Read Ebook: The American Missionary — Volume 50 No. 08 August 1896 by Various

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We have asked the pastors of some of our churches to give to us sketches of the histories of those churches--their location, pastors and membership, the condition of their members financially and otherwise, how many have homes of their own, and what are their employments. The details are truthful and are of value as showing the people in their church, home, and business life.

DEER LODGE, TENN.

Deer Lodge, on the Cumberland Plateau in east Tennessee, is delightfully located. The adjacent country is highly picturesque--rocky cliffs, deep ravines, winding wooded streams, giving beauty to the landscape. To the eastward, stretching far in undulating lines, are the mountains, seen through a purple mist of great beauty. We often repeat the words, "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people." We are nearly 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, so the air is pure and healthful. A spicy fragrance fills the air, blown down from the pines that crown the hills.

Deer Lodge has been settled mostly by Northern people. In a religious point of view we are divided into Congregationalists, Methodists, and Baptists, with a few Episcopalians. There is only one church building, however, the Congregationalists'. This is a beautiful little edifice worthy of the growing importance of this interesting field on the Cumberland Plateau. The church has a choice location on Ross Avenue.

On April 13, 1889, the corner-stone was laid, and on August 4 of the same year the church was dedicated. The church has good officers and earnest working members. The present membership is forty-one. No hostility is shown toward our church by the members of other churches, but all are united and recognize in every one who loves the Master a fellow-worker in the vineyard of Christ.

The present pastor, Rev. G. Lusty, during his residence among us has endeared himself to all. A promising work is being done in the Sabbath-school, and we believe that from it constantly go forth many little rills of influence that are entering the homes and bringing the people a higher and purer life. The Christian Endeavor society is doing a good work among the young people. The prayer-meetings held on Thursday evenings are well attended. The growth of the church has not been rapid, but is steady, and during its history has enjoyed some revivals of religion.

Under the direction of the pastor's loyal wife the young people have been gathered into a sewing-school at her home every Saturday afternoon, and everything is done to encourage the little fingers in their attempts to guide the needle; and we feel that here, too, is a work being done that will bring forth fruit in the homes.

The barrels of supplies, sent to us by friends in other States, have enabled us to assist many needy ones. While packing these missionary boxes, if you could only see "the other end of the line" you would feel rewarded for your gifts. The kindness done for Christ's sake will not be forgotten.

The country around Deer Lodge is sparsely settled. One can travel miles without meeting any one. The people are somewhere--where, we are unable to tell; yet when they have an opportunity to hear preaching you will always find many people gathered in the schoolhouse where the "meeting" is to be held. In traveling through the surrounding country you will see many rough log houses, with only one room and often without windows, two doors opposite each other, one door always kept open winter and summer. A huge fire-place is in one end of the room. If you would have a view of humanity in its simplicity, visit one of these mountain homes. You will find everything of the most primitive kind. The hum of the spinning-wheel and the heavy thud of the loom will greet your ears. In one room you will very often see several beds, while the rest of the furniture will consist of a few wooden chairs, a table and perhaps a cupboard, and into this one room will be gathered the whole family, the women with old shawls over their heads, sitting by the fire chewing tobacco, or with the invariable snuff-stick in their mouth. But everywhere you will be treated with kindness and invariable civility. "Come and see us," they say; "we are mighty poor folks, but we will do the best we can." These mountaineers take life in a slow and easy way; you cannot make them "step to Yankee time."

Last Sabbath we attended one of the afternoon services. Our road passed for several miles through a lovely forest, with its soft shadows and calm repose. The only sound to break the stillness was the song of the birds. After a while we heard ringing out through the pine woods the echo of gospel hymns. Following the sound, and wending our way a little farther through the woods, in a quiet glen we came to the school house where the services were to be held. Here we found an earnest, attentive audience. In one place an outdoor meeting was held. It was a rare, perfect day. The people came in twos and threes, finding places wherever they could. One could almost fancy that other scene of centuries ago, beneath the blue skies of Palestine, where, when the multitude were gathered upon the mountain, the Master "opened His mouth and taught them."

