The American Missionary | Page 2

$28,318.14; at the close of May, $25,795.07; June, as above, $14,614.76. This improvement is due, in large part to legacies, and yet there has been marked improvement in the donations as compared with last year. We trust our friends will be encouraged to still further increase their contributions, and enable us to rejoice in a triumphant balance sheet.
* * * * *
OUR PRACTICAL, THOUGHTFUL FRIEND.
Nearly a year ago, we had the satisfaction of referring to a friend who contributed regularly to all the Congregational Societies, and yet reserved one hundred dollars for the society standing in need of special help. We are glad to say that was not a transient purpose, for the friend has appeared again this year and has doubled his special contribution. We trust that he stands not alone in this thoughtful and practical watchfulness over the missionary societies.
* * * * *
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.
"Enclosed find my draft for ---- for the good work doing among the Freedmen. For nothing do I give money more cheerfully than for the advancement of that race."
"The earnest plea of Mr. Pond for help in his California Chinese work was brought to the notice of our Chinese teachers yesterday. We would hereby pledge you fifty dollars. His work must not stop. Would that we could do more towards its support. Would, too, that we could have one of his earnest Christian Chinese workers in our own city."
"I have just been reading the June number of the MISSIONARY, and do what I can at this time toward paying the debt. I am specially impressed by the extract from Mr. Pond's letter, and shall be pleased if you see fit to assign the enclosed to his work. However, please to use it at your discretion in any way."
"I have been able to do so little for your society of late that it has been a grief to me, but as I am in receipt of a little money I send you ---- as a thank offering. May it do a little for the cause my husband and myself have had so much at heart. With best wishes and prayers for your abundant success."
* * * * *
Rev. C.J. Ryder writes:
After the work of the Association had been presented in a comparatively small church near Boston, the pastor arose, and with earnestness and deep feeling said, "What are we going to do about it? Shall we let this great work be delayed because of our inaction? Let us now take a collection of one hundred dollars!" This seemed an impossible thing to do to the visiting Secretary. They brought back in the bags one hundred and ten dollars, the extra collection of this comparatively small church!
It makes a heap of difference whether the pastor follows the Secretary's address with such cordial and enthusiastic endorsement or not. I am glad to testify that there is a good deal of this cordial co-operation on the part of pastors in New England.
* * * * *
CIVIL RIGHTS IN COURT.
During the National Council at Chicago, three years ago, Rev. S.P. Smith, a delegate from Knoxville, Tenn., applying for a dinner at a restaurant, was refused service. He prosecuted the proprietor. A jury in Chicago has just given him a verdict of $125 damages. The defence asked for a new trial on the ground that the judge had prejudiced the jury by his instructions; the judge denied the motion, stating that if he had been on the jury he would have made the fine $500. The defence is seeking a compromise, with the threatened alternative of an appeal. Mr. Smith, standing for the principle, will abide the final act of the court.
* * * * *
TIMHAKA TA IVANGELI.
We are very proud of this book as being the first literary production in an African language of one of our graduates at the South, the Rev. B.F. Ousley, now of the East Central Africa Mission. The missionaries there have already reduced the language to writing, having formed a vocabulary of over three thousand words, and from it have printed a few books. Among them, is the one whose title appears above. It is a translation of "The Story of the Gospel," in a little volume of two hundred and six pages. We have read it with great interest so far as we have been able to understand its dialect. Within our comprehension we find Jesu, the one word in all languages for all people, Simone Petro, Johane, Marta, Maria, and Lazaru and many other such proper names. We congratulate our young people at the South that so soon they have a representative performing such literary work for the people of Africa. Much of such work seems drudgery, but it is necessary to opening the light of life to the people who