Part 3

--_Indian youth not revengeful._--General Armstrong testifies that, “in nearly two years’ experience, we have found no signs of the revengeful nature ascribed to the Indian. ‘They are like other people’ is a common remark among us, and is the sum of Indian character.”

--A full-blooded Indian chief writes to his half-brother at Hampton from Crow Creek: “I am going to write you a letter. I never forget you. Try to learn all you can while you are down there. I wish I were young so I could go down and learn too. I want you to learn all you can and come back and teach your brothers. Try to learn and talk English too. Don’t think about coming home all the time. If you do you can’t learn much. I like to have you write a letter back and tell me how you are.

WIZI--That’s I.”

--Rev. Mr. Denison of Hampton writes of the twelve captive Indian warriors from Florida received by him into the church: “We are not deceived into thinking that these Indians present a highly civilized type of piety, but after careful observation, we are forced to believe that, as regards the pith and marrow of Christianity, they are our beloved brethren, for this one thing they do if ever men did it, forgetting the things that are behind, they press toward the mark. One point in theology they understand, and only one. It is to walk the new road in the help of Jesus, and they show their faith by their works. They are patient in study. They are always found on the side of law and order. Digging in the earth is not the chief joy of an Indian warrior, but Koba writes: ‘I pray every day and hoe onions.’”

--_Bed-making by Indian youth._--Mr. James C. Robbins, a colored graduate of Hampton who recently had oversight of Indian boys under Gen. Armstrong, gives the following account: “When they first began to make beds, the sheets were either tucked up under the pillow or laid on the outside. One boy was found to have seven sheets, who did not know the proper use for two. The janitor helped me carry a bedstead into the sitting-room, the boys were called in and seated in a semi-circle, and I began the process of bed-making, the boys grunting and laughing as it proceeded. When the clothes were neatly tucked in, and the pillow shaken and put into its place, I said, ‘Now boys, I will show you how to get into bed,’ which I did. Then, through the interpreter, I asked who was willing to try it. He hardly put the question when a boy who had objected to having his hair cut when he first came, stepped forward. He began where I did, and followed every movement, so closely had he observed. No sooner did he finish than there was a stunning applause. He was then asked to show us how to go to bed, and when his head touched the pillow and he drew the clothing up over him, up went another shout.”

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The Chinese.

--Dr. Legge, the professor of Chinese at Oxford University, says, “If the present rate of conversion of the Chinese to Christianity continues, by the year 1913, there will be 26,000,000 of church members, and 100,000,000 of professed Christians in the Chinese Empire.”

--The Chinese government is removing the old restrictions which withheld Chinese merchants from trading with other nations, and is adopting a policy of encouragement to a wide-spread foreign commerce. The Chinese Ambassador at Washington stated that a steamer, commanded and manned by Chinese wholly, would soon appear in San Francisco laden with the products of Chinese industry.

--The Chinamen, who walk over bridges built two thousand years ago, who cultivated the cotton-plant centuries before this country was heard of, and who fed silk-worms before King Solomon built his throne, have fifty thousand square miles around Shanghai which they call the Garden of China, and which has been tilled for countless generations. It is all meadow land, and is raised but a few feet above the rivers, lakes, and canals, and is a complete network of water-communication. The land is under the highest cultivation, and three crops a year are gathered from it. The population is so dense that wherever you look you see men and women in blue clothing in such numbers that you fancy some muster or fair is coming off, and that the people are out for a holiday. Missionaries of several societies are at work in this locality.

--A Christian Chinaman at Sacramento, in California, was present at the annual festival of the Chinese school on June 4th. When asked whether Christian influence really made the Chinaman better, he replied:--

“Oh! yes, all much better men. Do not steal. Do not gamble. Do not do any bad.”

“How about smoking?”

“Oh! no opium! Some not even smoke cigars. We can tell. All other Chinamen watch Christian Chinamen. If they see him go wrong, tell us. Then we tell him. Then he stop. If he did not stop, then he must leave here.”

“But, suppose you don’t watch him. Will he be good without it?”

“Oh! yes, most times. When he is converted and believes truth, it makes him good inside, he don’t want to go wrong any more.”

“How do you like it as far as you have gone?”

“Oh! me like very well. If all Chinamen be Christians, then no more trouble about ‘must go’! All more happy and good to each other.”

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THE CENTRAL SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE.

