The American Missionary. Volume 48, No. 10, October, 1894

The Rev. Enrico Vinay remained with the people for nearly a year, being in regular correspondence with the officers of this Association. He was then called to another field, and Rev. B. Soulier was chosen as their pastor. Mr. Soulier is also a native of Italy. He is a thoroughly educated young man, and speaks English readily. He was educated in his own school in Italy, and completed a course at Edinburgh University in Scotland. His work is proving most successful.

Such is the interesting and providential beginning of our work in conjunction with these Waldenses in this field. We have this new problem upon our hearts and treasury. Who can say that God has not led us into this work, and opened this opportunity for helpful and sympathetic co-operation with these earnest Christian people who have settled in our southern mountains?

In the reports which have been regularly received from this field, very many items of great interest have been recorded. The Waldenses, above everything else, are Christian patriots. They love the fatherland and they love also America, the land of their adoption. In one of the reports from Mr. Jahier, the following interesting information is given:

"Sunday, June 24th, I preached to a good and attentive congregation. I had the Sunday-school at half past eight and the preaching at ten in the morning, and prayer-meeting at four in the afternoon. At this last service I went to a farm called Baziglia. It is named for a place in one of the valleys of Piedmont—a place which is noted as a fortress during the persecutions of the Waldensean Church. It was the refuge of the Waldenseans when they reconquered their native country after their exile in Switzerland, Germany, etc., and in memory of that famous place, two or three families gave to their farms the same name. The Fourth of July was celebrated here at the school-house. There were forty-four children. I spoke to them of the independence of the United States of America, its founders, its Declaration of Independence, etc. For July and August it is impossible to have the day school; it is too hot, but I will continue the night school, D.V., at least for two or three nights a week. The Sunday-school will go on as usual—no vacation for the Sabbath school."

The old fortress of Baziglia witnessed many heroic efforts of the early Waldenses, both in defense and attack. The name is very dear to the children of the earlier heroes, who have established Valdese in this land, and so named some of their farms and homes Baziglia. The glimpse given us in the quotation above, of the life in this Waldensean colony, is an impressive picture and a most hopeful prophecy. These Waldenses can not prove "dangerous foreigners" who come to our shores with earnest Christian plans and purposes, and read the Declaration of Independence to their children on their first Fourth of July in America!

Photographs of the buildings at Valdese were recently sent to our office. Among others was one of the manse and one of the school-house. These two buildings are of especial interest to our constituency, because we help the pastor and teacher. Over the school-house in which our pupils gather was floating the stars and stripes. These earnest people who celebrate the Fourth of July, who read publicly our Declaration of Independence, who plant the stars and stripes on the top of their school building, are the kind of foreigners that we need, and they certainly merit our most cordial assistance in the beginning of their life in our land.

In church polity the Waldensean Church differs slightly from our Congregational sisterhood. The local church is independent in the direction of its affairs. They have a "Board of Evangelization" which has supervision of their churches. Dr. Tron, a member of this board and president of the American branch, has properly great influence with the local church. The Waldensean Church naturally looks to Dr. Tron and Dr. Prochet for counsel and direction. This church at Valdese recognizes itself as in fellowship with our great Congregational body, and especially with the local churches of North Carolina.

This new and interesting field has opened more and more largely during the past year, as additional colonists have come to our shores. Despite the financial embarrassment of our treasury, we rejoice that we have been able to assist these brave and patriotic Christian people in establishing themselves in this mountain region of the South. We believe the opportunity of assistful co-operation with them is one that God has opened to us. We have every confidence that the descendants of Pilgrims and Puritans will rejoice in the privilege of assisting those in whose hearts there is the same passionate desire for religious freedom, and who are the children of equally heroic stock.

