Part 3

The regular time for the meeting of the Association of South-Western Texas is in July, which in the South is the slack time of the year, with the corn and the cotton “laid by,” and which is the usual period, among both colored and white, for revival meetings, as is the winter at the North. This year the brethren undertook to bring it forward to April, so that the Superintendent might be with them, but, as everybody was plowing corn and chopping out the cotton, the effort brought to Helena only the two pastors, B. C. Church and M. Thompson. Yet we had a glorious four days’ meeting, with preachings, conferences, a communion, a season of baptizing, and a class meeting, which, according to the custom of the church, precedes the communion as a preparation. People came six, nine, or twelve miles. The native pastor, Mr. Thompson, preached an able and moving sermon upon trust in God. The regular meeting will be at the same place in July. This Church has a dignified and efficient deaconess, who looks after the many little things in the parish, which a woman can do better than anybody else. It did seem appropriate that a woman’s taste should be employed to arrange her Lord’s Table. I took pleasure in pointing out to her, once a slave, the likeness of her work to that of “Phebe, the servant of the Church at Cenchrea.” I had the pleasure of a ride in the nice missionary buggy which Bro. Towne had given to our presiding elder, Church. It is a good deal better, now that he is sixty-seven, though straight and spry, when he camps out, to have this vehicle to lie under, than to have only the starry firmament over him. It helps to keep company on the prairie for the preacher and the picketed pony.

For ingenuity of swindling, can any pale face beat the darkey when he tries?

Down this way, one was going about selling tickets to Kansas for five dollars down, and four upon arrival. In one place he took in some forty of his confiding brethren. Some came to the railroad agent, my informant, to learn of the cheat. Others, at another place, had got on board to find that their tickets were a sham. Another black sharper, for one dollar and a half, was making out the papers for land which Queen Victoria was to give them, since Uncle Sam had failed on the “forty acres and a mule.”

On the way, making one hundred miles north by hack to Austin, I had my desire satisfied in overtaking one of the great droves of cattle moving northward. It numbered three thousand. We struck them as they were passing across a valley, so that every creature was in view. A grand sight it was, preceded by the four-mule commissary prairie schooner, attended by the twenty cow-boys in saddle, with cracking whip and awful spurs, and with the relay of sixty horses in drove, each driver having a change of four. The dreadful drouth of the last year, which carried corn up to 25 cents a bushel, was apparent in the poverty-stricken quality of the beasts and in the scraping up of old scalawags and yearlings and two-year-olds to make out the drove. Out of three counties here last year, 25,000 horses were taken. These go in droves of from twelve to fifteen hundred. Multitudes of them, as they run from colts upward, are sold for five dollars each. Mine host, a colored man, while I was with him, sold eight head of broken horses for $155, to be paid next fall, without interest. In some droves, fifty sucking colts are sometimes shot in a day, as impediments of the march.

The Parker farm has in it 24,000 acres. Six thousand of these are to be cultivated to raise grain for fattening the 4,000 cattle which are to be shipped by rail. Collins Campbell, Esq., twenty years from Vermont, has his 15,000 acres, with 7,000 fenced. I found him a stated reader of the AMERICAN MISSIONARY, and retaining those well-balanced sentiments which his own Green Mountains had bred. He sells land to the Freedmen. One of his neighbors, whose hospitality I enjoyed, is Gabriel Washington. I wonder if that archangel has not sufficient regard for “the Father of his Country,” and for this, its dusky citizen, to be pleased with this collocation of names? Our Gabriel is so much of the earth earthy, that he owns 1,260 acres of its soil, and has a model farm, with its orchard, cotton gin, and its big Yankee woodpile, the finest one I have seen in the South. His buxom wife had been down the day before, twelve miles, to our big meeting.

Austin is picturesquely located on the north bank of the Colorado, and is a city of 12,000 inhabitants, half of whom are said to be colored; and the finest, most sightly spot about the Capital has just now been crowned with the much admired “Tillotson Institute.” It is to be opened October 1st. Mrs. E. G. Garland, whose marriage with one of Gov. Davis’ judges did not interfere with her school work, has for several years been in charge of the Evans school-house, built by the Freedmen’s Bureau, and called by her maiden name. The last year, fifty of her scholars were out teaching. Her school numbered the last term 120. Surely, it was time for the living institution to take to itself ampler accommodations, and to advance to a higher grade. With all my heart I commend this struggling enterprise. Texas has been neglected. It must now be brought into the line of our educational work. Rev. Dr. Wright, pastor of the Northern Presbyterian Church, which was planted by Dr. Daniel Baker, is one of the trustees of the Tillotson Institute, and is working for it heartily. A sermon at Paris and a lecture at Memphis will complete the work of the tour.

NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE.

