griginat exonntunitathnto.
REV, A. M. STEWART'S LETTERS.-8%,
COLUMBIA AND SONORA, CAL
" How Both the city sit solitary that was full
of people"—complained Jeremiah, when Jerusa•
lern was deserted of,her people and the temple
unfilled with worshippers. The empty house,
the vacant hall, the silent battle-field and the de
solate village, all jar into sadness man's social be
ing. Were Goldsmith here, he might sing over
again, and with an unction, his "Deserted vil
lage.'!
in my last letter, notice was taken of the ap
pearance of things in the vast placer-mining re
gionsof California. Since then, a further advance
of fifty miles has been made, through these mining
connt•ies tip Columbia and Sonora';' famous bean;
ties where gold was found. These towns are but
tour miles apart, with intervening apace Occupied
by pleasant villas. Tea years ago, they nunibered
prOably, two thousand inhabitants, each, beside
thousands of gold-washers. who filled the entire
section. Busy, crowded'marts awere tilt*: and
gold' as a 'thing of nothing
~11( • -
PRISBYTERIAN CEURCHES
khe operations of our Domestic Board,
'49 4 F- a4 WS e 'lllfi c h:wM?rifPli 4 e 4 in P aci ?'
aucl i 4y, sue4eofql;ministitrial•labor a commodious
Noise of worship, free from 9 debt, was erected inn
each locality: The Congregations became self-sns
iiiiriin ed at'thin
pt) g a a-- great ; ga for the { future.
, now , The, congigAtions
lriatond foroihe, past.season both ;churches have
been closed. Some who have been pastors here
fireenOw , ore the Atlantic side,--deSeited, perh4s,
tudireadily the field where ' the Redeemer had
placed theth to feed H.s lambs and His sheep.
. The causesleading-tn'this condition of things
have already been noticed. The placer-Mining
hadceitsed , to be profitable and the miners are
gone. The town's people soon found themselves
without an avocation, and many of them have
also gone, and are going,- in order to findprofitable
avenues for human effbrt in other parts 'of the
State. .I A score of members:are -perhaps' left in
OdluMbia and half a*dozen in SonOia. in the
forfner pia,oo, a good Sabbath school and
prayer
nimting are , still kept up; in the latter all is
silent. , ,
To this remnant Iliave come, by quite 'a detour,
td,preach for Iwo Sabbaths, dispenses - the- seal-e
-ntente and counsel About the future. Bard is it
to counsel with intelligence,.when all the premix
as • for the future are not before you. Shall our
flame Mission cease effortlere? Odell tie chuielt
atilorgt allow a weak outpost to beabaniloned to'
the enemy? , In military operations, it; may be
policy to desert, an outpok, blow up 'a fort, or
hurn.a.town, but for the church in her warfare
against sin, to permit an advanced poSition again
to, be wholly ciceupied , by the powers of darkness,
MOM a doubtful, if not imbecile policy.
• No sadder illustration of Sectarian divisions Or
demand.for union of ,effort , 'and co-operation
among professing Christians, is to be found
than here. In both Columbia and Sonora are
four Protestant ,church organizationS--Presbyte
rian, Episcopal, Baptist and Methodist. Not one
of these is selftsustaining, but , each struggling for
t4recarion 4istpnce : Weic : a4 united in each
Winthere wonld,he t a large self-sustaining con
gregation., Under.prssent conditiena; there is .
riot be regular preaching 'in any of
thaw, and none is, able, to diVe without forei.n
00P,PiPg• How 0 Lord?
• 890e4y .here : is a sudden. transition'
While mining continued profitable; little die but
minin. , was v thouolit -'about. Gardenin fruit,-
k, •• • ""' - •
growing, farthing, and stock-raising were looked
upon as too sIOW processes to the goal of wealth.
It is now,. however, manifest, that this vast, foot
hill region of Ctlifornia, with a climate more sa
lubrious than Italy, and with scenery excelling,
has also a soil prolific as the hoine of Virgil or the
valley of Sharon.
'A PARADISE
, •
During the few days'. sojourn at 'Sonora r my
gains, has been Mr. E. Dane, with his wife; living
in thesnburbe, and formerly , of Massachusetts.
