The American Missionary. Volume 43, No. 06, June, 1889

WHY THE NEGRO DOES NOT EMIGRATE?

"I will tell you. He has not a cent of money to emigrate with, and if he had, and desired to exercise that right, he would be arrested for debt, for non-fulfillment of contract, or be shot down like a dog in his tracks. When Southern Senators tell you that they want to be rid of the negroes, and would be glad to have them all clear out, you know, and I know, and they know, that they are speaking falsely, and simply with a view to mislead the North. Only a few days ago, armed resistance was made in North Carolina to colored emigration from that State, and the first exodus to Kansas was arrested by the old master-class with shotguns and Winchester rifles. The desire to get rid of the negro is a hollow sham. His labor is wanted to-day in the South just as it was wanted in the old times when he was hunted by two-legged and four-legged bloodhounds."

NO FEARS OF THE FINAL RESULT

"In conclusion, while I have plainly portrayed the sources of danger to our people, I have no fears as to the final result. The American people are governed, not only by laws and selfish interests, but by large ideas of moral and material civilization. The spirit of justice, liberty, and fair play is abroad in the land. It is in the air. It animates men of all stations, of all professions and callings, and can neither be silenced nor extirpated. It has an agent in every bar of railroad iron, a servant in every electric wire, a missionary in every traveler. It not only tunnels the mountains, fills up the valleys, and sheds upon us the light of science, but it will ultimately destroy the unnumbered wrongs inherited by both races from the system of slavery and barbarism. In this direction is the trend of the nation. States may lag, parties may hesitate, leaders may halt, but to this complexion it must come at last. States, parties and leaders must, and will in the end, adjust themselves to this overwhelming and irresistible tendency. It will make parties, and unmake parties, will make rulers, and unmake rulers, until it shall become the fixed, universal, and irreversible law of the land. For fifty years, it has made progress against all contradictions. It stemmed the current of opposition in church and State. It has removed many proscriptions. It has opened the gates of knowledge. It has abolished slavery. It has saved the Union. It has reconstructed the government upon a basis of justice and liberty, and it will see to it that the last vestige of fraud and violence on the ballot box shall disappear, and there shall be one country, one law, one liberty, for all the people of the United States."

THE SOUTH

CHURCH BUILDING IN A DAY

Condensed from the Southern Enterprise of April 18th

Saturday morning, the 13th instant, at nine o'clock, was the time appointed for the laying of the corner stone of our first church edifice in Deer Lodge, Tennessee. Rev. G.S. Pope—founder of the church, and now General Missionary of the American Missionary Association for the Cumberland Plateau, had been notified of the occasion, but not in time to be present, and the duties were committed to Rev. Aaron Porter, the present pastor. The early morning was a little cloudy, but before nine o'clock the sun shone out, and the remainder of the day was as pleasant as possible.

The locality of the Church is on Ross Avenue between Knoxville Avenue and Spring Street, where four beautiful lots were selected some time ago by Rev. Mr. Pope and the building committee, and donated by Mr. A.L. Ross. At the appointed hour, the citizens and neighbors collected around the foundation, and occupied the piles of lumber as seats while they listened to the interesting exercises. These consisted of singing, reading of Scripture, an original hymn composed by the pastor, prayer, address, enumeration of articles to be placed in corner stone, depositing, cementing and closing the box, remarks, singing and benediction.

After a few moments of interchanging of views of the situation, and of the good fellowship now prevailing in our pioneer community—all the men present took hold, and soon raised the entire framework to its place; it having been prepared previously by Mr. Hodge and his assistants in such careful manner that every piece fitted to its proper place. The crowd then retired to enjoy the good dinners some of the citizens had prepared for them; after which they returned to the grounds, and before sundown had the entire frame work enclosed with sheeting in diagonal style. In addition, the frame of the tower was raised and encased. Saturday was a day of pride to Deer Lodge, as probably the same amount of work has not been accomplished in the same time on any other occasion in this country.

ITEMS FROM WHITLEY COUNTY

MRS. A.A. MYERS

In giving a little report of the condition of Prof. Lawrence, and of what has been done with the assassin who attempted his life in May last, I think I will but be answering the unexpressed wish of many of the readers of the MISSIONARY. Mr. Lawrence is far from well. We fear he will never recover from the nervous strain and great suffering of the past year. He has but little use of his right arm and hand. He is now at Champaign, Ill., and has not been able to attend trial. As to the assassin, he walks our streets and frequents our saloons at pleasure. He is out on $1,000 bail; whiskey men on his bonds. Northern people need not be surprised at such justice, when Haddock's murderers are running at large; and here we have not only whiskey and its money against us, but secret fraternities, Southern prejudice, and sectarian intolerance. We have hardly dared hope for justice in these courts, but rely on the truth of the motto we have put in our church on the wall near where one of the bullets struck—"Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord."

