been required, and
it was only after roaring myself hoarse at them that I could rouse
them to bale the water out. When they get home they strut about with
a little cane in their hands, and boast of their sailorizing.”
* * * * *
—“I trust,” he writes, “no one will call this mission disastrous, or
condemn Ujiji hastily as unhealthy. It is certainly much healthier than
Zanzibar, and both Mr. Hutley and myself were never more persistent in
our determination to go on. Certainly we want more help, but the work
is _going on_. We are living down native prejudices and suspicions,
and the lies of slanderers. We will slacken no effort to carry on this
work; and I am speaking, not at home, but in the midst of the work and
its difficulties. May God induce His stewards to do their part, and
see in the vacant spaces of the ranks only cause for new and earnest
effort. I commenced this letter with but mournful news; I desire to
close it with an expression of thankfulness to God for what health and
strength and success He has given us, and with an earnest appeal to all
missionary hearts to apply their means and strength with renewed vigor
to this work, and to be assured that, however cavilers may talk of
disaster, there is no despondency here.”
—On the eve of going to press the Directors have received a telegram
from the Society’s agent in Zanzibar, to the following effect: “The
Rev. W. Griffith and Dr. Southon arrived at Ujiji on the 23d of
September; all well.”
* * * * *
—An Alexandria despatch to the _Daily News_ says Ismail Eyoud Pacha
has been appointed Governor of the Soudan, vice Gordon Pacha resigned.
* * * * *
THE FREEDMEN.
REV. JOS. E. ROY, D. D.,
FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.
AT TALLADEGA.
_At the Faculty Meeting._—Three men and four women present. Prayer.
The circle is passed around for matters of business. Besides minor
things these results are reached; Will observe the day of prayer for
colleges, with an address at morning worship, with a prayer-meeting
in the afternoon for the male students, one for the females and one
for the faculty, and with a general meeting at night; will hold a
Normal Institute on the last two days of the present term, inviting
the colored teachers in the region round about to come, and asking
Mr. A. W. Farnham, Normal Professor at the Atlanta University, to be
present and help; will have a series of familiar lectures, alternating
on Friday night with the young people’s sociable. Surely all this looks
like business.
_At the Library._—The donation of books to the value of more than four
hundred dollars, from Rev. W. H. Willcox, of Malden, Mass., attracts
the eye, and feasts it, too. The books are new, of standard and current
interest.
_At the Prayer Meeting._—One of the colored young preachers reports
the fine large old Bible which, as the gift of some Eastern friend, he
had taken into his little church at the Cove on the preceding Sabbath.
The people had requested him to express their thanks. Then President
DeForest followed. There is a story connected with that book. It came
with a box of things from the Congregational Church at Columbus, N.J.,
Rev. E. B. Turner’s. It came from Harriet Storrs, who is a cousin of
my mother. Every page of the book has been prayed over. Out of the
Sabbath-school of that old hill-town church, six ministers of the
Gospel have been raised up, among whom, I suppose, they count myself,
for that was my father’s home; and two wives of foreign missionaries
have come from the same source. Surely that old nest must be kept warm
for more of such productiveness.
_At Evening Prayers._—It is in the dining-hall, where the students
of both sexes and the teachers meet. The repast over, the President,
as is his wont, gives a resumé of the current news, the discovery of
the intro-Mercurial star, the day’s phase of the Maine affairs, and
other such. Then the students at two of the tables recite each a verse
upon a particular topic, temptation; then the sweetness of a religious
song; then prayer; then a quiet and orderly retiring. It is alone the
religion of Jesus that can present such a scene.
_At the Farm._—You enter its enclosure, passing under a graceful
arch that bears in large letters the emblazonment, “Winsted Farm.”
So everybody knows what town it was in Connecticut that did a good
deal toward the providing of that industrial department. The wheat
and the rye and the oats are covering the fields with green, even at
this mid-winter time. You can see that there is good farming in that
locality. You can see it, too, by contrast.
_Co-operative Farming._—During the last season the colored people
about our church at Lawson’s, in Alabama, Rev. J. W. Strong, pastor,
rented a half-dozen acres of land, and cultivated the most of it in
cotton, for the purpose of adding to the fund for supporting their
school. They had a board of managers. They worked when called upon.
They plowed and hoed. They at last picked out the cotton and found
that they had two bales, worth $120. One bale they sent to the colored
folks’ Industrial Fair, on the grounds of Talladega College. This
church is now also engaged in building a house of worship, having the
frame erected, intending, with the aid of $100 from the A.M.A., to go
on this season with the finishing, and hoping that a revival will be
its process of dedication.
* * * * *
NORTH CAROLINA.
Our School.
REV. ALFRED CONNET, MCLEANSVILLE.
Our school is put down as a common school. That is correct. Yet we are
laboring to make it more than a common school. To this end we have
graded it as follows:
A. Normal; B. Normal. A. Intermediate; B. Intermediate. A. Primary; B.
Primary.
Through the kindness of friends in the North the school had been
supplied with a good many books, and unfortunately, there was a great
variety of text-books. We have ordered new, standard books, and have
secured uniformity. As we had new books it was easy to require all to
begin at the bottom and work up, and to do thorough work.
In a very few instances we have found pupils who can go into two
classes in the same branch. In this way they bring up from the first,
and at the same time go on with a more advanced class.
The grading, the new books, and the uniformity of books, have each and
all had a stimulating effect. They see there is a ladder to climb. They
see they cannot start at the top, or the middle, but must begin at the
bottom. They study harder. The school has improved in numbers and in
regularity of attendance. The number enrolled is 84.
Our pupils are from four counties, including this (Guilford) county.
