Read Ebook: The American Missionary — Volume 36 No. 5 May 1882 by Various

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We are hoping and praying that the good, work which has been begun here may continue: that those who have started in the right way may have strength of character enough to keep in it, even when the prospect looks dark and they do not feel so full of enthusiasm as now.

A SUMMER SHOWER.

It fell out of a clear sky, without foretokening of cloud or of electric display. It was at Chattanooga, in Pastor Joseph E. Smith's church. At the regular Wednesday evening prayer meeting a young man announces that he has made up his mind to turn and live a Christian life. Good Deacon Morford asks of the pastor: "How would it do to have a meeting to-morrow night?" It is appointed. Two or three more at that time come out on the Lord's side.

Then a meeting every night is agreed upon, with a sermon from the pastor; and every night souls are hopefully born again. The series continues two weeks. For the last few days Pastor Penney and Superintendent Roy drop in to help glean a little. Over two-score souls are numbered among the believers. Forty are examined and approved by vote for membership in the church.

But there was some preliminary work after all. The lady missionary, Mrs. Almira S. Steele, of Revere, Mass., who is sustained by the ladies of the Congregational churches of Chelsea, besides her general service, has had a Friday afternoon sociable for the women, which not only worked as a preparation but was used all through the revival with marked spiritual results. So her service in the Sunday-school, with the handling of the review intrusted to her, had borne upon the happy issue, and all the people, who are delighted with their lady assistant, trace the work back in part to her influence. The pastor, who had become almost discouraged, becomes a new man. The church is confirmed. This fruitage encourages the patient culturing of the Sabbath-school. It rewards proper teaching. There was no noise, no confusion. None of the inquirers were looking for visions and dreams, for long-drawn agonies, for "the power." They were just marched up to the question of immediate submission and trust. This work shows how our little churches that are striving for purity and order and character may be spiritually empowered and built up.

REFRESHING AT MACON.

It will gratify our friends to know that our A. M. A. mission in Macon has been spiritually refreshed. There was a growing religious interest among the children of our day-school and Sunday-school, and early in February we were enabled to secure the aid of Rev. E. E. Rogers, of Orange, Conn. The neighborhood prayer-meetings and house-to-house visitation by day were followed by powerfully impressive meetings at night. The work spread remarkably among the children, many of whom have started out in the new life. For more than three weeks the scholars of our Lewis High School would voluntarily leave their play and spend the whole half-hour of noon recess in prayer and religious instruction at the parlor of the Mission Home to the number of sixty and upward. At one memorable pray-meeting in the school-house there were twelve or fifteen of the students who gave their hearts to God. It was a Pentecostal season, a time of great rejoicing to the faithful teachers who had so long prayed for their pupils. The clear, decided testimony of one bright little Sunday-school boy, eight years of age, who was converted in one of the Sunday-school prayer-meetings, would put to shame the half-way, timid professions of some older people. "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise." Sixteen members of our Sunday-school have joined our church. Twenty-two in all have united, of whom eight are heads of families, while eight or ten of the students have joined other churches, where their families are connected. The daily meetings continued for six weeks, with the efficient help of Rev. D. Sherrell, of Savannah, for a few days, after Brother Rogers' departure.

GOOD HARVEST.

The religious interest in Atlanta University, which was reported to you some time since, has continued for five weeks without any abatement, and a good harvest has already been gathered. The meetings have been well attended, in spite of some sickness and bad weather, and have been marked by an earnest attention to the truth and a fervent spirit of prayer. We have good reason to believe that many more than a score of souls have chosen the service of Christ, and they show a tenderness of devotion and a carefulness of demeanor which promise well for their stability.

Scarcely one is left among those who made their home here who has not been deeply affected, and who has not taken some steps in advance. We do not expect any reaction or falling away from the uplift which the whole school seems to have experienced.

INCREASE IN PRAYER MEETINGS.

The prayer meetings at Hampton are well sustained, and the religious feeling in the school is good. There has been a marked increase in our prayer meetings this year. We often have 200 in our Sunday morning meeting conducted by the students, where last year there were only thirty or forty. We have kept up two Indian meetings during the week, in which a verse of the Bible is read in English by one of the students, then by all who can read English in concert, then by one in Dakota. Then it is explained. After trying several ways, this seemed to be the most satisfactory. Prayers are offered in Dakota, in Arizona and in English by the students.

A meeting is kept up by the English-speaking students among themselves in order to fit them to take part when they go back to their homes.

PARIS, TEXAS.

