Part 1

VOL. XXXIV. No. 7.

THE

AMERICAN MISSIONARY.

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“To the Poor the Gospel is Preached.”

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JULY, 1880.

_CONTENTS:_

EDITORIAL.

PARAGRAPHS 193 OUR GREAT NEED 197 ARTHINGTON MISSION—THE OUTLOOK 198 THE GENERIC AND THE INDIVIDUAL NEGRO 200 THIRD STATE OF OUR EXPERIMENT 201 AFRICAN NOTES—ITEMS FROM THE FIELD 203

THE FREEDMEN.

MAKE HASTE SLOWLY: Rev. J. E. Roy, D. D. 204 HAMPTON ANNIVERSARY: Rev. A. P. Foster 206 FISK UNIVERSITY 207 STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY 210 TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY 210 HOWARD UNIVERSITY 211 LEWIS HIGH SCHOOL—BEACH INSTITUTE 212

AFRICA.

SUNDAY-SCHOOLS IN CENTRAL AFRICA 213

THE INDIANS.

S’KOKOMISH, WASHINGTON TERRITORY 214

THE CHINESE.

OUR WORK AT THE CENTRE: Rev. W. C. Pond 216

CHILDREN’S PAGE.

ELEPHANT IN AFRICA 218

RECEIPTS 219

CONSTITUTION 222

AIM, STATISTICS, WANTS 223

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NEW YORK.

Published by the American Missionary Association,

ROOMS, 56 READE STREET.

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Price, 50 Cents a Year, in advance.

Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., as second-class matter.

American Missionary Association.

56 READE STREET, N. Y.

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PRESIDENT.

HON. E. S. TOBEY, Boston.

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

Hon. F. D. PARISH, Ohio. Hon. E. D. HOLTON, Wis. Hon. WILLIAM CLAFLIN, Mass. ANDREW LESTER, Esq., N. Y. Rev. STEPHEN THURSTON, D. D., Me. Rev. SAMUEL HARRIS, D. D., Ct. WM. C. CHAPIN, Esq., R. I. Rev. W. T. EUSTIS, D. D., Mass. Hon. A. C. BARSTOW, R. I. Rev. THATCHER THAYER, D. D., R. I. Rev. RAY PALMER, D. D., N. J. Rev. EDWARD BEECHER, D. D., N. Y. Rev. J. M. STURTEVANT, D. D., Ill. Rev. W. W. PATTON, D. D., D. C. Hon. SEYMOUR STRAIGHT, La. HORACE HALLOCK, Esq., Mich. Rev. CYRUS W. WALLACE, D. D., N. H. Rev. EDWARD HAWES, D. D., Ct. DOUGLAS PUTNAM, Esq., Ohio. Hon. THADDEUS FAIRBANKS, Vt. SAMUEL D. PORTER, Esq., N. Y. Rev. M. M. G. DANA, D. D., Minn. Rev. H. W. BEECHER, N. Y. Gen. O. O. HOWARD, Oregon. Rev. G. F. MAGOUN, D. D., Iowa. Col. C. G. HAMMOND, Ill. EDWARD SPAULDING, M. D., N. H. DAVID RIPLEY, Esq., N. J. Rev. WM. M. BARBOUR, D. D., Ct. Rev. W. L. GAGE, D. D., Ct. A. S. HATCH, Esq., N. Y. Rev. J. H. FAIRCHILD, D. D., Ohio. Rev. H. A. STIMSON, Minn. Rev. J. W. STRONG, D. D., Minn. Rev. A. L. STONE, D. D., California. Rev. G. H. ATKINSON, D. D., Oregon. Rev. J. E. RANKIN, D. D., D. C. Rev. A. L. CHAPIN, D. D., Wis. S. D. SMITH, Esq., Mass. PETER SMITH, Esq., Mass. Dea. JOHN C. WHITIN, Mass. Hon. J. B. GRINNELL, Iowa. Rev. WM. T. CARR, Ct. Rev. HORACE WINSLOW, Ct. Sir PETER COATS, Scotland. Rev. HENRY ALLON, D. D., London, Eng. WM. E. WHITING, Esq., N. Y. J. M. PINKERTON, Esq., Mass. E. A. GRAVES, Esq., N. J. Rev. F. A. NOBLE, D. D., Ill. DANIEL HAND, Esq., Ct. A. L. WILLISTON, Esq., Mass. Rev. A. F. BEARD, D. D., N. Y. FREDERICK BILLINGS, Esq., Vt. JOSEPH CARPENTER, Esq., R. I. Rev. E. P. GOODWIN, D. D., Ill. Rev. C. L. GOODELL, D.D., Mo. J. W. SCOVILLE, Esq., Ill. E. W. BLATCHFORD, Esq., Ill. C. D. TALCOTT, Esq., Ct. Rev. JOHN K. MCLEAN, D. D., Cal. Rev. RICHARD CORDLEY, D. D., Kansas.

