Part 1

The American Missionary,

NOVEMBER, 1885.

VOL. XXXIX

NO. 11.

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CONTENTS

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EDITORIAL.

PAGE.

THE FIGURES--FINANCIAL 297 WHAT OUR FRIENDS THINK AND SAY 298 DEATH OF PRESIDENT WARE 300 IYAKAPTAPI 301 INDIANS IN THE DAKOTA ASSOCIATION 303

THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

GENERAL SURVEY--CHURCH WORK SOUTH 304 EDUCATIONAL WORK SOUTH 306 INDUSTRIAL TRAINING 309 MOUNTAIN WORK 310 WORK AMONG THE INDIANS 311 WORK AMONG THE CHINESE 313 THE WOMAN'S BUREAU--FINANCES 315 CONCLUSION 316

RECEIPTS 317

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NEW YORK:

PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

Rooms, 56 Reade Street.

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Price 50 Cents a Year, in Advance.

Entered at the Post-Office at New York. N. Y., as second-class matter.

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AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

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PRESIDENT, Hon. WM. B. WASHBURN, LL. D., Mass.

_Vice-Presidents._

Rev. C. L. GOODELL, D. D., Mo. Rev. A. J. F. BEHRENDS, D. D., N. Y. Rev. F. A. NOBLE, D. D., Ill. Rev. ALEX. McKENZIE, D. D., Mass. Rev. D. O. MEARS, D. D., Mass.

_Corresponding Secretary._

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

_Assistant Corresponding Secretary._

Rev. JAMES POWELL, D. D., _56 Reade Street, N. Y._

_Treasurer._

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

_Auditors._

W. H. ROGERS, PETER McCARTEE.

_Executive Committee._

JOHN H. WASHBURN, Chairman. A. P. FOSTER, Secretary.

_For Three Years._

LYMAN ABBOTT. A. S. BARNES. J. R. DANFORTH. CLINTON B. FISK. A. P. FOSTER.

_For Two Years._

S. B. HALLIDAY. SAMUEL HOLMES. SAMUEL S. MARPLES. CHARLES L. MEAD. ELBERT B. MONROE.

_For One Year._

J. E. RANKIN. WM. H. WARD. J. L. WITHROW. JOHN H. WASHBURN. EDMUND L. CHAMPLIN.

_District Secretaries._

Rev. C. L. WOODWORTH, D. D., _21 Cong'l House, Boston_. Rev. J. E. ROY, D. D., _151 Washington Street, Chicago_. Rev. CHARLES W. SHELTON, _Financial Secretary for Indian Missions_. Rev. C. J. RYDER, _Field Superintendent_.

_Bureau of Woman's Work._

Secretary, Miss D. E. EMERSON, _56 Reade St., N. Y._

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COMMUNICATIONS

Relating to the work of the Association may be addressed to the Corresponding Secretary; those relating to the collecting fields, to Rev. James Powell, D. D., or to the District Secretaries: letters for the "AMERICAN MISSIONARY," to the Editor, 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, 21 Congregational House, Boston, Mass., or 112 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ill. A payment of thirty dollars at one time constitutes a Life Member.

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.

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THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY.

VOL. XXXIX. NOVEMBER, 1885. NO. 11.

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American Missionary Association.

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$365,000

NEEDED FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

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Your Committee are convinced that not less than a THOUSAND DOLLARS a day are imperatively demanded to perfect the admirably organized plans of the Association, even for the present, to say nothing of the pressing needs of the early future--

[FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT ADOPTED BY ANNUAL MEETING AT SALEM.]

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THE FIGURES.

Donations. Legacies.

Oct. 1, 1884, to Sept. 30, 1885 $249,392.10 $41,501.66 $290,894.06 Oct. 1, 1883, to Sept. 30, 1884 223,034.77 64,559.42 287,594.19 ---------- ---------- ---------- Inc.$26,357.63 Dec.$23,057.76 Inc.$3,299.87

The figures given above mark the close of our fiscal year. While they show a gratifying increase of receipts from living donors over those of the preceding year, the falling off in legacies has been so heavy that our books balance on the wrong side, and we are obliged to report a debt of $15,451.87, which, with the debt of the preceding year, makes a total indebtedness of $29,237.73.

For an analysis of the figures, we refer our readers to the report of the Executive Committee on the finances of the year, published in another part of this number. It was a grand rally our friends made to save us. We fear that some of them sacrificed more than they ought in contributing so generously as they did. We pray that God may abundantly reward them. We thank them, one and all, with a heartiness greater than we can express. We would not sit in judgment upon the churches and professed friends who have contributed nothing to our treasury during the year. We know that some of them were not financially able. But we cannot believe that this was true of a majority of them.

