Chapter L: A. P

“Reminiscences” in the October MISSIONARY have recalled a host of buried memories concerning the days of pioneer work, with its swiftly-changing experiences of humor and pathos.

I might draw a picture of the good man who often asked the Lord to “bless these teachers that have left their homes in foreign lands and come a far distance to destruct us;” of the old aunties who came to inquire about friends and old masters in Virginia and the Carolinas, thinking we must know the history of each family, because “didn’t you come right by there on your way down from the North?” of the romances and tragedies connected with the hundreds of letters we wrote inquiring for lost friends, sold away in the days of slavery; but one picture is more vivid than others, and as the days of quaint prayers are rapidly passing, I am tempted to commit it to print.

Almost a dozen years ago, I found myself one of two teachers in a night school varying from forty to sixty pupils. The roughly-ceiled room was long, low and dimly lighted. The scholars were hard-working men and women who walked one, two, three or four miles, after the day’s labor, for the sake of acquiring a bit of book learning. At ten o’clock lessons closed with a Bible reading, singing and prayer.

One evening, after books and slates had been laid aside, my attention was attracted by a voice, liquid and rollicking, as it carolled a popular “spiritual.” In the gray room—for the light wood fire was nearly out, and the two lamps in the rear gave little brightness—it was some time before I distinguished the singer.

He was a jaunty little man, very black, very lithe and very much dressed up. A blue round-a-bout coat was trimmed with two rows of yellow braid; a crimson dress braid made his neck-tie, the long ends of which floated over the shoulders. His hands were folded over a stout walking-stick; his head nodding and feet patting time to the music.

My thoughts instantly went back to childish days, to a certain tree where a golden oriole’s nest used to swing, to a field of red-winged, chattering bobolinks, not one of which ever seemed so deliciously happy in his song as my dusky scholar. I liked to look at him. It put me into communion with friends and influences hundreds of miles beyond the piny woods.

He often spoke and prayed in the regular prayer-meetings. We soon learned the words of his petition, for it was always in the same form, reverently intoned with an indescribable, inimitable cadence:

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hollowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as is in heaven. Father, Father—this evening—of all grace, look down upon us and hear us and bless us. O Saviour, come riding around this evening upon the milk-white horse and wake up sinners. Touch and tender about every heart. Teach ’em that they have a soul to be saved or to be lost to all eternity. Bless my old mother. Teach her that she has a soul to be saved or one to be lost to all eternity. Strike her with the hammer of conviction. Shoot her with the arrow of love. Bless families and families’ connections. Give us more grace, more faith, more love. Make us humble. Teach us to pray, and teach us to love it, too. Be our guide and leader and protector. Bless the sinners who are standing with one foot upon the grave and one upon the land of the living.

“Father! Father! when Gabriel shall stand with one foot in the sea and one upon the land to blow his horn, and he shall say, ‘How loud must I sound?’ and Thou say, ‘Sound calm and easy so as not to disturb My children,’ then shall we link and lock our eagle wings to march upward to the golden gate.

“And when You see us fail below, help us to say, ‘Here, Lord, I give myself away, ’tis all that I can do. Welcome dis solisted band and bear my soul away.’ And when You have done suiting and serving Thyself of us here, hand us to our graves in peace, where we shall praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in a world that never ends, is _my_ prayer for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

At that time this man was one of the more intelligent of his people.

In contrast, let me introduce a younger man of the same size and color, also endowed with unusual gift of song. Neatly dressed, quietly mannered, he seems no kin to the earlier types of his race.

From under the very shadow of Yazoo he writes these lines: “I have subscribed for the _New York Tribune_. My school numbers 112 pupils, with a daily attendance of 85 or 90. I have Cutter’s Physiology, from which I give oral lessons daily. I will state the studies of my most advanced pupils: Robinson’s Practical Arithmetic, Harvey’s Grammar, Swinton’s Geography and Educational Readers. School closes next Friday with a concert. I do wish you could be with us Thursday and Friday to attend the examinations.”

Lest any one may infer from the above that “the schoolmaster is abroad” in the land, let me quote one sentence of a prayer uttered a few months ago by the pastor of a large church in a leading Southern city: “O Lord, bless us individually and _respectfully_.”

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GEORGIA.

An Economical Industrial Department.

MRS. T. N. CHASE, ATLANTA, GA.

The demand for industrial departments connected with our schools of learning has developed so rapidly of late, that it appears like one of the fever heats of our American civilization that may soon subside.

Friends of the A. M. A. institutions have been specially anxious that their students should learn trades and home industries while at school, fearing that they would have little opportunity to learn them except from their Northern instructors, and thinking that they could be acquired from them outside of school hours without much thought, time or trouble.

On the other hand, some have felt that our immediate, pressing need was young colored men and women with minds developed by long and thorough training in the text-books used in our schools and colleges. They are not ignorant of the students’ deficiencies in practical knowledge, but feel that close and continued application of the mind to books is the best and surest way to acquire all knowledge. They believe that if the brain power of a child is developed, the hoe, the cook-stove and the sewing-machine will be well managed when occasion requires.

Again, these students are to be the teachers of their race in the South. These friends believe that nothing will so quickly convince the intelligent men of the South that the negro has power which they are bound to respect, as to see him well versed, not only in the sciences he teaches, but his mind broadened by a familiarity with subjects beyond. To secure this training, through an ordinary course suitable for an average teacher even in Northern schools, with supposed superior material, has generally been found to require all the time and strength of pupils under 18 years of age. Principals of the different schools, however, differ much both in theory and practice, in regard to combining manual with literary work.

In Atlanta much has been done during the past ten years in a quiet way, by the business manager, matrons and preceptress, toward giving practical instruction in a variety of home industries, making specially prominent the importance of _good_ work. Every student, during the entire course, works an hour a day, generally with careful supervision. While visiting the Massachusetts Agricultural College at Amherst, recently, I learned that less time for manual labor was required of its students.

During the past year, however, at Atlanta, it was thought best to give more time and thought especially to sewing, cooking and care of the sick. How to secure a practical knowledge of these without much expense of material or instruction, and without taking much of the student’s time from literary pursuits, was the problem. The sewing was arranged in this way: Sometime before graduation the girls are required to make, under the eye of the preceptress, a small garment of calico or other inexpensive material. This garment is to contain all the varieties of plain sewing, machine-stitching, hand-hemming, ruffling, etc. More than this, it must have the bugbears of all beginners in sewing—a buttonhole, a patch and a darn. Each girl writes her name in indelible ink on the garment, and it is kept in the institution as a record of her standing in sewing.

In a catalogue I received lately from the hands of the matron of the Mt. Holyoke Seminary are these words: “It is not part of the design of this seminary to teach young ladies domestic work. This branch of education is exceedingly important, but a literary institution is not the place to gain it. Home is the proper place for the daughters of our country to be taught on this subject, and the mother the appropriate teacher.” I think I remember reading the same words from a catalogue twenty years ago, and presume they were first penned by the immortal Mary Lyon. So we hoped the emulation created by the prospect of leaving a beautiful specimen of needle-work upon graduation would inspire our girls to faithful painstaking in sewing at their homes even before entering school. The matron has the graduating class spend their required hour of work in learning to make good bread and to do other plain cooking. When any student is ill, opportunity is given for practical instruction from the preceptress in nursing the sick. In addition to this, the time of one recitation was taken during a part of the year for giving instruction in household science. A teacher prepared talks upon general rules for good housekeeping, general principles of good cooking, care of the sick, care of children, economy, etc. The class took notes, and were examined from their notes before the visiting board at the close of the school. We hoped thus to convince them that we were not educating our girls above the homeliest duties of the household, as some of them had accused us of doing.

I have given these details to show how much may be done in this direction without any additional expense.

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Revival—Work and Results.

