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[Illustration:
VOL. XXXVI. NOVEMBER, 1882. NO. 11.
THE
American Missionary
“THEY ARE RISING ALL ARE RISING, THE BLACK AND WHITE TOGETHER”
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.]
CONTENTS.
* * * * *
PAGE.
EDITORIALS.
THIS NUMBER—The W. H. M. A. 321
LADY MISSIONARIES—Lady Missionary in New Orleans 322
PARAGRAPH—Missionary Campaign 323
CHRISTIANIZATION OF OUR COUNTRY FOR THE SAKE OF
THE WORLD 324
PARAGRAPH—Benefactions 326
GENERAL NOTES—Africa, Indians 327
THE FREEDMEN.
LIVINGSTONE MISSIONARY HALL 328
LIVINGSTONE MISSIONARY HALL (Cut) 329
HYGIENIC DEPARTMENT OF FISK UNIVERSITY—Student
Teaching 330
PERMANENT TEMPERANCE WORK 331
WORK IN TOPEKA 333
AFRICA.
DR. LADD’S JOURNAL 334
THE INDIANS.
FARMING AT FORT BERTHOLD 340
RELIGIOUS INTEREST AT S’KOKOMISH—School at Leech
Lake 341
THE CHINESE.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 342
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
LETTER FROM AN INDIAN BOY 342
RECEIPTS 343
CONSTITUTION 349
PROPOSED CONSTITUTION 350
* * * * *
American Missionary Association,
56 READE STREET, NEW YORK.
* * * * *
PRESIDENT, HON. WM. B. WASHBURN, Mass.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.
Rev. M. E. STRIEBY, D.D., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
TREASURER.
H. W. HUBBARD, Esq., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
DISTRICT SECRETARIES.
Rev. C. L. WOODWORTH, _Boston_.
Rev. G. D. PIKE, D.D., _New York_.
Rev. JAMES POWELL, _Chicago_.
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. G. Pike, D.D., 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, Rev. C.
L. Woodworth. Dist. Sec., 21 Congregational House, Boston, Mass.,
or Rev. James Powell, Dist. Sec., 112 West Washington Street,
Chicago, Ill. A payment of thirty dollars at one time constitutes a
Life Member. Letters relating to boxes and barrels of clothing may
be addressed to the persons above named.
FORM OF A BEQUEST
“I BEQUEATH to my executor (or executors) the sum of —— dollars, in
trust, to pay the same in —— days after my decease to the person
who, when the same is payable, shall act as Treasurer of the
‘American Missionary Association’ of New York City, to be applied,
under the direction of the Executive Committee of the Association,
to its charitable uses and purposes.” The Will should be attested
by three witnesses.
The Annual report of the A. M. A. contains the Constitution of the
Association and the By-laws of the Executive Committee. A copy will
be sent free on application.
THE
AMERICAN MISSIONARY.
* * * * *
VOL. XXXVI. NOVEMBER, 1882. NO. 11.
* * * * *
American Missionary Association.
* * * * *
This number of the MISSIONARY will reach our readers about the
time of the assembling of our friends at the Annual Meeting. With
the sum of $300,000 so nearly reached, with no debt upon our
treasury, with a year of most successful work, with the addition
of many large, commodious and much needed buildings, and with
the dew of divine grace resting upon many of our churches and
schools, we shall meet in our annual gathering with abundant causes
of gratitude towards God for the past, and hope and courage for
another year. Prayer is the vital breath of the Christian life, and
none the less of missionary endeavor. We ask a place evermore in
the prayers of God’s people. At our Annual Meeting it is our custom
to spend a season of devotion on Tuesday afternoon in concert with
all our workers in the field, who gather in their homes and schools
and churches to lift up their voices in thanks and supplications
with us for the blessing of God upon our work. We ask those of
our Christian friends whose eyes may rest upon this page at that
hour of worship to unite with us in it; and may we not hope that
this suggestion, though received later, may stimulate to earnest
supplication in behalf of our work?
* * * * *
THE WOMAN’S HOME MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
The arrangement for co-operation between the A. M. A. and the W. H.
M. A. has ceased. A few words of explanation are proper. From an
early period of our work among the Freedmen, we have employed lady
missionaries, and found them exceedingly useful. When the W. H. M.
A. was formed, we entered into co-operation with it in the hope
that a larger number of such missionaries might be sent into the
field. It was found, however, that with the office of one society
in New York and the other in Boston, it was impossible to have such
constant consultations as to appointments, places and work as would
avoid all misunderstandings and complications. We have, therefore,
felt it our duty, though with reluctance and with all respect for
the zeal and earnest Christian purposes of the W. H. M. A., to
sever our connection with it.
As we now return to our old plan of selecting the lady
missionaries, and of supporting them from our treasury, we most
earnestly solicit the aid of the noble women of our constituency
who sympathize with our endeavor to lift up the lowly of their sex,
and to bring into their homes the refining and elevating influences
of the Gospel. Whether this aid shall be rendered by individual
gifts or by united efforts on the part of ladies of given churches
or localities, we most cheerfully leave to their good judgment
to decide. The work we know is promising, the opportunities are
abundant, and the blessings two-fold to those who give.
