The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-09-23
For THE CENTR.L PRESBYTERIAN.
Narrative-West Hanover Presbytery.

NarraClVe-WeSC hanover freSDytery.
PROVIDENCE CHURCH, Sept. 5th.
West Hanover Presbytery would re-
port to the Synod of Virginia, that they
regard the present religious state of their
churches as low and unsatisfactory,
though they are not without encourage
ment for the future prosecution of their
work.
1. The additions to our churches in the
last year have been few, and there has
been a great dearth of the reviving infu-
ences of Gods Spirit. At this meeting
only one revival has been reported, and
that of limited extent.
2. Though the means of grace have
been regularly administered, there is a
great want of cooperation on the part of
the people with their ministers in the
great work of building up Zion in our
midst Officers as well as private mem
bers of the church leave the performance
of this duty almost entirely to their min
listers, instead of aiding them, as they
should, in instructing the ignorant, COM
forting the afflicted, and bringing the
lost to the Saviour of sinners. Every
member does not feel as he should his
individual responsibility to God, his Ma
ker and Redeemer. He remembers not
as he should the priceless blood split for
him.
3. The church is not sufficiently ag-
gressive in its efforts. 1t is not sufficient
ly active in bringing within reach of the
gospel the careless and the ignorant. 1t
does not go as it should, out into the
highways and hedges, and compel them
to come in. The church can never fulfil
the obligations of the great commission
until it breaches the gospel to every
creature, and every member feels it to
be his duty, as well as the minister's, to
bring the wandering and the lost, wher-
ever they can be found, to the Saviour
of souls. 1t is not enough to send the
preacher to the heather on distant shores;
we must go ourselves to the heather of
our own land.
While we feel it to be our duty in
faithfulness to report these discouraging
features of our history, we have reason
to praise the God of all grace, for the
encouragement He has given us in the
prosecution of our labors.
1st. The minstrations of the sanctua
ry have been well attended by our peo-
pie. Our congregations have been good.
In a few of the churches the state of
religious feeling has been improving,
though as yet they have reported no
conversions.
I'd. There seems to be increasing at
tention to the religious instruction of the
young. Catechetical and Bible Glasses
are generally attended to. Our Cate
chisms, after all the best expositions of
the word of God, are being more gene
rally taught. They have been intro
duced into the Sabbath Schools wherever
it was practicable. 1t is encouraging to
see our people seeking the old paths and
walking in them. That religious zeal
must be evanescent, which is not inspired
by clear and correct apprehensions of
divine truth. It is only by laying a good
foundation in the word of God we can
build up his Church in the world.
Sd. Contributions to the various schemes
of the Church. have been generally taken
up. While our weekly collections have
aided these schemes, they have in no case
superseded special contributions to them.
The colored people throughout our
bounds have had full opportunities to
attend our preaching, but most generally
they have declined using them. There
have been no special efforts in the last
year for their separate religious instruc-
ton.
We would conclude this report by say
ing that what we need is the presence of
Gods Almighty Spirit to revive us and
to bring dead sinners to life, and for this
we earnestly invoke your prayers.
S. W. WATKINS, no,,,,,,;t,..
S. TAYLOR MARTIN, O0"'"''''SS'
If you want to be nothing, just wait