S. B. MORSE, SAVANNAH

The Congregational church of this city has been blessed with a visible outpouring of God’s Spirit. Many of our old members have been quickened in their religious feelings and have reconsecrated themselves to their Lord and Saviour. Many who have been lingering and shivering on the brink of doubt, and many, too, who were waiting a plainer manifestation of their acceptance with God by “dreams and travels,” suddenly, as the truth struck them, yielded their ways to _His_ ways, and are now, we trust, walking in accordance not with their own, but with God’s plans.

We had an extra series of meetings for over two weeks, which were well attended by Christians of all denominations. These meetings closed last week. On Sunday morning, September 7th, one was baptized by immersion, and at night five others were by sprinkling. Still another was received who was a fallen member of some other church. Five children were at the same time baptized, after which all those who loved the Lord Jesus, and who wished, met around His sacramental board and feasted with Him. The church was so crowded that many were compelled to stand outside. It was a high day in Israel. Many hearts were gladdened.

Most of those we received were young people. Some of them teachers of our Sabbath-school, and nearly all of them at some time had been under the influence of some good Northern lady teacher. Perhaps those teachers were disheartened and feared that their good seed had fallen upon stony ground, but in this they were deceived. We are too anxious often to see results. God’s logic extends through years, but His conclusions are nevertheless sure and true.

Rev. Floyd Snelson officiated at the sacraments of baptism and the eucharist. Bro. Clarke was directly instrumental in bringing about this revival.

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ALABAMA.

Our New Church Building.

REV. WM. H. ASH, FLORENCE

Our new church is getting on nicely. The outside is nearly finished, with the exception of the belfry, which I hope will be done this week. The work has been carried on strictly with reference to economy as well as to the finish, and yet it is so well done that it is simply beautiful. Almost everybody has something to say about the church. One says, “You are going to have a nice church, and your church will be well attended when it is done.” Another says, “This is the greatest thing the colored people ever accomplished in Florence.” I am constantly greeted by my white fellow-citizens with, “You are going to have the only modern church in town;” and they visit the scene of the building to watch the progress of the work and speak friendly of it. A gentleman who lives in Fryar’s Point, Miss., and belongs to one of the first families here, has just asked me to let him look at the plan. He said, “This is going to be a credit to the town.” I have put on a large portion of the first coat of paint myself.

The people have made great sacrifices to build their house of worship. I don’t believe that the same number of members in any church North could have done better with all the discouraging circumstances. They have struggled hard to help themselves, giving when really they needed it at home.

We shall need a bell and pews, also a communion service, and money to buy paint for the finishing of the inside and out. Who wants to help those who help themselves?

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Letter from a Student—Vacation Supply at Mobile.

J. W. ROBERTS, TALLADEGA.

Our protracted meetings lasted during three weeks. The Holy Ghost has given us five souls for our hire; besides He has warmed up our hearts with His sacred love as a church. I am thankful to Him that my health is kept all right.

Since and during our revival our audiences have been steadily increasing both at afternoon and evening services. There is also an unusual interest in our Thursday praise meetings. In short, the “fold” is in a good condition if the shepherd will come soon.

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AFRICA.

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THE MENDI MISSION.

Annual Meeting of the Missionaries—The Board of Counsel and Advice.

The annual meeting of the Board of Counsel and Advice of the Mendi Mission was held in the Good Hope Chapel, at Sherbro Island, July 14, 1879. Rev. A. P. Miller presided, and Dr. Benjamin James was elected Secretary.

The Moderator made the following introductory remarks:

Before we proceed to our business, you will please indulge me with a few preliminary remarks, inasmuch as we are about to enter upon that part of our missionary work which will tell most plainly to the civilized world as to the wisdom and good judgment of colored missionaries in devising plans for the furtherance of a work of so great importance, sacredly intrusted to our care.

In the performance of our several duties in the second annual meeting of our Board, let us not forget that body of devoted men of the A. M. A., by whose unwearied zeal and toil means are procured for the furtherance and extension of this well-begun work.

Let us not forget the thousands of Christian men and women who give of their means for the support of Missions, especially in Africa.

Let us not forget the five millions of our own race in the South, from whom the shackles of slavery have been torn asunder, to whom Africa is now looking for the light of the Gospel and a Christian civilization, of whom we are the advance guards.

Let us not forget that the problem of Africa’s future is now under solution and that we are the solvers. Our failure to arrive at a conclusion in her favor, as Freedmen, would bring everlasting disgrace upon us as a race, while on the other hand we should most shamefully wrong unenlightened manhood, whose blood would be required at our hands.

As a slave, the negro served well his oppressors. As a soldier, he served well the cause of freedom and his country. The tyrant’s chain of oppression, which held five millions in bondage, has been broken, and to-day the grand duty as well as privilege of carrying light and life to his benighted brethren in his fatherland lies before him and calls him onward. It remains yet for him to prove himself a man in this important relation that he holds to his fellow-countrymen and to the world.

In view of these great responsibilities incumbent upon us in this Council assembled, in the discussion and decision of matters of importance, may God, in mercy, so guide each one that he shall be unprejudiced and deeply sincere, as well as conscientious, throughout all these deliberations, with due regard to their bearing upon the interest of the benighted whom we come to serve and enlighten. In view of all these things, may each one give the weight of his influence to the furtherance of our work, exercising patience and charity one toward the other.

Committees were appointed on the various interests of the Mission, while the subject of the extension of the work was referred to a committee of the whole.

The _Committee on Church Work_ reported forty-four members in the church at Good Hope Station, one having died during the year; seven infants baptized; attendance on services good, and showing earnest desire to hear the Word; advance in the Christian life of converts; prayer-meetings valuable. Some persons, under watch and care, will be received to membership as soon as legally united in matrimony.

At Avery there are forty-one members; under watch and care, three adults; eleven children baptized. Increasing willingness on the part of the people to attend church, and growing interest in the cause of Christ give encouragement.

At Debia, Mr. Goodman conducts religious services on the Lord’s day. A chapel is hoped for here, books at Good Hope, and repairs of building at Avery.

Our Sunday-school is in a flourishing condition, being well attended, most of the scholars attending church services. Bradford friends in England sent our Sunday-school a nice present in the shape of copies of the Gospels, pamphlets, papers, etc., which we used as prizes for good attendance, to encourage the little ones. We need singing books for this work.

The _Committee on School Work_ reported that at Good Hope the school has made rapid progress. During the year 245 children have been enrolled. These are both from the Sierra Leone and from the native element. They learn English rapidly. “We have teachers,” says the report, “who are quite awake to their duty. Children are accessible in Sherbro, and are brought into day and Sunday schools in large numbers. Through the kindness of friends of the poor little Africans, shirts have been put on their backs and books into their hands, for which they seem to be grateful. Of course these wear out, and others must be procured in some way or other in their stead, or these little ones in many cases will leave off attending school. They must be constantly looked after. We hope to see not far in the future a first-class school at this place. We have material in abundance upon which to work. Time, patience and labor will bring success.”

The school at Avery has not made such progress as was hoped for during the year. On the first of January its numbers were decreased by the taking away of most of the larger boys to cut the crops for their parents. The irregularity of attendance is a great obstacle in the way of our success. Some attend for one day, and may not be seen again for a month. Those who have attended regularly have made progress. The prospect for the future is better. There are some children now in the Mission whose attendance may be depended on. Most of the children living in the village around the Mission have been taken to the farms to drive birds, so that the number on the roll at present is only twenty, ten of whom come from the Mission house. There have been 56 on the roll during the year.

The school work at Debia is encouraging, Mr. Goodman and family being settled there. We base our hopes largely on the little ones who are being trained in our Mission schools.

The _Committee on Agriculture_ reported that the cassida planted at Good Hope does not thrive, owing to the impoverished condition of the soil. At Avery the coffee plantation is in a comparatively thriving condition, and some of the trees bearing well. The need of more laborers and implements is urged, and it is recommended “that more of the ground be put under cultivation as a measure tending to supply the wants of the growing Mission, and that the children of the Mission be employed two hours each day upon the farms, under the supervision of a competent and skillful person.” It is further recommended “that the science of horticulture be introduced at each station, and that the choicest flora of native and foreign production capable of being grown on the premises be obtained, so far as practicable, for this purpose.”

