Part 3

ATHENS, ALA.—The Trinity School at this place is going forward with its new building. Last summer the colored people by volunteer labor made and burned a kiln of 120,000 bricks, and have made another this summer. If time is money, it takes a great deal of it to do a work for which there is no money, but under the inspiration of Miss M. F. Wells, who for a dozen years has been principal of the school, and is the good angel of this enterprise, the people are slowly but steadily moving forward to its accomplishment.

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LAWSON, ALA.—Rev. Spencer Snell rejoices in some eighteen hopeful conversions as the fruit of a series of meetings held in August.

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FISK UNIVERSITY, TENN.—The Jubilee Singers at Chautauqua have been attracting attention to this Institution, and to themselves as cultivated persons, almost, it may be said, irrespective of color. Their singing was one of the most fortunate and popular features of the wonderful gathering at that famous place.

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PARIS, TEXAS.—The Rev. J. W. Roberts, who is located at Paris, Texas, an enterprising and growing city on the Texas and Pacific Railroad, writes of a pleasant series of meetings resulting in some ten additions to the two churches under his charge. He has since been delivering a series of Biblical lectures which attracted in members and pastors from other colored churches and a sprinkling of white people. He is soon to be reinforced by Mr. S. B. White, a graduate of the Normal Department in Talladega, who is to teach the parish school. This church was organized in 1868 by a man who at another place had his life sacrificed to the turbulence of those times. He makes an appeal for a much needed communion service. If some one of our churches has supplied itself with a new service, its old one would be thankfully received; or if some one will contribute a new one, it would be at once a graceful and grateful thing to do.

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HELENA, TEXAS.—Rev. M. Thompson, on the first Sabbath of August, had the joy of receiving to his church six persons who had recently found the Saviour. The school in this place is now to be taught by Miss Henderson, a graduate of the Normal Department of Straight University.

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AUSTIN, TEXAS.—The Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute at Austin, Texas, has been built during the year. Including the basement above ground and the mansard roof, it has five stories and is a commodious and comely structure, crowning one of the finest sites about that beautiful city in the valley of the Colorado.

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THE FREEDMEN.

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

FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.

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COLORED CADETSHIP.

REV. L. C. LOCKWOOD

[In giving the following letter it will, of course, be understood that neither the A. M. A. nor Gen. Armstrong, nor even the Editor, is committed to the plan suggested. Whether it is policy for the friends of the negro to take up the gauntlet and cross swords in his behalf on all occasions, or to possess their souls in patience while they quietly wait for old prejudices to die, and a more Christian spirit to prevail, may be a doubtful question.

Whether it would be advisable, even if the plan of a military school for colored boys were adopted, to engraft it upon Hampton, or upon any of our present schools, should be thoroughly weighed before decision. But we are glad to hear what Mr. Lockwood, who established our first Freedmen’s School at Hampton, has to say, and print his letter not alone for the interesting anecdote of our lamented Lincoln, but also as suggestive of thought on this important subject.—ED. MISSIONARY.]

As the first missionary among the Freedmen (then refugees), at Hampton and Fortress Monroe, Va., in 1861–2; I take a great interest in the problem of colored cadetship.

After the persecution to which these cadets have been subjected at West Point, I think wisdom dictates the wide circulation of a petition to Congress, to have a National Military Academy established in connection with the Hampton Institute, under the Presidency of General Armstrong, who has already given that Institute a national reputation. Would not this peaceful way of bringing about the desired end be better than to battle with West Point? In illustration, I offer an unpublished fact that showed Lincoln’s common sense. After his proclamation about the arming of colored troops in 1862, I went to Washington, and in company with Senator Pomeroy, informed the President that the colored people of Hampton were ready to enlist. His memorable reply was: “Yes, but Fortress Monroe is not ready. Pennsylvania is not ready. New York is not ready. The Country is not ready. My proclamation meant this much and no more: Gov. Andrews, of Massachusetts, wishes to arm the Yankee negro; Generals Hunter and Saxton wish to arm a few South Carolina negroes to occupy a post, and relieve the soldiers for active duty. Let them do it. But the rest must bide their time. Please leave your statement with the Secretary of War, and when we are ready we will let you know.” This “making haste slowly” was what brought us through that tug of war, and I would recommend the same common sense in reference to the cadetship. And I hope some influential friend of the cause will second my suggestion, and leave West Point alone in its unenviable glory.

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M’LEANSVILLE, N. C.

Revival Interest.

