Part 4

When Livingstone, at the age of twenty-seven, had accomplished his task of fitting himself for a missionary, had taken his medical diploma, and was ready to start for Africa, “a single night,” says his biographer, “was all that he could spend with his family, and they had so much to speak of that David proposed they should sit up all night. This, however, his mother would not hear of. ‘I remember my father and him,’ writes his sister, ‘talking over the prospects of Christian missions. They agreed that the time would come when rich and great men would think it an honor to support whole stations of missionaries, instead of spending their money on hounds and horses. On November 17th we got up at five o’clock. My mother made coffee. David read the 121st and 135th Psalms, and prayed. My father and he walked to Glasgow to catch the Liverpool steamer.’”

How fitting the setting of this prophetic talk of David and his father—the completed hard labor and sterner sacrifice of preparation, the hurried visit by night, and the long walk in the November dawn! No wonder, with their inspiration, that these two “agreed that the time would come when rich and great men would think it an honor to support whole stations of missionaries.”

The autumn is here and a new year of work begins. We are all promising ourselves redoubled efforts and larger success, each in his sphere, for the coming season. But what can we do new, what can we do more, what fresh successes can we plan for missions, and for home missions? This is one of the questions for us all to ask. Can I start a new auxiliary? I will not neglect the opportunity nor lose time. Can I myself make a larger contribution to the funds this year than last? Then I will, and if I have to give something of less value in exchange for the privilege, so much the better. Shall I read more regularly the news that comes from missions, and so help myself and others to become more interested in the work by the knowledge of what is being done? Yes, I will make a point of this. Can I pray more sincerely for the progress of the cause, remembering with affection and sympathy those who labor in the Lord in the more toilsome parts of the vineyard?

Are not these questions which we may ask and answer in the interest of our W. H. M. A.? We are anxious to do a much larger work this year than last. Would that we might multiply it tenfold! So we must have corresponding purpose and energy in each spoke of the wheel. Our missionaries already in the field have resumed their labors after their summer’s rest. Mrs. Babcock has returned to her work in Washington; Mrs. Steele begins anew in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Miss Rose M. Kinney is to be supported by our Association in Dorchester Academy, McIntosh, Ga.; Miss Sarah E. Tichenor, sister of Miss Lydia M. Tichenor, who has been in Hooper, Utah, has begun her teaching among the “poor whites” in Greenbrier, Tenn. She writes: “I think the prospects are that we shall have a pleasant opening, as they are anxious to have school. I would like a globe and charts very much, and we shall need text books for some who are not able to buy.” Miss Alice E. Carter, who has been our missionary in Nashville, Tenn., this last year, has been detailed from that work to present the cause of the W. H. M. A. to the churches. Auxiliaries wishing to have her address them can make application to the Home Secretary. Under the New West Commission we send out Miss Snyder again to Albuquerque; Miss Elizabeth Keyes to Bingham; Miss Emily S. Robinson to Stockton; and Miss Annie E. Shepardson to Salt Lake City, (the three last named places in Utah).

We are ready to send out more, to double the number of missionaries at once, and the fields are standing ripe. Does not some one desire the “honor” of supporting, not “whole stations of missionaries,” but—a whole mission station? Does not some new auxiliary desire to undertake the support of a new mission?

The annual meeting of the Association will be held in Boston, October 26. We expect the cause of the New West and that of the South to be presented by those personally acquainted with the matter, and we hope for a large attendance.

Receipts of W. H. M. A. from August 27 to September 26, 1881:

From Aux. $ 38.00 “ Don 258.10 “ L. M. 20.00 “ A. M. 11.00 —————— $327.10

Boxes sent:

From Auxiliary in Monson, Mass., to the West $150.00 “ Ladies in Central Ch., Boston, second-hand clothing to Michigan sufferers 8.90

CORRECTION.—In report of W. H. M. A. for September. In Miss Wilson’s diary read, “2d, sent soup,” not soap; and in the last part of the same paragraph read “lunch,” not _land_, given.

