The People's vindicator., 1878-01-26
RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
Edited by the Rev. T. J. Hong!l.
HOME AGAIN.

Mr.. EDlTOR | take this method of
informing the members of my church,
and my many friends iu Natchitoches
parish, that after an absence of six
weeks, which seem to me fully six long
months, am at home again. During
these six weeks | have attended our
Annual Conference. have travelled
twenty five hundred miles Ivy boat,
and have attended to a vast amount of
secular business, besides have preach
ed regularly every Sabbath, save one.
My heart leapc'l with joy when the
Bishop read out my appointment, an
nounciug that should fill the station
at Natchitochcs for the present year,
and now enter upon the discharge of
the duties incumbent upon me with
great pleasure, and yet feel that |
am inadequate to the great task be-
fore me. shall eudcavor to do my
whole luty, and prayc,ful'y leave the
result in tie hands Of Him who is able
to carry on the work.
Aud before proceed to my second
years labor, I desire to return my
heartfelt thanks to the citizens of this
city and parish, for the Kindness ex-
hibited towards myself and family y du-
ring the past year; and for the moral
and financial support afforded us while
engaged in our labor of Love. We
came into yonr midst "s,,angcrs and
We took us iu'-auh this kindness and
generosity was not prompted hy the
fact that we we,e "Mrtho1lstS' and
therefore had a peculiar clam npon
the people, not at all, we only had four
members Of our church to commence
with; but We were received as the
messenger OF salvation, aud treated as
such, by all, irrespective Of sect. or
nationality, and | wish to record my
testimony to the fact, that no kinder
or more noble hearted people exists
any where than the Catholics Of this
vicinity, they have contributed no lit
tie towards our happiness and comfort
during our residence he,e. | have
visited their church and they have
visited my church, and we have not
in the least intcltrrrd with each 9th.
ers religious opinions, but simply
greeted each other as friends and tcl-
low travellers to Eternity, and many
! of us pyprct to meet each other in the
happiness land.
Our Jewish friends too have done
all in their power to make It's comfort
able, and make us feel at home, they
have even met us with Il smile and
freely responded to every call We have
made on them for charitable or uthrl
purposes. Many Of their children
; have attended o:r Sabbath Schools
and mingled thciv merry voices Will
those of our children IN song.
We say with pleasure that all on1
frotcstants Of every denomination are
at peace with each other, and eacl
striving in their own way to win souls
for the Mastcr-and thus we are ena-
b|cd to say in the language of the
sweet singer of Israel "Behold how
good and how pleasant it is for Breth
rem to dwell together III unity, 1t j.
like the precious ointment upon thu
head, that ran down on the beard
even Aa,on's beard : that went dow,
to tho skirts Of his garments; as th'
dew Of Heaven; and rs the dew tina
descended on the mountains of Zion
for these the Lord commanded th'
blessing, even of lite for ever mOre'-
and we arc now authorized to believe
that if we continue together in unity
the Lord will command his blessin:
on us also oven during the p,esen
year, all this confidently look for.
Aud wish here to direct u fev
words especially to my chnrch Dre
then, we have great work before II
let us at the beginning of the year
unitedly pnt on the whole arm our o
faith, and 90 forth in the name o
King Emanuel, time is short, time i
precious, we will all soon be in etcr
nifty and what we have to lo let us d
quickly "rhe Kings business require
haste.' No body of people whethe
secular or religions can accomplish
anything without zeal and warmt
and faith in the enterprise the frozc'
stream never moves the mill to grn'
the corn. The brook that produce
the verdure on its banks while run
} ming, is useless to vegetation Will
frozen. The noble rivers which bea
millions of tons of freight, and myri
ads of passengers on it's liquid bosom
is useless to navigation while hount
in chains of frost. The silvery lake S
f valuable to commerce is useless t
trade when locked in ice-and equall
true is 1t that a church can do moth
ing for God, and for immortal soul
when chilled and frozen into cold for
mality, or inactivity.
During our absence we have pr"cu
red some money and materials for tn
erection of a church house for ou
congregation, we desire to commenc
) building our house at furtl,est, by til
} first of April. Let us build hous
: small, cosy~-pa1lor like-invItin
within and without, the picture (
! neatness, we'll and tastily furnished
, | wish every member of my church
3 consider himself, or herself as an agcr
for procuring money and means f'
} constructing this building. Let til
< matter go prominently before the pee
4 pie, am sure we will meet with
: hearty response.
Our city has at present every ind
f cation of improvement, all the res
dcnces, stores and shop buildings al
occupied, and still there are app|
: cants for house room. Now as "
build up let us not forget the Giver
s all-let us build il honse for the Lor
+ and dedicate that house and coDs'
o crate onr own henrts to Go1. Such