Entered at the Post-Office at New York, N.Y., as second class matter.

American Missionary Association,

56 READE STREET, NEW YORK

THE

American Missionary.

American Missionary Association.

A portion of this number of the American Missionary is filled with a complete list of the names of the persons appointed for the current year to the missionary fields at home and abroad where this Association carries on its work. The work and the workers are earnestly commended to the sympathies and prayers of the disciples of the Lord everywhere.

THAT THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

It is needed, and that is just why we fixed upon the amount. We are not seeking to put forth a single effort or to carry out a solitary measure not strenuously demanded by the circumstances. We think Providence has plainly indicated to us that we should enlarge our operations at some points and inaugurate new work at other points. Of this we have been doubly assured by proffered gifts for specific work that needed greatly to be done.

We have accepted the gifts in faith, fully aware that by so doing we have placed ourselves under greater obligations than ever. If God, however, has moved upon the hearts of good people to provide buildings and funds for aggressive missionary endeavors, is it not evident that He designs to sustain the work in its proper development? His promises and providences surely warrant us in this belief. The funds needful for carrying out the Lord’s plans can be secured. Our concern is to understand and perform what we ought to do to obtain them.

We make our appeal, first, to the churches. Is this Association on your list of charities, and does it receive attention at least once a year? Do you take the collection for it in the best way? Do you give it a place in the monthly concert? Is it remembered in the Sabbath School?

We appeal, secondly, to individuals. When you provide for the charities of the year, do you make a liberal provision for the redemption of the colored races in our land? Do you keep in mind their relations to the highest welfare of the country? Do you remember what part the negroes and Chinamen may take in the conversion of Africa and China? May we not rely upon your gifts even by hundreds and thousands as the[34] months go on? We want that three hundred thousand dollars; and nothing is more sure than that it will come, provided churches in their several capacities, and individuals in their large-hearted benevolence, will respond promptly and prayerfully, according to their ability. If men and women are ready to enter the dens of darkness and sin, to baffle and destroy not the troublesome wolf—like young Putnam in our nation’s early history—but Satan and his wicked devices, surely we ought to be willing to furnish and hold the ropes.

THE NASHVILLE CONFERENCE.

A Conference of officers and workers of the American Missionary Association was held at Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 26 and 27. There were present ex-Gov. Washburn, of Massachusetts, the recently elected President of the Association; Rev. W. H. Ward, D.D., and C. L. Mead, Esq., of New York, members of the Executive Committee; Sec. Strieby, and Dr. Roy, Field Secretary. The teaching force was represented by Pres. Cravath and Prof. Spence, of Nashville, Tenn.; Pres. Ware and Prof. Farnham, of Atlanta, Ga.; Pres. DeForest and Prof. Andrews, of Talladega, Ala.; Pres. Pope and Prof. Hatch, of Tougaloo, Miss.; Pres. Alexander and Prof. Jewett, of New Orleans, La.; Prof. Wright, of Savannah, Ga.; Prof. Gordon, of Charleston, S.C.; Prof. Steele, of Memphis, Tenn.; Prof. Hodge, of Macon, Ga.; and Rev. O. D. Crawford, of Mobile, Ala. Gen. Armstrong, of Hampton, Va., and Pres. Fairchild, of Berea, Ky., though not directly connected with the Association, were present by invitation and added largely to the interest of the gathering.

The meeting was convened to consider the whole educational work of the Association in the South—with a view to its unity and efficiency. Many of the teachers present had been long in the service and brought to the discussion the benefits of large experience and wide observation in regard to the educational aptitudes and progress of the colored people.

Among the results were

1. That while the mass of this race must be educated for the common walks of life, yet a competent number must be trained as leaders in their progress; and as essential thereto, they need many a Moses and many an Aaron, and these must be of their own race. For these the best facilities ought to be furnished, and such facilities should be near at hand. Statistics were presented showing that at the West as well as at the South the students in the colleges were from the immediate vicinity. Many a young man gets a thorough education when the college is near who never would get it if the college were distant. This is especially true of the colored student, who can find work or teaching and cheap board near home, which he could not find at a distance, to say nothing of the expense of travel. In view of the facts, the Conference recommended to the Association to[35] strengthen the college departments in Atlanta and Fisk, and introduce college studies in Talladega and Straight as fast as the means and the fit student material would justify.

2. It was shown that more and better theological instruction is needed for the Freedmen. No race can rise without an intelligent ministry. The young colored people of the present generation have had some education themselves and demand better educated ministers, and the half million of children now in school will contemn religion or become infidels if left to the teachings of ignorant pulpits. The Association was asked by the Conference to establish, in addition to the Theological Department in Howard University, a Theological Seminary further South, as soon as practicable, and to sustain in efficiency the Theological Departments at Talladega and Straight.

