Chapter 1

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THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY.

AUGUST, 1889.

VOL. XLIII. NO. 8.

CONTENTS

EDITORIAL.

ANNUAL MEETING FIGURES STILL IMPROVING PARAGRAPH EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS CIVIL RIGHTS IN COURT TIMHAKA TA IVANGELI

THE SOUTH.

WHAT I FOUND IN THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS, ILLUSTRATED WITH CUTS OF MOUNTAIN CABINS, A NATIVE MOUNTAIN CHURCH AND THE ACADEMY AT WILLIAMSBURG, KY.

ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES: FISK UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE, TENN. TALLADEGA COLLEGE, TALLADEGA, ALA. STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS, LA. LE MOYNE NORMAL SCHOOL, MEMPHIS, TENN. AVERY INSTITUTE, CHARLESTON, S.C. NEW CHURCH AND SCHOOL AT ALCO, ALA. CHILDREN'S DAY AT CHATTANOOGA, TENN.

THE INDIANS.

LETTER FROM MISS COLLINS THE RAMONA INDIAN SCHOOL

THE CHINESE.

OROVILLE, MARYSVILLE, PETALUMA

BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.

WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS THE LOCAL SOCIETY--ITS MEMBERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

RECEIPTS

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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.

PRESIDENT, Rev. WM. M. TAYLOR, D.D., LL.D., N.Y.

_Vice-Presidents._

Rev. A.J.F. BEHRENDS, D.D., N.Y. Rev. ALEX. McKENZIE, D.D., Mass. Rev. F.A. NOBLE, D.D., Ill. Rev. D.O. MEARS, D.D., Mass. Rev. HENRY HOPKINS, D.D., Mo.

_Corresponding Secretaries._

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

_Recording Secretary._

Rev. M.E. STRIEBY, 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.

ADDISON P. FOSTER, Secretary.

_For Three Years._

J.E. RANKIN, WM. H. WARD, J.W. COOPER, JOHN H. WASHBURN, EDMUND L. CHAMPLIN.

_For Two Years._

LYMAN ABBOTT, CHAS. A. HULL, CLINTON E. FISK, ADDISON P. FOSTER, ALBERT J. LYMAN.

_For One Year._

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

_District Secretaries._

Rev. C.J. RYDER, _21 Cong'l House, Boston._ Rev. J.E. ROY, D.D., _151 Washington Sheet, Chicago._ Rev. C.W. HIATT, _64 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio._

_Financial Secretary for Indian Missions._

Rev. CHAS. W. SHELTON.

_Field Superintendents._

Rev. FRANK E. JENKINS. Prof. EDWARD S. HALL.

_Secretary of Woman's Bureau._

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

COMMUNICATIONS

Relating to the work of the Association may be addressed to the Corresponding Secretaries; letters for "THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY," to the Editor, at the New York Office; letters relating to the finances, to the Treasurer.

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.

NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS.--The date on the "address label," indicates the time to which the subscription is paid. Changes are made in date on label to the 10th of each month. If payment of subscription be made afterward, the change on the label will appear a month later. Please send early notice of change in post-office address, giving the former address and the new address, in order that our periodicals and occasional papers may be correctly mailed.

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. XLIII. AUGUST, 1889. No. 8.

American Missionary Association.

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The next Annual Meeting of the American Missionary Association will be held in Chicago, Ill., at the New England Church, commencing at three o'clock Tuesday afternoon, October 29th. Rev. R.R. Meredith, D.D., of Brooklyn, N.Y., will preach the sermon. Details regarding the reception of delegates and their entertainment, together with rates at hotels, and railroad and steamboat reductions, will appear later in the religious press and in the next number of the MISSIONARY.

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THE FIGURES STILL IMPROVING.

Our receipts for nine months to June 30th are: From donations, $147,213.31; from estates, $50,121.54; from income, $8,117.96; from tuition, $30,239.62; from United States Government for Indians, $15,219.37; total, $250,911.80. Our expenditures for nine months to June 30th are, $265,526.59. Debtor balance, $14,614.76.

The improvement is seen in the following figures: Debtor balance at the close of April, $28,318.14; at the close of May, $25,795.07; June, as above, $14,614.76. This improvement is due, in large part to legacies, and yet there has been marked improvement in the donations as compared with last year. We trust our friends will be encouraged to still further increase their contributions, and enable us to rejoice in a triumphant balance sheet.

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OUR PRACTICAL, THOUGHTFUL FRIEND.