We are in the midst of a special work of grace. Nineteen have given evidence of having been born by the Holy Spirit. They all have been added to our church. Besides these, one came by letter from another denomination. Others are anxiously inquiring the way of life. All these converts, with two exceptions, are from the Sunday School. Among these "new-born babes" one is the wife of a minister and one is the wife of a deacon. The two oldest children of the pastor are among those that professed a hope in Christ.

M'INTOSH, LIBERTY CO., GA.

Last Sabbath was a "high day" with us. We have been holding extra meetings about four weeks. The result was the conversion of about fourteen persons, among whom were several of our most promising scholars. Our communion season came off last Sabbath, when nine of these converts came to unite with us.

The Austin branch of the Texas Central, a few miles below the capital, falls into the valley of the Colorado. As you run up that lovely vale, you soon see on the right, just out of the city, the Tillotson, a five-story stone and brick edifice, crowning a ground swell that overlooks the river and town. Its neat fence and the grounds graded by nature are attractive. As we roll up the valley, I see a fine carriage standing at the door; and this, as I come up to the place, I find to be the turnout of Gov. Pease, who has brought his family up to visit the institute and to call upon the family of teachers. An original Connecticut man, 30 years a resident of Texas, her Governor for a term, during which a fund of ,000,000 was set apart for public schools, and now a trustee of the Tillotson, his interest and influence are worth much to such an institution at the South.

But, so soon, the house is full to overflowing, in its assembly-rooms, in its dining-hall and in its dormitories. So that already the call is for another building. I find 140 scholars, of whom 65 are boarders. I find enthusiasm and spring in these freshly gathered students. In this State the colored people are getting land faster than in any other: partly, for the reason that, from the beginning, there was here the least opposition to their doing so; and, partly, from the fact that Texas is a new and largely a Western State; and so, these more well-to-do parents are ready to avail themselves of the advantage of such a school. The father of one of these young men was a slave, but now owns 500 acres of land, on which he has paid ,000 of the ,000 purchase money.

A grand future is apparent for the Tillotson in this Empire of a Commonwealth. The only question is whether it can keep up with its opportunity and its demand. It gives us no time to rest. No sooner is it opened than it calls for more room. The growing brain makes room for itself, and so must this educational enterprise.

ALABAMA.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE AT TALLADEGA.

Of late it has been the custom to end the spring term at Talladega College with a teachers' institute, giving special training to those who are so soon to go out and teach. The one just held at the last of March has been very pleasant and helpful. Prof. A. J. Steele, of the Le Moyne Institute, Memphis, Tenn., was present, bearing a large part in its instruction, and giving it the choicest fruits of his own training and experience. The Hon. H. Clay Armstrong, State Superintendent of Education, had a place on the programme, and Rev. Daniel Duncan, the County Superintendent, was present at every session from beginning to end. Three years ago, at the beginning of the series, he said, that was "the first institute ever held in Talladega County, from the creation of the world." This one, especially, roused all his enthusiasm, and again and again he gave his testimony to the good that was effected.

GEORGIA.

HON. WILLIAM E. DODGE AND ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.

This good man and his noble wife have made frequent trips to Georgia and Florida during the past ten years, always stopping to say a cheering word to Atlanta University and shake hands with two or three needy students, who each year for all this time have been supported by the generosity of these good people. To-day they visited the school, accompanied by Mrs. Gov. Colquitt and one of her lady friends.

Mr. Dodge said he remembered well the first time he addressed the students. He wondered how many had a purpose to go out and gather forty and fifty about them to do for those in the dark places what had been done for them by their teachers on this hill. He begged them to remember that unless they sought first the kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness all other knowledge would be vain. He said he must add a word about temperance, in which he knew they were so much interested. He could not believe any before him would ever reel through the streets a staggering drunkard, but their only safety lay in total abstinence.

His words were so instructive and his benign face so inspiring that the very instant he took his seat the entire school burst spontaneously into the plantation melody:

"Do you think I'll make a soldier?"

I might as easily describe an exquisite fragrance as these choruses of young voices from our 250 students, especially when singing this "spiritual," whose words so touchingly portray the mingled hopes and fears of those deep, emotional natures. But, when in verses second and third they triumphantly sing:

"We are climbing Jacob's ladder, Every round goes higher, higher,"

our hopes with theirs conquer our fears, and we sympathize with Mrs. Colquitt when she remarks: "I feel like making a speech to the school myself."

ATLANTA TEACHER AT MACON.

AFRICA.

MR. LADD'S JOURNAL.

THE CHINESE.

THE STATISTICS FOR FEBRUARY.

