The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-04-06

better. The Executive Committee OF Missions
would not be likely to make him the depository OF
its affairs. We do know, however, that the Lord
has dealt very graciously with us in this matter,
so that from year to year our General Assemblies,
upon receiving the report of its wise aud beloved
Secretary, has been filed with gratitude But if
the statement is correct there is grave reason to
doubt that the Neao York Observer is the source
from which the deficit can be supplied. If the
Observer will turn to the columns of its neighbour
the Neao York Evangelist, of March oath, 1t will
find an elaborate and very remarkable statement of
the destitutions of the Northern Presbyterian
Church, as now united. From this carefully pre-
pared paper it appears that to meet the demands
of that Church, and keep from falling behind,
they need one hundred and ninety new ministers
every year; but instead OF this they have only
seveati,fue or eighty! The writer, DR.. L. D. Nor
ris, of Lane Seminary, speaks In mourntul strains
of 1.-THE appalling fact that there are scores and
hundreds of Presbyterian churches at the West, !"
this refers solely to those now in connection with
the united Church, "that are languishing and
perishing for the lack of men to preach to them
the truth as it is in Christ. ="
Our Church has received from benevolent Chris
tians at the North valuable sympathy, both In
word and deed, to repair destituuons occasoned,
not so much by the fate of as by the barbarity
of Northern soldiers in their wanton destruction of
churches and plumber of private property. II the
Observer will search in its own columns for the
statement of the Rev. DR.. Stevenson, Secretary OF
the American Tract Society, he will find the ruth
less destruction of this sort made by Sherman S
army encouraged thereto by that ofhcer estimated
mt about three millions of dass in North and
South Carolina alone. There are many of our
Northern fellow Christians who have felt deeply
for us under all this, and for the kind and geuer
Gus way in which they have sympathized with us
our people are deeply grateful. The Ne,o York
Observer has not been slow in blowing trumpet
respecting its own aims to the South, but those
who may remember the article we republished
from its columns in 1867, part of which is here
quoted again, may possibly remember the -sneer-
ing insult with which it referred to portion Of
our destitute people, in the very breath with which
| it proclaimed its own generosity. But let thai
pass; what we intended to point out was the fac
that, while grateful for all instances of gentleman
ly, Christian sympathy, our churches cannot, ought
not to look for much more from the North. They
will have their own hands full.
8. The meeting of our General Assembly is neal
at hand, and the question of reunion presented in
the paper adopted by the Northern Old School
Assembly of last year, will come officially before
it. We know OF no intelligent person in oul
Church who thinks any organic union practicable
To the wisdom of its highest judicatory under the
guidance of the Divine Spirit, we can all cheer
| fully leave this great subject
But the Observer, it seems has issued its impe
rial edict in advance. Shall is great word
used by big people-or those who imagine them
selves so. True Christian unity is indeed pre-.
cious thing, which no true Christian heart can
over-value; but We submit that, (if so small an
element may enter into so great question: the
light in which the Observer is placed by the toC
pictures here brought into juxta position, is such
as to create in Southern Presbyterians any thing
but yearniug for its closer embrace. A prime
necessity in all such matters is not profession, but
priactple Honest people do not fancy the men o.
hoo pictures