Chapter 2

The extreme poverty among many of the colored people of Wilmington, N. C., led me to think that there would be many families that would have no Christmas gifts unless given by those who could spare, even from their scant living, a portion to be given to those wholly destitute. Accordingly I invited the children in all the rooms in Gregory Institute to bring such offerings as they were willing to make, to be afterward distributed to those who otherwise would have no Christmas and were without the necessities of life even. The idea seemed to meet with general approval among teachers and pupils. Friday, the last day before the Christmas vacation, was appointed to bring in the gifts, and the amount contributed wholly exceeded our most extravagant hopes. Shortly after 8 o'clock the school children began to arrive laden with gifts, consisting of almost every imaginable article that could be used. Some brought a sweet potato--always the largest they could find--others a pound of sugar, rice, flour, bacon, pork, beans, peas, corn meal, cabbages, turnips, tea, coffee, matches, apples, oranges, grits, and if there are any other things to be found among eatables I think I can produce them from the packages now deposited in the sewing room.

Besides this quite a quantity of wood was brought, and a good supply--several bundles, at least--of fat pine for lighters, and considerable clothing. One special gift I must mention. It was from a little girl in the primary class. The girl is about eleven or twelve years old, and very poor. She worked all last summer and saved her money to pay her tuition in our school this year, and, as I have learned, had secured nearly enough to pay her tuition during the year. But, alas, poor little Mary. For some reason, probably to get the food necessary to live, her mother was obliged to take her hard earned and slowly accumulated money, and before school began she found that what she had so long hoped and planned for she could not realize. However, she did not give up her cherished plan of coming to school, but worked away, got her some clothes, and about the first of November presented herself as wishing to come to school. She brought all the money she had left, _ten cents_, and said if I would only let her come she was sure she could pay the rest before long. I kept track of her and found from her teacher that the poor girl could not obtain anything further for her tuition, but that she was a very promising girl, so I have let her come, and I have prayed that some one may be led to contribute $8 for her tuition. But what surprised me most was the Christmas offering this child made. Just before school called, she came tugging two large sticks of wood, the combined weight being twenty pounds. This she had got cut into two pieces and had carried it more than a mile in order that some one poorer than she might be blessed at Christmas time. This little incident made me feel that I had never known sacrifice before--for here was one who often goes hungry to bed, without any of the comforts of life, yet to make others happy gave literally "all she had." Truly were the blessed Lord here His words regarding the poor widow must have been repeated. I feel that the wood she brought is almost too sacred to be put to common use. I would that a piece of it were in every Christian home to teach the lesson of true sacrifice.

On Christmas morning a dozen homes will be made happy by these humble gifts. One old lady in our visits we found so destitute that she had tasted nothing from Saturday night till Tuesday, when one of the girls of Gregory school took her in her breakfast. The old lady telling about it said she knew the Lord would not let her starve. The teachers have voluntarily taxed themselves ten cents a month, which provides for her food at least. I need not multiply these cases. Many sacrifices in kind, if not in degree, could be mentioned equal to that of little Mary, and many cases of need as extreme as that of "Aunt Maggie." The scanty purses of the A. M. A. teachers, many of whom, as in my own case, are obliged to economize in every way to keep our own families from actual want, are inadequate to meet the demand, and why should we multiply their cases on our minds when we are powerless to help?

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CHILDREN'S CAUSES FOR THANKFULNESS.

MISS LILLIAN L. GOAR, BLOWING ROCK, N. C.

_Dear Friends_: I want to tell you of our Junior Thanksgiving service last Wednesday eve. The meeting was led by a Junior. After prayer by one of the members the leader asked of each one: "What have _you_ to be thankful for?" We had so many blessings given that a large blackboard was covered, with reports of the many "thankfulnesses." The following are a few of the many: "For Christ most of all," "the Holy Bible," "health," "warm sunshine," "blue sky," "I don't know of anything I'm _not_ thankful for," "for plenty of everything, bread and fruit and everything to eat," "for forgiveness," "Junior meetings," "to bring wood and water for our mothers and fathers." One of the several four-year-olds in school was thankful for a "stove, love (for) our brothers, to play, eatin' an' things to cook it in."

