Part 2

All these things which make up our “abundant recompense” are _riches_ which cannot “take to themselves wings,” but are as enduring as the eternal ages. And who can tell what work for God has branched off and is now spreading over the South, from the little that we, the worn-out ones, have done.

N. T.

_Augusta, Me., March 12, 1879._

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ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.

ATLANTA, GA.—The new catalogue of Atlanta University gives a total of 245 in attendance, a number exceeding any previous year. These have come from _ten_ different States, and those from Georgia from forty-seven counties. They are classified as follows: College course, 27; preparatory course, 44; higher Normal course, 59; and Normal course, 115.

A new and interesting feature has been introduced during the year. The young women who graduate from the higher Normal course are taught “Household Science,” embracing plain sewing, cookery, house-cleaning, nursing the sick, &c. These branches are taught both by familiar lectures and by practice in those arts.

MACON, GA.—The Lewis High School is prospering under its competent teachers, Misses Gilbert and Phelps. It has been favored by the gifts of friends. Recently a fine Smith American organ was donated, and more recently another Northern friend has given six of Warren’s fine geographical wall charts, which are of great assistance in teaching geography. A number of text books have also been donated. Daily instruction in vocal music is given, besides all the ordinary branches, and there are weekly rhetorical exercises. The three rooms have in all 750 square feet of good wall blackboard, and the best school furniture.

TALLADEGA, ALA.—Seven were received into the Talladega church, May 4th, which, with those received two months ago, make thirty-seven in all as the gathered fruits of the revival last winter. The meetings continue to be full of interest.

SELMA, ALA.—We are happy to learn that the Rev. H. E. Brown, of Michigan, who a few years since was in the employ of this Association, has been sent out under the auspices of the International Committee of the Young Men’s Christian Association as a visitor to the colored young men of the South, and has been very successfully conducting a series of Bible readings and Union Gospel meetings in Selma, Ala.

HELENA, TEXAS.—On the last communion day two adults and nine children were baptized. The church and Sunday-school are prosperous, the latter numbering over sixty.

GOLIAD, TEXAS.—The quarterly meeting was a day of unusual interest. The church house was furnished with a new pulpit, and the teacher presented the church with two lamps for the same. One person was converted on that day and four children were baptized.

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GENERAL NOTES.

The Freedmen.

—The Mississippi Valley Labor Convention met, May 6th, at Vicksburg. It was composed of both white and colored delegates; the latter, however, by their own choice, not voting, but hearing what there was to say to them. The resolutions which were adopted refer to many causes for the exodus to Kansas, among which they do not name extortionate and oppressive contracts, and express wonder at the credulity of the negroes. The practical suggestions are: 1. A system of contracts which shall be of mutual benefit. 2. Absolute political equality. 3. Free and fair elections. 4. A limitation of liens on expected crops. 5. Contradiction of false reports about Kansas. 6. The unrestricted right to emigrate. Governor Foote offered a substitute intimating that the true causes had not been given, and suggesting local committees to investigate grievances and protect the rights of the Freedmen, which was voted down.

—The Refugee Relief Committee of St. Louis reports that over six thousand of the emigrants have passed through that city. About two thousand of these were able to pay their fares to Kansas. The others were sheltered, fed and partly clothed while there, and had their passage paid to the same destination.

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Africa.

—A letter dated Demidris, Jan. 1, to Gordon (Pasha), Governor-General of Southern Egypt, from one of his officers who was sent to break up the slave depots in the neighborhood of Bahr el Gazal, in the Province of Kordofan, reports an engagement with Suleiman, one of the chief slave-traders and owner of 25 depots, in which it is stated that the women alone, waiting importation into Egypt, number 10,000. The Egyptian forces numbered 3,000, and were intrenched, a part of them being armed with Remington rifles. On the morning of the 28th of December, Suleiman, with 11,000 men, attacked the intrenchments. After numerous assaults, in which the Arabs, under the personal lead of Suleiman, fought with desperate courage, the attack was completely defeated, and the assailants fled in disorder, leaving 1,087 dead on the field. The Egyptians lost 20 men. A special dispatch from Alexandria says: “On the day after the battle between the Egyptians and Arabs, under the lead of Suleiman, 5,000 deserters came over to the Egyptian camp. The Egyptians followed the retiring enemy, killed ten chiefs and 2,000 more men, and were still in pursuit at last advices. The capture of all the slave depots is considered certain.”

—A telegram dated London, May 5, says: Conflicts between the Egyptian troops and the slave-dealers on the 13th and 14th of January, in Upper Egypt, resulted in the complete defeat of the latter, with the loss of six thousand killed and wounded and prisoners. The Egyptian troops lost two hundred men.