One of our native preachers not far from here made this unanswerable argument in a sermon on apostacsy. He said, "'If they shall fall away'—means that they cannot fall away, for anybody that knows anything about the English language, knows it is a verb in the impossible mode and everlasting tense."

Two ministers in Whitley County had called a public meeting to discuss their peculiar doctrines. They became quite excited, and at the close of the discussion, one of them prayed, "Oh God, make Elder So-and-so's heart as soft as his head is."

A good meeting means a big excitement as much among the white people as among the colored. This little incident, which occurred in a service among the hills of northern Alabama, was told us by an eye witness, and goes to show the depth of Christ-like feeling (?) that prompts some, at least, of the great happiness they express. An underwitted youth seemed to get religion in one of these times of shouting and excitement. He swung his arms and marched back and forth shouting with the rest. To see him so happy made the others shout the more. Amid all the noise, no one knew what he was saying till, all of a sudden, as often happens, there was a lull; then, as he kept on he was understood, and these were the words he was repeating over and over: "Run, chicken, with your head pecked off, a'n't we having a good time?"

It may not be uninteresting to hear how some of the bodily ills are ministered to here in the mountains.

If a person is subject to headache, he can be cured by cutting some of his hair off and putting it in a stream of running water.

In certain kinds of sickness, there must be the greatest care that none of the covering on the bed be turned over. If it should be, the case will terminate fatally.

In fevers, I have known milk to be strictly forbidden, but ham and biscuit recommended by the physician.

Quite a number of people, and even those of whom you would expect better things, employ "charm" doctors. They make passes and say over a lingo, and it will cure cancers, toothache, or any other disease. I have never heard what their magic words are. In fact, if a woman tells a woman, they lose all their curative properties. But these are the words they use to charm away the botts in horses. I think they ought to be given to the public for the benefit of stock growers generally. Putting the fingers on the animal's nose, they pass the hand along the head and spine, repeating, "King Solomon plows with a golden plow. He plows deep and he plows shallow, and he kills all the worms."

TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY

The year thus far at Tougaloo University has been one of great success. The enrollment, three hundred and thirty-five, has already surpassed that of any previous full year, and many more have signified their intention of attending next term, when a special Teacher's Training Course is to be held. The necessity under which many labor, of teaching school in order to pay their own school bills, makes attendance somewhat irregular. The grade of the school is being steadily advanced, and under efficient teachers and Principal, the pupils are making solid advancement. The upward grading process will prevent the graduation of any pupils from the normal department this year, but that is of slight moment compared with the substantial gain of more thorough scholarship.

The industrial work of the school has this year been more thoroughly systematized and made more efficient than before. There has been special improvement in the girls' industrial work. Even the younger pupils enter into the sewing and cooking classes with zest. The boys' industries include blacksmithing, carpentry, tinning, wagon making, painting, steam sawing, turning, scroll sawing, and farm-work in its various branches, the care of stock, etc. It would be difficult to estimate the value that this combined school and industrial work is destined to have on the Negroes of this State of Mississippi. Not in legislative enactments, but in the gradual process of education along this line, will the main problems connected with the Negro race be solved.

The Biblical department of the school, recently established, designed to train preachers, has as yet but one class, of three members. These are making good progress, and they take turns in preaching at Clinton, at the Mt. Hermon School, fourteen miles away. The training in this department under the President, is especially directed towards knowledge of the Bible and of human nature, earnest and practical preaching, and the development in the preacher of sterling character. If preachers can be sent forth who are well grounded in these things, much may be expected of them. Says Dr. Haygood, "The hope of the black race lies mainly in the pulpit."

The most interesting feature of the work of this year has been the very deep religious interest which began soon after the Week of Prayer and which has not passed away. Special services were conducted for several weeks by President Woodworth, and the feeling was strong and earnest. It has been a quiet work, but it is believed that it is deep. Between fifty and sixty expressed a determination to live the Christian life. One of the most helpful features in the Christian work of the school is the Covenant for Christian Service, a pledge somewhat similar to the Christian Endeavor pledge, though there is no organization. Over one hundred have signed this covenant within the past year. The school is growing rapidly; its outlook is most hopeful. It is already cramped for room. Every recitation room has been full, and many crowded, this term. One class had to overflow into the chapel. Between thirty and forty girls who wished to come were obliged to stay at home because the Ladies' Boarding Hall has been crowded to its utmost capacity. A new one is very greatly needed.

WORK AT HAMPTON

REV. H.B. FRISSELL

You will be glad to know of the missionary work that the students are doing in the community. Our graduates have started a Young Men's Christian Association in the town of Hampton, hired rooms, chosen one of their number secretary, paid a large part of the expense out of their own pockets, have fitted up the rooms prettily and made an attractive, pleasant place for the young men of the town. They have social, literary, musical and religious gatherings there. A boys' club has been started in connection with the Association. The colored pastors have became interested in the work, and take turns in conducting the Sabbath afternoon prayer meeting in the rooms.