This is the Benjamin of the Congregational Israel. Its first meeting was held one year ago at Raleigh. Its second occurred June 7th–9th at Dudley. The opening sermon was preached by Rev. Geo. S. Smith, a graduate of the Atlanta University, pastor at Raleigh, upon Paul’s determination to know nothing but Christ, and Him crucified. It was an able, stimulating, faithful discourse, urging that ministers in fidelity to this doctrine must not be afraid to preach against current sins. The morning prayer-meeting that followed, throbbed and warmed with the idea of Christ as a present, personal Saviour, and all the meetings had a spiritual glow.

Rev. D. D. Dodge was made Moderator, and Rev. D. Peebles, Scribe. The five churches had come to be six, the new one being at Hilltown, in the west part of the State, and having as pastor Rev. Islay Walden, a graduate of the New Brunswick Seminary, ordained by the Dutch Classis of that locality, who had been a slave in the region where now he is preaching the Gospel. A gracious revival, and a meeting-house under way, are the fruits of the first six months of the life of this church. These six churches and the five schools of the A. M. A. in the State, were all represented.

McLeansville was fixed upon as the place of the next meeting, where Bro. Connet has his church and high-school. The Conference was favored with the presence of Miss Farrington, lady missionary aided by the ladies of Maine, and located at Wilmington, and also with a visit from Misses Waugh and Barker, located at Newbern as missionaries of the Chicago Baptist Ladies’ Society. These ladies are doing a blessed work in the region round about. In April last, going together, they had traveled 300 miles, and had held 80 meetings.

Two colored young ladies of rare cultivation, one an Episcopalian from Philadelphia, the other a Presbyterian from Long Island, sent down by the Society of Friends to teach in this neighborhood, reported the happy working of their Bands of Hope, the idea of which they had taken from Mr. Peebles’ Band in Dudley.

Do the friends of the American Board and Home Missionary Society know that we down here are broadening their field for harvest? Some of these little churches reported contributions to aid the white people out West in supporting the Gospel and to send missionaries abroad. The one at Wilmington claimed itself to be the Banner Church of all the constituents of the American Board, having given more than any other, according to number and means, as judged by the report of Dr. Alden.

And so the good friend, “Howard,” who is about to help this church to a house of worship, will see that he is sowing seed in good ground.

Rev. H. E. Brown, Secretary of the Freedmen’s Dept. of the International Y. M. C. A., in his work at the South, has this season held six of his union Bible meetings at Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Dudley, Wilmington, and Savannah, three of which, as will be observed, were in this State. The series has been one of great interest and profit. There are three points of special notice. The first is the quickening of the spirit of Christian union among these people, whose sectarianism is quite intense. The second is the great honor which is put upon the word of God by the constant service of Bible readings, with the plans of the same multiplied for the people by his portable copyist. The third point in this work is, that revivals of genuine Bible religion are usually the result. This was true at the meeting at Raleigh, where there were about 300 conversions among the colored people. There is manifest an abiding increase of regard for the word of God. The quality of the converts is also hopeful. As another perceptible result, union meetings, led by an Evangelist, have since been held by the white Churches of that city, and there were about 200 hopeful conversions in these. We congratulate the Y. M. C. A. upon this successful inauguration of their work among the Freedmen. And we make grateful recognition of the influence of Maj. Joseph Hardie, of Selma, Ala., a member of the Y. M. C. A. Committee, in selecting and introducing Mr. Brown to this work in his own city.

I am happy to make mention also of the work of Rev. E. E. Rogers as an Evangelist in our Church at Macon, Ga. He has proven himself a judicious and successful laborer, wise, earnest and loving. Pastor Lathrop is very emphatic in commending him. Resulting from the stimulus of this meeting, special services were projected in all the other colored churches of the city. And as a matter of fact, revival meetings in the white churches followed. Mr. Rogers had also been a worker of the A. M. A. in former years. We hope that his services in the future may be secured in this line of special movement in our churches at the South. They have come to a degree of intelligence and of steadiness that will encourage such endeavor.

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SOUTH-WESTERN CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Annual Meeting at Terrebonne, La., Apr. 7–10.

REV. W. S. ALEXANDER.

The fact that our meeting was to be at Terrebonne, where we have a live, growing church, and a vigorous, devoted minister, gave promise not only of a hospitable welcome, but of a profitable season of communion.

Brother Clay and his church had made every preparation. One hundred and fifty dollars had been raised and expended in putting the church and parsonage in perfect order. A long room in the house adjoining the church had been provided with a table sufficient to accommodate the delegates, and the table was furnished with new tumblers, knives and forks and spoons, and the kitchen with a new stove, all involving a good bill of costs, but met with the greatest cheerfulness, and without the thought of hardship; and then the members of the church and congregation brought in chickens, hams and bread, and everything to satisfy the appetite of hungry men, and I find that Louisiana Congregationalists eat with the same relish as their brethren in the New England Associations. So much for the material part of the feast, for which Brother Clay and his flock deserve all praise and thanks.

