The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-02
VOICE TO BE Needed.


lowing facts: That one year ago our As
sembly's Committee on Education had
Is young brethren receiving aid upon the
recommendation of their respective Pres
byteries that when our General Assem-
bly, met last May, they had 43; that now
they have SO; that the Rev. DIR. Baird,
our Secretary, told the last Assembly
that he had information of as many as
Y candidates for the ministry among our
churches, and was satisfied there were
not less than 100 whose hearts desire
was to preach the Gospel; that there are
now los candidates, aud the Secretary is
satisfied there are not less than 200 who
are longing to prepare themselves for
the holy work.
We then asked "What is the voice of
these wonderful facts ?" The facts GER
tainly are remarkable as indicating a
most rapid increase in the number of
our candidate, and now reaching a high
er aggregate than We have ever known at
any former period within the bounds of
the Presbyteries constituting cur Church.
This fact has a voice which our churches
cannot disregard. If the Head of the
Church has placed the work of the
ministry foremost in the propagation
of his Gospel in the earth, nothing can
be palmer than the supreme necessity of
having full supply of well-trained, god
ly men to enter upon it? Who does not
know, that at this hour the crying
demand among our vacant churches and
waste places where new churches ought
to be started, is" Can't you send us a
preacher? p 1t has been estimated that
at the close of the war our Church I'm
GLIDING the United Synod now with us
had in one way or another about one
hundred ministers less than when it be
gan. Deep anxiety began to be felt.
The most thoughtful among us, men of
age and of counsel-men accustomed to
look forward and lay plans for the vel
fare of Zion, began to ask mournfully,
"what are we coming to p Must the
ways of Zion be left to mourning and
desolation? This affecting prospect led,
we believe, to much earnest prayer that
the "Lord of the harvest would re
member us in mercy.
Has He not heard those prayers =? Is
he not answering them in a wonderful
manner? He has touched the hearts of
many of our choice young brethren, and
they are now declaring their earnest de-
sire to serve him in the work of preach
ing the blessed Gospel, as soon as the
Church shall judge them we'll prepared.
Here we are beginning to gather some
of the precious fruits of that great work
of grace which for years so NIGHTLY pre-
vailed in our army. 1t may be doubted
whether its parallel is to be found in the
history of any war. Its extent was
amazing; its commences commanded
the confidence of our most judicious and
pious ehaplains of every name. Many
of its subjects were men of fine intel
lects, of noble character, and not few
already of excellent education. In view
of this, some of our most SagaciOus breth-
rem, as we remember, declared their per-
suasion at the close of the war, that from
the ranks of these converts the Church
es of all denominations in the South
would, after little while, secure a min
istry of very superior material-men
whose characters had been thoroughly
tested. Strange, indeed, if among SO
many personally dedicating themselves to
the Saviour, a goodly number should not
find themselves moved by the Spirit of
God to preach "the unsearchable riches
of Christ. " So it is now turning out
AT first the desolations and distress at
hOme-the pressing question of bread
for father, mother, a brother or sis
ter, imperatively demanded the presence
of these men there. Now that this is
somewhat relieved, the yearning of their
heart returns. Hence the number com
ing forward.
Another fact intimately connected with |
this must not be omitted. Just before
the TIME so many began to grid them
selves for this work, we found eight choice
brethren giving themselves to the Church |
and asking to be sent far hence to the
Gentiles." Not few of our people said,
" what a pity to lose them; we need |
them all at home" But if that cry had |
prevailed in the Primitive Church, tn
Gospel never would have extended be-
yond Jerusalem or Palestine All Church
History shows that the Gospel like the
lOaves and fishes, is multiplied in its dis
tribution; and the best way to keep it at
home is to send it abroad. To contract