American Missionary Association.
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.”