Part 3

_Hon. T. T. Allain_, one of the most enterprising colored men in the South, and one of the most consistent friends of education, took the meeting in hand at the start, and spared neither time nor money to bring it to the notice of the whole people. This meeting, in all its appointments, was so unusual that I shall be pardoned if I describe it quite minutely. We were met by a committee of reception at the depot, and escorted to the hotel. One hour in advance of the meeting, a large cannon, planted in the court-house yard, made a tremendous salute, causing the very village to tremble. Peal after peal went forth, each seeming louder than the last. Torches were lighted and planted thickly in the court-yard, which, by their glare and smoke, gave a weird look to the hundreds of dusky faces gathering around them. A large brass band, with a full complement of pieces, added to the novelty and effectiveness of the scene.

Think of it, dear friends! This was not a political meeting. It was not a barbecue. It was simply a meeting called in the interests of education among the colored people of Southern Louisiana, which has always been regarded a “_pretty dark strip of woods_.” Well, now for the meeting itself! Mr. Allain gracefully and ably presided, and made a speech which did credit to his head and heart. For two hours that densely packed assembly listened to Prof. Hitchcock and myself with unflagging interest, manifested by frequent applause. The Court-House and court-yard were filled, and our audience without and within the building gave us a respectful and appreciative hearing. Plaquemine has been called the “banner” town. _We_ certainly have no desire to dispute her claim to the honorable distinction, for the treatment we received there was “_royal_.”

The meeting at _Donaldsonville_, July 12th, was a union of the Baptist and Methodist congregations, and will result, we trust, in the awakening of a new interest. I should be glad to speak particularly, had I not reached the limit of my space, of meetings held by Prof. Hitchcock at West Baton Rouge, St. Sophie, New Texas and Beauregour, and visits to Monticello, Darrowville, and Point a la Hache, where many of the families and homes of the students were seen. Everywhere he was awarded a warm welcome. People rallied to the meetings, sometimes from a distance of 12 miles. Genuine enthusiasm was aroused, and the tide of public sentiment has been turned, we believe, more strongly toward the “_School-House_,” and that was our only object. The “door of opportunity” is fairly open. Ought we not to enter it and tell the entire people the glad story of education?

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A WORD FROM TILLOTSON INSTITUTE.

PRES. W. E. BROOKS, AUSTIN, TEXAS.

It is due the many donors and friends of Tillotson that a brief report of the work of the past year be made. It is a pleasure to do this, both because due and because of the hopeful prosperity which has attended the institution.

The land upon which to place the new dormitory and the buildings for the mechanical department, when funds shall be secured, has been bought at a cost of $5,000—$1,250 of which was from the Hon. J. H. Raymond, of Austin. Some progress has also been made in obtaining subscriptions for the new hall, which is imperatively needed to meet the pressing demands which are made upon us from all parts of the State. How urgent this call is may be inferred from the fact that on the 2d day of last October, one day before the opening of the school, Allen Hall was full to repletion, and the work of turning away began, and continued throughout the year, so that it is safe to say that for every one received one was refused. We had one hundred in our boarding department during the year. This necessitated placing four students in the larger rooms, and three in nearly every other—too many by far, but there seemed to be no other way. They begged to be received, while the two or three already in the room, urging us to admit one more, made it difficult to refuse. Put yourself, dear reader, in our place, and you will appreciate our condition, and why we allowed this crowding process. It was the best that could be done under the circumstances. Besides the one hundred in the boarding department, we had ninety-one day pupils, making our total attendance during the year 191. We have no primary department. Our numbers would have been very greatly increased if we had had the room to store them.

In educational and religious results the past year has been our best. More and better work has been done. The training has been more thorough and systematic, and the real progress more satisfactory. This was to be expected. Each year increases largely our own knowledge of the work and how best to do it.

Our religious services have been more largely attended and richer in results. A goodly number found Christ, and gave clear evidence of a change of heart. One in particular, who had been intemperate and profane to a sad degree, underwent a complete transformation. Our Sunday school was well attended, drawing in quite a number from the outside, while our prayer meetings, on Sunday and Thursday evenings, were pleasant and profitable.

The temperance society, with a pledge prohibiting the use of both rum and tobacco, embraced nearly every student of the institution. They gave evidence that they had joined for life. Many of them are doing good work in this direction, in the schools where they are now engaged in teaching. We have reason to feel deeply grateful for the advancement along the whole line of our threefold yet one work.

Our closing exercises won the praise of the many who were present. Among these were Gov. Ireland, ex-Gov. E. M. Pease, Hon. Mr. Swain, Comptroller of State, Judge Delaney of the Court of Appeals, Prof. Hogg, at the head of the schools of Fort Worth, and many other prominent citizens of Austin.

