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

ZION, anu HIS interest III luclu Was d mann ViIliS
to bind him there But if we are to have no
organization in which they are to take part,
they will not come The experience of every
one is to this point Let the difficulty Of officers
be met when there Is occasion for 1t. Ills fixed
purpose was to go forward and labor for the
salvation of this class, and to have a separate
organization to accommodate them.
Rer. Dr. Smith, of Union Theological Sem
mary, commenced his remarks with the anec-
dote of John Randolph, of Roanoke, who, in
the time of the revolution in Greece, was met
by an application from Ladies Sewing SOcie-
ty for aid to this cause. The Greeks, he
exclaimed. are at your doors, referring to
their negroes. There were TO his mind re-
markable providences in our case connected
with this subject There had been during his
time twelve missionaries to foreign lands from.
Virginia and North Carolina But nearly all
had returned. Did not this seem as if it were
a voice from heaven saying, Go back and
preach to the heather in your own land?" His
observation was that as long as the negroes
were slaves they would, to q considerable ex-
tent, attend public worship with you. But
now they absent themselves. This was Illus
trated by the experiment made in Prince Ed
ward by the venerable Dr. Wilson during the
few months past He believed it was so else
where. Reading the Word of God was indeed
a valuable instrumentality, but he did not con-
slider it absolutely necessary. The great com
mission was to preach the word, in all ages and
to the end of the world the most powerful
means Of saving men. Let this be our imme-
date and abiding work, and let US not concern
ourselves oyermuch about other questions that
NAV not arise till the turf is green over our
heads Give them the gospel by every suita-
bic MEANS but be sure you give it, now and
always, by preaching it to them, Do this, not
from the inferior motive of self-protection, but
TO save them from perdition
The excitement of fanatics and spurious
philanrhropists will not last longer than the
novelty of this matter. Sensation mongers
will soon subside, and leave to all good people
a more tranquil work But it should be con
sidered that our resolutions have too much ig-
nored one fact, and that b the opposition ne
groes have to the gospel. They, too are de-
PRAYED, and the greatest difficulty after all is
that they don want to 20 TO heaven any more
than anybody else. And, repeat it, that the
first, the second and the third business of min
listers is to preach the gospel to them. Go after
them anywhere you can find them. Do as in
heather lands missionaries don wait forthem.
They 90 as physicians carrying to the dying
sinner the only balm of life for his soul We
have had good resolutions enough to work by
for fifty years, let US only preach and live &C
cording to them.
1t should be mentioned that at an early stage
in the consideration of this subject, the veneer
able Bishop Early, of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, who was present and invited to a seat
as q. corresponding member upon being re-
queSted to do So addressed the Synod upon
this important subject We regret that no
means were at hand to take notes of his speech.
1t may be stated, however, that it was highly
appropriate, Astounding in facts and suggestions
drawn from his own recent observation. He
urged upon all Southern Christians TO do all in
their power in behalf of the negroes of the
land, and not leave them to the false teaching
and pernicious influence of men of corrupt
minds, into whose hands they would often
fall, if not rescued by ours extended to them
in sympathy and love, and carrying to them a
pure gospel
These remarks were listened to with deep in
terest and it was heartfelt pleasure to grasp
the hand of this father in the church. who
though now past his four score years and ten,
is still working vigorously in the Master vine
yard, and waiting till his Lord shall come.
FEMALE BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
This subject was introduced in two resolutions
offered by Rev. William Brown, which may be
found in another column.
The mover of the resolutions remarked that
the subjects to which they referred-the sup
port, in part, of our home missionaries and
young men seeking the ministry-were such as
must give us all great anxiety in the trying cir
cumstanceS in which our churches and people
are now placed They have borne and are still
enduring heavy troubles Our strongest CON
gregatious ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
and find special efforts necessary for the sup
port of their pastors; how much more those
which were always feeble, and are now hardly
able TO live Besides this, number of them
have had their houses of worship either sadly
deSpoiled or absolutely destroyed by a ruthless
foe. 1t will require our utmost efforts to build
up and restore these waste places, and nourish
these languiShing churches That which per-
tains to our young brethren preparing for the
work of the ministry, though very important,
is comparatively easy.
But we arc not left without grounds of en-
couagement in this afflicted State. In the
spirit of our Christian people, both in bearing
their trials and the energy with which they are
disposed to help themselves, we have, under
God, our main resource. To their power, yea,
and beyond their power, as We can all bear re-
cord, many of them are willing of them
selves: and the most we can do to aid them
is TO prepare some suitable ways and means by
which they may operate. 1t is-atter much
reflection on the subject-my firm conviction
that we have in the suggestions Of these reso-
buttons a mine of wealth, if it can only be
opened and thoroughly worked. To compre-
bend this in a moment il is enough for any one
TO consider what was effected by such aSSocia-
tons among the devoted women Of the South
during the war just ended. To q very large
extent they clothed and fed our army That
war is over, that army is Dispersed but the
spiritual conflict of the church still remains; it
is one of unspeakably greater magnitude than
any other the world has ever seen, and belongs
to all times and places Now shall we not turn
this simple hut mighty agency in a direction TO
sustain and bless the church in an hour of so