The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-05-20
State of Religion Within the BOUNDS Oh
Rappahannoek Presbytery'

In making statement of the state OF
religion in the churches under Its care,
the Presbytery of RappahannOck have
only one case of what is usually termed
revival of religion to report. AT the
Fall meeting of the Presbytery which
was in the country congregation on the
CatOctin, in Loudoun county, the preach
ing of the members of the Presbytery,
during recesses and at night, was prOdue-
tive of visible and growing seriousness
among the people. So much was this
the case that the meeting was continued
for near a week after the adjourn
ment, and number of the members OF
the congregation, principally young peo-
pie of the families of the church, under
the instruction and advisement of the
pastor and a ministering brother, remain
inc to assist him, embraced the hope of
the gospel, and have become hopeful and
interesting members of the church, while
the older members, it is Judged, were
greatly edited and confirmed in their
knowledge and love of the precious truth.
The good fruits of the revival are be-
heved to continue in an improved condi-
ton of the cause of our Redeemer among
that people. Another church, and the
largest and most important in the Pres
bytery, has been witness throughout the
period covered by this report of more or
less of seriousness, and enquiry about
personal religion. Several persons at
each of the several communions have
under the private instruction and advise
ment of the pastor and the session made
profession of faith in Christ, and become
as Lambs of his fold-the church itself
generally sympathizing in good degree.
In another country church that was, and
is without a pastor, a meeting held during
a number of days by two ministering
brethren, not members of this Presbytery,
was apparently blessed in a remarkable
degree, but the very inclement character
of the winter, the advanced age and fee
bic health of the brother of the Presby-
terry, who alone was able to assemble and
preach to the congregation after the
meeting mentioned, leaves the Presbytery
without the means of knowing of the
permanency of the result of the interest
ing days of the meeting or of the seri-
BUSINESS which those days and services
have developed. There have been in
smaller measure in other churches, SINH
lar evidences among us of the influences
from Heaven that move and save the
souls of men. The attendance, general
ly, upon the ordinary rninistrations of
the word, is reported to have been encour-
aging, and the attention to the word
preached serious and hopeful. Sabbath
Schools and Bible classes are reported in
most of the churches, and with state
ments in regard to them that make us
hope for times of refreshing in the future.
A number of the churches have adopted
the plan of weekly collections for the
charities of the church-others, for rea-
sons they think good, have only made
collections as heretofore, and of the ade-
quacy of those collections, in the cireum-
stances, we forbear to judge, though a
few of them seem liberal as compared
with the past.
We are afraid that family religion is
largely defective as compared with the
teachings of the word of God. The
Lord, it is true, loveth the gates of Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob,
yet the interests of our Zion, whatever
others may do, cannot dispense, We think,
with the sacrifices of the home altar. 1t
moves our hearts to think, as we sing
'Once, o Lord, Thy garden aourished,
Every part looked gay and green,
Then Thy word our Spirits nourished,
Happy seasons we have seen.
But drought has since succeeded,
And sad decline we see,
Lord, Thy help is greatly needed,
Help can only come from Thee"
The unoccupied territory and reig iGus
destitutions within our bounds are very
large. They are appalling, when we con-
slider the meagreness and feebleness of
our resources. But, alas the saddest
feature in the comparison is not there;
but in the poverty of this Presbytery it
self in the resources of the blessed pro-
mise. If only every man of us was full
of faith and of the Holy Ghost, we would
probably be full of hope also, and seem
to hear the words of the blessed Master,
''Fear not little flock, it is your Fathers
good pleasure to give you the kingdom"
A. d. POLLOCK,
W. w. WILLIAMSON,
COmmittaa