The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-10-03

At no previous time have the churches
within the bounds of our Synod enjoyed a
greater measure of external prosperity.
The reports from the different Presbyteries
which compose the Synod, indicate that the
attendance on the preaching Of the gospel
has been regular and good. Our people
have been blessed with health; they have
been exempted ''from the pestilence which
walketh in darkness, and the arrow that
Aieth by day. peace has pervaded our bor-
ders, and plenty has crowned our boards.
The Lord has indeed admonished us to "do
with our might whatsoever our hands find
to do" by removing from us to their eter-
nal rest, three of our most active and useful
ministers since we last met as a Synod.
Still the candlestick of divine ordinances has
not been taken away, and the light of truth
not been extinguished in our midst.
Increased interest has been exhibited in
the benevolent operations of the day, by in
creased donations for the dissemination of
the gospel.
The agents for the permanent endowment
of the school of the prophets under our care,
report that their appeals have been respond
ed to with good degree of liberality-and
that they now consider the day not far
distant when sufficient number of Scho-
larships to meet the demand will be found
ed, and the permanent endowment of the
Seminary be complete. The literary insti-
tutions within our borders seem to enjoy
unusual prosperity, and we are gratiied to
learn that increased attention has been ava
kened to the subject of female education
hv the establishment of at least three addi-
tional chools.
+. churches within our bounds have to
great extent received tokens of the pre-
sence of the spirit of God in his reviving
and sanctifying power. There is scarcely
single church in which some at least have
not had valuable accessons to the number
of those who we trust shall be saved. 1t is
true that in many of our churches the num-
Der brought out of darkness into the mar
velous light of the children of God has
been small, still there has been an aggre-
gate of about eight hundred hopeful con-
versions during the year. The Presbytery
of Lexington reports the largest number of
accessions to its churches.
The churches of Lexington, Thinking
Springs, New Providence, Waynesboro' and
New Monmouth have been visited with
more than ordinary manifestation Of the
power of Gods converting grace. In the
Presbytery of Montgomery, the churches of
Fincastle, Buchanan, Salem, Chrstiansburg,
and Mountain Union, have been visited
with rcfreshings from the presence Of the
Lord. Near two hundred souls have been
hopefully converted to God in these churches
alone. In some of the churches under the
care of Greenbrier Presbytery, the Lord
has also graciously revived his work. In
Union Church the Spirit has been poured
out from on high, and the hearts of the peo-
pie of God have been gladdened at the in
gathering into the fold of God of many
precious souls. The most extensive work
of grace within this Presbytery however,
has occurred in the church Of Lewisburg.
The chief fundamentally in leading to
the general awakening which has pervaded
the whole community within the range of
this churchs influence, seems to have been
a prayer meeting established by the pious
young men of the village and vicinity.
The protesting youth of the congregation
we're in the habit of meeting every week
for prayer. They made the outpouring of
the Spirit of God a subject Of special prayer.
God heard their fervent cries. The Spirit
Of grace came down on the whole commu-
nifty. Special meetings were then held to
cherish the work. 1t is believed that about
one hundred and seventy souls protested
faith in Christ as the result of the special
services held in the different churches. OF
his number between fifty and sixty have
been added to the church and others are
only waiting for an opportunity to connect
themselves with the household Of faith.