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18
great encouragement of the enterprise. —
Ho also mentions the interesting fact, that
die Mosque of Omar,’ which has been reli
giously closed against all but faithful Mus
ts ul men, is now thrown open 1 to all people.
The event is regarded as very significant
to the observers of signs.
(Original
For the Index.
Divisions of Time; Year, Month, &o.
The Year ; Julian and Gregorian Calendar #.
As the civil year must consist of so many whole
days, and the solar year contains 365 days and a
fraction, the two do not adapt themselves to each
other very readily. The “ neat contrivance,” n*
Sir John Ilerschel calls it, by which the agree
ment was effected, first occurred to Julius Caesar.
Before his time, the. Romans had used a bung
ling half-lunar and half-solar calendar.* Romulus,
B. C. 720, and Nums, B. C. 650, by attempting
to follow both moon and sun, had tinkered up a
patch work affair, which was pretty accuiate, but
most awkftrdiy arranged for business purpose. —
This civil year wub committed to the care of the
pontiffs ; and, under their administration, we have
a period of confusion in dates of 600 years, w hose
beauties and vexations history will, probably, nev
er unfold. Suffice it to say, that, when Ctesar took
the matter in hand, B. C., 46, the year had s' : d
back U 0 days, and, to effect a corresjwnclence wi:h
the seasons, he was obliged to extend that year to
15 months or 445 days.
With the dim lights of Romulne and Nmne,
and the more valuable aid of Sosigenes, an Alex
andrian mathematician, Julius C;e.-ar now formed
the Julian calendar, The solar year off 385 days,
5 hours, 48m. and 49.7 was known, with
tolerable accuracy. This approaching very nearly
to days, the happy thought occurred to
Cre-ar, that, by making 3 years to contain 365
days, each, and every fourth year 366 days, this
quarter of a day would be accounted for, and the
civil and solar years would move on in perfect
harmony. lie, accordingly, arranged the months,
as we now have them, with the exception, that
his intercalary day of every four h year, was in
serted by counting the *24th of February’ twice.—
As this day was the sixth of the Calends of March,
according to their computation, this fourth year
was called Bissextile. With Saxon love of brevity
and simplicity, we call it Leap Year, and add the
extr-uday to the end of February. This neat and
simple arrangement is the basis of Till modern
calendars, and is alone sufficient to immortalize the
name of that remarkable man.
This calendar soon fell into the hands *>f anoth
er Romish priesthood, more zealous and better
qualified to detect and cure its errors, than the
pagan pontiffs of Romulus and Numa. In
the Romish church, the celeorajion of a saint’s
day stands next in sanctity to their reverence of
the saint himself. To observe the wrong day, would
take much from the merits of the sacrifice. This
idolatry contributed mainly to the final reform in
our system of chronology.
At the council of -Sice, A. D. 325, It was found
that the civil year had actually fallen back over
2 days. At the time, it created little alarm. It
might be an accident; moreover, the church was
comparatively pure frettfr formalism and idolatry.
But the change was found to go on regularly,
losing a day every’ 130 years. With the increase
of c< r uption and machinery in thee church,
this soon created great confusion and annoyance.
The subject was brought forward, ineffectually, in
two general councils and an abortive attempt to
enquire into it, was made by Pope Sixtus IV,
A. D. 1474. Finally, a!x>ut A. D. 1567, Pope
Gregory XIH, invited many Mathematicians and
Astronomers to Rome,and employed them 10 years,
in projecting a reform. Tiie plat), approved by him,
was transmitted, A. D. 1577, to all Catholic States.
Academies, &e. It was afterwards discussed and
adopted by a council of learned prelates, and a
pap tl brief was issued, March, 1582. requiring its
reception by all people under the Holy See.
It will be remembered, tiiat Julius CtESsr esti
mated the length of the solar year at 305 days
and 6 hours, which was too much by M min.
