Chapter 2

After dinner, Mr. Elliott told me a story worth recording. It was that of the heroic Mr. Richardson, who before the war was a teacher in that district--a Northern man--and, in the excited state of feeling in the South, was suspected of being an abolitionist. He and his wife were driven from their home and work, but protected from personal violence by the prompt and energetic efforts of the Elliotts. But as both Dr. Roy and Mr. Ryder have given the details to the public, I will not repeat them here. I will only add that of the fifty persons who had signed the paper pledging themselves to "_remove_" Richardson, it would be difficult to find one now in Whittley County. They are scattered or dead. But in the little church at Rockhold, the name of Richardson is a sacred one, and the stranger always hears the story.

I took leave of this interesting family with great regret. As I sat in the little grove in front of the house, with its carpet of myrtle, and looked off over the peaceful valley, I wished I might remain there and rest.

That horse had it pretty much his own way on the return seven miles, and when I thought nobody was looking I must confess to finding it a very pleasant thing to get both legs on the same side of the saddle. But I am glad I went to Rockhold. I would not lose the pictures I got there for a small sum and I hope and pray that the time may soon come when in some way a regular preacher may be provided for the people.

Church Work. ------------

Dedication Of A Church At Byron, Ga. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Words fail to express the pleasant time we had at Byron, in dedicating our new house of worship to the service of God. We had a very large attendance of people from Bibb, Houston, Taylor and Sumter counties. Nearly two hundred people came from Andersonville, a large number came from Macon and quite a company from Rutland. One brother was present from the Savannah church. Altogether there were five of our Congregational churches represented by their members and several others were heard from. I should think that there were nearly, if not quite, four hundred people on the grounds. Of course the building could not hold them all. Rev. J.R. McLean preached the sermon, which was pronounced by a leading white man present, to be the best he ever heard. Altogether the occasion was an inspiring one. The hundreds of black faces so attentively listening to the words of truth, so orderly and quietly, could not fail to impress us deeply. The occasion was one that brought four of our churches into a very close relationship, closer than they have ever been before; I mean, so many from each church meeting face to face and forming each other's acquaintance.

It is our wish and prayer to do well the work that is committed to our hands. We are not afraid of hard work, we want time and means to do all that we see is needed, and there is so much to be done. I feel like going, going all the time with the message of God's love to dying men. The opportunities are constantly increasing for usefulness.

Promising Opening In Georgia. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I came to the place where the people wanted a Sunday-school. They were ready for it, with a rude building erected by the people themselves, and waiting for me to begin work, and I have promised to organize a Sunday-school on the second Sunday of next month. A young married woman, the wife of a well-to-do farmer, and a former student in the Ballard School, has promised to superintend it. She expects at least fifty scholars, many of them her day pupils. I have given her singing books and shall send to Boston for Sunday-school supplies. There is reason to believe that we can some day organize a church in that place. I preached in the new building last night and at the close of the service nearly twenty-five bowed for prayers and asked for mercy. It was really affecting and I only regretted that I could not remain and continue the work which begins in so promising a manner. I have not the time to describe in detail the work done on this trip. All along the road for nearly forty miles people stopped me and I them to talk about the love of God for man and the gift of his dear son as their Saviour and Redeemer. My heart burns with a desire to do them good and I am so happy in helping them see the truth as it is revealed in the Bible. There are hundreds of colored people in that county who have no proper religious instruction. They come from far and near whenever I go into that region, and seem to be blessed in listening to the word of God. I am constantly, from a half-dozen different counties, hearing the Macedonian cry: "Come over and help us." I wish you could go with me and see these golden opportunities. If our churches saw the needs and the openings for doing good, they would increase many fold their offerings to this work.

Encouraging Indications. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can see a manifestation of real earnestness on the part of a larger proportion of the members of our church than at any time before since I have been here. While none of our meetings are attended so well as they should be, at the same time they are spiritual. And now, as we are getting our minds and hearts ready for some extra meetings, our prayer meetings are full of tenderness and sweetness. Last Thursday night, though it was raining at the meeting hour, a goodly number came out and the blessed Lord was with us. Our subject was "The Christian dignity of labor." It seemed to be a new truth when they could see from his own word that Jesus was interested in our daily work, John 21: 3-6. One faithful sister who is trying to educate and provide for six children was very much helped by the fact that Jesus would guide her if she was only willing to follow his direction. The prayer meeting is the life of the church.

