Book: The American Missionary, Vol. 43, No. 8, August, 1889
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Various >> The American Missionary, Vol. 43, No. 8, August, 1889
THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY.
AUGUST, 1889.
VOL. XLIII. NO. 8.
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL.
ANNUAL MEETING
FIGURES STILL IMPROVING
PARAGRAPH
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS
CIVIL RIGHTS IN COURT
TIMHAKA TA IVANGELI
THE SOUTH.
WHAT I FOUND IN THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS, ILLUSTRATED WITH CUTS
OF MOUNTAIN CABINS, A NATIVE MOUNTAIN CHURCH AND THE ACADEMY
AT WILLIAMSBURG, KY.
ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES:
FISK UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE, TENN.
TALLADEGA COLLEGE, TALLADEGA, ALA.
STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
LE MOYNE NORMAL SCHOOL, MEMPHIS, TENN.
AVERY INSTITUTE, CHARLESTON, S.C.
NEW CHURCH AND SCHOOL AT ALCO, ALA.
CHILDREN'S DAY AT CHATTANOOGA, TENN.
THE INDIANS.
LETTER FROM MISS COLLINS
THE RAMONA INDIAN SCHOOL
THE CHINESE.
OROVILLE, MARYSVILLE, PETALUMA
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS
THE LOCAL SOCIETY--ITS MEMBERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
RECEIPTS
* * * * *
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
Rooms, 56 Reade Street.
* * * * *
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., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
Rev. A.F. BEARD, D.D., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
_Recording Secretary._
Rev. M.E. STRIEBY, D.D., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
_Treasurer._
H.W. HUBBARD, Esq., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
_Auditors._
PETER McCARTEE.
CHAS. P. PEIRCE.
_Executive Committee._
JOHN H. WASHBURN, Chairman.
ADDISON P. FOSTER, Secretary.
_For Three Years._
J.E. RANKIN,
WM. H. WARD,
J.W. COOPER,
JOHN H. WASHBURN,
EDMUND L. CHAMPLIN.
_For Two Years._
LYMAN ABBOTT,
CHAS. A. HULL,
CLINTON E. FISK,
ADDISON P. FOSTER,
ALBERT J. LYMAN.
_For One Year._
S.B. HALLIDAY,
SAMUEL HOLMES,
SAMUEL S. MARPLES,
CHARLES L. MEAD,
ELBERT B. MONROE.
_District Secretaries._
Rev. C.J. RYDER, _21 Cong'l House, Boston._
Rev. J.E. ROY, D.D., _151 Washington Sheet, Chicago._
Rev. C.W. HIATT, _64 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio._
_Financial Secretary for Indian Missions._
Rev. CHAS. W. SHELTON.
_Field Superintendents._
Rev. FRANK E. JENKINS.
Prof. EDWARD S. HALL.
_Secretary of Woman's Bureau._
Miss D.E. EMERSON, _56 Reade St., 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, 56 Reade Street, New York, or, when
more convenient, to either of the Branch Offices, 21 Congregational
House, Boston, Mass., or 151 Washington Street, Chicago, Ill. 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. XLIII. AUGUST, 1889. No. 8.
American Missionary Association.
* * * * *
The next Annual Meeting of the American Missionary Association will be
held in Chicago, Ill., at the New England Church, commencing at three
o'clock Tuesday afternoon, October 29th. Rev. R.R. Meredith, D.D., of
Brooklyn, N.Y., will preach the sermon. Details regarding the reception
of delegates and their entertainment, together with rates at hotels, and
railroad and steamboat reductions, will appear later in the religious
press and in the next number of the MISSIONARY.
* * * * *
THE FIGURES STILL IMPROVING.
Our receipts for nine months to June 30th are: From donations,
$147,213.31; from estates, $50,121.54; from income, $8,117.96; from
tuition, $30,239.62; from United States Government for Indians,
$15,219.37; total, $250,911.80. Our expenditures for nine months to June
30th are, $265,526.59. Debtor balance, $14,614.76.
