Chapter 4

Ten years ago the first Indian returning with his bi-weekly rations would invite his neighbors as they came home to help him eat in one day, often in one meal, all this food. For the remainder of the two weeks the family would be driven to live upon other feasts, or to the fields for the wild turnip, the few berries or the plum. If four or more feasts were called daily, the feasts gave way to famine before the coming ration day. Often a week of feasting, then a week of famine, became the rule. This state of things is becoming more and more a thing of the past. Hospitality is as marked, but is not carried to starvation extremes. Recently passing some trees in which twelve or more years ago seven bodies were placed, and contrasting this with the last funeral I attended, impressed upon me progress in another line.

Ten years ago last Jan. 12, a day made memorable by the great blizzard which swept over our land with death and destruction, in the early morning, long before daylight, I was aroused from slumber by a knock at the door of our little log house on Oak Creek. One stops to think twice before he jumps out of a warm bed when the temperature is out of sight below zero in the room, the fire has gone out and a blizzard is howling outside. The rapping at the door was continued till I opened it. A rope was placed in my hand in which were two knots. They showed the length and width of a coffin the man wished to make, and for which he wanted lumber. I had only an old packing-case to give him. At daylight, breakfastless, I went over to the tent and helped him make a coffin from the case, a soap box and a small stable door. It was a crude and weak affair. Ignorant of the language, I could only read words of comfort from the Word of God and try to sing two Indian hymns. Only a few of us stood about the grave, which the husband and myself had dug.

In the coffin had been placed dry crusts of bread, waste pieces of meat, a rusty knife, fork and spoon. In the grave were first placed some thick comfortables and a filthy pillow, on which the coffin, warmly wrapped, was placed. Then over the mouth of the grave was laid the broken tent poles, the tent covering folded and laid over, then a great mound of earth. At the grave everything the family had was given away. And this was only ten years ago. But how great an improvement on the custom of laying the body on the top of a high hill, or in the branches of a tree, or even leaving the top of the coffin even with the surface of the ground, which has been done away with only in the last twelve years.

I have described one of the first funerals in the Indian country that I remember. How different the funeral of one of our most faithful women, Mrs. Mary Gilbert, who was buried from our crowded Grand River Chapel April 17th. She had been a great sufferer for years, yet patiently, uncomplainingly, bearing it all. Though in her last sickness there was no hope of recovery, the most popular medicine man was not sent for. The suffering woman was not put out in a tent to die. Gratefully did she receive the tender nursing of the white lady missionary and the skillful school physician. Tenderly was she cared for to the last in a comfortable bed, in a clean, tidy house. The body was not hurried with unseemly haste to the burial. Through the darkness of night a messenger rode 30 miles to have the agency carpenter make a coffin, neatly cover it with black cloth and white metal trimmings. Through the darkness of another night was it carried back. The one service of the Sabbath day was the funeral service. Crowds gathered at the house at an early hour. The long procession of wagons was nearly two hours in reaching the chapel. Beautiful and simple was the service, and the closing words of the sorrowing husband will long be remembered, as he spoke of his wife's noble work and trusting faith in the Master. Through the parted lines of the 80 school children was borne the casket, followed by the parents of these children and others to the number of over 200, most of whom in the last eight years have found Christ as an ever-present Saviour, and have learned to know Him as "the resurrection and the life." In this belief they gathered about this grave, and from it they went to their homes to live re-consecrated lives.

I have but hinted at progress in these illustrations from their life. May the churches recognize this new type of Indian uprising, this progress in many ways, by larger gifts for building much needed churches, and in sending out new messengers of the Gospel of peace. The Indians seem ready to do their share, are we ready to do ours?

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The Chinese.

* * * * *

THE CALIFORNIA CHINESE MISSION.

I am requested to give a "general view of our work in about 1000 words:" and I attempt the task. The story is elastic; it bears compression. Perhaps it can be brought within the allotted space. I have often undertaken to tell it in five minutes, premising, however, always that to do this adequately would require more than five hours.

I. FIGURES THAT WILL NOT LIE. The first half of the present fiscal year ended March 3. The statistical reports for these six months are the best we have had for more than ten years. The total number of pupils enrolled in our 19 mission schools thus far is 970: about as many as in the whole year '95 to '96. The average membership month by month has been about 430, and the average attendance 234. Every month has been fraught with saving light and love for some dark souls. I cannot give an exact statement, but I think that nearly 50 conversions have been reported, making a total, since our work began, of fully 1,600.

