The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-02-07
Mr.. a. Il. ERWIN.
BARRANQUILLA, Dec. LIST, 1876.

BARRANQULLA, Dec, LIST, 1916.
To the s s Children QtMe
Sugar Creek Church, NJ c.
Dear Young Friends,LYou will no doubt
De glad and thsDbful with me when l tell
goa that cur Heavenly Father has brought
ne through many difficulties during the past
year, and hes restored my health, giving me
plenty of work, His faithfulness being my
shield and buckler. remember you in my
prayers, that ye may continue to come forth
to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
Is not tAe Eorld grooming and struggling
aader chains Of darkness and approximation,
to be brought into the glorious light aud
liberty of the gospel? Do not be discour-
aged or weary in we'll doing, think on the
will of your Father in heaven, that not one
of his little ones should perish; therefore he
says lovingly, "Sop, go work to-day in my
vineyard" and encOuragipgly promises to
be with you until the end.
Think on your golden opportunities Of
good instruction and Christian example, and
compare these privileges with the children of
Columbia, who are exposed, from earliest
childhood, to lying, stealing and swearing,
who have no quiet, holy Sabbath-no pre-
oious Bible, and no good example to impress
them with the fear of God
Last year, in public procession Of their
saints, one party bearing the image of Jesus
met another party bearing the image of Merry.
AS is their custom, the boys bearing the i'm
age of Jesus, on approaching that Of Mary,
lower one side Of the table to make Jesus sa.
Lutte his mother, but he lowered it GOO much,
and the image of Jesus, in bowling, fell on
the street and broke his hands! The women,
shocked at such horrd thing, cursed the
boys, and said they would certainly be con-
demned for letting God fall This season
they took care of their images, although
gradually, but surely falling into disrespect
Il is ssid that in AutiOchis priest went to
encourage bis men to fight by carrying the
image of Jesus on the cross to ward eff the
balls, but bullet entered his own breast and
he fell dead. have before me report of
8 battle in Antiochia, on the 3lst Of August
in which, after gaining victory over q, 600
liberals, the conservatives in the dense wood
mistook their own cavalry, and the cavalry
their own infantry, for enemies, and after a
fierce battle, then most fearful panic, which
spread wherever the soldiers fed, making
every official quis his post, and filing the
towns and villages with fear. A person writ
ing from Antiochis, says the efsct of such a
blnnder has given death blow to priestly
inRuence in that State. The potsherde are
striving with the potsherds of the esrth but
they that trustih the Lord shall be as Mount
ZION, which cannot be moved. This ia the
fourth revolution since came here, but there
has been no fighting near the MISSIONS, 50 the
Lord compasseth US about as with shield
The rains have continued month longer
than last year, so there is abundance Of corn
and fruit, and the growth of plants and trees
ia truly wonderful. We have now grapes and
figs in our own garden, and plenty Of sweet
potatoes.
In these troublous times theattendence on
day and night school is less, and our Sab
bath meetings are very irregularly attended
We have continued opportunities of speak
ing to visitors and transient scholars. Some
seem interested and are regular for time,
and then pass away like the cloud without
rain Missionary.