Part 3

There is nothing new under the sun, says the wise man, but I hardly think he saw in his day and generation--a volcano--something like a tidal wave! And yet the idea is a good one, typical, I think, of the American Missionary Association, which, years ago, began in a humble way to pour forth--not fire and smoke and ashes--although the outcome of its work was fire and smoke and ashes to false opinion and wrong. Like a volcano, it sent forth material which moulded itself into the public sentiment of years ago, and since, like a tidal wave, this sentiment has continued to sweep over the continent until all the nationalities represented in this country are beginning to recognize the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. GEO. C. ROWE.

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CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS.

BY REV. B. DODGE, PLEASANT HILL, TENN.

What have you done? This is a fair question for friends of this mission, North, West and East, to ask. I propose briefly to answer it. I left my pastorate in the “Pine Tree” State, and, with my wife and daughter, entered upon the work here October 1st, 1884. To leave a New England home for these mountain wilds is much like entering a new world. But, coming not to _play_, but _work_, duty said: “Look about you--East, West, North and South.” It was done, and the outlook showed a large amount of illiteracy in every neighborhood, many living so far away from school as to be totally beyond their reach, and many young people growing up with no knowledge of books.

What could be done? More impressively the answer came than I can tell it: Build a house for school and worship which may bless present and future generations. But, from a human standpoint, to erect such a building as was needed seemed extremely difficult, if not impossible, with limited means on every side, no market, no railroad, and 2,000 feet above the sea level. But, being used to hard work from early life, and not easily _scared_, I grappled with the idea of building a house for the double purpose named. I laid the matter before the A. M. A., and was by them requested to undertake the building of such a house as, in my judgment, was needed.

I began the work March 1st, 1885. A good lady donated five acres of land (a lovely spot) for church and school purposes, and deeded the lot to the A. M. A., and also contributed $50 to the building. I then headed a subscription paper with $50, and the people here added enough by timber and labor to make in all $300.

I then employed a man to put in a good foundation of split stone, laid in masonry and elevated twenty inches above the ground, the size of the building to be 50×47 feet, including tower.

What next? It was to hew a white oak frame in the forest and haul it to the building spot, then have it framed. At length I invited men to raise it, and women to bring a dinner.

When gathered we sought, with uncovered heads under the blue sky, the blessings of heaven on the future of the house and freedom from accident during its erection.

At 11 A. M. the school, marshalled by its worthy teacher, Mrs. Lord, came and marched around the walls and waiting timber with songs of greeting, and when the song ended, the men responded with three lusty cheers for the school. At sunset the frame stood on its solid base.

There stood the bones, but where was the _flesh_? I took my men, and, with axes and saws, we went to the forest to fell the trees for logs; but when a few were sawed the mill failed. Must we give it up? Not yet. In the saddle I went down the mountain to Lost Creek, sixteen miles, and to Sparta, seventeen, for lumber. Through much hardship it was hauled, it taking two days for a good team to make one trip, and sometimes getting a thorough soaking in a storm by a night camp-fire. Some forty loads were dragged up the steep mountain and on to Pleasant Hill. This coming up the Cumberland Mountains with a load means much more than a stranger can comprehend. When it takes three hours to go two miles we may suppose there is some pulling. You can find some hills in Western Massachusetts and in Maine, but they are mole mounds as compared with the brow of these mountains. But the men who had the hauling in charge were patient and faithful to the last.

The work went slowly on for lack of funds. Twice it stopped, and no sound of saw or hammer was heard. Some prophesied it would take seven years to complete the building. Troubled dreams and wakefulness came, and sleep said, “If you don’t go on with the work I will not come to you.” I then said to the carpenter: “Come Monday morning, and I will be responsible for your pay.” He came, and Monday’s mail brought me $6 from the Sunday-school in Edgecomb, Me. I paid the carpenter Saturday night, and said, “Come again.” He came, and Monday’s mail at 11 A. M. brought $7 from the Sunday-school in East Orrington, Me. Rebuked for my lack of faith, I said, “Come again,” and the third Monday at 11 A. M. brought $25 from that noble man, Hon. J. J. H. Gregory, of Marblehead, Mass., who always sells honest seed, and has also recently sent us a fine bell and paid the freight on it.

Slowly the building grew, till, by much tug and toil, where markets and railroads were far away, and even money absent, to-day the house stands finished.

The last thing, the furnishing, is being done. So we are planning to christen it with services there next Sabbath, and on Monday enter it with our growing and promising school, which, ere long, if friends stand firm to its interests, is to be one of the bright lights in the State of Tennessee.

So much for the new house on the Cumberland Mountains.

HOW HAS IT BEEN DONE?

“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.”

