to be “the man without a country.” And the Christian missions
which have sought to identify him with his native land have with
him been driven along before the advancing tide of the white man’s
migration. So has it been from the days of Jonathan Edwards,
John Eliot and David Brainard down to these times of the Riggses
and Williamsons. The Indian missions of this Association have
fared in the same way, those at Northfield, Mich., and those at
Cass Lake and Red Lake, Minn., which were served by some fifteen
missionaries, among them Revs. S. G. Wright, J. B. Bardwell and
A. Barnard. Of these the venerable Mr. Wright still abides in
the service, being now at Leech Lake. Returning this year to his
field, he writes: “We were very happy to find the little company
of earnest, devoted Christians, whom we left two years before,
still faithfully pursuing their work for God. They are truly the
salt of the earth, burning lights in this great darkness, the
spiritual power in the place.” Again he says: “I wish I could
attend the annual meeting. I should love to give the friends a
short history of the conversion and rich Christian experience of
numbers of those around us.” Our church at S’Kokomish, Washington
Territory, Rev. Myron Eells, pastor, during the year has swarmed,
seven of its members having taken letters to unite with four
other Christians of the Clallam Indians to form a Congregational
Church at Jamestown. One infant was baptized. A half-dozen white
neighbors came in and communed with them. Mr. Eells says that the
services were held in Chinook, Clallam, English, Chinook translated
into Clallam, and English translated into Clallam, a Pentecostal
gift of tongues. The work of the mother church has been more
encouraging this year than the last. Five have united with the
church on profession of faith. The service of the agents at the
S’Kokomish, Fort Berthold and Sisseton agencies has been about as
usual in routine and outcome. The work that is now going on at
the Hampton Institute in the educational and industrial training
of 89 young Indians of both sexes is truly encouraging; not only
as to its immediate accomplishment, but as to its future bearings
upon the welfare of the Indians, and upon the Indian question
itself. At the last commencement, the Indian classes claimed their
full share of attention, and showed an improvement in the general
character of the pupils over last year. One noted speech was made
by an Indian youth. Rev. Dr. Bartend, referring to that speech in
his address, said: “Two hundred and fifty years ago there came
floating into this beautiful harbor vessels from the old country.
What was their object? What was their hope? The prayer that arose
from their decks was this: ‘God give us strength that we may
educate and Christianize the Indian.’ William and Mary College, now
almost ready to perish, is the monument of their endeavor. They
did not see the answer to their prayer. God works in His own way,
in His own time, with His own men. Could they see what we to-day
behold, they would say, as do we, Speed on. God speed this glorious
school.” Although the Association, which founded and developed
the Hampton, has surrendered its control to a Board, yet besides
aiding in the support of the pastor, who cares for the three races,
associated in the one church of the place, it also makes a special
appropriation toward the Indian department of the Institute. The
Association will be ready to co-operate with the Government under
its new appropriation, using some of its own institutions for the
instruction and training of Indian youth. It has been proposed
that the Association take up a new mission among a neglected tribe
in the deep Northwest. Gen. Armstrong, by his recent tour among
the several Indian tribes of that region, has been able to make
judicious suggestions which will be duly considered.
THE CHINESE.
But a little while ago we were praying God to open the door of
China; and now the Chinese are pressing in at our own back door,
having a steam ferry between our shore and theirs. Even the
building of our Chinese wall, while China has been tearing down
hers, has had the immediate effect of hastening 25,000 of these
people in at our Golden Gate before the law should go into effect,
and this influx has been felt already in our schools, which for the
last few months have had a total larger than that of any former
months. Mr. Pond certifies that even the enforcement of the law
will not for some time occasion any let up in the pressure upon our
school accommodations. We have as stock on hand, as raw material,
these 125,000 people whom we should work up in the Christianizing
way, so that they may be prepared, some for their own mission work
at home, and some to receive the masses who may come by-and-by
when the embargo is lifted. So that while our government stands at
the Golden Gate to warn off any Mayflower immigrants, it may be
that this enforced quiet and isolation will become a mighty factor
in the scheme for Christianizing China. But none the less is it
a ludicrous object lesson that the nation which stands with its
front door wide open to receive 90,000 Europeans a month, should
yet shudder over the 125,000 Mongolians who in many years have
sought admission at the back door. It is a humiliating confession
that 50,000,000 of Christian people, compacted as a nation, should
shrink from having their system come into contact with the effete
superstitions of 125,000 sojourners. But the politicians’ law is
only for ten years. The principle, the conscience of the nation
will be at work. The law may become a dead letter or be repealed.