3. The review of the Industrial Departments was interesting and satisfactory. The farm at Tougaloo produces largely the supply for boarding-house table, and furnishes something for export—especially strawberries. At Talladega the land is neither extensive nor very fertile, yet yields fairly. Both farms furnish labor for the boys, and the boarding departments there, as also in Atlanta, Fisk and elsewhere, give employment to the girls. These Industrial Departments do not pay pecuniarily, but they do pay in healthy mental and moral stamina, and in a preparation for practical life. In view, however, of the difficulty in management and marketing, no additional farm industries were recommended.

4. Much time was given and much interest manifested in discussing the grading and unifying of the normal and preparatory schools, and their relations to the higher institutions. Our most effective work is felt to be here, for in these schools we meet the wants of the masses directly, and lay the foundations for what we do in the schools more advanced. The results of the Conference in this regard, will, we are persuaded, secure greater unity and efficiency in object-lesson teaching, normal training and practical business education, as well as in giving more thorough preparation to those who may enter the colleges.

Among the important results of the meeting are the better acquaintance acquired by the teachers of each other and of the work; and by the officers of the Association of the great and diversified interests intrusted to its care.

A significant and encouraging fact in the progress of the meeting was the voluntary and very welcome presence of Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley, Secretary of the State Board of Education, and Mr. Doak, State Superintendent of Education. These gentlemen expressed, in the strongest terms, their high appreciation of the work the A. M. A. is doing in the South, and from their position and opportunities few men have better knowledge on the subject than they.

The day is not far distant when the South and North will see eye to[36] eye, and will work hand to hand in the great endeavor to elevate the colored race, and the A. M. A. may well rejoice in the part she is taking in bringing about this harmony, and in the great achievement to be attained.

We would again remind our readers that our Annual Report is ready for distribution, and we shall be glad to send it to any who wish a copy, and will so signify to us by postal card or letter.

The Work At Home, a monthly record of the Woman’s Home Missionary Association, is gotten up in an attractive manner; price, 25 cents per annum, subscriptions to be sent to Miss Laura W. Bliss, 20 Congregational House, Boston, Mass. We bid the publication God-speed.

We are happy to announce that through the liberality of Mr. Edward Smith, of Enfield, Mass., we have purchased thirteen acres of land in Little Rock, Ark., for a new institution of learning. A charter for a college and plans for the first school building will be secured without unreasonable delay. The character of the school will be similar to that of our other chartered institutions.

BENEFACTIONS.

Wesleyan University has already received $550,000 of Mr. Seney, of Brooklyn, for endowment purposes.

—The late Stephen Whitney Phœnix bequeathed nearly $1,000,000 to Columbia College, New York City, part of it available at once, and the rest on the death of his brother and sisters.

—Mr. J. B. Hoyt, of Stamford, Conn., has subscribed $20,000 for the Connecticut Literary Institution at Suffield.

—The will of Mrs. Maria Cary, of Brooklyn, gives $5,000 to Antioch College.

—Mr. A. E. Goodnow, of Worcester, has presented Mount Holyoke Seminary with $5,000, to be invested as a fund for keeping in order the estate of Goodnow Park, presented by him to that institution.

—The Worcester Free Institute, of which Dr. Chas. O. Thompson is the Principal, has received during the past year, $26,000 from Mr. David Whitcomb, and $6,000 from Mr. Stephen Salisbury, both of Worcester, Mass. The Institute now has property amounting to $680,000.

—Mr. W. C. Jones, of Warrington, Eng., has given $10,000 to establish a preparatory institute at Hong Chow, China.

—We published the statement in the October American Missionary that endowments were needed at Talladega College, of $25,000 each for four professorships. We are happy to report that the late Benjamin De Forest, of Connecticut, provided by his will, $10,000 toward such endowment.

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GENERAL NOTES.

AFRICA.

—A German expedition, under the direction of Baron Muller, will set out from Massaoua or Souakim for the country of the Gallas.

—Two English missionaries of Uganda, Messrs. Pearson and Litchfield, have returned to England.

—During forty years, the Church Missionary Society sent 87 missionaries to West Africa.

—Captain Capello will have the direction of the civilizing station which the Portuguese government intends to establish at Bihé.

—A Spanish association, the Exploradoro, is organizing an expedition for the region comprised between the Bay of Corisco and Lake Albert.

—The Church Missionary Society had at last reports but three missionaries left of the whole number sent to Uganda, the capital of Mtesa’s kingdom.

—The Governor of Sierra Leone intends to visit the chiefs of the tribes who live along the Rokelle, with the view of establishing among them a permanent peace.

—Messrs. Cuzzi and Michieli, agents of the Italian Society of Commerce with Africa, have set out for Khartoum, where they will make purchase of gum.

—Count Pennazzi, who has already explored the Soudan, will shortly start for the country of the Gallas, from whence he aims to go directly to the great lakes of Eastern Africa.

