Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1919 — LETTERS FROM OUR READERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

Miss Daugherty Writes Again From Methodist Centenary. Readers of The Democrat are favored again with two nice letters from Miss Rosabelle Daugherty of Barkley township, who is attending the great Methodist Centenary at Columbus, Ohio, and writes most interestingly of the many things to be seen and heard there: 211 Dakota Ave., Columbus, O. July 8, 1919. Dear Mr. Babcock —Just one week Since we have been here, and really we have seen and heard so much I hardly know where to begin. Am afraid if I get started that I won’t know when to stop. The whole thing is magnificent, and the Columbus people are to be congratulated for their success in management. You never hear anyone say, “Isn’t It good?’’ or “That was fair,’’ but everyone speaks of everything with words of highest praise. Then the spiritual atmosphere is so very omnipresent. Yesterday was negro day, and as we listened to that eloquent negro preacher, Rev. C. A. Tlndley, D. D., of Philadelphia, who is about the most educated negro living, we were often moved to tears, and then he would make us laugh. The people, black and white, were so anxious to hear him that they kept moving nearer, so much that he sat down after telling us to come down into the orchestra and organ space because his voice was almost worn out. Then such a scramble to get there. We were among the fortunate, and right in the midst of many negroes. His main theme was, “Give the Negro a Chance.’ •He mentioned how the U. S. flag had been stained three times by martyrs’ blood, but not by a negro’s hand. He asked for social equality but not social sameness and explained the difference. He said we too often judged their race by the lower branches and not the topmost. He told how the negro boys had only too gladly fought in the great war, and he himself had lost his only son on no-man’s land. He said of course they had some fools but they wouldn’t be progressing like the rest of us If they didn’t, and that they would' be different from any other race of people. The negro people were tickled to death over all, that he, said, and in fact white people also Joined in with the “amens,” “that’s right,’’ and “glory.’’ Last Saturday we heard Chaplain Tiplady of England describe the Easter Sunday before the battle of Arras. His lecture was very touching as he told us many sad scenes that happened that day and days after. He thinks the French peo-

pie who experienced the bitter hardships with the Tommies appreciated the English soldier most, and their thanks means more to him than that of Clemenceau. I also heard Josephus Daniels in the afternoon and his was a great spiritual message to all Christians. He said they, that is, congress, would try and strike the red light districts next. That same afternoon and evening we saw the pageant, the most wonderful play that has ever been presented. One day, who had seen the passion play, Oberamergon, said it was not to be compared to this pageant. When they finally broke into the Hallelujah chorus everyone arose. When thq angel came and rolled the stone away the Roman sentries fell as if dead, and Mary was standing before the tomb while the chorus sang "Unfold Ye Portals.’’ The music throughout was beautiful and I must say about at celestial as anything I have heard. Mrs. Lynch from Oregon played the organ for the pageant, but Prof. Kraft for almost all other affairs. He seems almost a master of the organ. Yesterday we spent in the American building and heard the Mexican boys’ glee club. The missionary told us what the Methodist schools are doing all over our southwestern states for the Mexican people. Then we listened to a missionary from the mountain district in the east tell of their work there among mountain whites. He sang several ballads and religious songs that are native to those people. We even heard an old mountain lady sing their folk songs, which are really the old English ballads and folk songs almost out of existence now. Then they put on a little play, showing how Ignorant the people are and how they need help, and the nurse and teacher of course were the only ones there who were ale to help and educate them. That is the cry in every building more missionaries, more doctors, more nurses, more teachers, more consecrated workers, money and prayers to meet the overwhelming masses of people everywhere. The Mexicans also put on a play showing how the I. W. W. people come and stir the men so that they quit work, but thanks to the missionary preacher who sallies forth and gets them back. It seems that, great swarms of Mexican men are leaving their country and coming to th® States and cannot get work, and of course are then hungry and ready to follow anyone. We even saw a miners’ strike, supposed to be in western Pennsylvania. where they are having a terrible time fighting the I. W. W. and their old red flag. We also saw negro demonstrations, showing the negro and dilapidated quarters and then showing the same place with nice church and cottages after the Methodist people were helping them. I have not begun to tell all we have seen, but will write later, perhaps. We Jiave heard Bob Jones three nights and would love to hear him every night. 'He is conducting evangelistic services in a big tent. Many have gone to the front and confessed and now have the peace which passeth all understanding. Must close. Sincerely, ROSABELLE DAUGHERTY.

