The American Missionary. Volume 43, No. 04, April, 1889

"I am thus reminded of the Annual Meeting of one of the most prominent national organizations of a religious nature in our land. A few months ago in the city of Providence, in one of the finest churches of that or of any city in our land, before as refined and cultivated an audience as could have been convened in our country, addresses were made by colored men who sat in the pulpit with some of the most distinguished white clergymen in the country. If one is an object-lesson, is not the other quite as much so?"

SCHOOL ECHOES

I shall let the students, small and large, speak for themselves a little while, that you may see them as we do. And first—

Ques.—"What are the divisions of North America?"

Ans.—"Maine, New Hampshire, Illinois, North Pole and South Pole and Augusta."

Ques.—"What is a unit?"

Ans.—"A unit is a number used instead of a name."

Ques.—"What makes the water rise in an artesian well?"

Ans.—"The upward pressure of the rocks under the water."

Ques.—"Where do the collar bones meet?"

Ans.—"Round the north part of the body where the collar fastens."

Ques.—(In woodworking class.) "What is the object of this exercise?" (An exercise in lining wood.)

Ans.—1. "This exercise strengthens my mine and my character." 2. "The object of this exercise is wood."

Ques.—"Define the kinds of sentences."

Part of answer.—"A purgatorial sentence is one that answers a question."

DEBATE.—Resolved, that Arithmetic is better than Grammar.

Affirmative: "Arithmetic is better, because without it we could not buy or sell anything, build houses, bridges or railroads, measure lands or even count. Can a man make money by knowing the grammar? Ain't no sense in grammar noway. It's always been my experience that

'A naught's a naught, and a figure's a figure,
All for the white man and none for the nigger.'"

Negative: "To prove that grammar is better, take the Tower of Babble. They built it, I suppose, many miles high, and the Lord looked down and mixed up their grammar. So if a man was on top of the tower he would call down, 'John, bring up the hammer,' and John would come up with a saw. Then he would send him down for the hammer again, and John would bring up the nails. How much could we learn of religion, of history and the world around us, if it were not for grammar? Would 1-2-3 tell us all that?"

But I have not left much room to tell about the good side. Many of the papers, for neatness, accuracy and clear expression, would do credit to any children in the world. Especially is this true of the younger pupils, who have received the training of the lower grades of the school. One essay on Slavery, by a member of the Ninth Year Class, written in two days, contained twenty pages, with scarcely an unnecessary word, and very few mistakes. I wish you could hear some of the sensible talks in prayer-meetings, and fervent prayers for classmates, teachers, and the kind people at the North who are trying to help them.

A teacher from North Carolina sends the following:

There is not a girl in my school who uses tobacco, and that is saying a good deal. I cannot be so sure about the boys, but none use it in school or on the play ground.

One day our grammar lesson was changing possessive modifiers to equivalent phrases, and the sentence "Washington's farewell address" came up. One boy wrote, "Washington's farewell address was made of broadcloth."

A colored minister, after reading his text on Sunday, said, "I shall put the greatest distress of my remarks on the latter clause of the verse."

Another minister said, "At one of my stations there were men who called themselves conjurers. One of these with his followers went to church to challenge me. He asked me if I could cast out devils. I told him I could, and as he was the only man in the house who had a devil, if he would come up to the stand, I would cast the devil out of him. The conjurer abused me terribly, became so excited I started down towards him, and dared him to meet me, and he turned from me and ran out of the house, so you see if I could not cast the devil out of him, I cast both him and the devil out of the house."

At another place, he said, the people became very much stirred up concerning the temperance cause, so much so that many closed their bar-rooms and took their Jimmy Johns and poured the contents out on the ground. Said he, "the liquor said good, good, good, as it ran out of the Jimmy Johns, and the people shouted for joy."

A DOCTRINAL SERMON

By the kindness of a Baptist missionary, we are furnished with the following doctrinal sermon:

Text.—"Ye are the salt of the earth."

Scene in a Baptist church. Nineteen candidates awaiting immersion.

My text am, "Ye are de salt of de yarth."

You all knows what salt am good for—it is good to sweeten things—good to season things—good to keep things from spilin'. We all likes salt in our victuals, some people likes lots of salt and dey has it too; some likes jes a little, and dey gets it too, but when you eats a whole lot of salt, you gits mighty thirsty, and you wants water, tea nor coffee won't satisfy you neither. You cries water, and you cries till you gits plenty of it. Bredren—de text says, "Ye am de salt of de yarth." What does it mean? Christians am like salt—we'se put here to keep this old yarth from spilin'—to sweeten and to season it. Some Christians have a heap more salt about 'em then others, and when dey is full of de salt of God's grace, their soul cries—water—water—and a few drops on der head won't satisfy 'em neither. You must take 'em down to de river and put 'em in. And that's what we'se goin' to do—come chillen.

