Women of distinction/Chapter 47
CHAPTER XLVII.
MISS LULU C. FLEMING.
Miss L. C. Fleming was born in Hibernia, Clay county, Florida, in 1862, at the time the great hostile armies North and South were gathering for the mighty conflict over slavery. Her mother was half Congo and her father half Caucasian, under the yoke of bondage, but not without deeply throbbing hearts for freedom.
When little Lulu was only about six weeks old her father resolved to go to the war. Thus taking his wife and children and as many young slaves as were willing to join the army and fight for liberty, he bravely attempted to carry into execution his bold resolve.
Concerting with the captain of a Union gun-boat, who had deserted from the Rebel army, the father not only found his own dear little band seeking refuge in the ship, but many others who were under bondage were of a similar spirit, and in a short time the gun-boat was well loaded with fugitives. But the bright hopes of the father only lasted for a very brief space of time. The captain now deserted the Union side and landed all the fugitives in Jacksonville, prisoners—Lulu's father in irons—and narrowly did he escape being hanged (some did not escape). Thus again he with wife and little ones were reduced to slavery, although Lulu was too young to know what her father suffered in the days of slavery, for very soon after he was released from his imprisonment he was found in the Union army fighting against slavery, and for two years he was in the service, and was only released by death without ever seeing his wife and children again.
The life of Lulu up to fifteen was marked only by the trials common to poor slave children generally, except being fortunate in having a mother, although a slave without education, who was deeply concerned for the welfare of her children, and doubtless her influence had good effect upon Lulu.
Touching her conversion, she must bear witness in her own happy words as copied from a private letter to a friend, and here introduced. After speaking of the "kind Heavenly Father's care" over her mother and children, she adds:
At the age of fifteen He drew me unto himself, and after passing through the shadow of doubts, I entered into the blessed light of His love, wherein to walk is fullness of joy, December, 1877. I was a missionary like Andrew of old from the very day I found the Lord. Six years ago, while engaged as public school teacher in St. Augustine, Florida, I met in my Sabbath-school Dr. Kellsey, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who became deeply interested with the manner in which I expounded the Word of God to my class, which consisted of the pastor of that church, the licensed ministers and the adults generally of the school.
This gentleman, who was then in the rear of the room, came up and introduced himself to me, asking if I were a Floridian, and then he asked where I was educated. I told him. He thought I should have a higher course, as my heart was so much interested in missions, I told him my mother had educated me to the extent of her means, and that I was now on life's ocean for myself. He said, "I will see if I can't help you if you care to attend college." Accordingly he interested a company of young ladies in his church in me, and by them I was educated, graduating from Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C, May 27, 1885, with the honor of class valedictorian.
While teaching in Florida, before going to college, sympathizing deeply with the two most needy and lowly classes in the community where her field of labor belonged, instead of devoting her leisure time to such amusements and recreation as are generally hailed with delight by the average young and thoughtless teachers. Lulu was found with a devotion which was as rare as it was Christ-like, doing with all her might what her hands found to do, in aid of the aged and infirm and the poor little orphan children. On this line, for a time, she concluded that her mission work was to be consummated.
In 1883, she claims, while in school, Africa was laid on her soul, but she then yielded only to the extent of trying to have others become interested and go. After finishing her collegiate studies, with renewed zeal she returned to her former field in Florida.
Here again the narrative would not be complete if her own graphic language was omitted:
But the Lord had need of me in Africa, and the happiness that I used to enjoy in the work at home was marred from time to time with the shadow of the darkness of the "Dark Continent," and it was not until June 27, 1886, when I answered a personal request, coming from the Woman's Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, asking me to go as their first representative to that far off dark land, that I felt happy and free from the sin of omission of duty. I was truly happy then, and since I have set sail for the benighted country I am happier (she was on her voyage when these words quoted were penned); when I reach the doleful shores I shall be happiest. What comfort comes to us from doing the perfect will of God concerning us!
In due time the voyage came to an end; the desired haven was reached. Other than some very rough weather on a part of the voyage nothing occurred on the journey to mar her prospects, being providentially preserved from sickness all the way from the land of her nativity to her destined mission field in the Congo Valley. The unbounded sight of heathenism everywhere now to meet her gaze, turn whichever way she might, without the face of a familiar human being or friend to cheer her as she entered into her mission work, her faith in God was thus to be tested, and thus it was tested to the fullest extent.
