Book: The American Missionary, Volume 42, No. 12, December, 1888

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THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY
DECEMBER, 1888
VOL. XLII. NO. 12







CONTENTS


EDITORIAL

THE ANNUAL MEETING
THE DANIEL HAND EDUCATIONAL FUND
FOR COLORED PEOPLE
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GIFT
SKETCH OF MR. HAND'S LIFE
THE DEED OF TRUST
SUGGESTIONS
PILGRIM'S LETTERS
PARAGRAPHS


ANNUAL MEETING.

PROCEEDINGS OF ANNUAL MEETING
SUMMARY OF TREASURER'S REPORT
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MEMORIAL SERVICE
THE AMERICAN FREEDMEN AS FACTORS
IN AFRICAN EVANGELIZATION, BY
SECRETARY STRIEBY
THE HOPEFULNESS OF INDIAN MISSIONS
AS SEEN IN THE LIGHT OF HISTORY.
BY SECRETARY BEARD


BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.

REPORT OF SECRETARY


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. F.A. NOBLE, D.D., Ill.
Rev. ALEX. McKENZIE, D.D., Mass.
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.


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,
CHARLES A. HULL,
J.R. DANFORTH,
CLINTON B. FISK,
ADDISON P. FOSTER.

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 Street, Chicago.


Financial Secretary for Indian Missions.

Rev. CHAS. W. SHELTON.


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.


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. XLII. DECEMBER, 1888. No. 12.

* * * * *

American Missionary Association.

* * * * *

OUR ANNUAL MEETING.

The Annual Meeting at Providence, R.I., will long be remembered in the
annals of this Association. Its general characteristics were
earnestness and enthusiasm. The interest did not flag from the
beginning to the end. We were glad to welcome our newly-elected
President, Rev. Wm. M. Taylor, D.D., who, by his dignity and facility
as a presiding officer, as well as by his able addresses, added largely
to the interest of the meeting. The sermon of Dr. Little was an uplift
at the outset; the Memorial Service for Dr. Powell was a loving tribute
to his memory; the papers read were of a high order, and dealt in a
practical way with living themes bearing on the work of the
Association; the reports on the several departments of that work were
discriminating, and showed a mastery of the subjects reviewed; and the
addresses of Drs. Mears, Behrends and Taylor, on the last evening were,
by their fervor, their broad range of thought and spiritual power, a
fitting close for the whole series of meetings.

But the marked and peculiar feature of the occasion was the
announcement of the munificent gift of Mr. Daniel Hand, of more than a
million of dollars, to aid the Association in its efforts for the
colored people of the South. This event, so inspiring in its immediate
effect, and so far-reaching and permanent in its beneficial results,
deserves full and special mention.

* * * * *

THE DANIEL HAND EDUCATIONAL FUND FOR COLORED PEOPLE.

The gift of more than a million of dollars by Mr. Hand for the
education of the colored people of the South, was a noble deed--alike
patriotic, philanthropic and Christian. The gift was wisely made. It
was after mature deliberation; it was during his lifetime, and thus
avoids the possibility of future litigation; it is bestowed upon a race
with whose wants Mr. Hand had become thoroughly familiar; it was given
to a Society that from the first, amid obloquy and danger, has been
true to the colored man; and it is made a permanent fund, the income
only to be used, thus securing its perpetual usefulness.

The conditions of the grant are simple, easily applicable, practical
and not liable to render the fund inoperative by any change of
circumstances. It aims simply to give to the colored people a training
that will fit them for every day life, or to become teachers of their
race. Hence it will be confined to primary, industrial and normal
education. We have no doubt that Mr. Hand values the missionary future
of the African in his native land; that he realizes the importance of
his religious training in this country, and that he appreciates the
need of the higher education of a portion of the race; but his gift,
large as it is, cannot cover everything, and he has, therefore, wisely
chosen the definite sphere in which his money shall accomplish its
work. Opportunity is thus given others equally liberal to provide for
other parts of the great work to be done for the negro race.

Mr. Hand may not live long enough to see for many years the practical
working of his far-reaching gift, but generation after generation of
the Negroes of the South will rise up to call him blessed.

* * * * *

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GIFT.

[Abridged from the _Providence Journal_.]

The Address of Secretary Strieby.

It is my privilege, and I esteem it a great honor, to be called upon to
announce one of the most surprising and gratifying facts, financially
considered at least, that has ever occurred in the history of this
Association. The American Missionary Association has this week received
the largest gift ever made in this country by a living donor to a
benevolent society. Daniel Hand, an aged resident of Guilford, Conn.,
formerly a merchant in the South, has given to the Association
$1,000,894.25, in interest-bearing securities, to be held in trust and
known as "THE DANIEL HAND EDUCATIONAL FUND FOR COLORED PEOPLE," the
income only to be used for the education of colored people in the
Southern States. Mr. Hand, having made his money in the South, and
having seen the ignorance and consequent disadvantages of the colored
people there, felt that he could not use it better than in providing
for their education, and has chosen to entrust to the American
Missionary Association, whose work is so largely devoted to the
elevation of that people, the care of this magnificent gift, and the
disbursement of its income in accordance with the provisions of the
trust.