Coitillk•hehri.iorelve years'ago; dud viewing the
sitqation,iiiWs'ieiplVed, in true Yankee style,
that inkead'of ,Ixininc; , or saloon-keeping, fruit
- RI. • '.. 4 • •
and vegetables would be raised to supply the
wines:; and their orchard and garden have be
come, as. Eden. In no former'place, and in many
Waiktifill ones have I been, were there so
skigges tiOns of Paradise A greater variety , ; .J.
netskand beanty, of fruits sod, vegetables are here
ripening andmaturing, than Fever before sup
posed could grow together in the open air.'' And
this tooiikeelinsste of . the teniperate Sone. In
no ot = her laud could it beAhus.. Apples in variety,
and size unequalled peaches,:which. it the best
New Jersey fruit,grower saw, he =would quit his
business in disgust;-phama , laitge-and-beautiful as
imitates, apticotsoicatarines,and almorids;
fig4tiees both of the ptirple'and white fruit, now
bending with a second crop of delicious; figsi c
pk#gyanates matured &e. , grapes ot_the
ettotseet anyiquantity desired, and , the
plaresk wine from these, well refinedi , at,one dollar
per?gallon
•, aisd'all the 'vegetables Vito ari'''be,
004 n
n'gaidela,aeyW t hefe,9d the39th of :Se
s ,_Pin
teber , ,a,Rjatp l 4)arge, boantifii e
strawberries,
wo . re ; brought lit ,froxii` the garden;, , .antt•l was ad- ,
sured that in every month' the'iptuttl'Year,
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1868.
strawberries had been gathered from the vines in
the open air.
And yet mine host's occupation languishes.
Buyers and eaters have gone or going. His re
maining neighbors have as much and more fruit
than needed. A foreign market is yet too dis
tant without a railroad. If any Christian family
in the East, having done up the world's business,
are looking after an earthly Eden in which to re
tire, let them come and buy this one, which could
be had at a cheapness that would create lurprise.
Come and help to maidain the languishing came
of the Redeemer; and find also as cheap, as quiet,
as pleasant, and as
.494 : 14ty, (,place in which to
live, as the heart , conld.wish. „ ,
Such a region cannot, becoine,whollyunpeopled,
and even, if so ,cannot long thus remain. Some,
of the / people ( now, here will remain. OtheraWill
come for different purposes ;than mining. ,yres
byteriap,ghurehes will be demanded , here and
shnuld ,not
,be abandened. Conversing
,with
intelligent Christian lady about the condition of
matters here 4 I made inquiry, as to why they had
not been able to retain
,a, pastor...‘,‘T,hq,str,ong
ones won't stay and the weak ones the people won't
hear;" was aiiiir - irf'Trike - this of more locali
ties than ColuinliiCind(Bohoia".l' The'ciuty)osts ash
well as the, morel-fashionable centres dethand7the
§PrQng• . r • k ~A. M. ,STEwAa.r.
SYNOD IsT / EW YORt 'Alb NEW JERSEY;
4e-''coriden'e : from 'the 'favOrs of two corres- .
poridents an account of the recent meeting' of
this body.
BROTHER MEAHS - i The - Synod of New York
and 'NeWt - I.Tersey met inAlfeFinit'Preabiteiiiin
church of Newark , New ,Jerney October 20th.
At, ttlq;l 3 Afee heT',1t490§.94 0 4 ef New Jerecy.met
inAlie, - ,WhirdPresb,yterian. church, which, stands
on the ganie.noble street, and but a- few hundred
rods distant. The committees appointed• to make
the preliminary arrangements for the, meetingnf
theseiloodies, had judged it wise to combine their
action, and act as.,a joint,comnaittee :itt,proviting
fqr the, entertainment of the, inembers,,,and.sug
gesting, union in devotional exereises., .A 9;,. one
of the , restilts of 'this joint action,; members _of
the.two Synods, found themselves. in Aeverat in-I
stances,guests o,f the same family, and; ministers
and elders, 0. S. and N. S., sitting side by side
at the same table. Another was the Union
prayer-meeting held. >in the :Third Church on
To.psflay..eynning; conducted by the moderators,
Dre• NO,wqii, of New; York, end ; . Reed, of, Peal
den, and, a4dressed-by,prs. guyler, of Brooklyn
of .tsTew rbrnnwiek ; Wheeler, of potjek
keepie,aod; Rev. Gre,o.,,S. Mott.: ;The members
of the two Synods and a large congregatioa:uni,
ted in the exercises of this t interestinm occasion.