—Mr. Godwin, engineer at Cairo, has addressed a report to the Egyptian government showing the necessity of prolonging the railroads to the Egyptian Soudan, using alternately conveyance by water and the railroad.

—We are happy to announce the arrival of Mr. I. J. St. John and Rev. J. M. Hall at Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Dec. 12, after a long and rough voyage. They were in good health and hoped to reach Avery Station that same week.

—Sir John Kirk, who has been so well known for many years as Dr. Kirk, the British Representative and Consul General at Zanzibar, and who earned his knighthood by his services in connection with the abolition of the slave trade and the advance of civilization in East Africa, is now in England.

THE INDIANS.

—A small congregation of full-blooded Chickasaw Indians lately gave $400 for Foreign Missions.

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—In the spring of 1881, seventeen Indian slaves at Sitka were freed through the efforts of Captain Henry Glass, of the United States ship Jamestown.

—The Baptists have built a steam launch of 100 tons measurement for mission work in Alaska, British Columbia and Washington Territory. She is 82 feet long, with a cabin 25 x 15 feet.

—The Cherokees, Choctaws, Creeks, Chickasaws and Seminole Indians, to the number of 60,560, have over 16,000 houses. During the years 1879 and 1880, from the 273,000 acres they have under cultivation they raised over half a million of bushels of wheat and 176,500 tons of hay. They have 195 schools with 6,250 scholars, or one-tenth of the population. For education during the year they expended $156,856, or $29.09 for each scholar, 2,650 of whom learned to read the same year.

—At the Klawack Cannery, an Indian one day, abusing some others with offensive epithets learned from the whites, they at once fell to fighting. A trader inquiring what he said to them, they replied they didn’t know, only when white men used those words they went to fighting, and so the Indians thought that was the proper thing for them to do.

CHINESE.

—The return of the Chinese students, about which so much is said, it seems was occasioned partly by the fact that the Chinese government wished to utilize their acquirements. Several of them have been called into the service of telegraph lines just completed, and others will enter the army, the navy and the arsenals.

—The Japanese, the Yankees of the East, have lately been getting up a corner in silk, and European silk traders have been forced to accept the terms dictated by a syndicate of native growers.

—There are now in North China about 100 villages where there are natives who have declared themselves disciples of Christ, and in as many as thirty centres they meet on Sunday for worship and the study of the Scriptures.

—In Japan, 90 per cent. of the people are able to read. In the United States, only 80 per cent.; in England, 67; in China, 50, and in India 5 per cent.

—China spends $150,000,000 annually in ancestral worship.

—Japan has set an example that might well be followed by some continental nations. The government was requested for permission to hold a lottery in order to dispose of such articles as remained unsold at the national exhibition. They refused on moral grounds, and went to the expense of purchasing all the goods themselves in order to avoid the risk of an immoral example.

NEW APPOINTMENTS.

1881–1882.

The following list presents the names and post-office addresses of those who are under appointment in the Churches, Institutions and Schools aided by the American Missionary Association, among the Freedmen in the South, the Chinese on the Pacific Coast, the Indians, and the Negroes in Western Africa. The Berea College and Hampton Institute are under the care of their own Boards of Trustees, but being either founded or fostered in the past by this Association, and representing the general work in which it is engaged, their teachers are included in this list.

THE SOUTHERN FIELD

Rev. J. E. Roy, D.D., Field Superintendent.

AMONG THE CHINESE.

AMONG THE INDIANS.

AFRICA.

THE FREEDMEN.

REV. JOSEPH E. ROY, D.D., Field Superintendent, Atlanta, Ga.

BUILDINGS AT TOUGALOO, MISS.

By Rev. A. Hatch.

The aim of the educational work here is, in a word, to fit our students for practical life and to instruct in the art of teaching. A course of six years, after that of our primary grade, completes the regular normal course. In addition to a long and thorough drill in the more common and elementary branches, this course requires three terms each of United States history, Latin and algebra, two each of philosophy and geometry, one of physiology, natural history and science of government and four terms of Bible study.

A small one-story house neatly finished off with Southern pine from ceiled roof to wainscoting is reserved for the primary school where, in limited numbers, children from the plantations around are permitted to attend. The chief object here is to furnish a model school for our normal classes and a place where they can both learn by observation and practice for themselves under an experienced teacher who comes from the North expressly to have charge of this room. Besides this teacher our corps of instructors is seven strong, including one who is almost exclusively music teacher.

