TENNESSEE.
Labor Among Convicts.
PROF. H. S. BENNETT, NASHVILLE.
I have been superintendent of the Sunday-school in the Penitentiary of Tennessee, located at Nashville, for nine years, and several of the teachers of Fisk University have done so much in connection with that school that the work done there becomes a part of the influence of Fisk University. Hence, a brief description of a powerful work of grace, which has been in progress during the past three months, will appropriately find place in the columns of the Missionary.
During my connection with the prison school, several seasons of refreshing have been witnessed, and hundreds of the prisoners have expressed a hope in Christ.
On returning from the North and resuming my duties as superintendent in the prison, in September, I noticed an unusual interest in the study of the Bible lesson. The remarks which were made at the close of the lesson were listened to with breathless interest. The interest was so marked that it was determined to give an opportunity to those who might desire to present themselves for prayers. This was done, and upwards of one hundred prisoners presented themselves. After a brief prayer-meeting, the prisoners were dismissed. On the next Sabbath, five or six made a profession of their faith in Christ, having been converted through the week. The work thus begun went on for two months, only one meeting for inquiry being held each week, and that at the close of the Sabbath-school. Another meeting was held on Sabbath morning, at which regular services were conducted by the chaplain. Each Sabbath, from three to six reported that they had found the Saviour. A deep religious interest pervaded the entire prison. Wherever little groups of prisoners were to be found, their conversation was upon the subject of religion. All the teachers felt that the Lord was present in power. At the end of two months thirty-five had found the Saviour, and ten or twelve backsliders had been reclaimed.
On the last Sabbath of November an unusual scene was witnessed within the prison walls. Thirty-four prisoners were received into the prison church. As the long row of prisoners, arrayed in the stripes of the criminal, stood up to take upon them the covenant vows of the church, it was perceived that the work had been very great.
Of the candidates, eight or ten were baptized by sprinkling, the rest by immersion. Ten or twelve remain to be taken into the church.
The influence of the work among the prisoners is seen to be very salutary. The church service and the Sabbath-school are the two bright spots in the lives of the prisoners. From twenty to twenty-eight teachers, of both sexes and colors, Northern and Southern, engage in the work. Three hundred pupils, prisoners, attend with remarkable regularity, as the attendance is optional. The influence of the religious work is to inspire the prisoners with hope, and with a purpose to retrieve whatever they have lost by their folly and crime in the past. Scores of them go out and live useful and honorable lives. Of this we have abundant proof.
WOMAN’S WORK AMONG WOMEN.
Answers to Prayer—“Scrubbing up with the Bible.”
MISS HATTIE A. MILTON, MEMPHIS, TENN.
My heart is overflowing with thanks-giving, not so much for the great results that I have already seen—for the greatest results in this work are discerned only by the eye of faith—but that I am permitted to be the instrument, even in a humble way, of answering your prayers, and not only yours, but those of the poor suffering people here. So many times when administering to their wants, not only when giving them loaves and fishes, but when pointing them to a higher spiritual and moral life, they have remarked, “Miss, I know the Lord sent you in answer to prayer.”
Sometimes I hesitate about going to places, and think I will do some other duty that day; but when the thought comes to me that it may be an opportunity to answer somebody’s prayer, I feel that I must go. Again, many times have my friends in the North answered my prayers. I will mention one instance which struck me as being remarkable. A very poor woman came to me asking for clothing for the little helpless children of her dying sister. I had just given out the last garment; but while talking with her I put up a prayer that something would come soon, and told her that I thought I should have something for her in a few days. Just then the door-bell rang, and I went to the door and found there a box, which I opened at once, and in it beheld the answer to my prayer! It was full of very nice and mostly new clothing for children. It was a literal fulfilment of the promise, “and it shall come to pass, that before they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear.” And it is a comforting thought, that wherever God places us, He gives us the opportunity to answer other people’s prayers.
The interest in this work is constantly increasing as we know more about it. The outlook for the year on which we have already entered is very encouraging. A few days since, while visiting a very hard neighborhood, one mother who is a church member said, “You must come around often; we knew ye first, and ye ought to visit us most; we needs ye too. I allers lays close down to what ye say, like the knife to the grindstone, ‘cause I wants ye to sharpen me, so I will get to living better. I’s mighty keerless, tho’ sometimes I does try in a stamerin’ manner to talk to my trifling neighbors. Now do come around often and scrub us up with the Bible.” Another woman, who has a good home, said, “We are so glad to have you back, so we can have our prayer meetings again; for we like those quiet meetings, without any fuss; and we like a leader in whom we have confidence, to instruct us.”
One of the pupils in our school urged me to start a Sunday-school in the Methodist church, of which she is a member. I went three or four times, accompanied by one of our teachers. The colored pastor gave us a hearty welcome; said he was proud that we had come to help, and that he was no respecter of persons. The number increased each week. Last Sunday it was very unpleasant. The tenacity of the red Memphis mud was marvelous; but when I arrived, a little late, at the church, having been detained to attend the burial of a baby, I found a goodly number, and the pastor was reviewing the last week’s lesson. We immediately proceeded with the lesson for the day, after which I told them I thought we had better organize a Sunday-school, as I only wished to be a teacher, and would rather some of their own number would be the officers. To this they gladly assented, and we organized. We have three classes. I furnish them with Sunday-school papers, as they have never had any. Twice, as the hour for service approached, the minister has given up preaching, saying they learned much more studying the Bible. As we were leaving the church a brother said, “I believe you is going to be jest the building up of this church.” Another said, “That is the kind of folks we colored ones needs; some one who is always at the post of duty, and is not afeard of mud and rain.”
We have substantial evidence that our Northern friends have not forgotten the suffering ones here, in the shape of two barrels of very useful clothing, from Whitewater, Wis., and I have word that boxes from three other places are on the road. May those who give be as much blessed as those who receive, and we will strive to do all in our power to answer their prayers. “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
STUDENT TEACHERS FROM LE MOYNE.
MISS L. A. PARMELEE, MEMPHIS.
We have never kept any record of the teaching and Sunday-school work done by our pupils, but, within a few days, I have gratified my curiosity by taking notes from the lips of a few student-teachers. Here they are.
Sixteen of our young people have during the summer taught one thousand and thirty-five (1,035) day pupils, and very nearly as many S. S. scholars. This does not include the teachers now at work, some of whom return to us next week, or in early spring. Probably this is only a fifth of the record, counting all former pupils.
Some of the experiences are very droll, as of the young woman who saw new phases of life in Arkansas: “Would you believe it, that the white people didn’t know as much as I do?” White and black always called her “the white lady,” and urged her return next season.
Another young woman was assistant in a school of 80 children. The log school-house had no windows except board shutters; the seats were boards fastened upon blocks of wood; the blackboard was of her own manufacture. The building was so small that in pleasant weather she heard her recitations in a bush-arbor built against the side of the house.
Some of the teachers had better accommodations. One young man had an excellent building in a community of thriving farmers. He has taught there for five seasons. Just now he is getting up a club for the New York Tribune and reports ten subscribers.
Another young man, a member of the senior class, could scarcely leave his people. A powerful revival in connection with the school had brought many aged people as well as children to confess Christ, and the converts were loth to part with their teacher and friend. The person who went after him does not weary of telling about the tears shed and pathetic expressions of regret.
After two years of constant teaching, another writes, “There are so many things in life I can’t manage, I want to go to school again.” The most cheering sign of the year is this growing desire for more thorough preparation for the work of life.