The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-10-18
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
PRESBYTERIAN Comm. OF EDUCATION, |
Richmond, Va., Sept. 20, 1871.

Richmond, Va., Sept. 20, 1871.
The Executive Committee of Education
respectfully calls the attention of the pas
tors and sessions of our Church to the time
appointed by the General Assembly for the
annual collection for this cause, which is the
first Sabbath in November, or the most con-
venient Sabbath before or after that date.
In making this announcement the Committee
desires to call the attention of our brethren
to the marked progress which this cause has
made from the beginning. Every year there
has been advancement, both in the number
of students seeking the sacred office, and in
the contributions of the churches, notwith-
standing the many causes of embarrassment
with which our people have been encumbered'
and the difficulties which this Committee has
had to encounter in accomplishing its mis-
sion. But already the Church has COM
menced to overtake its desolations, and dur
ing the last year, there has been an increase
of seventeen in our total ministerial force.
Owing to many causes, there was steady
decrease of ministers during the war and
subsequently, until the present time. Our
institutions of learning were left with de-
serted halls, owing to the absence of our
young men in the army; and when the war
was over, the young brethren who otherwise
would have sought their way to our Semina.
ries, and from thence into the ministry, were
no longer to be found Some had passed
from earth; some found new responsibilities
devolved upon them, which diverted them
to other callings; and poverty everywhere
confronted US. Meanwhile the ravages Of
death were thinning the ranks of the minis
try; some went out from us who were not of
US; and the purgation of the rolls of our
Presbyteries made an apparent decrease,
when there was no actual diminution. Moth
ing daunted by its discouragementS, the
Church assumed its new responsibilities; in
answer to its prayers God blessed its work; (;
the halls of our Seminaries and Colleges
soon began to fill up; and now the Church
has already commenced to reap the abun,
dant fruit. We trust, hereafter, under Gods
gracious blessing, the watchword will be,
Coward" and that every succeeding year
will show still greater increase in the ranks
of the ministry, than has marked the past
year.
A most encouraging ground of hope pre-
sents itself in the present condition of our
institutions of learning. Our Seminaries
and Colleges have all opened with enlarged
classes, and the number looking toward the
gospel ministry is steadily increasing. When
it was announced to the General Assembly
in Baltimore in 1858, that there were about
100 young men under the care of our respec-
tive PreSbyteries, in the various stages of
preparation for the ministry, it filled that
venerable court and the whole church with
gratitude and JOY. But now we rejoice to
know that there are one hundred in our
theological halls putting on the harness for
the work. Truly, God has done good unto
Israel, and ia accomplishing wonders for us,
whereof our hearts should be glad.
But these blessings which God sends im-
pose on US new obligations. The amount of
money necessary to defray the expenses Of
these students is in proportion to their mum
berS; and when God hears our prayers, and
puts it into the hearts ofour youth to devote
themselves to the work, it makes our obliga-
tions imperative to furnish the means. Many
of these beloved young brethren are even
now Straitened for the want of money, which
ought at once to be furnished to them. This
Committee is wholly dependent on the
Church for its ability to meet the heavy
calls pressing on it. We indulge the hope
however, that as manifestation of pious
gratitude to the King and Head of the
Church who. has done such great things fol
US. the contributions will be general aud
prompt, and more liberal than ever before
for the necessity is greater, the claims com
ing on US heavier than at any previous time
The General Assembly, at its last meet
ing, adopted resolutions which will econo
mize the resources of the Committee, so al
to make the contributions of the churches
accomplish the largest results; and the Com
mittee of Publication has resolved to max,
the salaries of the officers who are PLACED
over these two interests, sole charge upor
its treasury; so that there will be no deduc
ton from the contributions of the churche
to pay officers salaries or rent; but with tn
exception of some small incidental charges
authorized by the General Assembly, tn
whole sum which may be contributed by tn
churches will go to the support of the can
didates.
t By order of the Committee,
E. 7. BAIRD,
Secretary Of Publication.
. PS. This circular is sent, under the authorit,
of the General Assembly, to the Sessions of all ou
churches, in sufficient numbers to enable them t
place a copy in the hands of every member of tn
Church, with the hope thereby of elicting the in
+eraot of all our neonle and ohtan;no oontrhut;o