Book: American Missionary, Volume 43, No. 5, May, 1889
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Various >> American Missionary, Volume 43, No. 5, May, 1889
"FEBRUARY 2, 1889."
This letter was written to a cultivated Northern young lady who had
graduated at one of the best high schools in the country and held a
special recommendation, besides her diploma, on account of her
excellency as a student and practice teacher. She went South to help
these people in their great need. It was for Christ's sake and in "His
name" that she entered this field. She secured board of a white family,
but when they learned that she was going to teach the blacks and seek to
lead them to Christ, this letter was sent her. Every door was closed
against this Christian woman because she was trying to save the poor and
ignorant! And it is eighteen hundred and eighty-nine of the Christian
era and in free America!
But this plucky Yankee girl did not so give up her school. She found a
boarding place in the home of one of our missionaries, two miles away,
and she tramps across these two miles twice a day, patiently putting in
her best services, to bring light into the dense darkness of the very
community whose doors were closed against her!
In connection with this incident of narrow prejudice read these words
from Dr. Haygood's "Pleas for Progress." "In all truth and common sense
there is no reason for discounting in any respect a white man or woman
simply for teaching negroes. It is absurd. I believe it is sinful."
These earnest words were spoken by the eloquent divine to his Southern
brethren, August 2, 1883, six long years ago. If they only carried the
conviction of the people to whom he appealed! How strangely they sound,
standing so close to this letter refusing board to a young lady because
she is teaching these very negroes! "How long, O Lord, how long?"
* * * * *
The semi-annual meeting of the Woman's Home Missionary Association met
in the Beneficent Congregational Church, or "Old Round Top," as the
street car conductor called it, Providence, April 3d. The weather was
extremely unfavorable, as New England weather has been lately, as a
rule, but there was a good attendance and deep interest. All the
missionary societies of the Congregational churches which do work in
America were represented. The field work of the Woman's Association has
passed into the control of the national societies. The future looks very
bright for its increasing usefulness.
* * * * *
And now Pleasant Hill, Tenn., rejoices in the sweet music of one of the
Smith organs. Mr. S.D. Smith is making many schools happy and adding
greatly to their efficiency by his generous gifts of organs.
* * * * *
WHAT THE WORLD SAYS.
BLACK SAINTS AND WHITE.
Do colored folks retain their complexion when they go to heaven? This is
a question of some importance to the members of the Diocesan Convention
of the Protestant Episcopal churches of Charleston, S.C. Not long ago
the Convention appointed a special committee to consider and report upon
the subject of the admission of negro clergymen and laymen as members of
that body. Their action was taken with the view of bringing the
Charleston churches, if possible, into harmony with the other Episcopal
congregations of the State. In 1887, the former had seceded in
consequence of the adoption of a resolution which the Charleston
brethren regarded as a virtual obliteration of the color-line.
Thursday, the report of the committee was made public. It proposes a
separate convocation for the colored churches under the ministration of
the bishop, and consents to the admission to the Convention of colored
clergymen who have been associated with the church for twelve months
prior to May, 1889. If the report is adopted, three negro ministers will
sit as members, but no lay delegates will be eligible. The committee
were willing to forego their prejudice out of deference to the holy
office. They felt that the color of a clergyman's skin, although it was
no doubt a very serious ground of objection when it happened to be
black, should not overcome the respect due to the sanctity of his
official calling. His cloth, so to speak, saved him, and what would have
been denied to the man it was possible to concede to the priest.
Under these circumstances the gravity of the question, "Do colored folks
retain their complexion when they go to heaven?" is obvious. The
concession which the committee of the Diocesan Convention make is but a
re-affirmation of the Charleston brethren's aversion to anything that
smacks of an approach to association of the two races on terms of
equality. If there are colored saints in Paradise, it will be utterly
impossible for the Charleston white saints of the Episcopal denomination
to feel at home there. The only chance of reconciling them to a heaven
so liberally disposed would depend on the adoption of some such plan as
that recommended by the committee as a _modus vivendi_ in the church on
earth. That is to say, if the colored saints were corraled by
themselves--if their convocations were separate from the convocations of
the white saints--if they were not admitted to the white circles of
celestial society as equal partakers of the privileges of the heavenly
kingdom--the Caucasian angels from Charleston might be willing to pass
their eternity in such a place.