Before we are aware of it, the flood-gates may be raised and a
great tide may set in. So, in any event, we have herein a grand
opportunity, a mighty obligation.
Our last Annual Report mentioned a desire on the part of the
converted Chinamen in California and their friends, that a mission
be located at some well-chosen point in Southern China, from which
their Christian brethren going back to fatherland might go forth
to carry the Gospel to their countrymen. Further consideration
has settled it that Hong Kong, the centre of the district from
which most of our California Chinamen come, is the proper
location. Such a mission would give a Christian greeting to the
returning Christian Chinamen, would furnish an atmosphere and an
instrumentality for keeping up their spiritual life, would be a
training-school for those who should become missionaries, would be
a rallying centre there, and would be the point of juncture between
our work on the coast and that heathen empire. But, as it is the
purpose of this Association not to extend its operations abroad,
we made a distinctive proposition to the American Board that it
take up the proposed mission at Hong Kong, and so work in harmony
with us on this side the Pacific. We are glad to report that this
overture has been cordially acceded to, and that that venerable
missionary body accepts this “sacred trust.” Our brethren of the
Chinese Christian Association out there have in hand already a fund
of $700, which they intend to put into that mission as an offering
of the first fruits.
In its work on the Pacific Coast, the Association is represented
by its auxiliary, the California Chinese Mission, whose President
is Rev. Dr. John K. McLean, and whose Secretary is Rev. Wm. C.
Pond, who, in addition to the care of his city parish, has the
supervision of our operations there. Taking up the work into his
own mind and heart, he gives to it an amount of study, watch-care
and service that is marvellous. With a Pauline spirit, he goes the
round of the missions, cheering and directing the workers, healing
divisions and laying new plans.
Our fifteen schools are located at Berkeley, Marysville, Oakland,
Oroville, Petaluma, Point Pedro, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Santa
Cruz, Stockton, and at San Francisco, where are the five missions,
No. 1, No. 2, Barnes, Bethany, and West. The work of the year
has been greatly encouraging. These schools have been taught by
thirty-one teachers, of whom eleven are Christianized Chinamen.
The total number of scholars enrolled during the year was 2,567,
a gain over the previous year of 935, while that year had a gain
over the former one of 76. Of these during the past year 156 have
ceased from idolatry and 106 have given evidence of conversion. Nor
do these figures give the full number of those who are brought to
the light in our schools, for many are scattered and cannot attend
them. The whole number of those of whom we have hope that they
are born of God in connection with our work from the first, Mr.
Pond thinks cannot be less than 431, and wisely does he add: “The
figures will cease to look dry and the statistical table will glow
with even a celestial light, if we but reflect that every unit in
these numbers stands for an undying soul, and every unit in some of
them for such a soul brought out from the dark bondage of Chinese
paganism into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.”
It is proposed now to re-establish our mission at Los Angeles,
which, as the original, gave way for a time to another that came
in but has turned out a failure. Chico, where there are many
Chinese, and no one to care for them, is another place where the
Superintendent could start a mission. So also the door seems to
be opening for yet another school in San Francisco at the great
Pioneer Wooden Mills, where 600 Chinese are employed. And so the
expanding work demands the additional appropriation which the
Committee have already voted, making a total of $13,000 to be used.
FINANCES.
At our last annual meeting we reported a total of $243,795.23,
which was a gain of $56,315.12, or 20 percent, over that of the
previous year. One year ago the Committee felt constrained to ask
that this sum should be carried up to $300,000 for the support and
enlargement of the varied work in charge. We started out well. Then
in the spring our chariot came to dragging heavily with a debt
of $25,000 upon it. Then there was a rally, and the fiscal year
came to its close, Sept. 30, with $297,584.45, which is a gain of
$53,789.22 over the last year, or 22 per cent. Besides the current
receipts we have received toward the endowment of the President’s
chair in Talladega College, $15,000; and for scholarships in the
same, $6,000; also a Scholarship note for $500, in behalf of Fisk
University, which makes a total of $319,584.45 received into our
treasury during the year. This leaves the treasury out of debt,
with a balance in hand of $789.83, and an increase of endowment
fund of $21,500. For this accomplishment we offer devout thanks to
Almighty God.
The exigencies of the work, the enlargement of the expenditure made
almost inevitable by the new buildings and increased facilities,
will scarcely be met by $300,000 the coming year. An increase of
that amount by 20 per cent, could be most economically and wisely
expended without any attempt at undue enlargement. The legitimate
and almost irresistible progress of the work demands that. But we
are the servants of our constituents, and assume not to decide. We
can most efficiently use the increase, but will faithfully work as
best we can with the means entrusted to us. We can only add that
the work will suffer if less than the $300,000 be secured.
