Chapter II: Front Matter (2)

It was once my privilege to minister to an honored friend who was gently falling asleep in Jesus. Happening to draw up a window-shade an hour before the eyes closed upon the scenes of mortal life, I received from the beloved lips this last commendation and counsel: “That’s right; give us more light.”

Speaking to-day in behalf of our colored sisters, I appeal for light. “Give us more light” to dispel the heavy clouds of ignorance and sin, to show plainly straight paths for the feet of stumbling ones, and for the praise of Him who is able to keep _us_ from falling, and to present _us_ faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.

* * * * *

THE GEORGIA CONFERENCE.

REV. C.W. HAWLEY.

The Georgia Congregational Conference, from which I have just returned, is a large body, if an extensive framework can make it so. My share of the travel to its second annual session at Savannah was about six hundred miles. Of the fourteen churches, two of which are in South Carolina, all save one were represented, and the meeting was much enjoyed by all. The color line was a little indistinct and almost forgotten. The colored brethren were quite in the majority on the platform and on the floor, and gave good proof of their ability to preside with dignity—Rev. Floyd Snelson was our Moderator—and to speak fluently and well. In fact, they showed a real genius for public address, warranting the statement of a city daily—the Southern press is growing liberal—that their speeches were “worthy of the most dignified deliberative body.” Dr. Roy reported the great meeting at Chicago, giving, as he had already done at Atlanta and Macon, rich skimmings from the papers and speeches there presented, and greatly cheering, with these proofs of the sympathy of Northern Christians, those who must here learn to do without the sympathy of their near neighbors. His lecture on Congregationalism also elicited much interest, and nothing but the lack of money to pay the printer prevented its immediate publication in full, as a much needed campaign document for the use of the churches. To whatever church a man here belongs, it becomes him to be able to state and to justify its faith and polity. There is kept up a running fire of small arms between denominations here. It was encouraging to see that the men of this young Conference desire to be intelligent Congregationalists, and able to defend themselves; but it is hoped that they will not fall into the mistake of making denominational strife the chief end of their existence, as some of their neighbors seem to do.

The reports from the churches do not show any rapid increase. “We must expect the churches to be small, perhaps, for twenty years yet,” said one who has grown up with this work. There are obstinate prejudices in the way, and there is a great educational work yet to be done. A lay delegate sagely remarked: “When the ground is rough we must go slow, or there’ll be trouble,” adding also his personal testimony that, in seeking to bring others over to his way of thinking, he found it “mighty hard to sense them into anything better than their old ideas, that a man cannot have religion without making a great big fuss about it, and cannot pray without hollering as though the Lord was deaf;” but still he was sure that “if we kept pulling at the wheel and rolling on the chariot we should gain the field.”

TWO COUNCILS.

On the way down to Conference, some of us stopped at Macon, according to letters missive, for the examination and ordination of Preston W. Young, acting pastor at Byron; and during the sessions of Conference another council examined and ordained two others, A.J. Headen, of Cypress Slash, and T.T. Benson, of Orangeburgh, S.C. These three young men passed very creditable examinations, and, with Rev. J.R. McLean, moderator of the second council, formed a very interesting and promising group—all Talladega men and classmates—a fine illustration of the good work done by the school for the church. Putting all things together—Conference and Councils, and acquaintance with the teachers and their excellent work in Macon and Savannah—it was with us all a grand week, quickening in its Christian fellowship, and profitable in its revelations of work already done, and of harvests yet to be gathered.

* * * * *

THE CENTRAL SOUTH CONFERENCE.

Education—Discipline—The Exercises.

REV. HORACE J. TAYLOR, ATHENS, ALA.

The Central South Conference embraces the Congregational churches of Tennessee, North Alabama and Mississippi. Last week we enjoyed the rare privilege of welcoming to our homes some of the members of this Conference, and the Field Superintendent of the A.M.A. On Thursday evening, Nov. 20th, Rev. G.W. Moore preached the opening sermon from Psalm lxxiii. 24, “Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” The subject was clearly and forcibly presented. On Friday morning an organization was effected by electing Rev. J.E. Smith, of Chattanooga, moderator. That morning was spent in hearing the narratives of the churches. The reports generally showed progress. Athens alone reported a less membership than last year; but in this church there has been a growth in grace in many of its members.

In the afternoon we discussed the subject of education. The young people were especially urged not to be content with a little schooling, nor even with a good common school education, but to press forward with a determination to secure the very highest education that can be secured. The idea that the schools at Chattanooga, Athens, Florence and Memphis ought to be feeders of Fisk University was well brought out. These schools cannot give the high education that can be gained at Fisk, and their success should be measured largely by the number of students they send to Fisk University. Rev. J. E. Smith read an article on the necessity of church discipline. The subject was well presented, and in the discussion that followed, as in the paper, the idea that church discipline ought to have for its main object the reclamation of the offender, was clearly brought out. Dr. Roy and others also spoke as to the method of church discipline, and especially the propriety of getting evidence from any source. It seems that some, perhaps a majority, of the churches about here will not receive the evidence of any but their own members. Some think that Congregational churches should be bound hand and foot in the same way, so that the devil and his followers can manage all in their own way. Then any member could be guilty of theft, adultery, fornication or anything else; if he only were not seen by members of this church he could remain in “good and regular standing.” Dr. Roy said emphatically that evidence was to be sought from any source, and weighed carefully. Others agreed with him.

