The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-30
Thoughts on Sustentation.

Paul entrea.ed somebody "to help those
women who labored with him in the gospel
at Phillippi."
That somebody was not Paul's wife; but
perhaps EpaphrodituS, the pastor, one of the
elders, or some of "the women who resorted
to the riverside for prayer"
However this may be, the truth was, there
were women at Phillippi who sustained the
cause of Christ, and who needed help. We
are not an apostle, nor the son of an apos-
tie, but we can say just as truly that there
are women in our churches now, who are
sustaining the good cause and who need help
And they are not only ministers wives. 1t
will never be known in this world how much
they are doing to sustain the Church. But
many Christian mothers have the heart and
hand to "labor with their pastor in the gos-
pel" Where is the church in which no fe-
male members are to be found? We know
of none.
The pious mother is the last one to give
up and say we can't support pastor. She
will 90 to preaching and prayer meeting and
Sunday School, if she has but half chance.
None but godly Christian mother will go
through SO much labor and 60 round so
many difficulties, in order to attend church.
Men, in all the walks of society, speak Of
the trials occasioned by the war; but who
feels more really the effects of our social
revolution than the pious mothers of our old
country congregations! They do not speak
of their difficulties and advocate their claims
for aid in Congress, in the Legislature, in
court, and by the press. And yet, go where
you will to worship on the Sabbath, and you
will find these ladies, as of old, praying,
praising, giving and sustaining every good
work by their presence and influence
How they get there and appear so well,
is hard to tell. They sew-they spin-they
weave-they mend-they keep house-they
nurse-they cook-they do the honors at
the table and in the parlor-they teach the
children-they work the garden, and they
90 to Church. There is no use to say these
duties can't be done by lady, though it
has the appearance of an impossibility.-
But we know, that unless the world comes
to sudden end and society ceases ito exist,
they have to be done by somebody; and woe
be unto man, when the good women of the
land say, ''hands off these duties. They
talk but little outside their own circle; and
if, in their meetings at home, by the way
and at church, they do not always agree in
their plans for doing good, is it to be won
dered at? If Euodias and Syntyche disa-
gree in their minds about some things, how
sad the consequences and yet how likely
they are to disagree.
Fathers, brothers, sons, husbands, pas
tors, elders, deaconsl help these women.-
Does the minister appreciate the presence
of his female members on the Sabbath? Ii
so, he will be sure to have warm place in
his sermon. Soft, tender food will be served
up for them, that they may go home sus-
tained in faith and hope. And will not the
elders of our churches-"the true yoke-fel
lows of the paste" BE entreated also to
help these women? Oh! what would be-
come of the Church if these women were to
quit their labors, and cease to frequent the
Lords house and to smile on religious enter
prisesl When they do this, the fathers may
sit, like Eli of old, "by the wayside, watch
ing, for their hearts will tremble for the ark
of God" These beloved women are sus-
tanning the Church all over our Southern
land, every day, quietly, continually, labo-
riously and often, with sad hearts. They
ouqht to be helped. Paul said so, and we
believe, if he were here now, be would ar
que this matter, and perhaps he would say,
what is a Board of DeacOns for, if they do