As boys run backward that they may jump the further forward, so
we may profitably compare the receipts of this Association in its
earlier years with those of this last year. The nearly $300,000
just announced is equal to the total of contributions for the first
ten years. And the total for the year, as given by the Treasurer,
of the contributions from the same constituency for the general
work in which the Association is engaged, more than $500,000, is
equal to the receipts into our treasury for the first fourteen
years.
* * * * *
Never have the affairs of this Association seemed more prosperous;
never have its labors on the field yielded a more abundant and
precious fruitage; never has it seemed more firmly established in
the confidence of the people, both at the North and the South;
never has it shared more fully the favor of God!
May we have grace to walk so humbly before God, and so honestly and
faithfully before men, in the administration of our trust, that His
favor and their confidence may abide upon us!
* * * * *
THE FREEDMEN.
* * * * *
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EDUCATIONAL WORK.
The Committee to whom has been referred the subject of the
educational work of this Association, beg leave to report that we
heartily approve the policy of the Association by which it has put
its main efforts upon the Christian education of teachers for the
colored people. Our Congregational churches, while it is important
to plant them, are not the first need. They can enter but slowly.
The people do not appreciate them nor ask for them. Education they
beseech us for. The lower common-school education we can supply
only here and there. We thank God, and we recognize it as a blessed
evidence of the growth of healthy public sentiment, that every year
more and more attention is paid in the States of the South to free
public education, and that in this the colored people are having
their part, and that the expense of supporting their schools is
more and more cheerfully borne. But the States which are willing
to educate children are not all ready as yet to educate their
teachers. Whether the common schools of the South are good, depends
on whether the schools for teachers are good. We believe there is
no other agency which is doing so much to secure teachers for the
colored youth of the South as the American Missionary Association.
This is a task which does not carry with it ecclesiastical profit;
but it carries the blessing of the Great Head of the Church, as it
has the good will of good men in every communion.
Apprehending the paramount importance of this work, we would
impress upon the officers of this Association, what they doubtless
feel, the importance of raising their chartered institutions and
normal schools to the very highest possible grade. Bricks and
mortar are necessary, good buildings are noble, but the first
demand is for good teaching, for the very best instruction which
Northern culture can secure. A few extra hundreds paid to a
competent principal may be of more real use than many thousands
paid for a building. Our consecrated wealth will provide the
buildings. That we do not fear for; but it needs great and rare
executive wisdom to see that these buildings shall be put to their
best use for the best instruction. Now is the molding time for the
colored people, and they need to be molded aright. Good education
in barracks is better than poor education in a palace. It has
been the boast of our constituency that they have known how to
educate. They have supported the best colleges in the North. They
are now supporting the best schools in the South. We are glad that,
apprehending these duties, the Association has just appointed a
competent Superintendent of Education, whose special business it
will be to see to it that the standard of education shall be raised
to the highest possible grade. We would especially recommend that
all our institutions be carefully examined, that we call nothing
college or university whose course of instruction falls below the
grade which belongs to the name, and that, if it be necessary in
any case, inferior teachers be weeded out and their places supplied
by such as are competent and earnest. This we urge, while knowing
that our institutions, as a rule, are models in all the South,
because we would not have the Association satisfied with that to
which we have already attained, and because we believe that our
schools can and should be made so superior to other institutions
that they shall attract white pupils as well as black, or break
down the walls of caste.
We see with satisfaction the progress made in Howard and Talladega
in theological education, which has been followed by the
organization of numerous prosperous churches. We would urge that,
as soon as possible, Fisk and Straight universities be supplied
with similar active departments of theological instruction.
Industrial departments have been made very useful in Hampton and
Tougaloo. These institutions are models in these as in other
respects. The explanation rests in part in the great enthusiasm
or ability of the gentlemen whom we are so fortunate as to have
in charge of those institutions, and who have a special gift in
developing these departments, and in part in the fortunate locality
in which these institutes are placed. While we would be glad to
have similar instruction given in Fisk, Atlanta, and elsewhere, we
recognize the great difficulty of doing similar work in cities.
Domestic labor should be encouraged, to relieve the expense of
board; but experiments in establishing schools of carpentry,
blacksmithing, nursing, etc., while excellent, need to be made with
the greatest care, and under the supervision of such teachers as
possess the requisite enthusiasm and faith.