NOTES FROM THE MOUNTAINS

BY MISSIONARY WALTON

In one of my visits to a neglected home I found a little orphan boy of ten years whom I invited to our mission Sunday-school, and he seemed pleased to know he had a friend. I had told them, during my visits, of our little Sunday-school, and as I was leaving I gave him a little Sunday-school card with a beautiful verse of scripture and asked him if he could read, whereupon, he answered, "No;" then I asked his foster-mother if she would teach him the text—she promised, as by this time she too was getting interested. I left them seemingly glad for the little time I had spent with them in their home.

Some time after this I was going down town, moving briskly along, when a small boy came plump up against me, saying, "Hello, mister! don't you know me? You're the Sunday-school man which was to our house. I know you." "O yes, I know you now," and I said, "tell me about yourself." "I have been to Sunday-school four Sundays, and have a nice teacher, and enjoy going very much; we are in a little class and have lesson-picture papers, and I like it so much I want to go every Sunday and all the time. I know a boy who does not go to Sunday-school, and he has promised to go with me next Sunday."

Saturday evening, June 2d, it was my privilege to meet with the Mossy Grove Christian Endeavor Society. About forty-five young people were present and took a hearty part in the meeting—quite a number joined in prayer during the twenty minutes' prayer service. This service was all the more interesting because a work of our planting, and from a very small beginning has grown and is full of Christian earnestness.

This was the home of the "unfortunate man" I had found as I went through the mountains. It was my privilege to look into that man's face and note the change that had come to him. In the Sunday-school I was teacher of his class. He seemed interested in the lesson and showed evidence of being a changed man. As I preached of the "sprinkled blood" he somehow appreciated all the more how he had been rescued. In the house-to-house work among this people I found many encouraging results and think our work there will develop until we have a church organization.

In one county I found a number of people off by themselves in a little nook of a valley, but not over two miles from Sunday-school and church, yet not attending. As I went into their homes and talked about their opportunities and duties, many promises were given that the future would find them more active for themselves and children. One man who had not been in Sunday-school for four years made a humble confession, and pledged that he would go to work. He spoke of his early life with its Christian activities, and now when he has a family he has neglected to take them and go to the house of God. So many men are waiting for somebody to lead them to their duty—they see it and know it—but have not moral courage to go forward unless encouraged in some special way.

On Children's Day I was in Pleasant View, and am sure if our Northern friends could have looked in and have seen the bright, happy children that were engaged in their first Children's Day service they would have been encouraged and rejoiced. Of course the service was far from perfect, but while this was true they were having a new experience. I had told them about Children's Day, and urged them to use our order of exercises, which they did, but the songs and recitations were too hard for most of them; yet, as I saw the real effort and interest, I could not restrain the "well done." But this was not all; I was again to be surprised when the names were called and the "little envelopes" presented with their "little Children's Day offering." They were happy in the thought of doing something for the good people who had aided them. They are very poor people and cannot do much, but a great change has come over them since I first found them. Our Christian Endeavor meeting that day was one of profit and help to all. One little boy about ten years old led in prayer.

During the month there have been two hopeful conversions and many evidences of spiritual strengthening and growth. On the other hand, hundreds are waiting for some one to help them "while the water is troubled." In all the meetings of the month there has been a marked evidence of spiritual interest.

"NOLICHUCKY JACK'S" DESCENDANTS

REV. JOS. E. ROY, D.D

After I had preached recently at Naperville, Ill., Sunday morning, upon our mountain work, using the big map, a couple of ladies came forward and introduced themselves as descendants of John Sevier, the Huguenot "commonwealth builder" in the mountains of Tennessee, the hero of King's Mountain, as I had represented him to be. One of the ladies was Mrs. Knickerbocker, her husband being one of the most respected citizens of that place—his own stock being that indicated by his name. She is now, as she has been for many years, the lady principal of the college in that town connected with the Evangelical Association Church. Her mother was a Sevier and her father, Rev. John Cunningham, a Presbyterian minister from Jonesboro, East Tennessee, who came early to Illinois to get away from slavery, and who served acceptably that Congregational Church of Naperville. She was a granddaughter of John Sevier. The other descendant was Miss Sevier, a great-great-granddaughter, a cultivated young lady, who was a teacher in a college in Ohio.