To some, now or in former years, memhers of
the Presbyteries of Newark, Rockaway, and Mon
trose and once connected with the Synod of
New Jersey, it was an occasion of absorbing in
terest to meet in social intercourse, and, to , unite.
in thanksgiving and supplication at the mercy
seat with brethren from whom we had been sep
arated for thirty Icing, years. One, of the city
papers remarks, "Many thought that Shere, was
probably never such a Meeting in the city, of
Newark before!' In this opinion the writer
.concers, and he has been familiar with that, city
for more than half a century. In the afternoon
following,'Wednesday 21st, the two Synods sat
together
, at the Lord's Table in'the First Church,
and enjo yed another season of 041atian fellow
ship. •Ihe e x ercises were condncted jointly; iy
the twq moderators, and•Drs. JosephT. Duryea,
R. K. Rodgers and others participated 'therein.
Do not such joint services, shared with such ,
heartfelt interest, point to a more perfect union
in which all dividing lines will be erased, and it
will be felt and knoin that we ' " are' all one - in
Christ 'Jesus F"
"Shall we gather at the river'?"
THE POPE'S ENCYCLICAL.
The following paper 'offered 'by the r ßey. Dr.
Wm. Adams, of ..New 'York, Was unanlineusly
adopted : '
" Whereas, the Pope of Rome, called Pius the
Ninth, did on the 13th thiy of September ; the
year of our lord 1868, issue, a certain letter, a ,
proclamation addressed to , all ,protestanm and
non-Catholics throughout the world,
,the import
of which is to invite arid 'urge all per Sens and
ornnizations thus desionated to hasten. W. re
turn. to the only fold, meaning. the Church,- : 'of
Rome
Whereas, the said Pope, in the
,saidi letter
called paternal, and, apostolic; has in an unwont
ed manner, kid as if' pleading at the bar of'pub:
lie opinion, assigned several and' various reasons
for its, preparation and publication.
Whereas, among the reasons so mentioned are
the assertion of his own supremacy, over the, human
conscience as •the vicar of Jesus Christ, and °' the
authority to govern the 'persuasions of :the hu•
man intellect, and direct 4 the'actions of men in
private: and , social life,'?'as also this; that the re
jection of his, authority. and ,protest , aminst it,
by so many haspromoted ,apd,,. nourished;those
perturbations in human affairs in this our; day,
die
which ' said 'Pope pronOunce:s Miserable 'and,
grievous; but'whiclilultat 'tie regarded by - every
friend of his species as eminently , hopeful and
auspicious';
Whereas
W, i all such claims assertions • op the
part of the Pope of Rome are toXhe lasi degree
unfounded in fact, contrari c tWthe truth, reason,
Scripture, and the ihole..getiins - of .Christianity,
and, , if , allowed, •would:iprove 'subversive!' to
4n 3 , 11 L •
' Whereas recent movements; especially:intAus-,
tria and Spin. 7 --cotintries,iolw.,o.subjection to
the monstrous pretensions of the' Papacy—com
,
mane the prompt recognition, sympathy, and'
support of all friends of humanity, freedom, and
religion throughout the land; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the facts here recorded fur
nish 'and present a proper and fitting 'occasion
for all Protestant churches throughout Christen
domieach in the mode which its Own - wisdom
shalhaug4Tst,...torprepare and set forth for gene
ral distribution, through the same channel which
the Pope himself has chosen, a suitable response
to his letter, which response shall contain a
statement of the reasons why his claims can in
no wise be recognized, as..inconsistent with a
catholicity-more R f atholil than• Rome—the au
thotity Scfipthre,',and ; the glorious
supremacy of Jesus Christ.
Resolved, That,a pommitteo be .appointed by
the Sytted; whoee l dfitylt Shall be to consider the
expediencypf , eorresponding with •other ,Protes
t,ant bodies x ip phis. 04111151 try, mid in, Burge, •le to
the, propriety of ,such• tiEuelY,ltetion for the: fur-,
theratiae,of free Protestant Christian-
Thet, be iefeffed to the satire
committee; if theYalpem it wise; to prepare and.
publish. a reply, tq,,xlle Said letter of the Pope;
which shall be, regarded as an expression
„of the
sentiments of this Synod concerning. the matters
therein'ethitaliaed; irOf` f -vital importance' :t'o
eiVil and'religionS litierty throughout "the world,
and te:tilie7salvaticin ,hhe 'Minima -race."
