fellow-men and to God. His path is strewn with difficulties all the
way. He meets discouragements and back-sets which seem to him
sometimes insurmountable, and he will need all his courage to keep on
to the end. In our Southern country there are, it seems to me, many
difficulties which do not exist in all parts of our land; but as I
hear our teachers tell of their struggles and trials, I conclude
there is no broad, smooth way along which one may walk comfortably up
to the temple of knowledge.
Many who are exceedingly anxious to become students have in early
life lost their parents, and, being poor, are unable to provide for
themselves, and unless some helping hand is stretched forth, must
remain in ignorance. There are others, who, though in good
circumstances, are not able to appreciate the value of learning, and
so care nothing for it. Again, there are many communities in which
the people, ignorant themselves, care nothing about the education of
their children, and will make no provisions for schools. I know of
settlements of five hundred or more inhabitants among whom there are
scarcely any competent preachers, no good schools or teachers, no
missionary work going on, and the people in a very degraded state.
Ignorant parents, unless persuaded, are not apt to attend to the
education of their children. It is a disadvantage to any one aiming
to prepare for future usefulness to meet with either of these
unfavorable circumstances that I have mentioned, and yet it is the
case with thousands of our boys and girls. The principles which ought
to be impressed upon the children's minds while young are neglected,
and false ideas and degraded impressions are allowed to govern them.
Thus, they are robbed of an early training in those things which are
the true foundations of a noble character.
Here are the plantations in this Southland around many of which yet
cluster the stains of slavery, and to look upon them in all their
degradation is enough to cause a young man or woman who was once
acting in accordance with their sinfulness, but now trying to aim
higher, to give up and declare that it is useless to try to elevate
the great mass of our people to a high standard of citizenship and
usefulness, and it is only when we remember that the hand of the
great God is in the work, that one can have any hope. How many to-day
are idling away their time, breaking the Sabbath, engaging in sinful
sports, violating the State laws, disturbing the peace of quiet
citizens, disobeying their Supreme Ruler!
We have glanced at the dark side of this subject. Let us now turn to
the bright. God has raised up noble men who have loved us and labored
for us--men whose names are familiar to all, and who will be loved
and honored through all generations. Can we be discouraged when we
think it was for us John Brown died? When we think of Abraham
Lincoln, Charles Sumner, and all that host of great men who saw the
evils our race suffered and so nobly stood up for us, we will not
despair.
Our Christian friends at the North have given us liberty and
citizenship. Noble Lincoln and brave Grant were to us almost what
Moses and Aaron were to the Israelites. These same people are
mastering another great problem. As soon as hostilities ceased they
placed institutions of learning within our reach. Under the A. M. A.
and other associations, schools and colleges are erected in the South
for our advancement and training. Here is Straight University,
founded at the very centre of bitterness. From the regions round
about she gathers young men and woman, teaches them the truths of
Christianity, educates them, and then sends them abroad to fill the
pulpits, to gather in the lost ones. Trained by those who have had
the best education the North could give them, they go out to teach
the children, who, but for them, could have no good teaching. The
missionary cause carries light to the homes that are in darkness.
It is a great encouragement, not only to us but to our parents also,
to know that we are acquiring an education from the hands of these
Christian helpers, so that we can become useful in the world, good
citizens, skilled in art and science, and in all branches of
knowledge; to become recognized in the best society, and to secure
comfortable homes for ourselves; to know that we are taught true
principles of Christianity, so that we can use our learning aright,
build up God's kingdom, promote peace and happiness upon earth, and
by and by, when that Eye which looked down from heaven and saw the
shackles of slavery struck from our hands and souls, sees fit, we
shall be the instruments in carrying the gospel of Christ across the
sea to our fellow-men who inhabit the dark continent. Difficulties
there are, many and great; but nothing is too difficult for the
Almighty, and He is our helper and always will help if we ask Him.
The chance to get a good training is in the reach of nearly every
one, if he will only try. We are grateful to our benefactors and to
God for these blessings. May His name be praised and may He reward
his servants in the end!
C. W. JOHNSON.
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
* * * * *
THE APACHE RAID.
BY GEN. C. H. HOWARD.
