REV. CHARLES B. VENNING.
One of our most earnest and devoted missionaries at the Jamaica Mission, after severe and protracted suffering, has entered into his rest. Mr. Venning went about fifty years ago, when Negro-slavery was at its height, to work on a Jamaica sugar estate. He was then an ardent young Englishman, and easily led into dissipation and vice. But the Lord arrested him, and the course of his whole life was changed. He entered the Mico Institute, a Training College for Schoolmasters, and was a successful teacher. He then became interested in the efforts of the American Missionary Association, and desired to devote himself entirely to school work and religious teaching among the Negroes in the country districts of the Island. His name stands on the list of missionaries in our first Annual Report, and he has labored faithfully every year since—while his health would permit by active efforts, and when on a bed of suffering by example and counsel.
We quote the following from the letter of a fellow missionary: “I never saw a man who so entirely devoted himself to the work as he did. He had the true missionary spirit. He not only preached the Gospel in his own church, but from house to house and in the most out-of-the-way places; indeed everywhere where men would give a listening ear. No other missionary in the Island did so much for the education of his people as Bro. Venning, and outside of the towns there could be found no people so intelligent as his. He watched over his flock with almost a painful interest—encouraged and reproved. He gathered the poor that were otherwise uncared for about his own door, gave them shelter, fed them from his own table, and clothed them from his own wardrobe.”
One who knew him intimately at the Island writes: “He labored literally night and day most earnestly for the salvation of souls and the welfare of those who had been converted. Being a born educator, he has left his mark upon the generation that has grown up under his instruction. As a private Christian, he was most real and honest, and free from all guile, exemplifying in all his life, in the most striking manner, those beautiful words of Scripture ‘harmless’ and ‘blameless.’ His faith triumphed nobly in the end. In my interviews with him of late, it has been most interesting to see with how firm a grasp he held fast to the assurances of God’s blessed word, and thus found perfect rest and peace to his soul.”
ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.
Nashville, Tenn.—Religious interest is reported in the school. Six persons have professed their faith in Christ. The day of prayer for colleges was observed and we hope that good may result from the day.
McIntosh, Liberty Co., Ga.—Pastor Snelson writes: We observed the week of prayer. The weather was mild, and consequently we did not have to go into the Academy for the use of the stoves. Last Sabbath, eleven were received into the church by confession and one by letter. It was a blessed day with us. There is much here to do. Miss E. W. Douglass is a great help to us. The people all like her. She is at work any and everywhere. They call her in some places the lady-preacher. I would to the Lord that more missionaries like her were sent throughout the field of the American Missionary Association. Pray for us.