The American Missionary Vol. 44, No. 3, March, 1890 by Various
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Various >> The American Missionary Vol. 44, No. 3, March, 1890
THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY
MARCH, 1890.
VOL. XLIV. No. 3.
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL.
REMOVAL
"KEEP PEGGING AWAY"
$500,000--CALLS FOR ENLARGEMENT
NOTES FROM NEW ENGLAND
THE SOUTH.
REVIVALS--A WATCH NIGHT MEETING
A DIFFERENT WATCH NIGHT MEETING
THE INDIANS.
THE RAMONA SCHOOL
THE CHINESE.
THE UNBELIEVING WIFE SANCTIFIED IN THE BROTHER
ADDRESS.
THE FUTURE OF THE NEGRO IN OUR COUNTRY, BY C.H. RICHARDS, D.D.
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
PARAGRAPHS--CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE IN HUMBLE LIFE
WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS
RECEIPTS.
* * * * *
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION,
Bible House, Ninth St. and Fourth Ave., New York.
* * * * *
Price, 50 Cents a Year, in advance.
Entered at the Post-Office at New York, N.Y., as second-class matter.
American Missionary Association.
* * * * *
PRESIDENT, Rev. WM. M. TAYLOR, D.D. LL.D., N.Y.
_Vice-Presidents._
Rev. A.J.F. BEHRENDS, D.D., N.Y.
Rev. ALEX. McKENZIE, D.D., Mass.
Rev. F.A. NOBLE, D.D., Ill.
Rev. D.O. MEARS, D.D., Mass.
Rev. HENRY HOPKINS, D.D., Mo.
_Corresponding Secretaries._
Rev. M.E. STRIEBY, D.D., _Bible House, N.Y._
Rev. A.F. BEARD, D.D., _Bible House, N.Y._
_Recording Secretary._
Rev. M.E. STRIEBY, D.D., _Bible House, N.Y._
_Treasurer._
H.W. HUBBARD, Esq., _Bible House, N.Y._
_Auditors._
PETER McCARTEE.
CHAS. P. PEIRCE.
_Executive Committee._
JOHN H. WASHBURN, Chairman.
ADDISON P. FOSTER, Secretary.
_For Three Years._
S.B. HALLIDAY,
SAMUEL HOLMES,
SAMUEL S. MARPLES,
CHARLES L. MEAD,
ELBERT B. MONROE.
_For Two Years._
J.E. RANKIN,
WM. H. WARD,
J.W. COOPER,
JOHN H. WASHBURN,
EDMUND L. CHAMPLIN.
_For One Year._
LYMAN ABBOTT,
CHAS. A. HULL,
CLINTON B. FISK,
ADDISON P. FOSTER
ALBERT J. LYMAN.
_District Secretaries._
Rev. C.J. RYDER, _21 Cong'l House, Boston, Mass._
Rev. J.E. ROY. D.D., _151 Washington Street, Chicago, Ill._
Rev. C.W. HIATT, _64 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio._
_Financial Secretary for Indian Missions._
Rev. CHAS. W. SHELTON.
_Secretary of Woman's Bureau._
Miss D.E. EMERSON, _Bible House, N.Y._
COMMUNICATIONS
Relating to the work of the Association may be addressed to the
Corresponding Secretaries; letters for "THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY," to the
Editor, at the New York Office; letters relating to the finances, to the
Treasurer.
DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
In drafts, checks, registered letters, or post-office orders, may be
sent to H.W. Hubbard, Treasurer, Bible House, New York, or, when more
convenient, to either of the Branch Offices, 21 Congregational House,
Boston, Mass., 151 Washington Street, Chicago, Ill., or 64 Euclid Ave.,
Cleveland, Ohio. A payment of thirty dollars at one time constitutes a
Life Member.
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS.--The date on the "address label," indicates the
time to which the subscription is paid. Changes are made in date on
label to the 10th of each month. If payment of subscription be made
afterward, the change on the label will appear a month later. Please
send early notice of change in post-office address, giving the former
address and the new address, in order that our periodicals and
occasional papers may be correctly mailed.
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 AMERICAN MISSIONARY.
* * * * *
VOL. XLIV. MARCH, 1890. No. 3.
* * * * *
American Missionary Association.
