The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19

Six months of that year, witnessed
under our view the closing scenes OF a a
civil war, the most gigantic and bloody OF
our age, perhaps of any age.
That war resulted, in April last, IN the
disappointment of the cherished expecta-
tons of our people; and left them, for
the first time in four years, at leisure to
contemplate our situation.
In the following months, and up to the
present time, we have all been slowly
realizing the condition of our churches
under the new aspect of affairs. God has
chastened us very sorely. Yet we are
glad to be able to say that our people, ac-
ccpt the result as a manifestation of his
will.
The young men and strong men of our
congregations, not slain in battle, nor
vet lingering in hospitals or prisons, have
returned to their homes and resumed,
with cheerfulness, the labors of civil life,
and not a. few have reappeared in the
Sabbath school and the sanctuary.
Many of the families of our churches,
driven from their homes by the war, have
returned to reinstitute the home economy,
and are renewing the home scenes which
had given place to a barren desolatlon IN
their absence. Some of the members OF
this SYNOD, who have been laborlng as
chaplains and evangelists in the army, are
again bestowing their labors as they have
opportunity in the churches. Schools
are being Reconstructed, and our colleges
and Theological Seminary are again col
lecting the youth of our land, in some
cases from the ranks of the army and
from the battle-felds of the great con-
flict, to prepare for usefulness in civil
life, and, in some cases, for preaching
the Gospel of peace to dying men.
The year now past has also been sig
nalized, whether for good Or i'll we do not
vet know, by the abolition of slavery
Something like half million of slaves,
within the bounds of this Synod, have
been suddenly set free by the sword of
civil war, leaving the land without its ac-
customed labor, and nearly five hundred
thousand landless, homeless Africans
without the care and human providence
which have heretofore given them the ne
cessaries of life.
1t has then been a year of commotion
and change, and of the excitements Incl
dent to commotion and change.
1t has been, also, year hallowed
among us by reunion of the members
and churches Of this body,-sundered
and estranged from each other by scpe-
ration of more than a quarter of cen
fury. A union on the old basis of the
Confession of Faith and Catechisms of
the Presbyterian church. A cordial,
warm-hearted reunion in the spirit of
Christian brotherhood. And once more
we all feel how good and pleasant a
thing it is for brethren to dwell together
in unity.
In such circumstances it is no ordinary
question to answer, what is the state of
religion in the churches which have to
act for the redeeming Sovereign of man
kind
Certain of our Presbyteries report
many of our church edifces demolished
by the war, and many others rendered
unfit for use till they shall have under
gone repair.
They report no deaths among the min
istry during the Synodical year,-a re-
markable mercy.
They mourn in some. cases over spirit
of worldliness engendered by the war,
and over some sad Temperatures of in
temperance since the war.
They rejoice in the steadfastness, as a
general thing, of the church membership
in an encouraging attendance upon the
means of grace, in willing disposition
shown to contribute to the support of the
ministry, and of the enterprises of the
gospel among us, and, in number of
cases, in different Presbyteries, they re-
ioice in the evidences of Gods reviving
Spirit in the churches. Many young
men who had gone to the war strangers
to God, died in faith on the field of bat
tie, and others have returned home new
men in Christ Jesus.
The Presbyteries bear testimony also
to the appearances of growth in grace
among the people of God.
Such facts encourage the Synod to be-
ieve that God is with us, and to hope
that he will sanctify our great Affections
and enable us, through his presence
among us, to repair the desolations Of
our beloved Zion.