The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-26

The committee suggested to the last Gen
eral Assembly that $4,000 was needed
for Sustentation, $4,000 for Evangelistio
work, and an increase of several thousand
dollars for the Invalid Fund.
sUsTENTATIoN.
Specific reports have been received
from ffty-fve Presbyteries on the Sus-
tentation work. Their general tone is
decidedly encouraging, for while in few
cases there are indications of weakness
and possibly of decline, the facts of the
case Justify the statement that vigorous
life pervades the Church as whole
which is showing itself in steady and
assured, though not rapid growth, and in
an earnest spirit of increased work for
Christ. 1t is true, indeed, that large por
tons of the Church are numerically and
pecuniarily very weak, but among most
of these there are indications of revived
hopefulness, and of greater efforts for the
upbuilding of Zion.
In the matter of pastoral support there
has been evident Improvement. Fifty
FIVE Presbyteries report that ffty-nine
per cent of their ministers, aohotly en-
gagged in ministerial labors, are adequate
1y supported by their charges, which is a
gain of four per cent over the reports of
last year. If we add to these the num-
Der who are aided from the Sustentation
and Evangelistic Funds, it is probable
that about eighty-fve per cent of our
working ministry are adequately sup
ported according to the prevalent stan
dard of what ministerial support ought
to be-
The Executive Committee has paid APP
preparations amounting to SIS, 63O.4I to
Sc Presbyteries for 156 ministers who
minister to from $50 to 400 churches.
In some cases the Committee for want of
finds, was unable to appropriate as much
as was asked, and in others had to decline
to make any appropriation at ALL In
every case, however, where an appropria-
ton has been made, it has been fully paid
as it fell due. In not a single instance
during its history has this Committee
ever failed to meet promptly its incurred
obligations
The Presbyteries generally report that
their aided charges are growing stronger
though in some cases adverse statements
are made. On the whole their growth
appears to be gradual and steady though
In most cases, slow. In the matter of
grouping their churches with view of
obtaining more nearly self-sustaining
charges, most of the Presbyteries seem
to have succeeded as we'll as can be ex-
pected, and all have the matter before
them, and are aiming to accomplish it.
Appropriations have been paid during
the year amounting to $4,000 to aid sew
enteen congregation in the erection of
church buildings.
EvANGELISTIC FUND.
Appropriations have been paid to
twenty eight Presbyteries for thirty three
Evangelists amounting to $7,O1745. Be
sides these, nine are known to have been
laboring in Presbyteries which do not
work in cooperation with the Executive
Committee that forty-two ministers
have been engaged, in whole or in part,
in this branch Of work. There ought to
be from fifteen to twenty more Evange-
lists introduced into the field at once,
whose services, according to the reports of
Presbyteries, are urgently needed This
would involve an expenditure from the
General Assemblys fund of from seven
to ten thousand dollars, from the Presby-
teries which express the want are unable
to supply the means
The results of Evangelistic labor are
generally declared to be encouraging.
CoLoRED EvANGELIsTIC WORK.
Very great care has been taken to Sc
cure as full and complete information on
this subject as possible. Appropriations
have been made for ten Presbyteries in
the support Of ten ministers, (seven OF
whom are colored) and in the erection OF
one church building The receipts of the
fund were small but somewhat larger
than heretofore. AS far as reported,
! there are IA colored ministers and licen-
tiates, Is churches and candidates
under the care Of the Presbyteries. Some
of the churches which were reported two
or three years ago have gone into the
Northern Church, but they still receive
the sympathy and assistance of our min
listers and people.
INVALID FUND.
Appropriations have been made to fifty
one Presbyteries for 80 aged and infrm
ministers, and for 90 families of deceased
ministers; 122 families in all, which is
thirteen more than last year, and the
largest number ever aided in any one
year.