The following.ivere_rappointed .the -committee
conteri4latedia , '"ithe,:kesolutions William
Adams,. Hi.trrYanSinith., , Roiwellill Hitchcock,
Jonathan KiSt.!*trns,..:olrwin F. Hatficld, Simnel
T.l.Spear, andiGecirge .F.JiPrentiss,.and' Messrs..
William E.. Dotfge;''.Prof.if DvVi i ght,'
LL.D.:„ Hon. DaniellGaihes; Fic;n. P.... A.. Lam
bert,:j.; B. Pinneo,ES.- iF:).B..C.Miirie, I and. Cyrus
W.. Field.- , ;pi t •
An:appeal - fr Om.• :eertaiwiPerSone"•claiming to
have :been - .elected , il.lldelEs' in /the, Ohurch . of
Pleasant , Valley, in Dtkicheesiebunty;N. , T),'frOm'
the decision of the, Prsshyfory of North River
occnpied,s,,darge share pfc the time and attention
of the Synod; and it .was final'y disposed of by,
directing that'ail - eleetion be held after such am- - ,
ple notine>to tbeehinch.asishall leave no doubt
respecting its •choice—a conclUsion which seethed
to proinise_the restoratiompf;:hanuony L and peaee
to a church lopg disturbed liy dissension„and di
visto,n.
~. - „
~• , , • , .
,- •
~
iI, , _ ~ i
The`prb.yer-,meetings at the cOrrunen'eeme t nt' of
each• morning session; slid' od Thursday eVening,'
the! :Synodical. - piayerrmieetitig;.f as; we'll e's Alin
PRiRP WPRtiPg :RP T..PqAPYlPlVAPiPgi.Nve.te,s_eas.on;%
of?'i9gPiritg,/ it eXPEIf ttPc/ It'll% blVhq:niPre7
sent were reminded' of the outlpourjng of . the
Spirit
. upon church after church in *liiclit die!
meetings of , the Synod litiVelbe'eiiiiield'in 'Several
pre4tiding• years: TestirnonY wasalsogiven to, the
I Kecious influencß,which,b,rethren have carried,
}V:T .I these seasons of devotion to their homes and,
it i hetr: flocks, and 'hoi . 'resOlUtions fbrined 'here.
Iliavbibeeii folloWed try 'revii:als there.'
' Oar-Synod is a 'lats . body, having .tn' ittil roll'
at , the close of these sessions, the:mines' of 30a .
Ministers;.i, and.,-jl7O churches. - Of:
.these,, ;1'42;
lied
ministej: - S9•siders were recordcd,as present,
'iTlargei, tillance iblifat ittcylforilier ineeling: I
May the nAtiStit*s ad/Hite* result iniithelt dreater"
good to , the` Osumi 'arlt killiddm of our.. Lord
Jesus.Obtist. , , :, . . ,',.' ~; 1 , 0 0. M.,J. ..
=IIIIIME
ROOKLYN,-October, 1868.
6
MR. ED/TOR : —The `of Y ew York and
Nevi Jersey 41161 huit Tt esda l y in the church
Newark. Tbil'iS the'inntbei of i ohurches in that
city ScliOnl"Preabyierian r isrn has, a stroll.-
hold 'in Newark. The type is . rte conservative
but genuine.. The.meetin,gs were baptized
with' the epirit of unird. The. Old soool Sy.
'being in session at' the. same
time, o *p.p. , L' •
ne,Comituttee'Arrangements'' eitended'
the hospitalities of the city to all withbut respect
to Schools. - Old - Stlidbar Viiiiisters and elders
found t he mse l ves in New School- families d
P rink-
+. -
ing in, I fear, those deadly heresies -which Prince
ton so much dreads. Dr. Craven was certainly
very remiss thillolithe tender 'lanais 'of . the flock
to' be exposed 'to 'suck 'wOlvei.' -' As - a" result and
legitimate consequence' of such indiscretion, the
Q.' 4. Synod ~ a dopted :resolution in Savor of
union. I
. The two 'Synods united in'.a prayer-meeting s
and ill:gib - celebration" of the tord's Sup' per ' .
