JOHN BROWN MEMORIAL STEAMER FOR THE MENDI MISSION.
The Mendi Mission was organized in 1842, in about 7 deg. north latitude, West Central Africa. It was primarily a mission for the Amistad captives, freed slaves who had escaped from bondage by the incidents following their mysterious appearance in Long Island Sound, and their subsequent imprisonment in New Haven, Connecticut. The men who, by their charitable forethought, provided for their defense in the U.S. Supreme Court by John Quincy Adams, and for their education while in New England as well as their return to Africa, were most active in founding the A. M. A., which has sustained the mission since 1846.
The fact that there are no roads or domestic animals for carrying burdens in the Mendi country, renders the use of boats a necessity as a means for transportation. The interests of the mission have suffered for the want of a steamer to facilitate the work at the saw-mill and to carry the missionaries back and forth up the river, thereby avoiding the exposure to disease by long delays in the marshy regions.
The proper persons are already provided to have the steamer in charge, and we only wait for the little rills and large streams of benevolence to flow in and float it. About $10,000 are needed.
In order that old and young may have a part in this work, we have arranged to issue two grades of shares as follows: First Grade, $100; Second Grade, $10. The certificates of shares will be issued on heavy calendered paper, size about 8 by 10 inches, in two colors; the First Grade Certificates green and black, and the Second Grade black and brown.
We cordially invite all friends of African missions, whether pastors, Sunday-school superintendents, heads of families or others, to assist us in providing, at an early date, this much-needed agency for the development of Christian civilization in the dark continent.
All communications should be forwarded to H. W. Hubbard, Treasurer of the American Missionary Association, 56 Reade Street, New York.
FACSIMILE OF FIRST GRADE CERTIFICATE REDUCED ONE-THIRD.
The progress of educational work in Mississippi, according to the published statement of Gen. J. A. Smith, Sup’t of Public Instruction for the State, is of a hopeful character. The number of white children in public schools for the year 1880 was greater by 7,037 than in 1879, and the number of colored children 12,914. The average daily attendance shows an increase of 6,500 white children and 11,288 colored. The number of teachers employed was 202 over that of the preceding year, the increase being confined to the colored teachers. The total number of pupils enrolled for 1880 was 112,994 whites and 123,710 colored. The total disbursements were $830,704.79.
Upon the invitation of the Congregational Union of England and Wales at the hand of Rev. Dr. Alexander Hannay, of London, and by the appointment of the National Council and of this Association, our Secretary, Dr. M. E. Strieby, went over to represent both of these bodies at the Jubilee of that Union, which was held at Manchester in Free Trade Hall, October 4th to the 10th. We learned by cablegram that Rev. Henry Allon, D.D., was made chairman, and that Dr. Strieby, with other foreign delegates, was heard on the 6th. It was fitting that the English people, who had done so much through this Association in the way of aiding students in our Southern institutions, and of raising the fund for the Arthington Mission in the basin of the Upper Nile, should seek and secure a report from our Secretary-in-Chief, of the processes and results of this missionary organization. Great Britain and America both owe a common debt to our Freedmen and to the land of their ancestors. Dr. Strieby is expected to return in season to participate in our Annual Meeting, making report of English public sentiment in respect to this great international missionary enterprise. During his absence, his place has been filled by Rev. Jos. E. Roy, D.D., the Field Superintendent of our Southern work.
It was a happy thought of Prof. Henry Cowles, after he had completed his set of sixteen volumes of Commentaries on the Bible, that he would assign the property of the stereotype plates, the copyrights, and the contract with the publishers, D. Appleton & Co., to the American Board, the Home Missionary Society and this Association. His generous devising took in also the missionaries themselves, and provides that the fifteen per cent. of royalty on all books sold shall be applied, at the discretion of the Secretaries of the several societies, in supplying with the commentaries such of them as may not be well able to buy them. When our Executive Committee, in September, passed its vote of thanks for this testimony of love, they did not know that a few days before, this John-like disciple had been called up to lean upon the bosom of his Master, who had already given him a better “well-done.”
These notes, giving the latest results of Biblical scholarship, without the tedious processes of the same and applying a sanctified common sense in interpreting the Divine Word, will stand for a long time as a fountain of instruction and of comfort to Bible students. The question is often asked, What one set of commentaries on the whole Bible can be recommended to people who do not wish to go into the extended works of Biblical exegesis? We do not know of any better one to name than this.