Negro population of no less than 3,372,228nearly one-half of that of the entire country. The membership of the Negro Baptist churches of Georgia is 199,684. The entire terests under its care, and all the demands upon its treasury, it is unable to give to any of its schools what it regards as adequate support. And no one would rejoice more heartily than the brethren to whom the executive work of the Society is committed at a benefaction that would provide for all time for Atlanta Baptist Seminary. In the hope that among the readers of this article there is one who will do this great work for the Lord and his struggling people, the following statement of our needs 'is made: 1. Additional appliances for work in the departments now in operation-desks, black, boards, maps, etc. 2. An addition of working material to the library and a re-equipment of the science laboratory. Our students have now reached a stage where they could make good and constant use of books, but the material in the library available for the teacher's use with his classes is very scanty. The demand for books of reference and general REV. WILLIAM E. HOLMES, A. M. Negro population is rapidly increasing in wealth and intelligence, being assessed in 1890 upon over $15,000,000 worth of property. Thus to plant a school in Georgia is to plant it in the midst of the largest and most progressive Negro population in the South, and in close touch with the dark belts in Florida and Alabama. III. Future. This The future! What shall it be? article is written with the earnest hope and prayer that some reader of it will help us to answer that question. The great need of the school is endowment. The Home Mission Society has generously supported the school these years, and the support and sympathetic interest of the brethren at the rooms have been a constant source of encouragement and strength to those engaged in the work; and, doubtless, the Society will continue to support the school until other means of support are provided. But the Home Mission Society is carrying a tremendous load; and, with all the other in M. W. REDDICK, STUDENT-TEACHER. literature and biography is greatly in excess of the supply. 3. Scholarships of fifty dollars each, to be awarded for proficiency in studies. A ju dicious use of such incentives has proven useful in promoting industry on the part of the students, and, especially, in aiding our most promising men to pursue uninterrupted courses of study. 4. A new building for school purposes alone. The seminary building, while admirably adapted for residence, is not well adapted to school purposes. The classrooms are small and ill-arranged; no provision is made for a laboratory, and the attempt to carry on our various departments with scant accommodations, is a prolific source of confusion and worry, and, what is of more consequence, loss of power on the part of the teachers. A separate building constructed with reference to school-work STUDENTS' READING-ROOM. is greatly needed, as is the additional room that would be provided for dormitories in the present building. 5. To provide for the above needs would involve an outlay of $40,000. In addition to this a permanent fund is needed of at least $250,000 for payment of salaries and current expenses. The above is a moderate statement of the needs of the Seminary, providing for necessaries, but no luxuries, and requiring moderate salaries and economical management. It provides also for the school on its present basis only, with no provision for other departments whose desirability cannot be questioned. Our desire has been to avoid extravagance and to make a frank statement of our needs in view of our pres ent work, the vast Negro population lying around us, their rapid advances in wealth and intelligence, and the probable development of the next decade. We believe that few people realize what a tremendous task is laid upon the educated Negro in these Southern States. It is no exaggeration or fanciful statement to say that these young men are the leaders of thought and work among their people. It is simple fact. Well or ill-prepared, great responsibilities are placed upon them. The home, the school, the church, society at large must be remodeled, reconstructed; old things must, in a great measure, be done away with, and new things, new methods, new ideals must take their places. It is for the equipment that will fit these young men to do this great work that we plead. Unless our schools fit them worthily to bear these great burdens, they fail to fulfill the purpose for which they are founded and supported. From the window of the room where this article was written, one can see in the distance the bold outlines of Mount Kennesaw where one of the fiercest battles of the Atlanta campaign was fought. The writer seldom looks at that mountain without thinking of the beautiful national cemetery in the little town of Marietta at its foot, where lie sleeping ten thousand heroes of the Northern army. Nearly every