Nearly a year ago, we had the satisfaction of referring to a friend who contributed regularly to all the Congregational Societies, and yet reserved one hundred dollars for the society standing in need of special help. We are glad to say that was not a transient purpose, for the friend has appeared again this year and has doubled his special contribution. We trust that he stands not alone in this thoughtful and practical watchfulness over the missionary societies.

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EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.

"Enclosed find my draft for ---- for the good work doing among the Freedmen. For nothing do I give money more cheerfully than for the advancement of that race."

"The earnest plea of Mr. Pond for help in his California Chinese work was brought to the notice of our Chinese teachers yesterday. We would hereby pledge you fifty dollars. His work must not stop. Would that we could do more towards its support. Would, too, that we could have one of his earnest Christian Chinese workers in our own city."

"I have just been reading the June number of the MISSIONARY, and do what I can at this time toward paying the debt. I am specially impressed by the extract from Mr. Pond's letter, and shall be pleased if you see fit to assign the enclosed to his work. However, please to use it at your discretion in any way."

"I have been able to do so little for your society of late that it has been a grief to me, but as I am in receipt of a little money I send you ---- as a thank offering. May it do a little for the cause my husband and myself have had so much at heart. With best wishes and prayers for your _abundant_ success."

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Rev. C.J. Ryder writes:

After the work of the Association had been presented in a comparatively small church near Boston, the pastor arose, and with earnestness and deep feeling said, "What are _we_ going to do about it? Shall we let this great work be delayed because of our inaction? Let us now take a collection of one hundred dollars!" This seemed an impossible thing to do to the visiting Secretary. They brought back in the bags one hundred and ten dollars, the extra collection of this comparatively small church!

It makes a heap of difference whether the pastor follows the Secretary's address with such cordial and enthusiastic endorsement or not. I am glad to testify that there is a good deal of this cordial co-operation on the part of pastors in New England.

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CIVIL RIGHTS IN COURT.

During the National Council at Chicago, three years ago, Rev. S.P. Smith, a delegate from Knoxville, Tenn., applying for a dinner at a restaurant, was refused service. He prosecuted the proprietor. A jury in Chicago has just given him a verdict of $125 damages. The defence asked for a new trial on the ground that the judge had prejudiced the jury by his instructions; the judge denied the motion, stating that if he had been on the jury he would have made the fine $500. The defence is seeking a compromise, with the threatened alternative of an appeal. Mr. Smith, standing for the principle, will abide the final act of the court.

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TIMHAKA TA IVANGELI.

We are very proud of this book as being the first literary production in an African language of one of our graduates at the South, the Rev. B.F. Ousley, now of the East Central Africa Mission. The missionaries there have already reduced the language to writing, having formed a vocabulary of over three thousand words, and from it have printed a few books. Among them, is the one whose title appears above. It is a translation of "The Story of the Gospel," in a little volume of two hundred and six pages. We have read it with great interest so far as we have been able to understand its dialect. Within our comprehension we find Jesu, the one word in all languages for all people, Simone Petro, Johane, Marta, Maria, and Lazaru and many other such proper names. We congratulate our young people at the South that so soon they have a representative performing such literary work for the people of Africa. Much of such work seems drudgery, but it is necessary to opening the light of life to the people who sit in darkness. A booklet in the same language gives a catechism and some of the songs of the gospel, ten of which are translations by Mr. Ousley of some of the dearest of the gospel songs.

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THE SOUTH.

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WHAT I FOUND IN THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS.

BY REV. C.W. SHELTON.

First. There are living in this mountain country two millions of white people, until recently isolated from, and untouched by, the civilization of which we are so proud. No centennial anniversary commemorates their growth in wealth and intellect. As their fathers lived, so until recently, have they. One hundred years have witnessed but little progress, almost no change, in their condition. The open fire-place, the spinning-wheel and the home-spun jeans are familiar sights. Forgotten by the rest of the world, they, in turn, forget that beyond these mountain peaks, marking the limit of view and generally the limit of interest, a nation has pressed forward to take its place among the foremost of the earth. And yet no color line has excluded, no reservation boundary separated, this people from their fellow countrymen. Their lack of energy and the stagnation of their minds, is the explanation of this condition of things.

Secondly. I found this mountain people naturally American; in deepest sympathy with our free government; loyal to the old flag in the hour of its greatest danger; fighting, suffering, dying, that the Union might be preserved. To one who has spent any length of time on our western prairies settled so largely with an emigrant people, the great difference between the American born and educated people of the mountains, and the naturalized American of the prairie, constantly emphasizes itself. Here no new language has to be acquired, no new form of government understood. A common interest, a common sympathy, a mother country, binds one at once to this people as it never can to the American importation which is found at the West.

Thirdly. I found homes and a home life, or rather the want of it, which one would hardly believe possible among a white population in this country.

