THE HOUR.
The hour is at hand for the annual review of the work and wants of this Association. The rapid progress of events amid which its influence is a constant factor, necessitates vigilant study, wise deliberation, and prompt action. There are divine favors to seek, interests to hold, opportunities to embrace, and hindrances to overcome.
Possibly nothing is more to be feared among the latter than apathy. The belief that a work is well in hand, successful, hopeful, helpful, often gives a sense of rest that fosters unconcern, or little concern, for its entrenchment and enlargement. This condition weakens the intensity of prayer and relaxes effort. More than this, apathy among the friends of a work like ours is liable to give way for misconception or lack of comprehension of its place in the religious destinies of mankind.
We have a mission for the promotion of righteousness. Our success is not to be measured by the rule, or the balance, but by what it accomplishes in the establishment of right principles. It must be judged of by the tone it gives, and not by the zone it occupies. The business of this Association is not for one clime, but for all climes. It aims to suppress ignorance, oppression, misrule, poverty, sin and shame, and to plant and nourish those ennobling truths which yield peace, plenty and life everlasting. Our very fundamental principles debar us from doing anything less broad and catholic than that directed alike against caste, oppression and all injustice. We must be left free to apply our benefits where the evils we seek to destroy have their strongholds. We are bound to recognize moral conditions, but not color. Color is not guilt or essential misfortune.
Another hindrance to fear is the attention likely to be drawn to the political aspects of our work. These have their place and rightful claims. Good government is helpful to good learning and the interests of religion, but the object of a missionary society is primarily to promote pure Christianity. While it enters amid all shades of political opinions, it must contend with the unrighteousness of all alike. It must not be allured or guided by the possibilities of national events. Its kingdom is not of this world.
Akin to political aspects are denominational interests. These have their allurements also, which, if indulged excessively, only tend to part the garment of Christ. Forms and ceremonies well may serve the interest of missions, but woe be the day when missions are wrested to serve the interest of a form or polity.
Still another danger lies in the allurements of expedients. The constant fluctuations in human affairs serve to unsettle the faith and to relax the hold on the steady, enduring methods which alone can give success. It is never to be forgotten that while the surface may have the appearance of a refluent stream when contending with the elements, yet God’s cause is imbedded in the deep under-current and moves right on despite appearances. Great essentials, great faith, wisdom from above, and persistent action alone can overcome these hindrances, and advance our work as it should be advanced.
What is demanded most by the hour is a revival of missionary zeal. Let there be a fuller sense of our responsibility to Christ, and a greater realization of our duty to those without. Let there be more constant exercise of the power of prayer. Let the spirit come upon us that counts all things secondary to the grand triumph of the Redeemer’s kingdom. Let us be willing to lose all, to spend all, and to suffer all to hasten that, and God will not withhold His blessing, neither shall His coming be delayed.
Our readers will find in this number of the Missionary a copy of our present Constitution, and also one of that proposed by the Committee appointed for that purpose at our last Annual Meeting.
Supt. Salisbury has in press a pamphlet containing the new uniform course of study of the A. M. A. schools, with explanatory comment and general suggestions to teachers. It will be ready for distribution to the teachers some time in October, and will, it is believed, be of great utility to them in the partial reorganization of work proposed.
The Warner Institute, located at Jonesboro, East Tennessee, was formed by the Friends, under the lead of Yardley Warner, for whom it was named. The building, of brick, upon a fine crest in that hill country, was formerly a ladies’ college for white people. Friend Warner having conducted the institute for several years, proposed to transfer it to this Association. This has been done, and the school is yet to carry along the good work begun by the founder. His many friends in this country and in England, who have aided him in the enterprise, may rest assured that the institute will be kept true to its original mission. Mrs. J. B. Nelson, who had formerly been employed by Mr. Warner, has been made principal, with the needed assistants.
The programme for a series of twenty-eight missionary meetings, which our agent for New Hampshire and Vermont had planned to be held in those States in August and September, under the auspices of this Association was carried out, in due time, with great completeness and success, the last of the course being held Sept. 28, afternoon and evening, in Manchester, N.H. The number of sessions, counting those held in different places on the Sabbath, was fifty-one. In almost every case the attendance, especially at the second or evening session, was large and enthusiastic. The addresses were varied, able and interesting. The brief but touching story of Philip Page, who often told in broken English, in a pleasing way, how and why he came to this country, what he had found here, what he is doing, and how he hopes to go back some day and tell his parents and others in Africa what Christ the Lord can do for them, and the address of Rev. Joseph E. Smith, graduate of Atlanta University, now pastor of the First Congregational Church in Chattanooga, were always listened to with much interest. The latter told of his bitter slave life, of his trials and struggles and triumphs, in coming over from bondage into freedom, from the slave pen and the auction block to the school, the college, the pulpit and pastorate; addresses were also made by Prof. Thos. N. Chase of Atlanta, Dr. Woodworth, of Boston, and by Rev. Mr. Grout, who conducted the meetings.
The ready and hospitable welcome with which the speakers and attendants from abroad were uniformly received by the churches visited, the hearty and efficient co-operation of the several pastors and other church officers, and the kindly notices of the meetings given the public, from time to time, by the press of the States and of the localities in which the conventions were held, are reported as very cheering and indicative of a deep interest in our great work.
We give in this number a cut of the church and parsonage at Anniston, Ala., Rev. H. W. Conley, pastor. This is the town of the Woodstock Iron Company, located ten years ago upon the bare red fields. Now it has two iron furnaces, a cotton factory, an immense machine shop, two railroads, a newspaper and a wonderful thrift. At the beginning the company gave the church lot, aided on the church and built the parsonage, helping also in the support of the pastor and teacher. The church and school have been a blessing to the families of the colored operatives of the place. This mission is a beautiful illustration of the work this Association is doing for the colored people South.