dren-as is done-is treason that ought not to be tolerated; the minds of these boys and girls ought not to be .poisoned by such teachings. We ought to insist that the flag shall float over every schoolhouse, that American songs shall be sung, that the Indians shall feel that they are part of the American people; that they shall be assimilated with us, so that when they go out from these schools they shall at once take their places alongside of their white neighbors and feel that they are brethren; that they have resting upon them common duties and common obligations; that there are open to them common privileges, and that they, by receiving of the liberality of the Government in this magnificent scheme of education, have been fitted for the best kind of American citizenship. This is good sound American sense, and there ought not to be anything in the way of it. American Indians, the wards of the American people, ought to receive an American education to prepare them for the duties and privileges of American citizenship. The following preamble and resolutions have been widely adopted and forwarded to Congress: WHEREAS, The United States Government during the last eleven years has paid out of the public treasury the sum of $3,430, 157* to the Roman Catholics to aid them in carrying on their missionary work among the Indians, and, WHEREAS, For the year ending June 30, 1896, while less than $6,000 are set aside for other churches, the sum of $308,471 is given to the Roman Catholics, and, WHEREAS, It is the declared policy of the Government to discontinue Indian Contract Schools as early as practicable, and, WHEREAS, It is entirely feasible to make provision in Government schools for all Indian children now enrolled in Contract schools before the beginning of the school year of 189697; therefore, Resolved, That we earnestly urge upon Congress the importance of discontinuing, at once, the Contract School system, and we hereby protest against the appropriation of any further sum from the public treasury in the aid of Contract schools. We do this for the following reasons: 1st. The appropriation of public money to any church or religious denomination is plainly in violation of the spirit of the Constitution, which prohibits the establishment of any form of religion. 2d. It is contrary to public policy, causing as it does religious jealousies, and injecting into our politics the animus of sectarian controversy. 3d. The giving of so large a sum to one sect while others doing the same kind of work among the Indians receive nothing from the public treasury is unwarranted favoritism on the part of the United States Government, which is in duty bound to treat all its people alike. 4th. It is a serious menace to the integrity of the public school system, since the same reason * AMOUNT SET APART FOR EDUCATION OF INDIANS IN SCHOOLS UNDER PRIVATE CONTROL FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 1886 TO 1896, INCLUSIVE. $118,343 $194,635 $221,169 $347,672 $356,957 $363,349 $394,756 $375,845 $389,745 $359,215 $308, 471 $3,430,157 37.910 32.995 352,470 $228,259 $363, 294 $376,264 $529,905 $562,640 $570,218 $611,570 $533, 241 $537,600 $463,505 $370,796 $5,147,292 36,500 41,825 47 650 44,850 44,3101 30,090 36,340 Congregational . 16.121 26,696 26,080 29,310 28,459 27,271 29,146 25,736 10,825 Martinsburg, Pa 5,400 10,410 7,500 Alaska Training School 4,175 4,175 219,644 8,350 23,310 Episcopal. 1,890 3,690 18,700] 24,876 29,910 23,220, 4,860 7,020 7,020 2,160 123,346 Friends. 1,960 27,845 14,460 23,383 23,383 24,743 24,743 10,020 10,020 10,020 170,577 Mennonite..... 3,340 2,500 3.125 4,375 4,375 4,375 3,750 3,750 3,750 3,125 34,465 Middletown, Cal. 1,523 Unitarian. 1,350 5,400 5,400 5,400 5,400 5,400 5,400 5,400 5,400 1,523 44,550 Lutheran, Wittenberg. Wis. 1,350 4,050 7,560 9,180 16.200 15,120, 15,120 15,120 83,700 Methodist 2,725 9,940 6,700 13,980. 600 Mrs. L. H. Daggett. 6,480 6.480 33,945 Miss Howard 275 [009 1,000 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,000 3,000 15,375 Lincoln Institution. 33,400 33,400 33,400 33,400 33,400 33,400 33,400] 33,400 33,400 33,400 33,400 367,400 Woman's National Indian Assoc'n. Hampton Institution 20,040 20,040 20,040 20,040 20,040 20,040 20,040 6,360 220,440 1,500 1,620 Total urged in behalf of this action of the Government may be urged with equal potency in behalf of the division of the Public School Fund of the several States. 5th. It is detrimental to the cause of Indian education. It is better for the Indians in preparation for American citizenship to be trained in public schools, where all the influences tend to foster patriotism and to prepare them for speedy absorption into the national life. MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT. AN APPEAL FROM BEYOND. DELAVAN, WIS., 12 12-95. REV. T. J. MORGAN, New York, N. Y. Dear Brother :-Replying to your letter of the 3d inst. in which you ask me for the reasons why a District Missionary should be appointed in connection with the missionary work of the State, permit me to say that the reasons are as follows: After we have done our utmost to meet the missionary necessities of the State, a large number of small churches remain without pastoral care, and many hamlets, neighborhoods, and towns remain in absolute