The _Committee on Industrial Work_ reported that the saw mill needs repairs of floor and roof, that one saw is in good running order. There are sixteen hands employed at the mill, and two more are needed. It is deemed desirable that some of the Mission children should be “instructed into the workings of mechanics so far as we have the means for instruction.”

Committees on _Repairs and Sanitary Condition_ of the Mission, made careful examination, and reported their advice in these regards.

DISTRIBUTION OF MISSIONARIES.

Some changes were made in the location of the members of the Mission. The force is now divided as follows: At Good Hope: Rev. A. P. Miller and wife, Pastor and Superintendent of the Mission; Dr. Benjamin James, Physician and Teacher; and Mr. A. E. White, Principal of School. At Avery: Rev. A. E. Jackson, Pastor; Mr. E. L. Anthony, Industrial Department, and Mr. George N. Jewett, Teacher.

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THE INDIANS.

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A TOUR AMONG THE CLALLAM INDIANS.

REV. MYRON EELLS, S’KOKOMISH, W. T.

The last month has been spent in a tour among the Clallam Indians. Wishing to go further, and be absent from home longer than has been usual on such trips, my family, who had not been six miles away from home for more than two years, concluded to accompany me. Although steamers run the whole route of our travel, yet as they stop at but few of the places where the Indians live, and on the main part of the route go only once a week, it was impracticable for us to travel in that way, so we took a canoe from the Reservation with an Indian man and his wife, looked out for our own food, carried house and bed, stowed in the three babies, and away we went.

Our first call on Indians was at _Port Gamble_, fifty miles from home. Here are about one hundred, and they asked me to talk on temperance. During the last year and a half they have reformed in this respect. After pointing them to Christ as the source of their help, they had their talk. They said that one thing now troubles them. They live across Port Gamble Bay, an eighth of a mile from the saw-mill and town, in a village by themselves, on land owned by the mill company. They can manage the Indians as well as could be expected, but there is near them a white man with a black heart, who with his Indian wife often gets drunk, sometimes remaining so for a week at a time. They also tempt the weaker Indians; and now how to get rid of him is the question. As both he and they live on land belonging to the company, the only way I saw was for them to petition the superintendent to remove him. So after nine o’clock at night I wrote out a petition, which the chiefs and policemen and others signed, stating all the facts, and asking for this man’s removal. I was obliged to leave early the next morning, and so left them to present it. I have known of whites petitioning to have worthless Indians removed, but have never before known Indians to petition to have a white man removed because he was so low that they did not wish to have him near them. Two years ago they would not have done this, as many of them were glad to have an opportunity so convenient where they could obtain the liquid poison.

My next congregation was at _Port Discovery_, thirty-five miles farther on, and very much the same routine was observed at a number of places. My business with them was to preach; theirs with me was to talk about how and where to procure land in the best way. This was true at Port Angelos, Elkwa, and two settlements at Clallam Bay. For several years they have been urged to procure land so that they could feel warranted in erecting good houses, and thus leave the old ones, full of grease, dirt and smoke; but with the exception of those at Dunginess, very few have done so; now they begin to realize the benefits of it and have “land on the brain.” But they move cautiously, for it is easy for them to be deceived, and it is talk, talk, talk as to what is best. Two parties traveled to the Reservation about the time I was beginning my journey—a trip of two or three hundred miles—to consult about land.

At _Dunginess_ a troublesome case begins. Four Indians, living fifty miles farther on, had been here three or four weeks previously, anxious to obtain the land on which their houses stood. They had been sent to the clerk of the Probate Court, who knew nothing about it, but told them it was Government land, and offered to get it for them for the usual fees, nineteen dollars each. They paid him the seventy-six dollars, and he promised to send it to the land office at Olympia, and have their papers for them in two weeks. They waited the two weeks, but received no returns. In the meantime others told them that the man could lawfully do the business, but he was not to be trusted, for the land had been owned by private individuals for fifteen years. He, too, by the time I met him, had written to the land office and found the same to be true. My business is, if possible, to get the money back. It is useless to sue him, as he has no property which the law can touch. One of the four Indians returned with me to get his money, but was satisfied that it was useless for him to go farther, so he went home. He had already spent three weeks, and the three others two weeks each in trying to recover it. Yet this same man is Postmaster, Clerk of the Probate Court, U. S. Commissioner, Deputy Sheriff, and lately offered fifty dollars to the County Treasurer to be appointed his deputy. I was not disappointed at the result, but handed the business over to the agent to settle in Court.

Let us contrast the action of the Indians with this. I felt very sorry for them. For four years we have been advising them to obtain land, and now they were swindled in their first attempt. Fearful lest they should become discouraged, I offered them ten dollars to divide amongst them, saying, “If you never get your money I will lose this with you, but if you do you can then repay it.” One-tenth of my income has long been given to the Lord, and I felt that it would do as much good there as anywhere. When I first mentioned this they refused, saying that they did not wish me to lose my money, if they did theirs, but two weeks afterwards, when I left the last one he took it; yet shortly afterwards I found that he would not spend any of it, although he wanted some articles very much, saying that it was not their money after all.

This lower part of the Sound is very like the ocean, with nothing to break the winds, so I procured for that part of the journey a very large canoe, thirty-six feet long, two and a half deep and six wide. The children can play in it, and at night we anchored it out in some good harbor like a small schooner.

Hospitality was very generous. I thought that there were too many of us to go into anybody’s house; but at Dunginess, where we remained two or three days in connection with each of two Sabbaths, a woman said, in the absence of her husband, “You must all come in. If you pitch your tent I will set fire to it and burn it down.” We submitted. The agent at Neah Bay was just as hospitable, notwithstanding that his house already seemed to be full, and also the superintendent of the mill at Seabeck.

The weather was generally pleasant, but sometimes it rained hard. No one caught cold, however, on account of it. Camping on the sand is not so pleasant. Fresh water is so scarce as only to be used for drinking. We boil our potatoes in salt water, but get it near shore, and forget to let it settle. The potatoes crack, and the sand is all through them. Then baby crawls along and tips the rice over into the sand, and we all tramp the sand on to the beds, and into them, until our better half wishes herself at home, as it blows into the food-box and clothes-boxes and everywhere.

A WEDDING.

An Indian, who had been married Indian fashion for several years, but who had homesteaded a farm, thought it best to be married in a civilized way. He had never seen such a performance, so I explained all to him beforehand. But when I was going through the ceremony and had just said, “You promise to take this woman to be your wife,” he interrupted me, saying, “Yes, of course I do. You do not suppose I am going to put away my wife now, after I have lived with her so long? See, here are my children, the oldest fifteen years old. It would be foolish for us now to separate.” I told him, “All right,” kept very sober, laughed in my sleeve, made a note of it, and proceeded to say, “You promise to love and honor her,” etc.

Twenty religious services were held during the journey, including one communion service, and one very pleasant prayer-meeting preparatory to it. Thus we spent the month of August, enjoyed it, and have enjoyed home all the more since reaching it.

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CHILDREN’S PAGE.

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CABIN PRAYER-MEETINGS—WHICH WAS THE HERO?

LILLIE E. BARR, ATLANTA, GA.