Something of external enlargement has fallen to the lot of Tougaloo within a year past. The beginning of the last winter term brought a crowd of students who, with difficulty, could find a lodging place among us, owing to the lack of buildings. The young men, many of them, had to make the best of the rudest sort of apartments. It was when every available room apparently was full, and shortly after a number of students had been sent away, that the “chapel,” with its second floor devoted to rooms for twenty-eight young men, took fire and burned to the ground. This building, never even in its best days a very commodious, convenient, or cheery place, was the best we had, excepting, perhaps, the “mansion.” On the first floor were a low-walled chapel-room, serving the purposes of school-room, assembly-room and church, and two small recitation-rooms. In one of these was kept the small library of the institution. This library embraced sets of the New American Cyclopædia and the Family Library, some 300 or more Sunday-school books, a few miscellaneous volumes—the gifts of individuals—and a considerable collection of Congressional books, reports, etc., sent to the Normal Department from Washington. The greater part of this incipient library was saved. The sets above mentioned, however, [47]which our students were beginning to appreciate and use intelligently, were broken up.

STRIEBY HALL, TOUGALOO, MISS.

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There was an insurance on the chapel of $3,000. Something had been previously accumulating through special solicitations and the benevolence of friends, for enlarging the hall for young women. That addition was in progress at the time of the fire. This building contained the boarding and laundry departments of the school. It had rooms for thirty-two young women. It was proposed to enlarge it by adding another story to the long two-story structure already on the ground, and also a three-story wing, furnishing in all accommodations for seventy-two girls, besides containing two good-sized sitting-rooms, a pleasant sewing-room, and private apartments for the matron and five teachers. This has been completed.

Early last spring, funds were forthcoming for a new hall for young men. Work was immediately begun. A fair crop of “Mississippi brick” was raised on the spot. A sufficient number of men were employed to push on rapidly the work of building. A commodious and pleasing hall 41 × 112 feet stands ready for students.

A deep, roomy basement extends under the whole building, furnishing rooms not only for uses connected with the hall, but also those connected with certain of the industrial departments. The first floor affords us a large room for chapel, two convenient recitation-rooms, an office, and apartments for a small family.

The second and third floors are used as dormitories. The rooms, 34 in number, are of good size, light and airy, neatly and substantially, though simply, furnished. While in the construction of Strieby Hall strict economy has been studied, modern ideas of convenience have been introduced. Water is brought to each floor from large tanks underneath the roof. A large bath-room is on the second floor.

The large “mansion,” which has served a great variety of purposes, has now been turned for the most part into school uses. It has two large recitation-rooms, a library, a reading-room, two music-rooms, besides an office and suitable rooms for one family and guests.

These four buildings, together with the neat little cottage for the president and his family, comprise the chief externals of Tougaloo University. The old building for young men, known as the “Barracks,” is to take its proper and more humble place among the barns and outhouses connected with the farm.

INDUSTRIAL WORK AT TOUGALOO.

By Pres. G. S. Pope.

In considering the desirableness of having Industrial departments in connection with any of our schools, it is necessary, of course, to decide as nearly as possible what the expense of establishing and maintaining such departments will be, and what the advantage to the pupil. In other departments of training it is found necessary to secure liberal endowments in order to meet expenses. Why should more be asked of this? We sustain our Theological departments to train men to be successful preachers of the Word. We sustain our Industrial departments to train them to be successful business men. But one is direct Christian and missionary work. So is the other. God first put man to pruning the garden, not to preaching the gospel. And whatever is done to make the world again a garden is evidently in the line of God’s plan. It is certainly possible for us to give too little weight to the training of workmen. I suppose it is expected that I will present my thoughts in the shadow of experience.

The Industrial department at Tougaloo University embraces: 1. General Farming. 2. Strawberry Culture. 3. Gardening. 4. Stock-Raising. 5. General Housework. 6. Work in Laundry. 7. Work in Sewing-Room.

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In our general farming we have confined our work to those crops that we can consume on the place—corn, oats and potatoes. We expect to cultivate cotton hereafter, rotating it with other crops. Corn yields fairly, but not equal to the West, of course. The oat crop, I think, can be made equal to the Western crop. We have done enough with grasses to satisfy ourselves that grass can be very profitable grown and marketed.

The strawberry crop can be grown, picked and marketed almost entirely with student labor. We have to hire a little outside help during the picking season. This is both a pleasant and profitable industry. We can begin shipping about April 10, or earlier, according to the season. Chicago is our market. The garden is a great help in supplying our table, and in any of our schools we ought to be able to cultivate a garden for the family with student labor with good results. But gardening for profit must be taught, and requires skill and means.

Four years ago we ventured to purchase a little thoroughbred Ayrshire and grade Jersey stock. We had no appropriation for such purchases, but felt that we must make a beginning. We needed the milk to use. We had land and must utilize it. The scholars needed to be taught the value of good cows. We have not only awakened interest in the minds of the students, in the matter of stock-raising, but also in the minds of some of the old planters about us.