Our Holly Tree Inn, on the school grounds, is now in active operation. It is under the direction of our school temperance society. Coffee and rolls are furnished for five cents, with a pleasant room and open fire in winter. The result has been that some of our students who used to be tempted into saloons and doubtful places, find a comfortable, pleasant room on the school grounds where they can get what they want. We consider it a valuable object lesson, to the students, of what they can do at their own homes.

The work of the students in the Sunday-schools about is continually increasing. The school at Slabtown, started by the students with twenty scholars, had over a hundred last Sabbath. The school-room given by a generous friend in New York is fairly ready to burst with its living contents. During the week, teachers and normal school scholars go out and teach the women and children how to sew.

Another Sunday-school, at Little England, is conducted very largely by our Indians under the direction of teachers. The Indian boys hold services at the jail and furnish music for an afternoon service at the Soldiers' Home. You would be interested to be here of a Sunday morning and see the happy groups of missionaries going forth in every direction, on foot, by boat, by wagon, to jail, to poor house, to the cottages of the old and sick, carrying the good news. Every colored Sunday-school in the neighborhood has a large number of its teachers from the Normal school. We consider this missionary work of the students most important in keeping up their interest in their own people, and in developing the Christ-like spirit of work for others.

Our school for Bible study, though cramped for room, is exerting an important influence on this community. Almost all the colored pastors of the place have received instruction in its classes. All the white pastors of the place, with one exception, take part in the instruction of their colored brethren. This school has sent out colporteurs under the American Tract Society into the country about. With what knowledge they have received here, they have been able to unite the office of teacher and preacher in the country districts; they have earned their way by the work of their hands and so secured a chance to preach. In this way, they are able to stay in one community during the whole year. One of these men went over to the eastern shore of Virginia last year; worked on the railroad during the day, taught a night school in the evening, got together a congregation, put up a comfortable church, building it largely with his own hands, and came back to school in the fall with money enough for his next year's expenses. One of the class sailed last spring for Africa.

DEVELOPING PATRIOTISM AMONG THE COLORED PEOPLE

REV. G.S. ROLLINS

The security of any nation rests largely upon the patriotism of its people. America is in danger, not from foes without, but from within her own borders. How to Americanize the foreign element, is the problem which confronts the people of our great cities; a question which more directly concerns the Northern portion of our country.

Here in the South is a different case. We have eight million negroes— born Americans. The one all-absorbing question is, how to fit them for citizenship—how to make patriotic citizens of them.

Is patriotism in danger among the colored people? Yes, and mainly for two reasons.

First, because of their ignorance of our country; its history, constitution and government. Some will think that this is a danger which will soon pass away, as the older and more ignorant ones die. It is true that the number of those who were advanced in years at the close of the war is rapidly decreasing, but there is an astonishingly large number of those who were young at that time and are now in the prime of life. They are ignorant of our National history previous to the Civil War. What they have learned since, has been politics rather than patriotism. They look upon our nation as two great political parties, each struggling for the mastery. One they regard as hostile, and the other friendly, to them. This is the extent of their knowledge of United States history. Although they have been told that we are a great nation under a beneficent government, such a fact is difficult for them to comprehend, since all they see is the by-play of party politicians. They know they have a right to vote, but how can they respect a government that does not always and everywhere protect them in the exercise of that right?

A second reason why patriotism is in danger among the colored people: They are not surrounded by that intensely national spirit which prevails in other parts of our country. By this, I would not take one iota from the loyalty and patriotism of the Southern people. The fact cannot be denied, however, that one in the South hears and reads but little about the United States of America. Much is written and said about the State, but little genuine enthusiasm for the whole country is displayed. A general spirit of distrust of the Federal Government is constantly coming to the surface. Newspapers and men talk as if they were constantly afraid the government would overstep its bounds and encroach upon the rights of the States. The Southern press is ever complaining of the sectionalism of the North. And when confronted with the necessity of teaching United States History in the public schools, it rejects the current school histories. It is not the present object to remark further upon this than to call attention to the fact that there is a state of public sentiment which is not productive of warm patriotism. Two years ago, the writer, while attending an anniversary in a Northern city, witnessed a scene that will not soon be forgotten. Fifty thousand people were gathered on a public square, and at a given signal a beautiful new flag was unfurled, and the band struck up "America." Fifty thousand voices took up the tune. Men cheered until they were hoarse. One gray-haired Irishman with tears shouted, "Thank God I live under the American flag." Such scenes develop patriotism. They are rare in the South.

In the midst of indifference toward the national government, the colored race is developing and multiplying, and that so rapidly that it is a most important factor in the political affairs of the nation. Like begets like. Indifference toward the government on the part of the whites, breeds the same in the Negroes.

