Chapter 2

And just there is the problem that confronts us, South and North together. What shall be done in this dire extremity? I remember years ago hearing of a fire in Charleston in which that beautiful spire of St. Michael's took fire and some one had to be found to go up beyond the reach of the hose to put out the flame kindling and flickering there. No one was found until a Negro stepped forth and climbed that tower, taking his life in his hands, and put out that flame. And when he came down again, one man said, "Name your reward," and he replied, "Let me but be counted a man." And that we have got to do, or God will shake down our civilization and our Nation as he shook down that spire of St. Michael's in the earthquake three years ago. It is certain to come unless we follow the line of God's appointing that this must be a free Nation, absolutely free, free everywhere. As yet, emancipation is but an outward and formal thing. What we wait for now, is the emancipation of a true and an elevated will in the South, and Christian citizenship. Into that, this Association pours its strength, its money, and its life. It took half a million lives to emancipate the slaves outwardly, and it may yet take hundreds and thousands of lives--our lives--our children's lives--poured in upon this problem, that so we may lift the Negro to that point where he feels himself, and where we feel him to be, a man--taught to labor, protected in the enjoyment of the fruits of his labor, without which the strongest arm grows palsied, trained in a strong, self-reliant Christian manhood, holding the reins firmly on the neck of all passion--a man. And that we will do; and the very greatness of the problem, I believe, is our redemption. It was the greatness of the crisis that thrilled the Nation's heart when the war burst upon us. It is the very greatness of our present problem that calls in trumpet tones to men and women and children all over the land; "Come and help solve this problem for Christ."

A few weeks ago, in one of the beautiful towns of Northern Illinois, a young man, the only son of his father and mother, hearing at Sabbath evening the alarm of fire, sprung forth and took his place upon the burning building and there did the work of a fireman. In the attempt to put out the fire he was hurled headlong and in one moment his life had gone hence. A few weeks afterward, as a friend was talking with his mother about it, she said, "Our son was always so swift to heed any call of need or duty, it seems to me as if he heard suddenly some call from God from some farther clime and sprung forth and was gone from our sight." Blessed, heroic faith! But, brethren and friends, fathers and mothers, we need that same faith for our living sons and living daughters, to send them forth into this work of God. When the Christ child was on the back of the giant Christophorus crossing the stream, how heavy he grew as the giant plunged his way through the waters. God weighs heavily upon this Nation this greatest of all national problems, what to do with these despised ones. But bear the burden we must, and bear it through we must to the farther shore of a Christian solution, or we and it will go down the flood together. There is no help for us except in this solution which makes brothers of these men.

I see a possible issue in this large Christian faith of our land; and I see the time coming when the black and the white shall dwell together in a mutual helpfulness, with a more complete national feeling, a deeper dependence upon him from whom alone comes strength, less display of material resources, but more faith in God. That time must come. And then I see the army enlisting for the conquest of that dark continent of Africa, shrouded in gloom, so long robbed of her children, but now at last finding that, like Joseph, they were taken from her that they might come back to save life. So our Nation shall be not a mirage awakening the hopes and aspirations of mankind but to mock them, and leaving the sands of human experience still more arid and barren; but it shall be a mountain of God, its base resting on the eternal foundations of law and liberty; its summit drawing down from the willing heavens the streams of prosperity which shall enrich all the lands of the earth.

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THE SOUTH

FIELD NOTES.

BY REV. FRANK E. JENKINS.

I reached Little Rock, Arkansas, late one Saturday night and on Sunday morning found my way to our church service. Arriving a few minutes late, I found the service already begun. It was a fine looking audience and as quiet and orderly as any New England congregation. The service was well arranged and conducted in a very happy manner. The sermon was thoughtful, earnest and inspiring. The pastor, Rev. Yancy B. Sims, is a graduate of Talladega College and an honor to his Alma Mater. On Monday I visited, with the pastor, several of the homes of the people. What a contrast between these refined homes and the hut of the slave quarters of twenty-five years ago! The ladies of this church had just finished a silk block for a quilt which a home mission church in Washington Territory is making from blocks made in each State in the Union, with the hope of selling it to increase its fund for building a house of worship. It was a beautiful block of rich material and the most delicate workmanship. The faces of these ladies showed great delight in the thought that they were helping others who needed help.

"Do the colored people vote here without opposition?" I asked of an intelligent colored man. "Oh, yes!" he replied. "And are the votes always counted?" "Yes, _except in a pinch!_" was the answer. This is much better than in most places which I am called upon to visit.

