Читать книгу: «The American Missionary. Volume 43, No. 03, March, 1889», страница 2

Whatever political theory men form or oppose; whatever their speculative opinions about the origin of races; whatever their notions concerning color or caste; whatever their relations heretofore to slavery and what went along with it, this is absolutely certain: no question involving the rights and wrongs of men, civilized or savage, white or black, was ever yet settled so that it would stay settled by any system of mere repression. And to those who believe in Jesus Christ it is equally certain that nothing can be rightly settled that is not settled in harmony with the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. If there be a Divine Providence no good man need be afraid to do right to-day; nay, he will fear only doing wrong.

THE TRAINING OF COLORED STUDENTS FOR THE EPISCOPAL MINISTRY

A very interesting discussion occurred in the Missionary Council of the Episcopal Church, held in Washington, D.C., November 13th and 14th, in regard to the education of colored students for the ministry in the Episcopal Church. The motive for not educating them in the existing Episcopal Seminaries appeared to be simply the caste-prejudice, and some marked utterances and facts were given on that subject, which we wish to preserve.

The Bishop of Kentucky, whose generous feelings toward the colored race we have had occasion to notice heretofore, quoted from another, and endorsed for himself, the declaration: "The white man is not fit to study for the ministry who is not ready to have his black brother sit by him in the class room," and he subsequently added: "I believe I can speak for my brothers, and I say out of my heart I would just as soon sit by the side of a black man if he were in the House of Bishops, as one of my white brothers." But yet the Bishop suggested and endorsed the plan for the separate education of colored students, for two reasons: (1) "The power of heredity is not to be overthrown in a day nor an hour… This subtle spirit of caste is perhaps the demon hardest to cast out of the human spirit, the one that requires the most prayer and fasting, without which it will not go out," and (2) "It is certainly true that the colored men themselves do not want to go there. It is just as true that the white men do not want to have them there."

As to the first point, it is to be regretted that the good Bishop did not give himself to fasting and prayer to cast out this malignant demon, rather than to yield to it, and that he did not heed the words which Jesus uttered when his disciples could not cast out a demon, "Bring him hither to me." If bishops and churches will only bring this demon of caste to Jesus, the work will be done.

The Bishop's second point, that the colored people desired the separation, was pointedly answered by Dr. Crummell (rector of St. Luke's Colored Church, Washington,) who was invited to speak on the subject. Dr. Crummell said: "I do not think that any man in this country has seen any statement by any number of black men or black students that they wanted to be by themselves. I do not think such an utterance can be found among the race. I myself never heard such a thing, and wherever they have had entrance to other schools they have gone to them."

The decision reached by the Council was to erect, in connection with some of the colored universities in the South, a hall under Episcopal control for colored Episcopal students for the ministry, who should also attend the college classes in the University. So far as the principle is concerned, we regret this decision. How much better if the wealthy and intelligent Episcopal Church in this country had lent its vast influence in repudiating the spirit of caste by introducing colored theological students into its own excellent seminaries.

A MONTHLY CONCERT AND SUPPLEMENT

BY REV. EDWIN N. ANDREWS

Do they say the monthly concert is dull? If so, it is likely owing to one or two causes like the following, (1) Perhaps only two or three families take any missionary Magazine, hence but little information can be expected. People are not interested in what they know nothing of. Or, (2) there is a lack of preparation and purpose to make the meeting interesting on the part of those to whom the leader ought to look for help.

However, our last meeting took a rather interesting turn. It had been of the average sort only, when towards the close one of the ladies spoke of a call among the Freedmen for dolls and clothing, (not clothing for dolls). The pastor suggested that we gather together, from the families, various contributions, such as partly-worn garments, toys, books, religious papers, etc., and make a New Year's donation to the people to whom such things would be a god-send and good as new.

The suggestion was favored, and the animated countenances and talk that followed betokened an after-meeting of unusual interest, and certainly the most practical if not the best part of our conference. Something to do, then and there, had been suggested; tongues were somehow set loose; each one seemed to have a new-born interest, each held common stock in the enterprise. Dr. Roy was consulted by the pastor as to a proper and responsible party. Meanwhile the goods began to come in, often sent by the boys or girls, who thus began to do missionary service, The pastor's wife and daughter did the packing. Picture cards were pasted in cloth folios for the little ones; old hats were trimmed; coats and vests went in, shawls, Bibles, toys, etc., till a barrel, a large sugar barrel, take notice, was crammed.