The general housework and the work in the laundry and sewing-room have been well managed under the oversight of our matron and others, but in these, as in other departments already mentioned, the returns seem slight when compared with the expense of sustaining the labor.

If we look at some of the difficulties, we shall perhaps feel more forcibly the absolute need of sustaining industrial schools. The people know nothing in the line of general farmwork, except the culture of corn and cotton in the old way. They know nothing of the value of rotation in crops, underdraining, fertilizing, etc. They know nothing of the use and care of improved implements. There has been no sense of responsibility developed in them. They break tools, misplace them, lose them. A new set of hands use the tools and teams each day of the week. In a jolly, good-natured way, time is killed, and but little is accomplished. These faults must be corrected. This takes time and patience. Meanwhile the leakage and breakage and drainage is costing. In the strawberry field we have not the advantage of skilled pickers and packers, but must put new hands in the field each year. In the garden, the boys want to use the big cotton hoes, and cut and slash as they do in the field, and so they tear up the tomatoes and root up the rutabagas, and cut up the cabbages. Many of the boys have never had a fork or a rake in their hands. They know how to “gear up” a mule to plow, but would be utterly lost if they should undertake to put a decent harness on a horse and hitch him into a wagon.

In the housework the girls are no more responsible about their sweeping and scrubbing, their washing and wiping, than the boys are on the farm. In the laundry they often forget to kindle the fire until it is time to commence ironing. Then they must stand and wait for the irons to heat. In the wash-room they would as soon use a box of soap as a bar. In the sewing-room they sew and then rip, and then sew up again and rip out again. The girls have followed the plow or trundled baby wagons, and know nothing about sewing, knitting, darning, or anything else that fits them for real home life.

Multitudes of young men have their hearts set upon the pulpit and platform while there is scarcely one in ten thousand who is learning a trade. Our carpenters and masons, our tinners and shoemakers are men who are in middle life, or[50] whose heads are frosted for the grave. These young people that we are educating will need school-houses and churches and court-houses; but the way things are going now, there will be no one to build them after their fathers are gone. In view of these facts, we have urged the establishment of shops where trades can be taught, but we are headed off with the fact that we cannot pay expenses. Do other departments of training pay expenses? Wherever the work of training is done, expense is incurred. But people will give to make teachers and preachers. Ah! they forget that the Lord Jesus worked in a carpenter’s shop before he preached the glad tidings; that Peter learned the art of catching fish before he caught men; and that Paul made tents for depraved men to use as homes in this world before he told them of the heavenly mansions. What is needed in these young people is the development of character. Manliness, womanliness, self-reliance can only be developed by a course of training that teaches hands, heads and hearts at the same time.

I have spoken of the comparative expense of our industries, but it is by no means all outgo and no income. I have no balance sheet to present with this paper, but the milk goes from the stable to the pantry by the bucketful, the vegetables from the garden to the kitchen by the basketful, and the strawberries from the field to the fruit-room by the crateful. Besides the berries used in our family, we receive from $25 to $100 net per acre from those shipped. We have raised this year $700 worth of sweet potatoes. At very moderate prices we have on hand now at least one thousand dollars worth of thoroughbred and grade stock over and above what has been paid for it. I think I am safe in saying that in spite of all the difficulties, in ordinary seasons, our outside work brings in enough to pay for the labor put upon it.

But suppose our industries bring in no returns, but are constant sources of expense; still the fact remains that great value comes through them to the boys and girls. There is a discipline gained in being obliged to do work thoroughly, and a self respect developed in them in the effort to earn something with which to pay expenses, instead of being carried like babies, that is simply invaluable.

MISSIONARY WORK AT NEW ORLEANS.

By Miss Lena Saunders.

The month just past has been replete with special Divine mercies, though marked by much sickness in the families of those interested in the school and church. One of our scholars went Home early in the month and another lies “waiting for the boatman” close by the river. She seems fully trusting in Jesus though suffering intensely and praying to die. She asks that all her schoolmates at the hall pray for her. She has walked six miles a day on her way to and from school, and now in her feeble talks dwells entirely upon the school and Heaven. My Sunday-school class has increased in numbers to 53. The little ones have been specially interested in the black-board exercises, and read the pictures in a peculiarly quaint way. The account of the “brass snake” lifted up in the wilderness particularly fascinated them. Reviewing the story of Balaam a few Sundays since, I asked the class what kind of man Balaam was, expecting them to remember the answer from the golden text. One little fellow replied “a double-jinted man.” The pastor opened the door in time to join in the smiling. I had to learn that “double-jointed” is a term applied to persons who say one thing and do another. The sewing-school is well attended. The mother’s meeting is making its influence felt by the regular members going out and bringing in those who attend no other service.

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STORRS CHURCH, ATLANTA, GA

By Rev. Evarts Kent.