II. THE NEW MISSION HOUSE. It has cost us, finished and furnished (so far as it is yet furnished), fully $19,500. It is a fine building in an admirable location, the best that could be found, overlooking a pretty square, yet standing just within the border line of San Francisco's Chinatown. It is four stories high, with a dry basement and a flat roof, and it is utilized on these six floors. The Noyes Memorial Chapel on the first floor is an attractive place of worship seating easily 250, and is used on week days for the Central School, which is, doubtless, the largest Chinese week-day school in our country. Rev. Jee Gam, with his large family, has several rooms as a sort of parsonage. Other Christian families occupy apartments. Homeless young men rent some of our best rooms, and use them for social purposes and as a retreat from the wickedness of almost every other gathering place in Chinatown. Most of these young men were Christians when they came to occupy these rooms. One among those who were not Christians has already turned to Christ, the first fruits in this our new garden of the Lord. We owe $13,250 on this building, of which $2,000 ought to be paid at once.

III. OUR WORK FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN is to be distinguished from the Rescue work among the female slaves bought and sold for the worst of purposes, who constitute a large majority of all the Chinese women in California. This latter work our Presbyterian and Methodist Missions have been doing for many years at large expense and with good results. They were prepared to take care of all who would come to them, and we did not enter into that field, for we never have used missionary money for the purpose of competition with other denominations, and we never will. The mothers living in wedlock and their children constitute our field, and wherever we have missions this is carried on with more or less activity according to the number of families and the welcomes extended. In Los Angeles, Marysville, San Francisco and Watsonville, there are visitors giving to this undertaking so much of their time as to make it necessary to assist in their support. I doubt if any human beings anywhere on earth have more hindrances to overcome, more lions to face, more superstitions to be laid aside in coming to Christ, than have the Chinese women. The tyranny of heathen husbands, the scorn of neighbors, the vague dread of untold calamities which the ghosts of the dead will inflict upon them if not duly worshipped, the stories told them of children kidnapped, eyes put out, hurtful spells thrown upon people by foreign devils; all these and other obstacles must be met and overcome. But Christian kindness will overcome everything if persistently shown, and I believe the time is coming when the harvest among these Chinese mothers will exceed, in proportion to the numbers within reach of us, any reaped elsewhere. I would like to go into the details of this comparatively new work but my limits forbid it.

IV. THE CHINESE POPULATION in America is, I believe, increasing. I cannot prove this, and I state it only as an impression. The Exclusion Law at its best is a leaky dike, and the tide washing up against it leaps through and sometimes overflows. How this comes to pass I have not space to tell, but while I do not believe that _all_ men have their price, I suspect that some Custom House officials have not always been proof against temptation, and are not now. And perjury in the view of a non-christian Chinese is a venial offense except when so clumsily committed as to lead to detection. But, no matter how these new comers get here, once among us they are fish for our fishing, and when one of them becomes a Christian and tells me he has been in the country five or six or eight years, I do not feel bound to make him confess the method of his entrance. He was a heathen then. There is no probability whatever that the work of our mission will cease for lack of material to work upon, till long after the present workers have passed to their reward.

V. THE FINANCES. Under this head the tale is soon told. Appropriation from the A. M. A. exhausted. The last check for this fiscal year from the office in New York came to me on the 1st of March. The bills for April are provided for, however. As to May, June, July and August, bills, which if the work were done as it should be, could not even by closest economy, be brought below $4,000, we wait for the payment of upon God and upon those whom he has made to be the almoners of His bounty. Our Chinese will probably give about $1,500. Who will give the rest?

W. C. POND.

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Obituary.

Rev. C. L. Woodworth, D.D., died in Amherst, Mass., May 23, 1898, on the day after the 78th anniversary of his birth. He was born in Somers, Conn., was graduated at Amherst College in 1845, at East Windsor Theological Institute in 1848, and was ordained to the ministry in the Second Church in Amherst and became its pastor Nov. 7, 1849. He remained there till September 2, 1863 when he resigned to become chaplain to the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment. In this service he remained nearly a year, and in 1865 was appointed general agent of the American Missionary Association for Massachusetts, and in 1866 its District Secretary for New England, with office in Boston, which position he occupied till 1888. In June, 1893, he returned to his pastorate in Amherst where he labored with much earnestness till his death.

* * * * *

RECEIPTS FOR FEBRUARY, 1898.

* * * * *

THE DANIEL HAND FUND

For the Education of Colored People.

Income for February $5,037.35 Previously acknowledged 29,295.00 ---------- $34,332.35 ==========

NOTE.--Where no name follows that of the town, the contribution is from the church and society of that place. Where a name follows, it is that of the contributing church or individual. S. means Sunday-school; C. means Church; C. E., the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor; S. A. means Student Aid.

