THE SOUTH.

NOTES IN THE SADDLE.

BY FIELD-SUPERINTENDENT C. J. RYDER.

The romantic, pathetic and comical jumble themselves together in a strange medley in these field experiences. But each experience illustrates some phase in missionary work, or italicizes its importance. We drop into a mountain cabin and there find the usual inmates of such mountain homes—a pale-faced, tired-looking woman, with the “old woman in the shoe” sort of family. The oldest of the children is a girl of eighteen. She informs us, during a conversation, that she “has never seen a book.” She modifies this statement a bit by adding: “I ’low thayr war one ’fore grandmam died, but I plumb forgot how it looked.” Think of it! A girl eighteen years old, in the heart of this country, which boasts itself in its educational advantages, who did not know what a book looked like! What more pathetic appeal can be offered in behalf of this mountain work than this fact presents?

The ignorance of the preachers is often as painfully evident as that of the people. A friend residing in this region told me that he had often been asked by the preacher to read his text for him at the church service, the preacher adding: “I thank God I cannot read; the Spirit teaches me.” This preacher was white.

Here is a case of genuine civil service reform: A member of an A. M. A. church was requested by the committee of his party to run for Congress. He declined unless they would pledge themselves that no money nor whiskey should be used to influence voters. The committee replied that this could not be done, as it would lose them the election. “Very well,” said this mountain nobleman, “then you must get another candidate.” In speaking of the circumstance to this friend, I told him that all his friends rejoiced in the stand he had taken, and that the A. M. A. appreciated the honor he had conferred upon it by his loyalty to political honesty, but that the country needed such men in Congress as he was. He laid his hand on my shoulder and replied: “It was no great sacrifice; I really believe I would rather go to a good prayer-meeting than to Congress.”

We jog along and come to a little slab meeting-house, just built at considerable self-denial and persistent begging on the part of a few colored Christians. An old brother was called upon to pray at the opening of the service. This was one sentence in his quaint prayer: “Oh, Lord, bless our brother, and give him a pennyroyal tongue.” But it is not so foolish a petition, after all. Pennyroyal is an herb growing abundantly in that region, and is used for ointments and salves; it is healing, it soothes irritations, heals old hurts, reduces inflammations. That is the sort of a tongue a missionary superintendent needs. I fancy, also, many pastors would sometimes rejoice in the possession of such a tongue. I doubt if our colored brother could read, but he had in some way learned Solomon’s secret: “The tongue of the wise is health.”

The A. M. A. has no school now at Louisville, Ky., but the pastor and lady missionary wisely plan for the instruction of those who do not enjoy school privileges. Coming in upon them one Saturday afternoon, I found a motley group of children, ranging from six to sixteen years of age, gathered in the Sunday-school room of the church. I learned that it was the Industrial Class, which met regularly twice a week. In a little closet in one corner all sorts of second-hand clothing were stored. These garments are sent down by good people of the North, and are made over in this Industrial class. While the children were busy in cutting, fitting and sewing, their teacher gave them useful lessons in Bible texts and truths; sensible suggestions for every-day life, or rudimentary lessons in arithmetic, geography and grammar. To many in these classes this instruction is all they get during the year, and no one can estimate its value. Indeed, the A. M. A. churches are usually a sort of information bureau to the congregations.

The pastor of one church which I recently visited said to his people: “Some of you cannot read; all of you are very busy and find it difficult to get time to read; so I have concluded to give you a brief review of the week’s news each Sabbath evening.” He then read a summary of events relating to education, temperance, religion and politics. Thus these churches are training the people to a wise exercise of their citizenship.

The three theological students from Fisk University who were ordained at the State Association in Nashville, in November, find ready opportunity to prove “their calling” by preaching in the church at Goodlettsville. This church was organized last year, and has not yet secured a settled pastor.

