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
We have kept a close watch upon this strange inter-State migration,
the causes of which will make a blushing page in the history of our
country. Its sad story should be a strong appeal to all who have a
heart to feel for the wrongs and sufferings of the helpless.
After many urgent solicitations, and repeated investigations, we
felt, despite all hindrances from lack of funds, that the time
had fully come for action, when we were informed that the General
Association of Kansas had appointed its Superintendent of Home
Missions, the President of its College and others, a Committee, to
confer with us in regard to this work.
The Corresponding Secretary and the Field Superintendent went up
from the National Council to consult with this Committee and
inaugurate such a movement as might seem best.
At Topeka, which has a large colored population, were found the
General Committee of Relief, and a committee of Refugees, whose
duty it is to take charge of arrivals, departures, etc., and watch
the subsequent course of these people. It was decided to purchase
lots in Tennessee Town, a suburb of this city, and erect a house
at a cost of $1,000, under the superintendence of our old, tried
worker, Rev. R. F. Markham, and we are glad to announce that,
despite the cold weather, it is nearly ready for occupancy.
This is to be the home of our night school for adults under charge
of Mr. and Mrs. White, of Oberlin. The pupils of this school
are excluded from the public schools because of their age, and
because they are necessarily occupied through the day. In it also
will be sheltered the vigorous mission Sunday-school which Pastor
Blakesley’s church has sustained, and which will be under charge
of Mr. A. J. De Hart, a young colored man from Washburn College,
recently ordained by a council at Cleveland, Ohio.
We have also located one of our Southern colored preachers--a young
man--in the Second Congregational Church of Lawrence, where there
is also a large colored population. Other points on this frontier
of colored population will be kept in view.
Of the $2,500 which this work will cost for the year the citizens
of Topeka have raised $700, and we have on hand a Kansas fund of
$450. This leaves still $1,350 to be raised as a special sum, as
this work is not provided for in the regular appropriations for the
year.
The Executive Committee, urged as it has been, both by our friends
and by the pressing need of this much abused and suffering people,
has ventured on this expenditure, confident that it is a duty which
must not be neglected, also that our friends will meet the exigency
by sending in promptly the amount needed.
“These children of the dispersion,” peeled and torn, stretch
out their hands to us again! Shall we not hear in their cry the
pleadings of the Saviour for these, the weakest of his suffering
children, and account this extra gift as but a small portion of the
double recompense due them for their redoubled wrongs?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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