Among these mountaineers are young men and women eager in their desire for knowledge, and anxious for an opportunity to learn of a better way of life. We believe that to the question, "What of the night?" the answer can be given, "The morning cometh."

COMMENCEMENT AT FISK UNIVERSITY.

I cannot promise you a sketch of our commencement abounding in local color, for, if one were afflicted with color-blindness, he would probably be unable to discover many points of difference between commencement at Fisk and the same exercises at an Eastern college of about the same size.

As a mere reprint of the programs of the various anniversary exercises, which continued for three or four days, would occupy more space than is allowed for this article, it is evident that many things of interest must be crowded out.

Rev. Ira Landrith, D.D., of Nashville, preached the annual "missionary sermon." Dr. Landrith possesses true Southern eloquence, and was listened to with marked attention. During the year he has, on several occasions, expressed himself as heartily in sympathy with our work. Such friendliness on the part of an influential Southerner is pleasant to note.

Dr. Beard, our secretary, preached the "baccalaureate sermon." He presented in a very vivid manner the blessings to be won by those who conquer the hindrances of life. He showed how the law of struggle is the law of strength and of possession. The duty and necessity of overcoming evil, as well as the rewards, were illustrated and urged.

The various alumni associations are now endeavoring to raise a fund of one thousand dollars for the university. They are faithful to their alma mater.

The graduating exercises of the Normal Department were largely attended, and the thirteen young women of the class would have been listened to on any Northern commencement platform with earnest and thoughtful attention. President Cravath's address to them was on "The New Woman." "The educated young colored woman of to-day," he said, "is, in a peculiar sense, the new woman of her race." He contrasted the opportunities of the young women before him with those which their mothers had, and besought them to consider their peculiar responsibilities linked with their opportunities.

For the regular college graduation exercises every seat in the spacious chapel was filled. Plants and wild-flowers had been used to decorate the platform, while large flags were artistically draped on either side. The class, numbering fifteen, occupied the front seats. President Cravath, Dr. Beard, and other guests were on the platform. The orations were, without exception, highly creditable. The speakers chose subjects of current interest instead of recounting the exploits of the ancient Greeks and Romans or making Napoleon fight his battles over again for us. They bore the marks of thoughtful and accurate study. After the conferring of the degrees, the audience rose while the Mozart Society rendered the Hallelujah Chorus. What a debt of gratitude we owe to Handel for giving us that Chorus! General Fisk used to say that there were glories and hallelujahs and amens enough in it to make several rousing Methodist camp-meetings.

After the commencement exercises a collation was served to which all the alumni and the parents of the students present were invited. After the refreshments the speeches followed. These were not of the time-honored sort. Fathers and mothers rose and told of the struggles they had made to get their boy or girl through school. Many were the expressions of gladness and of hope, and when President Cravath announced that the school year was ended, all of those who had taught felt rewarded for the toils and anxieties of a fruitful college year.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY, THEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C.

The American Missionary Association was obliged to reduce the appropriation for our work by one-fourth this year. This has occasioned so much extra work, care, and anxiety, but the good hand of our Heavenly Father has been upon us, and the teachers have increased their hours in the classroom, and kind friends and churches have lent a helping hand. Grateful mention should be made of large assistance from the First Congregational Church, of Washington, and of aid from young churches with heavy burdens upon them. One devoted and steadfast friend who gave according to her power, yea, gave beyond her power; whose means were small, but whose charities were large, because she spent so little upon herself, Miss Mary F. Andrews, of Millbury, has been called home during the year. Who will take her place? I wish there were space to speak of all who have co-operated with us by giving. Almost every gift has some association that has made it specially cheering.

Our Anniversary Exercises received the heartiest commendation. The class numbered eight more than four years previously. We are greatly encouraged by the good work that our graduates are doing. May the Lord reward all of our beloved supporters! We always pray for them and for the Association, and for all our varied workers under its auspices, and we ask especially that all who are interested in our work will pray for us that Charles Wesley's petition may be fulfilled in us,

"Write Thy new name upon my heart, Thy best new name of Love."