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

REV. M. E. STRIEBY, D. D., _56 Reade Street, N. Y._

DISTRICT SECRETARIES.

REV. C. L. WOODWORTH, _Boston_. REV. G. D. PIKE, _New York_. REV. JAS. POWELL, _Chicago_.

H. W. HUBBARD, ESQ., _Treasurer, N. Y._ REV. M. E. STRIEBY, _Recording Secretary_.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

ALONZO S. BALL, A. S. BARNES, GEO. M. BOYNTON, WM. B. BROWN, C. T. CHRISTENSEN, CLINTON B. FISK, ADDISON P. FOSTER, S. B. HALLIDAY, SAMUEL HOLMES, CHARLES A. HULL, EDGAR KETCHUM, CHAS. L. MEAD, WM. T. PRATT, J. A. SHOUDY, JOHN H. WASHBURN, G. B. WILLCOX.

COMMUNICATIONS

relating to the work of the Association may be addressed to the Corresponding Secretary; those relating to the collecting fields to the District Secretaries; letters for the Editor of the “American Missionary,” to Rev. C. C. PAINTER, at the New York Office.

DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

may be sent to H. W. Hubbard, Treasurer, 56 Reade Street, New York, or when more convenient, to either of the Branch Offices, 21 Congregational House, Boston, Mass., or 112 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ill. A payment of thirty dollars at one time constitutes a Life Member.

THE

AMERICAN MISSIONARY.

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VOL. XXXIV. JULY, 1880. No. 7.

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American Missionary Association.

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We are glad that we can keep silent in regard to the closing exercises of our schools and let others praise us; strangers, and not our own lips. Nay, better than this, we can say that in many cases those whose praise we repeat, are no longer strangers. In place of some of the usual reports written by our teachers, or friends who have gone down to look into our work, having the greatest sympathy with it, we gather up what is said by the native whites of the South, many of whom have been most interested attendants upon all the anniversary exercises of the schools contiguous to them. We find no fuller or more sympathetic or enthusiastic reports in the Southern papers of the schools for whites than of ours for the colored people. We, therefore, ask the special attention of our readers to these reports this year, as showing the estimate the Southern press and people are putting upon our work.

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_Dr. Rufus Anderson._—Seldom have nature and grace, culture and varied discipline, combined to form a more rounded and perfect character than that of this sainted man, so long identified with the life of Missions, who passed to his rest on the last Sabbath of May. He became permanently connected with the A. B. C. F. M. in 1822, and since 1832 has largely shaped the policy of that Society. For more than half a century, he has been in the closest sympathy with the Divine Master in His effort to save the world, and it has often seemed to us that his face reflected much of the sweet longings of the Master for its accomplishment.

It were sad to be forever on a journey, and never reach home, and so, while the church feels a sense of loss and bereavement because of his removal from its councils, we yet rejoice over his beautiful and useful life, and in the assurance that to him has been administered an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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_Deacon Isler._—The Church at Wilmington, N. C., has been greatly afflicted, and much weakened, by the death of Deacon Isler, a Christian of rare development in all that graces Christian character. It is only five years since he came to Christ, and it now seems to his associates that these five years have been spent under a premonition that what he did must be done quickly. His consecration was without reserve; nothing was too hard for him to undertake; no obstacle turned him aside from the duty which lay before him. With no patience for those who would accept help they did not need, he combined the purpose and constant effort to bear in his strong arms those who did need it.