The Church is raising $30 per month on pastor’s salary, beginning from 1st of October last. I am sure you will be glad to know that we close the year with all indebtedness of every sort paid, and a trifling sum in the treasury. There was something of a deficiency, but we rallied last Wednesday evening and made it good. Besides, by vote of the Church at the same time, that was practically unanimous, we enrolled ourselves among the number of giving churches, pledging an annual contribution to the three missionary societies of our order, and another for church building. Our contributions may not be large; they will certainly be something. Congregation continues good. Bad weather has reduced somewhat the attendance at prayer meeting and Sunday-school; but both have been well attended and full of interest. Acting upon my suggestion at the Sunday-school concert, Christmas evening, the school brought birthday gifts to the Saviour in the form of remembrances for the poor; more than 100 packages were brought to the table; clothing, groceries, etc. It was most touching to witness the gifts brought to the Lord Jesus in this way from some of the very poorest of our children. The next morning, in a pouring rain, the pastor and deacons distributed these offerings. I hope our people gained some insight into the real meaning of the day.

AFRICA.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS OF REV. H. M. LADD.

Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 28, 1881.—We are off at last. The delay has been inevitable. No sooner would we make a plan than the bottom would fall out of it. About sixteen bottoms have fallen out. However, we have some reason to hope that the last one will stick unless all men are liars, or unless there should be an explosion or an upheaval of the Nile, or unless there should be something else. It is never best to be too sure about anything in this country.

The quarantine has also thrown all our plans into confusion. We tried all sorts of schemes to obtain a passage down the Red Sea and get landed at Souakim without quarantine, but every plan failed and we determined to go up the Nile. Then we heard by chance (everything seems to go by chance here) that the Egyptian steamboats had given up calling at Jedda, and that we could go direct to Souakim. We commenced telegraphing at once to Suez. Four times we telegraphed, and finally learned that one steamer would go direct to Souakim without quarantine, but that it would sail before we could catch it, and that there would not be another one for a month.

So again we gave up the Red Sea, and returned to the Nile route. We planned to go by rail to Siout, thence by postal steamer to Assouan. The steamer was to leave Siout on Wednesday; we must leave here on Tuesday; our baggage must leave by freight train on Monday, and to make sure of its getting on to the train it must be sent to the station on Sunday. So we got it ready on Saturday by working hard, and sent it to the station, and were quietly informed that there was no train that would take it till Tuesday, except for an enormous sum, and that as the boat left now on Tuesday instead of Wednesday we could not reach it any how. This all meant three days more of delay. * * * So we leave to-day, after taking the best advices we could possibly get on the subject, determined to push on up the river and cross the long Korosko Desert, which is the shortest though not the[52] easiest route now open to us. We are both in excellent health and spirits and start off with much to cheer us. They tell us there is plenty of good weather before us in which to reach Fatiko or Lake Albert Nyanza, if we shall think it best to do so on reaching Khartoum.

Assyout or Siout, Dec. 2.—We arrived here last evening, and expect to start onward at 3 A.M. to-night. The American missionaries have entertained us very hospitably, and send us on our way rejoicing.

Assouan, Dec. 9.—We have reached the borders of Nubia in safety, and shall set sail to-morrow noon for Korosko. This is far better than we expected to do, as we were told we should be detained here three or four days. We have taken three Arabs into our company and thereby reduced our expenses to Khartoum. Everything now looks well for us. We shall try to reach Korosko in three days from here. The Governor of this district has ordered camels to be ready for us. From Korosko we shall try to make the desert from Nile to Nile in eight days, and in five more to reach Berber.

Korosco, Nubia, Dec. 12.—We found our camels ready for us, and we shall start into the great desert early to-morrow morning. To-day the men are making the necessary preparation in the way of food, etc. The Governer here, acting under orders from down the river, is very attentive. The water at Murat, the only point where there is any on the desert, is bad, and cannot be used for drinking; we shall, therefore, have to carry enough to last us till we reach Aboo Hamed and the river again. The doctor has had his hands full, attending to all sorts of people with all sorts of troubles, and evidently is destined to be quite in demand. We are both well and in good trim for the journey.

THE CHINESE.

NOTES FROM THE FIELD.

By Rev. W. C. Pond.

1. The statistical reports for November are in some respects more encouraging than ever; thirteen schools in operation, having an aggregate enrolled membership of 700—a round number, but an exact one. Never before did our aggregate rise so high. The average attendance was 339. Ten of our pupils received baptism, and four or five others, as having begun the Christian life, were accepted as members of the “Association of Christian Chinese,” there to remain under further instruction for six months or more before they are baptized. Twenty-nine teachers were employed, of whom ten were Chinese helpers—uniting service in the field with special training for a larger Gospel-work. Some of these, I hope, may yet preach Christ in China, under the direction of our American Missionary Association.