10.3 sec. These insignificant numbers, in 129
years, add up n whole day ; and, during the 1582
year*, which had elapsed before the Gregorian ro
form, tlrny had amounted to 12 days. The civil
year, therefore, being made too long, had fallen
12 days behind the solar. Gregory, however, with
out any good reason, estimated the error from the
council of Nice, A, I). 325, and found the civil
year 10 days behind. He, therefore, ordered, that
the year, A. D. 1582, should be shortened this
much, bv suppressing 10 days in October, calling
Oct. sth, Oct. 15th. To prevent similar irregularity<
in future, he farther directed that 3 leap years
should be left, out of every 4 cent uries ; this being
the surplus to which the odd minutes and seconds
would amount, jjt- Xiius, the century
years, A. I). 17m), 1800 and fSo?T, which, nnder
the Julian calendar, were lean years, become eom
caon years, nnd-*r the Gregorian ; and A. D. 2000
will be the first century-year, which will contain
360 days.
A reform, whose merits were so evident, should,
it seems, have been generally adopted. But, for
120 years, only the Catholic States of Europe,
would have anything to do with it. The Protest
ant States stood aloof, and their dates thus fell 11
days behind. The German Protestants and Den
mark, accepted the Gregorian calendar in A. D.
1700. In England, the contest lasted half a cen
tury longer. The reform was appreciated by
most men of intelligence, but the
treated, with stubborn intolerance, every mea
sure that might he connected, however indi
rectly, with the Papists. So severely had the
nation been schooled* by tie Bloody Mary, by
the Gunpowder Plot, and by the weak and treach
erous ll< use of Stuart! Attempts were made
* Rees’ Oycloiws'lia; Article. Calendar.
♦ Uv.-teWr* Omiiues of A uinmimg.
to introduce the reform, iu such a way, us would
uot excite general notice. Among others, it was
proposed to drop the leap years, for 40 years, and
thus gain the 10 days, which had been lost. A
proposal of this kind was sent to J Dr. W allis, an
eminent Mathematician, for bia opinion. Either
from bigotry or a respect to the prejudices of the
multitude, he replied, “That the proposal was
specious enough in appearance; but that the hand
of Joab might be perceived iu it,”
But the complete establishment of Protestant
ism, during the reigns of William and Mary,Anne
and George 1., quieted the suspicions of the people,
and prepared the way for that reform iu the cal
endar, which the extensive commercial interests of
England loudly demanded. Accordingly, in 1751,
in the reign of George the 11., the celebrated Earl
of Chesterfield began to agitate the matte; 1 iu Par
liament. The Duke of Newcastle, the ostensible
head of the government in the house of Lords, “was
alarmed at so bold au undertaking, and entreated
him not to stir matters, that had been long quiet,
adding, that he did uot love new fungied things.”
Chesterfield, however, persisted, and through the
Earl of Macclesfield, President of the Royal Socie
ty, had a bill intro k© and in the house of Duds, for
that purpose. They both sustained it most ably ;
and Lord Hardwicke, the Chancellor, unexpect
edly giving his support, “it passed so easily, that
people were astonished the reformation bad besu
so long delayed.” §
The purport of this bill was, to conform tho
English date* to the Gregorian calendar, by strik
ing ont 11 days, the difference which had accru
ed between them. This was effected, by ordt ring,
that the day, following Sept. 2d, 1752, should be
called Sep. 14th, instead of Sept, 3d., and by intro
during tho other provision* of Gregory. Another
important change was to make tho year, after
wards, begin with January Ist, instead of March
25th, as heretofore. The year 1752 was thus
shortened somewhat more than 3 months.
The New Style, ns it was called, was immediate
ly adopted in England and her Colonies. || The
“eleven days” however, long maintained a hold on
tho minds of the [<eop!e. The son of tL* Earl of
Macclesfield, some time after the change, stood a
contested election for Parliament, when the mob
called out, insultingly to him— & “ Give us back,
you rascal, those eleven days your father stole
from us.” In this country, Old Christmas, 11 days
after Christmas, was, for many years, religiously
observed. Elderly persons, now among ns, tell
many amusing superstitions about gardening, do
mestic animals, dtc, connected with those eleven
Chrtstmas days.
Thus, in the course of 18 centuries, was institu
ted an arrangement of the year, which is conve
nient for ail purposes of life, and which brings
“seed-time and harvest; and cold and heat; and
summer and winter,” at their appointed limes.
EBNEBT.
- For the In dev
M Hi3 Own.”