At night Dr. Roy spoke, using his fine large map, on the work of the Association in the South. The house was full, and all were deeply interested. Saturday morning we listened to a paper by Rev. G. W. Moore, on how to reach the young people. Saturday afternoon was mainly taken up with hearing reports of committees. Revs. H. S. Bennett and J. E. Smith were chosen delegates from this Conference to the National Council. Saturday night we listened to the news of Trinity church and congregation. This was one of the best meetings of Conference. Sunday morning Rev. H. S. Bennett preached from Acts ii. 3, and Revs. A. K. Spence and G. W. Moore officiated at the communion. At night Rev. A. K. Spence preached to young people from Ps. cix. 9.

I cannot give in this paper an idea of the interesting meetings we had. Each meeting was a feast of fat things. It was a great privilege to meet these brethren from abroad, to have them sit at our table, to talk with them about the common cause we all are interested in, and above all to meet with them around the table of our Lord. Some of us may never meet them again in Conference, but the memory of this good meeting will remain through life; and we trust that this church will receive a blessing in consequence of this meeting.

* * * * *

GEORGIA.

Thanksgiving Services and First Impressions.

REV. C. W. HAWLEY, ATLANTA.

I have just come in from our social evening service of thanksgiving and prayer for the A. M. A. About fifty were present, and there were repeated expressions of gratitude for blessings here received, and fervent prayers for the continued and increasing success of the cause. One brother thought the Association the chief agent in the abolition of slavery, and spoke most feelingly of the inexpressible relief which that abolition had brought to him and to his people. Another in his prayer thanked the Lord for the schools and the church in the city, expressing the conviction that if the A. M. A. had not sent its workers here “things would be in a considerably worse fix than they are.”

One woman told her story: her blind gropings as a slave, her joy in being sought out and taught by the teachers of the A. M. A., just when she “_did not know what to do with her freedom_,” and made capable of giving her children, now converted, a Christian training, with a purpose henceforth to use for the good of others all the light and help she had received. Another told us how the A. M. A. had reached out its helping hand to him in this city when he was ignorant and vicious, and through the influence of a faithful teacher in a night school had saved him from evil companions and the curse of drunkenness.

It has been an intensely interesting meeting to me, and would have quickened the zeal of any friends of the A. M. A. who might have been present. Our regular prayer-meeting comes tomorrow evening and is a pleasant anticipation to me. I reached the field the 11th inst. and am not yet well acquainted with it. I am sure to be interested in it. I have quite enjoyed the welcome given me and have no painful sense of isolation. Their faces, their intelligence, their quiet good sense, their homes, so far as I have seen them, all surpass my expectations. The work that has been done for them _shows_. I shall esteem it a privilege if I may do something to help it on.

* * * * *

ALABAMA.

Emerson Institute—1865-1879.

REV. O. D. CRAWFORD, MOBILE.

It was named after Mr. Ralph Emerson, a resident of Rockford, Ill., whose timely gift enabled the Association to purchase “Blue College,” a commodious building, with beautiful grounds, in the western part of the city, two miles from the post-office. It was originally built for the education of the white youth. In the transpositions of the times “after the surrender,” as the close of the war is here styled, it became the resort of three hundred Freedmen. In April of our Centennial year it crumbled in the flames. The school went on in unfavorable quarters until, in May, 1878, it entered its new and elegant building, which was designed for two hundred and fifty pupils. Last year the yellow fever delayed the opening of school and crippled many of its friends. But adverse influences are now disappearing, and the ten thousand colored people of the city are looking to it again as the hope of their youth.

Last year, two-thirds of our whole number in attendance entered after the Christmas holidays. This year the second month closes with fifty names more than the highest number of last year. The rooms are furnished with the best of modern desks; but their present capacity is exceeded by more than forty names. If another room and sufficient teaching force be added by the friends of the Association after New Year’s, our present number of two hundred and forty will, in every probability, run up to three hundred. To meet the wants of these, we should have six teachers besides the superintendent, including one that should give half an hour each day to instruction in vocal music and some time to instrumental music. We now have one that is competent for this work, but she has no time for it. Our overworked force is to be somewhat relieved by the expected arrival of a fifth teacher this week.

At present we are obliged to receive many primary scholars, not only to relieve the public want, but also with the view of raising up normal scholars, for whom the Institute has been specially designed. We regret the seeming necessity that is laid upon the colored parents of taking their children from the public schools. We do not advise their action. The feverish desire for education which seized the body of colored people immediately after emancipation has subsided. Their best men are now obliged to urge upon them the duty of educating their children. In this they have come down to the level of the whites. An organization has been formed to promote this interest. The largest church has established a school of more than fifty members. The pastor of the most influential church, in point of intelligence, has opened one, with an attendance of more than forty, and teaches it himself, in addition to preaching three sermons every Lord’s day and performing the other usual duties of a minister. These schools are intended to awaken their people in the matter, and to raise up candidates for the work of teaching, that may get their fuller preparation in our Normal department.

The friends of Christian education could not ask for a more needy and promising outlook than lies before us. Will they put into the hands of the Association the necessary means?

The Church—1876-1879.

Organized with forty-seven members, it now has sixty-one. It owes its origin and existence to the presence of the Institute. Its members are very poor in this world’s goods, but delightfully rich in grace.

