THE FREEDMEN IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. The presbyteries in which the principal work of the Freedmen's Board is done were represented by colored commissioners. The only exception was Rev. D. J. Satterfield, president of Scotia Seminary, who represented Catawba Presbytery. As this presbytery contains both Scotia Seminary and Biddle University, it is natural and proper that it should frequently have a white representative. It is interesting to note in this connection that two of the faculty of Lincoln University, Professors Martin and Jones, were commissioners from the presbyteries with which they are respectively connected. It shows the character and the standing in the church of the men who are working among and for this most interesting people. Perhaps the most interesting colored man present was Rev. Joseph Williams, from Georgia. "Uncle Joe," as he is usually called, is now more than eighty years old. His bald, black head, surrounded by a fringe of white hair, and his white beard, gave him a most venerable appearance. When Secretary Allen called him to the platform at the close of his own address, he was listened to by the Assembly with respectful interest. It is not strange that our colored brethren love the Church that so honors their worthy representatives. Mr. Williams has been a Christian and a Presbyterian for more than sixty years. He was largely instrumental in the organization of Knox Presbytery, and represented it in the Saratoga Assembly ten years ago. He is a stanch believer in the Confession of Faith, which he describes as "the Bible interpreted by common sense.' In his talk to the Assembly he showed himself acquainted with the current agitation with reference to a revision of the standards, by declaring emphatically that he was not in favor of changing them one ito. He does not expect to attend another General Assembly on earth, and when, at the popular meeting in the evening, he was invited to a seat on the platform and welcomed thereto by distinguished representatives of the Church, the old man was visibly touched, and sat quietly weeping while the exercises went on. Nor is it strange that this faithful minister of Christ-a poor black ex-slave, just tottering on the verge of the grave-should be moved to tears by this exhibition of Christian brotherhood so like to that which shall be "over there." Another commissioner in whom the Assembly took great interest was Rev. D. J. Sanders, of Wilmington, N. C. Mr. Sanders not only has charge of two churches, to which he regularly preaches, but he is the editor of the Africo-American Presbyterian. This paper, owned, edited and printed by colored men, has been formally adopted by the synods of Catawba and Atlantic as their organ of communication between different parts of our mission field. Through it also our ministers and people become acquainted with what the Church at large is doing. It thus becomes a powerful educating influence 42 Reports of Standing Committee and Special Committee. worthy the support of all who desire to help this struggling people. Mr. Sanders addressed the Assembly on several occasions, and his brevity, his clearness, force and calmness of statement, together with his quiet, modest, manly bearing, secured him respectful attention and applause. As to the colored commissioners in general, it may be said, their conduct and bearing were such as to deepen the general interest in the race they represented, and in the work of our Church among them that could produce such fruits. But, in the caption of this article, we do not mean to direct attention solely, or even mainly, to the colored commissioners in the General Assembly. These men were there to represent a cause and a race. very What consideration did the wider, more momentous interests thus represented receive at the hands of the chief council of our Church? The answer to this question must be gratifying to every one who feels that our Church has a grave responsibility to these emancipated millions. Perhaps no subject came before the Assembly in a greater variety of forms, or occupied a larger portion of its time; but no one seemed to regard it as an unwelcome subject, or to be impatient at its full consideration. The report of the Standing Committee on Freedmen was presented by its chairman, Rev. Dr. Magill, of Iowa. The review of the work of the Board during the year shows an increase in the number of its preachers, its teachers, its churches, the number of converts, the church membership, the number of Sabbath-school scholars and the number of pupils in the day-schools. There has been a steady advance in the work. The amount of the contributions to this cause has increased and the debt of last year has been correspondingly diminished. A most hopeful sign in this connection is the fact. that 252 more churches and 43 more women's societies and bands contributed to the work among the freedmen last year than the year before. This fact assures us that the interest in this cause is broadening and deepening, and that the consecrated wealth [July, of our Church is hereafter to be applied much more largely than heretofore to the forwarding of this most important, interesting and hopeful work. come. The report of the committee appointed by the Assembly of 1888, with Rev. Dr. Dickey, of Philadelphia, as its chairman, to consider the advisability of consolidating the Freedmen's Board and the Board of Home Missions, was listened to with breathless interest. The committee had informed the Church, through the press, some weeks before as to its conclusions in the matter, but, while the report was being read in extenso to the Assembly, it was felt that the work of our Church among the freedmen had reached a momentous crisis in its history, and that this Assembly, by its vote, would probably decide the policy of the Church for some time to As the distinguished chairman proceeded with his report, and it became evident that the committee had given the complex and difficult question submitted to them the most earnest, impartial and thorough study, a feeling manifested itself in the Assembly that the conclusions of this committee might safely be made the decision of the Church. That conclusion was summed up in the following resolution: "Resolved, That the Board of Missions for Freedmen be continued as now constituted and located." This resolution, with the rest of the very able report, was adopted by the