The following illustrations are correct representations of what I found to be average mountain cabins. Seldom do they contain more than two, often only one, room. A single window, an open fire-place, and a few home-made articles of furniture, comprise the whole. The home is begun when its founders are yet children. Ignorant and poor, the boy has "took up" with the girl, and it may be they are legally married. A building-bee is announced, a little cabin erected, a few pigs bought or given, a few trees girdled, some corn planted, in so crude and shiftless a way that even an Indian, in his first attempts at farming, would be ashamed to own it, and home life is begun. Into this home of poverty and ignorance come the children. The families are large--eight, ten, twelve, and sometimes more. The mother is too ignorant herself to instruct, and had she the ability, neither time nor strength to accomplish it are at her command. Life to her is a struggle. At twenty she looks thirty-five, at thirty-five she is old. Always she has a tired, hopeless expression, which simply to look at almost starts the tears. The children have something of the same expression; the babies even seem to realize that it is a sober, sad world they have come into. I do not remember seeing a laughing, cooing baby in all the cabins I visited.

Educationally, I found this people far below the emigrant on the prairie. Seventy per cent. of the whole two millions cannot read or write. The schools are the poorest. The school houses are built of logs; a hole is cut for the window; the ground serves for a floor, slabs for seats, and the teacher is strictly in keeping with all. Bare-footed, hair unkempt, snuff stick in her mouth, scarcely able to read herself, she is the example--the ideal toward which her pupils are to strive.

Religiously, I found that these people, almost without exception, were "professors," and "had jined" not a Christian church, but some one of these native mountain pastors. The accompanying illustration gives a good idea of the mountain church; it is built of logs, and is without windows; the pulpit is an unpainted board; the seats slabs from the nearest saw mill, turned flat side up, with pegs driven in for legs. The ministry is in strict keeping with the church, and intellectually little in advance of the people. They take pride in the fact that "These yer home-spun jeans have never brushed no dust from off no college walls," and exultantly declare that "The Lord taught me how to preach: and when the Lord teaches a man how to preach, you may just reckon he don't make no mistakes."

On every hand, I found indications that the day of isolation for this people is rapidly passing away. Yankee inquisitiveness has discovered that these mountains are full of the best coal and iron--Northern capital has already begun to strip them of their rich forests of black walnut, oak and pine. The rivers are carrying these logs by the thousands to the immense mills, which in turn are making the large towns, toward which already the railroad is hastening.

Engineering skill is bridging streams, crossing valleys, climbing mountains or piercing them through. On every hand we see the change. From their long sleep of a century, these valleys, these homes, this whole people are awakening. A new life is beginning, a new future, opening.

And as a result of all this, I found a field of missionary work, which for opportunity and need has perhaps no equal in our country. Amidst all this change, a people, startled from their long separation, find themselves suddenly called to face, to compete with, to become a part of, our life, our intellectual advancement; to move with our energy, and work with our skill. Realizing their weakness, suddenly roused by their necessity, they are sending across their valleys and over their mountains the Macedonian cry, "Come over and help us!" Our duty to this people, whether we look at it from the standpoint of the Christian or the citizen, is beyond the measure of words.

Here, as everywhere in the South, I found that the American Missionary Association, as representative of our Northern Christian sympathy, was at work. Its normal schools, fitting teachers to go out and displace the bare-footed, ignorant, snuff-stick-chewing school mistresses; its churches, fitting mothers and fathers to enter upon their duties conscious of their responsibility; and its missionaries, bringing in an intelligent Christian life, and driving the curse of the country--intemperance--out of the home, community and the county, are thus meeting the need, and answering the cry, and fulfilling the obligations. Below is a cut of one of the buildings of the Academy at Williamsburg, Ky., recently erected among these people.

I found one worker where the field called for a dozen; one school where we should have twenty; one church where we should have a hundred; one scholar received into an over-crowded school house, when its doors should open to scores. I found one missionary with nine organized churches on his hands, and he the only pastor; the extremes of his parish being seventy-five miles apart.

And lastly, on returning to New York, I found an empty, a worse than empty, a debt-burdened treasury, forbidding all advancement in this field.

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_Anniversary Exercises._

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FISK UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE, TENN.

BY DISTRICT SECRETARY C.J. RYDER.

Fisk University fills a large place in the educational institutions of the South, and commencement week occupies an important place in the college year at Fisk.

