The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-08-25

tnat man, the image OF his creator, Won
derfully endowed and gifted, under whose
auspices the world has been enlightened,
elevated, and adorned, is after a brief ex-
istence to be as though he had never been.
Contrast the labors of Voltaire and Paine
with those of John Wesley. Can it be
said with truth that the former two
made any one better or happier? Hun
dreds of thousands of the followers of
John Wesley have lived and died and
other hundreds of thousands survive, re-
joicing in their conversion from sinful
to Christian life. The memory of
Wesley is everywhere cherished by the
good and the pure, while Voltaire and
Paine are only remembered for the evil
rather than for the good they did.
II it be urged that the promises of
the Saviour have not all been realized,
that sin stills abounds and that the world
is as bad as ever, it may be answered
that religion is working out its mission
that its benign influences are constantly
extending and that light is radiating the
darkest recesses of heathenism and idol
airy. Itrequires no argument to demon
strate the fact that our race is improved
by civilization, or that civilization owes
its origin and progress to religion. To
religious influences we are indebted for
all the reforms which benefit society.
Our Sunday Schools were instituted in
obedience to divine command. In these
schools children are taught, without
money and without price, all that con-
Germs their present welfare and their
future happiness. These intellectual
nurseries have enriched and fertilized,
and continue to enrich and fertilize,
every city, village, hamlet, and household
throughout the Christian world. If re-
ligion had done nothing more than to
bless our race with the consecrating in
fuences of Sunday Schools, scofers should
be shamed into silence.
"Our city furnishes many examples of
the benefcence of religion Forty years
ago locality too well known as the
Five Points, with population of sew
eral thousands, was the home of the
vilest of the vile, and the resort of others
equally debased. Men, women, and chill
dren of all nationalities and colors herded
together, differing only in. the degrees
of crime and the depths of profigacy
habitually practised Their DAYS were
passed in either idleness or depredations.
Their nights were spent in dance house
debaucheries. All healthy or wholesome
influences were excluded. Children grew
up to become either street beggars or in
mates of the Almshouse, and their parents
filled penitentiaries and prisons. These
orgies continued year after year, defiant
and aggressive, until that pandemonium
was invaded by Christian men and wo-
men whose patience would not tire, whose
courage was indomitable, and whose de-
votion has been rewarded by moral and
religious reformation so complete that no
part of our city is now more quiet and
orderly than the once dreaded Five
Points. Thousands of children then
growing up either vagabonds or culprits
are now attending schools, in which they
are stimulated by precept and example
to live industrious and virtuous lives.
Instead, therefore, of sending forth idle,
Ignorant, and vicious children to prey
upon society, the destitute and orphan
children of the Five Points, prepared
for usefulness by moral and religious
training, find happy homes in our rapidly
developing Western States and Terrific
ries
Again, eight years ago, Water street
and its surroundings eastward from Peck
Slip had notoriety almost as unenviable
as that of the Five Points. That re-
gion was rife with drunkenness, burg
laries, pugilism, and their kindred vices.
jerry McAuley was conspicuous in all
that was wicked and demoralizing. He
had the reputation of being terror to
the precinct, reputation which, by his
own confession, was deserved But this
disturber of the public peace was con-
verted, and then he resolved to devote
the remainder of his life to the Service
of his Master, and, with faithful, af-
tectionate wife as helper, he has album
dainty atoned for all his offences. For
a long time the Kisses and howlings of
his former associates seriously disturbed
his meetings, but courage, perseverance,
and patience finally prevailed, and his
work now progresses without Interrupt
ton. The general character of the neigh
borhood has been improved its social
and moral tone and atmosphere have
been purified Sailor boarding houses
have been reformed, Sailors now carry
their Bibles with them to sea- Moody
and Sankey hymns are sung in fore
castles Hundreds Of half-naked and
hungry wives and children, by the con-
version Of drunken husbands and fathers,