* * * * *
LADY MISSIONARIES
As we intend to increase the number of our lady missionaries in
the South, it is fitting that we explain our aim in sending them
and the methods of their work. Their services are mainly in the
home with the mothers and the children. We regard the home, the
school and the church as the pivots of the Christian life, each
most effective when working with the others. A home that is not
neat, attractive and pure, cripples the efforts of the school and
the church. If a child spends six hours in a school and eighteen
hours in a disorderly and immoral home, or if a man attends service
in a church on Sunday and spends all the rest of the week in that
same home, the progress of both boy and man in the Christian life
will be slow indeed. We aim to build up _character_, and if the
school, the church and the home, co-operate in harmony “according
to the effectual working in the measure of every part,” the product
will, under God, be men and women of intelligent minds and pure
hearts, happy themselves, useful to their race and the nation, and
ornaments to the church of Christ.
* * * * *
LADY MISSIONARY IN NEW ORLEANS.
We have appointed Miss A. D. Gerrish as lady missionary in New
Orleans, and she entered upon her work there Oct. 1. She will
devote her energies with special reference to aiding our work in
Straight University and in Central Church, in accordance with
the principles laid down in the foregoing article. There is much
benevolent and Christian work to be done in that great city, and
the A. M. A., unable, of course, to do it all, must make choice.
For the Chinamen in America, we are doing our great work on the
Pacific Coast, and those who float into Eastern and Southern
cities seem to have been brought providentially to the doors of
the large and wealthy local churches, whose duty and privilege it
is to lead these strangers to the Saviour. As to the maintaining
of orphanages, our experiment, thoroughly tried in the opening of
our work in the South, when such asylums were more needed than
now, proved to us that our broadest and best work for the colored
people could not be done in them. We are persuaded that a given sum
of money will do more for the effectual elevation of the colored
people in connection with our regular work in church, school and
home than in any other way. The lady missionary, aiding to make the
home of the pupil and parishioner neat, intelligent and pure, will
not only brighten that spot, but will render the school and the
church more effectual.
Miss Gerrish is no stranger to our work. She has been eminently
successful as missionary in Topeka, Kansas, where her remarkable
musical gifts, her magnetic enthusiasm, and her earnest Christian
character, have won all hearts within her influence. We bespeak for
her a share in the sympathies and prayers of the faithful Christian
women of the North and West, who toil for the elevation of women
who are depressed by poverty and ignorance.
* * * * *
WE publish in consecutive pages in this number of the MISSIONARY
the Constitution of the A. M. A. as it now stands, and the Proposed
Constitution as it will be reported at our Annual Meeting for
action. They will be convenient for reference and comparison.
* * * * *
THAT missionary campaign in Central and Western New York became a
success. Meetings, of three sessions each, were held in eighteen
places: Penn Yan, (Pa.), Norwich, Walton, Utica, Antwerp, Norwood,
Sandy Creek, Oswego, Elmira, Ithaca, Canandaigua, Fairport,
Lockport, Homer, Binghamtom, Schenectady, Poughkeepsie. Secretary
C. C. Creegan, the manager, represented the work of the A. H. M.
S. in all the country, as well as in his own State, using his huge
map of the United States. His experience as former Superintendent
of Colorado and adjacent mountain country, fits him well for
this service, in which he is enthusiastic. Dr. L. H. Cobb, out
of his ten years’ experience as Superintendent in Minnesota, and
brief work in the New West as Missionary Secretary of the A. H.
M. S., was able to say, we speak what we do know in pleading for
the housing of the new churches on the frontier. He also makes
a forceful appeal for helping them to parsonages as a piece of
policy in the economy and efficiency of home mission work. Dr.
H. C. Hayden, of the American Board, with singular felicity,
earnestness and variation, poured out his soul in behalf of the
outlying regions. He, too, had maps; they were of China, Japan
and Africa, and right eloquent were they in their appeals to the
head and heart through the eye. Dr. O. H. White, Secretary of the
British Freedmen’s Aid Society, co-operative with the A. M. A., in
behalf of Africa, for the first half of the tour represented our
cause, portraying the interest of English Christians in this work,
delineating from his ample study the country, the people, and the
prospect of missions in Africa, and also reporting the condition
and progress of our schools and churches in the South. For the
last part of the course our Field Superintendent, as a “returned
missionary” made report of his field, representing also our work
among the Indians, the Chinese on the Pacific Coast, and the Mendi
people in Africa. It was interesting to observe the harmony and
inter-play of all the addresses, and so of the several causes. At
each meeting there were representatives from neighboring churches,
up to seven or eight in number, so that, in all, the words of the
brethren were heard by messengers from one hundred churches, by
one hundred of our own ministers, by thirty-five pastors in other
denominations, and, through an estimate, by seven or eight thousand
people. These, too, were representative people; they would report
what they had heard; and when they told the non-attendants how much
they had lost, this, too, would be a valuable testimony. Pastors
not unfrequently announced a quickened interest, and promised to
be yet more diligent in presenting these related interests of all
the churches; they found that the calling in of these brethren was
of the nature of using experts in behalf of the respective modes
of Christian propagandism. The men of the corps were delighted
with the heartiness of their reception everywhere, and came back
with an increased love for the Lord’s dear people whom they had
met and tried to serve. Doubtless good was done in sowing seed,
which will appear in future fruitfulness in prayer and sympathy
and contributions for these several causes, which are one. As the
huntsman looks for his game after the fire, we shall be looking
for the A. M. A. bagging out in that country, which one of our
representatives says is the finest part of the United States.
