4 One kati, 68 BS Ber aN LAG CE A rails SUL o abalone sss Lyles ke cyveecncahap) lesen Y merafiecaiill ea Lea dees BV 2765 M67, 24 Morris, Samue] Leslie, 1854 1937. The romance of home Missiong The Romance of Home Missions aN OF PRI i ~% , 3 - i ! a , = . . fe / | “<_< j . ad ‘ t , 7) ; 4 ° a tf > ‘ ¢ ’ if a7 o* phon ore fo + - é = * “ts ct -s s Pi —s ; a Le j rr ry A A t¢ { st ial wd Ay Dic Lt tas | Silas alae FOREWORD “FTRO every man his work’—in the co-operative scheme of life. To every church its mission—in promoting the Kingdom of God. To every book its purpose in the service of Christ and humanity. The previous books of the author had each its own in- dividuality of thought and aim; but all, a common purpose of propagating Home Mission principles. Their generous reception by the Church encourages the present effort. dealing chiefly with personalities—concrete illustrations of principles. The others attempted the solution of prob- lems. This will be devoted more exclusively to practices justified by undisputed results. The dominant feature of this study will consist of an exhibit of the daring adventure and persistent effort of the Home Mission heroes of faith, who, undisturbed by adverse circumstances and unmoved by the bitter opposi- tion of blatant foes or the strictures of well meaning but misguided critics, toil on with tireless patience, sustained by an abiding faith in the ultimate triumph of their cause. It will undertake to interpret the dauntless spirit of this noble class of men enlisted in an unpopular but blessed service. The entire array of facts will constitute an un- disguised, and we trust, an effectual appeal to the Church to do substantial justice to her uncrowned heroes. The story of “The Romance of Home Missions” is hereby dedicated to a holy cause, at whose shrine the au- thor has paid tribute during his entire ministry, and to which he has devoted his official life at the call of the Church. May the Spirit of God crown the effort with success, and the Church at length pronounce the richest benedictions on the devoted heads of her worthiest ser- vants, whose “gentleness has made her great.” Atlanta, Georgia. SAMUEL LeEstIz Morris. G CONTENTS Page PoLvewordsn.. 3) he CE cea ate RC URGE Naas Re Rs 3 encelaemance 01 renerglities 67% uw a A ae ask. 7 SUSU OMmance Oli xpansiGMs lass kL ae aie eas 23 Be MNOMALICeSOT THEBES uk vals Was cave tuye 5] Gu OMiaAnCe ObeN AOTC yess ra weite canes 85 The Romance of Race Relationships........ 123 igeOmanceso. buildings nays utes alt apt <. bo7 ics homance, of hersonality:\ as vise e. +e. 3: 183 The Romance of a World Kingdom Task.... 221 BEL eStiONTiall Cath) he key) sori, hoes Abe die Ca 251 ee MATE OAL At el ae le co a POT awl ial, 255 “WHAT MAKES A NATION GREAT” Not serried ranks with flags unfurled, Not armored ships that gird the world, Not hoarded wealth or busy mills, Not cattle on a thousand hills, Not sages wise, or schools or laws, Not boasted deeds in freedom’s cause— All these may be and yet the state In the eve of God be far from great. That land is great which knows the Lord, Whose sons are guided by His Word. Where justice rules twixt man and man, Where love controls in act and plan, Where breathing in his native air Each soul finds joy in praise and prayer— Thus may our country, good and great, Be God’s delight—man’s best estate. —AQLEXANDER BLACKBURN. Chapter One The eRe ROMANCE of GENERALITIES By way of introduction, the story of Home Missions necessitates a brief consideration of fundamental princi- ples, preliminary definitions, a general survey of the field, the scope of operations, the variety of service, the types of missionary qualifications, together with the aims and purposes of the work. No one word in the English lan- guage has sufficient comprehensiveness to include all ot these specifications in the scope of its significance. For the lack, therefore, of a better term, the word “Generali- ties”—not necessarily “glittering’’—1is pressed into service and made to do duty in this first chapter to classify mis- cellaneous items. “Truth is Stranger than Fiction” Many glibly and thoughtlessly quote this proverb, trom influence of example or from force of habit, with but little appreciation of its full significance. An effort is hereby undertaken to emphasize its force and illustrate its meaning. Nearly fifty years ago Edward Bellamy wrote a re- markable book entitled, “Looking Backward,” which was the sensation of the day, but necessarily short-lived by reason of the rapid succession of scientific achievements. It was published at a time when the “telephone” ob- scured “the seven wonders of the world.” It was based 7 8 The Romance of Home Missions upon the supposition that, by some medical achievement, an individual was placed under the narcotic influence of a powerful drug, by means of which animation was sus- pended but life preserved for one hundred years, Upon awaking—like Rip Van Winkle or an animal from hiber- nation—‘“Looking Backward,” he finds himself in a new world of thought and life. The most marvelous concep- tion of the fertile brain of Bellamy pictured nothing greater, a hundred years later, than the triumph of the telephone. Invalids, shut in, listened by its device to a sermon in a nearby church. Audiences by similar means had the benefit of lectures delivered in some central audi- torium. It would be impossible to read that book unsmil- ing today, except as a matter of curiosity. Not only would the thrills be lacking, but its marvelous feats would be ridiculously tame. | The phonograph followed quickly, placing the human voice on permanent record—rendering the marvelous voice of a Caruso forever immortal. Audiences can still hear him singing his rapturous solos and will for thou- sands of years. If such a feat had been hinted a hali century ago, it would have been deemed the wild ravings of a disordered brain. The marvels of the radio in real life have put fiction to blush. The ,writer has preached to invisible audiences and had echoes in the public press from far distant cities and has heard messages himselt from beyond the seas, spoken in London and Germany. As an illustration, on one occasion he listened in Georgia over a private radio to a lecture being delivered in Kansas City, and by soft pedaling a musical number being played at the same time in Louisville, Ky., the latter served as a delicate accompaniment to the lecture. In a few years The Romance of Home Missions 9 this achievement will seem to others as tame as Bellamy’s “Looking Backward.” TI MECE “Arabian Nights’ with its “Aladdin’s Lamp,” ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea,’ and “Around the World in Eighty Days,’ by Jules Verne—the wildest fancies of the human imagination—are now useful only to amuse children or to measure the greater marvels of real life. Readers of this prediction will live to see jour- neys around the world in ten days by aeroplane. ‘Im- possible!’ By no means. One hundred miles an hour in the air is no unusual experience. This would be at the rate of 2,400 miles a day. With completed arrangements and relays at stragetic points, that speed would carry the traveler around the world in ten days. If it should be contended that a uniform speed of one hundred miles an hour cannot be maintained, then con- sider it but an “average” in view of this official announce- ment which appeared recently in the Associated Press Dispatches : “Mitchell Field, New York, September 18th.—Lieuten- ant Al Williams, navy pilot, today established two new electrically timed air speed records over the measured one kilometer course at Curtiss field. He averaged two hun- dred and one-half miles an hour in four trips over the course, and on one flight, aided by a brisk wind from be- hind, he reached the speed of two hundred and sixty-six miles an hour. Both records were accepted by the navy department as authentic.” In an incredibly short period it will be possible to “see’ by some future device—“teleopticon,” if the author may have the privilege of coining a wor as we now 10 The Romance of Home Missions can hear by radio. “Impossible!” That was exactly the same comment in regard to some of the author’s college speeches—still on record—when forty years ago he an- nounced that he expected to travel by electricity and navi- gate the air in ships. “Impossibility,” as to scientific achievements, will soon be an “obsolete” word in mod- ern lexicons. | In a still different sense, truth is stranger than fiction. The charm of fiction lies in the construction of the plot, the air of mystery, the unfolding of schemes and counter- schemes—the excitement of the reader’s interest swayed by alternate hopes and fears—till the sudden denoue- ment ending in the triumph of right, the vindication of the hero and his escape from the seemingly inextricable mesh of evil machinations woven to entangle and ruin him. Nothing in fiction, however, can compare with the tragedies in real life, the singular coincidences, the thrill- ing surprises, the uncertainty of the issues, and the ro- mance of a heroism, which is not faked, and not sustained by extraordinary circumstances, but enacted in the com- mon experiences of the weary monotony of an undra- matic life. George Eliot in one of her books eulogizes this type of heroism, stating that in some appalling calam- ity, or extraordinary test, the individual is sustained by the thrill of the shock which paralyzes for the moment all sensation; but on the contrary she contends that the noblest heroism is that which endures patiently in dull daily suffering, smiling to hide the agony and restrain the unbidden tears—this being the true melodramatic in real life. History, observation, and experience alike, therefore, confirm the proverb—‘Truth is stranger than » fiction.” The Romance of Home Missions 11 Romance vs. Fiction It is equally true that romance is stranger than fiction though the two are often and erroneously used as synony- mous terms. Romance is the heroic element, or glamour, of real life. Fiction is the highly colored painting which counterfeits the real. | “Tis distance lends enchantment to the view And robes the mountain in its azure hue.” That sentiment corresponds to “Fiction.” Nearness dissipates the fictitious “hue.” The coloring is unreal, an “enchantment” whose spell is broken as soon as the “dis- tance” is lacking. Nevertheless, there is a real coloring in nature, fascinating with its bewitching beauty. The blending of green foliage with the somber grey stone and the luxurious wealth of color, contributed by myriad tinted wild flowers, constitute the beauties of nature—the aim and the despair of the landscape painter. This cor- responds to “Romance.” It cannot be dissipated. It is the very essence and soul of nature. Romance in Missions The foregoing preliminary observations are intended to illumine and forecast the purpose of this study of Home Missions—an “old, old story,’ herein presented from a new viewpoint. The story of the Home Missionary 1s not highly colored fiction but a thrilling romance of real adventure. His self-denials and hardships are that of the pioneer, blazing the path, not simply through the ‘primeval forests, sharing the fortunes and misfortunes of his parishioners, but laying foundations for a spiritual em- 12 The Romance of Home Missions pire in which he is forced to make “brick without straw,’ compelled to toil without tools and to “endure hardness as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ.” Often the hardest of his trials is being compelled to witness the depriva- tions of his family, as his companions in tribulations. His is not the mock heroism of the moving-picture actor. for no audience witnesses his dramatic experiences. No halo encircles his brow, for he has little opportunity to tell his story to sympathetic audiences and but little recog- nition from the Church he serves. His is the highest type of heroism, enduring the monotony of the unostentations common-place duties which tax faith, courage, patience and spiritual strength, more ae the excitement of dar- ing adventure. This well-established truth is saulctti iby presented in the familiar couplet of the poem: “One dared to die; in a swift moment’s space Fell in war’s forefront, laughter on his face, Bronze tells his fame in many a market place. “Another dared to live; the long years through Felt his heart’s blood ooze like crimson dew, For duty’s sake and smiled. And no one knew. ” As a specimen of the forthcoming contents’ of this ° treatise, and to advertise its avowed purpose, the follow- ing account is taken from the Home Mission Herald: “About forty years ago there was one county in South Carolina which had not a Presbyterian church within its bounds. Edgefield county had often been unsuccessfully investigated, and was always regarded as a reproach to the Presbyterian Church in that strong Presbyterian state. At last a little church of four members was organized in this county, which boasted 4,000 communicants in one The Romance of Home Missions 13 other denomination. These four Presbyterians did not even live in the same place. “The Presbytery, as an experiment which gave but little promise of success, sent a young man as evangelist to this county. He opened four mission stations, preach- ing in buildings borrowed from other denominations, or in open-air pavilions. It required him to ride in his buggy on Sabbaths alone 1,000 miles a year, as he preached twice each Sabbath at different places. Being isolated from his brethren, it was necessary for him to preach sometimes in protracted meetings for a month at a time without help. He had no constituency, but much opposition from the prepudices and jealousies of people who came in contact for the first time with Presbyterianism. “No one except the Searcher of all hearts knew the discouragements, difficulties, and heartaches of that young man. Temptations to leave and accept easier and more remunerative offers frequently tested his fidelity and per- severance. Yet for seven years and a half he stood to his lonely and discouraging post; and when compelled at last to seek a less arduous field, he left behind him four beautiful houses of worship, a membership composed of the most select people in the county; and the Edgefield Church has been self-sustaining for nearly thirty years. Is there no romance in work of this character ?” Tributes Dr. Egbert W. Smith, now Executive Secretary of For- eign Missions, at the time pastor of the Second Presby- terian Church in Louisville, Ky., thrilled his Synod in ‘Session at Henderson, Ky., by an eloquent eulogy of the Home Missionary, in which he stated that the greatest 14 tes The Romance of Home Missions sacrifices and unmatched heroisms of the present day are in the arduous home mission fields hidden from the ob- servations, and lacking the applause, of men. Dr. J. O. Reavis, Secretary of Foreign Missions and the Home Mission Secretary, seated side by side, clasped hands and silently bowed assent to this eulogy and to its truth. A similar eulogy of Dr. Henry Collin Minton, ex- Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., exactly fits the purpose and spirit of our present study, testifying of the faithful servants of. Christ in these touching words: “They need no mead of praise, no word of cheer—and too often they get none. The foreign missionary gets his ‘year off’ now and then, but our solitary home mis- sionary, plodding on year after year, never. I have seen something of the life and work of our home mission- aries in the West, and I believe that for hard work and poor pay, and small stint of appreciation, and all else which the world and the flesh eschew and fain would avoid; the home missionary in our western states and territories is the peer of any of those who are carrying the gospel to the far away heathen. There is a romance of the work in either case. They are all empire-builders, alike. They bring to their work richer tribute than even Cecil Rhodes could command. They build themselves. into their work. It is the romance of faith and heroism, and trial and self-sacrifice, but it is also the romance of promise and patriotism and service and of the crown at last.” “'Twicetold Tales” In writing the story of the “Romance of Home Mis- sions,’ it is impossible to avoid some phases of the work The Romance of Home Missions 15 previously presented, and some things which have the ap- pearance of repetition; but it requires, as the Hebrew Prophet discovered, “Line upon line, precept upon pre- cept, here a little and there a little’—and withal, the “dull of hearing’ do not always even then assimilate the facts. One illustration may suffice to enforce this contention. In his earlier books on Home Missions, about ten years ago, the author placed on record the significant fact that Home and Foreign Missions are separated by the narrow margin of a river only—the Rio Grande—for nearly a thousand miles. Mexicans with the same needs are min- istered to by the Home and Foreign Missionary accord- ing to locality—just a matter of geography. In his pub- lic addresses he emphasized this fact till he was ashamed and afraid of the charge of repetition. Imagine the sur- prise therefore of hearing one of our ablest and most in- telligent ministers in a great address, not long since, allude to this “twicetold tale’ as if it were but a recent discovery! Surely, therefore, it is unnecessary to apolog- ize for presenting occasional familiar pictures in new set- tings. The Master, himself, advised his disciples of this necessity saying, “Every Scribe which is instructed unto the Kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth out of his treasure things new and old.” Definitions and Distinctions The missionary spirit and aim are essentially one whether manifested in ministering to human need, “at our own door’; or whether reaching in its labor of love “unto the uttermost part of the earth.’ The difference is chiefly one of geography and of administration. There 16 The Romance of Home Missions is no essential difference in the work. The need of a lost soul is the same anywhere on the globe; but there may be a great difference in privileges and opportunities by reason of differing environments. In the Presbyterian Church the subject of missions 1s ordinarily divided into three parts. One wing of the army of conquest invading the uttermost parts of the earth is known as Foreign Missions. The opposite wing — of the army of occupation—designated Local Home Mis- sions, whether Congregational, Presbyterial or Synodical —is organized for the purpose of taking full possession of and consolidating spiritual conquests in the name of Christ. Between the two wings, and operating in the center, is Assembly’s Home Missions, their connecting link, designed to co-operate with both, and partaking partly of the character of each. This central army corps has a distinctive mission of such magnitude and. funda- mental importance, that it requires the co-operation and combined strength of the whole Church to make it an effective force in promoting and supporting the specific work of the other two. Phases of Service As there are seven primitive colors in nature—ex-. hibited in the prism and in the rainbow, and seven notes in music—the eighth returning to the first comprising the octave ; so likewise Home Missions displays itself in eight distinctive phases—an octave of. activities. It is further subdivided into two sections of four classes each: 1. The needy and destitute people: Pioneers, Foreigners, Moun- taineers, and Negroes. 2. The spiritual agencies adapted to meet these needs: Evangelism, Sustentation, Church The Romance of Home Missions 17 Erection, and Mission Schools. The object of this treatise is not so much to expound the underlying principles of these eight departments as to illustrate the practical adap- tion of Christianity to the needy, through the agency of Assembly’s Home Missions, and to exhibit the romantic element in this unappreciated sphere of Service as well as to pay tribute to the noble army of martyrs—in the truest sense of the term, as witnessing for Christ by ar- dent testimony and consecrated lives—supplementing the llth chapter of Hebrews in cataloguing the heroes of faith. The Executive Committee of Home Missions is the authorized agency of the General Assembly and repre- sents the larger united work of every Synod, every Presbytery, and every congregation. Its special mission is to the dependent classes and newer sections of our country, a work which cannot be fully accomplished by any Presbytery or Synod, acting alone and separately, but which requires the co-operation of all the constituent parts of the General Assembly. The Executive Committee 1s the channel through which the strength of the whole Church comes to the aid of those Presbyteries or sec- tions which are unable to meet their own needs. The Assembly’s Home Missions is distinctive, therefore, in that it is the: whole Church at work, bringing all the Presbyteries into a spirit of unity and harmony through the fellowship of a common service. Survey of the Field Starting at the extreme Northeastern Mission to the Jews in Baltimore, Md., a comprehensive survey would require travel in a zigzag journey through seventeen 18 The Romance of Home Missions states, ending in the extreme Southwestern Mission at Brownsville, Texas. The distance along a straight line be- tween these two points would be nearly 2,000 miles. If, - however, we zigzagged so as not to miss any one of our missions, the aggregate miles traveled would doubtless encircle the globe. The combined churches, schools and missions would show Assembly’s Home Missions occupy- ing a thousand stations. The aggregate number of mis- sionaries, their wives and dependent children would ex- ceed two thousand souls. If your automobile carried their salaries for one year it would contain a half million gold dollars. If it contained the amount asked of As- sembly’s Home Missions and actually needed to give each missionary comfortable support and equipment to maintain the work on its present basis and to conserve results without loss, it would be necessary to double the amount transported. If the car stopped at places where new stations should be occupied, it would double the mis- sions requiring double the workers and double the funds to operate the work. If we took a census of the nationali- ties served, we would have a classification of Jews, Czecho-Slovaks, Hungarians, Waldenses, Syrians, Cu- bans, Italians, French, Chinese, Indians, Mexicans, Ne- — groes, and native Americans. If representatives from each were gathered into one congregation, the confusion of speech would resemble the building of the tower of Babel—requiring some modern Apostle to be gifted with tongues as at Pentecost. If the automobile traveled on an average of a hundred miles a day, allowing time for reviewing the stations, it would require perhaps a see to complete the survey. The Romance of Home Missions 19 Books on Geology and scientific research are out of date as soon as off the press. Missionary statistics compiled to exhibit the progress of the Kingdom, and data dealing with economics, social problems, material resources and spiritual assets must be restated periodically in the interests of truth and accuracy. oy) a fa sat om. 42) Ss ‘On © ~ 1 ~ - © ‘On i, . = D D oD) = = “ ta = ae | UNCHURCHED POPULATION, NON=PROT EST, 1SSLONS The Romance of Home M 0 000'000‘0Z: AJ2veU OABIT [JL JI 12}0} ay} Woy UONE[Ndod oO159N payoanyoun ay} Surjoeaysqns ‘yINOSs 9y} Ul UOHeNdod 9}1yA\ poyoinyoun jo ‘Joquinu 31tjue Ia} JO %os Aiwa skempe—yoinyy oy} jo ssaquiout o1e 000°000'r woyM Jo ‘sa01s9N 391k 0000006 INOS oy} fo von gndod 1 JO ‘udip[rya pozydeq sy} Sulpnyout 000‘ 00¢'Z SOTpOu}e) UPLUOY Ysy} pue *syuesIunu -W0D) NNO'NS %ALY SUOUIOPL oY} So}VIS OT aSoYy} Ul }eY} poye}s oq PyHoys jf uostieduios Jo sasodind 104 ‘000‘0Pr “OU SI'S “GQ. 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IBS "°° BpLOpy GOV'96E — 'ZST'ET = 9BZ‘ZOT'T [c0zSsS GOO'SEO'EZT _ OOO'O9T'T FOciZscT (Sesi2s ‘errr ss *SBSUByIY IZLzeS $|10L'7 —|OEB'ZET'T |S9P'000'T 000'Sz9'z0z $ 0001099 = PLT'BhE' —OLZ'TS ee suoly “Sify ‘URIs 1 / sae | gape | 5-0 "ae |Peqosnqoun sien a pea | Sic = worendoa ay | ALVLS The Romance of Home Missions 21 Statement of Purpose This preliminary chapter, as announced, is a statement of the purpose of this study, a survey of the field, the adventure of the Home Missionaries and the character of the service rendered. The remaining chapters will narrate the stories of the men and their work, not in full, but as specimens in several spheres of service—compris- ing The Romance of Home Missions. “Are there not, Festus, are there not, dear Michael, Two points in the adventure of the diver, One—when, a beggar, he prepares to plunge, One—when, a prince, he rises with his pearl? ‘Festus, I plunge.” THE PIONEER What was his name? I do not know his name, I only know he heard God’s voice, and came: Brought all he loved across the sea, To live and work for God and me. Felled the ungracious oak; With rugged toil Dragged from the soil The thrice-guarded roots and stubborn rock; With plenty filled the haggard mountain side; And, when his work was done, without memorial died. No blaring trumpet sounded out his fame; He lived, he died—I do not know his name. No form of bronze and no memorial stones Show me the place where lie his moldering bones; Only a cheerful city stands, Built by his hardened hands; Only ten thousand homes, Where every day The cheerful play Of love and hope and courage comes. These are his monuments, and these alone— There is no form of bronze, and no memorial stone. —Epwarp Everett Hace. Chapter Two The ROMANCE of EXPANSION “America, America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From Sea to shining Sea.” The song of the poet now rings from the Atlantic to Pacific and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, in an area of 3,026,788 square miles, populated by 111,- — 371,056 people—at present only 37 to the square mile— but destined to have over a half billion before the close of the twentieth century. By the discovery of Columbus, America took its place among the continents of earth more than 400 years ago, but its expansion and develop- ment date from the Declaration of Independence—the be- ginning of its national life—covering a period of a cen- tury and a half. The Expansion of the Country In “Leavening the Nation,” Dr. Joseph B. Clark graphic- ally describes the expansion of America as narrated in the history of Sectional Nomenclature: “The West has had a new definition in every decade. ‘To the Westward,’ named in the preamble of the Con- necticut Society, was the State of New York, ‘North- westward’ was Vermont. Of a much earlier period, it is related on good authority that a surveyor was commis- sioned in Massachusetts to lay out a high road from jah 24 The Romance of Home Missions Cambridge towards Albany, as far as the public good re- quired. His road came to an end twelve miles from Boston, in the town of Weston, and the report made to the — government was, that the work had been pushed into the wilderness as far as the public need would ever require. A good many pieces have been added to that road, and before each such addition ‘the West’ has steadily re- treated. At different times it was on the banks of the Charles, the Connecticut and the Hudson; on the shores of the Great Lakes, in the Mississippi Valley, on the tops of the Rockies, and it stopped at the Pacific only because it could go no farther.” The original thirteen states occupied only a thin strip of land along the Atlantic Coast with unopened territory stretching towards the Mississippi south of the Ohio. From the earliest history of the country aggressive men have always been compelled to wage a fierce conflict with others strenuously opposing “the annexation of more territory.” No event in our national history has exerted a greater influence on the destiny of the country than the famous “Ordinance of 1787.’ Embracing the states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois, a sec- tion of 250,000 square miles, wedge-shaped, and from that fact known as “the keystone of the American com- monwealth,” was added to the territory of the United States; and from that moment its real “expansion” begat. The nineteenth century opened with the Mississippt River as our western boundary. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the Annexation of Texas in 1845, and the Mexi- can Treaty of 1848, carried our possessions to the Pacific » and multiplied our territory two and a half times. The Romance of Home Missions 25 It is generally supposed that the Mississippi River di- vides the East and West into somewhat equal areas. But as a matter of fact the area beyond the Mississippi is two and a half times the size of that on the East. To divide our country into equal parts, it would be neces- sary to begin at the mouth of the Rio Grande on the Mexican border and run directly north, throwing the larger part of Texas on the East and all immediately north of it as far as Canada. If California were placed on the map of Japan, it would cover the entire Empire, and there would be enough of California left to hide Korea. If China proper were placed in the West, there would be sufficient territory left beyond the Mississippi river to contain all the South- ern States east of the Mississippi River. Georgia is the largest State east, and yet it could be laid out in Oklahoma, _and there would be a strip of territory left amounting to more than 10,000 square miles. The size of the West is a twice-told tale; we are con- stantly hearing of the bigness of Texas and the greatness of the West; and yet those who read these familiar com- parisons do not appreciate the vast extent of territory. The human mind thinks of millions and billions, but has no conception of the meaning of such numbers. To ap- preciate Texas, one has to travel twenty-four hours in the State, on a fast train, without crossing its vast stretch of territory. “Since prehistoric times, populations have moved stead- ily westward, as De Tocqueville said, ‘as if driven by the mighty hand of God.’ And following their migrations, the course of empire, which Bishop Berkeley sang, has 26 The Romance of Home Missions westward taken its way. ‘The world’s sceptre passed from Persia to Greece, from Greece to Italy, from Italy © to Great Britain,’ to our Mighty West, there to remain, | for there is no further West; beyond is the Orient. Like the star in the East, which guided the three Kings with their treasures westward, until it stood still over the cradle of the infant Christ, so the star of empire, rising in the East, has ever beckoned the wealth and power of the nations westward, until today it stands still over the cradle of the young Empire of the West, to which the nations are bringing their offerings.”