Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-09-01
True Homr Mission Work in East Ten

Rev. G. Humble, Of Parkersburg, West
Virginia, Synodical Sabbath School
Missionary Of the Presbyterian Church,
was here on Tuesday of last week and
was speaking Of the work in which he is
now engaged, especially the work in
the remote mountain regions OF u
State.
He is at this time projecting a work
that touches the very bottom of society,
as it were, and aims to help those, de-
prived of much that we enjoy, to make
the most OF what they now have, Just
where they are. In other words, II is a
movement to elevate the home life of
the mountain people, and in this way
elevate the people in every direction.
This work embraces q movement in
behalf of those people living ON the
Blackwater and Newman's Ridge in
hawkins County, apeople known to the
outside world as "Melungeons," q name
which they r~epudiate, and which DIR.
Humble uses only that he may be under
stood.
Perhaps one of the most conspicuous
and widely known characters o
those people, is Mrs. Mahala Mullens,
whose weight is said to be $40 pounds.
and who is known in revenue circles
throughout East Tennessee, as a dealer
in "moonshine liquor" She lives in a
lone cabin on a high, rugged and almost
inaccessible hill, and it is said spends
most OF her time in bed and has a keg
of lincolnshire" within easy reach from
which she supplies her customers.
Warrant after warrant has been issued
for her arrest, but when Uncle Sans
officials calls to arrest her, she Just
laughs and says: "Here I am; take me
If you can" They very wisely conclude
they can't, and so they don't and thus
the matter ends.
DIR. Humble spent some time over in
that region this summer, studying the
character and the need of this people
and as a result of his visit and inyestica-
tons, two young ladies of culture and
conservation are about to locate among
them. Their names are Miss Annie
Brian Miller, of Limestone, in this
County, and Miss Maggie Axtell, of
Topeka, Kansas.
Miss Miller has spent two years in the
Moody BibleInstitue, at Chicago, fitting
himself FOR this work, and Miss Axtell
is a graduate of the Washburn College,
Topeka, Kansas.
These ladies will aid in conducting
Sunday Schools, Bible training classes.
mothers meetings, children's meetings,
sewing classes and whatever they can
to help and cheer mothers in home du-
ties, in health and sickness, encourage
the young people to a noble life, and
lead the children in the way of truth
and obedience.
Around the home their energies will
circle; everything that will contribute
to make homes more comfortable and
beautiful will be their care.
The Bible will be their chief instru-
ment and to implant it in the hearts
and minds of all that it may be daily
enjoyed and regard.
One of the leading citizens of that
section has offered these ladies a cabin
and a piece Of ground. This building
must be remodeled and enlarged. Then
their house must be furnished, a bed
room, sitting room and kitchen must be
fitted up and it is hoped that persons
interested in real home missions will
take pleasure in supplying the furni-
ture, ETC., for n neat comfortable model
home-a necessity for those noble ladies
as well as an object lesson for the peo-
pie living over in that region.