The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-07-26
For THE PRESBYTERIAN.
A Missionary To Knoxville Presbytery.

Let my narrative w begin where it was last
week closed went on to Washington. An attack
of disease compelled me to rest there for several
days. On Wednesday steamboat passing down
the river gave me an { portunity of reaching Har'
rison, in Bradley county-the place Of my next APP
pointment. So | started, though far from being
WELL No incident occurred during the trip, worthy
of notice, except the cry on one occasion, "Yonder
is deer crossing the river. 1t was about five
yards ahead of us, of course we could not overtake
it, before it reached the bank, and so it was safe
from capture. Forty. five years ago the skins of
wild animals made no snail part of the loads Of
wagons taken from Tennessee to Baltimore; and
at still later period the hunting tales of David
Crockett entertained many youthful reader. So
great has been the change however, that although
[ have been in the State four years, this is the
only game above a squirrel. a pheasant or par
fridge that l have SEEN The editor of the Cen
trail Presbyterian remembers no doubt, how the
Cherokee Indians from this State used to amuse
US with their bows and arrows, on their way to
Washington City; but they too are gone. Two or
three small families are all of that large tribe that
are left on this side of the Mississippi Here and
there. an artificial mound, is all that is left to tell
that they were ever here Perhaps the largest of
these mounds, within this State, was at the juno
ton of the Holston aud French Broad Rivers.
Less than two years ago it was dug down. From
the base to the top, it contained human bones,
with very many 1tc;s. a. ,sSaeCs, arrow heads and
pipes. These were no doubt deposited with the
dead, that they might use them in another world,
so firmly is the idea of Immortality fixed in the hu
man mind
On reaching Harrison, rested one day-then
preached five times, and administered the Lords
Supper We have there little flock of about
twelve members. To these the occasion seemed
TO be very refreshing, as well as to Others While
at Harrison, received an injury from fall which
[ must carry to the grave; and which very nearly
stopped my missionary labor on this tour. Hav-
ing appointments ahead, however. [ rode six miles
on Monday in great pain, preached Tuesday and
Wednesday, rode six miles on Thursday, but could
90 no further Rode eight miles on Friday to
Sale Greek in Rhea county, and preached Friday
night twice on Saturday, twice on Sunday, and
administered the Lord Supper. Here there was
evidently good work begun; but as the wheat
fields and corn fields required prompt attention,
the services were closed. Moreover my own de-
bility, and suffering made even the Lords work a
burden. This is an interesting little flock, to which
the Rev. j. A. Wallace breaches once month.
This meeting having been closed, l was COM
PEELED to rest, and so did not preach again till
Thursday. At that time | preached at Soddy,
eight miles from Sale Greek: also on Friday, twice
on Saturday, and once on the Sabbath. This
church also is under the care of Rev. j. A. Wal
lace, and here he came to my assistance, from
which for the two weeks preceding he had been
| providentialy prevented.
Of the resusctation Of this church, three years
ago. the readers of the Central Presbyterian have
been informed. 1t is very gratifying to be able to
say that it still moves steadily on has most inter-
esting Sabbath School, and has blessed the church
with one preacher Another candidate will be at
Union Seminary this fall, and two others will soon
return to King College; some of these are among
the most promising young men of my acquain-
lance. Added to this the congregation has just
erected large Academy, at which they expect a
hundred scholars, after the session opens The
people there have uind to work
On the whole, we Of is Presbytory have rea-
son to thank God and courage. At the close
of the war we had listers only, and but
three or four whole c ches, with every thing in
distracted state. now have seven ministers,
and will soon have eli possibly nine, and TWEEN
ty.four churches, with seven hundred Sabbath
School scholars. The church lately organized in
Maryville still advances III. B.