Various - The American Missionary. Volume 42, No. 08, August, 1888

Our receipts for the nine months ending June 30 are $214,434.40, an increase of $10,913.66, as compared with the corresponding months of last year. The increase of receipts from legacies is only $184.81, showing that almost the entire increase is from collections, and this we regard as the genuine test of the confidence of our patrons in the work of the Association. On the other hand, a large part of this increase is for special objects, and does not aid us in meeting regular appropriations. We must add, also, that our expenditures during the last nine months have been $21,828.95 greater than for the same months last year. These facts point inevitably to the trilemma—debt, curtailment or increased receipts.

It is easy to say "retrench," and if it is the unmistakable call of the churches, we must do it. But we wish to present another aspect of the subject. In a case where enlargement in the way of new or improved buildings is imperatively demanded to ensure the usefulness of the school, and where there comes to us Providentially, and without solicitation on our part, the proffer of the money to make those enlargements, is it our duty to refuse that money? If our constituents have the facts before them, we, as their agents, will cheerfully abide their decision. To this end will be found below the sketch of a conversation, not imaginary, but which actually occurred, and which will present some of these facts. We ask our patrons to read it and then to decide whether our action in these cases was right, and, if so, whether it should be a guide for the future.

About two years ago a gentleman came to this office, and said to one of the Secretaries:

"If a person has eight or ten thousand dollars which he would like to devote to some good object, where would you advise him to give it?"

To this the Secretary promptly replied: "To the American Missionary Association, of course."

"All right," said the gentleman, "but to what special purpose would you advise it to be applied?"

"Our great need," said the Secretary, "is to meet current expenses, and I would advise that it be devoted to that."

A little further conversation revealed the pleasant fact that the gentleman had that sum of money at his disposal, but that he had a very decided wish that it should be used for the erection of permanent buildings. The Secretary suggested the obvious fact that added plant meant increased expense, and that we hardly dared to promise to meet that.

"But," said the gentleman, "are there not places in your work where new buildings are greatly needed?"

"Most assuredly," the Secretary replied, "there are many places where such buildings are needed."

He was asked to give details, which he did.

Among the schools mentioned by him was one in which the scholars were inadequately provided with dormitory and recitation room facilities, and where the industries were crowded into old cabins and attic rooms.

After hearing these details, our visitor, who is a judicious and prosperous business man as well as a benevolent Christian, said, "These new buildings are needed. I offer you the money for the two buildings at the place you have last named. I know it will increase somewhat your current expenses, but can't you trust the churches to come to your help? "

The results of that and subsequent interviews are two fine buildings, one giving adequate school accommodations, and the other giving a large and commodious shop, facilitating both instruction and production.

Subsequently, the same large-hearted and liberal gentleman repeated his benefaction where equally needed enlargement will soon be furnished.

Once more. In a Southern city our school building is too small, the lot does not permit industrial work, and changes in the population have surrounded the locality with saloons and houses of ill-fame. A change must be made or we must abandon the place. A lady who knows these facts offers to give us $2,000 with which to purchase four acres of land most eligibly situated for our work, and to give us the money to build a school-house with eight large school-rooms with commodious fixtures and appliances. All this, of course, implies more teachers and additional running expense. Shall we accept the gift and trust the churches to furnish the money? Or, to state the matter in general terms: When the need for enlargement is very great, and God sends to us benevolent donors, who are willing to furnish the means for the enlargement, are we wrong in trusting the churches for their part of the needed help? We believe we are not. We think the churches would regard us as recreant to our trust if we refused to take the funds thus providentially proffered to us.

But our story is not all told. Other donors in the last few years have done likewise, and there still are cases where the pressure for enlargement is as great as in any of the instances given. We must mention one. In a large Southern city our school building is so inadequate that the Principal writes: "We have an extremely large school, and yet nearly three hundred pupils were turned off for lack of seating capacity." In addition to this, the Teachers' Home adjoining the school building, which was once a Southern home, is unhealthy from inadequate under-drainage. We have repeatedly attempted to remedy this difficulty and at considerable cost. We are satisfied that to spend more money for such a purpose is a waste. The only true remedy is to remove the present home, connecting it with the school-building for additional school-rooms, and then, on the vacant site, to erect a new home with proper foundations. If any benevolent person should offer us the means for making these changes, we fear we have not the self-denial to refuse, unless the churches or benevolent individuals for whom we act shall command us to do so. We await the response they will give.

We give below a copy of the last order received from the Interior

Department in relation to the vernacular.

"1st. In Government schools no text-books and no oral instruction in the vernacular will be allowed, but all text-books and instruction must be in the English language. No departure from this rule will be allowed, except when absolutely necessary to rudimentary instruction in English. But it is permitted to read from the Bible in the vernacular at the daily opening of school, when English is not understood by the pupils.

"2d. In schools where Indian children are placed under contract, or to which the Government contributes in any manner, the same rule shall be observed in all secular instruction. Religious instruction in the vernacular may be allowed in such schools, both by the text-book and orally, provided not more than one-fourth of the time is devoted to such instruction.

"3d. In purely mission schools—that is, in schools toward whose support the Government contributes nothing—religious and other instruction may be conducted in the manner approved by those who maintain the schools, provided that one-half of the school hours shall be employed in instruction in English.

"4th. Only native Indian teachers will be permitted to teach otherwise in any Indian vernacular, and these native teachers will only be allowed so to teach in schools not supported in whole or in part by the Government, and where there are no Government or contract schools where English is taught. These native teachers are allowed to teach in the vernacular only with a view of reaching those Indians who cannot have the advantage of instruction in English.