NOTES IN THE SADDLE.
BY FIELD SUPERINTENDENT C. J. RYDER.
The following word reached me recently from a part of the field that I have not yet been able to visit since mounting into the saddle of the A. M. A. Superintendency. It comes from Romona Indian School in Santa Fé, N. M. The writer has been a teacher in New England for many years. He writes: “Perhaps I shall not be believed if I state the case too strongly, but it is a fact that the Indian girls of the Apache tribes are very bright and are more docile and make more rapid progress than any equal number of white children I have ever seen in the course of more than twenty years’ experience in teaching.”
There are 447 of these Apache Indians held as prisoners of war in the old Spanish fort at St. Augustine, Florida. They are idle, and cannot be otherwise. They spend their time foolishly, or worse, as idle people always do. As I looked upon these men, women and children, crowded together like cattle in a pen, and remembered the stirring words of Prof. Whipple, prophetic of such grand possibilities for this people, I wondered if our Government were making the wisest use of these Apaches in holding them in this confinement, that must result in increased viciousness. A Christian lady, after looking at these Indians, said: “Why, the very sight makes me blush for my country!”
An extended trip through Florida brought to me most encouraging evidences of the prosperity of the work already entered upon by the A. M. A. in that State, and impressed the imperative need of more work. Doors are opening in many directions. Schools are crowded to their utmost capacity. At St. Augustine, in a school-room seating fifty pupils, ninety-six were packed together.
The flourishing little church at Orange Park is pushing energetically towards the completion of its building. It now ranks in its membership the fourth Congregational church in Florida.
Are the colored people accumulating property? This is a question often asked by the interested friends of the A. M. A. work. Let two facts emphasize the affirmative to this question. In Oaks, N. C., the colored people have purchased more than five hundred acres of land and built their comfortable cottages around the A. M. A. school and church. When we remember that the average wages of a working man in that region is not above ten dollars a month, and that the average colored family is not fashionably small, the purchase of this real estate proves that they have carefully economized their scanty earnings. Take another fact: In Thomasville, Ga., the colored people paid taxes on three thousand one hundred dollars worth of property in 1880. In 1885, this same people paid taxes on ninety-five thousand six hundred and six dollars worth of property. In five years they had multiplied their taxable property more than thirty times. This represents no unhealthy “boom” in real estate, but an actual increase in the accumulations of the colored citizens of this flourishing and beautiful Southern city. The colored people have been given a fair chance in Thomasville, and this is the use they have made of it. The readers of this magazine will remember the generous gift of Judge H. W. Hopkins, Mayor of Thomasville, of a beautiful site for buildings of the Conn. Industrial School. A fine building has been erected upon this site and in a few weeks it will be ready for occupancy. There is intense interest in the community and surrounding neighborhood in this new school. It will doubtless be crowded as soon as opened. It is to be an industrial school for girls.
“Far removed from arts æsthetic,
Crewel-work and peacock fans,
Are the studies dietetic
Carried on mid pots and pans.”
A trustworthy friend overheard the following remark, made by a lawyer in the office of a Southern hotel: “I have seen a miracle to-day,” said this lawyer. “I have actually seen a white man convicted of murder and sentenced to be hanged for killing a nigger. I never expected to witness such a thing in this State.” What a fearful comment on the injustice of these courts of justice in the past! What horrible suggestiveness of unpunished crimes! But there is in it, too, hopefulness for the future.
At Lewis Normal Institute, Macon, and at Storrs School, in Atlanta, the number of pupils is limited only by the capacity of the school-rooms to hold them. In Macon, Bro. Wharton, whom I left in Savannah, when I pushed southward into Florida, was holding special services under the direction of the pastor. God’s spirit was blessing his efforts and many were daily seeking the way of life. It has been a year of great religious awakening throughout our entire field.
A beautiful gold locket was put into my hands by an earnest Christian woman, a very saint of God, as her gift to the work of the A. M. A. Blindness had come upon her slowly, month after month, and she could no longer see the picture-faces in the locket, so she had them removed, and gives the locket into our treasury. Who will redeem it, that this touching sacrifice may accomplish for God’s poor that which she who made it prayed it might?
