The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-11-09
w. G. CONNOR, Chairman.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MISSIONS.

We have noticed with regret decline of
the Missionary spirit in our church. In search
ing out the cause of this decline, we suppose
it to be in the nature of our Missionary Work
in former years. Much Of our missionary
funds were expended in furnishing the gospel
to our colorcd population thon in slavery
Since they have been liberated, and many of
them have dissolved their conncxion with our
church, our people have jumped to the conclu-
sion that their missionary contributions have
been rmisarplicd. That this is an erroneous
conclusion We verify believe Let us consider
this matter; in the first placo these contribu-
tlons were, in great measure, the product Of
slave labor, and it was right and Just that this
much should have been contributed to their
spiritual benefit We must remember that the
slaves themselves were not tho authors of thoir
own liberation, on the contrary, tho great ma
jority Of them were quiet and faithful during
the whole process down to its final termination
AS return for our contributions in their be-
half, VIC have the consolation to believe that
hundreds and thousands have gone safe home
to Heaven through our instrumcntalty Again
tho gospel we preached to them civilized them
and this civilization preserved them in order
aud qnictudo during the late transformation Of
society when the arm of the law was powcrlcss,
who can calculate the damage they might have
done us had it been otherwise.
Now that they have set up for themselves.
and possess the capital of labor, which is fully
enough to sustain their operations, VIC may con-
gratulatc ourselves on having finished our work
in that field, and turn our attention to the
greater field, which is thu world, 30 one can
fail, if he properly apprehends tho clains of tho
world upon tho Church, to recognize tho Mis-
sionary Work of the Church. Christianity is
missionary in its spirit and in it's work. Tho
promise made to Christ long before his advent,
II will give thee tho hcathcn for thino inhcri.
tance, and the pttcrn,ost parts of the earth for
thy possession" is fulfilled by missionary effort
Through the toolshncss Of preaching" Jesus
clothed with all power and authority just be-
fore his departure to prepare place in Heaven
for his redeemed and sanctificd ones command
ed his disciples to 60 into all the world and
preach his gospel to every creature. The mis-
slonary enterprise, than which there is nothing
destined to achieve greater victories and gather
richer trophies, is without doubt, of divine
origin. Through it gold and incense are 10 be
brought unto the Lord and His praises shcwn
forth Through an aggressive gosnel the
Gcntilcs arc to be brought into the light of the
Lord, and Kings to tho brightness of his rising,
and the King of Kings have dominion from
sea to sea- and from the rivers to the ends of
the earth
The Methodist Episcopal Church South has
her Missionary organizations, and her Mission
fields. Her Domestic Missions are of vast i'm
portancc, urgent in tlreir demands, and en-.
courasing in their promise of results if proper
ly cultivated Two of these are within our
own District. The Graniteylle Mission is in
prosperous condition, and although it has met
with severe loss in the death of Mr.. William
Gregg, Sr., tho founder of the Village, it still
promises to stand up to the Missionary Society
in its own support
Tho Lexington Mission is located in puor
section, but among people who highly ap-
preciates the gospel and do all they can to sup
port it among them. BE it therefore,
Resoiref, That we employ our best efforts to
support the Missionary cause in our church.
j. S. CONNOR,
Chairman.