Book: The American Missionary Volume 49, No. 5, May 1895
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Various >> The American Missionary Volume 49, No. 5, May 1895
by Various
Edition 1, (November 23, 2006)
CONTENTS
Editorial
FINANCES.
LET IT BE REMEMBERED:
CHURCH WORK IN THE SOUTH.
FRIGHT AT A CAMERA.
Revival Services in the Mountains.
A Passage at Arms.
A SUBSCRIPTION LIST.
The South.
IN NORTH CAROLINA.
A SUNDAY AT TALLADEGA, ALA.
STORRS SCHOOL, ATLANTA, GA.
ANDERSONVILLE, GA.
The Indians.
ITEMS FROM INDIAN MISSIONS.
MRS. ADELAIDE RIDEOUT RIGGS.
AN INDIAN HELPING NEEDY WHITES.
The Chinese.
STREET PREACHING IN CHINATOWN.
Bureau of Woman's Work.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR IN THE BLACK BELT.
WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS.
RECEIPTS FOR MARCH, 1895.
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 mail matter.
AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
PRESIDENT, MERRILL E. GATES, LL.D., MASS.
_Vice-presidents._
REV. F. A. NOBLE, D.D., Ill.
REV. HENRY HOPKINS, D.D., Mo.
REV. ALEX. MCKENZIE, D.D., Mass.
REV. HENRY A. STIMSON, D.D., N. Y.
REV. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, D.D., Ohio.
_Corresponding Secretaries._
REV. M. E. STRIEBY, D.D., _Bible House, N. Y._ REV. A. F. BEARD, D.D.,
_Bible House, N. Y._, REV. F. P. WOODBURY, D.D., _Bible House, N. Y._
_Assistant Corresponding Secretary._
REV. C. J. RYDER, 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 MCCARTER.
JAMES MITCHELL.
_Executive Committee._
CHARLES L. MEAD, Chairman.
CHARLES A. HULL, Secretary.
_For Three Years._
WILLIAM HAYES WARD,
JAMES W. COOPER,
LUCIEN C. WARNER,
JOSEPH H. TWICHELL,
CHARLES P. PIERCE.
_For Two Years._
CHARLES A. HULL,
ADDISON P. FOSTER,
ALBERT J. LYMAN,
NEHEMIAH BOYNTON,
A. J. F. BEHRENDS.
_For One Year._
SAMUEL HOLMES
SAMUEL S. MARPLES,
CHARLES L. MEAD,
WILLIAM H. STRONG,
ELIJAH HORR.
_District Secretaries._
REV. GEO. H. GUTTERSON, _21 Cong'l House, Boston, Mass._
REV. JOS. E. ROY, D.D., _153 La Salle Street, Chicago, Ill._
REV. W.E.C. WRIGHT, D.D., _Cong'l Rooms, Y.M.C.A Building, Cleveland,
Ohio._
_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; letters relating to woman's work, to the Secretary of the
Woman's Bureau.
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., or 153 La Salle Street, Chicago, Ill. A payment of thirty
dollars 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 give and bequeath the sum of ---- dollars to the 'American Missionary
Association,' incorporated by act of the Legislature of the State of New
York." The will should be attested by three witnesses.
THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY
VOL. XLIX.
JUNE, 1895.
No. 5.
FINANCES.
The outlook is not bright. The receipts for March from both donations and
estates have fallen off so that in spite of retrenchments the total
indebtedness is somewhat increased. We have now reached the close of the
first six months of the fiscal year, and, with a decrease of $11,246.73 in
all items of expenditure, the debt is $79,696.61. In the last (April)
number of THE MISSIONARY it was shown that there had been during the
previous three months a small but actual reduction of the debt. The
present showing brings the figures back to what they were substantially in
January last.
We hope this falling off is but temporary. We know the pressure of the
times and the difficulty of obtaining money. We are fully aware, too, that
many of our friends make their contributions with self-denial, but,
standing as we do, with the responsibility for the great work entrusted to
this Association, and knowing how vital it is to the welfare and uplifting
of the impoverished and ignorant races of our land, we feel constrained to
press the call still farther upon both rich and poor for the means to
continue the assistance to these needy peoples.