After awhile there came the address of a colored graduate of Tougaloo University, living at or near Chattanooga, whose name was marked on one end of the barrel, and the freight sent forward. After some delay, the letter of acknowledgment came, saying, "The barrel came safe. The things are just what so many of the people need, and they will go to those most in need. Accept our thanks."

This letter will be read at our next concert, which should be a thanksgiving occasion for the opportunity of doing something for the destitute, and for the discovery of a way to make a monthly concert interesting.

NOTES FROM NEW ENGLAND

BY DISTRICT SECRETARY C.J. RYDER

Here comes a gift of five dollars from an aged friend ninety-one years old! He has contributed to the A.M.A. every year for a generation. Who will step into the place of these grand veterans when they are called from the ranks? Such examples ought to thrill younger men and untie their purse strings.

At a recent visit to Wellesley College, the great company of students listened patiently more than an hour to the story of the "American Highlanders; where they are, who they are, and what the A.M.A. is doing for them."

This interest on their part is characteristic of the intelligent people throughout New England. The churches are asking for information concerning these most interesting mountaineers, and are prayerfully considering their duty toward them. In view of this general interest, I give in these notes this month the following review of a book which I have been requested by several New England pastors to present in THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY.

The Loyal Mountaineers of Tennessee. By Thomas William Humes, S.T.D. Ogden Brothers & Co.: Knoxville, Tenn.

Another interesting book on the Mountain people of the South. Those who are familiar with the mountain missions of the A.M.A. will hail this new volume with special delight. Those who read it will understand better the magnitude and importance of this great field into which the A.M.A. has pushed out its vanguard, and the necessity of following up these advances with a solid phalanx of intelligent and enthusiastic missionaries. This historical sketch brings prominently before us the heroic manhood of these American Highlanders during the years of bitter and systematic persecution by the rebel government. There is stuff in these Highland chieftains and their clans!

Three facts that stand out from the pages of this history must intensify our interest in these American Highlanders. One, the systematic and brutal outrages inflicted upon them by the rebel authorities and their heroic endurance; second, their unimpeachable and unswerving loyalty to the country; third, the tremendous debt the loyal Christian people of the North owe them. Take the following order issued by J.P. Benjamin, Secretary of War, November 25, 1861, which appears on the 140th page of this book;

"First. All such as can be identified in having been engaged in bridge-burning are to be tried summarily by drum-head court martial, and, if found guilty, executed on the spot by hanging. It would be well to leave their bodies hanging in the vicinity of the burned bridges."

The State had voted in February, by sixty thousand majority, to remain loyal to the Union. These Highlanders had sought to save their section of the State from rebellion, and to defend their cabin homes from outrage and butchery. In doing so, they had burned bridges, and for this the government at Richmond deliberately instructs its army officers to hold a mock trial, to hang, and to brutally expose the bodies of those who had been executed, so that surviving friends would have to look upon these sickening horrors! It seems almost impossible that any man could deliberately perpetrate such monstrous cruelties. But the order was issued by the rebel government and carried into effect. Indeed, the brutalities went even farther than this. In December, 1861, two men by the name of Harmon, father and son, were hanged. Only one gallows was provided, and the authorities compelled the father to stand by and see his own son pass through the horrors of strangulation while awaiting his own execution. (Page 151).

The diary of Parson Brownlow, from which abundant quotations are given in this volume, furnishes many similar instances of cruelty perpetrated against these loyal mountaineers; but they were true to the flag from beginning to end. They left their homes, and camped in the forests and "down the coves" of their own wild mountains. Parson Brownlow encamped for days in concealment in Tuckaleeche and Wear's Coves in the great Smoky Mountains. Had fair and honorable means been used, these loyal mountaineers would have saved Tennessee from that disgraceful chapter in her history which records the dark story of her treason. This book must stir the patriotism and Christian enthusiasm of every one who reads it. It ought to lead us to make genuine sacrifices to show our appreciation of their supreme devotion to the country by sending to this Mountain Work, opened by the A.M.A., generously of men and of means.