The Project Gutenberg EBook of The American Missionary -- Volume 32, No. 04, April 1878, by Various This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: The American Missionary -- Volume 32, No. 04, April 1878 Author: Various Release Date: September 18, 2016 [EBook #53078] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY - *** Produced by KarenD, Joshua Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by Cornell University Digital Collections) VOL. XXXII. No. 4. THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY. “To the Poor the Gospel is Preached.” APRIL, 1878. CONTENTS: EDITORIAL. THE WARDS OF THE ALMIGHTY 97 DOUGLASS AND HAYES AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY 98 CHURCH WORK IN THE SOUTH 99 FOUR NEW MISSIONARIES FOR AFRICA 100 THE TWO INDIAN POLICIES 102 NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES—ITEMS FROM THE SCHOOLS 103 LIGHTS AND SHADOWS 104 INDIAN NOTES 105 CHINESE NOTES 106 OBITUARIES 107 THE FREEDMEN. TALLADEGA COLLEGE 108 NORTH CAROLINA: “A mighty still religion.” “Good Christians is Peaceable.” 111 ALABAMA: Debt-raising in a Colored Church 112 LOUISIANA: Revival News 113 TENNESSEE: Le Moyne Normal School—A Woman’s Work Among Women 114 KENTUCKY: BEREA COLLEGE 115 HYMN 117 THE INDIANS. WASHINGTON TERRITORY: Three Indian Boys and Their Letters. Rev. Myron Eells, S’kokomish 118 INDIAN WELCOME TO AN AGENT. Dr. I. L. Mahan, Red Cliff, Wis. 118 THE CHINESE. THE CHINESE NEW YEAR—MOB DENUNCIATIONS—THE GREAT COMMISSION LESSENED— CONVERSIONS. Rev. W. C. Pond, San Fransisco 119 LETTER FROM AH JAM 120 THE CHILDREN’S PAGE 121 RECEIPTS 122 WORK, STATISTICS, WANTS, &c. 126 NEW YORK: Published by the American Missionary Association, ROOMS, 56 READE STREET. Price, 50 Cents a Year, in advance. A. Anderson, Printer, 28 Frankfort St. American Missionary Association, 56 READE STREET, N. Y. PRESIDENT. HON. E. S. TOBEY, Boston. VICE PRESIDENTS. Hon. F. D. PARISH, Ohio. Rev. JONATHAN BLANCHARD, Ill. Hon. E. D. HOLTON, Wis. Hon. WILLIAM CLAFLIN, Mass. Rev. STEPHEN THURSTON, D. D., Me. Rev. SAMUEL HARRIS, D. D., Ct. Rev. SILAS MCKEEN, D. D., Vt. WM. C. CHAPIN, Esq., R. I. Rev. W. T. EUSTIS, Mass. Hon. A. C. BARSTOW, R. I. Rev. THATCHER THAYER, D. D., R. I. Rev. RAY PALMER, D. D., N. Y. Rev. J. M. STURTEVANT, D. D., Ill. Rev. W. W. PATTON, D. D., D. C. Hon. SEYMOUR STRAIGHT, La. Rev. D. M. GRAHAM, D. D., Mich. HORACE HALLOCK, Esq., Mich. Rev. CYRUS W. WALLACE, D. D., N. H. Rev. EDWARD HAWES, Ct. DOUGLAS PUTNAM, Esq., Ohio. Hon. THADDEUS FAIRBANKS, Vt. SAMUEL D. PORTER, Esq., N.Y. Rev. M. M. G. DANA, D. D., Ct. Rev. H. W. BEECHER, N. Y. Gen. O. O. HOWARD, Oregon. Rev. EDWARD L. CLARK, N. Y. Rev. G. F. MAGOUN, D. D., Iowa. Col. C. G. HAMMOND, Ill. EDWARD SPAULDING, M. D., N. H. DAVID RIPLEY, Esq., N. J. Rev. WM. M. BARBOUR, D. D., Ct. Rev. W. L. GAGE, Ct. A. S. HATCH, Esq., N. Y. Rev. J. H. FAIRCHILD, D. D., Ohio. Rev. H. A. STIMSON, Minn. Rev. J. W. STRONG, D. D., Minn. Rev. GEORGE THACHER, LL. D., Iowa. Rev. A. L. STONE, D. D., California. Rev. G. H. ATKINSON, D. D., Oregon. Rev. J. E. RANKIN, D. D., D. C. Rev. A. L. CHAPIN, D. D., Wis. S. D. SMITH, Esq., Mass. Rev. H. M. PARSONS, N. Y. PETER SMITH, Esq., Mass. Dea. JOHN WHITING, Mass. Rev. WM. PATTON, D. D., Ct. Hon. J. B. GRINNELL, Iowa. Rev. WM. T. CARR, Ct. Rev. HORACE WINSLOW, Ct. Sir PETER COATS, Scotland. Rev. HENRY ALLON, D. D., London, Eng. WM. E. WHITING, Esq., N. Y. J. M. PINKERTON, Esq., Mass. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. REV.M. E. STRIEBY, 56 Reade Street, N. Y. DISTRICT SECRETARIES. REV. C. L. WOODWORTH, Boston. REV. G. D. PIKE, New York. REV. JAS. POWELL, Chicago, Ill. EDGAR KETCHUM, ESQ., Treasurer, N. Y. H. W. HUBBARD, ESQ., Assistant Treasurer, N. Y. REV. M. E. STRIEBY, Recording Secretary. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. ALONZO S. BALL, A. S. BARNES, EDWARD BEECHER, GEO. M. BOYNTON, WM. B. BROWN, CLINTON B. FISK, A. P. FOSTER, AUGUSTUS E. GRAVES, S. B. HALLIDAY, SAM’L HOLMES, S. S. JOCELYN, ANDREW LESTER, CHAS. L. MEAD, JOHN H. WASHBURN, G. B. WILLCOX. COMMUNICATIONS relating to the business of the Association may be addressed to either of the Secretaries as above. DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS MAY BE SENT TO H. W. HUBBARD, 56 READE STREET, NEW YORK, OR, WHEN MORE CONVENIENT, TO EITHER OF THE BRANCH OFFICES, 21 CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE, BOSTON, MASS., 112 WEST WASHINGTON STREET, CHICAGO, ILL. DRAFTS OR CHECKS SENT TO Mr. Hubbard should be made payable to his order as Assistant Treasurer. A payment of thirty dollars at one time constitutes a Life Member. Correspondents are specially requested to place at the head of each letter the name of their Post Office, and the County and State in which it is located. THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY. VOL. XXXII. APRIL, 1878. No. 4. American Missionary Association. [97] THE WARDS OF THE ALMIGHTY. THE NOTABLE EVENT CONNECTED WITH THE FORMAL PRESENTATION OF MR. CARPENTER’S PICTURE “SIGNING THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION,” TO THE UNITED STATES, WAS THE SPEECH OF THE HON. ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS. IT WAS A GRACEFUL AND SIGNIFICANT ACT, WHEN THE FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY SPOKE SUCH WORDS OF HEARTY GOOD-WILL AT THE RECEPTION OF THIS COMMEMORATION OF ITS DEATH-BLOW. MR. STEPHENS CLAIMS FOR THE SOUTH A SHARE OF THE HONOR OF EMANCIPATING THE SLAVES, SINCE “THE FREEDOM OF THAT RACE WAS NEVER FINALLY CONSUMMATED, AND COULD NOT BE, UNTIL THE SOUTHERN STATES SANCTIONED THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT. THEY ACCEPTED THE PROPOSITION FOR EMANCIPATION BY A VOLUNTARY uncontrolled” adoption of it. Of the institution of slavery, as previously existing, he said: “IF IT WERE NOT THE BEST RELATION FOR THE HAPPINESS AND WELFARE OF BOTH RACES—MORALLY, PHYSICALLY, INTELLECTUALLY AND POLITICALLY—IT WAS WRONG AND OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN ABOLISHED. THIS I SAID OF IT YEARS BEFORE SECESSION, AND I REPEAT IT STILL. BUT, AS I HAVE SAID, THIS IS NO TIME NOW TO DISCUSS THOSE questions. “I HAVE SEEN SOMETHING OF THE WORLD, AND TRAVELED SOMEWHAT, AND I HAVE NEVER YET FOUND ON EARTH A PARADISE. THE SOUTHERN STATES ARE NO EXCEPTION. WHEREVER I HAVE BEEN, I HAVE BEEN READY TO EXCLAIM with Burns: “‘But, oh! what crowds in every land Are wretched and forlorn! Man’s inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn.’ “IT WAS SO AT THE SOUTH. IT WAS SO AT THE NORTH. IT IS SO YET. IT IS SO IN EVERY PART OF THE WORLD THAT I have seen.” IN REGARD TO THE FUTURE RELATION OF THE RACES IN THIS LAND, MR. STEPHENS SPEAKS CAUTIOUSLY, AND NOT UNWISELY. WITH MANY OF THE BEST MEN OF THE SOUTH, HE SEES HERE A PROBLEM NOT EASILY TO BE SOLVED, AND AN OUTCOME NOT LIGHTLY TO BE PROPHESIED. He denies that any Southern men desire a change back to the old relation of master and slave. We quote again: “THE QUESTION OF THE PROPER RELATION OF THE RACES IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS WHICH STATESMEN OR PHILANTHROPISTS, LEGISLATORS OR JURISTS, EVER HAD TO SOLVE. THE FORMER POLITY OF THE SOUTHERN STATES UPON THIS SUBJECT IS ENDED, AND I DO NOT THINK IT INAPPROPRIATE ON THIS OCCASION TO INDULGE IN SOME REMARKS WITH REGARD TO THE FUTURE. SINCE THE EMANCIPATION, SINCE THE FORMER RULING RACE HAVE BEEN RELIEVED OF THEIR DIRECT HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROTECTION AND WELFARE OF THEIR DEPENDENTS, IT HAS been common to speak of the colored race as ‘the wards of the nation.’ “MAY I NOT SAY WITH APPROPRIATENESS, IN THIS CONNECTION, AND DUE REVERENCE, IN THE LANGUAGE OF GEORGIA’S GREATEST INTELLECT (TOOMBS), ‘THEY ARE RATHER THE WARDS OF THE ALMIGHTY,’ COMMITTED NOW, UNDER A NEW STATE OF THINGS, TO THE RULERS, THE LAW-MAKERS, THE LAW-EXPOUNDERS AND THE LAW-EXECUTORS THROUGHOUT THIS BROAD LAND, WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE CONSTITUTIONAL SPHERES, TO TAKE CARE OF, AND PROVIDE FOR, IN THAT COMPLICATED SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT UNDER WHICH WE LIVE? I AM INCLINED, SIR, SO TO REGARD THEM, AND SO TO SPEAK OF THEM—NOT IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES, BUT AS A MASS. IN THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD, WHY THEIR ANCESTORS WERE PERMITTED TO BE BROUGHT OVER HERE, IT IS NOT FOR US TO SAY; BUT THEY HAVE A LOCATION AND HABITATION HERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH, AND SINCE THE CHANGED CONDITION OF THEIR STATUS, THOUGH IT WAS THE LEADING CAUSE OF THE LATE TERRIBLE CONFLICT OF ARMS BETWEEN THE STATES, YET I THINK I MAY VENTURE TO AFFIRM THERE IS NOT ONE WITHIN THE CIRCLE OF MY ACQUAINTANCE, OR IN THE WHOLE SOUTHERN country, who would now wish to see the old relation restored.” RECOGNIZING A NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WELFARE AND PROTECTION OF THESE FREEDMEN, HE CLOSES WITH THIS RINGING exhortation: “THIS CHANGED STATUS CREATES NEW DUTIES. THE WARDSHIP HAS CHANGED HANDS. Men of the North and of the South, of the East and of the West—I care not of what party—I would to-day, on this commemorative occasion, urge upon every one within the sphere of duty and humanity, whether in public or private life, to see to it that there be no violation of the Divine trust.” To which the Independent gives its enthusiastic assent as follows: “AMEN AND AMEN! STATESMEN, PATRIOTS, CHRISTIANS, LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT! THEY SPEAK THE DEEPEST FEELINGS OF THE BEST MEN WHO FOUGHT AGAINST THE UNION. THERE REMAINS NOW FOR US THE GREATER TASK OF MAKING THE FREEDMEN WORTHY TO ENJOY AND FIT TO adorn that freedom whose proclamation was signed September 22d, 1862.” DOUGLASS AND HAYES AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY. [98] SURELY, THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH ARE RECEIVING PLAIN TALK AND GOOD ADVICE ON ALL SIDES. PERHAPS NO ONE SPEAKS MORE PLAINLY AND PENETRATINGLY, AND PERHAPS NO ONE HAS A BETTER RIGHT OR ABILITY TO DO IT, THAN THE HON. FREDERICK DOUGLASS. AT THE RECEPTION OF AN ENGRAVING OF MR. CARPENTER’S PICTURE, FROM THE ARTIST, BY THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY, HE UTTERED HONEST WORDS, AND TRUE. SPEAKING OF MR. STEPHENS’ SPEECH, IN WHICH HE SAID IT WAS YET TO BE PROVEN IF EMANCIPATION WAS A BLESSING, MR. DOUGLASS REPLIED THAT THIS QUESTION WAS TO BE ANSWERED IN THE FUTURE, AND MEANT THAT HIS RACE WAS STILL ON TRIAL—ON TRIAL TO SEE IF THEY WOULD BE BETTER MASTERS TO THEMSELVES THAN THEIR MASTERS WERE TO THEM —if they would rise as early and work as late. In regard to his own people, he said: “AMONG THE FAULTS OF MY PEOPLE ARE SELF-INDULGENCE, LOVE OF EASE, AND IMPROVIDENCE. THEY MUST LEARN TO SPEND THEIR EARNINGS JUDICIOUSLY. If one can’t get up, he will be helped down. THEY HAVE A FAIR CHANCE TO GET UP. THEY ARE ON THE WAY TO CONGRESS, AND IF THE NEGRO CAN STAND CONGRESS, CONGRESS OUGHT TO STAND THE NEGRO. THE COLORED MEN HAVE BEEN FORCED UP BY ABNORMAL CONDITIONS, BUT THEY ARE now coming up gradually by their own exertions.” THIS IS THE SOUNDEST KIND OF SENSE. EMANCIPATION ONLY STRUCK THE SHACKLES FROM THE SLAVE; IT HAD NO POWER TO LIFT HIM UP. FEDERAL FORCE COULD HOLD HIM UP BY THE ARMS, BUT HE IS STILL AS LIMP AS EVER, FOR ALL THAT; HIS ANKLE BONES COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RECEIVE STRENGTH FROM IT. “THEY HAVE A FAIR CHANCE TO GET UP”; BUT THAT DOES NOT GET THEM UP OF ITSELF. THE STAIRWAYS OF EDUCATION ARE LAID FROM THE FIRST STORY—YES, FROM THE SUB-CELLAR UP THROUGH THE BASEMENT, FLIGHT AFTER FLIGHT, TO THE TOP FLOOR. BUT STAIRWAYS DO NOT TURN, END FOR END, TO TUMBLE PEOPLE UP. THE PATHS OF HONEST INDUSTRY AND THRIFT ARE OPEN; BUT THEY ARE ALL UP-HILL, AND NEVER SLIDE THEIR TRAVELERS DOWN INTO COMPETENCE AND RESPECTABILITY. THERE IS A CHANCE TO GET UP, BUT THE FREEDMAN MUST DO HIS OWN CLIMBING, AFTER ALL. IF THERE ARE SOME TO DISSUADE HIM, BY ASSURING HIM THAT FOR HIM THESE ASCENTS LEAD UP TO NOTHING WORTH THE EFFORT, THERE ARE OTHERS TO CHEER HIM ON, AND TO REJOICE WITH HIM IN EACH NEW ADVANCE. BUT EVEN SUCH WILL BE COMPELLED TO ADMIT THE JUSTICE OF THE SAYING, “IF ONE CAN’T GET UP, HE WILL BE HELPED DOWN”; HE MUST NOT OBSTRUCT THE WAY. HE OUGHT, HOWEVER, TO BE ENCOURAGED, BY SEEING SUCH MEN AS DOUGLASS UP SO NEAR THE TOP. AND THOSE WHO CANNOT ENCOURAGE HIM BY EXAMPLE, BECAUSE THEY WERE BORN ON HIGHER LEVELS, SURELY MAY SYMPATHIZE WITH HIM, IN THE REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR OWN TOIL, AS THEY ASCENDED ON THE SAME SCALE, THOUGH HIGHER. LET THERE NOT FAIL HIM, WHILE HE FAILS NOT TO STRIVE, CHEERS FROM ABOVE, CHEERS FROM BELOW, CHEERS FROM ALL AROUND HIM, AND A HAND, TOO, NOW AND THEN, FOR HIM TO GRASP AND GET A FRIENDLY PULL. THE STAIR BUILDERS MUST BE IN THE WAY TO HELP A LITTLE, just when heart and strength are failing. President Hayes spoke, too, on the same occasion, and in much the same line. Read this President’s Message: “THE WISDOM, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THE GRANDEUR OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S ACT OF EMANCIPATION, NO MAN WILL DENY. THAT IT HAS CONFERRED INFINITE BLESSINGS ON OUR COUNTRY, ON BOTH RACES, AND ON THE WORLD, VERY FEW WILL QUESTION. THIS ESTIMATE OF THE ACT, AND OF ITS RESULTS, WILL NOT BE CHANGED BY THE GOOD CONDUCT OR THE BAD CONDUCT OF EITHER RACE. BUT IT IS SAID THAT THE QUESTION OF THE BLESSING CONFERRED ON THE COLORED RACE DEPENDS ON THEIR CONDUCT. WHAT THEY MOST NEED IS, WHAT BURNS CALLS ‘THE GLORIOUS PRIVILEGE OF BEING INDEPENDENT.’ WHAT THIS REQUIRES IS, THE WILLINGNESS TO LABOR, AND THE PRUDENCE AND SELF-DENIAL TO SAVE THE FRUITS OF LABOR. MY YOUNG COLORED FRIENDS, LET THIS, THEN, BE AMONG YOUR GOOD resolutions: I will work, and I will save, to the end that I may become independent.” THAT IS GOOD ADVICE FOR ANY POOR MAN, BLACK OR WHITE. THIS PICTURE OF THE SIGNING OF THE EMANCIPATION ACT CAN COMMEMORATE ALL OF WHICH IT IS CAPABLE, ONLY IF THE PRIVILEGE OF FREEDOM BE EMBRACED AS THE OPPORTUNITY OF MANLY TOIL, AND THE OCCASION OF ALL PATIENT EFFORT TO BECOME THE EQUAL OF OTHER MEN, NOT IN EXTERNAL ADVANTAGES AND RIGHTS HALF SO much as in capacity and character. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING FOR AMONG OUR COLORED BRETHREN, AND ESPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUTH, AND WITH A MEASURE OF SUCCESS WHICH MAKES US FULL OF HOPE FOR THEIR FUTURE AND OURS. WE MUST BE PATIENT TO HOLD OUT THE CHANCES, AND KEEP OPEN THE OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS THEY TO TOIL AND STRIVE TO USE THEM. MOST OF ALL DO WE FEEL THAT WHEN WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN LEADING THEM TO AN INTELLIGENT CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE AWAKENED IN THEM THE HIGHEST MOTIVE OF WHICH THE HUMAN MIND IS CAPABLE, AND BROUGHT THEM UNDER THE MOST POWERFUL STIMULUS TO THE WORTHIEST OF ALL AMBITIONS—TO FIT themselves, not for high stations, but for useful work. CHURCH WORK IN THE SOUTH. IS THE A. M. A. DEVOTING A PROPER SHARE OF ITS WORK TO THE EXTENSION OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES IN THE SOUTH? THE QUESTION IS A FAIR ONE, AND DESERVES A FRANK ANSWER. BUT THE ANSWER, TO BE JUST TO ALL INTERESTS CONCERNED, MUST TAKE A BROAD VIEW OF THE WHOLE SUBJECT. THE PARAMOUNT DUTY OF THE NATION, AND ESPECIALLY OF THE CHURCHES, TO THE EMANCIPATED SLAVES, IS TO FIT THEM FOR THEIR NEW POSITION AS CITIZENS, AND THEIR TRUE DESTINY AS MEN AND CHRISTIANS IN AMERICA, AND AS MISSIONARIES TO AFRICA. ANYTHING SHORT OF THIS IS LESS THAN OUR WHOLE DUTY. THE BLACKS ARE ALL RELIGIOUS IN THEIR WAY, AND NEARLY ALL ARE CONNECTED WITH CHURCHES. IN THE MATTER OF OUTWARD PROFESSION AND INWARD EMOTION, THE quantity IS ALL THAT COULD BE ASKED. IT IS IN THE quality ALONE THAT A CHANGE IS NEEDED. NO CHRISTIAN CHURCH CAN DISCHARGE ITS DUTY TO THEM BY MERELY DENOMINATIONALIZING THEM INTO ITS RANKS, LEAVING THE ESSENTIALS OF CHARACTER AND CHRISTIAN MANHOOD UNCHANGED. The Congregational Churches of this country certainly will not be satisfied with this low aim. BUT THESE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES ARE, BY THE NATURE OF THE CASE, COMPELLED TO WORK IN METHODS DIFFERING FROM THOSE OF OTHER DENOMINATIONS. METHODISTS, BAPTISTS, AND, TO SOME EXTENT, PRESBYTERIANS AND EPISCOPALIANS, PRE-OCCUPY THE [99] [100] ground. Congregationalists were almost unknown among the blacks before the war, and their efforts must naturally meet WITH SECTARIAN PREJUDICE, SOMEWHAT IN PROPORTION TO THE IGNORANCE OF THE PEOPLE. BUT, NEVERTHELESS, CONGREGATIONALISM HAS A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY IN REGARD TO THIS PEOPLE, IN LAYING FOUNDATIONS ON WHICH TO BUILD THE ESSENTIALS OF CHARACTER IN CIVIL AND CHRISTIAN LIFE. IT IS WITH THIS AIM THAT THE ASSOCIATION HAS, FROM THE BEGINNING, SOUGHT TO DO ITS WORK—MOVING, WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE, FROM THE COMMON-SCHOOL TO THE MORE EFFECTIVE NORMAL, COLLEGIATE AND THEOLOGICAL TEACHING. THE WISDOM OF ITS EFFORTS IS ATTESTED BY THE COMMENDATIONS OF THOSE, BOTH IN THE SOUTH AND NORTH, WHO ARE MOST COMPETENT TO JUDGE, AND ALSO BY THE MORE CONVINCING FACT, THAT IT CAN POINT TO 100,000 SCHOLARS IN SCHOOLS TAUGHT BY ITS FORMER PUPILS, TO THE EDUCATION IT HAS GIVEN TO MANY COLORED MINISTERS, AND TO THE MISSIONARIES, BORN IN slavery, trained in its schools, and now sent to Africa. THE CHURCH WORK MUST FOR A TIME, AT LEAST, GROW OUT OF, AND KEEP PACE WITH, THIS CHRISTIAN TEACHING, WHICH PREPARES THE PEOPLE TO APPRECIATE, AND THE MINISTER TO PREACH, A PURE GOSPEL AND A PRACTICAL MORALITY. IT WERE EASY TO SCATTER THE SEEDS IN A THIN AND SHALLOW SOIL, AND GATHER A HARVEST THAT WOULD WITHER WHILE IT WAS GATHERING. A WRITER IN ONE OF THE RELIGIOUS PAPERS, WHO CENSURES THE ASSOCIATION, MAKES THIS GREAT BOAST, FOLLOWED BY A FRANK CONFESSION: “WITH HALF OF THREE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS I CAN CONGREGATIONALIZE EVERY NEGRO IN THE SOUTH; but, of course, the work would not be permanent.” THE ITALICS IN THIS QUOTATION ARE OURS, FOR WE WISH TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT, AND TO SAY THAT THIS TRANSIENT WORK IS PRECISELY WHAT THE ASSOCIATION DOES NOT ATTEMPT. IT WILL NOT TAKE THE MONEY OF ITS PATRONS TO START EPHEMERAL GROWTHS. IT PREFERS, AND WE ARE SURE ITS INTELLIGENT FRIENDS WILL PREFER, THAT IT SHOULD PLOW DEEP, HARROW thoroughly, and sow “wholly a right seed,” that the gatherings may be an hundred fold for the garner of the Master. AN EFFORT IS MADE TO STIR UP CONGREGATIONALISTS TO PLANT white CHURCHES IN THE SOUTH. THE PROJECT IS NOT NEW, BUT ITS RESULTS THUS FAR HAVE NOT BEEN ENCOURAGING. SOON AFTER THE WAR, THE HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY AND THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION INVESTED LARGE MONEYS IN ESTABLISHING SUCH CHURCHES THERE, AND WE SUPPOSE THAT THEIR EXPERIENCE WILL LEAD THEM TO ASK FOR VERY CLEAR EVIDENCE OF MORE FAVORABLE AUSPICES BEFORE THEY WILL WISH TO RENEW THE ATTEMPT. BUT IF IT WERE RENEWED, IT WOULD ONLY BE AN EXAGGERATION OF THE DIFFICULTIES AT THE WEST, WHERE FEEBLE RIVAL CHURCHES, IN POOR AND SMALL COMMUNITIES, STRUGGLE AGAINST INEVITABLE DEATH. FOR, IN THE SOUTH, WE SHOULD HAVE TWO FEEBLE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES, THE ONE WHITE AND THE OTHER BLACK, IN STILL POORER AND SMALLER PLACES. AND MORE THAN ALL THAT, THE A. M. A. HAS STARTED ITS CHURCH WORK ON THE ONLY TRUE GOSPEL BASIS, FOUNDING CHURCHES WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF COLOR. ITS CHURCHES ARE NOT BLACK BY ITS ORDINATION, AND ARE ONLY MADE NEARLY SO BY THE CASTE PREJUDICE OF THE WHITES. IT OUGHT TO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE PROGRESS OF ANY PEOPLE IN CIVILIZATION AND CHRISTIANITY IS A GROWTH, TAKING