The Congregational Year Book of 1885 reports 4,092 Congregational churches in the United States. We received during the year contributions from 1,677. What can be done to bring the non-contributing churches into line is a question we beg the pastors of contributing churches and the friends of the Association to help us answer. The pastors and members of these non-contributing churches as a general thing do not read our magazine. They are ignorant of our needs, and we do not know how to reach them so as to wake them up. Had we an army of agents to visit and talk to them, we might move them to take our work upon their thought and sympathy. Our appeals by circular, by newspaper, resolutions of State conferences and of the National Council, all fail to move them. They still continue not to hear and not to do. There is only one way that we can think of by which they can be reached, and that is for the local conferences to take the matter in hand, and select a committee of "a persistent ONE," who by letter, and, if need be, by personal visitation, will bring the delinquents up to meet the obligations of fellowship and denominational honor.

But as seen over against this long list of _do-nothings_ what a grand army the 1,677 contributing churches appear! Theirs has been the work and theirs is the glory of "_a well done_" both from God and man. They form a base of supplies from which the army at the front can be recruited and sustained, and which can be counted on for support till the victory is won. We enter upon the new year with fresh confidence and renewed strength. No such word as "_fail_" finds place in our vocabulary so long as we have such friends behind us and God above and around us. The work will not be permitted to suffer. We shall throw off the debt. The faithful 1,677 will be reinforced. Our friends will be multiplied, and the work carried triumphantly forward.

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WHAT OUR FRIENDS THINK AND SAY.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE TREASURER DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

"If any part of the country is to be put first, the South should be, and helped most. Hence the inclosed, half of it from myself and the other half from the Congregational church here. Your work and that of your compeers is above criticism. All there is of you is put in with a skill and completeness which are not surpassed; and your plans are as large as the field and as complete as its needs. No one could get more out of the money or put it where it would do more good. You and yours are as unmingled beneficence as rum shops are unmitigated maleficence. Were it in my power, I would build a new school-house in the South every year. My heart never thinks of you and your work without blessing you in it; and I have written the above as a sort of relief." (We hardly feel ourselves worthy of such generous praise, but we do very heartily thank our brother for his warm indorsement.--ED.)

"Inclosed find a small sum to help elevate and Christianize the colored freedmen. Grains of sand make the mountains, and drops of water the ocean, and the invisible workmen rear the coral islands; so may God's people one and all _do what they can_, and your debt will be wiped out."

"At our meeting last evening, I read your appeal and took up a collection of $6, which I send you. It is a little Home Missionary church of only 10 members, but they are good ones, and in earnest. Hope all other churches will do as well and your society be saved from debt."

"Got your final appeal before last Sunday, but were so happy to think we had not waited for it, having taken our collection and subscription two weeks before. But owing to the general poverty among my people, we had to give time, and the sum is only now made up. I may say that this little amount at this time represents more real _giving_ than any collection I ever secured. May a blessing go with it."

"I feel myself, like Paul, a debtor to all men, especially the classes you represent. Accept, then, my single mite, in the spirit in which I desire to send it, and may the Lord free you from the threatening debt by leading your constituency to feel their indebtedness to these classes and to Himself."

"I inclose $10, and wish I might increase it a hundred-fold. I had already given all that I intended, but could not resist the urgent appeal for the needy."

"The notices of your financial need came and touched a responsive chord in my heart. A week ago I gave a preparatory notice that a collection would be taken yesterday in your behalf. The people responded quite liberally. Inclosed find draft for the amount. You have my earnest prayer for the success of your effort to raise what you lack. May God bless you in your work and labor of love." (It was indeed a generous contribution, yet nearly one-third of it came out of the pastor.--ED.)

"I had thought I had done all I could afford in these times, but coincident with your appeal came the inclosed, for which I had another place; but here, take it. The Lord will provide."

"In response to your society's importunity, I inclose $2. I took the collection up after a sermon I preached on Foreign Missions. We surprised our people by the amount, as we don't usually get by a collection one dollar. I hope you will realize soon that there is no debt." (We have always believed that one of the best ways to rouse people up to Home Missions is to stir them up on Foreign Missions.--ED.)

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DEATH OF PRESIDENT WARE.

Edmund A. Ware was born in North Wrentham, now Norfolk, Mass., Dec. 22, 1837, and died suddenly of heart disease in Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 25, 1885. He passed the early years of his life under conditions which made him acquainted with hardships, and fitted him to have warm sympathy for those who struggled against obstacles and trials.

