Part 3

The marks at the written examinations fell below those of last year, as might have been expected in the midst of such privations. But at the oral examinations, on the 25th, the various classes gratified their teachers and visitors. Among the latter were our staunch friend, Rev. Dr. Burgett, and three colored pastors.

The brightest color in the bow appeared in the anniversary exercises. The preparation had not interfered with regular lessons, but their thoroughness was manifest in the hearty testimony of the leading white M. E. pastor in the city, Rev. J. O. Andrews, who had offered the opening prayer. The exercises were witnessed by over 800 people, some of them outside, at the window. Those within entered by tickets, an experiment which fully succeeded in the presence of those who have some real interest in the work, and in securing better attention. The new Music Department was justified by its fruits, especially in a short cantata in which the Queen of the Fairies crowned the virtues.

Like the latest wonder, the exhibition is universally declared the finest ever witnessed here. The deliverances warned against alcohol, tobacco, ignorance and laziness, and recommended labor and piety.

The advanced point made was the presence and remarks of the Recorder (Mayor) of the Port, R. B. Owen. He was accompanied by his wife. As his honor came upon the platform, before the closing song, the Superintendent grasped his hand, exclaiming, “The North and the South, one and inseparable!” to which he responded, “That is my sentiment.” In a few well-chosen words he expressed his pleasure in the efforts of the colored people to gain an education; declared that the time had come for intelligence and morality to be the recognized mark of a man, and said he was “infinitely gratified” with the performances of the young people at this time, and grateful for the opportunity of witnessing the results here obtained, and of giving a word of cheer to all engaged in the work of education.

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THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE.

BY SUPERINTENDENT ROY.

The dedication of Christ’s Church of Wilmington, and the building of the Teachers’ Home and the rebuilding of the school-house were duly noted in the AMERICAN MISSIONARY, as the _plant_ of that _seedsman_ Mr. J. J. H. Gregory, of Marblehead, Mass. The picture of the same three buildings has also adorned our magazine. Now comes the Conference of the State to inspect the working of this machinery, to test the quality of its products and its capacity.

Arriving one day ahead of the opening, we take a leisurely visit through the several departments of the school, and find it reconstructed after the most approved style of the Grammar School. We find it presided over by six accomplished lady teachers, Misses Chandler, Warner, Fitts, Jewett and Bishop, and Mrs. Steere, who has charge of the musical department. We find it numbering 220 pupils; we find custom work done; we find the temperance text-books proposed by the A. M. A. introduced, as in all its schools of the South, and working wonders in laying the foundations for a temperance-loving generation. We test the capacity of the Home and find it elastic enough to take in sixteen guests beyond the fifteen of the regular family; we find it a marvel of convenience and taste and economy. We find the church edifice a gem of beauty, with its noble bell, which does double duty in serving the church and the school; and we find the saving of several thousand dollars of expense and the superior quality of workmanship due to the personal supervision of Rev. D. D. Dodge, the pastor, who selected the material and had the jobs done by the day. We hear of a Sister of Charity, who says that the only thing in Wilmington she covets is this group of buildings. We hear of citizens pronouncing it an ornament to the city. We hear of leading pastors in the city saying that it is doing the best work in Wilmington for the colored people. We find that the entire work on the three buildings was done by colored mechanics, except one master mason on the brick work and a dozen days of bricklaying.

And so the Conference finds itself _in situ_. The opening sermon is preached by Rev. A. Connet. The moderator of the last year is re-elected for this year, Rev. G. S. Smith, of Raleigh, a graduate of Atlanta, a member of the Executive Committee of the State Temperance organization. Rev. A. Connet is made registrar in the place of Rev. D. Peebles, who has left us to go and look after the other “twin relic” in Utah. When we were organizing this body at Raleigh, with five churches, I asked Dr. Tupper, the President of the Shaw (Baptist) University there, how many churches they had in the State. He answered, five _hundred_, “but never mind,” said he, “I can see that in twenty-five years you will have a great church work as the result of your school process.” So to the five we this year add two, those at Troy and Pekin, with two more coming on. While we are here, a Council, called in the regular way, ordains as the pastor of those two churches Mr. W. H. Ellis, a graduate of Williams. The sermon was preached by Supt. Roy; the prayer of ordination offered by Rev. J. P. Les Strade; the charge delivered by Rev. G. S. Smith and the right hand presented by Rev. Islay Walden. The two educated colored young ladies who teach school in those two churches are present to report their work, thus showing how by our plan the school and church work go hand in hand. Every church is represented, and so is every one of the seven schools of the State. As the churches must have their narrative of the state of religion, so the schools must have their report of operations, with discussion as to measures and principles.

An evening is given to the subject of temperance, especially to the business of reconstructing, reorganizing and resupplying the temperance army after its recent defeat in the State, and preparatory to the next intended assault upon the devil’s stronghold. The process of recruiting was beautifully illustrated when Miss Jewitt, with her class and a blackboard before the great assembly, brought up the enthusiasm as they represented the deadly poison of alcohol, how it is made, what its effects upon the physical system, upon the mental and moral nature. The topics of infant baptism, family training, Sunday-school management, were duly handled. In the local Sunday-school of two hundred scholars, the Conference appeared to pay its _addresses_, and offered the same courtesy to the day-school. Some of the city pulpits were supplied. The whole was an occasion of stimulus and of encouragement. Slowly but steadily our work is advancing in the old North State. Our two lady missionaries for the State, Miss Farrington, supported by the ladies of Maine, to labor in connection with this mission in Wilmington, and Miss E. P. Hayes, sustained by the W. H. M. A., of Boston, laboring at Raleigh, where she had taught many years, were present to report their work and to add to the inspiration of the occasion. It is said that there are not many models of patents in the Patent Office in Washington furnished by women; but these women show a wonderful ingenuity in devising ways and means for doing the people good, and reveal a vast amount of good accomplished.

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WOMAN’S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

_At Marion, Ala._

BY MISS MARY K. LUNT, SELMA.

Mrs. H. S. De Forest, of Talladega, President, called the meeting to order, and after the opening exercises, welcomed representatives of sister societies and visitors who had come in to listen to the reports of the harvesters. Letters expressing interest and good cheer were read from the President and Corresponding Secretary of the Woman’s Missionary Association of Boston. Mrs. Fay sang “If I were a Voice.” Miss Partridge, of Talladega, read a letter from Miss Sawyer, of Boxford, Mass., a former laborer in the field, showing that her interest had not abated. Miss P. added a few remarks entreating the girls to make the most of their opportunities, showing that each one had a special duty to perform in imparting to others what she herself had received.

Mrs. Andrews, of Talladega, then made an address on Woman’s Home Missionary Work, giving an account of the organization of the State society, the motives which prompted and warranted it, with a summary of the organization of the parent society in Boston and the number of missionaries first commissioned to the South and Southwest, reviewing the home work in our own State.

After singing “Rescue the Perishing,” the reports from the local societies at Marion, Mobile, Montgomery, Selma and Talladega were given. The Marion society, with its thirty names enrolled, meets once a week. The Mothers’ meeting has been conducted by Mrs. A. W. Curtis, whose illness prevented her presence at this time. Miss Mickle told how greatly they esteemed Mrs. C., and by request led in prayer for her recovery.

The girls composing the Emersonian Mission Band of Mobile, are doing their part in the work of helpfulness and uplifting, by making articles for a fair, the proceeds of which are to be given to a missionary in South Africa. The mothers’ meeting, under the influence of Miss Clark, visiting missionary, gives promise of increasing interest. The Woman’s Missionary Association has received fifty names since its organization, thirty-two reporting themselves this year. Missionary subjects are presented once a month, and a collection is taken.

Montgomery reports forty members. Since late in the winter they have been engaged in making garments for the destitute. A special case of destitution, discovered by one of the members, was the means of rousing to greater activity. The meetings of the society aim to elevate in literary culture, as well as in other directions. Mrs. Fay offered suggestions in regard to the manner of increasing the interest of these meetings. Miss Fairbanks and Miss Curtis followed with remarks, sensible and practical, in regard to the training of the girls in our churches and schools. The contributions amounted to $39, $5 of which was donated to the Mendi Mission, the remainder to home work.

Selma has an enrollment of 32. Many of the members had been unable to attend regularly on account of business and family cares. Missionary tea parties were introduced, proving quite successful. Select reading, singing, conversation and simple refreshments occupied the hours of meeting. In response to a call from Tougaloo, two quilts were made and sent to help replace those lost by fire. In connection with the mission workers, they have contributed the sum of $50, $26.75 of which was sent to the A. M. A. as a special gift, the balance being expended for the church. A ladies’ prayer-meeting, three sewing classes and children’s meeting had been sustained during the week. A Young People’s Literary Society was held on alternate Monday nights.

Talladega showed a very prosperous year in the monthly gatherings of the Mission Band, mothers’ meetings and two sewing classes. With funds collected they had purchased a carpet for the platform of the chapel, secured a share in the John Brown steamer, defrayed the funeral expenses of a poor woman and aided many needy and destitute around them. The young people of both sexes are being educated in the direction of missionary labors through the different committees which have been formed for that purpose.

A paper prepared by Miss Wilcox, of Burrell School, “Helps or Hindrances, Which?” was read by the Secretary, being a practical and earnest appeal to all Christian workers in the field to be more self-denying and untiring in their efforts for the women and girls for whom they are laboring. Another by Mrs. Headen was read on “The Gain of Giving,” reviewing three points “How, When and What Shall We Give,” aptly quoting Scripture to sustain her arguments and making a practical application.

We cannot fail to be encouraged and strengthened by this mutual interchange of thoughts, and to have our hearts drawn out in closer sympathy, while listening to the prayers of those for whom we are laboring that they may become sons and daughters of the Great King.

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AFRICA.

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MR. LADD’S JOURNAL.

_Sunday, Dec. 25._--Christmas morning in the tropics! My ankle is much better, though I cannot use my foot yet. We started at 8 A.M.; stopped for lunch under some trees at _Gaigy_. We are getting rather tired of our hard fare, and long for one good, square meal. We have kept further from the river than we supposed we should, and are practically on the desert. We have seen the river only once. Then we proposed to camp at it, but our guides disagreed and we went on, and finally, it being Sunday night, we camped, earlier than usual, about a mile from the river at _El Hefera_.

_Monday, Dec. 26._--The men are getting worn out and begin to lag. It was 8:15 A.M. before we could get them started. Proximity to water has a bad effect on camel drivers. It is very hot. We turn out of our road a few steps to see the ruins of an ancient church at a place called Merre. We discover a big crocodile, about 15 feet long, lying on a mud bank. We lunch in the town of _Aboo-Hashein_, in a plantation on the bank of the river under the shelter of a “sakia,” or water-wheel platform. We meet the postman in the afternoon and send home some postals. We come upon some fine cataracts in the river and see half a dozen huge crocodiles. We camp for the night at _El Shereigh_, near the bank, in a truly tropical bit of scenery. Ankle much better.

_Tuesday, Dec. 27._--Started at 6.30. Mousa’s camel ran away with him to-day. It was a most comical sight, and then to end up with, when he at last reached the ground, she kicked him twice. We lunch on the bank of the river at a point called _Tondaeb_, where we leave the river for 8 hours to cut a bend. Then we have a little rivalry with another caravan that has tried to keep ahead of us, and we get ahead. We are on the desert again. In fact, it is nothing but desert all the way to Berber. We climb a high plateau called _Natayielinnus_, and camp for the night in the middle of it, at a spot covered with the most beautiful, clean, white sand, just the thing for the children to play in if they only had it somewhere in the back yard. There is a town on the river to our right called _El Karaba_.

_Wednesday, Dec. 28._--Started at 7 A.M., and gradually descended from the high plateau. We have seen great numbers of partridges and two gazelles. We cross the dry bed of a river lined with palms, and strike the Nile again at the “5th” cataract. The rapids here extend for several miles. The slate formation along the bank has in some places been fused and looks much like coal. We stop for lunch at a point where we can get a good view of the cataract in both directions, called _Wady El Hamar_. Then we leave the river for about two hours, ascend another high desert plateau, and gradually descend again to an open plain, where nestles a village called Genenila. We camp for the night opposite the large, fruitful island of _Artoli_, where one of our guides lives. In the evening we receive two presents of milk.

_Thursday, Dec. 29._--The second guide swam over this morning from Artoli. We started at 7.15, and traversed a magnificent plain, needing only water upon it to make it a most fruitful region. As we approach Berber the houses are better built, and the villages are larger and more numerous. We passed the following in rapid succession: El Bowga; El Hodbab, a very large one; El Abidieh, close to the last; El Farekha; Dangail, where there is a ruin; El Hassa, El Ezarab, Es Sraphine and El Hor. Just before we reached this last place our guide told us that here Sheik Hassan Halifa’s father lived; that he had heard we were coming, and had sent orders to him not to let us pass without coming to dine with him. This is about five miles from Berber. Here the Sheik had come to meet us himself at the house of his father. And what a princely reception it was! The grand old Arab, who is the son of the former king of this country, came out to meet us, and brought us in. The house was ours, and we were free to stay as long as we pleased. The most delicate sherbets were placed before us. A sheep was killed, and a grand banquet served in the most royal style. We were quite surprised and overwhelmed at all this unexpected kindness. But the grand old Arab, under whose father 5,000 men bit the dust in their attempt to defend the country against the Turks, seemed to take a delight in this generous hospitality. At 3.15 P.M. we took our leave, and, following the telegraph lines, entered Berber through a fine broad avenue. Sheik Hassan Halifa accompanied us. On the way two of his men showed us their skill in dromedary racing, and it certainly was quite exciting, especially when the animals became unmanageable and came tearing down upon us, threatening to upset the whole crowd. We reached Berber at 5 o’clock. We went first to the lower landing-place, and then to the upper to select a place for our camp, and finally settled on the former. We pitched our three tents near the water, on the high bluff-like bank. The whole space of both landing places is covered with bales and boxes, etc., etc., showing that considerable business is done here. The people appear very friendly, and we are well pleased with the look of the place. We have come 405 miles on camel-back, over one of the hardest of deserts, and to-morrow morning we don’t propose to get up very early.

_Friday, Dec. 30._--There is a high wind that rolls up the whitecaps on the river like a sea. The Berberinos are a fine, muscular, well-built set of people, and, apparently, a happy race. We have heard the first hearty laughter here since we came to the country. Their voices, too, are very sweet and musical. After we have made an attempt at washing off the dust and dirt of travel, we go to see the Governor, Ibrahim Bey. He talks Turkish and we get on well together. The government dahabeah is the only one here. There are a few merchant boats, but they are all full or engaged. So we have the boldness, as ours is pressing business, to ask the Governor for his dahabeah. No! we can’t have it. He is going out to collect taxes and needs it himself. We can go by camel or by merchant boat, as we please. Then we haul out our orders from Cairo and give him another opportunity to let us have the dahabeah. Finally he says that if we can get an order from Raouf Pasha, the Governor General of the Soudan, he will let us have it. We take a walk through the city, and then returning to our tents send a telegram to Khartoum to His Excellency, the Governor, asking for an order for the dahabeah.

_Saturday, Dec. 31._--The order from Raouf Pasha has arrived; the dahabeah is ours! and besides the order came a separate telegram of welcome to the Soudan. Surely we could not ask to have things in better shape. In a few moments the dahabeah is moored in front of our tents, and the Reis reports to us for orders. We have had some business with the Sheik to-day. Our boxes were badly broken up on the desert through carelessness, and after repeated warnings, and before we pay the remainder of the camel money we propose to have the drivers mend those boxes in a proper manner. They refuse; and there are high words and loud talking. The Sheik comes. We explain to him the position of affairs, and tell him that as we expect to travel through this country more than once, we want it fully understood _how_ we intend to travel. He says it shall be done as we say, and orders the carpenter to be called. He comes, and the drivers dismiss him and clamor for their money. Not a _para_ until those boxes are mended! After a time another carpenter is brought who patches up the boxes, but we refuse to accept the work, and insist on having it done over, and done properly. At last, after considerable growling, it is done, and we offer them the remainder of the amount agreed upon at Korosko. They refuse to take it, demanding nearly twice as much. We go to Sheik Hassan Halifa with it, state the case, and offer the money. He obliges the men to take it, and we come off with the respect of the whole crowd! It is the only way to do in a country like this! We have visited the bazaar, which is quite extensive. We have paid our respects to the Governor, who, now that we have carried our point, is more polite than ever. We have also had a number of calls. We have posted off a big batch of letters, got our washing and our marketing done, so to-morrow, being the Sabbath, we work till late and go on board the dahabeah by moonlight. Mousa goes to the town, gets drunk, and is returned by the police. We give him to understand most plainly that if we observe anything out of the way with him again he will be put ashore and left there, as we cannot and will not have anyone with us who will in any way be a reproach to our party. We are eager now to reach Khartoum. We have been wonderfully prospered thus far, and things look bright ahead. God grant that the New Year, so soon to dawn, may be as rich with His favor and blessing as the old, which is now passing away! The promises are many, and we can go cheerfully forward.

_Sunday, Jan. 1, 1882._--Happy New Year! We are on board the government dahabeah, ready to start for Khartoum. Our boat is moored to the upper landing to receive her provisions. At last everything was ready. The noise and confusion at the landing was so great that toward night, for the sake of a little quiet, and to hasten forward on this, the Lord’s business, we allowed the men to spread the sail, and soon left Berber and the noisy rabble on the bank in the distance, the solitary minaret being the last object seen. There is a village nearly opposite, but a little above Berber, called Sheik Abdel Medjid, whence the caravans start for Dongola. We met three men in Berber worthy of mention. They were the governor, Ibrahim Bey; the chief of police, Mohamed Effendi, and Sheik Hassan Halifa. We took a great fancy to this last man, more for what he is in himself than for his family history, which is full of interest. We have sailed only a short distance, as we have been obliged to tie up for the night on account of rapids in the stream and lightness of the wind. We number on board 16 people all told. One is a comely black girl, who does the cooking for the sailors. Her natural graces of person are untrammeled by the conventionalities of civilized life. She wears only a scant rag about her waist. All the boats on the river here have one or more of these women, who grind the durra on flat stones and cook for the men. We have decided not to put up our flag, but to sail under the Egyptian colors, as this is a government boat, and ours for the time only through the kindness of Raouf Pasha. New Year’s Day on the Nile! How many thoughts of home and loved ones have crowded upon us as we have been lounging on deck in the bright moonlight. God bless us all, and give us a truly Happy New Year!

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THE INDIANS.

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NEW CHURCH AT DUNGINESS.

BY REV. MYRON EELLS, S’KOKOMISH, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

Our little church at S’kokomish has swarmed, granting letters to seven of its members who live at Jamestown, Dunginess, most of whom were Clallam Indians. Four others united with them on profession of faith, and the Congregational Church of Jamestown was organized by your missionary April 30. One infant baptism took place at the same time. A number of their white neighbors gathered in to the encouragement of the Indians, six of them communing with us. The services were held in Chinook, Clallam, English, Chinook translated into Clallam, and English translated into Clallam.