Part 3

The three principal stations in the North are Santee, Oahe, and Fort Berthold. The work has been strengthened in each of these stations during the year. The Santee Normal School celebrated its seventeenth birthday during the past year. It was the first school of its kind established among this nation and its fruitful history abundantly proves the wisdom of its planting. Superior normal training is given the students in this school. The enrollment this year was 195. Twenty-six students were gathered in the theological department, many of whom will doubtless become missionaries to their own people. Pilgrim Church at Santee has enjoyed a year of prosperity. Eighteen have been added to the membership, eleven on the confession of their faith.

At Rosebud Agency three villages, including about 8,000 Indians, are open to missionary influence, and the work is being pushed with increased vigor. Jacob Good Dog, a converted Indian, was the Boniface in this field.

Among the Ponca Indians, in Nebraska, the work had been carried on with about the usual results.

OAHE.—This mission includes a training school and eleven out-stations on the Cheyenne and Grand rivers. Nineteen have been added to the Oahe church, on confession of their faith, during the year. A young man has been ordained as missionary to the Indians, and enters this field on Grand river for his life work. He has caught the spirit of Edwards, and Eliot and Brainard.

FORT BERTHOLD has passed a year of prosperity. New work is opening in this field. I quote from a recent letter: “Since my last letter we have had very interesting and serious developments. The Gros Ventres and Mandan tribes, situated 20 and 40 miles from us, have little or no religious instruction, only as they come to us. These two tribes we are hoping some of our young men who are away at school will be ready soon to work with.”

S’KOKOMISH AGENCY lies 1,000 miles to the west of Fort Berthold, in Washington Territory. The church here has also been blessed during the year with revival influences and four have united with it on confession of faith.

These Indian missions have been visited personally during the year by two of the Secretaries of the Association, and the work has been carefully inspected.

SANTA FE, New Mexico, still receives a fixed appropriation from the Association for the Indian department of its University, the Principal and teachers being appointed by the Association. Fourteen Apache girls have been among the pupils during the year—the first Apaches that have ever been gathered in our schools. They prove to be bright and docile pupils.

CHINESE WORK.

Missions 17 Missionaries 28 Pupils enrolled 1,044 Hopeful conversions 150 Given up idolatry 211

The report of the Superintendent is both joyful and sad. The numbers of those who have given up idol worship and those hopefully converted are the largest it has ever been our privilege to report; but the work has labored under great embarrassment in the serious diminution of funds. The resources for the current work were necessarily reduced by more than $3,000. New doors are opening in this Chinese work. The Japanese are now ripe for schools and churches, and a small beginning has been made in this direction. This work is open to us, and the command to enter is written in the imperative.

WOMAN’S BUREAU.

Only four years have passed since the Woman’s Bureau became a recognized department of our work, although it existed in reality for many years before. These years have abundantly proven its efficiency. It is useful especially along three lines: First, in assisting the women who are engaged as teachers to understand and grasp their work; again, in reaching the mothers and sisters of the pupils with purifying Christian influences, as they could not be reached in any other way; and also, in bringing information to the benevolent women of the North in regard to the special needs of their degraded and helpless sisters in the South. The shocking story of their degradation can be told only by women to women. Along all these lines of service the Woman’s Bureau has been especially successful during the past year. Its usefulness is greatly increased because it is an organic part of a larger Association, and thus gains a wider field of vision. The range of its operations is constantly enlarging.

FINANCES.

RECEIPTS.

From Churches, Sabbath-schools, Missionary Societies and individuals $189,483.39 From Estates and Legacies 52,266.73 From Income, Sundry Funds 10,561.07 From Tuition and Public Funds 28,964.81 From Rents 478.10 From United States Government for Education of Indians 17,357.21 From Slater Fund, paid to Institutions 7,650.00 ——————————— $306,761.31

The total disbursements for the year have been $298,783.80, a decrease in the expenditures of last year of $13,467. We entered this year with a debt of $5,783. The problem that taxed our skill and energies was this: How can we do the work which the Lord has put upon us, and at the same time not increase this debt? It looked, at times, as if it would prove impossible. For the month of February the receipts were $9,000 less than last year for the same month, and even so late as July there was a falling off of $17,000 for the month. The magnificent rally in September brought into the treasury a splendid sum, and the problem was solved.