He was graduated from Yale College in 1863. During his college course his attention was often turned to the field for Christian work, then being opened in the South by the steady advance of our armies, and his sympathies were strongly enlisted for a race just coming out of the prison house of bondage, and he was ambitious to have a part in laying the foundations of a new and better society in the regions desolated by war.

He was appointed an officer of the Freedman's Bureau in 1867, with charge of the schools opened under its auspices in the State of Georgia, which position he held for three years, until the closing of that branch of the work of the government.

His great work, however, was in connection with Atlanta University, an institution for higher education, whose foundation he was active in securing, and over whose interests he presided until the day of his death. He labored for its welfare and that of the people in whose interests it was established with rare devotion, and rejoiced in its steady growth and prosperity with special personal gratification.

Owing to some peculiar circumstances the institution early secured the favorable attention of the State authorities, and an annual appropriation from the State treasury. In the endeavors to secure and confirm this grant he was conspicuously and honorably active, and during the many years of its continuance his relations to the officers of the State with whom he has thus been brought into contact have been exceptionally pleasant, and in some cases cordial.

During the last year of his life he took great interest in the successful opening of an industrial department in the institution, and for the last few weeks his great anxiety had been to secure the furnishing of a large new building whose erection he had personally overlooked. He had returned to Atlanta in advance of his family to make preparations for the school year soon to open, had completed most of his plans, and seemed in unusual good health and spirits. Soon after dinner on Friday, Sept. 25, feeling dizzy while in his own house, where he was alone, he sought the open air and walked toward the house of Professor Bumstead, but becoming alarmed by increasing faintness he made loud calls, which were promptly responded to by Mr. and Mrs. Bumstead; but in spite of all remedies and efforts he speedily passed away to enter upon his well-earned rest and his glorious reward. The crushing effects of this sudden blow upon his household, upon his associates and the people who loved and revered him, cannot be described. At his funeral services all classes of the community were largely represented, and sympathy for the bereaved was profound. The grief of former pupils was touching, and was like that of children bereft of a father.

So passed away in the maturity of his powers and the midst of his usefulness, one of the earliest and most efficient of that great company who have toiled since the war in this broad and needy field. His departure seems like a translation; being taken suddenly without the pains and anxieties of wasting sickness, in the full tide of his greatest success, before any impairment of vigor or any calamity had overtaken the work he loved so well. He was a man of great power over other men, especially over young people, who were caught up by his enthusiasm, and borne along sometimes to the attainment of surprising results. He was well fitted to be a leader in the sphere he chose for himself, and made his mark upon his generation, and had a large and honorable share in securing the results already achieved, which are to bless the State and nation with increasing power.

A good man has fallen, and a great gap is made in the ranks of laborers at the front; but the Lord who loves his own cause better than we do will see that it suffers no loss. As the Lord has taken care that his servant rests from his labors, it is ours to see that they follow Him.

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IYAKAPTAPI.

That is, the _ascent_ from the plains of the head-waters of the Minnesota River to the Coteau du Prairie, or high table-land to the west. The old trail up-hill here gave the name _Ascension_ to the place. There the tribes--Dakota tribes--met together for their annual autumn feast--the missionary conference on the 24th of September. On the Sabbath the little church was too small, and 400 Indians, with a sprinkling of white people, sat outside in the sun, some on benches, and most on the grass, around the Communion table. The tents of those who had come in from long distances were pitched on either side in the ravines, among the fall foliage, and the wide brown plain, with a long gleam of shining lake far off, lay below. As we took the bread and hid our faces in our hands, we thought of that distribution by Galilee, when they sat in companies on the grassy slope by the lake. It was not "the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is still," but the real presence of Him who said "I am the bread of life," to these 400 Christian Indians whom He had brought up from the low, dead level of barbarism to the present heights of Christian life.

One little dark baby in a white dress was baptized, and four young people publicly confessed their faith in a newly-found Saviour.

Solomon, "His Own Grandfather," who has gathered a church of the Dakota refugees from the Minnesota troubles of 1862, over in Manitoba, spoke to us of the spiritual nature of God's kingdom; and Ehnamani, who years ago laid down his warrior weapons, administered the bread, telling us of the tribulation and fire through which Christ went to become bread for our life. Then the "beloved John," our brother missionary who threw his young strength into the Dakota work at its darkest hour twenty-five years ago, could hardly control the emotion with which he spoke of the trials out of which the Dakotas had been brought to this present joy and strength through "His stripes."

