Chapter 3

After two hours of pleasant interchange of good fellowship we all went to the church, where the industrial work was on exhibition. It was arranged with great artistic effect. Each room had its display by itself in miniature booths constructed out of the finished sewing. The primary rooms had festoons of "blockwork," and under an awning made from a bright patchwork quilt, made by them, hung their dainty pockets, tidies, scarfs, etc., quaintly outlined in bright needlework. There were scores of buttonholes arranged in a wheel pattern, and they were beautifully done, and were admired by all. There were three entire quilts, twenty-nine garments of various kinds, and twenty-five neatly hemstitched handkerchiefs, besides a large quantity of articles for home decoration. Perhaps the exhibit which attracted most attention was the young men's department. There were fourteen handkerchiefs and eight Windsor ties hemstitched by the young men, and hardly any of them had ever used a needle, yet their dainty work was pronounced _equal_, if not superior, to that of the young ladies. There were in all four hundred and sixty-three articles made, some from old material, some from scraps and some from new cloth. Before the winter term the young girls had cut and prepared their own sewing.

GRADUATING EXERCISES.

At eight o'clock in the evening the house was filled to overflowing with people who wished to witness the graduation of twelve young persons, or to hear the various exercises from the younger children, and to listen to our well rendered music. The exercises were all excellent, although they were greatly marred by the vast audience on so warm a night. There were no failures, but fine delivery and appearance. The mayor of the city was pleased to pronounce it "grand."

And so closed our school year, but "the half has not been told" if we omit to tell of the spiritual growth. Twenty-four in our school have united with our church, almost as many more with other denominations, and some have now gone to their own homes, and will there confess what Christ has done for them this year. It has been a beautiful year. We can but feel that God has been with us. The flowers and blackboard decorations were very attractive, and our dear old flag draping the entire wall behind the platform added not a little to the attractiveness of our rooms. On Sunday the sadness of parting was accentuated, and it was from a full heart each one gave the Y. P. S. C. E. benediction of "The Lord watch between thee and me while we are absent one from the other."

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GRAND VIEW, TENN.

FROM "DAYTON LEADER," DAYTON, TENN.

GRAND VIEW, TENN., MAY 19.--Commencement exercises at Grand View Normal Institute were held last night. This excellent school is situated on the eastern brow of Walden's Ridge, fifty-five miles north from Chattanooga. It overlooks a view of fertile valley below, and beyond a vast expanse of numberless wooded hills with glimpses of the Tennessee river winding between, while on the horizon looms the dim, majestic form of the Smoky Range.

It is an institution of the American Missionary Association (Congregational), and is equal to many of our lesser colleges. Mathematics is carried through trigonometry and surveying. Latin and music are taught, also, as well as the ordinary studies of the common and high schools. Above one hundred and fifty pupils, from a dozen different States, were on the roll of the past term. The teachers are of the highest order and their efficiency was emphatically demonstrated by the splendid work of last night's exercises.

While there was, of course, a marked difference in the oratorical powers of the young speakers, yet the uniformly high moral and intellectual tone of the admirably composed essays was a feature gratifying indeed to the numerous fathers and mothers present. There were present men of learning, teachers and preachers from surrounding cities, whose words of frank encomium upon the exercises emphasized their excellence. The visitors crowded the spacious hall to its utmost capacity and a large "overflow meeting" looked in through the windows.

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_Church Work._

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THE EVANGELIST AT WORK.

MR. JAMES WHARTON.

It has again been my privilege to spend the winter in the South in the interests of the colored population under the auspices of the American Missionary Association, and in each section of the country visited I am glad to record a marked change for the better both morally and spiritually in advance of twenty years ago, and this I consider is due in a great measure to the influence and instrumentality of the Congregational churches and schools in connection with them.

The untold good that is being done by the various institutions under the American Missionary Association will never be known this side of eternity, and wherever I have gone I have found the people speaking in the highest terms of praise of the efforts which are being put forth to help raise the standard already attained.