FORM AND BEARING FRUIT ACCORDING TO SOIL AND climate, and that it cannot be produced to order, or at the behest of mere theorists. FOUR NEW MISSIONARIES FOR AFRICA. MANY AN EXPERIMENT HAS FAILED BECAUSE ENTERED UPON HALF-HEARTEDLY, AND TRIED ON TOO SMALL A SCALE TO SUCCEED. THE HEIGHT OF WISDOM IS TO FIND THE TRUE LINE ON WHICH CAUTION AND COURAGE MEET. IT HAS BEEN THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION TO DO ITS PART IN THE EVANGELIZATION OF AFRICA, BY MISSIONARIES OF AFRICAN DESCENT, AND TO BEGIN IN THAT EFFORT SO SOON AS our schools should begin to furnish those qualified for such important work. LAST FALL, WHEN, AFTER THE RETURN OF MR. BILLHEIMER AND THE DEATH OF BARNABAS ROOT, THE MENDI MISSION NEEDED rëinforcement, the new policy was begun by sending Messrs. Snelson, James and White to the field. They arrived in due TIME, AND ENTERED AT ONCE HEARTILY UPON THEIR WORK. THEY HAVE HAD SOME SLIGHT ILLNESSES—ALMOST, IF NOT QUITE ALL OF THEM HAVING SUFFERED SOMEWHAT IN THE PROCESS OF ACCLIMATION—BUT AT LAST ACCOUNTS ALL WERE WELL AGAIN. IF WE ARE FULLY informed, they have endured less inconvenience from this cause than we anticipated. BUT THE MISSION WAS STILL WEAK—BRO. SNELSON THE ONLY MINISTER. TWO OF THE WHITE MISSIONARY HELPERS, WHO HAD BEEN IN THE FIELD BEFORE, SOON WITHDREW IN IMPAIRED HEALTH. IT WAS DEEMED WISE, AND, INDEED, INDISPENSABLE, FOR THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF THE WORK, THAT THE RANKS SHOULD BE AT ONCE FILLED. IT WAS DECIDED TO SEND THREE SINGLE MEN, OR BETTER, IF POSSIBLE, TWO MARRIED MEN WITH THEIR WIVES. A LETTER WAS WRITTEN TO FISK UNIVERSITY, STATING THE NEED, WHICH WAS READ without comment, at prayers, Feb. 8th. GOD’S SPIRIT TOOK THE MESSAGE TO THE HEART OF ANDREW E. JACKSON, AND SENT IT BY HIM TO ALBERT MILLER, AND THROUGH THEM TO ELLA M. HILDRIDGE AND ADA J. ROBERTS (ALSO STUDENTS AT FISK), TO WHOM THEY WERE RESPECTIVELY ENGAGED, AND THREE DAYS LATER THE FOUR OFFERED THEMSELVES WILLINGLY FOR THIS FAR-OFF FIELD. THE FACULTY RECOGNIZED AT ONCE THEIR FITNESS FOR THE WORK; THEY WERE AMONG THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST AND MOST ADVANCED OF THE STUDENTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS. THE FOUR MET DAILY FOR PRAYER TOGETHER, AND THEIR CONVICTIONS AND PURPOSES WERE DAILY STRENGTHENED. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ACCEPTED THEM PROMPTLY, AND FELT IT NECESSARY TO PRESS THEIR SPEEDY DEPARTURE, THAT THEY MIGHT REACH THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA BEFORE THE WET SEASON SHOULD SET IN, WHEN THE CONDITIONS FOR THEIR ACCLIMATURE WOULD BE LESS favorable than earlier. ON SATURDAY OF THAT WEEK A COUNCIL WAS CONVENED, WHICH, ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, SUNDAY, FEB. 17TH, ORDAINED THE TWO YOUNG MEN TO THE GOSPEL MINISTRY, THEY HAVING EACH HAD CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN PREACHING. A FAREWELL MEETING OF THE STUDENTS WAS ALSO HELD ON THE SAME DAY, FULL OF HEARTINESS AND FERVOR, AT WHICH THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY adopted: “IN CONSIDERATION OF THE CALL OF GOD TO OUR BRETHREN, TO LABOR IN AFRICA, AND IN CONSIDERATION OF THE many hours spent together in Christian communion, “Resolved, THAT WE DEVOTE A PORTION OF EACH SABBATH MORNING TO PRAYER ESPECIALLY FOR THEM IN THEIR [101] LABORS ON THE AFRICAN SHORES, THAT THEY MAY BE ABUNDANTLY BLESSED, BOTH SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY, AND enabled to do good work for the Master.” WE HAVE NO FEAR OF A LACK OF MISSIONARY ZEAL HENCEFORTH IN FISK UNIVERSITY. BUT THE MANIFESTATION OF INTEREST IN THIS EVENT WAS NOT CONFINED WITHIN ITS WALLS. ALL NASHVILLE SEEMED AGLOW WITH FRIENDLY ENTHUSIASM. DR. RAND, OF THE FIRST CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, INVITED MILLER INTO HIS PULPIT, AT THE CLOSE OF THE SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE, TO ADDRESS THE CONGREGATION, WHICH TOOK UP A LIBERAL COLLECTION FOR THE OUTFIT OF THE YOUNG MISSIONARIES. THEIR AGES RANGE FROM TWENTY-ONE TO TWENTY-SEVEN. THE THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS OF VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY INVITED THEM TO AN INTERVIEW ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, AT WHICH THEY WERE MOST KINDLY RECEIVED; AND AFTER PRAYERS TOGETHER, AND CONVERSATION, WERE THE RECIPIENTS OF presents of books and money. THE NEXT DAY, THE DOUBLE MARRIAGE WAS SOLEMNIZED BY PROFESSORS BENNETT AND SPENCE, AND LATER, A GENERAL FAREWELL MEETING WAS HELD IN ST. JOHN’S CHAPEL. THE LARGE BUILDING WAS CROWDED, AND MANY WENT AWAY UNABLE TO FIND ENTRANCE. PROMINENT MINISTERS FROM THE CITY AND VICINITY, REPRESENTING THE LEADING DENOMINATIONS OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES, WERE PRESENT. THE TONE OF THE MEETING WAS CONGRATULATORY AND HOPEFUL, AS BEFITTED THE SENDING FORTH OF THESE SOLDIERS OF THE Cross. AT THEIR LEAVING NASHVILLE BY THE EVENING TRAIN, AN IMMENSE CROWD GATHERED IN AND ABOUT THE DEPOT TO SEE THEM OFF. A day or two only was spent in New York, to make necessary purchases, and receive instructions from the Secretary. On Thursday AFTERNOON, A FEW MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RELIGIOUS PRESS, HELD AN INFORMAL INTERVIEW WITH THEM. THEY EACH TOLD THE STORY OF THEIR LIVES, OF THEIR STRUGGLES TO ACQUIRE AN EDUCATION, AND OF THEIR RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES. ALL WERE DEEPLY IMPRESSED WITH THE SINCERITY OF THEIR DEVOTION, AND WITH THEIR MODESTY AND good sense as well. ON SATURDAY, THE 23D OF FEBRUARY, THEY SAILED FOR ENGLAND, WHERE THEY ARRIVED MARCH 3D. BY THE 20TH THEY WERE expected to reach Freetown, and a few days later, their new home. WE HAVE THUS FAIRLY LAUNCHED ON THE NEW EXPERIMENT OF AFRICAN EVANGELIZATION BY MEN AND WOMEN OF AFRICAN DESCENT, WHO HAVE COME THROUGH AMERICAN SLAVERY TO FREEDOM. THE NINE ADULTS TOGETHER IN THE FIELD ARE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER’S COURAGE AND HOLD UP EACH OTHER’S HANDS. BUT THE FIELD IS FAR AWAY; THE PERILS OF IT ARE PECULIAR; THE PATH IS A NEW ONE TO THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. WE TRUST IN THEM WITH GREAT CONFIDENCE. BUT IN THE COMPLICATIONS AND UNFORESEEN EMERGENCIES WHICH ALWAYS MAY ARISE IN A FOREIGN FIELD, WE FEEL THAT THEY NEED, MORE THAN MOST MISSIONARIES EVEN, THE CONSTANT REMEMBRANCES, IN PRAYER, OF THE THOUSANDS OF THE FRIENDS OF AFRICA IN OUR LAND AND IN GREAT BRITAIN. WE REPEAT most urgently their parting request—“Brethren, pray for us.” THE TWO INDIAN POLICIES. TWO RADICALLY DIFFERENT VIEWS HAVE