New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-05-11

and finally reached Ravens Of safety and comfort.
This deliverance Of such a crowd of Europeans from
a combination Of dangers so fearful, the reverend
speaker acknowledged in sincere and devout terms to
the protection Of Heaven. Mr.. Haye concluded his
address with some citations Of Christian herosm
among the Hindoo converts, in submitting to torture
during the rebellion, rather than renounce the new
fath-a brief alluson to the British policy in India
and the expression OF his belief that the rebellion
in that country will have the effect Of facilitating the
spread of Christianity hereafter.
Rev. Mr.. Edwards of the mission in the Choctaw
nation next gave interesting account Of the spread
Of religion in his part of the world He stated that
the pioneer missionary among the Choctaws, Rev
Mr.. Kingsbury, was laboring on vigorously in the
work. and healthy as ever after forty years service
In that field. When the nation was first visited, the
only Christian there was old negro. Since then,
much had been done towards cvilizing and Christian
izing the Indians. The translation OF books into
their language and printing them, besides educating
the children in English in the mission schools, had
been the chief means of this success. Preaching
was hardly the thing for the Indians they had to be
reached in another way, and the education of their
children found to be the most potent Of all ways.
Every year since 1913, the average of conversions
among the Indians was 100 per year. There now
in the nation l6 churches, IL ministers, 1886 COM
municants, and JOG children attending the Sabbath
Schools The contributions to the cause of religion
by the Indians, last year, far as heard from,
amounted to Sl,295, The year before they reached
50 1000. The Indians paid their contributions part in
money and part in corn, or whatever other produce
they raised. There had been some hacksldng in the
churches, owing to the want of proper civilization /;
but it, said the speaker could into the hearts
of all God sees into the heart we would find the
Indian churches almost if not fully pure any of
those among white people.
The speaker narrated several incidents Of Indian
faithfulness to the church. One man. on his death
bed sent for the minister and reproved him for not
calling usual to take up his annual collection for
the church. He had always been in the habit Of
tributing, and now, that he was about to de- he
wanted to make fna contribution OF ten dollars in
cash and twenty bushels of corn. Another Indian
promised to give the church one-tenth of all he
raised, and kept his word. One year, when a dis
ressing drought prevailed, he raised only five bush
els of corn but he sent onetenth Of tia hafbushe
in fnillment Of his agreement, without murmuring.
The Lord has done great things in the Choctaw Ma
ton, and is still working there The speaker APP
peaed strongly to the Assembly to come forward and
sustain the boarding schools established by the mis-
sionares among the Choctaws. The schools are not
supported by the Board of Missions, yet they the
| most effective means of spreading and establishing
| the Christian religion. The speaker concluded with
an account of the quiet and peaceabe character OF
the Choctaws. They are very fond of whisky-man-
age to get plenty of it-get very drunk-but never
offer to modest anybody. There some Indians
| among whom would have to look shy; but not
! among the Choctaws.
DR.. Hewitt made brief but forcible address, felie
tating the Assembly upon the state Of the Presbyte
rian religion in remote parts of the world, set
forth by the two missionaries just heard. He con.
| cluded with something like a rebuke to the Church
for not better supporting the of foreign mis-
sious.
DR.. Mitchell spoke briefly upon the doty of offer
ing the opportunity to churches to contribute to mis-
| sions.
II was then moved that the report of the Commit
tee on Foreign Missions be adopted. Carried.
On notion the election of the different Boards wai
made the second order Of the day for Friday.
On motion, the appointment of Preacher to preacl
the annual sermon, and of Directors, was likewise
made the order for Friday,
| The Moderator announced the Rev. DR., Chambers
Of the Reformed Dutch Church, and suggested tina
be be heard on the following day, (today,) at quar-
ter to 10 o'clock. Carried.
The second order of the day, towit the Bib
question, was taken up.
DIR. Breckenridge, of the committee to whom th
matter had been referred, read resolution to thi
effect that, the American Bible Society having re
solved to publishing and circulating the neN
standard Bible, and to return to the old King jaime
version originally published by it, this action meets
cordial response from the Presbyterian Church. whie
approves the said return to the old version of tn
Scriptures and desires to cooperate with the Soeiet
in the publication and circulation of the same.
After some discussion the resolution adopted
Committee meetings were appointed, and then
after prayer,
The Assembly adjourned.