Various

“ We present herewith our usual February list of missionaries, in church and school, through the field of the Association. In this list many thousands of our readers will recognize familiar names, some through personal associations and others through their long-time acquaintance with the work of the Association. It is no unimportant feature of the great principle of co-operation on which our work is founded that we can reckon upon a large force of long-tried and experienced workers in the field. ”

“ But little has been done for these people when ill, except conjuring, which is synonymous with torturing, but these "medicine men" are losing their hold upon the faith of those who at one time, and that not long past, trusted them fully, and the more intelligent ones gladly avail themselves of treatment. ”

“ Then, dear old Puddefoot came here and rattled the dry bones till he made living men and women out of some of the skeletons. He took away one of the largest checks that ever went from our congregation to any benevolent cause. Secretary Maile presented the work of the College and Education Society in such a way as to rouse the people to a sense of its great importance. We are wonderfully glad to see you and you see are all ready for another ingathering to-morrow. These brethren have left more than they took away in money, and have enlarged the scope of vision of a good many people. ”

“ All who receive funds for such charitable purposes, are virtually stewards of trust money and ought to give an account of the same. All properties thus developed ought to be put into a shape to be held securely and perpetuated, and not left to become the personal possession of the solicitors. Pious zeal and "faith" do not prevent the waste in such a case. "Wisdom would not put cut and hammer-faced stone for the foundation of a mountain school house, and costly glass in the windows," but "faith" has done this, and keeps on doing similar things. ”

“ The Association has a wealth of wisdom in planning and carrying on its work, by its ability to call into requisition the knowledge and efforts of those who have spent many years in the South, and are intimately acquainted with the needs, difficulties and advantages of the work. ”

“ Many of our older students make excellent helpers and are so glad to go and teach in the Sunday-schools and help their ignorant brethren in any way they can. I have never heard one of our students express a desire to leave the South for anything more than to complete his education. The most of them are planning to work among their own people, teaching and carrying on trades in a way that will be an example to the rest.
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Pres. Woodworth has a class composed of the pastors of the neighboring churches, who meet him twice a week. Most of them can scarcely read a chapter intelligently. ”

“ Calls often come to us from the field for hymn books. Churches or individuals having unused books, enough of the same kind to supply a small congregation, can get them put where they will do the most good by sending them to our rooms prepaid.
If any of our pastors have BARNES' NOTES in complete or incomplete sets, which they may now no longer need, the American Missionary Association can use them most profitably in supplying their young missionaries. ”

“ In 1731 the Presbyterians erected a wooden building on the east side of the same street, many of the Scotch going with this body. During the Revolutionary war, while the city was held by the British, the church was used as a storehouse and its interior shared the fate of the Boston "Old South." Its congregation was composed of both white and colored members, but only "freemen" could vote in meeting. ”

“ At the same time, associated with our older workers, we have the younger missionaries and teachers with their fresh enthusiasm and fervent zeal, giving new impulse of activity all along the line. This long list of names represents years of self-denying attention and steady effort; it speaks of large progress in the past and is the presage of still greater progress in the future, for the list grows year by year. Our resources and forces were never before so large as during the past year, and we are encouraged to hope that they will be increased during the year to come. ”

“ This resulted in a considerable amount, which was supplemented by a gift from the Sunday-school to constitute one of these children, Robert Hinkley, a boy eight years of age, a Life Member of the American Missionary Association. Is he not the youngest Life Member of our Association? Cannot we have some letters from our friends giving the ages of children who are Life Members? If any feel disposed to "beat the record" by the payment of thirty dollars, they can confer this honor upon their baby boy or girl. ”

“ Until they feel their illness is well-nigh fatal they prefer the tent to the hospital, and even then a great many wish to die out of doors. So that often the family come with the ill one and camp just outside the yard. The hospital wards bring comfort to two classes principally; the more civilized Indian, who {78} realizes the great benefit derived from good nursing, and those friendless ones who are brought because they are too much trouble elsewhere. Both of these classes are very grateful for all they receive. The dispensary is open all the time and a great many are provided with medicine. ”

“ We believe that this should be disconnected entirely from the Department of the Interior, and be made a separate department. This whole Indian question is so important and so complex that it ought not to be simply an annex to a department which has under its control land, patents, etc. It should stand by itself; there should no longer be a divided responsibility, which is always productive of evil. We are finding the necessity in our cities of making responsibility more direct and personal. The time, we believe, has fully come to reorganize the Indian service on this basis. ”

“ The pastor of the Howard Church at Nashville, Tenn., writes us of twenty-one conversions during Mr. Wharton's stay with him. Six conversions are also reported at Thomasville, Ga.
From Knoxville, Tenn., comes this word: The labors of Mr. and Mrs. Wharton were greatly blessed of the Lord, the hearts of Christians were revived and twenty-six souls were brought to the knowledge of Christ. We are very hopeful of many of the most promising and influential young people. Our Sabbath-school has just been reorganized and a number of the converts have been put into active service. ”

