The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-10-28
Undertaking in the Church.
A WORK TO BE DONE.

A WORK TO BE DONE.
An important part of agriculture is
UNDERTAKING.. Especially is this so at
the present day, when our population is
increasing, and large demands are being
made upon the mdeveloped wealth of
our country Increased attention has
been given TO the best methods and ma
terials for this work. In almost every
thriving community you can look upon
the ditcher with his spade and pick, and
measuring line, and piles of stone and
tiles, forming the sluice-ways, to bear
away the stagnant waters which gener-
ated malaria, and left the earth cold,
heavy, dead aud utterly unproductive OF
good to man or beast. And then, how
marked the change There are those
acres which have lain along the highway
for years, not only yielding nothing, but
are dead loss in taxes and health alone.
But now a new incumbent has changed
the face of the whole. These sightless,
offensive plague-spots have been made
beautjtat and attractive. Moreover, you
behold with delight the waving corn
ready for the garner, the well-earned
acealth of its owner Thus useless is
made useful. Ned we ask, does itpay?
Who doubts it? Thousands of acres in
our noble land are waiting to be re-
claimed, and thus supply the wants of
tens Of thousands at home and abroad.
DOES NOT THE CHURCH NEED UNDER
DRAINING?
Is there not vast amount of latent
power lying in a useless state? Is not
this true of benegOtent gi0ing?
/. Probably there are in every con
gregation indt0sduoLs who are barren rs
to the fruits Of benefcence. They need
the pent-up, now useless stuff of their
purses let out. How few of our church
members aae there who "abound IN the
wealth of this grace of the Christian
character They daily receive of the
Lord, but give not in return, and are
worthless lit the Church of Christ SO
far as they are concerned, the world
might perish, because of their penurious
Withholding more than is meet.
2. There are churches which are bar
rem as to the fruits of beneficence.-
Perhaps one-fourth of our churches are
as marshes that need undertaking.
1t is probable that every year this
large number either do not at all gather
the sheaves of benevolent husbandry,
or else they are few and small, and then
are brought with seeming reluctance.
Now all this is plain proof there must be a
vast amount of stagnaacy in different
parts Of the Church. And is it not so
See that church of perhaps hundred
families. They have ''orthodox" preach
ingl The house Of worship in no way
savors of pride, this is sinful;) the
private dwellings are good and well filled,
the steeds plump and fine, the dairies
large, and farms well titled and having
the appearance of thrift; but the dear
pastors salary is bare allowance Che
must be self-denying and help share our
burdens.) Now, how high do the figures
run in :he annual column for Religious
and Benevolent Contributions. Per
haps one hundred dollars or less-0ne
dollar per family on the average, and
the major part of this given by few
liberal ones. How evident it is that
such church needs undertaking to
lead off the matter which has been
accommodating for years, perhaps for gen
erations. This is now useless, nay,
more, moral burden, a positive injury
to spiritual health. "It tendeth to pow
erty" of soul here and hereafter. 1t is
a husbandry that does not pay. A great
work IS needful to be dome for the good
of such individuals and churches, as well
as for our perishng fellow-men. 1t is a
work which must be accomplished for the
sake of the Church and its glorious
Head