THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
The missionaries and agents of these homes and societies command, altogether, the use of more than twelve foreign tongues or dialects, while interpreters employed by the government supply any lack that may still exist; it is seldom that an incoming alien fails of receiving a welcome to America in his mother tongue. Representatives of Churches and denominational societies soon find their own at Ellis Island, and are ready not only to supply them with literature in their native tongue, but to comfort them in distress, to minister to their immediate needs, to protect them against imposture, to assist them in making necessary appeals to the government, to supply them with financial help, if needed in reaching their ultimate destination, and in many cases to furnish them letters of introduction to friends at the West, whither they are bound. The American Bible Society, the American Tract Society, and the Women's Temperance Union are generous in their distribution of literature. The New York City Bible Society has a large and special opportunity in connection with immigrants and is improving it with energy. The distribution of literature by this society alone during 1906 at Ellis Island was 44,368 volumes. Of these only 2,713 were in English. The Polish language ranks first in the number of Scriptures called for, with 10,056 volumes, and the next largest number of Scriptures distributed was in Italian, 4,674. The value of these various agencies is warmly appreciated by the Ellis Island authorities, who heartily second their humane endeavors.
At the port of Boston, the same general methods are repeated, though on a somewhat smaller scale. Yet nearly a score of societies, homes and other institutions are engaged in the work at that point. For twenty years the Boston Young Women's Christian Association has maintained what is known as a Travelers' Aid Department, in connection, especially, with provincial and foreign steamships. In the busy season a hundred boats per month are met. In a single year often three thousand travelers, many of them unprotected girls, coming to the States for work have been safeguarded and assisted. The St. Vincent de Paul Society also employs a woman missionary to watch over the Roman Catholic girl immigrants. Not a small part of the Travelers' Aid is that of bringing safely together the incoming immigrant and her American relatives, who perhaps have been carelessly notified, and not seldom wholly uninformed, of her arrival.
At the port of Baltimore, four distinct agencies cooperate for the care and comfort of the immigrant, chief of which is the German Evangelical Immigrant Home. This mission was established more than twenty years ago by the German Evangelical Synod of North America, and within two years has built a fine immigrant home near the landing-pier at Locust Point. It is undenominational, taking care of all good immigrants, welcoming the friendless and finding work for the willing. It provides religious instruction as well, and regularly holds a short service of prayer every morning and evening. For a score of years it has done a most valuable
humane work. The Lutheran Mission Synod also employs a missionary, but as yet has no home. The Bohemian Presbyterian Church sends a missionary to meet every incoming steamship and has recently opened a little home of its own. The German Baptist Church supports two lady missionaries who supply much needed help.
At the port of New Orleans, immigrant relief is not yet distinctly organized. The only foreigners arriving direct from Europe are Italians, who are quickly taken in charge by relatives and friends. See Home Missions, § 2; Slavic Missions in the United States. J. B. Clark.
Bibliography: For Germany: A. Schroter, Die kirchliche Versorgung der Auswanderer, Gotha, 1890; H. E. Schneider, Atlantis Germanica, Leipsic, 1883; P. Miiller, Die lutherische Auswanderermission und ihre Stellung zu den kirchlichen Aufgaben der Zeit, Hamburg, 1890; T. Schafer, Leitfaden der inneren Mission, pp. 142 sqq., ib. 1894. There is no literature bearing upon work done in the United States.
EMILIANI, GIROLAMO. See Somaschians.
EMILIE JULIANE, COUNTESS OF SCHWARZ- BURG: Hymn- writer; b. at the Heidecksburg near Rudolstadt (18 m. s. of Weimar), Aug. 19, 1637; d. at Rudolstadt Dec. 3, 1706. Her parents died while she was a child, and her relatives, the Count and Countess of Schwarzburg, brought her up in strict orthodox fashion. In 1665 she was married to her cousin, Count Albert Anton of Schwarzburg. Her husband's former tutor, the learned but pietistic Ahasverus Fritsch, won great influence over her, which appears in the pietistic character of many of her religious songs. Most of these are too subjective and diffuse for congregational use; but a few like " Bis hierher hat mich Gott gebracht " (" Thus far the Lord has led me on ") and " Wer weiss, wie nahe mir mein Ende ? " (" Who knows how near my end may be? ") have found a permanent place in German hymnbooks. Her songs were published at Rudolstadt in various collections from 1683 to 1770. A selection may be found in J. L. Pasig, Der Grafin Emilie Juliane von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt geistliche Lieder (Halle, 1855), accompanied by a biography.
(Ferdinand Cohrs.)
EMMERAM: An early missionary, said to have been bishop of Poitiers; d. about 715. According to the biography of Aribo (second half of the eighth century), the sole source of information, soon after his consecration as bishop he determined to devote himself to the conversion of the heathen in Pannonia. He appointed his successor at Poitiers, took with him a priest named Vitalis who was a good linguist, and went eastward across the Rhine. Passing through Radaspona (Regensburg), the residence of Theodo, duke of Bavaria, he was told that the country beyond the Enns had been laid waste, and that the newly converted Bavarians needed his care as much as the Avari to whom he had been going. Theodo begged him to remain, either as bishop or as abbot of all the monasteries. He stayed three years, and busied himself in spreading and strengthening Christianity in Bavaria; then he started for Rome, but was murdered on the way, at Helfendorf, three days'