From Little Rock I went to Paris, Texas. This growing city has a population of about twelve thousand, five thousand of whom are colored. Our pastor here is a graduate of Fisk University, as also is his wife. The need of our church work in this city and in the State is two-fold, direct and indirect. Our Congregational churches are quite as useful for toning up other churches and their ministry as in the direct work done by them.

Dodds, Roxton and Dallas in Northern Texas were next visited, and in each a small church is established and doing a good work.

At Austin, I found our Tillotson Institute rapidly filling with students--bright and earnest. A girls' hall is greatly needed here at once. This institution with its unlimited opportunities in the great State of Texas ought not to be cramped in any way, but to be given every facility. Who will give it at once what it so urgently needs? I found several intelligent people here greatly desiring a Congregational church in the city--the school-church being too far away to reach the mass of the people. Said an educated colored man to me: "Our most intelligent people cannot endure the ignorant worship of these old churches much longer. We want Congregationalism, but if we can't have that, we must look elsewhere. We must have something to hold our educated young people from falling into infidelity." And so they must, for that is a coming danger.

At Helena, I found a most interesting state of things. Our church is in a country place called "The Colony." The church and the colony began their existence together, and a more prosperous community of colored people it would be hard to find. They own several thousand acres of land, and are in every way ahead of their white neighbors. The school house of the latter was a poor tumble-down affair and the children were untidy, while the school house of the former was a neat, painted and well-kept building, crowded in school hours with bright, enthusiastic children--clean and polite. The teacher was from Talladega College and has taught here for five years. His school is pronounced the best in the region for white or colored. The pastor of this church has charge also of the Congregational Church at Goliad.

Corpus Christi is a curious town on the Gulf of Mexico. It has about 6,000 people--Americans, Mexicans, Negroes, Italians, Greeks and Chinese. The Negroes here hold an unusual position, being regarded as in every way superior to the Mexicans and Italians. Our pastor here is popular with all classes and has been chosen an alderman of the city, and is treated with as much consideration as any other of the City Council.

Our church is one of the oldest Congregational churches in the South, and has had a very interesting history. With the exception of the Roman Catholic church it has the best house of worship in the city. On Sunday afternoon, Rev. Mr. Strong, the Congregational pastor, and myself attended service at the Roman Catholic church. We went into the body of the church and took a first class seat, and the fact that one was colored did not even draw attention to us. It was taken as a matter of course. The colored people of Texas are taxed for $20,000,000 of property. In the cities they make up about one-third of the population. An enlargement of our church work in this State is greatly needed.

Straight University in New Orleans, La., is an inspiring place. I found the buildings packed full--seats full, chairs in the aisles, in the corners and on the teachers' platforms--all full. About one hundred and fifty applicants had already been sent away for want of room, and they were still coming, as many as ten often being refused in a single day. They were here not only from the States, but also from Mexico, the West Indies and Central America. I saw here some remarkable work in moulding done by a student in the fifth grade, who had never been trained, but who seems to be impelled by real genius. Straight University has a unique position and opportunity. Its influence is now great; it is destined to be boundless.

From the Chicago meeting I made this trip. The meeting was inspiring, but what I saw in the field, of character-building and the uplifting and refining of a race, was more than inspiring--it was thrilling.

At Dodds and Roxton a few hymn books are needed. A dozen or two Gospel Hymns or other singing books for each church would do great good. Papers for the children are also needed. They should be sent to Rev. Mark Carlisle, Dodds, Texas.

Papers for the children could be well used at Paris, Texas, Rev. J.D. Pettigrew; Dallas, Texas, Rev. Mr. Holloway; Helena and Goliad, Texas, Rev. M. Thompson; Corpus Christi, Texas, Rev. J.W. Strong.

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REVIVAL AT WASHINGTON, D.C.

BY REV. GEO. W. MOORE.

There have been over forty conversions reported and thirty have been added to our church on profession of faith. There is a revival now in progress at the Freedmen's Hospital as a direct outgrowth of our meetings. Several of the young people of our church, including some of the converts, were instrumental in leading a number to the Saviour. I am planning to assist them in dealing with inquirers there, to-night. There have been revival services in three other churches. The meetings held in our place were indeed a season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

Our chapel was crowded on Thanksgiving morning; the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Grimke, pastor of the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church, followed by an address by myself. The pastors of the Berean Baptist Church, Methodist Church and the Lutheran Mission were on the platform, the Plymouth Church holding a service of their own. In the evening we held a Thanksgiving praise service, in which about one hundred persons, including thirty-five of the converts, gave short thanksgiving testimonies.