It is the _Lord’s_ work, through his dear children. He has awakened in the hearts of Christian men, women, young people, and even _little_ children, an interest in this work, so that, by closest attention and careful application of funds, God has enabled me to engineer the work till I can see that He means the house shall stand complete, without so much as a nickel of debt upon it.

We have also organized a Congregational Church, and have in connection with our work another church at Pomona, and Sabbath-schools in all three.

I preach twice each Sabbath, riding twelve miles in the saddle. With increasing faith in God and this mountain work, which demands much grace and not a little grit, I ask the prayers of those who pray.

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THE INDIANS.

A VISIT TO THE DAKOTAS.

BY SECRETARY J. E. ROY.

In 1871, on a tour of home missionary supervision in Dakota, I came over the Missouri in a canoe, the only mode then of transportation to this Santee Agency School. I found here Rev. A. L. Riggs, who had come the year before to take up the newly initiated work of Rev. J. P. Williamson, who removed up the river thirty miles to open a mission upon the reservation of the Yankton Sioux. At that time Mr. Riggs had already displaced the cabin home and cabin school-house by a frame residence and a frame chapel school-house about 30×50. Now I find that the chapel has been spread out upon the sides and elongated in the rear, with sliding doors to shut off each of the several new parts into additional recitation and Sunday-school rooms, and the whole to be crowded for morning prayers and Sabbath service. There have also come on, the Dakota Home for Young Women, the Bird’s Nest for Little Children and the Cottage for Little Boys, each of the three under a matron, and the Dakota Hall for Young Men, with one of the teachers’ families there in charge. Then come the well-built shops for shoemaking, carpentry and blacksmithing; and lastly, the three-story dining-hall, with accommodation for a hundred and fifty at the tables, with rooms for teachers and workers, and a whole story yet to be finished off, when funds are in hand, to accommodate more girls. The whole is heated by furnaces and supplied with the most approved apparatus for cooking, baking and laundry work.

But, beyond this expanding of the shell, I find the inner institution matured into a good deal of character and strength. Though it has grown by itself, it has come to be very much like our best boarding-schools at the South. The course of the year makes up more than two hundred pupils, and there are now here one hundred and thirty. The mass of them have learned the English, and the classes are taught in it. Many of them have been advanced in English studies. The régime everywhere takes on the Christian type. A great majority of the scholars have been brought to a personal acquaintance with Christ. A good number of teachers and preachers have already been sent forth. Music--vocal and instrumental--brings in its refining influence. A splendid corps of teachers is employed. Every pupil, male and female, has some work to do. The shops for blacksmithing, carpentry and shoemaking have each a competent workman as instructor, and those departments are run under the closest inspection. I have seen one Indian doing a fine job of shoeing horses, that most important of all work in blacksmithing.

Mr. Riggs, the father of the Theological Institute of Chicago Seminary, has brought the same feature in here. And so for two weeks, about twenty-five men, young pastors and divinity students, coming in from their fields, are drilled in the practical Bible doctrines and methods of preaching and pastoral work. The lectures have run from two to four in a day. Clearly it has been a season of stimulus and of replenishment to the young brethren. Those who were pleased with the young people from this school, who sang at the Chicago Council, at the New Haven Anniversary and over the East, last fall, will be glad to learn that at least half a hundred of equal cultivation could be sent out as specimens. Three native teachers are here employed, and they can use either language. It has been a great delight to me to hear Pastor Artemas Ehnamani preach in his own pulpit in the presence of his church, that numbers a couple of hundred, and without the chopping up of his address by the intervention of an interpreter.

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THE CHINESE.

BY REV. F. B. PERKINS.

Mr. Pond has just left for San Francisco, after a week of exhausting toil for the Chinese missions here and in Santa Barbara. For his relief, I have undertaken to write this letter, that his vacation--for so he calls it--may not be altogether farcical. I do it the more readily for the opportunity it gives me of saying some things which your readers would not be likely to learn from him.

It has long been my conviction that, in proportion to the means employed, no form of Christian work on this coast yields so large a revenue as Chinese missions. I am sure this is so as regards that carried on under the direction of the A. M. A. And the explanation I find largely in the Christ-like devotion of your superintendent and his coadjutors.

