Part 1

VOL. XXXIII. No. 3.

THE

AMERICAN MISSIONARY.

“To the Poor the Gospel is Preached.”

MARCH, 1879.

_CONTENTS:_

EDITORIAL.

GENEROUS GIFT 65 CALL TO GO FORWARD 65 MR. ARTHINGTON’S OFFER 66 NEW RECRUIT FOR MENDI MISSION 69 SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONCERT: Gen. C. B. Fisk 70 WILDERNESS AND SOUTH COUNTRY: Rev. E. Corwin, D.D. 70 ITEMS FROM THE FIELD 74 GENERAL NOTES 75 OUR QUERY COLUMN 76

THE FREEDMEN.

SOME FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Rev. Jos. E. Roy, D.D. 78 CENTRAL SOUTH CONFERENCE: Rev. S. S. Ashley 80 GEORGIA—Atlanta University—Revival among the Students 81 ALABAMA, FLORENCE—Christmas Festival, &c. 82 LOUISIANA, NEW ORLEANS—Straight University and Central Church—Week of Prayer and Work of Grace 82 TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE—Fisk University—Day of Prayer 84 TENNESSEE, MEMPHIS—Woman’s Work—Cottage Meetings, &c. 84

THE CHINESE.

SUMMARY OF MISSION WORK: Rev. W. C. Pond. 86

AFRICA.

CHRISTMAS AT AVERY STATION 87

CHILDREN’S PAGE.

LITTLE SALLIE 88

RECEIPTS. 90

NEW YORK: Published by the American Missionary Association, ROOMS, 56 READE STREET.

=Price, 50 Cents a Year, in advance.=

American Missionary Association,

56 READE STREET, N. Y.

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PRESIDENT.

HON. E. S. TOBEY, Boston.

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

Hon. F. D. PARISH, Ohio. Hon. E. D. HOLTON, Wis. Hon. WILLIAM CLAFLIN, Mass. Rev. STEPHEN THURSTON, D. D., Me. Rev. SAMUEL HARRIS, D. D., Ct. WM. C. CHAPIN, Esq., R. I. Rev. W. T. EUSTIS, D. D., 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. 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., Minn. Rev. H. W. BEECHER, N. Y. Gen. O. O. HOWARD, Oregon. 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. PETER SMITH, Esq., Mass. Dea. JOHN C. WHITIN, 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. Rev. F. A. NOBLE, D. D., Ct. DANIEL HAND, Esq., Ct. A. L. WILLISTON, Esq., Mass. Rev. A. F. BEARD, D. D., N. Y. FREDERICK BILLINGS, Esq., Vt. JOSEPH CARPENTER, Esq., R. I.

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

REV. M. E. STRIEBY, D. D., _56 Reade Street, N. Y._

DISTRICT SECRETARIES.

REV. C. L. WOODWORTH, _Boston_. REV. G. D. PIKE, _New York_. REV. JAS. POWELL, _Chicago_.

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, ADDISON P. FOSTER, E. A. 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; letters for the Editor of the “American Missionary” to Rev. Geo. M. Boynton, at the New York Office.

DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

Should be sent to H. W. Hubbard, Ass’t Treasurer, No. 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.

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. XXXIII. MARCH, 1879. No. 3. * * * * *

American Missionary Association.

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We have told our friends that for the last three months our receipts, in common with those of our sister societies, have been less than for the corresponding months of the preceding year. January did better, but we would still have had some anxieties if there had not come to us from an aged friend, who had given us no reason to expect so large an offering, a check for _ten thousand dollars_. The letter which accompanied the gift, referred to his observance of our efforts to reduce the debt and our success in that direction, but asking us to expend this money, the savings of a lifetime, in carrying on our work. It was a gift from the Lord by the hand of His servant, and again, as often before, we are called to make record of His faithfulness who has promised to help those who are in His work. Should not this generous gift strengthen our confidence that God has yet other treasures with which He will enable us to commend His love to the despised, and to preach His gospel to the poor?

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THE CALL TO GO FORWARD.

We thank our friends for their noble efforts to conquer the Debt. As we feared, however, the help thus given has diminished the supplies for our regular and pressing work. We have wrought with only one hand on the work and with the other held a weapon. But now that the debt is well nigh vanquished, we must gird ourselves not merely to repair the neglected gaps, but to push forward along the whole length of the wall.

THE DEBT PROVIDED FOR.