I spent two days with Brother S---- at B---- last month, in some extra meetings. The meetings were quite well attended; a goodly number of white people were with us at almost every meeting. The Methodist minister of the town was present and offered prayer. He expressed himself as highly pleased with the sermon and hoped that we might do much good in the name of the Lord. I find the very best of feeling towards our church there on the part of the white people. I hope the church will do well and grow in numbers and influence.

JACKSON ST. CHURCH, NASHVILLE, TENN.--Yesterday was a red-letter day for Jackson Street Church. It was communion day. Two were baptized and admitted to the church. Our congregation numbered more than one hundred, the largest audience we have yet had. It was also the day for special collection. We collected thirteen dollars. This was done by means of the envelope system without any blast of bugle. There were eleven conversions in the Sunday-school recently.

HOWARD CHAPEL, NASHVILLE, TENN.--Our attendance this month has never fallen below forty-five. One of the established churches of the city with a membership five times as large as ours has an average of ten to its prayer meetings. We have fifteen or twenty. We have also organized a Y.P.S.C.E. and a Bible class. It is the purpose of this class to study Biblical biographies. We have studied so far the lives of Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Esther, Ruth and David. It would do your heart good to see with what enthusiasm the young people have entered upon this study and how they master even the minutest details. I have every hope in the world for Howard Chapel.

SAVANNAH, GA.--Some years ago our flock was the smallest, now we have the largest Sunday-school and congregation. The history of this church is wonderful. God has been merciful towards it. Some who were our strongest enemies years ago are now our best workers. I have a plan for next winter, to open a night school and draw the young people from sin and Satan to our blessed Lord. July the 18th, Brother L. and myself went to Porter's and made a start on our meeting house. The man who gave the land cut down trees, Brother L. dug holes and we planted the posts. Brother L. went back and bought five hundred feet of lumber, and with God's help we intend to take the train some day and finish our humble place of worship.

NORTH ATHENS, TENN.--The church members gather with the children every Friday afternoon to teach both boys and girls various kinds of work. Capitalists and speculators are searching among the mountains for coal, iron and timber. Why should not the Christian church search out the poor mountaineers and bring them to Christ. Most of them were loyal to the country. Slavery has for several generations denied them the advantages of education. God has opened the door and bids us go in with the Bible and the spelling-book to give to two millions of these people in our own country a better culture, a purer Gospel. There are vast stores of wealth in these mountains, but nothing of such value as the souls of this people.

Straight University. --------------------

We are glad to copy from the Burlington (Vt.) _Daily Free Press_ the following commendation of two of the appointees of this Association, both graduates of the University of Vermont. Mr. Atwood enters our service for the first time; Mr. Henderson has already shown his efficiency in our work as a preacher, and will enter upon his duties as a Professor under favorable auspices.

An eminently satisfactory and well-merited appointment is that of Mr. Oscar Atwood of Jeffersonville, to be President of Straight University in New Orleans. We can heartily congratulate the institution that it can avail itself of the sound scholarship, the long experience, and the tried executive ability of its president-elect. And no less do we congratulate Mr. Atwood on his election to a post which will afford ample scope and stimulus for the best that is in him. Straight University was founded twenty-one years ago, and was designed especially for the education of the colored youth. It is under the patronage of the American Missionary Association, and has several departments in full operation. Mr. Atwood took his A.B. degree at the University of Vermont in 1864; taught for a time in various schools, including the academy at Essex, this State; for two years was principal of the school at Underhill; then for seven years, 1871-78, was master of the High School at Plattsburgh, from which place he was called to a similar position at Rutland. After nine years successful labor there, he was forced to resign three years since on account of continued trouble with his eyes. He has an excellent record both as instructor and organizer and manager of school work. No better evidence of his efficiency could be desired than the large number of young men who have been stimulated by him to obtain a liberal education.

We learn also that the Rev. George W. Henderson, of the class of 1887, U.V., who for the last two years has been preaching in New Orleans, has been appointed to a professorship in the same institution. Mr. Henderson was originally a slave, as some of our readers know. He was prepared for college by Mr. Atwood, took high rank at the University and at Yale Theological Seminary, where he was graduated in 1883. He studied for a time in Germany, and for a few years was principal of an academy in this State. His work, we understand, is to be in the theological department, a position for which he is well equipped.

Better Class Of Students. -------------------------

By Prof. R.C. Hitchcock.

Last year was a "golden year" at Straight University in New Orleans. In the first place, it is seldom the good fortune of any school to get a corps of teachers so uniformly capable, and of such earnest Christian spirit, willing to spend and be spent in the Master's service.