Assembly by an overwhelming vote. There had been serious difference of opinion as to the wisdom and expediency of this course, and brethren on the floor of the Assembly defended their dissent from the report with great ability and force. But when the vote was taken, after a full and free discussion, there was a manifest and general willingness to consider this settlement as final, and to regard it as the result of divine guidance. It is gratifying to state that while the debate was at times very earnest, even impassioned, its participants on both sides treated each other with the utmost courtesy, and showed such just appreciation of the conscientious views of their opponents as can-now that the question is finally decided-leave only pleasant feelings behind. This spirit of Chris tian courtesy, in a remarkable degree, characterized all the proceedings of this Assembly. The report of the Committee on Co-operation with the Southern Church made it evident that a friendly and conciliatory spirit pervades both the churches. It is something that after years of discussion and disagreement the joint committee could devise and the two Assemblies could adopt seme statement, however general, of the strong sympathy which each Church feels for the work the other is doing for our common Lord. As for the work among the freedmen, it will be helped by this report. The ministers and members of each Church will now feel at liberty to support and promote actively the work of the other Church among this needy and deserving people. This has already been done to some extent, and our work in the South has been materially helped by the sympathetic co-operation of our southern brethren. Such co-operation will doubtless be encouraged and increased by having received the official sanction of the highest courts of both churches. While we expect them to be more helpful to us because of this action, we hope they may find themselves helped and encouraged by the prayerful sympathy and material gifts of the Northern Church. On the whole, we believe that the work among the freedmen has never had so large a place in the interest of the Church, nor had so hopeful an outlook, as at the close of the recent Assembly. May God give our Church, through its Board, wisdom and grace to fulfill its mission to this people! H. N. PAYNE. MORE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING. In its annual report for this year the Board says, "The benefit to the children of the freedmen of the industrial feature in our educational work cannot be overestimated." The special Committee on Freedmen in their report to the Assembly wisely recommend "That the Board of Missions for Freedmen be instructed to give more prominence and attention to the establishment and promotion 43 of industrial schools." The Assembly did thus instruct the Board. That instruction is in accord with the growing conviction of our Church and with the thought of the times. The Negroes in this country are toilers. It should be the effort of their friends to help to make their toil productive. This can best be done by industrial training in schools. By industrial training we mean teaching them to do their work with the least consumption of time, energy and material, and with the largest and most complete results in that which shall promote their comfort and happiness. No sort of instruction is welcomed more eagerly by the students themselves than this. But how shall the plan of the Board, the instructions of the Assembly and the desire of the students in this regard be met? The answer is a simple one-with money. The thing is desirable and practicable if only the Church will furnish the necessary means. Carpentery, drafting, type-setting, painting, the cutting, fitting and making of garments, and household economy, can only be properly taught by those who make a specialty of these things; hence industrial teachers must be had, for whose salaries provision must be made. Then the necessary tools for all these forms of work must be had, and the Board has no money for that purpose unless special gifts be made. Then, after teachers and tools are provided, there is a constant call for material to work upon. Boys cannot learn carpentering without lumber. Girls cannot learn to make dresses and bed-quilts without needles and thread and cloth. Who shall provide these things? The scholars cannot, nor the teachers. Will not men and women who are specially interested in this department of our work make special gifts to establish and maintain it? The money given in this way will bring large returns. As to the particular point at which help is needed, information will gladly be given on application to the Board. It is hoped that the suggestions here made will meet the approval and secure the aid of some of the earnest, practical men and women who read this magazine. H. N. P. CHURCH ERECTION. MISCONCEPTIONS. If we may judge from the various applications that are sent to the office, there are many singular misconceptions of the province of this Board and of the intent of the Assembly in establishing it. Church-building is of a very varied character, and the hundreds of edifices that are each year erected within the bounds of our Church include in their number every style of building, from the stately pile costing a quarter of a million of dollars to the little sod tabernacle of the Dakota pioneer. Now it is probable that ninety-nine out of a hundred of these buildings cost every cent that the congregations planning them can raise, and in most cases just a little more. Hence there is no building committee that does not welcome every additional subscription, whether from home or abroad. By just so much the resources for adornment are increased or the pending debt is reduced. Moreover in the case, so frequent, of inevitable debt, what church is there that does not seek to borrow at as low an interest as possible? It would therefore undoubtedly be a great convenience, and building committees would be relieved of many anxious consultations, if there were some grand central fund to which all congregations might turn when confronted with the question of ways and means. It would save the necessity of counting too closely the cost, and it would enable the building committee to authorize additions and conveniences in themselves evidently most desirable. Whether such easy methods of procedure would, after all, be for the highest welfare of the congregations, is