Part 4

The annual meeting of the Board of Counsel and Advice of the Mendi Mission was held in the Good Hope Chapel, at Sherbro Island, July 14, 1879. Rev. A. P. Miller presided, and Dr. Benjamin James was elected Secretary.

The Moderator made the following introductory remarks:

Before we proceed to our business, you will please indulge me with a few preliminary remarks, inasmuch as we are about to enter upon that part of our missionary work which will tell most plainly to the civilized world as to the wisdom and good judgment of colored missionaries in devising plans for the furtherance of a work of so great importance, sacredly intrusted to our care.

In the performance of our several duties in the second annual meeting of our Board, let us not forget that body of devoted men of the A. M. A., by whose unwearied zeal and toil means are procured for the furtherance and extension of this well-begun work.

Let us not forget the thousands of Christian men and women who give of their means for the support of Missions, especially in Africa.

Let us not forget the five millions of our own race in the South, from whom the shackles of slavery have been torn asunder, to whom Africa is now looking for the light of the Gospel and a Christian civilization, of whom we are the advance guards.

Let us not forget that the problem of Africa’s future is now under solution and that we are the solvers. Our failure to arrive at a conclusion in her favor, as Freedmen, would bring everlasting disgrace upon us as a race, while on the other hand we should most shamefully wrong unenlightened manhood, whose blood would be required at our hands.

As a slave, the negro served well his oppressors. As a soldier, he served well the cause of freedom and his country. The tyrant’s chain of oppression, which held five millions in bondage, has been broken, and to-day the grand duty as well as privilege of carrying light and life to his benighted brethren in his fatherland lies before him and calls him onward. It remains yet for him to prove himself a man in this important relation that he holds to his fellow-countrymen and to the world.

In view of these great responsibilities incumbent upon us in this Council assembled, in the discussion and decision of matters of importance, may God, in mercy, so guide each one that he shall be unprejudiced and deeply sincere, as well as conscientious, throughout all these deliberations, with due regard to their bearing upon the interest of the benighted whom we come to serve and enlighten. In view of all these things, may each one give the weight of his influence to the furtherance of our work, exercising patience and charity one toward the other.

Committees were appointed on the various interests of the Mission, while the subject of the extension of the work was referred to a committee of the whole.

The _Committee on Church Work_ reported forty-four members in the church at Good Hope Station, one having died during the year; seven infants baptized; attendance on services good, and showing earnest desire to hear the Word; advance in the Christian life of converts; prayer-meetings valuable. Some persons, under watch and care, will be received to membership as soon as legally united in matrimony.

At Avery there are forty-one members; under watch and care, three adults; eleven children baptized. Increasing willingness on the part of the people to attend church, and growing interest in the cause of Christ give encouragement.

At Debia, Mr. Goodman conducts religious services on the Lord’s day. A chapel is hoped for here, books at Good Hope, and repairs of building at Avery.

Our Sunday-school is in a flourishing condition, being well attended, most of the scholars attending church services. Bradford friends in England sent our Sunday-school a nice present in the shape of copies of the Gospels, pamphlets, papers, etc., which we used as prizes for good attendance, to encourage the little ones. We need singing books for this work.

The _Committee on School Work_ reported that at Good Hope the school has made rapid progress. During the year 245 children have been enrolled. These are both from the Sierra Leone and from the native element. They learn English rapidly. “We have teachers,” says the report, “who are quite awake to their duty. Children are accessible in Sherbro, and are brought into day and Sunday schools in large numbers. Through the kindness of friends of the poor little Africans, shirts have been put on their backs and books into their hands, for which they seem to be grateful. Of course these wear out, and others must be procured in some way or other in their stead, or these little ones in many cases will leave off attending school. They must be constantly looked after. We hope to see not far in the future a first-class school at this place. We have material in abundance upon which to work. Time, patience and labor will bring success.”

The school at Avery has not made such progress as was hoped for during the year. On the first of January its numbers were decreased by the taking away of most of the larger boys to cut the crops for their parents. The irregularity of attendance is a great obstacle in the way of our success. Some attend for one day, and may not be seen again for a month. Those who have attended regularly have made progress. The prospect for the future is better. There are some children now in the Mission whose attendance may be depended on. Most of the children living in the village around the Mission have been taken to the farms to drive birds, so that the number on the roll at present is only twenty, ten of whom come from the Mission house. There have been 56 on the roll during the year.

The school work at Debia is encouraging, Mr. Goodman and family being settled there. We base our hopes largely on the little ones who are being trained in our Mission schools.

