The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-02-13
For THE CENTRAL PREsBYrERIAs.
To the Grandchildren Of Rev. James d
c. Leach, D. D.
LETTER VI.

| G. Leach, D. D.
| LETTER VI.
While the events referred to in my last
letter were taking place, there was dis
cussion in the weekly religious paper
published in Richmond, the successive
numbers of which were supposed to be
from different writer's, on the propriety
of ministers of the gospel being engaged
in agriculture to any such extent as to
merit for them the name of farmers OF
planters.
The discussion commenced with Ability
and some severity. After few numbers,
Aliquis, the nom de plume of the Spthor,
appeared to the readers to be soy that
personal in the remarks that were hade
with force. This appearance oferson-
atty excited feelings unfayorsblS the
tc5ntinuation OF the discDssions, and it
was dropped before the counterpart was
brought to view, viz: the improperly Of
congregations who were pleased with
their pastor, permitting them, by the
smallness of their salaries, to be COM
PEELED to seek another congregation Of
more liberal views, or apply themselves
vigorously to agriculture, or to teaching
an academy, or to engage in trade or
some speculation, to rear and educate
their families. The discussion convinced
the public that there was an impropriety
somewhere, but had not gone far enough
TO expose the real evil. Had the discus
sion been continued, in respect to the
congregations, even thoug Oh the complaint
Of personality might have been brought
against Aliquis, with as much truth as
in the case of the pastors, much good
would have been produced, and the i'll
feeling would have died away under the
evenhanded justice and the reform ii
would have wrought. The congregations
had need of being awaked to an evil that
was pressing them-that of nullifying
their pastors labor so much, by made
quate salaries. Everybody felt the need
of holy, devoted ministers; but many did
not seem to consider, much less to feel,
that the way to retain a holy minister,
and keep him devoted to his work, was
not by compelling him to feel that he
could not rear, much less properly edu-
cate his children in the situation in which
he was, unless he applied himself exten-
sively to agriculture, or some other means
of gaining livelihood.
With the conviction that there was
something wrong in the condition in which
the ministry was held, little was done to
remove that wrong, and things continued
as before; and DR.. Leach went on with
his planting in Cumberland; and of those
who had been his fellow-students, Thorn
ton, sustained himself on his farm in
= iE .-urd]
Kirkpatrick and KiIpatriek- -aua Whsrey,
by teaching and agriculture, sustained
themselves whilst preaching the Gospel
on inadequate salaries. They labored in
the ministry, and labored with their
hands, as Lacy, and Lyle, and Reed of
Charlotte; and Reid of Lynchburg, and
Turner and Mitchell, of Bedford, and
Wilson, of Fredericksburg, and almost
all the ministers of the Valley, had done
before them.
DR.. Leach was a successful agricultu.
rist, more particularly in the department
of planting. 1t has been observed, that
if ministers of talents and education re-
sort to occupations for their support,
other than their ministry, they are apt
to press the matter with skill and yigor
to success. This success, often comes
back upon them with the charge (true OF
false of neglect Of study and ministerial
duty, that has ended in worldliness.-
Sometimes the charge seems to be sus.
tanned; in other cases God gives such
tokens of His presence and blessing as
vindicates His laborious servants.
Many young men prepared for the
ministry under DR.. Hoge and DR.. Rice
after laboring awhile in Virginia, no,
finding an adequate support, turned tc
the great West, and gave their labor tc
the Church of God there. From the ne.
cessity of their condition, and believing
that "they who preach the gospel should
live of the gospel" they changed their
place of labor, convinced they were fol
lowing the indications of Divine Provi
dence, which turns men by their necessi
ties as with His finger, and shuts them
up to given course.
| DR.. Rice, the Professor, carried out
the plans of Archibald Alexander, and
Specie, and Lacy, respecting Theolo
gical school to degree that made Alex
ander, as he stood and looked at the new
~edi6ce erected for Seminary, exclaim
"What has God wrought" OvertaxeG
by mental and physical labor, he died ir
1921 raio,oiDn IN Xho ,ornopaoto of fbt