—Josiah Strong. The March of the Church The colonization of America, though slow at first, staged the climactic act in the drama of human history. The Old World was still dreaming, when rudely awakened to the startling fact that the sceptre of empire, civil and religious. had crossed the seas in its westward sway. Behind the haze of the New World, events were moving rapidly, hid- den for the time from the eyes of Europe. The pioneer was felling the forest and blazing the way for the new empire of the Kingdom. Railroads had not yet come to facilitate transportation, but many a town was rapidly taking on the importance of a metropolis. In this forma- tive state, the home missionary saved the cause of civili- zation as he shared the fortunes and perils of the frontiers- man. In the cabin of the backwoodsman, in the rude — brush arbor, or unsheltered beneath the blue canopy of the heavens, the sturdy forefathers of the infant Republic were summoned to meet and recognize their supreme obli-. gation to Christ and Church. Foundations of individual The Romance of Home Missions 2h character were laid, which in turn became substantial ele- ments in the building of a spiritual empire. Pioneer Efforts Rapid expansion westward taxed the resources of the Church to keep pace with the march of civilization, that the latter might crystalize into Christian, rather than pa- gan, forms. No type of heroism calling for adventure and hardship eclipsed the glory of the Home Missionary, who bravely faced alike the privations of the wilderness and the tomahawk of the savage, as he shared the fate and strengthened the faith and courage of his struggling con- stituency. Such men as Clark and Whitman, Jason Lee and Gideon Blackburn, served a two-fold mission of pre- serving the menaced dominions of the Republic and of laying the broad foundation of a spiritual empire—des- tined at no distant day to dominate the world in both the political and spiritual realms of thought and action. Home Missions, in any historic account of the material develop- ment of our great Commonwealth, must be accorded a fundamental sphere of service, not simply in its effort to evangelize and write Christianity into the constitution of our ancestry, but in its indirect, but equally important, service of stimulating and training the leadership of the nation. The evangelistic effort of the pioneer Church, rendered extremely difficult by reason of its scattered constituency, placed additional burdens on its meager finances by neces- sitating sustentation funds for hundreds of struggling or- ganizations, unable to maintain their services, and calling for substantial assistance in erecting houses of worship, which, however primitive, taxed the resources of our fath- 28 The Romance of Home Missions ers in their heroic struggles. Except for Home Mission enterprise and timely aid, our civilization would have failed, America would have repeated the follies and un- godliness of empires that had been impotent to deal with the forces of evil which wrought their destruction, and ours would have been another wreck on the shore of time, swelling the number of the derelicts of the past. Ii America had failed humanity and God in the new adven- ture, neither pen of historian nor vision of prophet could reckon in terms the fateful consequences. The Conflict of the Ages “No man’s land,” but recently the battle-ground be- tween the Allies and the enemy, has its counterpart in the spiritual conflict raging between the army of Christ and the central powers of evil. It widens or narrows, and constantly shifts its position, but whether on the far west- ern plains or in more entrenched strongholds behind long rows of tenement houses, it is ever the arena of a fierce struggle between the forces of righteousness and evil. It calls for daring adventure, for long marches, for bitter hardships, for self-denial on short rations, and not infre- quently for the supreme sacrifice, in occupying the out- posts in the regions beyond. Untrained and inexperienced troops are a waste of ma- terial and effort in a campaign against wily foes, strongly intrenched in fortresses well chosen and wisely manned, under the subtle leadership of spiritual wickedness in high places. Illustrations are hereby cited in order that the Church may appreciate the character and spirit of its un- . known heroes, who ordinarily receive but scant justice and The Romance of Home Missions 29 little recognition, notwithstanding their valuable services and heroic lives. Examples of Adventure On the plains of the Panhandle, in Texas, a young Home Missionary occupied a strategic point, from which, by reason of the scarcity of religious forces, he was com- pelled to cover a large area of unoccupied territory. Twenty-five miles distant from his home, he began evan- gelistic services, unassisted, in a growing town. As inter- est developed, the leading and influential citizen of the community was brought under conviction. Practical dif- ficulties thwarted the efforts of the Missionary to bring him to.a decision; and yet he felt if he could only win this capable man, it would enable him to organize a church. Remembering that he had in his study a re- ligious tract, peculiarly adapted to meet these difficulties, he set himself to devise some plan of securing it for im- mediate use. As no other way opened up, after service one night he saddled his horse, rode twenty-five miles, secured his tract, and by daylight had ridden twenty-five miles back again, riding practically all night, a distance of fifty miles, and ready to conduct his service the next day. As anticipated, the tract solved the difficulty—the man was won, the church organized, and, as a result, strong, self- supporting churches occupy that section, not simply wit- nessing for Christ in that immediate vicinity, but one young man from this frontier field has already gone as a Mis- sionary to the far East. Whenever the principles of our faith are faithfully pre- sented and scripturally expounded, they win their way by the force of their inherent truth. In the distant West 30 The Romance of Home Missions there labored an evangelist who never failed to enlighten his hearers on the subject of the Covenant of God unto the fathers and their children. Announcing one day during © evangelistic services that, on the next, he would baptize the children of the believing parents at the morning service, when one of the audience stated that he desired his child baptized, but, living several miles in the country, it was not convenient to bring the child and mother to the church. Whereupon, Dr. Richardson made an appointment to go in the afternoon to the home of the parents in the country for the purpose. Upon arriving there, he found that the community had been notified and quite a number had - gathered to witness this ceremony. ‘Taking advantage of the occasion, he expounded the Abrahamic Covenant, its provision for the children, its perpetuity in the Church through the ordinance of baptism, and proceeded to bap- tize the child. Somewhat to the surprise of the impromptu audience, a gentleman remarked: “Dr. Richardson, that is all news to me. I never heard before of the Abra- hamic Covenant. If my wife will consent, I would like to have my child baptized.” Ascertaining that the wife interposed no objection, and that they were professing Christians, Dr. Richardson laid on them the obligation to train the child in the principles of the Christian religion, and dedicated it to God in baptism. To his amazement, at the close, he learned that the father was a “Disciple” and the mother a Baptist! In a frontier town, a young evangelist was conducting special services, and announced that his purpose was to organize a church. Anxious to promote any enterprise which might contribute to the development of their town,» imagine the embarrassment of the young man when the The Romance of Home Missions 31 whole town proposed to join the church—bar-keepers in- cluded. Explaining that he could receive only those who professed conversion and would covenant together to un- dertake the obligation of church membership, he organ- ized with twenty-three members. Later, the minister who dedicated the building, stated in the religious press that it was the first and only church building within a radius of one hundred miles in all directions. It was seemingly a feeble light shining alone away out on the plains, but it is still shining, although its building has been recently wrecked by a cyclone; and its rays now reach around the globe, for one of its members is supporting a Foreign Missionary ten thousand miles distant. The Frontier Presbytery The last illustration is in the heart of El Paso Presby- tery, whose spiritual destitution and appealing needs are eloquently portrayed by Rev. W. M. Fairley, one of the pioneer heroes of the West, who not only laid founda- tions, but stayed on the job long enough to reap mag- nificent spiritual harvests: “This Presbytery is one of the youngest historically, largest geographically, and smallest numerically, in Texas The City of El Paso is about 900 miles from Texarkana. As you come West over the Texas and Pacific Railroad, you will pass through the exceedingly rich country around Dallas, Fort Worth, and Weatherford, and the oil fields of Ranger, and then the stops get farther and farther apart; the trees get smaller and smaller, the rainfall less and less. You can see farther and see less the farther you go. Farming gives out completely. Ranches, dotted with windmills and lonely looking cows, are about all 32 The Romance of Home Missions you see. The last 400 miles of your trip will be in El Paso Presbytery. There are very few country people here, Incoming multitudes has now reached our utmost bounds. a c > oe) w es 5) sg = sutiee | — = = oy. -_ : wn e i 3°. 5 PR = a : s Dn a S i x =| _& se = wo a =e oS : ae e 2° oo so = =| . 7) a 2 5 rr oO. & & 0 i ~ ‘Oo The Romance of Home Missions a0 no rural problems or outlying districts. With rare excep- tions, the people live along the railroad, in small villages or towns, varying in.population from 100 to 4,000, with their ranches back on the plains. Some of the counties have not even a county seat. The trains supply some of these towns with drinking water. Some are progres- sive and made up of well-to-do cattlemen. “The Presbytery takes its name from the City or El Paso, where the writer is located. Eli Paso, with a popu- lation of 83,838, is situated on the border of the Presby- tery, on the border of the Synod, on the border of the General Assembly, and on the border of the United States. It has increased 11314 in the last ten years. Every incoming train adds to its population—the trains do not come tast enough, they are fording the Rio Grande. El Paso is the key to Mexico, the distributing point for the great Southwest between Fort Worth, San Antonio and Los Angeles,.in the heart of the irrigated, mining and cattle country. It is the fifth city in size in the great- est State in the Union, a cosmopolitan metropolis, where the problems of America are being made and solved. City Missions is the greatest question before the Church today, for in the city the people are assembling, and there the Devil is at work. Would the opening up of another church, or six churches, be wise or judicious in the midst of thousands of people who are unchurched? We have finished one mission at a cost of $5,500. Another branch church, with liberal ail from the Home Mission Com- mittee, is being constructed, and an additional pastor is now at work. But even with this, the fields are wliite to the harvest, we have no barns and the laborers are few. 34 The Romance of Home Missions “Our Committee of Home Missions should be the agency. through which every member of our beloved Church should reach with a helping hand the needy places ; it should be a means through which the strong should bear the burdens of the weak, a distributor of power, an equalizer of burdens, a trusted disburser of your funds. To this Committee, all the needy fields go and utter their Macedonian cry. Through this Committee, the whole Church should function and fill up that which is lacking.” The Frontier Synod During the last half of the Nineteenth Century, the Home Mission work in the present State of Oklahoma was confined exclusively to that section which was known as Indian Territory, and was conducted almost entirely for the Indians. In 1901, the beginning of the twentieth century, the Home Mission Committee had never crossed the dividing line into the section known as Oklahoma Territory. The Assembly at Little Rock, Ark., the day the present Secretary was elected, passed the following resolution, May 23,1901: “That Oklahoma be included in our Home. Mission field, and that the Executive Committee be direct- ed to make such investigation as will enable it to under- take the work intelligently in that territory.” This simple resolution inaugurated the forward movement that caused the Church to hear so much of Oklahoma twenty years ago, and eventually resulted in the birth of the fourteenth Synod of the General Assembly. At that time there existed only the small Indian Pres- bytery, connected with the Synod of Texas, which con- The Romance of Home Missions ‘he tained eight ministers and twenty-two churches, only one minister of the number serving white churches— three in all, with a communicant roll of less than 200. Several ministers, added later, served but a few months, yet one, Erskine Brantly, D. D., has remained to the pres- ent and done noble work in an obscure place, without any proper recognition by the Church of his faithful and ef- ficient service; but “his record is on high.” The following incident explains the origin of the church at Antlers, where Dr. Brantly has rendered such signal service and built up a strong, influential church, building on no other man’s foundation: Pihis fitst visit to*the Territory, the Secretary set foot on its soil for the first time as he left the train at Kosoma. While waiting for the Indian boy to harness his team and take him to Indian Presbytery, he entered into conversation with a little white boy, twelve years old, standing by, inquiring: “Are there any churches in this town?” EON G.ASir. “Are there no preachers who hold service here?” “No, sir; there have been none here in several months.” ‘Are there no Christian people here?” “Yes; my father is a Baptist, and my mother a Meth- odist.”’ “What are you going to be?” “Well, I think I will be a Catholic.” Much perplexed, and somewhat annoyed by this reply, the Secretary repeated the conversation upon arrival at the Indian Presbytery, and learned this explanation: About twelve miles below Kosoma, on the railroad, is the 36 The Romance of Home Missions town of Antlers, containing twelve hundred people. where a gentleman a few years ago built a chapel and proffered it to the Presbyterian Church, whilst his wife and daugh- ters proposed to enter its fold. Becoming offended, be- cause the Presbyterian minister did not return in a rea- sonable time, and seemed slow about taking up the work, he gave the chapel to the Catholics, and his wife ard daughters went with it. The priest built up a good church and established a parochial school. Protestants were com- pelled to patronize a Catholic school, or lose for their children the advantage of an education. The Secretary sent an evangelist to Antlers, and or- ganized a Presbyterian Church of a dozen members. During the first summer, they built a school-house and a Presbyterian Church costing $900. This Mission School opened its doors in September and enrolled ninety scholars the first week, and the church is now self-supporting. This is an illustration of the many open doors inviting the Presbyterian Church to enter that rapidly developing — section. Advance Movement Up to this time, two years after the Assembly had in- structed the Executive Committee to enter Oklahoma Ter- ritory, nothing whatever had been done in the way of ad- — vancing into unoccupied territory. The forward move- ment was inaugurated by the Woman’s Missionary So- ciety of the Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Ga., when it offered to pay half the salary of a Missionary for Oklahoma Territory. Taking advantage of this offer. Rev. H. S. Davidson, of Bowie, Texas, was employed for half his time, and was assigned to the Southern part The Romance of Home Missions oF) of Oklahoma Territory, in a great area where. no repre- sentative of our Church was at work. He organized the church at Mangum with seventeen members, which soon after called him as pastor, where he served several years and built up a good church, and where the Executive Committee erected its first building in Oklahoma Terri- tory. Mangum Church is now self-supporting—and so are many others organized since in that same general sec- tion. The work for white communities and growing towns had now so far advanced that it was thought best to or- ganize a white Presbytery, which was accordingly done; and it held its first meeting at Durant in April, 1903, taking the name of Durant Presbytery, and was composed of the following eight members: Erskine Brantly, H. S. Davidson, W. P. Dickey, R. F. Kirkpatrick, W. S. Lacy, R. E. Telford, J. A. Williams, and R. P. Walker. Its first act was to invite “Rev. S. L. Morris, Secretary, to sit as a corresponding member.” It then went into “a Committee of the whole” to consider plans, methods and means. Composed of young men with but little experi- ence in parliamentary terms, when a motion was made “that the Committee rise,” they took it literally, and every man promptly sprang to his feet! Doubtless, they will forgive the writer for putting on record this evidence of their inexperience, but this is not to their discredit, for not only did every man of them make good, but they laid deep and broad the foundations of their denomination in that great State. Home Mission Secretary Pioneering As an illustration of the character of work done at this period, the writer, being compelled to spend a day in Coal- 38 The Romance of Home Missions gate between trains, took advantage of the opportunity to canvass for Presbyterians. Going from store to store, inquiring for Presbyterians, at last he was directed to a Scotchman one mile from the center of town. Upon calling on and claiming this long-sought Presbyterian, imagine his astonishment on being told: “Somebody has played a practical joke on you. I have not been in a church in twenty years!” Yet, here in Coalgate soon after, Rev. W. T. Matthews held a meeting, organized a church with twenty-nine members, and placed Rev. E. H. Moseley in charge. He remained ten years and built up a strong Church, which has entertained the Synod. It shows the benefit of sticking to the job. Not a man who stayed by the work a sufficient time has been a failure. One minister, since gone to his eternal reward, W. S. Lee, had his manse stolen one day while he was making a pastoral call, and it has never been heard from since— not noted for its intrinsic value, but it was the best and only home he possessed. Evidently not a spacious man- sion, but the author once enjoyed the hospitality of its former owner. The next advance step was a division of Durant Pres- bytery, by which all ministers and churches in Oklahoma Territory were set off into a new Presbytery, which took the name of Mangum in honor of the first church which had been organized in that Territory. It now contains 12 ministers, 20 churches, 1,700 membership which gave last year $31,049 for self-support and benevolences. The entire Presbytery was the outcome of the aid given by the Missionary Society of the Central Church, Atlanta. Was there ever an investment of Missionary funds that The Romance of Home Missions 34 yielded greater dividends’ The business world is chal lenged to show better results from equal amount involved. Oklahoma Synod Organized Having now three Presbyteries, the time had come tor a Synod, which was accordingly created in 1908, and took its place on the roll of the Assembly in 1909, with thirty- four ministers and seventy-two churches, being just one year younger than the State, which was admitted to the Union in 1907. The opening sermon was preached by the veteran Mis- sionary, Rev. W. J. B. Lloyd, hoary-headed and feeble, who for eight years, from 1870 to 1878, was a Foreign Missionary to the Indians, and had been for the past thirty a faithful Home Missionary to the same people. All hearts were touched as he described his ordination thirty-eight years before by three Missionaries,one of them dying at the time he laid hands on the head of his succes- sor; and tears moistened many eyes as he graphically told in husky voice of his long, fatiguing horse-back rides, which required several days to go from one appointment to the next, and sleeping in his blanket by night on the lonely prairie. Several exceedingly unique features occurred at this first meeting. Suddenly, on the second day, without a moment’s warning, a couple walked down the aisle and asked for “the services of a minister.’ Rev. Jno. A. Willams, local pastor, not the least surprised man present, was equal to the occasion, and performed the ceremony as composedly as if it had been by appointment. The parties then used the Clerk’s table to sign the certifi- 40 The Romance of Home Missions cates, and the groom promptly handed over his fee pub- licly, with a whole Synod as witnesses. It was the coolest affair on record, and the happy pair went on their way re- joicing, while the Synod, doubtless, prayed that the future historian of the romance might truthfully add as the se- quel, ‘““They lived together happily ever after.” The second surprise came the next day, at the closing session. The Moderator of Durant Presbytery arose and requested Synod to suspend its business for a few mo- ments to allow Durant Presbytery to hold a meeting im- mediately in the presence of the Synod. Men fairly held their breath, and asked in the silent chambers of their souls, “What next?” Once more Pastor Williams of- ficiated. Prof. E. Hotchkin, President of Durant Col- lege, an elder in the Durant Church, took his place in front of the pulpit, and his pastor proceeded formally and solemnly, by order of the Presbytery, to license him to preach the everlasting gospel. tee So the first meeting passed into history, and the young Synod entered upon a career of rapid development and great usefulness in the extension of the Kingdom of Christ throughout the West and “unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Expanding Frontiers The frontier expands constantly into ever-widening areas with new significance at each revolution of the kalei- doscope of changing conditions. The term now includes three separate types. There is the frontier of the West. to which must be added the frontier of rural life and the» frontier of the overcrowded city, in the suburbs as well The Romance of Home Missions 41 as in the slum districts. This inquiry, however, is deal- ing exclusively with frontier as synonymous with terri- torial expansion. Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico, instead of being fully occupied, are con- stantly opening new areas of need and of opportunity as the advance of population, of railroads and of new busi- ness enterprises develops new sections of recently un- occupied territory. The Western frontier once consisted chiefly of new towns and community centers, peopled by our emigrating sons and daughters, who must be cared for by their spiritual mother. Then came the opening up of great cat- tle ranches for agricultural purposes, the introduction of “dry farming” and the building of great irrigation plants, which quadrupled land values and multiplied enormously populations. Now the oil fields are duplicating on still larger scale the needs and opportunities. Some town in Texas (Ranger, for example) will be transformed over- night from a village of 500 to a city of 20,000, with no accommodations for the incoming tides except tents, and no provision whatever for their spiritual interests. In such environments, human nature degenerates, vice abounds, and the Church is helpless by reason of lack of men and means to handle the situation. The Church, as a denomination, is too occupied with local problems every- where, and too far removed from these exciting scenes of business adventure and of moral conflicts, to understand and appreciate the situation. It is a repetition of lost op- portunities: “As thy servant was busy here and there, it was gone’; while these appealing fields of need might justly take up the lamentation: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” 42 The Romance of Home Missions Arkansas From the viewpoint of the Presbyterian Church, U. S.. Arkansas is in the West, but geographically it 1s near to the center of the Continent and in the very heart of the great Mississippi Valley. In area, it covers 52,525 square miles, and has a population of 2,000,000. It is cleft. with great rivers, whose bottom lands are as fertile as the delta of the Mississippi. It 1s crossed by the Ozark Mountains in some instances reaching an elevation of nearly 2,500 feet. This gives it every variety of climate, as well as soil, making it adaptable for producing the most diversi- fied crops, but especialiy one of the finest fruit sections of the South. | The typical “Arkansas traveler” is now largely a mem- ory of the oldest inhabitant. It is blessed today with riches, appliances of modern civilization, and cultured people. It contains 112 churches of our faith and order, with 12,716 communicants, which have made’ commend- able progress, but are an insignificant part comparatively — of the religious forces needed for Christianizing this splen- did Commonwealth. It is true, there are churches of other Presbyterian bodies, but perhaps not as many as 15 such are fully self-supporting. It is a great field for Home Mission effort. Its churches are coming to self- support, and reported last year for Foreign Missions a total of $39,656, and to the various phases of Home Mis- sions $31,351, besides generous gifts to other forms of benevolences. Louisiana In area, population, fertility, strength of Presbyterian ism, and contributions to the benevolences of the Church, The Romance of Home Missions 43 Louisiana is almost an exact duplicate of Arkansas. The religious status in this State is, however, greatly compli- cated by the strength and activity of Roman Catholicism and a large admixture of foreign-speaking people. Louis- iana is the only State within the bounds of our Assembly where this one Church outnumbers all Protestant bodies combined. It contains several whole parishes, without a Protestant organization or Missionary. New Orleans alone contains about 200,000 papists, and the Presbyterian Church, the strongest Protestant body in the city, has less than 5,000. From the viewpoint of need, complex situa- ‘tion and difficulties, nothing in our bounds exceeds it as a field for Home Mission operations. Texas In speaking of the “Empire State of the South,” it is scarcely necessary to name Texas. It has no rival claim- ant in area, population, diversity of climate or crops. Its coal fields, oil and gas lands, untouched forests, cattle ranches, uncultivated virgin soil, vegetable and citrus- fruit industries, extent of railroad mileage and unde- veloped resources—all conspire to place it in a class by itself, without any risk of its claims being disputed. Its population is nearing perhaps 5,000,000, and it is capable of supporting 100,000,000. Its present population is not only a conglomerate of all the States in the Union, but it has a rapidly increasing foreign element, containing a half-million Mexicans alone, in addition to dozens of other nationalities. If its wealth were in the hands of our Church, now numbering only 43,108, it would need no outside aid to handle its religious problems; but its mil- lionaires need converting as greatly as its impecunious. 44 The Romance of Home Missions Its growing wealth does not exceed the riches of its op- portunities, nor counter-balance its poverty of compara- tive inadequate spiritual resources. Texas, like a great revolving kaleidoscope, changes its aspect and combina- tions with every rotation of time and movement. The changing scenery of a half-century ago revealed limitless plains, innocent of plow or grain, covered with herds of cattle, while the wild beast and the adventurous cowboy fought for supremacy. Then the picture changed rapidly as locomotives swept across the plains, leaving towns and. villages in their wake, and in the field of vision farms ap- peared, dotting the prairie; and wild nature fled before the face of advancing civilization. It now became a race be- tween the Church, with its Home Mission forces, and paganism, with its ungodly ideals, as to which would per- manently organize and consolidate the territory. It was originally “no man’s land.” It has since been frequently “any man’s land.” The whirling kaleidoscope moves more rapidly today, and we can scarcely fix one picture in men- tal vision before others displace it ; and in the maze, cities, oil wells and derricks mix inextricably. The struggle for possession is still an unsettled question. For fifty years, Texas has been the synonym of Home Missions, and its marvelous development will justify its demands on the whole Church for perhaps another half- century. It is a conspicuous advertisement of Assembly’s Home Missions—its great churches being the product of Home Mission investment. Under the fostering care and promotion of the Executive Committee, Mission fields are constantly coming to self-support, and new opportunities inviting attention. The Romance of Home Missions 45 Oklahoma Like Minerva, which sprang full-fledged from the brain of Jupiter—according to Grecian mythology—Oklahoma came into being, not by the usual slow process of state- making, but a full-grown Commonwealth of a million people. Having a reputation to sustain, Oklahoma feels constrained to do large things. Its output in oil during 1922 was 149,551,429 barrels, surpassing California, its nearest competitor, by 10,000,000 barrels, and the great State of Texas by 40,000,000. She produces more broom corn than all the other States combined, and is surpassed in sorghum by only two others, and stands sixth in win- ter wheat and seventh in cotton. It is the boast of its people that if a Chinese wall surrounded and separated it from the rest of the world, it could live within itself and suffer no inconvenience. Its great material prosperity is most effectually offset by its spiritual poverty. Not only is its church member- ship the smallest in proportion of any State, but it con- tains perhaps more whose membership has lapsed and who, like Demas, have forsaken the Church, “having loved this present world,” swept into the current of commercial- ism “which drowns men’s souls in perdition.”’ The situa- _ tion is further complicated by the State being “the happy hunting ground” for all the “isms” discredited elsewhere and all the “freak sects” everywhere. If need and opportunity were synonymous, this would constitute Oklahoma the greatest Mission field within our bounds. In point of attack, Assembly’s Home Missions is the whole force, and must furnish all the sinews of war in the campaign for righteousness. Handicapped by in- 46 The Romance of Home Missions conceivable limitations and hindered by “many adver- saries,’ our Home Missionaries have done a marvelous work, which entitles them to the sympathy rather than the inconsiderate criticisms of many who cannot understand their environments nor appreciate their sacrifices. In spite of insuperable obstacles, Oklahoma seldom fails to lead all other Synods in percentage of additions on pro- fession; and more of its churches came to self-support last year, in proportion, than in any other state. New Mexico New Mexico is part of the Territory, ceded by Mexico to the United States in the Treaty of 1848, and an area _ larger than all of New England and New York com- bined. It shares with Florida the honor of being the oldest country settled in the United States, dating back within forty years of the discovery of America by Co- lumbus. The oldest house in the United States is said to be located in Santa Fe, the capital and second oldest city in America. The writer, a few years ago, in studying the comparative religious statistics of the census of 1890, was amazed to find that New Mexico stood at the very head of the list of states in having the largest church ~ membership in proportion to population. The explana- tion lies in the fact that the whole country is nominally Roman Catholic. It 1s really a foreign land in the United States, and differs very little from Mexico itself, contain- ing, together with Texas, most of the Mexicans in the United States. It is the home, likewise, of the Pueblo In- dians, 8,000 in number, a quiet, peaceable people, whose religion is a mixture of Catholicism and paganism, The Romance of Home Missions 47 New Mexico is still, for our Church, “the regions be- yond.” It has been occupied for us only by the frontier Presbyteries of Texas, reaching across the border and or- ganizing an occasional isolated church. It has towns and sections unoccupied ; but from lack of men and means, we have been compelled to halt near its boundary and await the orders of the Church to a forward movement into its virgin soil. Increasing Frontiers The Chicago Tribune speaks of “The return of the frontier’—from circumference back to center. It is not so much an expansion of territory as an expansion of frontier conditions. The West no longer has a monopoly of pioneer con- ditions. One thousand miles from Texas, a frontier Pres- bytery of the East may serve as typical of conditions as imperative and as appealing as anything beyond the Miss- issippl. | Possibly the following report of a Home Mission Chair- man can be duplicated in many Synods of the Church: “Presbytery includes ten whole counties and parts of four others. In these fourteen counties are twenty-seven Pres- byterian Churches. Sixteen of them are in one county, eleven in five other counties. Eight counties—more than half, with no church! Only three self-supporting groups, and only one church able to have a pastor for all his time. All of the self-supporting groups are in one county—noc a self-supporting church or group in the other thirteen counties. Amount paid by them for benevolent causes, $13,000; on pastors’ salaries, $9,713. Amount of Home Mission aid needed to supply these Churches in supple- 48 The Romance of Home Missions menting salaries, $7,200. These counties are rich in oli, coal, gas, timber, grazing and agricultural lands, and sup- plied with railroads. It seems there could scarcely be a Presbytery in the Assembly with greater needs, or that gives promise of greater results. These counties are not overchurched with any denomination.” It is perfectly natural that this Chairman should reckon his as the neediest of all, knowing better the facts in his case. There are, however, dozens of other Chairmen who can tell as pathetic tales of need. And yet there are men circulating reports of “overchurching,’”’ who insist that our country is adequately evangelized. Statistics employed to substantiate the hypothesis that our country is abundantly — supplied with ministers and churches are ordinarily mis- — leading. By padding the ministerial list to include Mor- mon elders, Christian Science readers, Roman Catholic priests, and those who serve small, “freak” Churches of insignificant numbers, it can be shown that:there is a minister to every 560 people. If, however, the list is lim- ited to the evangelical forces, the number of people to each minister would enlarge far beyond his ability to serve them adequately. The same man cannot minister to a number beyond his ability, though he were alone in the midst of a million of unreached souls. If the history of our Church could be fully written, it would reveal a record of struggle and achievement, ot small beginnings, of triumphant faith and of marvelous development. Dr. John Dixon, Secretary of Home Mis- sions of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., asserts: “Most of the largest Churches in the country were once Home ' Mission Churches, from the First Church of New York’ to the First Church of Seattle. In eight of the Western The Romance of Home Missions 49 States, every one of the Presbyterian Churches has at some time in its history been aided by the Board of Home Missions. It is within the truth to say that fully 9,000 of our 10,000 or more Churches began their career, or were helped towards self-support, by the Board of Home Missions.” This testimony would be equally true of our own Church, and perhaps of all others. The call of the frontier to the Church is as insistent as ever, and the cry is heard over wider areas. The need is still great. The opportunities are insatiable. The obli- gation shows no sign of relaxing its constraint. Okla- homa calls to Georgia, and Texas stretches its hands to the Carolinas. New Mexico is almost Foreign Mission territory. The West is not making selfish demands upon the Church. It. is continually reaching self-support, and then expanding its frontier, and at the same time is yield- ing dividends on investments and repaying the principal by its increasing gifts to all the benevolent operations of the Church. As children eventually surpass their parents in strength and attainments, so the time will come when the strength of the Church will show itself in the great empire of the West. A PRAYER OF THE HILL COUNTRY Lift me, O Lord, above the level plain, Beyond the cities where life throbs and thrills, And in the cool airs let my spirit gain The stable strength and courage of Thy hills. They are Thy secret dwelling places, Lord! Like Thy majestic prophets, old and hear, They stand assembled in divine accord, Thy sign of ’stablished power for evermore. Here peace finds refuge from ignoble wars, And faith, triumphant, builds in snow and rime, Hear the broad highways of the greater stars, Above the tide-line of the seas of time. Lead me yet farther, Lord, to peaks more clear, Until the clouds like shining meadows lie, Where through the deeps of silence I may hear The thunder of thy legions marching by. —MeEREDITH NICHOLSON, 50 Chapter Three The ROMANCE of the HILLS The Appalachian Mountains, extending parallel with the Atlantic Coast from Pennsylvania to Georgia, a dis- tance of 500 miles, and spreading out in places 300 miles in width, interrupts and limits the arable land, which dis- tinguishes this section of the South, but furnishes ample compensation by reason of its rich mineral resources which add immensely to the wealth of the country. The Ozarks, beyond the Mississippi are the counterpart of the Appalachians, and together the two form the most im- portant ranges of America—not excepting the Rockies. The population of the Appalachian section is given as 5,330,511—of which 88 per cent is white. One million and a quarter live in towns and cities of 1,000 or more. The remaining four million are divided into two groups, the larger being prosperous rural folks, many enjoying the advantage of education. The New York Times pub- lished some time ago the statement that there “were 3,- 000,000 lost to the modern world wearing the patterns of the sixteenth century who need to be reclaimed.” By some, this is regarded as an overestimate. A Bishop of the Methodist Church in Tennessee fixes the number of cabin people living in real neglect at 250,000. Even this lowest estimate constitutes an indictment of the Christi- anity of America. | ~ 5} 52 The Romance of Home Missions The Romance of Environment In population, the mountain section outnumbers any other neglected class in our bounds. In type, it presents the problems of isolation, of illiteracy and of irreligion. In occupation, its inhabitants live largely by fishing, hunt- ing and farming on such small scale as to confine their products to vegetables, fruits and corn only in sufficient quantities for their frugal meals. In characteristics, its people are generous-hearted, though somewhat suspicious of strangers, excitable in temper, leading often to deadly . feuds handed down from father to son through succeed- ing generations, proud of their physical prowess and of their family traditions. Contrary to misrepresentation, they are not degenerates, but have good, red blood in their veins, and if given a chance and their manhood is awaken- ed, they compete* successfully with any class for attain- ments in the sphere of education or in the realm of busi- ness. The poverty of their lands has made them depend- ent on a native spiritual leadership of a voluntary char- acter that has taught them to despise and distrust a paid ministry and bound them in the shallows of a circum- scribed life and religious experience. Their isolated situation—shut in by well-nigh inacces- sible mountain ranges and shut out from the world’s ac- tivities and a participation in the privileges of modern civilization—accounts for the fact that they have been passed by in the onward march of humanity; but it is dif- ficult to understand the related fact of the widespread indifference to their wretched circumstances and sub- merged life. No State government has provided the funds for their education, and their extreme poverty removes them from its privileges. Their nearness to us deprives Le a | o>) The Romance of Home Missions their case of romance, but our kinship to them should entail upon us a double obligation of “providing for our own,” if we are to escape the indictment of having “de- nied the faith” and being “worse than an infidel.” Romance of Locality The great events of Scripture are singularly associated with mountains. After the flood, the ark rested on Mount Ararat; the law was given on Mount Sinai; Moses viewed the Promised Land from Mount Nebo, and was buried somewhere on its lonely heights; the blessings and curses were pronounced from Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. The greatest of sermons was preached on a mountain; the Transfiguration, Crucifixion, and Ascension were on mountains. If an attempt were made to enumerate the Biblical events which took place on mountains, the entire space would be filled, leaving no room for aught else. The same result would follow if we attempted to sketch by name the historic events occurring among mountains. The mountains have been the refuge of God’s people in times of persecution in all ages, since David sang, “Flee as a bird to your mountain’; and Jesus advised the Dis- ciples, “Flee to the mountains.”’ The Waldenses escaped the pursuing vengeance of Rome by hiding in their in- accessible fastnesses. The Covenanters of Scotland found more safety in their mountain retreats than in weapons of powerful friends. It may be that the mountains in this way have providentially protected the truth of God, and saved it from extinction. . Time would fail to narrate the atmospheric influence of the mountains upon health, rain- fall, etc. That would tax the powers of a scientist. 54 The Romance of Home Missions Many people are familiar with the story of the moun- taineer who propped open the door of his hut with a rock, in ignorance of its intrinsic value, till some passing visitor called attention to its worth as a nugget of pure gold. And so the discovery was made of a deposit of rich minerals on his land, and the owner suddenly realized that instead of poverty he was the possessor of immense wealth. This story is characteristic of the mountains. Many feet have trodden rugged mountain-paths, whose owners were in utter ignorance of the hidden riches concealed beneath the surface. The mountains are the reserve forces of Nature. For ages, their granite formations have awaited human need, and then yielded the finest building material for our grow- ing cities. In,their deep mines are stored the coal which warms our homes, or is transmuted into power which turns our machinery. In other instances, these mountains, with rough exterior, conceal riches of gold, silver, and gems of rare beauty and fabulous value. The greatest riches of the mountains, however, are not their precious metals and exquisite gems. If “the dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear full many a gem of purest ray serene,” and if these mountain caverns hide their un- told wealth, they bear jewels of still greater value to the world. Their real wealth is their sons and daughters. These mountain boys and girls must be discovered by some “Prospector” in search of diadems for the Kingdom of Heaven. These “diadems in the rough” must be polished by Mission School and Church; and frequently one great “find” in a single individual is worth all the means ex- pended in that direction by philanthropy or Christianity. tn ty The Romance of Home Missions The Romance of Ancestry President Frost, of Berea College, in Kentucky, is cred- ited with the statement that the ‘“‘mountains are the back- yards of seven States.” The area defined as the “South- ern Highlands” contains, according to different authorities between one and two hundred counties in the States cen- tering in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and the Virginias. Many of them are the finest blood of America, virile, refined and have made conspicuous contributions to the wealth, welfare, achievements and sturdy character — of the Nation. John Temple Graves pays eloquent tribute to their illustrious ancestry: ‘They are of the same race and the same general origin as ourselves. They are the de- scendants of the men and women who came over in the pioneer ships of the Pilgrims and Cavaliers, who came to the southern colonies under the early governors and trustees. Some of them are of the stern blood of the Puri- tans who fought under Cromwell against Rupert and Charles. Some of them date back to the impoverished gentry who followed Oglethorpe to the new debtors’ haven across the western seas; some of them sprang from the political prisoners and captives and law-breakers. who landed on the Virginia sea coast under Berkeley and Spottswood. And some of them were of that Scotch- Irish stock which fled from religious persecution to this land of liberty. “There is the making of a great people in these mountain folks. The blood of the dominant white race is in them, waiting only to be roused and led. The cen- tury of wild untraining, in which they have lived has 56 The Romance of Home Missions laid the foundation of a great awakening. Ernest Renan thanked God for the good blood of the common people — in his veins, and declared that the strength of his brain and his nerves was due to the centuries in which the minds of his ancestors had lain fallow and undisturbed. “The call of the mountains should ring in the ears of all our modern philanthropists. They are the only great class in all our country that have lived unheeded and unhelped in an age that has thought and moved and done so much.” In the same strain is the tribute of Rev. E. W. Mc- Corkle, whose experience and service entitle him to speak for them beyond that of most men: “This is the land of our kith and kin, crowded with boys of the Lincoln, Boone and Jackson type.. Though dragged down in their long conflict with dirt and the devil, they are magnificent in their ruins. Their history is known to all, how they entered this smiling land through the doors at Philadelphia and Charleston. NHar- ried by the British, they took to the rocks and passes beyond. They won the West, and peopled that vast empire between the Alleghenies and the Mississippi. Their children, left stranded in the eddies and coves of the mountains, have remained isolated and insulated to this day—the purest Anglo-Saxon stock of the American continent. Their fathers were at King’s Mountain and New Orleans. They constituted the insurmountable bar- rier against which the fierce waves of furious savagery from the West dashed in vain. It was the flag of these mountaineers that waved in triumph above the clouds’ at Lookout Mountain. They constituted the undaunted The Romance of Home Missions 57 remnant of that ragged and half-starved band that fol- lowed Stonewall Jackson and stood with heroic courage by the side of Lee when overwhelmed with disaster at Appomattox. Penned in this boundary, their children, until recently, have been living under conditions not un- like those that existed in the days of King Alfred. A brave and free people, hospitable and courageous, but dreadfully handicapped. “The greatest handicap is whiskey. A man named Joshua, who was asked if he was the man who made the sun stand still, replied: ‘No, but I’m the man who made the moonshine.’ Before he had reached his 18th year. one of these lads had been indicted twenty-seven times for violation of the revenue laws. In a Sunday-school class in the penitentiary, made up of these young men, six out of eight said drink had brought them there. In a jail in a mountain county visited by the writer not long since, were seven young men held for murder, all but one of whom had reached the prison portal through this same gateway. “The most horrible handicap in the past has been the feud. During the murderous career of seven of these feuds, more than 250 people have lost their lives. It has been handed down from parent to child. One Tom Baker was killed when guarded by the soldiers. On the return from his burial, Captain Bryan, of the 2nd Kentucky regiment, said to his widow: ‘Mrs. Baker, why do you not leave this terrible land and escape their deadly feuds: Move away and teach your children to forget.’ ‘Captain Bryan,’ said the poor mother, and she spoke evenly ana quietly, ‘I have twelve sons. It will be the chief aim of my life to bring them up to avenge their father’s death. 58 The Romance of Home Missions Every night I will show them the handkerchief stained with their father’s blood and tell them who murdered His Rev, R. F. Campbell; D. D.j.of Asheville? N, Cc says “Two ministers of our church were sent to investigate the condition of eleven counties in this State. They left the railroad and penetrated the highlands, spending three months or more. Numbers of homes were found without a lamp, looking glass or a candle. Many of the people had never seen a town; a buggy was an object of great curiosity. In several of these counties there is not a newspaper; in many homes not a single word in print, not even a patent medicine almanac. They found a set-_ tled district of 150 square miles without a church or Sab- bath-school. In many homes there was not a Bible or Testament.” Religious Data Statistics indicate that of these mountain people 779,- 988 are Baptists, 603,537 Methodist, 115,573 are Presby- terians and 4,270 Congregationalists. This Highland region contains about 200 schools, 117 of them having boarding departments with a total enrollment of 25,000 students. The statement is made that the spiritual in- fluence of the schools, aside from the educational, is far greater than that of the churches alone. The greatest need today is not for colleges, which will educate the youth away from their people and leave the mountain sections poorer, by culling the more intelligent and capa- ble and sending them out of the mountains to enrich other communities, but for agricultural and industrial The Romance of Home Missions 59 schools which will fit the young people tor leadership and life in the mountains. The Presbyterian Church entered this fruitful field many years ago but was handicapped in the lack of means for its successful prosecution. Taking over the pioneer work of the “Soul Winners’ Society,” organized by the lamented Dr. Guerrant, during the past ten years it has been developed rapidly as fast as means were available, until today it requires larger financial outlay than any other department; but it has paid splendid dividends on the investment. While we have scarcely touched the outer edges of the problem of illiteracy and religious destitution hidden behind vast mountain ranges, yet we point with pride to our growing churches, our great mis- sion schools and our evangelistic activities, which are transforming whole communities and in some instances influencing entire counties; and it is our purpose to es- tablish cordons of religious forces until they meet and stretch from state to state in their beneficent influences. From Hell Creek to Kingdom Come Dr. Edward O. Guerrant, the father of Mountain Mis- sions, made for the author a facetious list of the creeks in the mountains of Kentucky where his missions were located, most of these streams being. tributaries of the Kentucky River. Would any of our readers risk drinking water from this river which has the following sources ? Hell Creek, Hell for Sartin, Big Devil, Little Devil, War Creek, Squabble Creek, Troublesome, Quicksand, Bull Skin, Greasy, Meat Scaffle, Dumb Bettie, Red Bird, Goose Creek, Lost Creek, Canoe, Frozen Creek, Shoul- 60 The Romance of Home Missions der Blade, Puncheon Camp, Snake Creek, Kingdom Come. | . The last is the scene of one of the most charming and popular mountain stories ever written, entitled, “The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come,” by John Fox, Jr., author of still another story, “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine,” located in Big Stone Gap, Va., where “the Lewis- cot League’? matches in unique missions all of its romance. John Fox, Jr., vies with Harold Bell Wright, author of “The Shepherd of the Hills,” in the glamour of sensational mountain stories, but their inventive genius has created nothing more romantic than the tragedies in real life among the mountains and the spirit of daring. adventure, which has characterized some of the thrilling exploits of our modern heroes of faith. The Lewiscot League, for example, organized by the Rev. James M. Smith, who has invested his life in Home Missions, will eventually dim the lustre of the most brilliant story in comparison, when romantic adventure and fictitious hero- ism are placed side by side in striking contrast. Romance of Life The admiration and love of the author for Dr. Guer- rant—growing in intensity and fervor during the entire time of their intimate association and effective co-opera- tion—greviously tempt repetition and glowing account of the most marvelous character the State of Kentucky and the Presbyterian Chureh ever produced. Daniel Boone, pioneering among wild animals and wilder sav- ages, has nothing to his worthy credit which eclipses the daring adventures of Dr. Guerrant, pioneering “all The Romance of Home Missions 61 through the mountains wild and bare’ for the sheep whose cry he heard out in the darkness “sick and help- less and ready to die,” that “up from the rocky steep” there might arise the “glad cry to the gate of Heaven, ‘Rejoice for I have found my sheep.’ ” “The Shepherd of the Hills.” In the veins of Dr. Edward O. Guerrant flowed the blood of the Huguenots, which bequeathed to him the spirit of the martyrs. During the Civil War, a gallant soldier of the Confederacy, he crossed and recrossed the Cum- berland Mountains several times and found no churches. Having been brought up in a village of churches with the thought that all people this side of China were equally fortunate, the great religious destitution of the mountains impressed him. Impressed him so much, in fact, that after spending some years practicing medicine, he en- tered Union Theological Seminary at Hampden-Sidney. to become a minister, with the thought of devoting his life to preaching to the poor. | Called to one of the greatest churches in Kentucky he could not be satisfied, while the cry of human need was ringing in his ears from the heart of the mountains, which eventually made him ‘The Shepherd of the Hills” in a sense that Harold Bell Wright never dreamed of. He kept ever before the Synod their obligation to take care of the destitute sections of their state, and influenced them to inaugurate their Synodical Evangelistic Work, the first work of the kind ever undertaken in the Presby- terian Church. The Synod called Dr. Guerrant to lead 62 The Romance of Home Missions the movement, and for four years he served with great zeal and efficiency, preaching in many places where no Presbyterian minister had ever preached, and where no church had established itself. He found in the moun- tains, to quote his own words, “a region as large as the German Empire practically without churches, Sabbath- schools or qualified teachers; whole counties of people who had never seen a church or heard a gospel sermon they could understand.” He conducted evangelistic ser- | vices and organized churches not only in the mountain coves where adults had never heard a gospel sermon but in county sites such as Jackson, Breathitt County, Ky.. where until his ministration no church of any denomina- tion existed. He organized the “Soul Winners’ Society,” afterward changed to the “American Inland Mission,” which he conducted alone without backing of church or patron till burdened with years and infirmities he trans ferred his churches, schools, colleges and missions to the Presbyterian Church; and his work greatly enlarged is now conducted by the Executive Committee of Home Missions, requiring an annual outlay of nearly $200,000— almost equaling the total missionary operations of all de- nominations combined for work in the Appalachian Mountains. His name is a household word in the mountains, and ‘“‘his praise is in all the churches.”” His sudden death—lack- ing only a year of attaining “by reason of strength four- score years’’—came as a great shock to the entire church, which left his beloved mountaineers dazed and “dumb with amazement.” Rev. W. H. Woods, D. D., voiced The Romance of Home Missions 63 their inarticulate thought in one of the most touching poems ever written: Hark! In the Highlands now ‘ Wild horns are blowing Over each smoky ridge, And swift stream flowing; For there’s ill news abroad, And lone peaks listen, While waiting pools below Like fond eyes glisten; Listen and wait in vain— He will not come again— Guerrant has left them. Ye whom his shepherd-heart Folded and fathered, Now let the galax leaves Ripen ungathered ; Teach your wild streams a tone Of human feeling, And bring the balsam-balm For your own healing. Only a breaking heart . Could see such a friend depart— Guerrant has left you. Think not ye mourn alone— Never a steeple Where the bell tolls, may hold All hearkening people; Though to no other man His gifts are given, His is a mighty tribe Here and in Heaven. We are his comrades true, This is our dark hour, too— Guerrant has left us. This brief allusion to the life and work of a rare character, although a “twicetold tale,’ could scarcely be avoided without seeming discourtesy to his blessed mem- ory and injustice to his unmatched service. The narra- tive would be incomplete without some of his unique ex- 64 The Romance of Home Missions periences and pathetic incidents as related in his public addresses. Three Edward O. Guerrants “The Shepherd of the Hills” with two of his grandchildren. Illustrations—Humorous and Pathetic In a distant mountain cove which he had never investi- gated, Dr. Guerrant made an appointment for preaching on a definite date and had notice circulated throughout The Romance of Home Missions 65 that region. Being the first party on the ground at the appointed time, he saw coming a girl of seventeen ac- companied by a boy of twelve. Having walked bare- footed she first sat down and put on her shoes, and then this conversation took place: “Mister, be you the man who is going to preach today °” “Yes,” said Dr. Guerrant, “I am to preach for you.” “Well, I have never hearn a man preach what kin preach; and I have walked seven miles to hear a man who kin preach.” “What is your name?” “My name is Lizzie Baker.” “What is your father’s name?” “His name is Tom Jones.” Somewhat disconcerted and scarcely knowing what to say next, Dr. Guerrant ventured hesitatingly : “T hope the old people are married.” “Oh yes,” answered the girl, “they is married all right. but all the children likes Mam better than they do Pap, and they all tuck Mam’s name.” This occurred not in China nor in the Dark Continent but in one of the Sovereign States of this so-called Chris- tian country. In one of the evangelistic services a young woman came forward publicly and asked to be baptized and received into the Church. At the close a moun- taineer whispered: “Dr. Guerrant, if you could get Belle — Napier’s family into the Church, you would have a pretty good start. She has twenty-seven brothers and sisters!” One man took him aside for a private interview and asked: “Would you baptize and receive me into the 66 The Romance of Home Missions Church barefooted? -I don’t have any shoes.” It is needless to say no prince of royal blood nor influential member of one of the “first families’ ever was assured - of warmer welcome. One of the most desperate char- acters of the mountains, whose hands had more than once been stained with blood, was at last apprehended and sentenced to life imprisonment. Hardened, defiant, sullen, many approaches had been attempted in vain. At length the man, who understood the human heart as, perhaps, few did, sat down by him with the purpose of finding if possible an avenue of approach and said ten- derly: ‘Do you love that little boy left behind in your home?” This touched the tenderest spot in his soul and with tears running down his cheeks in an agitated voice he said: “Dr. Guerrant, I would stand between that boy and.hell!”’ This opened the way for the story, which surpasses romance—“Like as a father pitieth his children.” ae Recently one of our missionaries in the mountains was invited to the birthday dinner of a man eighty-six years old, who was the father of twenty-four children, and had killed twenty-seven men! “Are these typical characters?’ Not, if by “typical” is meant that they represent most of the mountain people. Yet they are “types” of multitudes who, however, are not to be judged by the ordinary standards. They have had no advantage of education and but little gospel privileges or religious influences. There are other types; but these have souls with needs as great as any; and they are not beyond the transforming influences of the grace of God. The Romance of Home Missions 67 Specimens The story of Jonathan Day, the boy Dr. Guerrant found sitting on a log in Letcher County, transformed into one of the greatest preachers in this country and do- ing work not duplicated by any, has been told and retold. A parallel case is the mountain boy from that same gen- eral section who, after graduating in one of these mis- sion schools, entered the university, took two classes at the same time and led his class, accomplishing in two years what ordinarily requires four. Even before grad- uating from the Theological Seminary he was called to one of the finest churches in the Presbyterian Com- munion, which was declined in order that he might re- turn and minister to his own native people. After years of successful service he has been called to one of our great city churches, where at present he serves with marked success. Such characters, rescued from unfor- tunate environment, are assets among our spiritual forces, which more than compensate for all the expenditures of finance and consecrated life, that measure the cost of the work. They are but specimens and firstfruits of the harvest which may be expected in the years to come. “A Nameless Hero” Under the above caption, Rev. R. P. Smith, D. D., of Asheville, N. C.