And this same little boy, who comes from a home anything but attractive, had this sentence in his prayer, "thankful for home." Another dear Junior was thankful for good times and "for my little sister an' father an' mother." "The privilege to go to school" was another cause of thankfulness, while many times, both in prayer and speaking, was "the dear teacher" mentioned.

The prayers were earnest, simple and sincere, and I felt much nearer heaven after the little ones had gone from their childish meeting. And I felt more than ever before the divine presence with us. The Juniors carry their Christian ideas into everything. In school one day I asked "What is the _heart_ for?" And a little girl (a Junior) replied quickly "To let _Jesus_ come in."

As the hoped-for advancement lies with the children, I feel that the work is very encouraging.

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TO HELP HER OWN PEOPLE.--A minister in a Northern State sends to us a check for $500, which he says is the gift of a colored lady of over seventy years of age, to aid in the education of her people in the South. She has $500 more, which she retained for the present in view of emergencies, but which she intends ultimately to give to the Association for the same purpose. The minister says she is intelligent, a diligent reader, and an interesting person to meet. She has been a tailoress and probably has earned most of her money with her needle. Such a person is an honor to her race and to the church of Christ.

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CONTRASTS OF MISSION CHURCH WORK.

BY SEC. F. P. WOODBURY.

Our mission churches of the South reach different classes of people. Some are in the large cities, others in populous towns, others in smaller country villages, and still others in entirely rural districts among the plantations. The methods of these churches vary as widely as their location. Some of them take advantage of institutional methods of church work in all their various forms of Christian service. Many churches which do not undertake so large a distribution of effort still have their circles of King's Sons and Daughters, missionary societies, and, almost everywhere, their Christian Endeavor Societies. Many of the smaller churches have day schools closely associated with the congregation, sometimes under the conduct of the pastor or his wife, or both.

Among our more prominent churches is the Howard Chapel, of Nashville, Tenn., a picture of which, with the new parsonage, is found on this page. This church is located on the original site of Fisk University, and was formerly the chapel of the University. The building is a commodious brick structure. The church has had many fluctuations in its membership and condition, but under its present pastor, Rev. J. E. Moorland, formerly Y. M. C. A. secretary at Washington, D. C., it has taken on new life and vigor. The membership has rapidly grown. All the various forms of Christian activity are thoroughly organized, and the pastor has commended himself not only to the members of the church and congregation, but to the residents of all that portion of the city. Lately the congregation took up the question of affording their pastor a parsonage, and have built a neat and comfortable structure at the side of the church, which they are now making payment for from their own means.

In strong contrast with this city church work is the McElderry Mission, formed and carried on by Rev. J. M. Roan, of Ironaton, Ala. Mr. Roan, like many other pastors, was anxious that his church should take hold of aggressive Christian work, and formed a mission at some distance from the church, out among the plantations. His young men took hold vigorously with him in the new work and put up the log cabin chapel, which is shown in the accompanying illustration. It is an interesting indication of their Christian consecration that the members of this mission church were so desirous to take hold themselves of mission work among those of their people still less favored than they. Mr. Roan says that they are proud of their little log cabin mission, and that its congregation has steadily increased. There are now nine Congregational members living near the mission. Of late there has been quite a desire on the part of many to build a church in place of the mission cabin, and the people are already beginning to raise means for this purpose. A flourishing Sunday-school is carried on in connection with this mission work.

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GLEAMS OF SUNSHINE.

BY REV. W. C. POND, D.D.

The new year of our Chinese Mission opened cloudily. We had passed through three months of close and anxious questioning about ways and means; most of the teachers and helpers had received no salary for from one to three months. Hard times had been crowding our Chinese out of employment. Families in which they had served felt compelled to do without them. They were moving to and fro with less inclination to study, or, possibly, to listen to the word of life, than in the days when plenty of hard work left them weary in frame, but not heartsore.

