control of the American Missionary Association, whose headquarters
are at New York, and whose operations in the South have been directed
to the moral and educational advancement of the colored people.
The Southern work is under the superintendence of Dr. J. E. Roy,
whose headquarters are at Atlanta, and who was present yesterday,
a gratified spectator of the progress made at the Institute in the
education of the colored race.
The school here is, as we learn from the Superintendent, Prof. J.
K. Cole, in a prosperous condition, nearly 300 scholars having been
registered during the scholastic year.
The Institution is divided into five grades, under competent
teachers, as follows: The first grade, or normal class, under
Professor Cole, the Superintendent; the second grade, Miss Partridge,
teacher: the third grade. Miss Bailey, teacher; the fourth grade,
Miss Burgh, teacher; and the fifth grade, under the supervision of
Miss Willey.
The examination yesterday evinced the faithfulness of the instructors
in their departments and the aptitude of the pupils, and we were
particularly struck with the examination of the normal class in
introductory Latin exercises, the pupils showing a remarkable
proficiency in their recitations from Harkness’ Introductory Latin
Lessons.
At 12 o’clock, the whole school assembled in the chapel, when the
programme was successfully carried out, to the pleasure of the large
number of friends and parents of the pupils present.
The school will re-open on the first Monday in October.
* * * * *
AFRICA.
* * * * *
SUNDAY-SCHOOLS IN CENTRAL AFRICA.
A Paper read at the State Sunday-school Convention, at New Britain,
Ct., May 26, 1880, by Albert Burton Jowett a native of the Mendi
Country, West Africa.
* * * * *
I represent the Sunday-schools in the Mendi country of Western
Africa. These are located in the interior, about a hundred and
fifty miles north of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. The first
Sunday-school among the Mendi was established at Kaw Mendi. This
place was the site selected for a mission by Messrs. Raymond and
Steele, who accompanied the Amistad captives to Africa, when they
left Farmington in 1841.
At this school, my mother was a pupil, and had for her instructor,
Mar-groo, one of the Amistad captives who had been hopefully
converted.
There was a good day-school at this place, and also one at Freetown,
a hundred and fifty miles north, which had been kept up for
twenty-five years by the Church Missionary Society of England.
My mother has often told me that the missionaries were very much
pleased because the Mendi boys passed a better examination than the
boys at Freetown, who had had all the advantages of that sea-port
city.
Mr. Burton, a missionary who went to Africa from Connecticut, while
traveling up the Bar-groo river noticed a fall of water in a wooded
country, and determined to establish an industrial mission at that
point.
There was no saw-mill on the coast, so Mr. Burton put up buildings
for a mill; some one gave him the necessary machinery, and he opened
a station and named it “Avery.” A church and some dwelling houses
were built, and a community of people gathered who bought logs,
converted them into lumber, and conveyed it to the coast for sale. A
school was opened in the basement of the church, and a Sunday-school
was convened on Sundays. My father is a teacher and interpreter
at this station. This Sunday-school and the one at Kaw Mendi are
the only ones in the Mendi country proper, where there are about
2,000,000 people. There are Sunday-schools on the Sherbro Island, but
the people there belong mostly to the Sherbro tribe.
Our Sunday-schools constitute one of the means by which our young
African friends acquire the simple truths taught by our blessed
Saviour. I do not know how it is, if I am in the wrong, pardon me,
but I do believe it is much more difficult to teach in Africa than
in America, because we have no books in the Mendi language and the
children know but little English. Our Sunday-schools in comparison
with those in America are very small. The bell for school rings at
2 o’clock, and the teachers go round to the houses where they fear
the children do not care to come, and bring them to the school.
Before bringing them in to the Sunday-school, a shirt is given to
each scholar, as many of them wear no garments at home. This is made
of English cloth and supplied by the missionaries; when they return
from school, it is laid aside to be worn the next time the school
assembles. The instruction is mostly oral—the teacher asking the
pupils questions and then requiring them to repeat the answer until
they are able to say it.
A good deal of time is spent in singing, as the children readily
learn the words and music of the Gospel songs, even though they do
not understand the meaning of the English words. They are very fond
of singing indeed, and the missionaries listen to their songs with
much delight, and give them a great deal of credit for them. As some
of the children never attend day-school, the alphabet is taught in
the Sunday-school.
