The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-06

lands where they can settle in body, and
have their churches, Sunday Schools and
missions. Some may think the idea wild and
visionary, but Charleston paper says it has
learned enough from several Southern States
10 believe that there will be among them
great exodus to Africa in few years. We
should then pity our former faithful andObe-
dent servants, and do al we can to enlighten
them and guide them. As they and their
children in the week work, or ought to work
for q support, We should see to it all over the
land, that they have good Sunday Schools,
and take pleasure in aiding them. For lie
who died for US will say in the great day Of
trial, " Inssmueh as ye have done it unto
one Of the least Of these my brethren, ye
have done it unto me"
Some have pretended to doubt whether the
degraded African tribes are capable of reli-
giOn, or whether they are human beings at
all, but the contrary is as clear as the noon
day sun. In addition to the thousands of
cases We have among US who, with all their
disadvantages, will compare we'll with the
whites, our devoted missionaries on that con
tinent have said enough to silence every
cavil. DR.. J. L. Wilson, our Secretary Of
Foreign Missions, who spent eighteen years
of his early life in Africa es a missionary
says, Notwithstanding the gross supersti-
zion. and ignorance among the natives on
~ IN. ,hainf in one great
sssiinS ~ 800 and uphOlds all
tAngs is universal, and any system Of athe.
ism strikes them as too absurd and prepoS-
ferrous to require denial" He also says a
belief in future state of existence is equally
prevalent. Bishop Payne, of the Episcopal
Church, who has been there more than twenty
years with some half dozen ordained minis
tiers, after speaking Of many churches and
schools, says, ga standing influence as Chris
tan teachers has been gained by the mission
aries for scores of miles around them, and
amongst fifty thousand natives; and at the
present moment hundred evangelists might
find immediate and full employment among
the numerous and populOus tribes lying be-
tween the mission stations and the interior. "
There is some objection to the climate of
Western Africa, but from the personal expe-
rience of Dr.. Wilson and Bishop Payne we
may suppose it has been exeggerated.-
Further south towards the Cape of Good
Hope it is quite temperate and salubrious,
and many Dutch families are located there.
1t seems the soil generally is fertile, but no
doubt much neglected or badly cultivated
Why then may not large colonies from our
shores in time, as they get able, press into
that country with preachers and teachers,
and with Gods blessing push the triumpha Of
the Redeemer's kingdom from the Atlantic
to the Indian ocean /? 1t is written, "Princes
shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall
soon stretch out her hands unto God. -
Egypt here may signify the previous bondage
of our freedmen, and princes the leaders Of
the sacramental host in the mighty war
against the powers of darkness. We need
only to look at Madagascar and other ISLES of
the sea to know what can be done with the
right spirit. Trading men will go every
where to make money, and the apostles has
tened to every continent and country regard
less of consequences, to preach the gospel to
every creature. By foreign influence the col
Ored people have been somewhat alienated from
us, but the late judicious policy Of the Fed
eral Executive is likely to produce better
state of feeling, and while they prefer cOlored
pastors when they can be had, they seem to
be quite willing to have their children taught
by US. AS kind feelings are now on the in
crease, and Providence has placed them in
their dependent condition right at our doors,
both interest and duty now call for more at
sentiOn and concern. j.