A private letter before me from a ranchman says: "Great excitement
prevails all over this part of Arizona from the breaking out of the
Chiricahua Apaches. We expected them here, as this is one of their
old trails and watering places. We kept guard night and day. But they
crossed into New Mexico, to the north of us."
The old roaming ground of the Chiricahuas was Southern Arizona. For
many years they defied all attempts to subdue them. Their famous
chief, Cochise, refused to make any treaty or even to parley with the
representatives of the Government.
In 1873, under Grant's "peace policy," General O. O. Howard was sent
to Arizona and New Mexico to make treaties with such of the Indians
as could be reached. After he had visited many other tribes,
including several of the Apache family, and located them peaceably,
he determined to make one earnest effort to meet Cochise. The
experience of twenty years proved that it would be vain to try to
capture him. One white man was found, a scout and interpreter, known
as Captain Jefferds, who spoke Apache and who was regarded by Cochise
as a friend. He consented to try and bring about a parley with
Cochise, but declared no troops must be near. General Howard took one
aide-de-camp, and with Jefferds and two friendly Apaches, rode for
two days until they came near the stronghold. Jefferds then sent
forward the two Indians with a message. They went cautiously,
kindling fires from point to point, and receiving answering signals.
The next day one of them returned, bringing word that Cochise would
see the General and his party, and that the messenger was to guide
them to a designated place of meeting. Cochise was not there on the
arrival of the party, but some of his head men appeared soon after,
had a talk with Jefferds and were introduced to the General, all
showing signs of a marked impression, from the fact that the General
had lost his right arm and carried no weapons. His Apache name was
ever afterwards the "The One-Armed Chief." Some of the Chiricahuas
then mounted and rode away, and not long after a body of Indians came
galloping up. A powerfully-built man, fully armed with rifle,
revolvers and knife, dismounted and first took Jefferds by the hand,
and then turned and frankly greeted the General. The details of that
interview, of the stay of the treaty-party in the stronghold as
Cochise's guests, for two days; their experience the first night,
when they were awakened in the middle of the night and the entire
camp was moved to a still more inaccessible natural fortification,
far up in the mountains, owing to an apprehended attack from a
militia company which had pursued some marauding Chiricahuas the day
before--all would form an interesting and romantic chapter of Indian
history.
The treaty stipulated that all raiding and marauding should cease;
that the Chiricahuas should confine themselves to a certain defined
tract of country; that Captain Jefferds, whom Cochise always called
his brother, would be their agent, and that necessary food would be
allowed them. A definite time was granted in which Cochise was to
communicate the terms of the treaty to his absent chiefs, some of
whom were in old Mexico or other distant places.
[Illustration: INDIAN SUMMER TENT.]
The treaty was kept by Cochise and the Chiricahuas for nine years, as
long as he lived. They were greatly incensed and felt that they
were wronged when Capt. Jefferds was displaced, the reservation
marked out in the treaty was taken away, and they were removed from
their traditional home and herded upon the San Carlos reservation
with other tribes, some of whom they greatly despised. This, however,
they still bore patiently or without manifest resentment until
October, 1881. At that time there was trouble with other San Carlos
tribes. The army marched upon the reservation. The next night the
Chiricahuas left. They started in the direction of their old haunts,
met freighting teams, murdered the drivers and took the horses,
killed cattle and stole other horses from ranchmen, had one or two
slight skirmishes with the United States cavalry and escaped into
Mexico.
Gen. Crook's campaign into Mexico in pursuit of them is familiar to
all. He captured their women and children and old people, and in
order, doubtless, to induce the leaders, who were hidden in the
fastnesses of the Sierra Madre mountains, to surrender, promised
terms that have been severely criticised. Those leaders, like
Geronomo, whose hands were stained with murder, were allowed to come
back unmolested upon the reservation, to retain their arms, and to
feel that, instead of conquered foes of the government, and criminals
justly and duly punished, they had outwitted their white enemy and
dictated their own terms of a peace to be broken at will.
Should not these Chiricahua leaders, having deliberately broken their
treaty, and known to be incorrigibly criminal, have been at least
confined where they could neither incite nor lead more murderous
raids? It was neither a dictate of humanity nor of true statesmanship
to set them loose with arms in their hands. One of the essential
steps in the civilization of any tribe is to demonstrate that crimes
are to be promptly and adequately punished.
