Mingling of Races in the United States. national capital, defeating a presidential candidate when he is obnoxious on ecclesiastical grounds, and gathering its forces with clear eyed and unparalleled energy to contest at no distant day the supremacy of this coming empire of the world. Intemperance seems to be fastening itself with an ever firmer and more determined grip upon us, millions of gallons more of whisky and beer are made every year, and the liquor dealers' associations are grown to be herculean giants, resolute to uphold the man-murdering saloon. Wealth is increasing at a dizzy rate, engendering the vices of covetousness and selfishness as it grows; often the fruit of gross, unrebuked, unpunished theft and crime, and sordidizing the ambitions of our countrymen as the world shows no previous example of. A tremendous element in the conflict is the amazing indifference of semi-Christians, their blindness to the vast transactions of which they are an unavoidably appreciable influence; careless in the very matters which most touch the heart of the struggle; disobedient to the Sabbath in their private lives, and willing that the nation should take that universal attitude, and otherwise (because they are disloyal to Christ) playing into the hands of those who seek to sweep away the distinctive and holy palladiums of our institutions. It is possible that all these, and other like forces, have increased more than the forces of evangelical religion. But we do not believe that the crisis is past. We do not believe that it has yet come. But it is coming with ever-increasing rapidity. The movements are, with a rush, accumulating force for the decisive struggle. The day is near when America shall begin to assume her final phase and quality. We are in "the perilous and dancing balance."Church at Home and Abroad. Mingling of Races in the United States. Nor only is this country our home, but in a present and prophetic sense it is the home of humanity; not of one race, but of all races. From the earliest dawn of our national life the motto over our doors has been, "Welcome to the world;" and from every land and out of every nation there has poured a steady stream of life, to mix and mingle its volume with that which courses down the history of America. This is not an Anglo-Saxon, not a Teutonic, not even a Caucasian nation. The blood of all races mingles in that of the American people. Hither come AngloSaxon and Celt, Gaul and Teuton, Scandinavian and Russ, Spaniard and Italian, Turk and Arab, Negro and Indian, Japanese and Islander of the seas, all mixing and mingling in one volume of American life, and making out of this heterogeneous mass a single composite national character. Everybody has been and is welcome here, the Chinese alone excepted-God pity us for the exception-and all are 317 coming not merely to dwell and toil here, but to share in our inheritance and make up the mass of our national life. It seems as though on the canvas of America was visible the picture first seen in the apocalyptic vision of "a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues." And may not the finishing touch soon be added to the picture by the universal voice saying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen." Two thoughts are suggested: There are links which bind these people to the races out of which they sprang. Memory and constant communication keep living those links; and he who touches the life of any one of them touches a chord which vibrates into the land from which they come. So, through the masses of people who are gathered here, you can reach all tribes and nations; and in a living and mighty sense it may truthfully be said that, while the touch of the foreign missionary is upon a single race, the touch of the home missionary is upon the whole world. Another thought is that the Americans are, and are to become more and more, not a single and isolated race, not a mere collection of tribes and peoples, but a combination and product of races. It is not simply that these races dwell together, they also intermarry. And it is even now difficult to find an American in whose veins does not course the blood of many countries. There is no mere mechanical combination of many lives, but a fusion into one life. The American is the single product and culmination of all the races of earth. By the process known as composite photography you take the features of a score of individuals and cast them in a single face, and in such face the minor features of each individual disappear, and only the strong and pronounced characteristics remain. So here, in the mighty mingling of all races in one, the great Photog. rapher of the universe is casting upon the canvas of the centuries the composite countenance of all the tribes and nations of the world. The lesser and weaker features of each race will disappear, and the strong and pronounced characteristics only will remain; and thus will come the man of the future, heir of all the ages, inheritor of all the races, worthy to stand as the perfect man in the new paradise on earth. Is there any grander work than to guide in the mingling of all these mighty races into this composite people ?-Justice Brewer. Commissioner of Indian Affairs. JUDGE D. M. BROWNING, the successor of General Morgan as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, is a mem ber of the First Baptist Church, of Benton, Ill., and an earnest, active Christian. We trust he will make as good a commissioner as his predecessor. 