It is very essential for them, therefore, to know whether there are in
fact any colored saints in heaven; and, if there are, whether the
divisions of the Father's house into "many mansions" admits of an
arrangement whereby the angelic brunettes may occupy one set of quarters
and the Charleston blondes another. Until these problems are solved to
their satisfaction, we do not see how our Christian friends of the chief
city of South Carolina can contemplate a future life with any degree of
equanimity. Their faith may be equal to the removal of mountains and
their virtues may entitle them to all the felicity of the spirits of
just men made perfect, but if it is the rule of the "happy land, far,
far away" that a black saint is just as good as a white one, how much
more rational it would be for them to prefer annihilation to
immortality.
_Brooklyn Daily Eagle._
* * * * *
PARAGRAPHS.
We would continue to remind pastors and churches of our Leaflets, which
we will be happy to furnish, on application, to those taking collections
for our Association.
* * * * *
The _Daily Standard-Union_, of Brooklyn, is a good judge. It says:
THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY for April, published by the American Missionary
Association, New York, is full of information useful and edifying to all
interested in domestic missions.
* * * * *
The "Student's Letter" found on another page is worth attention. The
writer, Rev. Spencer Snell, gives a modest and yet vivid picture of his
struggles for an education, and he is now--we say it for him, as he does
not--the able and acceptable pastor of our growing church in Birmingham,
Alabama. We wish in a quiet way to suggest to our friends in the North
that "it pays" to spend money to educate such men.
Rev. James Wharton, the evangelist, who has been efficiently preaching
to the American Missionary churches in the South this winter, has left
this country for England, where he will remain until the first of
October, when he will return again to his specific work in which the
churches have been greatly blessed. The churches which he has visited,
and which have added to their numbers through his ministration, are
Louisville, Ky., Sherwood, Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., Athens,
Florence, Mobile and Montgomery, Ala., Jackson and Tougaloo, Miss., and
New Orleans, La.
Many prayers will go with him across the sea, and many welcomes will
greet him on his return.
* * * * *
SOUTHERN ECHOES.
PRAYERS OF WOMEN AT THE MEETING OF FAREWELL TO A MISSIONARY.
"O! Lord, thou knowest how I love her. Thou knowest how I have run to
her in every trouble, as a chicken does to its mother."
"O! Lord, you know what she has been to me in the greatest trouble I
ever had. You know I think more of her than of any being in the whole
world, except my husband. Will you please to be with her when she gets
ready for the train, and when she goes from the house to the train, and
on the train, and when she goes to the house from the train, and bless
her all the time."
* * * * *
Mrs. W----, an old lady, said: "My old man ax me every night when he
come from work if there be a meeting up yonder. He do like to go to
meeting. He think a heap of that young preacher up yonder. Last
Wednesday night after meeting, he say to me, 'Mary, I'll be good to you
after this,' and I say the same to him. It do me a heap of good to go up
yonder. I learn more than I ever knowed before. I knows what the texts
means now."
* * * * *
SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED.--A few days since, during a recitation in
geography, a teacher was endeavoring to explain the subject of
electricity in the lesson on "Thunder and lightning." It had been stated
that when a flash of lightning darts to the earth it is said to
_strike_. A precocious lad of twelve summers (winters included), raised
his hand and upon recognition said: "Do _people_ have any electricity?"
Upon being informed that every one possessed the subtle force in a
greater or less degree, his dusky, good-natured face lighted up, and he
added, "Then is that the reason why some people always want to strike?"
* * * * *
BOOK NOTICE
_Pleas for Progress._ By ATTICUS G. HAYGOOD, D.D. Publishing House of
M.E. Church South, Nashville, Tenn. Price, $1.00.