* * * * *

This announcement was received with great enthusiasm, which was
prolonged for several minutes, and the most intense excitement
prevailed. An address was then given by John H. Washburn, Esq.,
Chairman of the Executive Committee, after which Rev. Dr. Mears made an
address, which was followed by the singing of the Doxology with great
fervor and emphasis.

* * * * *

Remarks by Mr. John H. Washburn.

Mr. President.--The last few years have been remarkable in gifts and
legacies. Some have endowed colleges and universities; some, as in this
case, have been for the benefit of a peculiar race, but no one in his
own lifetime has ever selected a benevolent association as beneficiary,
and endowed it with such a munificent gift as Daniel Hand has bestowed
upon the American Missionary Association. He was, it seems to me, wise
in choosing this course. Others have seen fit to put their funds in the
hands of trustees organized and incorporated to hold the trust. He
might have done that, but what would have been the gain over the
present plan? Those trustees must have availed themselves, as the
trustees of the Peabody Fund and the trustees of the Slater Fund are
compelled to do, of existing organizations for knowing the needs of the
people; where and how the money can be used to the best advantage. Mr.
Hand availed himself of an organization ready to his hand, one whose
agents are better qualified to judge of the needs of the people, the
plans to be pursued, the work to be done, than any other organization
in this country.

Now the first thought of the executive officers and committee in
receiving this magnificent gift is gratitude to God, who put it into
the heart of this man to entrust to us such great means of usefulness
for the people for which we labor. But there is a second thought; is
this gift to be a blessing to us or a curse? That depends upon our
constituents, the men and women personally, and on the churches, not on
the officers of the Association. How do you, the individual givers to
this Association, regard this gift? Every special gift to such
organizations as this, whether it be for special endowment or to
establish special schools, implies more money, an increase of
contribution. Gifts for new buildings, gifts for establishing new plant
are apt to be an embarrassment unless the individuals will respond with
increased donations. Now this fund which is given us, while the terms
are liberal, is limited in its scope,--it is strictly for the education
of the colored youth in the Southern States of America. Not one dollar
of this can be used for general work, not one dollar for the Indian, or
for our Mountain Work; strictly limited in its use, we need in
consequence even more money than before. We are endowed with this great
gift, but we may not be able to use it efficiently if there is a lack
of supplementary contributions, and for that reason we make a new and
strong appeal for them.

You pay your money where you have your interest. That man who, in
building a mission church in a rough, uncouth neighborhood, called on
the hoodlums in the vicinity to make a contribution of a brick apiece
for the new church, was a wise man. Every bootblack, every newsboy,
every garbage gatherer in it who put a brick in that church had an
interest in it. It was "Our Church," and at once the interest of the
neighborhood was secured for this mission church, as it could have been
done in no other way. So we ask you to withhold not your bricks; with
the bricks will come the interest, the heart, the prayers.


Remarks by Dr. Mears.

Rev. Dr. Mears, who occupied the chair temporarily, followed the
address of Mr. Washburn, voicing the gratitude of the Association. He
spoke of the feelings almost of depression after the great wants of the
work had been so evident from the various reports and addresses of the
meeting. The words of reply to the prophet in the famine stricken city
of Samaria had been often repeated as to the possibility of relief for
those despised; "Behold if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might
this thing be?" This munificent gift of a million dollars seems like a
gift dropped from the pierced hand into the lap of this Association. It
seems a seal of the divine favor upon this organization, whose sole
care is for those races that are poor and despised. The speaker
referred to the suggestion of Mr. Washburn, that the gift must be
either a blessing or a curse. It would be a curse if the benefactions
of the churches should be withheld because of Mr. Hand's munificence.
The divineness of the gift, however, precluded such a fear. There is
too much consecration in the hearts of God's children to keep back a
single offering for those for whom Christ died. The great promise of
the Master will prove itself true; "To him that hath shall be given."
Turning to the members of the Executive Committee, the suggestion was
made that the manner in which they should guard this great gift would
be a potent factor in urging greater gifts from the churches. In such
hands was left the burden of showing that only a blessing and not a
curse was possible. Be true to your great trust. His closing words were
in recognition of the blessings sure to rest upon the venerable giver
whose last days have been so near heaven as to catch the beams of holy
light.

* * * * *

SKETCH OF MR. HAND'S LIFE.