Northern State is represented there. They died in the cause of freedom. Have they left no heritage of duty to their children of this generation? Is the work of emancipation done? Are the slaves wholly free? Surely, upon the men and women of this generation-the sons and daughters of the nation's honored dead-rests the solemn responsibility to complete the work their fathers began, and to carry to their Negro brothers and fellow-citizens the means of intellectual, moral, complete emancipation. THE fifth Sunday in March is Chapel Builders' Day. Be sure that your Sundayschool takes a collection for this important work. CHURCH EDIFICE DEP'T. Dedications. Indian Territory. January 13, Rev. A. L. Lacie, Cherokee Missionary, aided in the dedication of a new Baptist church house, at Union Hill, in the Cherokee Nation. It is a nice, small house, built entirely by the members of the church and citizens without any aid from the Home Mission Society. The Society commends the pluck and devotion of the little church at Union Hill. On the last Lord's Day in December, 1894, the excellent new house at Antlers, in the Choctaw Nation, was dedicated free of debt. This is largely the work of Rev. Wm. M. Hays, one of the Society's missionaries in the Indian Territory. The Society aided with a grant of $400, and a house worth $1,200 has been built, a beacon light in a vast wilder ness. Comanche Mission, 0. T. COMANCHE MISSION, O. T. Dear Bro.:-Since last I wrote you our beautiful little Comanche chapel has been completed and dedicated to the Lord. The dedicatory services were held November 18th, and a blessed time it was. The coming of Brethren Rairden, Murrow and Dyke and wives was as an oasis in the desert to us, who have been deprived of all Christian society for so long. They, with their words of encouragement and Christian love, did much to cheer us in our work for these Comanches. The services on the day of dedication were an inspiration to all. Since that time the meetings have been better attended than ever before, the average this quarter being twenty persons. Considerable interest is being manifested by the Indians in the "Jesus house," but none as yet have acknowledged publicly faith in Jesus. May God grant to hasten the day when many of these dear, dark-hearted souls may confess Jesus as their Saviour. The work looks more encouraging than E. C. DEYO, Missionary. ever. Sunday, March 31st, is Chapel Builders' Day. A few dollars each from several thousand Sunday-schools will build from 10 to 20 chapels. Women's Societies. WOMEN'S BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN. President-MRS. WM. A. MOORE, 1055 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. Corresponding Secretary- MRS. A. J. Fox, 63 Alfred Street, Detroit. Treasurer-MRS. E. J. DAVIS, 63 Stimson Place. Detroit. Recording Secretary.-MRS. E. H. E. JAMESON, 1.6 Smith Avenue, Detroit. DETROIT, February 7, 1895. The meetings of the Board, during the past quarter, have been full of interest and encourage ment. While we have to confess some anxiety in regard to the financial outcome of the work, yet, as only one-half of our year has expired, we hope that the "better times" that are promised by business men will help our faithful women, and that this year will end as happily as our last. The treasurer's reports, from month to month, are about as in ordinary years so far, while reports from our missionaries are greatly in advance. From all directions in our State come tidings of the gracious work of the Holy Spirit in enabling our workers to reach the hearts of those who know not the Saviour, so that by all of our missionaries sheaves are being gathered. There is promise of great ingathering, if meetings in various places can be continued. Just now the intense cold is a great hindrance. At the beginning of our year we made pledges towards the support of missionaries, teachers, and pastors, amounting in all to $3.000. These have been added to somewhat, and still come pleading requests for aid in other and new fields which we have to refuse. The Woman's Home Mission Union, of Detroit, held its regular quarterly Basket Meeting with the Warren Avenue Baptist Church, on January 24th. The attendance was large throughout the day, although the weather was cold and a long journey necessary for many to reach the church. Within all was warmth and good cheer. The programme, on "The Indians of North America," was admirably prepared, each paper giving evidence of careful study, and was of such great interest that the committee was requested to continue the subject at the next meeting, that we might acquire a comprehensive idea as to the general condition and needs of the Indians, and the various agencies in operation for their benefit, with the hope that, as Baptist women, we may do more for them. The Indians have suffered great wrongs in this State, but there is still opportunity for Christian people to give the Gospel to seven or eight thousand of them right in our