spiritual destitution. For several years past it has been my purpose to meet this need in part with my Student Missionary work, and its results, as you know in the Rooms in New York, have been very gratifying. But it only meets the need in part. The number of unsupplied Baptist churches is not less but greater to-day than four years ago. This is largely owing to two causes. First, the general financial depression of the last two years, and which is more severe to-day than at any other time since it began. The other reason is the low prices for all produce. Potatoes, ten cents a bushel; oats, twelve and fifteen cents a bushel; wheat, forty cents a bushel, and almost everything else selling at the same low prices. When farmers have paid their taxes, which, instead of being lower are higher, and the interest on their mortgages, and provided absolute neccessities for their families, there is little left for the support of the Gospel. For this reason many pastors have been driven from the fields because they could not be supported. My hope is that one or two District Missionaries covering with their labors a number of these destitute fields will hold things together until we reach better times. If I could have one District Missionary, this, with my Student Missionary work beginning in the spring, would greatly lighten my burden and keep the work in tolerably good shape. I might add to this the reason that in other States this District Missionary work has proved of immense value, and the results have been large, both for the Home Mission Society and the State Convention. In our own State the District Missionaries laboring among the Scandinavians have made their work very effective, and we have reason to believe we should have the same results from this kind of labor among our English speaking people. Besides this, we have noted here in Wisconsin that the Home Mission Society has recently made a special contribution of $500 to Minnesota to meet a felt need in that State. We feel that the need in this State is equally great. We are in a crisis here in Wisconsin. Much of our work is imperiled by the financial difficulties in this State. This District Missionary work would in a measure help us tide our missionary work over into calmer waters, where the waves and the billows would not buffet us as they do now. Trusting to hear favorably from the Rooms in New York, I am, Sincerely yours, D. E. HALTEMAN. Wisconsin-Student Missionary Work. This work has been under the direction of the General Missionary, and the results during the year under review are very gratifying. The number of student missionaries employed has been 25; weeks of labor, 461; sermons preached, 1,160; religious visits, 2,716; received by baptism, 85; by letter and expe. rience, 72; total additions, 157. These student missionaries have given nine years of time, or performed the work of nine years of one missionary, at a cost to the Home Mission Society and State Convention of $600. We have not had such excellent results at so small a cost to the Home Mission Society and State Convention on any part of our missionary field. On one field the missionary organized a church of 18 members in a thrifty town of 1,500 people; lots have been purchased, and a chapel will be built at once. The student becomes the permanent pastor. On another field two nearly dead churches have been resuscitated; a new chapel is being erected on one of these fields, and to the two churches 36 additions have been made, of which 20 were by baptism. A Scandinavian missionary baptized 24 on his field. On every field conversions have occurred, and the things which remain have been strengthened. While not a perfectly satisfactory solution of the important problem in our missionary work, "How can we aid to the best advantage our small churches?" this student missionary work meets this need to some extent. The General Missionary takes through it the sympathy and good will of the Board to many of the smaller interests in the State. By the aid of this student missionary work he also holds some important points until the Board is able to take them into its permanent work. D. E. H. North Dakota-Grafton and St. Thomas. From November 10th to the 19th I conducted a series of meetings at Grafton, No. Dak. These meetings were signally blessed, and I had the privilege of baptizing 4 believers. I work with the expectation that a strong Norwegian Baptist Church will be organized at Grafton during this winter. At St. Thomas we had a glorious revival during the first ten days of December. Twelve persons professed to find peace with God, and many more were under conviction. December 10th I baptized 9 of these converts, and on the same evening a Norwegian Baptist church was organized, consisting of 11 members. Both at Grafton and St. Thomas I was greatly assisted by Rev. C. J. Hill, an earnest Baptist worker, and others. T. O. WOLD. British Columbia-Vancouver. Dear Bro. :-The work at the Mount Pleasant and Jackson Avenue Churches, this city, is progressing steadily. During the quarter just ended we have added by letter to the Mount Pleasant Church 7 members, and to Jackson Avenue Church 14. During November we held a four weeks' revival at Jackson Avenue Church, the result being that 6 professed to give