Relying upon the payment of the money pledged, our actual indebtedness is reduced to only $6,440. Against this amount our Executive Committee has set apart our remaining Iowa lands, which at a low valuation fully balance it, as a sinking fund, to be held for this purpose only. _The debt is thus provided for_, and we have no more pleas to urge for its extinction,—save as we suggest for this last time, there is a noble opportunity just now for some generous friend to step in and claim the honor of giving the finishing stroke to this Goliath, so setting free those lands again to aid our current work. We praise the Lord that we can now turn from this accomplished effort to other

DEFERRED AND URGENT WORK.

The debt effort has enforced an economy in field work that has been rigid—nay, hindering. For example, one of our higher institutions has become so full that while it has accommodations for only 40 girls it has 60 in attendance, and one of the recitations must be held in a bed-room. Another instance is found in one of the brightest towns in Georgia, where we have planted a church and opened a school. The place is so near our Atlanta University that its pupils can readily supply it with both teaching and preaching force; but for the lack of a few hundred dollars to erect a cheap, and yet adequate building for school and church, both are hindered in growth and usefulness, and if the means be not soon furnished, might as well be abandoned.

Our industrial schools suffer for want of funds. The colored students are so poor that unless aid can in small amounts be furnished them, either by facilities for work or by help in money, many of them must abandon the effort for an education. These items as to school and church work are but samples of what come to us from all parts of the field. But there are other calls of special importance. No State in the South is growing more rapidly than Texas. A generous friend of the colored race has purchased an eligible lot of eight acres in Austin, Texas, and given it to us as the site of a colored institution. He and other friends have added gifts amounting to nearly $10,000, towards the erection of a substantial building. We shall begin the structure this spring, but will only enclose it, unless the means are furnished to complete it. We will make no debt. We hope—nay, we plead—that the money may be speedily forthcoming to finish this building and prepare it for immediate use.

The noble offer of Mr. Arthington, of Leeds, England, to which we call attention below, opens another avenue for the efforts of the Freedmen in the Evangelization of the land of their fathers. The proposed mission lies in tropical Africa, and is desolated by the slave trade. It thus appeals to our deepest sympathies as the life-long opponents of slavery, and to the millions from whom we shall select the missionaries who were themselves its victims.

In view of these facts, we press our appeal on the hearts of our friends. Let us go forward in the work so well begun, and let us enter the new fields opened to us in the providence of God. We ask not merely for special gifts for special objects, but also for the regular work so well in hand, and needing so greatly the means of enlargement.

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MR. ARTHINGTON’S OFFER TO THE A. M. A.

The name of Robert Arthington, Esq., of Leeds, England, has already become familiar to all good people who are interested in the evangelization of “The Dark Continent.” His gift of £5,000 each to the Church Missionary Society and the London Missionary Society, of £1,000 to the (English) Baptist Missionary Society, and his offer last year of a similar amount to our own American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, all for the founding of new evangelizing agencies in Equatorial Africa, have been among the most marked events in the recent history of Christian giving. These various gifts and offers have all been parts in the prosecution of a wisely comprehensive plan, which his subjoined letter clearly sets forth, and in furthering which he has now come to our Association with an offer of _three thousand pounds_ ($15,000), and a plan for our occupation of an important territory with an efficient mission.

The region which he carefully describes and commends to our care lies north and east of the Victoria Nyanza Mission of the Church Missionary Society; west and south of which lies the Tanganika Mission of the London Society; west of this the region which he has asked the American Board to occupy, and the Baptist Mission still further toward the western coast. These five divisions nearly cross the continent between 10 degrees north and 10 degrees south latitude. Of course they are large tracts, and only five starting points for evangelizing effort.

We have felt that there was a special claim on our Association, which has from its beginning been so intimately associated with the African race, and which has so long kept up its mission on the West Coast, to consider prayerfully and intelligently the proposal to enter into the far-reaching plans of this steward of the Lord. It is not a matter for hasty decision. The conditions which he imposes in regard to the liquidation of our debt we believe will be fully met before we can do more than consider and plan. The Executive Committee have appointed a sub-committee consisting of four of its members, with three of its officers, who will study into the matter with all care and report. The result of their investigations, with a map of the region, may be looked for in the April number of the MISSIONARY, to which, in connection with the valuable letter of Mr. Arthington in this, we ask the careful attention of all who are interested in the evangelization of Equatorial Africa.

