The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-06-01


many encouragements | do not desire to speak
so much OF our own societies as do to review the
progress made by all the Protestant world. While
other enterprises have gone forward and attracted
the wonder OF the world this enterprise has silent
y and unobtrusivey gone onward.
Now, let us look for moment into some of these
fields Look at that great continent of Africa.
Thirty three years ago it seemed to be thoroughly
locked up against Christian influence
If the Church had desired most ardently to
carry the gospel to that land, it could not have
been done. The foreign slave trade, piracy, and
the climate seemed insuperable obstacles against
it. Now the picture is changed. Piracy and the
slave trade, which desolated that coast have been
swept from the seas. The savage character OF the
people hiss been modified. The discovery Of the
source and course of two of the rivers of that
country which have been for years geographical
enigmas, has furnished great highways to the GEN.
ter of North and Southern Africa. There is no
portion of this great continent OF one hundred
millions Of men that is not accessible to the mis-
sionaries of Christ. So it is in relation to lndia
that great empire, embracing one hundred and
fifty millions Of men,
There is China: fifty years ago no missionary
could penetrate that country. Mills and Morrison.
the first missionaries who arrived there, had no
intercourse with the people except few around
the factories of Canton. Now it is accessible to
missionaries, who have penetrated, the Empire =
distance of three or four hundred miles. So L
might speak of Japan. but my time is short
Now, what has brought about this wonderful
change? [ know men will see in it nothing but
the advance of the sciences of the age but the
Christian philosopher will see thus the hand OF
Almighty God. fr. 8aid a
DR.. Wilson then spoke at further length of the
mighty influence of these missionary societies. and
was followed by Rev. Allen Wright.
REMARKS OF REV. ALLEN WRIGHT.
Rev. Mr.. Wright is native Choctaw who after
being educated for the ministry returned to the
Choctaw Mission as missionary, and is now the
Governor Of the Nation. He said in substance:
The cause of missions had ever been dear to his
heart If he did not support this cause he would
not prove true to the religion he professed. lie
was born, he said, in the mission field; educated
in the mission school. and loved the mission work.
He proposed merely to state some facts connected
with the commencement, and operation OF the mis-
sion work among the Choctaws.
A young man once started out with the Bible IN
his hand and the love of God in his heart. 1t was
before the speaker was little boy, and before
many of you we're born. In 1917 he established a
school among the Cherokees. Leaving this school
in the hands of others ne came further out among
the Choctaws, degraded people, stepped in every
kind of sin. He prayed for co-laborers. Others
came and helped him, but so few they could not
supply the restitution. Here the speaker was
born. The gospel was received by his country
men with reluctance. 1t was new thing to them.
1t did not support their idea of happiness. They
cared not for it. The first scholar was hired to
come to the school, But when the school was es-
tablished many came, and the schools cold not
hold them. Some came hundreds of miles to at
tend. The people said we are old; the mission
can't do us much good; but we want our children
educated.
The schools had been fairly established when the
They were sent West and promises that no one
should modest or make them afraid. They could
hunt where the white men cultivated; but they
were told that in their new home they should live
undisturbed as long as the water runs or sun
shines. They moved. The schools opened on
small scale. 1t was a new country; bad water
new climate, sickness and death made fearful raw.
ages. Until 1884 they lived roaming and hunting
AT that time nation was established with writ
ten constitution
The first thing to do was to prevent by law the
importation ofspirits. Every barrel of whisky con-
tanned so many deaths, Another provision of the
law required the people to recognize that there
was God in heaven. Soon the old missionaries
who had been with them in Mississippi came
among them again, their hearts filed with the love
of Jesus, to preach the unsearchable riches OF
Christ. He paid a touching tribute to those NOBLE
venerable missionaries who have fought good
fight kept the faith, and gone to receive the crown
laid up for them in heaven. For time everything
prospered They thought they were going to be
great people, a great people for God But trou-
bles came upon them. This country was divided
They were outsiders But these troubles overlook
and wei. nigh destroyed them. They were greatly
scattered. They need shepherds. His object in
coming here is to confer with these people who
have come to arrange for schools and missions and
the growth of Christs kingdom, and if you can
not send us aborers, he said, you can at least give
US an assurance of your sympatbies and prayers.
The female seminaries and schools could not be
kept up during the war He wrote to a member
of the General Assembly respecting them. This
brother did not think it would be wise to under
take the management OF their schools, or that the
United States Government would permit the
Southern Church to have anything to do with the
funds of the Indians. They have been expanding
S3l ,000a year for education. The speaker wanted
teacher for them. They have conferred with some
who are appreheLsive as to their pay. They would
come if the Assembly would back the Indian tribe
and become their surety. And would be glad to
have the Foreign Mission Committee open cor
respondence with the Choctaws on this subject
They have funds received from the United States
Government, and they would place them in the
hands of the Mission Committee, if they would
superintend the schools. He wanted these schools
as preparatory to Dr. Lyons great Southern Uni
versity. Laughter.
Thus far they have been assisted and sustained
by this Assembly. They want more men, if not
money. Father Kngsbury is eighty four years Of
age-too old to labor-only waiting to go home to
the Lord Jesus. They have only one white mis-
sionary among them. They want more laborers.
He was grateful for what has been done for his
people. They have learned the truth as it is in
Jesus The missionaries who taught them are
now singing the song of the redeemed in heaven.
The speaker was the last Of that band of mission
aries The influence of those missionaries was
spreading, as the ripples expand when a stone is
thrown into the water, and its ripping circles widen
until they reach the edge. He closed with an Incl
dent that occurred when Rev. Allen Wright was
living in the Broken Knife neighborhoOd.-
An elder in the church there had wandered from
his first love. So he moved to the Northern
country, where there were no church privileges in
order to enjoy more of the world than ne could en-
JOY in the church. One of his sons was soon after
taken sick On his death bed he said, 81 am GO.
ing to heaven" But how do you know" said
his father. Father, you used to pray | learned
how from you, and never have stopped PRAYING.
| have gone into the woods daily and prayed for
myself and you. The father was touched by the
testimony of his dying son to the value of prayer
he removed back to his old home, and re6stabished
the family altar. The speaker then closed with an
appeal in behalf Of the foreign missionary work.
Then, at the suggestion of the Moderator, Mr..
Wright remarked that the tunes ChOctaws use are
the same as ours, but the words are different He
read and translated one of the Choetaw hymns
and then sang it to an old and familiar tune that is
associated in many minds with the hymn, "Alas,
and did my Saviour bleed
REMARKS OF REV. B. NJ, PALMER, D. D.
Among the earliest recollections of my child
hood is the remembrance of gentleman and lady
in my fathers home. The man, of lean and gaunt
form, thoughtful and silent, with strong lines up
on his face, and his whole mien showing him to be
consecrated by high and solemn purpose. The
woman. almost as tall as the man. full of youth