Part 4

Room 20, Congregational House, Beacon St., Boston.

MISS NATHALIE LORD, _Secretary_. MISS ABBY W. PEARSON, _Treasurer_.

One of the difficulties the W. H. M. A. meets with is to find definite work for its auxiliaries. Although in general they have fields of labor chosen by themselves, it often happens that they look to the parent society to furnish them; and indeed one of the chief offices of the Association is to bring together the need and the supply, those who want help and those who have the heart and the hands ready to help. So we are fortunate this month in having something to offer to the party requiring work, and first we present a call which may well enlist sympathy and effort. Miss Carter, writing from Nashville, Tenn., asks in behalf of the President of Fisk University, whether our Association, in any of its auxiliaries, would be willing to assume the education of a pupil there. She says:

"Let me tell you of an especially sad case. ———— is a little girl about thirteen, her fair hair, blue eyes and white skin prove her parentage. Her mother is a colored woman of the lowest class, living and delighting in licentiousness. There are numberless such, but this woman differs from the majority in this respect, it is perfectly immaterial to her what becomes of this daughter. Usually, if the mother seems hopelessly bad she will yet try to shield her child from the same sin which has been her own ruin. * * * ————’s mother is different. Her grandmother has seen the danger to the girl of allowing her to remain with her mother, so has sent her here. But the grandmother can pay only five or six dollars a month towards her expenses. The tuition and board are twelve dollars, and beside this is the expense of clothing her. If the girl can remain here four or five years, such habits and good principles will be formed in her that at the end of that time she will be morally saved, perhaps. If during that time she could receive help she could then begin to teach and so help herself. There is more than usual religious interest in Fisk at present, and little ———— has surprised all by showing deep interest.

“Will you not present her case to whomsoever will help her?”

This opportunity offered suggests also that there are many such. We do not know of any better or more satisfactory work for an auxiliary than to assume the support of a student at Hampton, Carlisle, Fisk, or some other kindred institution. There is certainly no surer way to have a hand in the strengthening and purifying of our country as well as in saving individuals, for the large majority of those so helped go directly into the work of helping up their own race as teachers, and all so brought under the power of a Christian education must be centres of good in the nation.

Then here is one more opportunity, and this is for the children. The greatest, perhaps, or at least one of the greatest disadvantages under which these brave and earnest young teachers labor who go out from Hampton, Fisk, and other schools to teach their people, is the almost total lack of good reading matter. Sunday-school papers are of really inestimable value to them in their Sunday-schools; but they can only get them occasionally and very sparingly. Now we know there are Sunday-schools on Sunday-schools of our Congregational churches where the children would be glad to save their papers and send them regularly to such destitute schools, where we can promise the children they will give double the pleasure they have ever given before—in fact will double the pleasure to each party, to the givers and to the receivers. Now, how to do it; for, in order to be a success, the thing must be done systematically. Well, then, first, if any Sunday-school wishes to adopt the plan, let them send to us and we will furnish them the name of a neighbor Sunday-school in the West or South too poor to have any papers of its own. Then let them appoint some one to take charge of sending the papers, and let each scholar be sure and remember to save his paper and give it to the one who has the business in charge. The only expense, in money, will be the postage. This often seems a good deal, when large numbers of papers are mailed each week, and some one may even be disposed to question whether it is worth the money; but our Home Secretary, who has taught some years at Hampton, and is in constant communication with teachers who have gone from there, and is often sending papers and books in this way, and receiving letters in return which show how they are appreciated, thinks the good they do far outweighs the expense; for, she says, in many cases, the children would have absolutely no reading were it not for them.

So then, third, some one or ones, will be found to pay the postage, and the thing will be done. The children will have the pleasure of reading the papers themselves, the pleasure of sending them regularly to some one else who will appreciate and enjoy them even more than they; the pleasure of hearing from these friends at a distance, for the teachers will write them, that is a part of the plan; and the pleasure of doing something for Jesus and helping His cause.