At any rate--for these reasons or for others--the reports for September were, on the whole, less cheering, I think, than any I had ever received; but now, with the October reports all at hand, we find the clouds breaking away and have "sunshine in our souls."

The membership of the schools was larger by 33 and the average attendance by 17, but the gleams that bring best cheer are such as these:

From Chin Foy, in Sacramento: "Eight names have been signed to pledge cards for the Christian Endeavor members. Hope this society will be established before long. Four new members have united with our Association [thus professing faith in Christ and full consecration to Him. W. C. P.], and three brethren expect to be baptized by Dr. Hoyt and to unite with the church next communion. Thank God for His blessing. The work is encouraging lately." This brother, whose name may be familiar to the constant and attentive readers of THE MISSIONARY, and who has been for ten years or more one of our most useful helpers, instructs me to reduce his scanty salary two-thirds (from $30 to $10 per month), and will try to make up what is lacking by other work, so that with our reduced resources our work may not be hindered.

Loo Quong writes from Fresno concerning a sick brother who was converted in China, and has never been identified with any of our missions: "Miss Beaton [the teacher] found him sick on the street and asked him to come and live in the mission, in God's name. No one dared to speak for him to help him in any way whatever, outside our mission. I asked him, at length, after he had been with us many months, if he would like to go back home. He says it would be the best way. Thus far I succeeded in taking up subscriptions for his passage. [There are $45.30 outside of Fresno, and $28 which was taken up here.] The Christian Endeavor of the Congregational Church, through Rev. J. H. Collins, their pastor, gave him passage from here to San Francisco. It was a kind act of them all. I think God has blessed us all by enabling us to have this thing done so well in His name, because Mr. Lai Fat [the beneficiary] is not a member of the Association, nor have any of us known him before. May God send him to his family all right, and may his family be blessed through his return to them, and may the Lord spare him many days with his family in order to lead them to Christ!" Surely there is a gleam of sunshine in this act of Christian love. All, or nearly all, our missions joined in it. It is really no unusual thing with us.

Miss Bradley, of Ventura, writes: "As soon as Yong Kay came [who divides his time as helper between the two neighboring missions of Santa Barbara and Ventura] he began measures to revive our C. E. Society, and now we have one of twelve members. Its meeting are held on Friday evening, commencing about 9 o clock, and continuing indefinitely. It is wonderful how they seem to realize the meaning of the pledge and keep true to it. There is no lagging; no 'awful pauses.' About two weeks ago they began preparations for a Christian Endeavor social. Invitations were sent out to all the ministers and other Christians specially interested in missions. More than fifty assembled and listened to the programme, which lasted about an hour. Yong Kay's address was very fine; his use of Scripture was so apt, and his illustrations so good, Yong Wo Quon, a good, earnest Christian, will join the church next Sunday morning. I am satisfied that he understands the step he is taking, and that he will be a great help to us."

In like manner from Santa Cruz comes this word: "I am most happy to write that the Chinese I asked you to pray for has joined the Association and is very happy in our Christian work. Let us continue to pray for two others who are holding back, but are 'almost persuaded,'" and from Joe Dun, in our new mission at Watsonville, this: "We do thank the Lord for His choosing and saving souls. Tuesday evening of last week one of the associate members [_i.e._, of the new C. E. society] became active. Last night we have meeting, and he rose and gave testimony. Said he: 'I am glad to-night, for I believed in Jesus Christ, and He will save my soul.'"

But my space is more than filled. We rejoice and take courage.

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TRIBUTE TO OUR MISSIONARIES.

Apropos of the roll of our missionaries and teachers we quote an eloquent tribute from one of the children of the American Missionary Association who is now the strong pastor of a strong church in the South. He alludes to a teacher who had devoted many years of her life to our missionary work and had brought to it a sweetness of spirit and devotion that had won the confidence and inspired the zeal of those for whom she labored. We quote:

"The work which these teachers did was the result of no small sacrifice. For a woman to leave her Northern home of comfort and refinement to come South to engage in such a work and all that it implies was not a popular thing even at the North, but in spite of unpopularity at the North and unworthy treatment at the South, these self-exiled men and women wrought wonderfully. They proved the best friends that the black man has ever had. In the school they showed us the light of letters, which had never before dawned upon us. In the church they showed us the Light of the world, which was strangely dim in our souls. In the shop they showed us the light of life about us, of which we were densely ignorant. Thoughtful minds, skillful hands, enlightened hearts--this is the heritage they brought us.

