The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-09
4 NOTE OF ALARM

deafness and torpor which have come
over the Church. Three of our exchanges
from this quarter received last week,
have articles on this subject: the ". Y.
EVANGELIST, the Philadelphia Pres6yte-
r'ia' and the Christian Lntelligencer, or
gan of the Dutch Reformed Church.
The Evangelist remarks:
We have been studying with close and some
what painful attention the recently published
comparative summary of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States" AS we have be-
fore said, the most significant item in these fig
ures bearing upon the progress of our Church,
Is that which gives the number added on ex-
animation" For the year ending in May last
Tor at the spring meetings of the Presbyteries
when the reports were made up) the number
added was ,494 less than the year previous;
and it appears that there had been falling off
each year for the last seven, or for the period
covered by the summary namely, in 1877, 5,172
less than were added on examination" in
1876; In 1878, 1921 less than in 1877 in 1879,
S,OSl less than in 1878; in 1880, 1858 less than
in 1879; in 1881, ,494 less than in 1880.
Looking through the tables, it appears that
OF the churches which added on examination"
one hundred members and over during the last
year, there were but seven. These were DIR. Tai
IMAGES church, Brooklyn, which received 500 ;
four churches in the Presbytery of San Francis
CO, namely, Mr.. Sprecher's, in Oakland, 217;
Mr.. Hemphill's, Calvary, San Francisco, 1872 ;
Mr.. Smiths. Central, San Francisco, 1874; Mr.
Mackenzie's, Howard, San Francisco, 131; Dr.
Halls, Fifth Avenue, New York, 112; and Dr.
Woods Lyons, N. Y 105 1t should be stated
perhaps, in reference to the means employed
that DR.. Talmage was aided for several weeks
| by. the Rev. Thomas Harrison also, that the
large additions to the churches in San Francis
CO and vicinity were due, to considerable ex-
tent undoubtedly. to the efforts of Mr. Moody
and his colaborers Other churches in that re-
gion were greatly blessed by the same revival
influences, beyond the four mentioned above.
1t should be stated also that in quite number
OF churches large additions have been made, as
the result of revival work last winter and
spring, which were not reported to the spring
meetings of the Presbyteries the members not
then having been received), and of course are
not embraced in the summary of the new Min
utes. Notably is this true of some of the
churches in Indianapolis, where several hun
dred were received as the fruits of the revival.
But so far as the Stated Clerks summary is
concerned, seven churches only received one
hundred members and over, as above given,
during the last ecclesiastical year.
Says the Christian bstezzsgencer:
There is at least one hopeful sign on the
spiritual horizon,-an increasing consciousness
of religious decline and dearth This is mani
fest ng tself in the meetings Of ecclesiastical
bodies, in the less formal gatherings of minis
ters, In the ulpit utterances and in the prayer
meetings. In the communings of earnest Chris
tians, and In the secret sigh and cry of the pray
ing ones. The church within the Church is
awaking to the situation to the existence of
drought paraleled only by that Ct outward
nature, to numerical decline not merely, but
to an actual religious decay. 1t is evident that
conforming to this world is the order of the day,
and not the desire to be transformed into the
spirit Of Him who was not of the world. ,
The line grows fainter and more confused be-
tween the sons of God and the children of men
The witness bearing and the cross bearing types
OF Christian. discipleship are not in the ascen-
dant-above all, that radiancy of spirituality
and heavenly mindedness which attests that
ones conversation is in heaven and those I'm
conscious betrayals of Christs spirit whereby
all take knowledge of us that we have been
with Jesus.
The Presbyterian remarks:
How long can the church exist without
growth by conversions is question of intense
practicaness in the presence of the facts revealed
by the Minutes of our General Assembly during
the last year. 1t is not pleasant subject of
contemplation-bu neither Is any crisis in
which life is in peril. How long can the church
hold out at the present rate2 Some one says
petulantly, Il do not like such dark exhibit
lions. God is on the throne'-as if there were
any reversal of the law of death in the fact that
God is ruler over the universe. The duty of
the hour is not to hide behind Gods sovereignty,
but to fulfil Gods ordained purposes for the
continuation of spiritual life. Another says,
The church is holding her own"-but was the
church ordained to hold her OWN Is ship
created to ride at anehor2
There is no holding our own except in pro-
gress. The divine commission, Go ye into all
the world" is simply the divine formula for
life as manifested in constant aggressiveness.
Satan never devised a measure so effective in
throttling the life Of The Church as the let-well-
enough-alone policy. And one Of the special