LINCOLN ACADEMY, KING'S MOUNTAIN, N.C.

Lincoln Academy is beautiful for situation, in the midst of groves of young pine, on a considerable plateau sloping southward, overlooking the valley of a little creek with the grand old mountain towering above them on the farther side. A quiet restful spot removed from the temptations of town life, four miles from the village station; just the place for the great family home school which I found on this occasion, Wednesday night, busy as bees preparing for the great event of the year. The boys had put up a brush arbor in the grove near by, and provided plenty of plank seats beneath.

We had a rousing Christian Endeavor meeting that night, the last of the session. All of the students belong to the Senior or Junior branch, and with the schedule topic, "The Widening of Christ's Kingdom," brought home and made personal, "What can I do to extend Christ's Kingdom during this vacation?" Many very practical talks were given, and many pledges of best endeavor to this end in the home life or where they were expecting to teach through the summer. Strange noises were heard during the night, which the morning light explained by the covered wagons, prairie schooners we would call them at the West, which had come in and camped out near the spring. As the hour approached a perfect string of nondescript vehicles bringing the whole family, and many others on muleback or on foot, came pouring in from near and far, until by 10 A.M. nearly one thousand people had gathered in and around the arbor; some of them coming from thirty to fifty miles overland.

"Old Glory" had been floating from the flagstaff above the central school building all the morning, and now the scholars, neatly dressed, came marching up the hill and crowded the platform to sing their welcome song. Prayer was offered by one of the first graduates, now a minister. Then the principal, and lady general, gave out the orders for the day in such a womanly and winning way as showed her fully mistress of the situation.

Several hucksters and peddlers, who had come with their wares, the principal succeeded in driving off, and in a region where whisky has flowed freely and smoking is almost their vital breath, she that day had an orderly assemblage of nearly a thousand, on uncomfortable seats, quiet and interested for four and a half hours without any intermission!

It was a very carefully prepared program; speeches, essays, recitals, dialogues, and such splendid singing as only these trained voices of colored students can give. It was no easy matter to speak so as to be heard by such a crowd in the open air, but every girl as well as boy succeeded admirably, and all showed most careful training and drill. The themes chosen were very practical and fitted to the occasion.

Tobacco got rough and fearless handling, and liquor-drinking was rebuked in almost every conceivable way and rubbed in repeatedly. The old and the modern ways of teaching were compared and illustrated; indeed, every recitation was evidently selected with reference to its moral effect.

Certainly these huge commencement gatherings are themselves educators for the fathers and mothers and kinsfolk of these young people, whom they are proud to see doing so well. The words of all the songs were thoroughly learned, so they will do service in many another gathering wherever these students may be. It was the writer's privilege to give the commencement address on "Making the best use of life as God's plan for our highest good."

A white man with whom I was talking at the station said, "Those lady teachers are doing a great work for this whole region."

So the leaven works.

ALLEN NORMAL SCHOOL, THOMASVILLE, GA.

The fact that with the graduation of the class of '96 our school would complete its first decade, added interest to the occasion.

One member of the class has been in the school from its organization. In the class history she gave quite a vivid description of those trying days when the building at Quitman, Ga., where the school was first gathered, was burned to the ground, as the result of hostile feeling on the part of the citizens of the place. Certainly there has been progress toward a just appreciation of the work of the American Missionary Association in the communities where its work has been done, as seen in the kindly feeling toward the school manifested in various ways by the people of Thomasville.

Of the six graduates, five are young women; three of these begin their work of teaching in country schools immediately. One, the valedictorian of the class, has already written something in regard to her surroundings. At the place, which is the best in the neighborhood, where she was to board--if the word may be used in connection with such a state of things--she writes that there is almost nothing in the way of necessities for decent living. There is not a lamp in the house; not even a tallow candle, the room in which the family eat and sleep being lighted only by building a fire upon the hearth. Of such an article as a towel they apparently do not know the use; and the one basin in which she washed her hands serves for various other domestic purposes. Almost the only household appliances are two ovens, as they are called--two flat-bottomed, shallow iron kettles, with iron covers, and legs a few inches long. Under these kettles, out of doors, the fire is made, and coals put upon the flat covers. In this way the hoe-cake is baked in one, while the bacon is fried in the other. These two viands, with an occasional mess of greens or potatoes, constitute the bill of fare month in and month out. No wonder the poor girl lost her appetite. She was supplied from the Home with what she needed to make herself comfortable in the one very small room which she is fortunate enough to have to herself.

