The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-16
Latest Missionary Intelligence.

Our letters from China, and Brazil recently
published, are as late as any given in the March
Missionary.
a letter has been received from Miss RonzOne
as late as the 18th Of January. She was then on
visit to Dr. Revel at Florence and it is probable
that she viii be transferred to another field Of la
Dor IN Italy, from the one she has been occupying
for year past. The death Of DR.. de Sanetis is
regarded as severe loss to the cause Of evangeh
cal religion in Italy.
We have letter from Rev H. Balentine of the
Cherokee Mission, of the 81 January; and an
other from Rev. James NJ. Perryman Of the Greek
Mission, of the 9th January, which gives encour-
aging views of both these Missions. A letter has
been received from Mr. Cotton of 3lst January,
at Shreveport, Louisiana, on his way to the Chloe
taw country. 1t is hoped that he has reached the
mission field and entered upon his missionary work
before this time.
From Mr Pratt, BarranquiIa, the latest intelIi.
gence is through letter published in the " O.
Presbyterian, and furnished them by Rev. Mr..
Dalton, of Washington, n @. Mr.. Pratt says:
AS to the prospects of our mission, they seem
much brighter than they did some months ago.
We were greatly cast down BY an accumulation of
unlocked for troubles and diSappOntments, that
seemed for awhile to make the permanence of the
mission matter OF no little doubt. That period
is past | hope, though we rejoice with trembling,
since the increased interest Is as vet like man of
the sea; and until our little congregation becomes
more compact and fixed in its character, | have no
security till the congregation comes that l will not
preach to empty benches; for be il known to you,
my brother, that on a bright, sunshine day, have
preached a formal sermon to five adults and two
or three children.
"Since January 2, | have preached at % A. NJ
in English and at p NJ. in Spanish. Up to this
fbor
attended the English service who did not attend
when the service was In Spanish and the change
from Spanish to English seems to operate untavOra-
bly, on the native attendance on my Bible class. As
long as a Spanish service followed the Sabbath
school, | sometimes had eight OF ten adults under
my instruction IN addition to my three or four
boys. My night attendance, however, is better
than it was, and last night | had eight or ten
native women whom | did not have in daylight.
l suppose l had Fifty or more altOgether-most of
them natives and nearly all in humble life. And
the sermon, grieve not the Holy Spirit Of God,
&c, made deeper and more solemn and salutary
impression than any | have yet preached.
such is the spirit of federation here, or perhaps
had better say Of religious Indifference that up
to this time we have not had the least disturbance
nor the least manlteStatlOn-week day or Sunday
of popular disapprObatiOn. But it will surely come
as SOen as the leayen begins 10 work we'll. The Lord
has given me one man who would be a comfort to
any ministers heart. l cannot see that there has
been anything of what the old fathers would call
law work, about his heart; but he seems to drink
in instruction whenever and however it is present
ed And from the first day of his coming Aug.
% he has not failed of Sabbath school and ser
mon He is a jealous, judiciOus and pains taking
tract distributor and deeply interested in following
the course Of every tract to see Its effect and then
he sends another after it. And withal as modest
and chlldhke man as you ever saw. God bless
him, aud US through him. l think he is doing full
as much ia his private way as | am, and my native
attendance is chiefly due to his hopeful, persistent
and constant efforts AS yet too, we have seen
but part Of the fruit of his quiet and unostenta
tiOus labOrs. And yet he has not been able to get
any OF his own family out with him except one
daughter, who came a week ago last night. So you
see things move slowly with US, but the Lord has
the residue of the Spirit.