Dr. Haygood is a Southern man who stands with his face toward sunrise
and not sunset. As a writer, he is interesting and vigorous. He
sometimes forgets to take off his "Titbottom spectacles" when he looks
southward, but he puts in tremendous blows against the wrong which he
sees. This volume before us contains papers and addresses delivered at
various times and places, both North and South. It is a very valuable
book for those who desire to learn what the really Christian people of
the South think on these great National problems that the American
Missionary Association is helping to solve.
The lecture on "The Education of the Negro," delivered at Monteagle,
Tenn., and published in this volume, is a sample. Dr. Haygood states
"four root objections" to negro education: 1--Ignorance; 2--Stinginess;
3--Prejudice; 4--Fear that education will "spoil the negro as a laborer"
and bring him into "social equality" with the whites. The author shows
the absurdity of all these objections.
The volume is full of statistics and will prove a valuable mine of
facts. The discussions are clear and generally convincing. We commend
the book highly.
* * * * *
THE SOUTH.
* * * * *
THE GEORGIA CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
_Rev. S.C. McDaniel and others, Committee of the United Congregational
Conference of Georgia._
DEAR BRETHREN.--Having been appointed by the Georgia Congregational
Association as a committee to confer with you in reference to a union of
the two bodies represented by you and us, we desire to express to you
our gratification at the receipt of your request for such a conference,
and our earnest desire that such a union should be consummated. With
this end in view, we would respectfully submit for your consideration
the following propositions:
1. We cordially invite the churches composing the United Congregational
Conference to become members of the Georgia Congregational Association.
Upon the acceptance of this invitation by the United Conference, we
agree to recommend to the Association the passage of a vote immediately
placing upon the roll of the Association the names of all the churches
of the United Conference.
2. In case the foregoing proposition should not be acceptable to you, we
propose that each of the bodies represented by us should pass a vote
disbanding its organization, with the understanding that all the
churches of both bodies should then come together and form a new
organization. Upon the agreement of your committee to recommend to the
United Conference the adoption of this proposition, we agree to make a
similar recommendation to the Association.
3. If neither of the foregoing propositions should be acceptable to you,
we propose that the United Conference place upon its roll the names of
all the churches and ministers of the Georgia Association. Upon the
agreement of your committee to recommend such action to the United
Conference, we agree to recommend to the Association the adoption of a
vote declaring its organization disbanded as soon as the churches
composing the same are received by the United Conference.
With reference to the foregoing propositions we would say further:
It is our conviction that any union between the organizations
represented by our respective committees should be as comprehensive and
thorough as possible, and that to this end the churches of the Georgia
Association should be enrolled as members of the District Conferences,
in fellowship with the United Conference within whose respective
boundaries the Association churches may be located. And the foregoing
propositions are made with the understanding that a vote shall be passed
by the United Conference recommending the District Conferences to
receive the Association churches as hereby suggested.
Of these three proposed methods of union, our own preference is for the
first. As the Georgia Congregational Association is the older body and
represents the historic Congregationalism of the State, going back not
only to the early years succeeding the Civil War, but even, in the
record of one of its churches, to the colonial period preceding the
Revolution, we feel that a respect for the traditional usages of our
polity would suggest the absorption of the newer churches by the
Association as being the older State organization. But as in our opinion
the result to be achieved is of more importance than the method by which
it shall be achieved, we would not insist upon the method of our choice.
If more acceptable to you, we should gladly form a union on the basis of
either the second or the third proposition already stated. Our chief
desire is for a complete and hearty union, in which, acknowledging the
fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, we may live and work
together in the love of Christ, the Elder Brother of us all. That our
Heavenly Father may graciously help us all in perfecting and maintaining
such a union, is our earnest prayer.
Your brethren in Christ,
GEO. V. CLARK, HORACE BUMSTEAD, GEO. C. ROWE, L.B. MAXWELL, EVARTS KENT,
FLOYD SNELSON, C.F. SARGENT.
* * * * *
EVANGELISTIC LABORS.
REV. JAMES WHARTON.