We have a portion of the Bible, and a few hymns, translated into the
Mendi, and hope some time to have books in the language, so that
greater progress can be made.
We have some active members who go about into the small villages and
act as home missionaries among the people. These frequently bring
in new scholars to the mission: and what do you think causes the
increase of our members, more than most any other circumstance? Some
kind friends in America and England have been sending us illustrated
papers, nice little books, and small cards with letters of nearly
every color and size.
Such things are very attractive to the little natives. I wish
you could know the good you can do, by sending your missionaries
in Africa such attractive papers and cards, for those whom the
missionaries cannot reach will be instructed and influenced by them
in their homes. The children who are brought in, take these papers
and fasten them up in their houses for ornaments. The books and cards
are offered as prizes to those who commit portions of the Scripture
accurately.
We have no Sunday-school Conventions like this one, but sometimes we
have Concerts.
Within the past few years, all our missionaries have been Freedmen
from America, and one of them was for a time connected with the
Jubilee Singers of Fisk University. They taught us some of the
Jubilee Songs, such as “Steal Away to Jesus,” “Mary and Martha,” and
“The Hocks and the Mountains Shall All Flee Away.” The people had
never heard the like, and were very much delighted with them.
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
* * * * *
S’KOKOMISH, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
REV. MYRON EELLS.
On the first Sabbath in April, we had the privilege of receiving
three more into our church, all on profession of faith, two of them
Indians from the school, and the other a young lady who has been
assistant-matron in the boarding department. The Twanas and Clallams
were formerly at war with each other, and even now there is not
always the best of feeling between the two tribes: a like unpleasant
feeling has often been shown between the whites and Indians: yet, on
that Sabbath, representatives of the three classes received baptism,
there being one Twana, one Clallam, and one white person.
Another noticeable fact was the motive which induced them to
become Christians. In reply to my question on this point, each one
unknown to the other said, that it was because he had noticed that
Christians were so much happier than other people. Two of them
had tried the wrong road very earnestly, and had found to their
great sorrow that “the way of the transgressor is hard.” I was
led then to think of two or three others who had united with the
church on profession of faith within about a year, employees on the
Reservation, who had made similar statements. “If the Bible were not
true, and yet I could only believe it to be true, I would gladly do
so, if it would bring me the happiness that Christians profess to
have,” said one. Since becoming a Christian, he has often spoken of
his happiness, and has great pity for those who are skeptical, for
he knows how they feel, even if they do argue against Christianity.
Another of the number, who was for three years very skeptical, a
talented writer, and who used her talents against Christianity so
strongly that her companions feared to enter the lists against her,
and who was supposed to be thoroughly contented in her unbelief,
became a Christian, and now speaks of those years, as “three years of
horrible darkness.”
On the third Sabbath of April, I was at Dunginess, where I received
four more into our church, three on profession of faith. Two Indians
and two whites stood side by side to enter the church. The communion
season was very pleasant. One white lady, who had not been to the
Lord’s table for a year, and who was just recovering from sickness,
was so anxious to be present, that as she was unable to walk the
distance, a little more than a quarter of a mile, she was carried
by her husband more than half the way in a wheelbarrow. Another
lady, seventy-six years old, walked three miles to be present, then
another mile to where I should preach to the whites in the afternoon,
and home again in the evening, about eight miles in all. Ten of the
whites sat down there with the four Indians in the Indian church to
celebrate Christ’s love.
One person, who lives half a mile from the Indian village, said
to me, as we came away, “It is a shame, _it is a shame_, that the
Indians here are going ahead of the whites in religious affairs. It
is a wonder how they are making advancement, considering the examples
around them.” Two marriages, one infant and three adult baptisms,
four received to the church, one communion service, one funeral,
three prayer-meetings, and other services to the amount of fourteen
in all, were the result of the eighteen days I was away from home.
I had been at home but a few days when I was sent for by an Indian
on the Reservation who has been an invalid for some time, and who
asked to be received as a member of the church. After considerable
consultation, he was so received week ago last Sabbath.
Last Sabbath, my work at Seabeck culminated in a small church
organization among the whites. I have written you that I have
preached at that place, thirty miles distant, about once a month,
when not called on some distant trip. The work has amounted to about
eight visits a year.