* * * * *
THE CHRISTIANIZATION OF OUR COUNTRY FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD.
That is the loftiest argument for home missions. God evidently
intended that this should be made a great missionary nation. If
it had been discovered and settled much earlier we should have
had simply a transference of the old world civilization, with all
of its spiritual despotism. As it was, South America and Mexico
did receive that inheritance, and our territory, once claimed by
the Pope, and actually recognized as belonging to the Catholic
countries France and Spain, as appears from old maps and globes,
has barely escaped by the overruling of Providence, which has given
it to the English-speaking Protestantism, and by the evangelism
developed through American Christianity.
Prof. Phelps was right when he wrote: “Were I a missionary in
Canton, my first prayer every morning would be for America in
behalf of Canton.” This idea gives a grandeur to the march of the
American Home Missionary Society across the continent. The course
of missionaries is now largely changed. Once they set sail from our
shores eastward, now they cross our national domain to go westward.
We cry, all hail, to that right wing of Immanuel’s army that is
sweeping the land from ocean to ocean. Already our own American
Board is finding the West its best hunting-ground for missionaries
to go abroad. It is even going into the cabins of the frontiersmen,
as well as to the Western Theological Seminaries, to find its
consecrated men and women. And this is proving to be choice
material to make our Lord’s world-conquerors out of. Men who have
lifted up axes upon the thick trees, and have come into contact
with affairs, have the hardy stuff needed in the work abroad.
So the American Missionary Association is the left wing of the
Congregational corps that is seeking to subdue this realm to our
King, the Christ. To this end was its former work at the West,
where it had its seventy-nine home missionaries. To this end is its
scheme for helping in the evangelizing of the Aborigines, who have
made way for us to build up our nation. To this end is our movement
in behalf of the six millions of our colored fellow-citizens; a
movement which, as we are humbly grateful to be able to say, God
has made great. To this end is our mission among the Chinese, whom
God has wondrously brought to our door to receive the Gospel.
Now, all of this, primarily for the sake of our country, is
clearly, in the divine purpose, also for the sake of the world.
Why did God just now make such a junction as that of the marvelous
opening of Africa to science, commerce and the Gospel, along with
the emancipation of the African slaves in our country? Everybody
says, it must have been that these Christianized Africo-Americans
might have an open way for carrying back to their native land,
as pilgrims, the same blessings which the original pilgrims had
brought to this new world from the old. Nothing could be grander
than this process of helping our brethren of the South on to a
degree of attainment that will fit them to become the Puritan
element that may yet leaven that dark continent. Not simply may we
send over there the cultivated professional men and helping women,
but who knows but that, by and by, as Ireland has been emptied
several times into this country—live freight being easier of
shipment than dead—so may masses of our “Americans falsely called
Africans,” as Lewis Tappan used to say, go over with intelligent
purpose to take Africa for their home, almost transporting
civilization in bulk.
So our whole work on the California coast is a grand training
school to fit native missionaries for China, not simply to raise up
nominal preachers and teachers to go back to father land, but to
make Christians of the many, who, by virtue of their discipleship,
shall be commissioned of the Lord to go forth bearing the Gospel,
even as the early Christians went forth everywhere preaching the
Word. Such an infusion of Gospel leaven will be one of the most
hopeful features of the Christian propaganda in the Celestial
Empire.
And so here we find the confirmation of the field and the work of
this Association. We are put in trust with the care of these three
depressed races dwelling by our side—in trust for their good, for
our country’s welfare—in trust for the sake of Africa and China and
all the world. As these three peoples are here to stay, and as they
will ever need the foster care of their more favored brothers of
the common family, we find herein the justification and the demand
for far-sighted and long-continuous plans on the part of this body
for the lifting up of all these three classes of lowly poor, in
order to their own elevation, in order to the evangelization of our
country, in order to the salvation of the world.
Equally clear providential indications may yet point the way to
a work among the Southern white people, as soon as the caste
prejudice shall melt away under the benign influence of Gospel
light and love. And thus all the races—as in Christ Jesus there
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free—shall be
united not only in Christian sympathy and fellowship at home, but
in the blessed work of carrying the pure Gospel of Christ to all
the lands and peoples of the world.
* * * * *
A GENTLEMAN, who for a dozen years has been a member of the Senate
of Maryland, drops in at our rooms occasionally from interest in
our work. The last time he was in he spoke of a colored young
Catholic, who was among the number of those who were taken over
to London to be educated for the priesthood and to be returned to
labor among the freedmen in that office. The Doctor said that the
young man had returned with a fine education, but had abandoned the
idea of taking orders. He was now teaching school, but his highest
ambition was to become a porter in a large library. As this is the
first and only one of those young men, of whom so much was said at
one time, to be identified by us, we are glad to hear from him. Of
course, this one case does not carry the whole, but surely it does
not augur much for a Romish propagandism among our colored fellow
citizens.