themselves to Christ, and are now ready to follow the Lord in baptism. Our Sunday-schools also are growing in numbers, the missionary efforts of the children of the Mount Pleasant Church bringing 8 new scholars, and those of Jackson Avenue Church 20 during the last quarter, as the result of a prize offered by the pastor to the boy or girl of each school bringing the most new scholars. Since my taking charge of this work six months ago, we began to see that the Jackson Avenue Church would not accommodate the growing congregation, and in November last it was decided to enlarge the church, which is now completed and open again for service. We have a baptistery and all the conveniences of a fully equipped Baptist church, and can accommodate a hundred more people. G. CLEMENT KING. Washington-Port Townsend. We are compelled to hold our services in a very inconvenient hall, up a long flight of stairs, through a corridor and vacant room and three doors. But we have purchased a very desirable lot, and are getting the material on the ground to build a church, and hope to be in it by the time of my next report and free of debt. We pay as we go. D. C. ELLIS. Indian Territory-Antlers. Dear Bro. : My work is prospering. I look forward with the hope that the coming year will be the best in the history of my work here. Four years ago there was not a Baptist church in all my field. Now we have 10; all ex cept 3 were organized by your humble servant. Two years ago we had no Association; now we have an Association embracing 11 churches. Our Association is weak, but we paid $98.00 this year for missions, and will pay over $100.00 the coming year ('96). Four years ago we had no preachers in this field; now we have 8, some of whom are very good. In four years more I believe this field will be self-sustaining. I have worked almost day and night since I came here, and am still pressing the work as fast as possible. We are doing our best. WM. M. HAYS. A missionary in Washington writes: "The spirit of giving is in a high state of undevelopment. We are trying to teach the children to give, and hope for better things." A Kansas missionary sends the following item with his report: "Our work is rather encouraging, except that it is hard to get enough to live on." Oklahoma-Guthrie. Dear Bro. :-With the quarterly report I must put in a cheering word. In spite of the close condition of finances, our work advances along the line of edifice building. We hope to have the walls completed and the roof on soon. The funds have come, sometimes from unexpected sources, enabling the treasurer to meet bills as they became due. When spring comes the Baptists of Guthrie will enter, if not the best, one of the best structures in the territory of Oklahoma-certainly the best in this capital city. A recent religious census of the city shows the Baptists to be the leading denomination in numbers, but, alas! so many of them fail to declare themselves, or appear in public as Baptists, that the cause is not helped by them. A revival that will bring Christians to their senses and to service is the great ed all over this new country. L. H. HOLT. Mexico-Monterrey. Dear Bro. :-The news that I can give you of this field is good. We can say with Samuel: "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." We have had 10 baptisms during the quarter. The meetings continue with great interest. I have visited four outstations. Also went to Sabinas Hidalgo as delegate of this church to the ordination of Brother Maximo A. Villarreal. We have hopeful prospects for the coming new year, trusting in the Lord that He will bless His work. Dear Bro. ALEJANDRO TREVINO. Idaho-Salubria. -Some progress has been made during the quarter. Four of those who were baptized came from Ruthburg, a distance of twenty-two miles over exceedingly steep hills, the only hills that ever made me nervous as I drove over them. These four got up at 2 o'clock A. M. so as to be in Salubria in time for the covenant meeting. Another of those baptized has her home some seventy or seventy-five miles north of us. Our little church covers a wide territory. Three robust men could not do full justice to the field. E. N ELTON. Destitution in Kansas. "It was the expression of all that there had never been a time since co-operation with the Society began when there was so little money in circulation. Thousands of families are able to secure but a bare subsistence. Many are burning corn for fuel, but the little they may have to spare in the way of grain brings such a small price when it is sold, it barely suffices to furnish groceries and enough clothes to cover their nakedness. Many families are reported as being without shoes, simply because the price of everything is so low that the little they had was taken to pay the bills of last year, and the local merchants are unable to sell their goods on credit. I speak of this, because it was brought out at the Board meeting by the reports from various fields bearing on the question as to whether any new appropriations should be made. "N. B. RAIRDEN, Superintendent." New York-Earlville. Dear Bro. :-I have been very deeply interested in reading the October, 1895, HOME MISSION MONTHLY. I notice what is said concerning an endowment for our schools at Atlanta, and enclose