The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-01-14
wEse sonfh Pacific 0cc:srs.

For the Potter journal.
T'Fge South, Pacific Ocean.
The first Lecture on Missions, which
was given by Rev. c. 1I Blake, at the
Presbyterian Church on Monday Evening
last, and which was mostly Introductory
to the course, took . very vide range and
proved interesting to Us, as we presume
it did to our readers who were present.
Mir Blake began by remarking that We
were about to leave Potter County and
our own dear native land with all It's bless
inge, and in imagination to be absent for
six mouths, while we should Travelled to-
gether and survey the distant parts OF
the Globe.
He said we should not forget that we
were ourselves the descendants Of those
who were once heathen The Britons,
aud the Cells, and the Germans, were con-
ycgtcd to Christianity by the labors of
early Missionaries.
He then spoke Of the vast extent and
populousness Of the heather world The
Chrjstain nations were bat as a drop in
the ocean compared with them in point
Of numbers.
lie alluded to the crimes OF the heath
en-, and referred TO the lst Chap. OF Ro-
mans as giving the best view OF this.
Cicero and Seneca, Socrates aud Plato,
were daily guilty of the grossest immoral
tiles, such as would forever disgrace the
worst man among US at the present day
The lecturer next spoke Of the revival
Of the missionary spirit in our times, as
one Of the results under God, Of the I'M
proved Learning, Arts, Navigation, Print
ing, Gunpowder, the Mariners Compass,
&c, in the 18th century. Missions were
worthy the work Of the last 81 years, as
far as our race Of people were concerned
in them,
He then came to the principal topic of
the evening-the S. Pacific. Ocean At.
ter referring to the early voyages Of Ma.
gelIan and the Spaniards. he spoke Of the
English navigators, Drake, Hawkins,
Wallis, Byron, grandfather of the poet)
Anson, Cook, Vancouver, Krusenstern,
and others They all left disease among
the natives of the Pacific Isles.
The formation Of these Islands was next
described, There are two classeS-the
high volcanic and the low Coral islands.
Both Of these have the coral insect at
work about them in the warm waters Of,
the tropics He leaves his bony frame
behind at death, while new builder con
structs his tenement upon the former
And thus the coral reef which encircles
all these, grows. The islands too are
rising or sinking-the effect Of the hid
den fires in the bowels of our planet.
The efforts Of the London Missionary
we're next referred to by Mr. Blake. But
owing to the lateness Of the hour he pro-
posed to speak Of the natives of those IS
lands, their idolatry, origin, christiapiza-
ton, importance to the world, and to the
u. States, Great Britain and France, more
at length at the second lecture which is
appointed to be given next Monday even
ing, 18th inst, at the same place.
Over 100 persons were present at the
lecture of which we are compelled by want
of space to give so imperfect an outline.
We trust a crowded house will be in at
tendance next week encourage this most
interesting object. The public are inyit-
cd to be present, the tickets having been
all distributed.
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