a question in regard to which much might be said; but whatever might be the value and convenience of such resource, it is certain that it was not contemplated in the formation of the Board of Church Erection. The charter of the Board expressly states that it is constituted "for the purpose of. aiding feeble congregations in erecting houses of worship." Again and again the Assembly has instructed the Board that it should confine its work to the weaker churches, aiding them in their efforts to secure inexpensive houses of worship, and with the added injunctions that $1000 should be in all ordinary cases the maximum grant, and that no appropriations should be made to pay debts more than a year old. As a matter of fact the average amount of the grants of the Board has been not far from $500. From these statements it is evident that certain applications to the Board are made under a misconception of the province of the Board. It should be remembered— 1. The Board is not a general loan agency. Hardly a month passes that we do not receive letters from churches strong enough to contemplate building edifices costing from ten to twenty thousand dollars, asking the Board to loan them two or three thousand dollars. They state usually that they wish it to be considered as a business transaction, and promise that the money shall be returned in five or six years. Usually, however, they wish the loan to be without interest. It is evident, however, that the Board cannot thus loan without diminishing by just such amount the sum that it has to distribute among the really feeble churches that can only be housed by its aid. Nor has the Board any facilities for complying with what is frequently made as an alternative request, viz., the seeking out of some institution or generous friend who will make the desired loan that is beyond the province or ability of the Board. 2. The Board is not an agency to swell a subscription list already sufficiently large to meet the actual needs of the congregation. It is no discredit to a congregation that it always desires to build a little larger or a little more handsomely than hard-headed prudence advises; but it is happier in the 1889.] Misconceptions-General Assembly. end if it surrenders to the hard-headed brother who measures estimates against subscription and insists that "two and two make four." But should the Board, in view of its narrow resources, of the many demands upon it and of the express instructions of the Assembly, contribute in such cases? Yet hardly a month passes that a church that is erecting a building at a cost of ten or twelve thousand dollars does not apply to the Board, stating that it has a subscription nearly large enough to meet the expense; that it is of the utmost importance that the church should be fully equal to others in the town, and that from the very inception of the undertaking they had depended upon the Board for a grant of from one to two thousand dollars. The statements are such that we do not for a moment doubt that the church has shown a most energetic and commendable spirit, has made indeed sacrifices to attain its desires, and as a consequence has a most beautiful and satisfactory building equal to the probable demands of generations to come. But it is an entire misconception of the purpose and intent of the General Assembly to suppose that such case comes within the province of the Board. Most assuredly a church that can raise, even though it be by selfdenial, $10,000 in cash, and already has a good lot upon which to build, is able to provide itself a house of worship; and to use the money committed to the Board to enlarge the subscription list of such self-supporting and promising enterprises would necessitate the withholding help from other little congregations upon the frontier which are erecting plain little buildings at an outlay of from $1000 to $1500. Gladly would the Board aid in such cases were it possible; but in view of the limited amount that it has to distribute and the express directions of the Assembly, it cannot do so. 3. The Board is expressly forbidden to pay debts that are more than a year old. The wisdom of this provision of the charter is very evident. The object of the Assembly in providing aid in church erection was to advance the interests of church extension. It was its aim to encourage new organiza 45 tions to build church homes. But it was no part of its plan to encourage extravagant outlay. To avoid the danger of this, it provided that every church applying for aid should give a careful estimate of the proposed outlay, so that the Board before making a grant might judge as to what was demanded by the conditions of the case. To permit the Board to aid in paying old debts would not only make it impossible to fulfill its duty in this regard, but would also open the way to innumerable applications from churches that have occupied their buildings for years; and if such applications were granted, while old and comparatively-strong churches might be relieved of burdens incautiously incurred, there would be nothing left to distribute among the struggling infant churches now organizing at the rate of two hundred each year. The Board desires above everything to distribute its limited means where the help will be most sure to accomplish the end in view, and under no circumstances does it press technicalities that do not affect the merits of the case; but it must not be untrue to its trust, and use the funds of the Church for purposes other than those contemplated by the Assembly and approved by the donors. An appreciation of the obligations of the Board in this regard would veto in advance. many applications that now must be declined, and prevent the frequent disappointment that results from entire misconception of the province of the Board. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 1889. The following words from the report of the Assembly's Standing Committee upon Church Erection are so timely and just that we quote them, in the hope that they may be widely read by those interested in our work: In common with all our great ecclesiastical agencies, this Board is confronted with an everwidening field of operations. The once sparselysettled territories, with here and there an hum ble village or hamlet, have within a decade or two reached the dignity of statehood, with populous towns and large cities. Within at single year the number of states in this Union |