The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
MALARIA versus PREsBYTERIANIsM

gina IN WDlcn freSOyCerIanlsm uOee hoo eeeu
to flourish. In many counties of the tide
water region, in the bounds of East Hanove
resbytery--which might be named-no
one Presbyterian church can be found
Presbyterian preaching is seldom if evel
heard, and in some counties Hue Pres6y
terian is unknown.
An interesting inquiry here arises. Why
is it so? Is it because other evangelical dc
nominations, Baptists, Methodists, and Epis
copalians completely occupy the field !; tha
their labors have been so abundantly blessed
as to bring all the people within the gospe
fold, leaving for Presbyterians nothing tc
do? Will any one say that the people Of
this region are more noted for pie,J than
their neighbOrs :?
Il it because there is something about the
doctrines, preaching, or manner of living Of
Presbyterians unsuited to the population p
The first Presbyterian churches planted in
this State by Mackenzie and Davies of bless
ed memory, were in the tide,water region,
in the counties of Accomac and Hanover.
Has the character of the people, or of Pres.
byterianism changed since that time so as to
unfit them for each other?
But to one of the reasons which have been
given for the low state of Presbyterianism,
particular attention is asked. Malaria
bad air-giving rise to chills and fevers, and
the like maladeS, which prevail extensively
in this part of the State, exertS, it is said, a
potent influence against the growth and
spread of Presbyterianism. We are told
that when one of the churches calls pastor,
he or his friends ask, EDO chills and fevers
prevail there p If they do, the call is de.
clined; or if accepted and the pastor settled,
in year or two he resigns his charge to
seek a more healthful location, if not solely
on account of malaria, still malaria has some
thing to do with it. An instance is well
known of vacant church which called pro.
missing, highly gifted, talented young preach
er, and greatly delighted and encouraged
at the prospects for pastor. But he learn
ed that there we're chills and fevers in the
bounds of the congregation, and therefore
would not accept the call. This is not a
solitary case, it is said; other similar ones
could be mentioned. Few of the churches
retain their pastors longer than four or FIVE
years, except it may be some of the city
churches which grant their pastors leave of
absence during the sckly season. All this,
we are told, tends to prevent ministers from
being settled in these places, tends to discour-
age, to chill the people in their Efforts to Sc
cure pastors, and thus malaria greatly him
ders the growth and spread Of Presbyterian
ism.
But is it true, that malaria, with its atten-
dant maladies prevails to such an alarming
extent as to render it hazardous, unsafe, for
Presbyterian ministers to settle there and
preach the gospel to their dying fellow men
around? Churches and preachers of other
denominations are found there; malaria is
never by them assigned as reason why their
work should not 60 on. Lawyers, Doctors,
Teachers, professional men, pursue their av-
ocations there, Notwithstanding, or in spite
of .chills and fevers. 1t is true, that at the
close of the late war, and for some time
after, according to medical authorities there
were causes calculated to give rise to mala-
ria more extensively than before, even in
places when chills and fevers were at one
time unknown. But during the past year
or two sickness has greatly lessened. Sick
all through the land; that place where they
are totally unknown, would not be the place
for PresbyterianS or any of preachers to la
Dor. Statistics taken from the records of a
Presbyterian church situated just in the
midst of region noted for chills and feVers,
show that out of membership of more than
one hundred and twenty, only nine have died
during the last FIVE years, not one from dis
ease induced by malaria; nearly all very aged
persons-more than three score and ten years
old. Only one pastor has been removed by
death from that church for more than fifty
years as far back as can be ascertained.-
The records of other churches in East Han.
over Presbytery would probably give similar
facts.
There is then surely, if the foregoing
statements are true, nothing in the sanitary
condition of this region so appalling as tc
deter Presbyterian ministers from settling il
any part of it to which they may be called
Even admitting that malaria in its most nox
ious form, sickness the most deadly, were
before and around them, ought they to re
frain from preaching the gospel of the king
dom to perishing men? The apostle Pau
on his way to Jerusalem where bonds anC
Affections awaited him, declared, q" But nom
of these things move me, neither count 1 m.
life dear unto myself SO that 1 might fnisl
my course with Joy, and the ministry whicl
I have received of the Lord Jesus, to teStif.
the gospel of the grace of God" With thi
example before them, aud animated by tn
like spirit, what shall hinder their labOrs
Is malaria valid reason for the low state Q
Presbyterianism in East Hanover Presby
terry? b. NJ D.
A MAN in the West who has an immens
!. | II L. ,,;,;ton GA foot cnuar