CURRENT RECEIPTS.

MAINE, $224.03.

Augusta, Joel Spalding, 5. Baldwin, 2.85, Bangor. Stearns Circle K. D., _for S. A., Dorchester Acad., Ga._, 4. Bath, Central, 33.34. Castine, J. W. Dresser, _for S. A., Dorchester Acad., Ga._, 5. East Orington, 3.90. Farmington, S., _for Meridian, Miss._, 22.43. Hampden, First, 5.22. Harpswell Center, Aprons, _for Blowing Rock, N. C._ Limington, C., 9.15; C. E., 2. Little Deer Isle. Silas Hardy, _for Building, Tougaloo U._, 1. Machias, Clothing, Freight, 2, _for Blowing Rock, N. C._ Pownal, "Friends," _for Marion, Ala._, 25, Scarborough, S., 4.75. Skowhegan, L. S., Clothing, Freight 2.29. _for Blowing Rock, N. C._ South Freeport, Miss Fannie E. Soule, _for S. A., A. G. Sch., Moorhead, Miss._, 45. South Brewer, 3.60. Waterford, Miss H. C. Douglas, _for Freight_, 2; "Memorial of a deceased Friend," 50 cts. Waterville, C. E., _for S. A. Dorchester Acad., Ga._, 5. West Brooksville, C., 2.50; S., 75 cts.; C. E., 75 cts. West Newfield, 3. Windham, C., by Miss S. S. Varney, _for Mobile, Ala._, 18. Woodfords, Clothing, _for Andersonville, Ga._ Woodfords, L. S., Clothing, _for Blowing Rock, N. C._

MAINE WOMAN'S AID TO A. M. A., by Mrs. Ida V. Woodbury, Treas., $15.00:

Ashland, Agnes R. Mitchell Memorial, 5. Portland Second Parish, S., Miss Conley's Class, _for Mountain Work_, 10.

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $527.15--of which from Estate, $70.00.

Alstead Center, Clothing, Freight 1.26, _for Blowing Rock, N. C._ Amherst, S., 4. Belmont, "Friends," _for furnishing Teachers' Tables, Tougaloo U._, 37. Claremont, Y. L. M. S., Clothing, _for Wilmington, N. C._ Concord, Clara Howe Circle, K. D., Clothing. Francestown, S., 3.70; C. E., 1.30. Gilmanton, 86 cts. Hanover Center, First, 2.19. Henniker, 10.69. Keene, Second, 22.70. Kingston, 4.75. Lebanon, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. S. Carter, 15; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. M. Amsden, 6. Manchester, First, to const. FRANK H. HARDY, L. M., 50.71; Franklin St., 33.24. Nashua, First, Miss E. A. Boutwell, S. Class, _for S. A., Fisk U._, 7. North Hampton, C., to const. MRS. J. W. HOBBS, L. M., 41. Penacook, C. E., 2.45. Peterboro, Union, "Ladies' C. of Industry," _for Share Jubilee Fund_, 50. Plymouth, C. E., 5. Salem, S., 3. Sanbornton, 9.30. Stratham, 7. Webster, "Two Friends," _for Marion, Ala._, 3. Wilton, Second, C. E., 2. Winchester, C. E., _for S. A., Tougaloo U._, 12.

----, "Friends," _for House Furnishing, Tougaloo U._, 17.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FEMALE CENT. INST. and H. M. UNION, by Miss Annie A. McFarland, Treas., $105.00:

Concord, First, "A Friend," 100; South, Miss Helen Ayer's S. Class, 5.

ESTATE. Francestown, Estate of William Butterfield, by George Kingsbury, executor, 70.

VERMONT, $1,702.43--of which from Estate $1,239.76.

Albany, C. E., 1.57. Barre, S. and C. E., 6.71; L. M. S., Clothing, _for Dorchester Acad., Ga._ Barton, 23.60. Barton, W. H. M. S., _for Freight to Dorchester Acad., Ga._, 2. Brattleboro, Central, S., 5.10. Brattleboro, L. M. S., Clothing, _for Fisk U._ Burke, Miss Emma H. Beaman, Scrap Books, _for Dorchester Acad., Ga._ Chelsea, 14.39. Chelsea, Ladies of C. _for Freight to Dorchester Acad._, 1.25. Dorset, W. H. M. S., Clothing and Bedding, _for Marshallville, Ga._ Jamaica, Ladies' Aux., Clothing, freight paid, _for Dorchester Acad., Ga._ Newbury, First, 34. North Thetford, Mrs. John Pratt, 10. Pittsford, Mary Manley, 5. Putney, L. S., Clothing, _for Blowing Rock, N. C._ Randolph, "A Friend." 10; First 8.25. Rutland, S., _for S. A., Straight U._, 10. Saint Albans, Miss Fonda, Papers and Magazines, _for Blowing Rock, N. C._ Springfield, by Mrs. M. C. Hutchinson, 70 cts. Strafford, C., 9; C. E., _for Mountain Work_, 6. Tunbridge, 1.45. Vergennes. H. M. S., Clothing, _for Enfield, N. C._ Weston, Mrs. C. W. Sprague, 2.