REVIVAL AT ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.
Not since 1881 have we enjoyed in this institution so thorough and satisfactory a work of grace as during the last few weeks. Indeed, on only one or two occasions in its history have so many been reached and been led to enter upon the better life. The special interest began during the week of prayer which was observed by holding a meeting each evening, and a spirit of inquiry was early manifested and a goodly number promptly confessed Christ as their Saviour.
Much personal work was done by teachers and older pupils and many who had been negligent and careless, made confession and renewed their covenant. Short meetings were continued for a few days longer, and the seed-sowing and the harvest went on together, and every day some gain was made, and one after another came to a decision, until nearly all the students in the family and many of the day pupils were deeply interested, while some who had withstood many good influences for a long time yielded to the claims of Christ and took up his service. There was a quiet and gentle influence manifested in all our meetings so that without noise and confusion and without protracted services, the work was done and the blessing came as the dew or the rain from Heaven. No strangers were called in to help, and no unusual means were employed, and only ten extra meetings of a general character, most of them of less than an hour’s duration, were held.
Thus far the new converts, over thirty in number, and representing about twenty-five different towns, have stood the test well, and most of them are proving by fidelity in daily duties the reality of their religious experience. Absent pupils have been reached by the same good influence, as well as some former students, and the scholars have been encouraged to write to parents and friends, and thus it will be easily seen how far a light kindled here may shine and how valuable and precious a reviving at this center may become. We hope that a few who resist may be softened, that the timid and halting may be brought in and the great company of day pupils may be affected and the neighborhood toward which we are reaching out more than we have, will be blessed. We are very grateful for these blessings, to the giver of all good, and very humble in view of our unworthiness, and very hopeful for larger and continued gifts.
C. W. FRANCIS.
VISIT TO MT. HERMON UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY, MISS.
On Saturday, the 19th of February, President Pope set out to fill his regular monthly appointment to preach at Mt. Hermon Seminary for Young Ladies, whose head and founder, Miss Sarah A. Dickey, was a pioneer in this Mississippi work, and has passed through such trials and hardships as those who enter at this stage of the work will rarely, if ever, have to encounter, and who is now reaping a measure of the respect and honor she so richly deserves.
Clinton is twelve miles or so distant, and the windows of heaven were just being opened after a remarkably dry winter, so that when Mr. Pope said to one of the teachers who had not been at Mt. Hermon for four years and had only heard of the enlargement of the work there, “Will you go along?” she cried out, “What—in this rain?” but finally decided to venture.
Had not Mr. P. been belated an hour in starting, all would have been well, for they were within four miles of their destination when darkness and tempest settled round them so densely and drenchingly that the last third of the way consumed three hours of time, since it was frequently necessary to stop a few minutes and wait for a flash of lightning to reveal the road.
The faithful horse was bewildered, and persisted in veering to the right, as if to get nearer the driver. This finally led to the complete overthrow of the buggy, the right wheels running up a bank and striking a projecting root. Mr. Pope was out in an instant and at the horse’s head, his companion disentangling herself and scrambling out more slowly, stepping into several inches of soft clay and leaving an overshoe, which must be pawed for in the darkness, and, upon securing it, taking her place at the horse’s head. It was found necessary to take poor Rob out of the shafts, when he gave one or two scrambling leaps up the slippery bank and stood with his head close against Miss K.; all the time Mr. P. labored to right the buggy. And how it rained! ’Twas “sic a night” as “Tam O’Shanter” took the ride in.
While Mr. P. was tugging at the prostrate vehicle, with its two wheels in the air two men on mules were seen by a broad glare of light hurrying along the opposite high bank. In response to Mr. P.’s halloo for help, they called out, “Who are you?” and hastened on. The priest and the Levite having passed by on the other side, it was hoped that the good Samaritan would appear next, but he had not done so, when Mr. P. succeeded, unaided, in getting the buggy up and the wet, muddy cushions, blankets and passengers into it and setting forward.