Some six weeks ago, I felt that it was best for the few Christians
there to be banded together. I immediately tried to obtain some
assistance in organizing, but after three efforts failed entirely,
and hence, armed with authority from this church, I proceeded with
the organization. Nine entered it, two on profession of faith.
The heterogeneousness of the population may be seen from the fact
that of the seven who joined from other churches, one came from a
Congregational church and two from a Protestant Methodist church
in this Territory, one from a Congregational church in California,
one from a Presbyterian church in British Columbia, one from the
Episcopal church in England, and one from the Lutheran church in
Norway, who, however, does not believe that he was a Christian until
after he left Norway. “It is the Lord’s doings and it is marvellous
in our eyes.”
In the civilization of the Indians we feel somewhat encouraged. One
fact has appeared quite plainly during the past winter. It has been
the most severe winter known here for twenty-five years—the snow at
one time lying five feet deep—and although it was nearly gone on the
tide flats in six weeks, yet on most of the Reservation it lay for
more than three months from six inches to two feet deep. As late as
four or five years ago, the Indians generally lost a large number of
cattle or horses every winter for want of feed, even when there were
only two or three weeks of snow, selling altogether too much of their
hay in the fall; but during the past winter not one of their animals
has died for want of food, as far as I have been able to learn.
Experience and observation have taught them to secure sufficient food
and to keep it until all danger is over.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
“CALIFORNIA CHINESE MISSION.”
=Auxiliary to the American Missionary Association.=
PRESIDENT: Rev. J. K. McLean, D. D. VICE-PRESIDENTS: Rev. A. L.
Stone, D. D., Thomas C. Wedderspoon, Esq., Rev. T. K. Noble, Hon.
F. F. Low, Rev. I. E. Dwinell, D. D., Hon. Samuel Cross, Rev. S. H.
Willey, D. D., Edward P. Flint, Esq., Rev. J. W. Hough, D. D., Jacob
S. Taber, Esq.
DIRECTORS: Rev. George Mooar, D. D., Hon. E. D. Sawyer, Rev. E. P.
Baker, James M. Haven, Esq., Rev. Joseph Rowell, Rev. John Kimball,
E. P. Sanford, Esq.
SECRETARY: Rev. W. C. Pond. TREASURER: E. Palache, Esq.
* * * * *
OUR WORK AT THE CENTER.
REV. W. C. POND, SAN FRANCISCO.
I find that for many months I have had little to say about our work
in San Francisco and Oakland. I invite the readers of the Missionary
to take a look, with me, at these central points.
Oakland is more to San Francisco, than Brooklyn is to New York. The
ocean breezes are so tempered in crossing San Francisco Bay, that a
very perceptible change of climate takes place, and Oakland is able
to boast of a genial air and a clear sky on many days in summer,
when San Francisco is shrouded in fog or swept by heavy, dust-laden
winds. It has the aspect, to a very good degree, of a large inland
city in New England—Springfield or Hartford, for example. There is a
good deal about it not yet very heavenly, but, when compared with the
bustle and drive of affairs, both climatic and human, on this side of
the Bay, it seems, like Auburndale, Mass., to be a sort of “Saint’s
rest.” It is constantly skimming the cream off our San Francisco
churches, so that when a brother and sister have fairly come to their
places as pillars here in the metropolis, we expect soon to hear that
“they are thinking of moving to Oakland.”
These considerations have led to a more abundant provision for
missionary work among the Chinese in that city, than anywhere else.
Persons, coming to California to labor in this missionary work, are
quite apt to become impressed with the necessities of the _Oakland_
Chinese. And so, if our mission had not been, by many years, the
first in that field; and if there had not gathered about it a large
number of Christian Chinese for whom it is a spiritual home; and,
if it were not possible—thanks to the generous provision made for
us by the First Congregational Church—to do more work there now,
in proportion to expense, than almost anywhere else, I should feel
like abandoning the field to those who have crowded in to help us.