The _Committee on Agriculture_ reported that the cassida planted at Good Hope does not thrive, owing to the impoverished condition of the soil. At Avery the coffee plantation is in a comparatively thriving condition, and some of the trees bearing well. The need of more laborers and implements is urged, and it is recommended “that more of the ground be put under cultivation as a measure tending to supply the wants of the growing Mission, and that the children of the Mission be employed two hours each day upon the farms, under the supervision of a competent and skillful person.” It is further recommended “that the science of horticulture be introduced at each station, and that the choicest flora of native and foreign production capable of being grown on the premises be obtained, so far as practicable, for this purpose.”

The _Committee on Industrial Work_ reported that the saw mill needs repairs of floor and roof, that one saw is in good running order. There are sixteen hands employed at the mill, and two more are needed. It is deemed desirable that some of the Mission children should be “instructed into the workings of mechanics so far as we have the means for instruction.”

Committees on _Repairs and Sanitary Condition_ of the Mission, made careful examination, and reported their advice in these regards.

DISTRIBUTION OF MISSIONARIES.

Some changes were made in the location of the members of the Mission. The force is now divided as follows: At Good Hope: Rev. A. P. Miller and wife, Pastor and Superintendent of the Mission; Dr. Benjamin James, Physician and Teacher; and Mr. A. E. White, Principal of School. At Avery: Rev. A. E. Jackson, Pastor; Mr. E. L. Anthony, Industrial Department, and Mr. George N. Jewett, Teacher.

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THE INDIANS.

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A TOUR AMONG THE CLALLAM INDIANS.

REV. MYRON EELLS, S’KOKOMISH, W. T.

The last month has been spent in a tour among the Clallam Indians. Wishing to go further, and be absent from home longer than has been usual on such trips, my family, who had not been six miles away from home for more than two years, concluded to accompany me. Although steamers run the whole route of our travel, yet as they stop at but few of the places where the Indians live, and on the main part of the route go only once a week, it was impracticable for us to travel in that way, so we took a canoe from the Reservation with an Indian man and his wife, looked out for our own food, carried house and bed, stowed in the three babies, and away we went.

Our first call on Indians was at _Port Gamble_, fifty miles from home. Here are about one hundred, and they asked me to talk on temperance. During the last year and a half they have reformed in this respect. After pointing them to Christ as the source of their help, they had their talk. They said that one thing now troubles them. They live across Port Gamble Bay, an eighth of a mile from the saw-mill and town, in a village by themselves, on land owned by the mill company. They can manage the Indians as well as could be expected, but there is near them a white man with a black heart, who with his Indian wife often gets drunk, sometimes remaining so for a week at a time. They also tempt the weaker Indians; and now how to get rid of him is the question. As both he and they live on land belonging to the company, the only way I saw was for them to petition the superintendent to remove him. So after nine o’clock at night I wrote out a petition, which the chiefs and policemen and others signed, stating all the facts, and asking for this man’s removal. I was obliged to leave early the next morning, and so left them to present it. I have known of whites petitioning to have worthless Indians removed, but have never before known Indians to petition to have a white man removed because he was so low that they did not wish to have him near them. Two years ago they would not have done this, as many of them were glad to have an opportunity so convenient where they could obtain the liquid poison.

My next congregation was at _Port Discovery_, thirty-five miles farther on, and very much the same routine was observed at a number of places. My business with them was to preach; theirs with me was to talk about how and where to procure land in the best way. This was true at Port Angelos, Elkwa, and two settlements at Clallam Bay. For several years they have been urged to procure land so that they could feel warranted in erecting good houses, and thus leave the old ones, full of grease, dirt and smoke; but with the exception of those at Dunginess, very few have done so; now they begin to realize the benefits of it and have “land on the brain.” But they move cautiously, for it is easy for them to be deceived, and it is talk, talk, talk as to what is best. Two parties traveled to the Reservation about the time I was beginning my journey—a trip of two or three hundred miles—to consult about land.

At _Dunginess_ a troublesome case begins. Four Indians, living fifty miles farther on, had been here three or four weeks previously, anxious to obtain the land on which their houses stood. They had been sent to the clerk of the Probate Court, who knew nothing about it, but told them it was Government land, and offered to get it for them for the usual fees, nineteen dollars each. They paid him the seventy-six dollars, and he promised to send it to the land office at Olympia, and have their papers for them in two weeks. They waited the two weeks, but received no returns. In the meantime others told them that the man could lawfully do the business, but he was not to be trusted, for the land had been owned by private individuals for fifteen years. He, too, by the time I met him, had written to the land office and found the same to be true. My business is, if possible, to get the money back. It is useless to sue him, as he has no property which the law can touch. One of the four Indians returned with me to get his money, but was satisfied that it was useless for him to go farther, so he went home. He had already spent three weeks, and the three others two weeks each in trying to recover it. Yet this same man is Postmaster, Clerk of the Probate Court, U. S. Commissioner, Deputy Sheriff, and lately offered fifty dollars to the County Treasurer to be appointed his deputy. I was not disappointed at the result, but handed the business over to the agent to settle in Court.

