Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-27
CHRISTIAN CHURCH CONVEH-
TION.
Closing Days PROCEEDINGS - Missions
Among the COIOred People
church Discipline.
DR.. EarI's Address ON Australia and
his Bible WOrk"-A Paper Fun
of Interest, Etc.

!
hts Bible WOrki'-A Paper Fun
Of Interest, Etc.
The members OF the convention came
together at half past nine O'Clock yes
terday morning, for devotional exercises,
: which were conducted by Elder w. E.
Hall, of Jackson. At ten o'clock the
} convention was called TO order by its
vice. president, Rev. A. F. Smith, of st.
Louis. The committee appointed at q
previous meeting to consider what should
be done toward the advancement Of the
mission work among the colored people,
reported, recommending a plan that
seemed to meet the case. Letters from
many absent delegates were read, ex-
pressing their inability to attend the
convention, but rendering their sympa-
thies in its work, and their earnest as
pirations that its sessions might be such
as to rebound to the interest of the
church and the glory of God.
Elder David Walk then delivered an
address upon "Church Discipline and its
Proper Administration" Criticisms and
discussions on the address followed,
which were interesting and instructive.
ResOlutions<-ere adopted rendering the
thanks OF the visiting delegates to the
resident members for their delightful
Hospitality; to the railroads and traDs-
portatiOn lines, for liberal terms of tick
cts and other courtesies; to the Memphis
city press, for their kindness in publish
! ing SO freely Of the proceedings Of the
| c,s1lphtiOn; and TO the officers Of the
body, DR.. w A. EdmOnds, president;
Rev. A. +. Smith, vice president; and
1 - all NINof
/ faithful and efficient services during the
sessions. The meeting then adjourned,
assembling at seven o'clock in the
evening.
EVENING SESSION.
The congregation in the evening held
short devotional service. After the
| transaction of some formal proceedings,
| DR.. Earl delivered an address upon
Australia, and his Bible work there.u
taking as his text, Mark xvi, 18th verse.
His address was highly interesting, be-
ing listened to by large audience. His
delineations Of the physical country
were drawn in fitting lines, and In a
clear, concise way, from which we re-
port He began: "If you were called
on to 90 a distance of fifteen thousand
miles, sundeTing all ties, you would he
asked, why this long journey? 1 will
tell you why took this long journey to
Australia. Though anxious 20 see for
eign lands, went not for this; nor for
health; nor for gold, for which thousands
went; but 1t was for the purpose of exc
cutting Gods will, to preach the glad
tidings to the Australians. To this work
have cOnsecrated my life, my all. L
desire TO give you some facts respecting
that country. Australia is situated in
the Southern aud Indian oceans, be-
tween one hundred and twelve snd one
hundred and fifty-three degrees east
longitude, and between ten and thirty
nine degrees south latitude. The sun
goes north OF the zenith (instead OF
south, as here when il arises. All its
cold winds come from the south, and
the warm breeZes from the north-just !
the reverse OF those in this country. !
About the seasons of the year, spring |
commences where autumn does here, |
namely, with September, October and |
November; summer-December, JanU- |
AIRY and February; autumn-March, |
April, May; winter-June, July and 1
August. There j. an incorrect view |
about the size. Australia is more proper
ly continent, than an island, aud is as |
large as the whole Of the United States |
and Territories, containing an area of /
three millions OF square miles, and the /
country is so vast, that but little Is /
known Of it, too large to be explored by |
a few, though tried-twO persons only /
having succeeded in crossing it from |
south to north. The fact is, but little
really is known of the country. Tele-
graphic communication between this
country and Australia is sure, and as
certain as that between Memphis and
the western States. The distance from
the United States, by California, is nine
thousand miles, though vessels usually
go fifteen thousand before getting there.
The country is divided into five States,
each with a governor and representa-
tives to legislature; the former usually
are sent out from England. The
of the governors range
from fifteen thousand to forty thousand
dollars. There is no nobility there, as
in England. The colonies assess their
own taxes, and regulate their own inter-
nal affairs. No person can vote
except he be a taxpayer, a house
holder with real or personal proper
ty, realizing an annual income
Of twenty-five pounds sterling. The
country usually level, with one high
ten thousand feet in altitude;
one fine Observation-Disclosures
IN fish, but few rivers, the largest being
he river Murray" The term ''bush" ,
means in the woodland. "Plsins,u ex- :
lending from ten to one hundred miles,
IRE much like our prairies. The pro- !
AUCTIONS are stti geneTis-all the trees
being evergreens. Blue, white and red :
gum, because OF the tinge of their
park. The "bottle tree" with golden
blossom and fragrant odors is beautiful. 4
The "stIing bark" tree, from the tough
less Of the bark, being stringy, and used .
or tying bundles. The climate being
Try, we sometimes have most destruct-
We and brilliant fires among the bushes.
There is the hOney-suckle and cherry
rec, bearing a fruit which has its seed
N the outside; the peppermint, pear and O
line, fern (the last bearing leaves sew v
raj feet WiCel. Native fruits inferior. c
worthless, except those introduced there, | I,
nd from the imported grapevine the X
ruit is superior to any have ever seen.
placed in my garden cutting one Ii
DOT long, which grew so rapidly as to
'ield the second year. Fig trees grew so !,
S TO bear fruit, also, the second year. In
act, all kinds Of fruit that are imported
nd transplsnted there yield abundsntly =,
nd OF the most luscious quality. The y
RAISES are succulent; the flowers small, 4
ut beautiful, growing everywhere.
But few animals there, which are
mall, the largest being the kangaroo.
Sirds-the gull, something like the os.
rich; the black swan, having white
own beneath its wings; ducks, geese, r.
turkeys, paroquets-all having rich k
lumage. THE iebOriginees are few in q
something like the negro, ii
nth weak minds, strong instincts, ana s.
exteTous on feet and with hands. They F
We in small huts, made of branches oil
-ees. They have marriage and burial
srvice, with religion, involving the A
zistence Of ''good" and "evil" spirit.
hey have euphOnious language, sus-
sptible of being written. The wife is
allied "lubrs," child, "piccaninny."
he speaker gave many interesting
rms and phrases that were too hard TO Z
9 reported. The climate of Australia =
healthful, differing in various lOcaIi- d,
es. Wheat grows abundantly and pro-
xically in one section, and corn in an
her. The population is about two 81
1llion, only fifteen thousand of which
e converts. The residue Of the people
i'll compare TsvOrably with those OF =,
~ country. There are two first-elaSs a.
liversitiss, maintained by the govern 9.
ant. Melbourne contains one hun.
ed and sayenty-fiye thousand t1OpuIa.