"Throughout the length and breadth of the Southland there are such women among us working in a humble way. The work done by these moral heroes and heroines is work in the shade, but one day, when the sunlight of God's justice shall shine upon it, as it surely will, men will see it and admire it. For these friends we are devoutly grateful. Deep down in our hearts, too deep in many cases for tears, lies the feeling of whole-souled gratitude for these moral heroes and heroines. The half has never been told. We thank God for those who left home and went to the war to die, if need be, that the slave might be free. But we thank God equally for those brave men and braver women who, before the smoke of battle cleared away, came South, and, with the spelling book in one hand and God's holy word in the other, set the millions of freedmen on the way toward reading, reasoning and righteousness. Around God's throne may their crowns of life eternal glitter with the penitential tears of a grateful people redeemed unto a common Father by their prayers, their tears, their lives!"

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Our last Annual Report is printed, and will be sent to those making application for it to this office.

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THE FIELD.

1894-1895.

The following list gives the names of those who are in the work of the Churches, Institutions and Schools of the American Missionary Association.

THE SOUTH.

Rev. G. S. Dickerman, Field Superintendent. " George W. Moore, Field Missionary. Mr. E. E. McKibban, Builder. " Gilbert Walton, General Mountain Missionary.

WASHINGTON, D. C.

THEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, HOWARD UNIVERSITY.

Rev. J. E. Rankin, D.D., LL.D., Washington, D. C. " J. L. Ewell, A.M., Washington, D. C. " Isaac Clark, A.M., Washington, D. C. " George O. Little, D.D., Washington, D. C. " Sterling N. Brown, A.M., Washington, D. C. " Charles H. Butler, Washington, D. C. " Adam Reoch, A.B., Washington, D. C. " Teunis S. Hamlin, D.D., Washington, D. C. " John T. Jenifer, Washington, D. C. " Eugene Johnson, Washington, D. C. Prof. Wm. J. Stephens, Washington, D. C. Mr. Clement L. Brumbaugh, Washington, D. C.

WASHINGTON (LINCOLN MEMORIAL CHURCH). 1701 11th St., N. W.

_Pastor and Missionary_, Rev. E. A. Johnson, Washington, D. C. Mrs. E. A. Johnson, Washington, D. C.

WASHINGTON (PLYMOUTH CHURCH).

_Minister_, Rev. S. N. Brown, Washington, D. C.

VIRGINIA.

CAPPAHOSIC.

GLOUCESTER HIGH AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

_Principal._--Prof. W. B. Weaver, Cappahosic, Va. Mrs. A. B. Weaver, Cappahosic, Va. Miss Lizzie Baytop, Ark, Va. " Carrie E. Steele, Charleston, S. C. " Estelle I. Sprague, Takoma Park, D. C. Mr. D. D. Weaver, Cappahosic, Va. " J. H. Lockley, Cappahosic, Va.

NORTH CAROLINA.

WILMINGTON.

_Minister_, Rev. Frank W. Sims, Aberdeen, Miss.

GREGORY INSTITUTE (613 Nun Street).

_Principal._--Prof. F. T. Waters, A.M., Oberlin, O. Miss Jennie L. Blowers, Westfield, N. Y. " Susan M. Marsh, E. Northfield, Mass. Mrs. Virginia C. Logie, St. Louis, Mo. Miss Georgia M. Belyea, Ashland, N. B. " Stella M. Hopkinson, Oberlin, O. " Minnie T. Strout, Salem, Mass. " Katharine M. Jacobs, S. Hadley Falls, Mass. " Mary L. Thompson, Rouse's Point, N. Y. " Emma J. Bryce, Springfield, Ont. Mrs. Lucy M. Mellen, Oberlin, O.