* * * * *
BENEFACTIONS.
John Francis Clapp of the firm of Simpson, Clapp & Co., of New
York, remembered his native town, Belchertown, Mass., in his will
by the gift of $40,000 for a public library and a building for the
same.
Mr. George I. Seney has presented $25,000 to the Wesleyan Female
College, to finish the college buildings.
Mrs. Shaw, of Boston, the daughter of the late Professor Agassiz,
supports 33 kindergartens in that city and vicinity, at an expense
of $25,000 per annum.
President Peter McVicar has lately received a gift of $10,000 for
Washburn College from a friend in Massachusetts.
Not only has Rev. H. O. Ladd’s University of New Mexico at Santa Fe
received $5,000 from the estate of the late Deacon J. C. Whitin,
but other gifts are promised for the building now going up.
Bowdoin College has received $1,000 from Dr. Goodwin to found a
commencement prize, $4,000 from the estate of Mrs. Noah Woods,
of Bangor, to establish the Blake Scholarship, $1,000 from John
C. Dodge, of Cambridge, for library purposes. $3,500 was pledged
towards a new gymnasium and $1,000 for a new laboratory.
_The man who gave the $20,000 named at this place in our last
issue, calls it “stewardship.” The man who gave the $10,000 there
indicated calls it not a donation, but an “investment.” We have
some such investments to offer, with this indorsement, “He that
hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord”—an investment of
$1,000 for a scholarship, $10,000 for a library, or $25,000 for a
professorship in any of our chartered institutions._
* * * * *
GENERAL NOTES.
—The Italian government will shortly send a messenger to the king
of Abyssinia, charged with giving him presents from King Humbert,
and renewing at the same time friendly relations between the two
countries.
—M. Antoine, who has been some time in Abyssinia, reports that the
natives endure with impunity the malaria of the lower regions,
pernicious to Europeans, and attributes their freedom from sickness
to the daily use of fumigations of sulphur.
—At the request of M. Price, founder of the establishment at Frere
Town for the freed slaves, the Committee of the Church of England
Missions has decided to send two new missionaries, a teacher, and,
if possible, a physician. The agents of the society will endeavor
to extend the work to the interior.
—The Universities’ Mission to Africa has now three great centres
of operation—Zanzibar, the Usambara country north of Zanzibar, and
the Rovuma District. It has about 1,000 natives under its care, has
transformed the old slave-market of Zanzibar, where formerly 30,000
slaves were sold annually, into mission premises, with a church,
mission-house and school, and established a chain of stations from
the coast to Lake Nyassa. The income for 1881 was £11,000 and the
mission has 34 European missionaries and 26 native evangelists. The
mission was started in 1859 at the suggestion of Dr. Livingstone,
and looks to the universities for its supply of clergy.
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
—Five new Indian students have arrived at the Hampton
Institute—one, whose position in the school is not yet defined, as
it is difficult to find a class for him. This is Hampton’s first
experience in training married people in homes. Miss Fletcher
brought from Omaha two families, in one of which there is a
fine-looking baby of 18 months.
—At Hampton, in the tin shop, over 7,000 pieces of tinware have
been made for the Indian Department since the 20th of June, in
addition to the tin work done on school grounds. All the contracts
for the Interior Department are completed, and 55 cases nicely
packed have been shipped to the different agencies.
—Mr. Cowley writes from Spokan Falls that he returned recently from
session of District Court, having been summoned as interpreter in
an action of the U.S. Marshal against four white men for selling
whiskey to Indians. Two were sentenced to penitentiary, one broke
jail before trial, and the other cannot yet be found. It will break
up the traffic for a time. The jury in the last case brought in a
unanimous verdict of guilty, on the testimony of one Indian, which
gives a hint as to the intelligence and absence of race prejudice
on the part of the whites, and of the reputation of the Indians in
that region for veracity.
* * * * *
THE FREEDMEN.
REV. JOSEPH E. ROY, D.D., FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.
* * * * *
LIVINGSTONE MISSIONARY HALL
Was so far completed that it was ready for occupation at the
beginning of the scholastic year, Sept. 4. The dedication has been
fixed for Monday, Oct. 30, so that persons in attendance upon the
annual meeting of the A. M. A. the previous week in Cleveland can
go on to Nashville and spend the Sabbath and be present at the
dedicatory exercises.
The Hall is 203 feet in length and 52 feet in width. The central
part is ten feet wider, and the whole building is four stories,
with a basement. The building contains a chapel, a large library
room, museum, scientific lecture room 40 by 30, Treasurer’s office,
President’s room, thirteen class and lecture rooms and sixty-six
dormitory and living rooms. It is heated by steam.
The completion of this new Hall nearly doubles the capacity of
Fisk University. The movement for the erection of this building
was begun in England in 1876, and its final success is due to
the munificence of Mrs. Stone, who gave, for the erection and
furnishing of the Hall, $60,000. It is expected that the exercises
connected with the dedication will be of great interest, and a
cordial invitation is extended to the friends of our Southern work
to be present.
[Illustration: LIVINGSTONE MISSIONARY HALL, NASHVILLE, TENN.]