BT *fi99 O. w. BARBUR,
A babe, In a lonely cottage, opened otic day,
it* soft bright eyes and smiled. It was an only
child, and its parent* hung over its cradle pillow
with delight, Whence came the immortal spirit ,
which animated its little frame? It might, for S
aught, me know to the contrary, bve been a cherub
it: heaven, now want earthward on an embassy of
lovo.
Time passed, and the cherub grew in loveliness,
and filled the house with joy. Its prattle was tho
Sr*t thing heard in tho morning—tho lullaby
which soothed it to sleep, the last sound tit night, i
Bs little stray shoe* lav upon tho floor—its play
things could be found in every corner—it bud cot
to filling a large place in many hearts—in the
hearts of its parents, it had crowded out almost
every other affection.
Da.vrti smote it. He laid bin finger upon ever?
blue vein in its exquisite little body, congealing tho
crimson current* of blood which had gushed so
freely through them—the blue eye grew glassy
and fixed—the heart stopped in its pulsation—
the cherry lips were purple —the earthly life of
little Emerson had ended. Tho mother, in an
guish, knelt beside her dead, but had she any right
to murmur ? No, God had only claimed His
owx.
Little Emerson was His—His by creation—lT is
by preservation —aid Hi* by redemption. God nev
er wrong* us. He gives, and when He takes, lie j
claims only His own.
We do not bear this great truth of God’s own
ership enough in mind. When with Ilis Provi
dential finger, He touches our choicest treasures—
when He suffers our dwellings to. ignite, and otir
possession* to go up in smoke—our friends to die,
and be buried out of onr right—our own lives to
be jepordizod—our fruitful fields to foil in the har
vest, and oar wisest schemes to prove abortive, we
forget that “ the earth is the Lord's and the ful
ness thereof.” lie may do His pleasure own
where. Ho cannot get out of His own dominions.
He cannot work with materials which do not be
long to Him. lie cannot take that which He has
not lent. He cannot wrong ns. for nil things are
rightfully His.
He not only has a perfect right to work II?s
will, in the armies M’ Heaven and among ‘he in
habitants of tho earth, but “ Jfc doeth all things
well” Comforting reflection ! Dry np vonr tears,
O! weeping, smitten mourner, dry up your tear*,
for although God is an absolute soverign, He is in
finite in wisdom and infinite in mercy, lie cannot
err, and He does not, willingly afflict, or grieve
the children of men.” Wo may well leave
ourselves, and onr friends, in IBs hands ; wo may
ever rejoice in this great fact of ownership, for hav
ing eyes, we too often see not, and having ears,
we too often, hear not tho things that belong to
our own peace.
t Rees’ Cyctopidin.
$ Campbell’* Lite* of ilo Lord Chancellors. Vo!. V., pp.
120-1. ‘-v, :
II Russia and the Oreek ehnrrti.rinns of civilized nations,
ad hero to the 0!d Siyr. The Russian war accoout* are
dated, 12 day* behind those of England and Frans*.
T lavas sf tfes GkanseUsr* V*b IV., p. 447.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
Written for th* Index
“ Only Excited with Win©. 1 ’
!
8T MISS 0, W. BARBER. I
** Eook not upon the wine when it is red,
When it givetb iw color to the cup.” ‘ j
Biblb.
** What ail* Harry Lee?” asked Grace Winston
as she touched the shoulder of her companion,
Eilu Darnar; “ what is the matter with Harry
to-night ?”
“Why f* exclaimed Elk innocently, * I do not
observe anything unusual about him.”
He talks in such a loud voice,” continued
Grace, and, his face is flushed, and his eyes, some
how, has an uuusual brightness; he does seem to
me, to be tike himself. ll* is generally so grave,
quiet and reset ved.” ..
“Oh 1 he is only ©xoiped with wine,” said- Eila,
laughingly, “ I have eea him so before.”
“ Often i” queried Grace.
■** Why ye* —he rarely goes to a party without
getting more or less flushed. That is nothing,”
. continued the lovely speaker, looking into Grace's
face, on which a shade of sorrow had
That is a met* matter of moon-shine —afirtost
every body gels into a like situation now a days
at parties.”
“ You or* engaged to him, arc vonf’ sai l
Grace. “ You expool to b* married to him in the
spring P
“ Yes, I should be sorry not to be ” said Eila,
again laughing. “Look around you grace, lie is
decidedly the handsomest fellow in the room. I iook
upon that engagement a3 a most fortunate affair.