REV. A. CONNET

Our revival commenced on the Sabbath, August 15. That night there were four or five inquirers. Monday the interest increased, and Monday night there were thirty inquirers. Tuesday there were twelve or fifteen conversions. Tuesday night, 28 or 30 inquirers and three or four conversions. The number of inquirers continued to be from ten to twenty till the close of the meetings. The whole number of conversions was about 25. The congregation on the 15th was the largest, we are told, that it has ever been. Only about two-thirds of the people could get into the church, even by the closest packing. Sunday, the 22d, between the sermon in the forenoon and communion in the afternoon, we examined 23 new candidates for membership, one to be restored and two for renewing their covenants. In the afternoon they were publicly received, and more than half of them baptized. I also baptized two infants. The communion was then administered to a large number of communicants. The house was full, forenoon and afternoon. One man, 56 years old, and his wife as old, or a little older, walked ten miles Sunday morning to attend the communion. Another man walked ten miles, or over, to the meeting, both the 15th and the 22d. Three of our pupils came about 35 or 40 miles to the meeting, by rail; another, a young woman, came by private conveyance 20 miles; and another, a young man, walked 12 miles, and came forward as an inquirer. Four of the converts were members of my daughter’s Sunday-school class, a number of them were members of my class, and nearly all young people and members of our school. Two are married men. One young woman came to us by letter from the Methodist Episcopal church.

It was truly a season of refreshing from the Lord. The people held a prayer-meeting Sabbath night, the 22d. We were too tired to go out. We were told that all the non-professors in the congregation (and the house was full), except three or four, came forward for prayer.

More than a dozen bade us good-by at the depot. Seven girls walked three miles to bid us good-by. We were greatly rejoiced that Miss Douglass was with us to share in our labors and in our joys. Some of the converts are among our brightest and most advanced scholars.

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SOUTH CAROLINA.

MR J. D. BACKENSTOSE.

During my recent vacation (spent in the State of New York) the question most frequently asked me was, “Are the Freedmen as anxious to obtain an education, as they were when schools for them were first opened?”

I have answered these inquiries by relating some of my experience, and fearing lest Christians at the North have the impression that they are less eager, and so are becoming weary in aiding these poor people in their struggles for an education, I now relate it for the benefit of the readers of the MISSIONARY.

In the fall of ’73, two young men from distant part of the county came to our Institute at Greenwood, S. C., and asked permission to occupy a vacant room in the building and cook their own meals while they attended the Institute. I consented, and assisted them in furnishing the room. From the wood-shed we procured lumber for a bedstead and table, had boxes for chairs, and newspapers for window shades. They were delighted with this, and immediately wrote to their friends that there were excellent accommodations for boarders at Brewer Institute, and before the winter had fairly set in, there were nineteen men living in that room, which measured only 30×32.

Another raid was made on the wood-shed, and three more bedsteads hastily built after the pattern of the first, and on these four bedsteads the nineteen men slept four months. Part of them would retire at an early hour and sleep till midnight, then arise and let the others take their places. While some were sleeping, the others were cooking and preparing their lessons for the next day, in the same room. During all this time, I never heard a complaining word from them. Our rooms are now neatly furnished for students, and we have recently built a good frame house which is also well furnished. We have accommodations for only twenty students, and yet during a part of the past winter we had thirty-three crowded in these rooms, and even then they were unwilling that I should say we were full and could accommodate no more.

So eager are they for an education, that they are willing to live for a time on corn meal, bacon, and molasses. The former they mix with cold water, minus the eggs and butter, and, after baking, eat it with their meat, gravy, or molasses. This three times a day and seven days in a week. Tea and coffee are never on their bill of fare.

The home of two of these men was fourteen miles distant, and once in two weeks they would walk there on Friday afternoon and return on Sunday night, bringing on their shoulders provisions to last them till they should go again.

A young man, a Baptist minister, who was obliged to leave school a few weeks before the close of the term, walked sixty miles in order to be examined with his class at the close of the term.

Could ever a people be more anxious to obtain an education than these are now? Twenty-three of those who have lived and struggled in this way to obtain an education are now engaged in teaching, and have under their care over thirteen hundred pupils. We have a beautiful school building well furnished with everything but a cabinet organ, and we believe that God will put it in the heart of some good friend to send us that.

A lively interest is constantly and in various ways manifested by the people, and everything gives promise of abundant fruit in the future. If our highest hopes have not already been realized, we thank God for the progress made. May He put it into the hearts of the benefactors of this race to add to their gifts and prayers, until not only twenty-three, but ten times that number shall go out from Brewer Normal Institute, as competent instructors of thousands of their brethren now ignorant and despised.

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GEORGIA.

Anniversary of Midway Church.