318 Colored Population of the United States in 1890. Colored Population of the United States in 1890. THE following table gives for each State and Territory, arranged geographically, the colored population in the aggregate, as well as a detailed classification according to the number of blacks, mulattoes, quadroons, octoroons, Chinese, Japanese, and civilized Indians, as reported by the census of 1890: Indian Tradition about the White Man. THE Seminole Indians have a singular tradition regarding the white man's origin and superiority. They say when the Great Spirit made the earth he also created three men, all of whom were fair-complexioned. He then led them to a small lake and bade them jump in. One immediately obeyed the command and came out purer and fairer than before; the second hesitated awhile, by which time the water became muddled, 107,475 2,039 58,806 and when he came out he was copper-colored; the third did not leap until the water became black with mud, and he came out with his black color. After this the Great Spirit laid before them three sealed packages, and gave the black man the first choice, so that he might have a chance to amend his former misfortune. He closely examined each package, and having felt their weight, chose the heaviest in preference to the rest, believing it to be the best and most valuable. The copper-colored man chose the next heaviest, The Lost Indian. leaving the white man the lightest. When the packages were opened, the first contained spades, hoes, and other implements of labor; and the second unfolded fishing tackle and hunting and warlike weapons; the third gave the white man pens, ink, and paper the means of mental improvement, the social ink of humanity, the foundation of the white man's superiority. The Lost Indian. BY REV. EGERTON R. YOUNG. THE following beautiful story deserves a place among the great number of real answers to prayer. Still does the Lord God say to his followers: "I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them." Our Indian converts believe in God. With a simple, childlike faith, they take him at his word. One of our Indians at his baptism received the English name of Edmund Stephenson. He was an earnest yet simple Christian. His religion made him industrious, and so by his diligent hunting and fishing he comfortably provided for his wife and two little ones. One evening about the middle of last October he left his family at his little home at Norway House, and started up a rapid river to visit some of his relatives who lived several miles away. In those high latitudes the cold winter sets in very early, and so already the river was covered with ice. To make the trip more quickly he fastened on his skates, and when last seen he was rapidly speeding away on his trip in the evening twilight. As he did not return the next day, as he had promised his family, they became alarmed, and an Indian messenger was sent to inquire the reason. To his surprise, he was informed by the friends that Edmund had not visited them and they knew not of his whereabouts. When these tidings were carried home there was great alarm and a search party was quickly organized. From the point where Edmund was last seen alive they carefully examined the ice as they hurried along, and after a little time discovered the most conclusive evidence that the poor man was drowned. Over a part of the river where the current is very rapid they discovered that the ice had been broken through, and although now again firmly frozen over yet in the congealed mass they discovered one of his deerskin gloves, a button of his coat, and other evidences that here he had fallen through the ice, and had made a most desperate effort to escape. As it was nearly dark when the searchers made these discoveries as to the place and manner of his death, they were obliged with this to be satisfied and to postpone the search for the body until the next day. Early the next morning they diligently set to work. As much snow had fallen during the previous even 319 ing they were very much hampered in their efforts, and although a large number of men with snow shovels, axes, and grappling-irons diligently sought in many places for the remains, several days passed by and they were still unsuccessful in their efforts. Among the searchers were some Indians who still believed in the skill and supernatural powers of the conjurers, or medicine men. These, having become discouraged in their efforts, resolved to consult one of these old men, and so they said: "Let us go and consult old Kwaskacarp, and get him to conjure for us and tell us where to find the body." But The Christian Indians protested against this and tried to dissuade them from their purpose. they would not listen to them, being so discouraged in their efforts. So they carried a gift of tea and tobacco to the conjurer and told him of the object of their coming. In response to their wishes and in return for their gifts, he took his sacred drum and medicine bag into his tent, and noisily drummed away until he worked himself up into a kind of frenzy or delirium, and then he told them where they were to cut the ice and drag for the body of their dead comrade. When the Christian Indians heard that these others had thus gone to the conjurer for help they were very much grieved. One, especially, was very much distressed in spirit. He is a grand old man by the name of Thomas Mustagan. While feeling deeply the loss of Edmund, he was very much hurt when the news reached him that some of the searchers, instead of going to God in their perplexity and trouble, had, like poor old King Saul, resorted to such disreputable agencies. No sooner had he received the news of their conduct than he resolved to adopt a very different course. Getting his wife to cook a quantity of food, he carried it with some kettles and tea over to a spot on the shore, near to the place in the river where the men were now diligently searching for the body. Clearing away the snow he made a fire, and then when the tea was prepared, he called the hungry and almost discouraged men around him and made them eat his food and drink his tea. Then he talked to them of the one living and true God and of his power to hear and answer prayer. He then spoke of the foolishness and wickedness of the conduct of those who, having heard about him, had gone and consulted the wicked old conjurer. "Let us go to that God about whom we have been taught by our missionaries. He is the one to help us in our trouble." Thus he talked with them. Then with the people all around him he kneeled down in the snow, and earnestly and reverently asked God to hear and help them in their sorrow and perplexity. He prayed that wisdom might be given them, so that they might find the body of their dear friend that was lying somewhere in that cold river, that they might take it up and bury it in their little vil lage graveyard. And very earnestly did he ask God to comfort the poor sorrowing widow and the little helpless children. Thus did this venerable old Indian of over fourscore winters, with believing faith, call upon God. When they arose from their knees, he said: "Now, trusting in God to answer us, let us go to work." As much snow had fallen on the ice they had first to scrape it