Book: The American Missionary, Volume 43, No. 6, June, 1889
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Various >> The American Missionary, Volume 43, No. 6, June, 1889
THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY
JUNE, 1889
VOL. XLIII. NO. 6
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL.
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK
VOICES FROM THE FIELD
DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE TWO CENTURIES
REV. C.W. HIATT
PARAGRAPHS--THIS NUMBER--MRS. BORDEN
SCHOOL ECHOES
BOOK NOTICE
NOTES FROM NEW ENGLAND
FREDERICK DOUGLASS
THE SOUTH.
CHURCH BUILDING IN A DAY
ITEMS FROM WHITLEY COUNTY
TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY
WORK AT HAMPTON
DEVELOPING PATRIOTISM AMONG THE COLORED PEOPLE
A NEGRO GIRL'S PROSE POEM
THE INDIANS.
ONE DAY'S MISSIONARY WORK
WHAT SHALL WE DO ABOUT IT?
THE CHINESE.
METHOD OF CONDUCTING CHINESE SUNDAY-SCHOOLS
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
MEETING OF WOMAN'S STATE HOME MISSIONARY ORGANIZATIONS
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION OF ALABAMA
FOR THE CHILDREN.
LETTER FROM A TEACHER IN GEORGIA
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., LLD., 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 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_.
Rev. C.W. HIATT, _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. JUNE, 1889. No. 6.
American Missionary Association.
* * * * *
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK.
_The Figures._
Our receipts for seven months to April 30th are, from donations,
$118,051.25, estates, $20,308.09, incomes, $4,829.21, tuition, etc.,
$22,719.89, United States Government for Indians, $9,540.87; total,
$175,449.31. Our payments to April 30th are $203,777.45. Debt balance,
$28,328.14.
_The Meaning of the Figures._
These figures mean a debt--growing at the rate of $4,000 a month. In
passing "through the dark valley and shadow of"--debt, we walk with a
goodly company. It is said that nearly every missionary society in
Christendom reports a deficit this year. A common cause must underlie so
broad a fact, and no one society deserves special censure.
_How we get into Debt._
A missionary society cannot make its expenditures as a man provides for
his family--from day to day--but must lay out its plans for the year.
The missionaries, the teachers, the matrons and all employes must be
engaged for that length of time. The appropriation must be made on the
general expectation of receipts, with some allowance for added growth.
Every prosperous business firm plans for enlargement. Shall the Lord's
business only lack enterprise and growth? Must it move on a dead level,
or on a declining grade? The churches would not long endure that, and
the word of the Lord is: "Speak unto the children of Israel that they go
forward."
_How our Debts are to be Paid._
This cannot be done near the close of the year by dismissing the
ministers and shutting up the schools. These self-sacrificing workers
are dependent on their salaries, and the teachers, some of whom out of
their small pittance are helping to sustain an invalid mother or sister,
and in not a few cases are aiding needy students, and should not be
deprived of their wages. Repudiation of such debts is not the relief for
a missionary society.
The only way, therefore, that we can see is, to throw ourselves upon the
benevolence of the churches, whose agents we are in doing their work,
and ask them to come to the rescue by increased donations. A little from
each will make it easy for all.
* * * * *
VOICES FROM THE FIELD.
We wish our friends to see as we see and hear as we hear from the field,
as to the need of enlargement and the difficulty of closing schools
prematurely, and hence we present some condensed facts as specimens.
McINTOSH, GA.--One hundred and nineteen in a single room and with only
one teacher. No boarding department and scores must be turned away.
FLORENCE, ALA.--In a rapidly growing city, school held in our church
building. Large numbers turned away for lack of room.
JONESBORO, TENN.--No boarding place for either boys or girls. Boys live
in rough rooms in a barn, six in a small room. No more can possibly be
accommodated.
GRAND VIEW, TENN.--Buildings crowded full; no place for any more, yet
pupils are trying to crowd in.
PINE MOUNTAIN, TENN.--Situated in a region nearly a hundred miles long,
without a single school except the almost worthless district schools
for two or three months.
WILLIAMSBURG, KY.--Crowded full of students; more than sixty in one room
large enough for only thirty.
JELLICO, TENN.--Our church and school building will not hold either our
Sunday-school or those who attend the preaching services. Must be
enlarged or no growth can follow.
ATHENS, TENN.--Growing town; nearly a thousand Northern people with no
church suited to their needs. Some Congregationalists need aid in
starting a church.
FORT BERTHOLD, DAKOTA.--Rev. C.L. Hall writes: "We have not at Fort
Berthold the necessary buildings for our work. Our girls are in an old
Government building out of repair, and a little cottage 16x22, and our
boys and industrial teacher are crowded into the missionary's house,
and a little one-story annex 14x22. There is no room for a guest to
stay over night."