Now, who wants to take up with this plan and begin at once? Let them write to the Secretary of the Woman’s Home Missionary Association, 20 Congregational House, Boston, Mass., and the address will be sent them forthwith. Where Sunday-schools are not ready, individuals can take up the work. A little girl in Philadelphia is sending two hundred a week, her mother paying the postage.

Since writing the above we have received an account of the Annual Meeting of our Alabama State Auxiliary, held in Mobile March 28th. This must have been a meeting full of interest to all who were present, and as the reports were brought in from different parts of the State, the Secretary writes, “We found that the field had many a Ruth, who had toiled from morning even until even, and brought in her gleanings.”

Receipts of the Association from March 21 to April 25, 1881:

From Auxiliaries $163.85 ” Donations 74.60 ” Life Members 40.00 ” Annual Members 59.00 —————— $337.45

Donations through Cong. Pub. Soc., Boston, to colored schools, S. S. papers, $5.20. From the Williston Young Ladies’ Aux., Portland, Me., one box of new clothing and sewing material valued at $30.00. From Ladies’ Freedmen’s Aid Soc., of Eliot Ch., Newton, second hand clothing, $55. From Ladies’ Aux., Franklin St. Ch., E. Somerville, barrel clothing, $94.50.

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CHILDREN’S PAGE.

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FRANKIE’S CHAPEL.

PREPARED FROM “THE VINTONS AND THE KARENS,” BY THE EDITOR.

Some years ago there lived in Suffield, Ct., an elderly woman by the name of Mary Ann Bestor. She was so poor that charitable people frequently assisted her. On one occasion she received a five franc piece, with which to purchase a warm dress for winter, but desiring to give something for missions, she argued that the money was hers, and that if she chose she could give it to the Lord. She was not ignorant, however, that some might blame her for giving from her deep poverty. So she hid the money in the toe of a stocking and sent it to Mrs. Vinton, who was on a visit to this country from her mission work among the Karens in India.

When Mrs. Vinton learned of the poverty of the donor, her heart was touched, and she said: “This is holy money and must not go into the general fund.” So she laid it aside by itself. Soon afterward, while narrating the circumstance to a Hartford gentleman, he said to her: “It is cold weather; ‘Frankie’ should have a wrapper,” and he handed her a ten dollar bill, which she wrapped around the five franc piece, “to keep him warm.” The next day another ten dollar bill was given by Deacon Day, of Hartford, “To buy ‘Frankie’ an over-coat, as the weather had grown colder,” while Mrs. Kent, of Suffield, happened to remember: “These are stinging nights to sleep alone; ‘Frankie’ must have a bed-fellow,” and a five dollar gold piece was laid by his side. Mrs. Vinton then said: “If ‘Frankie’ had a few more wrappers I would send him to Boston.” So she wrote out “Frankie’s” history and forwarded it to Dr. Ives, with an appeal for other articles of clothing. The good doctor read the letter from his pulpit, and thirty dollars were secured and forwarded to Mrs. Vinton. She now felt that she could furnish a suitable outfit to enable “Frankie” to appear among city people, so she sent him first to Boston for the purchase of Bibles for the Karens, and next to Philadelphia for a box of medicine, also for the Karens, and afterward to a Mrs. Thompson to buy some eye-water for the poor heathen, who suffer so much from the glare of the sun. All the good people where he visited were glad enough to see him, but none of them seemed to care to keep him long, so he was sent back every time with the supplies he wanted, to Mrs. Vinton. Just on the occasion of his last return, Rev. Mr. Vinton came back from a tour among the churches where he had been pleading for his mission in India, and his wife told him “Frankie’s” story. After hearing it, he said: “I, too, have had a donation which has touched my heart. At Norwich, a Mrs. Chapell came to me and tearfully said, handing me a little roll of money: ‘This belonged to my poor boy. I cannot put it into the general fund, but will you, Mr. Vinton, take it and apply it to some special purpose?’”