Then every year brings a better class of students; not more sincere, perhaps, but year by year they learn what "getting an education" means. A few years ago it was quite impossible to make them realize that steady, uninterrupted attendance was absolutely necessary to good work, but as they have opportunity to compare the positions taken and the work done by those who were regular and who remained at school long enough to be really fit for good service, with those who thought they could come in January and leave in April, getting an imperfect knowledge of things, to their credit be it told, they _learn_--some _cannot_ learn life's lessons--and there has been lately a gratifying eagerness to be present at every recitation during the whole year. I do not think one has left this year who could possibly remain. When the floods came and many of them learned that their homes were under water, in some cases the savings of many years in buildings and stock washed away, they came to us saying they must go as they could no longer pay, but we told them to wait. White-winged missives flew over Uncle Sam's postal way, and back from many a church and Sunday-school came the needed aid, and--save in the case of some young men who had to care for helpless ones at home--none left. From these last came many an interesting story of the heroic efforts to save life and property. The skill to wield tools, acquired in our shop, helped many a one to build a "flat" in which family, stock and furniture could be floated to dry land. Many had to work night and day up to the waist, sometimes to the neck, in water to save what might be. It will be a hard year, the coming one, for many in the parishes of this State, though no doubt work will be plenty as soon as the water is down.

Temperance In Tennessee. ------------------------

This is certainly a very interesting field, not going backward but forward. The temperance reform has made a clean sweep of the whole village, and in union with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union at the station is fast pushing the saloons to the wall. The most striking feature of the case is that they have learned how to work in the absence of their leader. Two weeks ago last Sabbath night they held their own meeting--a Bible reading institution among themselves, by the way, at which many were present--and the old revival spirit broke out afresh to such a degree that the last of their friends, to the number of eighteen, who still clung to their cups, made haste to sign the pledge of total abstinence.

Items. ------

Letter From A Graduate Of Straight University.

There was an examination held in this city recently for clerkships at Washington. The announcement of it in the newspapers and the certainty of the successful applicants receiving appointments drew a large number of young men to the examination, among whom were Tulane University graduates and several principals of high schools. I had the honor of sustaining the reputation of "Old Straight," by leading the list. The affair created much local excitement and the name of Straight University is commanding much respect. I am pleased at the prospect of the increased opportunities a residence at Washington will afford me for the prosecution of my medical studies.

* * * * *

Fisk University is well represented in the journalistic world, says the _Tennessee Star_. The following graduates are pushing the quill: S.A. McElwee and W.A. Crosthwait, editors of the _Nashville Tribune_; H.C. Gray, editor of the _Galveston Test_; R.S. Holloway, associate editor of the _Dallas Tribune_, and Geo. T. Robinson, editor of the _Star_.

* * * * *

We print this letter from a boy who wants to go to school. We give it just as he wrote it, and hope to have the privilege of printing a letter from him five years hence with a view to the contrast.

Augst 25th.

Mr. Proseser D.:

Der ser i hav bin in form of the ---- coldge and is it quite a distant and i thout i would rite you afew lines i want you to write to me how i can get Bord and what it will cost me a week or a munth and what is tuisson I want to noe before i come and i want to start in a short time rite to me all about it i will ickspeck anser soon, and Adress me.

When I start in I want to goe 2 sesson's before I stop i think can conplet most of inlesh studys in that time.

Does The Lord Understand His Business? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rev. J.H.H. Sengstacke.

THEN.

All through the early spring I heard complaints as follows: "The season is against us and we shall not make anything." "Unless a change we must starve." The season paid no attention to complaints but kept right on.

Now.

To-day God has blessed all with a good crop; plenty to eat and plenty to sell. What next? The grumbling still continues. "There is so much that we cannot get a high price for our produce."

* * * * *

If "resemble" means like, as one of the girls found when consulting the dictionary, why is it not proper to say as she did, "I 'resemble' very much to be at home?"

* * * * *

Letters From Very Little Pupils. ................................

_My dear teacher_:--I would like to have grace and truth before God, and I hope I am now his little girl.--LUCY.

_Dear teacher_:--I want religion.--ARTELIA.

_My dear teacher_:--If I had my choice of anything I wanted, I would choose a Christian life, so when I came to die I would die in Jesus, like Daisy Holt died.--ROXY.

* * * * *

Pictures In The Pines. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prof. Amos W. Farnham.

