The Van Buren press., 1869-08-10
EF We copy the following from the
Memphis Christina Advocate, OF July
Our Church Among the indians.

31st:
| Our Church Among the indians.
The Rev. John IIsrrell, Superintend-
ent Of the Indian Mission Conference,
has lately visited Washington on business
connected with the work Of educating
the Indians. heretofore intrusted to the
Churches having missions among them.
1t was hoped to collect balance due
from the Government for the payment OF
teschcrs and after while, according to
routine custom, this hope may be real
lied. Upon his return. Brother Harrell
spent several days OF last week in our
city, waiting for q boat to take him on
his wa7. During that time we enjoyed
very much the company of this devoted
servant Of the Church, and besides, it
was our privilege TO hear two instructive
and impressive sermons, preached by him
ct Springdale, where, for q fortnight now,
series Of meetings have been in pro
gress, and not without gracious results
From Brother Ilarrell we received
much valuable information concerning
the state and advancement OF religion
and education among the Indians, and
we firmly believe that if the Church were
brought to a clear and full understanding
Of the great work which Christianity has
accomplished fer the Red Man OF the
West, our missionaries, who have been
Gods honored and successful instru-
ments in this great work, would enjoy in
a larger degree the cympathies and pray
ers Of our religious membership, and
would also freely receive the material as
sistance constantly needed by .them--a
pittance in itself, but shamefully with
held by many professed Christians, of
whom God will require an account as
the stewards Of his bounty. M
We learn from Brother IIarrell that
the public examination at the Asbury
Manual Labor Schpol, in the Creek Ma
tion took place on the 25th ult There
wer eighty students and they passed a
first rate examinatio on-one of the very
best that has ever been witnessed in the
country. There wer, classes in spelling,
reading, writing, arithmetic, geography,
and English grammar, and the exGmina
ton Of every class was satisfactory in a
high degree. A prize ola gold pen was
awarded to young gentleman, and one
to young lady; and beidcs, 9 line hat
was given another yong girl OF the
Creek nation-all in testimony Of excel
lence in their deportmen and studies
At the close addresses we're made by the
Rev. John Harrell and the Reys. James
McHenry and George Sickham-the last
two being trustees Of he school. The
Rev r. b. Ruble is the Superintendent,
and the teachers are hB son-in-laN and
daughter, Dr. and Mrs Williams, who
are thol oughly qualified for their duties.
For this school, and dher educational
instrumentalities, as yell as for the
preaching of the gospel in the Indian
country, We wish and pray the greatest
success; and this good work we com
mend to the Church--assured as we are
| that as thousands hare heretofore been
brought to Christ, sothe gospel will con
tinue to be the powerof God unto saliva
! ton, even Of the remnant of the Indians.
Brother Harrall has promised for him
self and others to communicate with the
Church through our columns in reference
to the work in the Indian Mission Con
ference-printed slips concerning his
correspondence to he forwarded hence to
the offices Of other Church journals-and
from this date we will mail our paper
regularly to the preachers Of that Con
| ference, or those of them whose names
are or may be furnished us. In this
way, although unoiIlcially and informal
ly for the present, this paper will serve
as the especial organ of the Indian Mis-
sion Conference relation which We in
dulge the belief and hope it will sooi
sustain to each Of the several Conferen
ces south Of Missouri and north of Loui
isiana.