When the inhuman caste prejudice passes away, the Congregationalists of the North will discover the encouraging fact that the American Missionary Association has planted Congregationalism in the South to stay. Fisk University and other such institutions, filled as they will be by young men of every class and color, will be strongholds of our New Testament faith and polity. Such a Commencement as was observed at Fisk this year does much to bring about that blessed day. This Commencement week, beginning Thursday, June sixth, and closing the evening of June twelfth, was crowded with literary and musical exercises of high order. President E.M. Cravath, D.D., delivered the baccalaureate sermon, taking for his subject, "Building on the Rock." It was a sermon of great power. Rev. Dr. Gray, a Southern Episcopal clergyman, preached the missionary sermon. On Thursday evening, came "The Senior Preparatory Exhibition." On June seventh, tenth and eleventh, the various class examinations were held, and in the evening of Friday the seventh, the anniversary exercises of the Literary Societies were given. There are three healthy and vigorous societies at Fisk, and it was difficult to tell which of the three gave the best evidence of the superior quality of its drill, in the exercises presented.

The Normal Department graduated a class of four, each presenting an essay. Rev. C.W. Hiatt, of Cleveland, Ohio, delivered the address at the close of the exercises of the normal department, taking for his subject "Earnest Living," and the address was spoken of with high appreciation by those who heard it.

The graduating exercises of the Collegiate Department were of unusual interest. There was not a poor oration or essay presented. The breadth of training given to the students at Fisk was especially noticeable in the wide range of subjects selected.

The anniversary of the Alumni Association gave evidence that the graduates of Fisk are true to the instruction of that institution, when they take up their work in the world. Sixty-seven have graduated from this institution; forty-two are teachers; eight, ministers; three, doctors; two, editors; two, foreign missionaries; eight, lawyers; one is a student; and one a real estate agent. Pretty good showing for Fisk!

The annual oration was delivered by the writer, subject, "The Student's Workshop, Tools and Work."

The rendering of the Hallelujah Chorus by the full choir of trained singers was especially fine, and reflected great credit upon the director.

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TALLADEGA COLLEGE, TALLADEGA, ALA.

BY MRS. H.S. DEFOREST.

Talladega College observed its nineteenth anniversary June 9th to 13th. The large gathering of students, alumni and friends, the enthusiasm and interest manifested, and the report of what has been accomplished during the past decade, showed the hold it has obtained on the hearts of the people.

The exhibitions of Cassady School, which is the feeder for the higher grades, were held the week previous. Large and delighted audiences listened to the creditable performances of the young people, who showed in their parts the faithful work of teachers.

On Sabbath morning, the baccalaureate sermon was preached by Secretary C.J. Ryder, of Boston. Many valuable and practical lessons for the graduating class were drawn from his somewhat unique text, "And falling into a place where two seas met," Acts 27:41. Various currents in life will bear us hither and thither unless we are founded upon the rock and there abide. The closing words telling of the inscription upon an ancient cross, _teneo et tenior_, will long abide as an inspiration and help with those who heard.

At 4 P.M. the Sabbath-school prayer meeting gathered together students and teachers in a tender farewell, and at night the missionary sermon was preached by Rev. E.J. Penney, of Selma.

The examinations of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday gave evidence of thorough work and of painstaking study.

On Wednesday night, four young men, graduates of the Theological Department, were ordained. The sermon was preached by Rev. A.F. Beard, D.D., the ordaining prayer offered by the President, a most appropriate charge given by Pastor Snell of Birmingham, and the right hand by the Moderator, Rev. J.R. Sims, of Shelby Iron Works.

The graduating exercises were held on Thursday morning. Six students received diplomas from the Normal Course, and five were graduated from the Theological Department. Essays and orations showed thought and originality, and were well delivered. If all the noble sentiments expressed are carried out in the lives of the speakers, a class has gone out from our walls who will make a stand for truth and righteousness, manly men and faithful womanly women.

After the conferring of diplomas and the awarding of prizes, President DeForest gave a _resumé_ of the growth of the college during the ten years of his connection with it. The number of students has increased from 203 to 427, instructors from 9 to 18. In this time, theological graduates have passed from 7 to 28, and normal from 18 to 64.

The alumni dinner was partaken of with relish by graduates and invited guests, and after the physical man had been refreshed an intellectual feast was spread. Older graduates testified to their indebtedness to the College which by one, quoting the words of another, was said to be "de main spring ob de fly wheel ob de whole conjunction." Visiting friends spoke of their interest and satisfaction in the work of the school, and Drs. Beard and Haygood, with appreciative and hopeful words, fittingly closed the festivities.

On Thursday night, Dr. A.G. Haygood, Secretary of the Slater Fund, the steadfast friend of the black man, gave an address. His eloquence, wit and earnestness held a large audience in close attention for more than an hour, and he left with them much matter for thought.