DEAR TEACHERS AND CHILDREN:

I wish I had space, so I could tell you all of the beautiful, interesting and helpful things that happen day by day in my work; but as I have not, I must content myself with giving you one or two incidents. First, let me tell you about an impromptu prayer-meeting held in one of the many cabins which dot the hills all over. A few nights ago I went to see a sweet old Christian, who for three years has not known an hour’s rest from pain, and yet is as merry as a cricket, receiving the little offerings of food and shelter which her poor neighbors bring her with cheerful gratitude as from her God. One day I asked her how she could be so patient and so gay. “Why, chile, it’s all on de journey, an’ I don’t know no reason why the way should be made easier fur me than it was fur the Master,” she answered. While I was trying to make her more comfortable, several women came in, _none of whom could read_, and after we had talked a little while about our sweet Lord Jesus, one said: “Please read the chapter where Jesus says: ‘I pray not for these alone, but for all of them who shall believe on me through their word.’” A little tin lamp was brought, and as I opened my Bible I glanced at the living picture before me. The lamp threw its feeble light over the patient sufferer, and lit up the dusky faces of the women bending eagerly forward as I read those blessed words. No sooner had I finished the chapter than one began that beautiful slave song, “Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus.” Instantly it was caught up. Our hearts had touched the heart of Christ in this grand prayer chapter. As soon as it was ended, another chapter was asked for, and then another, and another, intermingled with prayer and song. It was just such a prayer-meeting, I imagine, as the one held by the disciples when, being gathered together, Jesus stood in their midst and said, “_Peace be with you._” I knew, I felt that I had been with Jesus.

With the light and grace of this prayer-meeting still about us, we came down an alley and into a court known as Campbell’s Block. It is a square, built round with cabins of one or two rooms _without windows_. A large wash-shed and well occupy the centre of the court. Look now into the rooms; everywhere dirt and filth, crying children, quarreling children, women smoking, women dipping snuff, women idling, women washing, women fretted with care until they are prematurely old, and not _one_ woman in the block able to read, and so gain strength from the blessed word of God. And this block is one out of four in our field. One house only shows any sign that for the poor there is anything beautiful; but that, like a grand sermon, stands amid this misery and sin, from ground to roof a mass of flowers. I could not help thinking what a joy they must be to the ministering angels, as they pass through this place of suffering and sin. To me they were the promise of redemption for the block. Like a pure thought in a sinful heart we found old Mr. and Mrs. Pleasant in one of the rooms. He is blind and helpless with paralysis, consequently the providing of rent, food and clothes devolves upon his aged wife. After reading them the two last chapters in Revelation, the old man cried out: “It’s worth while being blind to know the first thing I shall see will be the New Jerusalem.” “Yes indeed, George, now we must work harder than ever to win home,” answered his wife, as she brushed the tears away. We have begun a prayer-meeting in this block, and I ask your prayers for its success. To these cases I might add ever so many more; but if I give you big folks any more room, I shall crowd my story to the children out, and that wouldn’t be one bit fair—would it, little ones?

I shall introduce my story by asking the boys to pay particular attention, as I want them to decide whether Jesse Dobbs or Jim Prescott—the two boys whom this story is about—is the true hero.

“Who minds de cold? Come on, Jesse; de boys is going to make up a company and have heaps of fun down by Big Bethel.” I must explain that Big Bethel is the name of a church.

Jesse glanced out at the sunshine and called, “Mammie, mayent I go with Jo down to Big Bethel?”

As the answer was yes, the two bounded away and soon joined several boys, the leader of whom, from his coarse, bloated face to his heavily booted feet, was the very picture of a young ruffian. As Jesse and Jo came up he was saying, “Dare aint a fatter roost to pick den old Judge Gibbs’ in de world; ’sides dat, you ken git 15 cents a piece fur every chick’n. Den you brings de money to me, and I gibs you so much out of it. ’Stand what I say?”

“Yar, yar,” came from the other boys.

“’Sides dat, dares heaps of fun clearing off a chick’n roost, and I, fur one, aint feared to go into nobody’s yard. Now is you gwine to be ready to-night to follow your captain? I’s your captain.”

“Captain of what?” asked Jesse.

“Captain of the roost-clearing brigade; dat’s what. Is you going to jine us, Dobbs? If you aint I’ll most kill you fur coming here to spy into our plans.”

Jesse paused an instant, then he said, “No.”

“Why not, I’d jist like fur to know?” demanded Jim, angrily.

“Because I aint going to jine no thieving company.”

The words were hardly spoken before Jim lifted his foot and kicked him in the side. Kick followed kick in such rapid succession, that Jesse was almost senseless before Jim could be pulled off; and when I formed his acquaintance he had been in bed nine months, a large tumor having formed in the side where he had been kicked. When I asked him about lying so long in bed, he answered:

“At first the time was awful long, but by-and-by I began to take notice how mother worried when I ’plained of de pain and de tiredness, so I took to trying not to ’plain _fore_ her, and that kinder drawed off my ’tention from de pain.”

For nine months he had been trying to help his mother by being patient. Three weeks ago he died from the effects of that cruel kick—died forgiving all who had injured him, and bearing his cross of suffering like a noble little Christian to the end.

Which was the hero—Jim, who boasted he wasn’t afraid to steal from any man, or Jesse, who wasn’t afraid to say _no_, although forewarned that he would be almost killed if he said it?

I say Jesse was.

What do you all say?

From this story I hope you will all try to be more gentle and loving, for we never know what months of pain and suffering, not only to others, but also to ourselves, one rude action may cause.

* * * * *

RECEIPTS

FOR SEPTEMBER, 1879.

* * * * *

MAINE, $215.61.

Bangor. Hammond Street Ch., $100; West Bangor
Chapel, $6 $106.00
Bluehill. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Brewer. First Cong. Ch., $4.95, and Sab. Sch.,
$2.60; J. Holyoke, $5 12.55
Brunswick. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.00
Castine. Rev. A. E. Ives 3.00
Litchfield Corners. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Machias. Centre St. Cong. Ch. 7.56
Minot Centre. Mrs. B. J. 1.00
Northport. “A Friend” 0.50
Orland. “A Friend” 5.00
Orono. F. A. M. 1.00
Portland. State St. Cong. Ch. 50.00
Woolwich. Mrs. Jotham P. Trott 2.00

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $639.43.

Acworth. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.55
Bristol. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 3.85
Campton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.00
Candia. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 24.90
Concord. Miss Alma J. Herbert, $3; S. S., $1;
Others, $2 6.00
Dover. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 82.29
Franklin. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 30.00
Francestown. Mrs. A. H. Kingsbury 3.00
Fitzwilliam. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $8.75; Mrs. L.
Hill, $5 13.75
Hampstead. Ann M. Howard 5.00
Hanover. Dartmouth Religious Soc. 50.00
Mount Vernon. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.04
Northwood. Cong. Ch. and Soc. (ad’l) 1.00
Orfordville. “A Friend” 1.00
Pelham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 46.40
Pembroke. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 16.88
Pittsfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 16.75
Raymond. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.00
Rindge. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 4.11
Swanzey. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.00
Temple. Cong. Sab. Sch. 20.91
Thornton’s Ferry. Individuals, by Mrs. H. N. Eaton 2.00
Troy. ESTATE of Dea. Abel Baker, by A. W. Baker
and J. S. Parmenter, Ex’s. 150.00
Walpole. F. Kilburn, $50; W. G. Barnett, $5 55.00
Wilton. Second Cong. Ch. 25.00

VERMONT, $480.21.

Alburgh. Ladies’ Miss. Soc., by Mrs. E. M. Hicks,
Sec. and Treas. 1.00
Brattleborough. Cong. Ch. 28.82
Burlington. “A Friend” 5.00
East Arlington. Rev. Chas. Redfield 5.00
Greensborough. Rev. Moses Patten and Wife 15.00
Granby and Victory. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.30
Jamaica. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.61
Putney. Mr. and Mrs. Foster 5.00
Saint Johnsbury. North Cong. Ch. and Soc. 143.00
Wardsborough, North. Union Col. 4.00
Wardsborough, South. Ch. and Soc. 3.48
Wells River. ESTATE of Mrs. Chloe Brock, by F.
Deming, Ex. 250.00
West Brattleborough. Cong. Sab. Sch. 7.00
Westminster West. “A Friend” 5.00

MASSACHUSETTS, $3,401.94.