If. was - a 'good plaCe.- To many it foreshidowed:
a better day when there shall- he'but one- great'
Presbyterian" family. It canna be donbtedi that
there . is,n,strong, currentof .opinion, in behalf ; of
union The people want it even if learned Pro.
feasori- do'not. The 11eSsiops'-of Synod were
especiallytinieresting . te some - who seemed to feel
that the spirit. was present-in an unusual degree.
Surely, the Spirit/ought be.present when' And
where the Church holds her gatherings of the
leadets Of, the 'host. Spear preached -On
"Iteireated Things," just' such a sermon 'as be'
can. preachl nide solid-mass of thought condensed,
boiled deiwri. As it is.to be printed; I Will say
no ruor l e,,ofit, nnly,tbis,,that e SO, far, as Dr. Spear
is concerned, it will forever settle the question
whdtbei'Neir School men believe in a ,vicarious,
dtorieinike ' ' T. S.
NARRATIVE OP THE SYNOD MINNE-
SOTA.
The tgcent harvest 'of grain garnered froth this
State'is but a type of those fields - here which are
alr l eady'White for the apikitual harvest and the
reports . from,the various churches in our Synod
•
sound like the sharpening of the reipers' tools
Making 'eadk to go out to labor. in these great
fields "theY,.4re the words of men conscious that
the'har4egt great and the latiiirers are few; but
they are also the 'Wards Of tboseconscious that
the eiei(the tord" the'Harvest are bent
. a 4
provingly upon them, and that laboring for Him
and with Hm''blesitnet, there strength and
power for 'the "w'ork. May the great-Lord 'of the,
Harvest send more laborers into the field, and so
those
strenot en thatare already atwork, that
when we gather`to gether, cne year hence, we may
Pi); befOre God "according to the joy'in harvest";
Withen the "i
an as-men rej c they 'divide espoi .'
The year just past has been one of quiet work
with no very great ostensible results to report,
and yet one in which almost everywhere there
has been a reasonable degree of progress. Not
one church in our midst has participated in what
may be technically called a revival of religion,
and yet many have received quite large accessions
to their membership.
THE CHURCHES.-GREAT GROWTH
Nine new churches have been organized dur-
ing theyear includingthree new Indian churches.
Those within the State are located at Leroy,
Cleaveland, Beaver Falls, Winnebago Agency,
Keniska and Minnereka. There are abotit. Six
church edifices in process of erection, and a much
larger number of congregations are preparing to
build ioon . :" There: are 2,087 members 'in our
chinches, being an . increase of about 510' during
the. year; 301 on examination and 209 'on certifi-
Cite. (A discrepancyln figures occurs-somewhere
as 1,688 were reported last year, brut sit-the new
report is made up, of necessity, .partially from
Minutes of the General Assembly, and partially
from reports given at4his meeting, it is •natural
enough that a discrepancy _should occur ) This
is' a very encouraging .increase =and one , much
laiger .thiaril was reported last , year. ,
The churches receiving twentacce,ssions .atid
upwards die as follows: Minneapolis, ••f15t,• , 42;
House of Hope, 'St. :Paul,. 34; Shakepee , ,:-271
Cleveland, (new 'church), 26; Red' Wing, 25
Stillwater, 22; Mankato, .21; Hastings; '
• It will, lowever, be noticed 'that these' churches
are ,mostly , in:the larger;tovins.and•thoie , increas-J
iog most rapidly in• Population', so that ;in ranch'
smaller places there••has=perhaps been an increase
more gratifying.tt
There haves been .baptisms of adults, 121, of
infants 224; (of these 65'adults and 98 infahts
were in the Pacotah Mission.) The ktientiorvo . f
our ministers is earnestly called-to the-dispropor
tionately small numberof infant baptisms in :their
congregatiOns. , - .
, SABBATH ,SCHOOLS.
Of theseit , is ,difficult to give an accurate re
port.forjt lis _believed that, many •of the small
schools keptlnp,in,school, houses, in , the country,•
are notirepated. _We bear of, about ten -new
Sabbath schools, bat this is doubtless an ander-.
estimate:. Of.the members of the Sabbath schoolS
there: 2,876 reported (no report for the. Indian
churches,), This is an-increase of over 500 from
last, year's, report. ,
BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS.