LET IT BE REMEMBERED:
1. That the American Missionary Association was the first to enter the
work of educating and uplifting the Freedmen of the South, and the first
to introduce industrial training into the schools.
2. That it has done the largest work in that field, having spent more
money and educated more pupils than any other society.
3. That it has extended its work among the mountaineers of the South, the
Indians of the West, the Chinese on the Pacific Coast and the Eskimos in
Alaska--its field extending thus from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and
from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Circle.
4. That it has been chosen by National Councils, State Associations, and
local organizations to do the work in these fields and among these peoples
for the Congregational churches of the United States.
5. That its expanding and important work is restricted by the want of
adequate funds, and that while Congregationalists--churches and
individuals--have the undoubted right to exercise their own choice in
aiding institutions in these particular fields, outside of the work of the
Association, yet they ought to bear in mind their responsibility to
sustain the Association in the work which they assign to it.
CHURCH WORK IN THE SOUTH.
We invite the attention of our readers to the illustrated article "In
North Carolina." This sketch covers but a limited portion of our great
work, but it shows the relations it bears to its surroundings in the
public life of the South. Our churches in this district are prosperous,
and we are gratified to say that the promise of church extension over our
wider districts is very encouraging. Eight new churches will be added to
our list immediately among the colored people, and others still are
expected soon to be added. In the mountain work, also, five new churches
will be added to our enrollment.
The next number of THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY will contain an extended
article, with illustrations, on our mountain work, hence nothing appears
in this number regarding this field.
FRIGHT AT A CAMERA.
Our readers will find in the account given on another page, of street
preaching in Chinatown, the statement that a large crowd was gathered in
the street, but when the picture is examined the crowd seems very small.
Loo Quong gives this account of the matter: "A big crowd was gathered to
us soon after we sang some hymns, but as soon as the photographer on sight
they all ran away. Chinese do not want their pictures to be taken on the
street. They all ran to the other side of the street and I told the man to
take them there, but they all ran away, too. Still some of them are
taken."
REVIVAL SERVICES IN THE MOUNTAINS.--Revival movements have been very
general in our mountain churches and missions this year and many hundreds
have been hopefully converted.
"Seven persons made application for membership in our church last Sabbath.
They are all converted people. If they are received it will make a
membership of thirty-three, including Mrs. Doane and myself. I have been
holding revival services at a school-house where they have slabs for
benches without backs to them. Part of a log was taken out to make a
window. People come seven and eight miles to the services. They seem
anxious to hear the Gospel preached. They do not seem to care for mud or
rain. I hope this will find the American Missionary Association getting
out of debt. My people are ready and anxious to contribute to the support
of the church. They have sold eggs and saved money, and it is often slow
work."
A PASSAGE AT ARMS.--White children whose parents are laboring in colored
schools are sometimes taunted by the unkind remarks of ill-mannered youth
with whom they come in contact. For example, the little daughter of one of
our teachers was told, "Your papa teaches niggers." The reply came quick
as a flash: "Well, your papa sells them whiskey, and that is worse."
Another threatened to beat her at recess. She promptly said: "You can't do
it. My grandpa beat yours in the war."
A SUBSCRIPTION LIST.
BY A GEORGIA TEACHER.
I inclose something I thought might interest you. The idea of circulating
the paper originated with the girls and the money was nearly all raised
without our knowledge. We added enough to buy a serviceable pair of shoes.
The poor girl to whom they were given was almost barefooted and stayed at
home Saturday afternoon when the others went for their walk. The
thoughtfulness and generosity of the girls touched us, for what they gave
was to most of them a real sacrifice.
THE APPEAL OF THE GIRLS.
"While sitting in church to-day my heart was made to feel sad as I sat by
one of the girls. I noticed that she was almost barefooted and has been
for quite a while. Miss C. and I, feeling ourselves unable to purchase a
pair of shoes, concluded we would ask all who will help us to please
assist us, not for our sake, but for the Lord's sake.
