The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-07-08
CHRISTIANS IN TRANsITU.

The removals among the members of our
Churches that have taken place within few
years past, have, in many cases, largely re-
duced the working force of many cOngrega
tons Some ministers find that their people,
driven from the old homes By necessity, are
scattering all over the country from the Poto
mac TO Mexico, and not u few arein the North
and far West The only comfort that pastors
can derive from a circumstance which weakenS
and depresses them Is the hope that these dis
eiples, like those that we're scattered abroad
from jerusalem upon the persecution that
arose about Stephen will wherever they 20,
by some means OF other, preach the word; ~
and that the uuwecOme and seemingly out
ward changes Of our day WILL like the flight Of
the HuguenotS from France to our shores, or
the dispersion of the SeOtch-Irish among the
mountains of Virginia and in other parts OF
the land, be found TO have happened for the
furtherance of the gospel, in the diffusion OF
those sound principles and practices which
Presbyterians hold as essential to its success.
Migrating Christians need not to be told
lhdt bhcIG arc CSttdlu sptttlUdA uduSCAo pCCu
har to their case. Those who have been occu-
pied in the preparations and the journeys OF
removal have already discovered that the in
corruption of their regular course Of life, and
usual services of religious worship, with the
new scenes by which they find themselves sur
rounded demands special watehfulness and
prayer, as they threaten by insensible degrees
to check the current of that inner life which is
all their salvation, and ought to be all their
desire Doubtless some have so far yielded to
these hurtful influences that they have al
ready become, Ia their new homes very differ
ent persons from what they were in the old.
Where il is the privilege of those who have
removed, to settle within the bounds of an
other Presbyterian congregation we hold it as
essential alike TO their own peace and useful
ness, and to the honor and efficiency of our
Church as a whole, that they should present,
at once, their certificates of dismisSinn. and
become enlisted in the duties of active mem
bership. We have daily illustrations of the
bad effects that result from delay in this mat
ter. Professors of religion are found in almost
every Christian community who have become
careless and inattentive to their duties to an
alarming degree from this very cause. The
feeling Of responsibility connected with their
union to a church near them, being removed
from their minds, they yield much more read
ily to the seductive influence Of the world, and
in Impending their obligations to the Church,
suspend the operation of their vows to their
Lord The Head Of the Church has instituted
certain means Of grace for the edi6cation, and
enlargement, and comfort Of his people, and
they who esteem them lightly cannot expect
his blessing on their souls.
As TO the objection so often urged for not
depOsiting ehurch-letters, viz: that the party
is unsettled, and may move again in a year or
two, it is entitled TO no consideration, because
nothing is easier than for member in good
and regular standing to get letter from any
church he may join, whenever he wants it
Besides, it the migrating member shall after
the lapse OF one, or two, or more years, at last
conclude to send back to the old fold for a GER
66cate, the session will meet a difficulty in
granting it TO one who has been s. long absent
without giving any account of himself. He
will iud that he has lost cast both at home
and abroad and may have to begin de moro to
get back into the Church at all
Such as lind themselves settled in neighbour
hoods where there is no Presbyterian church,
or none Of any kind, are called by the provi-
deoce of God to plant the precious seed Of our
doctrine and order in places where it is uu-
known. We have many pleasant instances of
delightful fruits now rapidly growing from the
efforts Of Christians who, being located in deS-
olate places, have gone 60 work to establish
Sabbath schools and prayer meetings, and have
held themselves ready to enter such other
doors of usefulness as are opened before them
Appeals from Such lsbOrerS often come up to
our Publication Committee, and none We are
sure find more favor, or are more freely re
sponded to by liberal donations of such books
as they may need. 1t is by works like these
that Christians so peculiarly situated and
tempted may preserve their own consistency
and happiness, and while they are themselves
Watered, may 50 water the fields around them
that 1.-THE wilderness and the solitary place
shall be glad for them and the desert shall
rejoice and blossom as the rose" 1t nav be
found in coming time, Is in the past, that
many hourishing congregation has been gath
cred around the spot where a trembling soil
tary hand placed the germ, and with humble
prayer besought the dews Of heavenly grace to
rest upon it.
HOW DID IT HAPPEN"