KENTUCKY.
A Vacant Church—The Seed Wafted—The National Problem.
REV. JOHN G. FEE, CABIN CREEK, LEWIS CO.
I am here, in the field of my early ministry, on my regular quarterly visit. Twenty-four years since, I left this for my present home in Berea, Ky.
Most of those who, as parents, heard me with trembling twenty-five years ago have passed away, and those who were then boys and girls are now fathers and mothers. These, by time, thought and observation, have had their early impressions ripened into convictions. The sympathies and convictions of these are for loyalty to the union, liberty to man, and a gospel of impartial love. They take no stock in the issues of mere denominationalism. They assent readily to the proposition that manifested faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as a personal Saviour from sin, is the faith of the gospel. On this faith the church was organized in 1847, as it then separated from all slave-holding bodies. Some of the members are still there. They have been without a regular pastor ever since the year 1860. They still keep up a Sabbath-school, and part of the time a prayer-meeting.
What they now need is a regular pastor—one who can visit the families, and preach at least once in two weeks. I hope such an one may be speedily found. This, together with the congregation in Bracken County, would make a most interesting and promising field. The effort to plant churches here thirty years ago was not in any sense a failure. And the second temple can be made much more glorious than the first.
Emigrations from these fields have been useful also. Five families went more than a hundred miles into the interior to help build up Berea; eleven others, young men and young women, have gone out there as students in the college. Other families have gone to other States to exert there an influence for liberty, justice, and a gospel of impartial love. Many of these were “mere children,” and, having had their birth in times of trial, they were not mutes in the fields where, in the providence of God, they were cast.
In view of the debasing effect of slavery in the South, and the communistic element in the North, I am often asked, “What is to be the result of this effort to establish republican institutions on this continent?” I answer, there is no hope but in sanctifying the hearts of the people by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This will direct aright the intellect, the wealth and the activities of the nation, make the people a law unto themselves, and for good. Let us pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest.
A Teacher’s Vacation Correspondence.
When tired teachers flee for rest to their own homes, they do not wholly escape from school duties or cares. Letters pursue them with unmerciful rapidity. From a pile of fresh ones, let us cull a few samples of requests that demand sympathy and aid.
“My school is to have an exhibition in a few weeks. Can you not send me some interesting declamations and fresh music?” A favor easily granted.
“The Sabbath-school has appointed me king of its celebration. Please send me a nice piece suitable to speak, and a few dialogues appropriate for the little folks.” An hour’s search through old files of the National Teacher provides material exactly suited for this occasion.
“There is to be a Sunday-school Convention at ——, the 24th of this month, and I am expected to speak. I never attended such a meeting. Please write me a nice speech, telling who introduced Sunday-schools, and how much good they have done.” A modest request! But, if there is really to be a Sunday-school Convention in the heart of Southern Georgia, and this shy boy is to help make it successful, ’tis worth while to look over Sunday magazines for facts which the speaker can arrange and use.
“I wish I could go to school the whole of this year. My wages for teaching public school three months will not carry me through. Could you help me in any way?”
A determined worker, who holds Sunday-schools on door-steps when no better place offers, seeks encouragement and papers. Here is part of his story: “I have some hard trials, and ups and downs, but I trusts in God, and tries to fight my way through. I have got no learning of account, but to the best of my knowledge I means to teach. God said where there is little known there is little required.” Perhaps the angels could tell us that poor Jacob’s crown will far outshine that of many a richly-endowed soul.
A “sweet-girl graduate,” folding away bouquets and compliments with her pretty muslin, wishes to know how she can make her school-room attractive. Speaking of future plans, she pens these words: “I mean to work for the Master to the best of my ability. I think a life not consecrated to God is no life.”
If sometimes burdensome, such letters do greatly add to the sweetness of vacation rest. They give assurance that the seed sown in weariness is yielding harvest, which, with the affection breathed from every page, inspires to future faithfulness and zeal.
L. A. P.