PREVAILED IN THIS COUNTRY FROM THE OUTSET IN REGARD TO THE TREATMENT OF THE INDIANS— THE ONE REPRESENTED BY THE WORD CIVILIZATION, AND THE OTHER BY THE WORD EXTERMINATION. THE FIRST OF THESE WAS ENTERTAINED BY THE PILGRIM FATHERS, AND BY THE FOUNDER OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND WAS CARRIED OUT APOSTOLICALLY BY JOHN ELIOT, DAVID BRAINARD, AND OTHERS, AS WELL AS BY SUCCESSFUL INDIAN MISSIONS OF LATER DATE. BUT THE EFFORT HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY OBSTRUCTED BY THE HOSTILITIES BETWEEN THE INDIANS AND THE WHITE MEN, RENDERING THE LATTER INDISPOSED TO SEND THE GOSPEL, AND THE FORMER TO RECEIVE IT. THE ONLY DECIDED AND COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT BY THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT, FOR THE CIVILIZATION OF THE INDIANS, IS THE PEACE POLICY INAUGURATED BY GENERAL GRANT, THE RESULTS OF WHICH, IN SPITE OF ALL OBSTACLES AND OPPOSITION, HAVE BEEN UNMISTAKABLY AND INCREASINGLY ADVANTAGEOUS. (1) AS A CLASS, THE AGENTS SELECTED BY THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES HAVE BEEN FAR MORE TRUSTWORTHY AND EFFICIENT THAN THEIR PREDECESSORS, BEING THEMSELVES HONEST IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH THE INDIAN, AND DEFENDING THEM FROM THE FRAUDS OF RING SPECULATORS, AND THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE LIQUOR DEALERS. (2) THE PROGRESS OF THE INDIANS IN THEIR INDUSTRIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND MORAL ADVANCEMENT HAS BEEN VERY MARKED, AS IS SHOWN BY A TABULATED AND COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FACTS, PREPARED BY THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS, AND RECENTLY PUBLISHED. (3) THE AGENTS—REPRESENTING ALL DENOMINATIONS, AND, THEREFORE, NOT COMMITTING THE GOVERNMENT TO SECTARIANISM—HAVE MOST DIRECTLY AND HEARTILY CO-OPERATED WITH THE RELIGIOUS EFFORTS OF THE DIFFERENT CHURCHES FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE INDIANS. AS THE ONLY POSSIBILITY OF CIVILIZING THE INDIANS LIES IN THEIR CHRISTIAN ENLIGHTENMENT, THE WORK of the religious societies, under the fostering care of the government, gives the highest promise of success. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE POLICY OF EXTERMINATION HAS BEEN TRIED FROM THE BEGINNING. IN THE EARLIER DAYS THE STRUGGLE RESEMBLED THE BORDER WARS BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND, BEING MERE TEMPORARY RAIDS, CARRIED ON WITH LITTLE EXPENSE. BUT MODERN WARFARE PUTS ANOTHER ASPECT ON THIS CONTEST WITH THE INDIANS, MAKING IT VASTLY MORE COSTLY IN MEN AND MONEY. IT IS BELIEVED THAT NOT A SINGLE INDIAN HAS BEEN KILLED BY OUR ARMY, AT LESS THAN AN AVERAGE EXPENSE OF A MILLION OF DOLLARS, AND OF THE LIVES OF ONE OR MORE WHITE MEN. THE WAR DEPARTMENT AND THE ARMY ARE THE NATURAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS POLICY, AND IF THE INDIANS ARE TRANSFERRED TO THEIR CARE, THE PEACE POLICY WILL BE OVERTHROWN, AND WE FEAR THAT OF EXTERMINATION SUBSTITUTED IN ITS PLACE. THIS APPREHENSION INVOLVES NO REFLECTION ON THE HUMANITY OF THE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY, BUT THE INFERENCE IS JUSTIFIED BY THE HISTORY OF THE PAST, AND BY THE FACT THAT THE BUSINESS OF AN ARMY is to destroy, and not to give instruction. MUCH SIGNIFICANCY IS ADDED TO THIS QUESTION BY THE RECENT TABLES OF MAJOR CLARK, SHOWING THAT THE INDIANS ARE NOT DECREASING IN NUMBER. THEY ARE HERE, AND MEAN TO STAY. WE CANNOT EXTERMINATE THEM, AND WE OUGHT, AS A CHRISTIAN PEOPLE, TO FACE MANFULLY THE OTHER AND GRANDER ALTERNATIVE OF MAKING THEM GOOD CITIZENS AND SHARERS IN THE BLESSINGS OF the Gospel. [102] [103] ONE OTHER THING SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN. THIS NATION LONG OPPRESSED THE BLACK MAN, AND THE DREAD PENALTY CAME AT LENGTH, WHOSE MEMENTOES ARE IN A MILLION OF SOLDIERS’ GRAVES, IN BROKEN HOMES AND HEARTS, NORTH AND SOUTH, AND IN THE DISTURBANCE OF ALL COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS, UNDER WHICH THE WHOLE LAND STILL TREMBLES. IF WE PERSEVERE IN OUR wrongs and neglects of the red man, have we any hope that we shall escape similar retributions? God still reigns! NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES. HAMPTON, VA.—“FIVE STUDENTS UNITED WITH THE CHURCH BY PROFESSION, THE FIRST SABBATH IN MARCH. OTHERS WERE ADVISED TO WAIT UNTIL THEY HAD OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS BY THEIR CHRISTIAN WORKS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONTINUAL WORK OF GRACE EXTENDING NOISELESSLY AND UNOBTRUSIVELY FROM HEART TO HEART, AND ADDING ONE AFTER ANOTHER TO THE trophies of its victorious power.” MCLEANSVILLE, N. C.—MISS DOUGLASS WRITES: “MY BIBLE-CLASS STILL CONTINUES LARGE. MY ROOM IS CROWDED EVERY SABBATH. AFTER THE CLASS WAS DISMISSED LAST NIGHT ONE YOUNG MAN, WHO WISHES TO FIT HIMSELF FOR A MISSIONARY, SAID, ‘I HAVE TAKEN A NEW RESOLUTION TO BE MORE DEVOTED THAN EVER.’ HE MUST SOON LEAVE SCHOOL TO EARN MORE MONEY. I WISH HE could go on now.” SAVANNAH, GA.—MR. MARKHAM WRITES: “OUR CONGREGATION IS INCREASING EVERY WEEK. GOD IS WITH US. THIS IS AS CLEAR AS A SUNBEAM. I FEEL HIS SPECIAL AID. TWO UNITED WITH OUR CHURCH YESTERDAY (MARCH 3). I AM TO GO TO OGEECHEE NEXT Sabbath. Nine will unite there. The Sabbath-school at East Savannah is increasing. More than 100 are now on the list.” MACON, GA.—“YESTERDAY (FEB. 10,) WAS A HAPPY DAY TO THE MACON CHURCH. FOUR CHILDREN BAPTIZED, AND FIVE ADULTS RECEIVED INTO MEMBERSHIP. OF THESE, FOUR ARE NEW CONVERTS—OTHERS WILL COME FORWARD NEXT MONTH. OUR DAILY PRAYER- meetings are continued. The church is aroused to more activity, and we look for yet better things.” WOODVILLE, GA.—“SIX UNITED WITH THE CHURCH MARCH 2D. SUNDAY-SCHOOL NUMBERS NEARLY 100. PRAYER-MEETINGS ARE being held every evening. The day-school has 92 scholars enrolled.” NEW ORLEANS, LA.—“THE VERY INTERESTING RELIGIOUS WORK STILL CONTINUES. AS MANY AS FIFTY HAVE BEEN CONVERTED. SOME of the very hopeful cases are, or have been, nominal Catholics: others of the same class are interested.” BEREA, KY.—“An interesting revival in progress—some twenty conversions.” ITEMS FROM THE SCHOOLS. SAVANNAH, GA.—THE BEACH INSTITUTE IN THIS CITY WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE ON THE MORNING OF FEB. 20TH. THE FIRE BEGAN IN A BARN ON THE PREMISES IN SOME MYSTERIOUS WAY, AND WAS SPEEDILY COMMUNICATED TO THE INSTITUTE BUILDING. THE TEACHERS’ HOME ADJOINING WAS SAVED, THE WALL TOWARD IT STANDING. PART OF THE SCHOOL FURNITURE WAS ALSO SAVED. THE BUILDING HAD, FOR A FEW YEARS PAST, BEEN RENTED TO THE CITY SCHOOL-BOARD FOR A COLORED SCHOOL. NOTICE HAD BEEN GIVEN THEM THAT THE ASSOCIATION WOULD REQUIRE THE BUILDING FOR ITS OWN USE NEXT FALL. THE INSURANCE MONEY WILL REPLACE THE BUILDING, AND A school under the Association’s care will be opened as previously planned. MARIETTA, GA.