The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07
and by it be made free from all idolatry and super
&eliaiuns 9ntelligente.
FROM THEsSOUTHERN STATES.
Recent Intelligence from the April Number of TIT
Missionary"
Mission Rooms, COLUMBIA, s. c., !
March II 1890


Mission Rooms, COLUMBIA, s. G.,
March II, 1869.
Our present issue contains extracts of letters
from DR.. Kingsbury and the Rev. Mr.. Copeland,
of the Choctaw Mission, as late as the 18th Feb
ruary, one from the Rev. MIR. Perryman, of the
Creek Mission, of the same date, and one from
the Rev. S. Foreman of the Cherokee Mission,
dated March Sd. DR.. Kingsbury S letter is occu-
pied mainly with details about the life and labOrs
of Mr.. Byington, his much rcvered and long con,
tinued associate in the missionary work and Will
be read with great interest. Mr. Copeland letter,
whilst it contains encouraging evidences OF the
presence of Gods Spirit among the people TOR
whom lie labors, expresses much anxiety neverthe'
less about the weakened condition OF the Choctaw
Mission The missionaries there, as well as our
readers generally, will be gratifed to know that
renewed efforts are being made to get la6orers for
that field. Let it be the prayer OF all that these
efforts may not be made in vain. Mr.. Perryman
letter gives encouraging facts about the state
of the missionary work among the Greeks he
very much needs assistance to put up house OF
worship at his principal station 1t will be graft
flying to our readers to know that the Rev. Hamll-
ton Balentine, who has labored something like
twenty years among the Chickasaw Indians, has
recently been reappointed missionary to labor
among the Cherokee Indians. That large tribe OF
indians has nearly been abandoned by the Chris
tan Church since the war. According to state
ment in Mr.. Baentine' letter, only one white mis-
sionary now labors in that field, whereas there
we're formerly twelve or fifteen. 1t would seem,
therefore, that they must look to the Southern
Church mainly for the gospel.
We have letter from Miss Ronzone of the ltal-
ian Mission. of the 18th February. She had, with
the assistance of Mr.. Buscalet Scotch mission
airy laboring in Naples, secured good house tor
her school, and it was expected to 20 into full OPP.
Grafton by the first of March. She was in good
health and spirits at the date of her letter, and,
with the blessing of God, she will no doubt very
soon have hourishing Protestant school in the
very heart of Naples.
Offerings of Children
There is nothing connected with the foreign
missionary work more encouraging at the present
time than the interest which our children are man
ifesting in it. Their contributions in the month
of January amounted to more than $500 One
Sabbath School has pledged itself to raise $500
during the year-an amount large enough to edu
cate at least five Chinese youths. Six or eight
other schools, we have reason to expect, will raise
between 500 and 5000 each for the same object
But it is, after ALL the multiplied smaller gifts that
are to constitute the bulk of the children contri
buttons to the cause of foreign missions. 1t is
supposed that there has been something like one
hundred responses to the proposal of the Baptized
child OF the Church (pu0lsned In our rellgous
papers three or four months ago. to the children
to give part of their Christmas money for the
spread of the gospel among the heather. These
offerings have come to the Treasury in sums vary
ing from ten cents to 81 and upwards. Our last
mail has brought three letters enclosing offerings
of the kind Arthur, little boy of seven years,
sends 81, which he has made by gathering up and
selling bones, old iron, and rags, and says he
means to make more money in the same way for
the same great object. A letter from Old Fort,
N. c., brings S. from Mary, Alexander, and Alice,
money that had been given to them to buy toys
and candy with, but which they, of their own ac
cord devoted to the cause of education among the
Choctaws, upon hearing read our last letter to the
children of our Sabbath Schools. A third letter
encloses So from three Sabbath School children,
and is accompanied by the remark by the gentle
man who sends it, God grant the precious work
may meet a cheerful response from all the little
hearts in this broad land" These contributions,
generous as they are, might easily be trebled and
quadrupled, if parents, Sabbath School teachers,
and ministers of the gospel, would only take lit
tie trouble to interest the children under their
in this great object