' is believed that many of our churches are
)gradually and - slowly learning the'hard lesson of
sivitig, according to their ability. Some of the
'cOrittibittions are 'however piteously small, and
•
\ that, toe,lor.esmgregations and
who if trained to give Systematics*, would sea
find that they were able to give so much as to as
tonish' themselves. The number of ghastly blanks•
oppositethe names of many churches is very
much'to be lamented. The only two churches in
the Synod whose blanks are all filled, are those
at Mankato and Stillwater, (though in.reality the
church:at:Chatfield has filled its :only remaining
;blank by generously contributing te the:cease of
'Ministerial Relief inits own congregation.) It-is
i foreedonpon the minds of your committee—that
: the roilliaters of the Synod' have not done., their
v;tholerdeity lin asking • for ,the 'contributions of
'coagregatiobs.' 'lt is perhaps the hardest 'task
of a ministers life to ask for money for the various
'cense& pressed upon us, but when we ,rem_ ember"
that it is begging for Christ, all timidity should-'
I vanish. It - is , the duty of every minister to be a
I beggar for the Cause of Christ; :it is part of his
profession. Let us:learn tO'beg as' Paul did, who
followed up' his argumenton the glorious doctrine
of-the resurrection, by calling: attention to the
collections, and who 'urged the church at Corinth
to' give liberally that they migki thus imitate
Christ i b'ecause they knew the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ, who, though He was. rich, yet for
our sakes , He became poor, that , we ehrough-His
poverty, might be rich. We need'Ecreducate our
congregations to give, in order that the salaries of
the ministers of this State may bw speedily equal
to 'their support, for this will be the result.
Let us have no blanks unfilled on 'the Minutes
of the General. Assembly next year. Even if the
amount be small it will look like progress and busi
ness to have each blank filled, and will encourage
others to emulation. Let some of the money from
our twenty millions of bushelsof wheat, find its
way into the treasury of the 'Lord - Your committee
would also call. attention to the importance' of
*giving first and most to those causes recommend
ed by General' Assembly and Synod. Much of
the money 'contributed by our' branch of the
church goes' unquestionably into extraneous
channels. ' We love our own dear church; we
believe its affairs are admiitis'tered with such
economy and discretion that the means we have
to spare• will best contribute. to the great end in
view, the upbuilding of Chrisesitingdoni,bY giv
ing to the causes . it places" before us. From the
report of this Synod to General Assembly, and
from our own observation it has 'seemed .to us
that these' hints were needed. •
GENERAL . EtATUttES
We have said above that there, were many en=.
eneouraging featareS in the report features in the
reports given us from the chi that is
very prOminent is the Practietirmethods adopted'
to ' . carry , on tile work a nd reach all elasses; yoUng
% •
es
peopt prayer meeting,s, Young mcnsunristian :
Associations, the visitation by the eldership, the
setting to work of lay members, the election of
deacons, preaching in school houses and private
houses, ladies' prayer meetings and associations,
Local Bible Societies, Relief Committees, Tem
perance Associations and varicms other practical
ways of working. These signs are very encouraging.
That pastor who has any materials at all with
which to work, and who is endeavoring to carry
all the weary burden himself, is not only wickedly
ruining his own health, strength and spirits, but
is blocking the wheels of the chariot of the Lord.
A minister's duty is to marshal the hosts of the
Lord, to give every soldier his position, and make
others fight also, while he leads them onward to
victory.
The Synod has lost during the year - a faithful
and gallant soldier of the Cross. Entered into rest
at Troy, Kansas; Cu the 9th day of March; 18'68,
Rev. Chas. S. LeDuc-, of HAtinoa, aged 47. A
brother we are told of loving antrlovable-diaposi
tion, of fine talent and earnest aims to; servehis
Master; who in preparation and ihrough college
struggled to be independent of aid and free from
debt. After preaching ;two years in Ohio, he
came to Hastings, in 1855, organized a church
in January - 1856, and:remained in` itifservice until
1867. We are told that as strength and health
failed he felt more and more the priceless privi
lege of preaching Christ, and Him crucified; that
his death , was free froin full!of"hoyto for
himself and trust in Providence for thfe future
ifelfire Ood d
e
him ko his glorious. rest.
C ) /'P9RZEST I .