But on this ground there is no tale of disappointments or wavering, or of homesickness to relate, for this young missionary had sat down and thoroughly counted the cost before starting on this dreadful mission. In such an attitude as this to commence service for Christ and humanity it is about as hard to comprehend how this delicate young disciple could brave the peril before her as it is to comprehend how by having "faith as a grain of mustard seed" a mountain could, be removed. Truly her life seemed to be hid with Christ in God, and she was simply happy in the faith that she was doing her duty, and that she had nothing to fear with the firm promises of her Heavenly Father to rest upon. All her letters from the mission field that came under the writer's notice were carefully examined and re-examined, not only to see the progress she was making from time to time, but to see if there were not spells when she would find herself overwhelmed in a state of dreadful horror. But, strange as it may appear, there was no evidence that she was ever given to such moods. Her letters were exceedingly instructive and interesting, and would occaionally find their way into public print, where, both in this country and England, they attracted considerable attention. But the space allotted for this sketch will barely admit of more than one-fifth of one of her private letters, dated "Palabala Station, Congo Independent State, S. W. Africa, June 6, 1890," which must suffice to indicate her attitude in the midst of her labors after having been in the field for more than three years.
Having a knowledge of photography and being equipped with instruments, which she had carried with her from Philadelphia, in writing home to friends she would occasionally send some original photographs for them to view. In the following extract containing reference to "pictures" it will readily occur to the reader what was signified in the allusion:
You must excuse the poor pictures; really they are not worth keeping a letter for. However, such as they are I gladly send you. I have made the study of the language and my mission work my first duty. Photography practice comes far apart, so I am proportionately far from perfection. Take the meaning they bring you and hope to get better ones next time.
When we parted in 1887 I hoped we should meet again this year. Well we never know to-day what to-morrow will bring forth.
Having been so well all along I began in time last year to entreat my Board to allow me to stay out five years. No lady has ever stayed out so long, but I am sure it can be done; I have only begun my real work. Until Miss Gordon came I had to be mother for our mission girls and teach our station school. This work she has taken and I have been able to do work among the town folks. My town school is not in a town, but by the public road-side, where the children from four towns have access to it. This takes up my mornings. In the afternoon, until lately, I teach an hour and give the rest of the time to preaching the Word. The past two months I have had a native helper, who takes the afternoon class. This gives me ni}' afternoons to preach in three towns, taking one an afternoon. I hope to get off on another jungle tour through this dry season; yet it seems too bad to have to close my school again, as it has already been twice closed for health reasons.
My native helper I will need with me. I am praying that the God of all missions will show me my duty in the matter. Out here we often wish it possible to divide ourselves and let half go on one mission and a half on another. Truly the harvest is great, and the laborers are few. There are coming more into the vineyard, praise the Lord, and in our day we may see many great changes. You know of your Church in the South beginning a mission out here? This makes three new societies to enter the field since I have been here.
The signs of the times say that the "coming of the Kingdom draweth nigh" in Congo Land. We have a mission house two miles away where I work mornings in the capacity of preacher, teacher and doctor. All is very poorly done, but is done for the love of Christ and in His name. I hope to be allowed two years home in which to study medicine, so as to be better able to help this suffering people. They do trust so fully in my skill—poor creatures—and I know so little to do for them.
Thus, after laboring hopefully and incessantly for about four years she returned for much-needed rest and recuperation and to obtain medical knowledge. After all, however, she has found no great amount of time or opportunity for leisure or rest. Being a very interesting speaker, with a well-stored mind on missions, in particular, and Africa, likewise, she has been much in demand, solicitations coming from different denominations (from white and colored. North and South). It may not be out of place here to state that on one occasion she had the honor to be heard in Spurgeon's great chapel, in London, and to be very cordially greeted by that wonderful man. Let the young women of the race take courage and with the faith, earnestness of purpose, trust in God, with a willingness to do with all their might whatever their hands find to do, as characterized in the brief and simple sketch of the life of Lulu C. Fleming.
Press on, working in this faith and trusting in Christ the Lord; no obstacles or mountains in the way will be too difficult to be removed.
And it is to be greatly desired that among the many faithful and true women whose portraits may be found sketched in this volume may issue a never-failing source of inspiration which shall prove of lasting benefit to millions of our struggling young women who are aiming for a higher and nobler womanhood.