This religious body held its autumn meeting with the Second Congregational Church, Memphis, Tenn. Delegates representing the Churches in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, were present. The following programme illustrates the orderly way and the practical character of the brethren engaged in our church work South:--“Annual Sermon,” Rev. Wm. H. Ash, Florence, Ala.; “Church Extension,” Rev. Jos. E. Smith, Chattanooga; “Education,” Rev. G. W. Moore, Nashville; “Missions,” Professor H. S. Bennett, Fisk University; “How to Develop the Benevolence of the Churches,” Professor A. K. Spence, Fisk University; “Absolute Necessity of Education for the Colored People,” President Magoun, of Iowa College.

In addition to the foregoing exercises, the Conference examined and licensed for one year Mr. B. F. Foster, of Arkansas, a former student of the Theological department of Fisk University. It also renewed the licensure of Rev. W. H. Fuller, a student of the Theological department of Talladega College. During the session a council was organized for the examination of Mr. B. A. Imes, a graduate of Oberlin College and Theological Seminary, with reference to his ordination and installation as pastor of the church in which the Conference was convened. Rev. Dr. Roy was Moderator of the Council, and the examination was very thorough and satisfactory. Dr. Magoun, whose daughter is the accomplished teacher of music in the Le Moyne Institute, was present to preach the ordination sermon, and Rev. G. Stanley Pope, of Tougaloo University, to give the charge to the pastor. This young conference, which already numbers twelve churches, possesses the elements of a steady and helpful growth, indicative of a better era for pure religion at the South.

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ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.

WILMINGTON, N. C.--Pressure for admission to the lower classes still continues. The school is crowded and there already is an overflow room. Others are knocking morning, noon and night for admittance.

MACON, GA.--School opens unusually full, but better than that is the fact that we have a good school. I can truly say that I feel we are doing well in every part of the work.

MARIETTA, GA.--Our work here is decidedly encouraging. No new members yet, but three or four candidates are waiting to be admitted whenever we deem it proper to receive them. One of these is a man who brings a nice family to our Congregation; he has six very bright children, five of whom are old enough to attend our Sunday-school. I have been laboring in a quiet way, spending much of my time in visiting the people, and with better acquaintance with them I hope to do good work here. Sunday-school is already showing an increase. Our monthly and quarterly concerts are doing much good. Our choir meetings are helpful; in connection with the practice of songs for the Sabbath we teach vocal music, and allow all who wish to attend; thus far the plan has worked well. Our organ is our greatest present burden, but we hope to be able to pay for it at the stipulated time.

ANNISTON, ALA.--Last Sabbath was our regular communion day, and a very precious day it was to us. We were gathering up the fragments of our protracted services. There were seventeen conversions during the revival, and thirteen of the converts united with us. The church has been quickened by the Spirit and backsliders restored.

TALLADEGA, ALA.--Our opening this fall was most favorable. The first day saw Foster Hall nearly full, and Swayne Hall well occupied. If the pupils continue to come, we shall soon be compelled to ask what we shall do with them. Both pastors of the colored churches here enter the normal department, and one the theological.

MOBILE, ALA.--I feel constrained, by the reports of the coming applicants, to request an additional teacher. Yesterday and to-day we have turned away thirty or more applicants, nearly one half of whom wish to enter the B intermediate department, and nearly one half are former pupils. Some went away crying because there was no room for them.

SELMA, ALA.--Our new missionary, supported by the ladies of Maine, writes as follows: “Have been here one month, and am prepared to say that I like the work and find ample opportunity for doing good. I have already called upon every member of our church. A good degree of interest is shown by the Sunday-school, also an increased interest in the church is seen and felt by all. We are hoping and praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and trust that we are remembered by our Northern friends in this respect as well as others. I am rejoiced that I am permitted to labor in this cause; encouragements far out-weigh discouragements, and when the people of the North fully realize the amount of good accomplished by the A. M. A. they will be more ready to sustain it than they have yet been.”

MEMPHIS, TENN.--School opened most hopefully. We now register over one hundred and forty pupils, and I have already refused children for the primary and intermediate rooms. I expect every seat will be taken in the normal room by the end of this month. Our entire work has never before opened so hopefully as this year.

PARIS, TEXAS.--Rev. J. W. Roberts writes: Enclosed please find $1, a collection which my Sunday-school sends for “Mendi Mission.” I gave them a missionary talk yesterday on the work the A. M. A. was carrying on in Africa, and urged them to aid her in sending the Gospel to that land. The Sunday-school voted unanimously to do it. Thus they send this as a beginning.

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THE FREEDMEN.

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

FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.

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GLEANINGS.

L. A. P.

Letters from student-teachers often furnish truer insight to the homes and sentiments of the people than can be learned in the higher schools. Ten miles from a leading city a young lady writes: “This is such a wicked place that out of ninety day scholars I can get only forty to come to Sabbath-school. I begin school at eight, and close at half-past five in the evening. Parents think the children are not learning anything unless they stay in school as long as the field hands work.”