The improvement is seen in the following figures: Debtor balance at the
close of April, $28,318.14; at the close of May, $25,795.07; June, as
above, $14,614.76. This improvement is due, in large part to legacies,
and yet there has been marked improvement in the donations as compared
with last year. We trust our friends will be encouraged to still further
increase their contributions, and enable us to rejoice in a triumphant
balance sheet.
* * * * *
OUR PRACTICAL, THOUGHTFUL FRIEND.
Nearly a year ago, we had the satisfaction of referring to a friend who
contributed regularly to all the Congregational Societies, and yet
reserved one hundred dollars for the society standing in need of special
help. We are glad to say that was not a transient purpose, for the
friend has appeared again this year and has doubled his special
contribution. We trust that he stands not alone in this thoughtful and
practical watchfulness over the missionary societies.
* * * * *
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.
"Enclosed find my draft for ---- for the good work doing among the
Freedmen. For nothing do I give money more cheerfully than for the
advancement of that race."
"The earnest plea of Mr. Pond for help in his California Chinese work
was brought to the notice of our Chinese teachers yesterday. We would
hereby pledge you fifty dollars. His work must not stop. Would that we
could do more towards its support. Would, too, that we could have one of
his earnest Christian Chinese workers in our own city."
"I have just been reading the June number of the MISSIONARY, and do what
I can at this time toward paying the debt. I am specially impressed by
the extract from Mr. Pond's letter, and shall be pleased if you see fit
to assign the enclosed to his work. However, please to use it at your
discretion in any way."
"I have been able to do so little for your society of late that it has
been a grief to me, but as I am in receipt of a little money I send you
---- as a thank offering. May it do a little for the cause my husband
and myself have had so much at heart. With best wishes and prayers for
your _abundant_ success."
* * * * *
Rev. C.J. Ryder writes:
After the work of the Association had been presented in a comparatively
small church near Boston, the pastor arose, and with earnestness and
deep feeling said, "What are _we_ going to do about it? Shall we let
this great work be delayed because of our inaction? Let us now take a
collection of one hundred dollars!" This seemed an impossible thing to
do to the visiting Secretary. They brought back in the bags one hundred
and ten dollars, the extra collection of this comparatively small
church!
It makes a heap of difference whether the pastor follows the Secretary's
address with such cordial and enthusiastic endorsement or not. I am glad
to testify that there is a good deal of this cordial co-operation on the
part of pastors in New England.
* * * * *
CIVIL RIGHTS IN COURT.
During the National Council at Chicago, three years ago, Rev. S.P.
Smith, a delegate from Knoxville, Tenn., applying for a dinner at a
restaurant, was refused service. He prosecuted the proprietor. A jury in
Chicago has just given him a verdict of $125 damages. The defence asked
for a new trial on the ground that the judge had prejudiced the jury by
his instructions; the judge denied the motion, stating that if he had
been on the jury he would have made the fine $500. The defence is
seeking a compromise, with the threatened alternative of an appeal. Mr.
Smith, standing for the principle, will abide the final act of the
court.
* * * * *
TIMHAKA TA IVANGELI.
We are very proud of this book as being the first literary production in
an African language of one of our graduates at the South, the Rev. B.F.
Ousley, now of the East Central Africa Mission. The missionaries there
have already reduced the language to writing, having formed a vocabulary
of over three thousand words, and from it have printed a few books.
Among them, is the one whose title appears above. It is a translation of
"The Story of the Gospel," in a little volume of two hundred and six
pages. We have read it with great interest so far as we have been able
to understand its dialect. Within our comprehension we find Jesu, the
one word in all languages for all people, Simone Petro, Johane, Marta,
Maria, and Lazaru and many other such proper names. We congratulate our
young people at the South that so soon they have a representative
performing such literary work for the people of Africa. Much of such
work seems drudgery, but it is necessary to opening the light of life to
the people who sit in darkness. A booklet in the same language gives a
catechism and some of the songs of the gospel, ten of which are
translations by Mr. Ousley of some of the dearest of the gospel songs.
* * * * *
THE SOUTH.
* * * * *
WHAT I FOUND IN THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS.
BY REV. C.W. SHELTON.
