The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 2, February, 1881 — John Shaqi
The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 2, February, 1881Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 2, February, 1881
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
In connection with the educational bill, which passed the Senate
last week, a word concerning the American Missionary Association.
Are we to have a national uprising of popular sentiment and
legislative action with reference to the education of all peoples
within our borders, but especially in the South? How signally, in
the providence of God, did this Association forecast the need, and
how wonderfully has it, these years past, been preparing the way.
If it had done no more, it has proved to all the world, past all
cavil, this--the cultivability of the negro, the practicability of
education for the poor blacks and also for the “poor whites” of the
South. Its Christian schools of all grades, planted here and there
in all the States, have led the way and established beginnings
of the utmost importance. These schools, by the sheer force of
their own excellence, and results so signal as to arrest universal
attention, have lived down the most desperate prejudices, and
commanded the most emphatic testimonials from all classes and from
those highest in authority. Never has a grand Christian enterprise
shown itself more certain of good results; never did a benevolent
undertaking more remarkably manifest its self-perpetuating,
self-propagating force. It has given a new complexion to the entire
“negro problem” in this country. It has successfully asserted the
right of the lowliest of all citizens to share in the benefits
and advantages of education. The Association, by the largeness of
its plans, the boldness of its project, the manifestation on the
spot of its work, by its public advocacy throughout the North, has
served to press constantly upon the public attention the exact
nature of the great emergency in the field of popular education.
When were ever before the wisdom of a measureless benevolence and
the audacity of a glorious faith more manifestly justified in their
results?
But will not the new Congressional scheme for promoting popular
education in the States of the South, render somewhat less urgent
the work and the claim of the American Missionary Association? By
no means! Just the reverse is true. Money alone will not educate
anybody. If the first need be that of more money, at least the
second necessity will be that of _suitable teachers_. Precisely
here, to meet this necessity, is seen the almost prophetic,
certainly the providential, anticipatory work of the Association,
getting things ready for the great stroke of truly national
statesmanship now proposed.
To say that the American Missionary Association _should_ have, at
once, placed at its disposal five times its present resources to
meet the new exigency, would be to make a statement altogether
temperate, considerate and reasonable. The opportunity is one that
is transcendently inviting.--_Rev. S. Gilbert in The Advance._
* * * * *
THE APPEAL OF THE EXODUS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account