Rev. John Kershaw, who was recently appointed General Missionary of the A. M. A. in the Cumberland Mountains, reports twenty-one hopeful conversions as the result of a series of meetings held by himself and Bro. Barton, of Robbins. So the work goes forward encouragingly in Scott County. The large army of men who poured into this region during the construction of the Cincinnati Southern R. R., have moved on. The vast number of drinking places this unsettled multitude created a demand for has been greatly reduced. Society has settled to its normal condition. Now is our opportunity. Let us plant churches, strengthen and multiply Sunday-schools, establish Christian schools, and thus keep out saloons and places of evil resort. It is always easier to keep the devil out than to get him out.

Many of our A. M. A. Sunday-schools are rejoicing in new libraries, the gifts of the “Congregational S. S. and Publishing Society,” and the “Western Tract and Book Society.” The thoughtful Secretaries of these societies have the hearty thanks of the field workers.

CHRISTMAS AT McINTOSH, GA.

Christmas came at the end of a series of revival services which have been held here with encouraging results, some forty young people professing to find Christ precious to their souls, a number of whom will be after due care and examination received into church membership. The members, too, have been cheered and helped in their Christian life, and have resolved to be more fully consecrated to God’s service. We commenced the day with a short service at 6:30 a.m., when we had a little talk on the topic, “The Birth of Christ.” At 9 o’clock the schoolchildren assembled with parents and friends to the number of four-hundred or more, to undertake their exercises, which were very satisfactory, doing great credit to the teachers. Hymns appropriate for the occasion were gone through admirably in the church, which had been gaily decorated with evergreens, palmetto grass, redberries and moss, the Christmas tree being a most conspicuous object, heavily laden with all kinds of good things. The distribution of the various articles followed, and all, both young and old, received a gift. They then turned out, en masse, after singing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” into the school grounds, where their happiness reached its height, the people witnessing some good old fashioned English games undertaken by the boys, including flat-race, three-legged race and sack-racing, (which caused no end of merriment) running high leap and pole-leaping. The girls, too, were delightfully entertained by the teachers’ partaking in corresponding games, which were enhanced by the strains from the brass band in attendance. Later in the afternoon fourteen persons, including Rev. Floyd Snelson, the teachers, and others, started upon an eight-mile drive. A halt was made at McIntosh proper, where holiday festivities were being indulged in by a large number, I am sorry to say, to the detriment of all present. Whilst waiting to give the horses rest, it was plain to be seen that whiskey had been freely partaken of both by male and female, and a disturbance arose in which we could see from the distance the excited people fighting, the women taking the most prominent part. At another settlement on the other side of us, we heard there had been disturbances mainly caused by the “fire-water” drinkers. As I stood looking on, I could not but thank God for the contrast, so plainly set before me in the day’s proceedings, and to bless God for the work and workers, whose influence is at least felt for miles around, both among old and young, whom they have under their training. I cannot speak too highly of the teachers here, although my acquaintance with them has only been of three weeks’ duration; yet travelling about as I do both in England and America I have learned to form some idea of work in my Master’s cause, and say that the work here is worthy of the sympathy and prayers of all God’s children, on both sides of the water, on behalf of these once downtrodden sons of Africa.

Miss Plimpton has in her class-room 72 scholars, Miss Robertson 74 and Miss Dox 84, Miss Cutler taking the responsibility in a great measure of the household duties. They are taxed to the very utmost of their strength and have turned away between fifty and sixty children, who would gladly walk many miles each day, if they could be accommodated. The Bible readings at some of the sisters’ houses, held twice a week, and also the Bible instruction and society meetings which are held at the teachers’ home, are all undertaken after school hours, so that an idea can be formed as to the exceedingly heavy task bearing upon them, but the promise is still as certain to-day as of old, “As thy day so shall thy strength be.” Towards sun-down the young folks began to scatter to their respective homes, everybody seeming to be delighted with the day’s proceedings, and wishing in their hearts that Christmas day came once a month.

James Wharton, Evangelist.