The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-08-02
Entered at the POST Office at Richmond Va, as
second-class matter.
CORRESPOND NCE.
South Alabama Presbytery,
It's Field and it's Laborers.

It's Field and it's Laborers
An account of the work of our Church
in the far South may have interest with
g some of your readers. And yet we are
+ not so near the tropical regions as the
name "South Alabama" suggests. Be-
ginning at Mobile our churches lie along
both sides of the Alabama river up to
Selma, the central city. Several of them
are located along the line Of what was
formerly known as the Selma, Rome, &
Dalton Railroad, our most northern
church, Carmel, being in Cherokee county
in the vicinity of Rome, Ga.
The Presbyterian interest in Mobile is
represented by three churches, Govern
ment Street, jackson Street, and South
Franklin Street. The first of these has
been for long time the leading church
IN the. Synod in respect to numbers,
wealth, and contributions. Rev. DR..
Burgett, its pastor for the last quarter of
a century, has by his fervent piety, good
common sense, and impressive preaching
proved himself tower of strength in the
Masters cause in that city. Some will
recall with mournful pleasure his prede-
z cessor, DIR. Henry Vaudeville, distin-
gulshed in the educational field as the
author of a series of school readers and
work on elocution, and no less eminent
IN the pulpit. Very soon after his set
tlement over that congregation, he fell
victim to yellow fever, greatly bewailed,
as he had been greatly beloved and hon
ored.
Jackson Street church has recently be-
come vacant by the transfer of its pastor
DIR. b. P. Palmer, to the presidency of
Austin College, Texas The Lone Star
State has received a valuable acquisition,
but our Presbytery feel the loss of a
brother whose presence in our counsels
always gave delight That church re-
ports membership of over two hundred,
and needs pastor.
South Franklin Street church is the
outgrowth of what was once called War
rem chapel, and must still be considered
missionary field. Father Wither-
spoon" the seamen's friend of New Or
leans, was to large extent the father of
this enterprise. The church has been
without pastor since Rev. w. II. Rich
ardson accepted professorship in the
colored institute at Tuscaloosa Though
weak financially, it has strength in its
earnest and active officers who are ready
Tor every good work. They are in quest
Of some one to take charge of the church
"a consecrated man, physically able to
do efficient pastoral work, and of GOOD
social qualities. AS to preaching fbev
want nothing but the plain gospel.
BALDWIN county, across the bay, east
from Mobile, has but one Presbyterian
church, called Baldwin church, under the
charge of Rev. w. H. McAuley. This
beloved brother was for several years
missionary in Hindustan. He returned
with his family to this country about a
tnlrd OF century ago, in time to escape
the terrible massacres OF the Sepoy rebel
hon. Some Of their children born in
india, are referred to by them very truIv
as Indians This church was served for.
merly by Rev. Joseph D. Porter who
afterwards removed to Texas. and who
IN the midst of his itinerary iabors was
found dead by the road side, his head on
his saddle-bags, and his horse still near
MIN. Brother McAuley, though consid-
eerably advanced in years, is still. as in
ms early life, abundant in labors, having
~ his charge Monroeville, Scotland. and
claiborne churches, all in Monroe county
che nearest being not less than SEVENTH |
lVe miles from his home. River RIDGE |
"a the Alabama river above Claiborne,
iately re- organized by brother McAuley,
=, vacant. Further west, in Clarke and |
Lnoctaw counties are two other vacant
churches, jackson and Bladen. jackson
Is the terminus of railroad running
nearly north from Mobile, which. in tbe |
opinion Of some, will in future be extended
Gnder the name Of the Grand Trunk
through Uniontown, Marion, and Centre.
vile to the wonderful Iron City" Bir.