Chapter 3

GOOD RESULTS OF NOON PRAYER-MEETINGS.--A teacher from Helena, Ark., writes: "We suggested to the Christians among our pupils that they meet in the chapel at noon recess each day for a prayer meeting, in the hope of bringing the unconverted members of our school to Christ. The suggestion was carried out by them and the blessing came abundantly. The result of these meetings has been the conversion of 25 of the 28 of our pupils who were not Christians. I have learned one lesson, that we must prepare for the outpouring of the spirit, and then expect great things."

FROM TENNESSEE.--Home again. Shall we all meet again? O, must some parts of the work be dropped and other parts be crippled by the debt? This will not be so if all our members are like the little Tallmadge girl. Only five years old, lame and with suffering nerves she has earned a dollar this year by washing dishes, and gives it to our school. So a little child may teach us self-denial and devotion. God speed His work and bless our efforts.

ATLANTA, GA.--"We send you $1 as an offering of the Junior Society of Christian Endeavor of Storrs School. It is an offering of love and gratitude. The Little Sunshine Committee of the society were very active in gathering this. It is their second missionary effort, their first being for the Indians at Fort Berthold."

OBITUARY.

HON. SEYMOUR STRAIGHT.

In the death of Mr. Straight the American Missionary Association and the colored people of the South lose a firm and helpful friend. Mr. Straight passed away on February 21, 1896, in the 81st year of his age. When the Association in 1869 planted a school for the higher education of the Negroes in New Orleans, La., it found there a few persons of Northern birth, but who had long resided in that city, and were men of established character and of large influence, who took interest in the proposed institution and gave it their encouragement and support. Among these persons the Hon. Seymour Straight was most conspicuous for his deep interest in the project, for his useful service on the Board of Trustees and for his large gift at the outset--in view of all which the institution took his name.

Under Gen. Sheridan’s laudable desire for good government in the city of New Orleans, Mr. Straight was made a member of the City Council. In 1868 he was appointed by the Chamber of Commerce as a member of a committee in regard to improvements in the cities of the State. In 1872 he was appointed a member of the International Penitentiary Congress, to assemble in London, Eng., which appointment, however, he was unable to accept. He received other marks of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow-citizens. In 1869, at the incorporation of the Straight University, he was appointed President of its Board of Trustees, which position he held till the time of his death. A good man has gone and his works do follow him.

MISS EVELYN E. STARR.

Our school at Greenwood, S. C., mourns the loss of one of its teachers, who, though she had been but a few months in connection with the school, had endeared herself to both teachers and pupils. Miss Evelyn E. Starr departed this life February 6, 1896. The principal of the school writes: "She came to the work with a sincere love for it, was intensely in earnest, and devoutly Christian."

BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.

Miss D. E. Emerson, Secretary.

COLORED WOMEN’S WORK.

We often speak of the influence of the schools and churches of the American Missionary Association, but perhaps it is not realized how marked this is in the growth of a missionary spirit among the people. To illustrate this we call attention to reports of a few of the Women’s Missionary Societies among the colored people.

The Woman’s Union of Alabama reports as having raised by its auxiliaries $259.41, and the spirit of the auxiliaries is manifested in the following items:

Anniston.--A society of girls of the church, ranging in age from five to fifteen years. The object is to increase an interest in mission work. The monthly fee is one cent. We hope to be able to do much more this year than we did last.

Jenifer.--The chief object with the Jenifer Union is Africa. The meetings are held twice each month. Mothers’ meetings are held every Friday, where fervent prayers are offered for all missionaries. Then a few minutes we spend in special prayer for Misses Fearing and Thomas, and Mr. and Mrs. Sheppard, colored missionaries in Africa.

Montgomery.--Our Union meets every Monday. We make articles for sale. The money obtained in this way is used in helping any good cause. We have sent five dollars to the American Missionary Association for work among the Indians.

Talladega.--We study the various mission fields, home and foreign. We have a Dorcas meeting when we make and repair articles of clothing. The third meeting of the month is the Mothers’ meeting, where prayers are offered for many households. We have expended during the year $13.60 for work at home, $32.44 for American Missionary Association Indian work, $40.50 for foreign missions.