But the utter neglect of the government, and of all missionary
bodies, to send to these Chiricahuas any teachers or to make any
earnest attempt to civilize them, during the entire nine years of
their peaceable stay on the reservation, should, no doubt, be duly
weighed when considering the question of ultimate responsibility for
this outbreak.--_The Chicago Standard._
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
A TOUR AMONG THE MISSIONS.
BY REV. W. C. POND.
Since writing my last account of our work for the MISSIONARY, I have
visited several of our Missions in the interior of the State, and, as
far as I can in the space at my command, I will recount my
observations.
I. STOCKTON.--Except as, for a short time, more than thirty years
ago, something was done by Rev. S. V. Blakeslee in San Francisco,
Stockton was the first point in California occupied by the A. M. A.
The work was continued there with scarcely a month's intermission
from 1871 till about a year ago, when under financial pressure it was
closed for a time. The intention was to resume as soon as the opening
of a new fiscal year gave me the right to draw against a new
appropriation. Meanwhile it was hoped that a temporary suspension
might lead to a greater interest on the part of the Chinese
themselves, and that we should begin to get urgent requests from them
with pledges of cooeperation such as had sometimes come to us from
other places. It was all a mistake for which your Superintendent is
chastened, and repents. When we were ready to resume, we found the
convenient room which the school had occupied so many years rented
for quite other purposes, and no quarters could be obtained except at
a rental too exorbitant. Most of those among the pupils who had been
specially benefited, and whose urgencies we should otherwise have
heard, had moved elsewhere, and the Macedonian cry which we hoped
would put us on vantage ground for future operations, did not come to
our ears. The Chinese are very numerous in Stockton--at least 1,000
constantly there, and probably 1,000 more who, working here and there
in the great San Joaquin Valley, make Stockton their rendezvous. I
ought not to have suspended work among them, but rather with faith
and courage I should have pressed it with greater zeal, and if hearts
seemed harder there than elsewhere, I should have poured in upon them
more abundantly the light and love of Christ. All that I could
accomplish on this visit was to arrange conditionally for a room in a
building not yet completed, and to intensify my own determination
somehow to carry to those dark, needy souls "the _fullness_ of the
blessing of Christ."
II. SACRAMENTO.--It was good to come into the warm spiritual
atmosphere of our Sacramento mission. The tokens of God's blessing on
our work there are unmistakable. Our readers have heard recently from
our helper, Chin Toy, and I forbear going into details. The best
result of my visit was in the decision of one of our pupils who had
been highly commended to me by his brethren and by Mrs. Carrington,
to enter into missionary work. His name is Chin Kel. I am all the
more hopeful about him because he is distrustful of himself. This was
the only ground of hesitancy with him. The fact that it involved a
_very considerable pecuniary sacrifice_ does not seem to have weighed
with him at all. He will be stationed at Marysville, relieving our
excellent brother Joe Jet for work elsewhere.
III. MARYSVILLE.--Here, too, I found comfort with the brethren, and
after the usual exercises of the school were finished, at nine
o'clock P. M., we sat down together at the Lord's table. One brother
was baptized and received to the church. All the resident members of
the church were present, and, if I mistake not, we broke the bread
not only at about the same hour of the evening, but with the same
number of communicants as were gathered round the table in that upper
chamber at Jerusalem when this sacrament was first observed.
IV. OROVILLE.--The next two evenings were spent at Oroville,
twenty-eight miles further north. I took our faithful helper, Joe
Jet, with me, and he will spend a month or more in that mission. Two
of the Marysville brethren also accompanied us, and one other was
already there. I invited them to be present because I proposed to
organize our Oroville brethren into a church. Too long already--too
long, not by months, only, but by years--we had waited, hoping that
the church already existing in Oroville would open its doors and
extend a brother's hand to these disciples; and we believed that they
ought not longer to be debarred the privileges of the sacraments and
of church fellowship. Several who in years past have given evidence
of conversion in connection with this mission, are now elsewhere.
Four young men, after careful examination, in which Joe Jet and the
Marysville brethren shared, were constituted into "The Bethany Church
of Oroville." Four others were believed to be Christians, but, as
being recent converts, were held under probation awhile, as is the
custom in our missions. When we sat down on Friday evening to the
Lord's table it was found that four other churches were informally
represented by members present, and thus, in some sense, the
fellowship of the churches was expressed.