Columbus, 0., June 9. Dear Mr. Babcock —Thia la my third and last letter, aa Friday morning will find me enroute to either Rensselaer or Cleveland, and to be perfectly honest, I will be glad to get back to work again as 10 days is a big vacation for me. But do not think that I am becoming tired of the centenary, for this is one of the biggest opportunities that could ever be given any person. <I must mention the good will spirit of everyone whom I meet, and there are people here from all over' the world, all interested in one thing—the salvation of everybody. Elven In the Jammed street cars people laugh and Jolly and visit with one another, and the Columbus people have been very warm-hearted and thoughtful. It has been very warm here excepting last Monday. The Fourth did its best to be hot. We spent all the morning in the African building. Saw the play, “When the With Doctor Failed.” (Of course, it ended with a white Christian doctor coming in and curing the poor child.) Saw the missionary sell the slave chain gang Just as it is done there. (You see they think the African woman has no soul.) Heard native preacher give a splendid address. Saw a marriage take place, and all there was to it was a boy came in and selected a girl out of several and then bargained with her father, and after much dickering paid 15 hoes for her and she walked off behind him as his wife. We also saw the funeral of a chief, and his wives were tickled to death to see him die. I think the negro cannot be beaten for a meek and humble character; the North American Indian for dignity and strength; the Blast Indian for depth and long-suffer-ing; the Chinese for happiness and politeness; the Japanese for brains and politeness, and the Island and Mexican people for their light spirit and at the same time they have a great hunger for religion, and in the pageants, which each country has been putting on, they do their level best to present their need of a living Christ and a Christian civilization, which is very heart and purse stirring. We had a very interesting conversation with a Japanese young

man who has had three years of college work here, and he explained how Jt would be suicidal for Japan to make war on the U. S. when half her commerce Is with, this country and since our missionaries have and are doing so much sot her. Just last year they adopted the entire American school system, and the Christian Japanese students who return to Japan will be the big factors in the making of her civilization. I think they feel that we are dubious about them and It hurts them. , Last Sunday forenoon Rev. Stephen turned his church hour over to four Indian men, one of whom was Rev. Bruce, and his wife was also there. They are from the Mohawk tribe In New York. Mr. Bruce was privileged to secure an education, but when he finished high school he got it into his head to play ball, so didn’t go on to college, but made $2,000 just while the ball season lasted. But ten years ago he was converted and had a burning desire to be a Methodist preacher. He went back to his home in New York and began preaching the next year for S4OO a year. Now he is getting something better than that, because he is really a powerful preacher, but is content to work there among says the Indian will always recentenary was started, headquarters thought best not to bother the Indians at all about It, but Mr. Bruce knew that would never do. He says the Indians will always respond if a big thing is put up to him, so he began preaching it and organized his minute men and from those poor, uneducated Indians of his territory raised $16,000, which was more than they raised from those whom headquarters thought they could depend upon. The Klndians are not even allowed to vote, and to hear such intelligent men talk and sing It seems a shame. Last evening the Chinese American college girls gave a delightful entertainment of music and a pantomine, in which we saw the emigrants land and be examined at Ellis Island. Of course, it was all made up but very true to the real thing. !• felt that the deaconess really had the hardest part of all, to comfort those who were turned back and to help keep .order. I must not forget to tell you about the buildings. Each one Is painted on the inside just like the

scenery of the country it represents. For instance, in India, you can see the Ganges river for several miles with the masses of people just swarming in and about its waters. When people die in India they either burn them or throw their ashes in, or else just throw in the dead body, and many of these are always to be seen floating down the river. Africa is fixed just exactly like Africa, China like China, Hawaii like Hawaii, Korea like Korea, eta We saw a mass meeting In India. The missionary had just come again, the first time for two years, and the Christians were coming in, many of whom had walked for miles. During their happy service a company of men broke in, representing their village of 2,000 people, and it was pitiful to hear them beg for a preacher, and none to send them. But at last the man thought of a native student who would graduate that spring, so he promised to send him. Sixty thousand people are awaiting preachers today in India. We were all through their schools, Christian and| heathen, and heard many of the dative preachers talk. But I have not told you what we did the afternoon of the Fourth.* We got out of Africa and, ordering;

some sandwlcbs, almost ran to the grandstand to hear McAdoo, but it was packed so we could not get to hear him. A f ter staying there for about three hours and hearing nothing we went and heard lectures and saw pictures at a movie theater. At night the fireworks were the most gorgeous I had over seen. They lit up the different frameworks—Welcome Centenaries, Welcome Home, Boys; Niagara Falls, a Christmas tree, a helmet, the flags of the allies, and good night, and besides the sky fireworks were beautiful. Just a word about the consecration service Sunday, and then 1 must close. In the afternoon, after a couple of sermons by bishops, they called for all those who would be foreign missionaries to come to the stage, and it was wonderful to see the people go forth. Then all those who would be pastors here. Again many went up. At the last they asked for all those who would give their lives to any kind of Christian service anywhere, and a great many went. It was a great service. I am so glad to have been able to attend the centenary, and hope that I have conveyed just a little idea of it to those who have not been so fortunate as I. As ever, ROSABELLE DAUGHERTY.