The American Missionary — Volume 43, No. 07, July, 1889Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 43, No. 07, July, 1889
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Glen Mary is a mining settlement hidden in the oak forest about a mile
from the above mentioned railroad. Here, Mr. Pope recently found a small
Sunday-school battling against great odds. Intemperance and profanity
were rife, and the demand for gospel labor was very urgent. Meetings
were held with blessed results, so that shortly ago a church was
organized, now one of the strongest in this region. One consecrated
young man is at the bottom of the whole movement. Two years ago, he
started a Sunday-school with no assistance. At first, he met his pupils
in the colored people's meeting house, but was obliged to change after a
time, because of the prejudices of color which started among the blacks!
He then took an axe and cleared a spot in the woods to which he invited
his school. Here Mr. Pope found him. After the interest began to grow, a
subscription was started among the miners, resulting in money sufficient
(including help from the mining company) to erect a comfortable little
church edifice. This building has recently been enlarged by one-third,
to accommodate the crowds. The membership of the church is less than
forty, and yet it has raised one collection for the American Missionary
Association amounting to _twenty-four dollars_!
These people have no pastor. They are dependent on the scattering
ministrations of two or three of our overworked missionaries from other
points, who have undertaken to supply them by turns. There are one
hundred and fifty families in the community, fifty being colored,
_without pastoral training_. I am assured that it would not be hard to
raise money enough in the community to nearly, if not quite, support a
minister. The people are hungering and thirsting for teaching in
spiritual things. After repeated and urgent invitations your pilgrim was
prevailed upon to suspend his trip for a day or two, that he might tell
these people of the "good news" of Jesus Christ. It was evidently of the
Lord, for last night at the first exhortation, eight persons, two men
and six women, gave themselves to the Master. The entire congregation
seemed to hear the word with gladness. It is a great field. And so it is
in many places, I am told. Glen Mary is anxious for a resident minister
and a Christian teacher. The influence of an educated, godly woman is
sorely needed in these homes. The gospel has already done much for the
place, but there is still a great work to do. Thank God for such
tireless, self-forgetful men as Mr. Pope. With the brain of a general
and the zeal of an apostle, he is planting the cross of Christ so firmly
on this plateau, and in such commanding positions, that it cannot be
dislodged, but will shed its saving influence far and wide forever.
After preaching once more I hope to move on to Nashville in time for the
commencement.
* * * * *
WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY, WHITLEY CO., KY.
BY MISS EDITH WILLIAMS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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