The American Missionary — Volume 33, No. 08, August, 1879Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 33, No. 08, August, 1879
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
The gathering of the graduates in their meeting in the afternoon
was the most striking feature of the occasion, as it was their
first formal meeting, and secured the attendance of a large portion
of them, and was marked by the warmest expressions of devotion
to the school, its aims, discipline and culture, and affection
and gratitude for its instructors. A singularly sober and earnest
feeling pervaded their utterances, and it could plainly be seen
that the conflicts of life in the difficult work nearly every one
has taken up, have led them to appreciate as never before the
value of work done for them here.
A finely framed portrait of Pres. E. A. Ware was presented by
them to the school, as an expression of their appreciation of his
sacrifices and devotion to its interests, as well as a testimonial
of personal affection.
The next day witnessed the busy scenes connected with the departure
of more than 150 young people, who, for the most part, go to teach
summer schools of three months’ duration throughout the country
regions of the State. There is something peculiarly interesting in
the separation and departure of a large company of young people
anywhere, but a special interest belongs to this occasion. These
go with such a simple faith to difficult work among strangers,
with so few facilities and so many obstacles of many kinds; and
yet they seem to win favor, even from those naturally opposed to
their work: they find places open for them, gather schools in
churches, log-cabins, or brush arbors, make furniture, black-boards
and charts, give lectures, lead Sunday-schools, Bible classes and
meetings, teach ministers and elders, and become “all things to
all men,” that they may save some from the degrading bondage to
ignorance, superstition and sin in which they find the mass of
those for whom they labor. It is rare that any are unable to find
schools through lack of money to travel and friends to aid them,
but the absence of any efficient system of schools makes the burden
heavy, and brings to a few sad disappointments. But the fact that
so many young people, with no experience and little money and few
friends, accomplish every year such a great work, seems to prove
that the hand of the Lord guides and protects them, and that His
purpose is to make them a leavening power at the base of society in
this State, to regenerate and bless and save the whole mass.
The religious work of the year has been prospering, twelve having
united with the school church, and more than as many more, who were
hopefully converted here, being expected to unite with churches
at their homes. All the members of the graduating classes are
professing Christians, as has been the case with all who have been
graduated thus far. The opportunities and possibilities for good
were never greater nor the outlook more hopeful; and we may well
set up at the end of the year another stone of witness and say,
“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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