—himself a hero whose thrilling experi- ences if written would duplicate anything in romance— wrote the following account, for the Home Mission Herald, of the type of consecrated laborers who are put- ting their life blood into mission service, and who are “sky pilots’ to the wayfaring, “prospectors” for Christ 68 The Romance of Home Missions and the Church, discovering and gosto those stranded among the mountains: “While investigating conditions in our mountain terri- tory, the writer found a large section that had been sadly neglected in the way of school and church privileges. With some outside help, a building was soon erected and a minister put in charge. The school grew so rapidly that three teachers (the minister, his wife and his son) were required to do the work. “This family had to live some distance from the school building, in an adjoining cove, a rather high mountain being between the two places. The trail was too steep and long for the wife to walk, so she would ride, while the husband or son led the horse. These took it “turn about” in leading the animal, and swinging to his tail during the climb. Rather hard on the horse, you think, but he was large and strong and became an _ expert at his job. “A great work for that community was done by these faithtuliservants of) Christies ey... tan eee was the preacher, the pastor, the teacher, the lawyer (peace- maker), the physician, etc., for a large section. of coun- try. One Sabbath morning, just as he was beginning his preaching service, a messenger ran in with the news that a woman, on her way to church, had been thrown from a mule, breaking her arm, and that he was wanted immediately. He went out, set the bone, then returned and finished his sermon. There being no physician near, he often administered simple remedies for the relief of the suffering. “The field of this missionary covered a territory twenty-five miles long by twelve wide. He was in con- The Romance of Home Missions 69 stant demand to meet the many needs, and being full of energy and deep sympathy, he answered every call. While struggling under the burden, he was stricken with a severe illness, and within a few days entered into rest. For miles and miles around, the people came from the coves and the sides of the mountains to attend the fun- eral services, and after the grave was closed and the family had gone, numbers stood there and wept, loath to leave the friend who had done so much for them. “When the church history of North Carolina is writ- ten, a page will be inscribed to the life and labors of this faithful Home Missionary, whose name is not now given, but whose great influence for good is still living in the lives of those whom he taught and those who heard the Gospel message from his lips.” The author recognized in this narrative one of his dear- est friends, Rev. Samuel W. Newell, whose gentle and skillful nursing, while they were students together in Columbia Seminary, brought him through the most dan- gerous illness of his life; and he gratefully pays tribute to his memory as one of nature’s noblemen. Missionary Institutions On a mountain stream, almost in sight of where it empties into the Kentucky River, two brothers, Callahan by name, had rival stores on opposite sides of the road. Jealousy and competition became so great they had al- ready armed themselves for the inevitable conflict, in which one or both brothers would shed each other’s blood. Dr. Guerrant bought the store of one for the doubla purpose of avoiding bloodshed and to secure the 70 The Romance of Home Missions site for a mountain mission and school. The two women mission teachers served the community in every possible — capacity—teachers, religious instructors, nurses—even officiating at funerals. It was a slow work, training a community. The kind of work done may be judged by the following: The children in school were taught and made to repeat the Lord’s Prayer. Each morning every child was asked to report if it said the prayer upon re- tiring for the night. After some days of repeated in- quiry, a fifteen-year-old boy suddenly surprised the school and teachers by asking: ‘Miss Patsy, how long have I got to keep this thing up?” Her reply was some- what disconcerting, perhaps—“All your life!’ A dozen years of patience, discouragement, faith and persistence have passed by; but behold the results: An attractive church building, a membership of 61, 26 being added last year; a commodious dormitory; and a Sabbath-school of two hundred—raw material for good citizenship and potential future resources for the Kingdom. On another stream, known as Puncheon Camp, not far from the place it empties into the Kentucky River, under the trees with only hewn logs for seats, a Sabbath-school was organized nearly twenty years ago. Nature fur- nishes no lovelier spot—with landscape of mountain, val- ley, and stream. After many vicissitudes and romantic experiences a frame building was erected, and it was se- riously called “Highland College” by the mountain peo- ple. It would not have passed even for a high school, but its usefulness was not measured by its appearance, its lack of equipment and its inadequate standards. The establishment of a post-office became a necessity, and it ° took the name of “Guerrant” in honor of its benefactor. The Romance of Home Missions 71 Land was donated, additional acres purchased and build- ings increased in response to the demands of the insti- tution. It now has ample land, eleven buildings, includ- ing a hospital and a stone dormitory which cost $60,000. It still lacks a modern adequate school building. A con- servative estimate of the value of the plant would not fall below $100,000. The school has grown to more than two hundred pupils, a large number being boarders. The church numbers over two hundred, the majority being the students who were brought under its religious in- fluences and ultimately into church membership. For a number of years Mr. C. E. Graham had taken on him- self as his Home Mission responsibility the entire sup- port of the school, which has been graciously continued by his family since his lamented death. The church at Spartanburg, S. C., provides for the evangelistic feature of the work. The school under the faithful care of Rev. W. B. Guerrant—worthy of the mantle of his illustrious uncle—has industrial features; and the entire work, farm- ing, laundering, cooking, and all other necessary labor are done entirely by the school. It is a veritable, spiritual hive of activities—including preaching, Sabbath-school, Christian Endeavor and every phase of religious life. It ought to leaven the surrounding country, as these stu- dents return to their respective communities and in the years to come contribute spiritual forces reaching unto the ends of the earth. One more illustration 1s equally striking. The last en-. terprise undertaken by Dr. Guerrant was the establish- ment of Stuart Robinson School at Blackey, Ky., in Letcher County, which holds the record for having the largest percentage for unchurched people in the United 72 The Romance of Home Missions f Seceemrentneiogans- Top—Rev. E. V. Tadlock, his father (Rev. A. D. Tadlock), Rev. and Mrs. H. J. Scott, his mother, and Misses Ervin and Johnson. Center—Dining-Kitchen Building, Girls’ Dormitory, Boys’ Dor- mitory. | Bottom—School Building at Stuart Robinson. ‘ The Romance of Home Missions 73 States—97 per cent being connected with no church of any denomination, and the 3 per cent being almost ex- clusively Primitive Baptists opposed to missions, Sab- bath-schools, and all modern forms of church activity. The opposition to Presbyterianism as an intruder was in- tense and active. A plain commodious academy was erected, supplemented later by dormitory and teacher’s residence. Difficulties were encountered year after year that were calculated to stagger the faith of an Abraham, and to paralyze the energies of even a Zealot. Then came Rev. E. V. Tadlock, frail in body, brilliant, in in- tellect, of undaunted courage, of common sense and of limitless resources. Opposition began to melt away. The flood tide of opportunity rose to the highest pitch. Stu- dents poured in from everywhere. The writer has ad- dressed in a crowded auditorium students of high school age, and standing on the elevated Campus, could look down the street in two directions and see overflow schools. vacant stores being rented for their accommodation, til] 441 students were overcrowding both dormitories and school buildings. Then came the disastrous fire which destroyed the dormitory and scattered the students for the time. The marvelous success of the institution made it impossible to build again on the same crowded campus. Twenty acres beyond the limits of the town were secuted, where a magnificent brick academy, mod- ern dormitories, president’s house and refectory with do- mestic science features have been erected for boarders: and higher classes. The plant in the town will be utilized for primary and intermediate grades—the entire plant valued at $150,000. Mr. Geo. W. Watts made its suc- cess possible by assuming its entire support, and since his 74 The Romance of Home Missions death his wife has accepted it as her Home Mission re- sponsibility, greatly enlarging the amount by reason of its increasing needs and responsibilities. Its history is a thrilling romance—stranger than fiction. It has grown like magic and is today the second largest educational in- stitution in the entire Church. Its future is bounded only by the providence of God. Rev. J. K. Coit and Wife, and Nacoochee Nacoochee Institute was first conceived in the vision of Hon. J. R. Lunsden and his neighbors residing in this lovely valley. Rev. J. D. Blackwell submitted the propo- sition to the Home Mission Committee in Atlanta; and it was undertaken first as an experiment supplemented by the substantial contribution of Mr. Jno. J. Eagan. Rev. J. T. Wade, appointed by Athens Presbytery— which next became its sponsor—began laying the founda- tion in 1903. After four years of heroic services Mr. Wade resigned and for two years the work languished. In 1908 the trustees called Rev. John Knox Coit, of Bethel Presbytery, South Carolina. He came to Georgia and took up the work in April, while his young wife battled for the life of their firstborn son in the moun-- tains of western North Carolina. In October a telegram called Mr. Coit to the graveside of their only son in Salisbury, N. C. Distressed and sorrowing, the couple returned and began their work at Nacoochee Institute, where they have continued until the present. “They found property consisting of twenty-six acres of land, two buildings—one being the academy donated by the community and the other a dormitory built entirely cyt The Romance of Home Missions % with borrowed money—three teachers and eighty-five pupils. It was burdened with a debt of $7,000. Its en- largement began by the co-operative effort of the Home Mission Committee, clearing the debt, and a cottage for the principal erected by Mrs. S. L. Morris in memory of her mother. Today the institute owns, free of all en- cumbrance, 321 acres of land, seven semi-permanent buildings, and thirty small temporary buildings, the whole amounting in value to $70,000. There are fourteen mem- bers of the faculty, eight additional workers and an av- erage enrollment for the past ten years of 220.” Mr. and Mrs. Coit, eminently qualified for the task, have been most wonderfully blest in having all through the years of labor, a strong faculty of devoted, self- denying spirits of exceptional ability, who have labored because of their love for the work. Their aim has been to give the finest possible Christian training and educa- tional advantages to those who otherwise would have had no chance. Almost every student represents a venture of faith. Their joy is enhanced, looking back over twenty years of history in realizing that practically every stu- dent, who has spent as much as one year in the institution has been led to accept Christ as Savior. Every student. graduated from the high school for twenty years, is liv- ing today and each is filling a place of usefulness. A man of prominence visiting from a distant state. attended prayers at Nacoochee. The superintendent told the story of his early vision of such an ideal institution. From all over the land, behind the hills, beyond the moun- tains, came scores and hundreds of eager-faced youths to be taught. The superintendent expressed his conviction that this dream was coming true at Nacoochee Institute. 76 The Romanee of Home Missions Others have seen the same inspiring sight and are catch- ing the vision of a great institution. One seven-year-old Nacoochee boy asked wistfully, “Father, what is the horizon?” ‘The horizon, little son,” the father explained, “is where the earth and sky come together.” Gazing quietly out of the window for a mo- ment, the little fellow drawing a long breath asked, “Father, what is beyond the horizon?” With moistened eyes and rising lump in his throat, the father said, “That, my son, is for you to find out; and it will keep you in- terested in doing your best for the rest of your life.” Service at Nacoochee is an ever renewing romance. One cultured, discriminating man once remarked, “I see — the point. You Nacoochee people are squarely up against real life in all of its reality.” Another,.a woman known in missionary circles of all denominations the world over for twenty years, after a visit to Nacoochee, said, “Don’t ever ask anybody but a thoroughbred to join your Nacoochee staff.” “And what is your definition of a thoroughbred, Miss P.?” “One who can do everything and can endure anything.” And so the romance of the service keeps the worker ever renewed and with the spirit of explorer and pioneer, pressing to discover the fair lands just beyond the horizon in the splendid human souls entrusted to our care. Nacoochee’s students have attended, or are now in, Davidson, King, Presbyterian College, Clinton, S. C., Oglethorpe, Emory, Mercer, Georgia Tech., University of Georgia, Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Columbia Theological Seminary, Kentucky Theological Seminary, Louisville, The Assembly’s Training School, The Romance of Home Missions 7/7 Agnes Scott, Athens Normal School, State College for Women, Milledgeville, Ga., Washington and Lee, An- napolis Naval Academy, Berea, Ky., Piedmont, and North Carolina College for Women, Greensboro—where one of their number voiced the sentiment of the many: “Tf it had not been for the open door at Nacoochee, in- stead of being in this great institution of learning, | perhaps would still be shut up within the little mountain cabin where I was found.” They, who have lived long’ at Nacoochee, have come to know all the martyrs did not die in the first centuries, nor do all the heroes sleep on Flanders Field. Alfred Erickson The modesty of the missionary and the lack of detailed information on the part of the author are a twofold handicap in the effort to do substantial justice to worthy achievements in Home Mission spheres. Study classes must read between the lines and give play to imagination to supply the depressing environments and aggravating handicap required in cbtaining conspicuous results, de- spite overwhelming adverse odds. Alfred Erickson, Superintendent of our Pike County, Ky., Mission, was born in Shelton, N. J., and edu- cated in the public schools of that state, receiving his de- grees from Rutgers College and his theological training in Princeton Seminary. Coming to Kentucky in 1900, after his seminary course, he has been actively engaged in distinctive Home Mission work for nineteen years, closely associated with, and a part of, the slow, even strides of civilization and progress 78 The Romance of Home Missions in general. At first the enrollment of the school at Phelps, now Matthew T. Scott Academy, was small and the people were slow to take hold of a. new adventure; now, through a quiet, persistent effort, the influence ex- tends for miles. Beginning with only a small residence, now in addi- tion to a large school building with rooms for boys, there is another dormitory for girls, a domestic science build- ing, a farm of seventy-five acres of the most valuable land in this section, part of it in cultivation, with an apple orchard of 1,000 trees. A new church building made of the native blue sand- stone is nearly complete, costing over $12,000. In the spring will be erected a small hospital for the care of the sick school children as well as those in the community. The entire plant is conservatively estimated at $65,000. Mr. Erickson has witnessed the results of the feudal spirit, has helped dress wounds of some of the victims. reasoned with “both sides,” and buried their dead. With Phelps as a center, are other mission stations— one on Knox Creek, where the feudal spirit was at its height when the Pike County work began. The lamented Dr. S. D. Boggs held services in a grape arbor under most trying experiences; but now the chapel and mission home, standing on this same spot, are looked upon with pride and deepest respect; while at Majestic, a mining town, the foreign element is reached in addition to the native mountaineer. “In the years that have passed there has been much to discourage, the work has been hard, but the results are The Romance of Home Missions 79 seen in better homes, better living in the homes, greater appreciation, development in the grace of giving to the benevolences of the church, sympathy and help on the part of the better classes, and many souls brought to Christ, together with a yearly output of children from the school taking their places in hospitals, colleges, in business, in the legal profession, in the medical world, ‘and especially in the homes—and all these going out not only educated in head but in heart and active in every good work of the Kingdom.” Mountaincrest Similar needs, romances and splendid achievements pertain to the Ozarks of the West. One illustration will serve the purpose of exhibiting the character of the ser- vice rendered and of the work accomplished. Several years ago Rev. J. Ev Jeter and wife were touched with the destitution of a large mountain region in the heart of the Ozarks, in the northwestern section of Arkansas. God laid this whole needy area on their hearts and consciences. Without a dollar, without any backing whatever, they turned their back on civilization and by faith undertook to establish a school to meet this pathetic call of human need. They bought a little moun- tain cabin and farm by faith at a point where four coun- ties join, appropriately named “‘Mountaincrest.” As Sec- retary of Home Missions, the author made a visit to this mission in its incipiency and was never more touched than with the pathetic situation. It was the beginning of severe winter. The children could easily crawl through the cracks between the rough logs of the house. At bed- 1SSLONS The Romance of Home M 80 ‘JI pawsoysues} Avy} se ysas-) urejunoy (q) ‘pourqwios yosnyo puB [OOYOs ‘aWoY SB 3s41y Pas/) ‘31 pUNOJ ss9}9f BY} SB 3S9IT) UTBJUNOYW (B) The Romance of Home Missions 81 time, there being no stairway to the loft, the children and some members of the family climbed up the sides of the house like squirrels through an opening above, where they slept on the hard boards. The Secretary preached on Sabbath in the living room to a mixed audience of mountaineers and foreigners—one family being from Alsace-Lorraine and another from Germany! He left with mingled feelings of pity and admiration—enrolling J. E. Jeter and wife in the Eleventh Ee of Hebrews among the heroes of faith. Now after a few years of service witness the magnif- cent results as told by the man who transformed this bare mountain top into “a city set on a hill:” ‘More than four years have passed since we started the Mountain Mission work in Washburn Presbytery. These years have been full of both sunshine and shadow, of bright hopes and dark despair, yet always more of the former than the latter. There were practically no Sun-, day-schools through the country districts and many chil- dren had never attended one. On the mountain ‘top the country was level and the atmosphere invigorating— the mountain itself being about twenty-five miles long with width ranging from a wagon road to two or three miles. There was no school, either day or Sunday. There was a vacant house, a very home-like place, with two rooms and a kitchen; and there was a barn where imag- ination immediately pictured a POEMS sce milch cow and a pony. “ ‘Beautiful Mountain Crest,’ its name suggests itself to you. When the sun rises in the morning it shows you its splendor, and with it there arises a feeling that you 82 The Romance of Home Missions are on top of the earth and above its difficulties. It is a place to rest, worship and pray and last, but not least, a place to work, for there are incessant calls coming from all sides for the Gospel. Looking away to the north and east the mountains are broken by a tangle of ravines, out of which emerges the White River, sparkling on its long journey to the sea. To the south and east is the wild gorge of the Hurricane, while further on and to the north, close to where White River is born, Mulberry gushes forth and flows to the south, opening up a small inland empire. Over this many miles of broken expanse my mind constantly wanders, for wrapped in its folds, nestling close to its breast are hundreds of little moun- tain homes, and in each immortal souls. Some are perched like the eagle’s nest far up in her mountain coves, while others lie nestled in the valleys. It is for these, Moun- taincrest came into existence. “First on the scene, and alone, she raises her stately head, a mountain college, a seat of learning, worthy we hope of the great Church that brought her forth. Situ- ated near where four counties come together and on the divide between Arkansas and White Rivers, at an eleva- tion of about 2,500 feet, we have one of the best locations for raising and keeping vegetables found in the state, though we are six miles from a railroad station. We have one hundred and seventy acres of land, with about forty acres cleared. Our girls’ dormitory, just being completed, has cost in the neighborhood of $5,000. Each room is nicely furnished, which represents nearly $2,000 more. We have an enrollment of thirty-five pupils and more wanting to come. The Synod has adepted the school and granted permission to raise $12,000 to build and The Romance of Home Missions 83 equip a boys’ dormitory. Our buildings are all paid for, the money mostly having been raised by the women of the Synodical, who have sustained the school both by their means and their prayers—and an appropriation from the Home Mission Committee of Atlanta. We see a great field of labor with glorious opportunities, and solicit. the co-operation of God’s people in its de- velopment.” Limited space will not allow narrating the stories of other similar institutions. The object of this study is not to cover the whole field but only to give specimens, cal- culated to illustrate the work and to reveal the romance of this sphere of service. BROTHERHOOD O land long hidden, long reserved! Safeguarded by the encircling sea, While Crown and Mitre rule the world And craven nations bowed the knee. Thy day is come. Thy starry gates Lift up their heads, with welcome crowned; “Come, all who dare my larger life, Who feel the pulse of freedom bound.” From Norway's wintry capes they come, From fair Italia’s sunlit plains; From fierce misrule and brutal wrong, The Jew throws off his hated chains; From Fatherland; from mother-love, The hardy Teuton finds a home, And Russ and Slav, Greek, Pole and Finn— From every land and sea they come. They come! They come! God give Thee Men! Men of the Prophet’s faith and mood, To read the dawning in the sky, Of universal Brotherhood. O land long hidden! Land of Hope! God keep Thee to Thy mission true; To heal the ancient wrong, and make Of all the old, one better new. Chapter Four The ROMANCE of NATIONALITY In all the ages the migrations of peoples by nations, by colonies and by individuals have filled a large place in the history of the world, often resulting in disastrous wars, frequently in changing the map of the world and ordinarily in influencing the destiny of nations. “The finger of God in History” suggests fruitful study and is a favorite theme with thoughtful students of divine providence. In the classic city of Athens on historic Mars Hill the greatest of Christian philosophers proclaimed: God “hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before ap- pointed and the bounds of their habitation.” He might as truthfully have added that the divine guiding hand changes their “habitations” and shapes their destiny according to His purposes of grace in His moral government for the salvation of the world. Secular vs. Sacred History Sacred History differs from secular in more clearly ex- hibiting the hand of God behind the curtain, shifting the scenes and ordaining the means to the end. The con- fusion of tongues at Babel is not only an inspired explana- tion of the origin of nations but an illuminating statement of the purpose of God in their migrations. The Exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt was not only accord- ing to the divine purpose but “with signs and wonders” 85 86207 The Romance of Home Missions in which the hand of God in intervention was as manifest as His divine power in execution. “Is He the God of the Jews only’—and of Biblical times solely? “Is He not also of the Gentiles’—and of all the ages directing and controlling the movements of modern times and the events of secular history? The westward march of nations in- dicates a unity of plan as truly as any event recorded on the sacred page. The invasions of the Goths and Vandals fulfilled a divine purpose for the disintegration of the Roman Empire, which had served its mission and was due by reason of its internal corruption to give place to other nations in swaying the scepter of empire. The coloniza- tion of the British Isles first by the Celts, then by the Angles and Saxons and afterward by the Danes and Nor- mans was the first conspicuous experiment of History in the production of a composite nation—just the opposite of the exclusiveness of the Jewish racial type. The Great Composite The history of the United States is a history largely of immigration. The nations of the world by pouring their blood into America are reversing the confusion of Babel and uniting once again the discordant dialects of the earth into the speech of the Anglo-Saxon and trans- forming these heterogeneous people into* the composite and cosmopolitan American. Upon the scientific fact of blood relationship, philanthropy bases the brotherhood of man. Upon the revealed fact of redemption by the blood of Christ, Christianity grounds the brotherhood of be- lievers. The Tower of Babel is the symbol of disintegra- tion. Pentecost is its reversal—a prophecy of its fulfil- ment in the divine purposes of the Church by means of The Romance of Home Missions 87 its missionary operations. Is there anything in Fiction to compare with the Romance of Nationality—the divine drama, exhibiting disunion by sin and reunion by the Gospel of the Son of God? The Father of Immigrants The migrations of nations and of colonies have had manifest influence on, human destiny, but perhaps not so great nor so potent in the aggregate as the immigration of individuals. Abraham.is not only “the father of the faithful” but of immigrants as well, being the first and most conspicuous individual who “by faith when he was called to go out into a place which he should after re- ceive for an inheritance obeyed; and he went out not knowing whither he went.” Multitudes have since fol- lowed his example, not always conscious of a divine call, ‘but all in a sense guided by the same hand and under a similar impulse as that of Abraham—or the “waterfowl” whose migratory flight is the subject of William Cullen Bryant’s poetic theme. Emigrating. colonies influence the country of. their adoption, and often change the current of history, while they themselves holding together as a unit are often com- paratively unaffected by their new environment. It is equally true that segregation gives them a_ solidarity which renders them to a certain extent impervious to national and religious influences. The individual on the contrary is the opportunity of the Church. The change of residence makes a hiatus in his life; and the absence of family ties or ungodly associations make access easier, while new scenes render him more approachable and more yielding to the Gospel. This is the potent explanation 88 The Romance of Home Missions of the fact that missions in behalf of Mexicans in Texas have been more successful than for the. same race across the Rio Grande in their native country, where priest and family ties serve to shield them from the approach of the Gospel. Illustrations—Varying Types It is comparatively easy to cull from catalogues the names of a ready-made list of immigrants who have achieved success or fame, and parade them as types— or their illustrious national characters as possibilities— but as a matter of fact these do not represent 100th of 1 per cent of their countrymen. A fairer appraisement, in stricter accord with the truth, is to cite varying types as specimens of those who have attained distinction, and of others unknown to fame, who have contributed to the moral fiber and national life of the Republic—as well — as the derelicts who have proven a lability and’ a menace to the nation. l. Carl Schurz About the middle of the last century there came from Germany a man of striking personality, Carl Schurz, who had been an unsuccessful agitator and revolutionist, which brought him into conflict with his government and eventually to America to. try his fortune in a new en- vironment. He. soon developed. into a national figure, finding abundant opportunity for the display of his un- usual talents. Aligning himself with the North in the struggle between the States, he distinguished himself by courage and ability and was rapidly promoted to com- manding positions of responsibility in military service. The Romance of Home Missions 89 After the war his conspicuous talents lifted him to equal prominence in civil affairs, and finally to the position of Secretary of the Interior in the Cabinet of President Hayes. He is the type of hundreds of the so-called “Army of Invasion,” who were not “born great” or “had greatness thrust upon them’ but who by their merit “achieved greatness.” Let the reader exercise his in- genuity by making out a list of individuals of his type. . 