The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-08-13
RELIGIOUS FROM HOME.

At this season Of the year many Of our
readers are enjoying brief respite from
labor at the seaside or in some quiet coun-
try district, where alone or with their
families they have for the time thrown
aside the conventionalities Of town or city
life, and have given themselves up to
thorough enjoyment Change Of scene
and of climate is most desirable for all in
the heated season imparting as it almost
invariably does, new life and strength
alike to young and old
In selecting place in which to spend
the vacation season, care should be taken
that the spiritual interests do not suffer
We have frequently been astonished to
hear of some of our active Christian men
taking their family for the summer months
to district where there is neither Pro-
testant church nor public religious ser
vice of any KIND on the Lords day
Much more common however is it for
Sabbath observing and church-going peo-
pie at home to abseAt themselves from
public worship and spend the Sabbath in
boating or driving wien from home dur
ing the summer vacation, even in places
where there is churah Of their own de-
nomination within "a reach ;
1t is incalculable rIy that i thus
done to the eau - 5iro Welbcent-
" heard of an actiy8 5tbce-bear9r of the
church who frequently spends afew weeks
of the summer IN a quiet country district
but whose face is. scarcely ever seen with
in the walls of the church Of his own de-
nomination in this rural retreat, and we
were not surprised to learn that some Of
this mans family are becoming skeptical
in their religious opinion.
We know of one and have heard Of
other French Roman Catholic districts in
the Province of Quebec visited every sum
mer by large numbers Of English Protes-
tants from various parts of the Dominion
whose dissertation of the Lords day has
caused the very name of Protestant to
stink in the nostrils of these simple French
Canadians, and that notwithstanding their
own very low views as to the sanctlty OF
the Sabbath.
And not long since we were told by
the minister of one Of our churches in a
place of summer resort that several of the
better class of his people thought Of leav
ing the neighborhood because Of the very
pernicious example set before their chill
rem by many of the summer visitors, from
whom better things might have been ex-
pected. D.,
The religion which is only manifested
in ones own town or when one is in com
panv with those Of his own neighborhood
Or congregation is not the religion Of Him
who said "Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father which Is in heav-
en-. We know how manifold the temp
tations are when from home and away
from the restraints of home; how diff
cult it often is in boarding house or hotel
life to keep ones self inspected and to
hold fast the profession ones faith un-
der adverse circumstances; how difficult
to keep the younger members Of ones
family from contamination with that
which is evil. There is all the greater
need therefore for watchiulness and pray
err
Perhaps there are few occasions in
which Christian S influence for good may
be more felt that when from home, enjoy
ing few days or weeks recreation at a
place of summer resort mingllng with
strangers among whom are the worldly,
the openly hostile to religion and in not a
few cases the undecided and easily I'M
pressed.
Fidelity to ones convictions and 10y
atty to ones allegiance, hen, without o.
trusion or ostentation, have often ere this
gained over the openly hostile as well as
won the undecided, whereas want OF
these graces has resultedin untold injury