American Missionary, August, 1888, (Vol. XLII, No. 8) written by Various
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Various >> American Missionary, August, 1888, (Vol. XLII, No. 8)
THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY
August, 1888.
Vol. XLII. No. 8.
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
FINANCIAL.--A CONVERSATION
THE VERNACULAR--THE LAST GOVERNMENT ORDER
ENDORSEMENT OF SOLICITORS--PROF. LAWRENCE
LONDON MISSIONARY CONFERENCE--GETTYSBURG
BOOM IN PRICE OF A SLAVE--EXTRACTS FROM EXAMINATION PAPERS
ON DR. JAMES POWELL'S PORTRAIT--PARAGRAPH
THE SOUTH.
NOTES IN THE SADDLE. By District Secretary Ryder.
ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
COMMENCEMENT AT FISK UNIVERSITY
AN HOUR AT STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY
CLOSING EXERCISES AT TILLOTSON
THE INDIANS.
PARAGRAPH FROM OAHE
SEWING WOMEN AT FORT BERTHOLD
AN INDIAN CHURCH SOCIABLE
THE CHINESE.
ITEMS
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
PARAGRAPHS
NOTES FROM MISS COLLINS
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
THE TRUE BLUE CARD
RECEIPTS
* * * * *
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION,
Rooms, 56 Reade Street.
* * * * *
Price, 50 Cents a Year, in Advance.
Entered at the Post Office at New York, N.Y., as second class matter.
American Missionary Association.
* * * * *
PRESIDENT, REV. WM. M. TAYLOR, D.D., LL.D., N.Y.
_Vice-Presidents._
Rev. A.J.F. BEHRENDS, D.D., N.Y.
Rev. ALEX. McKENZIE, D.D., Mass.
Rev. F.A. NOBLE, D.D., Ill.
Rev. D.O. MEARS, D.D., Mass.
Rev. HENRY HOPKINS, D.D., Mo.
_Corresponding Secretaries._
Rev. M.E. STRIEBY, D.D., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
Rev. A.F. BEARD, D.D., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._
_Treasurer._
H.W. HUBBARD, Esq., _56 Reads Street, N.Y._
_Auditors._
PETER McCARTEE.
CHAS. P. PEIRCE.
_Executive Committee._
JOHN H. WASHBURN, Chairman.
ADDISON P. FOSTER, Secretary.
_For Three Years._
LYMAN ABBOTT,
CHARLES A. HULL,
J.R. DANFORTH,
CLINTON B. FISK,
ADDISON P. FOSTER.
_For Two Years_
S.B. HALLIDAY,
SAMUEL HOLMES,
SAMUEL S. MARPLES,
CHARLES L. MEAD,
ELBERT B. MONROE.
_For One Year._
J.E. RANKIN,
WM. H. WARD,
J.W. COOPER,
JOHN H. WASHBURN,
EDMUND L. CHAMPLIN.
_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.
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. AUGUST, 1888. No. 8.
=American Missionary Association.=
* * * * *
*FINANCIAL.*
Our receipts for the nine months ending June 30 are $214,434.40, an
increase of $10,913.66, as compared with the corresponding months of
last year. The increase of receipts from legacies is only $184.81,
showing that almost the entire increase is from collections, and this
we regard as the genuine test of the confidence of our patrons in the
work of the Association. On the other hand, a large part of this
increase is for special objects, and does not aid us in meeting
regular appropriations. We must add, also, that our expenditures
during the last nine months have been $21,828.95 greater than for the
same months last year. These facts point inevitably to the
trilemma--debt, curtailment or increased receipts.
It is easy to say "retrench," and if it is the unmistakable call of
the churches, we must do it. But we wish to present another aspect of
the subject. In a case where enlargement in the way of new or
improved buildings is imperatively demanded to ensure the usefulness
of the school, and where there comes to us Providentially, and
without solicitation on our part, the proffer of the money to make
those enlargements, is it our duty to refuse that money? If our
constituents have the facts before them, we, as their agents, will
cheerfully abide their decision. To this end will be found below the
sketch of a conversation, not imaginary, but which actually occurred,
and which will present some of these facts. We ask our patrons to
read it and then to decide whether our action in these cases was
right, and, if so, whether it should be a guide for the future.