First. There are living in this mountain country two millions of white
people, until recently isolated from, and untouched by, the civilization
of which we are so proud. No centennial anniversary commemorates their
growth in wealth and intellect. As their fathers lived, so until
recently, have they. One hundred years have witnessed but little
progress, almost no change, in their condition. The open fire-place, the
spinning-wheel and the home-spun jeans are familiar sights. Forgotten by
the rest of the world, they, in turn, forget that beyond these mountain
peaks, marking the limit of view and generally the limit of interest, a
nation has pressed forward to take its place among the foremost of the
earth. And yet no color line has excluded, no reservation boundary
separated, this people from their fellow countrymen. Their lack of
energy and the stagnation of their minds, is the explanation of this
condition of things.
Secondly. I found this mountain people naturally American; in deepest
sympathy with our free government; loyal to the old flag in the hour of
its greatest danger; fighting, suffering, dying, that the Union might be
preserved. To one who has spent any length of time on our western
prairies settled so largely with an emigrant people, the great
difference between the American born and educated people of the
mountains, and the naturalized American of the prairie, constantly
emphasizes itself. Here no new language has to be acquired, no new form
of government understood. A common interest, a common sympathy, a mother
country, binds one at once to this people as it never can to the
American importation which is found at the West.
Thirdly. I found homes and a home life, or rather the want of it, which
one would hardly believe possible among a white population in this
country.
The following illustrations are correct representations of what I
found to be average mountain cabins. Seldom do they contain more than
two, often only one, room. A single window, an open fire-place, and a
few home-made articles of furniture, comprise the whole. The home is
begun when its founders are yet children. Ignorant and poor, the boy
has "took up" with the girl, and it may be they are legally married. A
building-bee is announced, a little cabin erected, a few pigs bought
or given, a few trees girdled, some corn planted, in so crude and
shiftless a way that even an Indian, in his first attempts at farming,
would be ashamed to own it, and home life is begun. Into this home of
poverty and ignorance come the children. The families are
large--eight, ten, twelve, and sometimes more. The mother is too
ignorant herself to instruct, and had she the ability, neither time
nor strength to accomplish it are at her command. Life to her is a
struggle. At twenty she looks thirty-five, at thirty-five she is old.
Always she has a tired, hopeless expression, which simply to look at
almost starts the tears. The children have something of the same
expression; the babies even seem to realize that it is a sober, sad
world they have come into. I do not remember seeing a laughing, cooing
baby in all the cabins I visited.
[Illustration: MOUNTAIN CABIN.]
[Illustration: MOUNTAIN CABIN.]
Educationally, I found this people far below the emigrant on the
prairie. Seventy per cent. of the whole two millions cannot read or
write. The schools are the poorest. The school houses are built of logs;
a hole is cut for the window; the ground serves for a floor, slabs for
seats, and the teacher is strictly in keeping with all. Bare-footed,
hair unkempt, snuff stick in her mouth, scarcely able to read herself,
she is the example--the ideal toward which her pupils are to strive.
Religiously, I found that these people, almost without exception, were
"professors," and "had jined" not a Christian church, but some one of
these native mountain pastors. The accompanying illustration gives a
good idea of the mountain church; it is built of logs, and is without
windows; the pulpit is an unpainted board; the seats slabs from the
nearest saw mill, turned flat side up, with pegs driven in for legs.
The ministry is in strict keeping with the church, and intellectually
little in advance of the people. They take pride in the fact that
"These yer home-spun jeans have never brushed no dust from off no
college walls," and exultantly declare that "The Lord taught me how to
preach: and when the Lord teaches a man how to preach, you may just
reckon he don't make no mistakes."
[Illustration: A NATIVE MOUNTAIN CHURCH.]
On every hand, I found indications that the day of isolation for this
people is rapidly passing away. Yankee inquisitiveness has discovered
that these mountains are full of the best coal and iron--Northern
capital has already begun to strip them of their rich forests of black
walnut, oak and pine. The rivers are carrying these logs by the
thousands to the immense mills, which in turn are making the large
towns, toward which already the railroad is hastening.
Engineering skill is bridging streams, crossing valleys, climbing
mountains or piercing them through. On every hand we see the change.
