The American Missionary — Volume 33, No. 07, July, 1879Various
History
The American Missionary — Volume 33, No. 07, July, 1879
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
During my three years’ stay in Tougaloo, there have been many
changes that deserve to be more widely known. One that is fresh
in mind is our Sunday-school convention, held on June 1st. It
was first assembled by our principal, one year ago, at that time
an entirely new and unheard-of affair among our pupils. What a
change was wrought in their estimate of Sunday-school work by
last year’s teachings and convention. The heavy rains of Saturday
last compelled our use of the chapel instead of the grove, and
reduced the number in attendance, yet one of our students made a
journey of fifty miles to be present, and we received word from
others through the county who desired to come. A Sunday-school
Union of our young men having been formed this term, its president
opened the convention, and our principal was appointed chairman of
the session. The forenoon was given to remarks and a temperance
concert by our Sabbath-school. One fruit of the concert ripened
immediately. One of the recitations was an extract from Colfax,
upon the death following drunkenness, and the young man who gave it
came to the office _next morning_ to sign the pledge. Being asked
if it had not been his business to sell liquor, he answered, “Yes,
but I shall bust it up! I felt as if _I_ was bound for death.”
The two months he has spent here have prepared him to make this
decision. The afternoon session from two to five consisted of
addresses by the Faculty and students, followed each by discussion.
The good of the convention was not merely in the considerable
number present giving the people of this county the benefits of one
day’s contact with a modern Sunday-school; but the efforts of our
students will be far more intelligently directed as they disperse
through this State to their summer teaching. Their desire to push
forward their mission work will only be _increased_ by the rude log
churches, benches that tip uneasily, shuttered holes in the walls,
and dearth of Sunday-school papers, books and Bibles. The needs
of their people are becoming more and more plain to them as they
observe the methods and efforts used for themselves at this school,
and the example set causes them to use some efforts for the benefit
of others. They draw their pupils with them on their return here.
The pestilence of last summer kept from us an overflow of students
whom our next term will see filling our rooms. Perhaps the cracked
and leaning walls of our buildings will be severely tried, but all
who wish to study will be welcomed with confidence on our part,
that all needs will in time be met with a supply.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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