It was natural that the spirit of independence which found full scope among the Freedmen should seek for a church organization and connection with an ecclesiastical body whose history was not tainted with oppression. This disposition, however, has sometimes asked for more license for fleshly indulgences than pure Congregationalism permits. In this city it is impossible for your Superintendent to find a provision store having any considerable variety of goods that does not include among its principal commodities _wines_ and _liquors_. Members and officers of churches are engaged in the trade, and scruple not to advertise conspicuously that branch of their business, which we regard as exceedingly immoral. Yet there are some churches, both white and colored, whose rules and discipline would delight the heart of a Puritan. Congregationalism is an exotic in this soil; and its Northern friends have reason to be pleased if it grows even slowly. Among the adverse circumstances against which our church has had to struggle may be mentioned a frequent change of pastors. In its three and one-half years it has suffered the perturbations incident to two summer supplies, and now the fourth pastor. These changes have tended to prevent some from making their church home with us. More permanence is a necessity. We have no such opportunity for reaching those under our educational care as is offered by a boarding-school. The parents of most of our pupils are connected with some church, and the children themselves with Sunday-schools. The kind of instruction they receive is one of the necessities of our continuance. The growing intelligence of the colored preachers, and the attractiveness of the large congregations which gather about them, make our beginning less attractive to the young, who otherwise might prefer our place of worship.

Your missionary has preached to the largest colored church in a revival meeting, and exchanged pulpits with the other leading pastor; but we cannot expect any special help from other churches in building up a new denomination in the midst of them. J. H. Roberts, now in the Senior Theological Class at Talladega, supplied the church very acceptably through the summer, and just before his departure witnessed the reception of four persons to fellowship. Since then the attendance has increased some. The interest in the Sunday-school has likewise received the impetus given it by the return of our schoolteachers; yet our hopes of an increase in members have not thus far been realized. As accessory helps we need Sunday school papers and a library. Our problem is that of reaching the young with Christian influences in the form of direct religious instruction. For this purpose we have some advantages, and hope for more. We wish to keep this missionary work upon the prayerful hearts of our Northern friends.

* * * * *

A Revival.

REV. J. D. SMITH, SHELBY IRON WORKS.

During the first week in October we set apart Wednesday as a day of fasting and prayer. On the following Sabbath we commenced a series of meetings, which continued three weeks. Brother H. W. Conley stopped off here on his way from Marion back to Talladega, and preached and labored very faithfully with us several days. Brother J. W. Strong came down and labored with me, preaching the word almost every night for over a week. Brother Jones, of Childersburg, paid us a short visit, and Rev. F. J. Tyler, of this place, pastor of the Union Church (white), preached for us. Last of all came Rev. G. W. Andrews, who preached several times.

Every evening, one half-hour before services, a number of Christians would assemble in the inquiry-room and converse with those who came to inquire of the way of salvation. I must say that the inquiry meetings were the means of great and untold good, as much or more than the sermons, perhaps.

Well, the meetings closed with twenty-one conversions reported. Last Sunday fifteen came forward, entered into covenant with the church, and were baptized, on profession of their faith. _All_ of the candidates for baptism preferred sprinkling—the first instance, to my knowledge, where we did not have to immerse some out of so many uniting at one time; and, more singular than all, a Baptist father and mother presented their infant boy for baptism. When reminded by some of the Baptist brethren that they had “broken the rules of the church,” they replied by saying that if they had five hundred children, they would have them baptized, because it was right in the sight of God. The work has a more hopeful outlook for future prosperity than ever before.

Some eight or ten are to unite by letter, the first opportunity, who did not get ready in time to join last Sunday. Our total membership will then stand about fifty.

* * * * *

TENNESSEE.

A Student Aided.

REV. E. M. CRAVATH, FISK UNIVERSITY.

Our readers will remember a plea for student aid made by President
Cravath in the MISSIONARY for October. Soon after its publication
this description of the first young man thus aided came, but has been
delayed by the special matter which has claimed our columns. There
are many more such at all our institutions awaiting similar help.

The first answer came in the shape of a draft for fifty dollars from a good friend of Rochelle, Illinois. On the same day with this answer a young man from Abbeville, S. C., came to Fisk University for the first time, and as he was a good representative of the class of young people for whom our appeal was made in the October MISSIONARY, we assigned him at once to this scholarship.

A brief sketch of his personal history may encourage some of the readers of the MISSIONARY who are yet hesitating to give a favorable answer to our appeal. Mr. Richard J. Holloway was born in Abbeville, South Carolina, in 1857, and was a slave up to the close of the war. He brought to the University the following testimonial from his former master, dated Abbeville, S. C., Sept. 8, 1879;

“The bearer of this, Richard J. Holloway, is a young man who was born in my family. I have known him from his birth to the present time. He early exhibited a desire for knowledge, which he has pursued under great difficulties. Notwithstanding he has made considerable advance, his laudable desire seems to be unsatisfied, and he leaves this section of the country to avail himself of advantages offered elsewhere. So far as I know, his moral character is good. He is commended to the favorable regard of all to whom this may come.” The first year after the war, being a lad of nine years, Richard had the opportunity of attending a school in Abbeville for five or six months. After this he was under the necessity of working with his parents, but contrived to study by himself so that he made considerable progress. During the fall of 1875 he happened to see, upon the table of his minister, a circular which had been sent out from the school established by the Am. Miss. Assoc. at Greenwood, S. C., which was then, and is still, taught by that most faithful and zealous missionary laborer, Mr. Backenstose, of Geneva, N. Y. Noticing that the tuition was only fifty cents a month, there dawned upon him the possibility of realizing his long-cherished desire of securing a good education. Inspired by this thought he left home and hired out on a plantation to earn some money with which to go to Greenwood.