We would especially urge, in this connection, on those who manage
our institutions, that they impress on the pupils the virtues of
thrift and self-support. The students who have come to us are
no longer ex-slaves. They have all been reared in freedom. They
should be required to pay a reasonable amount for tuition. This
should be imposed as an educating influence. They should be made to
understand that when education is given it represents a money value
as well as does the food that goes into the stomach. More and more
should they be required to pay their tuition, if it be but a dollar
a month, that they may understand its value. The aggregate of this
will be of considerable help, as it will elevate the educational
notions of the people.
We are glad to see that our chartered institutions are making
progress toward independence of the Association. For this they
should work by the increase of their endowments for instruction. We
express our great thanks to the generous friends who have so nobly
given for these purposes, and especially to the wise and generous
benevolence of Mrs. Stone, which has made this a marked year in the
history of our institutions. May the Lord reward her, and may her
example stir up many more.
Our work would not be complete without a more formal and a most
cordial recognition of the thanks we owe to the self-denying
teachers of our institutions. They are men and women of most
admirable culture; they have made the greatest sacrifices; they
have entered with the warmest enthusiasm into their work. We have
been greatly pleased with the professional enthusiasm of those
at the head of some of our excellent normal schools, to whom no
words of praise can be extravagant. The progress in nearly all our
institutions has been such as to merit our heartiest appreciation.
We commend this, our great work, to the generous hearts of our
Christian constituency.
G. F. WRIGHT, _Chairman_.
* * * * *
THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO.
BY PRES. E. M. CRAVATH, FISK UNIVERSITY.
1. The negroes are citizens, and vested with all the rights,
duties and responsibilities of American citizenship. The ballot
is in their hands, and as a necessary consequence they will share
the offices of trust and responsibility. There must and will be
political leaders among them. It might be better for the country
if the colored people would use the ballot purely, with an eye
single to the best interests of society; if they should always vote
for the wisest, most honest and most capable men, uninfluenced by
personal prejudices, race distinction, or the popular excitement of
heated political campaigns, and with no aspiration for political
distinction or the honors and spoils of office. It might be better
for the country if the citizens of other races would do this. But
how unlike the Anglo-Saxon or the Celt would be the African if _he_
should do it. But, fortunately, or unfortunately, there is about
as much genuine human nature in the American citizen of African
descent as there is in those of European; and we must expect
essentially the same results under like conditions. It will not
prevent colored men from having political aspirations, and from
being elected to offices of trust and responsibility, to confine
education among them to public, normal and industrial schools.
The safer and better way is to give to the young men who have
aspirations for a higher education the opportunities and advantages
they seek, just as they are provided for the youth of other races.
2. The six millions of colored people in the South are organized
into distinct and separate churches, which are ministered to by
persons of their own race. This is the result both of choice and
necessity. The white churches are not open to them, and as a
general thing they prefer to have their separate organizations. The
influence and power of the minister among the colored people are
exceedingly great. No people stand more in need of an intelligent,
wise and educated ministry, and among no people can such a ministry
do such a noble work for the proper training of the young men who
are to constitute the religious teachers and guides of these six
millions of colored American citizens just delivered from bondage,
and now making trial before the world of freedom and citizenship. I
urge the necessity of institutions for higher education.
The public schools of the South for colored children are in
general taught by colored teachers. This is usually demanded
by the parents. In these public schools there are hundreds of
positions such as are filled in white schools by men who have
had their training in the best colleges and universities of the
South, and why should not colored young men be given the same
training for the same responsibilities and duties? The same
principles and necessities hold in the departments of law and
medicine. Is there any reason, in the nature of the case, why
a young colored man does not need to have as good an education
to fit him for these professions as a young white man does? In
all enlightened countries, institutions of higher education are
regarded as indispensible; they accomplish a work in the interests
of society, the Church and the State, which cannot be left out
with safety to any race or any country. But there are weighty
reasons why the colored youth of the South need the advantages
of a higher education. They have received less by inheritance.
Education, discipline, culture, the habits and surroundings of
life through generations, to some extent, at least, determine the
inherited intellectual and moral qualities of individuals, families
and races. The colored youth begins life without the inherited
qualities which can come only through generations of civilization.
Then, too, he has not had the advantages (and these are among the
greatest children can possess) of a cultured home, refined and
intellectual associations, a purified and stimulating social life,
and the instruction of an educated ministry. These have largely
been denied him in his earlier years. Thus, when young colored men
or women set out to secure an education that shall put them on a
high plane of intellectual life and give them a fair chance to work
a career which shall entitle them to be honestly ranked among the
educated and cultured of the white race in the higher departments
of the world’s work, they find themselves at a great disadvantage.