The American Missionary. Volume 43, No. 01, January, 1889. Various

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      And if the struggle comes again, what hope of success can the South cherish? If in the last national struggle, it was overpowered when the slave, as Mr. Grady acknowledges, guarded the house while his master fought for his perpetual enslavement, what can it do when the Negroes have tasted freedom for a quarter of a century, and now number nearly as many as the whites in the South? It is for the white people of the South to say whether that struggle shall come. The North does not desire it, the Negro does not desire it, and we sincerely believe that a large share of the people of the South do not want it. Rev. Dr. Haygood, the efficient agent of the Slater Fund, in a recent article in The Independent, in reply to Senator Eustis, voices, as we hope, the sentiments of thoughtful and influential Southerners. But it remains to be seen whether these wise counselors will be heard. Such voices were uttered before the war, but they were drowned in the noise of sectional hatred and the imperious demands of slavery. God grant that the sad lesson of the past may be heeded.

      In the meantime, the A.M.A. will continue its efforts at what it believes to be the true solution of the Southern problem—the Christian, educational and industrial advancement of the colored people. With the help of the great benefaction of Mr. Hand, whose money was made in the South, and is now consecrated to the South, we shall go forward with greater zeal and encouragement. We are not partizans; we are not sectionalists. We are working for the good of both whites and blacks, and for the peace and prosperity of our common country.

      The election of Benjamin Harrison as President of the United States, and the restoration of the Republican party to power, awakens special attention to the probable attitude of both towards the great Southern problem. We have no opinion to express on the subject, and we have no interest in it as a mere party question, but only as it may lead to the sober and earnest investigation of that transcendently important problem which requires the unbiased and honest consideration of the patriot, the statesman and the Christian.

      The combination of the Christian powers of Europe for the suppression of the nefarious African slave-trade is a measure sanctioned by Christianity and humanity, and is in the interest of the world's commerce. The effort can be hopefully undertaken. The abolition of slavery in the Western Hemisphere—once the great slave mart—confines the outlet of the traffic to the eastern coast of Africa, and the blockade can be made more effective than when both sides of the great continent had to be guarded.

      An esteemed Christian brother, who made his wife a Life Member of the Association in 1854, and who has added a member to the list each year since by his personal gift, speaks of the pleasure he finds in thus contributing to our treasury, and at the same time enlisting others in our work. We commend to our patrons this helpful and agreeable way of doing good. Try it.

      ITEMS FROM THE FIELD

      From a teacher in one of our schools in the mountain country:

      "As I go among the homes I continually see something new which shows me how great are the needs of the people here. The primitive ways and simplicity of the mountain people strike me and I sometimes imagine that I am in a country a century behind the times. Last week I made a call at the home of one of my pupils whose mother was sick. As I entered the room I could not distinguish the faces of those who sat about the fire, for the room had no windows. The only light that came in was through a door in an outer room, and it seemed to let in more cold than light. I wondered how much work or enjoyment could be got out of such dark, small quarters, while the sick woman told of her struggle with sickness and poverty. She also gave me some history of her early life, which showed a great lack of necessary instruction in what are the best things. The children of this home look like sickly plants which have always lived in the dark and which have never felt the invigorating influence of God's beautiful sunshine. We are praying that the sunshine of God's love may be felt in the hearts of this people, even if there are no windows in their homes to let it in."

      From a pastor in Kentucky:

      "We are busily at work in this mountain country, and as we think of wider possibilities for the mountain boys, you cannot imagine our gratitude in view of our hopes that a new industrial department will be opened. It has been the subject of many a prayer in the closet and in teachers' meetings, and we feel that all that is needed will be supplied according to His riches who gave himself for us. He has heard our united petitions for a pastor to gather the straying flock and relieve our overworked missionaries. We held our weekly teachers' meeting on Friday. Last evening as we were sitting together as usual, one spoke of the coming pastor, when lo, he was ushered in. He has really come. We rejoice in our work, but we see so much just ahead. I long for the time to come when this interesting people shall be a 'peculiar' people in the better sense."

      From a teacher at Jonesboro, Tenn.:

      "Each week brings new accessions to the school: there are now nearly a hundred enrolled. All the seats in the primary room are in use, so that when Miss Smith has a full school she has to seat some of her scholars in chairs. The seats in Miss Page's room are also full. We have eight pupils who room here and board themselves. Four of them come from Scott Co., Va., coming ninety miles. They are young men and women, but they have had very little opportunity for education. They are anxious to learn and try to carefully obey the rules of the school. We hope they will gain much from church and Sunday-school and the influences thrown around them here, as well as the lessons from the school room. Yesterday we had applications from four others from the same region for accommodations—a young married man and his little daughter, seven years old—a young man and a young woman. We said, 'Come and we will do our best for you;' but if others apply we shall have to tell them we are full. These are just the kind of people we want; eager to learn and willing to do the best they can."

      From a school in North Carolina:

      "Your letter of the 28th, informing us that we can have assistance from the Hand Fund for a certain number of pupils, is received, and we have had a continual thanksgiving ever since. If I could tell you how the mothers looked when I told them, and if I could put down the tones of their voices as well as their words, you would be sure that the help is appreciated."

      The pastor of the church and teacher of the Theological Department of Straight University writes us:

      "The religious interest has so deepened that for several weeks I have been preaching three times a week. Four or five prayer meetings have been started by the students of their own accord in each other's rooms. Eleven united with us on profession of faith at our last communion, and as many more have made a start at different meetings, and will unite with us at the next communion. A remarkable feature about the work is the fact that numbers of the older students who are most deeply interested are Roman Catholics. One young man who united with us is a Spaniard from Matamoras, Mexico, and has been educated as a Roman Catholic. I believe he may be counted on to do loyal service in his native city. In this way the A.M.A. is ever doing 'foreign work,' and work which I believe will tell in Mexico, Cuba, and the Central American States.

      "If some benevolent friend in the North would send us twenty-five copies of Stalker's Life of Christ, it would be of great help in this work."

      Information respecting a very interesting revival of religion comes to us from Sherwood, Tenn.