EDWIN RUTHVEN SHAPARD (Chapter 11) 1878-1879, New Hope

CHAPTER 11

NEW HOPE: 1878-1879

              For the school-year which commenced on September 11th, 1878, New Hope Female School averaged 55 pupils. Under the original contract there were fifty scholars. Three were sent because of the additional rents received from Fort Coffee Farm, one was received without any appropriations, and one was received whose expenses were paid by her parents. The health of the school had been very good, with no death during the year and only a few cases of serious sickness. There was an observed improvement in the manners and habits of the girls from all previous years. They had been supplied with the ministry of the Word two times every month, with an occasional service from the visiting ministers. Sabbath school had been conducted every Sunday by the Superintendent or one of the teachers. Rev. Shapard had employed as teachers Miss Dora Rankin and Miss Julie R. Holmes. Miss Holmes, who came from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was hired to fill the position left open by Miss Lochie Rankin when she traveled to China on July 1, 1878. The sewing department remained under the management of Mrs. S.E. Nickel, whose long experience and sound judgment qualified her to fill the position. Through her guidance, every pupil in the school was enabled to make her own clothing. 
       During the school year of 1878-1879, Rev. Shapard had been financially embarrassed by the Choctaw authorities. The payments by the Nation to him, as Superintendent, had not been prompt and the Choctaw Nation became indebted to him to the amount of $4,500. Of that sum, Rev. Shapard was indebted to different persons in the amount of $4,200. Rev. Shapard notified the Superintendent of Public Schools of the Nation that the school could not be run unless there were better arrangements made with regard to the supply of funds. As a result, for the following school year, on November 5, 1879, the General Council of the Choctaw Nation passed an Act for the Relief of New Hope Seminary, by which $2,500 was paid immediately to the Superintendent and measures made to ensure that future funds would be more promptly paid.
              The Fort Coffee Farm had been in cultivation during the year and had produced in rent, for New Hope Seminary, about 1000 bushels of corn. The farm was able to supply the school in corn and meat. Vegetables were grown on the New Hope school grounds which were tended to by the students, teaching them gardening and providing the school with additional food. To beautify the grounds around the school house, Mrs. Shapard planted a rose garden.
           

          The 33rd Annual Indian Mission Conference was held at the Presbyterian Church at Muskogee in the Creek Nation on October 17-20, 1878. Rev. Elliott of the Presbyterian Church had been contacted in advance and had graciously allowed the Indian Mission Conference access to their church and buildings for the purpose of holding their Annual Conference. Rev. Shapard was in attendance and was elected Conference Recording Secretary. E.R. Shapard, J.F. Thompson and Samuel Checote were appointed as a committee to present resolutions on a Creek translation of the Acts of the Apostles. The Committee responded on October 19, 1878, “Whereas a translation of the Acts of the Apostles in manuscript in the Creek language now in the hands of Rev. W.L. Robertson which has met with the approval of different approved and competent interpreters. Therefore, resolved, that we hereby join the Presbyterian Brethren in asking the American Bible Society to publish this as approved by the Indian Mission Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.” At the end of Conference, Rev. Shapard was appointed by Bishop Holland N. McTyeire as the Presiding Elder of the Choctaw District and as the Superintendent of New Hope Seminary.
              The best description of the daily events at New Hope Seminary while Rev. Shapard was Superintendent was penned on June 20, 1879, by Rev. John Pittman, the circuit rider for Skullyville. He wrote;
           “Here we are, situated upon a lofty elevation, though it does not appear so from its surroundings; for its level, slightly rising in front (south) and west of us, while behind and to the east, although the yard and grounds rapidly decline, yet we see some higher ground a short distance north, toward the Arkansas; while east, toward Poteau, it continues to descend for three miles; beyond Poteau are some hills. South of us, some twelve miles, a huge mountain Caveniel (Cavenall), rises abruptly and grandly some 500 or 600 feet above the level of the prairie. Out west, up the Arkansas, broken ranges of hills, one back of the other, each higher than the last, bound the horizon sixteen miles away. Just across Poteau (a small river or large creek), east and south-east is the Devil’s Backbone, a low range of hills four and ten miles away. Farther away, twenty miles to the south-east, is the loftiest peak of all, Sugar Loaf, and it derives its name from shape, a bug potato-hill out of rocks, with a short row of smaller ones tied to its eastern side, terminating in a rounded peak, higher than any of the others, except the western most. The line dividing the state of Arkansas and the Indian Territory passes across the second one from the west. But haven’t we run off from New Hope? Only now it seems to be in a valley, in the V bottom of the Arkansas and Poteau rivers on the east, north and west, and shut in on the south by the mountains; but it is a high dry place for all that; sandy too. The Timber around it is scrubby oak, so thick the ticks can well get through, but it makes a splendid, big fire after the leaves are all dead. The open places, old fields and prairies, are covered with stiff, rough, frowsy-looking grass, which burns finely, too, when it gets dry; and makes the cattle fat when green. Much of it gets upon the New Hope table in the shape of buttermilk and beef, and some in the barns as hay. So we have not wandered from the subject. We have stood right here at New Hope and seen all of this, except the butter and beef, and if you will just wait till dinner-time I will show you that…
