Edmonia Highgate to Rev. M. E. Strieby, Dec. 17, 1866
- Title
- Edmonia Highgate to Rev. M. E. Strieby, Dec. 17, 1866
- Date
- 12-17-1866
- Creator
-
Edmonia Highgate
- Description
- Teacher Edmonia Highgate writes from Vermilionville La. to Rev. M. E. Strieby of the A.M.A. concerning her school. Her students are mostly Creole and Catholic, and are learning rapidly. She describes the material conditions of the freed families in her area, and reports that local "rebels" threatened to burn down her school but have not acted on their threat.
- Related Financial Supporters
- American Missionary Association
- Transcript
-
Louisiana,
Lafayette Parish,
Vermilionville Dec. 17th 1866
Rev. M. E. Strieby, Sec. A.M.A.
Dear Friend:-
Perhaps you may care to know of my work here for the freed people. After the horrible riot in New Orleans in July, I found my health getting impaired from hospital visiting and excitement so I came here to do what I could and to get stronger corporally that I might enter fully into carrying light and knowledge into dark places. The Lord blessed me and I have a very interesting and costantly growing day school a night school and, a glorious Sabbath School of near one hundred scholars. The school is under the auspices of the Freedmen's Bureau, yet it is wholly selfsupporting. The majority of my pupils come from plantations, three, four and even eight miles distant. So anxious are they to learn that they walk these distances so early in the morning as never to be tardy. Every scholar brings his own book and slate &c. They, with but few exceptions are French Creoles. My little knowledge of French is put in constant use in order to instruct them in our language. They do learn rapidly. A class who did not understand any English came to school last Monday morning and at the close of the week they were reading “easy lessons.” The only church of any kind here is Catholic and any of the people that incline to any belief are of that denomination. It has not been safe to have a church of Protestant faith for the colored people. The priest talks of having a Catholic Church built for them[.] If he succeeds, I fear my efforts will for a while seem lost. There is but little actual want among these freed people. The corn, cotton, and sugar crops have been abundant. Most of the men women and large children are hired by the year “on contract” upon the plantations of their former so called masters. One of the articles of agreement is that the planter shall pay a five per cent tax in the education of the children of his laborers. They get on amicably. The adjustment of relation between employer and former slaves would surprise our northern politicians. Most all of them are trying to buy a home of their own. Many of them own a little land on which they work nights in favorable weather and Sabbaths for themselves. They own cows and horses, besides raising poultry. The great sin of Sabbath breaking I am trying to make them see in its proper light. But they urge so strongly its late necessity in order to keep from suffering, that I am almost discouraged of convincing them. They are given greatly to the sin of adultry. Out of three hundred I found but three couple legally married. This fault was largely the master's and it has grown upon the people till they cease to see the wickedness of it. There has never been a missionary here to open their eyes. I am doing what I can but my three schools take most of my time and strength. I am trying to carry on an Industrial School on Saturday, for that I greatly need materials. There are some aged ones here to whom I read the bible. But the distances are so great I must always have conveyance and a ride horse back. I can seldom get a horse. There is more than work for ten teachers yet I am all alone. God has wonderously spared me. There has been much opposition to the School. Twice I have been shot at in my room. Some of my night school scholars have been shot at none killed. A week ago an aged freedman was shot so badly as to break his arm and leg, just across the way. The rebels here threatened to burn down the school and house in which I board before the first month was passed yet they have not materially harmed us. The nearest military protection is two hundred miles distant at New Orleans. Even the F.M Bau agt has been absent for near a month. But I trust fearlessly in God and am safe. Will you not send me a package of “The Freedmen” for my sunday School? No matter how old they are just send them by mail for there has never been a Sunday School paper here. Please send me the American Missionary for six months. Enclosed please find 25 cents, commencing with January. Please remember me to Bros. Whipple and Whiting and any others who may remember me. I should be glad to hear from you.
Yours for Christ’s poor
Edmonia G. Highgate.
P.S. I notice by your Annual report that you have [?] missionaries in this state. Please tell me who they are and where located.
Part of Edmonia Highgate to Rev. M. E. Strieby, Dec. 17, 1866