Part 1

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EDITORIAL.

THE ADVANCE--APPEAL, 157 PARAGRAPHS, 158 LOOK ON THIS SIDE AND ON THAT, 161 THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED, 164 PLYMOUTH CHURCH, MINN, 165 FROM THE _Atlanta Constitution_, 166

THE SOUTH.

NOTES IN THE SADDLE, 167 SENATOR SHERMAN AT FISK UNIVERSITY, 169 REMARKS OF SENATOR SHERMAN, 171 A CHURCH AND A SCHOOL TO A COUNTY, 172

THE INDIANS.

SPEECH OF ELI ABRAHAM, 174

THE CHINESE.

HOME-LOVE VERSUS CHRIST-LOVE, 175

BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.

EXPERIENCE OF AN A. M. A. STUDENT TEACHER, 177

FOR THE CHILDREN.

MRS. TUCKER’S CONVERSION, 179

RECEIPTS, 181

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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.

American Missionary Association.

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

_Vice-Presidents._

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. Rev. HENRY HOPKINS, Mo.

_Corresponding Secretary._

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

_Associate Corresponding Secretaries._

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

_Treasurer._

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

_Auditors._

PETER MCCARTEE. CHAS. P. PEIRCE.

_Executive Committee._

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

_For Three Years._ S. B. HALLIDAY. SAMUEL HOLMES. SAMUEL S. MARPLES. CHARLES L. MEAD. ELBERT B. MONROE.

_For Two Years._ J. E. RANKIN. WM. H. WARD. J. W. COOPER. JOHN H. WASHBURN. EDMUND L. CHAMPLIN.

_For One Year._ LYMAN ABBOTT. A. S. BARNES. J. R. DANFORTH. CLINTON B. FISK. A. P. FOSTER.

_District Secretaries._

Rev. C. L. WOODWORTH, D.D., 21 _Cong’l Home, Boston_. Rev. J. E. ROY, D.D., 151 _Washington Street, Chicago_.

_Financial Secretary for Indian Missions._

Rev. CHARLES W. SHELTON.

_Field Superintendent._

Rev. C. J. RYDER, _56 Reade Street, N.Y._

_Bureau of Woman’s Work._

_Secretary_, Miss D. E. EMERSON, _56 Reade Street, N.Y._

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COMMUNICATIONS

Relating to the work of the Association may be addressed to the Corresponding Secretaries; 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

In drafts, checks, registered letters or post office orders 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 151 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.

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VOL. XLI. JUNE, 1887. NO. 6.

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American Missionary Association.

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The _Advance_ will please accept our thanks. In a recent issue it quotes almost the entire financial article published in the May AMERICAN MISSIONARY, and then editorially comments as follows:

“The _Advance_ seconds the motion for a movement all along the line to save the American Missionary Association from the calamity of a threatened debt. May and June are magnificent months for doing good things. The whole world opens out in beauty. Blossoms, songs, abounding life, are everywhere. What a hint to close-clasped pocket-books to come out from their hiding places and join with the lilacs and apple trees and the birds and the forests and the fields in making everybody happy with their generous outflow. The New West is out of debt; the Home Missionary Society is out of debt. Let ministers and churches and sympathetic friends see to it that when the financial year ends the American Missionary Association can join in the same glad refrain--_out of debt!_”

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The prime object we have in view in urging our appeal for increased contributions at the present time is that, if possible, we may obtain relief from threatening financial embarrassment before the summer months are upon us. When the ministers are in their own pulpits, and when the people are in their own pews, then is the time to make an effort. Unfortunately for some years past, we have been obliged to make special appeals during the summer months. We had no option. It was appeal or suffer. We have always felt the disadvantage. We were obliged to call, and yet we were conscious that those who ought to hear did not hear, and that many who heard felt constrained to do more than they really could afford. Many a time we would have gladly returned donations to friends who made altogether too great sacrifice in giving what they did. Cannot this evil be remedied? That is the question we wish to press during the few weeks that are now passing. Brethren and friends, before the vacation days come, can you not so roll up on your gifts to the treasury of the A. M. A. that when the summer is fairly here and you are gone to the mountains, to the seaside, across the ocean, or elsewhere, our anxieties shall be allayed and the danger of our being obliged to make special appeals shall be averted? “’Tis a consummation most devoutly to be wished.”