----, "A Friend," 100.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION OF VERMONT, by Mrs. Rebecca P. Fairbanks, Treas., $211.65:

Bethel, Jr. C. E., 3.64. Brattleboro, 30. Cambridge, 1.61. Castleton, Jr. C. E., 3. Cornwall, Jr. C. E., 5. East Dummerston, Jr. S., 2.50. Essex Junction, Jr. C. E., 1.25. Granby, "Friends," 10; Mrs. M. A. Willson, 5. Jericho Center, S., 3.40. Montpelier, 20. Montpelier, Jr. C. E., 10. Pittsford, S., 10. Rutland, 15. Saint Johnsbury, Mrs. REBECCA P. FAIRBANKS, to const. herself L. M. 50; Saint Johnsbury, North, 8.50; East, Jr. C. E., 3. Swanton, Jr. C. E., 3. Waterbury, 5. Windsor, 10. Woodstock, 11.75.

ESTATE. Woodstock, Estate of Mrs. Emily W. Lewis, by Mason W. Ladd, executor, 1,239.76.

MASSACHUSETTS, $3,966.76--of which from Estates, $1,020.00.

Abington, S., 4. Amherst, First, C. E., _for Indian M._, 3.64. Andover, West, 20.68. Ashfield, Mrs. J. W. Hall, _for Freight_, 1. "Ayer, A. G. B.," 5.

Ayers Village, Miss Fannie Kimball, _for S. A. Fisk U._, 6. Boston, Leyden (1 of which _for Tougaloo U._), 119.94; Mrs. Ellen M. Wellman to const. REV. and MRS. V. F. CLARK, L. M's., 100; H. Fisher, 50; "Christian Endeavorer, Thank Offering," 25; Old South, S., _for Tougaloo U._, 5.20; Mabel S. Conillard's S. S. Class, Freight, 61 cents, _for Blowing_