The auxiliaries of Union of the Tennessee Association report as follows:

Chattanooga.--The visiting and prayer-meeting committee have been unusually active. All classes of the sick and needy have been visited and comforted, and consolation and financial aid carried to many homes. Amount raised for the year, $67.24.

Memphis.--Our Union meets monthly, and usually discusses two or three subjects on mission work. Our missionary cow is well, and its owner, Sister Rachel, furnishes good milk and butter to the sick free of charge, and will walk two miles to sell five cents’ worth for the benefit of the Union. Amount raised during the year, $63.11.

Nashville, Howard Church.--Our women are united in all lines of church, mission and industrial work. We are gradually growing in membership and enthusiasm. Our small contributions are no indication of the interest and labor shown. Amount raised for the year, $37.10.

Nashville, Jackson Street Church.--Our Union numbers about twenty members. We have been blessed during the hard times in our effort to do church and mission work. Receipts for the year, $50.10.

Louisville, Ky.--The outlook is bright for a steady progress in the uplifting of humanity. Amount raised for the year, $21.

Little Rock, Ark.--Our Society has been acting in the double capacity of church aid and missionary society. We have recently organized a Church Aid Society in order that we may give the attention of our Union to mission work proper at home and abroad.

North Carolina.--The President reports a most cheering advance in interest and contributions, $223 having been raised by the women of the Union during the year. This was done by very poor and hard working women. While most of the money was spent for aid in their churches and to the sick and needy about them, some of it was sent to the treasury of the Missionary Board.

A few words from Mrs. Ella Sheppard Moore, president of the Tennessee Association, tell the whole story. These once unhappy and largely idle women in practical Christian effort are now employed in Christ’s name, intelligently, radiant in the joy of His salvation.

WORK AT McLEANSVILLE, N. C.

MRS. S. S. SEVIER.

McLeansville is not a great city like New York or Chicago, where everything seems to be in a rush, and everybody is wrapt up in business; neither is it a great railroad center; but merely a "little flag-station." The majority of the people here, both white and colored, earn their living chiefly by farming.

Even though McLeansville is a humble little place, we have a very pleasant work here, sustained mainly by the American Missionary Association. At the close of the year 1894 our church building was very small, indeed; could not hold more than sixty or seventy persons. A "Woman’s Missionary Union" was organized last August. The first work this Union wished to do was to take steps toward enlarging our church. We accordingly planned to hold a fair to raise money for this purpose. The fair consisted mainly of clothing and fancy articles made by members of the Union. Some cloth was contributed for this purpose by Northern friends. The Union felt much encouraged over the result, which was $50. This amount, with an especial tax upon the members of the church, has enabled us to make a very great improvement upon our church. It is now almost twice as large as it was at the end of last year.

We feel that our year’s labor thus far has been greatly blessed. We also feel that our little mission is a worthy work. The people seem to fully appreciate church and educational privileges.

RECEIPTS FOR FEBRUARY, 1896.

_THE DANIEL HAND FUND_

_For the Education of Colored People._

Income for February $ 4,197.35 Previously acknowledged 27,110.00 ---------- $31,307.35 ==========

CURRENT RECEIPTS.