He is doing a capital business—is liberally educat
ed—Las a splendid person—talks with the bland
ne* of a Frenchman and tho sweetness of an Italian.”
To me, he is devotion itself, I count myself a
very happy woman.”
“But Eila,”exclaimed the invincible Grace, “I
don’t like this getting excited with wine. lam
afraid that it is the fore-runner of mischief. 1
wish, for your sake, r.s well as his own, that Harry
; Leo ws an out and out temperance man.”
“0. Pshaw 1 Grace. Don’t croak like a raven
on this subject. Ido not apprehend any danger.
Harry has a right to take a glass—a convivial
■ glass or two at such a time as this, if ho wants to.
This i* tho last, and mo*t splendid, party of the
season. Mrs. Broughton has out done hen-elf in
getting it up. and eho knows how entertainments
ought to bo given. The wine, especially, is very
fine, nave you tasted it?”
Grace shook her head,
“ Weli, taste it, and yon will grow forgiving I
am sure. I don’t blame Harry for having taken
a little too much. The temptation was very
strong.”
“ Will yon dance t They arc getting up a set
cotilion yonder,” said a young ma s nt Urn;
moment, stepping up to Ella and offering hi*
i hand.
The gay girl got up. Her gossamer robe shone
like silver m the bright gs* sight, as she stepped
gracefully forward. Her check wore a color a*
delicate as that sleeping at the heart of the blush
row ; her fair brown hair was combed bark ami
j lay in glossy braids over a forehead, as serene and
pure as Raphael’s Madonna’*, 6ho wu* a beantij
fal abject to look upon,
Grace watched her sylph like form, as she went
hither find thither in the drmco, Now and then,
she turned too, an observant eye upon Harry.—*
110 was getting noisy—almost boisterous. Some
l timesjio reeled ns though he did not know exact
ly whether he wn stepping on eohd terna Jirma\
or climbing up a flight of stairs. “ Only e-cileit
with vrinc”'’ mnsed Grc.o. “Alas! that peopfr
will get excited with anything in this bard world
when they at si! tiroes, need their sober dense)
about them.”
Spring came on, with her barsting buds—hei|
violet, scents tn tho hollows and woods—lu*#
wealth of birds and musical waters—her flowed
and golden sunshine. Lira wss everywhere asln
glad, boa-ant, boAntvful TAfe. Eila Lamar par
took of the general gladness ; preparations for.her
bridal were speedily going forward. The cake
was made for the banquet—the orange wreath;
in her chamber, hung over the white satin role,
ready to put on when time bad nshonld in tho hap
py day. It. came at last. The man of God there
with surplice and prayer book in hand. The • ride
bowed her Slower crowned head, ar.d the biidf*
groom murmured vows, which were heard arid
registered in heaven, as the solemn rites. wtei|~
on. On the table, again sparkled the wine cup.
and again Ella looked into Harry’s face, nhrf&fS??
mentally, “ nnhj excited with wine?
We pas over a period of eleven yean. Intern
perance had done its work—it had brought
Drath—death to social happineess—death to eve-f
ry noble aspiration—death, alas! we fear to an
immortal son'. Harry Lee was a confirmed ine
briate ; and Eila, the glad laughing trirl of other,
days! What had become of her ? She was a
maniac in the asylum at M * . She had
been driven to necessity by the neglect and abase’
ol’liim, Who began his downward career bv get
ting ex filed with wine . Ilarry Lee's property was
sold at Sherisale: a rickety chair or two, an
old pine table, ft greasy lamp and a list, year** Al
manac, wnia nil that was left, to'liiih. His twos
were rheumy, hfa clothes were ragged, “hia hand
was tremulous,-bis body bloated, his face was •
bloated, his mind was impure, his reason was ini?-'.
paired, bis respectability was gone—he trembled.’
upon the verge of an untried and awful eternity-,
Alas ! what consequences had followed that first
gdtinp excited with wine.
Our tale has a maud ; n moral gleaned front
the lip* of King Solomon, the wise man—glean
ed from jtiiti hitter experience of thousands—-yeti
mvriida—Will yon read Tt! will you bp p?r>fiud v
by it? •*Look not the wine when it is red’ |
▼—when it giveth its .color to the otipj—when it
moveth itself aright. 4 ( it biteth like scr
peat, tnl rtingatb like an addar” ’*•
For the Index.