a postal money order for $5.00 to apply on same. Cannot a special effort be made to raise the amount needed? Can I be of help in any way? If the amount already in hand could be stated in the MONTHLY and additional sums acknowledged and published in same, would it not be an incentive for others to give? I think by this means I could get $5.00 or $10.00 from my young people's society and the church in general in addition to our regular contributions. I will be glad to assist in any way I can. L. A. Rowley. INFORMATION. The American Baptist Home Mission Society supports wholly or in part 28 schools for the colored people. The average enrollment of pupils annually is about 5,000. Many pupils can remain only three or four months, when their resources are exhausted. The Society is unable to appropriate money for the support of students, but it does receive and apply funds given and specially designated for this purpose. From $50 to $75 will generally help a student through the year's studies. Contributions for this purpose from individuals, Sunday-schools and Young People's Societies may be sent to the HOME MISSION SOCIETY, III Fifth Avenue, New York City. BOOK NOTICES. THE NEW SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION. After much discussion the South Carolina convention decided to adopt the Mississippi plan for the period of two years, and to keep on the enrollment lists for life the entire body of those who should be fortunate enough to get themselves enrolled before January 1, 1898. After that date the loophole is closed, and the qualifications become rigid. No new voter can be registered after 1897 unless (1) he can both read and write any part of the Constitution, or else (2), as the only alternative, he can show that he owns and has paid taxes upon property assessed at not less than $300 by the official assessor of his township or district. The new Constitution was not submitted for ratification to the voters of the State, but was directly promulgated by the convention itself. It is fair to estimate that from two-thirds to three-fourths of the colored voters will be at once disfranchised. It is probable that twenty-five per cent. of the white voters are illiterate. How many of these will be denied enrollment on the ground that they cannot understand and explain a portion of the Constitution when read to them, it would not be possible to estimate in any way. It should be observed that by its expressed terms the new Constitution discriminates against nobody. On its face it merely calls either for a very limited amount of learning, or a moderate degree of intelligence without any learning at all. Any man who will take the trouble to learn to read within two years may get himself enrolled. If he waits longer than two years he must learn writing in addition to reading, or as an alternative, he must cultivate industry, frugality and temperance, and save up $300. This is by no means an easy thing to do, but it is possible. However much or little one may sympathize with the action taken by this convention, it can hardly be doubted that the premium thus placed upon a rudimentary education and upon the acquisition of property will almost certainly supply a definite and positive incentive to the individual and to parents, which must immensely stimulate the colored race to more rapid progress in civilization.-From "South Carolina's New Constitution," by Albert Shaw, in the January Review of Reviews. THE FISHERMAN'S DAUGHTER. By Mrs. Anne Kendrick Benedict. Price, $1.00. "The Fisherman's Daughter" is a very pretty, helpful story of trial and victory. The slovenly mother, the subdued father, the neglected children, the bright, handsome, determined, oldest daughter, are well drawn, and stand before us after a very lifelike fashion. The scene, like that of the author's "Island Story," is laid off the Massachusetts coast, with which she is very familiar, is full of action and vivid bits of description, and Ernestine, the heroine, wins and holds our interest from the first. A YEAR AT DAINGERFIELD. By Kate Neely Festetits. Price, $1.00. American Baptist Publication Society, 1420 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. "A Year at Daingerfield." A military school in Virginia, with its troop of wide awake cadets, furnishes the background for this story. A new commandant with his pretty daughter appears on the scene, where there are already two or three other girls, just in time to befriend one of the boys who is the victim of a cruel practical joke. To this, treachery is added, which, after much sorrow and a serious accident, comes to light; the boy who played the practical joke makes all the reparation he can, and happily all ends well. THE TEMPTATION OF KATHARINE GRAY. By Mrs. Mary Lowe Dickinson. Price, $1.25. A. J. Rowland, Philadelphia, Pa. A book that we take up with much of anticipation and lay down with equal disappointment, although much can be said in its favor. The many astonishing combinations of circumstances in real life might almost seem to justify one in the belief that nothing is too improbable to happen, and yet it is very difficult for any stretch of the imagination to picture any such train of events as is here described. The book is interesting, the descriptions good, the |