The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-01-18

ed in Knowing one of the means by which our col
lectiOuS were much increased. Possibly some
SUNDAY School superintendent might profit by the
suggestion.
Inc Plan was mentioned by our librarian at a
period when our monthly collections dill not eX
eeed S. or $40 They now average about $50
The classes are numbered from one upwards. I'm
velopeS are prepared ike the one enclosed which
the secretary of the school has charge Of and
lust after the opening exercises, they are handed
by him 10 the respective teachers who collect the
contributions and hand them IN to the Secretary
at the close of the school.
On the first Sunday in each month, when, as
you are aware, cur school Is visited by pastor pa
rents aud friends, the superintendent announces
what amount has been given during the month by
each class, designating the class by Its number =
By this method the reasonable ambition of the dit
ferent classes Is excited, aud We have found, that
while, from time 10 time, scholars Of class are
ashamed, among themselves, because of tOrgettu-
ness Of duty, yet this failure not known to the
other classes. The plan Is not original with us
and may be already known to you. 1t, however
You think It of sufficient Importance to refer to It
during your visit to any Sabbath School, you Will
no doubt entirely agree with US that no particular
school need be named in connection with Its bene'
fetal results
If the collections in the schools of our country
could only be increased fourfold, what an import
ant fund It would be Missionary.
Indian Missions among the Cherokees, the
Creeks and among the ChoctawS and ChickaSaws,
who are essentially the same people
Among the Creeks We have single missionary,
Rev. James NJ. PeTryman, native Of the tribe
among whom he now labOrs. He was educated by
Rev. Il. NJ LOughridge one of our ministers IN
Texas but formerly a missionary in the Creek
country. Mr.. Perryman labOrs at place called
North Fork. in the southern portion OF the Creek
serritogy. lie has gathered small church aud Is
rroreeutinc rs Uopk u'tA -s- ,.s.r, 49, 3
peers
In the Cherokee country we have two ordained
missionaries, Rev. Hamilton Balentine and Rev.
Stephen Foreman; the former white man, and
the other native Cherokee, both of them edu-
Gated men. and both Of them somewhat veterans
In the missionary work. Mr.. Foreman breaches at
Park Hill and Tahlequah, the scene Of the labors
Of Rev. Samuel Worcester and his companions, all
Of whom have passed away Mr. Foreman has
good audiences, aud reports interesting cases Of
conversion, but has not yet organised church.
Mr. Balentine la6Ors In the northwestern pOr-
ton OF the Cherokee country, at a place called
Cabin Creek The chief consideration which in.
dueed him to occupy that particular part of the
country, was the extreme Ignorance and destitu-
ton OF that portion of the Cherokee population
He and his family endured great hardShips during
the first year OF their residence in that far-of and
forted by feeling assured that they were walking
IN the path Of duty, and by the marked tokens Of
favor that have been bestowed upon their la6ors
by the Great Head Of the Church
But our principal mission among the Indians Is
that to the ChOctaws and the Chickasaws. When
this mission first came into our hands, it wassus-
tanned by six white missionaries and a number of
native labOrers. Since then, two of these white
missionaries, Rev. Messrs. Stark and Reid, have
withdrawn from the work and are laboring else
where; whilst the four older ones. Rev. Messrs.
klngsbury, Byington HOtchkin. and Copeland all
died in the midst of their labOrs, aud after long
periods of earnest and self denying efforts to build
up the Redeemer's kingdom among the people,
IL Is only a few months since Dr.. Kingsbury, the
founder OF the mission, was called to his rest. At
the present time there are only four ordained mis-
SiOnaries in the 6eld-Rev. James H. Cotton, of
the Synod Of North Carolina; and Rev w. j. B
Lloyd Of the Synod of Arkansas; and two native
preachers Rev. Allen Wright and Rev. Thomas
III. Benton; with few other native helpers
These brethren have divided the whole field into
four evangehStlc departments, aud in this way all
the churches have been brought under their paste
RAJ care. IL Is not known how many communiug
members there are in all these churches but pro-
baby not less than ten or twelve hundred There
were added to the churches something like one
hundred new COMMITMENTS the last year; and with
the exception Of the want of more ministers, the
prospects OF the mission are very encouraging.
NSSjOagrU