“ The one-roomed cabin is said to be the curse of the Negro, but the white man built it for him and it remains for him to give him a desire for something better. The Negro is essentially religious but he fails to connect religion and morals. ”

“ He gave promotion in the army not for what a man's ancestry had been, but for what the man himself could do. Who else ever had such efficient subordinates? Opportunities became open generally in France, according to each one's personal ability. The excesses of the revolutionary period were transitory. The enlargement of the nation's power, by removing the fetters of prescription, has been permanent. The recuperative energy displayed by France in the last twenty years is a marvelous example of the strength imparted by liberty. ”

“ The disturbance among the Indians is confined to at most 5,000 among the 250,000, and strong hopes are entertained that serious bloodshed may be avoided. And yet, so great is the uncertainty hanging over this matter, that before these lines reach our readers, the daily press may give sad news of battle and disaster. ”

“ The Dakota trouble is confined to a small number of Indians, and is due to the inevitable opposition of the chiefs and anti-progressive elements among the masses of the Indians. The removal of experienced Indian Agents for political reasons was deprecated, and the importance of permanence in the lines of policy pursued in the educational and Christianizing influences was emphasized. ”

“ The church was organized January 10, 1881, with eleven members, and its present enrollment is 235. It has sustained a sewing-school, in which over 400 girls have been taught. It held night schools until night schools were opened in the public schools, and it now sustains a kindergarten. It has sustained various branches of missionary, temperance and charitable work. It has a flourishing Sunday-school and senior and junior Societies of Christian Endeavor.
A Sunday-school superintendent in the South needs a Bible Dictionary for the use of himself and his school. ”

“ They work from that time until supper and have study hours in the evening in the school-room, so that they have absolutely no time for recreation, and Saturdays they work all day. Many of them teach all summer after having been in school all the year. It is really wonderful the way many of them do and it is a great pleasure to teach them. ”

“ Our current receipts for December were nearly $52,000, an increase of $11,000 over those of December, 1889. For the first quarter of our present fiscal year the current receipts amount to $106,000, as against {42} $100,000 for the corresponding period of last year. We thankfully appreciate every enlargement of our resources, and shall continue to use our best endeavors to keep the work within the means provided for it. How difficult this is can be understood only by those who are in constant receipt of numerous exigent calls for work in the great populations among which our service lies. ”

“ Education in Rural Districts, Relative Mortality of the Colored Race, Hygiene, Industrial Training, Better Teaching in the Elementary Grades, A Scientific Course in the College Curriculum, Compulsory Education, What Can the Negro Do? ”

“ The latter, however, have no meeting outside of the regular Wednesday evening prayer-meeting, to which they come prepared to take a part. This makes our Wednesday evening meetings very interesting. It might not be a bad plan to have a body of Covenanters in some of our Northern churches.
The students work hard here. There are only a very few who have money enough to pay their expenses. They begin school at seven in the morning and finish at half past three. ”

“ THE SOUTH. SCHOOL AND CHURCH ITEMS.
The Ballard School at Macon, Ga, is in high prosperity.
Straight University under its new President, Oscar Atwood, is moving forward most hopefully.
A council of five neighboring churches at McLeansville, N.C., Dec., 31, 1890, ordained Brother C.C. Collins to the gospel ministry. Rev. A.W. Curtis of Raleigh was Moderator, and Rev. A. Connet of McLeansville, Scribe.
A gracious religious interest is reported from Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., and many hopeful conversions have gladdened the hearts of our teachers there. ”

“ In drafts, checks, registered letters, or post-office orders, may be sent to H.W. Hubbard, Treasurer, Bible House, New York, or, when more convenient, to either of the Branch Offices, 21 Congregational House, Boston, Mass., 151 Washington Street, Chicago, Ill., or Congregational Rooms, Y.M.C.A. Building, Cleveland, Ohio. A payment of thirty dollars constitutes a Life Member.
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS.—The date on the "address label," indicates the time to which the subscription is paid. Changes are made in date on label to the 10th of each month. ”

“ H.W. HUBBARD, Treasurer.
Bible House, N.Y.
Footnotes
This church has assumed self-support. (Return) Detailed to superintend construction of buildings. (Return) This church has assumed self-support. (Return) Supported by the Indians themselves. (Return) Supported by Native Missionary Society. (Return) Supported by the Society for Propagating the Gospel, Boston, Mass. (Return) For the purpose of exact information, we note that while the W.H.M.A. appears in this list as a State body for Mass. ”