_Rock, N. C._; Old South, Sewing Circle, Clothing, _for Tougaloo U._ Charlestown, J. E. T., 5. Dorchester, Second, 75; Second, "A Friend," 15; Second, "A Friend," _for Oahe Indian M._, 3; Harvard, _for Freight to Dorchester Acad., Ga._, 1.09. Braintree, First, Member, 5. Brockton, Mrs. D. D. Tilden, Christmas Gifts, _for Mobile, Ala._ Brookline, Miss Annie T. Belcher, 10. Buckland, 12.51. Cambridge, C., Young Ladies, _for Pleasant Hill, Tenn._, 25. Cambridgeport, "R. L. S.," 50; Hope, 5.51. Charlton, 8.35. Chelsea, Central, 48.64. Cohasset, Second, 14. Conway, W. Soc., _for Freight to Fort Berthold, N. D._, 5. Dalton, Zenas Crane, _for Tougaloo U._, 150.00. Dennis, Miss S. E. Hall, _for A. G. Sch., Moorhead, Miss._, 1. East Longmeadow, First, 5.56. East Somerville, Franklin Street Ortho., S., 3.29. East Wareham, "Two Friends" (10 of which _for Alaska M._), 30. Fall River, A. Robertson, _for Indian M., Fort Berthold, N. D._, 1. Fall River, L. M. Soc. Clothing, _for Fisk U._ Fitchburg, F. W. Osgood, _for Marion, Ala._, 50 cts. Framingham, "A Friend," 5 _for Indian M._ and 5 _for Jubilee Fund_. Great Barrington, S., 8.45. Great Barrington, C. E., Papers and Books, _for Dorchester Acad., Ga._ Hadley, First, S., 19.15. Haverhill, North, 86.79; "A Friend," 50; Center, Rev. C. M. Clark, 20. Holbrook, Winthrop, to const. MRS. ELLEN M. SPEAR and MISS LYDIA B. MERRITT, L. M.'s, 72.23; S., 2.21. Hubbardston, ad'l 5. Hyde Park, Dom. M. Soc., 5. Ipswich, Rev. T. Frank Waters, _for S. A. Fisk U._, 50; First Parish, S. & C. E., 10. Lawrence, South, 8. Lowell, Pawtucket, C. E., _for Lowell, N. C._, 12.50. Lowell, S. Robetsheek, 1. Lexington, Hancock, H. M. & S. U., Clothing, _for A. G. Sch., Moorhead, Miss._ Manchester, C. E., _for Thomasville, Ga._, 16. Merrimac, Magazines, etc., _for Fisk U._ Millbury, First, C. E., _for Mountain Work_, 9.52. Newbury, First, 21.82. Newton, Eliot, W. M. S., _for S. A. Fisk U._, 50. Newtonville, Central, 135.84. North Attleboro, Oldtown and Bethany Chapel, 5.71. North Amherst, L. M. Soc., Clothing, _for Fisk U._ Northampton, "A Friend," 300. North Andover, S., _for S. A. Fisk U._, 8.52. North Brookfield, First, 43. North Leominster, C., 16; C. E., 2. North Woburn, Jr. C. E., _for S. A., Skyland Inst., Blowing Rock, N. C._, 5. Orleans, 19.39. Pittsfield, First Ch. of Christ, S., 26.47; South, "A Friend," 25. Reading, "A Friend," 25. Richmond, Kings Daughters, Clothing, and 1.21 _for Freight to Dorchester Acad., Ga._ Rockland, Mrs. Betsey A. Hicks, 5. Salem, Tabernacle, S., 50. Salem, Crombie St. S., _for Indian M., Santee, Neb._, 10. Salem, Crombie St., Clothing, _for Wilmington, N. C._ Saxonville, Edwards, C. E., 2.59. Somerville, Highland, Jr. C. E., _for S. A., Wilmington, N. C._, 4. South Framingham, Miss C. A. Kendall, _for Meridian, Miss._, 5. South Hadley, C., to const. REV. ARTHUR B. PATTEN, L. M., 30. South Weymouth, Mrs. William Dyer, _for Jos. K. Brick, A. I._ and _N. Sch., Enfield, N. C._, 25.25. Springfield, Park, C. E., 5. Springfield, First, W. H. M. S., Clothing, _for Enfield, N. C._ Springfield, C. E., Clothing, Mags., etc., _freight paid for Dorchester Acad., Ga._ Stockbridge, Miss Alice Byington, _for Hospital, Fort Yates, N. D._, 100. Thorndike, C. E., 5.70. Townsend, 7.46. Ware, Clothing, _for Meridian, Miss._ Wareham, Joseph J. W. Burgess, 13. Wareham, 7.35. Warren, C. E., _for S. A., Dorchester Acad., Ga._, 2. Webster, A. P. Webster, Clothing, _for Andersonville, Ga._ Wellesley Hills, Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Fuller, _for Share Jubilee Fund_, 55. West Boxford, "The Gleaners," _for S. A., Lexington, Ky._, 8. West Brookfield, by Miss Alice J. White, _for S. A., Dorchester Acad., Ga._, 2. West Haverhill, C. E., 6.20. West Medway, Mrs. E. J. Spencer, 1. West Newbury, C., _for S. A., Straight U._, 5. West Somerville, Highland, 10. West Springfield, "Unknown," 50c. West Tisbury, First, 15.38. Worcester, Plymouth, S. _for Tougaloo U._, 25; "Two Friends," _for Freight_, 10; "A Friend," 10.

----, "A Friend," _for Pleasant Hill, Tenn._, 20.

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION OF MASS. AND R. I., $620.00.:

W. H. M. A., of Mass. and R. I., _for Salaries_, 480; _for Chinese Work_, 20; _for S. A., Straight U._, 10; Boston Union, Mrs. Francis Rolfe, 25. Roxbury, 50. South Boston, Miss C. A. Harlow and Miss Florence Nickerson, 5. Stoneham, Stevens, H. M. S., to const. MISS LUCY J. JOHNSON, L. M., 30.

ESTATES. Holliston, Estate of George Batchelder, J. M. Batchelder, Executor, 500. Northampton, Estate of Numan Clark, part bequest, 20. South Hadley, Estate of Mrs. Maria Burnham Gridley, In Memory of her husband, the late Addison Gridley, of Granby, Mass., by Loomis T. Tiffany, Executor, 500.

RHODE ISLAND, $161.27.

Little Compton, United, 24.57. Pawtucket, James Coates, _for Pleasant Hill, Tenn._, 100. Providence, Pilgrim, 25; North, C. E., 1.70.

Providence, R. E. Tenney, _for S. A. Lincoln Normal School, Marion, Ala._, 10.

CONNECTICUT, $1,849.24--of which from Estates $525.00.