From their long sleep of a century, these valleys, these homes, this
whole people are awakening. A new life is beginning, a new future,
opening.
And as a result of all this, I found a field of missionary work, which
for opportunity and need has perhaps no equal in our country. Amidst all
this change, a people, startled from their long separation, find
themselves suddenly called to face, to compete with, to become a part
of, our life, our intellectual advancement; to move with our energy, and
work with our skill. Realizing their weakness, suddenly roused by their
necessity, they are sending across their valleys and over their
mountains the Macedonian cry, "Come over and help us!" Our duty to this
people, whether we look at it from the standpoint of the Christian or
the citizen, is beyond the measure of words.
Here, as everywhere in the South, I found that the American Missionary
Association, as representative of our Northern Christian sympathy, was
at work. Its normal schools, fitting teachers to go out and displace the
bare-footed, ignorant, snuff-stick-chewing school mistresses; its
churches, fitting mothers and fathers to enter upon their duties
conscious of their responsibility; and its missionaries, bringing
in an intelligent Christian life, and driving the curse of the
country--intemperance--out of the home, community and the county, are
thus meeting the need, and answering the cry, and fulfilling the
obligations. Below is a cut of one of the buildings of the Academy
at Williamsburg, Ky., recently erected among these people.
[Illustration: WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY, KY.]
I found one worker where the field called for a dozen; one school where
we should have twenty; one church where we should have a hundred; one
scholar received into an over-crowded school house, when its doors
should open to scores. I found one missionary with nine organized
churches on his hands, and he the only pastor; the extremes of his
parish being seventy-five miles apart.
And lastly, on returning to New York, I found an empty, a worse than
empty, a debt-burdened treasury, forbidding all advancement in this
field.
* * * * *
_Anniversary Exercises._
* * * * *
FISK UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE, TENN.
BY DISTRICT SECRETARY C.J. RYDER.
Fisk University fills a large place in the educational institutions of
the South, and commencement week occupies an important place in the
college year at Fisk.
When the inhuman caste prejudice passes away, the Congregationalists of
the North will discover the encouraging fact that the American
Missionary Association has planted Congregationalism in the South to
stay. Fisk University and other such institutions, filled as they will
be by young men of every class and color, will be strongholds of our New
Testament faith and polity. Such a Commencement as was observed at Fisk
this year does much to bring about that blessed day. This Commencement
week, beginning Thursday, June sixth, and closing the evening of June
twelfth, was crowded with literary and musical exercises of high order.
President E.M. Cravath, D.D., delivered the baccalaureate sermon, taking
for his subject, "Building on the Rock." It was a sermon of great power.
Rev. Dr. Gray, a Southern Episcopal clergyman, preached the missionary
sermon. On Thursday evening, came "The Senior Preparatory Exhibition."
On June seventh, tenth and eleventh, the various class examinations were
held, and in the evening of Friday the seventh, the anniversary
exercises of the Literary Societies were given. There are three healthy
and vigorous societies at Fisk, and it was difficult to tell which of
the three gave the best evidence of the superior quality of its drill,
in the exercises presented.
The Normal Department graduated a class of four, each presenting an
essay. Rev. C.W. Hiatt, of Cleveland, Ohio, delivered the address at the
close of the exercises of the normal department, taking for his subject
"Earnest Living," and the address was spoken of with high appreciation
by those who heard it.
The graduating exercises of the Collegiate Department were of unusual
interest. There was not a poor oration or essay presented. The breadth
of training given to the students at Fisk was especially noticeable in
the wide range of subjects selected.
The anniversary of the Alumni Association gave evidence that the
graduates of Fisk are true to the instruction of that institution, when
they take up their work in the world. Sixty-seven have graduated from
this institution; forty-two are teachers; eight, ministers; three,
doctors; two, editors; two, foreign missionaries; eight, lawyers; one is
a student; and one a real estate agent. Pretty good showing for Fisk!
The annual oration was delivered by the writer, subject, "The Student's
Workshop, Tools and Work."
The rendering of the Hallelujah Chorus by the full choir of trained
singers was especially fine, and reflected great credit upon the
director.
