The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-20
AMERICAN MISSIONARIES.
Fifty-First Annual Convention in
Session.

The American Missionary association began
its annual session at Plymouth Congrega-
tional church yesterday afternoon, with
large attendance of delegates from all over the
country. Addresses of welcome were deliv-
cred by Rev. George R. Merrill, in behalf of
the city, and C. NJ Cushman, in behalf Of
Plymouth church. The response was by Pres
ident Merrill E. Gates, of Amherst. The re-
port of the executive committee, read by Rev.
Elijah Horn, D. D., of Brookline, Mass,
showed much more encouraging condition Of
affairs than at Boston last year. 1t showed
II schools, with Alb instructors and r.
34S pupils on the Southern educational work
among the negroes and the improved material
condition of the colored people who have
been in the schools is striking testimony
to their unitarian character. More than 70
per cent of the teachers preachers and lead
ers among them have been educated by the
A. M A, directly or indirectly. The prob
lem of intrusting higher grade schools en-
tirely to colored administrators and instruc-
tors is in process of solution at Cappahosic,
Vasi, Athens and Albany, Ga; Enfield n. c.,
and many other points. At Orange Park,
Fla, and Wastony Point, year ago. there
was hostility to the work but this is now
removed. The colleges and universities at
Nashville, Tenn. Taledega, Ala; Tougaloo,
Miss; New Orleans and Austin, Tex, all
report exceptional progress. There are
eighteen normal schools, with 2,195 pupils.
The free schools work among the poor whites
of the Tennessee mountains has been very
fruitful Of results.
224, with 1873 ministers, 11,317 members and
l6 $50 scholars Eighteen new churches have
been organized, twelve of them colored, four
among the poor whites ard two Indian. The
number of mountain churches is fifty-fve,
with 1,619 members. Among the Indians
there are II churches 81 MEMBERS 1,143 Sun
day school scholars, % schools, with 592
scholars, 26 missioary out-stations. Sc mis-
sionaries and teachers, of whom 81 are In
dian. Santee normal school, in Nebraska,
trains most of the latter. The work among
the Indians has been very encouraging: so
has the work among the Esquimaux.
The association has twenty schools among
the Chinese in America, with thirtytwo
teachers and 1854 pupils. The Chinese have
given $1,000 to missions in China and are
carrying on a great work. Receipts during
the year were 1928, 440, of which 1854. go was
donated. There is a balance of S11, 627 on
hand and the debt has been reduced to $54,-
945. 1t is planned to eXtinguish this and yet
carry on all the work this year. The womens
missionary societies have given SIS. 75S, and
have sustained forty mine missionary teach
ers.
The evening meeting of the association
wholly devotional, and, despite the threaten
ing weather, largely attended. After
a beautiful voluntary by Il e Plymouth church
quartette, Rev. DR.. George D. Back, Of Park
Avenue Congregational church, read a
Scripture lesson the story of Nicodemus, be-
ing followed by Dr. David N. Beach in prayer.
After the singing of a hymn Rev. Dr. J. w.
Cooper of Connecticut, preached the annual
sermon from John ill., 81, Marvel not that
l said unto you we must be born again.