—“OUR SCHOOL OPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME OCT. 15TH, 1877. THE LOCAL PREJUDICE WAS SO GREAT THAT ONLY FOUR SCHOLARS ATTENDED. A CHANGE IN THE FEELING HAS TAKEN PLACE, AND THE SCHOOL HAS, UP TO THIS TIME, ENROLLED 88 PUPILS. THE COLORED PEOPLE ARE BECOMING EAGER TO EMBRACE THEIR PRIVILEGES. THE CHILDREN ARE IMPROVING IN KNOWLEDGE AND IN care for themselves. The prospect is full of encouragement.” FORSYTH, GA.—ON FEBRUARY 1ST, THE SCHOOL BUILDING OF THE COLORED PEOPLE OF FORSYTH WAS DEDICATED AND SET APART FOR THE WORK FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED. FOR MONTHS THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO RAISE MONEY TO BUILD THE HOUSE. THEY HAD, AS A FUND TO START WITH, ABOUT TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, WHICH THE COLORED BAPTIST CHURCH HAD COLLECTED. Subscription lists were opened and the colored people and their white friends contributed as they could. Contrary to the EXPECTATION OF MANY, THEIR SUCCESS WAS SUCH THAT THE BUILDING WAS FRAMED AND RAPIDLY PUSHED FORWARD. IT IS NOT YET COMPLETE, LACKING PLASTERING, BUT IS QUITE COMFORTABLE NEVERTHELESS. THE TEACHER, W. F. JACKSON, A GRADUATE OF THE ATLANTA UNIVERSITY, HAS BEEN INDEFATIGABLE AND UNTIRING IN HIS EFFORTS TO PRESS THIS ENTERPRISE TO COMPLETION. REV. E. A. Ware, President of the Atlanta University, made the dedicatory address. LIGHTS AND SHADOWS. —A SOUTHERN MAN, A MEMBER OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, AND A BOOK AGENT FOR MANY YEARS, REPORTS THAT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS HE HAS TAKEN 280 ORDERS FROM THE COLORED PEOPLE OF CHARLESTON FOR VALUABLE BOOKS, IN MANY CASES TRUSTING THEM when cash payments could not be made, and has not lost fifteen dollars. —A GENTLEMAN IN AUGUSTA, GA., TELLS US HE HAS SOLD OVER TWO HUNDRED HOUSE LOTS TO COLORED PEOPLE, WHO HAVE PAID FOR them in small instalments, since the war. —THE AFRICAN METHODISTS HAVE BEEN HOLDING AN EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION IN GEORGIA, BISHOP CAMPBELL PRESIDING. FROM THE STATEMENTS MADE BY THE BISHOP AND BY PRESIDING ELDER BROWN, WE LEARN THAT WONDERFUL PROGRESS IN EDUCATION HAS BEEN MADE DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS. TEN YEARS AGO, IN THE ATLANTIC DISTRICT, THERE WAS BUT ONE MAN CAPABLE OF KEEPING A [104] MINUTE OF THE TRANSACTIONS, “AND THEN IT HAD TO BE READ WHILE IT WAS HOT, FOR IF IT EVER COOLED DOWN IT COULD NEVER BE READ AGAIN.” NOW THERE IS SCARCELY A PREACHER WHO, BESIDES READING AND WRITING, HAS NOT PURSUED TO SOME EXTENT THE COURSE of studies prescribed to candidates for the ministry. —IT IS PLEASANT TO NOTE HOW THE FREEDMEN ARE RISING TO THE DIGNITY OF SELF-SUPPORT IN THEIR RELIGIOUS, AS WELL AS THEIR MATERIAL INTERESTS. A MISSIONARY OF THE AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, IN NORTH CAROLINA, HAVING RECENTLY ORGANIZED THREE NEW SUNDAY-SCHOOLS AMONG FREEDMEN, WRITES, THAT AT THE CLOSE OF ONE OF HIS MEETINGS “AN AGED NEGRO, OF NEARLY SEVENTY YEARS, CAME FORWARD WITH HIS PENNIES TO BUY A PRIMER FOR HIS GRANDSON. HIS EXAMPLE WAS FOLLOWED UNTIL ABOUT two hundred pennies were piled upon the desk—the first contribution of these poor but willing self-helpers.” —IN SEVEN YEARS THE STUDENTS OF TALLADEGA COLLEGE ALONE HAVE ORGANIZED SUNDAY-SCHOOLS IN WHICH HAVE BEEN TAUGHT over 20,000 scholars. —DR. SEARS, AGENT OF THE PEABODY FUND, SAYS THAT IN ALL THE STATES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A RE-ACTION AGAINST EDUCATION, IT HAS BEEN FOLLOWED BY A RETURN TO BETTER MEASURES THAN EVER. THUS, THROUGH LOCAL ACTIONS AND RE-ACTIONS, THE GENERAL forward movement is assured. —ONE MORNING, IN OUR SCHOOL IN AUGUSTA, ON CALLING FOR THE FIRST COMMANDMENT WITH PROMISE, A LITTLE GIRL, HARDLY SIX years old, said: “Honor thy father and mother, that thy days may be long in the land of liberty.” That wasn’t very bad. —A COLORED TENNESSEEAN SAYS: “WHEN I WANT TO HEAR PREACHING, I GO TO THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH; WHEN I WANT TO have a good time I go to these other places.” —ONE OF OUR FAITHFUL MINISTERS IN GEORGIA GRIEVES OVER A RECENT RESTORATION TO HIS PULPIT OF A NEIGHBORING COLORED PASTOR. HE SAYS THE WHITE PEOPLE WANTED IT, BECAUSE (1) THE MAN’S POLITICS SUIT THEM, (2) HE IS IGNORANT, AND (3) HE GETS DRUNK. THE COLORED MEMBERS OF HIS CHURCH KNOW NOTHING OF BIBLE RELIGION, AND ARE LIKE THEIR PRIEST. ON A RECENT COMMUNION SUNDAY SEVEN OF THEM WERE SEEN RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES DRUNK—THREE JUST ABLE TO STAGGER ON, AND FOUR “BEING HAULED OUT IN A CART, NOT ABLE TO SIT UP.” THE WRITER SAYS SUCH CHURCHES CANNOT SAVE THESE PEOPLE, AND MERE SECULAR INSTRUCTION will not cure such evils. The Christian school is the only hope. —IN ANOTHER CASE, IN THE SAME STATE, A MINISTER, GOING INTO A CHURCH SHORTLY AFTER THE CLOSE OF A COMMUNION SERVICE, FOUND THE DEACONS AND A FEW OF THE MEMBERS “EATING AND DRINKING AND CARRYING ON AS IF THEY WERE IN A BAR-ROOM.” BEING EXPOSTULATED WITH, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT FEEL AT LIBERTY TO THROW ANY OF THE BREAD AND WINE AWAY. IT WAS EVIDENTLY, however, a renewal of the old excesses for which Paul so sharply rebuked the Church at Corinth. —A WOMAN IN ONE OF THE OLD-STYLE CHURCHES, NOT FAR FROM ONE OF OUR BEST SCHOOLS, “CAME THROUGH WITH RELIGION” ONE NIGHT, AND IN TELLING HER WONDERFUL “EXPERIENCE,” SAID SHE WENT TO HEAVEN, AND FROM THERE SHE SAW THIS WHOLE SCHOOL “marching down to hell with their Bibles in their hands.” INDIAN NOTES. —THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS HAS REPORTED IN FAVOR OF THE TRANSFER OF THE INDIAN BUREAU FROM THE INTERIOR TO THE WAR DEPARTMENT. ITS GROUNDS ARE (1) THE FAILURE OF THE ATTEMPTS TO CIVILIZE; (2) THE DIVIDED RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN SECRETARY AND COMMISSIONER—BETWEEN CIVIL AND MILITARY OFFICERS; (3) THE CORRUPTION OF THE PRESENT INDIAN SERVICE; (4) the economy of the change, which will furnish employment for retired and idle army officers who receive pay. —PRECISELY WHAT CIVILIZING AGENCIES WOULD BE BROUGHT TO BEAR UPON THESE PEOPLE UNDER THE WAR DEPARTMENT IS NOT STATED IN THE REPORT. WHETHER THE SCHOOL AND THE CHURCH WOULD BE ALLOWED, OR ONLY THE STOCKADE AND THE GARRISON; WHETHER BULLETS SHOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF BOOKS, AND GUNS OF GOSPEL. THIS DOES NOT FOLLOW OF NECESSITY, ONLY FROM THE despairing tone in regard to the attempts to civilize. —WE BEG OUR READERS TO NOTICE CAREFULLY WHAT CLASS OF MEN, AS A WHOLE, SUSTAIN AND DESIRE THE CHANGE TO THE WAR Department, and what sort of men oppose it. There is great significance in such discriminations. —THE RECENT SIOUX WAR COST $2,313,531 IN MONEY, AND 283 MEN KILLED, AMONG WHOM WAS THE GALLANT CUSTER AND HIS staff, and 125 wounded. —Sunday Afternoon SAYS: “IT COSTS THE UNITED STATES ABOUT $1,700 A YEAR TO SUPPORT A SOLDIER FIGHTING THE INDIANS. IT COSTS THE AMERICAN BOARD ABOUT HALF AS MUCH TO SUPPORT A MISSIONARY PREACHING TO THEM. WOULD IT NOT BE CHEAPER TO send more missionaries and fewer soldiers?” —HON. A. C. BARSTOW, ONE OF THE INDIAN COMMISSIONERS, AND A MAN THOROUGHLY CONVERSANT WITH THE WHOLE SUBJECT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, GIVES THE FOLLOWING OPINION REGARDING THIS IMPORTANT BRANCH OF OUR CIVIL SERVICE AND THE MEN WHO CONTROL it. He says: “THE PRESENT COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS IS AN ABLE MAN, OF LARGE BUSINESS EXPERIENCE, AND, MOREOVER, (AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PURCHASING COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS, AND UP TO WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF ENTERING THIS OFFICE), OF LARGE EXPERIENCE IN INDIAN AFFAIRS. THERE IS NO MAN IN THE COUNTRY WHOM CORRUPT CONTRACTORS HAVE MORE LEARNED TO FEAR AND TO HATE; AND, IN MY OPINION, THEY ARE THE MEN WHO ARE FANNING THIS FLAME OF EXCITEMENT, AND WHO ARE exerting all their influence to turn the administration of Indian affairs over to the War Department. They ARE PINCHED BY THE PRESENT POLICY, AND DESIRE CHANGE. THEY CANNOT SUFFER BY THIS OR ANY CHANGE, AND MAY BE BENEFITED—HENCE, THEIR NOISY ZEAL. I AM SORRY THAT ANY GOOD MAN HAS FOR A MOMENT BEEN LED [105] [106] TO BELIEVE THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR IS OPEN TO THE INFLUENCE OF THIS CLASS OF MEN. I THINK THE PUBLIC MAY SAFELY QUIET THEIR FEARS UPON THIS POINT. WHATEVER ELSE MAY BE SAID OF HIM, HE IS NOT A ‘BIRD OF THAT FEATHER.’ FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN, I THINK THE PUBLIC MAY LOOK FOR AN ADMINISTRATION OF HIS DEPARTMENT NOT ONLY HONEST BUT ABLE, AND MAY ALSO BE ASSURED THAT THE POLICY OF PRESIDENT HAYES toward the Indians will be eminently humane and Christian.” —THE EDUCATIONAL WORK AMONG THE INDIANS MAY BE SUMMED UP FROM THE COMMISSIONER’S REPORT FOR 1877, AS FOLLOWS: THERE ARE 251,000 INDIANS, AND 28,000 HALF-BREEDS, EXCLUSIVE OF ALASKA. AMONG THEM ARE 330 SCHOOLS, OF WHICH 60 ARE BOARDING-SCHOOLS, WITH 437 TEACHERS; AND 11,515 PUPILS HAVE ATTENDED AT LEAST ONE MOUTH. LARGEST MONTHLY AVERAGE, 4,774; AVERAGE FOR THE YEAR, 3,598; EXPENSE TO THE GOVERNMENT, $255,379; TO TRIBAL FUNDS, $81,989; TO THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES, $33,950; IN ALL, $371,318; 40,397, OF WHOM 23,196 ARE ADULTS, CAN READ; 1,206 LEARNED TO READ LAST year. —THE RELIGIOUS ITEMS, DRAWN FROM THE SAME SOURCE, SHOW 207 CHURCH BUILDINGS ON THE RESERVATIONS; 126 MISSIONARIES, not included among teachers; expended by religious societies, $36,164; 27,215 are members of the mission churches of ALL DENOMINATIONS. WE QUESTION WHETHER THE $36,000 REPORTED AS EXPENDED BY THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES, REPRESENTS, EVEN APPROXIMATELY, THE FULL AMOUNT GIVEN FROM THIS SOURCE, SINCE THE A. B. C. F. M. AND THE PRESBYTERIAN BOARD, TOGETHER, EXPEND ANNUALLY NEARLY THIS AMOUNT. WE CLAIM THAT, CONSIDERING ALL THE DISADVANTAGES OF HIS CONDITION, AND THE FEWNESS OF the laborers, the results are gratifying and hopeful. CHINESE NOTES. —THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR MADE A REPORT, FEBRUARY 25TH, ON THE CHINESE QUESTION, OF WHICH WE GIVE THE FOLLOWING ABSTRACT: SINCE THE FIRST TREATY WITH CHINA, IN JULY, 1844, THE MIGRATION HAS BEEN ON THE STEADY INCREASE FOR THE LAST TWENTY YEARS—FROM 1855 TO 1859, IT WAS 4,530; 1860 TO 1864, IT WAS 6,600; FROM 1865 TO 1870, IT WAS 9,311; FROM 1871 TO 1874, IT WAS 13,000. —— THE LOWEST ESTIMATE OF CHINAMEN IN CALIFORNIA IS 150,000. FROM THE DENSITY OF POPULATION IN CHINA, AND THE LOWNESS OF WAGES, FROM THEIR MIGRATORY DISPOSITION, AND THE ATTRACTIONS OF OUR CONGENIAL CLIMATE, HIGH WAGES AND LIBERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE CHEAPNESS AND SAFETY OF THE VOYAGE HITHER, AN INCREASING RATE OF IMMIGRATION IS PROPHESIED. —— WHILE THE CHINAMAN IS DESIRABLE MERELY AS A LABORER, HE HAS NEITHER HOME, SELF- RESPECT, NOR UNDERCLOTHES, AND LIVES ON RICE, TEA AND DRIED FISH. HE HAS LOW IDEAS OF RELIGION, LABOR, WOMEN AND VIRTUE. —— HE DOES NOT ASSIMILATE WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND IS UNCHANGED BY CONTACT. HE DOES NOT MEAN TO STAY, AND WILL NOT EVEN CONTRIBUTE HIS DEAD BODY TO OUR NATIONAL WELFARE. HE CANNOT BE MADE INTO A SOLDIER, OR EVEN A JURYMAN. —— HE IS PROUD OF CONFUCIUS, AND VAINLY BOASTS OF CHINA AS THE CENTRAL NATION OF THE WORLD. HE IS, AND WILL REMAIN, distinct “in color, size, features, dress, language, customs, habits and social peculiarities.” The joint resolution relative to Chinese immigration is as follows: “Whereas, IT APPEARS THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF CHINESE IMMIGRANTS ARE UNWILLING TO CONFORM TO OUR INSTITUTIONS, TO become permanent residents of our country, and accept rights and assume responsibilities of citizenship; and, ”Whereas, They have indicated no capacity to assimilate with our people; therefore, “Resolved, THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BE REQUESTED TO OPEN CORRESPONDENCE IMMEDIATELY WITH THE GOVERNMENTS OF CHINA AND GREAT BRITAIN, WITH THE VIEW OF SECURING A CHANGE OR ABROGATION OF ALL STIPULATIONS IN EXISTING treaties which permit unlimited immigration of Chinese to the United States.” —CHEAP LABOR, WHETHER BY MACHINE OR BY MAN-POWER, HAS ALWAYS BEEN RESISTED BY THOSE WHOM IT HAS DISPLACED. BUT IT ALWAYS PUSHES THE MORE INTELLIGENT LABORERS UP AND NOT DOWN. IT HAS BEEN SO IN CALIFORNIA. MEN ARE NOW FOREMEN WHO were only fruit-pickers, and engineers who were only miners before Chinese labor came in. —RACE UNIONS, TO KEEP PRICES OF LABOR UP, AND TO PUT COMPETITION DOWN, ARE NO BETTER THAN OTHER UNIONS FOR THESE purposes. All such combinations are both short-sighted and selfish. —In the San Francisco Bulletin, WE FIND THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE OF LABOR RATES IN THAT CITY: CARPENTERS, FROM $3 TO $3.50 A DAY; BRICKLAYERS, $4 TO $5; PAINTERS, $3; PLASTERERS, $3.50; HOD-CARRIERS,$3; STONE-CUTTERS, $4; MACHINISTS, $3 TO $4; BRASS-FOUNDERS, $4.50; COMMON LABORERS, $2; WOOLEN MILLS, $2.50 TO $3.50; DOMESTICS, $25 TO $30 A MONTH—NOT MORE THAN TWO CHILDREN ALLOWED IN AN EMPLOYER’S FAMILY AT THAT. IT CAN BE SEEN AT A GLANCE THAT THESE WAGES ARE TWICE THOSE PAID IN THE EASTERN STATES FOR CORRESPONDING WORK. DOES CHINESE COMPETITION KEEP THESE PRICES UP, OR DOES California need less homeopathic doses of “China” to bring her prices somewhere near the level of her sister States? —BY THE STATISTICS OF THE ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES FOR 1877, IT APPEARS THAT 9,906 PASSENGERS ARRIVED FROM CHINA AND JAPAN, AND 7,852 RETURNED, SHOWING AN EXCESS OF 2,054 ARRIVALS, NOT ALL OF WHOM, INDEED, WERE MONGOLIANS; WHILE THE DEATHS OF CHINESE EXCEEDED 2,054. IT WOULD SEEM THAT OUR CHRISTIAN STATESMEN OF SAN FRANCISCO MIGHT REPRESS THEIR morbid solicitude, in view of these encouraging facts. WE TRUST OUR READERS WILL NOTICE CAREFULLY THE ACCOUNTS OF OUR VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS THEY APPEAR IN ORDER FROM MONTH TO MONTH. THESE ARTICLES ARE INTENDED TO GIVE A VIEW OF THE PECULIAR WORK, AND APPLIANCES FOR WORK, OF THESE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. NEXT MONTH, WE EXPECT TO PUBLISH AN ARTICLE ON TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY, MISSISSIPPI; AND, IN JUNE, one on Straight University, Louisiana. Others will follow in such order as their special circumstances may determine. [107] WE FIND THAT WE ARE AT LIBERTY TO SAY TO OUR READERS, THAT THE TOUCHING LITTLE POEM ENTITLED “CHRIST IN THE PERSON OF THE Poor,” which appeared in our February MISSIONARY, WAS FROM THE PEN OF THE REV. ELI CORWIN, D. D., OF JACKSONVILLE, Illinois. OBITUARIES. THE HEROES OF THE ANTI-SLAVERY STRUGGLE ARE PASSING AWAY. THE TAPPANS, JOSHUA LEAVITT AND OTHERS FINISHED THEIR COURSE in the last few years, and now we record the death of two others of their compeers. REV. WM. GOODELL WAS BORN IN CHENANGO COUNTY, N. Y., OCT. 25TH, 1792. IN HIS EARLIER YEARS HE ACQUIRED A PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS, BUT IT WAS AS A THINKER, WRITER AND REFORMER THAT HE HAS MADE HIS MARK IN THE WORLD. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS AN EDITOR AND AUTHOR, DEVOTED EARNESTLY AND SUCCESSFULLY TO PROMOTING REFORM IN MANY DIRECTIONS, BUT ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO INTEMPERANCE AND SLAVERY. MR. GOODELL WAS PRESENT AT THE CONVENTION IN ALBANY, N. Y., AT WHICH THIS ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED, AND TOOK A PROMINENT AND EFFECTIVE PART IN ITS PROCEEDINGS, PREPARING AND REPORTING THE ELABORATE ADDRESS TO THE CHRISTIAN PUBLIC, WHICH WAS ADOPTED AND SENT FORTH AS EMBODYING THE VIEWS ON WHICH THE CONVENTION BASED THE NEW ORGANIZATION. FROM THAT TIME TO THE CLOSE OF HIS LIFE, HIS SYMPATHY FOR OUR WORK WAS CONSTANT and earnest. REV. J. S. GREEN DIED AT HIS HOME IN MAKAWAO, SANDWICH ISLANDS, JAN. 5TH, 1878, IN THE 82D YEAR OF HIS AGE. MR. GREEN WENT OUT AS A MISSIONARY TO THE SANDWICH ISLANDS IN 1828, IN COMPANY WITH ANDREWS, GULICK AND OTHERS, AND SHARED IN EFFECTING THE WONDERFUL TRANSFORMATION IN THOSE ISLANDS. IN 1842 MR. GREEN RESIGNED HIS CONNECTION WITH THE AMERICAN BOARD, AND FROM THAT TIME UNTIL HIS DEATH WAS A PASTOR, DEPENDING FOR HIS SUPPORT UPON HIS OWN LABOR AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HIS PEOPLE. HIS STRONG ANTI-SLAVERY SYMPATHIES LED HIM TO SEEK A CONNECTION, YET WITHOUT SALARY, WITH THE UNION MISSIONARY SOCIETY AND SUBSEQUENTLY WITH THIS ASSOCIATION, WHEN THAT SOCIETY WAS MERGED INTO IT. HIS NAME APPEARED FOR YEARS IN OUR LIST OF FOREIGN MISSIONARIES, AND HIS REPORTS WERE FULL AND INTERESTING. HIS READY PEN, NOT SATISFIED WITH MERE REPORTS, WAS PROLIFIC IN CONTRIBUTIONS ON MISSIONARY SUBJECTS, AND EARNEST IN ITS DENUNCIATIONS OF THE EVILS OF SLAVERY IN HIS NATIVE LAND. HE WAS A MAN OF DEEP AND EARNEST PIETY, AND HIS MEMORY WILL BE CHERISHED IN THE warm regard of those who knew his worth and his useful career. DEATH OF TEACHERS. THE PAINFUL INTELLIGENCE HAS REACHED US OF THE DEATH, ON FEBRUARY 17TH, OF TYPHOID FEVER, AFTER A FOUR WEEKS’ ILLNESS, OF Mr. MARMADUKE C. KIMBER, of Germantown, Pa., aged nearly twenty-four years. The son of one of the valued friends AND TRUSTEES OF HAMPTON INSTITUTE, MR. KIMBER, WHEN JUST OUT OF COLLEGE IN 1872, GAVE HIS SERVICES TO THE SCHOOL FOR TWO YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER TEACHER. SINCE THEN HE HAS BEEN PROFESSOR IN A WESTERN COLLEGE, AND AFTER A YEAR OF TRAVEL IN EUROPE, HE TOOK CHARGE OF THE FRIENDS’ ACADEMY IN GERMANTOWN, WHICH POSITION HE HELD AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. HE IS REMEMBERED WITH SINCEREST ESTEEM BY THE OFFICERS OF THE SCHOOL AND TEACHERS WHO WERE ASSOCIATED WITH HIM AT Hampton, and the students who were under his instruction.—Southern Workman. MRS. ALICIA S. (BLOOD) BROWN DIED AT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, ON THE 26TH OF FEBRUARY. MRS. BROWN WAS FOR SOME YEARS A TEACHER UNDER THIS ASSOCIATION AT MONTICELLO, FLORIDA, AND HER MANY FRIENDS THERE WILL REMEMBER THE FAITHFUL INSTRUCTION SHE GAVE AND THE KINDNESSES SHE BESTOWED. HER ILLNESS WAS LONG AND SEVERE, BUT WHEN SHE DID not LOOK FOR THE MESSENGER, HE CAME AND TOOK HER AWAY. IN THE MIDST OF HER SUFFERINGS, SHE COULD CHEERFULLY SAY, THAT SHE WANTED TO “bear and suffer all His will.” THE FREEDMEN. TALLADEGA COLLEGE. REV. E. P. LORD, PRESIDENT. ALMOST IN THE VERY CENTRE OF ALABAMA, THE GREAT ALLEGHENY RANGE MAKES A LAST AND ONLY PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL EFFORT AT REARING MOUNTAINS, BEFORE LOSING ITSELF IN THE LOW, FLAT black belt. THUS THE PURE AND EXHILARATING ATMOSPHERE OF MORE NORTHERN LATITUDES IS BROUGHT TO THE VERY BORDER OF THE ALMOST TROPICAL COUNTRY THAT BELTS THE GULF. OVERLOOKING THE RICH, POPULOUS, AND SOMEWHAT UNWHOLESOME LOW-LANDS, BREATHING THE PURE MOUNTAIN AIR, IS SITUATED TALLADEGA, SEEMING TO HAVE BEEN PROVIDENTIALLY PLACED AS A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE COLORED PEOPLE OF ALABAMA. THE BEAUTY OF THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE IS A PERPETUAL INSPIRATION TO TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. THE LOCATION OF THE COLLEGE, IN A QUIET COUNTRY VILLAGE OF TWO THOUSAND INHABITANTS, INVITES THE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE CITIES, AND LESS FAVORED LOCALITIES, TO AN ATMOSPHERE AS PURE and healthful morally as it is physically. BUT ONE OTHER SOUTHERN STATE, IF ANY, HAS SO LARGE A COLORED POPULATION AS ALABAMA. A HALF M...