=II=
It gives your committee pleasure to.report that
our oeinimittOe-OSPAlllisation. hastsee n. fit to grant a
colpprteur to labor g in
,and_with this'ynod' dis
erfhtitinglEeptiblicalitiVoflhe"Clinich, and
P-re*qhirkgOlum4lWA! and Fe,eArs l 4klly, 0 91 21 -
mend to the kina care and cordial cor,pora.tima of
the brethren, 9y.icbplmr,,Re.v. lia.11801:11 in
this new enterprise..' • t
:,t :r,
It is but justice toAnotice the faitlifal labors
and indefatigable exertions' of Bro. hi..N:•Atisins
who has daring the year presented the Bible cause
to the churches, and distributed the word of truth
where it was needed: ' - `
' ''NEED OF MORE MEND ,
A report Of citirvorthy Dist: Sec. of .Horne Mis
sions; Bro:-Ruliffsoni has not . yetobeen, presented
to the Synod;
,but we are;told he 'has many items
of interest to give us ; •new entexpri.scs and en
couragements' to' report as the result of another
year 'of faithfutiabor. Tie has told us of the ur
gent need Of more menlor this " field, which has
led your committee to put forth the inquiry
whether we, as pastors of churches, have done our
duty in endavoring to turn the, faces of compe
tent:Christian young men to the 'work of the min
istry, and of encouraging laymen in our churches
to begin the preaching of the word.
WORK AMONG THE GERMANS.
Our hearts, with yours, have been warmed by
the accounts our German brethrer; havegiven us
of - the labors va - g , fort - tramong thetr—etuinniten,
and of the practicability-of wore extended and
more successful work among them in the future.
Let us dot forget to pray for them.
The Swede:4' and Norwegians in our midst re
ceive the printed page with thankfulness and read
it with avidity.- Let us not forget to send to the
Tract Society, for publications in their languages
to distribute among them.
lI.DIAN MISSIONS
Across our State borders the devoted mission
aries are laboring to bring the very savages our
of a state of barbarism an heathenism into civil
ization and the influences of ChriStianity. The
report from our Dacotith,churches is on the whole.
quite encouraging. The Dacotah Christians are
evidently becoming more and more. confirmed in
,their.steadfastness in the faith, and their adhe
rene to tt piittlit morals, and itseetzis to us, brethren
when' beholding such ebenes as we have witnessed
here in this house,---a Dacotah warrior, once re
joicing in the glory of bearing the scalps of his
enemies, now a Christian pastor rejoicing in his
faith in the Lord Jegus, and laboring to bring
hiS tribe to Chtist,---surely we ban say, what by
God - wrought? -And 'when we remember what the
Dacotahs'are'-bynature, and reflect what many al
them ,now are by the gtace of God, we can point
to
,them as a triumphant evidence, sufficient to
silence cavillers and., unbelievers- forever. NW e
CO`poipt'te'thein as a 'triumphant"evidence that
the Gospel and salvation of Jesus -Christ was de
sic.nedl matt or the whole race of ma , of every tribe
and' nation.
'We learn from the report of the mission that
one native pastor has been ordained, and tc,
men licensed to preach during the year. Ye
also learn that by ,far the largest Presbyterian
Church in our 'Synod, more than -doubling in
number any, other, isn Church of converted Da
cotahs. , We also learn that the tribes, beyond,
especially the Yanktons, are asking for the preach
ed word. May it - not be,-that in the Providence
of God, the wrongs. this people hate inflicted
upon the Indiana shall:be atoned for by the giv
ing them the Gospel through the Christian church
of these United States? May our brethren John
Williamson and Artenias lillhnamani, return from
this meeting richly laden with the blessing ni ,
God, and' may they and their coadjutors feel, in
all their labors. and trials, that they
have the
prayers and tsympathy of us all.
[We omit the statistics, as with the except'
of figures already given in the Narrative, the.
may be found in the last Minutes of the Asseu ,
bly.]*
Let tis with:prayer for the Holy Spirit's aid
and, with, faith aid hope and love to Christ, Libur
in' thejear to come.
The voice of the Great Captain of our Silva
tion gives the order, "Forward" and conquer
Minnesota for Christ.. Lei us remember that dal
who go forth even.lA weeping, bearing the pre'
`eioua seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing
bringing their shaves iwith. tthem. i
Above the din' and of a sinful world ,
opposing us, let ns ever hear the voice of our Mr
ter saying,:" LcesZamliciih you alway, even unt'l
the end of the-world. "-•
• 13`. *IAIGHT,
• 10 4- Vt, II I4NOOOK,
" "
DEATH
.•,:..
Committee.