The American Missionary. Volume 43, No. 07, July, 1889. Various
have nothing but satisfaction to express with this action. It would be absurd to imagine that Congregationalists could forget their spotless record, and could now, for the pride of the addition of fifty or a hundred churches, consent to help a movement that should put colored brothers in a separate fellowship by themselves. This they will never do. They will hold out a warm hand of welcome to all comers, and warmest to those who come to them from the South, white and black: but they want them to come together, not apart.
This, we are confident, was the proper attitude for the Society to assume. No one wanted to grieve or irritate the Southern brethren, by clauses in the resolutions, which might seem uncalled for, or at all distrustful of their explicit utterances. At the same time it should be distinctly understood that the unanimous action taken means that the Congregational churches stand exactly where the Presbyterians do, in not abating one hair of their principles, and in forever demanding that color shall prove no barrier to Christian fellowship in its truest, deepest intent. This journal has taken this position repeatedly, and it re-asserts it. Sooner or later, but as surely as the sun-rise, it will prevail, because it is right, and our grandchildren, if not our children, will wonder that any of our generation ever hesitated about it.
Then, the question as to the color-line in the churches, as known to exist in the South, could not be ignored. Our Congregational churches and their two great Home Missionary Societies, the American Home Missionary Society and the American Missionary Association, hold to certain principles respecting the universal brotherhood of believers in Christ, and for which they stand before the world as witnesses, historically, conspicuously, always and everywhere. Do these newly constituted Congregational churches in the South stand with us on this point? To ask this question implies not the slightest suspicion or distrust. Not to have asked it would have been to betray a great responsibility.
For one thing, the Home Missionary Society could not afford to even seem to be indifferent to a matter of this kind. And if there is to be this close fellowship and co-operation and mutual assistance, there should obviously be, from the beginning, the most perfect frankness. The best way to insure permanence of happy mutual relations is to begin right.
ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
The State officials of Georgia are disposed, perhaps it might be said they desire, to renew the gift of eight thousand dollars to the Atlanta University, insisting, however, upon compliance with the color-line requisition. To this, the University cannot yield. The controversy on that subject was not of its seeking. The children of the professors had for years attended the classes, and the State Examiners had known this all the time and had made no objections. The demand for the exclusion of these pupils from the classes was suddenly made by an outside pressure, and was not provoked in any way by word or deed of the teachers. To surrender now is simply to yield a principle for money.
Some of the officials of the State express the wish that a compromise may be effected, but others of their number—the large majority, we believe—regard this as impossible, and hence both parties—the State and the University—must pursue their independent lines of action. Under these circumstances, the Trustees of the University have deemed it wise to resume relations of co-operation with the American Missionary Association. This question was fully discussed at the recent meeting of the Board of Trustees, May 29th, two of the members, Drs. Beard and Strieby, being present and presenting, in behalf of the Executive Committee of the Association, some overtures for co-operation. One of these was accepted, and is now the basis of the relations existing between the Association and the University. It stipulates that the Trustees of the University shall elect six of the sixteen members of the Board, on the nomination of the Executive Committee of the Association, as vacancies may exist, and that the Association shall (after the present fiscal year) contribute $3,000 per annum towards defraying the current expenses of the University.
Four vacancies were found to exist in the Board, and, in accordance with the vote, they were filled by the unanimous choice of Rev. Drs. Twichell of Hartford, Llewellyn Pratt of Norwich, Cooper of New Britain, and Brand of Oberlin. These honored brethren, friends alike of the Association and of the University, will, if they accept, add to the efficiency of the school and to the confidence of the public in it. We believe there is a bright future before the University. It will pursue its work quietly, having no controversy with the State, and will continue its noble efforts for the education of the colored race, thus benefiting both the State of Georgia and the Nation.
INDUSTRY AND SKILL OF THE NEGRO
In replacing the burned portion of our building at Le Moyne Institute, Memphis, Tenn., the work was done by colored men. The Principal of the Institute says that, "though the job was far from simple, not a single error or mistake has occurred from beginning to end to mar our satisfaction at its successful completion."
The architect who drew the plan expressed considerable anxiety lest a colored mechanic with all colored assistants should not prove equal to so large and important an undertaking. The result shows how unfounded were his forebodings.
The job is done, and well done, and with so much expedition that in sixty days after the fire they were moving into the reconstructed and improved building. Every one who has had any hand in the work has seemed personally interested and anxious to expedite the work, from the architect and lumber dealer to the commonest laborer.
Superintendent Hall writes:
Testimony as to the working power and will of the Negro is to be had on all sides whenever a person speaks honestly.
A professional gentleman in Andersonville operates five large plantations without any white overseer except himself, and is making money from the land. He states his principle to be: "I make a short, clear contract with the Negroes and do exactly what I promise, and I require the same execution of their side of the bargain. And I pay them just what I agree to pay them. They work six days every week. I give them a chance to attend a funeral or church service if they keep up the work."
A prominent contractor, builder and brick-maker in Thomasville, Ga., employs from one hundred to three hundred Negroes constantly in all branches of his business. He says: "They are a patient, reliable class of workers. If a man will be fair with them and do as he agrees, he will never have trouble. They are not cranky as some white workmen. They do the finest part of mason's and carpenter's work well."
These two men are native Southerners, whose parents were large slave owners.
Fault is found with the Negro on the coast line, wherever the turpentine business exists, because he will not work on the plantations. The turpentine work with its "boxing," "scraping," "gathering" and "distilling," is all piece-work, paid in cash. The Negroes are among the trees before daylight and work till dark. By so doing they earn 75c., $1.00 or $1.25 per day. The plantations pay "rations"—a peck of common meal and four pounds of bacon per week, and 35c. to 50c. per day, the latter mostly in promises.
A lady in New Orleans who keeps a popular boarding house for tourists said, when Straight University was mentioned, "Just as soon as a colored girl goes to school she is good for nothing afterward. She won't work. I've lost several bright, likely girls that way." Inquiry shows that the lady pays five dollars per month and requires the help to sleep at home. A constant demand is made on our Normal Department for teachers for from twenty to forty dollars per month. Strange that educated colored young men and women will not "work!"
PARAGRAPHS
Dr. Roy, in his lantern lectures, sometimes meets with pleasant incidents. Recently, at East Saginaw, before the General Association of Michigan, coming to Fisk University on his programme, he had brought on his canvas pictures of the Jubilee Singers, Jubilee and Livingstone Halls and of Jowett, one of the students, and when he came to present Mr. Ousley and his wife, a venerable man jumped up and remarked, "We received Mr. Ousley and his wife at the Zulu Mission on their way to East Central Africa. So also Miss Jones. Within two weeks I have received from Mr. Ousley his photograph." This man was Rev. Dr. Rood, for forty years a missionary among the Zulus, just now back to this country. After the lecture, Mr. Rood told Dr. Roy that Mr. Ousley was one of the most level-headed men in the mission, and so had been made the treasurer of the mission—a good tribute to one of