In the new, spacious and elegant church edifice, rooms much more
commodious and much better furnished than those of any other school,
have been prepared and assigned to our Chinese work. On the Sabbath,
they are occupied by the Chinese Sunday-school, superintended so
many years by our dear brother, the late Dea. Edmund P. Sanford,
and now in charge of one like-minded, A. L. Van Blarcom, Esq. On
week-day evenings, they are opened for our mission school, at which
about the same pupils gather who are present on the Sabbath, and
every session of which is, in large part, a religious service. About
eighty Chinese account themselves members of this school, attend it
when they can, and are under its gospel influence; but there are so
many interruptions through the pressure of their daily work, that
the average attendance is about thirty. Two teachers are employed,
Mrs. B. C. Hawes and Miss L. Duncan, who, by years of service in
this field, have won a warm place in the affection and respect of
the Chinese. The expense is $40 per month. As fruits of this labor,
we have 17 who are members of the First Congregational Church in
Oakland, nearly as many more in other churches, and a goodly number
who have professed Christ in the Association, but have not yet been
baptized.
In San Francisco there are 4 schools; Central, Barnes, Bethany, and
West. The Central school is taught in our Central Mission house,
the headquarters of our work for the whole State. This is, I regret
to say, a _rented_ building, the cost of which absorbs more than
a sixth of the utmost amount we can hope to command for our whole
work. We have occupied it now almost six years, have spent in rents
nearly enough to have paid for as good a building, if only we could
have seized our opportunity; and I cannot even yet get sufficiently
hardened to this expenditure, to meet it without a throbbing heart.
“If only I could use this sum for teaching and preaching the Gospel
of Christ!” is my thought and my longing; when will the time come?
The building is a very plain one, but pleasantly located, just on
the edge of the Chinese quarter, and overlooking an acre or two of
greenness in the heart of our city which we call “the Plaza.” It has
two stories and a basement, the latter occupied by our Association of
Christian Chinese as a hall and reading room, with some facilities
in the rear for hospitality. The first floor is the school room
(18 x 50), in which at times no less than 145 Chinese have crowded
themselves. The average attendance now is about 60; it is increasing,
and I hope will again reach 100. In the upper story are the rooms of
our Chinese helpers, with a little office, also, for the Secretary
of the Association above named. A great deal of work is done here
besides the mere teaching; a great deal of correspondence carried on;
a great deal of what may be called pastoral care exercised; a good
deal, also, of honest study of God’s word.
But I am making my story too long. About two miles south of this, on
Ridley Street, is the Barnes Mission house, a substantial two-story
structure of wood, with a smaller building on the rear of the lot,
occupied by our Chinese brethren as a “Home.” This is owned by
the Mission, but has a debt upon it of $3,300. The upper story is
occupied by the family furnishing the teachers for the school in the
room below. The mother and daughter, Mrs. C. A. Sheldon and Miss
Jennie Sheldon, are the ones whose names appear upon our lists, but
father and brothers all share lovingly and zealously in the work. The
rent derived from this upper story and from the “Home” in the rear,
pays the interest on the debt, and the cost of insurance and taxes.
When we were erecting this building, we expected to gather in it a
school of 150 members with an average attendance of about 100; but,
the very evening of its dedication, the riots of July 1877 occurred,
and, for the time, our work in almost all the city seemed to be
knocked prostrate. Other changes, the closing of some large shoe
factories, from which many of our pupils came, and the restrictions
laid upon the operatives in the Mission Woolen Mills, among whom we
hoped to win some souls, have prevented the realization of all that
we hoped, though the results at which all was aimed, have not been
denied. There are many of whom—looking at our Barnes Mission house—we
may say, “This man was born there.”
A mile and a half further south is the Bethany school, taught in the
chapel of Bethany church, and through the faithfulness and tact of
its teacher well sustained, although the Chinese are not specially
numerous in that locality. And about two miles west of the Central
Mission is the “West” school, taught in a little back-room, behind
a small store—a room most unpromising, and rented for only $5 per
month, but, by the taste and care of teachers and pupils, rendered
quite neat and inviting. The average attendance in each of these
schools is a little less than 20, ranging between 12 and 19.
In the aggregate, about 175 Chinese now belong to these four schools;
not as many by nearly one-half as were enrolled in them three years
ago. Sandlotism, especially after it invaded our pulpits, has been a
sore hindrance to missionary success. But we have tried to get closer
to those whom we could bring within our reach, and to do better
work among them, and God has graciously owned it in saving power.
Sixty-six have been received to Bethany church, and of at least as
many more the hope is cherished that they have passed from death unto
life. The present outlook seems to me to be especially cheering, not
only here but in almost all our fields.
