The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-12-20
PRB3ENr DUTY.

One Of the most unhappy features of the
present disturbed and unsteady state of pub
lie affairs is that it tends so completely to
withdraw the minds and hearts of cur people
from matters Of immediate and pressing mo-
ment We should indeed require to be either
less or more than human if We did not fee
an intense and absorbing interest in the great
struggle for liberty and reform that lie going
forward in the land, the issue of which must
so deeply affect al the material interests Of
the South. The crisis is no less momensous
than that of 1S60-1S61 We may well
stand with anxious mein, whilst we await its
issues. There is, however, significance in the
fact that this word aagait expresses the pre-
else duty of the Southern people. leading
statesmen North and South unite in urging
the policy of patient f,rbesrsnce aud mas
terly inactivity, as the only true course to be
pursued by the people of the South.
And certainly one Of the most heroic in
stances of patient fOrbesrsnce, and mastery
self-contrOl the world has yet seen, is that
exhibited by Wade Hampton, standing on
the morning which followed that black winter
night when his princely mansion had been
fired by an incendiary mob, and the tender
Inmates of his dwelling had barely escaped
with their lives from under the burning roof
standing, after such night, between the
guilty instigatOrs of the brutal deed, and an
infurilted and outraged community desirouS
to avenge the wrong, and pleading with them
in the interests of peace and of the whole
country to forbear, and return to their homes.
Bat if there ia nothing We can do in refer
enoe to ali these matters but to wait and in
patience possess our spirits, let US not forget
that there are present duties, practical du-
ties, momentous duties, which we are likely
to overlook and neglect. While we stand
waiting for the nexs move upon the political
board, let Us see to it that the great move
meuts which have been set on foot for the
extension of the Redeemer's kingdom do not
come to standStill for want of our coo 2era
ton aud aid, aud that the citizenship which
We are striving to maintain under an earthly
government, does not lead US to lose sight of
the fact that we are citizens of "a better
country, that is al heavenly"
There is great danger of this. Thoughts
of political campaigns, aud military occupa
tons are crowding out thoughts of the Sab
bath School, and the prayer meeting aud
mission work Christian men crowd around
the bulletin boards until late hour on Sat.
urday night, and even if they do not return
to them on Sabbath morning, their thoughts
are busted with these secular themes, while
the interests of Christ'S kingdom are in
great measure forgotten.
The very reverse of this ought to be our
aim. If over all these national interests
hangs SO much uncertainty, let US grasp
more firmly that which is secure end unfail-
ing. Let US give ourselves with renewed
energy and conservation to the work Of that
kingdom wherein dSelleth righteousness,
where faithful labor is never defrauded of its
reward; and when our hearts and hands are
fully enlisted in the work of the Lord We