A young man, whose recitations in class are always excellent, says: “I have professed a hope in Christ, and joined the church. The letter you wrote me two or three years ago concerning religion was in my mind all the time before I professed hope. Please tell me where in the Bible I can find the place where a woman once cooked a Bible in a loaf of bread to keep it from being destroyed.”

This question aptly illustrates the lack of general intelligence in the community. It is quite possible for young people to leave school with fair knowledge of the text-books, yet profoundly ignorant of everything else, unless access to libraries and thorough Bible training accompany the regular school work, and are made a part of it.

Another young man reads books and papers, and induces his patrons to provide themselves with good reading matter. Under the same date as the foregoing letter, he writes: “I have an enrolment of 120 in day school. Sabbath-school numbers 143. I wish you could step into my school-room, and see how busy and earnest all seem to be. You cannot imagine how the colored people of this vicinity are grasping after education. I lectured to a large audience last Monday night. My subject was ‘Education in the South.’”

Another student records his experience thus: “The school had no black-board, no writing desks--well, in fact, it was not provided with anything. I now have a black-board, 8 ft. by 4; also very good writing desks. The children were very much surprised at the black-board, as they had never seen one before.”

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GEORGIA.

Extracts from the Report of the Board of Visitors to the Atlanta University.

For three days we listened to examinations of the scholars conducted orally by the teachers, and written examination work from the higher classes was laid before us. We were also present at the anniversary exercises of the Institution. It is with pleasure that we bear testimony in behalf of the accuracy and thoroughness manifested both by the teachers and scholars. We have never seen stronger proof of careful and successful teaching, and the discipline and government cannot be surpassed in any Institution.

The scholars were neat in appearance, orderly in deportment, and serious in application. The teachers were remarkably proficient in their several departments, and the scholars seemed to be impressed with a deep-seated earnestness, calculated not only to advance the intellectual status of the colored race, but also to make of them better men and women.

The practical sciences are not neglected. A visit to the culinary department showed us that the female students had been thoroughly taught the art of cooking good dinners, without which even the intellect would pine and languish. Calisthenics, also, constitute a part of the training.

We found the buildings and grounds in the best of order, evidencing the same watchful eyes which overlooked the entire Institution.

The school-rooms and furniture were entirely free from defacements of any kind, showing a marked difference in this respect between the Atlanta University and most other colleges.

An interesting feature is the Library, composed of a collection of about five thousand volumes, selected wisely for the purpose of interesting as well as instructing the scholars. To the library there have been added during the past year, three hundred new books of recent publication.

In connection with the library is a reading room, in which can be found the leading magazines and daily papers.

The future of the University seems truly bright, and a better opportunity can never be given our colored citizens for a thorough education.

We commend the entire corps of instructors, and must express the confidence which we feel in the capacity of the president, Mr. Ware, and in his fitness for the position which he occupies.

In conclusion, we think it proper to dwell for a moment upon the fact that the Atlanta University, besides the influence which it wields directly upon its scholars, reaches, through the many who pass out from its walls as teachers, almost the entire colored population of our State. While the mental man is being developed, the moral man is carefully trained, and temperance and religion are important parts of the instruction given.

From this College, Georgia is sending out missionaries for the amelioration of a large class of her citizens. Who can doubt the wisdom of continuing the appropriation?

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ALABAMA.

Church, School, and Brick-making.

MISS M. F. WELLS, ATHENS.

I reached Athens on Saturday, Oct. 2d, found very little advance on the brick-yard, the kiln of 118,000 being completed but not burned, everybody discouraged, young people and children scattered to the cotton fields, trying to earn enough money to buy their winter shoes. Of course words of cheer and encouragement in view of the _great work_ (for them the making of 200,000 brick _is_ a great work, however small it may seem to those who do not know their poverty, and the great sacrifice this has cost them) already accomplished, made their heavy hearts lighter, and in the three weeks since Oct. 1st a great change has come over the aspect of things.

Men and boys are in the woods cutting wood to burn the kiln made this season; women and girls are contributing their dimes, nickels, half dollars and dollars to raise a fund to haul the wood, and the prospect is that the brick will be burned before Christmas. But you will not wonder that down in my secret soul there is sometimes almost a moan. How long, O Lord, how long before the completion of the school-house?

During the summer the church has kept up the public worship once a day; a Cumberland Presbyterian Minister (colored) has generally preached. When he was not well enough to preach a prayer meeting was held.

The Sunday-school has been pretty well attended, and is now very enthusiastic. We are going over a short course of Bible History and Chronology, in addition to the regular lessons of the International course. We are to have an examination for promotions at Christmas and all are striving to complete the course. Our prayer meetings are increasing in interest and numbers, but we need a minister, indeed we must have one.