* * * * *
HYGIENIC DEPARTMENT AT FISK UNIVERSITY.
BY MRS. JULIET B. SMITH
The hygienic classes were to have begun this week, but are of
necessity postponed that I may help in the model school until the
new teacher arrives. Small-pox being in the city, I have examined
the students in all grades and vaccinated all who were unprotected.
I have had much pleasure and profit in talking over the matter of
the hygienic classes with Miss Parmelee, and she has given me many
valuable hints from her work at Memphis. We have fitted up a sick
ward to be used in case of severe or infectious disease. It is at
the top of the house, with perfect ventilation, and I feel quite
happy over its capabilities. Mr. Hawley has been prompt to answer
my calls for disinfectants, and I hope to make them tell on the
health rates for the coming year.
In the hygienic classes, as full notes as possible are to be taken
by the pupils. The magnitude of the task of teaching healthful
living grows upon me, but I am glad and grateful to have the chance
to go to work in the old field and to be better equipped than years
ago. Miss Parmelee and I have it close at our hearts to get strong
hold of our city girls, and through them of their mothers with a
view toward mother’s meetings sometime and somehow. The health of
the school is fair, the most serious ailments being among those who
have taught in the swamp lands.
* * * * *
STUDENT TEACHING
(BY THE STUDENTS OF FISK UNIVERSITY DURING THE SUMMER VACATION.)
REV. H. S. BENNETT.
A meeting of great interest was held in Fisk University on the
night of the 15th of September. The occasion was to furnish an
opportunity to those students who had been engaged in teaching
during the summer to give the details of experience in their work.
Pres. Cravath presided. Rev. Geo. W. Moore was introduced as one
who during the past year had been studying theology and preaching
in Ohio. Mr. Moore paid a grateful tribute to Fisk University as
the place where he had studied. He thought that colored students
would do better to study in the South. He had been preaching to a
white church, or to white churches. As a colored man he would make
no apologies nor explanations. He had a message to carry to the
people. He got their confidence and love before they knew who he
was. He had three regular stations and preached to eight churches
in all. Last Sunday he was called to Sullivan, and was told that
they would oppose him on account of his race identity; but he
was cordially received, and the result was a unanimous call with
increase of salary.
Brethren Anderson and Ously have been highly esteemed in Oberlin.
They have been hard students and have won the commendations of
their teachers.
H. C. Gray taught school in Shelby County, Tenn. “My school did not
have more than thirty on the roll. I tried to give satisfaction
because four or five teachers before me had failed and left before
their time was out. During the last two months my school was much
larger than at first, but the pupils were kept out by chills and
fever. I had fifteen or twenty pupils without any books.”
H. F. Mitchell, near Fernanda, Miss. “I enrolled 104 and had two
assistants. I was quite successful. I introduced the tonic sol-fa
method of teaching music and succeeded well in it. My health was
good all summer. I was taken with a chill the last day of school.”
W. H. Ross, who had been helping in holding an institute gave an
account of his work. He had attended institutes before, but they
were not so much of the nature of a school. “We had a course of
lectures, which was a main feature in the work. We tried to inspire
the young people with a desire to pursue a course of study. All who
attended were pleased with the work done. The colored people of
Gibson Co. are far behind in the scale of intelligence. After the
institute closed I opened my school the next Monday. The attendance
was about thirty. The people have a great desire to go forward.”
Humphrey Jones taught school in Georgia, near Dalton. “I opened
school on the 10th of July with nine scholars. They wanted to
know whether I was Methodist or Baptist. I told them I was
Congregationalist. They shook their heads; they did not know
anything about that. They did not think it was anything. My school
was very small, because the people would not pay twenty-five cents
per month. The people are further behind there than in any place I
have been.”
G. A. T. Robinson: “I taught in Georgia near Mr. Jones. The people
are very poor and ignorant. They are not interested in education. A
strong prejudice exists against the public schools. The most of the
people are servants and are content to be such. A teacher is looked
upon as a bad man. I taught in a Baptist Church and they would not
let me teach in the Sunday school. They want me to come back there.”
Ella Jones, from Texas: “I had charge of the girls in the place
where I taught, Huntsville. I made up my mind to live a Christian
life. I taught eight months. I also taught in the Sabbath School.
They wanted me to teach the next year, but I felt that I must
continue my course. I tried to do whatever I did as a Christian.
There were some conversions in my school. How much of this is due
to my influence I do not know.”
Alice Vasser only taught five weeks at Booneville, Tenn. “When I
arrived they had no school-house for me to begin to teach in. They
put a floor in an old house and a roof on it, and I began to teach.
I walked two miles every day. I had fifteen scholars. I feel that
I did some good. The children wanted to learn very much. They were
very anxious to have me come back.”
G. A. McLelland taught at Tiptonville, Tenn. “My school numbered
about sixty. The children were not so far advanced in their books,
but they were more easily managed. I taught in the Sunday-school.
The older people were harder to interest. I got them in night
school. I sang Jubilee songs and told them stories, and thus got
them interested. Fisk University stands very high in the estimation
of the people.”
Henrietta Bailey taught in Mississippi for three months; had a
pleasant school, but did not get her money till after Christmas.