With the exception of two of the small mission churches, every church was represented. Terrebonne is central, and the Morgan R. R. extension (finished to New Iberia), makes communication easy and rapid. There is something delightful about a new church organization. There is an inspiration in building upon newly-laid foundations, and every member feels that he is essential to the success of the movement. In an organization representing many years and great numerical strength, a man of quiet, retiring spirit is lost to view; but in the first years, every heart and hand are needed.

The reports from the churches indicate a pure and steady growth. The process of cutting off dead branches has gone on, so that although nearly two hundred have been received during the year, the numerical gain over all losses has been very small. We are glad to believe that the sixteen hundred members in the churches of the Association represent more solid moral worth than in any previous year. In the business sessions, when questions requiring wisdom and prudence were presented, and in the discussions of vital religious topics, I was gratified to observe real progress in the ability, self-control and kindly Christian spirit of the brethren. These annual meetings serve as a profitable school, and are attended by willing and eager learners. It was a great joy and blessing to have Dr. Roy with us this year. The brethren have already learned to love him, and to confide in his counsels. The Association placed him under heavy tribute at this meeting. At their request he give an address on “Our Country,” and with his large illustrative map indicated the vast extent and marvelous resources of what is now _their_ country, and of which _they_ are citizens. But a few years ago the _plantation_ was all the country they knew anything about, and from the law of the plantation there was no appeal. But now they belong to Uncle Sam’s family of 50,000,000, and can look to him for protection.

Dr. Roy gave an address on our Congregational polity, which greatly delighted the people. Hitherto, many of them have loved Congregationalism without being able to give a reason for it. The address was timely and profitable, because the brethren, while not waging a denominational warfare with other churches, desire to be intelligent in regard to their own faith, and to be able “to give a reason for the hope that is within them.”

The annual sermon, by Rev. W. P. Ward, of Gretna, was earnest and practical, and prepared the large audience for the sermon of the Moderator which followed it. But few congregations in the North would bear two sermons on the same evening, but they not only did that at Terrebonne, but by song and prayer and exhortation continued the service another hour. The brethren seconded the appeals of the preachers from the pulpit, and went down among the people, entreating them to come to Christ by repentance and faith. Eight came forward and kneeled down for prayer, and many hands went up in the audience. God put honor upon His truth that night, and the hearts of the people were touched.

The sermon of Dr. Roy on the last morning was tender and searching, and the tears of the people showed that he had not spoken in vain.

The Church in New Iberia called Rev. W. R. Polk, and he has already entered upon his work. He has a good field. May God give him grace to cultivate it.

Five “missionaries at large” were chosen. Some of them already have churches, and take on all the supplementary work for which they can find time. These men are unsalaried, and depend, in their missionary tours, upon the thoughtful kindness and hospitality of those to whom they go. Hospitality is a virtue among this people. They exercise it “without grudging.” They have a real love for sharing their “loaf” with him, be he stranger or friend, who calls at their door. It is only necessary that he have the “password” of the Christian Church.

Rev. W. S. Alexander and Rev. Isaac H. Hall were elected delegates to the National Congregational Council.

The next meeting of the Association will be held in Terrebonne the 1st Wednesday in April, 1881. Brother Clay said: “I haven’t been half paid for my trouble. You must come back next year.”

Greeting to all the sister Associations in the North! Perhaps we should say _filial_ rather than _fraternal_, but the infant of five years ago is a good, strong child to-day, and we claim a seat at the family table.

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GEORGIA.

Our Revival.

REV. S. E. LATHROP, MACON.

Our church observed the week of prayer, and there seemed to follow an unusual tenderness in the regular prayer-meetings. The people became more united and earnest, and it was evident that the way for better things was being prepared. In February, some of the brethren suggested sending for the aid of Rev. E. E. Rogers, of Orange, Conn., who was pastor here from 1869 to 1873. I wrote and found that the way was open for his coming, and we began at once to hold extra prayer-meetings. Brother Rogers came during the last week of February, and remained five weeks, preaching and laboring with uncommon earnestness and consecration. The Lord has evidently fitted him for this special work. The church took hold with remarkable unanimity. I never have known any church in the North to be so thoroughly united in revival effort. The contagion spread to other churches, many of them soon beginning to hold special services. This somewhat lessened our audiences, but a general revival spirit spread through the city, and still continues. During one or two weeks we held union afternoon prayer-meetings with a colored Baptist church, a very uncommon thing in this country.