*MAINE*, $292.99. Auburn. High St. Cong. $30.00 Ch. Auburn. Bbl. C. _for Andersonville, Ga._ Augusta. "A Friend" 30.00 Blanchard. Jacob 5.00 Blanchard Brewer. Y.P.S.C.E. Cong. Ch., Box Christmas Goods, _for McIntosh, Ga._ Bridgton. "T" 75.00 Castine. Mrs. C. M. 2.00 Cushman, _for Freight, to McIntosh, Ga._ Cumberland Center. 2.00 Helping Hand Soc., _for Student Aid, McIntosh, Ga._ Dennysville. Sab. Sch. 5.00 Cong. Ch. Eliot. Cong. Ch., Lincoln 3.26 Mem. Day Off. Garland. Cong. Ch. and 7.00 Soc., 5, and C.E. Soc., 2, Jubilee Off. Harrison, Cong. Ch. 2.65 Limington. Cong. Ch. 14.00 Machias. Center St. Cong. 4.22 Ch., Lincoln Mem. Day Off. Machias. ----, Bbl. C. _for Andersonville, Ga._ North Bridgton. Sab. Sch. 4.25 Cong. Ch., _for Student Aid, Talladega C._ North Bridgton. Cong. Ch. 4.00 North Gorham. Cong. Ch., Bbl. C. _for Wilmington, N. C._ Portland. Sab. Sch. 20.00 Second Parish, Lincoln Mem. Day Off. Portland. Williston Cong. Ch., C. E. Soc., Box and Bbl. Christmas Goods for _Lexington, Ky._ Salsbury Cove. Mrs. M. 1.00 Rich, _for McIntosh, Ga._ Sanford Mills. Geo. 5.00 Goodell, _for Wilmington, N. C._ Searsport. First Cong. 14.21 Ch. Skowhegan. Island Av. 24.32 Cong. Ch. South Berwick. Ladies of 1.25 Cong. Ch., _for Freight to Blowing Rock, N. C._ South Berwick. ----, Bbl. C. _for Andersonville, Ga._ South Penobscot. Bapt. 1.00 Ch., Bbl. C., Freight, 1, _for McIntosh, Ga._ South West Harbor. King’s Daughters, Bbl. C. _for McIntosh, Ga._ Topsham. ----, Bbl. C. _for Andersonville, Ga._ Westbrook. Cong. Ch. 14.18 Westbrook. King’s D., Cong. Ch., Bbl. C. _for McIntosh, Ga._ Wilton. Sab. Sch. Cong. 11.12 Ch., Lincoln Mem. Day Off. Whitneyville. Cong. Ch., 4.00 Lincoln Mem. Day Off. Woodfords. L. M. S. 8.53 (Thank offering), 5; Sab. Sch. Cong. Ch. in part, 3.53 Woodfords. Bbl. C. _for Andersonville, Ga._

RECEIVED AT SKYLAND INST., BLOWING ROCK, N. C. Acton. Cong. Soc., Bbl. C. Auburn. ----, Bbl. C. Harpswell Center. Cong. Soc., Bbl C. Island Falls. Cong. Soc., Bbl. C. Machias. Cong. Ch., Box and Bbl. C. Skowhegan. Cong. Soc., Bbl. C.

*NEW HAMPSHIRE*, $1,715.92 Amherst. Sab. Sch. Cong. 6.04 Ch. Bennington. Cong. Ch., 7.91 3.56, and C. E. Soc., 4.35 Berlin Mills. Cong. Ch. 15.22 Derry. Sab. Sch. First 10.00 Cong. Ch., Lincoln Day Mem. Off. Epping. "A Friend for the 40.00 Debt," in Memory of Rev. J. H. Stearns, D.D. Epping. "Two Friends," 10.00 Cong. Ch. Exeter. First Cong. Ch. 133.08 Francestown. M. C. .50 Willard Gilmanton. Sab. Sch. 2.43 Cong. Ch., Lincoln Mem. Off. Hillsboro Bridge. Sab. 2.91 Sch. Cong. Ch., Lincoln Mem. Day Off. Jaffrey. Ladies, First 1.50 Cong. Ch., _for Freight to Joppa, Ala._ Laconia. Mrs. H. F. 3.83 Smith, _for Saluda, N. C._ Manchester. First Cong. 41.40 Ch. and Soc. Milford. Pilgrim Ch., Jr. 1.00 Y. P. S. C. E., _for Indian M._ Milton. Cong. Ch. 7.25 Nashua. Y. P. S. C. E. of 10.00 First Cong. Ch. North Hampton. Cong. Ch. 22.50 Pembroke. Sab. Sch. Cong. 14.30 Ch. Penacook. Sab. Sch. Cong. 10.00 Ch., _for McIntosh, Ga._ Penacook. Y. P. S. C. E. 4.00 Cong. Ch. Stratham. Cong. Ch. and 11.75 Soc. Temple. Sab. Sch. Cong. 5.38 Ch. Wolfborough. Cong. Ch. 4.92 and Soc.

