The Portland daily press., 1888-10-26
A GIFT OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
Daniel Hand Establishes a Fund for
Educating the Negroes.
The American Missionary Society
Made Its Custodian.
senefIcent Use Of a Fortune with a
singular History.

PROVIDENCE, r. L., Oct. 25.-In the course
OF an address by Secretary NJ. Z. Strieby,
ID. d., delivered at the afternoon session of
the American Missionary Association, the
following statements were made amid loud
applause: 1.-THE American Missionary As
sociation now in session in this city has this
week received the largest gift ever made In
the country by living donor to a beneyo-
lent society. Daniel Hand, an aged resident
OF Clinton, Conn, formerly a merchant in
the South, has given to the Association one
million, eight hundred and ninety-four dol
lars and twenty-five cents, in interest bear
ing securities, to be held in trust and known
as The Daniel Hand Educational Fund for
Colored People, the income only be used
for the education of the colored people in the
Southern States. MI. Hand having made his
money in the South and having seen the ig-
norance and consequent suffering Of the
colored people there, felt he could not use it
better than in providing for their education,
anu has chosen to entrust to the American
Missionary Association, whose work Is SO
largely devoted 10 the elevation Of that peo-
pie, the care of this magnificent gift SO prac-
tical and useful in its design, and the dis
bursement OF its income in accordance with
After remarks byRev ID. o. Means, DID,, of
Worcester. Mass, the following resolution
was passed amid great enthusiasm with a
rising vote:
Resolved, That we recognize the goodness Of
Almighty God In putting it into the heart OF Daniel
Hand to make munifcent gift OF more than one
million dollors for the education OF the colored
direction Of the AmepcSS Mssonary uncsr sne
ton. We rejoice In the aood Of benefcent infiu-
enee which VIII dow through all years from this
put upon us, promising TO use 1t as a stimulous
ior increased activity on the part of the Christian
The doxology was sung and prayer of
thanksgiving offered after which the society
adjourned to the chapel for their annual
business meeting, while the body of the
enurch was given up to the meeting of the
Women's Bureau.
Mr.; Hand is 81 years old and has long con-
templated giving the bulk Of his means to
dement, his fellowmen. He intended, at first
to give it to some Northern institutions, but
his attention was turned to the wants Of the
negroes Of the South and as he knew of their
priyations on account of their ignorance, he
decided 70 make them his benefciaries
through the agency Of the American Mission
ary Association.
At the business meeting, these officers
were elected for next year:
Presldent-Wm. M. Taylor, d. D., LII. D., Of
New York. =
Corresponding Secretary-A T. Beard d. d..
56 RAade street, New York - -
Recording Secretary-M. E. Strictly, d. d., SO
Reade street, New York
Treasurer-H. w. Hubbard, ESQ.,, Sc Reade
street, New York.
at the meeting of the women's bureau. led
by Mrs. q. A. Woodbury., Of Maine, the
report upon woman's work was read by the
secretary followed by missionary addresses
on the mountain whites by Mrs. "A. Al.
Myers, Of fellico., Tenn. on colored women
by Mrs. G. W. Moore, of Washington. ID. G. !:
on indians by Miss Collins, Of Dakota, and
the closing address by the President, Mrs.
Woodbury..
The Association adjourned finally tonight.
Next years meeting will be held In Chicago
Fortunate investment.
New HAVEN. Oct. 25.-There is an inter-
esting story back Of Daniel Hands gift of
million dollars to the American Missionary
Society. When the war broke out he was
thriving wholesale grocer at Charleston, S
Q. He was forced to leave hurriedly, and
left his property in charge Of his clerk
George Williams. telling him TO use IL 10 the
best advantage until Hands return. Hand
supposed the property had been confscated
Dy the Confederates, and made no INQUIRIES
Tor over twenty years. He was greatly sur
drised TO learn that Williams sold the Charlie
ston property and invested the proceeds In
pine timber land, which increased In value
70 wonderful degree. Williams faithfully
held the profits in trust waiting to hear from
Hand. In 1887 settlement was made. and
HAND cleared about S1,000OOO The settle