* * * * *
REMOVAL.
The Rooms of the American Missionary Association are now in the Bible
House, New York City. Correspondents will please address us
accordingly.
Visitors will find our Rooms on the sixth floor of the Bible House,
corner Ninth Street and Fourth Avenue; entrance by elevator on Ninth
Street.
* * * * *
The Association opened its office first in humble quarters in Spruce
street, and since then it has occupied rooms in Beekman, John and Reade
streets. These down-town locations have served some valuable purposes.
They were accessible to the teachers and workers in passing to and from
the South, and in the shipment of goods to the South and to Africa--once
a large item in our business. In the change now made, we shall gain the
advantage of more convenient rooms, of association with our brethren of
the other missionary societies and more frequent opportunities of
fraternal greetings with pastors and friends coming to the city.
* * * * *
"KEEP PEGGING AWAY."
Abraham Lincoln packed into these homely words the expression of his
heroic faith and indomitable perseverance. When victory forsook our
armies, when elections at the North pronounced against the
administration, and when timid and disloyal people were clamoring for
"peace at any price," this great man, discerning clearly that only by
arms could the rebellion be crushed, acted upon this motto. He did not
mean by this that a mere idle pretense of doing something should be
kept up; he meant a steady pressure growing constantly more intense and
effective; when volunteering flagged, he offered bounties; when bounties
failed, he resorted to drafting. The army _must be_ kept up and it must
be fully equipped, and never did a more splendid army tread the earth,
and never was money poured out with so lavish a hand. The end came, and
it was worth all it cost.
The war settled two things--the unity of the nation and the freedom of
the slave. One thing it did not settle--the future of the Negro. That
question must be settled by his Christian education. This is just as
plain to thoughtful men as it was to Lincoln that military force only
could save the nation. But now as then, there are men who are
discouraged and who say that this process of education will take a long
time, and so, once more, the air is full of impracticable remedies--to
take the ballot from the Negro--to transport him to Africa, to the West,
to the North! The cry is, "the white man's supremacy" at any price. Now,
again, is the time for Lincoln's motto, "keep pegging away," and that
not merely in a perfunctory way, but by pushing more and more
vigorously. In this moral warfare, volunteers must be encouraged. There
is no need of special bounties, nor of drafting; only furnish the means
to meet the meagre salaries, and the recruits will crowd to the field in
abundance, but their numbers _must be_ greatly enlarged. Hence the great
need, as in the dark days of the war, of multiplying the means of
equipment. The money should be poured out with a lavish hand to sustain
a vastly enlarged working force. Money can never be spent at a better
time, nor for a better purpose.
* * * * *
$500,000.
This is the sum recommended for the use of this Association by the
National Council, and by our own Annual Meeting. These figures have not
only these indorsements, but also the far greater one of the needs of
the field. Some of our schools are packed to overflowing and scholars
are turned away because there is no room, places are opening for
enlarged church work which we ought to have the means of entering, and
industrial facilities should be increased. The need for such enlargement
is illustrated in part by the items which follow.
* * * * *
CALLS FOR ENLARGEMENT.
Our schools, with scarcely an exception, are asking for more teachers
for their over-crowded rooms, and two or three pulpits stand vacant
because we have not suitable pastors for them. We are able to report
great enthusiasm along every line of our work and a spirit of uncommon
consecration among all our teachers this year. We are having a noble
year of thorough work.
From Greenwood, S.C., comes this word: "For the last month we have had
over two hundred and thirty students, and have refused between
seventy-five and one hundred applications for admission because there
was not one inch of room for them."
Our school at Meridian has outgrown the building erected for it, and has
overflowed into the church. It is another illustration of the fact that
the children of the emancipated freedmen are as earnest for education as
were their fathers and mothers when they swarmed into the temporary
schools provided for them.
A letter from Wilmington, N.C., says: "Without another teacher, I do not
know what to do, unless it be to send away about twenty-five pupils.
This I would be very sorry to do, as I would hardly know which ones to
send and there would be no school for them to re-enter, as the public
schools are full to overflowing; besides, many would consider it a
calamity to be thus dropped out."
We have just opened anew the Storrs school, which was not re-opened in
October with the other schools. The Principal writes us: "The joy of the
people at witnessing the preparations is extravagant. One old man said
to-night, 'There will be seven hundred scholars there when you open.'
