Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-11-30
Moral Dislilnlion onhe So6ih.

Moral DlSlllnllon 0rfhe S0nin.
The Rev. Mr.: Cook of New York, who has
recently been in attendance at a meeting of
Colporleu,s, at Lswisburg, Va. ,3in the SER
vice OF the A. Tract Society, gives deplora-
pie account Of the intellectual and spiritual
condition of the people of Western Virginia,
among whom these missionaries had been
travelling. The True Wesleyan publishes
letter from him, from which we make an cN-
tract We do not gather, either from tins or
another letter Of Mr.. Cooks, IN the Messen-
ger, that the slaves are included among those
who are the objects Of the Missionary charity
OF the Tract Society
"Thc wide field traversed by these breih-
rem, embracing fifty or sixty counties, stretches
from tho Blue Ridgo 10 the Ohio River, a
mean distance of more than two hundred miles
in width, and from the Pennsylvania to the
Tennessee line. The territory is about equal
TO that embraced in the States Of New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Rhode Island and New Jersey. But while
the population Of these States will Average
something like sixty TO The spare mile, that of
the district under consideration will not exceed
ten, and many counties have not more than
two or five inhabitants 10 a square mile
West Of the Alleghanies the county is an al
most uninterrupted succession Of mountains,
suited alone for grazing, or, ifthe imnense
water power were turned 10 account. for man
fuaeturing. The people chiefly reside in log
cabins, along the lille valleys, ravines or hill
sides, with almost no reference to neighboi-
hood, school OF church privileges in their loca-
tlon. There ale not half dozen villages in
Virginia, west Of the Aleghanies, that con-
tain three hundred inhabitants each |; and in
one county, seventy miles by thirty-fve, larger
than the State Of Rhode Island the largest
village contains but five dwellings.
1.-The means 0f education are very restricted
and inadequate. The schoolmaser needs to
be on horseback TO find his pupils. Probably
one fifth Of the adult population cannot read at
all, and much larger proportion are but poor
readers. Nearly one half Of the population
are so suited as to prevent the enjoyment OF
the means Of instruction with any degree Of
regularity. if they were provided in many
counties there were not more than one or two
common schools in operation Sabbath
schools were few in number, and imperiecily
supplied with teachers or Libraries, and few
teachers attended them
1.-The amount Of ministerial instruction is
altogether inadequate. In region of country
more than twice as large as Massachusetts there
are but SIX places where the congregations en-
Joy the preaching of the Gospel regularly eve-
ry Sabbath very small proportion Of those
who hear the Gospel, have the opportunity
more frequently than once a month I'm
inense numbers do not enjoy the privilege from
year to year. Such facts as the following,
existing IN State which has been settled for
more than two centuries, seem hardly credible !;
! yet they are literally true. A county forty
miles long, has the labors of but two preach
ers, with SIX congregations, averaging about
forty members. Another county, seventy
miles by thlrty-fve, has the abors of two ltne-
rant preachers, and no other. Other counties
are better supplied with preaching but nearly
all have destitute families and neighborhoods,
VINO never hear the preached word
1T is not strange that an appalling destifu-
hon q the Bible should exist among popula-
ton SO scarse, and enjoying so few oihsr means
OF grace. Already, the colpor,eurs have hunt
ed out three thousand one hundred and eighty
lour souls. who were destitute Of the word of
Ood. In many cases, professors Of religion,
OF various denominations, were fonnd without
THIS precious treasure and it is clear, that
large part OF the whole number would have
remained destitute, but for such a system as
coportage.
henS'ouS ooohs, IN any variety, were rare
ly found. No less than five thousand two
hundred and one families have been visited in
the last three years, who were destitute of all
religious books, except the Bible. This is more
than one-iiith of the whole number. And this
statement will excite no surprise, when the
fact Is known, that in region Of country two
hundred miles wide, and two hundred and fifty
long. there is not single bookstore where re-
lgious books can be purchased -
10 BOIL TURKEY Make a stvfling for
The craw, of chopped bread and butter, cream,
oysters and yolks of eggs. Sew it in, and
dredge Hover over the turkey, and put it to
boil IN cold water, with spoonful ofsalt in it,
ana enough water TO cover it well. Let it
simmer for two hours and half or if small.
less hne. Skim 1t while boiling. |, looks
nicer It wrapped in cloth dredged with flour
Serve 1t with drawn butter, in which are nut
some oysters.
Minnesota has elected representative to Con-
gress, who will claim hts from the Territory
Of Wisconsin. The bill establishing the State
Of Wisconsin did not repeal the old law govern.
ing the Territory, consequently the settlements
not embranced within the State Law. ara still
the Territory Of Wisconsin, and fully entitled
to representative III Congress-.
| Io Vat, of H.. 4,