2. Mary Antin One in the same class but who came to America, not in mature life nor with character formed in the land of her birth, is Mary Antin, the Jewish girl, born in Russian Poland, who has written the “Promised Land,” as charm- ing a romance as anything inthe realm of fiction. It graphically describes Polish life in Jewish circles, with incidents and customs which vividly portray beyond anything ever written the handicaps of the Jew, his cruel hardships, especially the bitter persecutions called “Pogroms”’—a word that kept the whole Jewish popula- tion in a state of constant terror. It narrates the trials and impediments, which thwarted again and again the efforts of the family to emigrate to America, the suffo- cating fumigation en route, the aggravating delays, but more especially the child-life of immigrants in Boston, and her language difficulty in the public school, yet car- rying off the honors of the class in her graduation from high school. The saddest part of the narrative is her experience with Christianity, her attendance out of curi- osity upon certain types of evangelistic services and her candid admission that it made no impression upon her religious life. 90 The Romance of Home Missions Is the Church always to blame and to endure censure for not converting the Mary Antins, the Trotzkys and others, who scorn her ministrations and resist her in- — fluences to win them to a Christian life? In estimating church responsibility it should be measured by her fidelity and her persistence in the effort to win the lost. Hers is not the prerogative of the Holy Ghost to make effectual the means of grace. Mary Antin is the type of the im- migrant child, thrust into new environments, blessed with the privileges of American institutions furnished by both church and state, who greatly profit by the latter, but who resist all overtures of the church to transform their spiritual life. ‘Who follows in her train?” | 3. Edward Steiner Born in an insignificant village of the exploded Dual Monarchy among the Carpathian Mountains, Edward Steiner came to America in the maturity of manhood with but little religious inclination, if any. He has risen to positions of the highest distinction as author, educator and Christian philanthropist. Huis great books, “On the Trail of the Immigrant,’ “The Immigrant Tide,” “From Alien to Citizen,” etc., have stirred the church as to her responsibility in a way that none others have done. They are a mirror of his personal struggles and hardships, his amusing and unique experiences at Princeton Seminary. his arrest and false imprisonment, his conversion, his Christian ideals and aims. They record vividly the hfe and handicaps of the immigrant, the receding tide and the influence of the returning Pilgrims upon their native land, constituting a most powerful appeal to the Church to, use her golden opportunity for reaching these new in- The Romance of Home Missions 91 habitants, brought by the providence of God to her very door, in order that she may commission them as_ her representatives in giving the Gospel to their kindred and companions in their native lands. He places on record his testimony that never in his life had he heard more eloquent and powerful preaching than that of some of those immigrants who had been converted in America and were now flaming evangelists among their own peo- ple. He records it as his abiding conviction that this is the surest and speediest method of evangelizing the world. His life-work is teaching in a Theological Seminary at Dubuque, Iowa, for training a native ministry for for- eign-speaking people. His is a brilliant romance in real life. May his tribe increase by geometrical progression! | 4. Samuel Morris In 1788 there came from Stratford-On-Avon, England, the birthplace of Shakespeare, Samuel Morris with wife and eight children. His father, Samuel Morris, 5Sr., evidently was a man of influence as he was appointed by the Church at Stratford on a Committee of three to have charge of the arrangements for the restoration of the monument to Shakespeare, which is still a prominent object in the Church and near his tomb with its well- known inscription. Samuel Morris, Jr., the immigrant, his son, was just an ordinary man of moderate means with a growing family—four children, being born in America, making a dozen in all. Landing in Charleston, S. C., he bought land and located in Abbeville. The youngest of his sons remained with his father and in- herited the parental home. The eldest son removed to Preble County, Ohio, and another to Sparta, Illinois. The 92 The Romance of Home Missions daughters married and located in different states. Evi- dently the family were members of the Church of Eng- land as shown by the Parish Records at Stratford,. but though far separated in distant states of America, they all became members of the Presbyterian Church of the Psalm-singing variety. His descendants, over 500 in number, are scattered in twenty-two states of the Union. They are mostly Presby- terians, except where intermarriage or change of resi- dence has taken some into other denominations. They were not originally Presbyterian by inclination; but in the providence of God their separate lots were cast 1n Presbyterian communities—showing the advantage of having churches in every community to invite member- ship. They are now found in most of the usual profes- sions and various spheres of service—ministers,: teachers physicians, dentists, engineers, real estate agents, mer- chants, postmasters, undertakers, farmers, bankers, edi- tors, and perhaps many others. The remarkable fact is that among the 500 descendants of this immigrant family there has never been a crim- inal—in striking contrast with the famous Jukes family the prolific breeder of criminals. In the War between the States the descendants of Samuel Morris were ar- rayed on opposite sides, five having been killed in the Northern army and seven in the Southern. Among the latter were four brothers in one family and the father of the writer. Others saw service in the World War. in which some of them made the supreme sacrifice. One. a great-grandson, is Executive Secretary of Home Mis? sions of the Presbyterian Church, who has a gon, the The Romance of Home Missions 93 sixth in regular succession, to bear the name of Samuel Morris. This immigrant family is exhibited as perhaps the most common type, representing those of the ordinary class. They were not of the aristocracy, nor furnished descendants who “achieved greatness.” They were as far removed, however, from the other extreme of those who became a liability to the state. They are the type of millions of the middle class who made not themselves but their country great. Most of the readers of this Romance in real life are descendants of the same type of immigrants, their country’s greatest asset. 5. Emma Goldman. Trotzky and Co. There remains: to be considered the type of the unde- sirables, the curse of humanity, the alien who becomes a menace to civilization and a problem for both church and state. The oft quoted story of Trotzky’s career in New York—his laying an injunction on his companions to bring on a revolution in the United States, while he de- parts to Russia for the same purpose—bears all the ear- marks of fiction. Perhaps it has a basis in fact. His type is still doing its utmost to destroy the foundations of society, government, church and Christian civilization —like the serpent which strikes its fangs into the bosom that warms it back to vitality. Emma Goldman is fifty years old, born in Koyno Russia, and in early childhood removed to the United States. In 1887, when seventeen years old, she was mar- ried in Rochester to Jacob A. Kersner, who came from Russia in 1882. Two years later the Kersners were di- vorced by a rabbi according to the Jewish Rite, 94 The Romance of Home Missions Her association with Berkman began thirty years ago in New York, but at their trial for obstructing the draft - both testified they were single—though notoriously’ liv- ing together. “I represent the devil,’ said Miss Gold- man at one of her meetings. “I am an apostle uphold- ing glorious freedom, the apostle standing out against law and order and decency and morality. I am for the devil, wha leads the way to the absolute yielding up to all the emotions here and now. Women are the slaves of little laws and conventions. They’ll learn to break the laws some day.” Berkman and Miss Goldman maide their headquarters in New York but they were well known in every large © city in the United States and also addressed anarchist meetings in Canada, England, Australia, Holland, and other countries. These meetings enabled them to live as comfortably as any despised capitalist would wish at the best hotels. They were finally deported, being returned to Russia from whence they came, where they should find suitable spheres for their peculiar talents. Emma Goldman, Trotzky and Co. fill our prisons, com- pose our breadlines, demoralize our mining and lumber camps, populate our slums, assassinate our Presidents and are incorrigible to all overtures of government, phil- anthropy or Christianity. The unregenerate criticize the Bible and God himself for allowing the Canaanites to be exterminated by Joshua—having filled up the measure of their iniquity. They might as well object to the de- struction of Sodom and Gomorrah by “fire from the Lord out of heaven.” The United States Government cannot exterminate these firebrands. It can only execute The Romance of Home Missions 95 the Guiteaus and Cnolgoshes—after they have assassi- nated two Presidents—imprison the Debs type, deport the Emma Goldmans and by restricted immigration at- tempt to close partly our “unguarded gates,’ and thereby make entrance more difficult. Determining Responsibility In locating, allocating, distributing, accepting or repu- diating responsibility, both Church and state have their separate spheres of influence and their joint problem in handling the immigrants to a certain extent, but not alto- gether nor conclusively. Our attitude, and perhaps our actions, toward the immigrant determine whether he be- comes an asset as in the case of the Morris family or a liability as in the case of Trotzky and Co. The Problem of the State — First of all the state must meet a large portion of its responsibility before passing him on to the church, It has its Congress to pass laws affecting his entrance or exclusion, according to its wisdom, and its Ellis Island with a corps of competent examiners to test physical. mental and moral standards. America, since the war, alarmed lest intolerable Euro- pean conditions should dump their helpless wretchedness upon our shores, by restricted legislation has limited the number of each foreign country to 10% of its present American constituency. Under the operation of this law the number of arrivals annually could not exceed 348,023 —plus additions from Mexico and Canada, two coun- 96 The Romance of Home Missions tries unrestricted—making the total now annually hali a million. Possibly due to that fact, as one potent cause, the in- — coming tide is now turning in favor of Protestantism. A religious analysis made of European immigration for the year ending June 30, 1922, shows the following estimates : } From Protestant countries, 106,000; returned, 27,200; gain, 78,800. From Papal countries, 90,000; returned, 114,200; loss, 24 800. Hebrews, 53,000; returned, 830; gain, 52,170. The aggregate of foreigners, and their children born in the United States, totals 36,000,000, almost exactly one-third of our population. An analysis of our Amer- ican stock indicates 35% as Anglo-Saxon; 30% Teu- tonic; 15% Celtic; 10% Slavic and kindred peoples, and 10% Asiatics and Negroes. Assimilation America is the only country where “the melting pot’’ boils successfully and mixes effectively. Britishers, Ger- mans, Americans and others may become identified with other countries of their adoption but remain like the Gulf Stream, a current separate, which flows within its own channel. Not so with the United States; practically all who come hither are grist for the American mill. Be the alloy base or pure gold, the mixture is an American product. The New American is a composite experiment of the Divine Alchemist, and holds the future of the world in his potent hands. | The Romance of Home Missions vi The processes which mould this cosmopolitan citizenry are Naturalization, Americanization, and Christianization. They are not identical; and the National character of America, as well as the world’s future welfare, is con- tingent upon the latter. The difficulty of assimilating them into our national life and giving them Protestant Christianity grows out of their tendency to segregate themselves in our con- gested cities as colonies. Statistics show that 72% settle in our cities. In New York the increase in popula- tion during the first decade of the twentieth century for Russians, Italians and Austro-Hungarians was greater in each case than in the native population. The Problem of the Church If the state is charged with the responsibility of As- similation by processes of Americanization, the Church has the larger and more difficult task of Christianization. The one undertakes to prepare him for citizenship in the American commonwealth. The other seeks to qualify him for citizenship in the New Jerusalem. Until recently they segregated themselves in colonies, principally in great Northern cities, such as New York . and Chicago, but they are now overflowing into the great Southwest and are congregating in our Southern cities. Most of them come with their Continental ideas of the Sabbath, with socialistic principles, and many break away from all connection with the church. They are divided into three classes: 1. Those who are bitterly antagonistic _to the church and all forms of religion. 2. Those who are nominally Roman Catholic but indifferent to their obligations, which they imagine they have left behind 98 The Romance of Home Missions them in their native land, and give loose reins to their in- clinations, subversive of all morality. 3. Those who have escaped the domination of the priest and are approach- able and receptive to the claims of evangelical Chris- tianity. A peculiar difficulty grows out of the difference be- tween a type of religion which was gorgeously ritualistic and politico-national, re-enforced by magnificent Cathe- drals, in contrast with the severe spiritual type of Protes- tantism, more especially when they are invited to shabby mission rooms on a back street. In one of our own missions those who had been accustomed to pictures on the walls as aids to their devotion saw in our Protestant Church only a clock, which some of the congregation watched occasionally, and it was ludicrous but somewhat natural that they went out and reported that Protestants worshipped a clock! | Assembly’s Home Missions is playing an important part and reaching twelve distinct Nationalities—combin- ing Home and Foreign Missions. The sweep of its in- fluence, however, is too limited, being confined to indi- vidual colonies in certain great centers where they con- gregate in racial groups. The supreme task of evangeliz- ing these peoples, in the providence of God brought to our doors, will never be effectually accomplished, till the conscience of local churches is awakened and their com- bined membership is marshalled in a vast recruiting agency for enlisting them under the banner of the cross. The Personal Equation The story of adventure and achievement among for- eign-speaking peoples, expressed in terms of the personal The Romance of Home Missions Oo equation, cannot be narrated in full but only suggested by illustrations of individual sacrifice and service as specimens. The Original Americans For three hundred years we have only played at the task of evangelizing the Indians, so that today there are still 49,000 Indians beyond the reach of any missionary work, while less than one-third of the Indian population is related to the various Christian communions; but the story of Christian missions is enriched by the self-deny- ing labors and the earnest and successful work of those who through the centuries have ministered to this ro- mantic race. ) The outstanding figure in Indian Missions of all times is John Eliot, whom Dr. Chas. L. Thompson in “The Soul of America” classes as a Presbyterian. Coming to Massachusetts in 1631 he spent fourteen years studying the Algonquin language, and then began his great work of. translating the entire Bible into that tongue. This was the first book that came from the American press, and it was published just fifty years after the King James Bible. He gathered the Indians in small villages around the colonists’ villages, that they might be thoroughly im- bued with the colonial Christian life. In thirty years the baptized Indians numbered 11,000 and had schools in fourteen towns. David Brainerd is probably the name most familiar as an early Presbyterian missionary to the Indians, though his labors lasted but four years. He was blessed with wonderful success, and it was the inspiration of his life and work, as shown by his diary, which sent Jonathan 100 The Romance of Home Missions Edwards to the Indians, Henry Martyn, of Cambridge. to Arabia, and William Cary to India, a pioneer in the great modern missionary era. : . Jonathan Edwards subsequently took up the work and continued it until he was called to the Presidency of Princeton University. In the Revolutionary War the best of the young men of the tribe fell fighting for our country’s liberty and when the Indian survivors re- turned at the close of the war, a barbecue was prepared for them, at the suggestion of General Washington. In modern times there has been erected a monument to these early Christian Indians, which bears the simple in- scription, ‘“To the Friends of Our Fathers.” The First Native Missionary Cooper wrote of ‘The Last of the Mohicans,” but this is another instance where the vanishing race failed to disappear, for the Mohicans have decidedly increased in two hundred years, and the last census showed over five hundred Mohicans, now known as the Stockbridge Indians of Wisconsin. Probably the first native mis- sionary was a member of the Mohican tribe, Samson Occum, a pupil of Rev. Eleazar Wheelock’s Indian School near Norwich, Conn. He began his work among the Montauk Indians on Long Island. He went to England and Scotland in the interest of his work, even securing a contribution from King George, and brought back $60,000, which was used in founding Dartmouth College. intended originally for Indian youth. His most impor- tant work was among the Oneidas, and he induced the Mohicans to remove from Connecticut to land among the» Onedias, where he founded a remarkable town known as ~The Romance of Home Missions 101 Brothertown. These Indians and this town were after wards moved to Lake Winnebago, Wis., where they founded the first free school in Wisconsin, and gave to the Northwest its first woman teacher, Electra Finney, an Indian. Occum wrote several hymns, the most famil- iar being: Awaked by Sinai’s awful sound, My soul in bonds of guilt I found, And knew not where to go; Eternal truth did loud proclaim, “The sinner must be born again, Or sink to endless woe.” Gideon Blackburn The first missionary sent out under our Church as a missionary to the Indians was Gideon Blackburn, who probably did more than any one man to establish Presby- terianism in Tennessee and some parts of Kentucky. He was sent out in 1803 to the Cherokees by the Standing Committee on Missions, at his earnest appeal. Believing it only an experiment they commissioned him and gave him $200 for the support of a mission for two months. Calling a council of two thousand Indians he secured their assent to his plans, and they promised to send their children to the school he would open. After getting his school well started, he gathered Indians-and white set- tlers for a treaty of friendship and co-operation. Gov- ernor Sevier, who was present, said to Blackburn, with tears running down his face, “I have often stood un- moved in the midst of showers of bullets from Indian rifles, but this effectually unmans me. I see civilization taking the ground of barbarism and the praises of Jesus succeeding the war-whoop of the savages.” 102 The Romance of Home Missions Blackburn’s health forced him to retire from this ser- vice in a short three years’ time, but he was succeeded by Cyrus Kingsbury and others, and from that day, the Cherokee Indians have been known as one of the five civilized tribes. It is interesting to note that Missionary Ridge received its name from a mission to the Cherokees, Brainerd es- tablished at that place, with Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury in charge. A school was established and much good done. When the Choctaws heard of the work being done for the Cherokees, they made application to the American Board of Missions, asking that a Bible School be given them, where their children could be taught the true way of life. Their request was granted and a school was es- tablished at Eliot, under Mr. Kingsbury. Other stations were opened, supervised by such men as Ebenezer Hotch- kin, Cyrus Byington, and Alfred Wright. The record of work among the Cherokees is one for pride and also for shame. In 1825 a young minister, Samuel Worcester, six days after he was ordained, with his young wife, started as a missionary to the Cherokees in Georgia and Tennessee. Finding the white men were taking the Indians’ lawful lands, he took up the cause of the Indians. One day while preaching, he was arrested, and after being taken on foot many miles he was im- prisoned. He was finally tried before a Georgia judge, with his associate, Dr. Butler, and sentenced to four years in Milledgeville Penitentiary. This was done under cover of a law which required every white man in the Cherokee country to take the oath of allegiance to the state, although as a federal official he was exempt. For * sixteen months he served, his wife and children being The Romance of Home Missions 103 left helpless. At the end of that time they were re- leased and resumed their labors. The Migration The missions east of the Mississippi were kept up until the migration of the tribes to Indian Territory began in 1832. One by one the mission points were closed, and many of the workers gave up the work and went back to their homes. The few who packed up their few earthly belongings and went with the Indians to their new homes in Indian Territory are sacred in the memory of the Choc- taws and the Presbyterian Church. “Only those who made the journey are capable of tell- ing just what it meant. They, alone, can tell just how terribly hard it was; the deep sorrow the Indians felt at having to leave their homes; the long, toilsome journey to the land of promise towards where the sun goes to sleep, the Indian Territory, set apart by our government to be their home “so long as grass grows and water runs.” More times than once on that long journey they suffered from hunger, sometimes they would beg for ears of corn from farmers whose farms they were pass- ing. The journey was made in the coldest part of the winter. It is said that one large company made the trip with nine-tenths of the women barefooted. The most of them were obliged to walk, even though at times the ground was frozen. The swamps in Mississippi were overflowed and the sickness, suffering and death that re- sulted from that muddy trail was terrible. One instance is recorded where a company of Indians were surrounded by water for sixty days. Famishing and perishing from hunger and cold, they saw their horses stick in the mud, 104 The Romance of Home Missions freeze and die before aid came to them at all. To many of them help came too late, for although none of the Indians froze, numbers of them died from exposure. All along the journey graves were made, for vast numbers of them died before they reached the end of a journey which has aptly been named ‘The Trail of Tears.’ “At last the tedious journey was over. The remnants of many, once powerful, tribes reached the Indian Terri- tory, which at that time was almost a wilderness. This was to be their home forever, so the treaty made with the United States Government assured them. “From an old record, which is now almost a sacred relic to Indian Presbytery, we find that at a meeting of Indian Missionaries at Bethel Church, Choctaw, Nation, in 1836, there were present as active missionaries in the field, Reverends Cyrus Byington, Alfred Wright, and Ebenezer Hotchkin, all old friends of the Indians, all three having labored among them in the old home-land across the big waters. These three devoted, consecrated men were placed among the Choctaws to labor, to open mission points, to prepare the way for other laborers to follow.” Upon the foundations laid by them, Indian Presbytery and the Synod of Oklahoma have been built. Frank Wright, Evangelist One of the greatest evangelists produced by the Pres- byterian Church was Rev. Frank Wright, of the Indian Territory, whose father, Allen Wright, was a full-blood Choctaw preacher and chief of the Nation, but whose mother was one of our white mission teachers among the Indians. Their gifted son, a halfbreed, was educated at . The Romance of Home Missions 105 Princeton and possessed a _ voice like Caruso, which brought him a most flattering offer to sing in Grand Opera. His early ministry in the City of New York gave promise of a brilliant career, but his Lord and Master had greater things in store for him, though the way led “through the valley of the shadow of death.” Being stricken down with tuberculosis, his life trembling in the balance, by prayer and faith his health was recovered by going back to his native plains in the far West, where he became a successful missionary to his own Indian people. He had in the meantime lost the knowledge of his native tongue. It was a curious sight to see this Choctaw Indian speaking to his people through Rev. Charles Hotchkin, a white interpreter, who spoke Choc- taw like a native. His melodious voice, his eloquent tongue, and his great evangelistic gifts created such de- mand for his services, that the largest churches through- out the United States vied with each other for his minis- trations, and his services were engaged more than a year in advance. Hundreds of his converts and thousands of his friends in every section of the country were shocked and grieved at his untimely death in the midst of his career of unsurpassed usefulness. Rev. Silas Bacon Rev. Silas L. Bacon, who died December 28, 1922, after a lingering illness, was the leading Choctaw minister of Indian Presbytery, and one of the most remarkable characters and finest products of our Mission Schools for the Indians. He’ was educated at Spencer Academy, under the tuition of the Rev. J. J. Read, which at that time was our leading Missionary School for Indians. 106 The Romance of Home Missions « His religious life was fervent, pronounced and uncom- promising. Very early he heard and answered the call to become an ambassador for Christ to his own people. Rev. and Mrs. Silas L. Bacon, Founders of Goodland School and Orphanage for Indians. No man ever had more unbounded influence among his people, nor enjoyed more thoroughly the perfect confi- dence of both Indians and Whites. The Romance of Home Missions 107 Perhaps his greatest achievement was the establish- ment of Goodland Indian School and Orphanage. Begin- ning in a small way, twenty years ago, its first dormitory was a rude hut for boys, supplemented by his own humble home for girls. He literally impoverished himself, put- ting his property, earnings and every available asset into the enterprise. If the Tribal authorities assigned eighty scholars at $7.00 a month each and one hundred came, he accepted all, although receiving no remuneration for the board of these extra students. ‘He was instrumental in securing for the school 640 acres of Indian land valued at $6,000 and an appropria- tion from the Choctaw Legislature of $10,000 for build- ings, the Executive Committee having already erected one brick dormitory at a cost of $5,000. Through the ap- peals of Mrs. Gibbons and himself he erected other build- ings; and at his death he left behind an institution valued at nearly $50;000, which has trained hundreds of Indians. _ Silas Bacon is typical of multitudes of Indians with rugged, earnest Christian characters, who are unknown to the Church—elders, deacons, and godly women, conspicu- ous and unmistakable products of divine grace, more than justifying the investments of the Church in its unrivaled Indian Missions. Indian Incidents As Secretary of Home Missions, the author has been a regular and fascinated attendant upon Indian Presbytery, for twenty years, and gave the following account of his recent visit : “Indian Presbytery is a most unique gathering. The Presbytery lasts one week, and they kill beeves or hogs 108 The Romance of Home Missions to feed the crowd. In communities where only a few families live it costs, on an average, more than $100 per family to entertain Presbytery; and yet they contend for the privilege. They begin early with sunrise prayer meet- ing, and insist on preaching at least twice a day. Every- thing must be interpreted into English or vice versa. It requires ordinarily one hour to read and interpret the Minutes of the previous day. “At this meeting of Presbytery he was introduced to. a full-blood Choctaw boy, twelve years old, and was in- formed that he was a regularly ordained deacon in a Presbyterian Church. “The statement was made on the floor of Presbytery that one of their churches had dwindled to two families, containing five members and in very ordinary circum-. stances; and yet that church contributed during the year for its support and benevolences over $400. “They are as simple in their faith as children, sing the most pathetic, weird tunes, which sometimes bring tears to the eyes of visitors. They have such tender con- _ sciences, they will not take communion after a fall till they have confessed and had assurance that the church has forgiven them. They might teach Catholics the real meaning of confession and forgiveness.” Visiting one of the Mission Schools, the teacher made the statement that all the children knew the Shorter Catechism and proceeded to demonstrate the fact by call- ing up a six-year-old Indian boy who-was subjected to a successful examination. Nelson Wolfe, one of their full-blood Choctaw preach- ers, in addressing a General Assembly, related the follow- The Romance of Home Missions 109 ing incident: A white man said to him: “Nelson, we white people crowded you out of the East. We are now crowding you out of Oklahoma; and we intend to keep on till we crowd you Indians into hell.” Quick as a flash came back the reply: ‘Unless you change your ways, | think you are in danger of crowding us out of hell.” Baily Springs, an Indian elder with a college education, Principal of Goodland School and Orphanage, was nomi- nated recently for Moderator of the General Assembly, and in making an address before that highest court of the Church, said: “Perhaps I am not the type you expected to see. The Indian of the old trail has passed. We now wear citizen’s clothes, and our paint and feathers have been appropriated by the white ladies.” Romance of Oklahoma Presbyterian College Twenty-five years ago Calvin Ralston, Jr., the little son of our missionary to the Indians, was accidentally drowned. His small bank deposit was dedicated by his parents to the establishment of a Mission School in the town of Durant, known as “Calvin Institute’ in his honor: After a few years it developed into “Durant College,” the build- ing costing $12,000. The first year revealed its utter in- adequacy to meet the need, but it served the purpose of Christian education for seven years, under the efficient Presidency of the Rev. E. Hotchkin, himself being the third generation of missionaries to the Indians. His ad- dress before the General Assembly at Greensboro, N. C., in 1908, evoked a spontaneous response, embodied in a resolution for the enlargement of this institution into the “Oklahoma Presbyterian College.” 