* * * * *
TALLADEGA COLLEGE, TALLADEGA, ALA.
BY MRS. H.S. DEFOREST.
Talladega College observed its nineteenth anniversary June 9th to 13th.
The large gathering of students, alumni and friends, the enthusiasm and
interest manifested, and the report of what has been accomplished during
the past decade, showed the hold it has obtained on the hearts of the
people.
The exhibitions of Cassady School, which is the feeder for the higher
grades, were held the week previous. Large and delighted audiences
listened to the creditable performances of the young people, who showed
in their parts the faithful work of teachers.
On Sabbath morning, the baccalaureate sermon was preached by Secretary
C.J. Ryder, of Boston. Many valuable and practical lessons for the
graduating class were drawn from his somewhat unique text, "And falling
into a place where two seas met," Acts 27:41. Various currents in life
will bear us hither and thither unless we are founded upon the rock and
there abide. The closing words telling of the inscription upon an
ancient cross, _teneo et tenior_, will long abide as an inspiration and
help with those who heard.
At 4 P.M. the Sabbath-school prayer meeting gathered together students
and teachers in a tender farewell, and at night the missionary sermon
was preached by Rev. E.J. Penney, of Selma.
The examinations of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday gave evidence of
thorough work and of painstaking study.
On Wednesday night, four young men, graduates of the Theological
Department, were ordained. The sermon was preached by Rev. A.F. Beard,
D.D., the ordaining prayer offered by the President, a most appropriate
charge given by Pastor Snell of Birmingham, and the right hand by the
Moderator, Rev. J.R. Sims, of Shelby Iron Works.
The graduating exercises were held on Thursday morning. Six students
received diplomas from the Normal Course, and five were graduated from
the Theological Department. Essays and orations showed thought and
originality, and were well delivered. If all the noble sentiments
expressed are carried out in the lives of the speakers, a class has gone
out from our walls who will make a stand for truth and righteousness,
manly men and faithful womanly women.
After the conferring of diplomas and the awarding of prizes, President
DeForest gave a _resume_ of the growth of the college during the ten
years of his connection with it. The number of students has increased
from 203 to 427, instructors from 9 to 18. In this time, theological
graduates have passed from 7 to 28, and normal from 18 to 64.
The alumni dinner was partaken of with relish by graduates and invited
guests, and after the physical man had been refreshed an intellectual
feast was spread. Older graduates testified to their indebtedness to the
College which by one, quoting the words of another, was said to be "de
main spring ob de fly wheel ob de whole conjunction." Visiting friends
spoke of their interest and satisfaction in the work of the school, and
Drs. Beard and Haygood, with appreciative and hopeful words, fittingly
closed the festivities.
On Thursday night, Dr. A.G. Haygood, Secretary of the Slater Fund, the
steadfast friend of the black man, gave an address. His eloquence, wit
and earnestness held a large audience in close attention for more than
an hour, and he left with them much matter for thought.
Teachers and pupils have now said good-bye and college halls are vacant,
but the work of the year will bear fruit as scores of students go out to
the labors of vacation in the dark and needy districts of the South.
* * * * *
STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
BY PRESIDENT R.C. HITCHCOCK.
The interest shown by the public in the annual exercises of this school
increases each year, and for those of more general nature it is quite
impossible to obtain a room large enough to accommodate the audience
that assembles.
The baccalaureate sermon was preached on Sunday night by President
Hitchcock at Central Church. On Monday night, the Sumner and
Philomathean Literary Societies and the Band of Mercy held their
anniversary meeting, and listened to a very interesting lecture on "Life
at a German University," by Rev. G.W. Henderson. Wednesday night, came
the annual concert and exhibition. This has for two or three years
gradually taken more and more the character of an exhibit of the
gymnastic exercises, singing, etc., from each grade, and with so large a
school, gives a long programme; but since people here have learned that
at Straight University, when the appointed time comes the exercises
begin, every spot where a chair could be put in an aisle, or a foot
stand, besides all the pews both below and in the spacious galleries of
Central, one of the largest churches in the city, was occupied at the
moment assigned for opening, and the attention was grand until the very
last.