Mrs. Vinton at once said: “That, too, is holy money, it will do to go with my ‘Frankie.’ This money shall build a house for the Lord in Burmah, and it shall be called ‘Frankie’s Chapel.’”

The story, with its singular incidents, was repeated by one and another, and money began to flow in from many sources, some ingenious play of imagination serving constantly to keep up the interest. Friends in Philadelphia said: “We often visit Burmah in imagination, and when we reach there we are tired enough to sit down; may we not rent pews in ‘Frankie’s Chapel’?” The suggestion was so reasonable, that a plan of a church was drawn, and sittings were rented rapidly. Clergymen who contributed had their names written on the platform. From Philadelphia Mrs. Vinton went to Cincinnati, where the people said to her: “Why, you have rented all your pews, and we Western people are crowded out.” So they drew a larger plan and began renting more pews. Meanwhile, a communion service, a beautifully bound pulpit Bible, a fine-toned bell, pulpit lamps and a communion table were presented by one and another in the different localities visited.

In 1850 the Vintons sailed for Calcutta, with the purpose to build the chapel in Maulmain. On their arrival they found that their English friends and the Karens were as deeply interested in the welfare of “Frankie’s Chapel” as their American friends had been. An English officer sent 200 rupees, with the message, “In America they gave money to keep ‘Frankie’ warm. In view of the high state of the thermometer I send this to keep him cool.”

Another sends 100 rupees “for legs for ‘Frankie’ to stand on,” alluding to the custom of building houses on posts in Burmah. Still another officer sent 1,000 rupees.

It transpired, however, that an overruling Providence had greater plans for “Frankie’s Chapel” than those which had yet been conceived of by the Vintons. During the four or five years after they left America with “Frankie” there were serious troubles in Burmah, and the affairs of the country were such that they were unable to settle down permanently until 1855. At that time plans were furnished for a building much more elaborate and substantial than had been contemplated at first. A beautiful location had been selected at Kemmendine, and the land necessary made a free gift by the Governor-General of India.

On the 20th of May, 1855, the corner-stone was laid by Mr. Vinton, in the presence of a large assembly. The building was to be 60 by 70 feet—two stories high; the lower part being designed for a school-room and the upper part for church services. It was built of brick, and admirably adapted for the use for which it was designed. It serves the purposes not only of the mission, but also as an assembling place for special meetings and general conventions. The Rangoon Karen Mission was at that time the largest in Burmah, and the building was precisely what was needed to meet the various wants of the many interests which centred at that point. Now, after more than twenty-five years, “Frankie’s Chapel” still stands as a monument to the consecration and faith of the poor old Suffield woman, who chose rather to provide for the cause of her Master than to enjoy the comfort and warmth that had been intended for herself. But it happened to her as everyone might have supposed it would have happened; she did not have to go unclad, either, for good people, learning of her charity and self-denial, provided her with the “warm dress” and such other consolations as she richly merited.

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RECEIPTS

FOR APRIL, 1881.

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MAINE, $221.81.

Augusta. John Dorr $15.00 Bath. Central Ch. and Soc. 25.00 Bethel. Mrs. R. A. Chapman 10.00 Blanchard. “A Friend” 5.00 Brewer. First Ch. 9.37 Castine. Mrs. Lucy S. Adams, to const. L. G. PHILBROOK, L. M. 30.00 Cumberland. S. M. R. 1.00 Gardiner. A. D. 0.50 Gorham. Cong Ch. and Soc. 29.09 Gorham. Miss E. B. Emery, Bbl. of C., _for Talladega C._ Gray. S. S. Class, _for Selma, Ala._ 0.66 Hallowell. S. L. Smith, Bbl. of C., _for McIntosh, Ga._ Lewiston. Pine St. Cong. Ch. 27.44 Lyman. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.50 Machias. “Machias” 10.00 New Gloucester. “Ladies,” Bbl. of C. and $7 _for freight_, Miss S. S., $1, _for Selma, Ala._ 8.00 Portland. J. M. G., $1, _for freight_; D. P., 50c 1.50 Skowhegan. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.25 Skowhegan. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., _for Chapel, Tougaloo, Miss._ 5.00 South Berwick. Mrs. Kate B. Lewis, Bbl. of C., _for Macon, Ga._ Union. Box of C., Mrs. A. J., 50c., _for freight, for Selma, Ala._ 0.50 Waldoborough. Geo. Allen 2.00 Warren. “Ladies,” Bbl. of C., Rev. J. E. Pond, $5, _for freight, for Selma, Ala._ 5.00 Wells. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.00 Wiscasset. Cong. Ch. 10.00 ———— Mrs. S. D. L. 1.00

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $496.33.

Amherst. Cong. Ch. 20.20 Antrim. “A Friend” 1.00 Atkinson. Cong. Ch. and Soc. (ad’l), to const. JOHN ALFRED MCNEIL, L. M. 24.00 Bristol. H. T. A. 0.63 Chichester. Jacob S. Sanborn, $2; E. R. S. S., $1 3.00 Concord. W. H. Pitman, $5; Miss F. A. G., 50c. 5.50 East Concord. Miss C. D. 0.50 East Derry. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 38.03 Exeter. Second Cong. Ch. 112.96 Exeter. “Friends,” _for Student Aid, Talladega C._ 2.00 Great Falls. Cong. Ch., _for Student Aid, Talladega C._ 10.00 Keene. Sab. Sch. of First Cong. Ch. 29.74 Litchfield. Presb. Ch. and Soc. 10.00 Littleton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.00 Littleton. Mrs. B. W. Kilborn, _for rebuilding, Tougaloo, Miss._ 5.00 Lyme. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 1.00 Milford. Cong. Ch. 24.30 Nashua. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.64 New Boston. Presb. Ch. and Soc. (ad’l) 1.50 New Ipswich. Cong. Ch., $4; Mrs. A. C., 50c. 4.50 Peterborough. Union Evan. Ch. 30.00 Plaistow and North Haverhill, Mass. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $76; Mrs. E. W. Merrill, $25 101.00 Rindge. Mrs. R. K., $1; Mrs. E. H., $1; Mrs. M. W., $1; Mrs. Roxy K., $1 4.00 Rochester. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 23.63 Rye. Cong. Ch. 4.20 Shelburne. Mrs. Mary C. Ingalls 3.00

VERMONT, $386.06.

Bennington. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.00 Benson. ———— 3.00 Bradford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.25 Brandon. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 26.45 Brookfield. First Cong. Ch. and Soc., $7.30; “A Friend,” $1.50 8.80 Cambridge. Madison Safford 43.52 Cambridge. Widow Nancy Howe, bal., to const. MISS M. HATTIE PUTNAM, L. M. 10.00 Charlotte. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., _for Lady Missionary, Mobile, Ala._ 9.00 Clarendon. “A Friend” 5.00 Danville. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch. 10.00 East Poultney. A. D. Wilcox 5.00 Fair Haven. Sab. Sch. of First Cong. Ch., _for Student Aid, Talladega C._ 30.00 Fair Haven. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 21.00 Fairlee. “A Friend” 1.00 Fayetteville. Mrs. A. E. K. H. 1.00 Granby and Victory. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.00 Lyndon. First Cong. Ch. to const. DEA. JONAS N. BARTLETT, L. M. 31.60 Manchester. Bbl. of C., by Mrs. A. C. Reed, _for Mobile, Ala._ Newport. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.60 North Bennington. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.56 North Craftsbury. Mrs. C. C. D. 0.51 Pittsford. Mrs. E. H. Denison 5.00 Salisbury. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 13.00 Sheldon. D. D. W. 1.00 Thetford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 14.00 Wallingford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 65.25 West Brattleborough. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.01 Westminster West. Mrs. Z. D. 0.51 West Rutland. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 24.00

MASSACHUSETTS, $5,792.20.