Last Sabbath I baptized fourteen by immersion and received twenty-seven into the church on profession of faith, and three since, making a total of thirty. Rev. Eugene May of Osage, Iowa, one of the delegates I met at the World's Sunday-school Convention this summer in London, gave us a powerful sermon on the characters of "Dives and Lazarus Contrasted." In the evening I preached a sermon to the church on "The Christian Armor" and we had the Lord's Supper. Last night, after addressing the young Christians on "The Way to God," as illustrated by the worthies of Hebrews eleventh, we had them testify on how they came to Christ, the one thing they did and what they got. The answers were all intelligent and to the point. _Decision_ was what they did, and _Christ_ was what they got, were the answers put in various forms. At the close of the meeting I asked a gentleman, a member of another church, the Berean Baptist, who always attends our special services, to say a few words. He testified to the help and inspiration he had received from the meetings; that he had never listened to clearer testimonies of conversion than those given by the converts, and that they were doubly blessed in having "_our pastor_," "yes," he said, "I will say our pastor, for he is pastor to this whole community and city, lead you to Christ, and train you for service." His remarks were warm and sympathetic, but too personal for me to report more than the above, which is but the key-note of the kindly feeling that many of the best Christian people of other churches have toward us, as they have seen our little church come up from almost nothing to its present position of service in this community. It has been the Lord's doings and it is wondrous in our eyes. We have already begun the work of training these young disciples for service, while we have our nets still spread to catch sinners for Christ. Our motto for the year is: To win souls for Christ and to train them for His service.

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A GLAD THANKSGIVING.

BY MISS MARY A. BYE, WILLIAMSBURG, KY.

If any one had been the least bit homesick or unhappy from any cause on Thanksgiving day, it would have done him good to spend the day at Williamsburg Academy. Our boys and girls were so happy all the day that no one could feel tired or sad. After breakfast the boys thought it hardly fair for them to have all the holiday while the girls had to work, so they borrowed aprons and helped the girls. Dishwashing, sweeping and all the various branches of housework were done in a very short time, and everybody was as merry as could be. The boys declared that they were glad to have learned something which they did not know before, about the work the girls had to do. Our very tallest boy, over six feet in height, was instructed in the mysteries of scouring knives. He said he had no idea how knives were cleaned, and thought his Thanksgiving lesson worth learning.

After the housework was done the boys gathered a great quantity of holly, and our pretty new dining-room was profusely decorated. All the family then attended the Thanksgiving services in the Christian Church; that is all except the "Mother," who must needs watch the dinner in process of preparation. We had a real Thanksgiving feast, in all except that our turkey was fried chicken.

Mr. Tupper contributed oranges, which were quite a treat. One of the girls came to mother very much excited, eyes wide open and hands up, exclaiming "O, Mrs. Bye, what are them big yeller things in the dining room?" When told that they were oranges, she said, "Law! I never seed none before." There were others who had never tasted them, and they watched closely to see how the teachers managed them, before they ventured to eat theirs. Two of the teachers had written Thanksgiving verses on cards tied with ribbon, and placed at each plate. After dinner we moved our chairs back and read our verses, after which we sang "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," and I think it is rarely sung more heartily. Then again the boys donned the aprons and cleared the tables and washed the dishes, while the teachers watched the fun and laughed until we were tired. While the molasses was boiling, the scholars played games in the sitting-rooms. Then came the "candy-pull," and very _sweetly_ closed the day's festivities.

I am sure we went to prayer meeting in the evening with very thankful hearts. Some of the scholars said it was the happiest day they had ever known.

It is a constant wonder to me to see the improvement in our girls, and their interest in their work. They are so eager to learn to do things well that I cannot think of my work as one of sacrifice, as some work may be, for the joy of it overcomes all such thought.

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STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS.

REV. C.H. CRAWFORD.

Much interest is manifest in our meetings for prayer, a number of students having expressed a desire to become Christians. I have organized a class for the instruction of Christian workers. It is composed of both teachers and students, and numbers about twenty-five.

A young man came to my study to be shown how to become a Christian. After instructing him and showing him the promises, there still seemed to be something in the way. Questioning him, I found that he was expecting some wonderful experience. He had specially in mind the remarkable conversion of a certain young man of his acquaintance. He was hoping for the same. I said to him, "Now you want to know that you are a Christian. Which would you rather have for evidence, an experience such as that young man had, or God's word for it?" After waiting a moment to take in my meaning he replied, "God's word." "Do you believe on Jesus Christ?" "Yes." "Well, here you have God's word, John, 3:36, 'He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life.' Will you take God's word?" After a moment's deliberation came the answer, "Yes, I will." Then we knelt down and prayed. This, I trust, was a soul born into the kingdom.