During the last winter I have visited and held revival services at Dudley and Raleigh, N. C.; Hampton, Va.; Howard University, Washington, D. C.; Oaks and Hillsboro, N. C.; Athens and Thomasville, Ga.; High Point, N. C.; and at each place the ministers and teachers of the schools have worked admirably, with the result that the churches have been quickened and scores of the most promising young people of both sexes from different parts of the States have been led to trust in Jesus as their Saviour and to commence a new life for Him. It has been a great joy to me on returning to places formerly visited to find after years of absence the converts going on still in the "good way," witnessing for Christ and working for the welfare of others, and, in many cases, settled for life in comfortable frame-built houses where once it was the one-roomed log cabin with its evil influences. In spite of the distress so keenly felt by everyone, the past year has been one of unusual interest and revival. The old idea, of visions, dreams and voices being necessary to a person's assurance of his acceptance of God, seems to be yielding to a more perfect and Scriptural way: "Thus saith the Lord."

WASHINGTON, D. C.

In Plymouth church, Rev. S. Brown, pastor, protracted meetings were held, resulting in the lifting heavenward of the members. Among the converts was a Mrs. T., who had been a seeker for thirty-three years. While listening to an address on Ex. xii Chap. 13 v., "He sprinkled blood," the light she had been so long looking for began to dawn upon her soul, and before the address closed she was rejoicing in God's wondrous love. She could scarcely keep her seat for joy; she arose to testify that God had saved her that night. Her testimony caused considerable rejoicing, as she was well known to all as a "long-time mourner."

HOWARD UNIVERSITY.

At the invitation of Dr. Rankin, the Evangelist and Pastor Brown held a ten days' mission, resulting in some good cases of conversion, two brothers being among the number, the sons of a Methodist minister, one studying to become a doctor and the other a pharmacist.

HAMPTON, VA.

During the week of prayer we felt a deep wave of spiritual blessing sweep over the institution such as had not been realized for years past. Quite a number of the students were brought over on the Lord's side, including several young Indian students.

OAKS, N. C.

Meetings were held here for ten days, and although snow covered the ground several inches thick, the people attended well, and every night a large proportion of the congregation was composed of white folks who did not hesitate to worship under the same roof with their colored brethren.

HILLSBORO, N. C.

Here the revival commenced in the school. When the Christian pupils were asked to show hands only about three testified, but ere the meeting closed a marked change was seen, for a large number became Christians during the meeting. As there is no Congregational church the Baptists kindly offered their church building for our use, which from the first was packed to its utmost, the people standing around the doors and windows unable to get inside, so eager were they to hear the word preached. Several "long-time mourners" were converted, including three old grandfathers and two or three grandmothers. People of all classes came in from the country for miles around, willing to leave their fields and work to attend the services. Many of the older inhabitants of the town said that such a revival had not been known since before the war, for in a few days the converts reached the number of one hundred and sixteen. As a result, a goodly number were added to the Sunday-school. A society of Christian Endeavor was organized and a weekly prayer-meeting started, the young converts readily taking part.

ATHENS, GA.

The members took an active part here in helping on the good work. At Knox Institute meetings were held for the pupils and a large number professed conversion. At the church three public school teachers were converted, also the mother of two of them.

MACON, GA.

I was rejoiced to find in this city quite a number of young converts who decided for Christ seven years ago still going on steadily, many of them now grown up into fine young men and women, and still seeking to glorify God in a consistent life and walk. Here one editor of a weekly newspaper came over on business and made his way to the services, and the first night gave himself to the Lord, going home to the town from whence he came to tell his friends what great things the Lord had done for him.

THOMASVILLE, GA.

After the first meeting it was evident the Lord had something good in store for us. At the close of every succeeding service anxious souls were to be found kneeling at the front seat seeking Christ, and great was the joy of all when they saw those whom they were interested in deciding for Him. Every night the young ladies of the boarding department with a part of the congregation formed a large circle outside the church door to sing some of the "old-time" hymns, which, in the stillness of the night under the starry heavens, and with nearly all the singers dressed in white, made the scene more a heavenly one than can well be imagined. Their sweet voices pealed forth the strains of Zion, which on the gentle breeze were wafted to many an ear of those who lived in the neighborhood, and hearts were touched, and many drew nigh to listen who never ventured inside the church door. Many of the young ladies ere this have gone back to their homes in the country, others to their summer schools, and from these services will carry with them the happy influence of the gospel which will in turn reach the ears of those entrusted to their care, the result of which will be many a sad heart made glad, and many a dark home brightened, and, above all, God will be glorified. Brethren, pray for the three hundred and forty converts of this last winter's campaign.