It is but a single illustration of this spirit which Mr. Pond’s recent visit offers. Both at Santa Barbara and San Diego the missions have lost their rented premises, and are literally homeless. It seems imperative that, if the work is to go on, they should no longer be subject to the disabilities of rented buildings. But it is a fixed principle of this mission, on no account to incur a debt. So it is of Mr. Pond, as regards himself; but for Christ’s needy ones he has more than once accepted the burden. This he has now again done. In Santa Barbara he purchased a lot for $600, for which land he is personally liable, but which he holds in trust for the mission. On that lot, by the close of this week, a chapel will be erected by a Christian friend, at a cost of $340. For this property a moderate rental is to be paid by the mission, and when the sums thus paid shall amount to the price of the land it, together with the building, (toward which the little Chinese band have already paid $150), becomes the property of the mission. In San Diego the course pursued has been the same, only that here, owing to the rise in real estate, the amount assumed by Mr. Pond and one other friend of the work, is $2,500. By similar acts of Christian self-sacrifice in the past, the mission has already become possessed of property to the value of $10,000, all without the burden of debt, or an even temporary diversion of its funds.

But is the mission work worth all this toil and sacrifice? Mr. Pond, in a carefully guarded statement, says, that since the establishment of this mission the Chinese converts number over 600, at least fifty having been added during the past year; and this statement, you observe, makes no mention of results wide reaching in their beneficence which do not involve this radical heart work. If this statement be accepted as correct, the question is answered. But is there really any such a character as a Christian Chinese? Many persons say, “No.” It is but a day or two since a Christian man denied it, in my hearing. My reply to him was to ask for his standard of judgment. If his demand was that Chinamen should cease to become Chinese, and, abandoning all their associations, habits and prejudices, become simply Americans, doubtless they are not Christians; but in that case, neither are converts from many another nationality to be reckoned as Christians. Or if absolute freedom from infirmities and faults be made the test, this would shut them out, but it would shut out many others also. Alas! it would be fatal to the hopes of the writer. But if the test be the same we apply to ourselves, love more or less enthusiastic, loyalty true, even if troubling, to our Divine Master, and our judgments be according to the law of charity, then we have no more reason to look askant upon a Chinese than upon a Bohemian, or a negro brother. The grace of God works out in these and in those alike, encountering similar obstacles and being triumphant in about an equal degree.

_Ex uno disce omnes._ He was a house servant, and naturally not of amiable disposition or agreeable ways. But some twelve months ago his employer began to notice a change in his bearing, a more cheerful observance of his duties and a generally pleasanter manner. Awhile ago he came to the lady, and said: “Mrs. B., I’m a Christian. I don’t know as you have thought it, but I am.” “Yes, Jim,” was the reply, “I have seen it for some months past.” Yet he is as much a Chinaman now as ever, and no more faultless perhaps than an American Christian. But he is “following on,” reaching out after likeness to the Master, and that is about as much as most of us can claim.

“But so much of the work seems fruitless owing to the migratory life these people live.” Well, twelve years ago I was among the prospectors of Southern Colorado. During one of our meetings, I noticed a Chinaman enter the room. Through all the service he maintained a respectful and interested attitude, and at the close, taking his hand, I asked him; “You sabe (understand)? You know our Jesus, our Saviour.” “Yes, I know.” “Where did you learn?” “San Fis.” “Who taught you?” “Miss Loomis (Rev. Dr. Loomis).” So I had come across one of these waifs in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and two years after he had gone out from his Christian teacher. I don’t know how clear his views of sin and salvation were, nor how hearty his trust in the atoning Saviour. That could only be learned by longer intercourse, and I have never seen him since. But he knew enough to find his way into that little cabin in the wilds of Colorado, and to speak with apparent intelligence and sympathy of the things of the kingdom. Nor could I doubt that he stood as the representative of very many who go out from these mission schools, and are lost to all but the all-seeing eye of Infinite Love.

The work in their behalf may seem to be, but it is not, fruitless. From this number let us not doubt it, many will stand forth at last, redeemed unto God, monuments alike to the unspeakable grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the patient fidelity of Christ’s disciples.

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BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.

MISS D. E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.

Please remember to renew the “shares” in the support of teachers. Those who desire it can have their shares transferred from year to year to new fields, thus obtaining more varied knowledge of the work from the missionary correspondence.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.

_Missionary._--I am happy to write you that the $25 pledged for the support of a teacher is again ready for you. The letters received were enjoyed very much in the Society and I know greatly increased our interest and membership.

_New York Missionary Union._--Our auxiliaries voted the $1,100 the coming year for the A. M. A. (support of three missionaries.) I have promised, as last year, bi-monthly letters from each of these teachers. Our auxiliaries much enjoy the letters and greatly miss them if anything delays.

_Local Church Society, Conn._--The amount of our pledge is collected and will be forwarded. We have received the missionary letters monthly and we take them into our Mission Circle, and read them, and frequently they are read from the pulpit so that all may hear the good results of help given. We wish the good work God-speed.

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It will be remembered that after the Annual Meeting in New Haven the Indian students from the Santee Normal Training School made a short campaign among the churches. The writer of the following letter was one of the students, and in it she tells a friend what she saw and thought as she went from place to place.

