The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-02-03

lister, seeded from our General Assembly and
united with the Northern Presbyterans This
party we're permitted to retain possession OF the
church building and now use it. The members OF
the church who remained faithful to our Southern
Church. including three of the five elders quietly
withdrew from all participation IN the affairs OF
the congregation and have been up to this time
without place of worship, or the regular minis
try of the ordinances. There are yet remaining in
Austin and vicinity about twenty OF these persons,
scattered as sheep without shepherd, yet faithful
to their principles and unseduced by the efforts OF
other denominations to withdraw them from US.
Many considerations which will at once present
themselves, urge the great importance OF having
minister of our own Church to occupy this held.
There is abundant room in Austin for another
church The Northern Presbyterians there have
no prospect Of permanent success, ana VIII pre-
sent little hindrance if any, to the success OF our
own Church. Presbyterans in sympathy with us
are continually visiting Austin and settling there.
and they will be LOST to our Church II we do not
provide the ordinances of religion for them. Our
brethren in every part Of the State urge the I'M
portance of our occupying this field at once: Our
| people in Austin are anxious to have minister,
and will do much to sustain him. Ihey promise
at least five hundred dollars in coin for the first
year for his support. [ am confident that In one
year a suitable minister could gather self sup
porting congregation.
The Kind of Ministers Needed in Texas" desire
more particularly to urge the importance of send
ing to Texas only such ministers as will be both
able and willing to devote their entire time and
powers to their one work as ministers. 1t will, in
my judgment, be waste and abuse OF the funds
| of the Church to apply them to the support there
of men who will teach school or engage in any
other employment during the week. and give to
the church only their Sundays andthe odds and
ends of time left from their sNorldly business. A
great deal of the work required to be done in Texas
! in order to build up the Church, must be done on
of the pulpit, by personal intercourse with the
people. So few attend the services of the sanctu-
airy, that they can be reached and brought under
the power of the gospel only by one who will 20
after them and privately and PERSONAL lily seek to
win them to Christ A minister 10 Texas who
buries himself in his study all the week. will not
accomplish much more than one who is occupied
in schocl-room or on farm.
Texas demands also men of energy of action,
earnest and diligent spirit, who are not only viii
ling, but who lore to work men who will not yield
to disbursements and difficulties; men who will
preach with earnestness and animation in the pull.
pit and out of it, be wide awake and alive not only
to seize, but to seek every possible opportunity to
do something Tor the cause.
Every where in Texas our friends said to me,
DO not send us Ldzy feeble timid, foolish men.
They can Go nothing here.
One thing more. It. was said to me by one OF
the most judcious men [ saw in Texas, . We wish
the Committee to send us few men of some years
and experience in the ministry to be guides and
counseors, to organise and direct our affairs, Let
the rest be young men, The suggestion seemed
to me wise and worthy of you. consideration.
Montgomery Presbytery will be pro re
nota meeting of Montgomery Prcsbytery held in
lst Church. Lynchburg, on the 10th of February,
at 10 o'clock A NJ, to consider the proprety Of
dissolving the pastoral relation between Rev. T.
L. Preston and the church of Salem, and dismiss
ing Mr.. Preston to the Presbytery of East Hano
yer in accordance with his applications and the call
of the LIST Church, Richmond, for his pastoral ser
vices. Also, to receive the application Of Rev. p.
B. Price TO be admitted as member of this Pres.
bytery, and when he shall have been admitted, il
the way be clear, to place in his hands a call from
the High Bridge church for his pastoral services,
and take such steps with regard to his installation
as to the Presbytery may seem best