* * * * *
*A CONVERSATION--ITS RESULTS, ITS LESSONS.*
About two years ago a gentleman came to this office, and said to one
of the Secretaries:
"If a person has eight or ten thousand dollars which he would like to
devote to some good object, where would you advise him to give it?"
To this the Secretary promptly replied: "To the American Missionary
Association, of course."
"All right," said the gentleman, "but to what special purpose would
you advise it to be applied?"
"Our great need," said the Secretary, "is to meet current expenses,
and I would advise that it be devoted to that."
A little further conversation revealed the pleasant fact that the
gentleman had that sum of money at his disposal, but that he had a
very decided wish that it should be used for the erection of
permanent buildings. The Secretary suggested the obvious fact that
added plant meant increased expense, and that we hardly dared to
promise to meet that.
"But," said the gentleman, "are there not places in your work where
new buildings are greatly needed?"
"Most assuredly," the Secretary replied, "there are many places where
such buildings are needed."
He was asked to give details, which he did.
Among the schools mentioned by him was one in which the scholars were
inadequately provided with dormitory and recitation room facilities,
and where the industries were crowded into old cabins and attic
rooms.
After hearing these details, our visitor, who is a judicious and
prosperous business man as well as a benevolent Christian, said,
"These new buildings are needed. I offer you the money for the two
buildings at the place you have last named. I know it will increase
somewhat your current expenses, but _can't you trust the churches to
come to your help?_"
The results of that and subsequent interviews are two fine buildings,
one giving adequate school accommodations, and the other giving a
large and commodious shop, facilitating both instruction and
production.
Subsequently, the same large-hearted and liberal gentleman repeated
his benefaction where equally needed enlargement will soon be
furnished.
Once more. In a Southern city our school building is too small, the
lot does not permit industrial work, and changes in the population
have surrounded the locality with saloons and houses of ill-fame. A
change must be made or we must abandon the place. A lady who knows
these facts offers to give us $2,000 with which to purchase four
acres of land most eligibly situated for our work, and to give us
the money to build a school-house with eight large school-rooms with
commodious fixtures and appliances. All this, of course, implies more
teachers and additional running expense. Shall we accept the gift and
trust the churches to furnish the money? Or, to state the matter in
general terms: When the need for enlargement is very great, and God
sends to us benevolent donors, who are willing to furnish the means
for the enlargement, are we wrong in trusting the churches for their
part of the needed help? We believe we are not. We think the
churches would regard us as recreant to our trust if we refused to
take the funds thus providentially proffered to us.
But our story is not all told. Other donors in the last few years
have done likewise, and there still are cases where the pressure for
enlargement is as great as in any of the instances given. We must
mention one. In a large Southern city our school building is so
inadequate that the Principal writes: "We have an extremely large
school, and yet nearly three hundred pupils were turned off for lack
of seating capacity." In addition to this, the Teachers' Home
adjoining the school building, which was once a Southern home, is
unhealthy from inadequate under-drainage. We have repeatedly
attempted to remedy this difficulty and at considerable cost. We are
satisfied that to spend more money for such a purpose is a waste.
The only true remedy is to remove the present home, connecting it
with the school-building for additional school-rooms, and then, on
the vacant site, to erect a new home with proper foundations. If any
benevolent person should offer us the means for making these
changes, we fear we have not the self-denial to refuse, unless the
churches or benevolent individuals for whom we act shall command us
to do so. We await the response they will give.
* * * * *
*THE VERNACULAR. THE LAST GOVERNMENT ORDER.*
THE ORDER.
We give below a copy of the last order received from the Interior
Department in relation to the vernacular.
"1st. In Government schools no text-books and no oral
instruction in the vernacular will be allowed, but all text-books
and instruction must be in the English language. No departure
from this rule will be allowed, except when absolutely necessary
to rudimentary instruction in English. But it is permitted to
read from the Bible in the vernacular at the daily opening of
school, when English is not understood by the pupils.
