The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-08-16

tlons; % the vastness of the destitutions areadv
existing (2) the rapidity with which they are in.
creasing under the continued streams of immi.
grafton; (3) the value of these Immortal soul,
who are perishing in our own land for want Of
the Gospel (4) the present and prospective i'm.
portance OF this vast region as a factor in the
extension and upbuilding of the kingdom of
Christ; ~ the poverty of most of these immi.
grants, who have sought new country to build
up their fortunes and have little means to sup
port the Gospel (6) the fact that many of these
who are scattered as sheep without a shepherd
are members of Christian families in other parts
OF the country and have claims upon their
brethren for help and (7) that the churches in
Texas, though not strong are doing what they
can to aid in this work
There was no overture from the other Pres
byteries in Texas, but each of them might have
well sent up an urgent appeal, if they had
deemed it prudent to do so. 1t is a significant
fact that the Board of Home Missions of the
Northern Presbyterian Church, though not
largely successful in their past efforts, are so i'm
pressed with the Importance of Texas as field
that they are calling for twenty laborers and
100000 for the work in this State alone. Sure
ly our people to whom this field peculiarly be-
longs will not willingly yield it to strangers or
suffer it to remain in restitution.
An impressive overture was also before the
General Assembly from the
Presbytery of Red River.
This Presbytery is in the State of Louisiana
and lies between the Mississippi river on the
east and Texas on the west, and between Ar
kansas on the north and line running directly
west from the mouth of Red river. 1t covers
sixteen large parishes and has only six minis
tiers, two of whom are over three score and ten
years of age. Two thirds of its organized
churches are unsupplied with the preached Cos.
pei. Many of the parishes have never been
visited by our ministers. Many of the people
are intelligent and would appreciate the gospel
as preached by us. They ask that at least three
or four active, devoted, self. denying brethren
be sent them at once.
The. Presbytery of Louisiana, which lies
adjacent to Red liver, Is hardly less destitute.
1t sent no overture to the General Assembly.
but was ably represented on its floor by its
ministerial commissioner, who graphically des-
the last winter and spring the sad moral and
spiritual condition of many of the population
the prevalence of Roman Catholicism and the
need of pure gospel. He told of large sec.
ton of the State, extending from a certain point
on the Mississippi river to another point 1875
miles below, in which, on one side of the river
there is not single Protestant church of any de.
nomination, and on the other side of which there
are only three such churches.
He greatly interested the Assembly by the
that he had received invitations from
citizens of distant Roman Catholic parishes to
go and preach the gospel to them, and thrilled
the audience by telling an incident which had
occurred TO him in a late Home Mission tour
Once having lost his way, he drove up to a
house which came into view and went to the
door to obtain directions, where he was received
by a matroply lady who kindly replied to his
inquiries, and as he was turning to go, asked
Are you not minister ?"
YES said he.
"Of what denomination ?" she continued.
Presbyterian" he answered.
When she heard this, tears of JOY came into
her eyes and she lifted her hands to heaven and
said:
l thank God that 1 have lived to see this
day" and then went on to tell him that she also
was Presbyterian, that she had been a mem.
Der Of the Presbyterian Church in her youth,
and had removed to Louisiana with her hus-
band forty years ago that he was the first
Presbyterian minister with whom she had met
and that she seldom saw Christian minister of
any church that her children had grown up
without baptism that her dead had been buried
without Christian ordinances, and that she SO
longed for the church OF her choice. He and
his ministerial companion were invited in and
refreshed with food, and before leaving held
family worship with thirty-two of the children
and grandchildren of this godly woman who
though separated from Christian ordinances had
tried to rear her family in the ways of God.
On leaving, one of her sons expressed the wish
to join the Church, but there was no church
near enough for him to unite with.
Surely, our more highly favored Christian
people will pity these desolations of Zion and
will furnish the means for their relief
Another urgent appeal came to the Assembly
from the
Synod of South Georgia and Florida.
This Synod consists Of Savannah Presbytery
in Georgia and the whole State of Florida, EN-
braced in the Presbytery of Florida and st.
Johns. Missionaries are needed throughout It's
whole extent. but especially in the two Presby-
teries in Florida This State ia filing mn with