The meetings were quiet, tender, impressive throughout. The people are beginning to get out of their old ideas of a noisy conversion. Some of the “old-time” quaint, plaintive songs are, however, wonderfully apt and appropriate in such seasons, ranking among the most effective “spiritual songs.” We held neighborhood meetings in various localities, which seem more necessary here as the people are so widely scattered. One disadvantage we found was the necessity for late hours at night. Some of our people are “in service,” and cannot get away early, and the rest do not finish their work until night, and afterward must go home and get supper, and walk from one to three miles to church. Our little band, however, were remarkably faithful in attendance, though we could not often begin the preaching until half-past eight or nine o’clock.

One peculiarity which I discovered during the meetings was, that so many of the colored people labor so long under conviction before conversion. I had formerly supposed them to be a very religious people, easily persuaded to become Christians; but my experience is (confirmed by that of other workers), that very many labor under intense conviction for many days, and even for weeks, coming to the “anxious seat” every night for long periods, and seeming, for some reason, unable to yield themselves up. No doubt this is in part owing to the traditions handed down from the older ones, and in part to ignorance of the true way. Yet, even after much personal labor and explanation is given, they often remain unenlightened. It is a phenomenon to me, especially as it is seen in the case of some of the most intelligent.

There have been from twelve to fifteen hopeful conversions. Ten have united with our church, four of whom are heads of families, and the rest promising young men and women. Some have united with other churches. It is the custom here with some to seize hold of converts at once and endeavor to persuade them into other churches. Sometimes the different denominations (of the old-time churches) wrangle over converts.

One Saturday night we held a neighborhood meeting in the house of a well-to-do colored family. The strains of song floated out from door and windows, and the sound fell upon the ears of a “poor white” woman of the lowest class, who was living illegally with a deaf colored man. Her heart was stirred. She asked permission to attend the next prayer-meeting, held at the same house on the following Saturday. There she rose, and, with tearful voice, confessed Christ, in the midst of her dusky audience. It seems to be a genuine conversion. She brought in one night three other degraded white women, one of whom was also living illicitly with a colored man, another, who had not attended church for fourteen years, and the third, who had never before in her life entered the doors of a church! And now comes the question, like that of the famous novel, “What will He do with it?” This poor, erring woman is in frail health and hardly able to earn her living. She lives with a colored man whom, she says, she is willing to marry. She wants to marry him and join our church. But here the civil law steps in and says, “Thou shalt not.” It is a crime in the eyes of this commonwealth for white and colored persons to inter-marry, and whoever celebrates such a marriage lays himself liable to a thousand dollars fine. Of course, we cannot admit her to the church while living in her present relations. She cannot marry, according to the law; she has no friends, and is not able to support herself if she should leave him. Even now she is so poor that she has to borrow shoes and other clothing in order to attend church. The white churches here have no room for such persons. She is in a more pitiable condition than even the lowest of the negroes. Such are some of the problems that beset us. Another of these white women is the prodigal daughter of a good family, and we are endeavoring to persuade her to return to her friends.

Our revival has strengthened the church, and has caused us all to “thank God and take courage.” Brother Rogers returned to his home with the benedictions of a multitude. We trust the work has not yet ceased.

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ALABAMA.

Missionary needed.

REV. C. E. CURTIS, SELMA.

We are in the midst of a great union effort here that has been opening the eyes of all the churches to the great need of missionary work right at our doors. The whole city has been districted off and workers assigned from one of the different churches to each district. These are expected to visit every family, take down the name and residence of each person five years old and upward, with his religious condition and needs, present those who may not be in the habit of attending Sunday-school with a card of introduction to the superintendent of any school they may prefer, have religious conversation, Bible reading and prayer, wherever it can be done to advantage, and urge upon all, young and old, a regular attendance on Sunday-school and church services. Every week, we hold meetings to hear reports from the workers in the different localities, and these meetings are intensely interesting. It would rejoice your hearts, I know, to hear the uniform testimony of delight in the work from those who, in many cases, entered upon it with fear and trembling. At the same time, the amount of religious destitution, intemperance and superstition brought to light in this city of churches and schools (there are eight churches and four schools for the colored people here), is alarming. Out of twenty-one families, visited by one worker, only two had Bibles, all but two used tobacco, and the majority whiskey. Of twenty-two families visited by myself, only eight had any church members among them, and the great majority used both whiskey and tobacco. Very few attended Sunday-school. One hadn’t been inside of a church for five years but once, and then only to attend the funeral of a friend. One, who admitted that he habitually used both whiskey and tobacco, claimed to be a minister in good and regular standing among his brethren, and he is not the only such example in the city. Several of the workers, particularly a young student from the Baptist Theological School here, made stirring appeals to the churches that they more earnestly endeavor to bring in the poor and degraded, and make them feel at home in the house of God.

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