Now, true patriotism is a positive power. A new generation of colored people is growing up. Upon these rests the future of the race. These two defects, lack of education and unpatriotic surroundings, will best be remedied by the education of this new generation.

United States History should be a prominent study, even in the primary departments of our schools. The vast majority of the colored children can remain in school only long enough to get a knowledge of the elements, and among these should be American history. What if children cannot pronounce the names of all the cities in Siberia? Teach them to speak intelligently of Lexington, Bunker Hill and Yorktown. Hang the walls of the school-room with pictures of great Americans. Let incidents from their lives be used as illustrations of moral lessons. Explain the principles and form of our government. Dwell upon the extent of its domain and its vast resources. Define simply the privileges conferred, and the duties imposed, upon the citizens of our government. Four things should be taught them: the three Rs and American history. What is needed among all our citizens, is a great lifting up where a broad view of our great land can be had. Make the children feel that they dwell in a great and goodly land, that they enjoy great privileges under its government, and they will learn to love it.

When Independence Day arrives, arrange for public gatherings of the people, and in short addresses explain to them the meaning of the day. Let it be a day of opportunity for instructing them in the history of our country and in the duties of citizenship. These are some of the ways in which the colored people may be aroused from their apathy and indifference toward their country, and inspired with a patriotism, not blind and spasmodic, but intelligent and permanent.

A NEGRO GIRL'S PROSE POEM

In attendance at one of the ward schools of Indianapolis is a little colored girl nine years old. She is miserable, indeed, for at home she is ill treated, and the shoes she wears, and often the clothes, are supplied by the teachers or some of her classmates. There is a tender, poetic vein in her make-up, and it found vent in a composition. The teacher took a little pansy plant to school one day and told the pupils of the flower. Two days after, she asked them to write a story of it, and gave them the privilege of having the pansy talk and tell the story, and this is what the little colored girl wrote, the word pansy in the copy being the only one dignified with a capital:

"I am only a Pansy, my home is in a little brown house. I sleep in my little brown house all winter, and I am now going to open my eyes and look about. 'give me some rain sky, I want to look out of my window and see what is going on,' I asked, so the sky gave me some water and I began to clime to the window, at last I got up there and open my eyes, oh what a wonderful world I seen when birds sang songs to me, and grasshoppers kissed me, and dance with me, and creakets smiled at me, and I had a pretty green dress. there was trees that grow over me and the wind faned me. the sun smiled at me, and little children smelled me. one bright morning me and the grasshoppers had a party he wood play with me and a naughty boy pick me up and tore me up and I died and that was the last of Pansy."—

Exchange.

THE INDIANS

ONE DAY'S MISSIONARY WORK

REV. T.L. RIGGS, OAHE, DAKOTA

Early in the winter, I had a pleasant day of work regarding which I want to write you. It was the day appointed for the observance of the Lord's Supper at the out-station about ten miles from home, and as the river had not frozen over thoroughly, I thought it better to go down in the saddle rather than drive the cart. This made it impossible for Mrs. Riggs to accompany me as she sometimes does.

I brought out my saddle camp-pouches (small square cases that strap to the horn of the saddle) and emptied them of their camp furniture, and in these were placed the bread and wine and also the service for the communion. My pouches are so small that I could take but one glass and a little china pitcher for our service. Usually I am able to take a china plate as well, but this time there was no room.

I went early in the day, and after some little difficulty the river was safely crossed, though my poor horse, not being shod, fell upon the ice more than once. He was not hurt, however, and I followed the river shore down to the out-station which is on the west side of the river.

I found the people gathered, and we had a morning session of nearly two hours. It was rather a preparatory service, and I talked familiarly with those present, individually as well as collectively. There were three men and their wives who wished to be married. Seven applied for admission to church membership, and there were also several infants to be baptized.

After dismissing the morning gathering, I arranged for communion service. I had no plate, so I sent a boy to his home to get one. He returned saying they had none, and I sent him to another house, from which he returned saying he could not get in. Then I decided to use the best I had, which was the card-board back broken from a hymn book. This I covered with a napkin and it answered very nicely. I had not prepared for any applications for baptism and had to send for a bowl, instead of which a tin cup was brought just as we were ready to begin service.

After the opening of service, I first married the three couples, (one of these consisted of an old man and woman nearly seventy years old, both of them gray-headed). The applicants for Christian fellowship were asked to give some public expression of their faith and were received into membership and baptized together with the infants. We, also, at the close of the service elected a deacon, who holds office for two years, and then I talked to them regarding the duties of another year. When dismissed, all went to their homes. I, too, went to a house near by and drank some coffee, for by this time I was quite faint. After this I rode home, reaching there just as the family were separating from the tea-table.