The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-01

they will supply themselves with untralne
laymen.
The resolutions were then unanimoual.
adopted.
EVANGELISTIC LABOR.
The report on evan ugelstic labor, made b,
Rev. A. G. Hopkins on yesterday, was the1
taken up. (See another column Mr
Hopkins said it was most important sub
iect; and yet over four thousand member
of our Church have not contributed to thl
cause There are forty counties where ther
is no Presbyterian preaching Even In oil
East Hanover Presbytery there are twenty
two counties where there is no Presbyterian
preacher. In Greenbrier Presbytery ther'
are four or five counties unoccupied. They
have two evsngelists; they need six or eight
Other bodies, it is true, to some extent, oc
cupy those territories, but there is room fol
our preachers for we are informed tina
many of these people are living without any
preaching of any sort. Should not every
man, therefore, ask whether he is doing al
he can to overtake this destitution The
work of planting is not done. We have
trainers, but we need men to go forth anc
plant new churches. Pastors cannot do thi'
to any great extent. If we desire therefore
to 90 forward we must employ more evange
lists to 60 out in faith, and preach the gos
pei to those who have no gospel privileges
If we send out the men the people will come
to our assistance, and the people themselves
in the fields will help also. The minister
who is sent to those fields will be received
and will be able to live of the gospel which
he breaches. Then let the pastors come
after to train and educate in all the graces
of our common religion.
Major 7. J. Kirkpatrick, of Lynchburg,
rose to say a word in behalf of the negro
What are we doing for the half million col
ored people in the State? He was called on
to work for them when they were slaves,
and since they were freed he had been en-
gagged in the same work. He knew the Pc
culiar position in which they had been
placed, but he thought that now there was
an open door to work among them. May it
not be the glory of our Church to enter this
door, which is within the reach of every
church and every elder in this Synod? This
people are fast going back to heathenism.
Instead of advancing they are in large num-
bers giving up the truth; and that within the
reach of our right hand. Each man and
woman might help. He had seen them CRATE.
full for the teaching by the Sabbath School
children of our own churches. They have
no home instruction. Their own preachers,
as a general thing, are blind leaders of the
blind. He pleaded, therefore, for assistance
to the colored people in our State.
Rev. Dr. Ewing then took the floor. He
said for twenty years of his life he had been
engaged in this work, and had always been
encouraged in it. His work lay in the coun-
ties of Orange and Madison, where he had
been the instrument of planting and building
five churches, until another brother was GALL
ed into the field to help him in the work. II
was the result of persistent effort. If we are
ever to build up our Church we must 60 into
the region beyond. He considered it the
most profitable work to train our young men
for usefulness 1t was also self rewardiug.
The young missionary will always feel that
bis labors are not in va in in the Lord.
Mr.. G.. T. Anderson, of Baltimore, said
his hopes had been that the Church would
induce our young men to 60 out and gather
their own churches in the destitute fields OF
our land. This would benefit them physi-
cally. He thought one of the prime qualif-
cations of the evangelist was zeal in the Mas
ter's service.
Rev. Mr.. Lacy, of Lewisburg, said he
often visited the northwest portion of Green
brier Presbytery, and was struck with the
cordiality aud affection with which he was
greeted, though a perfect stranger. The
people there are all anxious to hear educated
preaching. There is earnest pleading among
those people to send them ministers to preach
the gospel. We need as many evangelistS as
we have stated pastors to occupy the whole
of our field. Our elders ought to go out and
do part of the work. He thought in five
years we could occupy the whole Of the ter
ritory. The people do their own labor, ant
are exceedingly hospitable; and they are
waking up to the Importance of education.-
The field was originally Presbyterian, ant
the people still bear the old Scotch ant
Scotch. Irish names. They have joined othe
churches because there was no Presbyterian
church there.
Reu. Mr.. Watkins thought the thing tina
was needed was to give up the idea of at
tempting this work by our pastors. w
must have men whose sole duty it is to sta.
and labor among the people.
Rev. Mr.. Thomas, of Wytheville, said tn
Church's commission was to 60 forth, and b
thought that as the Lord had opened tn
door we should go and enter it. He though
all the agencies of the Church should b
concentrated and brought to bear on gu
young men to induce them to enter thes
fields.
Reu. DR.. Kirkpatrick offered an amend
ment to the resolution to the effect that
committee of seven be appointed to take int
consideration the whole spiritual conditio
and wants of the colored people, and to RI
port to the next Synod.
This amendment and the whole resolution
were then adopted unanimously.
"CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN"
The following resolutions, submitted b
Rev. Theodore Pryor, D. D., were taken VI
Whereas several Synods have recommend
ed the religious journals published with
their bounds, thus throwing around them th
influence of synodical appreciation; an
whereas the Central Presbyterian is, and hs
been for the last sixteen years, pubishe
within the bounds of this Synod, uusustaine
by the expression of synOdical recommend
tion; therefore be it
Resolred, l, That this Synod does most cordial
recommend the Central Presbyterian as in its jud
ment religious journal emiuently adapted to pr
mote the religious information and spiritual ed
cation of all who read it with due care and di
gence.