Let us contrast the action of the Indians with this. I felt very sorry for them. For four years we have been advising them to obtain land, and now they were swindled in their first attempt. Fearful lest they should become discouraged, I offered them ten dollars to divide amongst them, saying, “If you never get your money I will lose this with you, but if you do you can then repay it.” One-tenth of my income has long been given to the Lord, and I felt that it would do as much good there as anywhere. When I first mentioned this they refused, saying that they did not wish me to lose my money, if they did theirs, but two weeks afterwards, when I left the last one he took it; yet shortly afterwards I found that he would not spend any of it, although he wanted some articles very much, saying that it was not their money after all.

This lower part of the Sound is very like the ocean, with nothing to break the winds, so I procured for that part of the journey a very large canoe, thirty-six feet long, two and a half deep and six wide. The children can play in it, and at night we anchored it out in some good harbor like a small schooner.

Hospitality was very generous. I thought that there were too many of us to go into anybody’s house; but at Dunginess, where we remained two or three days in connection with each of two Sabbaths, a woman said, in the absence of her husband, “You must all come in. If you pitch your tent I will set fire to it and burn it down.” We submitted. The agent at Neah Bay was just as hospitable, notwithstanding that his house already seemed to be full, and also the superintendent of the mill at Seabeck.

The weather was generally pleasant, but sometimes it rained hard. No one caught cold, however, on account of it. Camping on the sand is not so pleasant. Fresh water is so scarce as only to be used for drinking. We boil our potatoes in salt water, but get it near shore, and forget to let it settle. The potatoes crack, and the sand is all through them. Then baby crawls along and tips the rice over into the sand, and we all tramp the sand on to the beds, and into them, until our better half wishes herself at home, as it blows into the food-box and clothes-boxes and everywhere.

A WEDDING.

An Indian, who had been married Indian fashion for several years, but who had homesteaded a farm, thought it best to be married in a civilized way. He had never seen such a performance, so I explained all to him beforehand. But when I was going through the ceremony and had just said, “You promise to take this woman to be your wife,” he interrupted me, saying, “Yes, of course I do. You do not suppose I am going to put away my wife now, after I have lived with her so long? See, here are my children, the oldest fifteen years old. It would be foolish for us now to separate.” I told him, “All right,” kept very sober, laughed in my sleeve, made a note of it, and proceeded to say, “You promise to love and honor her,” etc.

Twenty religious services were held during the journey, including one communion service, and one very pleasant prayer-meeting preparatory to it. Thus we spent the month of August, enjoyed it, and have enjoyed home all the more since reaching it.

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CHILDREN’S PAGE.

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CABIN PRAYER-MEETINGS—WHICH WAS THE HERO?

LILLIE E. BARR, ATLANTA, GA.

DEAR TEACHERS AND CHILDREN:

I wish I had space, so I could tell you all of the beautiful, interesting and helpful things that happen day by day in my work; but as I have not, I must content myself with giving you one or two incidents. First, let me tell you about an impromptu prayer-meeting held in one of the many cabins which dot the hills all over. A few nights ago I went to see a sweet old Christian, who for three years has not known an hour’s rest from pain, and yet is as merry as a cricket, receiving the little offerings of food and shelter which her poor neighbors bring her with cheerful gratitude as from her God. One day I asked her how she could be so patient and so gay. “Why, chile, it’s all on de journey, an’ I don’t know no reason why the way should be made easier fur me than it was fur the Master,” she answered. While I was trying to make her more comfortable, several women came in, _none of whom could read_, and after we had talked a little while about our sweet Lord Jesus, one said: “Please read the chapter where Jesus says: ‘I pray not for these alone, but for all of them who shall believe on me through their word.’” A little tin lamp was brought, and as I opened my Bible I glanced at the living picture before me. The lamp threw its feeble light over the patient sufferer, and lit up the dusky faces of the women bending eagerly forward as I read those blessed words. No sooner had I finished the chapter than one began that beautiful slave song, “Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus.” Instantly it was caught up. Our hearts had touched the heart of Christ in this grand prayer chapter. As soon as it was ended, another chapter was asked for, and then another, and another, intermingled with prayer and song. It was just such a prayer-meeting, I imagine, as the one held by the disciples when, being gathered together, Jesus stood in their midst and said, “_Peace be with you._” I knew, I felt that I had been with Jesus.