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

Last Sabbath was a day of great interest to us as a church. It was our regular communion season, and in addition to that, we observed our anniversary for the first time, though it is six years since we organized. The other branch of the old Midway church that formed itself into a Presbyterian body, came over with its pastor, Rev. J. T. H. Waite, to share the enjoyment of the occasion with us. We find, in reviewing our history, that, including those who formed the original church, 337 persons have connected themselves with it; ten have been dismissed, fifteen have been excommunicated, and twenty-eight have gone to their eternal home; leaving 284 to continue the Christian warfare. It is true that a great many of our members occupy the two extremes in life, and are very old or very young, and consequently bring no pecuniary strength to the church. Still there is a benefit derived from both which is of infinitely greater value than mere money, though we poor mortals are in many instances unable to see it. Especially is this the case when our eyes are both bent on self. However, the young will certainly prove, in due time, a help to the church also in the way of material support. Our church edifice is still unfinished, and as there are no means of heating it it is an uncomfortable place for service during the winter. Notwithstanding the failure of crops from the drought this year, my people have resolved to do everything they can toward completing it. Will some friend come to our aid? “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.”

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Atlanta University—An Encouraging Precedent.

The Atlanta University, at Atlanta, Ga., was one of the earliest educational institutions in this country to adopt as a text-book Dr. Richardson’s “Temperance Lesson Book,” published by the National Temperance Society. Among the recent commencement exercises of the University was a thorough examination in this admirable text-book concerning alcohol. A New England correspondent, who was present and listened to the examination, was much gratified with it. In thus leading the way in giving to its students thorough scientific instruction concerning alcohol, the Atlanta University merits the warmest commendation from all friends of temperance. It furnishes a most valuable precedent which we hope may ere long be followed by all our colleges and universities, as well as academies and public schools.

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Our correspondent writes:

“I spent most of the time in the temperance examination. They use Dr. Richardson’s text-book, and the students showed that they had been thoroughly drilled in it. Isn’t it a very admirable thing for this book to be used in that place? There are nearly three hundred students, and they all study it at some time; and with scarcely an exception these students go out into the by-ways and hedges of this and other States to teach the colored children. They teach through the vacations to earn money for the next term. Think what a leaven this is to work among the poor, ignorant creatures. They estimate that the University students reach ten thousand children during the year. I attended the graduating exercises and thoroughly enjoyed them. The essays and orations were excellent. The speaking was really eloquent. One blind-folded would never have guessed that he was listening to black students, all of whose parents were slaves only seventeen years ago. Mayor Calhoun and one of the ex-Governors were present.”

The National Temperance Society has just received the sum of seventy dollars from this Institution, money collected by its students for temperance work, and we have forwarded a large case of books, tracts and pamphlets for distribution throughout the South during the summer vacation.—_From National Temperance Advocate._

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ALABAMA.

Good Vacation Work.

REV. J. D. SMITH, SHELBY IRON WORKS.

We have just had a refreshing time here in our church from the good Lord. Shortly after that class of eight young men graduated from the Theological Department of Talladega College, Bros. Cantry, Strong and Y. B. Sims, all members of my church, came down to spend a few days at their homes with their relatives and friends before going to their fields of labor. Each of them did some faithful preaching for several evenings. It seemed at first as though we were not going to have any success, but I continued the meetings after the brethren left us, and the Lord gave us some nine or ten conversions as the result of our labors. We received ten new members into the church last night. It was one of the most interesting occasions we have ever had here. The meetings were very quiet indeed; no excitement. They were all converted through the simple preaching of the Gospel and the quiet persuasion of the spirit of Christ. There was not as much fervor among the brethren as I like to see; the Lord did the work, nevertheless, and we give all the glory to Him.

Most of the members who united with us last night were heads of families, and all of them were adults. Our church is gathering in the best material in the place. The members of the other churches say their ministers do not feed them, and they must seek for better pastures. Our church has a brighter outlook than ever before.

The Sunday-school is in a flourishing condition. The Lord is building up His Zion here. Pray for us, that we may still be refreshed from Heaven.

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Outside Work.

REV. W. H. MOORE, FLORENCE.

This has been a busy week with me, and I trust one of good to our cause, in removing false impressions, &c. I have come in contact with the masses of the people; we like each other well. Last Wednesday night I preached at Oak Grove A. M. E. Church. As we approached the meeting house, our ears were greeted with a volume of song, and the woods re-echoed with such weird strains as only our people in their unlettered state can produce. The surrounding grove was filled with horses and mules hitched to the trees. The church was packed; all seats were filled, pulpit filled, windows crowded, standing room taken, doors filled, and large numbers out of doors. There were all kinds and conditions present, from the ebony hue to the pearly white, from the infant in its mother’s lap to the octogenarian; women and men sat round the floor of the rude pulpit, and just left standing room for me to speak.