Afterward taught in Lincoln school; had an attendance of
forty-five, an average attendance of thirty-one.
Thus closed a very interesting exercise. Most of the students are
still out teaching. The record of the evening is a fair statement
of the work done by the students of the institution.
* * * * *
PERMANENT TEMPERANCE WORK.
MISS LYDIA P. AULD.
The first of April, 1869, by the advice of our friends in
St. Augustine, Fla., and by express command from the State
Superintendent, who said we were working too hard, we gave up our
night school, relying more upon their judgment than upon our own
view of the case.
The young men in the night class of Miss Bowker (now Mrs. Clift),
expressed a strong desire to meet at least one evening in the week
for instruction. The idea of forming themselves into a temperance
society was suggested to them, and they decided upon a speedy
organization.
Accordingly, on the evening of April 6th, about a dozen young men
met in our little school room, and proceeded to organize the first
temperance society in St. Augustine. After the election of the
various officers, the evening was devoted to music. Miss Bowker had
previously taught them several temperance melodies. Mrs. Mayhew, of
Orange, N.J., who was boarding in town and greatly interested in
the welfare of the colored people, was present. She was a sweet
singer, and drilled them in two or three new pieces.
On the 13th, there was an increase of numbers. Mr. Berrian, from
New York, was invited to address the young men. He gave them
excellent counsel, and read the simple pledge he had prepared,
explaining its binding obligations. We did not wish any to sign
that night, as we desired them to give the subject careful
consideration.
A week later, on the 20th, there was a large attendance. The good
friend who was with them the previous week plainly stated the object
of the meeting. He exhorted them not to do anything rashly; and
read the Constitution he had drawn up for the Society, with the
following simple pledge attached:
“We hereby solemnly pledge ourselves to abstain from the use of all
intoxicating liquors, or drinks, as a beverage.”
A few moments of solemn silence followed the announcement, “We
are now ready for signatures to this pledge,” which was broken by
one after another rising and stating, in a clear and intelligent
manner, his reasons for signing the pledge. Many of their remarks
were truly affecting. One young man said, “A gentleman, who went
North to-day, offered me a bottle of whisky. I said, ‘I thank you,
sir; but I have joined a temperance society, and am going to-night
to sign the pledge, so please excuse me for not accepting it.’”
Another referred to his beastly intoxication on the Christmas day
before, and resolved that the return of that day should find him a
different man.
The first to sign was the President, who is even to this day their
leader. I think no word was uttered during the signing of the
pledge. The firm, manly footstep and scratch of the pen were the
only sounds heard. Sixteen names were affixed, and the signatures
ceased for that time. Then the organization was completed. The
name Lincoln Temperance Society (since changed to Independent
Lincoln Temperance Society) was adopted. Some temperance songs were
sung, and those young men went quietly and thoughtfully to their
homes—nobler, indeed, for the onward step they had taken.
On our return in the fall, we found that the young Society had
steadily grown in strength and numbers. Not one of the “sixteen”
had violated his pledge, though often and sorely tempted to do
so. Such abstinence was very praise-worthy in a community where
drinking was the universal custom. The Freedmen’s Bureau had
erected for us a new school building, in one of the rooms of which
the Society held its meetings every Monday evening.
April 20, 1870, the Lincoln Temperance Society celebrated its first
anniversary. The membership had rolled up to 54. Female members
had been admitted during the year, and the good the Society had
accomplished was clearly perceptible in the elevated tone and
manners of the young people. Several white friends were present on
this occasion to listen to the speeches of the members. Miss Bowker
was referred to in one of these as the “Mother of Temperance.”
A few weeks later, in May, we left St. Augustine, not to return.
Years passed, and only incidentally was the Society heard from.
In September, 1878, I was rejoiced to receive a letter from the
President, D. M. Pappy, giving an account of the nourishing
condition of the Society, from which I will make a few extracts.
“Our Temperance Society, that Mrs. Clift and yourself assisted us
in organizing, numbers now about one hundred and seventy-five. I
have remained President since you left, with an interval of two
years. Our struggle was hard, and we had much to encounter. St.
Augustine has considerably changed by so many young men abstaining
from that great evil, the intoxicating drink. Our Society has also
purchased a lot, and built a fine hall of two stories. The meeting
room is on the upper floor, and a public reading room and library
on the lower floor. The building is nicely lathed and plastered,
and painted. The young men of the Society are using every means to
elevate our people to respectability and intelligence: but, like
everything else, it takes time. Already our Society has achieved
much good, and we do tender many thanks to you and to Mrs. Clift
for your influence.
“All the young men that were in the Society when you were here are
still with us, except one. The young men, including myself, have
never regretted signing the pledge, and we promise forever to keep
it, because we have found much good in it.”
In 1881, they celebrated their twelfth anniversary, and Mr. Pappy
writes:
“Our celebration went off very nicely. We had the hall handsomely
decorated with flags, flowers and evergreens. Over the President’s
stand was a large anchor, with ‘1869’ above and ‘1881’ below it. On
the right was your name, and on the left that of Mrs. Clift. In the
centre of the hall was a mound of flowers.