These are not 'the words of soberness,' probably, but the enthusiasm
with respect to the re-opening of school is beyond all expectation."
Five teachers have been sent and more are called for.
Our teachers in Troy, N.C., write us: "Can you not send us a pastor?
There is such an earnest need of one. We really do not think the work
here can prosper unless we have a pastor. We do the best we can. The
prayer meetings are all well attended, but it makes one's heart fail, to
think of these 'sheep without a shepherd.' The work is very absorbing.
Is there no one you could send here, if only for a time?"
Through certain interferences with one of our schools at the South, on
the part of some ambitious people there, it seemed at one time that we
should feel it a necessity to reduce the grades and place two or three
teachers in some other schools which are calling on us for help. We
telegraphed them to remain, however, and the result is thus given: "Your
telegram came this afternoon and the children were half wild when they
got out of the school-house, running up and down the streets to tell the
good news. A company of them met the chairman of the local school board,
whom they did not regard as altogether friendly, and they shouted to
him, 'We have got our teachers! We have got our teachers! The man says
they can stay.' One old auntie came this afternoon to say, 'I'se heerd
how they is trying to get the teachers away and I prayed and prayed to
the good Lord to keep 'em.' Some of the boys are waist-deep in the water
after clams to get their fifty cents for their week's tuition. It has
been a great joy to me to see the character of the people when the
unfriendly ones tried to break us up. They have shown much thought and
ability, and they win our hearts by their faith in God."
* * * * *
NOTES FROM NEW ENGLAND.
BY REV. C.J. RYDER, DISTRICT SECRETARY.
An exceedingly good plan for increasing the collections for benevolent
objects has been hit upon by some members of a Boston church. They have
what they call an "Extra Cent-a-Day Band." Each member pledges himself
to lay aside one cent each day for some benevolent object. They elect a
treasurer and put into his hands this "Cent-a-Day" fund, as they please,
some paying frequently, others waiting until considerable has
accumulated. At a given time each month they divide the accumulated
contributions among the different societies as they may elect. The
American Missionary Association has occasion to be grateful for this
"Extra Cent-a-Day" plan in the pledge of about thirty dollars to its
treasury. I pass it along in these "Notes," as these friends hold no
patent right upon the method, and would gladly see it adopted in many
churches.
* * * * *
There seems to be a great localization of patriotic Christian thought in
New England upon the Southern problem now, as there has not been since
the war closed. I bought recently one of the leading magazines on the
train, and the leading article in it was on the Southern problem. I
picked up the _Forum_, and the leading article was on the Southern
problem. Mr. Grady comes from the South to address the business men of
Boston, and turns aside from questions which would naturally be
discussed to speak of the Southern problem. At a recent meeting of the
Old Colony Congregational Club at Brockton, Massachusetts, they invited
two Secretaries to speak upon this Southern problem, and listened with
patience to two long addresses. The discussion which followed indicated
that the churches represented in that large and intelligent club were
most earnestly pondering this Southern problem. In its importance, it
overtops every other consideration before the citizens and churches of
America to-day! Thoughtful people are coming more than ever to realize
this. The processes of thought through which they have passed already,
and the facts they have settled in their own minds, indicate a very
hopeful condition of things. In the first place, they are sure that this
is not a local or sectional question. It is a National question, and
will involve the whole country in anarchy and misrule, unless the
anarchy and misrule of the Southern whites are stopped. New England's
voice will be heard in solemn and earnest protest, unless there is a
radical change in the conduct of the dominant race of the South very
soon. Such outrages as those at Barnwell, S.C., and Jackson, Miss.,
which are only types of many such, must be stopped.
Another fact that has been settled in the minds of the people here, is
that the education and moral elevation of the Negroes is a matter of
painful exigency; that the forces employed by the American Missionary
Association in that field must be largely multiplied. The President of
the Old Colony Club summed up the discussion of the evening by saying
most earnestly that all this meant that the contributions to the
American Missionary Association must be largely increased among the
churches represented in that Club, if we would solve this terrible
Southern problem, and save our country from this threatened danger.