* * * * *

CHILDREN’S PAGE.

* * * * *

THOMAS CHATHAM.

BY MRS. THOS. N. CHASE.

About fifteen years ago, a colored boy whom we will call Thomas Chatham helped to swell the flock that followed their white teacher to some tumble-down buildings in Atlanta, Ga.

There is a kind of wild delight about the memory of those days, “just after freedom,” when the “old uncles and aunties” as well as the boys and girls endured heat and cold, hunger and rags, inspired by the blissful idea of getting “larnin’” about as they had gotten freedom, “kind o’ sudden like.” When they found their mistake, of course thousands dropped out by the way, but Thomas Chatham was not one of them.

When we went South in 1869, he had gotten quite a start. I first saw him in the Congregational Sunday-school at Storrs Chapel, and noticed that whenever the Superintendent asked a question that nobody else could answer, a queer-looking fellow with a very thick tongue usually answered it. In two or three years he was admitted to the preparatory department of Atlanta University. But how the boys did laugh at him! How shocking! some tender-hearted child says. So it is. Many a time my heart has ached for poor Chatham. But you must remember that colored children are no better than white ones, and I am sure you have seen some poor awkward white boy laughed at till perhaps your kind eyes filled with tears. Then I suppose I don’t see the funny side of comical sights so quickly as some, and Thomas Chatham did look queer. Although he is quite short, he has very large feet and broad shoulders, with a big head set nearly flat upon the latter. Then he was very poor, and did not know how to make the best of the poor clothes he had. His shoes were run down at the heel, so that when he walked he shuffled along, lest, I suppose, his shoes should fall off. He learned with great difficulty and made very droll blunders, but he never lost his temper or got out of patience. At the beginning of each year a new set of thoughtless scholars would make fun of his looks and his blunders, till his calm dignity told louder than words that he lived in an atmosphere far above that level where the taunts or esteem of his fellows had much weight.

His home was two or three miles from school, yet he trudged on year after year, often drenched with rain and chilled into ague, hoping that some time he would know enough to serve his people as a teacher in a country school. Several of his teachers advised him to learn a trade, judging that from all human appearances he could never teach or control a school. Others who knew more of his Bible knowledge and sublime faith thought that, perhaps, God could find a place for him somewhere; and He has.

Every summer vacation now he goes out into some obscure corner to teach, and reports come back to us that our best students are not so successful as he in leading their pupils to that beginning of all wisdom, the fear of the Lord.

Chatham’s success is to me a living sermon from the text, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.” And why that Spirit helps him seems to be because he is willing to do anything, to go anywhere, to be only a sower, and let another be the reaper; in short, while he is weak, yet is he strong, because of that most beautiful of all graces, humility. How slow I have been learning the hard lesson, that God passes by the learned, the brilliant and the talented until they are thoroughly humbled, and, to our surprise, honors some lowly one who is willing to give God the glory and not beg back any share of it.

“For thus saith the High and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place _with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit_.”

* * * * *

LETTERS TO THE TREASURER.

The pastor of the church at Rehoboth, Mass., writes as follows: “The enclosed five dollars was handed me after our missionary concert last evening by a young brother who told me that he had set apart a small piece of ground on his farm, resolving to cultivate it for the Arthington Mission in Central Africa. This five dollars is the first proceeds.”

* * * * *

SAMUEL GORDON HALEY.

Our Treasurer received recently two thousand dollars for a scholarship endowment fund for the Fisk University, which was from Mrs. A. M. Haley, widow of Samuel Gordon Haley, and was acknowledged in the September AMERICAN MISSIONARY. We publish the following obituary notice of Mr. Haley as an illustration not only of the excellent character of the man, but also as a testimonial to the conscientious act of his widow, who is a worthy Baptist lady, in bestowing in honor of his memory this amount to promote educational work under the auspices of our Association, which was dear to him.