To tho Yeung Ministers of the South.
Ijave, Central Africa. j
j Dear Brother: —Permit me through the col- j
’ utuns of the Index, to address sow lines to the |
young Ministers of the South, respecting their vb- ‘
ligations to Africa as a field of labor.
Our Savior, just before his aseeusion, gave this,
his last and blessed command to his disciples:
“Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature.” To those who feel called to this
work there is no excuse, no alternative. To have
a just and weighty view of the momentous obli
gations that devolve upon us, we must occupy for
a foment the position of our common Lord, and see
this apostate world as it really is, and as he behold
it, {said, scarce “ere the rays of Divine light began
toj fail upon the regions of darkness.” Consider
wftli what enlarged views and paramount interest
t'jat noble band of Apostles on hearing this great
clumrission, entered on the work of evangelizing
lae world- Literally, they conferred uot with
jSsH and blood, but in a manner not ret attained,
preached to the then known world the un
riche* of Christ. They r.o doubt felt
a* if in an element not their own; that they were
light* shiningin darkness, and that Christ was the
only hope of the world. No wonder, then, the re
mote corners of the earth, tho untutored barbari
an soon heard the welcome acclamation: “Glory
to God in the ll‘ghost, and'on earth peace, good
will toward men.” So too you must feel. As to
them, so the commission comes to you. Impera
tively it speak*, it must be* heard, it will be heard.
Ambassador* of Christ, can you sit still under the
tremendous sound of these words, qniekenod if
possible by the death-wail and beseeching cries of
tho dark region* of tho earth, with tho pretence
<-f fostering churches, whoso prime duty ought to
be to dispense the word of life to countries beyond !
Let me beseech you, brethren, to take, for one
moment, an apostolic view of this commission.
Just in the vigor of manhood, and entering upon
life—yea on the greatest work that ever engaged
the bands of mortals—pause one moment, and
ask if every objection you could urge to the work
of the Evangelist, is not more or less influenced
by the circumstances of your early life, home as
sociations, gospel privileges, and conclusions too
Hastily drawn from these several considerations,
lender the light of Divine truth, too familiar to
your eyes, you have ceased to hear that voice
tforn heaven, commanding with the same authori
ty and zeal as it did eighteen hundred years ago:
‘Go ye into s'l tho world and preach the gospel
tf> every creature.” If, then, you would desire to
listen and learn your duty, divest yourself of
home and early influences, and let your iirtarrinn
tion picture before you the world ns it i-i. And
need you dwell on a spot better calculated than
Africa to enforce this command? Tel! mo not of
America, her extended and increasing population.
from sea to sen; her village*, towns end
cities; her sparsely populated districts and frontier
regions, for all of which yon foe! the liveliest inte
rest, that you can never loave such fields as three.
Had tho Apostles acted upon this policy—were
this the spirit of tho commission, the interpreta
tion of your own actions, what now would bo vour
condition, tho issue of the death of Christ? I
pause for you to think ! That you may catch of
the ppiiit of evangelizing the dark, benighted re
gion* of Africa, come in your im gjnation and
spend one day in our midst. Leave your land of
gospel light, and take a glance of onr villages
and towns and cities, teeming with their hundred*
and thousands of immortal son!*, that, aro as ig- l
norar.t of the plan of salvation, ns of the rno.-t j
abstruse sciences, and answer if you are not bound, j
under the true interpretation of the commission, j
to force yourself to this benighted region, through
the opposition of every father and mother in Israel.
obeying God rather than man To my mind there
is but one alternative. That you fee! on the sub
ject, I have no doubt; and that many of yon are
convicted, I doubt about aa little.
Tell me that God trifles with man; that he gives
a commission that ought to make the world leap
for joy, calls men to its performance, and that they
are a!• w-d with impunity, without conviction,
wit’ o it. trouble and remorse of conscience, to dis
regard th-j true meaning of irs call; to stand be
hind the C lutters, to ek in school rooms and col
lege hails, !o iivo and labor for tho bodies of men,
while their souls are going to ruin—while myri
ads are daily appearing before the judgment seat
of God, unwarned of their ultimate destiny. Is
this the meaning of that startling announcement.
