Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-10-13
SABBATH READING.
Prayer for our Country.

journal
to concern itself with the political cxcitemonts
of the hour, nor does it appertan to our of
flee, as editors Of the Southern Episcopalian
TO express opinions on the Presidential cleo
ton, and the earnest struggle for power which
at present engages the rival parties in this
country. 1t does, however, appear to us
very suitable opportunity, while the deepest
interest is on every side awakened in what
appears to be crisis in our history as a Con-
fcderacy to direct the attention of our read
crs to tho necessity of beseeching the direc-
tion and guidance of Almighty God in our
public affairs, and implorng, in earnest, be-
iicvlng prayer, His blessing upon our distrao-
ted country.
1t Is TO be feared that there is too much
reliance, in all our hearts, upon the arm of
flesh, and too little looking unto God as the
Supreme Governor and Controller of all
things. Nominally Christian people, the
hcathcn nations of the earth may shame us
with their, at least outward, recognition of
the gods in whom they trust, We live in an
active but undcvout age, and even by the
people OF God it is not enough realized that
the Throne of Grace is the centre of power,
and prayer the great lever for moveing the
world. There is a sad want of faith among
professional Christians which holds us back
IRON earnest and particular supplication for
special mcrcies and dclivcranccs We look
everywhere else, and trust to succors of any
KIND, rather than make our requests known
unto God How ready arc the servants of
Chrish to discuss the affairs of the country,
to express their hopes and apprehensions, to
propose measures, and urge plans of action :;
and yet, is it to be denied that few of them
are as constant and urgent in their appeals
to Heaven as the Importance of the subject
demands. In how many closets is Almighty
God entrcated to direct the public measures,
so that ''pcace and happiness, truth and JUS
tice, religion and piety, may be established
among us p At how many family altars are
those perils to our Republic, which are the
common topic of conversation in the family
circle, remembered and made the occasion of
asking the interpositon of the Lord?
Will not our readers take this matter into
serious consideration, and make prayer for
our country a frequent part of their devo-
tlons? We cannot Expect to be guided and
blessed of God, unless we sincerely seek his
aid. He will &" be inquired of" by his peo-
pie for those favors which he graciously pro-
poses to confer upon them. We have the
Scriptural examples of Moses, of Daniel, of
Nehemiah, and others of the servants of Je-
hovah, pleading for the safety and deliver
ance 0f their country and our blessed Lord
himself was moved to tears at the impending
doom of Jerusalem; and, on the cross, prayed
for his countrymen, who had so wickedly re-
jected and put him to lingering Death
If our Union is to be preserved as free and
happy Republic, if sectional animosities are
to be put an end to, and the constitutional lib
critics of all our States continued to them, if
the promise OF our greatness as Confederacy
IS not to be disappointed, and the labors of
our Revolutionary fathers brought to nought,
1T will be through the intervention of our God
making the wrath of man praise Him, and
working out the great designs of His prov
ldence. Let us realize that our hope is in
Him, and spend more time in humble ap-
proaohes to His throne of grace. Our last ar
gument against misrule and oppression is not
exhausted, until we have uttered our words of
duplication unto God--and we can be said to
have made no true preparations to meet
crisis in the history of our country, unless
we have faithfully put her destinies under
the keeping of Jehovah, and made prayer
to Him for the direction of her affairs, the
daily exercise of our hearts 1t is from the
closets, and the family ultars, and the sanctua-
rles of Gods children, in this land, that we
look for measures of safety, rather than from
the exciting contests of the hustings, or the
varied voices of the political press The
wisdom of man may often be at fault, his
best plans may be frustrated, but prayer
moyes'the hand which moves the world: and
amid the darkest forebodings there is un-
speakable comfort to the Christian heart in
the conviction that " the Lord God Omnipo-
tent reigneth. ."--Souhtern EpiScopalian.
INoREATE OF PREsBYTERIANIsM.- M.-Rcv.
John Mcdowell, in his semi-centary sermon,
makes the following interesting statement:
"The Presbyterian Church was divided
in 1888, since which time there have been
two General Assemblies Both Assemblies
should be taken into the account in compar-
ing the Presbyterian Church as it now is
with what it was fifty years ago. In the
General Assembly of 1907, the first attend
cd, thc number of delegates in attendance
was 81; the number in the two Assemblies
whioh met last spring was 467. The num-
ber OF Synods when [ entered the ministry
was Z the number now, as reported to the
last Assemblies, is 81 The number Of Pres
byteries when commenced my ministry was
81 now il is 254 The number of misis-
ters in the Presbyterian Church then was
$40; now it is 3,765 The number Of
churches then vas 604 now it is 4,937 !;
and the numbsT pf communicates then was
1871, nov il is 866,881 According to
this statement the Synods have been multi
piled seven times; the Presbyteries eight
times; the ministers ten tic,es, and the com