"2d. In schools where Indian children are placed under contract,
or to which the Government contributes in any manner, the same
rule shall be observed in all secular instruction. Religious
instruction in the vernacular may be allowed in such schools,
both by the text-book and orally, provided not more than
one-fourth of the time is devoted to such instruction.
"3d. In purely mission schools--that is, in schools toward whose
support the Government contributes nothing--religious and other
instruction may be conducted in the manner approved by those who
maintain the schools, provided that one-half of the school hours
shall be employed in instruction in English.
"4th. Only native Indian teachers will be permitted to teach
otherwise in any Indian vernacular, and these native teachers
will only be allowed so to teach in schools not supported in
whole or in part by the Government, and where there are no
Government or contract schools where English is taught. These
native teachers are allowed to teach in the vernacular only with
a view of reaching those Indians who cannot have the advantage of
instruction in English.
"5th. A theological class of Indian young men, supported wholly
by mission funds, may be trained in the vernacular at any
missionary school supported in whole or in part by missionary
societies, the object being to prepare them for the ministry,
whose subsequent work shall be confined to preaching, unless they
are employed as teachers in remote settlements where English
schools are inaccessible.
"6th. These rules are not intended to prevent the possession or
use by any Indian of the Bible published in the vernacular; but
such possession or use shall not interfere with the teaching of
the English language to the extent and in the manner hereinbefore
directed."
COMMENT.
This order presents a great and gratifying modification of those
extreme rulings of the Department which occasioned so much
dissatisfaction among the churches. While we rejoice in these
modifications, we must not conceal from ourselves or our readers
the fact, that the main point against which objection has been so
strenuously urged--the right of the churches to be guided by their
own wisdom and experience in expending their own funds--is not
granted by this order, as will be seen in Article 3. "In purely
mission schools," "toward whose support the Government contributes
nothing," it dictates that "one-half of the school-hours shall be
employed in instruction in English." So far as the principle is
concerned, nothing is yielded. The Government still assumes to
control these schools, and to tell the missionaries how much of the
vernacular they may use, and how they must divide the hours between
the two languages.
The regulation, moreover, fixes upon "one-half of the school hours"
without any obvious reason for taking that number rather than
one-fourth or three-fourths, for it does not take into account the
different conditions of the pupils as to their knowledge of the
English language. It requires a double set of text-books if the
vernacular be taught at all. Whether the churches will acquiesce in
this regulation, will depend, we think, upon how rigidly it is
enforced. We regret that the Government, while attempting to meet
the wishes of the churches, could not have done it in a more broad
and generous method, by conceding their right to manage their own
missionary affairs without interference or dictation.
* * * * *
The numerous solicitors from the South for the benefactions of our
friends at the North impel us to increased caution in regard to our
endorsements. We are anxious that our friends should give, but we are
equally anxious that they should not be imposed upon. Hereafter, we
shall give a letter of commendation to any of our workers who may be
authorized by us to come North for help, signed by one of the
Secretaries or one of the District Secretaries, and these will be
good for one year from the date, and any pastors or friends of the
Association can feel at liberty to ask for the letter. If persons
assuming to solicit funds for any part of the A.M.A's work cannot
produce such letters, the failure may be taken as a reason for
withholding confidence. We think this is due to our friends at the
North and to our faithful and honored workers at the South.
* * * * *
Professor Lawrence, of Jellico, Tenn., who was so seriously injured
by an unprovoked and cowardly attack, is, we are happy to learn,
slowly improving. Suffering, both from excruciating pain and from
great nervous prostration, all that a human being can endure and
live, yet he has borne it uncomplainingly. Large expenses have been
necessarily incurred for surgeon's, doctor's and nurse's bills, and
Mr. Lawrence is a poor man, working on a missionary salary, when he
might have received more elsewhere. As Professor Lawrence received
his injuries in the simple discharge of his duties as a teacher in
an A.M.A. school, our Committee will feel it their duty to render
him some pecuniary aid, and if any of our friends are disposed to
assist us in rendering such help, we shall be glad to receive their
donations for that purpose.
* * * * *
*THE LONDON MISSIONARY CONFERENCE.*
This large and important gathering of the friends of Christian
missions throughout the world, held its session in Exeter Hall,
London, June 9-19.