Though yon should go to yonr monthly meetings
and dryly preach a few systematic discourses on
pfWiora's’and the adaptation of Christianity to the
wants of mankind to a handful of people, while
scores of thousands even here are asking for the
bread of life, and without it are perishing forever,
are you obeying the command of your Lord ar.d
master? Did the Apostle* act thus? Did they j
wait until a community was thoroughly and whol
ly christianized before they preached elsewhere?
And are you unwilling to follow in the foot steps
of such safe examples?
My brethren, many of you I know; I love you,
and I believe not a few of you ought, unhesita
tingly. to come to Africa. In the view of votir
reward—of the value of souls, of eternity and the
judment—answer a* ambassador* of Christ, what
reason can you assign for not obeying tho plain,
unmistakeable command of your Lord? In view
of this command, it would be superfluous for vop
to say, we need missionaries at homo. Surely
you would not be in earnest. If so, by parity of
‘'reasoning condemnation is upon you, you your*
)6t:iven being judges; for what has .Africa! Did
nine-tenths of tiie Apostles remain in Jerusalem,
or in Judea? Do you say the churches can’t
spare you? They spared Paul and Peter, and
John, and the long list of Apostle*, fathers and ;
njitu tyre. Georgia spared her Mercer and San- i
tiers Carolina her Ur wily, and every State and j
siiurch her pillars of influence, and yet they can’t !
ipnre you? Ah, my brother, some interested :
Yid way whi-per that in your aar; bat da you j
remember what God says: “Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Yes, it means run, make luwUj, at all hazards de
clare the word everywhere: iu Asia, Africa, the
| Islands of tho sea. Tell it the day—tho day of j
| vengeance comes. The jubilee, tho jubilee, “Who- j
soever will, let him come and take the water of
life freely.” Wrath, wrath , impending wrath is
upon us! Flee to the mountains, to the rock, the
city of refuge. I* this your spirit? Do you wish
thus to cry aloud and spare not? Come then with
us, we will do thee good. We will show thee thy
work—one delightful, transeendently great. Here
in the kingdom of Yoruba you may commence
that spiritual building, whose top-most stone will
be grace, grace, crying unto it. And have you
here no peculiar obligations? Dismiss every sub
ject for a moment, and consider if you have not
marked responsibilities resting on you wiih regard
to Africa. In common with others you see her
situation. Almost from time immemorial it Las
been the land of ot*prresion and slavery. While
her son* arid daughter*, torn from tho land of their
endearment, and chained in dungeons and riave
decks like so many dumb brutes, by the bawl of
the ruthless slave-dealer, and sent to the various
parts of the globe, nation* and kingdoms Lave
been shattered by wan* of oppression, towns and
rilie* demolished by tho hand of the unmerciful
destroyer, whose ambition seemed to be satisfied
only by the greatest number of slave* for the
market of the most accursed traffic; domestic se
renity, peace and happiness, become more liko a
dream than a reality, and the bam# of all advance
mnt subverted as with the thrall of an earth
quake. From East to West, from North to South,
it ha* been almost drenched in blood, to gratify
tho covetousness of unmerciful men, and pamper
to tho luxury of those who five m wiled houses
and feed on the brains of peacocks; and swoon
ing from its ghastly wound*, sunk down amid the
desolations around, beneath a pall of gloom to be
dispelled only by the almighty power of God, and
chased away by the glorious rat’s of the Pun of
righteousness.
While some countries have enjoyed the benefits
of civilization and science, Africa, left to her fate,
has been enveloped in the grossest ignorance. If
other countries receive the blessed influences of
Christianity—if the East arouses the sympathies
and share* the labors of Carey and Judson, and
their co-wokers; if the Islands of tho Sea have
been the recipients of England’s Christian benevo
lence, and tho Moravian brethren penetrated to
the bleak and frozen regions of Greenland, bear
ing tho word of life, sending forth its warning in
fluence, what, except a few past years, has been
done for Africa’s recovery? Tho Priest and the
Levite have passed by and seen her weltering in
her blood, with scarce a look upon her wound*.