midst. The formation of an Indian Baptist Church, not far from the Government school at Mount Pleasant, is cause for thankfulness and helpful kindness on our part. We trust the future will bring many interesting particulars concerning the growth and prosperity of the missions that we call ours, which we may communicate to the readers of THE HOME MISSION MONTHLY, while we constantly pray for rich blessings from our Heavenly Father on all the work in our dear land. MRS. MARGARET W. JAMESON. WHAT ONE WOMAN IS DOING. Mrs. S. C. D. Bassett, who for some time has been the missionary of the Woman's Baptist Home Mission Society of Michigan in Nebraska, without salary, writes an interesting account of her labors and experiences in that part of the State where she is stationed. Very few men engaged in similar work preach more, endure greater hardship, or bear heavier burdens than this noble and heroic woman. She is a bishop in the truest sense. She writes: To the Board of the Woman's Baptist Home Mission Society of Michigan. DEAR SISTERS :-My field of labor comprises four counties, Baptist church organizations in only three of them. There are ten church organizations. There is now but one ordained pastor in the Association, and he a man in poor health. These counties have a large area, and the people are much scattered. Many have become discouraged and deserted their homes, making it more difficult and dangerous to travel through the country. One will travel from five to twenty miles without finding an inhabitant of whom to inquire about roads. At seasons there is danger from blizzards, or darkness may overtake and one be obliged to camp on the prairie. On my last trip I drove over four hundred miles. As I have previously stated, repeated droughts, fire and hail have, in spite of industry, reduced many of the people to extreme poverty. I know of men who had no flannel underwear or overcoats last winter. Many subsist largely upon the wild fruits which they gather and dry. Plums, currants, choke cherries, sand cherries grapes and buffalo berries abound some years when weather is favorable. Often these fruits are put up without sugar, the people being too poor to indulge in this luxury. Last spring some borrowed money to purchase seed, but the season being unfavorable they have lost all they expended and got no return. During the summer I have visited all parts of the field, conducting meetings where practical, searching out isolated Baptists, and encouraging them to unite with the nearest church, although it may be twenty-five miles away. Deacon Pringle, of the Hemingford church, remarked in the Association that he had lived in this country seven years, but had not been privileged to enjoy a communion season in all that time. On Ash Creek I found a devoted Baptist family, twenty-five or more miles from the Chadron church, of which the son and daughter are members. The young man has maintained his Christian walk in the community for seven years. He was baptized beneath the Natural Bridge in Virginia. The mother looks back to the occasion with great delight, and describes the spot as most picturesque. There is a great stone reservoir worn by the action of the water, which now forms a pool as clear as crystal. The family has been greatly afflicted by sickness during the last two months. The father broke his leg and had a slight stroke of paralysis, and the mother has been ill. It is a great blessing to bring comfort into such homes. At another point a pedobaptist held revival meetings, and several persons were converted, who wished to unite with the Baptists. They were persuaded to unite with the Presbyterian church, being baptized according to New Testament teaching. They were building a Presbyterian meetinghouse, but so large a number were Baptist in belief that they consulted with their pastor about reorganizing as a Baptist church. The Presbyterian Board promised money to purchase material if the people would do the work and finish the house. At another point the Presbyterians offered funds to educate a young man of promise, who felt called to Christian work. He and his family united with the church. (Oh! for funds to aid those whose usefulness would be greatly increased if they could afford expense of school and Christian culture.) This young man was troubled, and felt he had not done his duty; so a little later he came out and publicly confessed Christ by uniting with the Baptist church. Although suffering much opposition, he secured some assistance, and is now in Grand Island College. I will close this letter with one more incident. While in Belmont I was told that the wife of the deacon was failing and must soon leave us. Deathbeds are hard places for me to visit, lest I should not say the right thing, but a sister remarked, "It will not be much out of your way to call on Mrs. Prebble." The remark decided the question, and I called. The eyes of the sick woman were very bright, contrasting beautifully with her pale face, making