2. The Marysville Chinese Mission celebrated its second anniversary on Sunday evening, December 11. The Presbyterian Church in that city—a spacious and beautiful edifice—was filled, and the audience was evidently greatly interested. At the close of a dialogue on the question why a Chinaman should become a Christian, and of the address in English by our helper, Lee Sam, the interest pressed beyond due bounds, and broke forth into applause. One memorable feature of the service was the baptism of six Chinese. From the statement of the teacher, Miss Mattie A. Flint, as presented at this meeting and since then published in The Pacific, I make the following extracts:

“The school has been maintained without interruption except on occasional holidays. In connection with it a Sunday-school has been sustained, meeting every Sabbath at 6 o’clock in the evening. The total number of Chinese enrolled as pupils in the Mission School is[53] 98. All these have been, for a shorter or longer period, under our influence, and must have learned something about Jesus and his power to save from sin. The average membership, month by month, has been about 35. The largest average attendance in any one month was 23. The average attendance for the year, 17. * * * Ten of the pupils have joined the Association during the past year. From among the members of the Association five have been baptized and received in the Presbyterian Church, and six others are now recommended for baptism. We rejoice greatly in the fruit of our labors. I pray God for still richer harvests in time to come.

“One of those baptized and received to the church has returned to China. I venture to give the following extract from a letter which I received from him a few weeks since: ‘We meet on the steamer three Christian brothers beside me. I feel comfortable in the way my home. They about five hundred of my country men in the steamer. But they are all heathen; we are preacher for them. They are never heard the gospel of life, and some very glad to hear us, and some are not. How wonderful our Heavenly Father has make this world! We are cross the great ocean, we ought thank Him for His kindness for us and His love. When we get near Japan they are idolatrous people to ask for us to give money to sacrifice idols goddess. I say no; if I have money I would like to put on missionary fund. But they are scold and angry for us. But we are not afraid for them. Jesus Christ with us always.’”

The Bethany Church of Marysville.—A variety of considerations which could not be fully stated without trespassing too largely upon your space led us to believe that the time had come when our brethren in Marysville should be organized into a church of Christ. Rev. P. L. Carden, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, very cordially seconded the proposition, and proffered letters of dismission and recommendation to such of our Chinese brethren as had already been admitted to his church. The brethren themselves received the proposal with great joy.

It was a new step in the history of our own work among the Chinese of this State, though in connection with other missions two or three churches composed exclusively of Chinese have existed for many years. It was taken after much prayer, and with a peaceful assurance that the Master himself led us that way. The matter was talked over with the brethren somewhat carefully on Sunday afternoon; and then after the anniversary exercises over, we remained at the Mission House till late at night, explaining to them the simple confession of Faith and Covenant of the Bethany Church, San Francisco, which they adopted as their own. My inquiries into the Christian experience of one and another gave me still greater joy than I had before in view of our Marysville work, and at the end of this meeting it was agreed to gather at the Mission House at 2:30 P.M. of Monday, and organize the church. This plan was carried out, several American Christians being present with us and adding their prayers and cordial God-speed; and I could easily find it in my heart to wish that every church organized in America had in it nine such happy, hearty, praying, working young men as this Bethany Church in Marysville has.

3. Oroville.—We had scarcely concluded the meeting above referred to, when it became time to take the train for Oroville, twenty-eight miles distant. I took our faithful helper, Lee Sam, with me, desiring him to spend two or three months at least in Oroville. Here I found a sad state of things. Sufficient care had not been taken in receiving members to our Association there, and I am afraid that few, if any, among them are true Christians. In a strife for the pre-eminence they had become bitter, one toward another, and I hoped, and still hope, that the good judgment, the[54] gentle spirit, the Christian example and the faithful preaching of Lee Sam will, with the blessing of God, set things right again. The school in Oroville is blessed with a very faithful teacher, who is aided and guided by her father, Rev. A. Ostrom, pastor of the Congregational Church, himself formerly a missionary in China. Mr. Ostrom speaks Chinese, but not in the dialect of the districts from which our Chinese have come, and he cannot communicate with them, except through the English language. We ought to have had a good helper there six months ago, but I had not the man to spare, nor the funds to sustain him. Now I leave Marysville destitute, that Oroville may be supplied.

We spent Monday and Tuesday evenings till a very late hour seeking to secure mutual forgiveness and to bring peace. We succeeded so far as the weaker party was concerned; and the confession of fault and the request for forgiveness were made with tearful eyes. But as to the other, and hitherto the controlling faction, no relenting could be made to appear. They have since withdrawn and set up some sort of a house and a worship by themselves. But I believe that our prayers will be answered, and that out of all this will come shortly a far better work than has ever yet been done for the thousands of Chinese who centre at this town.

