The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-01-29
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
A COMPLAINT.

Uur cnurcn mas not Deen gettlDg on lat'
terly as we'll as we had right to expect
After consultation, some of us have decided
to lay our case before the public, in the hope
that some wise brother will suggest a remedy.
Geographically, We might be called
stringy sort of church, being more than
twenty miles long, and in no place more than
a mile or two wide. In fact some farmers Of
other denominations have 30 eaten into our
centre, that We are quite an insect. Also,
there is some bad blood between our two
ends, and not great deal of association be-
tween either of them and our middle.
Hence it is, that the most of US do not
know each other by sight, and if We were all
to die tomorrow and 60 to heaven, even
those of US who have been in the church
longest, would have to get the angels to tell
US who we're our fellow. members. We do
not however, wish it to be understood that
we have neglected our duty in this respect,
for we have again and again pointed out the
situation to our beloved pastor, brother
Drudgit, and shown him how he ought to
regard himself as kind of connecting link
to draw everybody together, and patent
prepared glue to make them adhere when SO
drawn. We are glad to give him full credit
for both energy and efficiency in this con-
nection.
As we do not generally know each other
at sight, we can hardly be blamed for the
manner in which We have neglected out
siders. There are good many families with
no especial religious proclivities in the com.
munity, who ought to be in the church. We
have several times thought Of getting up
some organization for visiting them, and So
liciting them to attend public services. So
long has this been talked Of, that many of
those for whom this effort was to have been
made, have since died of old age. Some
times, these people come out to church, and
might come oftener, but that the most of us
have the popularity of paying them no more
attention than if the space they occupy was
Glled by so many cubic feet Of air. We have
in this likewise done cur duty by pointing
out to our dear pastor what he should do.
So just as soon as he gets through services,
he can be seen hurrying out of the pulpit
and running to the door, to speak to these
strangers and prevent them from feeling en-
tirely neglected. For this, we praise him.
We have Sunday School which in re-
spect to the number of children, and their
willingness to attend, has or rather once had,
great prospect Of usefulness. It is nearly
dead now, the reason being that our people
have the popularity of liking late breakfasts
on the Sabbath. From this, it results that
none of US can get to church in time to teach.
After talking over the matter great deal,
and devising many plans for the success OF
this cause, in which we are 80 much inter.
ested, We concluded to merge the whole
school into one large class which our learned
pastor was to teach. This he continued tc
do, until towards the end of the summer he
was forced to pay back his preaching debts
to visiting brethren, when the school expired
in consequence Of bis absence.
But our warmess words of praise are ye
10 be spoken. Owing to circumstances ant
broken glass in the windows, and the gale
ries' communicating directly with the oper
air, it is we'll nigh impossible to heat th'
church building. The stoves also, frequentl!
take it into their pipes to draw the WrOnl
way, SO that one can hardly see across tn
room for the smoke. 1t was this that cause'