—A telegraph line is now proposed from Cairo up the Nile southward to Gondokoro; thence to Mtesa’s capital; thence to Unyanyembe; thence to Ujiji west and Zanzibar east, from Bagamoyo to Lake Nyassa, and to meet a line from Cape Colony to Pretoria, in the Transvaal at Pretoria. This is said to be no more difficult than was similar work accomplished in Australia and India.

—The Methodist Missionary Society have made arrangements for missionary work in the interior of Africa. Mr. Osgood, who is now in Africa, will locate a mission post somewhere in the interior, and Miss Mary A. Sharp will soon leave this country for work there.—_Christian Union, April 2._

—A letter from Zanzibar announces the arrival of Henry M. Stanley, the African explorer, with M. Dutalis, the officer in command of the Belgian expedition in Africa. It is stated that Mr. Stanley will act as guide and interpreter to the Belgian exploring expedition under M. Dutalis.

—An interesting discussion is begun as to the likeness between Lake Tanganyika and the Dead Sea. No outlet of the lake has been discovered, but the exploration has hardly yet been sufficiently thorough to make the negative a proof. The freshness of its waters is in striking contrast with the saltness of the Dead Sea, and, so far, against the theory proposed. We wait for further light.

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The Indians.

—Two new projects for a wholesale intrusion into the Indian Territory have come to light: one promoted by certain railroads who claim land grants there, and another expedition of several hundred emigrants, under the lead of C. C. Carpenter, who led the Black Hills expedition into the Sioux country several years ago. In view of these illegal purposes, the President has issued a proclamation, in which he says: “I do further warn and notify any and all such persons who may so offend that they will be speedily and immediately removed therefrom by the agent, according to the laws made and provided; and, if necessary, the aid and assistance of the military forces of the United States will be invoked to carry into proper execution the laws of the United States herein referred to.”

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The Chinese.

—Eleven young Chinese, nine males and two females, were recently received into a Presbyterian Church in San Francisco.

—The following card is furnished for publication by the Chinese Six Companies: “The Chinese Six Companies are daily in receipt of applications for laborers to go to Southern States, notably Mississippi and Louisiana, to take the place of the negro labor now emigrating. The officers of these companies wish it to be expressly understood that they have no control over their people’s labor, and have never brought or caused to be brought one of their countrymen here; and have never contracted their labor or collected their wages in any manner whatsoever, the press of California to the contrary notwithstanding.”

—It has been very well said recently: “In America if a man is black, we enslave him; if he is red, we steal his lands and massacre his wife and children; and if he is yellow, we won’t let him come here at all.”

—The _Sunday School Times_, in commenting on the fact that eight Chinamen were recently received into a church at Sacramento, asks whether it wouldn’t be a good plan for Congress to pass a law that not more than fifteen Chinese converts should join any Christian church the same Sunday.

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OUR QUERY COLUMN.

1. What English pronouncing dictionary is the standard in England?

2. What is the authorized pronunciation of _Khedive_?

3. Should _Beaufort_ (N. C.), be pronounced as is _Beaufort_ (S. C.)?

4. Ought A. M. A. teachers to make special effort to have their pupils sign the temperance pledge?

5. Can any teacher afford (or can his pupils afford to have him) do without an educational publication?

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THE FREEDMEN.

REV. JOS. E. ROY, D. D.,

FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.

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A TOUR OF A MONTH THROUGH THE SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES.

[We omit the mention of the Midway Church and School and the organization of the church at Cypress Slash, as an account of them is given elsewhere by Rev. Floyd Snelson.]

At Savannah, the Beach Institute and the mother church, with her four or five daughters settled in the suburbs, were found to be in a prosperous condition. Pastor Markham and Principal Koons, with their corps of lady teachers, are making a decided impression upon that city.

Thence to Orangeburgh, S. C., where Rev. W. L. Johnson is pastor, and also principal of a large school, in which his wife is assistant. Mr. Johnson had been trained up at the North, in the Dutch Reformed way, as a protégé of the Rev. Dr. E. P. Rodgers of New York. The visitor gave from his big map a lesson upon the geography of our country. As a guest of Rev. Dr. Cooke, President of the Claflin University, he had an opportunity to become acquainted and favorably impressed with that fine institution of our Methodist brethren. In Charleston, a Sabbath was given to the Plymouth Church, now happy under the new pastorate of Rev. Temple Cutler, and one day to the Avery Institute, under Prof. A. W. Farnham, who is reproducing the style of his own Alma Mater, the Oswego Normal. It was a delight to witness the orderliness and accuracy of that training. It is only common fame that this Institute stands ahead of every other in the city. It has a corps of six teachers, and scholars enough to work them hard. Our lady missionary, Miss H. E. Wells, I found getting hold of her peculiar work quite hopefully; as also Miss Douglass, at Miller’s Station, Ga. I think this arm of our service will prove equal to the anticipation of its friends.