110 The Romance of Home Missions The town of Durant purchased the college building for a high school, paying the Home Mission Committee $20,000 for it, and friends in Durant presented the new institution with a magnificent site of twenty-three acres at a cost of $27,000. The Executive Committee undertook the erection of a hundred thousand dollar building, largely on faith in God, and in the women of the Missionary So- cieties. Its confidence in both sources of help was well founded, but it struggled with a tremendous debt for several years, being bonded for $30,000. | Rev. E. Hotchkin having declined re-election, Prof. W. B. Morrison, one of the teachers, was called to the Presidency, a remarkably wise choice, and he successfully financed its affairs for ten years and educated hundreds of young people now serving the state and church in every useful capacity. The school being crowded beyond all capacity and con- ception, the General Assembly meeting at Durant in 1918, authorized the Home Mission Committee to un- dertake a second dormitory, costing nearly $100,000, which again entailed a heavy debt on the struggling in- stitution in a weak Synod which could not rally to its support. The town, however, paid one-third of the cost, the Home Mission Committee another third; and Mr. C. E. Graham of blessed memory came to the rescue with $20,000, one-half being paid before his death and the other half assumed since by his family. In 1922 there was an indebtedness of about $20,000 on the property, and nearly $10,000 of accumulated deficits on current expenses and repairs. The new dormi- — tory was bare of furniture, practically all the teachers The Romance of Home Missions 111 declined re-election from lack of faith in its ability to pay salaries and, worst of all, it had no prospect of students. In such circumstances the college threw open its doors with hope at the‘lowest ebb. Then came the first sur- prise. Students poured in from all over the state and from far down in Texas. Not only was it the best open- ing in its history, but it was blessed with the finest body of students imaginable—mature in age, serious in pur- pose and. with physical and mental endowments unsur- passed by any Junior College in the land. Next came the wiping out of all indebtedness—its Board of Trustees, at its recent meeting, had to pinch each other to be sure they were not dreaming. How did it all happen? Well, the mantle of a noble sire fell upon the worthy shoulders of his son, Allen G. Graham, who started the ball rolling by agreeing to pay the $10,000 which his father hinted as a prospect when he paid the first $10,000. Several Indians came into fortunes by the discovery of oil on their lands, and three of them gave $20,000 to the college—an illustration of “casting bread on the waters” by the Presbyterian Church in years past, and now coming back in grateful recog- nition of the benefit received by the Indian people. Sev- eral of them have also made large gifts to the Goodland School. The remarkable thing about it is that none of these Indians belonged to our Church, The Oklahoma Presbyterian College is just in the be- ginning of its career of usefulness. If properly equipped and sustained, it will quadruple its usefulness in the near. future and will multiply its results in ever-increasing ratio as the years go by and will more and more dem- 112 The Romance of Home Missions onstrate its claims as perhaps the best investment the Church ever made in building up the Kingdom of God in the Southwest. Mexican Missions Next to our Indian Work, the Mexican is the oldest and the most successful. Even in their case only a few incidents and illustrations, as specimens, can be given place. Texas, the largest state in the Union, was originally a constituent part of Mexico. Its original inhabitants did not emigrate to the United States. They were the natives as truly as were the Indians. The Sabine River, separating Louisiana and Texas, was the boundary line. Americans emigrated to Texas. Then came the strug- gle in which the Lone Star State gained its independence and was admitted to the Union. New Mexico was after- ward wrenched from its fatherland and annexed by. the United States. In considering, therefore, the Mexicans who have “come” to this country, it must be recognized that multitudes of them never “‘came;’ they were already here. The total number living in this Union at present would fall little short of a million—over half of that number being in Texas. More of the same type are welcome. They are a valuable asset. Jose Maria Botello One of those who did emigrate forty years ago, Jose Maria Botello, will always be honored in missionary cir- cles as practically the founder of the Texas-Mexican Presbyterian Church. Coming under the influence of our Foreign Mission work on the border he was con- The Romance of Home Missions 113 verted. Soon after this he removed with his family to San Marcos, where he was instrumental in bringing several of his countrymen into the Church; and under the ministry of the lamented Dr. J..B. French the first Mexican Presbyterian Church was organized. Two sing- ular coincidences occurred in connection with that. or- ganization. One of the charter members: returned to Victoria, Mexico, and was instrumental, as reported by Dr. Graybill, in organizing a Presbyterian Church in that important city, which led to the establishment of one of the most strategic Foreign Mission stations in Mexico —showing how Home and Foreign Missions act and react on each other. The other remarkable coincidence was the fact that Walter S. Scott, born of Scotch par- ents in old Mexico, acted as interpreter on the occasion and was taken under the care of Presbytery and became the first Presbyterian evangelist to the Mexicans in Texas and has organized the majority of all the Mexi- can churches. The church organized at San Marcos has grown into the Presbytery of Texas-Mexican, which now has _ its “Advance Field” under Mr. Scott’s supervision looking to the organization of a second Mexican Presbytery, and its great Texas-Mexican Institute at Kingsville, for boys, under the competent management of Dr. J. W. Skinner, with a similar institution for girls at Taft just beginning. The Mexican Presbyterian forces in Texas have grown to 15 ministers, 32 churches, 1832 communicants and property valued at $100,000. The story reads like fic- tion. It is an accredited romance abundantly substan- tiated by living witnesses. 114 The Romance of Home Missions Rev. Walter S. Scott contributed to the religious press the following incidents which lend additional color to the romance of the story: . “Returning once from a visit to our Uvalde Mexican church, I stopped at Sabinal and held two open-air meet- ings. Among those who heard me preach was a man who had quite a reputation among Mexicans and Amert- cans as a gambler. The morning following the second service he had to leave town to go to work on a ranch. Before leaving he took his favorite pack of cards, the ones he did business with, and burned them. He hunted for a copy of the New Testament which he had stored away in some of his boxes and took it with him. He read it through twice before I saw him again several months after. On that second visit he and his wife professed religion and united with the church. His wife’s parents and relatives disowned her and would have nothing more: to do with her. She went to: visit them shortly after, but was not allowed to enter: the | house and was abused most unmercifully. Her father never forgave them till the day of his death. “This ex-gambler now became a completely trans- formed man; winning to himself the respect of the entire community. He is an industrious, law-abiding citi- zen and is endeavoring to win others to the same new life in Christ. By the united efforts of himself and wife, two whole families were brought to the saving knowledge of the Gospel and are now active members of the church, resulting in the organization of the Mexi- can church. “A man arrived at Martindale with his family and’ other relatives from the country south of San Antonio, The Romance of Home Missions 115 traveling most of the distance on foot. This man in his younger days had been a highwayman; when he came to Texas—leaving his family in Mexico—he joined him- self to some American outlaws. For a while he was the companion of the notorious outlaw, Jim McCoy, who was afterward apprehended and hung in San Antonio. After the hanging of McCoy he returned to Mexico and brought his family to Texas. He farmed for two or three years in Bexar County near San Antonio, and then, on account of ill health, he moved to Martindale, where he attended our services and received many kindnesses from our members. He finally made public profession of his faith in Christ, and I received him into the church and baptized him. Later, he entered into the organiza- tion of the Reedville Mexican Church and was made an elder. Still later, he helped to organize the Bexar Mexi- can Church and became an elder of it. He has been a most faithful and efficient officer, a diligent student of God’s word, and is an intelligent and conscientious Pres- byterian. All his large family are exemplary members of the church and one of his sons is studying for the ministry. He has been going once a month in his own conveyance and at his own expense some seventy-five or eighty miles to hold meetings and do Gospel work in Medina County.” Jewish Missions The Executive Committee specializes on the Jewish Mission in the city of Baltimore, selected because of the fact that it contains a large Jewish population. Jewish evangelization is generally supposed to be a hard propo- sition and yet they are won more easily than Mohamme- vOns ISS The Romance of Home M 116 ‘os0UITTeG (UOISSIP, YsImas) ‘JJo] JW uBWIOg [Neg “AZY ‘asnopy{ pooysoqysiexy januewwy “Ss “g *A ‘q 24} Je ZulyewW YOOuUWLY PUB JoOySEg % / Neer eee 2 a; <¥ The Romance of Home Missions 117 dans. It is claimed that a quarter of a million Jews em- braced Christianity during the nineteenth century. There are three hundred Christian Jews in the ministry today of the Church of England. Since the war they seem more approachable; and within the past four years 30,000 Jews in Hungary alone joined the Christian Church—s» reported by Dr. McDonald Webster at the Zurich Con- ference in Switzerland, July, 1923. David Trictsch recognized as a Jewish authority on statistics estimates their population in the world at 17,- 073,000 of whom 3,900,000 dwell in the United States. In the city of New York the number who speak Eng- lish in 897,452, outnumbered by the 946,139 who speak Yiddish. These latter have one advantage over all others, in that it is a common tongue enabling them to converse with each other regardless of nationality. Rev. Paul Berman, minister in charge of the mission in Baltimore, at our request, furnishes the following stories to illustrate the character of the work done and the results accomplished : “The story of one immigrant, a child of the Polish Ghetto, typical of thousands in need of the Gospel, is an illustration of those being reached by our Jewish Mis- sion. At the age of three his parents carried him to the Synagogue, where he was dedicated to the Lord, being told that he was a Jewish boy and destined to suffer much at the hands of Gentiles, wicked men, followers - of One, who was once a Jew, but who turned against them and became their bitterest enemy. At the age of fifteen he had to leave school, in order that he might help his parents financially. He loved his parents, had much 118 The Romance of Home Missions sympathy for his Jewish brethren, and hatred for those Christians who persecuted his people. Above: all, he- hated Poland—his own fatherland, because of the perse- cutions of his race. At seventeen he left his fatherland, resided. in Germany for two years and afterward in Belgium, where he worked to get enough money for a ticket to America. “In August, 1922, he came to the city of Baltimore. At last he is in America, where he can breathe freely, where one does not need to lock his door for fear that Gentiles might break in and kill the household. A few days later Mr. Z. decided to take a walk on a quiet Friday evening. On Baltimore Street he heard the sound of | music from a distance. ‘Who is getting married on a Friday night?’ In his country music was only heard at weddings, and that not on a Friday night. At Baltimore and Eden Streets he saw a large gathering of men, women and children. ‘Surely there are no pogroms in America,’ he comforted himself; ‘but why such a crowd?’ “Yielding to curiosity he reached the corner of Eden and Lombard Streets, and soon discovered, to his great surprise, that there are Jews who believe in Christ—the very One he hated—and that these Jewish Christians ask the other Jews to believe in the same Christ. That even- ing he heard that Jesus loved the Jews and that all those who follow Him also love the Jews. ‘What! Christ loved the Jews?’ That was indeed strange news to him. Did not his Rabbis tell him that Jesus was the cause of all their suffering? He left that meeting in a restless state of mind. The next he attended he asked the mis- sionary for more information. Not many days later, Mr. Z. got all the information he needed; and before The Romance of Home Missions ry) his eyes there arose a new Christ—the Christ of the Gospels, full of love and compassion, a friend, and not an enemy, a Messiah and personal Saviour. “September 27, 1923, was a great day for him, the happiest of his life. That evening he took the first stand for Christ. He desired that all should know that Jesus was his Messiah and he enrolled himself as a disciple in the School of Christ. One Sunday night on the car from the Presbyterian church which he attends regularly, turn- ing to the missionary, with eyes full aglow, he said: “Who would have thought a year ago that I would get so far in and be glad of it too?’ I answered nothing, but within my heart there was a feeling of joy and praise to Him who alone is able to bring such things to pass. That is exactly the way our God performs miracles. He caught Paul while on the road to persecute the Christians. He has caught thousands—among others my friend Mr. Z. “Several years ago four little girls came to our mission with the consent of their parents. They came, like the other little girls, to play and sew and hear beautiful Bible stories. These dear children knew nothing about the great Lover of children. In fact, they never heard a Bible story in their homes. Father was either too busy, or he did not care to teach his children religion. “Our workers had to begin from the beginning. They were told about the boys and girls of the Bible. They were glad to memorize verses of Scripture and to sing beautiful hymns. They even retold the stories to their parents when asked what the missionaries talked about. By and by the teachers told them some New Testament stories—about the Great Prophet sent from God, and 120 The Romance of Home Missions Wedding of Gong Sing, one of the New Orleans Chinese Mission boys, who married a Christian girl in Canton. The picture was taken outside the Baptist Church in Canton, China. The Romance of Home Missions 121 that He was the long expected Messiah, who came to re- deem the Jewish people. They gladly listened, because of the interest it aroused. In the meantime the teachers not only talked about the love of Christ, but tried to live the Christ-like life. That touched them, and it brought forth fruit. The four little girls are now young ladies. They still come to our mission, but as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. One suffers persecution for her faith, but she is glad to suffer for her Lord. All four are living beautiful Christian lives.” The accompanying picture, of the marriage of one of our boys trained at the Chinese Mission in New Orleans, tells its own story and must be taken as the type of work carried on in our numerous missions for foreign-speak- ing people. The stories of the other nationalities cannot be in- cluded. Millions representing all the greater nations of the globe are being absorbed into our national life. They must be reached by the Church with the Gospel for their own sake, for our country’s sake, for the world’s sake, and above all, for Christ’s sake. Is the evangelization of the world our goal? These aliens are our greatest opportunity and our weightiest responsibility. If our Christianity is not virile enough to save those in our midst, surrounded with the highest Gospel privileges and re-enforced by the best organized forces of the world, how can we hope to evangelize them in their environment of heathenism? The Church must rise to the occasion, to the opportunity and to the call of God in this age on ages telling. THE BURDEN “O God, I cried, “why may I not forget? These halt and hurt in life’s hard battle Throng me yet. Am I their keeper?—only I—to bear This constant burden of their grief and care? Why must I suffer for the others’ sin? Would that my eyes had never opened been!” And the thorn-crowned and patient one Replied, “They thronged me, too; I, too, have seen.” “Thy other children go at will,’ I said, Protesting still. They go, unheeding. But these sick and sad, These blind and orphan, yea, and those that sin, Drag my heart. For them I serve and groan. Why is it? Let me rest, Lord. I have tried 7 He turned and looked at me; “But I have died.” “But, Lord, this ceaseless travail of my soul! This stress! This often fruitless toil These souls to win! They are not mine. 1 brought not forth this host They are not mine.” He looked at them—the look of one divine! He turned and looked at me; “But they are Mine.” “O God,” I said, “I understand at last. Forgive! and henceforth I will bond-slave be To thy least, weakest, vilest ones, I would not more be free.” He smiled, and said, “It is to Me.” —Lucy Riper MEYER. 122 Chapter Five The ROMANCE of RACE RELATIONSHIPS The Negro population of the United States is eleven millions—which means one in every ten—and is still in- creasing, though not so rapidly as the Whites. The first national census in 1790 revealed that 19.3% of our total population were Negroes. At the time of the Emanci- pation Proclamation the percentage had decreased to 14.1%; in 1910, to 10.7%; and in-1920, to 9.9%. As anticipated, the census of 1920 reveals a significant change in the location of Negroes, in different sections of the country. Sixty years ago 92% of the Negroes lived in the South. Ten years ago 89% were in the South. Now 85% of. the Negro people are in the South. The summary of changed geographical locations of Negro population assumes rather startling form, when it is realized that in the last decade the increase in Negro population in the South has been 1.9%; in the North, 43.3%, and in the West, 55.1%. The Negro, quite as much as the white man, has heard the summons of the city life, and has obeyed. While three-fourths of the Negro population is still rural, there has been a steady stream to the cities. In two Southern states, South Carolina and Mississippi, they are in the majority; in Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Louisiana, they equal nearly one-half of the popula- tion. Thirteen Southern states report each more than 200,000; eight of these have more than 600,000; and sev- 123 124 The Romance of Home Missions eral nearly a million. These thirteen Southern states contain six-sevenths of the Negroes of the United States. In exactly one-fifth of all the counties of sixteen South-_ ern states the Negro is in the majority. Heretofore the Negro question has been almost exclusively a South- ern problem. The Department of Labor reports that “recent extra- ordinary occurrences—the war in Europe, with the conse- quent shortage of labor in the North, the ravages of the boll weevil and flood conditions in the South—have set on foot a general movement of Negroes northward, that — is affecting the whole South.” In addition to these con- ditions it 1s said other causes influencing this exodus from the South are: Low wages, better educational fa- cilities, unsanitary housing, lynching and the propaganda of labor agencies. It has served to introduce the Negro problem into the North in a most acute form, and the whole country holds its breath in anticipation of some terrible widespread outbreak resulting in massacres of the most shocking nature. The Negro Year Book, published by Tuskegee Insti- tute, maintains that statistics show a counter movement from North to the South. Even if the two balanced each other in numbers, it would still mean disturbed eco- nomic conditions, affecting more especially agricultural interests, as the exodus from the South is from the rural districts, while the other movement is from Northern to Southern cities, leaving our fields uncultivated—a tremendous economic loss. “God that made the world and all things therein’ * * *° hath made of one (blood) all nations of men for to The Romance of Home Missions 125 dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek the Lord.” The trans- lators of the English Bible have supplied the word, “blood;”’ but there is nothing to indicate the qualifying word, whether “blood’’ or “federal headship,” or “heart,” or “nature.”’ Whether it teaches the unity of race, of condition or of character, there can be no questioning the unity of obligation to a common Creator, demanding “that they should seek the Lord.’ Common obligations as “the offspring of God” create a community of in- terests, and of relationships. Racial types involving “the origin of species” are a problem belonging to the domain of Divine Providence. The adjustment of racial relation- ships is a problem pertaining to the sphere of human life. Can a democracy successfully deal with race problems? Autocracy armed with unlimited authority and backed by militarism may curb the prejudices and passions of men, but democracy with its insistent demands for the largest personal liberty has a more difficult task, especially when socialism cultivates the contradictory principles— of eschewing class antagonisms and intensifying them at the same time. The population of the South consists of about 25,000,- 000 of the Anglo-Saxon race, 9,000,000 Negroes ana 2,000,000 Immigrants. Their peaceful occupation of the same territory is to the credit of all parties. Unfortu nately race prejudice is mutual, but not greater in pro- portion to numbers than in any other section of the world. Mob law disgraces any community, and patriotic and Christian people should not only condemn it in un- 126 The Romance of Home Missions mistakable terms, but join in every worthy movement to eradicate it as a menace to our enlightened civilization. Church and state, press and pulpit, must make their power felt. Legislatures must enact laws, and courts of justice enforce penalties without fear or favor. Chris- tian womanhood, for whose protection lynch law justifies itself, must repudiate lawless crime and use its potent influence for punishing guilt by legal processes. Amicable adjustment of race relations and the cultiva- tion of goodwill between them is the acid test of Chris- tianity. The Gospel of “goodwill toward men” an- nounced by the Angels at the Nativity, promulgated by the teachings of Christ and professed by the Church in ‘all ages, should manifest itself in consistent practice. Would it not be well for churches and individual Chris- tians to promote a campaign for practicing. more cordial relations between the races? Can a superior race suc- cessfully evangelize another unless it does more than SDreach 10 at: i : The solution of the Race problem has baffled alike human governments, earthly philosophy, the noblest phil- anthropy, and the science of sociology. Its solution must be sought in the realm of religion. The Gospel of the Son of God is the sole remedy. The failure of Chris- tianity hitherto to find the remedy is no greater indict- | ment than congested cities, the abolition of poverty and the banishment of war. By the grace of God, through the application of the principles of the Gospel, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church will ultimately solve all problems and trample under foot all the products of evil. The Romance of Home Missions 127 The Church has at present a twofold obligation to the Negro as an undeveloped and suffering race. One is in the sphere of sociology, the other in the domain .of re- ligion, though the two necessarily overlap. In the interests of common justice and civilized hu- manity the Church should preach the obligations of Chris- tianity between man and man, thereby creating a Chris- tian sentiment in favor of extending to the Negro his God-given rights as a man created in the image of God: the protection of his rights in Courts of Justice, the protection of his health and moral character in housing conditions, and above all the protection of his life in the hands of infuriated mobs. The Church may not as an organization enter the sphere of the state, but it can teach the Golden Rule involving the principle of just citizenship in the “righteousness that exalteth a nation.” As the outcome of awakened Christian conscience, already commendable organizations are springing up, such as “The University Commission on Southern Race Ques- tions,’ and “The Interracial Commission’”—having for their object the cultivating of better feelings between the races and substantial justice for the Negro. The elimina- tion of lynchings must be effected, not simply for the Negro’s sake but in the interest of our own civilization. Residence in the midst of the great masses of the Negro population, instead of rendering their white breth- ren impartial judges of the Negro, has often the effect of disqualifying. Nearness is always a severe test. An evaluation based upon “characteristics” may correctly es- timate the Race, but does great injustice often to the in- dividual. An appeal is hereby lodged, urging that we 128 The Romance of Home Missions lay aside both prejudice and sentiment in order to re- view individual attainments and take an inventory of their aggregate achievements. Shall we hold them for- | ever accountable for the past; or shall we judge them by their possibilities as exhibited in this array of success- ful awards? Illustrations There might be given a long list to the credit of in- dividual Negroes, the following being specimens: The first blood shed in the American Revolution was that of the Negro, Crispus Attucks. A Negro, named Estevan- cio, discovered Arizona. The prize was won by Rene’ Maran, a Negro, for the best French novel for the year. Rev. John W. Widgeon, who for forty years has been the caretaker of the Maryland Academy of Sciences, was given a diploma by the academy as a token of apprecia- — tion for the contributions which he has made to the fauna and flora at the academy. He is regarded as an authority on the fauna and flora of Maryland, as well as its geo- logical formation. The first geological exhibit of John Hopkins University was collected by him. Eunice Roberta Hunton received both her A. B. and A. M. degrees at the 1921 commencement of Smith Col- lege, Northampton, Mass. This is the largest woman’s college in the world. She did all the work necessary for the two degrees in the regular four-year period. She was the only one in a class of almost 500 to do this. In fact, only one other girl has been able to accomplish this » at Smith College since its founding in 1878. The Romance of Home Missions 129 Illustrious Scientist Professor George Washington Carver, is Director of the Scientific Research and Experiment Station of Tuske- gee Institute, whose products from the cow pea, sweet potato, peanut and pecan and the clays of Macon County, Alabama, have raised him from obscurity to the pinnacle of fame—a fellow in the Royal Society of London, one of America’s most famous scientists and the winner of the Spingarn Medal for 1923, awarded by the National Association for the advancement of Colored people. Like many other men of this and other countries, who have attained fame, Professor Carver was of humble par- entage, being born in Diamond Grove, Missouri, about the close of the Civil War. His life embodying the trials and tribulations of the reconstruction period is one of tragedy and adversity and withal of achievement. His life story reads like fiction, but is intensely more inter- esting. His birthplace was a one-room shanty on the plantation owned by Moses Carver, a German farmer, who was the owner of Carver’s mother. The only knowl- edge which Professor Carver has of his father is that he was “killed by a team of oxen while hauling wood.” His life story is herein incorporated, somewhat abbrevi- ated: “At the close of the war, my mother was stolen with myself, a wee babe, in her arms. My brother, James, was grabbed and spirited away to the woods by Mr. Carver. They carried us down into Arkansas and sold my mother. At this time I was nearly dead with the whooping cough and was so frail that they thought, of course, that I would die in a few days. Mr. Carver heard of my whereabouts and immediately sent a very fine racehorse, valued at $300, and some money to pur- 130 The Romance of Home Missions chase my release, which was effected. Efforts to find my mother to this day have been futile. “After finishing high school, J wanted to go to Coreen To secure the money for this purpose, I opened a laun- dry in a college town, and was liberally patronized by the students. In this way I earned enough money in one year to take me to Simpson College at Indianola, Iowa, where I took art, music and college work. I also opened a laundry here for my support. After all my matricula- tion fees had been paid, I had ten cents left to live upon. 1 bought five cents worth of corn meal and the other five cents I spent for beef suet. I lived on these two things one whole week—it took that long for the people to learn that I wanted clothes to wash. After that week I had ~ many friends and plenty of work. “T would never allow anyone to give me money, no matter how badly I needed it. I wanted, literally, to earn my living.» I remained in Simpson College for three years and then entered Iowa State College at Ames, lowa. where I pursued my agricultural work, taking two de- grees, Bachelor and Master of Science, respectively. “After obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree, I was elected a member of the faculty, and given charge of the green- house bacteriological laboratory and the laboratory of systematic botany. I was serving in this capacity when Dr. Booker Washington influenced me to come to Tuske- gee, where I have been for twenty-nine years.” 999 Products in 29 Years Major Moton, distinguished principal of Tuskegee In- stitute, gives this informing account of his marvelois achievements : The Romance of Home Missions 4 “For twenty-nine years, Professor Carver has labored diligently in his laboratory, applying himself assiduously to the task of discovering useful products in every-day. ever-ready materials and of developing the resources of the South. On display in his laboratory are: potash, from chinaberry ashes, chinaberry meal; tonic stock feed, made of snap corn, velvet beans, cottonseed meal, etc. “Of Professor Carver’s “999 varieties—and this num- ber is yet progressing according to the principles of. arith- metic and geometric progression—the most famous are perhaps the 166 products from the peanut. From the position of a popular circus-day food and a luxury for a certain specie of the anthropoidean family, under the magic wand of Professor Carver the peanut is rapidly becoming one of the foremost food products of the South. “In an interview Professor Carver said: ‘I regard the peanut as the universal food. A pound of peanuts con- tains a little more of body-building nutrients than a pound of sirloin steak, while the heat and energy-pro- ducing nutrients are more than twice the number. “Conspicuous among the ‘Carver Peanut Group’ is the: peanut milk, which compares favorably in food value with the cow’s milk. It contains only one-tenth as much water, three times as much ash, three times as much pro- tein, three times as much carbohydrates and twelve times as much fat, and its keeping qualities are about the same as cow’s milk. “According to Professor Carver, the possibilities of peanut milk for cooking purposes are unlimited. The sweet and sour milk may be utilized in the same way as the cow’s milk, and the curd can be made into many kinds of cheese. The buttermilk is also usable and palatable. 