By working three months he earned money enough, so that by buying his food and doing his own cooking he was able to attend school about the same length of time. He then went to one of the upper counties of South Carolina and taught a private school for two months, after which he worked for two months in a cotton-gin near by, while remaining to collect the money for his teaching. Being compelled to use considerable of the money he had earned to help his parents, he again secured a public school for two months, at fifteen dollars a month, and boarded himself. He then went over into Georgia and taught a public school, for which he was fortunate enough to receive twenty-five dollars a month. He was then able to return to Greenwood, where he was again under the instruction of Mr. Backenstose for nearly three months. Under the advice of his teacher, he determined to get to Fisk University if possible and take a thorough course of study, but not succeeding in earning much money by his teaching during the spring and summer, he stopped for five months of last year at Biddle University at Charlotte, N. C. He then undertook teaching again, determined to earn what money he could during the spring and summer, and to get to Fisk University if possible at the opening of the next school year. He only succeeded, however, in getting a three months’ school in Georgia, for which he has only received payment in part. As soon as his school closed he started for Nashville and reached here on the 7th of October, just as the answer came from our friend in Illinois which told us what to do. Mr. Holloway is a member of the African Methodist church, and his desire evidently is to secure an education that he may use it in Christian work among his people.

We are confidently hoping that we shall receive similar answers enough to enable us to provide for at least a hundred such young men as this.

* * * * *

Health—Business—School—Church.

PROF. A. J. STEELE, MEMPHIS.

November 1st found Memphis dull, spiritless, and wearing a half deserted appearance, its streets strewn with autumn foliage and dry grass, so that the rustling of leaves beneath the feet was a more familiar sound than the rumbling of wagons or drays on most of the streets. Business men who had returned, in most cases without their families, wore a troubled and doubtful look. Many were discouraged and without hope for the future of the city, either as a business point or a place of residence. A few, like the boy in the dark, made a pretence of courage by “whistling.”

Although the Board of Health had declared the fever ended, there were still a few cases, with constant rumors of many more. After the cold spell of October 30, the weather became and continued unusually warm. Little or no cotton was being received, and orders for goods came not to waiting merchants. Laboring people returning to the city found no employment, and many suffered for the necessaries of life.

This state of things continued till the middle of November, when, after a few frosty nights, and with bright clear weather, the entire aspect of affairs changed, and rapidly took on a most hopeful and promising appearance. Cotton, the staple and life of business, began to come in rapidly, until before the end of November the daily receipts became the largest ever known at this point, placing Memphis as a primary cotton market scarcely second to New Orleans. With this revival of activity the empty talk of a hundred or so self-constituted newspaper correspondents and pretended scientists ceased to be heard on the corners and to be seen in the papers. The city authorities and a committee of citizens began a careful and thorough canvass of the city to ascertain its condition and needs. Under the advice of a committee of experts from the meeting of the American Sanitary Association held at Nashville, a system of sewerage and general sanitary reform was promptly adopted, and it is now expected that the Governor will convene the legislature to empower the city to make the needed changes. There is little doubt but that the hard and painful lessons of the past two seasons have finally been learned, and that at least another epidemic will not be invited next year by the criminal negligence of the authorities.

The school opened November 17 with about forty students. This number on December 2nd had increased to over 100. We are now receiving new students every day, of these ten are in the senior or graduating class. We note with interest a revival of the early desire for education and the culture which it brings; not _just_ the early desire of ignorant and foolish expectation, but a steadily deepening conviction of the need and advantage of patient, continued study and training for better things in the future. We hope to foster this feeling, and to do what we may to realize the expectation, by building up honest, manly and womanly characters in our students. Many of the pupils have taught during the vacation months; some have not yet completed the term for which they were engaged. So far as we know, all have labored earnestly to exert an influence for good in the communities where they have been located. A few during the sickness were employed by the Howards or other societies as nurses, one young man saving about $200 at this work, and gaining an enviable reputation as a nurse.

Our public library is demonstrating its influence and usefulness in a gratifying way, in awakening in many laboring people a love of reading and of thought, aside from the great advantage it is to the school directly and indirectly. During the summer months, considerably over one hundred volumes were drawn and read. Among many others several white persons of most excellent standing availed themselves of its privileges. Of these latter, one is principal of a boys’ and girls’ school in our vicinity.

I cannot close this letter without a word concerning the church here. During the epidemic, one of its most earnest, reliable members fell a victim to the scourge. By thrift and saving, every family belonging to the church, except one only, got through the long summer of idleness without aid in the way of charity, and before the return of the teachers, and in the absence of the pastor, the church voted to send a delegate to the Conference at Athens, raising money at once to pay his expenses. If this is not an example of commendable church devotion and courage, show us one that is so.

We look for a fuller, stronger school this year than ever before. I sometimes think these people have become so accustomed to adversity and trial, that they come out stronger under it than from any other experience. May it not be that God is leading them through rough ways to better things than we think?

* * * * *

THE INDIANS.

* * * * *

THE S’KOKOMISH AGENCY.

Homes and Schools—Lands and Titles.

EDWIN EELLS, AGENT, S’KOKOMISH.