* * * * *
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
* * * * *
THE ELEPHANT IN AFRICA.
We have seen many pictures of elephants in Africa, and they were all
in hunting scenes.
This noble, wise, and magnificent animal is hunted in every part of
Africa; shot by the Englishman’s rifle in South Africa and on the
White Nile, speared by the natives, pursued with the sword by the
Abyssinian tribes, as if he were the most deadly enemy of the human
race.
It is all for ivory, for the tusks which have taken perhaps fifty
years to grow, that the huge beast is slain.
This hunting has been going on for many years, and now in parts of
Africa there are no more elephants left.
Some good people, who are also trying to open up the “Dark
Continent,” resolved to try some Indian elephants. They were sent
from Bombay in a ship to Zanzibar, and after much trouble were landed
on the coast. Then away they marched, and after a little time this
new procession reached our station at Mpwapwa, and our missionary,
Mr. Last, writes to say how successful the elephants have been. The
dreaded fly could not harm them; indeed, they kill the flies by
catching them in the folds of their thick skin, if the old African
travellers are to be believed.
Our missionary, Mr. Stokes, writes from Uyuvi that these elephants
had reached Unyamwezi. He says:—
“They can bear a thirty-six miles’ march without food or water. They
can carry from twenty-five to thirty men’s loads; and the natives
here very soon pick up the management of them. I think these
elephants have done more towards the civilization of Central Africa
than anything else I have seen. The natives think the white man a
most wonderful fellow when these big creatures on which they look
with terror obey him. It was quite a picture to view the astonishment
depicted on the faces of these poor blacks, as they watched these
huge beasts kneeling down at the word of command to let us get on
their backs, or elevating their trunks to bid salaam to an Arab.”
The Church Missionary Society would be very glad if it could send
two or three of these wise beasts to their Mission at Mpwapwa, to
help carry the missionaries up and down with the stores they must
have from time to time; and then, when our missionaries can speak
freely in the language, think what a help the elephant would be on a
missionary tour.
Besides, when the natives see how useful the elephants are, they will
soon learn to catch and tame them, as did the Carthaginians, 600
years before Christ.
Turn to the fortieth chapter of Job, and read about the behemoth. You
will see in the marginal reference, “The Elephant.” “He is the chief
of the ways of God.” What a blessed time that will be, if, instead of
being destroyed by man, this, the most wonderful of God’s creatures,
is used to carry about the messengers of the Gospel of Peace!—_Church
Missionary Juvenile Instructor._
* * * * *
RECEIPTS
* * * * *
FOR MAY, 1880.
MAINE, $158.52.
Andover. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $5.00
Bangor. First Cong. Ch. 16.27
Bethel. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.00
Blanchard. “A Friend” 5.00
Castine. Mrs. Lucy S. Adams, to const. WM. H.
SARGENT, L. M. 30.00
Limerick. Miss E. P. Hayes, Box of C., _for Raleigh,
N. C._ Portland. Abby A. Steele 50.00
Saco. Cong. Sab. Sch., $14; Ladies’ Circle, Cong.
Ch., $10.00;—Val. Box of Bedding and Table Linen,
_for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 24.00
Woolwich. Cong. Ch. 1.00
Yarmouth. First Cong. Ch. and Soc., ($1.74, _for
Indian M._) 19.25
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $266.34.
Atkinson. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $20, bal. to const.
MISS MARY E. KELLEY, L. M.; Cong. Sab. Sch.,
Bundle of C. 20.00
Concord. “A Friend” 1.00
Epping. Hannah Pierson 5.00
Exeter. Second Cong. Ch. 82.71
Fitzwilliam. A. J. B. 1.00
Hancock. W. P. H. 1.00
Haverhill. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 26.11
Hillsborough Bridge. Cong. Ch. 6.25
Hudson. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.00
Mason. Cong. Ch. 5.50
Nelson. Dea. A. E. W. 1.00
Piermont. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $5, and Sab. Sch.,
$18.56. 23.56
Plaistow and North Haverhill, Mass. 25.00
Portsmouth. North Ch. and Soc. 34.70
Rindge. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.32
Short Falls. J. W. Chandler 2.00
Walpole. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.69
West Concord. Cong. Ch. 16.00
Wilton. A. B. C. 0.50
VERMONT, $250.01.