The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-10-28
Appeal TO the Christian Women of the
Presbyterian Church in the U. S.

CutidIiy Trying OlOuuiSt1uVOo VI "i ~
loved Church for several years past, as
well as her present urgent wants and
necessities, Justify us, as We think, IN
making this appeal to your benevolence,
and asking your aid and cooperation IN
the effort now being made to sustain that
Church in the midst of her continued
and distressing embarrassments. 1t is
not necessary TO recount the causes or
explain the nature of the calamitieS that
have fallen upon us as a Church and
people. Unfortunately they are but too
generally and painfully known already.
Most of our sister Churches at the South
have suffered heavy, if not irreparable
losses, by these same severe and pro
tracted calamities. If our own has stood
the shock with less damage, it is simply
because God gave us the wisdom, at the
beginning of these troubles, to come to
gether rs one united, compact brother
hood, and stand shoulder TO shoulder
whilst the storm of adversely has poured
it's fury against as But these calamlties
have not yet passed away, and 1T is not
only necessary for us to continue to
stand firm and united, but we are called
upon to put forth ali the energy that
God has given us TO rescue this beloved
Church from the dangers which threaten
her. Indeed, the call to rally to her
support in all her various schemes of be
neyolence, is more urgent now than 1t
ever was before. In these circumstances
of trial and danger we turn with cheer
full confidence to the sisterhood Of the
Church, and feel assured that they will
not only retnrn a ready and hearty re-
Spouse to this call, but that they will be
able to render most important aid, if
they will only take hold of the matter
with some measure of that zeal and earn
estness which belongs to them as a class,
and which they never fail to put forth in
times of great emergency. Every thing
dear to the heart of Christian people
is involved in the struggle now being
made to sustain our Church; and no
member of it should be idle or inactive
in this momentous crisis. Help is needed
in every department of the missionary
work
A very large proportion of our most
earnest and useful ministers are sadly
embarrassed from the want OF adequate
support. Many of them have been com
PEELED to engage in secular pursuits, or
have removed to more favored portions
of the country, for the purpose of pro
curing the means Of support for their
families. Others, unless some speedy
and effective remedy is provided, will be
compelled to follow their example, and
ultimately scores of our churches will be
left entirely without the preaching of
the gospel The General Assembly at
it's late meeting in Baltimore, in order to
arrest this evil, directed the Presbyteri 5
and the Committee of Sustentation to
unite in the effort to raise the salary of
every laboring minister in the Church
to the sum of 5000, as the minimum
amount. This is most important meas
ure, aud if successfully carried out, can
scarcely fail to inaugurate new and
most interesting epoch in the history Of
our beloved Church. But it will require
large amount Of funds, especially at
the outset, to carry this measure into
effect; and we shall need all the help you
can possibly give us. Again, it has been
decided to make vigorous effort to re-
lieve the wants of disabled ministers, and
the widows and orphans of ministers who
have been left in circumstances of desti-
tuition. Upon inquiry it has been ascer-
tanned that the number of such families
is greater and their wants far more ur-
gent than was supposed. Surely you
would esteem it "A privilege, as also a
pleasure. to minister in some measure to
the relief of this class of persons.
Further, God has been pleased to call
large number of our pious young men
to 90 far hence to preach the unsearcha-
bic riches of Christ to the Gentiles. One
of these brethren is now on his way to
South America, and three others have
lett for China. A fifth has been eStab-
lished as missionary among the Greek
Indians, and three others are expected
TO engage in the same great cause in the
early part of the coming winter. God
has conferred great honor upon us as a
Church and people, in calling us to take
an active part in the important work of
evangelising the heather nations of the
earth. But we cannot meet the demands
of this solemn call without much effort
and great personal sacrifices. To send
out all these young men, in addition to
sustaining the missionary work we al
ready have on hand, to defray the ex-
pense of their passage to the remote ends
of the earth, to provide them with com
Portable habitations in their heather
homes, and to furnish them with all the
means and appliances necessary for the
successful prosecution of their undertake
inc, will require very large amount of
funds; and here again we shall need ali
the assistance you can possibly give us.
Furthermore, it is stated upon good
authority that that there are more than
hundred young men in the bosom of
the Church who would be glad to devote
themselves to the work of the ministry,
but have not the means to get the neces-
sary education. Now what shall be done
in this case9 Unless We can aid these
young men in the prosecution of their
studies, we shall soon be without ministers
either to occupy our own pulpits or send
abroad. More than this, our Theological
Seminaries- where alone these Young men