It was at least a noticeable coincidence that out here upon these western prairies two of those worthy representatives should confront the preacher, who found his response to be, "Well, I didn't say anything bad about John Sevier, did I?" What a grand coalescing of blood was that which in the gathering of our nation brought Knickerbocker and Huguenot, Scotch, Irish and English and Germans, with congenial Danes and Swedes, into our people's life. It was also a bond of union, North and South, too strong to be separated by civil strife. It is an element in the make-up of the South that will ever be a conservative force in behalf of theology, of law and order, of Puritan institutions.

PROMISING OPENINGS FOR SCHOOL AND CHURCH

FROM A MOUNTAIN MISSIONARY

I write to acquaint you with the facts concerning Columbus, N.C., both as regards church and school work. You are already aware of the good work accomplished there by our Brother Olinger. Something like thirty young people were converted through his efforts, and now the call comes for the organization of a church. The only church organization there has monthly meetings only and a minister uneducated.

The County Commissioners have signified their willingness to turn over the upper room in the Court House for church purposes, until some other arrangement could be made.

The most active person in the new enterprise is a member of another denomination, but is in favor of a Congregational church, as it would most likely meet the wants of new-comers of different churches.

As regards the school matter, I understand that a friend proffers to give to any church or individual who will establish and maintain a college an excellent site of ten acres, on a prominence affording a beautiful view of the surrounding country; and it is further reported that he will give, in addition to the site, one thousand dollars.

Columbus is situated in a very thickly populated section of the country, and Mr. Stearns, of Cleveland, Ohio, has erected two school buildings suitable for primary work, and already has employed two Congregational teachers at his own expense. The results obtained after two years' work are marvelous, thus showing that the mountaineers are extremely anxious to obtain an education; and in proportion to the increase of facilities for so doing, the results would increase.

SOUTHERN FIELD NOTES

BY REV. GEORGE W. MOORE

Three thousand people were present at the Commencement exercises of LeMoyne Institute, Memphis. That vast audience paying an admission fee on an inclement evening to attend the closing-exercises gives evidence of the strong hold LeMoyne Institute has on the people.

The essays and orations were thoughtful addresses on the practical questions of the day. The meeting of the alumni association evinced the high regard in which Professor Steele and his corps of teachers are held by the graduates. The association expressed their intention to aid Professor Steele to sustain departments of the industrial work that had to be given up on account of hard times.

An amusing and interesting incident, which illustrates the struggles of many of the parents to educate their children as well as their faith in God, occurred at the alumni dinner of Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn. At the close of the Commencement, Rev. H.H. Holloway, of Turin, Ga., the father of one of the graduates, was called upon for an after-dinner speech. Mr. Holloway told of a letter he received from President Cravath when he felt compelled, owing to the hard times, to have his son John, who had been in the University only four months, return home. Mr. Holloway, being unable to decipher the president's writing (the president's chirography resembles that of the late Horace Greeley—ED.), asked a Southern minister of his village to read it. The minister read the letter, and advised him not to waste his son's time with a college course; this did not prove good logic to Mr. Holloway, as he observed that this minister's son was taking a college course of study without wasting his time.

We will let Mr. Holloway tell the rest of the story of the letter and his prayer in his own words: "Not being satisfied with the minister's advice I went that night down into the woods and knelt beside a hickory-tree, with the letter spread out, and prayed as follows: 'Lord here is a letter from Dr. Cravath; I suppose you know him. Here is his letter which I cannot read, but I am told that you can read as well in the dark as you can in the light. Dr. Cravath says for me to do all I can for my son, and look to you for the balance. Now I cannot do anything for my son; if he is to be aided you must do all, for one thing is certain I have no money; you have left none with me, and I do not know with whom you have left it. Now, dear Lord, I leave this whole matter with you. In your own way and time do for my son what seems best. I cannot do anything. I ask it all for Jesus' sake. Amen.' I repeated about the same prayer the following night, and then left it all with the Lord. In about two weeks I received a letter from my son stating that some one had put two hundred and fifty dollars in the bank at Nashville to his account to aid him through college. I considered it the direct answer to my prayer. This is the proudest day of my life to see my son John graduate from Fisk University. May the blessing of God rest upon it and upon the Association which founded and fosters it."