You last heard of my work, I believe, from Memphis, Tenn., where God
revealed his gracious power among the students of LeMoyne, and also at
the Congregational church. Altogether, some one hundred and thirty-four
professed a hope in Christ during my visit there. I then went to
Jackson, Miss., to hold services in the new church there; a pretty
little building, situated in a very central and prominent part of the
city. For eleven nights, I preached to not a very large, but to an
interesting congregation. Twelve professed conversion, their conversion
proving a source of great joy, not only to themselves, but to their
friends and acquaintances.
I also visited Tougaloo University and spoke to the students. Between
fifty and sixty at the close of the address arose for prayer. I feel
sure if I could have spent a few days with them, that most of them would
have decided for Christ, but they remain under the good and wise
instruction of the President, Rev. F.G. Woodworth. I hope to visit them
again.
I then went to New Orleans, to find the Central Congregational Church
recovering itself under the leading of the pastor, Rev. Geo. W.
Henderson. We believe that it will steadily grow, and be a great
influence for good in that large and wicked city. At Straight
University, I found the religious interest going on quietly and steadily
under the care of Professor Hitchcock and Rev. W.L. Tenney, some cases
of conversion taking place during the week of prayer.
I came to Montgomery three weeks ago, and a revival there has surpassed
any I have seen for the last thirteen years among the colored folks of
the South. In fact, many of the old-time people say they never saw such
a deep interest manifested in this city. The third night the church was
filled to overflowing, and hundreds were outside the door who could not
get in. The power of God came down upon the people in such a way that at
the close of the preaching the seekers fairly ran to the front benches,
taking them by storm. All around the front they sat or knelt. We placed
chairs in rows on the platform, and the crowd was so thick I could
scarcely get a place to stand. The pastor, Rev. R.C. Bedford, and the
Christians, worked hard among the unconverted, and now at the close of
the three weeks' services, more than two hundred are rejoicing in a new
found hope.
One case was that of a young man, the son of a Methodist preacher, both
deaf and dumb, who gave reasonable evidence of conversion as the love of
God filled his heart, and another was a young man who had been a wild
young fellow, who had at the time of his conversion a five barrel loaded
revolver in his pocket, and which I now have. One whole family is now
rejoicing that God has brought salvation to that house; father, mother,
son and four daughters are among the converts. Another father rejoices
over four of his sons and daughters converted. Husbands and wives have
started together on the road to Zion. On the streets and wherever you
go, the people are talking about, and rejoicing over, the conversion of
some of their friends or relations.
This finishes another winter's work among the dear colored people, which
has been one of the happiest and most successful I have known for many
years.
* * * * *
THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA.
The Connecticut Normal and Industrial School, Thomasville. Ga., closed
its winter term, for a few days' vacation, on March 26th, with
appropriate exercises. The _Thomasville Daily Times_ says, "The growth
and management of the school is very gratifying to our people, and
everyone wishes it continued success and prosperity." The _Thomasville
Enterprise_ speaks of "the results of the seven sweet-faced patient lady
teachers," and adds, "If yesterday's exhibition was a fair sample of
what the pupils can do, the American Missionary Association, and the
corps of teachers it has employed, have not labored in vain; that a
great deal of hard, honest work has been done, was fully exemplified."
Again we are reminded that _Thomasville_ is not _Quitman_, and also of
the fact that Southern people are generally quite generous in their
appreciation of the work and the methods of our Association.
* * * * *
MRS. LYDIA HERRICK BENNETT.
On Saturday, March 16, the great household at Fisk University was
suddenly saddened by the announcement of the death of Mrs. Bennett, who,
after an illness of four weeks, was called to her rest.
In 1867, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett gave up their work in a pleasant Northern
parish, and came to Fisk University, where they have labored together
for almost twenty-two years. During these years, Mrs. Bennett has been
not only an efficient helper to her husband and a wise and tender mother
to her children, but has contributed much to the work of the school. Her
strong mind and fine intellectual tastes especially fitted her for life
in an institution of learning. During the last few years, she gave much
time and labor to the preparation of a botanical collection for the
Scientific Department of the University.
Mrs. Bennett was also the warm personal friend of the young people.
