Various

“ Anniversary exercises are apt to afford but meagre indication of the real work accomplished by any school. To those of us who know the work of Atlanta University, such exercises seem especially inadequate to the faithful telling of what is being done here. When our good Christian friend, Philander Veryrich, hints that he is ready to come down here with a hundred thousand dollars in each pocket, to be emptied out wherever they will do the most good, I shall not especially urge his attendance upon our Commencement exercises. ”

“ From all these institutions we believe there are pupils now engaged in teaching, who have under their care 200,000 children, and that there are pastors in churches that we have founded, and in others not under our care, whom we have prepared to be intelligent and faithful preachers of the Gospel in this land and in Africa. We believe that the providence of God is bringing to pass a wonderful combination of discovery in Africa and of Christian education among the Freedmen, that is to have an immeasurable influence on the long neglected races of the Dark Continent. ”

“ On June 4th there was an exhibition of these articles at the Lewis High School, an astonishment to all who beheld. The mothers sat there with glad, grateful tears rolling down their cheeks, at the thought of the benefits received in this manner. Speeches of eulogistic gratitude were made by the colored Methodist preachers, and the day closed with the distribution of the garments to the girls who had made them. Much good has been accomplished in this way, and this industrial training is receiving, as it should, more attention than formerly in different places. ”

“ And then, last and best of all, what an experience are they getting in the work of organizing and running Christian schools and pure churches among their own people, under the lead of our teachers and preachers in the South, that they may be prepared to do this same blessed work in that dark land which is so imploringly calling to them, as her own sons and daughters, to come with the school and the church to her help. ”

“ The essays of the middle class showed more mature thought, or, perhaps, a reaching out towards mature thought—a calm looking forward and trying to prepare for earnest living. The prize in this class came to the essay entitled, “We Learn not for School, but for Life.” The essays of the upper class seemed to have for a key-note a sentiment we always find among the best of our people here, when we get at their hearts and hopes and aspirations—the elevation of their race. Do not think there was any sameness in these essays. ”

“ But do we consider, does each Christian reflect, that not one of these evils, not one evil, would endanger our beloved country, if the good news brought by Christ were accepted and worked out in every home and every life? ”

“ The members of the graduating class will recall their experience of six or seven or eight years in the Institution, and tell what a home it has been to them, and how much of what they have acquired in the training of mind and character is due to the Christian home influence of the school. If it is the first Sunday evening of the new school year, our benevolent friend will hear many of these same scholars tell of their summer’s work—how they have succeeded in some things and failed in others; what they have done in Sunday-school and temperance work ”

“ God rejoices in the coming spring, when the frozen ground and the ice-covered streams give place to the springing grass and the budding leaves, coming forth to adorn and beautify the earth and to presage the approaching harvests. And so, without presumption, may His child, the giver of the bounty which rears this building, be permitted to rejoice as it sends forth its annual company of students, trained and adorned for a useful life that shall gladden and bless the world. ”

“ Among the applications for teachers which have lately been received, have been several from county school commissioners, who say, in substance, “The teachers we have met with from your Institution are of such a quality that we desire now to supply all our schools from the same source.” Let our friends at the North take courage. Their investments, so far, are bearing compound interest at a high rate. When these lines reach the eyes of the readers of the Missionary, some ten thousand children, all over this great State, will be gathered under the instruction of our pupils. ”

“ The American Missionary Association. AIM AND WORK.
To preach the Gospel to the poor. It originated in a sympathy with the almost friendless slaves. Since Emancipation it has devoted its main efforts to preparing the Freedmen for their duties as citizens and Christians in America, and as missionaries in Africa. As closely related to this, it seeks to benefit the caste-persecuted Chinese in America, and to co-operate with the Government in its humane and Christian policy toward the Indians. It has also a mission in Africa. ”

“ For further information apply to the Secretary of the Woman’s Home Missionary Association, 20 Congregational House, Boston.
The interest roused by the late Home Missionary Convention at Chicago shows how real and earnest is the purpose in the hearts of many of our people to undertake with new determination and zeal the task of keeping and of recovering this land for a true Christianity. Every day exposes anew to us, if our eyes are open, the monstrous and fatal dangers which threaten our Republic. ”

“ What is needed to insure the best success of the mill, and of all the industrial departments connected with it, is an easy and quick means of transportation. This would not only make the mill a really civilizing institution and a paying piece of property, but if a small steamer or tug-boat were thus in use, it would more than pay its own [Pg 226] way in the regular trips it would make, and by the incidental services it could render to other mission stations where similar industrial work is carried on. There are promises enough to insure the successful running of such a steamer. ”

“ Haygood of Georgia, have nobly re-echoed the sentiment from the South. This Association goes farther than mere intellectual education. It believes that the Christian element lies at the foundation of all true character, and that character is the basis of all true manhood and citizenship. It has been the aim of this Association not merely to lift up the individual, but to apply the levers to the elevation of the mass, and hence it has founded in every large Southern State, schools fitted for the training of teachers, preachers and missionaries of the colored race. ”

“ There is here no airing of exquisite broadcloth nor swinging of fancy canes. All are respectful, unassuming, and possessed of a modesty that seems to reach beneath their delightful demeanor and give them a true estimate of their abilities. ”

“ This Institution is fortunate in having an excellent primary school in the building. It is a constant object lesson to the little army of teachers who go out every summer to teach just such children, and also dignifies primary work, which, in spite of Frœbel, Pestalozzi and the truly wise and good everywhere, is too often considered of minor importance. The principal of the intermediate department has remarkable ability in bringing her pupils up to her high standard of excellence. In the rear of her school-room is a power for good which is inestimable. ”

