The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-17
Save the Children.
= BY REV. GEO. A. BEATTIE.

In certain place, he was invited to dine
with a member of his congregational
man in middle life, who had been a con-
slant church attendant for years. In
the course of the day he took the new
pastor aside, and asked permission, as he
had just commenced his labors among
them, to give him little advice. Said
he: While you are with us, let me ask
you to devote the most of your attention
to the children and the young people.
The older ones are gospel-hardened
Don't waste your time on US.
If that pastor had been man of any
experience he would have readily recog-
nized the truth of the advice, and acted
upon it. We are not to limit the Holy
One of Israel He can "save unto the
uttermost," but are we not obliged to
confess that but few, very few of the
class represented by this man ever iden-
tify themselves with the church The
most of pastors have often been disap-
pointed by this class of hearers. They
have been constant and regular attend
ants on the means of grace; at times
they have been moved to tears. The
heart has been touched and conscience
quickened. With Felix they have trem-
bled, and with Agrippa confessed AL
most thou persuadest me to be Chris
tan. But like the stones on the beach,
washed by the waves, after the tide
has gone out, remain just where they
were. They are never fully persuaded;
they never forsake their sins nor con-
fas Christ, at least, doing so is the ex-
ception. We trust that efforts made in
their behalf has not been time wasted"
nor would we advise cessation of labor
in behalf of such but we would urge
pastors to labor in the more hopeful
field furnished by the children. A
writer in the Princeton Review of 1880
says; Ministers have devoted an undue
proportion Of their labors to those that
have grown up; whilst the young, by
far the most hopeful part of their CON
-gregations, have been almost wholly neg
lected.' Although there has been
great improvement since then in this
particular, it is true of to-day. Rev. DR..
Ashbel Green, shortly before his death,
said; " If had my ministry to go over
again, | would give far more attention to
the children" Dr. Samuel Miller, in his
seventy ninth year, said: after the
observation and experience of long life,
l have come decisively to the conclusion
that, if 1 had my life to live over again.
| would pay ten times as much attention
to the children of my charge as I ever
did when I had a charge. If 1 were now
about to undertake the care of new or
feeble church, [ would consider special
attention to the children and young peo-
pie of the neighborhood as one of the
most certain and effectual methods of
collecting and strengthening large flock
that could possibly be employed "
take it for granted that all who read
this article will admit these truths and
many others of similar nature that
might be presented. Ny object at this
time is to present something of practi-
cal nature that will help those who are
interested and engaged in the work to
save the children, combining myself to
methods which have been tried and
which from experience I can recommend.
Every pastor recognizes Christ's com
mand, Feed my lambs" The great
Shepherd commanded Peter to feed the
lambs first Many have doubtless heard
the old farmers reply to the question
why he always had such fine flock of
sheep, Il take care of the lambs" We
must get the lambs inside the fold before
we can feed them. This is our first work.
While millions of children-6,9 74, 454
according to the latest revised statistics
In North America-are gathered in the
Sunday School, as many more are entire
ly outside, and have no religious instruc-
ton. Examination will prove this to be
the case in nearly every community.
Look at the Minutes of the Presbyterian
church, and it will be seen that the num-
Der in the Sunday School, as a general
thing, does not much exceed the member
ship of the church. According to the
statistics of 1879 there were 574, 1856
communicates, and only 616,774 in the
schools. With the children of the mem
bers there should be at least twice as
many in the school as there are members
in the church. How can pastors help to
secure them?
l. By recognizing the children. There
are two elements in society who are very
susceptible, the aged and the young.
The minister should speak to every child
on the street whether he knows the child
or not. If he has been resident of the
place for any length of time, the children
will at least know who he is. IF thew
know him, they will be very much