The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-23
FROM THE SOUTHERN STATES.

Christian Activity.-We hear from many
quarters that the Appeal to the Christian
Women" issued by Drs Wilson and Baird,
is beginning to arouse those to whom it is ad
dressed to greatly increased activity.
The following letter, kindly placed at our
disposal by the Secretary Of Sustentation. will
show the direction which this activity is tax.
ing in some cases, and the success which at
tends it. We fully concur in the opinion ex
pressed in the last sentence of the letter. Let
us all shake off this soth, and every want Of
the Church will be fully supplied
Feeling it will encourage your heart and
strengthen your faith in your efforts to do
good, | will tell you something of the result
of your impressive appeal for aid to the la
dies Of our church. We met the week after
you left us, adopted very simple constitution
establishing merely board of directors, with
treasurer and secretary in the same person.
The ladies went to work in earnest, doing diff
ferent kinds of sewing, and at the end of the
week found we had made SIS clear. With
the work on hand, which will be completed by
the close Of the present week, we shall have
made $50. If the women in all our churches
would 90 to work with energy, the Treasury
would soon be full to overflowihg. 1t is not
poverty, but inaction that is Gripping our be.
nevolent operations"
many such children do not attend church calls
out this suggestion from Rev. Dr. Norton in
the Christian Herald:
One reason is because the school is held i'm.
mediately before the morning service. Tt re-
main through both is OnerOus even to adults,
much more so to children. Another reason
is because many parents are Indifferent in the
matter Another still: many Sabbath School
men, as they are called, are gradually coming
to undervalue the instructions of the pulpit,
and to exalt those IF the school above them.
Remedy: Let the Sabbath School be held
in the afternoon. Let it be part of every les
son to examine each pupil on the morning ser.
mon, the text. and the principal topic, dis
cussed The effect will be to bring teacher,
and pupils to church, and to fix the attention
of both classes upon the preaching. The re
hex influences of this upon the preacher |
need not name.
Visit to our Choctaw Mission.-At its recent
meeting, the Synod of Arkansas appointed
the Rev. Messrs. j. A. Dickson and j. NJ
Brown to visit the Choctaw Mission and as
sessed Arkansas and Ouachita Presbyteries
fifty dollars each to defray their expenses
At the same meeting, news having been re.
ceived of the severe illness of the Rev. G.
Byington, the Synod adopted the following
resolution:
Whereas, 1t has come to the knowledge of
Synod, since it has met at this place, that the
d.. LII L. IL
member Of this SYNOD from its origin, has re-
Resolved That we express our deep sympa.
thy with him in his affliction and our earnest
hope that it may be the will of the great Head
of the Church to restore him to his accus.
toned health and usefulness in the vineyard
of his divine Master.
The Stated Clerk was directed to commun.
cate this action to Mr.. Byington; and also in
form him of the appointment OF Messrs Dick
son and Brown to visit the Mission for which
he labored so long and so faithfully .-South-
ern Presbyterian.
Rev. Cyrus Byington.-We have just received
letter from DR.. Byington, from which We
learn that the health Of his brother, our be-
loved missionary, the Rev. G. Byington, has
materially Improved during the last few weeks.
His physicians will not yet allow him to re-
sumo his work on the Choctaw books in press,
or those preparing for the press. For some
time he was confined to bed, but he is now
able to be up every day, and appearances are
favorable for further Improvement He was
strong enough to add postscript to his broth
er S letter.
We have given the letter to the Secretary
of Foreign Missions, hoping that he may pre-
sent extracts from it to the readers of the
Missiona,y Southern Presbyterian.
Presbyterian Day School, Richmond, va.-At
the last meeting of the Presbyterian Sunday
School Union the subject of the establishment
of Presbyterian day school was preached,
and the subject was fully discussed in remarks
by Rev. DIR. Read and Messrs j. D. K. Sleight,
2. f. Howard, Samuel NJ, Price, w. l.. Hill,
and William +. Taylor. The speakers seemed
to concur in regard to the propriety and feast
biIity of establishing such a school; and, on
motion, it was resolved that committee be
appointed to consider the subject and report
at the next monthly meeting of the Union
The Chair appointed two ruling elders from
each church-viz William +. Taylor, Archi.
bald Boiling, James Gordon, Hugh Blair,
James Miller, Robert Howard Leroy &.