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Our Treasurer frequently receives gifts in the form of cherished keepsakes. These keepsakes are associated with the memory of loved ones now dead, and they represent much more than any money value can measure. A widow, to whom a watch was the chief material reminder of her husband, heard the appeal of the American Missionary Association, and having no money to give, sends that watch that it may be sold in the market and the money go into our work. A friend of hers, who sent the watch to us, writes: “Favored with but few of this world’s goods, yet not daring to plead this as an excuse for not giving, she felt heavenly drawings to give to the Lord this cherished memento of the dear departed one. Having known her for many years as a Dorcas in the church, I cheerfully write these few words, not because of the intrinsic value of the gift, but because it is indeed the widow’s mite, and in God’s sight the widow’s mite may be more than the costly offerings of the wealthy.” Such gifts greatly encourage us, because they tell of affection and devotion and sacrifice.

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We wish to guard our work and friends from imposition. Not necessarily imposition in the bad sense. It is to shield them from making donations to objects that in themselves may be worthy, under the impression that they are giving to the work of the A. M. A., when they are doing no such thing. There are a great many schools, of one kind and another, that have been started at the South among the colored people by private parties, on a purely independent basis. Complaint comes to us frequently that circulars and letters begging for funds with which to carry on these independent enterprises are being continually received, and that funds are diverted from our treasury on that account. Many contribute in response to these appeals under the impression that they are giving to the A. M. A. These independent ventures differ from our work in one very important respect. All our institutions are under supervision and are held to a strict responsibility and scrutiny. These others to which we refer are irresponsible and not supervised. Many of them are carried on with what we should consider a great lack of economy, and some of them are in the field because those that control them were uncomfortable under supervision. They knew too much to be counseled with and would not be advised. We ask our friends to be careful in the confidence they give to every applicant, who, taking the files of the AMERICAN MISSIONARY, uses the United States post-office as a means of gaining entrance to their homes and charity. We have no right to dictate to our friends where they shall spend their money. That is their own business. But we feel that it is our duty to advise them of the complaints that come to us, and to put them on their guard against imposition from every quarter.

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THE COLOR LINE IN ART.--The Art Students’ League of New York recently admitted to its membership Mr. Geo. Alex. Bickles, a colored youth of nineteen years. He is the first colored student ever admitted to the League. A few of the students were inclined to be angry because he was admitted. They wanted to draw the color line. They tried to work up a feeling of antagonism against the management. They called a meeting of the students, introduced a series of resolutions against the admission of colored students, but they were ingloriously defeated. To add to their chagrin, they were informed that even had their resolutions passed, the management would have taken no notice of them. Mr. Bickles is a bright young man, who until recently was a stable boy at Islip, L.I. He has a remarkable talent for drawing and painting, and his sketches are to be found in many a home in that Long Island village. Several prominent Brooklyn gentlemen having summer residences at Islip, recognized the young man’s ability and urged him to quit the stable and study art. This is the reason why he is now a student of the Art League, and there is this to his credit, that he has been admitted to its membership upon the merit of his work. In addition to being a good painter, he is also a fine musician.

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A German, who owned a large plantation and many slaves near Savannah, Ga., at his death manumitted his slaves. Some of them were his own children. Two of his boys he sent to Germany and had them thoroughly educated. It was the design of the planter to have his property go to his freed children, as they were the only children he had. The war came and the State confiscated the property. One of the boys has been for many years a missionary of the A. M. A. He spends half an hour daily teaching German to the daughter of a prominent white citizen. Our missionary writes: “Yesterday, while busy teaching this little one, a visitor looked in and asked the mother in German, ‘What are you doing?’ She replied, ‘My little daughter is taking lessons.’ Visitor said something about ‘nigger.’ The lady held up her hand, as the stranger drew back in the next room, and said to him, ‘That is the German translator.’ The visitor answered, ‘Is that the one?’ The conversation was now carried on in an undertone. Whenever I go to discharge my duty at the above mentioned house, I am kindly treated. Whenever I call on the German Lutheran minister, Dr. Bowman, of Savannah, he treats me with kindness and respect. The language of the visitor made little impression on me, for in Germany I have been taught to respect an honest man, not his color. The United States is a strange place.”