Daniel Hand was born in Madison, Conn., July 16, 1801, and was
therefore in the eighty-eighth year of his age when he made his gift
for the education of the colored people at the South. His ancestors
have resided in that town for several generations and were always
landholders, industrious, quiet and respectable. To this ancestry Mr.
Hand is probably indebted under God for his physical vigor, long life,
strength of character and success in business. He was the fourth son of
seven, and was on the farm under his father's direction until he was
sixteen years of age, when he was put in charge of his second brother,
Augustus F. Hand, who was then a merchant at Augusta, Ga., and whom he
succeeded in business. In 1854 Mr. Hand went to New York in connection
with his Southern business, and remained there in that capacity until
the beginning of the war in 1861. He resided in some portion of the
Southern Confederacy during the entire war, and was never treated with
violence in any way, and no Confederate officer ever offered him
indignity or even an unkind word.

Mr. G.W. Williams, a native Georgian, was, at about the age of sixteen,
employed by Mr. Hand as a clerk in Augusta, and in a few years was
taken in as partner. Mr. Williams suggested a branch of the business in
Charleston, and conducted it successfully. When the war came on Mr.
Hand's capital was largely employed in the Charleston business, which
Mr. Williams as a Southern man continued, having the use of Mr. Hand's
capital, which the Confederate Government vainly endeavored to
confiscate by legal proceedings against Mr. Hand, as a Northern man of
pronounced anti-slavery sentiments. After the war Mr. Hand came North
and left it to his old partner, Mr. Williams, to adjust the business
and make up the accounts, allowing him almost unlimited time for so
doing. When this was accomplished, Mr. Williams came North and paid
over to Mr. Hand his portion of the long-invested capital and its
accumulations, as an honest and honorable merchant and trusted partner
should do.

Many years ago Mr. Hand was bereaved of wife and children, and he has
since remained unmarried. This fact, together with his benevolent
impulses, led him to form plans to use his property for the benefit of
mankind. He thought at first of devoting a part of it to some Northern
colleges, but his attention being turned to the needed and successful
work done among the colored people of the South, his purpose was soon
formed to aid them. He said he knew them, and the disadvantages arising
out of their ignorance, their inability to keep accounts, to secure
their rights in making settlements, and consequently the hindrances
they encountered in their industries and in the acquisition of lands
and homes. As it was known that he had money and benevolent intentions
in regard to the use of it, many methods were suggested to him for that
purpose. Some of these he investigated with care, but he never saw
occasion to change the purpose which he formed more than ten years ago,
to make the colored people his beneficiaries through the American
Missionary Association, which he found was doing so large and
successful a work among the very people whom he wished to benefit, and
in methods in accordance with his own views. More than ten years ago he
had incorporated in his will a legacy of $100,000 for the Association.
It was suggested to him at that time that he should become his own
executor, but he felt that his securities were safe and productive, and
at last it became a cherished purpose with him to make the gift a
million of dollars as soon as he could do so with due regard to other
objects he had in view.

The consummation of this great purpose was finally closed by the
transfer (October 22nd) of the securities to the Association by the
Hon. Luzon B. Morris, who has been throughout his trusted and honored
legal and financial adviser. This gift enrolls Mr. Hand among the
honored names of wealthy men who have devoted their fortunes, not to
mere display or personal gratification, but to elevate and bless the
ignorant and needy.

Mr. Hand is a man of tall, commanding presence, and still at the age of
eighty-seven writes with a firm and bold hand, and expresses himself in
brief and vigorous language.

* * * * *

THE DEED OF TRUST.

The purposes and conditions of this great trust are as follows:

"The said Daniel Hand, desiring to establish a permanent fund, the
income of which shall be used for the purpose of educating needy and
indigent colored people of African descent, residing, or who may
hereafter reside in the recent slave States of the United States of
America, sometimes called the Southern States; meaning those States
wherein slavery was recognized by law in the year A.D. 1861, and in
consideration of the promises and undertakings of the said American
Missionary Association, hereinafter set forth, does hereby give,
transfer and deliver unto the said American Missionary Association the
following bonds and property in trust, viz.: (Here follows a list of
the property transferred, amounting at par value to $1,000,894.25. The
market value is more than that sum.) Said bonds and property to be
received and held by said American Missionary Association, _upon
trust_, and for the following purposes, viz.: To safely manage the said
trust fund, to change investments whenever said Association may deem it
necessary or advisable to reinvest the principal of said trust fund in
such securities, property and investments as said Association may deem
best, and to use the _income thereof only_ for the education of colored
people of African descent residing in the recent slave States of the
United States of America hereinbefore specified.

"Such income to be applied for the education of such colored people as
are needy and indigent and such as by their health, strength and vigor
of body and mind give indications of efficiency and usefulness in after
life.

