Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-01-12

ASSEMBLIES AT THE PRESBYTERIAN, ME-
THODIST, EPISCOPAL AND OTHER
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SKETCHES OF THE
REMARKs-EFFECT OF THE
METER,
SC, &C., sc.
The week of prayer, the annua sug-
gestion of the Evangelical Alliance to the
Y. M. G.. Associations, has been observed
in Staaaton by the Usual series of meet
ings. The first, at the First Presbyterian
church, Monday night. was quite well at
tended, but the extremely cold weather
and the condition of the pavelnents lessen
ed the attendance perceptlbly after that.
On that evening Prof. Ladd, Super1n-
tendent Of Public Schools, presided. The
point in the Alliance programme for this
evening was
THANKSGIVING
for mercies in the past ce ntennial year.
Col. James II. Skinner, of whose remarks
| we are able to give but q rough sketch,
said that it was only within the last hour
that ne had learned what the subject was
for this evenings exercises. When he
heard that it was "Thanksgiving for ma
tional, social and personal, temporal and
spiritual mercies of the past centennial
year." it had occurred to him that there
were many in this part Of the country who
would conclude that we Of the South had
few, if any, national blessings for which to
be thankful; but he did not take this view
of matters. Men very often knew not
what WAS for their welfare. What we re
gard as adverse, frequently is forour high
est good.-God often sorders events better
than our own wishes" at the end of q
hundred years our Republican form of
government still exists. 1t is very true
that in many important particulars it is
not as we would have it. Its extravaganza,
it's corruption, Its low moral tone, are
much to be regretted, but we may thank
God that it is not yet too late for us to re-
store it to the purity and high character
which distinguished it in its earlier days.
Christians should make themselves felt in
the government. OF their country.
Some seem to think thai Christians
should take little or no part in politics;
but We are all commanded to "render un-
to Caesar the things that are Caesars AID
TO God the thing that are God s." Every
political right which a Christian man has
should be exercised as in the sight ofGod.
He should labor as far as in him lies, that
mis- government shall be administered on
principles of honesty, justice and peace,
remembering that righteousness eXalteth
Il nation: but sin is a reproach to IN PEG
ple." Christians could not and should not
act as such, in organized bodies the
churches Of Goa should never suffer them
selves to be contaminated by the touch of
politics., but Christians as individuals
should make themselves felt; and should
political managers seek to compel them
to the support of men lacking in high prin-
ciple they should sternly and steadfastly
resist.
There was another matter, the speaker
said, which had much to do with the pres
ent unhappy condition Of our affairs. The
right Of suffrage, an equal participation in
the affairs of government, had been con-
ferred upon Il race utterly untitled in point
of intelligence and virtue for its exercise.
ILLS SCdUC " Ul1lilSo CAIoCCd, IouN1OlISUdIO-
lug the most earnest opposition and rem
onstrance OF the people Of the South. Such
however, is the situation, and we must
recognize it and deal with it on Christian
principles. Christians generally. favored
the sending OF missionaries into all parts
Of the earth, into Asia, Africa, and other
lands, for the conversion OF their inhabi-
+,~+, r., (N,.1a+in, ~, r. v,nr rroJI
doubtedly, to send the light of the gospel
to Africa and elsewhere, but would it not
lie even better for us to extend a helping
hand to the millions of Africans around us.
John Randolph once, when his sympathies
were sought to be enlisted in behalf Of
Greece, called attention too the ''Greeks
at our own door," So let US think of the
Africans at our w doors. NotWithstand-
ing the wounds and the bruises of the re-
cent past-some Of the soreness of which
we are yet f~eeling-let us do our duty as
Christian men by this African race. As
s~istance flom other quarters, whence it
might be reasonably expected, seems hope
less. We have stood, in a measure aloof
from them too long, let us extend to them
a warm hand of Christian Charity, let us
do all in our power to elevate them in the
scale of intellectual and spiritual being.
A noble opportunity for Christian philan
thropy is ours under God; let us not neg
lect it, remembering that all that we may
do for the mental and spiritual advance
ment of this race, while it will prove OF
temporal benefit to ourselves, will, above
all, rebound to the praise n glory OF God.
Rev. McDuff Simpson spoke elOquently
on the appropriateness and need OF graft
tude to the Almighty.
Prayers were offered by Messrs. Ladd,
Simpson and Ker.
Tuesday night at the Methodist church,
Mr.. A. M. Simpson led the meeting in
place of MI. G.. NJ. Harrison. who had
been announced. The point in the pro-
gramme was prayer for the
OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Rev. Samuel Baird said it might not be
known that this movement for general
prayer for the outpouring Of the Holy
Spirit, bad its origin among some mission
aries in India, who twenty years ago issued
all appeal to Christians all ever the world
for q day of special prayer, for this OF
ject. Their appeal was answered, and for
twenty years a day has been set apart for
1t in the Christian world.
Rev. VIM. E. Baker dwelt on the fact,
that the Holy Spirit was present, if we
would only receive it. 1t was like the air,
if we would only breathe it.
Rev. McDuff Simpson made a very beau
tiful Illustration from the chemical fact,
that flowers nave no color in themselves,
| hut taka Il frnm the rauS Of tka sun which