“ It is evident that those of us who teach the Greek, Latin and other higher branches will have to look well to our laurels. Fewer visitors to the school ask to hear the classics translated; more wish to see how the three R’s are taught. No exercise of the examination days riveted the attention of our friends more firmly than the exercise in teaching one of the grammar-school grades, by one of the members of the senior normal class, with following criticisms from the other members of the class. ”

“ The classical department is in charge of an Olivet graduate, whose three years here have proved him invaluable. A most interesting acquisition to the corps of teachers is a scientific farmer, a graduate of Massachusetts Agricultural College. To enjoy the delicious vegetables from his garden is enough to convert a sceptic in scientific agriculture. It really looks as though, under his skill, these unsightly acres of red clay were, in time, to blossom as the rose. The joy and pride of this Institution, however, is its theological department, and well it may be. ”

“ Chalmers reports that the native church in Hong Kong has increased in numbers from 83 to 216 during the decade, although, during the same period, no fewer than 77 members have removed to other parts of China, or have gone abroad.
—The girl’s school in Shanghai, under the auspices of the London Missionary Society, numbers 100 scholars. A female missionary is employed at this point, who devotes her time to work among the women. Two ladies are also employed with marked success in the same branch of work at Hong Kong. ”

“ I know not how it may be with others, but for myself I have come, long since, to think that there is no discipline in this world like that of suffering, rightly used, to fashion us after the image of the Divine. ”

“ Armstrong, Hampton Institute, with its broad lands, its large and commodious buildings, its steam-engine and multiplied mechanical employments, gives educational and industrial training to its large company of students, graduating about fifty pupils each year, ninety per cent. of whom go into the State [Pg 235] as teachers, carrying with them, into the school, the Sunday-school, the prayer-meeting and the church a healthful Christian influence; while the noble old state of Virginia responds to the effort by a gift of $10,000 a year for the support of the school. ”

“ Much of the mission work in Africa, at least upon the West Coast, has a basis in industrial work of some kind. Many causes have conspired to hinder this branch of civilizing work at the Mendi Mission. Without stopping to specify what these may have been, no one can doubt that the chief reason why the saw-mill at Avery has failed to be a source of income to the Association, is the difficulty of transporting the lumber to market. ”

“ Here is a most potent agency, an attractive centre for goods. The mill might be producing thousands of feet of lumber a day, and yet if there were no way to carry this lumber to the point where it could be sold, its production would only become a burden. ”

“ At family devotions, the last morning before the school separated, one of the graduates led us in prayer. I cannot think that the thought and tones of that prayer will ever leave me. The ear of the Omnipotent must have heard those pathetic pleadings that his fellow-students might be sustained by the Everlasting Arms as they took up their heavy burdens, often in the midst of terrible temptations. We who send out these large numbers of young men and women to reach the masses, feel the need of your prayers and sympathies ”

“ Then notice the discipline they have had as soldiers in the camp, on the march, on guard, in the battle, shoulder to shoulder with our men, sons, brothers, fathers, bravely fighting for the Union, that they might know what war is, and what it sometimes costs to secure liberty and save a nation from anarchy and ruin. ”

“ In closing, they were asked to remember that what a man may be is infinitely more than what he can sell himself to get.
The Missionary Society had the promise of an address on Sunday evening by Dr. G. B. Willcox, of Chicago Theological Seminary. A telegram announcing his sickness was throwing its shadow over us, when, as unexpectedly, Rev. H. M. Ladd dropped in upon us, only a few days home from Africa. He hastened South to catch the last days of Talladega and Atlanta sessions, hoping to find recruits for African missions. ”

“ One of our missionaries (Mr. Williams) , well fitted for the work, has pushed his way back into this region, and reports very strongly in its favor. He brought back a horse with him as corroborative evidence of his statements, and there can be no doubt that in this healthier upland region the natives are more intelligent, more industrious, and every way superior, while they are also ready to welcome any who come among them for purposes of peace. Our present stations upon the coast, three in number, furnish excellent starting points and bases of supply, and should be maintained largely as such. ”

“ The scholars going from our schools are not troubled with what is so aptly called the “big head,” and my observation shows that around our schools and others like them the colored people are inclined more than anywhere else to buy land, build houses and make comfortable Christian homes. Our purpose in erecting these buildings, in addition to the good that is done to the scholars under immediate instruction, is to inspire hope in the whole race. ”

“ President Brooks has the real welfare of his pupils at heart, and is educating them in a practical as well as theoretical way. He is teaching them how to become useful and honorable men and women, and his labors have the cordial approval of all our best citizens. President Brooks is so much gratified with his success thus far that he visits the North shortly, hoping to get further aid in establishing this school, and proposes, if his expectations are realized, to add a mechanical and agricultural department to his present course of instruction. ”

“ The school year at Avery Institute closed Thursday, June 30, the last three days being given to public exercises. Tuesday was “examination day.” I wish you all could see the school as it looked that morning from the rostrum. The bright eager eyes, the earnest faces, the neat appropriate style of dress, and the respectful scholar-like behavior of the students, even the tiniest ones, are a strong contrast to the appearance of the street children. You suppose our scholars belong to a better class than [Pg 243] the street children? To be sure they do ”

“ We are not doing enough, and our time of working may be short, if we let the enemy come in like a flood; but let us work, each work, alone, together; work and pray, for we have already seen something of what God’s power and goodness can do in multiplying single-handed and feeble (?) ”