V. TULARE.--My next visit was made to Tulare, in the southern part of
the San Joaquin Valley. I was greatly interested in what I found. My
hopes were more than realized. Believing that our work will be
permanent and fruitful, I bought, on my own responsibility, a lot,
and contracted for the erection of a comfortable Mission-house, which
having been put up with Californian speed, was dedicated on Monday,
May 18. I could not myself be present at the service, but Rev. D.
Goodsell, pastor of the Congregational Church, conducted it well.
There were songs and Scripture readings by the pupils, an address by
Ju Guy, the helper, giving in a brief and modest way his own
religious experience; addresses also by Bro. Goodsell and by Rev. Mr.
McMillan, of the M. E. Church; a collection which under the
circumstances was quite generous; and finally a banquet which the
pupils asked the privilege of providing for their friends.
VI. FRESNO.--My last visit was at Fresno, the largest and most
promising town between Stockton and Los Angeles. Here I found fully
500 Chinese. Many more, doubtless, make their headquarters here. Ju
Guy accompanied me from Tulare, and in about six hours found five of
his countrymen who professed to be Christians. Three of these were
Baptists from Oregon, one a Methodist and one a Congregationalist.
All were ready to cooeperate. The last one gave his name as Soo Hoo
Foo, and said that about eight years ago he began to believe in
Jesus, and united in San Francisco with our "Congregational
Association of Christian Chinese." Soon after this he left the city,
and ever since has been almost entirely destitute of Christian
instruction and companionship. Yet he had not relinquished his
purpose to follow Christ, and his heart warmed at once at the
prospect of a mission in Fresno. Our school was started there May 1,
and gives good promise of permanent usefulness. The teacher speaks in
glowing terms about Soo Hoo Foo, believing that he might be trained
for good service as a missionary. About this time will tell; but
certainly our faith may well be strengthened and our hearts gladdened
to see how the Good Shepherd knows and keeps His scattered lambs.
* * * * *
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
* * * * *
MISS D. E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.
* * * * *
As the ladies interested in our Bureau of Woman's Work may wish to
see the resolutions adopted by the representatives of the several
woman's missionary societies at the meeting held in Saratoga June 4,
we herewith print them:
_Resolved_, That we, the representatives of the several
State women's home missionary societies present at the
Saratoga meeting, entreat the women of all the States to
form State societies, and add their contributions to those
of the great national societies to carry on all branches
of the missionary work in our own land, and to urge them
also to make corresponding effort to increase intelligence
in regard to home work.
_Resolved_, That a committee of three ladies be appointed
to open correspondence with representatives in the
different States where no societies now exist, and in all
practicable ways to promote unity of interest and action
in home work.
The committee appointed were:
Mrs. W. Kincaid, 483 Greene avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mrs. C. A. Richardson, 123 Washington avenue, Chelsea, Mass.
Mrs. E. S. Williams, 1729 Eleventh avenue South, Minneapolis, Minn.
* * * * *
THE PAPER MISSION.
This unique enterprise in missionary work was started three years ago
by Miss Nancy Marsh, Providence, R. I. Miss Marsh writes:
"Our third year of labor among the freedmen has just closed. We have
sent to about forty places 2,312 papers and pamphlets, 1,113 lesson
papers, 1,006 lesson cards, 174 tracts, 393 Scripture cards, 109
Christmas and picture cards, 29 books of various kinds and 84
lithographs; 66 letters and postals have been written. A box was sent
in October last to a pastor in Texas, with some articles of clothing,
'Barnes' Notes' and other books."
Miss Marsh has received many letters from the missionaries,
gratefully acknowledging the help that the papers have been. One
writes: "I wish you could step in and see the little ones in their
several classes, how their eyes sparkle when the papers are given
out." Another: "It did me good to feel that one whom I had never seen
would interest herself in my work here in this isolated spot. I send
you my sincere thanks." A pastor says: "Our new church was dedicated
May 24. Our permanent existence began that day. The next Sabbath
twenty joined our Sunday-school, and the Sunday following seven more.
Nothing is so acceptable as your papers. Please send oftener, and
more with pictures, as my school is largely made up of little ones."
