The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-01-12
The New Years Call.
BY REV. ]. HOWARD sUYDAM.

BY KEW. j. HUMANE oU lUAMs
The Knickerbocker custom of making So
cial calls on the first day of the year is still
regarded with as much favor as of old. 1t
has extended Southwark and Westward, and
there are indications that it will become gen.
eral throughout our whole land. 1t is
pleasant way in which to celebrate the open
lug of the year. 1t carries with it signih
canoe which does not appear upon the sur
face. 1t speaks the language Of gratitude
1t says: "To. day marks period in my life,
and in that of him upon whom l call. God
has brought US safely to another mile stone
on life's highway" The congratulations of
the season have their foundation in sense
of dependence upon God, and consequent
gratitude.
1t also furnishes opportunity to retain
friendship. Family gatherings, community
gatherings, birthday and wedding festivals,
whether sugar, wood, tin, linen, variety, sill
yer, golden, or diamond-all are good to re-
vive old associations, to renew old acquaint-
ances, and to keep in perpetual food those
little streams of amenities and small delights
which, after all that may be said about hap,
piness, constitute its greater proportion.
Upon the same footing is the custom Of
making the New Years CALL You have an
opportunity to see or to meet your friends of
old. Years may have separated you, and
the time is all too brief to have the talk"
you desire. You promise to meet at some
time between the years to continue it. But
you never do. Yet you go home and in your
family speak of this one and thar, calling
them by their first names as if you were still
young, and there has been opened up in your
mind memories delig btful and in your heart
long slumbering affections have been aroused.
Who will analyze the kind or the degree of
this pleasure? And who so practical as to
effect to despiSe it p?
When after these visits the man sits alone
by his fire, and the late hour and the still
ness invite reflection, he will take another
view of the New Years call. Unconscious
ly he will solloquize: Yes, l am older
year older 1 find the gray hairs coming
Past middle life Well, what has it been,
failure or a success? With an object or
Otherwise drifting, aimless, life What
are the results As cast up the columns
of debts and credits, what is my manhood
standing? Am in sound condition, or am
| bankrupt ?"
Who shall doubt bat at the Preside 10 this
midnight hour the man is receiving New
Years call Through the memory and the
conscience over which is broodiug reflection,
God has entered and makes call Is He
welcome? Is the greeting cordial He
comes as a friend. He desires continued
friendship. He would intensity all past
pleasant relations. Shall the call on the
part of this now thoughtful man result in a
determination to more entire conservation
Il ia a call from father to his chld-more
than friendship. The conversation is not so
much of tho-pass 80 Of the fOsuro-net What
has been-but what shall be. He opens up
prospect delightful to contemplate, however
the tears may flow over the irrevocable past.
He says "BE, Do" Character, manhood,
and this means Christ likeness, this is in
Gods New Years call. Service, immediate,
hearty, thorough-this too is in Gods call.
1t is to remember "even the Son Of man
came not to be ministered unto, but to min
lister" and His command, "Follow me"
The Church is often exhorted to duty, and
the general charge to general body is like
firing a gun in the air. There is report,
but no one is wounded. A war of this char
acter would never end. Somebody must be
hurt In order to this there must be pow
der, ball, and gunner, and the charge must
be into the ranks, and the sharp shooter must
single out his man.
So it is our design, dear reader, that you
shall know that "the Church" means you, in
your single individual self, living in your
house, sitting in that chair before the fire,
sleeping in that room. And just as your
personality enjoys the day, makes calls upon
friends, gives itself to thought, SO your per-
sonality receives God, and welcomes Him,
and hears Him speak, and regards His words
on this New Years day, and you go forth
to be better man, more useful, and fully
prepared for all the unknown events of the
year to come. Let this be the case with
each one, and the great Church will take care
of itself. Christian IntelIgencer.