In North Carolina, I went first to Wilmington, where is the nourishing Williston Normal School, with its consort church, and all under the management of Rev. D. D. Dodge and his wife, and Misses Warner, Fitts, Goodwin and Phelps. Besides the several young teachers under training here, there is also a class of preachers in the old time churches who are getting brushed up. Two nights had to be given to talks before the school and congregation. Thence up to Dudley, where Rev. David Peebles and his wife, lately Miss Anna M. Day, of the Washington School at Raleigh, have charge of the church and school in the large and comely structure which serves a double purpose. Besides a half dozen candidates for the teaching profession, one young man is pursuing Latin with reference to a full classical course. This church numbers seventy-five members, and makes a specialty of temperance and music. It has to meet in the community a theological _coloring_ taken from the Hard-shell Baptists and the Quakers. In the Ku-Klux times a good many Freedmen came in here for safety.

At Beaufort I found the church and school making headway under Mr. Michael Jerkins, a graduate of the Theological Department of Howard University. At Morehead City, a town once of great expectations, now blighted, our school and the city lie dead side by side.

At Woodbridge our school is under the care of Mr. W. H. Ellis, a graduate of Williams, who was recently licensed to preach by Mr. Peebles’ church, of Dudley. Last year, in this school, under the excellent Miss Waugh, a revival was enjoyed which enlisted more than a score of the scholars as disciples of the Great Master. Mr. Ellis ministers the word on the Lord’s day, and a church fellowship must soon be gathered here. At this place, at North River near Beaufort, and at Dudley, some years ago, the A. M. A., with funds specially provided, purchased several hundred acres of land to be sold to the Freedmen. Not all of this has yet been taken up. The highest ideal of such an investment has not been realized at these points. Nevertheless, I find that the Freedmen almost everywhere are making advance in securing homes and farms.

At Goldsboro’, a fine railway centre, we found an urgent call for a church and school movement, which must soon be set forward. Chapel Hill, the location of the State University, offers a similar opening.

Heretofore the churches of this State have been unassociated. Feeling the need of such fellowship, they have now secured it. In the North Carolina Conference, which was organized at Raleigh on May 2d, holding over a Sabbath, the five churches at Wilmington, Dudley, Beaufort, Raleigh and McLeansville, with their ministers, were thus united. The pastor of the church, Rev. G. S. Smith, a graduate of Atlanta, was made the moderator of the Conference, and Rev. David Peebles secretary. It was a rich and glowing meeting. The several parts and methods of a regular Conference came together as naturally as though this were an experienced ecclesiastical body. The entertaining church was greatly comforted, and some special services were to follow, Rev. David Peebles remaining to assist. The next meeting is to be at Dudley, beginning on the first Friday of May, 1880.

By letters missive from the church at Beaufort, an Ecclesiastical Council was convened at Raleigh, during the session of the Conference, to examine and ordain Mr. Michael Jerkins. The Council being well satisfied with the examination, proceeded on Sabbath evening to the appropriate public services. Sermon and prayer of ordination by Supt. Roy; right hand of fellowship by Rev. David Peebles; charge by Rev. Geo. B. Smith. Rev. Dr. H. M. Tupper, President of Shaw University (Baptist), participated in the services.

The Washington School of Raleigh, these many years under the formative influence of Miss E. P. Hayes, now assisted by the pastor’s wife and Miss Hettie Minton, has here, as with our schools everywhere else, been the great feeder of the church. It has prepared not a few school-teachers and started some young men on the way to the ministry. The Sabbath-school held in the Washington school-house, also under the superintendence of Miss Hayes, has been complimented by one of the white pastors as the best Sunday-school in the city. Its teachers are all from among the former pupils of the school, except the pastor and his wife, who have large classes of adults. It ordinarily numbers from two to three hundred. It is gratifying indeed to hear the young people, who from these schools have come on to be teachers and preachers, publicly express their profound appreciation of these godly women who have led them along the path of education and of character. It is characteristic of these students in general that they delight to put honor upon their lady teachers. They are not too proud to own that they came up under the tutelage of women.

On the home stretch I visited, inspected and addressed the church and school at McLeansville, N. C., under the care of Rev. Alfred Connet and his daughter, and also the Brewer Normal School at Greenwood, S. C., under Principal Backenstose. Since going to his field last summer, Pastor Connet has shared with his people in a gracious revival and in the building of a parsonage. The structure serving for church and school use is comely and convenient.

This tour through the old North State has greatly increased my appreciation of its material resources, its people of both colors, its recuperative process, and its public institutions.

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TENNESSEE.