RECEIVED AT SKYLAND INST., BLOWING ROCK, N. C. Alstead. Cong. Ch., Bbl. C. Acworth. Mrs. W. Neal, Bbl. C. Chester. Cong. Soc., Bbl. C. Epping. First Cong. Soc., Bbl. C. Hancock. Ladies’ Soc., Bbl. C. ------- $365.92

*ESTATES.* New Ipswich. Estate Dea. 50.00 Leavitt Lincoln, by Rev. Geo. F. Merriam, Trustee Pembroke. Estate of Mrs. 1,000.00 Sarah C. Fellows, by Jacob E. Chickering, Adm’r. Plaistow. Estate of Mary 300.00 S. Kelly, by Louis G. Hoyt, Adm’r. --------- $1,715.92

*VERMONT*, $2,330.21. Berlin. Cong. Ch. 20.00 Brattleboro. Mrs. Mary L. 26.00 Hadley Bridgeport. Mrs. Chapman, 2.50 _for Athens, Ala._ Brownington. S. S. 7.00 Tinkham Brownington. Ladies’ 1.50 Cong. Ch., Freight to McIntosh, Ga. Burlington. Mrs. W. J. 15.00 Van Patten, _for Williamsburg Acad., Ky._ Cambridge. Madison 10.00 Stafford Charlotte. Cong. Ch. 33.00 East Corinth. Cong. Ch. 8.75 Essex Junction. Oppor’y Circle, Bbl. C. _for McIntosh, Ga._ Greensboro. Sab. Sch. 1.55 Cong. Ch. Florence. "Friends," _for .87 Freight to McIntosh, Ga._ Manchester. E. J. Kellogg 5.00 Manchester. Y. P. S. C. 5.00 E. of Cong. Ch. _for Knox Inst., Athens, Ga._ Manchester. W. H. M. S., 1.65 _for Freight to McIntosh, Ga._ McIndoes Falls. Cong. Ch., 2. Bbls. C. _for McIntosh, Ga._ Morgan. Lucy Little .50 Newbury. First Cong. Ch. 26.30 Newbury. Mrs. Anna E. 10.00 Keyes, Lincoln Mem. Day Off. Newport. Woman’s Aux., 1.15 Freight to McIntosh, Ga. Pawlet. A. Flower .50 Rochester. Mrs. L. E. 5.00 Martin, _for Wilmington, N. C._ Saint Johnsbury. Jr. C. E. S. North. Ch., Box C. _for McIntosh, Ga._ Strafford. Cong. Ch., 10; 16.00 Sab. Sch., 2; Y. P. S. C. E. (thank off.), _for Mountain Work_, 4; by Rev. Henry Cummings Townshend. Mrs. H. P. .50 Holbrook Weston. Mrs. C. W. 2.00 Sprague Woman’s Home Missionary Union of Vt., by Mrs. Rebecca P. Fairbanks, Treas., for Woman’s Work: W. H. M. U. 25.00 Barton. Children’s 3.74 Mission Band, _for Indian Schp._ Chelsea. Ladies’ Benev. 10.00 Soc. East Fairfield. Jun. C. 5.00 E., _for Indian Schp._ Coventry. Busy Bees, adl. 5.00 East Hardwich. Jun. C. 1.75 E., _for Indian Schp._ Hartland. Jr. C. E., _for 2.00 Indian Schp._ Jericho Center. Sab. Sch. .90 Milton. W. H. M. S. 5.00 Norwich. S. S., _for 2.50 Indian Schp._ Rutland. Jr. C. E., _for 5.00 Indian Schp._ Saint Johnsbury. Miss 2.55 Margaret Hazen’s S. S. Class, _for Indian Schp._ Sherburne, Miss Lena A. 1.00 Round’s S. S. Class, _for Indian Schp._ Westford. Homeland Aux. 6.00 Westminster. Mrs. C. W. 5.00 Thompson ---- "A Friend" 25.00 ---- "A Friend" 25.00 ----- 130.44 ------- $330.21

*ESTATE.* West Brattleboro. Estate 2,000.00 of Mrs. Elvira Stedman, by D. B. Stedman, Adm’r. > --------- $2,330.21