There was an unusual number of the parents of the graduates at this Commencement. Some of the addresses and scenes recalled the words of the aged Simeon when our Lord was presented in the temple. There were fathers and mothers who at great sacrifice had come from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri and other States to see this famous school and witness the graduating exercises of their children. They spoke out of hearts full of gratitude to their Northern friends for making it possible for their children to fit themselves for their life-work in the schools of the American Missionary Association.

An ordination service of special interest was held at Atlanta, Ga., in July, when Mr. H.H. Proctor was ordained to the gospel ministry as pastor of the First Church. He is twenty-five years old, one of "Uncle Tom's" sons, and is a graduate of Fisk University and Yale Divinity School. This was the first ordination held in this church, and the first Negro pastor to serve it, as all the former pastors were Northern men. Already all departments of the church have taken on new life, and the future is full of hope. This is one of our largest and most influential churches of the South, and starts out auspiciously with Pastor Proctor, as a self-supporting church.

The Second Church of Memphis, Tenn., which has been self-supporting for a number of years, reports a year of prosperity under its new pastor, Rev. George V. Clark. The building has been renovated, and over fifty persons added to the church. The church at Chattanooga, Tenn., with Rev. Jos. E. Smith as pastor, has made heroic struggles during these hard times as a self-supporting plant. At times the struggle has seemed greater than they could bear, but in the midst of all they have been cheered and sustained by the Lord. The new parsonage at Marietta, Ga., gives Pastor Lane a pleasant home. Our church at this point is near the Kenesaw Mountains, where Sherman shouted to his soldiers, "Hold the fort, for I am coming."

The people at Louisville were glad to have the field missionary expound our New Testament polity to them at the second anniversary of the dedication of their chapel. Pastor Harris has some earnest workers in his church. Dr. Whedbee, the superintendent of the Sunday-school and the president of the Christian Endeavor, is a graduate from Howard University. He has an excellent practice, and is a devoted Christian worker.

I must close these notes with an example of church work that shows what can be done in our Southern field when pastors and people have a wise direction and a mind to work. I find the following record in the minutes of the Tennessee Association for 1893. "Nashville, Howard Chapel. The church is not prosperous. Services have been discontinued. An effort, however, is to be made to revive and develop the life and power of the church." This effort took form in the appointment by the Association of Rev. J.E. Moorland, of Washington, D.C., as pastor last October. The appointment was made for ten months, with a view of continuance if the work proved fruitful. What has been the result of these ten months just ended? The church has been revived, its membership increased to seventy-five, congregations large and growing, a nourishing Sunday-school and mission school, two preaching services on the Lord's day, and a vigorous Y.P.S.C.E.; a wide-awake mid-week service, a woman's missionary society, and a sewing-school for girls. The church edifice has been renovated at a cost of three hundred dollars, and a parsonage is being erected. For intelligence, Christian character and progressive work, this church is considered the best among colored people in the city.

CAPPAHOSIC'S SIXTH COMMENCEMENT

BY DEACON SAMUEL HOLMES

May 31st was a proud day for Gloucester County, Va., for not only was Hon. Frederick Douglass to give the annual address, but the new dormitory called "Douglass Hall" was to be used for the first time. With only the roof on and but partially covered, still the lower story had been temporarily floored and seated so that a thousand persons could be accommodated. Although the previous twenty-four hours had been dark and rainy the crowd had been gathering all the time—many of whom accompanied the Holly Grove Brass Band in early morning to escort Mr. Douglass and other visitors from the river to the school building.