          Look there at that large rock building (retreating as it were out of the yard, sliding down the hill), two-stories twenty feet high, forty-four feet long, twenty-four feet wide, with walls two feet thick. Step in. Such an air of neatness, cleanliness, and comfort seldom ever greets you in a public building. Three rows of desks, and such desks! You never saw the like – Superintendent’s own invention. He ought to have a patent. He has drawers in them, but they are nailed up. The seats are chairs. And what a rattling the girls do make with them when they are dismissed! You would think the house was tumbling down. One end, the west, is for the black-board. Just over it an open Bible needle-work, with the inscription, “ Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,” and a needle-worked motto, “God bless our school.” And see all around you, on the white washed walls, mottos – a harp, the ten commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles Creed, and other attractive and instructive objects – needle-work by the girls. Look at those beautifully embroidered white curtains, the girls’ own handiwork, under the kind and skillful supervision of Mrs. Nickell. But we are examining Mrs. Nichol’s work in Miss Rankin’s department – no slight intended. We were supposing the school room empty; but here are 48 girls engage in studies ranging from ABC to algebra, French, and music. Let me introduce you to Miss Dora Rankin, another Tennessee recruit, who is in place of her sister, Miss Lochie,  lately gone to China, who after trying the red  man a while, turned to the more difficult (what does she say about that?) task of teaching John Chinaman.
          Attached to the west end of the building is an 18-foot by 16-foot room, capable of accommodating 12 girls, where Miss Holmes lately of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, hears recitations. This room is also the library, containing a good and varied assortment of books for school purposes and general reading. The scholars are drilled, thoroughly drilled. Explanations of difficult subjects are made, and they are required to go through with the explanations. The Indian girls are good at mechanical execution, following copies, needle-work, memorizing, and such like; but abstract reasoning is hard, one teacher said impossible (I don’t think so) to inculcate.
 Any girl under the age of 14 is allowed to enter New Hope school for six years; over 14, only four years. The Indian Government has a system of public schools in operation all over the nation. The Choctaw Nation is divided into 17 counties, each of which sends a certain ratio of its population. The school receives them in all grades, from ABC up, and carries them just as far as they will go. There is no fixed limit to the course of study. With kindness and patience, tact and ability, the teachers persistently instruct, and the girls learn.
        But let’s go up stairs. The stairway is in the east end of the building – the main entrance is in the south side. Let us go up. What a busy scene! Seated on benches before you is quite a number of girls busy, some sewing, some knitting, some working card-cords; here in one corner is one carding and another spinning; there the sewing machine is rattling away, while Mrs. Nickell is busy with chalk and scissors, marking and cutting. All around on the shelves are piles of goods, some garments just finished, some raw materials to be worked up. The girls make their own dresses and all articles of wearing apparel, piece and quilt their own quilts, and in everything act as if they were at home, as indeed, they are. The material for their clothing, their books, provisions, medicine, medical attendance, etc., are all paid for out of the public fund, at the discretion of the Superintendent; so that is truly a large family. It has a kind and wise father. All goods and supplies are bought at wholesale through Mr. Tibbetts, an accommodating merchant of Skullyville.
              But where does all this large family eat and sleep? Do you see those two long one-story buildings, 25 feet from the school room, the north end  of each in line with the south side of the school room, extending 100 feet south in front, and at each end of the school room? Well, the building at the east side of the yard is the sleeping department, and in an ell of two rooms at the southern end the teachers stay. The western building is occupied by the Superintendent and family, and the laborers on the school grounds. In it is also the dinning room, 60 foot by 20 foot, and back of it towards the west, is the kitchen, smoke house, and well, while north of it, 30 foot distant, is the ironing room, 18 foot by 18 foot. Back, north of the school room, are the crib and stable, with their enclosures. About 150 yards north, down the hill, is a fine spring of good water, with milk house, wash house, etc. West of the yard containing about four acres, is a garden of three acres, where the vegetables are raised, and we always have an abundance. East is a potato patch, a place to raise oats, millet and the like, a field of seven or eight acres. Just in front of the school room, and between the 100 by 20 foot sleeping and dining rooms, is the flower garden, under special direction of Mrs. Nickell and the girls. The circuit rider aforementioned digs sometimes. The soil is very sandy, easily cultivated, and not very productive except in vegetables. Potatoes do finely, with no especial pains, oftentimes growing to the weight of three and five pounds…
            It is morning, four o’clock. Mary is rattling the grate (we burn native coal) in the cooking stove; all else is stillness around. Five and a half o’clock. Ding dong, ding dong sound the big bell in front of the Superintendent’s room. He isn’t up yet. One of the girls, assistant cooks is ringing it and right lustily she rings to wake us all up. At six the bell taps three times, decided taps; the Superintendent’s hand is on the rope now, and we all march to prayers in the school room. That is our first labor. Six and a half, at four taps we go to breakfast. Four long tables --- Mrs. Nickell presides over one, Miss Rankin over another, and Miss Holmes over the third…while at one end of the fourth is seated Mrs. Shapard, and at the other the Superintendent. At her left is Sumner in his high chair and on her right is Lizzie (Shapard children); on his left are the hired men and visitors, the other side of the table being occupied by the girls of the school. Everything is placed conveniently on the table. In about ten minutes the mischief is done, and the chatter gradually dies away; then comes the ominous silence. Sixty persons in a room and not a word said. The Superintendent raises his eyes and looks around, and then taps a small silver bell at his right hand. Table at the left of him rises – no, the girls – and passes out; extension of the same rises, table in front of him ditto, then the girls on his right. Several of the girls remain in to assist collecting and assorting the scraps and gathering the dishes into one place.