Since her death, many tender expressions from present and former
students bear witness to appreciation of her quiet, earnest, Christian
character, as manifested both in her own life, and in her ministry to
others. Why such a life, apparently so indispensable to her husband and
children, and so helpful to a large body of young people, should be thus
suddenly terminated we cannot understand. We can only accept the
dispensation of Him "Who doeth all things well."
H.C.M.
* * * * *
STUDENT'S LETTER.
HOW I WAS EDUCATED, LED TO CHRIST AND INTO THE MINISTRY.
BY REV. SPENCER SNELL.
My first lessons from books I received in night school. At this time I
was employed as dining-room servant by a family in Mobile. I did my work
during the day, taking a little time here and there for study as best I
could, and went to school at night. I was first employed at $3.50 per
month. Fifty cents of this I took each month to pay tuition. The tuition
in this school was one dollar per month, but I was receiving such small
wages that a woman who was employed in the same yard, and who went to
the same school, persuaded the teacher to let me go for fifty cents. I
remained with this family about four years, and went to night school
much of the time. I suppose they considered my services more and more
valuable as I became more enlightened, for, during the four years, my
wages were increased from $3.50 to $10 per month. As my wages increased,
I had more tuition to pay also, for during my study in the night school
I had several teachers and paid some of them as much as two dollars per
month, and so anxious was I to acquire an education that I would have
paid five dollars had it been required, even at a time when it would
have taken all my wages to do so. While I was a student in one of these
night schools, I chanced one day to see a newspaper which a colored man
who knew me had thrown into the yard for me. In this paper I read an
article telling about Emerson Institute, a school of the American
Missionary Association, and the commencement exercises soon to occur
there. The school had been in Mobile for several years, but I had heard
nothing of it till now. As soon as I read of these exercises, I
determined to see them, for I had never heard of such exercises before.
When the time came, I went one night, accompanied by a few of my fellow
night-school students. We were well pleased with what we saw, and I said
to them that I meant to enter that school when it opened the next fall,
and that I meant to be an educated man if I could. I soon began to carry
out my purpose, for in a few weeks I left my employment in that family
and went back into the country, from whence I had gone to Mobile, and
took the examination and began teaching public school. By this means, I
earned money enough to go back to Mobile and become a pupil of Emerson
Institute, not in the fall of 1873, as I had hoped to do, but in the
spring of 1874. I shall ever feel grateful to the man who threw over the
fence for me the article from which I learned about that good school,
for I am sure I am quite a different man to-day from what I would have
been but for reading that article. Precious to me is the memory of those
days during which I took tuition in the night-school, where the key was
put into my hand and the door of knowledge was opened to me.
Next to God I am grateful to the American Missionary Association for
having received training in a Christian school, where I was led to
Christ and felt called to the Christian ministry. When I lived on the
plantation, before I went to Mobile and received instruction in the
Christian school, I had heard the uneducated colored ministers preach
and they had endeavored to lead me to Christ, but I could not accept
Christ in the way they had presented Him to me. I remember well how they
told us that in order to find Christ we must fast and pray for a number
of days. I remember, too, the unsuccessful attempt which I made to give
myself to Jesus in this way. I was a farm boy and was plowing hard every
day, and it was hard work for a boy of my age to follow the mule all day
in the tough grass, and I always felt like eating when meal time came,
but still I tried to become a Christian by doing as the minister said I
must, and so for a few days I ate no breakfast, no dinner, and no
supper, though I worked on. They told us, also, that we must not go to
bed at night, for if we did the wicked one would make us sleep all night
and we would fail to pray through the night, and they said we must pray
all night. For several nights I did not go to bed at all, but would lie
down upon the doorstep that I might get up often through the night and
go down the hill to pray, for we were instructed to "go down in the
valley." Of course after a few days I became tired, sleepy and
discouraged, and gave up. I did not make another attempt till I became a
student in Emerson Institute. One of the lady teachers in that school
became interested in my soul's salvation. She read the Bible to me,
talked to me, and prayed for me, and made the way of life and salvation
seem so plain and simple that it was not long before I accepted the Lord
Jesus as my Saviour.