After a time the darkness seemed to thin a little and the rest of the way was passed without accident, though the water was deep in all the low places. How cheering were the light and warmth of the deep fireplace and the cordial welcome of the Christian teachers to these muddy, wet and supperless travelers when at last they reached Mt. Hermon!
The next morning, after Miss Dickey had conducted Sunday-school, as usual, Mr. Pope preached, making use of the preceding evening’s experience to help inquirers in the way; urging them to move forward, taking advanced ground with every flash or even glimmer of the light of truth in their minds and hearts, not waiting to see all the way mapped out before them, and pointing to the safe arrival at the heavenly home—the light, the welcome, the rest.
At their request, Mr. P. has organized a branch, or class, of the Tougaloo church in this school, and at the communion service in the afternoon two additional members were received. Then they turned homeward, and in retracing their course and observing where they had driven, in the unconsciousness of utter darkness, on narrow and washed-out ridges between ditches deep enough to make an upset dangerous, they could but be grateful that in their little experience of itinerating they had fared so well.
⁂
DEDICATION OF LINCOLN MEMORIAL CHURCH.
The Lincoln Memorial Congregational Church of Washington, D. C., was dedicated Sunday, January 2, with appropriate services. Secretary Beard preached an able and practical dedicatory sermon on “The Struggles of Life,” from the text, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things.” The dedicatory prayer was offered by the pastor.
In the afternoon another large audience gathered at the Young People’s Service, which was addressed by Rev. S. M. Newman, pastor of the First Congregational Church, and others. In the evening Rev. T. G. Steward, D. D., pastor of the Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, preached an able sermon on “The Strongholds of Faith.”
The church was organized a few years ago with only eleven members, including the first pastor, Rev. S. P. Smith. It now has an enrollment of over eighty and a flourishing Sunday-school. This was the second Congregational church organized at the National Capital in the midst of a large, needy and growing population; four other churches have been since organized, so that our polity is now represented by six churches.
The building, which is large and commodious and centrally located, has been altered and renovated, and now presents a very attractive appearance. The repairs which were begun ten weeks ago have cost to date $1,300. Over eleven hundred dollars of this amount have been raised and expended. The lower floor consists of the audience room, which serves as chapel, with a seating capacity of six hundred and fifty, with spacious Sunday-school rooms adjoining, which will seat three hundred and fifty. The upper floor has been neatly fitted up for a parsonage and school-rooms.
In addition to the religious services, a sewing-school for girls, a night school and a kindergarten are carried on in the building.
The Women’s Missionary Society, music and the industrial work, are under the direction of Mrs. G. W. Moore. The dedicatory services were reported in all the Washington daily papers and several weeklies. The church has a large field of usefulness and a bright outlook.
GEORGE W. MOORE.
EVIDENCES OF PROGRESS.
The A. M. A. workers in the South have many discouragements. Our work is generally ignored by the whites, and often unappreciated by the blacks, but such letters as the following show that many fully appreciate the efforts that are made to purify and elevate the race. We have recently organized a “Social Purity Society,” and have already the names of over sixty women and girls on our “White Shield” pledge. After one of our meetings, at which earnest words of warning and advice were given by several of the teachers, the following letters were received from two of the mothers:
Miss ——: I will say sumthing a bout the subjeck it is to great for me to hold my peace I will call upon all the teachers poticler I belive they are chosen that the blessed lord has call to show the slave race the true way for me myself cannot say much but my deser are great I belive I can see your butful light and understand all your blessed words I will praye to the blessed lord to help all the blind race to see your white shell (shield) work and understand your butif words Mothers and fathers are cring about the disgrace the young race are bringing upon them I will beg you once more please don’t get werry weary I belive the blessed lord will help you.
Miss ——: I will take great plesure to write you a fee lines a boutt subject consern the miss acshon in riten them colar boys and the white men It was very great you cannot speak too much about that subjet that princlbum are a bout to cover the citty in that low degree with our colar girls please to study the stronges subjet that your brains can hold and tounge can utter I umbel beg for jeus sake I belive the lord will help you and bless the many words you speak this is my heart desirer I umbel beg all the teachrs to help this is a great subjet very much needen with the scool girls I will do all I can in the name of the blessed lord.