New-York tribune., 1874-10-28
AMERICAN MISSIONS.


AMERICAN MISSIONS.
MEETING OF THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY
REPORTS FOR THE PAST YEAR-wORK AMONG
THE Observation-Disclosures OF THE C0LORED
PEOPLE To LEARN-INsTITUTIONs UNDER THE
CARE OF THE SOCIETY.
The 28th annual meeting of the American
Missionary Society (CongregationaD opens at CLINTON
Iowa. to-day. The Association was organized In lSf0
for the "educat0n and religious instruction OF the peo
pie Of the South" anti7savery basis Four
missionary socetieJ which had been previously formed
were merged into it, BY this consolidation the Assoc
received under its and conducted missions n
Africa In the West Indies and among the western In-
dians In addition to these, missions nave also oeeh
established in the Sandwich Islands and in Siam, but
the chief work Of the Association lies In the South
among the Freedmen
The persecution to which the early missionaries OF the
Association in the South subjected Is part OF the
history of the Slavery contest At the beginning OF the
Rebellion the agents of tho Association were OF course
driven from the South but they returned again IN the
wake OF the Northern armies and soon had plenty 10 90
in teaching the fugitive slaves, who rushed Dy tnou-
sands the Union for protection since the Close
OF tho war the Association has been doing large aud
portant work among the Freedmen as shown oy its
annual reports The present condition OF this work. and
what has been done the past year may be learned from
the following synopsis Of the reports to be presented
at the present meeting OF the Association.
The Treasurers report shows an aggregate expendi-
ture in It's work Of so4 o of which much the largest
share $3.50 $50 g. has been expended In the soutn s
receipts are reported at s92s 49, or s?5 80 less than
ts expenditures increasing the Societys debt 10 that
amount In its foreign missionary work the expendi-
lures have been s9 16 for Africa ~ l6 20 Tor the ia
maca MISSION g. 967 81 for siam and s92 81 special for
the Sandwich Islands In its foreign missionary WORK.
In accordance with the vote Of the late annual meeting
its missions In the Sandwich Islands and In Siam have
both been relinquished. II has not been found
possible TO transfer Jamaica mission to any other or
ganzaop, and the people themselves VIII not DC aole
to sustain 1t without additional aid.
The difficulty of supplying the Avery mission with
white aborers very great and the conviction Is strong
that the provdences of God point to the freedmen OF
whom so many being educated IN the Souh' as
the Of the supply for the mission field on the
Western coast and In Central Africa
Eight Indian agencies have been assigned to the asso
catOp Besides agents and three missionaries, there
are an aggregate Of l6 teachers and employees Few
of the latter are Catholics who received their appoint
ments before the agencies were put under the care OF
the Association Two churches have been formed dur
ing the year. The reports Of the agents and missona-
ries are all encouraging showing very general I'm
OF the Indians aud their readiness to labor
in any way that promises suitable compensation
The report quotes the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs
as expressing his surprise at the indications or pros
perity continually pouring in from all quarters, and his
confident belief that continuance OF the present policy
and efforts for single decade Will determine the re-
moval OF Indian barbarsm and preserve the indians
either a distinct class or corporate part OF our
General Government.
WORK IN THE SOUTH.
Immediately after the the Association began to
lay foundations for its higher Institutions the aim being
to provide for the advanced wants OF the people
by adding such departments Of instruction as would
furnish them complete facilities OF business normal and
especially theological education. This has involved the
holding lands and buildings OF considerable
value. The result has been diminishing number OF
pporied by the AssociatioD In most cases. however
the relnquished schools have passed under the care
They have not been suspended, but still carried
In sympathy with our general work An anticipated
difficulty has been more strikngy developed during the
past year than before the nducement offered to young
persons partly educated to turn aside and accept
forward to the fuller preparation which they The
number therefore, in the higher departments pr4por-
tonaly less than ought TO be- 1t is gratifying how
ever. that very large number Of those who
have premsturely gone out from our schools are
tins year given. Fisk University alone reports s
OF pupils having taught more or less during the
year. OF these 81 have taught 7043 scholars in their
day-schoos and had $3.50 In their Sibbahschoos The
financial embarrassment of the South has somewhat af
fected the work Of the Association, and diminished
the number students. Families who have heretofore
been in @ hags been TSs
however, been a prosperous and successful one 10
sous. The M most @ points firmly
held and the year closes with nearly all the churches
ming The agents and teachers the Association bear
witness to the anxiety and capabity" OF the freed
pss fsr are ''TR3es g3eH 'Na ss soss Of
SOrsd people to Obtain ,os home sdGcstSp !,
and 'the stranger may often meet little urchins with
their states who will hold them out with 81 Please set
has been mastered single week. IL is not unusual
to in the schools such scenes as this: middle
the primer, mother just beginning 70 read her son
learning the multiplication table, and man in class
added to our corps Of teachers. All around US the
school than for food clOthng Some Of the scholars
man years old has attended school every night for
pas; five re- He works daily on his farm and
class OF ministers under instruction. They proved ter
Whispered % to one q the ladies' asking her to give him
Preach pUe VsS so%emes and r% mighty tight up the
words" Some of the c0iOred men who have learned
their letters since the war are studying Greek and
Geometry.
Nine new churches have been organized during the
older ones and are outgrowth Of them and OF
institutions The most marked revival Of the year
The estimated number Of additions TO the churches Is
el6. an increase Of 70 over last year.
SOUTHERN AND PACIFIC COAST CHURCHES AND
SCHOOLS UNDER THE CARE OF THE ASSOCIATION.
SamSei Ss Of church member;
Number added during the 1918
Total number OF ministers missionaries and teachers. 273
Total number Of pupils enrolled.
CLASSIFIED a. follows:
76
Collegiate. 46
Collegiate preparatory. 23l