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A CHILD’S FAITH.--A little colored boy was in the room where his old grandmother was lying, suffering intense pain from rheumatism. It was in the evening. As he was leaving and said good-night to the old woman, she said: “Lewis, won’t you ask God in your prayers to-night to make grandma better?” “Oh, yes, I will, and God will make you better.” He went right away, and offered up his child’s prayer that God might take away his grandma’s pains and make her well. His mother, not knowing what had happened, incidentally asked him if he had prayed for his grandma. The little fellow, thinking that his mother knew all about it, replied: “Oh, yes, I did; but God hasn’t done so yet. I guess he is seeing about it, but he’ll do it.” Next morning he hastened to ask his grandma how she was. “I am better, thank God, this morning,” came the answer. At once he jumped about the room, clapping his hands, and cried out: “Didn’t I tell you God was seeing about it, and I am so glad that he did it! I knew he would!”

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An educated Christian Chinaman, thoroughly acquainted with the teachings of Confucius, made the following comparison between Confucius and Jesus:

“They are like two bridges; they are both noble structures. You admire the strength of the timbers and the way in which they are framed together, forming the solid foundation and the graceful arch rising about it. You walk on the bridge of Confucius; it is all right till you come to the River of Death--there you see the black waters rolling before you, and there is no plank on which you may cross to the shore beyond. Jesus Christ is a completed bridge, over which you may safely pass to the Heavenly Home and to the mansion he has prepared for your eternal habitation.”

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STANLEY AS A MISSIONARY.

In a recent interview between Mr. Stanley and a newspaper correspondent, the distinguished explorer said: “I have been in Africa for seventeen years, and I have never met a man who would kill me if I folded my hands. What I wanted, and what I have been endeavoring to ask for the poor Africans, has been the good offices of Christians, ever since Livingstone taught me during those four months that I was with him. In 1871 I went to him as prejudiced as the biggest atheist in London. I was out there, away from a worldly world. I saw this solitary old man there, and asked myself, ‘Why on earth does he stop here?’ For months after we met I found myself listening to him and wondering at the old man’s carrying out all that was said in the Bible. Little by little his sympathy for others became contagious; mine was awakened; seeing his pity, his gentleness, his zeal, his earnestness, and how he went quietly about his business, I was converted by him, although he had not tried to do it. How sad that the good old man died so soon! How joyful he would have been if he could have seen what has since happened there!”

And thus have these great explorers demonstrated the power of sympathy and kindness even upon the most degraded of people.

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LOOK ON THIS SIDE AND ON THAT.

There is a very ancient chestnut tree which has been shaken by many a traveler on his way. One of its nutshells has a word of wisdom in the story of two knights who contended about a certain shield. “It was gold.” “It was silver.” Both were sure, for did they not see it for themselves? Both were wrong, of course; people usually are who see one side. There were two sides to that shield.

The point of view has to do with what one sees. For example, when Rev. Doctor Field went South, the shield which he looked at on the way was burnished gold. He saw it. He wrote a book about it, which was honorable to his heart and to his eyesight. Everything was lovely and of good report down South. It was faith, hope and charity, but the greatest of all was charity. Then Editor Grady came to New York and told us in eloquence and imagination of the New South. The shield which he held up to us was gold studded with diamonds. “Very well, let it be gold, that is what we want,” was the hopeful response of tens of thousands until it has come to be the mode to say, “Surely it is gold. The era of good will and justice has come, and nothing either great or small remains for us to do.”

Those of us who have been praying and working for “the acceptable year of the Lord” could wish that this were so, but it remains true that an intelligent view is not a one-sided view. People may run through the South and get the view that leans to inclination. They may have delightfully warm receptions, but it takes a good many warm days to make a summer.

There is no doubt that there is a New South, that the beginning of the dawn of a glorious morning is lifting itself up. Thoughtful people in the South are realizing the trend of things. They are attent to the problems which present themselves. They are re-adjusting their opinions. A few leaders are coming into the realm of convictions which are quite other than those they once entertained. They are nobly meeting questions once ignored. This is the prophecy of the golden year for which the American Missionary Association has been expending itself. From the time when the American Missionary Association planted its first Institution at Hampton, Va., until its last one was destroyed so lately by incendiaries at Quitman, Ga., it has waited patiently for Southern recognition of its work. This has been coming gradually, and we need not say that we appreciate it. Many have been convinced, some are urgently exhorting us to increased activities and service. Thoughtful Southern people do not look upon a population of another race, now numbering about seven millions, which averages upwards of seventy per cent of absolute illiteracy, with unconcern.

