Read Ebook: The American Missionary — Volume 48 No. 07 July 1894 by Various

Font size: 10 px 15 px 20 px 25 px 30 px 35 px

Background color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Text color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Apply/Save settings

Ebook has 239 lines and 48082 words, and 5 pages

NORMAL SCHOOL, ORANGE PARK, FLA.

At Orange Park Normal School the year just closed has been a prosperous one. Owing to straitened means and hard times, the enrollment has been a little less than last year; but in the grade of scholarship there has been a distinct advance.

Many pleasant incidents have occurred, notably the Christmas festival. A United States flag, nine feet by fifteen, presented to the school at Christmas, was hoisted over the building February 22d, with great enthusiasm. Appropriate exercises, including such patriotic songs as "The Star Spangled Banner," "The Red, White and Blue," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," gave added spirit to the occasion.

Of a hundred pupils not one has died or been seriously sick during the year--a fact that speaks much for the sanitary condition of the school.

The concluding exercises, beginning with our annual picnic, May 19th, have all been interesting. The literary societies have done themselves much credit. The closing day, May 30th, brought together from near and far an assembly of all sorts and conditions, of every hue from fairest blonde to ebony, which completely filled the spacious chapel. The oral reviews or examinations, the music, both vocal and instrumental, were highly appreciated; while the calisthenics showed admirable drill. In the evening came more music, essays, recitations and the like, to the great enjoyment of a crowded audience.

The exhibit made by the industrial department was extremely gratifying. Many specimens of plain sewing, neatly and strongly done, showed that the girls have been making progress in the practical arts of the house-keeper and home-maker; while abundant samples of fancy needlework displayed not only rare deftness of hand, but an artistic taste as well. Pretty quilts, elegant bed-spreads, handkerchiefs of drawn work, tasty tray-cloths, embroidered table-covers, doilies, aprons, neckties, etc., were displayed in profusion.

The boys' exhibit of wood-work was no less gratifying. Their numerous picture-frames and book-shelves, of tasteful designs and handsome workmanship, would in many cases have done no discredit to expert craftsmen; while many articles by the smaller boys gave proof that hand, eye and judgment were being trained in an admirable way. The workshop is also an excellent school of applied arithmetic, as well as of practical handicraft. Free-hand, and some surprisingly good mechanical drawings were exhibited; also plain, colored and relief maps, illustrating the geography of our own and other lands.

The botanical work exhibited was worthy of all praise. Fifty varieties of flowers, comprising nearly all the most important orders, have been examined and classified, and half as many handsomely mounted.

This young school is doing a work of inestimable value. On the very spot, where less than a generation ago gangs of slaves toiled under the overseer's lash, and within rifle-shot of the plantation whipping-post, their children are now developing into worthy citizenship; and youth, both white and colored, are growing up into enlightened Christian manhood and womanhood.

Many of our students are poor--very poor--and are working out their salvation by efforts none the less pathetic because so bravely and cheerfully made. The truest heroism is unconscious. Touching stories could be easily told. Those who struggle so courageously and perseveringly for an education do not need to be pitied, but they need to be aided and encouraged. May the Lord inspire those who can to hold out a helping hand and so fulfill their own prayer, "Thy Kingdom come."

MERIDIAN, MISS.

Our school closed on the 29th of May, and it has been a full one despite the trials we have had because of hard times. On the 27th, our pastor, Rev. C. L. Harris, preached his annual sermon to the school. The church was crowded as never before, not even at its dedication. The topic, "The satisfied soul," was handled with marked ability, and the audience was deeply moved. On Monday our school-rooms were visited by many friends, and our ex-graduates from Tougaloo were welcomed home. The "students'" sociable at night was a pleasant affair, and gave us a chance to plan with our scholars about their work this summer. All are eager for work that they may enter school in the fall; all seem ready to do whatever they can find to do.

The most spiritual feature of our closing exercises was on Tuesday morning, when at the opening hour the house was filled with friends to unite in a "Congregational love-feast," as they called it. We had several clergymen and teachers, and one lawyer and a host of friends to cheer us with their words, or to aid us in our service of song and prayer. One friend told of a wealthy colored man who had pledged to give three thousand dollars to the American Missionary Association to carry on these Christian schools, although he himself is not a Christian. May his example incite others to come to our help.

GRADUATING EXERCISES.

At eight o'clock in the evening the house was filled to overflowing with people who wished to witness the graduation of twelve young persons, or to hear the various exercises from the younger children, and to listen to our well rendered music. The exercises were all excellent, although they were greatly marred by the vast audience on so warm a night. There were no failures, but fine delivery and appearance. The mayor of the city was pleased to pronounce it "grand."