Through carefully studied economy in the expenditures, by persistent efforts in the collecting field, and by the large and generous benevolences of the churches, all under God’s good providence, this has been accomplished.

The current expenses of the year are all paid; the debt with which we began the year is all cancelled, and we enter this new year with the good sum of $2,193.80 on the credit side of the ledger. But this will provide for the current expenses of the Association only about two days.

This has been a perilous experiment. The work has suffered, although none of it has been given up. The total number of missionaries has been reduced. Teachers and pastors have been overworked. New fields, “white to the harvest,” have been ungathered and left to possible blight. We praise God for this deliverance, but earnestly pray that we may not again need the chastening discipline of a like experience.

Such is the record of another year in the life of the A. M. A., as we read it from our human standpoint. The full significance of these simple facts as they stand related to the Divine plan for the redemption of the world, we cannot trace, nor need we. “What is written, is written.”

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THE CHINESE.

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REVIEW OF THE YEAR.

The fiscal year of “The California Chinese Mission”—the representative and agent of the A. M. A. in its work among the Chinese—closed August 31st. I devote the space accorded me, this month, in the MISSIONARY, to a brief review of the year’s service. Statistics ought not to be dry when they set forth succinctly a gospel work and a record of souls saved. Each unit in each number stands for a story that angels stop to read—a gift, a labor, or a turning of the heart of God, that has to do with the eternal life.

Our missions have numbered 17; of these, 11 have been sustained during the entire year, and two others for eleven months. We have no vacation in our schools, unless forced to it by lack of funds, or by other causes which we cannot control.

The number of workers has varied from 23 to 28; the aggregate number of months of service being 309. Of these 91 are to be credited to our Chinese missionary helpers, and 218 to Americans. The total number of pupils enrolled is 1,044. The average enrollment month by month has been 461; the average attendance, 247. These numbers are smaller than those of last year, or of any preceding year for a great while; which comes of a serious diminution in another quarter which it has been out of our power to avert. Our resources for current work have been less than in previous years by more than $3,000—last year, $12,341.80; this year, $8,989.30. This statement is to date; I trust the amount will be increased somewhat before the books are finally closed. It was impossible to maintain the larger work with the smaller sum. I think that we can truly say: We have done what we could. The most serious loss is in the employment of Chinese missionary helpers; we ought to have had twice as many in the field as we were able to employ.

The expenditures on account of current work have been as follows: For salaries of superintendent, teachers and helpers, $6,222.80; for rents of mission houses, $2,103; for incidentals, $634.15; total, $8,959.95. The contributions made directly to the treasury of this Auxiliary amount, at this writing, to $2,989.30, of which about $250 were given expressly for permanent property.

While we note with sadness these diminutions, we record with gladness an increase at the point of largest interest, the point towards which all our endeavors tend. We find in our statistical columns, under the head of “Profess to have ceased from idol worship,” an aggregate of 211; under that of “Giving evidence of Christian character,” 150. These are larger numbers than we have ever before been privileged to place at the foot of these columns; and among those who give evidence of Christian character are many who a year ago either walked in utter darkness, or were refusing to let in on their hearts the dawning light of Christ. I cannot as yet state exactly the number who seem during this year to have accepted Christ, but I think it cannot be much less than fifty. If so, then the total number of whom this hope has been cherished since our work began, cannot be much less than 650.