"Said American Missionary Association and the proper officers thereof,
shall have the right, while acting in good faith, to select from time
to time such persons from the above described class as are to receive
aid from the income of said trust fund, hereby confiding to said
Association the selection of such persons as it shall deem most worthy
and deserving of such aid, but I would limit the sum of $100 as the
largest sum to be expended for any person in any one year from this
fund. I impose no restrictions upon said Association as to the manner
in which they shall use such income for the education of such colored
people, whether by establishing schools for that purpose, and
maintaining the same, or by furnishing individual aid; trusting to said
Association and the officers thereof the use of such means in the
execution of said trust as in their judgment will be most for the
advantage of that class of people.

"Said trust fund shall be set apart and at all times known as the
'Daniel Hand Educational Fund for Colored People.' And the said
Association shall keep separate accounts of the investment of this
fund, and of the income derived therefrom, and of the use to which such
income is applied, and shall publish monthly statements of the receipts
from said fund, specifying its source, object and intention."

* * * * *

SUGGESTIONS.

Something to Remember.

Our first thought is for the pastors and churches to whom these words
may come. It is this: Remember that the American Missionary Association
has not a million of dollars to expend in its work.

It has the yearly income of this great gift as a Trust Fund to be used,
not for the work which our churches have taken on, but to do a specific
work which would not otherwise be undertaken. The American Missionary
Association will carry out the wishes of this large giver in their
trust, and the Hand Fund will not be used to supplement the other work
committed to the Association.

Do not say then, that we have a million and need nothing. Our execution
of a trust to do additional work to the extent of $50,000 a year or
more, in no way changes our dependence upon the constituency of the
A.M.A. We have no balance whatever at the bank to supplement any lack
from the churches. The Hand Fund stands out distinctly committed to its
appropriate work. This it will do.

It will, however, make the work to which we are already committed more
imperative. We do not believe that the churches will in any degree
defeat the purposes of Mr. Hand by devoting less than before to their
own work, but that they will rather encourage larger gifts than ever,
by an emulation of a like spirit, to be used for the redemption of a
race. This is not a Trust Fund to relieve the churches. It is to make
their work greater and more effective.

The reports of the several committees at Providence all called for an
enlargement of our work. It was recommended that $375,000 be raised and
used in the fiscal year 1888-1889. This means something more than
$30,000 a month. The receipts for October were $16,416.07, being but a
little more than half of that which is needed. Our dependence must be
where it has been; first of all upon God, and then upon those who are
his stewards. We do not believe that God's stewards will be willing to
use this signal illustration of fidelity to stewardship as a reason why
they should do less rather than more in their working together with
him. The American Missionary Association begins its year with a debt of
$5,000 and needs $30,000 a month to carry on its regular work.


Large Gifts no Substitute for Small Ones.

A Pope of Rome in the midst of his great wealth once said, "I cannot
say as Peter did: 'Silver and gold have I none!'" To which the reply
was made: "Neither can you say, 'In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up
and walk.'" Peter and the Pope are types of two conditions of the
church of Christ. When it is dependent on Christ, it can bless the
bodies and souls of men; when it relies on its wealth, it can do
neither. A missionary society that should be so thoroughly endowed as
to feel itself to be independent of God and man for funds would soon be
thoroughly dead. Its power is in proportion to the faith it uplifts to
God, and to the constant sense of dependence with which it rests down
upon the sympathy and support of the churches. It can never flourish
except as it is refreshed by the little rills of benevolence that flow
from praying Christians; that treasury is poor, indeed, that does not
receive the widow's two mites. The American Missionary Association can
come with blessings to the neglected races of our land only as it lays
hold with one hand upon the arm of the Lord and with the other grasps
the hands of the pastors and members of the churches--as it enables
them to feel that it is their society doing God's work for them.

But does not the magnificent gift of Mr. Hand lift the Association
above such dependence on the churches? Is it not at least so well
provided for that the churches need not be so regular and liberal in
their contributions? We answer emphatically that if this should be the
result of that gift, we should esteem it no blessing; and in this we
are sure Mr. Hand himself would unite with us. We are told that he was
accustomed to read the "Receipts" acknowledged in the AMERICAN
MISSIONARY, and was greatly delighted that so many small donations were
reported. He said that one thing that confirmed him in the choice of
the Association as the almoner of his bounty was the hold it seemed to
have upon the mass of intelligent and praying members of the New
England churches, No! the gift of Mr. Hand, generous and large as it
is, provides for only a part of our great work. It does not touch the
Church, Mountain, Indian, Chinese or Higher Educational Departments. It
is wisely appropriated; it goes directly and practically to a point
where help is much needed. But it is limited to that and does not cover
even all of that. Let the churches do neither themselves, the
Association nor Mr. Hand the great wrong of withholding because he
gives; rather let them take this gift as God and the generous donor
meant it to be--a help in lifting the heavy load, to be responded to by
heartier co-operation and larger contributions.

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