         Shortly after passing out the big bell taps twice, and Mrs. Nickell takes the girls into the sewing room to remain until a quarter to nine. In about half an hour a small bell rattles for the dish-washing class to come to the dining-room. They come. Two girls a week are detailed to assist in cooking – not to interfere with their recitations. There is a milking class, a house-cleaning class, a class to carry water (sometimes from the spring, sometimes from the well), an ironing class, which rotate in their duties, as housework is a part of the instruction, and diminishes the expenses. No work interferes with school duties. The washing is done by extra help.
          You ought to see Mrs. Shapard in the household department. She acts as a mother among her girls, and they regard her as such. The whole establishment moves like clock-work – the weight of the Superintendent hidden away on the side, but moving powerfully nevertheless.
          At 8:45 one tap of the big bell commands a suspension of all labors till nine, when three taps call them to the school-room until twelve. An hour and a half for dinner and recreation, then school until four, when after fifteen minutes recreation, they again repair to the sewing room until dark sets in. After supper and cleaning up, three taps recall them to the school-room, where they engage in study, reading, singing, and anything profitable and interesting, until 8:30, when the establishment is summoned to prayers, where thanks are returned to the Giver of all good, and his protection implored for the night. Soon all is stillness. The inhabitants are wrapped in slumber.
         Preaching is regularly attended to once a month, and irregularly still more frequently, in the school-room; and oftentimes the girls are taken to preaching at a church a mile distant. Sabbath-school every Sunday afternoon.
         Every modern appliance suitable and available is used in the daily and Sabbath-schools, and Mrs. Nickell is up with the times in her department, though she doesn’t try to “keep up” with the “fashions.” The teachers and all are thoroughly competent for their situations, and improve their talents. The Lord will abundantly pour out his Spirit unto them.
         The health of the school is remarkably good. Every precaution is taken to ensure health and comfort. It is a large family in which the whole man is looked after – physical, mental, and spiritual – and looked after assiduously and wisely. God has given us a noble opportunity here, and blessed us with persons suitable to improve the opportunity. This is the work of the Mission Board.
        The Choctaw Nation has set apart $5000 to furnish the school. The amount is entrusted to the Board, which employs Superintendent and teachers at its own expense, and so well is it managed that all the expense of the institution – tuition, books, board, doctor’s bill, etc. – is only $115 per scholar per year; and by strict economy something is left over for repairs and improvements, which are being made every year.
         There are a couple of mules for hauling and plowing. Hogs and cattle are raised to supply the school with meat, milk and butter. Fort Coffee farm --- about 100 acres in Arkansas bottom --- is attached to the school, the rents of which are sufficient to fatten the hogs and feed the cows and mules.
         This is the 20th of June; school is closed, the girls are gone, and the grounds are comparatively lifeless. The parents or friends of the girls have come one and two hundred miles with horses and wagons to take them home. Now for a ride across the hot prairies. Soon the teachers will leave us, and hammers of the carpenters will be busy.”
        During the summer, Rev. E.R. Shapard, received a letter dated June 27, 1879, from Dora Rankin, by which she informed him of her safe travel back to her home in Milan, Tennessee. She stated that that her return to New Hope as a teacher for the following year was doubtful, as she had received notice that her sister, Lochie, was in dangerously poor health and felt the need to travel to China to assist her. She sought Rev. Shapard’s council on the journey, of which he approved. Miss Dora Rankin traveled to China as the second female missionary sent abroad through the support of the Women’s Mission Society. Sadly she would pass away in Shanghai, China, on December 10, 1886.
               On June 27, 1879, Rev. Shapard preached the funeral sermon for the son of his friend and traveling partner, Rev. Willis F. Folsom. The funeral, in conjunction with a camp-meeting which lasted 12 days, was held at the Folsom Chapel located on Rev. Folsom’s land in the town of Pocola near Skullyville.
               Rev. Shapard and Rev. Folsom traveled to the fourth Quarterly Meeting for the San Bois Circuit at Lillokey on the Canadian River. The meeting lasted from August 8 - 10, 1879. Rev. Shapard preached twice on Saturday night (August 9th) with Rev. Folsom interpreting both sermons into the Choctaw language. During this meeting a drunkard disturbed the congregation but was removed.