These encouragements are due, under God, very largely to some tentative evangelistic work which we have undertaken. The results are such as lead us to pray for the privilege of enlarging this branch of our service and prosecuting it with greater vigor. We are praying—and I think with faith and unity—that God would raise up among us some one on whom we can bestow this special gift. I _look for_ an answer. I _expect_ that during this new fiscal year, upon which we have entered, the providence of God will open the way, and the Spirit of God will beckon us on to a system of evangelization which will reach to all our missions and will pass beyond them, making the wilderness to blossom as the rose.

Among the “new departures” of the year is the beginning of work among the Japanese. The first attempt to Christianize the Japanese in California was made in connection with the First Cong. Church in this city. The first Japanese baptized were received to that church; but the work was suffered to lapse, and other denominations have supplied our mortifying lack of service. A beginning has again been made, this time in Oakland. Mr. N. Kusaki, a young Japanese who was graduated last summer from the Pacific Theological Seminary, led off in the undertaking. He still assists in it, though it has now been placed in the hands of an American lady as the principal teacher. It is an experiment at present, but gives good promise of success.

Another interesting development, which, however, dates back a little more than a year, is the Foreign Missionary Society organized by our Chinese brethren. This movement was spontaneous; no urgency or even suggestion from me occasioned it. It was put into almost complete working order before I was made aware of it. Its primary object is to sustain missionary operations in South China, the provinces from which our brethren came. But its watchword is nothing less than “China for Christ.” They have already gathered nearly $250, contributed not from an abundance, but out of deep poverty.

Another point of interest is the marked change in the spiritual atmosphere of some of our missions—notably those at Stockton, Petaluma and Oroville. It seems to foretoken a “wide and effectual door” soon to open before us, which God grant that we may have the men and the means to enter for a campaign aggressive and victorious.

WM. C. POND.

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RECEIPTS FOR SEPTEMBER, 1887.

MAINE, $774.00.

Bangor. Cen. Cong. Ch. and Soc., 100.; Sab. Sch. of First Parish, 13.26 $113.26 Bath. Members of Winter St. Ch. 100.00 Bethel. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc., 10; “Response to Appeal,” 10 20.00 Blanchard. Dea. Jacob Blanchard 2.00 Brewer. M. Hardy, to const. PETER MCLEOD L. M. 50.00 Bridgton. Mrs. Julia P. Hale 2.00 Brownfield. Cong. Ch. 5.00 Calais. First Cong. Ch. 34.00 Eastport. Sab. Sch. of Central Cong. Ch. 5.00 Farmington Falls. Cong. Ch. 4.52 Foxcroft and Dover. Cong. Ch. 11.33 Hampden. Chas. E. Hicks 2.00 Kittery Point. First Cong. Ch. 17.00 Litchfield Corners. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.00 Machias. Centre St. Cong. Ch. 19.19 Madison. Cong. Ch. 22.00 New Sharon. Cong. Ch. 4.00 North Bridgton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 3.25 North Yarmouth. Cong. Ch. 6.39 Otisfield. Cong. Ch. 11.11 Phillips. “Glad Helpers,” by Miss C. T. Crosby 6.00 Portland. Second Parish Ch., 210; “One interested in the work of A. M. A.” 25 235.00 Pownal. “Friends,” by P. Chapin 10.00 Princeton. Cong. Ch. 4.00 Searsport. First Cong. Ch. 10.80 Waterford. First Cong. Ch., 4; Sab. Sch. 10 14.00 West Falmouth. Second Cong. Ch. 6.50 Willard. Rev. Amasa Loring 2.00 Winthrop. Cong. Ch. 4.40 Wiscasset. Cong. Ch. 4.25 Yarmouth. First Parish Ch. 30.00 —— “Friend in Maine,” _for Williamsburg, Ky._ 2.00

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $2,127.81.