This is the fourth great Missionary Conference. The first was in
Liverpool in 1860, the last was in London, held ten years ago. This
Conference far surpassed its predecessors in the numbers present, in
the completeness of the previous arrangements, and in the range and
importance of the topics discussed. The members numbered over 1,200,
gathered from all parts of the world. Nearly forty American Societies
were represented, six Canadian, fifteen Continental, and
fifty-four English, Scotch and Irish Societies.
One topic that received deserved attention was the curse of deluging
Africa with liquor by Christian nations, and the continued curse of
the opium traffic which England inflicts upon China.
From the brief reports which have reached us, we judge this
Conference to have been a very able and enthusiastic one, and that
it will probably give a new impulse to Christian missions throughout
the world.
* * * * *
Secretary Beard represented the American Missionary Association in
the London Missionary Conference, agreeably to appointment by the
American Committee of the Conference. His paper was entitled,
"Christian Missions among the North American Indians." He also read
a paper which Secretary Strieby had prepared, by appointment of the
American Committee, on "The Freedmen of America as Factors in
African Evangelization." Dr. Beard attended the Conference on his
way to Europe to bring his family home. He is expected to return
about the first of September.
* * * * *
*GETTYSBURG, FRATERNITY, FREE BALLOT.*
The meeting of the Blue and the Gray on the field of Gettysburg at
the late anniversary celebration marks an era in national fraternity.
The orator of the day, George William Curtis, did a noble, perhaps we
might say courageous, deed in lifting the enthusiasm of the glad hour
above the remembrance of past heroism and present harmony to the
great duty of the nation--a free and fair ballot. A few lines culled
from the oration will give the thought.
"The suffrage is the mainspring, the heart of our common life.
If ignorance and semi-barbarous dominance be fatal to civilized
communities, no less so is constant and deliberate defiance of
law."
"No honest man can delude himself with the theory that this is a
local question. If there be a national question, which vitally
interests every American citizen from the Penobscot to the Rio
Grande, it is the question of a free legal ballot."
"Can we wrest from the angel of this hour any blessing so
priceless as the common resolution that we shall not have come to
this consecrated spot only to declare our joy and gratitude, nor
only to cherish proud and tender memories, but also to pledge
ourselves to union in its sublimest significance?"
To this we add: The brave deeds of the soldier at Gettysburg, and the
wise counsels of the orator, should be followed by the patient toil
of the teacher and the preacher. It is hard to choose between the
ballot withheld and the ballot cast by ignorance and vice. Blood and
treasure flowed like water in the war. Shall treasure and toil be
wanting for the work of peace--preparing the ignorant voter to cast
the free ballot intelligently and honestly?
* * * * *
*A BOOM IN THE PRICE OF A SLAVE.*
One of our best educated and most efficient colored ministers in
the South furnishes us the following sketch of his experience on
the auction block. He not only was sold "early and often," but
always at advancing prices. We do not wonder at this, for he has
shown himself to be so valuable as a _man_, that we are sure the
boy must have promised to be worth a great deal as a slave.
I was sold in 1862 at the age of ten years, for $400, by the widow B.
of Virginia. As a rule, after the first sale, I was upon the auction
block every day for three months. How often I was sold during those
three months I cannot tell, but on Davis' auction block in his
sale-room I was sold five times in one day. The last sale at the end
of the three months was made in Tennessee, to the Rev. H.F.S., a
Baptist minister, who paid $3,500 for his property. The Rev. Mr. S.
was a "Yankee" from Philadelphia, Pa., and came South at the
breaking out of the war.
* * * * *
*EXTRACTS FROM EXAMINATION PAPERS.*
Ques. Give a rule for the use of the period?
Ans. Every period must begin with a capital.
Ans. A period is a dot written to the end of a sentence and is used
to low the voice.
Ans. A period is used for the topage of a sentence and to make our
reading sound better than if we had no period.
Ques. What is the chief occupation in the South Atlantic States?
Ans. The ocoopations cold in the north part, but in the lower part
rain seldom fails.
FROM A SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
The lesson was on The Ten Virgins, and the next Sunday the review
question was asked, "What was the lesson about last Sunday?" and a
bright boy gave the prompt answer, "About ten gals that went to a
weddin."