Ayer. Mrs. C. A. Spaulding 50.00
Boston. G. F. Kendall, $5; Dea. G. P., $1 6.00
Boston. Dorchester Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 926.44
Boston. Highland Cong. Ch. (ad’l) 50.00
Boxborough. Mrs. J. Stone 10.00
Buckland. “A Friend,” $4; Dea. S. Trowbridge, $2 6.00
Cambridge. Geo. H. Fogg, to const. MRS. GEO. H.
FOGG, L. M. 30.00
Clinton. First Evan. Ch. and Soc. 75.00
Coleraine. Cong. Ch. 10.00
Danvers. Maple St. Ch. and Soc. to const. HENRY
RIPLEY, MRS. LYDIA T. KIMBALL and MISS HATTIE
ELIOT, L. M’s 110.00
Deerfield. N. H. 0.51
East Hampton. First Cong. Sab. Sch. 25.00
Enfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 67.00
Falmouth. Cong. Ch. and Soc. (ad’l) 8.00
Foxborough. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 28.19
Framingham. George Nourse 5.00
Gardner. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Georgetown. “A Friend,” $5; “A Friend,” bbl. of C. 5.00
Great Barrington. A. C. T., $1; L. M. P., $1 2.00
Greenfield. Second Cong. Ch. 3.00
Hanover. ESTATE of Isaac M. Wilder, by Chas. B.
Fox and Jedediah Dwelley, Ex. 500.00
Holbrook. Mrs. C. S. Holbrook 100.00
Housatonic. Housatonic Cong. Sab. Sch. 25.00
Lakeville Precinct. Cong. Sab. Sch. 20.00
Lancaster. Evan. Cong. Ch. 35.14
Lenox. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.00
Malden. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 33.23
Mansfield. Orth. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.03
Medway. “A Friend” 1.00
Nantasket. M. H. Scott, _for Student Aid, Tougaloo
U._ 26.16
Newton Highlands. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 48.04
Norfolk. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.22
Norton. Trin. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.25
Northampton. ESTATE of J. P. Williston, by A. F.
Williston, Ex. 394.24
Northampton. “A Friend” 200.00
Northbridge Centre. Helen S. Winter 2.00
North Brookfield. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 50.00
Northfield. Trin. Ch. and Soc. 15.00
North Leominster. Church of Christ 19.00
Orange. Central Ch. 4.10
Plainfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $11.69; Samuel
Loud, $10 21.69
Randolph. Miss Abbie W. Turner 10.00
Shelburne. Cong. Church 24.94
Sherborn. Mrs. Aaron Greenwood 3.00
Somerville. Franklin St. Ch. and Soc. 75.00
South Amherst. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
South Attleborough. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.00
Southbridge. Evan. Free Ch. and Soc., to const.
REV. GEO. H. WILSON, L. M. 40.00
Southfield. Ladies, 2 bbls. of C., _for
Woodbridge, N. C._
South Sudbury. Ladies’ Miss. Soc., $2 and bbl. of
C. 2.00
Springfield. “E. M. P. South Ch.” 15.00
Taunton. Winslow Ch. and Soc. 34.00
Walpole. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.00
Warwick. Cong. Sab. Sch. 6.00
Watertown. Phillips Cong. Ch. 46.50
Webster. Cong. Sab. Sch. 13.81
Westborough. Freedman’s Mission Ass’n, bbl. of C.
West Brookfield. Cong Ch. and Soc. 45.00
Westford. Union Cong. Ch. and Soc. 35.00
West Newton. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 44.34
Weymouth. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.11

RHODE ISLAND, $90.37.

Bristol. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 37.18
Little Compton. United Cong. Ch. 38.00
Westerly. Pawcatuck Cong. Ch. 15.19

CONNECTICUT, $2,194.26.

Branford. H. G. Harrison 5.00
Chaplin. Cong. Ch. 10.50
Chester. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 32.25
Cheshire. Cong. Ch. 17.34
Coventry. B. T. Preston 5.00
Durham. ESTATE of I. Parmelee, by W. W. Fowler,
Ex. 100.00
East Hampton. Cong. Ch., to const. MRS. WILBUR F.
STARR and MRS. HERMAN E. RICH, L. M.’s 77.75
Greenwich. R. B. CARPENTER, to const. himself L.
M. 30.00
Griswold. Cong. Ch. 50.00
Hadlyme. Cong. Sab. Sch. 12.72
Hanover. Hanover Ch. and Soc. 25.00
Hartford. Thomas H. Smith, $100, _for Theo. Dep’t
Howard U._;—John R. Lee, M. D., $50;—C. C.
Lyman, $20, _for Fisk U._;—“I. W.” $5 175.00
Harwinton. Cong. Ch. 41.00
Higganum. Cong. Soc. 12.00
Mansfield. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 4.48
Manchester. Second Cong. Ch. 19.31
New Britain. ESTATE of Rev. Charles Nichols, by
John B. Smith, Ex. 1000.00
New Haven. “A Mere Crumb,” $10; Erwin Shelley, $5 15.00
New London. First Ch. 66.80
Norwich Town. “G. M.,” for _Memphis, Tenn._ 5.00
North Woodstock. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 30.33
Old Saybrook. Cong. Ch. 13.03
Putnam. Mary T. Howe, $10;—Mary A. Keith, $5,
_for Athens, Ala._ 15.00
Rocky Hill. Mission Circle, “Fragment Gatherers,”
by Miss Sarah D. Baldwin 20.00
Stafford. Mrs. Thomas H. Thresher 5.00
Terryville. Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. HOMER
W. GRISWOLD, CHAS. PURRINGTON and MRS. MARY
SMITH, L. M’s 144.83
Thomaston. Cong. Ch. 28.25
Unionville. First Cong. Ch., _for Talladega C._ 41.46
Warehouse Point. Roxana K. Porter 5.00
Washington. Mrs. Rebecca Hine, $30, to const.
EDWARD ROBERT POND, L. M.; S. J. Nettleton, $5 35.00
Washington. LEGACY of Miss Julia Canfield, by
Chas. L. Hickox, Treas. Cong. Ch. 20.00
Watertown. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 32.54
West Brook. Cong. Ch., to const. MISS E. E. LAY,
L. M. 35.90
Wethersfield. Horace Savage 2.00
West Winsted. —— 10.00
Woodstock. ESTATE of Geo. A. Paine 51.77

NEW YORK, $626.24.

Amsterdam. Chandler Bartlett 10.00
Berryville. S. W. 1.00
Bergen. Mrs. F. D. Kingman 5.00
Brooklyn. Central Cong. Sab. Sch., $25, by Geo.
H. Shirley, _for Rev. Geo. Henry_;—Sab. Sch. of
Church of the Mediator, $20 45.00
Brooklyn, E. D. J. W. S. 1.00
Camden. “A Friend” 2.00
Carthage. Mrs. Agnes Vrooman 5.00
Crown Point. Mrs. L. J. Murdock 5.00
Deansville. Mrs. P. M. Barton 40.00
Gerry. Mrs. M. A. Sears 128.36
Gouverneur. Mrs. E. M. 1.00
Harpersfield. Cong. Ch. 7.00
Jamestown. —— 5.00
McDonough. Miss C. Sawtelle 2.00
Medina. ESTATE of Allen Bacon, by A. E. Bennett,
Ex. 51.48
Nelson. J. L. Bishop 7.00
Newark Valley. LEGACY of a deceased sister (in
part), by Mrs. A. B. Smith 7.45
Newark Valley. Cong. Ch. 28.00
New York City. S. T. Gordon 100.00
Norwich. Miss M. H. Northup (Smyrna, N. Y.), and
Mrs. R. A. Barber 10.00
Oneonta. Mrs. H. Slade, $1.50; Mrs. W. McC., 50c. 2.00
Oswego. Cong. Ch. 2.08
Poughkeepsie. First Cong. Ch. 12.50
Sacket’s Harbor. Mrs. Anar H. Barnes 30.00
Sherburne. Cong. Ch., $90.37;—C. H. Fuller, $10,
_for Athens, Ala._ 100.37
Sinclearville. Earl C. Preston 2.00
Syracuse. Rev. J. C. Holbrook 10.00
Walton. First Cong. Ch. (ad’l) 5.00
West Milton. I. K. 1.00

NEW JERSEY, $20.92.