While, as he said, he “had his rathers,” and would like to work for others, yet he was willingly and joyfully in the hands of Jesus. Much comforted by his wife’s reply to his question whether she could give him up, “Yes, all I want is Jesus,” he passed gently and sweetly away; a man of rare strength, whose death is a great loss, but, being dead, he yet speaketh, and his works follow after him.

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“_No Charge On My Books Against You._”—The above sketch of a worthy and noble man, for which we had no room in our last number, is supplemented by an incident which must find place for brief mention.

When it became evident that disease was fastening upon him, the best physician of the city was called in and put in charge of the case. He became acquainted with the noble life of his humble patient, took the deepest interest in him, and attended him as faithfully as if he had been a wealthy and influential white man.

When one of the teachers, who had made herself responsible for the bill, called upon the doctor for it, he said: “I have no charge against you. I only wish I could have done more for so worthy a man; I shall be glad to give my professional aid to as many such beneficiaries as I can.” Straws are small things, but they indicate the _set_ of the tide. Facts multiply which abundantly prove that mutually helpful relations are being established between the two races on the basis of recognized equal civil liberty. The _ignis fatuus_ of social equality between them might with profit be remitted to the realm of dreams and fantasms, and wait the establishment of such between members of the same race.

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The _Dallas_ (Texas) _Times_ relates an unparalleled instance which occurred at the last term of the Ellis Co. District Court. A negro was tried and found guilty of conspiracy to murder. His defence had been strong but unavailing. The judge overruled a motion for a new trial, as no error of law could be alleged and the evidence seemed strong. When asked what he had to say, the prisoner answered that he could say nothing which would change the sentence the court was about to pronounce upon him, but he would like to speak a few words to his own people in the court-room. Leave being given, he began in a slow, quiet way to review the case. He dissected the evidence in a most masterly way, showing its inconsistencies and contradictions; and gradually warmed up until he burst forth into a strain of impassioned eloquence which carried audience and court with him. When he finished, the judge said, “Sam, I thought you guilty; I don’t believe so now, and will set aside the judgment overruling your motion for a new trial, and give you another chance.” The attorney for the prosecution then dismissed the case. He was an uneducated, common field hand; and yet there are some who think the negro incapable of doing anything higher than hoeing cotton under a white man’s supervision.

When Gen. Howard was in Andover, Mass., the other week, visiting his son in Phillips Academy, he was introduced to a colored man, who asked him if he remembered an answer given by a colored boy at the Storr’s School, in Atlanta, some years since, to his question, “What shall I tell the people of the North?” “O, yes,” said the General. “A little boy in a white jacket said, ‘Tell them we are rising.’” “Well,”said the young man, “that boy has kept his promise. He has risen and is doing noble, manly work for his people.” He has become editor of the _Journal of Progress_, one of the fifty-four papers now edited by colored men in this country.

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_Then and Now._—Nineteen years ago, John G. Fee was waited upon by sixty-two citizens of Bracken Co., Ky., with a peremptory demand that he should leave the county. One of these, an influential and wealthy man, has recently called on him and requested him to give an address on education for the benefit of an institution which the citizens of that county have built. This building is used as an academy. The school is flourishing, having a large number of pupils and three teachers.

The door is opening wider and wider, while the number of adversaries grows smaller: many of them deserting, and becoming co-laborers with us in this work.