Auburn. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.40 Bath. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.31 Boscawen. Sab. Sch. Convention 10.57 Bradford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.00 Campton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 16.00 Colebrook. “E. and C.” 2.00 Concord. West Cong. Ch., 16.35; North Cong. Ch., 11.08; “Friend,” 5 32.43 East Derry. First Ch. and Soc. 21.64 Fitzwilliam. Mrs. Fanny Hancock 5.00 Goffstown. Cong. Ch. adl. to const. DAVID GRANT and JOSEPH S. THOMPSON, L. M’s. 2.00 Gorham. “Guests of the Glen House and Cong. Ch.” 6.50 Hampstead. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 40.00 Hampton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.40 Hancock. Cong. Ch. 25.00 Hanover. Dartmouth College Cong. Ch. 33.85 Hollis. Cong. Ch. 19.00 Hooksett. Cong. Ch. 19.95 Jaffrey. East Cong. Ch. 30.00 Keene. Cong. Union Meeting 33.10 Keene. Sab. Sch. Class, Second Cong. Ch. _for Woman’s Work_ 20.00 Kensington. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.00 Lisbon. First Cong. Ch. 8.86 Manchester. Mrs. Mary E. Hidden, 10; Francis B. Eaton. 5; E. L. Bryant, 2; A. H. Daniels, 2; Mrs. C. W. Wallace, 5 24.00 Milford. D. S. Burnham 10.00 Milton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00 Nashua. First Ch. 100.00 Northwood Centre. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch. _for Pleasant Hill, Tenn._ 12.30 Orford. West Cong. Ch., 11; John Pratt, 10 21.00 Seabrook and Hampton Falls. First Evan. Cong. Ch. 8.00 South Newmarket. Cong. Ch. 5.00 Temple. Mrs. R. R. Goodyear, 5; Mrs. Lucy W. C. Keyes, 1.50 6.50 Walpole. Cong. Ch. 19.00 West Lebanon. Miss’y Soc., Box of C., _for Storrs Sch., Atlanta, Ga._ ——. “A Friend in N.B.” 35.00 ——————— $627.81

LEGACY.

Amherst. Estate of Luther Melendy, by A. A. Rotch, Admr. 1,000.00 Candia. Estate of Jona. Martin, by J. C. Smith and N. M. Smith, Ex’s. 500.00 ————————— $2,127.81

VERMONT, $512.36.

Barnet. Y. P. S. of C. E., _for Marie Adlof Fund_ 2.00 Bennington. Sab. Sch. of Second Cong. Ch. 11.62 Cambridge. Madison Safford. 10; S. M. Safford, 5 15.00 Chester. J. L. Fisher 10.00 Coventry. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.40 East Berkshire. Cong. Ch. 10.00 Enosburg. First Cong. Ch. 22.00 Glover. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.50 Granby. “Friends” 1.00 Guilford. Miss S. Maria Tyler, by Mrs. Ellen D. Wild 2.00 Jericho Center. “A Friend” 12.00 Manchester. Emma A. Brown 1.00 Middlebury. Cong. Ch. 29.27 Middlebury. Mrs. Stewart, _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 25.00 Montgomery. Cong. Ch. 8.00 Newbury. Mrs. Edward P. Keyes, to const. MARY L. JEWETT L. M. 30.00 Post Mills. “A Friend,” by Mrs. Henry Fairbanks 5.00 Royalston. First Cong. Ch. and Soc., 22.72; A. W. Kenney 30., to const. MRS. ABBIE T. DANFORTH L. M. 52.72 Saint Albans. First Cong. Ch. 122.23 Sharon. Y. P. S. C. E. of Cong. Ch. 5.00 South Burlington. Eldridge Mission Sab. Sch., _for Indian M._ 8.00 Swanton. Cong. Ch., 10.65; C. C. Long, 10 20.65 Waterbury. Cong. Ch. 9.30 West Brattleboro. Cong. Ch. 17.56 West Brattleboro. Ladies of Cong. Ch., Bbl. of C., and 3 _for freight, for McIntosh, Ga._ 3.00 Westminster. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.00 West Townshend. Cong. Ch. 5.51 Williamstown. Cong. Ch. 11.00 Windsor. Cong. Ch. and Soc., 24; Gilbert A. Davis, 10 34.00

MASSACHUSETTS, $12,422.79.