Able addresses were made by all of the above gentlemen and others; but among them all none was more cordial and appreciative than that of Gov. Ireland. He urged the students to continue to press onward and upward, assuring them that the hour was close at hand when merit will determine every man’s position, and not the color of his skin. All, including those named, expressed themselves surprised and pleased at what they saw and heard. It was the brightest day in our history.

This brief summary of the work of the past year indicates, but cannot fully unfold, our need of more room. Young men and women in the same building is an unfortunate necessity. It is the best and only thing that can be done with safety to the work, and even this is full of danger. Then to be forced to refuse admittance to so many is unpleasant. We ought to keep the streams flowing toward us, and not turn them in other directions or cause them to cease flowing altogether. As our only institution in the great Empire State we ought to provide liberally for it, that it may carry forward the work so auspiciously begun. No field can be more inviting. Nowhere in all the South is there a more Catholic spirit. Everything conspires to insure large returns on all investments in this department of Christian effort. Are there not friends who will now come forward and render us needed help in the hour of our necessity? Twenty thousand dollars in cash or approved pledges and the new hall will be begun. Some two thousand are already secured. Monuments of finest brass will perish through the wearing passage of the ages, but those erected for the uplifting of a race are imperishable. Will you help erect this?

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LETTER FROM FLORENCE, ALA.

A person in attendance on revival meetings at this place writes to Dr. Roy:

“I hasten to tell you what a dear Saviour I have found. I have accepted Him as mine and I mean to serve and trust Him the rest of my life. Last Sunday the 20th year to a day since my marriage, I resolved to be a Christian, but thought I would wait till the middle of the week before starting. On last evening (Monday) I drove my team down to the boat for passengers, but on finding that I would probably have to carry them back and hence be kept from the meeting, I drove away and attended church. When the invitation was given I could wait no longer; went forward, gave my heart to Jesus, and to-day I am a new man, not ashamed to tell the world. I was so glad that I wish others could this afternoon in the praise meeting speak for my Saviour, whose pleadings I have so long withstood. I wanted to write you these words, because I knew you were anxious for my salvation. How glad have I been always to meet you. No man would I rather see or hear talk than you. You have caused me to shed many a tear, but you didn’t know it. Oh I am so glad that the Lord spared me that I might return to Him. I mean to give the balance of my days to the blessed master. Shall do all I can to have others come to Him and live for Him; pray for me that I may be strong and useful. The Evangelist and his good wife are truly sent out by the Lord.

“Bro. Brown and they work nicely together. We just seem to be in a good way. No doubt many will be converted. Up to this time twelve have been brought out into the light. The Christians are strengthened, the church encouraged and a good feeling prevails among the people.”

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LETTER FROM McINTOSH, Ga.

FROM REV. FLOYD SNELSON.

Our school work has been vigilantly prosecuted this year, somewhat to the end that the great demand which is made upon us for persons to teach the public schools in this and adjoining counties might be met. We have twenty-eight students licensed and sent out to work this year, who have received all or a part of their training in our school. Still a great many more are wanted. I have appeals before me now for teachers for seven schools, made up and ready to begin at any time, that I cannot supply. I do hope to see the day when some lover of humanity will aid us with the facilities of a regular boarding-school here, that this great need of teachers in the common schools may be met. The twenty-eight that have gone out this year to teach are allowed from 20 to 40 pupils. With an average of 30 in each of their schools, they will be able to start a light in the dark minds of 840 needy ones.

Our church work, I am very thankful to say, has also received an additional Divine recognition. At our last communion season, which was held July 22, sixteen persons, hopefully converted, came into the fellowship of the church, and six children were brought to be baptized.

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ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.

—An effort is being made by Rev. Mr. Roberts, of Paris, Texas, to organize a church at Dood City, where he has been holding special meetings.

—A new house of worship has been dedicated at Belle Place, La. Rev. Wm. Butler, pastor, was assisted by Rev. W. R. Polk, of New Iberia, in the dedicatory services. The A. M. A. furnished a portion of the funds for the building.

—Rev. B. F. Foster, who labored the past year as pastor and teacher at Fayetteville, Ark., will prosecute his studies at the Theological Seminary, Chicago. Rev. John M. Shippen, a recent graduate of the Theological Department of Howard University, has accepted an invitation to occupy the place vacated by Mr. Foster.

—Rev. George W. Moore, a graduate of Fisk University and Oberlin Theological Seminary, has assumed the pastoral care of the Lincoln Memorial Church, Washington, D.C., under favorable auspices. He is to supply Dr. Rankin’s pulpit one Sunday.