"Miss E. H., 5 cts., pd.; Miss C. D., 15 cts., pd.; Miss C. M., 1 ct.,
pd.; Miss A. G., 5 cts., pd.; Miss M. G., 10 cts.; Miss H. G., 5 cts.,
pd.; Miss R. W., 5 cts., pd.; Miss M. D. G., 5 cts., pd.; Miss L. B., 5
cts., pd.; Miss A. S., 5 cts., pd.; Miss L. B., 5 cts., pd.; Miss S. L.; 5
cts., pd.; Miss G., 15 cts."
THE SOUTH.
IN NORTH CAROLINA.
BY SECRETARY WOODBURY.
The Carolinas comprise a territory of eighty-two thousand square miles, a
little more than the combined territory of New York and all New England,
excepting Maine. North Carolina has a population of about a million white
and half a million colored people; while of the million inhabitants of
South Carolina a large majority are colored. In the two States there are a
million and a quarter of colored people.
[Illustration: MOUNTAIN VIEW, BLOWING ROCK, N. C.]
MOUNTAIN VIEW, BLOWING ROCK, N. C.
The length of North Carolina, east and west, is considerably greater than
the distance between Boston and Washington. The western part of the State
is mountainous. From its heights the state slopes into the vast Piedmont
Plateau, a sub-mountain terrace, and thence into the low country or the
Atlantic plain. In western North Carolina the Appalachian Mountains reach
the greatest height in the United States eastward of the Rocky Mountains.
The eye of an observer from the heights near Blowing Rock descries in one
view mountain summits in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina.
The people of western North Carolina are white by a vast majority, while
in the eastern part of the State the black population predominates. In
twenty-five of the western counties 88 per cent. of the people are white.
In the same number of the farthest eastern counties there is a majority of
ten thousand black people. In accordance with this fundamental fact, the
work of the American Missionary Association in the western part of the
State is chiefly among the white, and in the eastern part of the State,
among the black people.
In both Carolinas the vast majority of the population is rural. According
to the last census there was only one city in each State with more than
twenty thousand people, and only six places with more than ten thousand.
In Wilmington, the largest city of North Carolina, the American Missionary
Association began work as the war was closing. Of the twenty-four thousand
people in the county, fourteen thousand are black. Fourteen years ago Mr.
J. J. H. Gregory, of Massachusetts, became much interested in this field
and erected a fine brick church and commodious school buildings. The
combined church and school work have gone on with continued efficiency and
prosperity. There is a strong desire on the part of the people for the
development of an industrial department in the school. The elevating
influence of the church is felt not only in Wilmington, but throughout the
surrounding communities. A great many of the school students have become
teachers in the city schools and in different parts of the State.
[Illustration: CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WILMINGTON, N. C.]
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WILMINGTON, N. C.
While Wilmington and Beaufort are both sea-side places, the former is
chiefly a commercial town while the latter is devoted to the fishing and
oyster industries. The island is swept by refreshing sea breezes, and a
great many of its inhabitants are boatmen and fishermen. The Beaufort
fisheries extend over a large area in which immense schools of fish are
found. In deep sea fishing the nets are dropped to a depth of one hundred
feet and drawn up often filled to bursting. Not infrequently whales are
captured off the coast.
Not long ago both the church and school buildings in Beaufort were swept
away by fire, but they have recently been restored, as seen in the
illustration. The church is making good progress under its young colored
pastor. The school is crowded. Industrial work is being carried on to a
limited extent, and it is hoped that in the coming year an industrial
building can be erected. Nothing can contribute more to the progress and
welfare of the young people than a well-equipped industrial department
where knowledge of trades can be imparted.
[Illustration: THE WILMINGTON A. M. A. SCHOOL.]
THE WILMINGTON A. M. A. SCHOOL.
With their immense preponderance of a country population, naturally the
largest part of the Association's mission work in the Carolinas is in the
country. In the North Carolina Congregational Association most of the
churches are country churches. The Association meetings are well attended.