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THE CHINESE.

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LETTER FROM REV. W. C. POND, D.D.

I have been telling our pupils and the Christian people in the several localities that their schools must close unless they are sustained by contributions on the field, during June, July and August. And the responses have been encouraging. I do not think that a single one of the missions which I have visited will fail to take care of itself during those months, unless it be San Bernardino. The times are wretchedly hard, but the missions seem to have gotten a good hold on the consciences and hearts of our best people.

The great fire at Santa Cruz swept away the entire Chinese quarter, including our mission house. I enclose two letters from Mrs. Hall, the teacher there, which will interest you I am sure, and will, perhaps, afford a paragraph or an item for the magazine:

_Dear Dr. Pond:_--I have been very busy this week hunting a mission house. Mr. Cruzan has been very kind, and has not only advised me, but has taken me in his carriage all over town, looking for a mission-room. We have finally settled on a cottage about a block from where the mission formerly stood. Mr. Birkensees has a number of cottages there, which he has concluded to rent to the Chinamen. We have secured a cottage with six small rooms, and he is building on a schoolroom in front (18 by 26 feet), with every convenience we want. He is putting an attic above the schoolroom, which can be used as sleeping-rooms. Mr. Hall is overseeing the work, and Mr. Birkensees is having it built to suit me. We hope to go on with the mission work by Monday night. The rent, I am sorry to say, is more than we had expected to pay, but we could do no better. It will be $12.50 per month, but the brethren will pay $5 each month, instead of $2.75 which they formerly paid, besides the monthly collection.

The brethren saved from the flames the organ, pictures, books, carpet, in fact almost everything in the schoolroom. The tables and some of the chairs were burned, and will have to be replaced; but when I heard that they had saved these things I was very much surprised, as they were surrounded by fire in no time, as the fire broke out opposite the mission house and there was no water to stay it. I have heard people say that our brethren worked like heroes. They carried everything, organ and all, by hand, for blocks, and finally stored them in Mrs. Tagan's shed. They had many heavy trunks to move, besides the school furniture. They worked systematically, displaying no selfishness, but went right on with the moving without losing their wits. Many of their belongings were lost, their dishes, stoves, chairs, tables, etc., which they cannot do without.

The Christian people here have been very kind, and have shown a great deal of sympathy for our Chinese brethren since the fire, and I think many will give little things, such as dishes, etc., which will be a great help to them.

Of course I feel very sorry for our mission brethren, but I am glad Chinatown is in ashes. We were all getting sick from the impure air. Some of the boys had been sick for months on account, I think, of the filth surrounding our mission rooms, and I believe it was the Lord's will that it should burn, and besides I am certain that we can do a better work where we are. The Chinamen are driven from their nests, and I believe many will come to school now. They are disgusted with their idols, because they did not save them from the fire. About six Chinese women were driven out, so I will commence work with them soon, if possible. Then I find a good many little children, too, and I will try to get some Christian lady to teach them. I hope I may save the women. I could never locate them in Chinatown, and the Chinamen told me there were only two in town, but I find they told me an untruth, and I will now endeavor to reach them.

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BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.

MISS D. E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.

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"WHAT PROGRESS DO YOU MAKE?"

PROF. CHAS. L. PARKER.

In our letters from different parts of the country, the above is the oft-repeated question. My answer, which is the purpose of this letter, will not deal with statistics either of church or of school, for the best work done among the mountaineers is not recorded in the church books or school curriculums; it is the work accomplished in the lives of individuals and through them. Often these individuals are never known outside their own community.

A little over a year ago, in company with a friend, I went to visit a Sunday-school in a mountain community way back in the "Ridges." The Superintendent, a man whom we had met before at a Sunday-school convention, invited us to speak. After the services we went home with him to dinner. His family consisted of a wife and five children. He deplored the fact that they had not better opportunities for education and better church privileges, so we suggested that, when the crops were harvested, he should move with his family to C---- to send them to school.