CHINESE IN CALIFORNIA.--Dr. Pond, the Superintendent of our Chinese
Missions, makes a dollar go as far as any man in our service. He is
one of the most careful men in making ends meet. But he has been
caught in the cyclone and writes thus about the premature closing of
the schools:
"Nothing seemed left for me to do but to notify the teachers that I
could pay all bills for May, but could promise nothing more. When I had
resolved to do this, the workers passed before me, one by one: most of
our teachers are dependent on this slender stipend for their daily
bread--teachers that had been in our service for many years, never
measuring their service by their pay, but working in season and out of
season, and most of the time rendering help not bargained for fully
equal to that which I could have required. The helpers also passed
before me. Jee Gam with his wife and five children; our brave, unselfish
Low Quong; our faithful, almost saintly Chin Toy, our earnest and
eloquent Yong Jin--all of whom have sacrificed their pecuniary interests
for service in the mission, and all of whom, if their income from
missionary work ceases, will be compelled at once to seek an income
elsewhere because of those dependent upon them. Then the schools passed
before me--closed and silent, most of them, the scholars scattered and
the momentum from many years of earnest, unremitting effort gradually
dying away."
_The Daniel Hand Fund._
It may be asked, Why not meet such pressing claims out of this Fund? We
answer, That Fund is doing its noble work in its chosen field, among the
colored people in the South, but cannot do all even in that; and it will
be observed that most of these calls come from the other portions of our
field, the mountains of the South, the Indians of the West, and the
Chinese on the Pacific coast. Our main dependence must ever be on the
churches.
* * * * *
THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE TWO CENTURIES.
The first century of the American Constitution has passed, and has been
grandly celebrated. We now stand on the dividing line, and enter upon
the Second Century with its unknown trials and triumphs. What these may
be, we may judge, perhaps, in part, if we turn to those of the past.
Among the many and serious objections made against the Constitution at
the outset, demanding protracted discussions, Compromises and
Amendments, none were graver or more far-reaching in their consequences
than those respecting State Rights and the recognition of Negro slavery.
The bottom difficulty in these was probably that of slavery, for, if it
had not introduced such radically different industries in the two
sections of the country, with their different interests, and habits of
thought and life, the question of State Rights might have slumbered in
quietude. But when slavery had to be defended, State Rights was the
bastion behind which the defence sheltered itself. Whether the
Compromise with slavery at the outset were the wise thing or not, it is
not worth while now to consider. We do not know what the consequences
would have been if the Compromise had not been made. We all know now,
only too sadly, the dreadful price that was at last paid for the
Compromise.
But the war killed slavery and buried it beyond resurrection. Logically,
it also killed the State Rights doctrine. But we fear it "still lives"
in the heart of Jefferson Davis, and in the hearts of the many millions
who still revere him as the leader of the "lost cause." Its avowal is
still heard from Southern lips and in the Southern press. Will there be
any occasion for its revival into active life? We fear there will be.
Slavery has left behind it a ghost which no more than that of Banquo
will "down." Race prejudice is as unyielding in the Southern heart
to-day as was the purpose once to maintain slavery. Should that prejudice
persist in its inexorable demands, another contest may arise, in which
the enfranchised millions may be goaded to take part, and the North, as
in the case of slavery, may be involved in the dreadful struggle. At
what time in the coming hundred years of the Constitution this new
struggle may come, no one can predict. The crisis will not be averted by
merely deprecating it, and we know of no Compromise that can reach it.
The only possible relief that we can see is by educating the Negro, till
he shall rise to a position that will challenge the respect of his
fellow-citizens and secure to him his equal rights under the glorious
Constitution of the United States of America.
* * * * *
REV. C.W. HIATT.
The American Missionary Association has divided its Western Collecting
Field. The boundary separating the two parts is the western line of
Indiana. Dr. Roy, who has made so honorable record in the past, will
retain the western portion with his office still in Chicago. The eastern
portion will have its headquarters in Cleveland. Rev. C.W. Hiatt has
been invited to take this District Secretaryship, and we have now the
pleasure of announcing his acceptance. Mr. Hiatt is not unknown in his
district, having made his mark in his pastorate in Columbus, Ohio. We
ask the churches to give him a cordial welcome for his own sake as well
as that of the Association.
* * * * *
PARAGRAPHS.
The letter of Dr. Pond in this number was written in response to a
request from a Northern lady for hints in regard to the methods of
teaching the Chinese. Many besides this lady will find profit in reading
it. The article on "Church Building in a Day" cannot fail to interest.