It is from country places like these that we wish to bring scholars into the school. The truth is that the young people in these communities are too ignorant to have any desire for anything different from what they now have. Here is an almost limitless home missionary field, to be worked by the graduates of our schools. These teachers are good object-lessons, showing what an education, including a knowledge of homemaking, as well as what is learned from books, can do for boys and girls like themselves.

We rejoice in the fact that when the school closed, all of the girls in the Hall were professedly disciples of Christ, and will, we believe, go back to their homes to be better daughters and more helpful members of the communities so much in need of the influences which we trust they will exert.

Five of our scholars connected themselves with our church at the last communion service.

SALUDA SEMINARY, N.C.

The closing exercises at Saluda Seminary took place on Friday evening, May 1. Visitors overflowed the schoolrooms before the appointed hour. After the introductory march had been rendered by one of the music pupils on the beautiful Estey piano which adorned the platform, there was not a standing place left for seeing nor hearing. The young people kept everybody interested and pleased for three hours, by readings, recitations, instrumental music, and songs. "The Delsarte Children," a drill by eight little girls, whose motions were accompanied with strains of music, was prettily and accurately presented, and was much appreciated.

A cantata, "THE VOICES OF NATURE," was presented by the Juniors, and was an interesting and pleasing feature of the evening, and showed that careful instruction had been given by the teacher of music. Two well prepared essays were read by their authors; one for, and the other against, "Woman Suffrage."

The "SALUDA HERALD," a paper of thirty-two pages, published by the pupils of the school, was read by four of its editors. This paper contained many good things in the form of prose, poems, puns, and puzzles. It abounded in wit and good humor. Its production was a credit to the young people and added much to the enjoyment of the visitors; and it was also unmistakable evidence that the young people attending this school are taught to think and to write their thoughts with grammatical accuracy, and also to give intelligent vocal expression to the same. Saluda is highly favored in having this excellent school within its borders.

BURRELL SCHOOL, SELMA, ALA.

The year 1895-6 will be long remembered by all connected with Burrell School, Selma, Ala., for the widespread religious interest gathering in nearly half of those attending in March; for the continued increase of enrolment, especially in the grammar and normal grades; and the closing of this year will be remembered as a great and successful financial endeavor, which netted for the school fifty dollars--"one jubilee share." It is to be said that Selma is a generous town, when entertainments come as at this season for the colored schools here. Burrell presented one for the primaries, in which an entire grade appeared upon the stage, some children impersonating trees planted by other children and growing as by magic, while still others played "hide and seek" about the trees or built nests therein.

On the second programme, intermingled with the usual dialogues and "speeches" so loudly demanded by all pupils, there were the essays of three who had completed the tenth grade, and some excellent music, with shadow pictures, etc.

But the chief interest centered in the drama, that brought a crowded house on Wednesday evening, and was repeated the next week.

Public examinations were held for three days, beginning Friday the 22d, when a good number of friends visited the different rooms, noted the work of the pupils, and shared with the teachers the quizzing of the pupils, who seemed to enjoy their part. Not the least interesting because thoroughly practical was the display of garments, stitching and mending in the sewing-room; and, in the blacksmith and the carpenter shops, articles manufactured by the boys. The school ground gives evidence of workmen--attending to fences, repairs on buildings, a shop, and two pump-shelters erected.

The catalogue just issued lists 287 students, a gain of twenty-four per cent. in two years; gives a history of Burrell from its start in 1869, and among former students names all the lady teachers of the city school, besides five on other faculties in Selma.

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