The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-02-12

a LETTER FROM REV. E LANE

CANPINAs, Nov. 20, 1872.
The year that is now drawing to its close
has been one Of much Interest to this mission,
0ne year ago a tract Of land within the city
limits was bought, and now after much ardu-
Gus labor we find ourselves quietly and pleas,
andy located on It. L. is true only begin
ming has been made, and much yet remains
to be done to render permanent and comfort.
able the residences of the missionaries, to
say nothing Of the school building yet to be
erected. But remembering what the Lord
has already done, it would be a great want
Of confidence in him to doubt that he
viii bestow whatever may be needed to pro-
mote his cause. 1t may interest those whose
Christian tberality has enabled the Com
mittee to make this purchase to know that
the lot contains twenty four acres, which
gives space for gardens, pasturage for the
animals necessary in our preaching tours,
and reservng ample room for the proposed
institution Of learning To prevent misap
prehension 10 the minds Of any that undue
attention is being given to the cause of edu-
cation, let me state that Of the eight or ten
ministers laboring in Brazil, not one Of them
is. engaged in teaching, but are preaching the
truth, either in the cities or going from town
to town in true apostolic fashion, often meet
ing with difficulties and opposition. No one
can hope to bear the torch Of truth into the
gloomy regions of superstition, without meet
ing resistance propordOnate to the clearnes8
with which the light shines into the minds of
men, and the power with which it grapples
with their sins. As an illustration of this,
Brother NJ, while preaching months ago
at a little town some sixteen miles from Cam
pinas, was surrounded by mob, armed With
pistols and knives, who threatened his life;
bu. the Lord did not permit them to DO him
harm; and a few weeks since 10 another
place, a member Of the Northern Presbyte-
rian Mission, who is a converted priest and
Brazilian, was iasuIted and malrested be-
cause he wished to preach Jesus and him
cruci6ed. It is pleasure, however, to add
that the general tone Of the public mind is
opposed to such violence. Butte revert to
the school, its foundation under the care Of
the mission is an incidental but an indispen-
sable part of its work. The objection which
exists in the minds Of some sound hearted
brethren to missionaries having anything to
do with secular education, may perhaps be
best removed by bringing before them the
true state Of the ease-tbUs, suppose that
every seminary, college, and academy within
the limits Of the Southern Church had ex
cluded from them tbe.Word of God, and ia
Its place enthrOned gross supers,idons, or
bald iufjelisy-Bhat fruits could you ex
pect in the rising generation other than the
whole brood Of uoxious and pernjciOus prin-
ciples which spring from an ignorance Of.
true religion, and its handmade, sound learn
iDg2 and where would your Church look for
arms to uphold the standard of the cross if
her sons aud daughters, after receiving the
care Of pious parents aud the prayers Of the
Church, should be sent to the school Of Satan
to complete their education: This is the
question that We are called upon to solve.
We trust We see signs of a spiritual harvest
to be gathered in the future-who are to be
laborers, and how is the work begun to be
rendered permanent? Surely not by per-
mi,ting the young, and those who may be
called to preach, to be placed during the