The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-11-03
Second Annual Report of the Committee OF
Evangelistic Labor to the Synod of Vir-
GINA at Stanton, October 2lst, 1875


Your Committee has received reports from al
the home Presbyteries and finds some cause fo
encouragement In the Evsngestic work. Pres
byteies are giving more attention TO this subject
making some advances, preparing for others, anC
employing more evangelists. God seems to have
blessed the laborers that have gone forth. The
course of events, which has lessened the ability o.
our people, seems not to have essened their dis
position to aid in this work. There seems to be
no notable change in the numerical force OF your
minister's The number Of vacant and destitute
churches reported is about 20, distributed as fol
lows in East Hanover ., West Hanover l, Roa
uoke s. Montgomery s, Abingdon l. Winchester
8 Chesapeake 2. Most of them are very feeble.
NIL PLAN.
Abingdon Presbytery employs one Evangelist,
Greenbrier two, Winchester one, Chesapeake one,
East Hanover one, West Hanover one and has
taken steps to secure two more, Besides all the
Presbyteries send out pastors and supplies upon
Evahgelisic work, designated in some cases direct
" by the Presbvtery, and in some by Evangelistic
committees. All seem to be aiming to occupy
their fields as rapidly as their means will allow,
with various prospects, to w.t. East Hanover " en-
couragng as far as the work now exleuds' but
hopeless of ultimate occupancy of the whole field
embraced in her bounds; Roanoke hopeful i;
Montgomery "very encouraging" Abingdon
encouraging but Slow" Greenbrier very little
progress; at certain points we could build up our
Church if we had the men and the mssns;" Win
chester good progress in our main field, where
our worthy evangelist has gathered in good many
on profession of their faith. " Abingdon and Win
chester say it must be long time before they can
occupy their whole field, and Greenbrier says g it
is an utter impossibty to occupy our whole field y
West Hanover reports little progress, very lit
te," and the prospects of success good if we had
enough jealous laborers No Presbytery seems
to expect early success.
Abingdon has sent an evangelist during the year
into the counties of Scott, RUSSELL and Tazewell
Montgomery has occupied the counties of Giles
aud Mercer, besides organizing two churches in
Roanoke aud Botetourt couties. East Hanover
drops the names of Sussex and Nansemond from
last years list of vacant counties, and inserts the
rural districts Of DinWiddie and Norfolk counties
1t has also advanced to the oCcunation of New
Kent, Charles City, James City, York. Elizabeth
Ctv and Warwick counties by one evangelist
This venerable Presbytery still reports tweDty-four
counties. containing population of over l60 900
as having no Presbyterian church. These are
largely preoccupied by other denominations, but
the progress recently made, raises the hope that
field is opening around our strong city churches,
which will appeal very directly to their EGangelis-
tic spirit.
PRESENT FIELD.
With the above mentioned changes our report
of last year gives correct territorial view of our
present evsngestic fields In every Presbytery
there is demand for EVangelistic work and it is
believed that evangests could be proftably EN-
ployed in them all, excepting possibly Montgon-
ery, if the means could be had for their support.
In this state Of things it may, at first glance, ap
near to be nvidious to distinguish between them.
Your Committee, however, feels warranted by
facts before it, in calling your attention to Licking
ton Presbyterys field. Strong as Lexington is,
and comparatively prosperous as her people are,
She is unable to occupy her whole ground. Some
of her pastors especially in her western portion,
have fields large enough for evaugelists. The peo-
Die of that region favoraby inclined towards US,
and all that we need is to send them our preach
ers. Before the war this Presbytery had occupied
the counties of Upshur, Lewis and Gilmer; but
for ten years past her claims to them has been dis
puted. She has been obliged to recede from this
territory, and to abandon the churches which she
had planted, not because she was Indifferent to
them, but because she not willing to enter into
contest for them. and to divide weak churches
But it will hardly be questioned that Greenbrier
Presbytery deserves your special consideration
This Presbytery has the smallest number OF minis.