The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-05-24
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
N arrative

Ofhe Resbytery OF Lexington to the General As,
seably of the Presbyterian Church IN the United
States
In narrating to the General Assembly the state
of Religion within our bounds, we feel called upon
to render deyout thanks to our blessed Lord, for
his goodness in granting seasons of refreshing to
nine of our churches, viz: Augusta, Broadway,
Cookies Creek, Lexington, Lock Willow, Mount
Carmel, Mossey Greek, Staunton and Wiiamsville.
AS the fruits of this work OF grace, one hundred
and seventy persons have been added to our Com
munion. Thus while many sinners have been
brought to Christ, the people OF God have ex-
perienced an increase of spirituality and zeal in
his service.
In most of the other churches the tone of piety
is healthful and the evidences of progress in the
work of the Lord encouraging Sabbath Schools
are attracting larger share of attention in our
Presbytery than at any former period of its history
Twenty -four churches report Sabbath Schools, and
eighteen churches report Bible Glasses in operation
within their bounds.
Of the Sabbath Schools three are for the cOored
people.
These Sabbath Schools and Bible Glasses are for
the most part we'll attended, and afford encourag-
| ing promise of good Twelve OF our churches have
| adopted the plan of weekly collections and with
gratifying success. The reports of nineteen church
es speak of family visitation as attended to by the
pastor alone or in connection with the elders, while
only fifteen churches report the general observance
of family worship.
| The contributions to objects of benevolence,
| during the present year do not differ much in
amount, from what they were last year, but we feel
constrained to say that they fall far short Of what
is necessary to impart efficiency to our Church in
| fulfilling the Commission OF our Divine Lord and
Master, Go We into all the world and preach the
Gospel to every creature" While the fields at
home and abroad are white for the harvest; not
only is there grievous want of laborers but dis
tressng dearth of contributions to sustain even the
few young men who have devoted themselves to
the work of the ministry, but are without the
| means necessary to attain the object OF their
wishes There is scarcely any feature in the pres
ent aspect of the church more to be depored, than
the obvious Indifference in Christian parents to the
duty of consecrating their sons to the gospel min
istry the aversion of young men protesting godll'
ness to enter the sacred office, and the backward
ness, OF our people in supplying the means to
facilitate the progress of candidates in preparing
tor the great and glorious work to which the Lord
has called them. The profession of law and medi-
cine well as other secular vocators are crowded
to excess, while the wide fields of usefulness in the
ministry are spread out in full view, with here and
there solitary aborer, echoing the solemn inter,
| rogatory of the Saviour, "Why stand We here al
the day idle?" But we need not tarry before tn
scene, INDUCING dependency and giving vent
fruitess lamentation, He that died for sinners
furnishes the remedy, Pray ye the Lord of the
harvest that he will send forth laborers into his
harvest" Consistency in the utterance of this
prayer requires that we should cherish and expect
gracious revivals in our churches These have al
ways proved the fruitful sources of supplies for the
sacred work. Our pastors and churches should
regard it as an important part of their response
bility to induce young men in their respective COM
munities to consider the duty of entering the min-
istry. Even small church struggling to maintain
existence by furnishing a single candidate who
proves useful in the ministry, may accomplish
greater good than many larger churches that are
deficient in this regard. And in whatever numbers
pious young men may offer themselves, the people
of God should see to it that they be not retarded
by lack Of means in entering upon the blessed
work.
The expression of these views does not spring
from any special deficiency in the number of young
men preparing for the ministry under our care
We are truly thankful to be able to report as many
as eight who are in advanced stages of preparation
for the sacred calling In retrospect for the pas
year, with regard both to our own deficiencies and
the goodness of God we feel inspired, we trust
from above, with determination to grid ap oul
loins and prosecute with renewed vigor the WORK
which has been assigned us " oar bic "a u Ser