New-York tribune., 1876-02-26

body Of preachers (whom it has lately becom.
the fashion TO undervaue as an intellectua,
forco) to manage the weight matters .,
their civilization or religious condition. Daiv
newspapers and the census give us acourats
knowledge of the individual wealth or poyer.v.
OF the great masses of natives, Irish, Germans
French, MormOns, negroes, sayages, and
heatheus, which make up the nation and tell
us their occupations and amount Of knOwl.
edge or ignorance. Bat to go behind
these things, and gain any idea Of
their daily lives, their homes, do.
mestic relations, the Supreme Power.
whether saint or joss: or God, to which
they pray and which rules their thoughts and
actions, we must turn to the record of tbe
religious bodies and the work done by them.
Our attention is called 20 this matter by
statement recently made by the Presbyterian
Board of Home Missions of their progress dur
ing the year in planting new stations through
the West, and enlarging those already estab.
liShed. The Secretary Of the Board, DIR. Cylus
Dickson, possesses a peculiar faculty, too often
lacking 10 men holding positions Of large OK
executive trllsts-the power of seeing bis work
not only in detail, but in Its entirety, its rea-
ti0ns to the outside world and its effects upon il.
He has made himself thoroughly acquainted
with every outpost of his church. from tie
half-frozen missionary on Pugets Sound TO the
laborers among the Chinese in California and
gives in his statement not Cnly these indiyid-
ual facts but clear idea OF the social and
moral condition and needs of the, great bodies
of people which these few men are trying TO
lift to higher planes. The statement of tho
movement of European and Asiatic peoples 10
our shores and the efforts Of the Christian
Church for them. Is larger in its proportions
ard more dramatic than any history ever
written. The story of the Chinese emigra-
ton alone (an emigration by the way
which has increased hundred time,
faster than did that of Onr own forefathersl,
were it less hackneyed we should recognize
as more remarkable than any tale of the
Arabian Nights. Nor is the history of the
Mormon settlement from first TO last less un-
real or different from the ordinary affairs OF
life A man must he able to grasp these mat
tcrs, not in their ordinary daily newspaper
bearing, but as grand significant movements
directed by an Almighty Power. before he can
throw into his own work with regard to them
the zeal and force shown by The leaders of this
especial missionary effort. Whether We
subscribe or not to the Presbyterian con-
fession of faith, we must give to that
church foremost place rs bearer OF the
Gospel To the wilderness. When her first
church in this country was organized in Phil
adephia it constituted itself a missionary So
ciety. One of the first stations TO which
preacher was sent was i'm Newlork. She has
carried her missionary work across the conti-
neut, and intends this year, as We learn from
DR.. Dick sons statement. to make direct attack
on Utah-a stronghold OF falsehOOd and un-
chastity which we do not believe will be
found impregnable. No stronger contrast TO
tricky Momonism could be offered than tho
hard, clean, obstinate integrity of the Scotch
Irish follower Of John Knox.
We are confident that this wealthy religious
body will not suffer the pioneer, whom they
have sent ont to be brought back Tor lack OF
support. II is Il matter in which every man
and woman have an interest, whatever their
own sectarian faith. II matters little whether
the Chinaman or Indian or bOrder rutlian Lo
converted TO faith in immersion OF prcdes-
tination or apostolic succession. But ii mat
ters much 10 the life Of the nation that they
be taught love to Christ. and truth, honesty,
and chastity in their daily lives and as a rllo
no be3ter teachers OF these things rau he sent
among them than the faithful Presbyterian
preacher and his wife.
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