Excerpt
The American Missionary. VOL. XLIX.March, 1895.No. 3.
In this number of THE MISSIONARY we present our readers with an interesting variety of information, embracing sketches of personal observation by secretaries of the Association, letters from field workers, pictures of pioneers in two important fields, and pictures of one of our higher institutions. It is with sorrow that we are compelled to notice the death of our late honored and beloved President, Dr. William M. Taylor, and that of Professor Painter, so successful and so faithful in his work among the Indians.
FIELD NOTES. BY SECRETARY RYDER.
MOUNTAIN WORK.—A very interesting spiritual awakening seems to prevail in many points of our mountain field. From a pastor of one of these churches among our American Highlanders we have received the following: "I have held meetings a couple of weeks, first at the church, and then at the academy. A large number have been reached. The open meetings disclosed the new life to all. We held daily meetings of prayer in the evening, and a large percentage of the students attended. All took part. The Y.P.S.C.E. has increased fourfold, and all the time is occupied in their meetings, and often two or three arise to speak at once. Six names were presented for active membership, and two for associate. The work is not confined to this single church and academy.
"I went recently to another village and half a dozen committed themselves for Christ. The Association needs an evangelist to visit these fields. Audiences fill the churches, most of them people who are out of Christ. All that prevents meeting this crying want of these mountain people in supplying to them more intelligent and consecrated ministers of the Gospel is the lack of money consecrated and given to [pg 90] this great service. This mountain field is now ripe to the harvest. Will not the churches multiply their gifts so that we can send into this harvest field more devoted men who are ready to go if they can do their work and simply be supported?"
The hard times and the difficulty of the mountain people to get clothing is illustrated in the following, which comes to us in a recent missionary letter from this mountain field:
"There would have been much more suffering had it not been for the clothing which has gone out from this school. When seven chickens bring only thirty-five cents the poor mountain people do not have much chance."
A pastor of the Association among our American Highlanders writes as follows: "This has been a most blessed and glorious season of refreshing. In the bounds of my work this fall and winter I have held and assisted in meetings which have in all resulted in something more than 100 hopeful conversions. My work now is especially to care for and look after the welfare of these precious souls lately brought to Christ and to give as much time as possible to my studies."
INDIAN WORK.—Our friends will remember the appeal made by Rev. James F. Cross, of Rosebud Agency, S.D., at our annual meeting at Elgin, Ill., for a chapel to be built at Cedar Butte, S.D....