Chester. Cong. Ch., $17.66, and Sab. Sch. $1.26 18.92
Paterson. Mrs. W. F. 1.00
Rahway. Mrs. B. T. 1.00

PENNSYLVANIA, $12.

Washington. H. H. Templeton 5.00
West Alexander. —— 5.00
Worth. John Burgess 2.00

OHIO, $523.95.

Andover. O. B. Case 10.00
Ashtabula. First Cong. Ch. 20.00
Bellevue. First Cong. Ch. 13.00
Clark’s Corners. Mrs. Urania Haviland 2.00
Cleveland. Rev. H. C. Hayden 15.00
Elyria. J. M. H. 0.50
Galion. Mrs. E. C. Linsley 5.00
Lindenville. Mr. and Mrs. L. Bearss 10.00
Oberlin. Second Cong. Ch. 21.55
Olive Green. Mrs. A. C. Brown, $3; Mrs. M. Callum,
$2 5.00
Medina. First Cong. Ch., $58.08; Albert Bates, $5 63.08
Moore’s Saltworks. Robert George 2.00
North Eaton. M. Oakes 2.00
North Kingsville. E. J. Comings 10.00
Norwalk. Thomas Hagaman, $10; First Cong. Ch.,
$7.22 17.22
Pittsfield. Cong. Ch. 16.00
Savannah. J. H. Patterson 5.00
Springfield. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.60
Wadsworth. George Lyman 300.00
—— —— 1.00

INDIANA, $10.

Dunreith. David Maxwell and Mrs. Lydia Maxwell 5.00
Winchester. Mrs. C. R. Commons 5.00

ILLINOIS, $4,171.31.

Amboy. Cong. Ch. 23.00
Belvidere. ESTATE of Olney Nichols, by H. W.
Pier, Ex. 3,823.48
Chicago. Leavitt St. Ch., $37.84; Union Parker,
$10; Stephen Thurston, $5 52.84
Geneseo. Woman’s Miss. Soc., by Mrs. A. H.
Manington, Treas. 46.84
Gridley. Cong. Ch. 4.40
Hutsonville. C. V. Newton 2.00
Jericho Centre. Julia Graves 5.00
La Prairie Centre. “A Friend” 10.00
Lee Centre. Cong. Sab. Sch. 8.00
Lisbon. Cong. Ch. 12.74
Metamora. A. C. Rouse, $5; Mr. and Mrs. Ranney,
$2; A. H. K., $1; Christian Union, $6.50 14.50
Millburn. Cong. Ch. 15.00
Millington. Mrs. D. W. J. and Mrs. C. J. O. V.,
$1 ea. 2.00
Morrison. Cong. Ch. 15.50
Payson. Cong. Ch. ($25 of which from Miss P. A.
Prince) 26.79
Princeville. Wm. C. Stevens 11.00
Providence. Cong. Ch. 18.00
Ravenswood. Cong. Ch. 12.58
Rockford. Miss Mary C. Waterbury, $30, to const.
REV. J. G. JONES, L. M., and $10 _for Memphis
Tenn._;—“The Rockford Lamplighters,” $11.50 51.50
Wyanet. Cong. Ch. 16.14

MICHIGAN, $400.30.

Adrian. Stephen Allen 10.00
Almo. Julius Hackley 10.00
Chelsea. Cong. Ch. 29.26
Clio. S. C. R. 1.00
Comstock. “A Friend of the Freedmen” 100.00
Detroit. First Cong. Ch. 179.04
Dexter. Mrs. E. L. Farrar 10.00
East Riverton. Mrs. Josephine Barnes 5.00
Flint. Cong. Ch. 14.53
Milford. Wm. A. Arms, to const. CLARA WELLS ARMS,
L. M. 30.00
Pontiac. Cong. Ch. Mon. Con. $2.36, and Sab. Sch.
$1.51 3.87
Wacousta. Cong. Ch. 7.60

IOWA, $198.22.

Atlantic. Cong. Sab. Sch. 9.56
Belle Plaine. J. P. Henry, $5; Freddie and Josie
Henry, $1 6.00
Chester Centre. Cong. Ch. 23.63
Clinton. Cong. Ch. 50.00
Dubuque. Mrs. S. N. M. 1.00
Green Mountain. First Cong. Ch. 22.70
Grinnell. Cong. Ch. 46.50
Marion. Adaliza Daniels 5.00
Newton. Cong. Ch. and Sab. Sch. 10.58
Red Oak. Cong. Ch. 10.00
Reinbeck. Cong. Ch. ($3 of which _for Lady
Missionary, New Orleans_) 7.25
Stacyville. Woman’s Missionary Soc., _for Lady
Missionary, New Orleans_ 3.00
Wayne. Cong. Sab. Sch. 3.00

WISCONSIN, $120.95.

De Pere. Cong. Ch. 38.00
Fort Howard. Cong. Ch. 25.00
Geneva Lake. Presb. Ch. 21.95
Janesville. J. W. 1.00
Shopiere. J. H. Cooper 5.00
Sparta. Bryce Crawford, $5; J. H., R. H., J. H.
G. and R. H. W., $1 each; J. and S. H. A., $1 10.00
Racine. First Presb. Ch. 20.00

MINNESOTA, $35.97.

Afton. Cong. Ch., M. C. Coll. 3.00
Hastings. D. B. Truax 5.00
Minneapolis. Plymouth Ch. 22.97
Saint Peter. Mrs. Jane A. Treadwell 5.00

KANSAS, $20.

Lawrence. Second Cong. Ch. 4.00
Lawrence. Rev. A. M. Richardson 2.00
Leavenworth. Mrs. Thomas Cutts 5.00
Osawatomie. Cong. Ch. 9.00

NEBRASKA, $2.

Strahmburg. Pilgrim Ch. 2.00

OREGON, $6.20.

The Dalles. First Cong. Ch. 6.20

MARYLAND, $100.

Baltimore. “A Friend” 100.00

WEST VIRGINIA, $3.

Elm Grove. Mrs. B. D. Atkinson 3.00

TENNESSEE, $766.60.

Chattanooga. Rent 100.00
Nashville. Fisk University 666.60

GEORGIA, $99.10.

Atlanta. Rent 99.10

ALABAMA, $10.75.

Selma. Cong. Ch. 10.75

TEXAS, $148.

Corpus Christi. Cong. Ch. 148.00

CANADA, $10.

Toronto. Mrs. J. Thom 10.00

SOUTH INDIA, $15.

Madura Mission. Rev. T. S. Burnell 15.00

INCOME FUND, $5,722.29.

—— —— Avery Fund 3,885.64
—— —— Le Moyne Fund 1,090.82
—— —— Hammond Fund 545.83
—— —— General Fund 50.00
—— —— Graves Library Fund 150.00
————————
Total 20,044.62
Total from Oct. 1st to Sept. 30th $183,437.98

H. W. HUBBARD, _Asst. Treas._

* * * * *

RECEIVED FOR DEBT.

Manchester, N. H. Rev. C. W. Wallace ($50 of
which from Hanover St. Cong. Ch.) 70.00
North Raynham, Mass. E. B. Towne 25.00
South Sudbury, Mass. Rev. G. A. Oviatt 25.00
West Medford, Mass. Rev. C. B. Smith 50.00
Hartford, Conn. John R. Lee, M. D. 25.00
Stanwich, Conn. William Brush 200.00
New York, N. Y. A. S. Barnes 850.00
New York, N. Y. “H. W. H.” 50.00
Newark, N. J. Rev. M. E. Strieby 100.00
Jersey City, N. J. “A Friend” 50.00
Chicago, Ill. Rev. James Powell 100.00
Ripon, Wis. Pres. E. H. Merrill 25.00
Washington Heights, Ill. ESTATE of Rev. L. Foster
(sale of land) 344.95
—————————
Total 1,914.95
Previously acknowledged in July receipts 26,893.72
—————————
Total $28,808.67

* * * * *

FOR TILLOTSON COLLEGIATE AND NORMAL INSTITUTE, AUSTIN, TEXAS.

