The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-04-26

and by removal, or TO send out any OF tn
new missionaries who have been waiting
long for the order to "go forward.
The receipts of the year just close
amount to SCI, ,23727. This is about Sl9
SS7, % more than was given last year, TO
which hearty and desout thanks are tenders
to Almighty God. Especial thanks are du
in view of the fact that this increased contri
button has been made in the midst of grea
fioancisl pressure, and at the expense o
much toll and self denial on the part of many
Christian friends. Bmt this advance in tht
gifts of Gods peoplsis encouraging mainly
on the ground that il inspires the hope thai
our beloved Church is becoming thoroughly
aroused to che claims of this great cause,
and that she will henceforth give it that
hearty support which its great and growing
Importance demands.
What are the actual facts of the case, as
the matter now stands? In the present
scope Of our missisnary work, We have six
principal stations in the southwestern Indian
Territory; one in Mexico; two in the United
States of Colombia; two in Brazil one in
Italy two in Greece and two in China,
with larger number of out stations in al
these different parts of the world. Con-
nected with these various missions there are
seventy FIVE labOrers in all, who must not
ooly be supported, but who must be furnish
ed with the facilities and appliances neces
sary for carrying on the great work commit
ted to their care. 1t will be seen at once
that this is no ordinary responsibility ths'
has been laid upon the shoulders of the
Church. Whether the successive steps TO-
wards the enlargement of the work have
been prompted by the Holy Ghost, by the
calls and indications of Divine Providence,
by our own convictions of duty, by the ex
ample of sister churches, or by all these com
bined, which is probably the true solution Of
the case, it is not important to our present
purpose to inquire. The responsibility has
been assumed, the work has been undertaken,
and the Master, as if to remove all doubts
from our minds and give US convincing proof
that We are in the path of duty, has impress
ed the broad seal of His appreciation oD
every department of the work, and bids us
go forward under his banner and leadership.
The work as now pref jscted, to say nothing
about any future enlargement, cannot be
carried forward effectively with an income Of
LEES than $4,000. The contributions of the
churches must rise to something like this, or
some portion of the work must be abandoned
But who is prepared for the latter alternatives?
When or where shall the process of elimi.
nation begin! Shall the Greek, the Chinese,
the South-American, the Mexican or the
Indian missions be the first to be thrust from
the bosom of the Church? The Free Church
of Scotland twenty-five years ago, found itself
in circumstances almost the exact counter.
part our own. For time the sentiment be.
came very prevalent that one or more of their
missions would have to be cast adrift. 1t was
not supposed or argued that the limit of the
churches ability had been reached, but the
ordinary contributions seemed so persstently
to fall about $12, 600 below the sum actually
needed, that it was on this ground alone that
retrenchment seemed necessary. No one
hesitated to say that retrenchment was need.
ed somewhere, but when any particular mis-
sion was mentioned as the victim, the chris
tian instincts of the whole Church rsvolted
against the acts of excision. Any retrograde
movement, it was distinctly seen, especially
when the full strength of the Church had not
yet been put forth, would be dishonoring to
the Saviour, demoralizing to the Church, and
in its practical results, would be downright
cruelty to the heather, by extinguishing the
light of salvation just when they were begin
ming to feel its quickeDing power. Better,
and hOlier counsels prevailed. The burth-
On was not only taken up and cheerfully
borne, but soon larger share of work was
demanded; and the receipts of the treasury
gradually rose up from about $4,000 in
1850 to S15O, 900 in 1875.
What shall our beloved Church do in cir.
cumstances so similar? Shall we retrace our
steps; or shall We march boldly up to the
demands of Gods providence? Shall we
contract our operations so as to suit the par.
simonious spirit of the times, or shall we
make the necessary effort to stimulate all of
our churches to higher standard of liberal
ity? The former course can lead only to
decentralization and disaster, whilst the latter
would not only bring our Church into close
fellowship with the great Redeemer, but
would at once place it on the highest plat
form of spiritual prosperity.
The Scotch Memorial.
A correspondent of the New York Euan-