We print herewith a large portion of

=Mr. Arthington’s Letter.=

In your thirtieth Annual Report, page 15, you indicate a desire, on the part of your Society, to enter on some suitable field for missionary enterprise in Eastern or Central Africa; and again, in the thirty-first Report, I find in the first pages of the volume a similar desire expressed for extension, so as to bring the African Continent within the range of the mighty power of the Gospel—Christ risen again, in all his reality set forth as the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.

If your Society can so enter into the scheme I am about to propose as to assure me that the debt of your treasury—see the 31st Report—is extinguished, and that your members adopt the proposal of it prayerfully in all faith, I am impressed that I should be glad in the Lord to offer to your Society towards the carrying it into execution the sum of _three thousand pounds_.

The unevangelized region of Africa to which I would call your earnest attention, and invite you to accept as a field for missionary labors (to be conducted with all energy in the Spirit—very judiciously fixing your positions for holding forth the word of Life so as to command the whole area, and diffuse throughout it the light of the Gospel—you and a great multitude of true believers continually standing on the watch-tower of the church and fervently praying, “Thy kingdom come!”) is situated and extends from the 10th parallel of north latitude to the point southwards where the 40th meridian crosses or cuts the river Jub (or Godschob), west to east from the right (east) bank of the White Nile to the said 40th meridian, and from the parallel of longitude of that point on the Jub southwards west and east from the White Nile to the right (west) bank of the Jub, down to the 3rd parallel of north latitude, and from the 3rd parallel of north latitude down to the 1st parallel of north latitude, west and east from the 35th meridian to the Jub. We thus avoid Somali Land, which is not at present eligible as a mission field. The territory south of the parallel 1 degree north latitude, it is hoped, some other society will evangelize. West of the 35th meridian, from 3 degrees north latitude and southwards, appears suitable for the Church Missionary Society of England, in connection with the Victoria Nyanza district.

The general object of this method of arrangement is to assign the whole of Africa, so far as not Mohammedanized, to different sections of the Christian church, that they may see that their several areas are evangelized. You would thus have a great and highly promising field for missionary labor, the most important and interesting people of which are: 1. The decayed Christian Remnants (remnants of the ancient Abyssinian church), Wolawo and Cambay, Muger and Gurague, and the places Euarea, Kaffa, Susa, Tuffti, Kullu and Doko. 2. The great and wide-spread Gallas tribes. 3. Dinkas. 4. The inhabitants of the Berri country. 5. The Latookas. 6. Fatiko and the Madi country.

The great interest and importance of the Christian Remnants and of the Gallas tribes is well known. The Berri people it is especially desirable should be early instructed in Christian truth. They are situated not very far to the east of Gondokoro, outside of the traders’ route. They have never been reported, I believe, but as a fine people comparatively, and are mentioned in Werne’s work, published many years ago.

The Latookas will appear interesting when we peruse Sir Samuel Baker’s account of them, and see “The Albert Nyanza,” 1866, vol. 1, pages 204-6, in which he writes: “One of the principal channels, if not the main stream of the river Sobat, is only 4 days’ march, or fifty miles, east of Latooka, and is known to the natives as _the Chol_.” See also, for accuracy of the places, Sir Samuel Baker’s “Ismailia,” the map. The east bank of that stream (the Chol) is occupied by the Gallas. The Gallas (in their attack on the Latookas) were invariably mounted on mules, &c., “the cavalry of the Akkara,” &c. In a note to me, dated August, 1878, Sir Samuel Baker says: “The Berri country has never been visited by Europeans; although it is not far from Gondokoro, it lies out of the way of traders’ routes. It would be comprised between north latitude 5 degrees 20 minutes and 6 degrees 50 minutes, and commences in east longitude about one degree east of Gondokoro, which is absolutely correct on the maps.” “Fatiko is a small district situated in 8 degrees north latitude, in the Madi country. You will find all places laid down with extreme accuracy in the maps in my last work, ‘Ismailia.’”

The linguistic aids for the evangelization of some of the tribes or populations—say Gallas, Dinkas, Christian Remnants, People of Euarea, Kaffa, Susa, &c.—already exist, I believe, in considerable degree.

