Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1870-02-24
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. !
LETTER FROM TEXAS.

DeOT FTlen0S ALLOW me to say
in few words that I am here in the
city of Houston pronounced here
Hlscetin -. numbering $4,000 inhab-
itants; is near the head of naviga-
ton on Buffalo Bayou; having four
Railroads putting IN at this place
where still stands the old Capitol bull
ding, erected when Texas was a Re
public" under the Presidency of Gen. |
Sam Houston; where stand eight
churches, the newest being that of
the NJ. E. Church and built by the
people of color for themselves; where
with few exceptions religion is only
nominal, and dead formality is doing
its dreadful work to the ruin of the
souls blinded by it where "Caste" is
as marked as in India; where the final
"Break Up' las it was ealled) took
place, the Rebel forces holding out
the longest of any place in the South;
where several of their fiercest leaders
now live and with some of whom /
have conversed to-day, they manifes-
ting great respect for the Government
that could conquer them, anu desire
the coming of Yankees that could
whip them to live in their midst
where Church prejudice" ranks bit
terly as ever, especially of the South
M. E. Church South. not even allow
ing Bishop Simpson last year to preach
in their church nor Bishop Scott last
week and where am holding a pro-
tracted meeting, in the Court House,
in which FedraI soldiers have been
imprisoned and one man from the
North shot dead by a Rebel soldier.
1 find my faith tested by my sur
roundings. Not single white member
of the NJ. E. Church is here; no min
lister of the same church to stand by
me, and but one place in the city
where 1 have been made welcome and
can find lodgings. Christ said "the
Son of man hath not where to lay his
head" 1 can hardly hope for any
considerable success, as I am oleave
here according to present arrange
ments, on Monday for the interior.
Texas is by far the largest State of
the Union, being composed of 268, ,684
square miles; 80 representative dis
tricts, and !, 900, ,0OOinhabitants There
are 5000 Presbyterians, 80, 900 Baptist,
and 10000 of the M. f. Church South
having 200 active ministers; that is,
in the Southern way. There is not
the zeal, faith or love to be found in
all the South, in any of the churches,
that is at all consistent with either
the christian name or character. The
fact is obvious to any discriminating
mind, that there never was a State of
consistent piety, (Or scriptural purity J
or there has been q declensiOn that
amounted to a Decentralization" l
would not be "croaker" or "fault-
finder" and yet how can come to
any other conclusion, when there is
only the faintest semblance Of christi
anity in word or act; when the Sab
bath is not observed; the Bible but
little read churches unoccupied and
rotting down, and multitudes who
were members, and also ministers, are
now among the most reckless in the
land? In the ranks of the fallen may
be found the man that has stood at
the head of influences, as President of
College, also another that has won
Iaurels as an editor of the leading
church paper of the NJ. Z. Church
South, both being first class ministers,
besides numerous others of all grades
to the most Indifferent.
There are over three hundred min
listers in the three churches above
named, and l am informed that only
ten of each denomination are receiv-
ing their entire support from the con-
gregation they serve the balance are
mixing up gospel with law, medicine,
trade, husbandry, and so forth hence
the pastorate, the study, and alas
souls are neglected. The churches
cannot hope for success, nor will the
thoughtless become awakened to their
need or danger with the present state
of things. Oh that there were eyes
that could weep DER the dessolations
of Zion and the terrible ruin so wide
spread and dreadful! Have allhearts
been converted into stones
There is not one fiourishing College
endowed in Texas, though there are
a number bearing the name. Nor as
yet have 1 heard of but one man born,
raised and educated in this State that
has ever become a minister on the sod,
and he is by the name of w. R. Rich
ardson, Rector of ST. Marks Church,
San Antonio, Texas.
Now, as a State, this is the largest
with soil productive; climate mild
minerals rich productions various,
and most remunerative; streams large
and numerous; large tracts of land
cheap and very inviting and gener-
ally, the State is considered one of the
most healthful; while fragrant bios
SONS shed their odOrs every month of
the year. Then must it be here as in
Iudia,
"Where every prospect pleases,
And only man is Vile"
There are men here who have herds |
of cattle numb bering from hundreds to
five, ten or fifteen thousand. The
summers need not be spent in gather
ing hay for them at great expense, nor
the winter months in feeding them.
They feed themselves the year round,
only requiring the COW boy to salt |
the old ones and brand the young
ones.