We only wish we could add that church services were held in the building
on the following day, but of this we are ignorant. If any of our readers
are desirous of knowing what expedients our missionaries among the
Indians have to resort to in administering the communion at their
out-stations, let them read "One Day's Missionary Work," by Rev. T.L.
Riggs. We give our readers also a problem in the letter from Miss Collins
at Fort Yates, "What shall we do about it?"
* * * * *
We have learned of the death of Mrs. Villa (Crumb) Borden at her home in
Norwich, N.Y. During her three years' service in the work of this
Association at Athens, Ala., she was untiring in efforts for the
improvement of her pupils. By her genial spirit, unselfish life and
faithful labor in school, church, Sunday-School and the community, she
greatly endeared herself to the people as well as to pupils and fellow
teachers, who sincerely mourn her departure.
* * * * *
A friend who reads the magazine and studies it minutely, sends us a
postal containing these encouraging words:
"A stimulating fact appeared in the MISSIONARY for April just received.
The summary of receipts October 1st, to February 28th, shows nearly
$14,000 received for tuition in that time--more than one-sixth of the
donations."
Our friends who are denying themselves, oftentimes, to aid in sustaining
our work, will be cheered to know that the funds they contribute are not
thrown into a slough and lost, but are touching mind and heart and
industry, and thus stimulating the people whom we benefit to help
themselves.
* * * * *
In making up the catalogue of Fisk University for this year, the
following facts are culled out:
Total number of students, 505, which is a gain of thirty over last year,
and last year the attendance was the largest the University had ever
had. Number of students in the Department of Music, 110; a gain of
twenty over last year. Special students in Theology, 9; a gain of six
over the previous year. There has been a gain of eight in the College
Department, two in the Normal, and four in the College Preparatory.
* * * * *
Mr. Coffin graduated from Fisk University in 1885, and has held
important positions as a teacher ever since graduating. He has also
bought about $250 worth of books on one of the special courses of study
established by the Illinois Wesleyan University, and so successfully
complied with the requirements of the course that the result mentioned
in the letter below has been reached.
ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, Bloomington, Ill.
_Dear Sir._--Mr. A.O. Coffin has just been here for his final
examination for his Ph.D., and desires me to report to you his
performance.
This last work closes a series of about six examinations upon
some thirty papers, requiring from three to five hours' writing
on each. The examination held here was oral, before a committee
of three of our faculty, and lasted nearly three hours. Mr.
Coffin was probed on all sides with everything that had a
bearing on his course (Biology), both as to technical and
general matters, and slipped but twice in the whole ordeal. Our
professors report to me that his previous written work was of
the same high character. Of the forty or fifty men who have
taken this degree here, within the past fifteen years (all on
examination), Mr. Coffin easily stands among the half dozen who
have most distinguished themselves. We were much pleased with
the gentlemanliness and strength of character he displayed, and
no doubt have Fisk University to thank in large measure
therefor. Very Truly Yours,
CHARLES M. MOSS.
* * * * *
SCHOOL ECHOES.
Spelling by different authorities: Edgeucation, fraze, teadgeous,
roughf, icecikles, natcheural, quallyfide, muskeline, femeline and nutur
gender.
Definitions: "A word is a sound that consists from the loungs." "A
participle is a form of a verb partaking of the nature of an adjective
or a noun and expressing action or _human_ being as flying and sleep."
A sentence reported in class of small boys: "By the time your brother
get home, you'll be done et." (Translation, You'll be through eating.)
An example of a sentence containing an infinitive used as subject: "To
be in the way is bad habits."
At a meeting held at Hampton last "Indian Emancipation Day," one of the
Indian boys in his speech said:
"Whenever we do anything white man don't like, he call us 'Injun,'
whenever we do anything Injun don't like, he call us 'white man.'" He
also expressed his conviction that "Injun boy great deal smarter than
white boy, 'cause folks expect that Injun will learn as much in three
years as white boy does in nine or ten years."
An Indian boy writes from the country, "I have been confusion at the
United States language."
* * * * *
BOOK NOTICE.
_The Great Value and Success of Foreign Missions._ Proved by
distinguished witnesses. By Rev. John Liggins, with an introduction
by Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D.D. Published by The Baker and Taylor
Co., 740 and 742 Broadway, New York.
This book contains not only leading facts and statistics regarding
missionary work which are very valuable to all who are studying this
subject, but also the testimony of diplomatic ministers, consuls, naval
officers, scientific and other travelers who have witnessed the results
of missionary labor in heathen and Mohammedan countries. This testimony
from hundreds of representative men and women, among which we find the
names of Lew Wallace, James Russell Lowell, R.H. Dana, Charles Darwin,
James B. Angell, with English viceroys, governors and military officers,
as well as prominent American and English ministers of the gospel,
cannot but commend the book to all Christian people, and make it
interesting at any page at which one may open it.