4. The mission-house at Santa Barbara was burned to the ground in the latter part of November. It was a rented building, and the most valuable part of the mission escaped the flames, so that the loss was not great. I record with much thankfulness the fact that the Congregational Church in Santa Barbara, notwithstanding that it had, just the week before, completed an offering of $327.50 for our Theological Seminary, and scarcely a month before had made a generous contribution to our Mission, at once took a collection amounting to $27.55 to repair the damages of this fire. The origin of the fire is hard to explain. Our helper regards it as no accident, but as having come from the hatred of heathen Chinese.

CHILDREN’S PAGE.

“TESSIE.”

BY A. WESTON W.

“Dunno, miss.”

“But, Tessie, you must know where you got it.”

“’Deed, miss, I dunno no more’n de dade. I nebber tuk it none: it jes’ comed.”

“Just came! O Tessie, Tessie! are you never going to be good?”

“I is good, miss,” said the little colored girl, who could not seem to learn how very wicked it is to take other people’s property, and who had never been taught it is wrong to tell an untruth.

“Yes, Tessie, you are good about some things,” I said; “but you are not good when you take things out of my room, as you did last night.”

“Deed, miss, I nebber tuk it none: it jes’ comed.”

“Tessie,” I said solemnly, “what will you do when God asks you about this.”

“I jes’ say I dunno nuffin’ ’tall ’bout it.”

“But you can’t tell a lie about it to God, for he saw you take it.”

“Reckon ye’re out dar, ’cause it were dark as Egyp,” said Tessie, grinning at me, and showing a row of white teeth and a pair of large black eyes.

“But, Tessie,” I said, “that makes no difference; God sees you all the time, and knows what you do in the dark, just as well as what you do when it is light.”

The girl’s expression changed, and she looked about her stealthily, as though in some dark corner she expected to see some one looking at her. Failing in[55] that, she looked back at me, and said:

“’Tain’t wurth while ter vex ’im.”

“No, Tessie,” I said, “it’s not right to vex any one who has been kind to us; and God does more for us than any earthly friends we have.”

“Reckon ef I puts it back in de dark agin, he’ll see it?”

“Yes, Tessie, God will see you, whether you put it back at night, or in the day.”

“Den it’ll be all right?”

“If you make up your mind never to take again what does not belong to you.”

“S’posen His head’s turned round the wrong way, an’ He don’t see me?”

“God’s head is never turned round, Tessie; it is always towards us.”

That evening I watched Tessie to see the effect of our conversation, and soon after dark I discovered her on her way to my room, with the little thermometer she had taken from it the night before.

After that, there seemed to be a decided change in Tessie, which pleased me very much; but I was even more pleased when, one day, I found her with a bottle of cologne in her hand, and heard what she was saying.

“I reckon it smells kind o’ good, an’ I reckon I’d like ter hab it; but de good God’s a-lookin’ on, an’ he moight ax ’bout it some day.”

My little friends, would it not be well if we could take that as a sort of watch-word—“He might ask about it some day”? Do we not all do little things quietly, in a kind of slurring way, as if they wouldn’t count? And yet we would be ashamed to be asked about them. Remember that everything counts, and that “He might ask about it some day.”—Well-Spring.

RECEIPTS FOR DECEMBER, 1881.

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 toward the Indians. It has also a mission in Africa.

STATISTICS.

Churches: In the South—In District of Columbia, 1; Virginia, 1; North Carolina, 6; South Carolina, 2; Georgia, 13; Kentucky, 7; Tennessee, 4; Alabama, 14; Kansas, 1; Arkansas, 1; Louisiana, 18; Mississippi, 4; Texas, 6. Africa, 3. Among the Indians, 1. Total, 82.

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, Tex.—8. Graded or Normal Schools: Wilmington, N.C.; Charleston, Greenwood, S.C.; Savannah, Macon, Atlanta, Ga.; Montgomery, Mobile, Athens, Selma, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.—11. Other Schools, 35. Total, 54.

Teachers, Missionaries and Assistants.—Among the Freedmen, 319; among the Chinese, 28; among the Indians, 9; in Africa, 13. Total, 369. Students.—In theology, 104; law, 20; in college course, 91; in other studies, 8,884. Total, 9,108. Scholars taught by former pupils of our schools, estimated at 150,000. Indians under the care of the Association, 13,000.

WANTS.

1. A steady INCREASE of regular income to keep pace with the growing work. 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:

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.

Transcriber’s Notes:

Period spellings retained. Inconsistent hyphenation retrained, due to the multiplicity of authors. Obvious printer’s punctuation errors and omissions corrected. Ditto marks replaced with the text they represent, to facilitate eBook alignment.

Corrected “Talledega” to “Talladega” in the Marlborough entry on 55. (for Student Aid, Talladega C.)

Corrected “Gh” to “Ch” in the Colchester entry on page 56. (First Cong. Ch.)

Replaced missing “c” in the first Chicago entry on page 60.