The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23
"rHIs HOUSE FOR THE MASTER. "

a. desire to build this house for the Master be-
fore be calls me away" Such is the good work
to which our brother, Dr. Marshall, is addressing
himself in his old age The calls for help in such
things are many, but instead Of being sorry we
ought to rejoice. That will be sad day when, in
such country as ours, filling up with new places,
and forming new centres of population, there shall
be no applications for help in such work as this
The whole country ought to &c alive with it, and
if these enterprises present themselves ~ the pro
violence of God. his voice to US is 10 them.
though they come every month"; week, io>
open our hearts, aud our hands too, as far as we
can. What noble spirit pervades that rule OF
giving in Eccles. xi:2 "Giye portion to seven,
and also to eight;" upon which good old Matthew
Henry has this comment Excuse not thyself
with the good thou hast done, from the good thou
hast further to do, but hold on and mend
After close observation for nearly forty years,
we never knew an instance of a people needing
and earnestly praying for pastor, vino did not OBJ
tain one. And We never knew an instance IN
which people really needing a church, and heart
ily, faithfully laboring TO build one, tailed to &C
compEsh their object. Pastors and houses OF wOr
ship are so necessary for the prosperity of religion
that it does seem as if the Head OF the Church
takes special care that they shall be provided, -
| But he does not build houses by miracle; he stirs
/ up one and another, and makes them instruments
/ in moving others Brother Vass will soon report
/ that church at Kinston, North Carolina as dedi
Gated to the worship Of God Ii Dr. larshalr.
people will DO their very best, and the good broth
er will keep stirring up the gift that is within
him" By which he obtained $500 in Nashville
Presbytery he winot only live to build tbatohurcb
as we trust but may live to preach in it ten or IF
teen years, and have 6ve or six big campaigns LEFT
in him after that.
twill give US pleasure to help in this undertak
ing. and to receive any donations to promote it
There is no appeal we could write half so good al
DIR. Marshal's own letter, which we here give.
TRENTON, Tenn, Aug. nth, 1871.
REV. Dr. Brown-Bear Brother, -Y on will re
t member the conversation that passed between u
( with reference to building a church in Union City
Obion county of this State. You gave me nv
dollars to further the cause, aud said YOU though
that something might be obtained in Virginia.
Now, my dear brother will you be so kind as 4
present the matter 10 your paper Tor the consider
alton OF Virginia PresbyterianS?
After I left the Assembly, | raised within tb
limits of the Nashville Presbytery, five hundre,
dollars The largest amount given by any inCl
vilual was twenty dollars. Almost all the contri
buttons we're small yet, when they were all pa
together. they made the handsome sum Of $500
Now will not our brethren in Virginia do some
thing for Us? They can $-sis-a greaS deal OF goo'
without either depressing themselves or iDjurln!
home interests Surely there can be found IN Vir
einia two hundred Christians who will eheerfully
contribute as much as FIVE dollars each. If two
hundred such cannot be found you certainly can
not fail of finding one hundred who will RESPOND
most cbCerfuily; for DO we not wish to extend GU
borders and to plant Presbyterian churches where
ever practicable? Is is not-OUght 1t tot to be
the duty of every Presbyterian and OF the Churcl
everywhere, to assist as much as possible IN ac
c0mplishiog this great work
The little church at Union City is the only ont
We have IN ObiOn county. We have no othe
church nearer than twenty miles, The town ha
about two thousand inhabitants Ii has two rail
roads running to it and another is expected soon
il Is au important place aud should be occupied a
once unless we are wiling 20 Yield the ground {,
others But we cannot succeed without house
and surely the needed help viii be given Us,
have served the church as her minister nearly
forty six years Wy work will soon be done, but
desire 60 build this house for the Master before bC
calls me away. | beseech my brethren 10 help me
| wish to preach the gospel when | am dead. anC
can accomplish my wish in no better way thar
by building a permanent church. The cause i
Gods, and viii succeed
Your teilow-laborer in the great Vineyard,
NJ. NJ MARSHALL.