Students’ Day at Le Moyne.

PROF. A. J. STEELE, MEMPHIS.

April 23d was Students’ day at Le Moyne. This interesting day was a complete success in every respect. The school was under such excellent discipline that there was no hesitancy in surrendering it entirely to the students for a day’s experience. The faculty were chosen by the school with a great deal of judgment, and on Wednesday morning they took their places upon the platform.

The new principal is a man of a great deal of promise—the principal of the intermediate department, a young man Who is an earnest student and who has already had some experience in teaching. Other teachers were equally well chosen.

The lower schools came up as usual, marching to the music of the piano. After appropriate devotional exercises, the pupils re-passed to their school-rooms below, and the other classes to their respective duties. The work in the classes was as usual, and the order and attention were remarkable. The teachers deported themselves with much dignity, and seemed anxious to avoid an assuming, overbearing manner, which might have been expected from the newness of the positions.

Many visitors were in and out during the day, and remarked upon the order and good feeling manifested. The influence of these days upon the school is most excellent. We can but feel that being thrown upon their own resources in this way, their executive ability and devotion to work is tested to the utmost; and it requires no small moral culture to avoid temptations to disorder that might come to those whose hearts are not thoroughly in the work.

Our year has been greatly broken by the time lost at the beginning of the year by the epidemic, yet the school never seemed to be in a more prosperous condition. Both the normal and intermediate departments are filled to overflowing. Our horizon seems brightening more and more, and we hope at the close of the year not only to have gained in popularity, but to have extended the influence of the school for good.

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GEORGIA.

Perils of Young Converts—An Open House—Temperance.

MISS E. W. DOUGLASS, NO. 1, MILLER STATION.

Since I wrote last we have had a series of meetings during the evenings of one week. Every Friday evening there is a meeting for prayer and religious instruction, attended by all the scholars. This has been greatly blessed. Twenty of the scholars profess to have been converted. As soon as their parents knew that they were interested about their souls’ welfare, many of them were put under the instruction of ignorant godfathers or godmothers, to be “brought through” by a course of dreams and other superstitions. How far this has turned them away from simple trust in Jesus we cannot tell. We can only teach them the right way, and leave them with the Master. One thing I have learned—that these teachers are never satisfied with their pupils till they obtain a promise to join _their_ church. Four joined us at our communion season in March. One, an old white-headed man; three, children. These children are exposed to persecution because they did not “come through” the right way. They are told that they are no Christians, for they “hav’n’t dun prayed yet.” One little boy, who has been a member of the church a year, and of whose life all speak well, could not partake with us. He sat and looked on sadly as long as he could endure it, and then went out and wept bitterly. He did not go to his godfather for guidance, and he has now persuaded the boy’s mother to forbid his communing. I found him weeping after meeting, but still trusting in Jesus. He said, “I know I love Him, and try every day to do what He wants me to.”

This course of “travel” in dreams is what they call “praying.” Though most of those converted will join other churches, yet they will continue in our Sunday-school, being absent only when there is preaching in their churches. Thus we hope to lead them to take the Bible for their guide.

Notwithstanding the house is so open that we have to hold our papers tightly, or put a weight on what we lay down (for the wind always blows there), yet my school at Cross Roads is increasing in numbers and interest. Last Sabbath the wind was breaking trees and throwing down fences, and twice during our school here burst open the door and blew over benches, so that all said, “You cannot go to Cross Roads; you will get killed by falling branches.” After asking guidance, I thought I ought to go. As I passed under swaying limbs, and was enveloped in a cloud of sand, I saw how impossible it would be to teach in that open house; but I thought, God can calm the wind. I asked Him, and almost immediately there was a comparative calm, and I went on comfortably.

I find many in my walks who have once been church members, but “fell out.” Often, too, I meet those who show very plainly that they frequent the whiskey shops, of which there are no less than six within two miles of the Cross Roads church. A young man, one of my former pupils, told me, as I tried to show him his danger even in taking a little, “The ministers and church members use it; how then can it be so bad?” This is true, and some say they cannot pray and sing well till they get enough to make them feel well. Wherever I find those who can read I give tracts, and to others I read of the evils of tobacco and strong drink. To all I read the Bible, and try to make them see that, the Bible way is the only safe way, and the road to happiness here and hereafter.

If Christians could only realize the terrible heathenism of the ignorant masses, and the danger to our free institutions from this ignorance, coming under Romish influence and the lead of unprincipled men, I am sure your treasury would be so filled that the number of teachers and missionaries would be multiplied a hundred fold, as they need to be if we are saved.

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Midway Church—Dorchester Academy—New Church at Cypress Slash.

REV. FLOYD SNELSON, M’INTOSH, LIBERTY CO.