The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-06-10
Shall the EFFICIENCY be Met!

tantmatter involved, was unanimously adopted:
The Executive Committee OF Education,
having satisfactory information that, within
short time, there will be very large increase
In the number Of candidates for the ministry
(tOr which blessing our whole Church should
be filed with profound gratitude to the Lord
of the harvest that very many OF these will
need the aid of the Church in the expense OF
their education; and that consequently there
will be a necessity for a very large increase Of
our funds TO meet this exigency, which be-
comes the more stringent from the tact that
the annual collection for Education does not
occur till next November Therefore,
ReSOlred, l. That in order TO provide with
certainty Tor the demands to be made upon
the treasury, it is the conviction of this Com
mittee that it is highly expedient to avail our
selves of any suitable special agency within our
reach.
Resolred, , That the Rev. James G. Ham
ner, ID. D., having Signihed, IN view OF this
exigency, u readiness TO give his services gra-
tuitOusly for promoting the purpose eOntem-
plated, the Committee duly approaching the
value of this offer, does hereby appoint DR..
Hammer Its General Agent for this special oc
caSlOn. aMd earnestly SOlicits his acceptance Of
a work So needtul, honorable and useful.
There are facts and considerations connected
with this subject, which should be seriously
weighed by our churches Some Of the most
prominent We briefly suggest.
l. The number Of our candidates needing AID.
The number now on the list Of the Committee
is torty-serea From the best information re-
eeived, that number will soon be increased to
one hla,dred that Is, it will be more than
doubled Aud from all that can be now
learned, it may be safe to say that one hundred
more will indicate their desire to preach the
gospel before the next meeting of our General
Assembly
This is a number beyond anything hereto
fore known in the Southern Presbyterian
Church. IL has a voice which we cannot dis
regard. If the Head of the Church has placed
1.-THE work of the ministry foremost in the
propagation OF his gospel, nothing can be
palmer than the supreme necessity of having
a full supply of well trained, cody men to en-.
ter upon it. Who does not know that it is at
this hour the crying demand among vacant
churches, and waste places where new church
es ought to be started-"Can't you send us
preacher? 1t is estimated that at the close
Of the war our Church Including the United
Synod, now with us, had in one way or an
other, nearly one hundred ministers less than
when it began. Now the Lord of the harvest
Is In wonderful manner hearing the prayers
Of his people, Is touching the hearts of many
of our choice young brethren, and they are
declaring their desire to preach his word, as
soon as the Church shall judge them prepared.
We are now beginning to gather some of the
precious fruits of that great work of grace
which for years so nightly prevailed in our
army. 1t may be doubted whether its parallel
is to be found in history. It's extent was
amazing; Its genuinenesS commanded the conf.
dence Of our most judicious, and piOus chap
lains of every name. Many of its subjects were
young men Of fine intellectS, of noble eharae-
ter, and not few already of excellent educa-
tiOn. We remember TO have declared our
conviction at the close of the war, that from
the ranks of these converts the churches of ali
denominations in the South would, after lit
tie, secure ministry of very superior mate
rial-men whose characters had been thorough
ly tested. Strange indeed, if among so many
personally dedicating themselves to the Sa-
viour, gOodly number should not find them
selves moved by his Spirit and providence to
preach his word So it is now turning out.
AT first the deSolatiOnS and distresses at home
the pressing question of bread for father,
a mother, brother or sister, imperatively de-
manded the presence of these men there
Now that this is somewhat relieved, the yearn-
ing OF their hearts returns and hence the
number coming forward.
Another fact intimately connected must not
be omitted. just at this same time We find
eight choice young brethren giving themselves
to the Church, aAd asking TO be sent far
hence to the Gentiles." Some are going to
South America, some to China and Japan.
An excellent elder said to us in Baltimore,
when l first heard of this, doubted its wis
dom: How could we spare so many, with our
own desolationS so great? But now | am
ashamed Of my own Unbelief; for | see that
He who by his Spirit moved the eight to go
to pagan lands, can raise up others for the work
at home. And surely that is the right view.
To contract our work within mere home limits,
when the commission is 70 the whole world,
would soon suffocate any church And there
is nothing in our history, or in our present
condition, or in our prospects so encouraging
as the purpose of these dear brethren to un-
furl the banner Of the Cross for the Southern
Presbyterian Church in far distant heather
lands. Every Christian heart should welcome
the fact with tears Of grateful joy. Let us ac-
cept it as a token of covenant love, as pledge
that We are not fOrSaken, but that God is with
US In truth, and means to give US a name and
work in the upbuilding of his glorious king
dom. And now that Immediately after this
movement, or, perhaps more accurately, at the
same time, we find very large number
more than ever known among US before-who
say, I'VE desire, if judged worthy, to devote
ourselves to the work Of the ministry" what
shall our Church say TO such a fact as this?
First let US say Blessed be God, ,oho hath
not turned array orr prayer, nor has mercy
from lS, Ps. Xvi; 20.
, But in the next place We must consider
the obligations uRder l0hich zee are brought bv
this state of things. We here leave out of
view the duty Of sustaining those who 20 on
Foreign Missions That is to be taken for
granted But what shall we do in behalf of
the hundred or more who must be educated?
They will need help. We shall not turn aside
to discuss the policy of our Church in this
matter. That too is settled. 1t need only be
remarked that the PreSbyterieS are to Judge
who need aid in their education, and the
amount. 1t is not the plan of our church to