The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-01-02
ApnsEhp1a aFnras.
From the Missionary.
LETTER TO THE CHILDREN IN BEHALF
OF SUSTENTATI0N.
OFFICE OF SUsTENTATIoN,
BALTIMORE, Dec. 18th, 1871.


Dear CRildrsn,-This is the first time We
have written you special letter for the pur-
pose of obtaining your aid for the destitute
Christian people of your own land and
Church, in the support of the gospel. This
is what is meant by the big word-Sussents-
tion-whieh is at the head of this letter.
We want you to help our poor churches IN
sustaining their ministers, so that the Word
of God may be preached in every cOngrega-
tlOn, and old and young may hear its blessed
messages of mercy and salvation. Many Of
you are highly favored in being allowed to
attend every Lords day upon Sunday School,
and then you 60 into q comfortable church
and listen to an excellent sermon. Perhaps
you do not know that there sre thousands Of
little children whose parents are Prssbyte-
rians who either have no church to 90 to, or
whose church has no minister to preach IN it,
and that this is so because these dear Chris
tian people are poor, and are not able, with
out help, to support the gospel, They prize
thu house or GOd, and love its worship as
much as you do, and they long for its bene-
fits and blessings, and are willing to do what
they can to secure them. But they are poor
and must be assisted by their brethren in
Christ who are more highly favored than
they are. In order that aid may be given
to all these feeble congregations, our General
Assembly has established the SustentatiOn
Fund, and has directed that a generel col
lection shall be taken mp in all our churches
on the first Sabbath in January for this
cause, and that the Sabbath Schools be re-
quested to make a contribution at the same
time to this most important cause. As this
is the only contribution of the kind we ask
Of you for the year, We hope you will save
some of your Christmas money or gather up
something for this cause, and that your Su'
perintendent and teachers will, on the set
day, give you an opportunity to contribute
your mites. IF all our Sabbath Schools will
do this a large amount will be raised from
the small sums contributed, and much joy
will be given to your little brothers and sis
ters all over our Southern land, who, through
your thoughtful and generous kindness, will
be able to attend Gods house regularly.
Aud why should not your Sabbath School
help in this great work. We could tell you
of Sabbath School in the southern part Of
Georgia, at a little place called ValdOsts,
which helps regularly, and has done so for
number of years. Others give something to
this cause, and last year sixteen Sabbath
Schools sent on collections for SustentatiOn.
Most of these schools are weak, but they did
well, and some of them gave much more in
proportion than many churches have done.
Now what they have done all the rest may
do if they will try, and We hope that on the
first Sabbath of January or soon thereafter,
collections will be taken up for this important
and needy object in every Sabbath School in
the bounds of the General Assembly. The
Bible says, "Pray for the peace of Jerusa-
lem they shall prosper that love thee.
d" Jerusalem" here means the Church. We
ought to pray for its prosperity and love it
above our "chief oy"-and We ought to
give our means, and labor, and efforts, for
its establishment and blessing in our oaOn
land and throughout the world.
Trusting that you may be inclined to
adopt this suggestion, and that the way may
be open for you to do so, and praying that
the Divine blessing may rest upon every one
of you, We remain your sincere friends,
RICHARD NICKNAME,
j. LEIGHTON WILSON,
Secretaries.