The idea pleased Mr. W----, and in course of time he came. Mrs. W---- entered the school with her children as a regular student, being in some of the same classes with her little girls. All worked diligently through the winter, enjoying an intellectual feast, of which they had hitherto known nothing. It is unnecessary to say that the winter passed too quickly with them, and the time came for "making a new crop" all too soon. They left the school reluctantly and returned to the mountain home, taking with them a spirit of progress, which will make even a rugged fastness into a blooming garden.

Last Sunday we visited the Sunday-school again, no longer a small one, for it enrolls over one hundred and fifty pupils. Mr. W---- has also organized a "Saturday class," at which the youth and grown people of the neighborhood meet after the week's work on the farm, and learn to read and write and spell. On Sunday they "meet out" at 9 o'clock in the morning for Bible study and worship, and again in the afternoon for sacred song service and church. Thus they spend the entire day. The county Superintendent has visited Mr. W's "Saturday class," and is about to recommend such movements throughout the county, as a means of keeping up an interest in education during the long period between the sessions of the free school, which rarely last longer than three months in a year. Who knows but that from this small beginning great good may grow?

Mr. W. is not a Congregationalist, nor is he a minister of the gospel, but he and his estimable wife are doing good work for Christ in their own community. This is by no means an isolated instance; all over our mountain country are schools established by the American Missionary Association, which are doing valuable work in and through their students.

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WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS.

MAINE.

WOMAN'S AID TO A. M. A. _State Committee_--Mrs. C. A. Woodbury, Woodfords; Mrs. A. T. Burbank, Yarmouth; Mrs. Helen Quimby, Bangor.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

FEMALE CENT INSTITUTION AND HOME MISS. UNION. President--Mrs. Joseph B. Walker, Concord. Secretary--Mrs. John T. Perry, Exeter. Treasurer--Miss Annie A. McFarland, Concord.

VERMONT.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. J. H. Babbitt, W. Brattleboro. Secretary--Mrs. M. K. Paine, Windsor. Treasurer--Mrs. Wm. P. Fairbanks, St. Johnsbury.

MASS. AND R. I.

[A]WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION. President--Mrs. C. L. Goodell, Boston Highlands, Mass. Secretary--Miss Anna A. Pickens, 32 Congregational House, Boston. Treasurer--Miss Sarah K. Burgess, 32 Congregational House, Boston.

CONNECTICUT.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Miss Ellen R. Camp, 9 Camp St., New Britain. Secretary--Mrs. C. T. Millard, 36 Lewis St., Hartford. Treasurer--Mrs. W. W. Jacobs, 19 Spring St., Hartford.

NEW YORK.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. Wm. Kincaid, 483 Green Ave., Brooklyn. Secretary--Mrs. Wm. Spalding, 511 Orange St., Syracuse. Treasurer--Mrs. J. J. Pearsall, 230 Macon St., Brooklyn.

NEW JERSEY.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION OF THE N. J. ASSOCIATION. President--Mrs. A. H. Bradford, Montclair. Secret'y--Mrs. Wm. O. Weeden, Upper Montclair. Treasurer--Mrs. J. H. Dennison, 150 Belleville Ave., Newark.

PENNSYLVANIA.

WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. A. H. Claflin, 191 Franklin St., Allegheny. Secretary--Mrs. C. F. Yennee, Ridgway. Treasurer--Mrs. T. W. Jones, 211 Woodland Terrace, Philadelphia.

OHIO.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. J. G. W. Cowles, 417 Sibley St., Cleveland. Secretary--Mrs. Flora K. Regal, Oberlin. Treasurer--Mrs. G. B. Brown, 2116 Warren St., Toledo.

INDIANA.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. W. A. Bell, 221 Christian Ave, Indianapolis. Secretary--Mrs. W. E. Mossman, Fort Wayne. Treasurer--Mrs. F. E. Dewhurst, 28 Christian Ave., Indianapolis.

ILLINOIS.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. Isaac Claflin, Lombard. Secretary--Mrs. C. H. Taintor, 151 Washington St., Chicago. Treasurer--Mrs. L. A. Field, Wilmette.