The favor of a kind Providence has preserved us from any unusual calamities, and general good health, peace and prosperity have attended us and the Indians under my charge. It has been rather a quiet year, with nothing very startling, either good or bad, to affect us. Among the Indians generally, their habits of morality appear to have been growing stronger. Their general deportment is very good, and their style of living in their houses is improving all the time. Their general health, in consequence of their improved manner of living, has never been better than during the past year. Most of their houses have been ceiled and good tight floors put in them during the past winter, so that they are quite as comfortable as the average of white settlers throughout the country. There has been some land cleared by them, a decided advance in the kind of fences built by them, and I have furnished 1,000 fruit trees, which they have set out, nearly all of which have lived.

Our schools have been well attended, and the progress of the scholars in their studies has been quite satisfactory. The average attendance of the two schools has been something over fifty. One feature of improvement at the Agency, which deserves mention, has been the employment of apprentices, at small wages, at the various shops at the Agency. We have had five of our former school-boys employed in this way during the summer, and they have done very well.

Among the Indians who live off from the Reservation there has been an increasing desire to take up or acquire land for themselves. One band living at Clallam Bay, about 160 miles distant from the Agency, have purchased a tract of 154 acres of land, and have a favorable prospect before them of doing quite well. Ten individuals contributed the money to make this purchase. Some other individuals have taken up homestead claims and are improving them. One has completed his five years’ residence and obtained his title to his claim.

The delay of the Government to furnish the Indians on this Reservation with titles to their allotments of land, has operated to discourage them very much in the improvement of their farms. They also had reason to fear that there was danger of their being removed from here and consolidated with other tribes, speaking different languages, and to a distance from the home of their childhood and the land of their fathers. This has added to their despondency and unnerved them for effort. With this cloud of despondency hanging over them, it has been up-hill work to induce them to make sufficient effort to insure any progress. Their faith in the Government failing, their religious faith has also weakened, and while it has not led them to any bad practices, it has prevented them from making progress in Christianity. They reason in this way: If there is a God who rules the world, and institutes governments over men; if these governments are unjust and oppressive, it must be an unjust God who causes all this; and why should they love and worship such a being? This is the Indian mode of reasoning, and under the present circumstances there is a barrier raised in their minds against the Gospel.

As the treaty is soon to expire, and as some of the safeguards they have heretofore had will be removed, it seems to me very important that this measure should, if possible, be immediately consummated.

* * * * *

THE CHINESE.

* * * * *

“CALIFORNIA CHINESE MISSION.”

Auxiliary to the American Missionary Association.

PRESIDENT: Rev. J. K. McLean, D. D. VICE-PRESIDENTS: Rev. A. L.
Stone, D. D., Thomas C. Wedderspoon, Esq., Rev. T. K. Noble, Hon.
F. F. Low, Rev. I. E. Dwinell, D. D., Hon. Samuel Cross Rev. S. H.
Willey, D. D., Edward P. Flint, Esq., Rev. J. W. Hough, D. D., Jacob
S. Taber, Esq.

DIRECTORS: Rev. George Mooar, D. D., Hon. E. D. Sawyer, Rev. E. P.
Baker, James M. Haven, Esq., Rev. Joseph Rowell, Rev. John Kimball,
E. P. Sanford, Esq.

SECRETARY: Rev. W. C. Pond. TREASURER: E. Palache, Esq.

* * * * *

THE SANTA BARBARA MISSION—CHIN FUNG.

BY REV. W. C. POND, SAN FRANCISCO.

Among the compensations attending my service as Superintendent of our Chinese Missions is the annual visit I am called to make to Santa Barbara; and, notwithstanding the great void I found in the absence of my greatly beloved brother, Rev. Dr. Hough—now returned to his former flock at Jackson, Michigan—no visit ever made there was more pleasant to me than my last. The movements of the steamers were such that it had to be an unusually long visit; and I gained thus the opportunity, not only to see more of the homes and hearts of our English-speaking brethren, but to get much closer in Christian affection and confidence to the Chinese who have begun to believe in the Saviour. Of the six that from this mission, several years since, united with the Presbyterian Church, only two remain; but three others were found who have never yet been baptized, and who seemed to give good evidence of being born again. My conversations with them greatly interested me. There seemed to be a simple faith, a hearty and practical consecration, a readiness to testify, to work and to give for Jesus, which certainly looked like true tokens of a new life—the eternal life—begun. I expect that they will be baptized and received into the Congregational Church at its next communion. The following sentences from a letter written me by one of them express what appeared to be the spirit of them all: “Our school is grow up nicely, and have very good teacher now. Only one thing I be very sorry. I will tell you about. Some school-boy go to bad way, and disobey our Lord Jesus Christ. I, in myself, have no strength to make them to love Jesus Christ. * * * Oh, I hope you pray for them, and ask God to send the Spirit to change their heart, and make them to ’member Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, and make them to ’member continue in heart wherefore the heathen too. [_I. e._, if I understand him, make them consider wherefore they should continue heathen at heart.] Oh, we are ’member you always in heart, because you very kind to our countrymen. I have nothing to recompense you. But I pray to God for you, and ask God to bless you and comfort you, and give you reward in Heaven.”

