Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-02-19
Reported for the Daily American Telegraph
Mfssf0narv DfscOurao.

The church and congregation worshipping in
the street Baptist Church were deeply inter-
ested last Sabbath morning (the 10Th inst) in
listening to discourse from the Rev. H. w. Reed,
missionary to New Mexico. The Rev. gentleman
read for the morning lesson the 18th chapter of
ST. Mark, and selected the "Great Commission"
recorded in the 18th verse, the basis of his dis
course. He narrated in an impressive and earnest
manner, the principal events occurring in brief
but highly exciting missionary career. Divine
Providence had SO ordered that his missionary
life had thus far been one of exploration rather
than of settled labor. Himself and wife, appoint
ed missionaries to California by the Baptist Board
of Missions, lin 1848, we belieye,) undertook
their journey by the southern overland route
but were stopped at Santa Fe by the manifest
impracticability of lady's travelling the long
distance yet before them, 800 or 200 miles, over
rocks and deserts, by the only mode of convey
ance that offered itsef-the back of a mule.
Invited by COL Washington, commanding in
New Mexico, to become chaplain to the Ameri-
can troops in the Territory, he accepted the APP
pointment on condition that he should be at
liberty to pursue his labors as a missionary of
Jesus Christ. Thus providcntially thrown among
a strange people in strange land, ignorant Of
the language and even without the resources of
study, This books having been sent around Cape
Horn to meet him in California; yet, neverthe-
less, true to the high calling and Office to which
he had devoted his life, he at once commenced
acquiring the language, and visiting various parts
of the Territory, to learn the moral and religious
condition of the population. The results of his
inquiries and observation on this subject were
made the prominent and exceedingly instructive
ritory, upwards of 10000 by the census, but
supposed to be considerably underrated,) not
one in 300 can read, and not one in 500 can
give his or her age. Of such materials, in part,
was the territorial legislature composed. Of
books there were absolutely none. The speaker
had not found as many books in his travels, in
the whole country, as he could hold in his hand.
But in the midst of all this restitution and igno-
rance, there was. on many occasions, strong
desire manifested for acquiring knowledge, and
especially a most earnest request for the Bible.
Men of wealth and men in poverty demanded
the Bible-ofering money, or cattle, or labor, or
begging with tears for the Bible. The mission
airy, having but two copies of the Spanish Tesla
ment, could only distribute tracts in neighbor-
hoods where there were readers and devote his
leisure time, together with his wife, in reading
the Testament to the willing ears which every
where came around him to listen. Encouraged
by such frank and earnest desires for the word
of life among this supplemented people, the
missionary resolved to spend his time and exert
his influence, as patriot and a Christian, in es
tablishing schools and elevating the intellectual
and moral condition of population so teacha-
ble-which, although cropping in the dark night
of ignorance and superstition, has become an
integral part of great republic, and has there
fore urgent claims upon our sympathies and be-
nevolence as civilized and Christian people.
A single anecdote related by the speaker indi-
Gates, in striking manner the thirst Of the peo-
pie for knowledge. Being in one of the southern
towns of the territory, (Albiquin,) at an early
period of his mission, and before acquiring a
good knowledge of the Spanish language, he was
invited to preach to the American troops sta
toned there. While his friends were inquiring
for suitable place of worship, the Catholic priest
of the village offered him the use of the church
Accepting the invitation, but not wishing to Of
fend the prejudices of priest or people, stood
on one side of the church, instead of going to
the altar, and preached in English to the soldiers
and Americans present. the church being also
filed with New Mexicans, to whom, of course,
his preaching was unintelligible Upon going
ont If tho church after tho con oraoof;on ba yv;t
messed a scene which stirred his whole soul within
him, and which would forever remain fixed in his
memory. In the churchyard, and on the plaza
in front, his congregation was gathered in little
groups, in the centre of each of which was an
officer, soldier, q teamster, or some American
who understood Spanish, translating and preach
ing his sermon over, at second hand, to the CO.
gerly-listening Mexicans.
The reverend pioneer returned to the States
last year to awaken the churches to the import
ance of supporting and charging mission in so
interesting field of Christian enterprise, and
closed his discourse with an earnest appeal for
aid (which we hope was literally responded to-
in sustaining the mission, establishing schools,
circulating Bibles, and building new church in
Santa Fe
Orestes A. Bron sons Lecture against KOS
suth and the Hungarians.
We have but little confidence in Kossuth, and
none in 0restes A. Bronson. Still let us hear
what the latter says of the former. A despatch
from Boston, dated yesterday, says:
"Orestes A. Bronson Of Boston, lectured here
last night, before the Young Mems Library Asso-
-.