Two delegates have been appointed by the church to attend the Conference at Memphis. It would be a pleasure to me, as one of the appointees, to represent the church at that meeting, but there seems no possibility of my going, as the school is filling up rapidly, and the wood-cutters have to be provided with dinner, and it requires eternal vigilance to look after all the interests in such a way as to keep the “ark a moverin.” I should have written sooner, but every day has brought some unexpected emergency--so mixing church and school and brick-making, that no line of thought or action was marked with sufficient distinctness to express itself on paper. But now, things are more settled, all the interests seem harmonized, and the chaos has given place to order. We are all happy and busy day and night, bright faces and glad, earnest spirits inspire hope in the teacher’s heart, and give vigor to every effort to move forward.

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MISSISSIPPI.

Patient Work.

REV G. S. POPE, TOUGALOO.

Sometimes we hear of incidents in the lives of our students plainly showing that what we have said to them about hard, patient work hasn’t ended with talk.

One of the graduating class last June spoke to us of “Labor.” A letter just received by one of the teachers tells how his school-house was so uncomfortable that he thought something must be done. He had a public entertainment to raise money to get lumber for ceiling. He did not realize enough and footed the bill himself. When the lumber arrived he asked the people to come together to do the work, but they did not respond and he ceiled the house himself.

Four of our girls taught near each other, their schools over 40 miles from the railroad. One of them had taught before 14 months in the same neighborhood. The people failed to pay her. At one time she needed some money and persuaded a man who was owing her to kill a hog and let her have it. She put it in a sack and started on horseback to peddle it out. She has an invalid mother and one or two brothers and sisters nearly dependent upon her. She is anxious to educate herself, but the outlook is pretty dark.

Two of them started together for their new field; went to B---- by railroad, paid a man $5 to take them 20 miles, reached town about dark and tried four places before finding any one who could keep them over night. The old woman who took them in was not able to give them anything to eat, but made a cup of coffee for each. One of them had a little lunch with her. They ate part of it and put the rest aside. The next morning one woman who had refused to keep them over night called and invited them around to see her; they took dinner there and went back to the old woman’s house to stay over night again, as they could not find any one to take them further before the Sabbath. They were going to finish their lunch for supper, but the ants had finished it for them, so they had nothing more to eat until about noon, the next day. A man charged them $7 to take them 22 miles. The Lord sent them some lunch through the same woman who fed them the day before. One of them only obtained a two months’ school. She received $36, and had to spend $13 in traveling expenses and $12 for board. She thinks she will have hard work to get through the year on what remains.

In one church there were three ministers and only one Testament. These girls induced them to buy several Bibles.

They wrote for the fourth one to come. She went as far as B----and had to wait two weeks for her trunk. She then went half-way to her school with the mail carrier and waited there another week before she could get any conveyance to her school. She taught two months, and after purchasing what clothing she absolutely needed, and settling board bills, only had about five dollars. She has just written me that she is picking cotton now, hoping to get a bale to sell, so she can return to school. We have enough such incidents to make a book.

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LOUISIANA.

Indications of Good in School and Church--Revival Meetings.

W. S. ALEXANDER, D. D., NEW ORLEANS.

We watch with peculiar interest the indications of the first month of church and school work, in their relation to the general results of the year. The first month has passed, and we have abundant reason to take courage and press forward. Never did a year begin with fairer prospects of success. Never before, perhaps, have so many students reported on the opening day of the University.

The completed roll of the Academic, Law, and Theological Departments would show nearly, if not quite 200 names. Many students are detained upon the plantations--new scholars are on the way, and we expect by the holidays to have all we can well provide for.

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STONE HALL.

The new dormitory, which will bear the name of our generous benefactress, Mrs. Stone, of Malden, Mass., will soon be a reality. The plans and specifications have been completed, bids have been invited, and we shall soon hear the click of the mason’s trowel, and the welcome sound of the saw and hammer. If Prof. Chase, who will supervise the construction of the building, had any doubt of our joy at his coming, he has not the perception with which we credit him. Our most grateful thanks go out to Mrs. Stone for her large-hearted benevolence. The blessings of thousands of God’s poor people whom we are trying to serve will be part of her reward.

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THE LAW DEPARTMENT

Numbers already 23 students, only four of whom are colored. This department is entirely self-sustaining, and a fee of $56 per year is exacted as compensation for the four able professors. It is a source of great regret to us that more colored young men, in whose interests the department was organized, do not avail themselves of its advantages. It is conducted with rare ability. One of the professors has been upon the Supreme Bench of this State.

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CENTRAL CHURCH.