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_Savannah, Ga._, has one grog-shop for each 110 of its 33,000 inhabitants, and one Protestant church, white or black, for each 1,223; and until recently, it is said, the churches had no particular fault to find with the grog-shops, and it may be inferred the latter had no complaint to make of the churches. But there has been a disturbance. Some 4,000 of the whites have enlisted to fight this greatest curse and nuisance of our day, while the blacks are also 700 strong in the same army. The labors of Rev. H. E. Brown, in connection with his revival work in that city, have greatly aided Mr. Markham’s efforts in this direction; and so the blacks and the whites are making common cause against the common enemy, just as if their interests were identical in whatever concerns the temporal or spiritual welfare of the city. We shall some time talk more of common interests, and less of different colors.

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_Preaching, but no Instruction._—In our last number, one of the missionaries in Alabama said that many of the colored people “declare plainly they do not believe in Bible religion.” They believe in visions and dreams. Another missionary, writing from a section still under the spiritual guidance of the old preachers, says:

“These people have had preaching, but no instruction. The heart and conscience have not been touched. The older people will come out of a religious meeting and steal a hog for their supper. A white man said to me, ‘When these darkies are going to have a camp-meeting barbecue, I am pretty sure to lose two or three heads of cattle from my herd.’ One very _pious_ brother, engaged in prayer at a camp-meeting, heard some one in the crowd say, ‘Here comes a United States marshal,’ when the brother rose from his knees, leaving his petition unfinished, and ran with all speed for the brush.” Surely, such need truly religions teachers.

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_Missionary Studies._—The plan of study adopted by the church at Dorset, Vt., is so comprehensive and practical, that we must give room to it. The reports and papers are offered on the first Sabbath of each month, as follows: Races for whom Christ died. 1st. Characteristics, Homes, Histories; 2d. What is being done for their evangelization? 1. White men, Caucasian race; 2. Yellow men, Mongolian race; 3. Black men, Ethiopian race; 4. Brown men, Malayan race; 5. Red men, American or Indian race.

A most valuable course of instruction is mapped out here, combining the advantages of a literary club, with the spiritual aims of a missionary concert.

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_What Does It Mean?_—The venerable Dr. Moffat, father-in-law of Livingstone, says: “More has been learned regarding Africa since the Proclamation of President Lincoln, declaring the slaves of the United States free, than in all the past.” Who can be so blind that he does not see the relation of these two facts?

Today, eight European governments have from one to three exploring parties penetrating that vast continent for various purposes. The negro slave of America has become a free man, has the ballot in his hand, and the nation is under bonds to fit him for citizenship. He is restive in his present position. He has an instinct for home which does not find its full satisfaction either on the cotton lands of Mississippi, nor on the corn fields of Kansas or Indiana. What it all means, God in His own time will fully unfold. Meantime, the pressure of necessity is upon us to save ourselves from being trampled to death under the feet of these ignorant voters, led to the polls by unscrupulous demagogues. When we have done this, we shall have fitted an instrument for God’s own right hand; whether for use in America or in Africa chiefly, we know not, and it matters not.

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_John Sykes._—The editor of the _Independent_, on a recent excursion into Virginia, met with, what we may begin to call, a representative negro, for John Sykes is not so much alone today as James’ celebrated solitary horseman of thirty years ago. He is the owner of 171 acres of land near Lake Drummond, all paid for, and stocked with horse, mule, several cows, pigs, sheep, and fowl. He was on his way to Hampton to hear the valedictory address of his son, with great expectations as to what he should see and learn as to new methods of farming practiced on the great farm connected with the school.

His daughter is to take her turn at the school next year, to be followed by another son. Since he bought his land, eight years ago, twenty-five other colored men, his neighbors, have purchased, and paid for, land in lots of from 5 to 50 acres each, while some thirty others have contracts for similar lots. All this within eight years, and along with it has been a progress in education and general thrift which is most hopeful. The editor met four graduates on the same boat with Mr. Sykes, on their way back to Hampton to attend the graduating exercises, “whose intelligence and gentlemanliness were most marked.” He adds as the result of his observations, what a recent excursion into the South enables us to confirm, “In Virginia, the colored people are rapidly rising in intelligence, in comfort, and in wealth; and the feeling of the whites toward them is quite as kindly as could be expected.”