It has been a long _ascent_ for fifty years, but now fourteen churches, with a thousand members; eleven young men's Christian associations; a native missionary society, receiving contributions amounting this year to $1,165, much of it the fruit of hard labor by Dakota women, with the needle and at the wash-tub; a Christian community with its own native justices of the peace, rigidly enforcing temperance and marital law, and, according to the testimony of the United States agent on the ground, more careful of religious observances than white communities, and no less exemplary in morals; thousands of acres of cultivated land; these are some of the outward signs of the inner life of God in the heart.

Add to this the 1,000 or more converts gathered in later years and claimed by Episcopalians and Roman Catholics; add the long roll of those who have ascended to their Lord; add the white people who have been saved and inspired by the example of their Dakota brethren, and compute if you can the spiritual fruit of the Dakota Indian Mission.

Then think of this result wrought out, in the midst of what is fast becoming one of the most influential communities of our land. Christian churches by hundreds, Christian colleges and Christian homes, all built on this early Indian work as a foundation. Then, as we rejoice in the present interest in work for Indians, remember the obloquy and opposition of the past through which the early workers struggled.

To appreciate this ascent, one should come up from Western Indian barbarism, and not down from Eastern culture.

Leave the nightly drumming and dancing and revelry, the daily offering to heathen gods, the daily wailing and cutting of the flesh at the scaffold of sepulture, and one will acknowledge that God alone has wrought this change.

Before the regular sessions of the conference a "theological institute" occupied two days. This was attended by some thirty pastors and leading members of the churches. There were lectures on Bible history, on family relations, on preaching and pastoral work. Then the general meeting opened with a hymn written for the occasion by the organist, a young Indian, and the singing was led by native young men. The topics at the conference were such as the education of children, the missionary cause; and the one that seemed to call out most discussion was, "How to secure the spiritual growth of the Church." The young men showed great interest in their Christian associations, and voted to affiliate with their kindred in the white communities, of whom they heard through the Rev. Mr. Williams, who represented the Christian association of the young men of Minneapolis. The Indian women, too, had their missionary meeting, and show the same traits and give evidence of the same activity and zeal that make their white sisters the main strength of the Christian Church.

So we bid all take heart, and go on upward--iyakaptapi. C. L. HALL.

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INDIANS IN THE DAKOTA ASSOCIATION.

This is an ecclesiastical body of a hundred churches that has the opportunity to show the unity of the spirit in race fellowship. Besides the local German Association, one of the five belonging to it, the Indian Mission churches and pastors of the Santee Agency and of Fort Sully, with their superintendents, Revs. Alfred L. and Thomas M. Riggs, are among the members. At the recent annual meeting, held at Huron, September 17th to 20th, there were present the Riggs brothers, three lady missionaries, and two female and four male Indians. The service of Rev. A. L. Riggs, as moderator, was justly commended for its urbanity and promptness. At the meeting of the Woman's Missionary Society, held with the mixed assembly, the two Indian women, Estelle Ward and Ellen Spotted Bear, were brought forward, in their usual white woman's garb, to make talks, which were interpreted by Mrs. T. M. Riggs. During some discussion upon Indian work, the Riggs brothers supplemented their remarks by addresses from Frank Frazier and Stephen Yellow Hawk, a deacon and a pastor. At the Communion, on the Lord's Day, this deacon was associated with three white men in distributing the elements. At the final meeting, on Sunday night, with a crowded house, between the addresses of Rev. Drs. Jos. B. Clark and Jos. E. Roy were sandwiched two hymns, sung by the natives and their teachers, and also an address by the dignified pastor at the Santee Agency, Rev. Artemas Ehnamani, interpreted by Rev. A. L. Riggs. This, and the talks of the other Indians, reported their former condition as heathen and their coming to the light through their missionaries. Particularly touching was the allusion of Pastor Ehnamani to the sainted men, Drs. Williamson and Riggs. All showed the one spirit, that of the common Redeemer.

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THE LAKE MOHONK CONFERENCE.

On the 6th, 7th and 8th of October the third annual meeting of the Lake Mohonk Conference was held. Hon. Albert K. Smiley and Mrs. Smiley, as usual, extended the hospitality of their magnificent mountain retreat to the friends of the Indian. The sessions of the conference were of great interest. Eminent men and women read historical and suggestive papers, and ably discussed the great questions of the Indian problem. The conference, after much earnest debate, were unanimous in recommending such legislation by Congress as will give allotments of land in severalty to the Indians--the sale of lands not required for occupancy, and funding of proceeds therefor for their benefit--the early discontinuance of rations and annuities, increased educational facilities, including industrial and especially agricultural, and the dispersion and diffusion of the Indians among the other people of the country, with all the rights and immunities of other citizens.

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THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

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GENERAL SURVEY.