The accompanying illustration is from a photograph taken at one of the
recent meetings in McLeansville, where there are two churches not far
apart. Besides these in this part of the State, there are country churches
at High Point, Salem, Strieby, Melville, Oaks, Pekin, Dry Creek, Carter's
Mills, Dudley, Malee, Nalls, Troy, Snow Hill, and other points. The annual
meetings of the Association are most interesting occasions. Pastors and
people of these little churches gather from near and far for fellowship,
mutual comfort, and inspiration. With some of these churches schools are
associated, which afford to the young the opportunities of a Christian
education, and contribute from their elder pupils many students for our
higher institutions of learning. With the multiplication and development
of these churches these higher schools will have a steady constituency of
great importance.
[Illustration: SCENE IN BEAUFORT, N. C.]
SCENE IN BEAUFORT, N. C.
[Illustration: NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES.]
NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES.
Thus the Association, so far from confining its work to the cities, is
doing a very large share of its work in the country and among country
people. Some of this work has been long-continued and has achieved a
widespread and beneficial influence in the neighboring communities. The
self-denying devotion of many years is reaching a most blessed fruitage,
and those who have given the strength and vigor of a lifetime to the poor
and despised now find their closing years brightened with the sight of
what has been wrought by their long labors for the advancement of the
Kingdom of Christ. The picture of the Oaks congregation at their church
door is an illustration. There, among the plantations, are two sisters who
have given their lives, until the shadows of age have fallen upon them, to
missionary work in behalf of the poor colored people. One of them is
growing blind and the other has already become so. While the former feels
constrained by her failing sight soon to give up her school work, her more
aged sister has an intense desire to continue, while life lasts, her
labors in behalf of those whom she has come to love, while bringing
blessings to them. Well versed in the Scriptures, she continues to gather
classes of young men and plantation teachers and teach them from the Bible
to prepare them to instruct better those still more ignorant than they.
Although urged by her friends to give up this ministration, she cannot
bring herself to any other course than that of doing all she can until
"the night cometh when no man can work." It is at once a pathetic, an
inspiring and a joyful picture to see this aged blind woman, surrounded by
her students, opening to them the Scriptures and instructing them in the
religion of their common Master.
In contrast with the quiet home and school work carried on by these two
women and yet to the same end are the labors of such a country pastor as
Mr. Collins. For a number of years, while carrying on regular church work
at Troy, he has also had charge of several other churches riding scores of
miles every week, fording the streams and facing the storms in all kinds
of weather. At Dry Creek and Nalls, Pekin, Carter's Mills and Malee, he
has preached regularly or occasionally and has watched with incessant care
and labor the development of missions throughout a wide tract of country.
The influence of these churches has pervaded many communities. Calls have
come to him to develop new church work simply because the poor people of
other churches have seen and felt the higher standards of piety and purer
lives among many in the Congregational churches and have desired that they
too might have the advantage of such ministers.
[Illustration: CHURCH AND SCHOOL, BEAUFORT, N. C.]
CHURCH AND SCHOOL, BEAUFORT, N. C.
Indeed, this long care of our churches and schools is awakening many new
movements among the colored people of the South. Our churches are
generally small and poor, but they have stood steadfastly for human
rights, for Christian equality and freedom of church membership, and for
moral and religious education. While their work has been slow, their
influence has been deep and pervasive, as has been that of our schools,
small and great.
[Illustration: NORTH CAROLINA STATE ASSOCIATION, McLEANSVILLE.]
NORTH CAROLINA STATE ASSOCIATION, McLEANSVILLE.
[Illustration: AT THE CHURCH DOOR, OAKS, N. C.]
AT THE CHURCH DOOR, OAKS, N. C.
It is an interesting and important fact that the great work of Christian
education in behalf of the colored people which has been carried on by the
Association is now producing results in a new direction. Our former
students and pupils, grown into manhood and womanhood, find the church
life of their communities greatly inferior to that in which they were
trained in our schools. They are reaching after something more pure,
free and spiritual. The leaven of their intelligence and higher standard
of morality is taking hold of many families about them. From many centers
the call reaches us for the organization of Congregational churches,
churches which shall stand for morality, equal membership rights and a
more rational type of piety. At the same time there is an uprising in
various churches against the centralized forms of church government, which
they feel to be oppressive. They refuse longer to be bound to systems
which, as they believe, invade individual Christian rights. From these and
other causes appeals are coming to us from different quarters for the
recognition of churches which have become independent. A number of these
churches have already been received by council into Congregational
associations, and the indications are that this number will be largely
increased during the year to come.