BOOK NOTICES

Report of the Centenary Conference of Protestant Missions, London, 1888. By REV. JAMES JOHNSTON, F.S.S., Revell, Bible House, New York.

These two neat and well-printed volumes give a full sketch of the proceedings of one of the most remarkable Missionary Conferences ever held in the world. The addresses, papers and discussions emanated not from theorists, but from men actually engaged in the management of the great missionary organizations of Christendom, or who were actively employed as missionaries in foreign fields. In addition to these, there are papers and addresses by honored pastors on both sides of the Atlantic, by travelers, and by students of the progress of the church in modern times. The possessor of these volumes will have a treasury of missionary literature of inestimable value.

The Path to Wealth. By A BLACKSMITH, B.F. Johnson & Co., Richmond, Va.

This is a unique book. It purports to give the addresses of a practical blacksmith, some of them delivered in his shop to a few neighbors, but the audience becoming larger, the rest were given in an adjacent church building. To most persons, the title affords a slight clue to the drift of the book, which is to show the duty and the benefits of giving the tithe of a man's income to the Lord. The author's bottom thought is based on this statement in the preface: "God pledges himself for the success of that individual who renders obedience to the divine money-claim." In other words, the path to wealth is the path of benevolence. The obligation to give the tithe is earnestly enforced by the ordinary Scripture quotations, and by arguments drawn from other sources. Whatever the reader may think of the theory of the book, he will find in it a good deal of valuable and practical truth.

Yale Lectures on the Sunday-school. By H. CLAY TRUMBULL. Philadelphia: John D. Wattles.

This book contains Dr. Trumbull's addresses before the Yale Divinity School in the course of the Lyman Beecher Lectures for 1888. They were not only heard with interest, but the Faculty of Yale College expressed their thanks to the author, and their wishes that the discourses might soon be given to the public. Such an author in such a presence and with such a theme, may well be supposed to have presented whatever is interesting and valuable on a subject of such vast importance to Christian families and the Christian church. We commend the book most cordially.

Cooking and Sewing Songs and Recitations for Industrial and Mission Schools. Edited by MRS. J.R. ROMER. J.W. Schermerhorn & Co., New York.

Of a very different style and size from the book above noticed is this little neatly-printed pamphlet with flexible covers, occupying sixty-six pages, of songs, to be used by pupils in connection with their industrial labors. They are vivacious, pithy, adapted to the purpose in hand, and doubtless would cheer and brighten many an hour that might otherwise pass in the humdrum of an unrelieved toil, and at the same time impress upon the memory and heart a good deal of salutary truth.

The Songs of Praise with tunes. Published by A.S. Barnes & Co., New York and Chicago.

Contains 500 choice Hymns with music well adapted to meet the requirements of social worship. Such churches as do not desire a larger collection will find this an excellent book of social song.

THE SOUTH

DEDICATION OF BALLARD BUILDING, MACON, GA

MRS. LIVA A. SHAW

The dedication of Ballard Building took place Thursday, February 14th. The services were attended by a large number of the patrons and friends of the school, among the latter some of the leading white citizens of Macon. After the opening exercises, short addresses were made by Prof. Zettler, Superintendent of Bibb Co. schools, Dr. Greene, a leading colored physician, and the following city pastors; Dr. Warren, First Baptist; Dr. Jennings, First Presbyterian, and Mr. Miller, Washington Avenue Presbyterian, (Colored). These were followed by Corresponding Secretary Dr. Beard, of New York.

The music was appropriate and beautiful, and made a deep impression upon some of our white friends, who were both pleased and surprised. Prof. Zettler gave expression to his interest in all educational matters in this county, and renewed his assurances of good will and gratitude if he can do even a little to help on a good cause.

Dr. Warren said that he had known this school and church through all its past history, having been present at the dedication of the old church twenty years ago. He has watched the growth, and considered the character of the influence here exerted, and so far as he can judge, it has been, and is, elevating. He spoke of the value of a practical education, and he said he could trust these Yankees with their skill and energy to make the training they are giving in this school eminently practical. He expressed gratitude for the privilege he has had of knowing and loving a number of teachers and pastors engaged in labor here, and he invoked the divine blessing upon all these consecrated women who have left their homes and friends to do this work among the poor and needy.

Dr. Jennings spoke to the young people of the need of a high aim and firm purpose in accomplishing any important work in life. His words were full of inspiration to the young men and women who heard him. He stood upon the broad platform of Christian brotherhood, and while he congratulated the American Missionary Association upon the grand work being done, he especially congratulated the citizens of Macon, all of whom are reaping the benefits of this work.