The anniversary of the mission was held on Sunday evening, October 26. A large audience was present, and great interest was evinced. Besides the exercises by the pupils, there was the annual report, and brief addresses by the pastors of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches. The exercises indicated some good progress made during the year. I remember especially a recitation of the 115th Psalm, a responsive recitation of John, xiv. chap., and a little dialogue about our mission schools, and what is learned in them—“not only the English language, but about Jesus Christ our Saviour from sin.” One pupil recited the Apostles’ Creed, another the Ten Commandments, and none except one or two very recent comers were without some Gospel text, which, fastened in the memory, was recited in intelligible English. Sacred songs, in both English and Chinese, were interspersed, and the half-hour was fraught with blessing, I am very sure, to all concerned. I have never been so hopeful of the best results from our Santa Barbara work as I am just now.

CHIN FUNG

is one of our earliest fruits, a bright intelligent young man whom, years ago, I invited to become one of our helpers. He declined on the ground of being too little acquainted with Chinese, having had little, if any, opportunity of attending school in China. But I remember that he said, “I have wished very much that I could be prepared to go as a missionary to my countrymen at home.” I confess that I did not realize how deep that feeling was. Such expressions are frequent among our brethren, and I never have doubted their sincerity, but I have generally thought of them as consciously a wish for the _impossible_, and consequently never likely to grow to a controlling purpose deciding the life-work. But it was not so with Chin Fung. With the hope of this he has been saving all these years, with rigid economy, the slender earnings of his work as a house-servant. At length, encouraged by the excellent Christian lady by whom, of late, he has been employed, he determined to go to Hartford, Conn., and commence his course of study. Before this letter reaches you, I trust he will be there.

He did not get away without a struggle. The agony of inward conflict into which he was thrown by the representations of heathen kinsmen, as to the wrong he was doing his family, the difficulties and calamities in which he might involve his older brothers if he should thus turn his back on China, and disregard a possible betrothal which his elder brothers, it was said, had made for him, (although, with this great plan in view, he had charged them not to involve him in any such responsibility,) called forth my intense sympathy. But I felt that it was the Master’s call to which, these years, he had been listening, and that to go back to China in obedience to the summons of his brothers would be to turn his back on Christ. He himself saw it so at length—saw it _for himself_, and from that instant there was no hesitancy, “I will start tomorrow,” he said, with an emphasis which marked the conflict ended and the victory won. He certainly has some qualities which under skilful training would tend to make him a useful missionary.

IN GENERAL.

What I have written about the Santa Barbara school, I might have written of almost all of them. We have an excellent corps of teachers, and though one or two of our schools are suffering because our reviving business prosperity involves their pupils in evening work, others are steadily increasing in size, and increasing still more, I trust, in usefulness. At the last communion at Bethany church seven were baptized. A much larger number than that have recently united with the Association of Christian Chinese, thus avowing themselves as Christians, and coming into the process of test work and training, which we feel to be necessary before they are finally accepted in the church. But we need to do much more: to enter new fields, to send forth more laborers, and meanwhile in fields already occupied to bring to hear as never hitherto, the zeal, the wisdom, the living spiritual power of Him whose name is “God with us.” Brethren, pray for us.

* * * * *

CHILDREN’S PAGE.

* * * * *

AMATEUR HEATHEN.

The small-boy who has been well and piously brought up hates the heathen, though policy compels him to conceal his feelings. He envies the heathen small-boy, and at the same time looks upon him as a selfish and remorseless absorber of Christian pennies. This is natural and inevitable. The small-boy is told that his heathen contemporary goes constantly barefooted, wears very little clothing, is never washed, never goes to school, and is never taught anything that is good and useful. Moreover, the heathen small boy lives in a country where tigers and other delightful wild beasts abound, and where the exciting spectacle of a widow burning to death in company with her husband’s corpse—an attraction which no circus in this country has had the enterprise to offer—is frequently exhibited free. Of course, the small-boy of Christian lands envies the blessed lot of his heathen brother, and would give worlds had he, too, been born a heathen. Now, when this envious small-boy is compelled to give 50 per cent. of his pennies to the heathen, he feels that it is both unreasonable and unjust, and his anger burns against the heathen small-boy who, although rolling in every kind of heathen luxury, meanly absorbs the scant wealth of small-boys who have had the misfortune to be born in Christian countries. He cannot avoid noticing that the grown-up folks who think that he should give one-half of his pennies to the heathen, do not divide their own property in that way, and he never drops a copper in the collector’s box without feeling that he is the victim of moral blackmailing.

Now and then there arises a small-boy with a gigantic intellect, and a degree of courage which marks him as a born leader of his race. It is the exceptional small-boy of this variety who heads expeditions against the Indians and organizes gangs of juvenile highwaymen. That these enterprises do not meet with success is due to forces beyond his control, but they display the greatness of his intellect and the boldness of his character. Of this type of small-boy is Master Jaggars, of North Meriden, Conn., who lately devised an ingenious and entirely novel scheme for arresting the flow of American copper coins toward the heathen pockets of juvenile India.

Some two months since, Master Jaggars, who had painfully accumulated the sum of twenty-five cents, with a view to an expected circus, was compelled to consecrate fifteen cents to the hated small-boys of India. It was this last of a long series of pecuniary outrages that determined him to take a bold stand against missionary assessments, and he, therefore, summoned a mass-meeting of small-boys on Saturday afternoon at Deacon Pratt’s barn, ostensibly with a view to rats, but really in order to propose a plan of defense against heathen encroachments.