[Illustration: THE SPRINGS CABIN AT LOWELL.]
THE SPRINGS CABIN AT LOWELL.
[Illustration: THE LOWELL CHURCH RUINS.]
THE LOWELL CHURCH RUINS.
Of these popular movements toward the Congregational way, that at Lowell
is a typical illustration. Some of the colored people near this little
hamlet desired to build for themselves a church. With infinite pains and
self-denial and labor they gathered the material for a small, wooden
building and put up the frame with their own hands. Being refused the
official encouragement they felt they had a right to expect from their own
denomination, they began to consider the whole question of church
relations and polity, and made up their minds to become a free church.
They held their services in the cabin depicted in the accompanying
illustration, and sought to push forward the completion of their little
and rude church building. A furious storm blew the frame down. With sore
hearts they piled up the lumber neatly around the foundation frame and
felt that they must give up their cherished hope of having a church
edifice. Having learned of the Congregational way, which superimposes no
centralized church government over the people and seeks to aid the poor
rather than to oppress them, they organized themselves into a
Congregational church, and were recognized in our fellowship by a council.
Afterward they were visited by a representative of the Association, whose
form is seen in the foreground of the picture of their ruined church. A
cheering conference was held with them. In this conversation a single fact
came out which shows something of the labor and self-denial in the
movement. It was found that the young minister of this, and a similar body
of colored people several miles away, although he was afflicted with an
ulcerated ankle, which might well have laid him up in his house, had
repeatedly walked seventeen miles over the heavy roads in order to keep
faithfully his preaching appointments. The people were willing to do their
very utmost. It is hoped, with the aid of our Church Building Society,
that they will now be able to put up their little church building and
prosper in their Christian endeavor of having a free Congregational church
for their religious home.
[Illustration: REV. A. W. CURTIS, D.D.]
REV. A. W. CURTIS, D.D.
In Raleigh, the State capital, the colored people form a little over half
of the population. Our church work here for a number of years has been in
the charge of Rev. A. W. Curtis, D.D., who is most highly esteemed
everywhere. The convenient, comfortable, and tasteful church building was
erected in 1891. It has a seating capacity of 250. In the political
transformations of the State the race question keeps its prominence. It
was a significant fact that the Legislature voted a few weeks ago to
adjourn in respect to the memory of Fred. Douglass. About the same time
the legislature also voted that the national standard should be raised on
the State house; and, for the first time since the reconstruction days,
our country's flag streamed above the old granite capitol of North
Carolina.
[Illustration: STATE CAPITOL AT RALEIGH.]
STATE CAPITOL AT RALEIGH.
A SUNDAY AT TALLADEGA, ALA.
BY PRESIDENT DEFOREST.
Our different religious services begin early in the day. At 7.30, soon
after breakfast and prayers in the dining hall, the Young Men's Christian
Association holds its meeting for an hour. The Sunday-school, with a large
attendance and many classes occupying different school rooms, convenes at
9.15, with the regular church service following at 10.30. We are never
through with this without feeling keenly the need of a larger, better and
better ventilated house of worship. A new chapel is longed for each
Sabbath, often through the week, and especially at commencement season
when our varied anniversary exercises are all crowded into one small
inadequate and inappropriate room.
Soon after dinner more than a score of students, mainly young men, with a
few of our teachers, go out to seven different mission Sunday-schools, two
of which are in our own tasteful chapels, others in country churches, and
one in a private house, where they meet about 300 different pupils of all
sorts, garbs and ages, but for the most part attentive listeners eager for
instruction, as well as for the papers which Northern benevolence, through
sundry boxes and barrels, enable us to supply. This mission Sunday-school
work began with the first year of the College Church and has accomplished
a large and growing good. Through these schools the college multiplies
itself, carrying the Gospel, with opposition to tobacco and intoxicants,
into needy places. These mission schools are a cordon of outposts
surrounding the citadel. The most remote is five and a half miles away,
and incidentally a good share of pluck is developed by those who, through
cold or heat, mud or dust, regularly make their Sabbath day rounds.