IOWA.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. T. O. Douglass, Grinnell. Secretary--Mrs. V. H. Mullett, Clinton. Treasurer--Mrs. M. J. Nichoson, 1513 Main St., Dubuque.

MICHIGAN.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. George M. Lane, 179 West Alexandrine Ave., Detroit. Secretary--Mrs. J. H. Hatfield, 301 Elm Street, Kalamazoo. Treasurer--Mrs. E. F. Grabill, Greenville.

WISCONSIN.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. H. A. Miner, 540 State Street, Madison. Secretary--Mrs. A. O. Wright, Madison. Treasurer--Mrs. C. M. Blackman, White Water.

MINNESOTA.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Miss Katherine W. Nichols, 230 East Ninth Street, St. Paul. Secretary--Mrs. C. F. Fullerton, 3016 Harriet Ave., Minneapolis. Treasurer--Mrs. H. W. Skinner, Northfield.

NORTH DAKOTA.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. W. P. Cleveland, Caledonia. Secretary--Mrs. Silas Daggett, Harwood. Treasurer--Mrs. J. M. Fisher, Fargo.

SOUTH DAKOTA.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. A. H. Robbins, Bowdle. Secretary--Mrs. W. H. Thrall, Huron. Treasurer--Mrs. F. H. Wilcox, Huron.

NEBRASKA.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. J. T. Duryea, 2402 Cass Street, Omaha. Secretary--Mrs. S. C. Dean, 636 31st Street, Omaha. Treasurer--Mrs. G. J. Powell, 30th & Ohio Sts., Omaha.

MONTANA.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. O. C. Clark, Missoula. Secretary--Mrs. W. S. Bell, 410 Dearborn Ave., Helena. Treasurer--Mrs. Herbert E. Jones, Livingston.

MISSOURI.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. Henry Hopkins, 916 Holmes St., Kansas City. Secretary--Mrs. E. C. Ellis, 2456 Tracy Ave., Kansas City. Treasurer--Mrs. K. L. Mills, 1526 Wabash Ave., Kansas City.

KANSAS.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. F. E. Storrs, Topeka. Secretary--Mrs. George L. Epps, Topeka. Treasurer--Mrs. D. D. DeLong, Arkansas City.

OREGON.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. John Summerville, 108 Second Street, Portland. Secretary--Mrs. George Brownell, Oregon City. Treasurer--Mrs. W. D. Palmer, 283 Fourth St., Portland.

WASHINGTON.

WOMAN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION. President--Mrs. A. J. Bailey, 323 Blanchard St., Seattle. Secretary--Mrs. W. C. Wheeler, 434 South K St., Tacoma. Treasurer--Mrs. J. W. George, 620 Fourth St., Seattle.

CALIFORNIA.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. President--Mrs. M. L. Merritt, 478 Edwards St., Oakland. Secretary--Mrs. L. M. Howard, 911 Grove St., Oakland. Treasurer--Mrs. J. M. Havens, 1329 Harrison St., Oakland.

NEVADA.

WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. L. J. Flint, Reno. Secretary--Miss Margaret N. Magill, Reno. Treasurer--Miss Mary Clow, Reno.

INDIAN TERRITORY.

WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. John McCarthy, Vinita. Secretary--Mrs. Fayette Hurd, Vinita. Treasurer--Mrs. R. M. Swain, Vinita.

NEW MEXICO.

WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. C. E. Winslow, Albuquerque. Secretary--Mrs. E. W. Lewis, 301 So. Edith St., Albuquerque. Treasurer--Mrs. F. A. Burlingame, Albuquerque.

LOUISIANA.

WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION. President--Miss Bella Hume, corner Gasquet and Liberty Sts., New Orleans. Secretary--Miss Matilda Cabrere, New Orleans. Treasurer--Mrs. C. S. Shattuck, Welsh.

MISSISSIPPI.

WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION. President--Mrs. C. L. Harris, 1421 31st Avenue, Meridian. Secretary--Miss Edith M. Hall, Tougaloo Univ., Tougaloo. Treasurer--Mrs. L. H. Turner, 3012 12th Street, Meridian.

ALABAMA.