Page:The religious instruction of the colored population.djvu/7

 worldly good—nay, even their own religious privileges and enjoyments—in order to extend the word of life to perishing souls; in order that the poor may have the gospel preached to them. My Christian Brethren! I appear before you this morning as one of yourselves, asking your fraternal counsel and assistance, More than twelve years ago you sent me forth as a missionary to the Armenians. I thank God for much happiness and for some success in that interesting field. But, brethren, my mind had previously been strongly drawn to another missionary field, lying nearer at home, and into that field nothing then prevented me from entering but the want of an "open door" Providence has brought me back, and the claims of this field have pressed again—nay, they have, during the whole twelve years of my absence, been pressing strongly upon my mind. Various considerations have presented themselves in favor of a transfer of my relations from that foreign to this domestic missionary work. One is, that the impaired condition of my eyesight unfits me for further labors, as a translator, in that parched climate, and under that brilliant sky. Another is, that when I went forth it was with rhe sympathy and support of the Presbyterian church, and of the Southern churches in particular; but, this sympathy and support, naturally of great value to me, has long been withdrawn, and I have felt myself cut off and isolated. Strong and agitating influences, meanwhile, have been at work, drawing me centrewards, and leading me to feel that it is time for me to cast in my lot with my own people. But, the strongest consideration has been the natural obligation which I feel, and have always felt, to do something for these destitute people, coupled with the fact that I consider the door of access to be now set open before me. It is with reference to this point, my Christian brethren, I come to ask, this day, your counsel, lias the time come when I may succeed in the attempt to gather these wanderers into a Christian fold? If, with the aid of my own private friends, I am able and willing to give my personal services without charge, will this community provide a suitable building for this purpose? And, in particular, will you, as a church—as the church of my childhood, the church in which I was baptized, the church in which I was educated, in which I was ordained—will you give me a practical, generous and liberal testimony that you do believe the enterprise important, and that you do consider use called to undertake it?