And so closed our school year, but "the half has not been told" if we omit to tell of the spiritual growth. Twenty-four in our school have united with our church, almost as many more with other denominations, and some have now gone to their own homes, and will there confess what Christ has done for them this year. It has been a beautiful year. We can but feel that God has been with us. The flowers and blackboard decorations were very attractive, and our dear old flag draping the entire wall behind the platform added not a little to the attractiveness of our rooms. On Sunday the sadness of parting was accentuated, and it was from a full heart each one gave the Y. P. S. C. E. benediction of "The Lord watch between thee and me while we are absent one from the other."

GRAND VIEW, TENN.

FROM "DAYTON LEADER," DAYTON, TENN.

GRAND VIEW, TENN., MAY 19.--Commencement exercises at Grand View Normal Institute were held last night. This excellent school is situated on the eastern brow of Walden's Ridge, fifty-five miles north from Chattanooga. It overlooks a view of fertile valley below, and beyond a vast expanse of numberless wooded hills with glimpses of the Tennessee river winding between, while on the horizon looms the dim, majestic form of the Smoky Range.

It is an institution of the American Missionary Association , and is equal to many of our lesser colleges. Mathematics is carried through trigonometry and surveying. Latin and music are taught, also, as well as the ordinary studies of the common and high schools. Above one hundred and fifty pupils, from a dozen different States, were on the roll of the past term. The teachers are of the highest order and their efficiency was emphatically demonstrated by the splendid work of last night's exercises.

While there was, of course, a marked difference in the oratorical powers of the young speakers, yet the uniformly high moral and intellectual tone of the admirably composed essays was a feature gratifying indeed to the numerous fathers and mothers present. There were present men of learning, teachers and preachers from surrounding cities, whose words of frank encomium upon the exercises emphasized their excellence. The visitors crowded the spacious hall to its utmost capacity and a large "overflow meeting" looked in through the windows.

THE EVANGELIST AT WORK.

MR. JAMES WHARTON.

It has again been my privilege to spend the winter in the South in the interests of the colored population under the auspices of the American Missionary Association, and in each section of the country visited I am glad to record a marked change for the better both morally and spiritually in advance of twenty years ago, and this I consider is due in a great measure to the influence and instrumentality of the Congregational churches and schools in connection with them.

The untold good that is being done by the various institutions under the American Missionary Association will never be known this side of eternity, and wherever I have gone I have found the people speaking in the highest terms of praise of the efforts which are being put forth to help raise the standard already attained.

During the last winter I have visited and held revival services at Dudley and Raleigh, N. C.; Hampton, Va.; Howard University, Washington, D. C.; Oaks and Hillsboro, N. C.; Athens and Thomasville, Ga.; High Point, N. C.; and at each place the ministers and teachers of the schools have worked admirably, with the result that the churches have been quickened and scores of the most promising young people of both sexes from different parts of the States have been led to trust in Jesus as their Saviour and to commence a new life for Him. It has been a great joy to me on returning to places formerly visited to find after years of absence the converts going on still in the "good way," witnessing for Christ and working for the welfare of others, and, in many cases, settled for life in comfortable frame-built houses where once it was the one-roomed log cabin with its evil influences. In spite of the distress so keenly felt by everyone, the past year has been one of unusual interest and revival. The old idea, of visions, dreams and voices being necessary to a person's assurance of his acceptance of God, seems to be yielding to a more perfect and Scriptural way: "Thus saith the Lord."

WASHINGTON, D. C.

In Plymouth church, Rev. S. Brown, pastor, protracted meetings were held, resulting in the lifting heavenward of the members. Among the converts was a Mrs. T., who had been a seeker for thirty-three years. While listening to an address on Ex. xii Chap. 13 v., "He sprinkled blood," the light she had been so long looking for began to dawn upon her soul, and before the address closed she was rejoicing in God's wondrous love. She could scarcely keep her seat for joy; she arose to testify that God had saved her that night. Her testimony caused considerable rejoicing, as she was well known to all as a "long-time mourner."

HOWARD UNIVERSITY.

At the invitation of Dr. Rankin, the Evangelist and Pastor Brown held a ten days' mission, resulting in some good cases of conversion, two brothers being among the number, the sons of a Methodist minister, one studying to become a doctor and the other a pharmacist.

HAMPTON, VA.

During the week of prayer we felt a deep wave of spiritual blessing sweep over the institution such as had not been realized for years past. Quite a number of the students were brought over on the Lord's side, including several young Indian students.

OAKS, N. C.

Meetings were held here for ten days, and although snow covered the ground several inches thick, the people attended well, and every night a large proportion of the congregation was composed of white folks who did not hesitate to worship under the same roof with their colored brethren.

HILLSBORO, N. C.