They begin to see what we are doing; they begin, in some respects, to feel with us. They even, in some slight measure, are co-operating with us.

This is the golden side. It is full of promise. But now if one should see this, and see this only, he would make a great mistake. That which centuries have cherished will not change in a life-time. It is true that it does not require the heroism of the past years for our teachers to go South now, but none of them, so far as we have learned, have been spoiled as yet by being too greatly honored. To illustrate the point of view, we quote from a recent issue of the _Banner-Watchman_ of Athens, Ga. It reads: “About 8 o’clock in the morning of any school day a passer through the streets of Athens is met by great swarms of negro children on their way to be educated. * * * * The question naturally presents itself, who feeds and clothes and buys books for these pupils? We do not suppose that one negro in twenty has $10 worth of property, and they are paid, too, the smallest wages imaginable, barely sufficient to buy them coarse raiment and the plainest food, and yet they all seem not only able to keep their children in idleness (sic) but these children are nicely clad and have expensive books. The question then arises, who pays for all this? And the conundrum naturally arises, what are we educating these young negroes for? What can we do with them? The field for educated whites is narrow enough, and there is no opening for a learned negro, except the pulpit and the school bench, and these two avocations are now crowded to suffocation. Experience has taught that when you educate a negro you incapacitate him for manual labor; and to be a hewer of wood and drawer of water for the superior race is all the sphere that the African ever has or ever will creditably fill. (We forgive this unpremeditated murder of the Queen’s English.) Visit the chain gangs of Georgia, or any old slave State, and you will see that a little education, assisted by a linen duster, a cotton umbrella and a hymn book, is the best recruiting sergeant that the penitentiary has.”

“And yet the white people of our State, through the medium of politicians and office-seekers, are taking an enormous load of taxation on their shoulders (sic) to make convicts and vagabonds of the only class of labor they now have. To substantiate this statement we have only to refer to Athens before and since public schools were established, and the history of our city is the history of every place in the South where the whites have consented to bear the burthen of educating the negro. There is (sic) ten times as much stealing in our midst now as before free schools were established, and the number of idlers has increased as many fold. So it is unkindness to the negro to lift him above his position.” In the same paper, a second article declares that the colored schools are rapidly “becoming nuisances.”

Now, it would not be just to say that the sentiments quoted above are those of the New South. They are not. It would be equally erroneous to deny that these views would be accepted by the great body of people living in the South. The New South to many means simply a new South for white people. Those who have had the misfortune to be the children of slavery are to most as yet not in the newness.

There is a New South that is becoming awake to the possibilities, the opportunities, and the duties, especially of the dominant race, but he shuts his eyes to serious facts, and to many sad ones, who is led to think that the movements which we herald with gladness are the thought and feeling of any large significance, or that they can do the work to which the American Missionary Association is consecrated. It will, we fear, be a long time yet before the South will become so new that it will spell negro with one _g_. And it will be as long perhaps before the poor and despised shall be so elevated and Christianized that people shall be ashamed to use two _g’s_ where one is superfluous.

The appreciation which our work gains from noble and thoughtful people in the South is the bright side. We love to look upon this. But the fact that there are seven millions of colored people in the South, and probably not more than five hundred well educated colored preachers for them, is a fact not so bright. Our schools and theological seminaries are bright spots in the darkness. While we are grateful to note the fact that the thoughts of men are widening, we know that there is need of faith and patience, because there remains much land to be possessed. One need not go far from what is hopeful to find enough to excite concern for the future, and to urge him to relax no zeal to hasten the day when Christ shall make all things new.

When Southern newspapers can still print the opinion that education for the Negro is a recruiting agency for the penitentiary, and that colored schools are nuisances, we may be sure that the anxiety of thoughtful people, who are urging us to do a work which they cannot do and know not how to do, is very real.

As to the truth of such opinions, which are very common in the South, we have only to quote a sentiment of a modern philosopher, viz., “It is better not to know so many things, than to know so many things that ain’t so.”

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THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED--NO. 1.