Samuel Gordon Haley, son of Dea. Thos. Haley and Eliza Whicher, was born in Charlestown, Mass., May 7, 1832. He died in Oshtemo, Mich., January 14, 1881. At the time of his birth his parents were not Christians, but they so earnestly desired that Samuel, their first-born, should have eternal life that they prayed that God would early bring him into His kingdom. Mr. Haley was well known as a successful educator and genealogist; he was also deeply interested in historical research. In 1836 his father moved to East Andover, New Hampshire. There in the picturesque Switzerland of America, with its skies filled with light, its green plains and valleys, its bold and its undulating hills, its grand old pines and their dark mossy retreats, its bald-headed Kearsarge in the near distance, in full view of a quiet N.E. village, with its church spires and school-houses, nestling close at the side of Highland Lake, childhood merged into boyhood, and boyhood into early manhood. We may well suppose that such scenes would awaken the imagination of a mind formed by nature to appreciate and sympathize with the truly grand and sublime in the external world, and would help to impart to that mind a loftiness of purpose and purity of thought not otherwise, perhaps, attained. And now, amid those scenes so loved in childhood and admired in maturity, near the revered one who bore him, lies his noble form awaiting the resurrection morn. His paternal home was one of singular good sense and piety; it was sincere, unworldly, unartificial. Tender deference was taught toward the aged, and thoughtful regard toward childhood, the unfortunate, the afflicted. He loved to dwell on the tender recollections, kindred ties, early affections and hallowed associations connected with his home; he eagerly sought every historical incident of his family; and to his father, the aged sire, who still lives to bless, was he indebted for many incidents relating to his predecessors. Mr. Haley graduated from Meriden Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire, in 1856.

He graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., in 1860. Having chosen teaching as a profession, he at once entered upon that work, and for ten years his labors were in academies and high schools in N.H. During the war he spent his summer vacations in Washington, D.C., and vicinity, in the benevolent work of the U.S. Christian Commission. And as we turn the pages of his private writings, and learn of the spirit which actuated him during those dark, bloody hours of our nation’s history, we find renewed proofs of the true greatness of his soul. In 1870 he found work in the public schools in Illinois, where he labored till a short time before his death.

As a teacher, his life was one of untold usefulness. The moral and religious development of his pupils was of first importance. He regarded our schools as a place, not so much of learning, as of preparation for learning; a course of discipline to draw out and sharpen faculties; a means to bring the student up to manhood with ability to perform thenceforth the hard work of a man in his allotted sphere. To that end no part of fundamental study could be spared. A thorough, exact scholar himself, he was satisfied with nothing less than thoroughness and exactness in those whom he taught. Patient, forbearing, forgiving, he held a high place in the hearts of his pupils, and with all his gentleness of spirit he ever maintained a purity of discipline.

Mr. Haley first made a public profession of religion and united with the Congregational church while at Meriden Academy. But so true and pure had been his life that little change could be seen in him after this profession. He subsequently became a member at Hopkinton, N.H., then at Dover, N.H. He united with the church at Providence, Ill., in 1872, and was a member of that church at the time of his death.

As a Christian, he was undemonstrative, but he was faithfulness itself. In all his relations of life did he sow the seeds of love to his Master. He was unsuspicious, resented no evil, indulged in no gossip, perpetrated no slander, exaggerated not his statements, never wore two faces, nor spoke with two tongues. He was guileless. A sectarian, a partisan, a demagogue, a sycophant, a hypocrite, he abhorred. He would do nothing with them but in matters of necessary business. His finer sentiments were not projected. He restrained them through natural diffidence, but when reached they were responsive, pure, refreshing, tempered with Christian meekness and sobriety.

As he approached the realities of that world for which he had lived, he seemed to enter into them as much as man ever can until he has passed within its portals. His spirit gave utterance to expressions which indicated how bright was the source from which had sprung the power and preciousness of his life.

Those who mourn his loss have consolation, not only in the remembrance of those sterling virtues which gave him professional dignity and power, but in that great, tender and noble nature which made those virtues subservient to the familiar every-day enjoyments in a Christian life. They will love to keep in memory his play equally with his work; his genial, frank and sometimes sportive intercourse not less than his graver counsels which instructed them.

The whole example and image which ever lives in their hearts, of sanctified intellect, sentiment and affection, constituting his well adjusted and honorable manhood, will be their best earthly incentive to imitate his virtues and partake of his reward.

MRS. ANNIE M. HALEY.

Buda, Ill., August 25, 1881.

* * * * *

RECEIPTS FOR SEPTEMBER, 1881.

* * * * *

MAINE, $183.31.

Augusta. W.F.H. $5.00 Bangor. Rev. Jos. Smith 25.00 Bethel. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00 Castine. Rev. A. E. Ives 3.00 Farmington. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 13.00 Portland. St. Lawrence St. Ch. 7.31 Saco. Miss Alice Seavery 5.00 Union. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.00 Winslow. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00 ———————— 83.31

LEGACY.

Yarmouth. Estate of Daniel Sweetser, by Rebecca S. Shorey, Executrix 100.00 ——————— 183.31

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $328.88.

Acworth. Cong. Ch. and Soc., (bal. to const. MRS. ANN L. JOHNSON, L.M.) 16.59 Amherst. Miss L. W. B. 0.50 Atkinson. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.00 Bethlehem. Cong. Ch. and Soc. ($2 of wh. _for Indian M._) 11.30 Brookline. “Friends” _for furnishing room, Stone Hall, Straight U._ 25.00 Brookline. Miss E. E. R. 0.50 Bristol. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.68 Candia Village. Jona. Martin 5.00 Derry. First Cong. Ch. and Soc., $14.57; E.F.M., $1 15.57 Dover. Mrs. Dr. L. 1.00 Franklin. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.00 Goffstown. Cong. Ch. and Soc., (bal. to const. MISS HATTIE A. EMERSON, L. M.) 18.00 Hancock. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.00 Hanover. Dartmouth College Cong. Ch. 60.00 Hillsborough Center. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 1.00 Keene. Rev. and Mrs. H. Wood 5.00 Milford. R. M. 1.00 Pelham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 42.75 Reed’s Ferry. Miss H. McM. 0.50 Salem. Cong. Ch. (ad’l), $2; Mrs. Dean Emerson’s S. S. Class, $3; “Mrs. G. D. K.” $2.34 7.34 Thornton’s Ferry. Mrs. H. N. E. 0.50 Wentworth. Eph. Cook 5.00 West Lebanon. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $10.15; F. O. S., 50c 10.65 Wilton. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $22; “Pastor and Wife,” $12 34.00

VERMONT, $549.04.

Ascutneyville. Dea. P. Haskell 5.00 Benson. “J. K.” 2.00 Bridport. Cong. Sab. Sch. 7.50 Burlington. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 49.68 Cambridge. M. and C. Safford, $38.52; E. Wheelock, $5; S. M. Safford, $5; Mr. and Mrs. Blaisdell, $5; O. W. Reynolds, $5; H. Wires, $2; J. G. Morse, $2; B. R. Holmes, $2; M. J. M., $1; J. M. S., $1; J. W. T., $1 67.52 Charlotte. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 52.00 Chester Depot. J. L. Fisher 10.00 Corinth. Cong. Ch. 16.50 Cornwall. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 28.70 Coventry. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 27.86 Enosburg. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.00 Georgia. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.10 Lunenburgh. Cong. Ch. Sab. Sch. 5.60 Norwich. “S. J. B.” 2.00 Royalton. A. W. Kenney 12.00 Saint Albans. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 43.72 Saint Johnsbury. Sab Sch. of South Cong. Ch. _for Sab. Sch. Work, Talladega, Ala._ 25.00 Springfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 47.10 Swanton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.45 Waterbury. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 30.00 Wells River. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.00 Westminster West. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.79 Windham. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $15.52; Sab. Sch., $4; “A Friend’s Memento,” $1.50 21.02 Vergennes. Mrs. N. J. I. 0.50

MASSACHUSETTS, $10,808.86.