—Rev. Zechariah Simmons, a licentiate of the North Carolina Association, has been appointed to take charge of the mission at Woodbridge, N.C., with reference to the organization of a church. The A. M. A. has recently purchased a parsonage for his accommodation.

—The church in Oaks, Alamance Co., N.C., is building a comfortable house of worship under the supervision of Rev. J. N. Ray, its pastor, who has received $100 from the A. M. A. for the furtherance of the enterprise. Miss E. W. Douglass, an experienced missionary teacher, has been appointed to labor at this point.

—Mr. G. W. Jackson and his wife (Rose McCutcheon) are pushing their mission day and Sunday-school work at Whiteside, Tenn. They have been visited by Rev. Jos. E. Smith and Mrs. Steele of Chattanooga, and meetings of much promise have been held.

—The _Clarion_, of Jackson, Miss., gives an interesting report of the colored Congregational Church, organized by the A. M. A. in that city, with Rev. C. L. Harris, pastor. The church has a membership of 16 and a Sabbath-school of 63. Services are held in the hall of the Hope Fire Company. The citizens of Jackson have subscribed liberally toward the erection of a house of worship.

—Rev. S. N. Brown, while furnishing a vacation supply at Florence, Ala., has been assisted by the evangelist, Rev. J. E. Fields, in a series of revival meetings, which has resulted in an addition of twenty members to the church. This is the church which was so much depleted by the Exodus.

—Rev. A. W. Curtis, of Marion, Ala., on invitation of Rev. Dr. Raymond, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, has preached on exchange with him. This is said to be the first expression of fellowship of this kind the A. M. A. preachers have received at the South. Mr. Curtis has also accepted an invitation to exchange with the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church South in the same city.

—Rev. Geo. W. Clark of Athens, Ga., and his people, with aid from the A. M. A., have purchased a lot and are proceeding to build a house of worship. Up to this time they have held their services in the chapel of Knox Institute.

—The A. M. A. is building a church at Pekin, N.C., with accommodations for school purposes.

—The church at Chattanooga, Tenn. (Rev. Jos. E. Smith, pastor), have built a new fence about the meeting house, which has been painted outside and inside and beautifully frescoed.

—The St. Louis _Globe-Democrat_ says, in connection with the Press Convention: “One remarkable paper was that represented at the Convention by its business manager, R. C. Edmondson. It was _The Fisk Herald_, a college paper published at the Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.; in fact, the only college paper the colored people have. It is a nice eight-page tinted paper, well printed and generally well reading journal.” The _Daily World_ says: “The present number is of neat typographical appearance, and is filled with interesting reading matter. A liberal encouragement should be extended to this enterprise.”

—The President of the Produce Exchange, Wilmington, N.C., speaking of the school of the A. M. A., says: “The boys, after leaving the institution, get employment more readily than others, because their moral principles are higher, and because they are generally better fitted for intelligent occupation than the majority of those who profess to have received an elementary education. The people of Wilmington have great cause for thankfulness that our Negro population is so law-abiding and faithful to duty; and to take courage from the results already accomplished in a transition so violent from a life of slavery to that of freedom and citizenship in the eyes of the law. The utmost harmony has prevailed between the races for many years past, and instances of disagreement between employers and employed are far more rare than among the whites in the North.”

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THE CHINESE.

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RECRUITS FOR THE SOUTH CHINA MISSION.

REV. W. C. POND, SAN FRANCISCO.

I trust that our friends do not forget how God has begun to fulfil the prayer which the motto of our mission, “China for Christ,” and the hearts of our Chinese Christians sent up during so many years, in the establishment by the American Board of a Mission in China to co-operate with ours, and to reach, first of all, the swarming millions in those districts from which our immigrants have come. In connection with the departure of Bro. Hager to this field, our Congregational Association of Christian Chinese gave $500 in cash, and one of its best members and my best helpers as a co-laborer. Bro. Hager has established his head-quarters at Hong Kong and has gathered there a school similar in all respects to ours in California. But this is only a rendezvous. The main work is elsewhere, preaching the gospel and scattering the word of life on the main land. Lee Sam is busy with this already; enduring hardness as a good soldier, and working almost alone. But he will not be suffered to work long alone. Our helper for years past at Sacramento, Lem Chung, sailed for China more than six weeks ago, and has already, we hope been welcomed at Hong Kong. Sustaining for years a relation to the Chinese of Sacramento every way equivalent to that which an American pastor sustains in the community where he labors, he so commended himself by his mental capacity, his faithfulness, his Christian spirit and consistent walk that while our Chinese brethren clung to him as few American churches do to their pastors, he was also “of good report,” or, as the revision reads it, “has good testimony from them that are without,” both Chinese and Americans. Whether he will remain permanently in China is not decided, but so long as he does remain, I doubt not he will be ready for every good word and work. And now three others among our helpers, Hong Sing of Santa Cruz, Wong Him Wong of Stockton and Lou Quong of the West School in this city, are making ready to depart. They go together. They hope to begin missionary work on the steamer. They hope to continue it when they reach their native land. We shall miss them greatly. They have approved themselves in our service, workmen that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth and illustrating its power in their consistent lives. But with reference to our great purpose, “China for Christ,” our loss is a gain, and we gladly take others to fill the vacant places, hoping that these too, trained to preach by preaching and to teach by teaching, will follow their brethren to the dark regions across the wide sea.