Tine the good Samaritan for tho healing of the
wounds i* doing something, but is ft at el! com
mensurate with her undone . condition? I beg
yon, my brethren, look upon her—those ghastly
wound*, that pale and destitute countenance, 0!
see that wistful eye, and those vtmggling arms al
most powerless, stretching out with the grasp of a
dying man for assistance, and can’t you feel a re
sponsibility to Africa, that claims your talents, and
labor and life? You, Southerners, minister* of
Cliii-t, owe unspeakably much to this land of op
pression. Will yon cancel tho debt? Where is
there a land that can claim more of your sympa
thy? Beside# her degradation, her ignorance, her ;
dependence, her oppression and wretchedneps, al
most coeval with the remembrance of profane his
i tory, you have peculiar relations to her, not to be
I found in any other quarter of the globe. What
ever may be the view* of statesmen with regard to
American slavery, there ought to be but one opin
ion among enlightened Christians. That it will.be
eventually overruled for the benefit of Africa, who.
at at! acquainted with the dealings of Providence
during past agre, c m for a moment doubt? Bttr
vey the chain of past events; read the enrapturing
declarations of prophetic inspiration, and eon
template the overwhelming scheme of “the glori-
ous gospel of the blessed (rod,” and as ministers
of bis manifold grace, in your relation to Ameri
can slavery, and the African race, has not Provi
dence pointed you out a work well worthy of yonr
utmost powers, of the noblest aspirations of yonr
’ souls? Who so well qualified and calculated as
yourselves to b-ar the precions seed of divine
truth to the extensive .and populous kingdoms of
tho Interior? Who car. boast of such intimacy
with African character, such enlarged sympathy
for their welfare? Rocked almost in the same
cradle, nurtured by the same fireside, the play
mates of ypur youth; so long as tho associations
of your early life, and tho remini;e*nees of the
past shall last, the colored man will bind with
cords around your heart, broken only by the hand
of death. Resides these ties you owe them much.
Your education, your influence, and your prospect
j for usefulness may be traced with considerable ac
curacy, to the relation which they have sustained
to you. What, a beautiful spectacle now to be
hold, nndcr tho charitable influences of the gospel,
the sons and daughters of the South, after having
enjoyed tho benefits of the colored man’s labor,
and made ready,fortheir work, forsaking country,
homes, friends and relatives, to bear to the be
nighted Ethiopian the unsearchable riches of
Christ! Can England, the forerunuer in this glo
rious work, boast of such privileges?
Your fathers, my brethren, and your seniors in
the ministry had not this work laid out before
them. Their day has past. Oh that they would_
urge you to your duty. You, young men, just en
tering life, at this particular crisis, are called most
loudly to hearken. Your relations to the African
race, together with the recent and providential
opening of this great continent to the gospel,
leave but one decision as to your duty. The call j
sounds in your ears, as you are entering on the }
thresh hold of your ministry. It comes at a most j
important crisis in the world. While the won- |
derful opening and developementa of California |
and Australia invite the young and enterprising of S
the crowded eitiv* of both couiiaenlc to tbeir u* j
occupied dominions; and th* recent revolution in
China has aroused the religious world to shako
the dust from her garments; yea, amid the impe
tus given to every department of human industry,
i and the quickening impulse to the mind, making,
j it were, anew world of the old; amid all tlieaa
sign*, it ia tmi tho least indicative of the triumph
of the gospel, arid the certain accomplishments of
the purpt*et of God, that a token of merer and
good-will is manifested to Africa, ami that the
“light of the Gentile*,” with tho “brightness of hia
rising,” is dawning upon her darkness? Andean
you r.ot see ill Don’t you hear the Round of the
gospel calling loudly for more volunteer# for the
land of Ham? The trumpet seems to thunder in
Georgia. The voice of demand come* forth from
the grave: brethren, you are the men. Can yon
yet feel no responsibility? Do I hear you saying,
“Oh I hush,” let me alone 1
Once more then, and I have done. Prick vour
ouil ears, and take away the breast-plate from
your hearts. I* Africa really ready for the gospel?
If extensive openings, populous cities and town*,
ready and willing to receive the missionary, se
curity of life and a prospect of universal peace,
are signs of hope for Africa’s redemption, then we
have them. By some mysterious work of Provi
dence this country doe# not weem to be what ft.
once wa*. There appears to be a wonderful dire
position of circumstances to favor the go*pri.-~
r 10m Lagos, for hundred* of miles to the Interior,
I have source a doubt but tho missionary of tho
cross would be received with acclamations of joy.