North Hampton, N. H. Ladies of Cong. Ch. 26.35
Hopkinton, Mass. Mrs. J. C. Claflin 50.00
Mendon, Ill. Mrs. J. Fowler 125.00
Onarga, Ill. Mrs. C. L. Foster 10.00
Rockford, Ill. L. S. Swezey 21.00
Greenville, Mich. M. Rutan 400.00
Oakville, Cal. A. A. Bancroft 50.00
—————————
Total 682.35
Previously acknowledged in Aug. receipts 2,502.17
—————————
Total $3,184.52

* * * * *

FOR ARTHINGTON MISSION.

Green Mountain, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Stuart 10.00
Previously acknowledged in June receipts 35.00
—————————
Total $45.00

* * * * *

FOR NEGRO REFUGEES.

Deer Isle, Me. “A Friend” 5.00
Northville, Mich. D. Pomeroy 1.00
—————————
Total 6.00
Previously acknowledged in Aug. receipts 349.24
—————————
Total $355.24

* * * * *

Constitution of the American Missionary Association.

INCORPORATED JANUARY 30, 1849.

* * * * *

ART. I. This Society shall be called “THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.”

ART. II. The object of this Association shall be to conduct Christian missionary and educational operations, and to diffuse a knowledge of the Holy Scriptures in our own and other countries which are destitute of them, or which present open and urgent fields of effort.

ART. III. Any person of evangelical sentiments,[A] who professes faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is not a slaveholder, or in the practice of other immoralities, and who contributes to the funds, may become a member of the Society; and by the payment of thirty dollars, a life member; provided that children and others who have not professed their faith may be constituted life members without the privilege of voting.

ART. IV. This Society shall meet annually, in the month of September, October or November, for the election of officers and the transaction of other business, at such time and place as shall be designated by the Executive Committee.

ART. V. The annual meeting shall be constituted of the regular officers and members of the Society at the time of such meeting, and of delegates from churches, local missionary societies, and other co-operating bodies, each body being entitled to one representative.

ART. VI. The officers of the Society shall be a President, Vice-Presidents, a Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretaries, Treasurer, two Auditors, and an Executive Committee of not less than twelve, of which the Corresponding Secretaries shall be advisory, and the Treasurer ex-officio, members.

ART. VII. To the Executive Committee shall belong the collecting and disbursing of funds; the appointing, counselling, sustaining and dismissing (for just and sufficient reasons) missionaries and agents; the selection of missionary fields; and, in general, the transaction of all such business as usually appertains to the executive committees of missionary and other benevolent societies; the Committee to exercise no ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the missionaries; and its doings to be subject always to the revision of the annual meeting, which shall, by a reference mutually chosen, always entertain the complaints of any aggrieved agent or missionary; and the decision of such reference shall be final.

The Executive Committee shall have authority to fill all vacancies occurring among the officers between the regular annual meetings; to apply, if they see fit, to any State Legislature for acts of incorporation; to fix the compensation, where any is given, of all officers, agents, missionaries, or others in the employment of the Society; to make provision, if any, for disabled missionaries, and for the widows and children of such as are deceased; and to call, in all parts of the country, at their discretion, special and general conventions of the friends of missions, with a view to the diffusion of the missionary spirit, and the general and vigorous promotion of the missionary work.

Five members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for transacting business.

ART. VIII. This society, in collecting funds, in appointing officers, agents and missionaries, and in selecting fields of labor, and conducting the missionary work, will endeavor particularly to discountenance slavery, by refusing to receive the known fruits of unrequited labor, or to welcome to its employment those who hold their fellow-beings as slaves.

ART. IX. Missionary bodies, churches or individuals agreeing to the principles of this Society, and wishing to appoint and sustain missionaries of their own, shall be entitled to do so through the agency of the Executive Committee, on terms mutually agreed upon.

ART. X. No amendment shall be made in this Constitution without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present at a regular annual meeting; nor unless the proposed amendment has been submitted to a previous meeting, or to the Executive Committee in season to be published by them (as it shall be their duty to do, if so submitted) in the regular official notifications of the meeting.

FOOTNOTE:

[A] By evangelical sentiments, we understand, among others, a belief in the guilty and lost condition of all men without a Saviour; the Supreme Deity, Incarnation and Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of the world; the necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, repentance, faith and holy obedience in order to salvation; the immortality of the soul; and the retributions of the judgment in the eternal punishment of the wicked, and salvation of the righteous.

* * * * *

_The American Missionary Association._

* * * * *

AIM AND WORK.

To preach the Gospel to the poor. It originated in a sympathy with the almost friendless slaves. Since Emancipation it has devoted its main efforts to preparing the FREEDMEN for their duties as citizens and Christians in America and as missionaries in Africa. As closely related to this, it seeks to benefit the caste-persecuted CHINESE in America, and to co-operate with the Government in its humane and Christian policy towards the INDIANS. It has also a mission in AFRICA.

STATISTICS.

CHURCHES: _In the South_—In Va., 1; N. C., 5; S. C., 2; Ga., 12; Ky., 7; Tenn., 4; Ala., 13; La., 12; Miss., 1; Kansas, 2; Texas, 5. _Africa_, 1. _Among the Indians_, 1. Total 66.

INSTITUTIONS FOUNDED, FOSTERED OR SUSTAINED IN THE SOUTH.—_Chartered_: Hampton, Va.; Berea, Ky.; Talladega, Ala.; Atlanta, Ga.; Nashville, Tenn.; Tougaloo, Miss., New Orleans, La.; and Austin, Texas, 8. _Graded or Normal Schools_: at Wilmington, Raleigh, N. C.; Charleston, Greenwood, S. C.; Macon, Atlanta, Ga.; Montgomery, Mobile, Athens, Selma, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn., 11. _Other Schools_, 18. Total 37.

TEACHERS, MISSIONARIES AND ASSISTANTS.—Among the Freedmen, 231; among the Chinese, 17; among the Indians, 17; in Africa, 14. Total, 279. STUDENTS—In Theology, 88; Law, 17; in College Course, 106; in other studies, 7,018. Total, 7,229. Scholars, taught by former pupils of our schools, estimated at 100,000. INDIANS under the care of the Association. 13,000.

WANTS.

1. A steady INCREASE of regular income to keep pace with the growing work in the South. This increase can only be reached by _regular_ and _larger_ contributions from the churches—the feeble as well as the strong.

2. ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS for our higher educational institutions, to accommodate the increasing numbers of students; MEETING HOUSES, for the new churches we are organizing; MORE MINISTERS, cultured and pious, for these churches.

3. HELP FOR YOUNG MEN, to be educated as ministers here and missionaries to Africa—a pressing want.

Before sending boxes, always correspond with the nearest A. M. A. office, as below:

NEW YORK H. W. Hubbard, Esq., 56 Reade Street.
BOSTON Rev. C. L. Woodworth, Room 21 Congregational House.
CHICAGO Rev. Jas. Powell, 112 West Washington Street.

MAGAZINE.

This Magazine will be sent, gratuitously, if desired, to the Missionaries of the Association; to Life Members; to all clergymen who take up collections for the Association; to Superintendents of Sabbath Schools; to College Libraries; to Theological Seminaries; to Societies of Inquiry on Missions; and to every donor who does not prefer to take it as a subscriber, and contributes in a year not less than five dollars.

Those who wish to remember the AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION in their last Will and Testament, are earnestly requested to use the following

FORM OF A BEQUEST.

“I BEQUEATH to my executor (or executors) the sum of —— dollars in trust, to pay the same in —— days after my decease to the person who, when the same is payable, shall act as Treasurer of the ‘American Missionary Association’ of New York City, to be applied, under the direction of the Executive Committee of the Association, to its charitable uses and purposes.”

