The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-09-03
For the Central Presbyterian.
The Annual Collection for the
Evangelistic Fund.
OFFICE OF HOME Missions,
Baltimore, August Goth, 1879.

OdltllllcIci AuSuoC -Ollli lO'V
Dear Christian F1ends,- reminding
you that the time of this collection is the
lst Sabbath of September, we venture to
ask that your contributions may be as
large as your circumstances will allow.
The General Assembly has authorized an
effort to raise $4,000, which is believed
to be the smallest sum upon which the
work can be conducted efficiently. This
amount is more than two and a half
times as much as was raised last year,
and it will require real effort on the
part of our Christian people to reach it.
And yet, we feel sure, it can be attained,
if collection is taken up in every church,
and our Christian friends will give what
they can.
The object of this collection is to pro-
mote the evangelization of our own land.
1t is believed to be the duty of the Church
to extend the privileges Of the gospel to
and to give its light and knowledge, and
ordinances, and saving truth to all our
fellow-citizens With this view, the Pres
byteries appoint evangelistS and send
them forth into fields which are wholly
unoccupied, or at least very insuficiently
supplied with the means of salvation, that
through their fundamentally Christian
families may be visited, Sabbath Schools
be gathered, churches be organized the
gospel be preached, and the institutions
of religion be established Much has al
ready been accomplished by this agency,
but much unoccupied ground yet remains.
In one Presbytery in Texas, there are sew
enteen counties, which so far as is known,
no Presbyterian minister has ever visited.
These counties and other sections of the
State are rapidly filling up with immi-
grants, who are generally poor and who
ought to have the gospel sent to them.
So, too, in Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida,
and Mississippi, there are large territories
which need to be occupied for Christ and
the Presbyterian Church, while in the
other States embraced in the bounds of
the General Assembly, although they are
more highly favored, there are many
places where the light of divine truth
shines feebly, if at all The work to be
not be over estimated. It's claims upon
you grow out of your relations to Christ
and his Church, and to those whose wants
we are now pleading. Ought not an eff
fort to be made to save these perishing
souls? Does not loyalty to Christ de-
mand that his gospel shall be given to
them? Should not our love for the
Church make us eager to extend its
blessings to those who know them not?
Have not our countrymen who are igno-
rant Of the glad tidings of salvation, and
who are fastening to an undone eternity,
special claims upon our benevolent re-
gard and compassion? Is there not ne
cessity that the Church and its members
shall awake to the great duty of dissent
mating the truth throughout our whole
land, so that all its people may be brought
under its influence and be led to know
and serve God? All of you will doubtless
give an affirmative reply to these inqui-
RES and we trust you will feel it privi-
lege to promote these great objects by
giving as literally as you can to this
cause The laborers are some of them
already in the field, others are standing
ready to go as soon as the means for their
support are secured. The Executive
Committee and the General Assembly
look to you to say by your generous gifts,
that the work shall go forward, until the
whole land is possessed for Christ.
Yours in Christian bonds,
RICHARD NICKNAME,