away, and then use their judgment where, over the rapid waters, to cut through the ice and drag for the body. Although Thomas was such an cleared of snow Thomas looked through it as well as he could. All at once he quickly rose up from a spot of semitransparent ice which he had been carefully examining. Calling to the men with the axes and ice chisels, he said: "Try here." Soon they had a large hole cut through the ice, the grappling irons were speedily brought into use, and there the body was found and quickly brought to the surface, although it was hundreds of yards from the place where the conjurer had directed his followers to look for it. aged man, he now seemed the most alert and active man in the party. By common consent he was given charge of the party of Christian Indians, who now all diligently worked under his direction. As fast as the snow was scraped away from the ice he carefully scanned every part of it. In the meantime the old conjurer, Kwaskacarp, in a confident voice told his followers that he had conjured, and the answer was that they were to cut the ice in a certain designated place. Paying no attention to him and his party the Christian Indians worked away, and as fast as the ice was Thomas, while intently searching through the ice, had seen on the under surface at that place a quantity of air bubbles. The thought came to him that here the body had rested, and the last air from the lungs had escaped and formed these bubbles. He asked for wisdom and help and he obtained it, and in less than an hour after these pious Indians had been on their knees in earnest prayer in the snow, the body of their comrade was being borne away to his home, and from thence to its final resting place in the "God's Acre" of the little Christian village. YOUNG PEOPLE'S DEPARTMENT. India's Awakening.* BY REV. JOHN F. DODD, D.D. FROM out their night awaking, To greet the opening day, Lo India's anxious thousands With earnest longings pray; For faithful Gospel heralds Have borne the message there, Revealing God's great purpose, To save them from despair. The Star of Hope is beaming O'er all the hills and plains, Proclaiming by its brightness That Christ, Messiah, reigns; That now, the truth receiving As taught within his word, Led by the Spirit's teaching, These souls shall know their Lord. This forward movement, telling The triumph of our King, Inspires us now to rally And larger offerings bring. Thus shall all souls rejoicing, In him and by him blest, Press onward, still victorious, To heaven's eternal rest. Then he will smile upon us, To whom our love was shown; And all shall take their places Before the Victor's throne; While through the endless ages, With praise and holy songs, We'll crown him King Eternal To whom all power belongs. The Cooly who Suffered for his Master. BY A. L. O. E. A TRUE STORY FROM INDIA. WE all like to hear of acts of courage. Brave selfsacrifice is worthy of praise. We do not wonder when soldiers perform acts of valor, but we do not expect such from a poor cooly who perhaps receives less than a dollar for the labor of a month. Yet one not very long ago showed such fidelity, courage, and endurance that it is well that his story should be known on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr. C., an English gentleman engaged in sugar This hymn was suggested and inspired by the statements of Bishop Thoburn and others, in various addresses and in articles in our Church papers, to the effect that while thousands have come to be baptized and taught, other thousands and tens of thousands are back of them as earnestly desiring to escape from their darkness and misery and come to the Light. It can be sung either to the tune known as "Missionary Hymn," or to "Webb." works in India, was kind to his dependents, and by them was loved and respected. He was superintending the works at the time when molasses was being boiled in an underground covered tank, over which was a trapdoor. Over this covered place Mr. C. walked, in order to go and speak to his father. In the short period of his absence some one lifted the trapdoor to see how much boiling sugar was below, and, most carelessly, did not again shut it down. Alas! Mr. C., on returning, did not notice the fatal pit. He fell in, striking his head as he fell, so that, being stunned, he could not rise from his frightful position amid the seething mass of boiling sugar. Prostrated and helpless he lay, to be scalded to death. A cooly, about seventeen years of age, was close by. The boy saw his master's fearful danger, and, without a moment's hesitation, himself spraug into the horrible pit. The cooly lifted up his unhappy master and supported him till help should come, standing in the torturing molasses and enduring agony like a hero rather than drop his precious burden. When assistance arrived, not till the gentleman was lifted out did the brave cooly seem to give a thought to his own torment. Then, indeed, he cried in his agony, "For God's sake take me out." To Mr. C. the terrible scalds were fatal, and there was some fear that the poor cooly would have to submit to the cutting off of both his legs. But happily, with skill and nursing, the noble lad at least partly recovered from the effect of standing in what reminds us of a burning fiery furnace. This true story brings other thoughts to the mind. Suppose that instead of a cooly enduring such torment for an honored master it had been a prince who had sprung into the tank to rescue a cooly-that it had been a prince, who for minutes, minutes how terribly long, had stood supporting a heavy burden in a mass thicker, and so hotter, than boiling water! We may say no prince would endure such agony for the sake of a wretched cooly." 46 And yet, O reader! Jesus, the King of kings, for six terrible hours, endured the deadly heat of the punishment of man's guilt, the anguish of God's wrath against sin, supporting the weight of a world! Had Christ let that burden drop, had he saved himself, as he could so easily have done, not a soul could have reached heaven. But the blessed Lord held up his burden to the last, till with dying breath he could say, "It is finished." He had endured the torment, and all true believers were saved. They are lifted out of the terrible pit, not to die, but to live, and forever and ever! Weighted with years nigh seventy-two- Trembling the hand and weary the brain, |