In the Sunny South, in the Land of Pines, Is a whitewashed cottage, old and grand; Its ample grounds of jessamine vines, Are bright with crystals of sparkling sand. Broad stairways lead to its airy hall And cool piazzas, where the sun His shining arrows ne'er lets fall Till his daily race is almost run.

Within are walls of panels high, And great fire-places that laugh at night, When the blazing splinters of lightwood fry And wrap the rooms in a flood of light. 'Tis then the cabins in the rear, Low and little and plain and old, Are vocal with the Negro'a cheer, For his heart is light when the day is told.

But there's one who sits from the rest apart, With folded hands and turbaned head, With a nameless burden upon her heart, And the light of youth forever fled. And she sits a swaying to and fro, Like the billowy pine with plume and cone, While a minor strain subdued and slow, She sings in a plaintive monotone:

("I'm mos' don' a trablin' an' I boun' To carry my sould to Jesus I'm mos' don' a trablin' an' I boun' To carry my sould to de Lord.")

Then 'neath the whitewashed cottage vines, From its window that looks on the dying day, I gaze at the pictures in the pines, Made by their plumes and cones of gray. 'Mong the leafy pictures is a crown, Bedecked with a brightly shining star, By angel hands held out and down From the western gate that stands ajar.

My crown is bright when the year is new, Nor changes, when its frosts appear: For the star still shines in its ground of blue, And the pine tree lives when the rest are sere. From the pine my thoughts ascend above To the Tree of LIfe that Heaven adorns; From the star to the Star of my Saviour's Love, That grandly shone in a crown of thorns.

Oh, Star of Love, thy beams shall guide Me through the shadows of earth and sin, Till Heaven's gate shall open wide To let thy weary follower in. I note the onward march of time By the Negro's songs and the lightwood's glare, And know I'm nearing the happy clime And the starry crown that I shall wear.

The Indians. ============

Mr. Shelton At Northfield Again. --------------------------------

Mr Moody is nothing if not practical, and when he undertakes a thing he is apt to push it through. We give below another pleasant illustration of this. Our readers will remember that Rev. C.W. Shelton two years ago made an address at the great Missionary Meeting at Northfield, Mass., which touched the sympathies of the audience and moved Mr. Moody at once to "do something about it." Under his inspiration three thousand five hundred dollars were raised to establish several new Indian mission stations in Dakota.

At Mr. Moody's solicitation, Mr. Shelton attended the Northfield Missionary Meeting this year, making report of what had been done with the money given before. The enthusiasm of the audience was again kindled, with a result which we give below, condensing the sketch of the meeting as given in the _Springfield Union_.

The meeting opened with prayer by Major D.W. Whittle, and then Rev C.W. Shelton of New York City, who is connected with the American Missionary Association, spoke about the work among the Indians. He said that two years ago the people of Northfield gave money enough to establish five mission stations; and he would first report on the work in those missions. The first one had been established one hundred and fifty miles northwest of Bismarck, and was called the Moody station. Having found two classes of people thirty miles apart, both of whom seemed to be equally in need, we had been in doubt as to where to plant the station; but finally a man was found whose parentage included both nations, and who was willing and able to preach to both in their own language. We had, therefore, started two stations, calling them both by the same name, and with this man managing them. People had told him that he couldn't do anything in the interior of the country occupied by the Indians, but he described his meeting with the Indians at that remote place, and their willingness to receive the gospel, one of the chiefs finally saying to him: "When you go back I want you to take that man by the hand that sent that school and thank him, and tell him that we will try to live like the white man." The speaker accordingly took Mr. Moody's hand and thanked him in those words, raising a perfect storm of applause by so doing.

The next mission was called the Frederick Darling Memorial mission, and was established sixty miles below Bismarck. There was good work going on there. Sixty miles farther down still there was located the Robert Remington Memorial mission, and the reservation had since then been opened up for settlement, as they had prophesied, and, as the Indians came up the valley, driven out from their homes, there stood a man at the door of the mission, who invited them in, and so to-day there were gathering round that mission hundreds of Indians, forsaking their tepees, building their houses and taking the first steps toward civilization.

On Cherry Creek, the Sankey mission was located, and, although it was not two years since that work was begun, they had a church of about forty members.

The funds for the Northfield mission were given by quite a number of people here and the Indians who could be reached by it from the opening of the reservation during the last few months had nearly doubled. They had organized one church only a few weeks ago some distance off, and expected to organize another there within a few months.