* * * * *
In this connection I was interested the other day in making an
investigation as to the per cent. of church membership in the South and
North. I discovered the following rather surprising comparison. The per
cent. of church membership in some of the New England States as compared
with that in the Southern States is as follows, not including the Roman
Catholics: Massachusetts, 13 per cent.; Connecticut, 20 per cent.; New
Hampshire, 19 per cent.; South Carolina, 32 per cent.; Georgia, 28 per
cent.; Florida, 25 per cent.
It is evident from the comparisons that a larger percentage of the
population in these Southern States are members of Protestant churches
than in the Northern States. Notwithstanding this, this horrible system
of persecution goes on. There are noble and true men who protest against
it, but if the churches united in condemning it, we all know it would be
stopped. What they need is not more churches, but better churches, those
who emphasize the brotherhood of man as well as the fatherhood of God in
this Southern portion of the land.
* * * * *
The stereopticon lectures which are being delivered by Rev. S.E.
Lathrop, are attracting much attention and receiving general
commendation. Last Sunday, at Peabody, the people were so enthusiastic
that they took a special collection of nearly one hundred dollars. Many
churches in New England have enjoyed this treat, and receive the
inspiration which the facts of the American Missionary Association must
always give when really known and understood. Brother Lathrop is on his
way into New Hampshire and Maine, where arrangements have been made in
many churches.
* * * * *
Some benevolent New England friends who have been in Florida, and have
seen the destitution of the colored people there, have put into our
hands five thousand dollars for the establishment of anew school in one
of the destitute regions of that State. The good friends who are
interested so largely in this move desired that the Secretary should go
from New England with Secretary Beard, to determine just where this
school should be located.
* * * * *
THE SOUTH
* * * * *
REVIVALS.
A gracious revival in Straight University, New Orleans, brings us glad
tidings of the hopeful conversion of about fifty students.
Interesting reports from Talladega College give us information of a
revival of religious interest in the school and church there. The
college is looking forward to an enlargement of its theological study
and Faculty.
Rev. Sterling N. Brown writes from Washington, D.C.: "We are in the
midst of a most precious awakening. Forty-six souls have accepted the
Saviour. Our meetings have been quiet, orderly and heart-searching. The
Master is leading us."
Professor Payson E. Little, of McIntosh, Ga., reports an interesting
work of grace in connection with the church and school at McIntosh. This
is the place where the pretended Christ last summer appealed to the
superstitions of the Negroes advanced in age and ignorant. It is
pleasant to know that nearly all of those who were brought under the
influence of this crazy fanatic, have now returned to their churches
thoroughly ashamed of their experience.
* * * * *
A WATCH-NIGHT MEETING.
The very interesting sketch given below shows that the "old-time
religion" in the South has not passed away, for this scene took place in
one of the large cities and where schools have been sustained for years.
The picture of the honored and worthy old preacher stands out
conspicuously in the midst of this confused worship.
After the New Year's entertainment in our own church, we thought it
would be interesting to some of the new teachers on our force to attend
a watch-meeting at one of the churches near, so we started for a large
barn-like structure bearing the imposing name of ----. We found the
building filled to its utmost, and instead of slipping into some seats
in the rear unnoticed, as we had hoped, we found ourselves forced to the
front bench where the stewards held posts of honor, which were
immediately vacated for the "teachers." Many of these men then went
behind the railing and stood in solemn state around the pastor as he
exhorted the people in most earnest words to get their records clean
before the opening of the new year.
I wish I could picture him to you as he stood before us that night, his
hair just turning gray, indicating in one of this race extreme old age;
a real "Uncle Tom" in appearance, and in character, I think; his history
taking in much of slavery and of life as Presiding Elder. Many times has
he stood on guard between Northern teachers and Ku Klux Klans. He told
us that night that the grace of God in a man's heart would make him
shine all over; he had seen it make a man who had not combed his hair
for a year, grease his boots and his hair too, and then what a shining!
And so on through his talk were the most earnest exhortations with his
striking illustrations.
One of the members there once in praising a sister to me spoke of her
having the ability to "groan so beautifully," and that night it seemed a
special gift bestowed upon all. All through the pastor's exhortation the
audience were keeping up a sort of rhythmic accompaniment with both body
and intonations. Their responses during the prayers certainly have the
virtue of fervency, if not of intelligence. At some times so great was
the noise it was almost impossible to distinguish any leader whatever.