The above are specimens of a great many letters that have been
received by Miss Marsh. We should be pleased to give still further
extracts from her interesting correspondence, but lack of space
forbids. She is engaged in doing a good work, and she has the
grateful appreciation of our missionaries in the field.
* * * * *
INDUSTRIAL LETTER FROM LE MOYNE.
DEAR FRIENDS: Thinking you would like to hear a word from "Le Moyne
Home" I will pen you a few lines. I wish you were here to see for
yourself what a nice happy family we are. The industrial classes take
a good share of my time. I am much pleased with the progress the
girls have made in sewing. They have a deal of pride in doing their
work nicely, and are always willing to take it out if not well done.
They have made ladies' and children's aprons, undergarments,
children's dresses, etc. Whenever they enter the sewing room with
torn or ragged garments I have them mend them the first thing, trying
to teach them that a stitch in time saves nine, and that a penny
saved is the same as a penny earned--two things hard for them to
learn.
The class in cooking are interested as ever in their work. Not one of
the twenty-five girls has ever failed in any article of food she has
cooked. I give the girls who do the cooking a sample to take home. It
makes the mothers interested in their work. They bring frequently to
me something they have made at home. I have been very happy in my
work with them.
M. H. K.
* * * * *
CHILDREN'S PAGE.
* * * * *
PLAYING 'POSSUM.
"See what a splendid 'possum I've shot, Uncle Toby. I killed him all
myself."
"Killed him all yo'se'f, eh? Now, let me tole you' suffin'. Jest yo'
look sharp after him. A 'possum am a mighty skeery critter, shore's
yo' bawn."
"Why, but he's dead, uncle, and how can he need any looking after?"
"Don't yo' be so shore 'bout dat ar' now, 'case dey's mighty
onsartin, mighty onsartin. I mind now wat yore bressed uncle, the
parson, used ter say on that subjec', ses he: 'Toby, ef yo' ebber
wants to be a fust-rate Christian, yo' mus'n't let yer 'settin' sins
fool ye, 'case dey's jes like 'possums. Yo' t'ink dem all dead and
gone fur to pester ye no moah, when all ob a suddent heah dey all
comes agin, jes' as pow'rful as ebber. Be shore yo' kills dem
dead--plumb dead--ebbery time yo' sees de leastest bit ob one stick'n
up anywhars.' Dat's what he used fur to remark, an' he war a mighty
good man, chuck full ob de sperrit ob goodness."
Willie ran away and shut his treasure up in an empty cotton-shed,
intending to skin it early in the morning, as it was now supper-time
and he was exceedingly hungry. But on the morrow nothing was to be
seen or heard of his prize. He hunted the place over and questioned
all the servants closely. Nothing was to be heard or seen of the
missing rogue, who was probably telling his mates of the forest of
his narrow escape from being skinned alive!
Uncle Toby greeted Willie with a laugh, "I done tole yo' so. Yo' 's
got to cut dere heads plumb off. Dat am de onlst way ob bein' sartin
shore. I 'clare to gracious I'se seen dem hop outen de bery pot on de
fire an' make off."
"O, Uncle Toby, that's an awful story! you know it is. But one thing
I do know: I'll cut the throat of the next 'possum I get hold of."
"An' don't yo' fo'git what I done tole ye 'bout your 'settin' sins.
Dey's jes like dat ar' 'possum. Dey wants killin' ober an' ober again
'fore dey really dies."
"I should think John Salters' love of drink needed killing again. Do
you know, I stumbled over him in the woods yesterday, with a
whisky-bottle lying by his side? It was too shameful!"
"Dat am true, Massa Willie. I don't reckon he tries so bery hard to
kill dat ar' possum."
"But he told father that he had reformed, and wanted him to furnish
him some work. Mother gave him a lot of old clothing and things to
eat, and yet there he lay, drunk as could be."
"Wall, yo' see, he was jes' like yo' was yessaday. Yo' was sartain
shore dat 'possum was dead, an' all de time he was a larfin' in his
slebe an' t'inkin' how he'd make his legs fly when he'd see a good
chance, an' shore 'nuff he did. He-he."
"You needn't laugh, uncle; 'twasn't any fun to lose such a big fat
fellow."