The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-16
From the South Western Presbyterian.
Presbytery of Western Texas.
URGENT NEED OF MINGsrERs-F1ELDs OF INTERE


Brother Smith You will allow me- through
your columns, to present the claims of West Texas
upon the members and churches of the Eastern
States, for sympathy and aid.
Our Presbytery covers the territory lying be-
tween the Colorado and Rio Grande rivers, and
from the Gulf far into the mountains the country
is settled In this extended region-large enough
for State-we have only five ministers laboring
as supplies, including one Evangelist All are CON-
PEELED, in greater or less degree, to devote their
attention to secular matters, to enable them to sup
port themselves and families Three other brethren
are in our bounds; two are rannuated--Hamiton
and the veteran Blair. Brother Connolly Isl for the
present, laid aside by indisposition. Brother Nc
Culloch recently died at Prairie Lea.
Many of our Churches are vacant, and anguish
ing for want of the means of grace. Our members,
in many instances disheartened by delay in having
churches and ministers of their own in their neigh
borhoods, are joining other communions, and are
thus lost to us. Even when we have organizations
unsupplied, our members are frequently enticed
away.
been vacant for considerable time. The impor-
tant town of Columbus, which is the terminus of
the railroad from Galveston and Houston, west
has been without supply for over year. The
growing town of Victoria has been vacant for nearly
a year. The Church at that place is one of the
strongest and most influential in our bounds
Victoria is becoming stronghold of Romanism,
and point from which her PROSECUTING efforts are
brought to bear on youth of country through
her schools, both male and female Through this
instrumentality many Of the children of Protes
tants are being perverted and proselyted to the
errors of the Papacy. Lavacca and Indianoa, I'M
til recently, have been vacant; they are now sup
piled by Mr. Loughridge, late of LaGrange, Colo
RADIO CITY,
Texanna and Clinton, Concrete and Helena are
vacant. So is Seguin, Cibolo and Prairie Lea
The recently organized church of Rockport and
Scenarios presentsa very interesting field. The same
is also true of the recently formed churches of
Marcilina and Escandido, in Karnes City, with the
church of Helena.
Some time ago [ sent to you brief notice of
the churches on Arcensas Bay, Rockport and st.
Mares, as presenting an interesting field for labor
These are growing points. They have received,
within some months, large accession to their
population and will continue to increase in the
future. The beauty and healthfuness of their
locations render them very interesting The present
spiritual culture Of those places will tell on the
future destiny of large population in Western
Texas, and Mexico.
desire to call attention to the infant churches
in Karnes county, as points which should be oc
cuped.
EscandidO is a country church, the members Of
which live, principally in the valley of the creek
of that name, tributary of the San Antonio river
The valley is one Of the most beautiful and grace
full in its physical outline anywhere to be found.
1t is varied with eminences peculiarly symmetrical,
and dotted over with the most lovely groves of
live oak, blackberry, nockaway and other trees,
presenting the most inviting sites for residences
which could be desired 1t is pretty densely set
tied region, for Texas. Within a radius of four
miles there are more than fifty families living
They can have a school of from forty to sixty pu-
pills Some of them are anxious to have a Presby-
terian minister, to preach and teach for them. The
pcope are intelligent and kind. good, old sister,
in describing the character of the people to me,
said 1--WE all live in peace and In love- My own
nleasant intercourse with them proved to me that
the description was just The land is good, and
the climate, too is healthful. Such is the Escanddo
community, in the wilds of Western Texas, where
the world believes that all the people are, neces.
sary, cutthroats, outlaws and desperadoes.
The church of Marceena is situated on the San
Antonio river, about fifteen miles above Helena,
It is country of peculiar beauty and liveliness,
even for Texas. 1t is high rolling prairie, with
eminences presenting extensive and lovely land
scapes, dotted with charming groves of live-oak,
mesquit, &c. The scenery is most captivating.
The soil is very productive. The climate eminent:
ly healthy. From there to the Gulf distance Of
seventy five miles, there is not marsh or anything
to produce disease. There are succession of falls
on the river at that point one about ten feet,
another seven or eight, and third one of eleven
feet, besides some rapids; in distance of mile
and half there are thirytwo or thirty three feet
of fall. The volume of water is such that, with
the falls, the water power is immense: The mild,
saubrious climate, with the fact that the raw
materals-both cotton and woo-are abundantly
raised in the region render it certain that at no
distant day Marceena will be place of impor-
lance. As soon as railroads penetrate Western
Texas-and that time is near at hand-such water
power, together with the great advantages of manu-
featuring arising from climate, cheapness of raw
material, provisions, &C., will attract the capital to
our country from abroad, at present waiting for
Investment Cities, at such localities, will spring