“The exercises consisted of a grand reception, speeches, singing,
reading, essays, with excellent music by the brass band, an
exhibition of fire-works and a balloon ascension. These were
presented to us by some white friends. The celebration was a grand
success, and has had a deep effect on those outside. Last Monday
evening we received five new members, and shall on next Monday
receive a few more.
“I think we are just as strong and firm in the progressive spirit
as ever we were, if not more so. We number nearly 200 members now.
Our building is not quite finished yet, as everything costs so
much. It has cost us already nearly fifteen hundred dollars.
“The members of the Society, for the past month, have been holding
temperance revival meetings every Monday evening, for the benefit
of the young men. The exercises consist of speaking, singing and
prayers by the members of the various churches. It has revived the
hearts, not only of the members of the Society, but also of many
others.”
* * * * *
WORK IN TOPEKA.
MISS A. D. GERRISH.
The younger class of people—the boys and girls—seem to gather
around us rather than the older ones; but to win the children
generally in the end secures the parents. Through music, especially
the singing of the Gospel hymns, of which all are very fond, I
feel that I am reaching a larger number than I perhaps could
in any other way. A class of some twenty-five little folks, a
second class of between thirty and forty boys and girls, a band
of twenty or more young ladies, also the “Daniel’s Band,” of nine
members,—these, besides others, are daily being brought under
our influence and control. Their improvement in singing is very
marked. Before I left (an excellent teacher having been secured)
a goodly number of the young ladies accepted my invitation to
attend Sunday-school. A few months, or even weeks ago, a similar
invitation would have met with no response from them. In the night
school a number of the older ones, who began last January with A
B C, now read quite well out of the Bible. In a Bible reading,
in which over fifty took part, I thought that the “Uncles” and
“Aunties” read quite as well as some of the young people. The
religious interest is not as great as we could wish to see; still,
the weekly meetings and Sabbath services are quite well attended.
We have now a small church organization, eight members. Three have
united on profession of their faith; two are promising young men,
members of the Band. I look for an increase of numbers in our
Sunday-school next season, and we have the promise of several new
teachers. July 30th we had a Sunday-school concert, using the A.
M. A. concert exercise. At the close, a white gentleman, one of
Topeka’s best men, said: “In looking over the crowded audience
this evening, I can but say, with many others, that a change has
already been wrought in Tennessee town. Improvement is stamping
itself upon place and people.”
* * * * *
AFRICA.
* * * * *
JOURNAL
OF THE ARTHINGTON EXPEDITION, KEPT BY REV. HENRY M. LADD, D.D.
The time from Feb. 23d to March 31st was spent by the
explorers in Khartoum. During their stay Raouf Pasha, Governor
General of the Soudan, was deposed for not taking more active
measures against the “False Prophet,” and Abdel Kadir Pasha
was appointed in his place, with a residence at Cairo, while
the Soudan was divided into four provinces, and Khartoum was
reduced from the capital to a Mudirieh. During this time also
they witnessed the gathering of Giegler Pasha’s army and its
embarkation. Owing to the disturbances they experienced great
difficulty in getting transport to Berber. The troubles in
Egypt were also rapidly culminating, and gave them serious
anxiety as to the possibility of returning through that
country. They suffered from poor food. Their dragoman was ill
with fever. The time, however, was well improved in studying
the people, and the language with which they became quite
familiar, in selecting and photographing sites for buildings,
and in learning from Emin Bey, Governor of the Equatorial
Provinces, certain important particulars in regard to that
country.—ED.
_Friday, March 31st._—After lunch we called at Emin Bey’s, and
then walked down to our boat and little steamer. We went first to
a previously appointed rendezvous at Marquet’s. All the “élite”
of the city were present to see the party off. We felt that we
had some friends in this far-off place. There were present H. E.
Giegler Pasha, Marcopoli Bey, Emin Bey, Georgius Bey, the American
Consular Agent, English Consular Agent, and other Consuls; there
were priests and merchants, and altogether a large crowd. It was
something like a first-class funeral. Finally everything was ready,
and at 5 o’clock we went on board, amid much hand-shaking, and
even kissing, after the oriental fashion, and the waving of hats
and handkerchiefs. As we had the French Consul with us, the French
and American flags were hoisted. Soon the tug rope of the little
steamer tightened, our boat moved, we were off, and before long
we had turned the point, entered the Nile proper, and were headed
north-ward and homeward. Our quarters were fairly comfortable. We
had a covering of mats over our heads, and the room under it was
taken up with our cots. There were four of us here, and the rest
were on the steamer that towed us. We made good time. Stopped for
the night at a sandy bank. Dinner was served on the sand, and then
we went to bed in the moonlight.
_Saturday, April 1st._—No sleep! Too novel a position. Off at
sunrise. The Frenchman remarked classic beauty in the cook of the
boat! Stopped for wood at the cataract. Very hot! Off again. Passed
the cataract safely, though the water was very low, and many of the
passages dangerous. We noted several wrecks of boats about us. One
was a ship belonging to Moussalli, who is with us. Had to throw
off the line from the steamer in some places, and row ourselves
through. Struck the rocks many times, hard enough to sink ordinary
boats. Things were thrown into a little confusion by it, but no
leak sprung. Passed the wild gorge “Sebeloga.” Camped at sunset.
