The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-02
For TIE CENTRAL Presbyterian.
THE MONTHLY CONCERT.

By request of one of our city elders
whose praise is in all the churches, vii
make few remarks in regard to the Month
ly Concert, as a sequel to my articles OF
Foreign Missions. Some of our Presbyte-
ries have recommended its observance to the
churches, but I hear nothirg of it near me.
AS many of cur members take no religious
paper, AID the struggles of our brethren
abroad are O. sight and out of mind ;
they know b. and feel but little
knowledge, n and accurate knowledge,
is necessary to- ling and action; and to
inspire light and ife, Ee must eettogether
and kindle the fame at the same ALTAR OF
love and sympathy. An hour spent in the
earnest exercises Of monthly concert, will
do more good than whole month, or per-
haps twelve months. spent in the ordinary
way. This is especially important in oui
country congreea;. Is that have little preach
ing, or none at ell, and constitute the great
majority. The last command Of our ascend
ing Saviour was, go ye into all the world
and preach the Gospel to every creature;
and this was the great object he had in view
in all he did and suffered. The word Chris
tian properly signifies Christike, having the
same spirit of oveifowiDg love, that, like a
golden chain, would bind together in har
mony all the world, and all the throne o
God. But why is it not done? Because
the wise virgins have too long slumbered and
slept with the foolish But now few begin
to see and feel. The language of the sounds
and signs in our day is, " Behold, the Bride
groom cometh," and it is time to wake ny
and trim our lamps. In our youth little was
done in this work, and some good men had
serious doubts about the propriety of it,
looking upon the whole pretty much as
money and labor lost. But now we hear
that, Notwithstanding the gross Ignorance
and deep rooted prejudices of the heather,
our earnest brethren abroad are fully as sue
cessful as those at home. We hear of about
300 900 converts in India alone, including
Burmah and the adjacent islands. And
these new recruits are patterns Of zeal, and
sending missionaries to regions beyond
MANY have heard of the moral revolution in
Madagascar, as of nation born in day,
and of the great church of Hilo, in the
Sandwich Islands, of 10000 members. The
difficulties of the work are great, but when
the Master gave the command, he said, "Lo,
l am with you always, even unto the end OF
the world" To use the language Of the
Sunday School Times, This growing inter
est is evidently the work of Gods Spirit,
and teaches that the rising generation is
prepared for the es'angslizatiOn of the world.
The doors God has so wonderfully opened
to the nations which for ages have been sit
ting in darkness, are to be entered by the
boys and girls of our Sabbath Schools. :"
And we find that while many of them are
are happily converted, the children of sim
gle Sabbath School, well instructed, will
sometimes contribute more to the cause OF
missions than some of our large and wealthy
congregations. We have wealth. enough, or
waste enough, to contribute more than double
our present amount for all objects, and no.
body hurt But the lust of the flesh, the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, call
for all we have, and more than all. Fine
tables, fine clothes, fne houses, &C., are a
crushing tax these hard times. By mbibiug
the spirit of the world, as distinguished
writer observes, we have thrown opprobrium
on the voluntary poverty of Christ, obscured
the distinctive spirituality of his kingdom,
and brought into question the very reality
of his religion. May We not then hope that
our pastors and elders will consider more
seriously the Importance of the Monthly
OO0Cert, duu vi cA w OOHnV, Oiu "NN
young, male and female, and not forget to
give kind invitation to all denominations
of Christians. This single institution might
result in revival spirit, and give new i'm
pulse to every gocG word and work. The
people will soon learn that their whole duty
is not done when they go to church once or
twice month to hear sermon, and then
return home and dc nothing; but will feel
more for those at home as well as those
abroad. And they may get an insight into
the paradox that, "It is more blessed to
give than to receive" To secure good at
tendance in the country, when there is
preaching, it may be best to meet at nine
clock, and postpone other duties to later
hour. SENEX
DEAN STANLEY, Of Westminster, in clos
ing sermon on Good Work vs Good Words
quoted the following lines, of which, he said