Master Jaggars made a moving speech, in which he glowingly described the luxury in which the heathen small-boy wallows. “He ain’t washed, and he can wear just as little cloze as hesermineter. There ain’t no school for him, nor no Sunday, you bet. He can go swimmin’ every day, and can just lay off on the bank and see the crocodiles scoop in washerwomen and such. Then his back yard is chuck full of tigers and hipopomusses, and no end of snakes, and he can steal his dad’s gun and shoot ’em out of the back window. This is the chap that rakes in all our money, and I say its mor’n we ought to stand. Now, I move that we all turn heathen ourselves. The folks can’t make us wash and go to school if we’re heathen, and all the other boys will have to put up their money for us.” It is needless to say that this speech was received with tumultuous applause. Howls of execration went up as the luxuries of the hated heathen were described, and the proposal to adopt heathenism as a profession was unanimously supported. A slight temporary opposition was manifested by Master Sabin, who maintained that in order to become heathen they must first have their eyes put out—a theory which was based upon a misinterpretation of the hymn which speaks of “the heathen in his blindness.” The objector, however, was soon convinced of his error, and expressed thereupon a hearty desire to become a heathen.

The details of the scheme were all arranged by Master Jaggars. A plaster bust of Mr. S. J. Tilden was decided to be ugly enough to serve as an idol, and the amateur heathen placed it on an empty barrel in the barn, and bowed down to it with much gravity. They discarded all their clothing except a towel twisted around the waist, and blackened their entire bodies with burnt cork. There could be no doubt that they were very successful heathen in appearance, and, as it was late in the afternoon, they resolved to spend the night in the barn; to breakfast on the spoils of Deacon Pratt’s orchard, and to attend Sunday-school in a body, in order to collect tribute from the Christian boys. The Sunday-school opened as usual the next morning, although the absence of eleven boys created a good deal of remark. Soon after the exercises had begun, the teachers were astounded at the entrance of Master Jaggars and his ten associate heathen. It is only fair to say that the heathen behaved themselves with as much propriety as their professional duties would permit. Master Jaggars advanced to the Superintendent and remarked, “If you please, Sir, we’ve all turned heathen. There ain’t no foolin’ about it. We’ve got a first-class old idol, and we don’t believe in nothing no more. So, if you please, Sir, will you please tell them Christian boys to fork over half of all the money they’re got, and to remember how blessed it is to consecrate it to real genuine heathen.”

There is no instance on record in which a heathen has been converted as quickly as was Master Jaggars. The Superintendent held him by one ear, and at the tenth stroke of the cane Mister Jaggars renounced his heathenism and promised to smash his idol and return to the Christian faith without a moment’s delay. The other heathen, alarmed by the fate of their leader, fled to the barn, washed themselves, resumed their clothing, and went homeward with sober countenances, singing missionary hymns. The North Meriden revival of heathenism was a disastrous failure, but nevertheless the boldness and originality of the scheme devised by Master Jaggars must command our wonder and admiration.

RECEIPTS

FOR NOVEMBER, 1879.

MAINE, $173.33.

Bath. Ladies, _for a Teacher_ $8.50
Biddeford. Second Cong. Soc. 27.51
Cumberland Centre. Cong. Ch. and Soc. to const. OREN
S. THOMAS, L. M. 33.00
Farmington. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 19.45
Foxcroft and Dover. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.41
Fryeburg. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 13.46
Limerick. S. F. H., _for Raleigh, N. C._ 1.00
Litchfield. Ladies, Bbl. of C.
Newcastle. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.00
North Anson. ——. 10.00
Scarborough. Cong. Ch. and Soc., “A Friend” 33.00
Waterford. “A. D.” 5.00
Wilton. Cong. Ch. 7.00

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $158.31.

Auburn. “F. B.” 1.00
Candia. Jona. Martin 5.00
Dunbarton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.00
Durham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.50
East Alstead. Second Cong. Ch. $5.55; First Cong.
Ch., $3.10 8.65
East Jaffrey. Mrs. D. 0.25
Hancock. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.00
Harrisville. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.85
Hinsdale. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $9.62; G. W., 51c. 10.13
Jaffrey. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Keene. First Cong. Sab. Sch. 28.37
Mason. Anna M. Hosmer, _for Wilmington, N. C._ 6.25
Pembroke. C. C. S. 0.51
Pittsfield. ——. 10.00
West Lebanon. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.80

VERMONT, $266.76.

Barnet. Cong. Ch. and Soc. (ad’l) 7.75
Chester. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 23.88
Danville. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $20.50, and Sab.
Sch. $10 30.50
Fayetteville. ESTATE of Sophia C. Miller, by Milon
Davidson 75.00
Johnson. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Island Pond. Cong. Ch. 13.00
Lower Waterford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.19
North Cambridge. M. K. 1.00
Pittsford. Mrs. Nancy P. Humphrey 10.00
Tunbridge. Cong. Ch. 2.07
Saint Johnsbury. Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Blodgett, to
const. HERBERT W. BLODGETT, L. M. 30.00
Swanton. Harriet M. Stone 5.00
West Enosburgh. Henry Fassett 5.00
West Randolph. Mary A. and Susan E. Albin 6.00
West Westminster. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.96
—— —— 0.20
Woodstock. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 26.21

MASSACHUSETTS, $2,626.08.

