New-York tribune., 1900-04-26
EDUCATIONAL WORK.
SOME INTER ESTING FACTS ABOUT THE
ALASKANS AND REINDEER
FARMING

There were only two meetings yesterday morning.
Both Carnegie Hall The first the
customary devotional services at $50 O'Clock. which
followed 10 o'clock by the consideration of
educational work The Place of Education in
Christian Missions" discussed by the Rev. DR..
". T. A. Barber, head master Of Legs School. Eng
land. former missionary in China. and by DIR.
William T. Harris Commissioner Of Education for
The United States The Necessity for Training in
Teaching" treated by the Rev. John W. Conk-
lin, professor Of sociology and missions in the
Bible Normal College, of Springfield, Mass. and
five minute talks followed from missionaries and
educational experts. Dr. Barber said in part:
The teaching of secular subjects is not to be
thrown in bribe opportunity for
adding a Bible lesson The Christian school must
stand so high as giver of knowledge that no sec
scorn at its equipment or its alumni We must
and that we seek to learn and teach the Very best
but ali at the foot of the Cross. To knowledge
add all else that is of good report The whole at
mosphere OF the school must be dstinctively and
Enthusiastically Christian and spiritual. The details
Of the time table VIII be of far less Importance
than the atmosphere of the teaching. To different
as TO The time ratio of Scripture lessons and secu
.ar sublects. The one general principle which must
ference. there is no antagonism between the secu-
lar and the sacred. The secular may always be
need never be brought down to the level of the
secular For my own part l would reverently
give more time to definite Scripture work than
one period day is the Utmost that anv a EnSish
school would ever give on this subject and as a
oraIifv are TO- he th hass Of ali edncation aG i
would assign that period TO Il in the curricua of
strange missionary teacher who could make his
pupils feel dozen times day that geography is
is God whose will makes the laws Of physics, chem
stry or astronomy; God who rules in the history of
nations, and that the laws of number, order and
thought are expressions Of His mind.
Or. Harris gave interesting facts about the
Alaskans and their reindeer saying. among other
things:
IN the district Of ALASKA. whose educational sys-
ten is under the charge of the Bureau of Educa-
tion, we find the mission stations the only effective
tbe NATIVES and iber ston 10 's With o 0i
The occupation Of hunting and fishing gives place
10 knowledge of agriculture. grazing and
cnanical arts, and when the emigrant from the
States goes that distant region in search of gold
ne hnds surrounding the mission stations natives
who can speak some English and who bring
for his use the resources of the land and
Especially is this the case with the missions that
are teaching the reindeer industry to the native
deer from the neighborfng coast of Siberia and
these had increased to 1000 in 1898. and with
that country is reindeer moss. and the half million
square miles of this vegetable growth will support
millions or three millions of people, population.
tants are likewise reindeer people.
When We get ten thousand deer in Northwestern
Alaska the annual increase will be so great that
we can supply all such centres with herds and the
new migration from Finland that is now coming to
America will furnish the needed teachers of herd
ing and grazing The great need in that arctic
region. namely. accommodation in the arctic
winter night, will be rendered possible by the rein
deer express and the hardships be abated
The hfty thousand natives that region will be so
essential 10 our white miners they are now 10
our salmon factories that the work of the mission
ary will be more successful than il has been with
the Indian tribes Of our States
Dr. Conkln gave some striking figures about the
worlds iteracy. saying in part:
Educational reform in a broad sense is a press
ing need of the world. TWo-thirds of its people
cannot read. Illiteracy is important evidence OF
comparative. if not Of absolute ignorance In
India less than per cent Of her nearly three hum
oreo mlllon can read. and among the women only
one in $50. In tho still larger population or China
about six million. In Africa. Moslem lands South
Africa and the islands conditions are often still
worse. IL is therefore well within the truth 10 saw
that OF the billion and half people in the world
many the victims of the puerile suner-
stitions. and endowed with pitful emptiness Of
mind DR.. Martin anaYZes the actual condition of
what is called the educated mind of China and
learned ignorance. DR.. Storrs describes the in
ha bitants Of India to-day almost without sci
ence, history any recent mechanical arts Our
problem Of educating nine million negroes is serI-
Gus. but seems insignificant by the side of this
cation of a billion: yet the latter is coming as
surely the former Looking II on the eco
nonic side: these people must become able to read
the advertisements of soap and shoes; they must
come TO appreciate newspapers and magazines. On
the religious side. they must learn to read the
Christians Bible If Christianity is TO come TO its
full fruitage among them.
Other speakers a. 2. Leonard of this CITY.
G. ". Chamberlain. OF Brazil: D. L. Wolf Of
India DIR. Sheffield, of China and the Rev F.
Riggs, Of Asia Minor