After breakfast the school went on with its regular forenoon work, interesting the visitors, who also inspected the barn, the workshops and farm. By noon the campus and vicinity was a wonderful sight, while the outskirts reminded one of an old-fashioned general training in Connecticut, with its booths and tables. An official count of teams on the campus as reported to me was, 357 horse, 7 mule teams, and 1 ox team. Many of these had driven fifty or sixty miles, and generally carrying the fodder behind or tied under the wagons. There were from 1,500 to 2,000 people on the grounds and vicinity.

At 1:30 p.m., after a well prepared lunch for the trustees and invited guests, they were escorted by the school, headed by the band, to the new hall, which was soon filled to its utmost capacity. With excellent music by the school and band, followed by prayer, came not the least important part of the programme, the collection and pledges towards completing the building. Including the admission fee of twenty-five cents from outsiders, the money raised was over three hundred dollars, besides over eight hundred dollars in good pledges, of which two hundred and fifty dollars were from Mr. Douglass and his relatives present. Then followed an address on "Self Help," by a young man graduate, and another by a young woman on "A New Picture," contrasting the present surroundings with the time when she first entered the school in its beginnings under Mr. Weaver, in a small log-house with one door and two windows. These addresses would have done credit to many older institutions.

Mr. Douglass then followed with his incomparable lecture on "Self-Made Men." One could but feel in seeing his magnificent physique and his manly bearing as he proceeded, that he was a most notable example of his subject, while to report his lecture, with its impromptu sallies of wit and wisdom, would be almost impossible. He instanced many men as illustrations and especially interested his audience with stories of personal interviews with Lincoln, Seward, Greeley, Stanton, Grant and others during and after the war.

But most thrilling was the story of a slave boy and his following him from his early years, his learning to read and write, his conversion and desire to become a preacher, praying for three or four years, every morning, noon and night, that God would set him free, and how that his prayers were not answered till he prayed with his heels. At about seventeen years he ran away, reaching Massachusetts, where he publicly told his story, till, hearing that the slave catchers were after him, he fled to England, where he lectured till his English friends purchased him from his late master for $750, when he returned to his native land and worked in the anti-slavery cause till by the war every bondman was free. He has since served his country as U.S. Minister to Hayti, U.S. Marshal at Washington, and in other positions of trust, and also tried to serve his race to the best of his ability. It needed not that he should further identify himself, but if so he could do it by the scars on his back and the "bill of sale" of himself in his pocket.

Mr. Douglass believed most heartily in Cappahosic, and has two very efficient granddaughters there, one at the head of the culinary department, and the other as teacher.

Short addresses followed by Rev, Mr. Spiller, of Hampton, Va., Mr. Lewis Douglass, and the editor of the Afro-American, Rev. M. Alexander, of Baltimore, Md. The writer told of, and is glad here to bear witness to, the noble, self-denying labors of Mr. and Mrs. Weaver and their corps of teachers and scholars during these struggling years, as also to the growing and earnest help of the people around them in sustaining the school to so large a degree. They appreciate most highly the fostering care and help of this Association, and hope that within a few years they may be able to take the entire pecuniary burdens upon themselves.

Mr. Holmes told of the breaking of the ground for the new building last winter, under very trying difficulties, with little to draw upon but their oft-proved Bank of Faith and Prayer, and of Mr. Weaver's coming North for help, and his return, telling his wife he hardly ever felt so discouraged. She handed him a letter which came in his absence. On opening it, he exclaimed, "Bless the Lord! here is a check for $250." Reading the letter, he shouted, "Praise the Lord! it is $2,500," and he has been praising Him ever since and praying for more, for he needs about twice as much to complete and furnish the building, which is 70x46 feet, and three stories high.

The people of Gloucester and adjacent counties have taken about a dozen rooms to finish and furnish at a cost of $50 to $100 each, and yet there will be many more wanted by the boys for the coming winter. All the work, including the plans and supervision, has been done by colored men, assisted quite largely by the boys of the school. Who will supplement the magnificent gift of Mrs. Powers of Philadelphia by small or large amounts?