One of our theological students reports the following admonition from an ignorant preacher much older than himself: "You go to school and get education. In five or ten years the people will not listen to such preachers as I am."

TILLOTSON INSTITUTE, AUSTIN, TEXAS.

Our school is opening very auspiciously. Never before have so large a number been here at the beginning of the term. And the requests for the privilege of coming are numerous, so that if all come who are asking to do so, we shall be over-full. We are greatly pleased with the spirit with which the new year's work is taken up. There are more each year who come prepared to enter the higher grades, which shows that the common schools of Texas are improving.

The Christian Endeavor Societies, of both the young men and the young women, have elected their officers and are ready to begin work again, and the Temperance Society will do the same, this week.

One of the students who has been with us from the beginning of our school, has left us this year and gone to Oberlin, where he has entered the Sophomore class. We miss him much, but bid him "God Speed," for the need of workers is great, and we are hoping much from him in the way of work among his own people.

R.M.K.

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THE INDIANS.

MISSIONARY LIFE AMONG THE DAKOTA INDIANS.

BY MRS. J.F. CROSS.

It is hard to get the most interesting experiences of a missionary's life, because they belong to the daily routine and so are often unmentioned. But here is a description of life and travel among the Indians, by the wife of a missionary just going to the Dakotas:

The land of the Dakotas--what a distance! How long the miles seemed from my home! How frightful the land seemed to me, from the tales of blizzards and cyclones! How strange to go to live among the Sioux Indians, known to me principally for the Minnesota, Fort Fetterman and Custer massacres; to be a friend to Sitting Bull, Brave Bull, Gall, Grass, Swift Bear, Red Cloud and many others with names no less picturesque! With such impressions I left my home to accompany my husband to his home and work at Rosebud Agency, South Dakota.

I was soon relieved of the idea of the distance, for only a few hours took us across Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota to the border of Dakota. Here we left the railroad to attend the general conference of the Dakota Mission at Flandreau. How quickly all the impressions of years can be changed, when the impressions are wrong and we see the true state of affairs. In this case, seeing hundreds of bronzed faces, lighted up with joy, as they sung "I hear Thy welcome voice" in their own tongue, there was enough to change all my former opinions of Indians in general and of the Dakota Indians in particular. It was like coming into a new world. That is, it was finding those whom I thought belonged to another, lower, baser life, living the same life with myself; rejoicing in that which is my greatest joy--childhood with God the Father. And after meeting Ehnamani, Grey Cloud, John Wakeman, Spotted Bear, and many others; after hearing them discuss living topics--living topics to them because they belong to the change from heathen to Christian life; after hearing them pray--though I could not understand a word, yet from their earnestness I could understand the spirit of their prayer; after all this, I could scarcely believe that these men had ever been Indians in paint, feathers, dances and on the war path. Thus I spent my first four days among Indians. And even if preaching, prayers, discussions were in an unknown tongue, I perhaps, understood as much as I would at many a Presbytery or Conference meeting. And I got as much good from the Dakota sermon as I have from many an English sermon.

Not the least pleasing of my new impressions were those made by the missionaries present. Rev. John P. Williamson, of Yankton Agency; Rev. A.L. Riggs, D.D., of Santee Mission and Normal School; Rev. T.L. Riggs of Oahe, or rather the apostle to the Tetons, were the life of the meetings whether in English or Dakota. They came from and returned to the work to which their lives are given. I did not meet these men with the greetings of a certain minister there, who asked, "How many years have you been in the Indian work." "About twenty," was the reply. Then the minister said: "Well, you have been in the work so long that you would not be much good anywhere else." My impression was that such men would be now, as they always have been, successful in any field of labor. But I must leave Flandreau with its citizen Indians, ready to vote for prohibition in the Constitution of South Dakota, for this is not our field of labor.

The next scene is one which I shall long remember--our reception at a mission home. Other homes may be happy and other people may welcome me to their homes; but few--none that I have met--can welcome one so cordially as Mrs. Riggs welcomed us to her home at Oahe. This is a long-to-be-remembered experience. And after spending a week at Oahe, meeting the teachers and pupils of the school, and the citizen Indians there we started for our own home and work, Park Street Church Station. This place has been the home of my husband for a year.