NOTES IN THE SADDLE.
BY FIELD-SUPERINTENDENT C. J. RYDER.
The romantic, pathetic and comical jumble themselves together in a strange medley in these field experiences. But each experience illustrates some phase in missionary work, or italicizes its importance. We drop into a mountain cabin and there find the usual inmates of such mountain homes—a pale-faced, tired-looking woman, with the “old woman in the shoe” sort of family. The oldest of the children is a girl of eighteen. She informs us, during a conversation, that she “has never seen a book.” She modifies this statement a bit by adding: “I ’low thayr war one ’fore grandmam died, but I plumb forgot how it looked.” Think of it! A girl eighteen years old, in the heart of this country, which boasts itself in its educational advantages, who did not know what a book looked like! What more pathetic appeal can be offered in behalf of this mountain work than this fact presents?
The ignorance of the preachers is often as painfully evident as that of the people. A friend residing in this region told me that he had often been asked by the preacher to read his text for him at the church service, the preacher adding: “I thank God I cannot read; the Spirit teaches me.” This preacher was white.
Here is a case of genuine civil service reform: A member of an A. M. A. church was requested by the committee of his party to run for Congress. He declined unless they would pledge themselves that no money nor whiskey should be used to influence voters. The committee replied that this could not be done, as it would lose them the election. “Very well,” said this mountain nobleman, “then you must get another candidate.” In speaking of the circumstance to this friend, I told him that all his friends rejoiced in the stand he had taken, and that the A. M. A. appreciated the honor he had conferred upon it by his loyalty to political honesty, but that the country needed such men in Congress as he was. He laid his hand on my shoulder and replied: “It was no great sacrifice; I really believe I would rather go to a good prayer-meeting than to Congress.”
We jog along and come to a little slab meeting-house, just built at considerable self-denial and persistent begging on the part of a few colored Christians. An old brother was called upon to pray at the opening of the service. This was one sentence in his quaint prayer: “Oh, Lord, bless our brother, and give him a pennyroyal tongue.” But it is not so foolish a petition, after all. Pennyroyal is an herb growing abundantly in that region, and is used for ointments and salves; it is healing, it soothes irritations, heals old hurts, reduces inflammations. That is the sort of a tongue a missionary superintendent needs. I fancy, also, many pastors would sometimes rejoice in the possession of such a tongue. I doubt if our colored brother could read, but he had in some way learned Solomon’s secret: “The tongue of the wise is health.”
The A. M. A. has no school now at Louisville, Ky., but the pastor and lady missionary wisely plan for the instruction of those who do not enjoy school privileges. Coming in upon them one Saturday afternoon, I found a motley group of children, ranging from six to sixteen years of age, gathered in the Sunday-school room of the church. I learned that it was the Industrial Class, which met regularly twice a week. In a little closet in one corner all sorts of second-hand clothing were stored. These garments are sent down by good people of the North, and are made over in this Industrial class. While the children were busy in cutting, fitting and sewing, their teacher gave them useful lessons in Bible texts and truths; sensible suggestions for every-day life, or rudimentary lessons in arithmetic, geography and grammar. To many in these classes this instruction is all they get during the year, and no one can estimate its value. Indeed, the A. M. A. churches are usually a sort of information bureau to the congregations.
The pastor of one church which I recently visited said to his people: “Some of you cannot read; all of you are very busy and find it difficult to get time to read; so I have concluded to give you a brief review of the week’s news each Sabbath evening.” He then read a summary of events relating to education, temperance, religion and politics. Thus these churches are training the people to a wise exercise of their citizenship.
The three theological students from Fisk University who were ordained at the State Association in Nashville, in November, find ready opportunity to prove “their calling” by preaching in the church at Goodlettsville. This church was organized last year, and has not yet secured a settled pastor.
Rev. John Kershaw, who was recently appointed General Missionary of the A. M. A. in the Cumberland Mountains, reports twenty-one hopeful conversions as the result of a series of meetings held by himself and Bro. Barton, of Robbins. So the work goes forward encouragingly in Scott County. The large army of men who poured into this region during the construction of the Cincinnati Southern R. R., have moved on. The vast number of drinking places this unsettled multitude created a demand for has been greatly reduced. Society has settled to its normal condition. Now is our opportunity. Let us plant churches, strengthen and multiply Sunday-schools, establish Christian schools, and thus keep out saloons and places of evil resort. It is always easier to keep the devil out than to get him out.
Many of our A. M. A. Sunday-schools are rejoicing in new libraries, the gifts of the “Congregational S. S. and Publishing Society,” and the “Western Tract and Book Society.” The thoughtful Secretaries of these societies have the hearty thanks of the field workers.