The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-16
ADDRESS OF MIR. DICKINSON.

tbe COMMITTEES ~ taLe some little part in the
sOemnities of this interesting occasion anu Is u
me a source of regret that L can har1y nope 10
add ANYTHING to the interest or prontaoe entertain
ment of the Assembly. Following the 9lstlngulShe9
and learned Professor from South Garo!na, ana
the well informed and deVo1eu young proth9r Ilol5
nv own State, who are so much better informed
than / am on such subjects, have little hope OF
Offering anything, either fresh or striking or even
of leaving the impress Of my own footprints -
And vet | should be sorry, If not ashamed IL
at any time or place, had not one word to speak
in furtherance of the object for which we are met;
Mr. Moderator, the proclamation OF the 1ospeI
to the tChole world Is God S great eommiSSiY. u
his Church. This holy mission has higher caIus
man Glbrstians of the present age, than when hrst
oStabisbed nv the Great Head of the Church Inc
mandate uttered to the Disciples and handed down
bv them through succeeding generations, Is as
potential and imperative to us tonight as when
the Master enioined upon his servants eighteen
hundred years ago, " Go We into all the Worio' ana
preach the Gospel to every creature. ana I9!S
Injunction, though delivered originally 20 his
Preaching Disciples, applies with fearful import
to every disciple, in every condition OF te to De
obeyed and respected in their several spheres, and
according to their several ability and If we may
not literally, with our own voices and IN our own
persons preach that Gospel, we may each, oy pre-
eeDt and example, BY godly walk and eonSclenu'
ouslv united and concerted effort and agency
recommend that Gospel to sinful world, and thus
preach it.
This work, so long begun so much delayed, at
fords field for useful effort so vast In extent and
so gigantic in it's proportions as almost to bewllder
the understanding. When we think that OF the
600, 900 millions of human souls on the earth
only POO OOO 600 Tor less than Onequarter) Oh them
are ROnaiRally Christian and Of that number,
many with their minds so little enlightened and so
much beclOuded By bigotry and superstition, as
like the man of old ITO see trees like men walk
ing" we have a prospect wide enough to engage
the attention and enlist the efforts OF all the Chris
tan world.
But the report of the Committee, Just read,
iseoses another fact so startling, that ask leave
to call especial attention to it; and indeed, 1t was
for that reason alone that consented to occupy
the time of the Assembly for few moments: 1t
is that more than half of all the churches IN our
connexiOn, seem for the past year to have done
nothing for this great cause.
feel no disposition to make unklnd comments
on this apparent delinquency. L know TOO Wen
the unexampled condition Of the country and the
impoyerishment of the people. come nom
State that has borne on Its bosom the orunt OF tne
late disastrous war. Painful experience has made
US familiar with deserted homes and deSoated
farms-with sacked cities and riAed churches
with villages in ashes and towns in ruins we are
no strangers to suffering and poverty. With VIVID
reeOectOns of personal participation IN the trials
and privationS-the suferings and sacrifices OF a
conquered and down-trOdden people-tar be IL
from me to scrutinize with uneharitable criticism,
the seeming dehnqUencies Of impoverished Chrls-
tians.
But making all due allowances for these causes
there is reason to apprehend that we have not
done what we could Then, forgetting the
past-with neither censure nor praise, let us begin
anew, and determine with Gods help to make the
ensuing year distinguished above all others-f not
in the extent of our Obfgations-in the selt-deny-
ing devotion with which we give the widows
mite. -
And if we have nothing else to give, let US give
our prayers, our sympathies and our efforts to up
hold and sustain the servants Of God who like
my young friend who has Just addressed you, }
turning their backs on their own native homes,
and Severing perhaps forever paternal and frater-
nal ties go to distant heather lands to labor for
the good Of souls. Responding to the touching
appeal he has Just made to US IN his own behalf,
let US now pledge him that wherever he goes, amid
all the trials and hardShiDs to which he may be
subjected he viii be followed by the prayers OF
Christians at home.
Let US further inquire whether we may not add
to that hOnOred band Of brethren
Christian parents who has Q son to devote to
this work2 Who in this vast assembly is ready
to give himself to Gods service in this inviting
field?
Christian young men Just entering on the
threshold of life, who of you is willing to trust
God for your recOmpense, and to labor in the dark
places of the earth to spread the light and kuowl-
. edge of His goSpel2
In dedicating yourselves to His service, you sol
EMMY engaged to do His work wherever duty
called. Consider well, each one for hSmself' wheth-
er God has not called you 70 Pr0ce-1pthe unsearch
able riches of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ to
a world lying in wi6SednesS.
| shall net attempt to persuade you that 1t Is an
easy service Christ has not so taught, Take
MP YOUR cross and follow me, was the Saviour
great command lis no bed of roses on which
YOU are invited to lie. But remember that IN this
arduOus service you have the OmnipOtent arm OF
the Almighty God pledged to sustain and support
you; and the untailng promises OF that God that
you shall not lack in his service. lsnot this enoughF
Did you seek worldly enjoyment alone, the salts
faction of accomplishing such good to your race,
is sufficient for the highest aspirations OF the Chris
tan heart.
Behold the countless millions of human beings,
with souls as precious and priceless as yours and
mine, to-day bowling down to stocks and stones,
ignorant even of the very existence OF the true
God and look forward In the tar distant future
when the light and liberty of the gospel shall have
penetrated the dark places OF the earth:-when
human strife shall have ceased when the shield
of battle shall have been turned into the plOw-
share, and the blood stained sword into the prun-
ming hook when wars and rumors of war,
shall be no more on the earth, and peace and good
will universally prevail among men:-when the
distant heather lands now distracted by fraternal
strife, shall TEEN with smiling villages where quiet
and order rule supreme with pOpulous cities
whose wharyeS shall whiten with an opulent COM
meIce-whoSe shops hum with busy industry,
and whose spires point TO that haven OF eternal
rest to which we look forward with joyful hopes.
And then from thousand happy hearts, and hap
py homes, now enveloped in thick darkness and
heathenish idOlatry, shall arise thanksgiving and
praises to God that he put it into your hearts to
send to them the living preacher and the printed
Bible
For this glorious eonsummatiOn, let US labor
with new energy, till all mankind shall see the sal
walton of God
The congregation then sang the last two stanzas
of the hymn,
From Greenland's icy mountains.