Amherst. G. C. Munsell 2.00
Arlington Heights. Joseph C. Gibson 5.00
Ashby. Cong. Sab. Sch. _for Student Aid, Atlanta
U._ 25.00
Barre. ESTATE of Phebe Barrett, by Thos. P. Root,
Ex. 87.55
Berkshire Co. ESTATE of Lucy Young, by Lucy C.
Lincoln, Executrix 100.00
Billerica. Orthodox Cong. Sab. Sch. 8.00
Boylston. Ladies’ Benev. Soc. $1.50 and B. of C. 1.50
Boston. Mt. Vernon Ch., “E. K. A.” $30, to
const. MISS SARAH B. ALDEN, L. M.; C. H. N. $1 31.00
Bradford. Mrs. Sarah C. Boyd, _for Student Aid,
Atlanta U._ 15.00
Cambridgeport. Ladies’ Missionary Society of
Pilgrim Ch. $30, to const. MRS. GEORGE R.
LEAVITT, L. M.; Prospect St. Sab. Sch. $11.68 41.68
Canton. Evan. Cong. Ch. 22.68
Charlestown. Ivory Littlefield 50.00
Concord. Trin. Cong. Ch. and Soc. _for Student Aid_ 26.00
Cunningham. “Friends.” 6.50
Dedham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $177.10, and Mon. Con.
Coll. $15.63; E. P. B. 50c. 193.23
Dorchester. Miss E. Pierce 10.00
Easton. Evan. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.50
Fairhaven. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 30.00
Florence. Florence Ch. 110.78
Grantville. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.88
Hatfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 55.50
Harwich. Cong. Ch. 13.27
Holbrook. BEQUEST of “E. N. H.” 200.00
Holbrook. “E. E. H.” 25.00
Housatonic. Housatonic Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.36
Ipswich. First Ch., Bbl. of C.
Jamaica Plain. Central Cong. Ch. Sab. Sch. _for
Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 50.00
Lawrence. Lawrence St. Ch., Bbl. of C.
Leverett. Cong. Sab. Sch. 2.75
Lexington. Hancock Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.01
Litchfield. First. Cong. Soc. to const.
H. B. EGGLESTON, L. M. 40.50
Lowell. Eliot Ch. and Soc. 2.34
Marshfield. Ladies, by Miss Alden, $1.50, and B.
of C. 1.50
Mattapoisett. A. C. 1.00
Medfield. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. $72.25, to
const. REV. GEO. H. PRATT and MISS LYDIA A. DOW,
L. M’s; Ladies of Second Cong. Ch., Bbl. of C. 72.25
Merrimac. John K. Sargent and Charles N. Sargent,
$2 ea. 4.00
Middleton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.50
Millbury. M. D. Garfield, $5; —Cong. Ch., $2.20,
_for Student Aid, Atlanta, U._ 7.20
Milton. First Evan. Cong. Sab. Sch. 16.00
Montville. Sylvester Jones 2.00
Natick. Cong. Ch. and Soc. ($50 of which from
S. S.) 135.79
Newburyport. Freedmen’s Aid Soc., by Mrs. Mary E.
Dimmick, $75 _for Lady Missionary, Macon, Ga._;
—Whitefield Cong. Ch., $10.10; P. N., $1 86.10
Newton Center. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 24.94
North Brookfield. Miss Abby W. Johnson, _for
Student Aid, Fisk U._ 25.00
Norfolk. Cong. Sab. Sch. 10.17
Northampton. “A Friend,” $100; W. K. Wright, $30;
First Cong. Ch. (ad’l) 75c.; —“Friend,” a New
Single Harness, _for Talladega_ 130.75
Orleans. Cong. Sab. Sch. 10.00
Phillipston. Ladies’ Benev. Soc., Bbl. of C.
Pittsfield. James H. Dunham 25.00
Reading. Rev. W. H. Willcox, Books, with cash for
freight, _for Library, Talladega C._ 410.35
Roxbury. Bbl. of C. _for Mendi M._ by Miss E. E.
Backup.
South Boston. Phillips Cong. Ch. 78.55
Southampton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 42.73
South Hadley. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 28.00
Spencer. Young Ladies’ Mission Circle, $7 and Bbl.
of C. 7.00
Springfield. First Ch. $37.50; Mrs. Dr. Smith $3;
Eight individuals, $1 each;
Others, $2.75, _for Millers Station, Ga._
by Mrs. E. W. Douglass;—Wm H. Hale, $6 57.25
Taunton. Trin. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 100.00
Thorndike. James H. Learned, $10; Mrs. E. L.
Learned, $2 12.00
Tewksbury. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 29.00
Townsend. Cong. Sab. Sch. 5.00
Watertown. Mrs. S. S. 60c; Mrs. E. S. P. 60c; W. R.
60c; Corban Soc. 2 Bbls of C. 1.80
Westborough. Freedman’s Miss. Ass’n. Bbl. of
Bedding and C. _for Atlanta U._
West Boxford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. _for Student Aid.
Straight U._ 10.00
West Newton. J. H. P. 1.00
Worcester. Union Ch. $30; Salem St. Ch. and Soc.
$36.99; Mrs. Mary F. Gough, Bbl. of C. 75.99

RHODE ISLAND, $390.10.

Central Falls. Cong. Ch. 89.75
Providence. Union Cong. Ch. and Soc., $192.00;
—Young Ladies’ Soc. of Beneficent Ch., $100, _for
Student Aid, Fisk U._;—Plymouth Cong. Ch., $7.75 300.35

CONNECTICUT, $2,188.92.