The proffered gift, then, if accepted by you, should be regarded as a nucleus to which the Church of Christ around you shall pour its offerings, and I think that two thousand pounds of the amount should be specially applied towards the purchase and perpetual maintenance of two river steamers, _one_ to navigate the Sobat and command the mission to the Dinkas—to such of the Gallas tribes as are their neighbors on the east, between them and Euarea—to the Gallas tribes on the Chol branch of the Sobat (east or right bank), and to the Latookas west or south-west (of the Chol), if accessible from that river; and the _other_ steamer to navigate the Godschob (called the Jub at its mouth) and command the missions to the Christian Remnants, Wolawo, &c., and to the Gallas, who are to be found in large numbers in the country west of, and up to, the right or west bank of the Godschob. And it is understood that the people of the Berri country shall claim a place amongst your earliest evangelistic efforts. Fatiko, with the Madi country and Lake Samburu and population, are included in the area, but need not claim a first place in your labors. Possibly the Gallas on the upper course or waters of the Ozi—if geographers are right as to the position of the source of this river—may be reached from the Jub (Godschob) or from the Sobat. Your staff of missionaries for this work, so full of promise of great results, should be a well-chosen band, some of them men skilled in some of the arts, say two in the use of scientific instruments, and they should be most thoughtfully and prayerfully selected.

I ask that two or three of your very best and ablest men—men of large hearts, of enterprise and great faith, with several of the best maps before you—will study the description of the area I have delineated, and if it is not in any point perfectly clear, that you will at once ask for the missing details.

I really desire a thorough and permanent occupation of the field.

Yours most truly, in the Lord Jesus Christ,

(Signed) ROBERT ARTHINGTON, Leeds, England. January 10th, 1879.

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A NEW RECRUIT FOR THE MENDI MISSION.

It will be remembered that Rev. Floyd Snelson was compelled to return to this country, after a sojourn of about a year in our African mission, on account of the rapidly failing health of his wife. He has resumed the care of the Midway Church in Georgia, from the pastorate of which he was taken, against the wishes of his people, for the foreign work.

It was deemed necessary to make good the vacated place as soon as possible. In accordance with the expressed judgment of the missionaries on the field, the first want was of a man specially adapted to take charge of the saw-mill and other industrial interests at Avery Station, of which Mr. Jackson has had charge as well as of the church and school. Inquiries were instituted at once among our higher institutions for the right man, and we think we have found him.

Elmore L. Anthony was born a slave in Allen County, Kentucky, June 8th, 1848. Early in the progress of the war he ran away to join the Union army, but being rejected as a soldier on account of his youth, he returned to his old master, who was a stock trader, preferring, if he must be a servant to anybody, to serve him. In 1863 he left again, and soon after entered the regular army, where he served three years. He was promoted to be a sergeant, and while at Fort Duncan, in Texas, was detailed to be superintendent of laborers, having the oversight of over two hundred men. He says that he got on well in the army, simply because he was perfectly temperate and sober. He bears testimonials from his officers as to his moral character and faithfulness.

In 1870 he made his way to Berea, Ky., and entered the primary class. He has been there ever since, teaching during the last six years in his vacations; and was a member of the senior class when he came, at our call and by the advice and hearty commendation of the president and faculty of the college, to give himself to work in Africa. That he held, nearly from the beginning quite to the close of these years, the trusted position of janitor of the Ladies’ Hall, is no small evidence of the confidence which has been reposed in him. He is a man of stalwart frame, has been medically examined and pronounced perfect in health. He seems to us admirably adapted to the place as our “man of affairs,” competent at the same time to fill a gap in school as teacher when needed, and while not a preacher in any sense of the word, yet of such honest purpose to do good that he will be no less a missionary for that. He sailed the 13th of February _via_ Liberia.

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THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONCERT.

GENERAL CLINTON B. FISK.

It was a happy thought on the part of somebody to prepare a Sunday-school Concert exercise, which should embody so much valuable information and afford so great pleasure and holy joy, as does that of the Jubilee Concert exercise, prepared by the Rev. G. D. Pike on substantially the same basis as that first introduced by Rev. A. E. Winship, of Massachusetts.

It was my good fortune on Sunday, January 12th, to participate in the exercises of a concert, conducted in accordance with this exceedingly well arranged programme, in the Sunday-school of the Congregational church at Stamford, Conn., Rev. G. B. Willcox, D. D., pastor. It was a glad day in that, to me, the most attractive of all New England villages. If any other town in the East can furnish a roll of better men, women and children than those who adorn the beautiful Christian homes of Stamford, then I want to go there and attend a Jubilee Concert exercise.