* * * * *
NOTES FROM NEW ENGLAND.
BY REV. C.J. RYDER, DISTRICT SECRETARY.
A trip to Ohio this month to attend the State Association and to
indoctrinate the new District Secretary into the esoteric mysteries of
the American Missionary Association was a delightful experience, and yet
one does not get out of New England by going to Ohio. The hills and
valleys, and clear mountain brooks are left behind, but New England
people are there as much as here. And what grand opportunities there are
in these interior States for growth in missionary enthusiasm and
benevolence! Congregationalism is taking Ohio. I remember when a boy in
the Buckeye State there were few churches of our order off the
"Reserve," or "New Connecticut," as the northern counties were called.
"Congregationalism was not adapted to those conditions," we learned in
our unwritten, uncongregational catechism. But since 1860 it has been
discovered that Congregationalism is fitted for any conditions where
Christians are seeking the advancement of our Lord's kingdom, and there
are souls outside of that kingdom. So Congregationalism has grown in all
sections of Ohio.
The beautiful city of Mt. Vernon opened her homes and hearts in large
and generous hospitality. The American Missionary Association received
an especially cordial welcome, because many remember the golden days
when the senior Secretary of the Association was pastor of this Mt.
Vernon church. It was he they wanted to present the work of the
Association in his old pulpit, but a younger man went because he was
younger.
The new District Secretary of the American Missionary Association, Rev.
C.W. Hiatt, was welcomed enthusiastically, and his record merits such a
welcome. The office of this district will be in Cleveland, Ohio, and its
territory includes Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Western Pennsylvania and
Western New York--a large field for one laborer to till successfully!
Take this New England district: there are eleven hundred and forty-five
churches in it, and only one Secretary to reach them all! Were it not
that the pastors and many of the lay members were ready to give their
cordial and hearty assistance, and for the occasional, earnest help of a
missionary, it would be impossible even "to shuffle round in it." But
there is this hearty assistance and it constantly increases in
heartiness.
* * * * *
Rev. B. Dodge of Pleasant Hill, Tenn., a faithful worker in that
mountain region, has returned with a glad and thankful heart to his
field of labor. His appeal published in the February magazine, and his
indefatigable personal labors with individuals, were crowned with
success, and he rejoiced in sufficient receipts to warrant the erection
of the "Girls' Dormitory" for the mountain girls. The help rendered was
most generous and timely. But this new building, as imperative as its
need is, _increases the annual expense of the work._ Larger
contributions are necessary in order to carry on this work in its larger
quarters. Prosperity involves expense.
One of the true friends of Missions has hit upon a plan for gaining
information that is worthy wider adoption than in her own church. She
has organized a club of those who desire to read the magazines of the
various Congregational Societies. This plan puts the magazine of each
society into the hands of a large circle of readers, and the expense to
each is very small. Are there any other clubs of this kind? Cannot one
be organized in each church?
* * * * *
Few books would be of more real and lasting value in the libraries of
our schools than "The Deathless Book," by Rev. David O. Mears, D.D. Dr.
S.E. Smith says of it:--"It contains more items of knowledge in many a
field than are often brought together, and all legitimately associated
with the precious Book of Divine Revelation." A pledge has been given
for a part payment in the purchase of one hundred volumes of this book,
to be paid when the whole is pledged. It would be a great addition to
our school libraries if this book were put into them. The publishers
offer special rates. Will not some one make a special gift to complete
this fund?
* * * * *
A letter just received from Corpus Christi brings the glad news of a
deep and far-reaching revival in progress there. Many have been
hopefully converted and the interest still continues.
* * * * *
FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
Few colored men in the United States have occupied a more prominent
position than Frederick Douglass; and there are none whose opinions are
more worthy of respect. His address delivered at the celebration of the
Twenty-seventh Anniversary of the Emancipation of the Slaves in the
District of Columbia was thoughtful, well-expressed and emphatic in its
utterances. While we might not accord with every sentiment, we wish we
could publish the whole. We content ourselves with a few pointed
extracts.
THE IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT STILL IN PROGRESS.
"From every view I have been able to take of the present situation in
relation to the colored people of the United States, I am forced to the
conclusion that the irrepressible conflict, of which we heard so much
before the War of the Rebellion and during the war, is still in
progress. It is still the battle between two opposite civilizations--the
one created and sustained by slavery, and the other framed and fashioned
in the spirit of liberty and humanity, and this conflict will not be
ended until one or the other shall be completely adopted in every
section of our common country."