The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1861-12-28

published in the Creek language, tract,
a hymu-boOk, primer, and the Gospel oil
Matthew. AS regards religion our laoors
have been greatly blessed, and many who
sat in darkness have seen great light
Many have died in Jesus, and are, no doubt
now singing the song of Moses and the
Lamb.
Mr.. Wright, from the Choctaw Nation,
then addressed the congregation. My peo-
pie, he said, when living in Blississlppi
were filed with superstitious notions. They
had some traditions of the Great Spirit, and
of the great waters that once covered the
face of the earth. They reverenced the
dove as an incal nation of the Deity. They
also believed in the Immortality of the SOUL
but some imagined that the spirit was al
ways confined to the graveyard, except at
night, when they deserted their graves to
wander abroad. Some imagined that the
souls of the brave passed over great river
into pleasant country, with broad hunting
grounds, and the souls of towards were
compelled to cross the same river, on log
into country filled with rocks and thornS'
Some supposed that the sun, and others
that fire, was the creator of all things
Whenever there was an eclipse of the sun,
they imagined that great fox squirrel was
deyouring it, and they got out their gun to
shoot at it.
The present condition of these people IS
much improved, but they still are in great
need of the preached word. Just before !
left there, was at vacant church, and
the elder came to me and said to me, "We
are very poor, but we do want some one to
preach to us. Oh! get some one to come
over and preach to us the glorious Gospel
of God"
MIR. Williams, a returned missionary from
Africa, then addressed the'Assemoly. lie
gave an account of the beauty Cf the scene
nv of Africa, and then of the debased con-
dition of the natives. Their religion was a
religion of chance-they believed that the
God who had created the earth had given
it over into the hands Of devils. Bat de-
based as they are, this people have a most
earnest desire for a missionary among them
A chief who lived some two hundred miles
the interior sent down to the coast to pro-
cure missionary, and when his messenger
returned with the mournful answer, There
are none to send.' "GO back" he sail,
"gO back, and tell them we want a mission
ary." Again he returned, and again re-
piled the chief, $50 back, and sit down
before the door of those people, and never
let me see your face, unless you come with
a Missionary" Alas, my brethren, there
was none to send him.
DR.. Wilson said that not only was the In
dian Mission calling us to come over and
help them, but Africa with her teeming mil
lions, and China, whose population Is one
third that of the Globe, aud South America
and Mexico were all calling on uS-"come
over and help u.s." Within a few months
past he had travelled over the greater pOr-
ton of this Confederacy, and had seen the
heart of the whole people united in one
great cause--in a war against temporal
despotism. Would that the heart of the
whole people were equally united in an I'M
compromising war against the spiritual des-
pOtism which has enyeloped the whole world
in darkness.
DR.. Adger read a prediction from the
Philadelphia Presbyterian which told of the
utter ruin of the Indian mission and he
asked the Assembly and congregation
whether that prediction would be fulfilled.
1t was a terrible responsibility which the
church was now assuming, and there is
great danger that the people, now carried
away by excitement, would pass resolutions
that they would not fulfil. This was not a
thing to be done by eveite-.s2'st, bu' the
every -day feeling of the people must be con-
tinualy working in this direction. He then
proposed that "tt IS Uelt," in the sense sit
is we'll that a collection be taken up" be
stricken out, and the sentence made to read
land collection ought to be taken up"
He also proposed that a collection should
be taken up as the congregation retired
Both motions were agreed to.
The report was then adopted.
SIXTH DAY.
Iuesdag, Dec 10Th, 1861,
The Moderator called the Assembly to
order at 90 A. NJ, and half an hour was
spent in religious exercises.
DR.. Leland, ask permission to say a
few words on a very important subject
When the roll was called it was found that
there were some thirty members absent,
and vet no notice was taken of it. | hope
that this Assembly, while in its youth, will
not set such bad precedent, for punctu-
atty is very important, almost of vital i'm
portauce.
Mr.. Smylie-I desire to offer the follow
ing resolution:
Resolred, That the practice of the Gene
raj Assembly Of the Presbyterian church of
the United States, heretofore adopted, by
which much valuable time is consumed, by
holding anniversaries for the various OBJ
iects of Christian benevolence be discOn-
tinued.
1t was always matter of annoyance to
me in attending the General Assembly, to
have the first five days of the second week
expended in these meetings, and by that
time the members desire to return home,
and it led them to slur over the business
before them. All the Judicial business of
the church was treated in o very sighting
manner. Thus at one session of the Assem-
bly where | was present, there was COM
plant from one of the Synods to the AS
sembly, and the Judicial committee reported
it as in order, but they recommended that
the case should be postponed for want OF
-: Nm, tb;s uos actnallv the case and