COMPOSITION LETTERS FROM YOUNG PUPILS.
My dear teacher, God be with you witch I know he will, as the Song
says God can see me every day when I work and when I play. again God
is always near me when I pray. I shall nor for get Miss H. her name
shall never die out Christ have mercy upon her If God calls her I
will spect to meet her in heven at the last trumpet shall sound. I
will be thair. Yours truly,
Robert ----
Dear teacher, I wish I could write good. I have not done my duty. I
will try the next time and do better. I am very sorry. I will try and
do better. May God help me to obey my teacher. Miss F. is sick. I
hope she will get better. I will try to be like Jesus. I have sign
the pledge and have kept it. Now I will close my bad lines. I hope
you will come back next year. Good by.
Your aff Scholar,
James ----
* * * * *
*ON JAMES POWELL'S PORTRAIT.*
BY J.E. RANKIN, D.D.
O face, all radiant with the light of love,
O eyes, so laughing in their tenderness,
So quick to read the language of distress;
O lips, so touched with flame as from above,
O man, with godhead stamped upon thy brow,
And manhood beating in thy pulses strong,
To stir thee up to stamp thy heel on wrong,
That earth should have no more thy pattern now!
No more should see thee on the wings of mercy sent!
Thou hads't thy mortal years so wisely spent,
That Heaven seemed too soon to crown thy brow;
The veil of flesh was prematurely rent,
And earthly glory with celestial blent.
* * * * *
A college commencement is a marked event to all parties concerned,
and a good sketch of such an occasion furnishes interesting reading
to a very wide circle. We call the attention of our patrons to the
reports we make of the anniversaries in our Southern institutions.
Some of these reports appeared in the last MISSIONARY, some will be
found in this number, and others will be given in the next.
* * * * *
=THE SOUTH.=
*NOTES IN THE SADDLE.*
BY REV. C.J. RYDER, DISTRICT SECRETARY.
Orthodoxy and orthography are by no means inseparable, as the
following letter proves. Correct views of Divine Sovereignty and very
indifferent spelling may go together in the same epistle.
"Dear Miss ----
"Dear Teacher, I am so much Thank you for your kindness of the
medicine which you have sent to me yesterday, until I cannot express
my gladness and feeling unto you in this world, but I hope God will
take good care off you even on death if I never have the plegure of
seeing your good and happy looking face any more.
"Your medicine has help me demegiately as I have took it. I hope God
will ever to be with in your Jerney throught life in well doing."
This letter came from a young lad in one of the lower grades of
school work. He had been seriously sick for weeks, and the teacher
to whom he wrote sat with him and ministered to his comfort after
the weary hours of her school work were over. This lad appreciated
her self-forgetful kindness; his heart was touched, and as she left
the malarial atmosphere of this Southern country for brief rest in
her Northern home, this boy sent her this letter. His letter is
"phonetic" and of the individual type, but I venture that the
tearful prayer going up to God from his grateful, loving, simple
heart may reach the Father's ear, and bring down a blessing upon his
loving friend as "demegiately" as the rounded periods of learned
lips. He evidently is no dusky Claudius whose confession must be:
"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below;
Words without thoughts never to Heaven go."
"What a privilege it is to be prayed for by such confiding souls,"
said the teacher as she handed me this letter.
* * * * *
Speaking of prayer among the colored people, calls to mind a petition
offered for myself, when Field Superintendent, soon after my
appointment. An old black woman in New Orleans was called upon to
pray, after I had spoken to the people. She chanted her words in
soft, melodious tones, keeping time with her body swaying back and
forth, as she prayed. She prayed for the former superintendent, Dr.
Roy. She thanked God for his patient, loving care of the people. She
told the Lord how he went as a prophet of Israel, back and forth
among them, bringing the bread of Heaven to their hungry souls. She
sought Divine blessing, rich, full, free, upon him and all his loved
ones. Then she chanted in the liquid accent of the Creole, "And now,
O Father, bless our young brother the new superintender. Let him down
deep into the treasury of thy word and hide him 'hind de cross of
Jesus." And the heart of the "New Superintender" said "Amen and
Amen." That experience was what he needed.