The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-05-24

UsIACURI, Feb. 6, 1871.
Thursday night spent at Galpa, arriving
late. l had time, however, to make one
visit; and was glad to hear that the people
were more and more pleased with our Cos
pel-preaching, and waiting with interest my
appointment of the LIST Sunday in April.
The next morning we went on to Baranoa,
where 1 preached Friday and Saturday
nights--the former indoors, on account Of
the wind; the latter, in the open and unen-
closed patio, to a much larger and more in
terested audience-100 to 80 persons, l
suppose l think a decidedly favorable i'm
preston was made as to the true and only
gospel of our Lord. Tomas took his Tes-
taments around the second day. and we dis
posed Of eight copies. These, l hope, viii
be as seed-corn, that viii multiply.
We started before sunrise on Sunday
morning to come to Usiacuri, only five or
six miles, hoping to arrive early, and make
arrangements for morning service. But l
saw no way of doing so when got here,
therefore resigned myself to circumstances,
which, in truth, seemed hard enough. Usia-
curl seemed the most unpromising place l
have Yet visited; a collection for the most
part of miserable novels in country much
more broken than that about Lynehburg-
lust so broken, in fact, that there is not
level floor for house in a town of about
1000 inhabitants. A party of fifteen or
twenty men were fighting cocks in room
adjoining that in which 1 was trying to turn
my Sabbath to some profitable account; and
the cocks, indeed, ran under the hammock
where was lying. l got up at last and
distributed lot of tracts as ''Sunday read
ing, which l said would DO them more good
than fighting cocks This and other things
made me feel badly enough, 50 that 1 almost
concluded to start the next day for Sabana
Larga.
As there is no level standing ground ex-
eept in the streets, and hardly any there,
Mr.. Latte had large open shed, lately fin
ished, and which serves the purpose of q
stable, cleaned out, hung with lanterns, and
fitted up as very comfortable place Of
preaching, where preached last night to a
crowd of 100 or 200 people, in and out of
the shed, on Christ being sent to "bless you
in turning away every one of you from his
Antiquities" Acts iii. 26-the text being in
-'ea BY the many painful impress
1t was about the plainest
sermon I have preached in the country, and
more nearly resembling our plain home
preaching than any I had heretofore ven
tured upon; and the impression, l trust, was
better than any have yet witnessed here.
The prospect is of larger attendance to-
night. All things considered, the behavior
of my audiences is most admirable-far be-
yond anything l hoped to witness among the
people While preaching the gospel, l try
to give all my sermons such turn as to
urge the indispensable necessity OF the use
of the New Testament particularly; which,
after service, l announce that | have for
sale, and at what prices. Several persons
said last night they meant to buy and Tomas
has been out all the morning taking them
about town. I think of sending him back
to Barranquilla or miles, tonight, as the
two dozen copies, which, from past ill-suc-
cess, 1 Judged sufficient for the trip, will not
perhaps 90 further than Sabana Larga-if
so far. have some hope that l may dis
pose Of the remaining fifteen or sixteen CO.
pies here I have about determined, too, to
stay here as long as the people want to hear,
or as long as there seems to be a prospect of
doing any good. There seems to be wider
door of usefulness here Judging from last
nights serviee) than any where else have
been in the country; and purpose to follow
the guidance of good and wise Providence
as to how many days I stay. l do not mean
that there are any indications Of religious
interest. That expression has no meaning
in this poor country as yet. But the people
seemed pleased, and free from prejudices,
(which is a wonder, amid so general ignO-
rance and want to hear; and as long as
they want to hear, want to preach; hoping
that God VIII give his word a present or
prospective success, as best pleases Him.
The more the interest that is manifested
here in hearing the gospel, the more noise
viii it make in Sabana Larga (which is the
capital Of the province of the same name
the States being divided into provinces so
that it will probably secure me more gene
raj attention when I go there. 1t is only
nine miles distant, with a population, 1 sup
pose, Of 5000 or 10000. My experience
and observation leads me to a frmer cOnvic-
ton that there is, in spite of all real or SEEM
ing discOuragements, a wide and edectual
door opening up in these country towns; and
it is not improbable that 1 could spend all
the dry season more proftably in evangel-
istic itinerating from town to town, than
preaching regularly in Barranquilla to nearly
empty benches. Should the vessel l told
you Of Pedro Vengoechas) sail before my
return, Of which Capt c. viii keep Ben in
formed, you may send this letter to DR.. Viii
son, that he may know that one man cannot
l. +bo ovrr,,v,t Of v,raacbipc that will rroba