The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-01-28
Letter from Rockingham, va.
FORT LYNNE, near Harrisonburg
January II, 1880.

Fort LYNNE, near Harrisonburg, !
January II, 1880.
MeSSrS Editors, Withdrawing from
the work, the perturbations, and the pal
try excitements Of the day in town, we
gather here nightly in the hills for rest
for meditation, and for conference about
matters and things in general. With
cheerful fires, with companions eager to
hear and the young to learn, and often
with a friend or two from without we
find our situation highly favorable to re-
Election and effort after the truth of things
without regard to popular notion.
Your pages always furnish us here the
absorbing topics of an evenings conver-
sation once a week We think the Central
is going to become more and more desira-
BILE to all classes of readers, because while
|infexibly holding by the truth and the
purpose Of instructing the mind in al
things pertaining to religion, it is y
from time to time, indicating more and
more disposition to minister to the pro-
founder cravings Of our spiritual natures.
It's last few utterances have been particu-
larly and intensely practical, and timely.
and strong So we feel We like paper
to grapple with the questions touching
Christian living, and personal consecra-
ton, and religious instincts, and separate
ness from the world, and increased spirit
ualty in order to increasing JOY and use
f,s1,aesS.
People want to be told what religion
is not, and what it is. And in precise
proportion as the standard of religious
living and working is shown elevated
above the high-water mark of the world
will men be attracted to it, "of such as
shall be saved.
| have found even in the cold and hard
men and unconcerned women of the world
who were apparently without any reli-
gious feelings, a wonderful assent and re-
sponse to religious conversation when the
utterance of the word was connected with
those convictions and experiences of re-
hgion which bring out into plain view
that real soul-aspiring atmosphere which
is so clearly above the walk Of the many
If the hearts of even such persons recog-
nlze lnshnctively and crave such life
as the true one, how much more do we
all who profess, need its daily contempla-
ton, in order that we may reach forward
a little nearer to its complete realization.
In precise proportion as man spiritual
and emotional nature is disregarded or
repressed below its due equality with the
cravings Of the mind for instruction, will
spiritual power be lost over men. Intel
lectual power can never supply its place
intellectual power is important 1t can
not be cultivated too much, except out OF
proportion to the spiritual Spiritual
endowments are first. To which of the
two kinds Of endowments are our Ameri-
can churches now apparently attaching
most Importance? Somebody answer that
The spiritual in every one has need to be
cultivated in due proportion. How often
does God cultivate it in his people by af-
tllchonsl Sometimes fears are expressed
lest the warmth of our emotions should
run away with our minds. I see no such
danger now. But / do see that the Pres
byterian, with his full-orbed system of
divine truth and fixed principle of thor
ough instruction, is entitled, of all men in
the world, to have least fear of using the
emotional in man.
For him, this better half of mans ma
ture may burn upward from its altar of
solid masonry with steady, splendid,
and permanent flame What if by some
strange misconception we who are best
fitted to use the emotional in men leave it
somewhat too much to others? But the
temples must be consecrated, the sacri-
fees prepared; and like Solomon at the
dedication of his, we must pray God long
and nightly to come down and fill ours