The American Missionary — Volume 34, No. 7, July, 1880Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 34, No. 7, July, 1880
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
_Savannah, Ga._, has one grog-shop for each 110 of its 33,000
inhabitants, and one Protestant church, white or black, for each
1,223; and until recently, it is said, the churches had no particular
fault to find with the grog-shops, and it may be inferred the latter
had no complaint to make of the churches. But there has been a
disturbance. Some 4,000 of the whites have enlisted to fight this
greatest curse and nuisance of our day, while the blacks are also
700 strong in the same army. The labors of Rev. H. E. Brown, in
connection with his revival work in that city, have greatly aided
Mr. Markham’s efforts in this direction; and so the blacks and the
whites are making common cause against the common enemy, just as if
their interests were identical in whatever concerns the temporal or
spiritual welfare of the city. We shall some time talk more of common
interests, and less of different colors.
* * * * *
_Preaching, but no Instruction._—In our last number, one of the
missionaries in Alabama said that many of the colored people “declare
plainly they do not believe in Bible religion.” They believe in
visions and dreams. Another missionary, writing from a section still
under the spiritual guidance of the old preachers, says:
“These people have had preaching, but no instruction. The heart and
conscience have not been touched. The older people will come out of a
religious meeting and steal a hog for their supper. A white man said
to me, ‘When these darkies are going to have a camp-meeting barbecue,
I am pretty sure to lose two or three heads of cattle from my herd.’
One very _pious_ brother, engaged in prayer at a camp-meeting, heard
some one in the crowd say, ‘Here comes a United States marshal,’ when
the brother rose from his knees, leaving his petition unfinished, and
ran with all speed for the brush.” Surely, such need truly religions
teachers.
* * * * *
_Missionary Studies._—The plan of study adopted by the church
at Dorset, Vt., is so comprehensive and practical, that we must
give room to it. The reports and papers are offered on the first
Sabbath of each month, as follows: Races for whom Christ died.
1st. Characteristics, Homes, Histories; 2d. What is being done for
their evangelization? 1. White men, Caucasian race; 2. Yellow men,
Mongolian race; 3. Black men, Ethiopian race; 4. Brown men, Malayan
race; 5. Red men, American or Indian race.
A most valuable course of instruction is mapped out here, combining
the advantages of a literary club, with the spiritual aims of a
missionary concert.
* * * * *
_What Does It Mean?_—The venerable Dr. Moffat, father-in-law of
Livingstone, says: “More has been learned regarding Africa since the
Proclamation of President Lincoln, declaring the slaves of the United
States free, than in all the past.” Who can be so blind that he does
not see the relation of these two facts?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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