The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-30

MISSIONARY fESTINAI.-du
interesting Methodist Missionary Festival was held
st Centenary Church on Monday night it being the
Iast of series of meetings preparatory to the sail
iae of the Missionaries to China, who were being
sent out by the Southern Church.
Ata o'clock the meeting was called to order by DR..
w,aurM,S. at whose request the Rev. THOMAS B.
SARGENT, of Maryland, performed religious exer.
cises by reading portion of scripture and then a
hymn, which was sung by the choir and congrega-
ton.
20 the throne of grace, by the Rev. JOHN EARLY,
The PRrsIDENr then briefly stated the objects of
the meeting, and concluded by Introducing the
Rev. Mr.. SEHoN. Secretary OF the NJ E. Church,
South.
Mr.. SEHoS would not have said word but for
the position he occupied. The occasion was one of
deep interest 70 him and to the South They were
assembled to take leave of those brethren who were
soon to 90 to distant China to proclaim the gospel
of Christ He alluded to the sacrifices made by the
Missionaries who seek not fame or fortune, but go
10 far of lands to labor for the good of souls After
advering to the heroism Of Mrs Cherry, the female
Missionary, In parting with her fond ones and going
10 foreign land to die in the Lords service, he
spoke Of the increased Missionary spirit throughout
tae South and said that though lately organised,
they now had 354 missions and 293 missionaries,
which were supported by yearly drafts upon the
church. In the South, said Mr.. we have two
classes who want the missionary. To the slaves
the word of God has been carried; and g., 900 OF
them were numbered az members. The Preachers
were welcomed to the plantations, and masters and
servants commune at one table and worship the
same God After speaking OF the Indians and for
eigners and OF the field in foreign lands and espe-
cially in China with its myriads OF dark benghted
idoiaters, Mr.. 5. urged on his audience the ini-
portance of sustaining the missionary enterprise.
The Chair and Congregation sung hymn.
The President arose and introduced to the au-
dience three young Ministers who are about en-
barking to China as Missiosdries-DR. KELLY Mr..
LAMBETH and MIR. Bolton.
DR. KELLY seemed deeply moved at the import.
ance OF his position. and briefly and eelingly stated
the cause which led him to embark in the China
mission.
Mr.. LAMBETH of Mississippi experienced con.
version about five years ago. and from the first had
his thoughts turned to Missionary labor. He aad
studied medicine and law, but could be content
with neither. He telt constrained to the Ministry,
and yielding to his convictions joined the Mississippi
Conference. Here his yearnings returned upon
him, and it was determined that he should so to
China.
Mr.. BErToN, of Alabama, had consecrated him
elf to God and it had always seemed to him that
the spirit of conservation, was the spirit of mis-.
sions. After making the subject of mission to
China his prayer for three or four days. he wrote
to Bishop Andrew offering himself, and was &C.
eepted. Then he wrote to his father and mother
They had been church members only two years;
and now came another trial They opposed him
throughout His mother had never given her con-
ded at last but said 81 have buried FIVE or six dead
children, and now am called upon to bury liv-
ing one" 1t was tearing away from them when
he babe them good bye. He dared not do other
wise, and now he was ready to go. One tie was
broken and when the shores of his native land
were lost to the vision another would be sundered
and he should 60 to China never to return again.
That 10 his field. He had been called of God, al
having given himself up he could do no less than
60. He rejoiced that he was counted worthy to
bear the Gospel to the millions of China He should
labor among them while he lived and expected to
sleep his last sleep in China, and if his work re-
qured it, he was ready to die martyr to his mis-
ion.
DIR. JENKINS was next introduced He had re-
turned from China about year ago, and will sail
for that land again in few weeks He reioiced
that ne had embarked In the mission TO China For
ayear he had been travelling in this country en-
deavoring to arouse the Church and raise money
He had found something better than money in these
men OF God who are about to go to China He
asked the prayers OF the Church in behalf of the
mission.
The Choir and congregation susg a HYMN
Bishop ANDREWS then addressed the Missionaries
In feeling and appropriate terms, urging them to
union and brotherly love. To the ladies' who were
to accompany them he also gave Christian advice
asking the prayers ofthe church for the success OF
all. He then babe them an afectionate farewell
The Choir again sang hymn.
After remarks f-om Messrs Sehon Wiobtnsn
and Summers, collection was taken among the
congregation, and about $40 were contributed.
On Sunday last collections were made in the va.
rous Methodist Churches of Richmond and Man.
chester, which added to that OF Monday NIGHT
make the total amount tor the Missionary cause,
$2.06l.
Our sketch is necessarily brief and imperfect for
Went OF space We can only add, that the meet |
Ing was OF the most interesting character and the
audience by far the largest we ever saw at Cen.
tenary Church. wa
RTcunn Cor