a picture never to be forgotten. I talked cheerfully, and avoided reference to her precarious conditon, but asked the Lord in prayer to give her grace to meet whatever exigency was in store. I then sang several Gospel hymns. When about to leave, I said: "I hope you will be better when we meet again." She replied: "We shall not meet here, but we will meet in the beyond." I replied: "What a comfort to know that loved ones gone before will meet us, and in less than fifty years our dearest friends will nearly all be with us again." She talked so composedly of heaven, it seemed as if angels were waiting to carry the liberated soul from this desolate land to bright mansions above. This letter gives a glimpse of busy days that are passing, and how they are spent. The supplies sent by Detroit and other friends have made happy many discouraged ones. S. C. D. BASSETT. In a letter to the Board of a later date, Mrs. Bassett writes: "I started on the 3rd of November to go to Gordon for the 1st of the month, and to conduct a few meetings at Hay Springs. I stopped at Chadron for a few days, Missionary Keeler being there, to attend a Young Men's Christian Association Convention. Meetings of Convention were of considerable interest. While there I received mail from Alliance, stating that an acquaintance was lying at the point of death at that place, and requesting that I go to them immediately, as he was an unconverted man. I thought I ought to go. I went on the 28th. The man is now convalescent and convicted of sin, but has not yet surrendered to the influences of grace. "On the 7th of December we had a terrific wind storm, and the atmosphere was so charged with electricity that many of the cooking ranges became batteries, so that we and others received shocks when coming in contact with them. "On the 8th I went to Carpenter to spend the Sabbath, but, through fault of the mails, no appointment had been made, so I spent the time in personal work, arranging to organize the young people into a union, promising to visit them again as soon as possible. I expect to go down next time with a horse. It will be a long, cold drive of 160 miles, and my last for this season. "On the 10th drove ten miles to visit a sick woman. In the afternoon was taken to Alliance, where a team was waiting to take me in another direction for a Monday evening service. Drove that day forty-five miles; walked one and a half miles. "Tuesday morning rode fifteen miles to Hem. ingford, where I received a hearty welcome; called upon the members of the church, arranged for, and called a meeting for the next Sunday to receive a young man for baptism. He must go to Belmont to be baptized-no water near Hemingford suitable for the ordinance. From Hemingford went to Lawn; found the general prayermeeting given up. The Baptist Young People's Union are shouldering the responsibility of both services; also will sustain their Sunday-school through the winter months. The active members here are mostly the converts gathered five years ago during my first revival. The young infidel converted at that time is now a pillar in the church. I cannot report much visible fruit, but am just as busy as I know how to be endeavoring to keep churches from dying, and, so far as I am able, engaging in some work, until relief can be sent to those towns. There are still ten churches (beside the outposts) who have no pastors, and look to me for such help as I can give. Three of them have called me as their pastor, and others wished to do so, but I discouraged it. I have accepted the three in sort of an indefinite way, arranging to be at Gordon the first part of every month, and at other points by giving previous notice." By Rev. BOOK NOTICES. THE ARGUMENT FOR CHRISTIANITY. Geo. C. Lorimer, D.D. 12m0, 480 pp. Price, $2.00. Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1420 Chestnut Street. Dr. Lorimer has produced a very valuable work, and has rendered to the cause of Christianity a great service. He discusses the argument, in behalf of Christianity, drawn from history; from Christ; from testimony; from miracles; from prophesy; from humanity; from achievement; from concession, and from comparison. It will be seen from the list of topics that the discussion takes a wide range. The style is vigorous and readable, and the book cannot fail to be stimulating and helpful, not only to pastors, but to intelligent laymen who are desirous of informing themselves, or of preparing to teach others, in reference to the claims of Christianity to be the one true revelation of God's will The book is gotten up in good style, on excellent paper, and we congratulate the Pub.ication Society on the taste and skill exhibited in the mechanical part of it. to men. II. The Advent of the Spirit. V. The Enduement of the Spirit. IX. The Conviction of the Spirit. The sudden death of Dr. Gordon, which shocked the denomination so recently, will give a new and melancholy interest to this, the latest of his rich productions. |