The will should be attested by three witnesses [in some States three are required—in other States only two], who should write against their names, their places of residence [if in cities, their street and number]. The following form of attestation will answer for every State in the Union: “Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said [A. B.] as his last Will and Testament, in presence of us, who, at the request of the said A. B., and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.” In some States it is required that the Will should be made at least two months before the death of the testator.

* * * * *

JOHN H. HORSFALL.

_FURNITURE_

AND

Upholstery Warerooms,

Nos. 6 & 7 EAST 23D STREET,

MADISON SQUARE.

Offers a fine selection of goods at very reasonable
prices.

DESIGNS AND ESTIMATES FURNISHED ON APPLICATION.

* * * * *

The World’s Model Magazine!

Demorest’s Monthly

The Largest in Form, the Largest in Circulation,

And the best in everything that makes a magazine desirable, with the most costly and valuable prize ever offered to subscribers. Demorest’s Monthly Magazine presents a grand combination of the entertaining, the useful and beautiful, with stories, essays, poems, fashions, family matters, art critiques, lovely oil pictures, steel engravings and other art features. Single copies, 25c., post free; yearly $3.00. With a copy of

Reinhart’s Great Picture “Consolation,”

Size 20×30,

Given to each subscriber; when mounted and sent free of transportation, 50 cents extra; or a selection from twenty other valuable premiums. “Consolation” is truly a beautiful and artistic picture, representing a prostrate mother, her grief consoled by a group of angels, one of whom bears her child in its arms. The picture is full of sentiment and the copies have all the beauty, excellence and charm of the original, both in color and treatment, so that artists cannot distinguish them apart, and combines one of the most interesting, artistic and valuable pictures ever published (sold at the art stores for $10.00). Splendid inducements for Agents. Send for specimen copy or postal card for particulars. Address

W. JENNINGS DEMOREST,
_No. 17 E. 14th Street, N. Y._

* * * * *

New Singing Book for the Million!

CORONATION SONGS

_For Praise and Prayer Meetings_,

HOME AND SOCIAL SINGING. BY

Rev. Dr. CHARLES F. DEEMS

AND

THEODORE E. PERKINS.

Containing 151 Hymns with Tunes, which include more of the STANDARD material that the world will not suffer to die, and more NEW material that deserves trial, than any other book extant.

Postpaid, 30 cents. $25 per hundred.

* * * * *

LYMAN ABBOTT’S

Commentary on the New Testament

Illustrated and Popular, giving the latest views of the best Biblical
Scholars on all disputed points.

A concise, strong and faithful Exposition in (=8=) =eight volumes=,
octavo.

AGENTS WANTED IN EVERY LOCALITY.

A. S. BARNES & CO., Publishers,

New York and Chicago.

* * * * *

GET THE BEST.

THE “OXFORD”

TEACHERS’ BIBLES

IN SEVEN DIFFERENT SIZES,

At prices to suit everybody.

Apply to your Bookseller for Lists, or write to

THOS. NELSON & SONS,
42 Bleecker Street, New York.

* * * * *

Meneely & Kimberly,

BELL FOUNDERS, TROY, N. Y.

Manufacture a superior quality of BELLS.

Special attention given to =CHURCH BELLS=.

☞ Catalogues sent free to parties needing bells.

* * * * *

Brown Bros. & Co.

BANKERS,

59 & 61 Wall Street, New York,
211 Chestnut St., Philadelphia,
66 State Street, Boston.

Issue Commercial Credits, make Cable transfers of Money between this Country and England, and buy and sell Bills of Exchange on Great Britain and Ireland.

They also issue, against cash deposited, or satisfactory guarantee of repayment,

Circular Credits for Travellers,

In DOLLARS for use in the United States and adjacent countries, and in POUNDS STERLING, for use in any part of the world.

* * * * *

73,620 MORE

Singer Sewing Machines Sold in ’78

THAN IN ANY PREVIOUS YEAR.

In =1870= we sold =127,833= Sewing Machines.
” =1878= ” =356,432= ” ”

Our sales have increased enormously every year through the whole
period of “hard times.”

We now Sell Three-Quarters of all the Sewing
Machines sold in the World.

For the accommodation of the Public we have 1,500 subordinate offices in the United States and Canada, and 3,000 offices in the Old World and South America.

PRICES GREATLY REDUCED.

Waste no money on “cheap” counterfeits. Send
for our handsomely Illustrated Price List.

THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

Principal Office, 34 Union Square, New York.

* * * * *

CRAMPTON’S

PURE OLD

PALM SOAP,

FOR

The Laundry, the Kitchen, and
For General Household Purposes,

MANUFACTURED BY

CRAMPTON BROTHERS,

_Cor. Monroe & Jefferson Sts., N. Y._

Send for Circular and Price List.

Crampton’s old Palm Soap for the Laundry, the Kitchen, and for general Household purposes. The price of the “Palm Soap” is $3.90 per box of 100 three-quarter pound bars—75 pounds in box. To any one who will send us an order for 10 boxes with cash, $39, we will send one box extra free as a premium. Or the orders may be sent to us for one or more boxes at a time, with remittance, and when we have thus received orders for ten boxes we will send the eleventh box free as proposed above. If you do not wish to send the money in advance, you may deposit it with any banker or merchant in good credit in your town, with the understanding that he is to remit to us on receipt of the soap, which is to be shipped to his care. Address,

CRAMPTON BROTHERS,
Cor. Monroe and Jefferson Sts., New York.

FOR SALE

BY ALL

MERCHANTS.

* * * * *

Abraham Bogardus.

ART PHOTOGRAPHER

872 BROADWAY,
COR. 18TH STREET.
NEW YORK.

* * * * *

UTILITY ADJUSTABLE TABLE.

Can be made =any height= and be =folded up=. For Cutting, Basting, Study, Invalids, Children, etc. Send stamp for book of prices.

GEO. F. SARGENT,
Proprietor and Manufacturer,
816 Broadway, New York.

* * * * *

Every Man His Own Printer.

Excelsior =$3= Printing Press.

Prints cards, labels, envelopes, &c.; larger sizes for larger work. For business or pleasure, young or old. Catalogue of Presses, Type, Cards, &c., sent for two stamps.

KELSEY & CO., M’frs, Meriden, Conn.

* * * * *

CHURCH CUSHIONS

MADE OF THE

PATENT ELASTIC FELT.

For particulars, address H. D. OSTERMOOR,

P. O. Box 4004. 36 Broadway, New York.

* * * * *

MARVIN’S

FIRE & BURGLAR

SAFES

COUNTER PLATFORM WAGON & TRACK

SCALES

_MARVIN SAFE & SCALE CO.
265 BROADWAY. N. Y.
627 CHESTNUT ST., PHILA._

* * * * *

W. & B. DOUGLAS,

Middletown, Conn.,

MANUFACTURERS OF

PUMPS,

HYDRAULIC RAMS, GARDEN ENGINES, PUMP CHAIN AND FIXTURES, IRON CURBS, YARD HYDRANTS, STREET WASHERS, ETC.

Highest Medal awarded them by the Universal Exposition at Paris,
France, in 1867; Vienna, Austria, in 1873; and Philadelphia, 1876.

Founded in 1832.

Branch Warehouses:
85 & 87 John St.
NEW YORK,
AND
197 Lake Street,
CHICAGO.

_For Sale by all Regular Dealers._

* * * * *

ST. GERMAIN

THE _ORIGINAL_ STUDENT LAMP.

Every Lamp has C. A. KLEEMANN and my
name on Chimney-Holder. Buy no other.

The Best made Lamp.
” ” Shade.
” ” Chimnies.
” ” Wicks.

ALL PATENTED.

This lamp is absolutely safe against explosion.

The light is brilliant and very steady.

No odor. No smoke.

All the latest improvements.

Easy to manage. Simple in construction.