The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07
FOREIGN MISSIONARY MEETING.


the providence of God, to be in Richmond and
with them the Secretary Of our Church for Foreign
Missions, DR.. j. Leighton Wilson. twas deemed
suitable under these circumstances, to hold pub
lie meeting, in which our Presbyterian Churches
might unite for the purpose of receiving word
of parting exhortation from these brethren, and
commencing them and their work to the grace OF
God This meeting was held on Sabbath afternoon
at o clock, in the 2nd Presbyterian Church,
which was crowded with deeply attentive hearers.
The Rev. Dr. E. T. Baird presided-the pastor,
DR.. Hoge, being absent The Rev. Mr.. Preston
offered prayer, and after the singing of the hymn
Salvation o the joyful soundr' he read a por-
ton of Scripture
Dr.. wilson then addressed the meeting He
mentioned that Messrs. Lane and Morton were on
their way to Brazil expecting to enter upon their
voyage almost Immediately. Their station, it was
expected, would be in Campinas. The Rev. Mr..
Pratt, NOW absent for few days from Richmond)
would soon sail, with his family, for New Granada
He had been missionary in South America be-
fore our late war, and already familiar with
the Spanish language. Mr.. Converse and wife
will sail before long to join the mission in Han
chou, China.
He did not know what were the feelings of the
assembly, but for himself he felt that it an &C.
casion for congratulation to these brethren-to
whole Church-and especially to the heather, and
people where the Missions would be established
l. To these brethren. Why should they not re-
gard it privilege and honor, and why should not
| ~ l., IL md In
cal life there are few who would not consider it
great honor to be selected and sent as ambassadors
of the governments of this world. What is the
errand on which they go?' 1t is to form treaties
of aliance-to attend to the various concerns con-
nected with things that are merely earthly and
transient. But these brethren go as ambassadors
of Christ the King of heaven. Their business in
6nitely transcends in Importance all earthly things.
They 90 to awaken, by the divine blessing, i'm
mortal souls from the sleep of death-to bring
them out of darkness into light and from the
kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of Gods dear
Son. If this be so, ought they not to rejoice, and
their friends to rejoice with them2
p To oar Church 1t IS also a matter Of congrdt-
ulaton. After being so deeply Frustrated and dis
tressed, we are now enabled to take part in the
great and good work. We send out this year
thirteen missionaries. Three have already gone to
China four to the Indians Of the South vest
| He would not speak positively but it was his im
preston that no one of our Churches had been so
fortunate as to send out so large number as this
during the present year. Now, how could we ask
greater blessing? How ask greater evidence
1 q Z Il. e he Q
Before this manifestation he had felt great de-
preston. In some respects, at least, our Church
seemed an outcast from the sympathies of other
Churches of the Presbyterian name, But when
the Saviour comes and calls out these dear breth-
rem among the choicest of their fellows, and sends
them, through us, far hence to the ends of the
earth, as His ambassadors it is the greatest Of all
honors, the best pledge of his presence and care.
And if Christ cares for US, he would care very lit
tie what the world might think Of us.
3. The heather and Others to lohom oar brethren
90 might toeH be Congratulated They are sitting
in darkness, cropping their way down to death.
But that portion to whom these brethren are sent,
will hear from them of that way of salvation,
which they so much need to know. The labors of
these men may raise hundreds of thousands of
them from their deep degradation. Should we
not, then, all rejoice and sympathise with them,
and resolve to do all in our power to aid them?
He would not occupy the time longer, but give
place to the parting words of his young brethren.
Before doing so, however, he wished to say two
things.
First to tender to the ladies here aud elsewhere,
on behalf of the Executive Committee of Missions
and of the Church. their thanks tor their gener-
Gus contributions and abors in furnishing the out
fits of these and other missionaries. 1t has really
amounted to thousands of dollars, and without it
the Committee would have been much embarrassed.
Second, to make a request. These beloved
brethren are soon to leave their homes they go
away far hence, and to be in manner buried from
u.s. He trusted that this meeting would be great
y blessed in encouraging the prayers of Christians
here in their behalf He could speak from expe.
rienee in this respect. DIR. Wilson was for years
a missionary on the Western coast of Africa He
could say confidently that it would greatly encour.
age the hearts of those who were now present,
but soon to be separated so far from u.s. if they
could be assured that you will remember the
work to which they have devoted themselves be,
fore God and before his Church.
The first address was delivered by the Rev.
Edward Lane; and it may be as we'll to remark
here that the address of the Rev. G. Nash Nor
ton came after that of Mr.. Converse. But as we
did not secure report of them till too late for in
Sertion this week, they must be reserved for the
next paper,
After the singing of few verses of the Psalm
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun" &C., the
Rev. 7. Edwards Converse addressed the meeting.
We endeavor to give the substance.
He began with the remark that, through all the
history of the world God has been pleased to
keep the attention of the world looking forward
to some great object of hope. 1t began with our
first father after the fall-his hope was fixed upon
the promised "seed of the woman" So in the
case of Abraham-his hope rested upon the innu-
merabe seed-the great nation of which he was
to be the father So the attention of the Jew was
fixed upon the promised Messiah, as something
ultimately to be arrived at And so we too, in our
day and generation have a Messiah to cone-to
come the second time without sin unto saliva
| ton" Such was the promise when after his re-
surrection he went up into heaven, and cloud re-
ceived him out of the sight of his disciples This
same Jesus, shall so come in like manner as ye
have seen him go up into heaven, - To this great
promise we should look we should value it; for
the whole plan of the universe shall then be laid
open as it is not now-not patch here and there,
/ but for wider and more wonderful manifestations
of the wisdom power, and glory of God.
/ put oco;n vva ara tourbt that the sOuls of he
levers are at their death made perfect in holiness,