Thirteen are here paying board, or boarding themselves. Of the thirteen
all are professors of religion but three: one is a minister, two are
preparing for the ministry; one professed religion since he came here
a year ago, one of those preparing for the ministry united with the
church at the last communion, and one is a teacher. Of those enrolled
last year, seven are teachers, six of whom are now teaching, and one
attending school. One pupil who is a minister reports over forty
hopeful conversions in connection with his labors during the summer
vacation.
A year ago we greatly felt the need of dormitories, and accommodations
for students to “batch.” For this the Association could make no
appropriation. One of the neighbors has put up a building for this
purpose, another is building, and a third has converted an old
store-room into dormitories, and four families have taken boarders.
Last year our school was confined to one room; now we have added a
recitation room.
On the whole, the outlook is hopeful. By the close of the present
school year twelve to fifteen of our pupils will be able to obtain
teacher’s license from the County School-Examiner.
* * * * *
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Church and School Work—The Cause of the Exodus.
REV. TEMPLE CUTLER, CHARLESTON.
The work goes quietly on here in Charleston—in all its departments.
The school is flourishing. It never had so many pupils as now, and was
never more popular than under the direction of Mr. Gaylord. We are not
ashamed to have visitors from North, South, East, or West, visit Avery.
If any of your readers doubt the capacity of these colored boys and
girls, let them come and see for themselves.
Miss Wells, our missionary, is doing good work—visiting the homes and
teaching the mothers and daughters how to make the home what it should
be.
The church work goes on slowly. The feeling of unity and harmony is
increasing, and, so far as I can see, may be said to be universal in
the church. We have had stormy weather in Plymouth for some time; it
has been a sort of Cape Hatteras, around which the winds have revelled,
but now the sky is clear and the sea smooth. We have a large growth of
tares in the church that does neither us nor anybody else any good.
If we should undertake to root it out, I do not know how much wheat
might come up with it, nor how much wheat we would trample down in
getting to it. Oh, how wise we need to be in dealing with these people;
what a broad mantle of charity we have to throw over them. Those of
us who glean after the reapers in this field, where the “patriarchal
institution” once flourished, find that either the type of piety
that prevailed in the “Abrahamic household” was very defective, or
the “Abrahamic duty” was woefully neglected. Certainly, the idea of
religion that prevails among the former dependents of these modern
patriarchs, is not that of either the Old or New Testament. But why
throw stones at the old defunct institution? What did I say? Defunct?
I wish to God it was defunct, and that these freemen had a fair chance
and a free fight for their rights and liberties. But that day is a long
way off; and I fear the shimmer of the morn is not yet seen. I want to
be just as hopeful as possible. I never was a croaker. I generally see
the bright side of a thing. But sometimes, when I come in from some
tale of oppression and misery, the clouds just shut right down—it is
midnight. When I am made to know that there are 20,000 poor wretches
here in this city that are the carcass on which rich cormorants are
fattening, my soul is sick within me. Congress may investigate the
cause of the emigration of the colored people to all eternity, and come
to what conclusion they may, it won’t stop. I pray God it may not
stop until enough laborers get away from the South to give room for
those who remain to grow. God knows the truth, and He will open some
way for His people to go out. I assure you His new Israel has not yet
come to the land flowing with milk and honey. What think you of a man
supporting a family of four on 25 cents a day, and paying five dollars
a month for house rent? What think you of a family of five living on
the wages of the daughter who gets six dollars a month working out, and
paying five dollars a month for house rent? _Hungry mouths will stifle
conscience._ Or, how long could the good people of the North live on
hasty-pudding without molasses or milk, morning, noon and night, and
nothing else, day after day and week after week?
Do you say, why not go back into the country and work the land? So
I said to one who had brought his family of five or six down here
to starve with the rest: “Why didn’t you stay up in the country?”
“Couldn’t lib up dar no how. Starve up dar shuah. Rent so high couldn’t
lib. Had free acres of land and a po, misable shantie, and had to work
fo days ob de week fur de rent, and but two days to tend my own crop.
Hab to buy ebreting ob de commisary. Hab to pay twenty cents a pound
fur meat (bacon), and forty cents a peck fur grits (corn meal). Starve
to deff up dar shuah.” Four days’ work every week for the rent of three
acres of land! The best land in that section is worth four dollars per
acre. Call the man’s work worth twenty-five cents a day. His rent was
one dollar a week—fifty-two dollars a year. No wonder the landlords
are not anxious to sell land to the colored people, when they can get
four times the value of the land every year in work at twenty-five
cents a day. Defunct institution! Yes, on the statute book. “But, my
man, why didn’t you buy the land at four dollars an acre?” “Well, sah,
some ob ’em did buy de land. I dunno how much dey pays; but I knows
when dey’s paid two or tree stalments dey can’t pay no mo, and gibs
em up.” Do you wonder the people listen to glowing pictures of better
opportunities somewhere else? If these people had a decent chance at
home, they would not listen to invitations away. The fact is, they
are perfectly helpless, and there is nothing for the mass of them but
to sit down and wait, wait, wait, through the long, long years till
the morning comes. I do not wonder they emigrate. I pray God they may
continue to go, until those who remain shall have their hands full to
supply the demands for labor. It may not be better for those that go,
but it will be better for those that remain. The more you thin out your
woodland, the taller and stouter will be your timber. The only hope
for this people is a scarcity of laborers. There are so many who must
have work, or die, that every vacancy has a dozen ready applicants.
Twenty-five cents a day, I am told, is all that some of these planters
will give to man or woman; and they can get enough at that price. In
such circumstances, you cannot expect people to haggle long about the
price of labor. The cry is simply, “Give me my hire.” And then, if you
remember that two hundred years of slavery in a man’s blood is not a
very good preparation for independency, you may get a pretty good idea
of the situation of the people.