And the contrast suggested is one that it would be well for those who are impatient of the negroes’ slow progress to follow out to the minutest detail. He writes: “It is impossible for a visitor from the North not to compare their position as a race with that of our ancestors two hundred years ago, when starting an American civilization. The Southern negroes have probably as much comfort about them as most of our early forefathers, as good houses, as good furniture, as many cattle: but they have not the intelligent educated upper class, which founded our great colleges and which molded our whole population. This influence they must get from abroad. They need it, and they appreciate and want it; and no more needed and fruitful work can be done by our benevolent people than to provide the Southern negroes with Christian education.”

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The _Memphis Avalanche_ says that a most interesting and entertaining feature of the evening exercises, connected with the close of the Le Moyne School, was the address to the graduating class by Judge J. O. Pierce, which was scholarly, thoughtful and eloquent. And it adds of the school that “it is an honor to the educational institutions of Memphis. It has done much to forward the cause of education among the colored population, and the good results of its labors are apparent in every direction. Institutions of this class cannot be too much encouraged.”

It is proof that we have entered upon a new era when the principal of one of our schools is constrained to say, what Prof. Steele, of Le Moyne Institute, does in a card to the editors of the _Memphis Appeal_:

“I cannot leave the city for the summer without first thanking you, and, through the _Appeal_, also the other eminent gentlemen, who have, during the year past, given us so much aid and encouragement in our work among the colored people of this city and vicinity. The course of lectures which these gentlemen have provided has, I am certain, accomplished much good in many ways. * * * In this, as in every other respect, a better day is near at hand. * * * It has been our aim, in quietly doing our work here, to hasten forward this day of better feeling, and after years of patient toil, and amid many discouragements, we hope that at last a day is not far distant when our work shall gain the approval and aid of all good people, or even when we may relinquish our efforts and hand over our work to those here who should be, and who are, I am convinced, becoming greatly interested in it. Again, in behalf of the faculty and students of this school, and in behalf of the American Missionary Association, which has, in the past sixteen years, expended millions of dollars in education at the South, I thank the _Appeal_ and other papers and gentlemen for their interest and encouragement in our work.”

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OUR GREAT NEED.

We have vast opportunities. Our schools are overflowing with the best selected material we have ever had. The fields are white for the harvest, much of which must rot ungathered, unless a large number of laborers are sent into the field; and these are not wanting. The day of romance in negro teaching is past, and there is nothing in it that appeals to the mere sentimentalist. The day of danger is past, and martyrs are not called for; but there is a demand for honest, earnest Christian educators, who find ample field for all their best gifts, and there is no difficulty in procuring these of the very first order. There is, also, much intelligent appreciation of the vital importance of this work, in its relations both to the life of our nation and the kingdom of Christ. What is needed now, and most pressingly, is a clear apprehension on the part of churches and individuals of the relation which their _gifts_ bear to these civil and spiritual results. It is largely a question of money given, or money withheld. “Prayers are needed?” Certainly! Prayer, not to move the Lord so that _He_ shall favor the work, and prosper the efforts of those engaged in it, but prayer that shall shake selfish plans of expenditure which are so large that nothing is left over for this work; prayer that shall confirm, and give definite shape to vague desires that the means shall be provided; prayer that selfishness may not throttle benevolence. When _this_ prayer has become fervent and effectual, the result will be _money_, which, we assert again, is our present great need.

The Association was urged forward, by the zeal of the churches at the last Annual Meeting, to enlarged plans for the year, requiring enlarged gifts from the churches. This enlargement on our part has been made; it is necessary that yours shall now correspond, or disaster will follow.

Owing to the fact that our schools close in the month of June, and our accounts with our workers must be settled, our need is specially great at this time. The long spell of dry weather has affected our collections in the country churches; and there is danger that we shall suffer, as our benevolent societies do in the presidential year, from absorption of public interest in political affairs; and so we must urge again upon our friends the fact that our great and most pressing need is “money.”

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ARTHINGTON MISSION—THE OUTLOOK.