With the light and grace of this prayer-meeting still about us, we came down an alley and into a court known as Campbell’s Block. It is a square, built round with cabins of one or two rooms _without windows_. A large wash-shed and well occupy the centre of the court. Look now into the rooms; everywhere dirt and filth, crying children, quarreling children, women smoking, women dipping snuff, women idling, women washing, women fretted with care until they are prematurely old, and not _one_ woman in the block able to read, and so gain strength from the blessed word of God. And this block is one out of four in our field. One house only shows any sign that for the poor there is anything beautiful; but that, like a grand sermon, stands amid this misery and sin, from ground to roof a mass of flowers. I could not help thinking what a joy they must be to the ministering angels, as they pass through this place of suffering and sin. To me they were the promise of redemption for the block. Like a pure thought in a sinful heart we found old Mr. and Mrs. Pleasant in one of the rooms. He is blind and helpless with paralysis, consequently the providing of rent, food and clothes devolves upon his aged wife. After reading them the two last chapters in Revelation, the old man cried out: “It’s worth while being blind to know the first thing I shall see will be the New Jerusalem.” “Yes indeed, George, now we must work harder than ever to win home,” answered his wife, as she brushed the tears away. We have begun a prayer-meeting in this block, and I ask your prayers for its success. To these cases I might add ever so many more; but if I give you big folks any more room, I shall crowd my story to the children out, and that wouldn’t be one bit fair—would it, little ones?

I shall introduce my story by asking the boys to pay particular attention, as I want them to decide whether Jesse Dobbs or Jim Prescott—the two boys whom this story is about—is the true hero.

“Who minds de cold? Come on, Jesse; de boys is going to make up a company and have heaps of fun down by Big Bethel.” I must explain that Big Bethel is the name of a church.

Jesse glanced out at the sunshine and called, “Mammie, mayent I go with Jo down to Big Bethel?”

As the answer was yes, the two bounded away and soon joined several boys, the leader of whom, from his coarse, bloated face to his heavily booted feet, was the very picture of a young ruffian. As Jesse and Jo came up he was saying, “Dare aint a fatter roost to pick den old Judge Gibbs’ in de world; ’sides dat, you ken git 15 cents a piece fur every chick’n. Den you brings de money to me, and I gibs you so much out of it. ’Stand what I say?”

“Yar, yar,” came from the other boys.

“’Sides dat, dares heaps of fun clearing off a chick’n roost, and I, fur one, aint feared to go into nobody’s yard. Now is you gwine to be ready to-night to follow your captain? I’s your captain.”

“Captain of what?” asked Jesse.

“Captain of the roost-clearing brigade; dat’s what. Is you going to jine us, Dobbs? If you aint I’ll most kill you fur coming here to spy into our plans.”

Jesse paused an instant, then he said, “No.”

“Why not, I’d jist like fur to know?” demanded Jim, angrily.

“Because I aint going to jine no thieving company.”

The words were hardly spoken before Jim lifted his foot and kicked him in the side. Kick followed kick in such rapid succession, that Jesse was almost senseless before Jim could be pulled off; and when I formed his acquaintance he had been in bed nine months, a large tumor having formed in the side where he had been kicked. When I asked him about lying so long in bed, he answered:

“At first the time was awful long, but by-and-by I began to take notice how mother worried when I ’plained of de pain and de tiredness, so I took to trying not to ’plain _fore_ her, and that kinder drawed off my ’tention from de pain.”

For nine months he had been trying to help his mother by being patient. Three weeks ago he died from the effects of that cruel kick—died forgiving all who had injured him, and bearing his cross of suffering like a noble little Christian to the end.

Which was the hero—Jim, who boasted he wasn’t afraid to steal from any man, or Jesse, who wasn’t afraid to say _no_, although forewarned that he would be almost killed if he said it?

I say Jesse was.

What do you all say?

From this story I hope you will all try to be more gentle and loving, for we never know what months of pain and suffering, not only to others, but also to ourselves, one rude action may cause.

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RECEIPTS

FOR SEPTEMBER, 1879.

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MAINE, $215.61.

Bangor. Hammond Street Ch., $100; West Bangor Chapel, $6 $106.00 Bluehill. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00 Brewer. First Cong. Ch., $4.95, and Sab. Sch., $2.60; J. Holyoke, $5 12.55 Brunswick. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.00 Castine. Rev. A. E. Ives 3.00 Litchfield Corners. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00 Machias. Centre St. Cong. Ch. 7.56 Minot Centre. Mrs. B. J. 1.00 Northport. “A Friend” 0.50 Orland. “A Friend” 5.00 Orono. F. A. M. 1.00 Portland. State St. Cong. Ch. 50.00 Woolwich. Mrs. Jotham P. Trott 2.00

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $639.43.