At the time of this writing, a fortnight remains before the close of our fiscal year. Toward the $12,500 which our work for the year _must_ cost, we have received in cash and pledges $11,800. To find $700 more within these two weeks seems to be quite impossible, by virtue of any resources remaining within the superintendent’s reach. He repeats over to himself: “My God shall supply all your need;” he recounts to himself the many mercies past; and how, again and again, in his own experience, what seemed impossible has come to pass, and still he questions and he doubts, and asking, seeking, knocking, can do no better than to cry, “Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief.” Before this reaches the eye of our readers, the fiscal year will have closed, and the account will be made up: yet _not so closed_ but that if any of our readers are willing to share with me the load which open doors and proffered harvests have laid upon me, their help would be most welcome and most _timely_.

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BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.

MISS D. E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.

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MEETING OF BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.

In connection with the Annual Meeting of the A. M. A. in Brooklyn, notice of which is given elsewhere, there will be a Woman’s Meeting in the interest of our Bureau of Woman’s Work. Report of mission work among the Chinese on the Pacific Coast will be made by Mrs. W. C. Pond, wife of Superintendent Pond; on Indian Missions, by Mrs Alfred L. Riggs, wife of the Principal of our Santee School, Nebraska; on work among the mountain whites of Kentucky, by Mrs. A. A. Myers, wife of Rev. Mr. Myers, our missionary in that region; on work among the colored people, by Miss Anna M. Cahill, late Principal of Normal Department, Fisk University. Other ladies will participate in the meeting, particulars concerning which, and also as to the hour of the meeting, will be given in the religious press at a later date.

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THE PAPER MISSION, AND WHAT CAME OF IT.

BY MISS NANCY MARSH, PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Since we commenced our mission, May, 1880, we have received many letters asking “What can I do?” To such we have made various suggestions.

In Stoneham, Mass., the ladies felt they could not send boxes, but wished to do something, so organized the “Stevens Home Missionary Society,” and have sent to various places 779 papers and pamphlets, and 7 Sunday-school books. They have basted 1,465 blocks of patch-work and sent to seven teachers in Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Ladies Island; have basted also 49 handkerchiefs “from pieces of cloth, to teach the children to sew, and give them what they needed.” Postage $5.22. They have also corresponded with several pastors and teachers. The Secretary says; “I am delighted with some of the correspondence, and enjoy the work very much; am so glad to help even a little in this good work. I love some of the dear teachers very much, and it has all come through their dear letters, heart touching heart, and all for Jesus. Thank you for all the interest you have taken to help us get started, and for your aid right along; we have had no names except what you have given us.” This society has proved very efficient, and they have been so grateful for the privilege of working, it has been a pleasure to find them opportunities; it has done them good as well as others. Some of these letters have been read in their missionary concerts, and awakened an increasing interest in the community.

A lady in Chesterfield, Ill., formerly a teacher in Utah, and some young friends have basted 300 blocks of patch-work for teachers in Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee, feeling, she says, “that our greatest privilege is to work for the Lord.”

A letter came to us from Middleboro, Mass., saying, “I am very anxious to do something for the missionaries, and, as I am an invalid, and unable to give money, I thought I could cut and baste patch-work if nothing more.” Recently we received a card stating “I have sent 600 blocks to Chattanooga, Tenn., I would be glad to do more, but am now unable to do any kind of work, but hope to sometime, if ever so little.” In answer to inquiries, this lady says: “The work I sent Mrs. S—— I did lying on my reclining chair nearly as flat as a bed; but have been confined to my bed many weeks at a time, and suffering more than words can tell.” Surely this service performed for the Master, in such weariness and pain, shall not lose its reward.

From Claremont, N.H., the question came: “What can a mission circle do for Christmas?” We suggested a place as affording ample scope for their ingenuity and generosity; so “the Sunbeams” (the mission circle) 25 in number, from six to fourteen years, sent rays of light and gladness to cheer the hearts of these desolate people in the shape of picture-frames, book-marks, work and scrap-bags, mittens, pin-balls, spectacle-cases for the old ladies, etc. The ladies of this place also sent a box of second-hand clothing, which was greatly needed.