_Dear Friend_:

I will now try to tell you how much I enjoyed our trip East. We had good and hard times, too. We left Santee Oct. 12th. We were gone for eight weeks. It seems very nice to get back to Santee. I think more of the school every time I go away and come back.

We stopped over Sunday at Chicago; then we took train for New Haven, Conn., and it was a very tiresome journey, for we never had been on the train for such a long distance. We reached New Haven Tuesday evening; then the next afternoon we went to the meeting. The church was just packed, so they had the meeting in two churches and we had to go back and forth to sing. We sang in Dakota and English.

I want to tell you some of the places we went to. It will take me too long if I try to tell you all. We met a great many of our teachers’ friends.

We went to Essex and had a very pleasant afternoon at Miss Pratt’s home. We felt as though we were going to see some of our old acquaintances when we knew that we were to meet our teachers’ friends. As we went in Boston I thought of you and wondered how many times you had been in that depot. I like Boston very well, but not as well as I like our old home Santee.

At Providence I met one of my teachers, Prof. Wilson, and I went home with him and spent the night at his house and had a very good time.

At Northampton, after the service was out, two young ladies invited us to go with them the next morning to Smith College, so we went around and saw the most of the buildings; then again we went to South Hadley Seminary, and I could not make out which school I liked the best. I think I never saw so many young ladies at once as I did that morning.

When we were in Newport one thing we wanted to see very much was the ocean; but it rained when we reached the city, so we were afraid that after all we could not see the ocean; but some kind friends sent their carriages and drivers to take us out to the beach, and we girls got in one carriage, and we all enjoyed that ride very much because we saw the great waters we had heard so much about. As we went along and saw the large, beautiful houses closed, I wondered why the people built such beautiful houses just for the summer. I think they might have used their money some other way just as well as to spend all on houses like that. Perhaps it was wrong for me to wish it, but I did, when I saw so many right along the beach. I wished we had some of that money for our work out here, and if we did it would do more good than just to stand as those houses did, just for the looks.

At Groton we had a very pleasant evening with some young ladies who invited us to take tea with them. Many of them got so interested in our people that they kept asking us about one thing or another all the time. On our way home we stopped at New York and Brooklyn, and we saw the Suspension Bridge and we were surprised to see it; I wanted to see it very much; and one more thing too, and that was the Niagara Falls. We went across on Canada side and when we saw the Falls it seemed as though there never could be so much of water falling down at once. I think it is just grand to see it, and to hear the great noise it makes.

At Southport we had a very pleasant place to stay and we enjoyed being there with such good kind friends and to know that we had such friends at the East. One morning while we were staying there we had a very hard storm, but in the afternoon it cleared off and we went to the shore and gathered some shells and stones to take home with us. We were there for two or three days, while Miss Ilsley, Mr. Shelton and Mr. Riggs went to other places. At Norwich, Miss Ilsley wasn’t with us, so John played for the short time she was away. We missed her very much.

Sometimes the people asked us such funny questions. At Boston we had service Sunday evening, and after the close of the meeting one lady came up and said, “Is your teacher Indian?” It seems she would have known the difference between us and our teacher, for she was not Indian at all. Then again at one place--I don’t remember just where--one lady said to me, “How is it you all have such good teeth?” I told her “I don’t know.” Then again she said, “Do the Indians ever have the toothache?” I told her yes, and I think she was surprised to hear my answer.

Since I have come back I want to help more in this work, and I hope I will be able to do so in the future by God’s help.

Your friend,

JENNIE W. COX.

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FOR THE CHILDREN.

(_Letter from a colored boy to his teacher._)

_Dear S. S. Teacher_:

I want to extend my thanks and gratitude to you for that _bright light_ you presented to me yesterday (I mean that Bible). For God says it is a lamp and a light, and I believe it. I have been wanting one for a long time, because I am trying to be one of the _very best_ Christian boys, and I need God’s word to teach me and instruct me how to be the _best_ boy. I hope you will have a large attendance in your class to-morrow, and I hope they all may be on time. As God has given me the Bible I will make it my lamp and my light and also my rule to live by. And I will ask God to help me as I read it, to understand it, and I do want to walk “Even as He.” I know God’s word can make me whiter than pop-corn and sweeter than candy.* I would ask of thee to teach me all you can.

Good Night.

* At the Christmas Festival pop-corn and candy were referred to by one of the speakers in illustration.

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(_Letter from Mrs. A. A. Myers._)

We read in the old story that every mamma crow thinks her own little crows are the whitest of birds. And I think no one will be surprised that, having worked with the little folks in Kentucky for five years, I should have a little weakness toward them, and if I repeat some of their wise sayings and doings it is only what might be expected.