Here the revival commenced in the school. When the Christian pupils were asked to show hands only about three testified, but ere the meeting closed a marked change was seen, for a large number became Christians during the meeting. As there is no Congregational church the Baptists kindly offered their church building for our use, which from the first was packed to its utmost, the people standing around the doors and windows unable to get inside, so eager were they to hear the word preached. Several "long-time mourners" were converted, including three old grandfathers and two or three grandmothers. People of all classes came in from the country for miles around, willing to leave their fields and work to attend the services. Many of the older inhabitants of the town said that such a revival had not been known since before the war, for in a few days the converts reached the number of one hundred and sixteen. As a result, a goodly number were added to the Sunday-school. A society of Christian Endeavor was organized and a weekly prayer-meeting started, the young converts readily taking part.

ATHENS, GA.

The members took an active part here in helping on the good work. At Knox Institute meetings were held for the pupils and a large number professed conversion. At the church three public school teachers were converted, also the mother of two of them.

MACON, GA.

I was rejoiced to find in this city quite a number of young converts who decided for Christ seven years ago still going on steadily, many of them now grown up into fine young men and women, and still seeking to glorify God in a consistent life and walk. Here one editor of a weekly newspaper came over on business and made his way to the services, and the first night gave himself to the Lord, going home to the town from whence he came to tell his friends what great things the Lord had done for him.

THOMASVILLE, GA.

After the first meeting it was evident the Lord had something good in store for us. At the close of every succeeding service anxious souls were to be found kneeling at the front seat seeking Christ, and great was the joy of all when they saw those whom they were interested in deciding for Him. Every night the young ladies of the boarding department with a part of the congregation formed a large circle outside the church door to sing some of the "old-time" hymns, which, in the stillness of the night under the starry heavens, and with nearly all the singers dressed in white, made the scene more a heavenly one than can well be imagined. Their sweet voices pealed forth the strains of Zion, which on the gentle breeze were wafted to many an ear of those who lived in the neighborhood, and hearts were touched, and many drew nigh to listen who never ventured inside the church door. Many of the young ladies ere this have gone back to their homes in the country, others to their summer schools, and from these services will carry with them the happy influence of the gospel which will in turn reach the ears of those entrusted to their care, the result of which will be many a sad heart made glad, and many a dark home brightened, and, above all, God will be glorified. Brethren, pray for the three hundred and forty converts of this last winter's campaign.

THE CHINESE.

I have been telling our pupils and the Christian people in the several localities that their schools must close unless they are sustained by contributions on the field, during June, July and August. And the responses have been encouraging. I do not think that a single one of the missions which I have visited will fail to take care of itself during those months, unless it be San Bernardino. The times are wretchedly hard, but the missions seem to have gotten a good hold on the consciences and hearts of our best people.

The great fire at Santa Cruz swept away the entire Chinese quarter, including our mission house. I enclose two letters from Mrs. Hall, the teacher there, which will interest you I am sure, and will, perhaps, afford a paragraph or an item for the magazine:

The brethren saved from the flames the organ, pictures, books, carpet, in fact almost everything in the schoolroom. The tables and some of the chairs were burned, and will have to be replaced; but when I heard that they had saved these things I was very much surprised, as they were surrounded by fire in no time, as the fire broke out opposite the mission house and there was no water to stay it. I have heard people say that our brethren worked like heroes. They carried everything, organ and all, by hand, for blocks, and finally stored them in Mrs. Tagan's shed. They had many heavy trunks to move, besides the school furniture. They worked systematically, displaying no selfishness, but went right on with the moving without losing their wits. Many of their belongings were lost, their dishes, stoves, chairs, tables, etc., which they cannot do without.

The Christian people here have been very kind, and have shown a great deal of sympathy for our Chinese brethren since the fire, and I think many will give little things, such as dishes, etc., which will be a great help to them.

Of course I feel very sorry for our mission brethren, but I am glad Chinatown is in ashes. We were all getting sick from the impure air. Some of the boys had been sick for months on account, I think, of the filth surrounding our mission rooms, and I believe it was the Lord's will that it should burn, and besides I am certain that we can do a better work where we are. The Chinamen are driven from their nests, and I believe many will come to school now. They are disgusted with their idols, because they did not save them from the fire. About six Chinese women were driven out, so I will commence work with them soon, if possible. Then I find a good many little children, too, and I will try to get some Christian lady to teach them. I hope I may save the women. I could never locate them in Chinatown, and the Chinamen told me there were only two in town, but I find they told me an untruth, and I will now endeavor to reach them.

BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.

MISS D. E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.

"WHAT PROGRESS DO YOU MAKE?"

Share on: WhatsApp @Hash Facebook Tweet