The Portland daily press., 1868-09-29
American nIi..ionnry Association.

IT'S WORK AND wANTs-S50,000 RE CURED "A
The freedmen are not yet throu9 the will
derness They are free; but freedom alone
gives neither lands, homes, nor capital; and
the South Is so poor, and the whites are so en-
bittered against teaching the blacks, that com
mon schools will notAbe- started speedily or
generally. They are voters; but they are just
passing through terrible struggle, at the risk
of their daily bread, or their lives, against the
hattery and violence of their old masters, for
the free use of the vote. In this conflict they
need intelligence and virtue to resist seduc-
lions, and fortitude and patience to endure
suffering. Teachers and missionaries are their
best leaders, and schools and a pure gospel
their "sinews of war;" -..t
The association is their helper, not to pau
perize, but to educate them to self-help. IL
has employed au average of five hundred i,is-
slonarles and teachers for them each Oh the 'tse
two years, and, seeing the aDsolute heoessI'y
OF preparing them rapidly 10 DC tne'I e omn
J teachers If has at large cost, opened nfteen
normal and nigh schools, occupying central
locations, in good buildings, on amos owned
bv the association. 1t has preached the gospel
| and nlanted churches among them, on the ba-
sis Of a pure faith and an upright life. More
of this work is needed. Schools may be like
he 'wheels" in the prophe dc vision, but The
gospel must be the moving spirit" in the
wheels.
The increased expense of the ordinary
schools. the heavy cost of establishing the nor
NAL schools, the inability Of the Bureau to fur
nish return transportation for the teachers,
and the falling off in the receipts for the last
four months, have created debt which, un-
less removed, must cripple the operations of
the coming year, Just at time when to with
draw the helping hand will be most discourag-
ing and most dangerous. Must the freedmen,
who aided us SO nobly in our great struggle,
and on whose elevation rest not only the hopes
of the loyal whites, but OF the whole country
for the South, be made to feel that they are at
once beset by their old foes, and deserted by
their new friends? Shall a cause so sacred so
intHrtwined with every interest of the freed
men, the loyal whites, and the country, be i'm
perilled for lack OF an offering meet for the
exigency? Our only hope against this danger
is that the wisdom and benevolence of our
friends will avert it, What is an offering of
even 100000 for a cause like this? One breath
OF the spirit that gave millions to the Chris
tian and Sanitary Commissions would secure
it.
We appeal to our friends with confidence.
| They are not poorer, but richer, for the help
| they have gwen in times of need to us and to
other mission boards. 'They have enlisted for
the war" and will not desert the freedman un-
| tn he and the country are safe. We therefore
earnestly urge upon ministers, churches, Sab
bath schools and individuals TO consider their
priUiteqe and duty in the case, and to act
promptly. Fifty thousand dollars in Septem-
ber, which closes our fiscal yeaI, will be abso
utely required to meet our present emer-
| gency.
Ladies committees, treasurers of local soci-
cites or churches, executors of WILLS, and all
persons holding funds for the association, or
| having the responsibility OF making or trans
| mitting collections, are requested to forward
them to our treasury before the close of Sep
| tember. '-. -..-
In behalf of the Executive Committee,
Fl. ......... GEORGE WHIPPLE,
NJ. L. STRIEBY,
t -l i j. r. SHIPHERD, Secretaries
53 John Street, Neao York, dug. "a, 1868.
Donations may be sent to w. e. Whiting,
| Assistant Treasurer, or to Rev. c. L. Wood
worth, secretary for New England 13 Corn
| biU Rostnn