BEAUFORT.

_Minister_, Rev. J. P. Sims, Talladega, Ala.

WASHBURN SEMINARY.

_Principal._--Prof. Fred. S. Hitchcock, Cambridgeport, Mass. Mrs. Fred. S. Hitchcock, Cambridgeport, Mass. Miss Ella Louise Cheney, Oberlin, O. " Anna M. Cooper, Boalsburg, Pa. " Lilla L. Johnson, Sherburne, Vt.

DUDLEY.

_Minister_, Rev. S. P. Smith, Chicago, Ill.

RALEIGH.

_Minister and General Missionary_, Rev. A. W. Curtis, D.D., Crete, Neb.

OAKS, CEDAR CLIFF, AND MELVILLE.

_Minister and Missionary_, Rev. Anthony Peden, Oaks, N. C.

_Teacher at Oaks_, Miss E. W. Douglass, Decorah, Iowa.

_Teacher at Cedar Cliff_, Mr. Wm. R. Hall, Raleigh, N. C.

_Teacher at Melville_, Miss Jennie S. Irwin, Raleigh, N. C.

McLEANSVILLE.

_Minister_, Rev. S. S. Sevier, McLeansville, N. C.

_Teachers at McLeansville_, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, McLeansville, N. C. " S. S. Sevier, McLeansville, N. C.

HILLSBORO.

_Teachers_, Miss Bessie C. Bechan, Toronto, Canada. " Julia H. Curtis, Syracuse, N. Y.

MALEE.

_Teacher_, Mr. Solomon A. Stanford, Oaks, N. C.

STRIEBY, SALEM AND HIGH POINT.

_Minister_, Rev. Z. Simmons, Strieby, N. C.

_Teacher at Strieby_, Mr. H. R. Walden, Strieby, N. C.

_Special Missionary, High Point_, Miss A. E. Farrington, Portland, Me.

TROY, PEKIN, DRY CREEK AND NALLS.

_Minister_, Rev. C. C. Collins, Newark, N. J.

_Teachers at Troy_, Miss Evelyn Segsworth, Toronto, Canada. " Laura G. Segsworth, Toronto, Canada.

_Teacher at Pekin_, Mr. Columbus Green, Pekin, N. C.

_Teacher at Dry Creek_, Mrs. Kate J. P. Green, Dry Creek, N. C.

_Teacher at Nalls_, Mr. R. H. Saunders, Nalls, N. C.

CARTER'S MILLS.

_Teacher and Preacher_, Mr. W. D. Newkirk, Carter's Mills, N. C.

ALL HEALING (King's Mountain P. O.).

LINCOLN ACADEMY.

_Principal._--Miss Lillian S. Cathcart, Minneapolis, Minn. Miss May E. Newton, Springfield, Mo. " Susie T. Cathcart, Tangerine, Fla. " Nellie D. Cooley, North Amherst, Mass. " Isadore M. Caughey, North Kingsville, Ohio.

BLOWING ROCK.

SKYLAND INSTITUTE.

_Principal._--Miss F. Annette Jackson, Hudsonville, Tenn. Miss Agnes Ruth Mitchell, Acworth, N. H. " Lillian Lavinia Goar, Montevideo, Minn. " N. S. Dennis, Salem, Mich.

SALUDA.

_Pioneer Evangelist_, Rev. E. W. Hollies, Topeka, Kan.

SALUDA SEMINARY. _Principal._--Miss Mary C. Phelps, Ph.B., Nova, Ohio. Miss Hattie M. Fairchild, Frankfort, Mich. " Minnie A. Hollies, Topeka, Kan. Rev. E. W. Hollies, Topeka, Kan. Mrs. S. Hollies, Topeka, Kan.

WHITTIER.

_Minister_, Rev. Robert Humphrey, Whittier, N. C.

_Teachers_, Rev. Robert Humphrey, Whittier, N. C. Mrs. Olive A. Humphrey, Whittier, N. C.

VALDESE (MORGANTON).

_Minister_, Rev. Enrico Vinay, Valdese, N. C.