132 The Romance of Home Missions “Of equal, or of more, significance than peanut milk are the dyes which this scientist has produced from the - skin and veins of the peanut—dyes, inks and sauces—a queer combination, and it might be interesting to know that Professor Carver uses only his ink in writing. “Notwithstanding the fact that the lowly peanut has already given up 166 products, Professor Carver declares that he has only begun to develop the possibilities of the peanut. | 3 “When one looks at a sweet potato lying peacefully in a bin, or decorating a dish as candied yams, or garnish- ing a pork roast, he does not realize the potentialities of this member of the tuber group. For years the sweet potato has been used largely as enumerated above, but Professor Carver, still manifesting that curiosity of his early childhood, ‘to know everything,’ has discovered 165 products that can be made from the sweet potato, including flour, meal, starch, library paste, breakfast foods, preserved ginger, vinegar, ink, coffee, chocolate compounds, candies, rubber compounds, stock food, mo- lasses, wood fillers, and shoe blacking. What a combina- tion one eats when he eats a sweet potato! “No group appreciated the sweet potato products, par- ticularly the flour, more than 2,000 students at Tuskegee Institute during the war, when there was a shortage of wheat flour. During this period the sweet potato flour was used as a substitute and as such attracted wide atten- tion, culminating in the decision of the government, that the sweet potato flour offered probably the greatest possi- bilities in the way of saving wheat that had yet been discovered in America. The Romance of Home Missions [33 “Now comes the third of the ‘South’s three money crops’—the pecan. Playing the old trick of ‘come into my parlor said the spider to the fly,’ Professor Carver has coaxed the pecan into his laboratory and pronounced the mystic ‘open sesame’ words, thereby laying bare 98 secrets in the form of products that can be made from the pecan, including, meals, oils and other products. This represents the latest experiment of Professor Carver and he holds high hopes of the results. “In addition to the research work of this type, Pro- fessor Carver conducts soil analysis and fertilizer analy- sis for farmers of the county and section in which Tuske- gee Institute is located. In spite of the praise he has re- ceived from individuals and organizations from all over the world, Professor Carver is yet impervious to the plaudits of man and continues his work in an unassum- ing way. He and his achievements are a credit to the Negro race and to America.” Achievements of the Race According to the most recent reports concerning prop- erty owning, it is found that in 1920, Negroes in North Carolina paid taxes on $53,901,018 worth of property. In Virginia, Negroes in 1921 owned 1,911,443 acres of land valued at $17,600,148. The total assessed value of their property in that State was $52,505,951. In Georgia, where there has been a continuous report on Negro prop- erty-owning, for half a century, it is found that in 1875 the Negroes of that State had acquired almost four hun- dred thousand acres of land (396,658), valued at $1,263,- 902. The total value of the property on which they 134 The Romance of Home Missions were then paying taxes was $5,293,885. In 1921, 45 years later, the Negroes of Georgia owned 1,838,129. acres of land, valued at $20,808,594. Their total prop- erty had increased from $5,293,885 to $68,628,514. Through purchases and increases in values, property holdings of Negroes of the country increased during the year by probably fifty million dollars. It is estimated that the value of the property now owned by the Negroes of the United States is over one billion five hundred mil- lion dollars. The lands which they now own amount to more than twenty-two million acres, or more than thirty- four thousand square miles, an area greater than that of the five New England States, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island; or equal to the whole of Ireland. | The World Outlook furnishes the following. statistics : Of the 67,245 Negroes who have engaged in_ professions, there are 500 authors, 578 dentists, 1,279 actors, 59 archi- tects, 123 chemists, 237 civil and mining engineers ; 2,000 lawyers, judges, justices; 4,000 physicians and surgeons. 2,500 trained nurses. There are 1,000 Negro inventors. who have been granted patents. They own 74 banks and 398 newspapers, and there are 22,440 Negroes in the employ of the United States Government. Religious statistics show that Negroes have 45,000 churches, with 4,800,000 communicants; 46,000 Sabbath- schools, with 2,225,000 pupils, and church property valued at $90,000,000. Asset or Liability “There is no gainsaying the fact that the Negro is a factor in the future of our country’s development. As The Romance of Home Missions 16, is the case with every other race which enters into our heterogeneous life, he is both an asset and a liability. And as such he is an influence: for evil or good in the life ot every other individual. But the deciding whether he will be more liability or more asset is with those who know how to transform the former into the latter. And this task and the vision essential for the doing of the task are largely in the day’s work of those who have claimed for themselves the blessings which come through personal faith in Jesus Christ. “The liability side of our problem must be paid for over and over, unless we change it. The longer it re- mains a liability, the more numerous the individual units which make it up, and hence the increasing magnitude of our task. The untaught, carefree field hand propa- gates his own kind, the while he remains more or less of an economic burden and one outside of the Kingdom of God. The vicious corner loafer in our cities will never provide a better condition than his own for his children. The lack of knowledge prevents the enlivening vision of nobler things. Liability he is, and liability he will remain, so long as his mind is not fired with the stimulus of thinking and his hand trained to carry out the impulses of that thought.’”—RatpuH WELLS KEELER. Despite obstacles and difficulties, the Negro has made commendable progress in education and in acquiring property. Education in itself is no guarantee of moral character. Germany is a conspicuous example of the highest educational attainments and the lowest moral standards. The acquisition of property, however, on the part of the Negro does have a tendency to force him to give bond to society for good behavior. Crime is or- 136 The Romance of Home Missions dinarily characteristic of vagrants and the shiftless who have no permanent ties in the community. The highest safeguard and protection to society is the cultivation of — Christian character. Unfortunately the emotional type of religion characteristic of the Negro is not conducive tc ethics. It is this fact which justifies the effort of our Church and the ideals of Stillman Institute in training a native ministry for Colored people. Presbyterian Church U. S. From the very beginning of the Southern Presby-_ terian Church as a separate denomination, it has felt its responsibility to the Negro. In 1863 the General As- ~ sembly made the following statement: ‘‘The foreign mission problem is here reversed. Instead of having to send missionaries to the heathen, the heathen are brought to us, thus affording the opportunity of doing a foreign mission work on a gigantic scale, and under the most favorable auspices. A work altogether unique and which the Church in any other part of the world might well covet. The Lord hath set before us an open door; let us not fail to enter it.” Our present work for the Negro, however, may be said to have been begun in 1876 by Dr. Charles A. Still- man, who presented to the General Assembly an over- ture from the session of the Gainesville, Alabama, church, of which he was then pastor, urging the establishment of a school for the training of Colored ministers. The result was the founding of Tuscaloosa Institute, at Tusca- loosa, Alabama, where Dr. Stillman had gone, and wheré he served as superintendent of the school and as pastor The Romance of Home Missions 137 of the First Church for almost twenty years. Upon his death, in 1895, the name was changed to Stillman Institute. At the conclusion of the Civil War, if the Churches of the South, a half century ago, had been awake to the opportunity and alive to their obligation to the Negro in his changed status of new environment, instead of leav- ing him entirely to the tuition and philanthropy of the North, there would not now confront us a race problem so acute. It is always difficult to recover lost ground, and it is today a task far more taxing, but the Church must attack it heroically and lose no time in meeting the situation. Educational and sociological means are indis- pensable, but entirely inadequate unless accompanied by the power of the Gospel of Christ issuing in changed lives. Romance of Life After this general statement of principles and the as- sembling of data as a basis, we now adhere to the pur- pose of this study to illustrate this phase of the work by personality. It would be comparatively easy to enum- erate conspicuous characters, such as Booker Washing- ton, educator, Major R. R. Moton, his successor, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, poet, and others of the same type; but it serves our purpose better to use the comparatively unknown, confining ourselves to members of our own Church, as specimens of Home Mission results. Maria Fearing In Anniston, Alabama, there lived a colored woman, of ordinary attainments and genuine piety, upon whose 138 The Romance of Home Missions heart and conscience God laid the burden of her kins- people in the Dark Continent. She did not publicly en-. roll herself as a “volunteer” at some great convention, nor wreathe her brow with a halo; but in the quiet of her humble home she volunteered, where none but the Mas- ter heard her vow. Offering herself to the Committee of Foreign Missions, at Nashville, she asked to be sent as a missionary to the Congo. She was informed that she was past the age limit, fixed by the Committee for outgoing missionaries, and that she lacked the educational qualifications. | None but the Master knew the bitterness of her dis- appointment at being rejected by the authorities of her Church, but she having put her hand to the plow was not the kind to look back nor be stopped. She sold her humble home, her small worldly possessions, and tendered the money to the Foreign Mission Committee with the request that she be sent to Africa at her own expense and as a servant to the white missionaries in order that she might have the privilege of ministering to her people in the darkness of heathenism. Is there any parallel among the ranks of the white race? Her holy ambition was realized, and never did any church send out a more — consecrated, earnest missionary. to the heathen. Not many of us would care to exchange places in this world with this humble Negro woman; but in the day of final accounts, when rewards are distributed according to fidel- ity, not a few would be happy to exchange crowns with Maria Fearing. Wm. H. Sheppard At Warm Springs, Va., a colored woman, highly re- spected, who had served as maid at the baths of the The Romance of Home Missions Lag famous hotel for many years and had ministered to hun- dreds of the best people of this country, was the mother of an attractive boy. One day a lady laid her hands on his head and said: ‘William, I am praying that God will make of you a useful minister some day to your peo- ple.” This incident changed the current of his life. After graduating at Stillman Institute, he volunteered for Africa and went out with Lapsley—the pioneers to lay the foundation of our mission in the Congo. It was his loving ministrations and valuable companionship that made Lapsley’s work a signal success; and when Lapsley died, in that far-away land, Sheppard stood to the post of duty—several times at death’s door with malarial fever. His explorations of the unknown regions, among fierce cannibals, secured for him recognition by the British Government, which made him Fellow of the Royal Geo- graphic Society—an honor shared perhaps by no other member of the Southern Presbyterian Church. After years of conspicuous service, he has been transferred to work conducted by Rev. John Little, in Louisville, Ky., pastor of the largest Colored church in our Communion. With all his remarkable service and honors, he is noted for his simplicity of character, his humility, his fidelity and loyalty to the Cause of Christ. In the ranks of our min- istry there is no more useful servant of Christ. Sam Daly In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Sam Daly, an officer in the Colored Presbyterian Church, served the students in the State University for the usual “tips” given, and being of a frugal and provident disposition, deposited his money in the bank until his savings enabled him to purchase a 140 The Romance of Home Missions horse and hack—before the days of the taxi. His earn- ing capacity having materially increased, his bank account grew accordingly and he was soon able to purchase a farm for his family about 15 miles from Tuscaloosa, in the country near Ralph, Alabama. It was poor, white sand land and only partially paid for. Scarcely had he begun farming operations till he saw in the Birmingham papers some allusion to sentencing several youthful Negro criminals to the chain-gang. He could not get the im- pression out of hts mind, that this was a criminal mistake of the legislature or of the court, and it grew into a con- viction and a purpose. Taking the train, he hastened to Birmingham, sought an interview with the judge and delivered himself of the following opinion: “Judge Feagin, I see where you are sentencing to the chain-gang Negro boys in their teens. I believe they will be worse criminals than ever when their terms ex- pire. I have come to ask if you will sentence them to my farm, and I will try and reform them.” The judge thought the experiment worth trying, and accordingly the number grew until it soon became the Sam Daly Reformatory. Rev. A. D. Wilkinson, colored Presbyterian minister, was assigned the task of religious supervisor, and in the discharge of his duties he lived with the boys, taught them part of the day in school and worked the other part on the farm, as well as preaching to them on Sabbath. After a few years of service, Sam Daly stood before the General Assembly, giving an account of his benevo- lent work, and closed with the statement that he had trained and returned to society over 200 Negro boys, The Romance of Home Missions 141 and 90% had made good! He came to the General Assembly meeting at Atlanta, Ga., with the purpose of interesting the Assembly in the further enlargement of his reformatory. Immediately upon arriving in Atlanta he was taken suddenly ill. Applying to a drug store for relief, he was treated with criminal carelessness, whereby he became dangerously infected. Being entertained in the home of the local Colored Presbyterian minister, a Colored physician was called in, who still further damaged him by malpractice through incompetency. By this time information of his condition came to our notice, and we had him removed to the Grady: Hospital. The writer and Dr. Snedecor visited him from day to day, till becoming alarmed we employed one of our finest physicians of the city to give him additional and special attention, who promptly advised that the end was near. MHurrying to the hospital, the Secretary of Home Missions found the poor Negro dying. As the nurse partially aroused him by apprising him of the visit, he opened his eyes drowsily and said: “Oh, Dr. Morris, I want to go home,’ to which the reply was returned in a voice choking with emotion: “Yes, Sam, you are going home.” In a few moments he went “home’’; but what a noble record he left behind, of work well done! Who among us can leave behind such a legacy of an unfinished task; and who will be accounted worthy to stand by his side in the estimation of the Master, “by whom actions are weighed”’? Charles Birthright In the Southern part of Missouri was born Charles Birthright, once a slave, belonging to the Pankey family. 142 The Romance of Home Missions After freedom came he continued to live on the place of his former owner, but opened a barber’s shop in the town of Clarkton, where he joined the Presbyterian Church. His savings were invested in bonds and lands along the White River, not considered valuable at the time of their purchase. He never learned to read, but his wife, “Bettie,” was of more than ordinary intelligence and acquired an ordinary education. They subscribed for Charles Birthright and wife and their hum- ble home in Missouri. This worthy Negro couple left the largest legacy to Home Mis- sions in all the history of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. the Church papers, and she read to him about Tuscaloosa Institute for educating Negro preachers, which greatly interested this worthy couple. As they had no children, after consulting Mr. David B. Pankey, his lifelong friend and advisor, he bequeathed his entire estate to Stillman Institute. After the death of himself and wife, the authorities of Stillman Institute, in accordance with the terms of the will, appointed Mr. H. B. Pankey, son of the executor— The Romance of Home Missions 143 who had died in the meantime—as trustee of this estate. The court, in confirming the appointment, placed the trus- tee under a bond of $40,000, in view of the increased value of the property. In all the sixty-two years of the separate existence of the Southern Presbyterian Church, it is remarkable that a Negro left the largest legacy ever bequeathed to the cause of Home Missions! Rev. W. A. Youngs, Evangelist In the state of Alabama, a Negro boy attracted the at- tention of Mrs. R. M. Kirkpatrick, the widow of one of our beloved ministers; and she gave him religious in- struction and encouraged him to aspire to an education and useful service in behalf of his race. After gradu- ating at Stillman, he served very acceptably and success- fully as pastor of the Colored Presbyterian church in Mobile, Alabama. The time having arrived for an ad- vance movement in behalf of Colored Evangelization, Rev. W. A. Young was selected as the first General Evangelist for the Negroes in the South. He entered upon the work with great enthusiasm and developed into one of the most efficient ministers of the whole Church. He conducted great evangelistic meetings on the islands of the South Carolina coast, in which large numbers were converted. His evangelistic meetings. in Richmond, Va., led to the salvation of many of his people, and in the en- largement of the usefulness of the Seventeenth Street Mission, by winning the sympathetic interest of the Col- ored people of the city. His evangelistic services in con- nection with the great work of Rev. John Little at Louisville, Ky., were equally blessed. Rev. John Little testified that he was the equal of any evangelist in the 144 The Romance of Home Missions Church, the greatest preacher ever produced by Stillman Institute. It was during the strain of this wonderful meeting that he suddenly collapsed. The Secretary of Home Missions insisted upon his taking a prolonged rest, but it was too late; and he was called to his reward. Rev. W. A. Young, the Man who sang the song, first Evangelist of the Presbyterian Church, U. S., to his race. The greatest preacher “Stillman” ever educated. Many Commissioners at various meetings of the Assem- bly will recall his marvelous singing, his touching solos, accompanied by the chorus of his companions. It was the feature of the popular meetings at night, bringing The Romance of Home Missions 145 tears to many eyes; and he was called for again and again. Rev. W. H. Woods, D. D., contributed to the papers as expressing the mind of the Assembly, the fol- lowing beautiful tribute: He stood up there before us, He and his dusky throng, And. sang in quaint antiphony A moving, haunting song; The homely words and simple Were touched with some strange fire, And in that music pulsed and thrilled A deep and dear desire. “T want to be more holy,” Like a trumpet-voice it rang, And the chorus answered softly: “In my heart, my heart,” they sang. We were not asked to join it— Not ours that haunting tone; The black man’s soul was speaking there With a pathos all its own; And yet each time we heard it, The chorus wider grew— The mutest lips in all that throng Moved to that music, too. “T want to be like Jesus,” Well had he our longing read, And a sobbing, throbbing chorus Answered: “In my heart,” they said. And though our eyes were misty, We sat in deep content— The beauty and the glory are Not all to evil lent— And the song that most entrances The listening seraphs’ ears Is thrilled with the archangel’s lack-— The memory of old tears. “T want to be with Jesus,” Sang he; and where e’er they roam, All God’s saints in chorus answer, “Yes, with Jesus, and at home.” 146 The Romance of Home Missions The Presbyterian Church U. S., compared with the large, wealthy, liberal Northern churches, is not con- tributing as large amounts nor conducting as extensive work, but is perhaps expending larger sums and carry- ing on a more important and successful work than any denomination in the South. If it had accomplished noth- ing more than produced such characters as Maria Fear- ing, Sam Daly, Charles Birthright, W. A. Young and Louise Meade, it would have been well worth the cost. Romance of Life Investment The recognized obligation of the Presbyterian Church to minister to the spiritual welfare of the Negro dates back at least a century. Before the Civil War the churches were provided with galleries in which the Col- ored people worshipped, being members of the same church as their owners. Attendance was compulsory. Among the earliest recollections of the author, as a child, was being required to remain with his parents for a sec- ond service, conducted especially for the Negroes after the white congregation had been dismissed and most of them had departed. On Sabbath afternoons his mother gathered her children and the little Negroes. together, read Bible stories to them, heard them recite the Cate- chism and taught them to sing hymns. This was a com- mon practice among pious people. Many of the leading Presbyterian ministers were faith- ful and zealous in preaching to the Negroes, among whom were such conspicuous men as Dr. Stiles and Dr., Jones, of Georgia; Dr. Flinn Dickson, of South Caro- lina; Dr. Stillman, of Alabama, and Dr. John B. Adger, The Romance of Home Missions 147 at one time a missionary in Syria. The latter on one oc- casion, at the meeting of the General Assembly, made a liberal gift to Foreign Missions as a thank-offering for the conversion of a large number of his slaves. Dr. John L. Girardeau As an illustration, however, of life investment in be- half of the salvation of Negroes, Dr. John L. Girardeau occupies a class alone. It is doubtful if anyone would call in question the statement that he was the most elo- quent preacher of the great Church, which produced such distinguished orators as James H. Thornwell, Benjamin M. Palmer, Moses D. Hoge, and others. He gave his entire time to preaching in Zion Church, Charleston. S. C., for Negroes, refusing flattering calls to white con- gregations that he might minister to his brother in black. A delegation from one of the great churches of the North offered him every conceivable inducement to accept their charge, to which he quietly made response in the language of. the Shunamite: “I dwell among mine own people.” At night the galleries of his Negro church were jammed and packed with white people to hear this great orator preaching to Negroes. After the war he became profes- sor of Theology in Columbia Seminary, ably filling the chair of the scholarly Thornwell. It is interesting to note that in 1870, out of every 100 people in the United States, 17 were members of the Protestant Church, which was but little better than the average among the Negroes at the close of the war. It is evident that slavery served as a great missionary in- stitution, if not intended as such—whatever may be said of the moral side of the question. It is worthy of special 148 The Romance of Home Missions note that the finest Negro characters ever produced by ours, or any other church, were products of slavery— Maria Fearing, Sam Daly, Charles Birthright, and others Consecrated Service It would be impossible to give extended and proper credit to the men who have put their very life-blood into this service for Negroes—in some instances at the cost of persecution amounting practically to ostracism. Rev. Charles A. Stillman, a man of great ability, of his own accord, began teaching a class of Negroes in preparation for the ministry, without funds and with but little sym- pathy from his brethren; and his experiment developed into Stillman Institute, named in his honor, after his lamented death. The saintly O. B. Wilson, as Christlike a character as Barnabas, Fenelon, Thomas A. Kempis or Robert Murray McCheyne, answered the call of God and the Macedonian cry of the Negro for spiritual help. On one occasion he found a poor Negro suffering with such offensive disease his own people could not endure to remain in the room, yet Wilson bathed, fed and nursed him as tenderly and faithfully as the great Physician could have done. On another occasion he preached so powerfully on Lazarus at the rich man’s gate, applying it to the spiritual destitution of the Negro, that it compelled the pastor of Tattnall Square Presbyterian Church, Macon, Ga., to open a Sab- bath-school for Negroes, conducted by himself, not only without much assistance but in the face of strong opposi- tion. In the midst of his useful career as teacher in Stillman Institute while telephoning he was instantly killed, by lightning—a providence as mysterious as Lapsley dying The Romance of Home Missions 149 on the banks of the Congo at the very beginning of his noble career. Rev. James G. Snedecor, LL. D., a man of noble blood, of wealth, of scholarly parts, was called into the ministry of the true Apostolic succession to such men as Stillman and Wilson, and was “not disobedient unto the heavenly vision,’ but devoted his life to the Negro. Perhaps no man felt more keenly the loneliness of his position, the lack of sympathy and support of the Church, but he never faltered even though the way was rough and steep, and though the cause at times seemed hopeless. As an expres- sion of their love and appreciation the Colored ministers and elders—called together by the Assembly and set off into “the Afro-American Synod”—at their very first meet- ing and of their own accord changed their name to “the Snedecor Memorial Synod.” Rev. John Little After this narration of the noble work of the sainted dead, we cannot restrain the impulse to give account of the unique labors of one who today is leading the forces of this country in initiative and activities for the Negro, paralleling in the religious sphere what Booker Washing- ton has accomplished in the educational world. Rev. John Little was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., of a distinguished family, his father being Treasurer and Trus- tee of Stillman Institute, which created the atmosphere in which he grew up. It was perfectly natural that dur- ing his Seminary life at Louisville, Ky., he should have associated with himself several fellow students for es- tablishing and conducting a Sabbath-school in the most Above—Boys’ Dormitory remodeled. Below—Girls’ new Dormitory, Stillman Institute. The Romance of Home Missions 151 destitute part of that city. In that enterprise he found his life work. The story of his Colored mission reads like fiction and is here given in his own language as contained in our Annual Report: “Twenty-five years of service have revealed a constantly enlarging field of opportunity and a constantly increasing response on the part of the Colored people. Six theologi- cal students from the Presbyterian Seminary in 1898 were willing to teach Sunday-school; twenty-three Colored pupils were willing to attend. Today an experienced force of workers keep the doors open seven days and six nights each week, and thousands of Colored boys and girls, men and women come to our buildings for instruction anc inspiration. “The work of the Presbyterian Colored Missions never ceases—it just changes. It conducts in its buildings through the whole year, a changing round of activities which touch life at many angles and steadily develop well rounded characters. There are classes in sewing and cooking for the girls, shoemaking and mending for the boys, basketball games and club work for both. The Daily Vacation Bible School, the bath house, and the playground present a program which provides instruction and recrea- tion.” 7 This is a specimen and type of similar work being con- ducted at Richmond, Va., and Atlanta, Ga., and which should be multiplied indefinitely. Stillman Institute By far the most important work undertaken and con- ducted by the Church for the Negro is Stillman Institute. which has trained hundreds of Colored ministers in its 152 The Romance of Home Missions history, many of them being Methodists and Baptists. Theological education is not, however, the sole purpose of its existence. It has a Boys’ Department and Girls’ School for training in domestic science, agricultural work, mechanical arts, and above all in Christian leadership. The Theological Department embraces the curriculum prescribed by the Church—a three-year course omitting Greek and Hebrew. The Literary Course consists of two years of Junior High and four years of Senior High School work. The plant consists of 110 acres of level fertile land in the suburbs of Tuscaloosa well adapted to every variety of crops, which enables the students to raise a large part of their supplies and gives them practical training in the science of farming. It has commodious, substantial brick dormitories, homes for the teachers and a new modern: barn and stalls for cattle. The entire plant is now worth $250,000 and can accommodate 150 students. Snedecor Memorial Synod As the result of our evangelistic effort to meet our responsibility in behalf of the Negro we now have the Snedecor Memorial Synod, consisting of four Presbyteries containing 41 ministers and 49 churches with a com- municant roll of about 2,000, having annual additions averaging about 200, and total contributions for 1922 of $10,649. If the Colored churches which are not connected with the Snedecor Memorial Synod were added, the com- municant list would be increased to 2,500 and the con- tributions to $12,000. In percentage of increase and per capita gifts the Negro Presbyteries compare favorably The Romance of Home Missions 153 with their white brethren—if financial ability is taken into consideration. Rev. J. G. Snedecor, who devoted his life to the cause and left behind him the legacy of his unfinished work, is pre-eminently entitled to point the moral of this story in this, perhaps his last message to the Church: “The Negroes did not come to our country voluntarily. They were not seeking a happier home when they left Africa. We have made several grievous mistakes in our relation to the Negro. Let us not now make the deplor- able mistake of thinking that he is incapable of improve- ment or that it is best to keep him in ignorance. “The Southern Presbyterian Church has declared by numerous and repeated resolutions that moral instruction and religious influences are the prime needs of this weaker race. Our Church has sensibly seized the strategic posi- tion from which to attack their immorality—namely, an educated and godly ministry. “It is a fact that we really do not take the Negro seriously. We condemn the whole race for the crimes of individuals. We ignore the progress he has made, or condemn it as being along the wrong lines. We should not seek to shift our local troubles upon other parts of the country. Christian people should regard the Negro patiently, because God made him very much in the same mold as ourselves, and evidently endowed him with pos- sibilities for righteousness and immortality. For this rea- son, as the weaker man, he becomes the burden of the stronger. * “It 1s a reproach to the Christian people of the South that they have shunned this burden. It is time now to 154 The Romance of Home Missions give some pause to the universal chorus of denunciation and criticism with which we assail the Negro. His foibles and crimes are now well understood. Grant that he is the greatest sinner in our body politic; the question of sanity and religion is—what are we going to do about it? “We trust that the effort now to quicken the missionary conscience of the Church may include within its beneficent results an increasing liberality toward this neglected race.” 155 ISSUONS The Romance of Home M ‘BSsoo[vosn |, t 9INWSUT ULBUpUS ‘ssvy is K ) [BIEZo}OOy,L, BUILDING FOR ETERNITY Oh, where are kings and empires now Of old that went and came? But, Lord, Thy Church is praying yet, A thousand years the same. We mark her godly battlements, And her foundations strong; We hear within the solemn voice Of her unending song. For not like kingdoms of the world Thy holy church, O God! Though earthquake shocks are threatening her, And tempests are abroad. | Unshaken as eternal hills, Immovable she stands, A mountain that shall fill the earth, A house not made by hands. —ARTHUR CLEVELAND COXE. 156 Chapter Six The ROMANCE of BUILDING An architect said to a churchman: “Our effort is to materialize the spiritual; the aim of the church is to spiritualize the material.’ The Department of Church Erection combines and promotes both ideals. It material- izes the spiritual by expressing in wood and stone certain ideals; and the temple of worship becomes a _ visible embodiment of invisible truth. It spiritualizes the ma- terial by converting it into a dwelling place of the Most High God, who though He “dwelleth not in temples made with hands,” yet accepts such as symbols of His presence and makes the house of God a means of communion with His spiritual .worshipers and a center of influence for Christianizing a community. The house of God is a silent witness to an invisible presence. It challenges the atten- tion of the community, gives the organization the reason- able guarantee of permanency and constitutes a common rallying place for the religious life of the people. Tha factors which enter into the making of a church are ordinarily three-fold: First of all, is the evangelistic effort out of which it is born, followed by the sustentation arm of support which upholds it in its weakness; but neither is more necessary than the Church Erection funds, which are essential at the psychological moment of its pre- carious existence. Whether it “sink or swim, survive or perish,” will depend largely upon securing a_ spiritual home. 1$7 158 The Romance of Home Missions The mutual problem which first confronts alike a new church and its Home Mission pastor is a house of worship. A homeless church is a nondescript, which will always be punctuated with a question mark, until it establishes its character and its right to exist by erecting for itself a church home. It is usually the supreme test of its virility. About 90 per cent of the churches of all denominations owe their existence to Home Missions and in most cases, other things being equal, owe their success to the securing of a house of worship at the critical period of their career Their first modest chapel is ordinarily a monument to the Home Mission Committee. Their subsequent magnificent edifice is to the credit of their own sacrifices and spiritual energy. Equipment Needs The greatest handicap of Assembly’s Home Missions is and has been for ten years lack of adequate equipment to conserve the results of our efforts. Every dollar spent in pioneer work, every additional nerve of energy called into service by any missionary, and every forward move- ment planned or pushed by the Committee, have a common objective, which is hindered or helped by the buildings essential to the highest achievements. They all speak one language and unite in one common plea—a clamor for equipment. It has been the dominant note of an unending song whose swelling chorus from all sections of the mis- sion field has become a plaintive wail, growing more in- sistant and distressing with every passing year. The prob- lem has now become more acute and the loss in results to the Kingdom of God more patent. The Romance of Home Missions 159 Building Funds The first man with a vision of the possibilities of a Building Fund for promoting the erection of churches in behalf of small congregations was W. A. Moore, of Atlanta, Ga., who left a legacy of $5,000 to assist feeble churches in building, by small loans at 3 per cent. Many an Atlanta man has made an investment in real estate which afterward enriched him. Not one ever made such a profitable investment as W. A. Moore. His fund has promoted and aided in building over 100 churches. It they have an average value of $2,500, his investment rep- resents $250,000; and the original fund has increased in value to $7,000 and gives no sign of abatement. In the day of final accounts, who can estimate the value of his reward in its spiritual character ? The Manse Fund, begun at a later period by an appeal! for voluntary offerings, has had a similar career of suc- cessful building operations, while at the same time it has increased in value 25 per cent, indicating careful business management and the blessing of God. Semi-Centennial Fund Encouraged by the success and benefit accruing to its small funds for aiding weak churches the General As- sembly in 1911 authorized a larger Building Fund of $100,000, to commemorate the fifty years of its organic life, attended with such rich blessing of God on its minis- trations. This Semi-Centennial Fund is not limited to feeble churches and small amounts. The only limitation is the amount of the fund in the treasury. It is at the disposal of any church with a future, which must build at 160 The Romance of Home Missions once beyond its present ability and to serve the community for perhaps a quarter of a century. Memorials and Annuities A practical method of great value, by means of which this fund is making substantial increase, is through me- morials and annuities. Relatives desiring to erect a more enduring monument than stone to the memory of some loved one can place any amount from $500 to an unlimited sum in the hands of the Executive Committee, which, while it 1s a constituent part of the Semi-Centennial Fund, is at the same time a separate entity and reported annually with name of the donor and the relative honored by the memorial. In case of an annuity, the donor places any sum, ac- cording to choice or ability, in the hands of the Committee and the donor draws interest for life. The annuity paid does not cost the Committee anything, for the churck borrowing pays interest and receives the same benefit as it would from funds loaned to it by the Committee. All parties are greatly benefited. The donor has made an in- vestment absolutely safe, which pays dividends for life. The local church has the use of the fund to enable it to secure adequate building, and the Semi-Centennial Fund secures an increase which will perpetuate the good work of the donors long after they have gone to their eternal reward. Hunter Memorial Fund Mr. J. Montgomery Hunter, of Louisville, Ky., has deeded to the Executive Committee real estate valued at © $70,000 to be used as a permanent fund to be known as the The Romance of Home Missions 161 “Ann Morgan Hunter and J. Montgomery Hunter South- ern Presbyterian Home Mission Memorial Fund,” for the purpose and conditions set forth as follows: “This Fund is to be devoted exclusively to the building of country and small village Presbyterian churches, the same not to cost over Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) complete, exclusive of lot, of which this Memorial Fund is to contribute one-half only, and the local people are to contribute one-half of said cost and in addition are to provide a lot for said church of not less than one-half acre of land; the said churches are to be kept insured for at least 75 per cent of their total cost of building; the said Executive Committee is to exercise its judgment as to requiring all or any part of said gift or loan to be repaid by said churches, and all of said churches are to be devoted absolutely and exclusively to the worship of God Almighty and the preaching of the glorious Gospel of His Christ; no secular entertainment or exercises of any kind or character, or flags and secular emblems, are to be allowed in said churches and so understood and agreed to by said church people—marriages and funerals of course excepted. If a church elects to change its name from the Memorial to some other, it may do so by repay- ing to the Executive Committee the amount invested in it which was received from this Memoria] Fund.” Mr. Hunter has since increased his gift by deeding ad- ditional real estate to the Executive Committee for Church Erection and has graciously removed some of the restric- tions in order that this fund may be greatly enlarged in its efficiency and usefulness. 162 The Romance of Home Missions A minister of our Church, who has rendered conspicu- ous Home Mission Service in four Synods, recently created a Memorial Fund of $10,000 to his honored father. It will be loaned at 4 per cent, and will doubtless duplicate the splendid record of the Moore Fund. His modesty requires that his name be withheld for the present. Instead of stone that disintegrates and decays, this monu- ment will consist of living churches in ever increasing numbers whose houses of worship will rear their spires heavenward and whose pulpits- will proclaim the everlast- ing gospel of the Son of God in the ages to come. The Romance of Results One of the most vivid recollections of the Secretary of Home Missions dates back to his early embarrass- ments. From El Paso, Texas, came a communication signed by fourteen individuals asking if the Executive Committee would encourage their organizing themselves into a church. The crux of the whole matter hinged on a small appropriation for assisting in building a temporary chapel involving an outlay of only $300. The entire an- nual income of the Committee at that time scarcely ex- ceeded $50,000, and each small additional item gave the © Committee pause. The Chairman opposed the grant, and the debate was exciting; but finally with some misgiving ~ and with divided counsels it was answered affirmatively, and “Westminster” church came into being. Their little structure soon gave place to a brick chapel costing $3,000. It has had a magic growth, reaching a total membership of 400, which with the aid of the Assembly’s Committee erected a permanent house of worship valued now at $30,000. The Romance of Home Missions 163 It has had such phenomenal development under the wise and efficient leadership of its pastor, Rev. Watson M. Fairley, that it is more appropriate to allow him to give a summary of results: “The city of El Paso has in ten years expanded from a town of 39,000 to a city of over 83,000. The banks, stores, hotels, hospitals, schools, and all public utilities have with great difficulty provided for ‘the abnormal growth. The residential district now extends over five miles from the down town centers where all the churches were originally built. ‘Westminster’ is trying to avoid the fatal mistake of expecting all the Presbyterians and the unchurched to come to it. With the help of the Assembly’s Home Mission Committee a new church, ‘Manhattan,’ has been built at a cost of $20,000. A new organization of about 100 members takes shape and a new pastor comes to take charge of the colony. Another Mission, ‘East- minster, has been started. At a cost of $6,300 a lovely bungalow has been built and enough ground secured for a church building. “Manhattan Church began the year 1922 with 125 mem- bers, and a building debt of $4,000. By the end of the year she had paid off the debt and put over $1,000 in improvements and equipment; increased her membership to 190, with 195 in actual attendance at Sunday-school and started on an $800 additional story to the Sunday school room. They have outgrown their two-story Sun- day-school building in less than a year and have exceeded their budget on all benevolences. This church gives every promise of being one of our leading churches in the West in a few years. ! 164 The Romance of Home Missions “The Mexican church has grown from 22 members to 50 in less than a year, has a flourishing Sunday-school of 100 enrolled and a Mission day school of 49 children, and an afternoon Sunday-school of 47. 99 Then said I, ‘Here am I; send me’. Wanted—An Appreciation It would be an easier task to find men responsive to the call of service, if the Church itself placed a higher valua- tion on its fundamental work of home missions. Its neglect has been the costliest mistake of the Presbyterian Church. It can never entirely recover lost ground, but it can somewhat atone for the past by placing a new emphasis on the cause. Let the church begin to recognize its real heroes. As the average pastor discourses on heroism and sacrifice, the audience anticipates him, expecting to hear of David Livingston, Robert Moffatt, Wm. Carey, and our own beloved Samuel N. Lapsley—noble men, whose names are immortal. Why not add to the list in the galaxy of saints, Edward O. Guerrant, George R. Buford and Edgar Tufts? They will not suffer by comparison; and it will thrill multitudes by an acquaintance with these hitherto unknown saints and heroes. The church might well continue its good work of ap- preciation by advertising and supporting more generously its neglected cause and thus make atonement by a great 246 The Romance of Home Missions awakening and response to its needs and prospects. Al- ready the first notes of a new song are being sounded. The Women’s Auxiliaries are leading the music. The Home Mission Council is beginning to catch the inspira- tion of this new song and is already supporting the swell- ing anthem as may be judged by the following action: “The Home Mission Council through Synodical repre- sentatives, meeting in Montreat in August, speaking in the name of and for the whole church, put itself on record as to the supreme importance of Home Missions in the following official, emphatic and valuable testimony : ‘The spirit of Home Missions does not dominate the thought and activities of our Church. While there has. been a commendable increase in the interest in Home Mis- sions generally among our people during the last few years, and while the spirit of Home Missions is very strong in a few quarters of the Assembly, yet as a whole this cause has not come into its rightful place. It does not receive the attention and support which it deserves, and which the Scriptures and the times demand. ‘Tf our Church is to grow, if the welfare of our Nation is to be preserved, and if the world is to be evangelized, America must be Christianized. This can be accomplished only as we stress the fundamental importance of Home Missions. No other cause should take precedence over it, either in the sympathy and gifts of our people or in the dedication of life to its service.’ ”’ May this new song of growing appreciation catch the ear of the whole church till it swells into a magnificent chorus, that shall be heard from Maryland to Mexico and from Kansas City to Key West! The Romance of Home Missions 247 Home Missions, a World Factor No Home Mission objective terminates on itself. The Christianization of America is a worthy aim, and an in- spiring task, but it is not the final goal. The ultimate end is the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Home Missions is essentially a world factor—a conspicuous part of a World Kingdom Task. The church is just beginning to give an interpretation to the sentiment of the Poet, of which he himself had no adequate or spiritual perception: “Yet I doubt not thro’ the ages one increasing purpose runs, And the thoughts of men are widened with the process of the suns.” It is the establishment of the Kingdom of God—‘the bright prophetic day” of story and song, the prayer and inspiration of every Christian life. The most hopeful feature of the signs of the times is the strengthening conviction of “the wholeness and one- ness of the task,” growing out of a sense of brotherhood and partnership with all mankind. No nation can be evangelized today apart from the whole. No wonder a former missionary in Shanghai and editor of the China Christian Advocate insists, that “the missionary must develop a new method of approach if Christianity is to conquer the world.” Paul Hutchinson in the Atlantic Monthly reinforces this contention, urging “a reappraisal of Christian Missions,” insisting on a “radical readjust- ment of their missionary programs, which will give as much attention to checkmating international sins fostered by supposedly Christian lands as to seeking converts n other hemispheres.” 248 The Romance of Home Missions Dr. Edward L. Mills in the “Centenary Survey” argues: “What the world has been waiting for through the cen- turies is a sample Christian Nation. America is the proving grounds for Christianity. Consequently every movement which better expresses Christian ideals in American life, makes easier the task of every missionary abroad.” The missionaries who are making the supreme sacrifice in heathen lands to introduce Christianity are thwarted by commercial agents, globe trotters and nominal! Christians, who negative the testimony of the most earnest missionary. Non-Christian peoples will judge Christianity not so much by the preaching of the missionary as by the national character of those he represents. The projection of any type of Christianity into new fields of adventur: will depend largely upon its own inherent vitality and force of righteousness. Evidently the intensity of the type will determine the extensiveness of its penetrating power in its reach unto the uttermost parts of the earth. In this age of increasing intelligence and widespread . publicity, the events of the day are known simultaneously practically over the entire globe. The conditions prevail- ing in the United States are as well known in Japan as in America. A student n India, judging Christianity by America, recently expressed the opinion that “Christianity is a beautiful theory but utterly impracticable.” At the Continental Conference of the Alliance of the Reformed — Churches held in July, 1923, at Zurich, Switzerland, a missionary related this incident: Two Mohammedan brothers in the East manifested ex- actly opposite attitudes towards Christianity. One made a profession of his faith. The other being asked his The Romance of Home Missions 249 opinion of his brother’s conversion answered: “It does not disturb me much. I am planning for him a visit to America, in order that he may see Christianity as it is practiced. He will return completely cured.” The worst things that can be said against Christianity are the prac- tices of so called Christian Countries. The Challenge Paganism is challenging America to a trial of strength— and a testing of moral principles. America cannot decline the challenge. Upon its issue will depend the vindication of Christianity and the destiny of Nations. The most powerful argument for Christianity in this age—absolutely unanswerable—would be a Christianized America; not necessarily by any means the conversion of all its masses of peoples, but America redeemed from its national sins, dominated by, Christian ideals and represented in all the courts of the world by Christian agencies. America is the miracle of History. Israel was God’s chosen nation of the Old Dispensation. It was formed by a process of exclusion, almost as rigid as the caste system. America is built upon the opposite principle of inclusion, absorbing into its national life constituent elements of all nations and by its mystic laboratory trans- forming them into a cosmopolitan unity—the chosen people of its new era. Tested for service Israel failed to bring forth the fruits of righteousness, and in consequence lost their inheritance and spiritual supremacy—‘“the Kingdom of God taken from them.” Almost over night the leader- ship of the nations—inseparable from service—has been thrust upon America; and she has discovered her soul in 250 The Romance of Home Missions her altruistic mission. The spiritual conquest of herself looms larger than any other task today—especially in view of her unique position, holding the destiny of the world in her hands. In the crisis, impending and testing, she must not lose her stewardship of service—and her own soul. The wisest man preached: “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.” In modern terms, Shakespeare has expressed the same thought in his “tide in the affairs of men’”—equivalent in philosophical language to “the psychological moment,” pregnant with destiny. The distressing religious condition of our country, the battle with paganism which has been transferred to America, the menace to vital Christianity, and the influence upon the destiny of Nations—all demand the spiritual conquest of America as the most vital and far- reaching task of the Church today. There may have been a “time” for the emphasis in the interests of the Kingdom upon other things. No matter where it may have been rightly placed at other times, the welfare of the world and the triumph of the gospel demand at this crisis that the emphasis be concentrated on America. To lose the battle in America today, is to postpone the spiritual conquest of the world for generations; to win America for Christ and © the Kingdom now, is to guarantee the triumphant sway of the cross, in its spiritual influence, “to the uttermost part of the earth.” Sohn g Dado es hey EN a ot Sd PSA hat iy spd ee The Romance of Home M issions Zon QUESTIONNAIRE LESSON I Generalities Name the other books of the Author. State the purpose of this study. Show that Truth is stranger than fiction. What is the difference between Romance and Fiction? Name the phases of Home Mission service. Give some contrasted figures magnifying the Task. LESSON II Expansion Give striking comparisons showing the extent of territory. Relate the corresponding march of the Church. Give some account of El Paso Presbytery. Relate briefly the story of Oklahoma Synod. Tell of various expanding frontiers. Is the Frontier disappearing or increasing? Why? LESSON III The Hills How is the country divided by mountain ranges? Give facts and figures of the Appalachians. Connect Scriptural events with mountains. Tell of “The Shepherd of the Hills.” Relate humorous and pathetic incidents. Give an account of at least one of our missionary institutions. LESSON IV Nationality ‘Illustrate by their lives the varying types of immigrants. What is the duty of the State toward foreign peoples? Give account of early missionaries among Indians. Tell of our own missionaries. Relate beginnings of Tex.-Mex. Give account of the Jewish Mission. Zag The Romance of Home Missions LESSON V Race Relationships What constitutes the race problem? Relate the achievements of the eminent Negro Scientist. Is the Negro an asset or liability? Why? Relate the stories of (a) Maria Bea (b) Sheppard, (c) Sam Daly, (d) Charles: Birthright. Give account of the Snedecor Memorial Synod. . Tell the story of Stillman Institute. PINES nur LESSON VI Church Building State the necessity of Church Erection. What are Memorials and Annuities? Illustrate by El Paso the results of building investments. Relate the story of R. P. Walker. Tell of the development of the Rio Grande Valley. Give the judgment of the Home Mission Council. Se LESSON VII Personality State the influence of personality in history and in missions. Tell of the Unknown Heroes. Give composite story of Dr. Skinner and Tex.-Mex. Institute. Illustrate voluntary service by work of Dr. Bryan. Interweave story and Ebenezer Hotchkin and Indians. Relate the story and work of a woman missionary. ON eS LESSON VIII World Kingdom Task Show that America is a Christian Country. Prove that it is not a Christian Nation. State the two great objectives in missionary effort. Tell of the financial needs of the work. Show the need of men. Stress Home Missions as a World Factor. 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SIRES ny GAR sped ee A retrieves al tCCUOted cit cota olc's cS eatele's a dle cites 0’ Peter ee Pmt Ales meee ta tee is Sle ek 3 412 oR Koa sien ce at etree Its MN GV RCOCOD © 0, Pearce See acs s widele ticle cuu we eees MES Salifes, ROTC RC IIT > gi 1 SE oS Ba AT eT TTOP en Me es ress baie t's slvnln vw talale ohn Bee ae PRN ere akc, sven 205s eieelge oe Gao ares BSCE CV IECTEOL CE CCU Y fa, yo nce s neice nc ctemsiensie’s ONY ENE arce ENTITY oy ety Sain AW OO sg a Bet ICMUSIDOGUTUITIE Yee ai eet pele coh As ode. 5 bie Sacalecaus 0% 0 wialeie » errr S ATIC CS ache ers oe, ovstxrene Ve sob cle deep Sy) wpe Re ORPM ETAT CO ei ctre tre ota. 6c s+ ail no) supieie. 0.6 slese oye oye ee IPEOL I VINY CATS Olio fey ice pc ad cele uve ae seis Sa bee teem (Ce) 9, ia haves e'e en's he cla ate se are Me eI LU QUOTE... nsec se aie Cader e eee eees RMD YO OCIENTIST Ge cla. doer dn ese wes cece cece een eee Mer AO ATIST ee soe. ae oie oie o's cals Go sles e 3 sa Sean R ES EAMETS Fer Se OT Ua als en's Woah a's arelen os DRESS TIFISUIQNILY 255 Vee s oan en's oes aga olecin e0)e siete eA RENN ot. ha. 56 5's Sisis Cine rae eee flee ae eke ns eee ditied 14 Eliot: George, quoted. tlh, sos: tue ules tats ama aera 10 HifPaso, Lexi suse. ie ean ee omen Od Soe 33, 162 EXpanSiongs aucce Gece esos eee aes Cann eae LEAS RR 23, 40 Hrickson,; Rev. “Alireds =o h-ae: 2 et. orien lee ete eee 77 Evangelist oyecohs a oils als odie ih ovg tale ped 3 tare bend 240 F i Fearing: Matias de /au a2 ees wade eet ote ee ee "137 Frontier ‘Increasing 2/.:3...4 5 34.42 «debe na eel eee 47-49 Frontier, : Presbytery /.\6) a0Uen ea ceva ois ae ce ee 31 Frontier, Synod os oe. es Gea ee Soe oo oa aera 34 G Girardeau, ‘Rev. JnoceLr. 2). evs pai sts tees ba 147 Glasgow, Rev. S2.M4 quoted )o472 soca ay ce ee eee 169 Goldman, ‘Emma \. 25'. fass els oe eee oe ee 2 a ee 93 Graves, Jno. Temple,’ quoted) ..)).277+ 7.5 s6 mene ores apes 55 Guetrant, Rev. Edward. O)e) 7). o sie ne ost 61-66 H . Hamtnond ‘Commission 22. 8): 2 ..¢ 420 eee eee 231 “Hell Creek-to Kingdom: Comes. .24 00.'as: eee ee 59 Hemispheres of Service "sh. £25005... see ste ae eee Sat tee 223 Heroes). Nameless iets (ut noe tea eee eee by Ae 67-185 Herrin | Massacre s3ii9s io iieiace ceesecle aes Laney eee 231 Hiehland> Schools) cfg ite see eae es Se Ly hak: 70 ELIstory (a) hkcelt sw alels loiter a Wuatbews obi sot cnt en al 85-183 Home: Missionaries ‘eulogizedic.5 7: 2.0 hats oo oe ae 13 Home Missions, Council} quoted’. 3, ss. 5. «ta geen ene 179, 248 Home, Missions; Gospel’ of) .udice iawn decd eee 2a0 Home: Missions, New: Emphasis! 4:; 72.0. +» aspidels Freee 250 Home’ Mission Results: (nfs tse ewe siatecss ees ieee Se 48. Home Missions, World Factor Ao 0.02.20 tee ee 247 Hugo, Olla ee al a i then rie ee ee 165 Hunter: Memorial 1.0% 2 Os Ae cae 160 I Ifustrations 330). ia WF oe pee te ony Dee Ne 64-66 Indians a ied oe btiaincs oe ae ea dan re SL ee 90, 100 Indian“ Incidents” <. ..22'h.c sc eke ele ccs ok ola et eka 107 Indian’: Migration” (4... sc. Coe. eae cas Sales 107 Immigration .22)..05 0. nae ihe eke et ne ee 87 Immigration, -Agsimilation® ...% 22h cuok + «acta 96 Immigration, Restricted... ..\,dah¥. «as. cu+ ss. en 95 Immigration, Types Of as iy aaa aan 0 pease i aie Institutions, Missionary <.f2: Ja iie5.08 sae tela ee 60-76 ———— ll ll The Romance of Home Missions 250 ] Page MeN (SECIS ess a sc v's bls ot 4 ale cin. sva gine e 115 BS I TE GM EGS CEs 87 AS SR a 235 Biecaveniig ther Nation: GQUOtEd ss... ce vec e eee ns 23 LD AL ETS TTS Ga ao Yn 60 teat UOTE wich Vee ces ous oes dees ode eens 236 LEE Ce er) QUIT Ae ote in Ad «oc, e'nle V'ele been Gk pe) om 149 eR SACI WAL r ate TP, slew css die Ha e's Nodaleelale a 8 eS pone hie ei Me El AP cae A od SR Re 42 M mE CIC UL OUTC Ieee ee. RSL Sal. aha wee ea 26 Perle ert CV et PAV CUOTCKY 0 ul. ech s ee ence we ae ade 56 McMillan, Revs Homer, quoted ..............0..0ccc cee 177 Se ee SP ere ee art elt ce avi wie bi die Walate wieive ele s 160 RTM ATILCCIE tee) Fess ac etd ss i Wn'alcle wins oi ciols alegee e 244 Pee MR CEES RISSIONIS tire acs ere =k ichk sb cad cle Fd wow de a thin 112 Rr rme Pe WATy Foe UOTE oo ood os occ lene cidy ole ialelere worse 248 WarrImMne Geese Ue tIIOTEC fe oe ae Vie’ «jaa.» wie tes 60's Seared Ayer cece 14 ee TREE SECA Eee eo tee oS. a igrd Wathhaid va De ages 12 Memes teste OLN AMICON oie vc acc a ule ob ca dab wishes Ba creche 1] PA BomIR eV PCVV UW VV.| GUOLEC. sho cacke ss orb whelcegsveeesies ' 193 LVS OSETTTTTTS bap: 5 SF ts A a en ei 91 eee Sse Ve re a. s . cisdass wc opa)a be atdeiee > 208 PonEveVemIS MeL VITOMINICHt 1.2 ic vos es oss siete wove vo tim egy eds 52 rer SPIRE CSOTILCES | OTA ohh ous dale cals whe wig eid anes alee 54 eerie SCLiNtital EVVENtS +o) s cis< « bcake aiy'esls ecide sah 's 9 53 N NMR ee ee eo a a eld oso ale elec olete 5 74 PSR TSTIRSIATY IN GCCEC ee gdisicis dies accs\se sie ot oje da dels clas 248 a MMMM CER OTNIANIC®, OF Veen oie eless vc ces vee g ce via gslwa erg ace 85 MEE OIC RT ISSION | G5) deve o's pales si< ooole ook se balesislesewd 242 EE ee re tr cal ecb huh Ge wes edcveeravees 123-128 PP MMPS ACINEVEINCNTS Of oo... sce ee eens dwaavenecances 133 meme eset OF. Liability ....sise.cse esc easesecneeas 134 Reem ea UTeTiaty VV Ole \.*. oo. ss oss cla nem ene nance 136 IMIR CVI DEBS NG Py eax d ld sc. d 0s ease sled vb nis b¥ «0 46 O Mr Pee Pts EDOM CIVMISSIONN s oo <.cv cs clos eo piel cin dele s clas wise 239 SRCIIINGTIVE IMISSIONATY) cous ct cess ys vets genes dees 100 SMM EFEPEMMEESEL SPs EU OLE PTE ice Quinine alps b'dae ¢ lata’e%s 179 Spe iatinan te resp vieriat: COMege oc edb s eles os te cae eee 109 Oklahoma Resources ........... PLS So ON IR ee pala Rac 45 pean eS VCO CT OANIZER We. fos yw cle bas dissin ale sabe ao 39 256 The Romance of Home Missions Page P Paganism, Challenge of ...............- eer i 5) 4 | 249 Pioneers ii Wek bes cas Boek CNG Srieeg oe Bir s einateleet on een 22, 27, 37, 41 Pideressing fs. dois citde ete Ree es on beagle noe > seen 19 Purpose, Statement’ of ¥.5 2009 64025 lew wip ole 1 bio bya oe autres Ze R Race Relationships ........... PP Pee ee ae ao . 123 Rankin) (Rev2 Je Ds. quoted)... ie 2) a0 -8t ee 240 Real’ Life veaibictions orig oes nhs cine Set nee eee 10 Rélationships: =.5 feckc san clebidae ielycee © «lee ae ct. een 229 Relationships, International)... i... 8 cee eee 234 Resources,’ Material and Spiritual .°. 2702... il. 22s ee a . 20 Righteousness) fas esice oa 2 wee clei tee cue te otet are eee 241 Romances vs. Hictioni aici. teen hey siren creel te 1] S . San: Antonio,« (exi". aicee see ee at uate © eee Sateen 180 Schurz. Carls oye ite eta ek aie icttls bie eee 88 Stott Rev. Walteres: wai oi: tase na) eee hace | eee 114, 194 Service, (Various biases? Of van.te sare y oe steed ree ee eee Shits Shadden MisstAnnie asta. bones heen © LCS Tea 213 Sheppard,- Rev: WtrHe (aioe oe eae oe ae Ave 138 Skinners Revi Je Wi. Se a ieee ote estes a ae erence 200 Snedecor; URev.~Jo.Gi re Gs Shake Os Cea ee eee thc a ADSI Shedecor Memorial: Synodi.¢iv.-2, 1.40) 2 aes outings iene 152 Smith; Mrs: Eleanora*B, quoted... 774. eee. een 172 Smith; “Rey. Wa; quoted 7. oc 2a bee see he te Pins 13 Statistics bake ce oe hen are Oe es Oe RO ee 19, 20, 288 Steiner, UE dward*2:7-t. 050 ots tee es ioe oe ae ae 90 Stillman “Institute victe i cata oe te nel eee eee 151 Stillman, Revi Gs Ae Us ake Ch Gee ce ee 148 Stuart: Robinson, ; «Pent SeOR aah GUS tite oars eee Fav Survey of Field (piggies ci getate ec. 2h 0k. ogee 17 cL Task. Distinctiont + ime fa 0 hl oa i. oe ets co ee 238 Task; "Wholeness and’ Qneness 5.3). Ph.c" tes Cees 224 Task, Woorld-Kirigdom ) e300! toa) Poke age tee 222 TEXAS. (ACs Gh eas oe as Wed ba alee ail a tec 43 Tex.-Meré ‘Institute. 07... % wet bes Wists otc ts cae eee 201 Tributes,-to Missionaries’ ), 2 shih 22 baci ee se eee 13 Triumphs: of: Science i .c4 yo hepa oe nates se eee & Twicetold:‘Tales@.i 922) oan oth BOR eae aa soe ae 14 Trotzkey yee che oe os oe pole oes ie Celine ante ge ee 93 Tertithi vs: Fiction’ Fie. h bo de teh hoes oat seis Seite ae ee 7 Tufts, Revi: Edgar dick SOS a sal 2 2b he. oa ee 191 The Romance of Home Missions (537); Page U MME ISETA RIC EC OIIANICO NO Lh nts ee So's 6 cs (nce ee Sees web cee 188 Metre SCALES AC OMIPOSICG, Series oo fs 6s sie viele ach oe'e'p goes 0 3 86 W BBC ram NOVI CLs SCUIOLCU Late cc odd wine co's ces vs dic cialis 165 Pee ANY etic OCG ete? 5.) s v2 als.o' s e'eie'c.oule'e dle ive 63, 145 me COTO 05 bee eR Reco Ge ols’ eles cw 6 0hd ote afevert ose 222 mentee OTe Vcew etal ee Ps e's 5 5, cb iace elecs ica « Sona vee a 104 4 vm OVI VA Nets yee Bod cg cid bwin e Pe vad eas he we 143 “\ BW4059 .P6M87 The romance of home missions : home minary—Sp eer L ii ological Se heol eton T iil 1 1012 00070 8042