The North, East and West, stretching out through
a country needing only the hand of the enlight
ened cultivator to become a second Palestine, in
vite ns thither. The last tour* to the Interior,
whatever Africa may once have been, exhibit it
now in the most interesting aspect. Ishakki, <~>g.
bomishaw and Illorin, together with other rifle*,
have their gates standing open. The last men
tioned city, whose population it. perhaps half a
million, two-thirds of whom are Mahommt-dans,
and of whose opposition we had great fears, on a
recent virit made by Bro. Bowen, invited him thi
ther, and promised to appropriate lands for build
ing purposes. Who is it that is thus disposing
the mind* of men, and effecting a work of which
the world t* not even dreaming? A# to security
of life and property, I have no reason to desire n
change for any country. A more harmless, in
offensive, kind and hospitable people are scarce to
be found on the globe. I have traveled near two
hundred mile* to tbo Interior from Lagos; some
t'etes through den se forests, at times alone, with
out ever seeing the signs of danger, from tho
beast* of the forest, or receiving a harsh word
from my traveling companion*. I have declared
openly and plainly the gospel of Christ, and de
nounced Orisha and Idols lofore bundled# and
thousands who had nr-ver b-fore seen the face
of ft while man, and that with such
til* scarce ever to have met opposition. * Aro not
ihose sig* too plain to be overlooked? Besides
all this, universal peace seems now to prevail.
Recently, war h is ceased between Illorrin and
Ibadden, and in the kingdom of Nufi; and it is
said there is safety in traveling from the citv of
Lagos on tbo coast of Tripoli. “Glory to God in
the highest, on earth peace, good will toward
men.” How long this state of things will iast it
is not for me to say. But rather than be discour
aged at what may hereafter transpire, let ns
thank God and tal e courage. It ?# enough for u#
now to see, from tin s', sign*, a Mossed day is
dawning upon Africa. Is not Ethiopia beginning .
to stretch out her hands unto God? Then, mv
brethren, why do yon pause in the conflict? Do
you wish stronger evidence* of your obligations to
Africa, or surer mark* of divine providence than
you see displayed? What do you want? Some
one to rise from the dead and bid you do your
duty? Are you rebelling against the plain dic
tates of conscience to receive the fate of Jonah?
Look upon )onr work! What country better
than America can spnra her sons for Africa? —
None can boast of greater privileges, of larger
and sweeter blessing*. And amid these marked
tokens of divine favor, you my brethren, ministers
of the manifold grace of nod, are now called open
to do yoor duty to Africa. Contrast your high
position with that of others, like yourselves, just
entering on the threshold of adventure. Their
thoughts, designs and labors are, for the most
part, confined to the things of this life. And yet
sec what they effict. Bent on pleasure, liches, or
self-aggrandizement, no barrier can stop them.
Parental influence, however once tender and pow
erful, the sweet aflVcti nos sister*, the strong at
tractions of early ass- c adons, std ail the endear
ments of home and country, ail become n* early
dew, when once their rugged wills are fixed on
some distant land. lienee wo see the frontiers of
every country, the towns and cities of enterprise,
and even the islands of the sea, rising up as if by
magic, from nothing, and sometimes chaotic con
fusion, into life and beauty, through and by the
gigantic effort* of those who were once your com
panions and classmates. Read the history of your
own country; and in latter day*, see Texas, and
California, and Oregon, South America and Aus
tralia, bespeaking an audience before the world.
What has effected all this! You well know with
out my reply* Shame, shame on us for our leth
argy, indifference and Jonah-.ike spirit. With
such examples as these, in a work far inferior to
yours, will you not be aroused? Others will not,
cannot do your work. It is exclusively tours.
Lawyers, Physicians and Merchants you cannot
call to your assistance. I. p then, b-ethten, up.
lie that would win the crown inu-t bear the toil.
Even now, Yoruba needs a dozen, yes, a score of
yon. Who will came note —now in lS5d. ‘To
day if you will hear his voice harden not your
hearts.” Go not down into :ho sides of the ship,
stop not in the plain; for what then “#hall you do
when God riseth up, and when by visileth what
shall yen acßw.’r himi*
You™ in love,
A MISSIONARY.
January
9