Several of the party ill. Took dinner on the bank. Went to bed on
the sand in the open air and the glorious moonlight.
_Monday, April 3d._—Up early; waked Ibrahim, plunged into the river
with Moussalli, to get the sand out of eyes and ears. The sick ones
are very poorly to-day. Stopped at Damer about 2:30 P.M. Had some
difficulty to get wood. Moussalli is ill. Midani, his bookkeeper,
has a high fever. I turn doctor, and nurse the crowd as well as
I can. A gale of wind has been blowing, increasing to a tempest.
Slept out in it all. We have not left Khartoum any too soon for the
health of the crowd.
_Tuesday, April 4th._—Blowing a gale. Start at sunrise. All are
ill to-day except myself. The waves are high, and the spray goes
over us. Arrived at the rocks, but it was blowing so hard that the
captain dared not try to pass them. We tied up at the bank. Tried
the pass once more, and tied up again. Finally, we made another
attempt; had a very exciting time, but got through part way very
well. Sent a boat ahead to pick out the channel. Expected every
moment to strike, and perhaps be wrecked. We did strike at last,
and were nearly capsized, but, thanks to the strength of the boat,
we came out all right. When we were finally clear of the rocks the
men cheered and praised Allah, and we gave them a backshish. A
little further on we went fast aground on a sand bank, and spent
about two hours getting off. At last Berber came into sight, and at
5 P.M. we tied up at the bank, which is now very high, as the river
is many feet lower than when we were here before. Went on shore,
selected a good site for the tents; put one of ours up, and got
into shape for the night.
_Wednesday, April 5th._—Up early, and worked hard in the hot sun.
Put up the other tent. Our tents, together with the Consul’s
and Moussalli’s and the cook’s make quite a little village by
themselves. Made arrangements for camels amid much noise and
discussion and haggling of prices. There have been some wordy
disagreements in camp among our friends. It is finally settled
that we are to start on Friday. The doctor is better, and has good
courage. To-day the Consul’s cook was stung by a scorpion, and
under the doctor’s directions I painted the wound with iodine. The
poor fellow suffered severely for a time. A guard of four soldiers
has been sent to act as sentry for us during the night. They will
probably be sound asleep as soon as we turn in. The river has risen
a few inches to-day, owing probably to heavy rains at the South,
but will doubtless fall again to-morrow.
_Friday, April 7th._—This has been a day of trials. There has
been no end of them! Everything was made ready this morning for
the start, but we could not get away till afternoon, so we paid a
visit in the meantime to Hassan Halifa’s father, the royal old Arab
who treated us so handsomely when we first came here. He kindly
consented to have his photograph taken. After the delay we thought
we should surely get off in good season, or about 3 P.M., but it
was not so foreordained. Difficulties seemed to multiply at every
move. Everything went wrong. Patience was nearly gone. It was 9
o’clock at night before we fairly started! Rode up and down the
line on my camel to see that everything was at last right. There
was a delay among the rear camels. Went back to see what the matter
was. Some of the camels had run away and smashed up their loads,
and others had fallen down, and altogether there were five loads
strewn upon the ground. The camels were a bad lot, and the men were
as bad a lot. Things were getting rather serious. A free fight was
imminent. Moussalli was on the point of returning to Berber and
entering a complaint. The rest of the party, however, had gone on,
and I thought it was better to patch up the loads the best way we
could, go on until we reached the advance party, and then hold a
council. A return to Berber would do but little good, and would
result in great delay. So on we went the best way we could in the
dark, and found the rest at the well. It was 1:30 A.M. when we took
dinner! I put up a tent for the doctor, and the rest of us took a
nap in the open air.
_Saturday, April 8th._—At 3 A.M. Moussalli’s agent and the sheik
of the camel drivers arrived. They had heard of our troubles and
brought a fresh lot of camels. After much loud talking several
changes were made. Some of the camels with their drivers were sent
back to Berber, and others substituted. We have 53 camels now. We
tried to be gay and rise above our troubles. The heat is intense.
There is one well at this point about 50 feet deep, but the water
is bad. Started the caravan at 4 P.M., and went on till 10 o’clock.
Had dinner at 12:30 A.M. Put up the tent for doctor; the rest of us
went to bed with the stars looking down upon us.
_Sunday, April 9th._—This is the holy Sabbath and we would be
glad to rest to-day, but necessity is upon us and we must move on.
On a journey like this we cannot do as we would like, and have on
several such occasions been obliged to keep going when we have
longed for the sacred quiet of the day. I was so tired last night
that an odd thing happened. I was _struck_ by sleep, as one might
be struck by lightning, only the results were not so disastrous. I
had tumbled into my cot, and was conscious of putting my hand out
to draw the sheet over me, but before I had time to do it I was
sound asleep, and awoke in the morning with the intention still
unfulfilled. After a hasty cup of coffee we were off this morning
at 6:30, and marched till 10:30. The sirocco has been blowing all
day, and the heat is something terrible. Worked hard in the hot sun
to get a tent up for our nooning. We are on an immense sandy plain,
the ideal desert, and the heat reflected from the sand burns like a
furnace.