The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-05-18
How a Church was Repaired.

At the close OF the recent war, q minister
lot was cast in little village among the
mountains. 1t had been occupied by both
armies, and was scene of desolation. He
opened school, and proposed to take hay,
corn, beef, pork, wood and -four for tuition.
Nothing was said about money. Among the
pupils was pleasant, studious lad, who ap-
plea himself very closely to his old second
hand books of Latin and mathematics. To-
wards spring the teacher and a young minis
ter who preached statedly in the village,
agreed to hold series of meetings, with
special reference to revival of religion in
the school and community. Of the village
church scarcely anything but the shell re-
mained, and it seemed impossible to get any
one to set about putting the building in pro-
per order for public worship. One day the
teacher met a man in the street driving an
OK team. He asked for the loan of the team
few hours. The man readily consented,
and the two proceeded to neighboring saw
mill, and procured load of slabs. By hard
begging two young mechanics, one of whom
went to church but very seldom, were in
duced to assist him one morning to make
seats and put them in the church. This was
Saturday morning.
CALL TO THE MINISTRY.
The following Thursday night the meet
ing was opened by the teacher. He carried
wood, made the fire, rang the bell, raised
the tunes, and preached. This occurred for
two or three evenings In the meantime,
the other minister arrived, and matters be-
gan to assume a more interesting aspect
Some persons came forward, and rendered
efficient aid to the teacher in his duty as
sexton. The proposition now was, eff you
two fellows will do the preaching, and the
praying, some of US will attend to bell ring
ing and fires and sweeping out the house. .
In about week persons began to remain
for prayer and inquiry, and then there was
much to cheer the hearts of the hitherto
responding Christians. Among the number
was the pleasant young student. He laid
hold of Jesus. Many felt that the dying
prayer of sainted mother, and the prayer
of a pious widowed sister had been heard
For four years he has been student, pre-
pairing to preach the gospel, and this is the
way he writes to his former teacher:
81 can realize the whole truth of the wise
mans words, much study iSa weariness o.
the flesh, inasmuch as I feel so tired
Since we have risen so high in the world thai
the dignifed title of University is scarcely
sufficient for US, of course the students must
keep beating the ar with weary wings tc
keep themselves from falling. The task
however, has almost proved too hard for me
and I therefore declined the honor offered
me Yesterday of delivering the valedictory
address. 1 feel that though the honor is
great. the tax on my exhausted strength
would be more than the honor would repay
You will pardon me for speaking of this, con
sidering it is your pupil reporting progress
IF [ know my own heart, | want to be use
full man in the world, and it matters no
whether am considered great in the eye'
of the world or not, if the allseeing eye il
watching me, and my labors are in the ser
vice of my Master. l want to work-0OrJ
qnqwhere and everywAere, that there is
soul to be saved My heart often yearns t.
preach the Gospel to the very people among
whom my youthful days were spent"
To get such a letter as this from som
other precious youth, one of your correspon
dents is ready to go for another load Of slabs
should it be the Lords will.-Cor. Of CHRIS
fann OhSerner.