The thought of their ignorance and superstition, and the fact that fifty or more of their number were seeking the Saviour, fired my heart and mind. I preached from Matt. vi., 33, and they listened with rapt attention, while I spoke as I only could under the inspiration of such an audience and the presence of the Holy Spirit. More than twenty have decided for Christ since the Sabbath.

On my return to town, I gave a lecture on Labor—the dignity of labor, and that labor should be duly rewarded. The meeting had been well advertised and worked up by friends, so there was a good turn out, especially of working-men and women.

I think I begin to see the dawn of a bright day for our cause here. To-morrow afternoon I preach a sermon to children. It is to be our S. S. Centenary (Raikes’?) Celebration. The church will be decorated with evergreen and flowers. I shall give each one a beautiful card, a present from the Muskegon, Mich., S. S. That Sunday-school and the “Little Ones of the Bird’s Nest” of Kalamazoo, Mich., have sent us a lot of beautiful papers and cards as a memento of the day.

I have had the pleasure of carrying the word of life to the aged, infirm, and sick who cannot attend church often. I receive more comfort, I think, than I give. It did do my heart good to see a dear old aged and infirm lady rejoice and weep that she had the word brought to her. I shall see this class of God’s poor as often as I can. I do enjoy the pastoral and pulpit work; would that I might do it better. It is my only ambition to become a faithful and successful minister of Jesus Christ.

To-day Mr. Alex. Jones, Sr., and I attended a large country gathering ten miles west of Florence. The crops are unusually large this year. We noticed on our way large farms of golden corn and fields of blooming cotton, which will soon be changed into snowy whiteness. This is a holiday with the farmers, who have laid by their crops and are now hopefully awaiting the harvest time. They have an annual picnic at Bethlehem Church. Two hours of the morning and two of the afternoon are devoted to speeches. The audience was large and appreciative. I spoke an hour, and received several “Amens,” “That’s so,” and “Tell it, brother.” Then followed the hand-shaking, good words, &c., when I had finished. I enjoyed it royally, and trust I did some good.

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MISSISSIPPI.

Tougaloo University—Its Location, Work, Equipments, Success and Needs.

REV. G. STANLEY POPE.

The immediate surroundings of Tougaloo University are, perhaps, the most beautiful of any of our schools. At the same time it has seemed for the past three years to be a very healthful location. The school has been unusually full during the past year, and the work in the school-room has been most thorough. I have had associated with me a very competent and willing corps of workers. Their work has been every thing I could ask for. We attempt to give only a thorough, practical _Normal_ training in our school, feeling that this meets the present necessities of the colored people of our State. We are willing to take the rough stone from the quarry and put on the heavy, telling strokes of the _builder_, and leave the more artistic strokes of the sculptor to be given by some of our sister institutions. A peculiar and interesting feature of our school-room work is the study of the Bible in the class-room. This is done to give a special preparation for Sunday-school work.

We have sufficient apparatus for illustrating physics, but beyond this we are poorly supplied with school-room conveniencies. We have but a limited supply of models, maps and charts, while our library consists mostly of Congressional documents.

A peculiar feature of the work at Tougaloo is the training given the students in gardening, farming, stock-raising and housework. Already the shipment of strawberries to the Chicago market is proving a rich remuneration to student labor. Our clover field is a wonder to the students and neighboring planters, and our fine blooded cattle not much less of a surprise. These industries are opening up new avenues of livelihood as well as usefulness to our students. Many of our young women have been but field hands, so that the work about the house and in the sewing room is a new kind of labor to them.

We have been able to do nothing, comparatively, in the church work. No churches have been organized as the outgrowth of our school. There are communities ripe for such work if we only had the means to carry it on. There are points along the lines of railroad that could be supplied by students if we only had a theological class to put to work in organizing and carrying on church work. We have not neglected the Sunday-school work because we have not been able to do all that we have wanted, but have visited schools and held some conventions. The influence of these conventions is being felt in the surrounding country.

The exodus affects our school but little thus far. The effect of the movement upon the colored people themselves has not been such as to warrant us in encouraging it in any way. Many of the patrons of our school have secured small farms and are in a way to give their families a fair education. Our school is becoming more widely known and its influence more powerfully felt. Parents came two hundred miles to see their sons graduate last June. Applications have been crowding in upon us for accommodations next year.