The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 4, April, 1881

Communications

relating to the work of Association may be addressed to the Corresponding Secretary; those relating to the collecting fields to the District Secretaries; letters for the Editor of the “American Missionary,” to Rev. G. D. PIKE, D. D., at the New York Office.

Donations and Subscriptions

may be sent to H. W. Hubbard, Treasurer, 56 Reade Street, New York, or when more convenient, to either of the Branch Offices, 21 Congregational House, Boston, Mass., or 112 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ill. A payment of thirty dollars at one time constitutes a Life Member.

We call special attention to our appeal for the funds needful for re-building the dormitory recently destroyed by fire at Tougaloo University. The demand is immediate and imperative, as will be seen by the account of the fire given by Mr. Hatch in this number of the MISSIONARY.

Mayor Hall, of Cambridge, Mass., who has made an extended tour in the South, recently stated in an address at Dr. McKenzie’s church that he considered the moral and religious character of the schools of the A. M. A. a model of missionary work, and that he believed certainly for the next ten years the work of the Association was the great work of the churches, and that no cause has a higher claim on their charity and prayers.

The communication found elsewhere concerning our Chinese work on the Pacific Coast is timely and pertinent. Mr. Pond’s efficiency, economy and success will leave no doubt in the minds of those who know of him and his work that his request is reasonable. While we cannot ask that money intended for our treasury, and which we need to meet our appropriation for Bro. Pond’s work, be diverted, we commend his appeal to the prayerful attention of the friends of the Chinese, and assure them that whatever may be sent to him will be properly applied, and meet an urgent necessity.

The “Missionary Herald” for March contains a map of that portion of Africa selected for the new mission of the American Board on the west coast. It also gives an account of the arrival of Messrs. Bagster, Sanders and Miller at Benguela. These brethren write very cheerfully, and anticipate an easy and early journey to Bihe, the point of their destination. The sadness caused by the death of Mr. Pinkerton while on his way to Umzila’s kingdom, of which a full account is given in the same number of the “Herald,” is somewhat relieved by the hopeful aspect of affairs on the west coast.

A benevolent gentleman offers to duplicate any excess of $50 or more over last year’s contribution by any churches to the American Missionary Association, up to the aggregate amount of $2,500.

The “Gospel in all Lands” for March, published by Eugene R. Smith, at the Bible House, is devoted to Africa and the Africans. It gives a resumé of the missionary endeavors prosecuted in Africa by the different denominations of Christians, covering a period of about 150 years. It also contains four maps and numerous illustrations. We know of no one pamphlet likely to be so helpful to any one who may wish to possess himself of the present attitude of missionary affairs in the Dark Continent as this.

It is gratifying to have testimony to the progress of the colored race at the South from witnesses outside of our missionaries, confirmatory of their evidence.

One of the missionaries of the American Sunday-school Union writes from South-western Virginia: “In Pulaski County I attended the best Sunday-school Association I was ever in. It was among the colored people. They are intensely in earnest in Sunday-school work, and anxious to learn. They are very poor, yet buy more books than their white neighbors. Some of them are quite intelligent. They take hold of the International Lesson System well. Most of the Sunday-schools which are kept up during the winter here are colored schools. They ought to have a Sunday-school missionary of their own color.”

“Bad local Government is certainly a great evil which ought to be prevented; but to violate the freedom and sanctity of the suffrage is more than an evil—it is a crime which if persisted in will destroy the Government itself. Suicide is not a remedy.”

As to the remedy, the President says:

“For the North and South alike, there is but one remedy. All the constitutional powers of the Nation and of the States, and all the volunteer forces of the people, should be summoned to meet this danger by the saving influence of universal education.”

A sounder utterance could not be expressed if the word “_education_” be made sufficiently broad. The training of the common school, reaching only the intellect, is not enough. There must be the awakening of the conscience and the purification of the heart as well. Character is the foundation of manhood, and hence of a worthy citizenship.

The A. M. A. has from the first acted on the necessity of this broader basis, and hence its school and church work have been blended—the school has been religious and the church intelligent.

The President’s remedy of “universal education” has been criticised as requiring too long a time. Perhaps somebody can find a legislative or legal remedy that will work the cure more speedily. The past does not make us hopeful in this respect, and hence we, as one of the “volunteer forces,” which the inaugural mentions, will push on as vigorously as possible. This is the great work of the age for this nation, and we hope the strong and clear language of President Garfield will give a new impulse to it.

The recent burning of the boys’ dormitory at Tougaloo, Miss., compels us to build anew, and the over-crowding of students compels us to build larger.

We must rebuild or abandon the school. The latter we dare not do. The colored population in the State exceeds the white, numbering 652,221, and has increased over 46 per cent. in the last ten years. Tougaloo University is seven miles north of Jackson, the capital, and there is no similar school of higher grade admitting colored students nearer than about 200 miles south, east, or north, and none much nearer west. The Institution has 500 acres of land attached to it, giving employment to the students, and it has the good-will of the State Legislature, which makes an annual grant to support teachers.

The school at Tougaloo has long been over-crowded. It has comfortable rooms for 32 young women, but 60 are in attendance, three being put in the small rooms, and sitting-rooms being converted into sleeping apartments. One room needed for the accommodation of teachers was taken and ten young women put into it. Some applications were refused. There were, before the fire, accommodations for 28 young men, with 50 in attendance, the overflow being crowded into most unsuitable and inconvenient quarters.

The students, in summer vacations, teach about 4,000 pupils in day schools and Sunday-schools, and secure from 1,000 to 1,500 names to the temperance pledge.

The Executive Committee, a few months since, authorized the gradual enlargement of the girls’ dormitory as funds would permit. For a new boys’ dormitory it was hoped that $10,000 might be spared from the generous gift of Mrs. Stone, but the definite pledges to other institutions and the increased price of labor and materials forbid it. We had scarcely more than realized this disappointment when the boys’ dormitory was destroyed by fire. The best temporary arrangements possible have been made, including the use of the barn, which the boys have occupied cheerfully, calling it “Ayrshire Hall,” but they have suffered much from cold in inclement weather.

Fourteen thousand dollars is the lowest sum for which a boys’ dormitory and chapel can be erected. Three thousand dollars will be required for the enlargement of the girls’ dormitory. Two thousand dollars will be necessary for furnishing; making a total of $19,000. Three thousand dollars, the insurance on the burned building, will reduce the sum needed to $16,000.

The building and improvements should begin at once, to get them ready for use in the fall. The Executive Committee, feeling the call to be imperative, will go forward immediately, relying upon our friends to furnish the means as a special contribution: for our ordinary income will be taxed to the utmost to carry on our current work.

We make an earnest appeal to the friends whom we believe to be both able and willing to aid us effectually and promptly in this pressing emergency.

Funds may be sent to H. W. Hubbard, Treasurer, 56 Reade Street, New York.

We trust it will be of interest to the friends of African Missions to learn that Mr. Robert Arthington, of Leeds, England, has paid over the £3,000 pledged by him to this Association, for a new mission on the Upper Nile.