One old "Father in Israel" seemed to be specially delegated to encourage
the praying ones by calling out above all the din, "Come on, son, come
on," right in the midst of the prayer. One woman near us "got the power"
and went off into spasms. Then the pastor gave the invitation for all
"mourning ones" to come to the altar, and about sixty answered the call.
Then the groans and ejaculations became more intense, until at least
three whom we could see were in religious spasms or frenzies. I know not
how many others had the "power," that is, were able to scream above all
the groaning at certain intervals.
At midnight a hush fell upon all, and the pastor's prayer told us a new
year had begun. Then all started up an old-time plantation song, the
only words being "A Happy New Year" in all its changes, and we found we
were expected to shake hands with everyone, and not any ordinary shaking
hands was it, but the tighter our hands were clasped, the better did it
show the individual's religious zeal. Before this, it had seemed as
though some of our teachers would get struck by the mourning ones as
they threw their arms around in their frenzy, but when the hand-shaking
began and each one danced up to us, keeping time with the music and
shook our hands in time, until the measure changed and they passed on to
the next, we realized that we had, indeed, been taken right in. Thus the
meeting closed, and many left--two, rigid in their spasms, lying on the
benches.
But we found that the more devoted ones were to stay longer still, and
as one of the sisters came up and asked me to stay and see them get real
happy shouting, we did so. And now commenced a religious dance,
perfectly indescribable, and as long as I have been in the South it was
perfectly new to me. The leader started down one of the aisles chanting
a weird plantation song, and every joint in his body moving in time with
the measure; the sisters took it up and followed two by two until there
was a complete circle all around the church, all dancing in time with
the music. We were told that they would keep that up until morning.
It is rarely that we attend anything of this kind, but I think we had
enough of the old-time religion to last us through 1890 at least. We
have a number of scholars from this church, and it makes my heart sad
when I think how hard it will be for them to put what they are taught in
school with the example of their parents in this church. We have had
many inquiring ones in school lately, and it is difficult for them to
see how simple is the entrance to the narrow way contrasted with all the
excitement in their church religion.
* * * * *
A DIFFERENT "WATCH NIGHT" MEETING.
Since the foregoing article was in type, we have received the following
sketch of a "Watch Night" meeting in one of the churches of our
Association.
It is quite a custom among the colored people to hold "Watch Night"
meetings. These meetings are largely attended and are full of fervor and
interest. Our "Watch-Night" was a very precious one--it was held from 10
to 12 o'clock: it was divided into four half-hour services, viz:
1--Prayer and praise; 2--Bible reading; 3--Address by pastor, and 4--A
testimony meeting. The last five minutes was spent in silent prayer, and
at 12 o'clock, when the New Year was announced by booming of cannon and
the ringing of bells throughout the city, we united in singing our song
of New Year greeting, "What a Happy New Year," while extending to one
another the right hand of fellowship. At the close of the service all
present pledged themselves, by standing, to abstain from the use of
intoxicating liquors as a beverage during 1890.
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
* * * * *
THE RAMONA SCHOOL.
BY DIST. SEC. J.E. ROY.
I had the pleasure, in Santa Fe, January 13th, of attending an
entertainment given by the Ramona pupils in honor of Miss Platt, one of
their teachers. Gov. Prince and his wife, and several of the citizens,
were present as invited guests. After the singing of several songs, and
a statement made by Prof. Elmore Chase, the Principal, fourteen of the
scholars rendered, in the action of nature and the speaking of English,
Mrs. Bentley's dialogue, "The Old Year's Vision and the New Year's
Message," as found in the January number of _The Youth's Temperance
Banner_. One of the large boys first came in as an old man, clad in a
mantle and trembling on a staff, to repeat the "Old Year's Vision." Then
came in, one after another, a dozen boys and girls, to recite the
greeting of the several months. It was a temperance exhibit, and so each
one had a testimony for that cause. January, bearing a New Year's card
in hand, declared: "I've promised that not a drop of wine shall touch
these temperance lips of mine." February bore a fancy valentine, with an
appropriate motto. March lifted aloft a new kite, with "Kites may sail
far up in the sky, but on strong drink I'll never get high." July,
bearing a flag and a bunch of fire-crackers, declares: