Part 1

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CONTENTS.

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PAGE.

EDITORIALS.

ANNUAL MEETING—Mr. Ladd’s Return from Africa 225 THE JOHN BROWN STEAMER 226 OUR OPPORTUNITY—Atlanta Church 227 CHANGE OF ENVIRONMENT Rev. W. W. Patton, D.D. 228 TEMPERANCE TEXT-BOOKS 230 BENEFACTIONS 231

THE FREEDMEN.

ANNIVERSARY REPORTS 231 ATLANTA UNIVERSITY, GA. 231 TALLADEGA COLLEGE, ALA. 233 STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS 234 TILLOTSON INSTITUTE, AUSTIN, TEXAS 235 VIEW ON BAYOU AT HOUSTON (Cut) 236 NORMAL SCHOOL, WILMINGTON, N.C. 237 LE MOYNE INSTITUTE, MEMPHIS, TENN. 238 LEWIS HIGH SCHOOL, MACON, GA. 238 “PINE GROVE COLLEGE,” KENTUCKY 240 FAMILIAR SCENE IN LOUISVILLE, KY. (Cut) 241

AFRICA.

MR. LADD’S JOURNAL 242 EGYPTIANS OF UPPER EGYPT (Cut) 245

THE CHINESE.

LETTER FROM REV. W. C. POND 246

CHILDREN’S PAGE.

A TENNESSEE BAND OF HOPE 248

RECEIPTS 249

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American Missionary Association,

56 READE STREET, NEW YORK.

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PRESIDENT, HON. WM. B. WASHBURN, Mass.

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

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

TREASURER.

H. W. HUBBARD, Esq., _56 Reade Street, N.Y._

DISTRICT SECRETARIES.

Rev. C. L. WOODWORTH, _Boston_. Rev. JAMES POWELL, _Chicago_. Rev. G. D. PIKE, D.D., _New York_.

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 Editor of the “American Missionary,” to Rev. G. D. Pike, D.D., 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, Rev. C. L. Woodworth, Dist. Sec., 21 Congregational House, Boston, Mass., or Rev. James Powell, Dist. Sec., 112 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ill. A payment of thirty dollars at one time constitutes a Life Member. Letters relating to boxes and barrels of clothing may be addressed to the persons above named.

FORM OF A BEQUEST.

“I BEQUEATH to my executor (or executors) the sum of ——— dollars, in trust, to pay the same in ——— days after my decease to the person who, when the same is payable, shall act as Treasurer of the ‘American Missionary Association’ of New York City, to be applied, under the direction of the Executive Committee of the Association, to its charitable uses and purposes.” The Will should be attested by three witnesses.

The Annual Report of the A. M. A. contains the Constitution of the Association and the By-Laws of the Executive Committee. A copy will be sent free on application.

THE

AMERICAN MISSIONARY.

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VOL. XXXVI. AUGUST, 1882. No. 8.

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American Missionary Association.

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ANNUAL MEETING.

The next Annual Meeting of the American Missionary Association will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, commencing Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 3 P.M. Rev. C. L. Goodell, D.D., of St. Louis, Mo., will preach the sermon. Other addresses and papers will be announced hereafter.

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REV. MR. LADD’S RETURN FROM AFRICA.

Our readers, who have followed Mr. Ladd’s journey in Africa, as given in his interesting journal, will be glad to know of his safe return and of his excellent and uninterrupted health throughout the entire trip, which extended about 2,500 miles up the Nile to the mouth of the Sobat, which is within the territory designated by Mr. Arthington for the proposed mission.

Persons who have kept themselves informed through the public press of the condition of things in the Upper Nile region will be prepared for Mr. Ladd’s somewhat discouraging report of the state of the country. The Arab leader and prophet, Achmet, of whose successful rebellion the papers have from time to time given brief intimations, Mr. Ladd found to be dominating completely a portion of the very region in which the mission is to be located, and it was by Divine interposition that Mr. Ladd was enabled to explore so much of the territory and return safely. Intelligence of a startling character received at this date (July 8), shows that Achmet has achieved another victory over the Egyptian troops, more decisive than any heretofore won, involving the slaughter of 3,000 of the Egyptian forces, which must for the present, at least, annihilate the authority of the government in that whole region, while the condition of Egypt itself, likely to become the theatre of a terrible war, gives little promise that its authority can be speedily re-established in the remote provinces of the Soudan. A delay, therefore, is inevitable in our movements in Eastern Africa.

In the meantime, as was originally planned, Mr. Ladd is endeavoring to marshal a new recruit of colored missionaries for the Mendi mission, and expects to accompany them thither at the close of the present wet season.

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THE JOHN BROWN STEAMER.

Some months ago we sent out our circulars to the Sunday-schools in our churches, asking for $10,000, to enable us to build this memorial steamer for mission work along the west coast, and up and down the rivers, in that portion of the “Dark Continent” where there are no roads, and no beasts of burden, no horses, no camels, no oxen, not even mules. The need is great. The steamer will save time, toil, and human life.

Inquiries come to us respecting the success of our appeal. We are glad to answer: At this date, July 5, we have received $5,524 for the steamer, and some pledges are yet unpaid. We are also receiving additional remittances almost every day, and believe that the amount needed will ultimately be realized. But we are anxious to hasten the matter. Rev. Mr. Ladd has just returned from his exploring tour in Eastern tropical Africa, and proposes to visit our Mendi Mission in Western Africa (for which this steamer is intended) as soon as the rainy season is over. We ought to have the full amount for the steamer by September 1.

A good friend, in sending some money, says:—“Why moves the cause so slowly? In looking over the list of donations, I am pleased and grieved; pleased that so many are interested to give—grieved that so few special donations for this very important object are made.

“Friends of Africa, if you could realize as I do the urgent need of this steamer to save life and to advance the mission cause, you would speedily pour in the money for it. It ought to be in service, doing its greatly needed work this coming autumn. If you will go to Africa and make one trip (as I have made many) to the Mendi Mission, in a ‘dug out’—a canoe dug out of a log—the distance of more than 100 miles, most of the way on the ocean—you will then see and feel the need of this proposed steamer. O, why does not every Sunday-school send in $50, $20, $10 or $5? Why do not individuals, who have in hand a great abundance, send $50, $100 or $1,000, and so have this noble work accomplished at once? Come, friends of Africa, supply the means and send forth this new messenger of mercy, to cause a great shout of joy to go up from the weary missionaries and from a long-suffering people!” Who will heed this plea from one who has known the field and suffered much for it?

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OUR OPPORTUNITY.

We find it in Kentucky. Our Executive Committee recently sent their Field Superintendent to that State for a bit of inspection. As a sample of opportunity we refer to the deeply interesting article in this number from President E. H. Fairchild. The A. M. A. has taken up that school and has assumed the support for six months of Miss M. R. Barton, a student of Berea, from Illinois. That school-house, which is the only one in Jackson County that has windows in it, will give out a good deal of light among those mountain people. At Cabin Creek, our old ante-bellum battleground, in the foot-hill country, the people are building an “Academy,” with the money subscribed on the condition that there shall be no respect of color. The A. M. A. has been asked to lend there a helping hand. At Williamsburg, the county seat of Whitley County, a town sixty years old, where a church has never yet been finished, _though three have rotted down during the process of building_, Rev. A. A. Myers has returned to his old A. M. A. work, and has inspired the people to build a church edifice 40×60. He works with his own hands by the side of the citizens. He gets the base-ball club to give an hour a day to the digging and rolling of stone for the foundation. The First Congregational Church has been organized, and now the same people are bent upon getting up a high school, having turned to this Association for help, which will be gladly rendered, negotiation being already on foot to secure the teachers, who the citizens say must come from north of Mason and Dixon’s line. This town, with fine water power and rafting facilities on the Cumberland, has already attracted several mills and wood-work factories, one of which is to make _oars_ for the market in Europe. The railway that is to cross the mountains to Knoxville will soon reach this place. Out of the mountain country still further back of this, it is said, went Dick Yates to be the War Governor of Illinois, and also its present Executive, Governor Cullom, and other notabilities. At another county seat, which can scarcely be reached on wheels—horseback being the almost exclusive mode or travel; Mr. Myers and his wife having come seventy miles in this way to the recent Berea Commencement—at this place, Beattyville, the A. M. A. is to aid a recent colored graduate of Berea, O. W. Titus, to run his, the only colored school in the county, through the school year. In these mountains is our opportunity.

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In the First Congregational Church of Atlanta, Ga., Pastor Kent having led his people into a system of giving, found that the first response for the American Board, with envelopes, brought in $68, from _two hundred and two_ contributors. This was preceded by five missionary sermons, illustrated from a large missionary map, and by a rousing Sunday-school missionary concert. “Do you wonder we are jubilant?” exclaims the pastor. “It is interesting, but not at all surprising, to observe how giving promotes spirituality. Our prayer meetings are full of interest lately, and this increase seems to date from our recent determination to put our hands to the work of the Redeemer beyond our own confines. It is delightful. The idea of ‘the world for Christ,’ is getting hold of them, and I am confident it will prove the most direct route to self-support. Several have expressed to me the conviction that they must not only give for the world, but that they must do more for the home church.”

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CHANGE OF ENVIRONMENT

BY PRESIDENT WM. W. PATTON, D.D.

This is a phrase with which the physical philosophers have made the public ear familiar. The advocates of Darwin’s views have assured us that all the variations of animal form may be explained by the relations of life to environment. “Natural selection,” as the key to the development of different species, denotes simply the effect which accompanying circumstances have upon life, health and the exercise of particular organs. “The survival of the fittest,” a companion phrase, means merely the fact that those forms of life endure which have the most favorable surroundings. And no one can doubt that in the chain of causation, which links things together in this world, there is a continual and most important interaction between all life and that which environs it.

But may we not ascend, in our reasoning, from animal life to human thought and character, and find the same law operative? As human health, form and vigor are found to vary with phenomena of climate, such as heat and cold, moisture and dryness, and with geographical location among mountains and valleys, or on broad plains, by the sea-coast or in the interior, so do we not notice that mental and moral development depend upon the outward circumstances amid which one lives? Our natures are plastic, and easily take the impress of objects with which we come continually in contact. Education is not merely that from books, but that also which is received from all manner of surrounding influences, as they exist in the home, in social intercourse and in the community at large. We see whole nations continue, century after century, on the same low level of barbarism, because no change occurs in their outward circumstances to bring new forces to act upon them. Our Indian tribes are an illustration. They live, out on the western plains, precisely as their fathers did for ages before them; and thus they will live so long as the modifying influence of civilization does not reach them, and bring a change of environment.

Let such a change occur, however, and a revolution takes place, whatever race may be involved. Even the most favored nations improve rapidly, when any external fact comes in, to change circumstances, and thus to alter the current of thought and the channel of action. Think how much of modern civilization is owing to three things, themselves external and mechanical, yet powerfully affecting mind by their incidental effects—the invention of gunpowder, of the mariner’s compass and of printing. But if, in addition to new inventions and industries, there be brought in schools and churches, to operate directly on mind and heart, the effect is like placing people in a new climate. It is, indeed, scarcely a figure of speech, when we sometimes speak of an intellectual and moral atmosphere—meaning thereby the totality of constant influences in a community, which affect opinion, modify character and control conduct. As we breathe the air, every moment of every day, thinking little of the fact, yet continually drawing in health or sickness, life or death, so are we unconsciously but most really influenced for good or evil by all that is going on around us; by public opinion, social customs, example of friends and neighbors, existing institutions, industries, amusements, studies, reading, conversation and religious exercises.

It is a slow process to raise an entire population or a numerous class of people; but much may be done rapidly, if we select some of the young of both sexes and change their environment, and so prepare them to introduce the leaven of improvement into the mass. Thus, allow colored children to grow up in communities of prevailing ignorance, superstition and immorality, where they live in miserable hovels, see only examples of coarseness and rudeness and hear only a negro dialect, and they will naturally be like their parents and the neighbors. Nor will it be sufficient merely to put spelling-books and readers into their hands. Their surroundings are still depressing and degrading. But send some of these youth away to such institutions of education as the Atlanta, Fisk and Howard Universities—in other words, make a total change of environment—and the effect is marvelous. In addition to having access to books, they go where the entire conception and standard of living is different and elevated; where religion is intelligent; where morals are pure; where manners are refined; where language is grammatical; where clothing is whole and neat; where public sentiment is on the right side of disputed questions. It is, indeed, breathing a new atmosphere, where every breath is health and life. I have watched, with great interest and satisfaction, the effect of these incidental influences, during my five years’ connection with Howard University. The revolution which will occur in a rough specimen of humanity from the interior plantation districts—dull of countenance, and rude in manners and in dress—would scarcely be credited. He finds himself in a new world on reaching Washington, and mingling with older students and the city population. New ideas of dress, speech and behavior come to him daily. Chapel exercises, prayer-meetings and the preaching on the Sabbath raise his religious conceptions. The novel sights along the streets stimulate as well as interest. The competition of fellow-students arouses ambition. He hears numerous celebrated public speakers, and, on Saturdays, goes to the Capitol, and listens to Congressional debates, sees eminent men, visits the Patent-Office, the Smithsonian, the National Museum and the Navy-Yard, gets an idea of our government and of politics, and thus is hourly absorbing valuable knowledge at every pore. Three or four years of such an environment make a very different man of him; and all his new ideas he carries back to his home, and thus becomes a power for good in the community.

Why will not Christian people appreciate these facts and amply sustain the American Missionary Association in its noble work of planting and strengthening the educational institutions which operate to change for the better the environment of the colored race in this country? All improvement must be by an influence from without, which shall quicken and inspire, which shall teach and guide; and there is no such influence comparable with that which comes from the combination of schools and churches.

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TEMPERANCE TEXT-BOOKS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

Our institutions have always been temperance societies. Mr. John M. Stearns, Sec. of the Nat. Temp. Soc., at its recent annual meeting, reporting his tour through the South, said that, as he was talking to the students at Fisk University, Prof. Spence reported that every student was required to sign the total abstinence pledge or to leave the institution. At Atlanta University, he found that all of the 310 students had signed the same pledge; and this is also true of all our other schools. Then our students, as they go everywhere in their vacations, become temperance propagandists, organizing societies, circulating the literature of the reform and securing signatures to the pledge. But, during the past year, our Executive Committee have thought to take a step forward, and so have voted to require the use of some temperance text-book in all our schools. Mr. Stearns found them introduced into many, and by another year they will be found in all. The Atlanta University has already had Dr. Richardson’s Temperance Lesson Book in use for two or three years, to the highest satisfaction of all concerned. The examination of the class in this book in the presence of the State Board of Examiners was pronounced by a visitor the best temperance lecture he had ever heard. Let such text-books go into all the schools of the South, and they will hasten on a revolution.

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_The Roanoke Collegian_, of Salem, Va., referring to the John F. Slater Fund, says: “The most needed _right_ of the negro now is his ability to _write_.”

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BENEFACTIONS.

John B. Eldridge, of Hartford, Conn., leaves by will $20,000 to Mt. Holyoke Seminary, and $15,000 to Carleton College, Minn.

Ex-Gov. Chas. H. Hardin, the founder of Hardin College, has given $19,000 to build a new wing to the edifice.

Mrs. J. S. Herrick, of Madison, Wis., has given $10,000 towards the Professorship Fund of Chicago Seminary.

Senator Joseph E. Brown, of Atlanta, Ga., has given $50,000 to the Baptist Theological Seminary, at Louisville, Ky.

Mrs. Ella J. Wheeler, of Boston, has given $30,000 for the endowment of the Friends’ School in Providence.

Edwin C. Litchfield, who founded the observatory at Hamilton College, has just given it $2,000 for additions, and has assumed the payment of the salary of an assistant for Prof. Peters.

With a start of $30,000, given by Mr. E. N. Blake, of Chicago, the sum of $70,000 has been raised in the West for the Baptist Theological Seminary in that city; and now it is proposed to secure $110,000 in the East, $45,000 of which is already pledged.

_The Executive Committee of the American Missionary Association at its last Annual Meeting appealed for_ $500,000 _for the endowment of its chartered institutions at the South. The anniversaries of the different colleges of the land are calling the attention of the benevolent public to their growth and wants. We especially urge the claims of the colored people South to a full share of the gifts made for endowment purposes._

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THE FREEDMEN.

REV. JOSEPH E. ROY, D.D., FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.

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ANNIVERSARY REPORTS.

ATLANTA UNIVERSITY, GEORGIA.

BY REV. C. W. FRANCIS.

Unless you could look through our eyes you would not know, from a formal record of the closing exercises of our school, how much interest and hope and pathos are crowded into these busy days.

On Sabbath morning, June 11th, President Ware preached to a crowded audience, the sermon to the graduating class from the text 1 Tim., 4th chap., 8th verse, giving a forcible presentation of the thought that right doing is profitable in all respects, for this life. The examinations were continued for three days, and were attended by a committee of the Board of Visitors, appointed by the Governor of the State, who, at the close, made to him a highly favorable report, which has been published with his approval. Two evenings were occupied by the exercises of the two literary societies of the school, which were favorably received by good audiences.

On Thursday, the commencement exercises were held at Friendship Baptist Church, one of the largest in the city, kindly placed at our disposal for this purpose, which was filled with a closely packed audience of about 2,000 people, well dressed, orderly, attentive, and evidently having a personal pride in the results exhibited. The appearance and conduct of this commencement audience in successive years affords a good indication of the steadily improving condition of the mass of the people, viewed with great satisfaction by friends who have opportunities for comparison.

A class of twelve was graduated, ten young women from the Normal course and two young men from the College course, all of whom presented pieces which received much commendation for their simplicity, directness and good sense.

The annual address was delivered by Rev. E. W. Bacon, of New London, Conn., and was a forcible and eloquent plea for self-education, which was singularly appropriate to the circumstances of the young people just leaving school, to whom it was primarily addressed.