The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-02-16

philanthropist and Christian. They are not
to any great degree, as yet. an agricultural
people. Occupying country rich in the
fertility of its soil and capable of supporting
its teeming millions under a judicious and
industrious cultivation, they subsist princi'
pally upon the cattle that roam at large
across their extensive prairies
They do not seem to possess the thrift and
enterprise so characteristic of the Anglo
Saxon race; but we do not attribute this SO
much to natural incapacity as to the absence
of those aids to progress and refinement with
which we are blessed, and the greater want
of thorough acquaintance with the knowl-
edge of the Christian religion and the i'm
petus it necessarily gives to all that tends to
elevatc social and religious condition OF
came in contact with those
,rts to the religion of Christ,
general, thing that they were
terprising, and industrious,
lot experienced regehera-
"a upon the results already
arising the planting of the gospel
among this people, we were forced to the
conclusion that if the word is given to them
in its full power and glory, if its divine light
can shine in every part of the country, if we
can increase the number of faithful, Jealous
ministers who will make visible in their walk
and conversation the doctrines and princi-
Piles of the religion of the cross, we believe
the social and religious condition of the In
dian will be SO improved that the Church
will see her most sanguine expectations re-
alised.
1t would have rejoiced the heart of any
Christian, and yet stirred the deep founda-
tions of pity in his soul, to have seen the
audiences at our appointments. Many of
them had journeyed from forty to fifty miles,
and had not heard sermon for months. We
never ministered to more earnest and solemn
ly attentive assemblages of people in all the
course of our ministry. Almost entirely, we
preached through the tedious medium of an
interpreter; yet many would sit for hours
apparently indifferent and unconscious to all
surrounding objects-entirely absorbed in
the message of life and salvation. And not
unfrequently the bowed head, the solemn
expression of countenance, the falling tear,
gave us an index to the emotions of the heart
to which the Spirit of God had carried the
gospel with energy and power.
From what we witnessed while among
them, we believe the Choctaws and Chicka-
saws people susceptible of the deepest and
most thorough religious impressions.
THE CONDITION OF THE MISSION AND DESIRES
OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE GOSPEL.
From death and other providential causes,
our missionary force is greatly reduced
While in the Territory, we found but two
white men south of Arkansas River laboring
under the auspices of our Committee, viz,
that aged veteran of the Choctaw Mission,
the Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, D. D., of more
than fifty years of self-sacrifcing devotion
in the service of his Master, whose term of
active labor is now nearly finished in conse
quence of the in6rmities of age; and the
Rev. G. G. Copeland, one of the most earn
est, efficient, and jealous advocates of the
gospel.
Ever since the close of the war, he has
travelled over mountains and prairies, visit
ing station after station, gathering fragments
and remains of former labors, organising new
churches, Strengthening others, yielding to
the importunate cries of the people for the
gospel beyond the strength of his physical
constitution.
Even while the burden of many labors
rested upon him, he fell, with the trumpet
of the gospel" as it were, "to his lips" He
is no more. Faithful to the last, he is gone
to the possession of his crown and kingdom.
"Servant of God, we'll done
Rest from thy loved employ;
The battle fought, the victory won,
Enter thy Master JOY"
To-day the venerable Kingsbury is the
only Presbyterian missionary in all the Choc-
taw country. Our brethren Wright and
Benton, native Choctaws, are faithful and
devoted ministers of the word; but they can
scarcely supply tithe of the work now de
pendent on them.
In fplf''ing our mission, we travelled some
br Gfty miles throug the Choctaw
country, and held religious
Or seven different places
semed to be manifested. AT
lbers waited on the ministry
sometimes not more than two
hund. ID fifty; again, when the people
were not so sparsely settled, the number was
variously estimated from twelve to fifteen
hundred.
We met representatives from different por-
tions of that destitute land, coming to us with
one united voice." us missionaries"