Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-09-15

| Georgia contains more than 100000
souls, and but fifteen competent religious
teachers, of all Denominations. There
are in North Carolina but as qualified
ministers, for the service Of no less than
900, 900 inhabitants. 10 this brief and
rapid sketch, l hardly need mention the
deplorabie restitution OF the whole State
OF Louisiana.
In East Tennessee, says distinguished
missionary now in service, " there are IA
counties without one competent religious
/ teacher" In Virginia, says gentleman
Of un.loabted veracity, during journey
of 1870 miles, between the Blue Ridge
aud the Atlantic, passed but four
churches, and two of these were mere
sheds. This, let it be observed, is the
most ancieut and populous section Of that
wealthy State, containing not far from
| 700 ,0e0 souls, and less than 40 ministers.
A very respectable clergyman Of Win
chester, Virginia, writes thus TO friend
in Massachusetts :-'' In eight counties,
containing 5000 inhabitants, about 1000
are connected with the Presbyteriaus,
Methodists and Baptists, and 10000 be-
long to no religious denomination. In
another section OF the State, $4,000 peo-
pie are equally destitute-and in another
10000, except, that there are few
Baptists and Meihodists. In another dis
trict of fiue country, compact, rich and
popnlous, there are about 10000 people
who are connected with no religious de-
nomination whatever The same cler.
gyman, speaking of tract of country
west of the Allegheny, larger than the
whole of Connecticut, Rhode Island,
Massachusetts proper, New-Hampshire,
and Vermont, says that it contains but
three educated ministers, and handful
of Methodists and Baptists. Another
very intelligent and worthy clergyman,
speaking Of the western parts of Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania, says, there are
extensive districts, in which there is not,
and never was school-not half the
adults, probably, can either write or read.
Thousands never saw the Bible, or any
other book, and never heard sermon 10
their lives. One district, containing 49,.
600 people, has not a single fixed pastor.
Another respectable gentleman describes
tract of country, 100 miles square, in
Pennsylvania, where there is not one
settled minister.
In Maryland, only three ministers are
. found in the whole extent of eight con.
tiguous counties.
In 1916, gentleman of responsibility
wrote thus from Indiana: We have
$4,000 Inhabitants and but two Presbyte-
i rian ministers. Missionaries visit us, but
the good seed withers for want of being
watered." Missouri lately contained
$4,000 inhabitants and but four ministers !;
Michigan $4,000 and one minister; I'LL
), nois $4,000 and no minister. Even 10
the District Of Maine, there are more
e than eighty organized towns, with an
. average population of 1000 souls, desti-
tute Of well qualified religious teachers.
Ia two of the oldest counties of New
!. Hampshire, no less than "A towns are in
the same deplorable condition.
n From Kentucky, respectable mis-
I sionary writes, under date of May, H.,
c 1915, thus Thirty, and probably more
of the counties have no Presbyterian
ministers. Some of these counties con-
tain from 8, 10, II, and IS, TO 10000
inhabitants. There are many towns, 10
which reside the judges, Attornies,
Physicians aud Merchants of the sur
, rounding country, containing from up
to 10000 inhabitants each, where no
: stated meetings are held, by any religious
denomination
1
: might proceed still further to expose
: the Z" nakedness OF the land,'' by the
statement of many other similar facts and
estimates; but why should protract the
anguish Of Christian charity, by dwelling
upon this dishesrteniug picture Let it
I, suffice to have given hasty sketch of the
/ general outlines. Not word in addition
can be necessary TO convince the candid
nearer, that there is a pressing demand at
, home for some thousands more of spirit
, ual lahourers than are now in the field
, There is an alarming deficiency of reIi-
i gious instruction, which neither zeal nor
activity can possibly supply, without
more teachers.
d How inadequate would be the utmost
exertions OF twenty or thirty reapers, to
secure the approaching harvest of this
whole country And what could you ex-
pect from one sickle in field Of 10000
acres
If we look abroad upon heather lands,
! the benevolent heart finds nc relief; for
E the deficiency, in these vast and whitening
/, fields, is incomparatively greater than in
our own country. The whole unevan-
velized manhattan &c ti,o .lohn 10 nftor,