The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-09-28
State of RELIGION.

the bounds of Roanoke Preslytery.
1t is with great sadness that the Presby-
terry makes its report to the Synod on the
state of religion within its bounds. The
great blow which has fallen upon the country
in the surrender Of the army upon which 1t
relied for its defence, the destruction OF the
property and currency, the uncertainty which
hangs over the future prospects of the peo-
pie, all combine to produce state or feeling
very unfriendly to the progress OF ChrlStS
cause.
Some of the people seem disposed to "make
the best" Of their unfortunate circumstances,
not in the only true sense Of that phrase, the
improvement of the solemn judgments OF God
to the purposes of humiliation and repentance
and greater conservation to the cause Of
Christ, but in the sense of making the most
of the worldly comforts which the desOations
of the war have left to them. a feeling of
despair in regard to the future has given rise
apparently to practical atheism which ex-
presses itself in the words, " Let us eat and
drink, for tomorrow we die" There has
been more than usual gaety and dissipation
among the young, and even Christian parents,
instead of endeavoring to impress upon the
hearts of their children the solemn lessons of
Gods providence, and warning them to hee
from the wrath to come seem rather to en-
courage them in their folly, as if Epicurcan-
ism were the true religion for them at least,
even if Christianity be the true religion for
the middle.aged and the old. Indeed, the
Presbytery has great cause to fear that a del
uge of infdelity and licen;iousness Is threat
ening to come in, in consequence Of the per-
verse interpretations of Providence to which
the unbelief and dependency of our fallen
nature are so apt to give rise. The Presby-
terry feels that its members and people are
solemnly warned to awake and call upon God,
that they perish not.
Our pastors generally complain, that, since
the disastrous termination of the war, and the
sudden emancipation Of the slaves, these poor
people have generally ceased their attendance
upon the churches; and either attend not at
all upon the ordinances Of Gods house, or
have provided ordinances for themselves,
which, so far from being adapted to save
their souls, are ignorant, extravagant, and
superstitious to the last degree. The Presby-
terry have also to confess, with shame and
humiliation, that the sins of Sabbath-breaking
and intemperance are increasing within its
bounds 1t is feared that the practice Of
social drinking, Ia the parlor and ~ the
table, has been extensiyel; reyiyca-ahu oar
people, instead of coming to the house of God
with that reverence and solemnity which be-
come them, too many Of them, and too often,
enter upon the worship of God, with minds
and hearts dissipated by worldly conversation
at the doors.
While the Presbytery bewails the exist
ence of these great evils, and would humble
itself before God on account of them, it would
vet record the goodness and forbearance of
God towards its members and the people they
represent, in restraining the wrath of man,
and in not utterly denying to the churches
the influences of the Holy Ghost. Our pas
tors report that the attendance upon public
ordinances is good, and in many instances
larger than before the close of the war and
that the attention Of the people to preaching
is respectful, and sometimes serious. Fur
ther some additions, though few, have been
made in the churches on profession of faith.
Finally, the Presbytery cannot but hope that
there are not few within its bounds who
sigh and cry for all the denominations com
mltted in the land, and who are wrestling
with the Angel of the Covenant and will
continue to wrestle, till the breaking Of the
day.