Figures may be dry, and yet I am sure that a summary of those contained in the February reports from our schools cannot but interest and gratify all friends of our work. No less than 116 new pupils were enrolled in our schools during that month. Change of location or other causes produced the removal from the schools of 99. But the total number enrolled, 726, is the largest total ever reached, and the average attendance, 354, is also larger than ever before. Among the pupils thus enrolled are 119 who give evidence of Christian life. The total number who have become members of our schools during the fiscal year, thus far is 1,375.

THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.

"Such is the legend; now for plain facts. At the close of the year the house is cleaned, and dressed on its posts and walls with new red paper containing good words from the sages. On the last day of the old year, every family worships the ancestral tablet, and the idols, with offerings of slain birds and other animals, with vegetable delicacies added. Eight kinds of meat are offered to the ancestral tablets, and only fish, pork and chicken to the idols. Fruit, and a pudding cooked in boiling lard are also used as offerings. These furnish the feasts for the following day; for the spirits only inhale the perfume, leaving the substance for base mortals.

"On the last day of the old year, the married daughters must be at their husbands' homes, and must not revisit the paternal roof till the New Year's festival is over. The devotee rising very early on New Year's morning, worships, first of all, the ancestors, burning incense, and red paper representing money, before the tablet, on each side of which candles have been lighted, and before which the offerings have been placed. Then the idols of the household are worshipped, and, next, those of the temple. Fire-crackers are snapped by the priests in the temple, and by all the people at their homes and their places of business. If any one has married, or is successful in gambling or in business, he expresses his gratitude by these explosives. Breakfast comes next, composed of vegetables only, for no blood must be shed or be used on New Year's Day. Liquor distilled from rice is sipped from tiny cups. Now, calling and the exchange of cards follow. Only good words are to be spoken. It is a violation of etiquette, established by the custom of ages, to speak evil of, or to, any one during the first ten days of the New Year."

But with our Christian Chinese these days are holy days rather than holidays. The week is a week of prayer. In all their sociality their religion is remembered and their Saviour is recognized. If on their special reception-day, a minister is among the first to call, he will be likely to be asked to open the day's enjoyment with prayer. Every day there are special religious services; and connected with these, fresh resolves of consecration to Christ and fresh and earnest intercessions for each other and for their still benighted countrymen. One such meeting I attended by appointment at the home of our Oakland brethren. I remained with them an hour and a half. The school there had been in an unsatisfactory condition; running down in attendance and in spiritual power, while the schools in this city and at most other points were advancing in both respects. We looked the facts in the face; prayed over them; and then took counsel together. The result was a unanimous determination to take up missionary work among their countrymen with more earnestness and more system than ever before, and with God's help to make their school as large and as efficient for good as possible.

Perhaps the account given by Mrs. Carrington, of the services at Sacramento, presents the week's work as fairly as any. "A watch meeting closed the old year and opened the new. On Saturday evening there was a union meeting at the Presbyterian Mission House. On Wednesday evening a New Year's banquet was given at our Mission House. Rev. Dr. Dwinell and Mrs. Dwinell, with the superintendent and teachers in the Chinese Sunday-school and other friends, were present. Other evenings were spent in less formal but more social worship, and on Saturday evening, February 25, a crowning union service was held at our Mission House. The room was filled to overflowing. Twenty or more of the American friends were present, and much interest was manifested. And so this New Year's festival was closed."

As between the hurried and meaningless New Year's calls, with the accessories of unwholesome food in gluttonous quantities, washed down by poisonous wines and fiery liquors, which the old Knickerbocker custom has entailed upon Americans, and these festivities of our Christian Chinese, it does not take me long to judge which ought to be preferred.

CHILDREN'S PAGE.

THE GRASSHOPPER TEACHER.

A young lad who had found his way from the West coast of Africa to Atlanta University entered my class in entomology last October. Shortly after, when naming the teachers under whose instructions he came daily, he quaintly designated me as his "grasshopper teacher."

In order to give some idea of the amount of enthusiasm the common grasshopper is capable of rousing in the mind of the average colored student, it may be interesting to give a brief explanation of the method of study pursued.

The pupils had no particular love for the troublesome insect; in fact, they had hitherto entertained for him a sentiment the reverse of friendly, and when I gave each student a pin upon which a grasshopper was transfixed, a dissatisfied giggle or a contemptuous sniff from each gave evidence that the little world of the class-room was decidedly out of sympathy with the existing state of affairs.

"Why, he is better off than we are," exclaimed a wondering youth. "We have only two eyes apiece, while he has thousands of 'em. What's that for?"

"God made him that way," returned another, as he handled his "specimen" a little more gently, while the African boy leaned over to get a good look at those queer eyes that were even nicer than his own.

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