The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-04-06
The missionary" and "The
Earnest Worker"

"The Missionary" and "The.
Earnest Worker"
THE following correspondence has been sent
to us for publication.-EDs. Cen. PRES
CHARLEsTowN, w. VA, March &c.
Rec James K Hazen, ID. d.:
Dear Brother,-You We're kind enough
to send me at my request your views
showing the inexpediency of uniting
The Missionary and The Earnest Worker.
l ask now that you will allow your pa
per to be published in our Church pa
pers. Yours fraternally,
A. G. HOPKINS.
RICHMOND, Va, March %, 81.
ReU. c. A. Hopkins
Dear Brother am in receipt of your
favor of Goth inst, in which you ask
my permission to publish in our Church
papers, my views furnished at your re-
quest, on the union of the MISSIONARY
and the Earnest Worker.
In reply / beg to say that, while
have felt unwilling to take any part in
the discussion now pending, cannot re-
fuse this request, and you are at liberty
to make such use of the paper as you
think proper. Yours very truly,
JAS. X. HAzEN.
The following is the paper referred to-
In the discussion of the subject of
Retreno hment and Reform" now going
on IN our rells ious papers, one feature Of
the scheme of r form proposed appar-
emily finds favor with some who con-
denim the plan as a whole, and that is the
e he Il
Missionary
This measure has more than once been
brought to the attention of the General
Assembly and is urged as measure OF
economy. We are not aware that any
other argument in its favor has been pre-
sented
Deeming this matter of very vital
Importance to the two interests involved
viz: the Missionary and the Sabbath
School work, we desire to show that
both economy and efficiency would be
sacrificed by the proposed union.
lst. The best success of the Sabbath
School work in our Church demands the
maintenance of first class Sabbath
School magazine, under the authority
and control of our Church courts. The
need of such publication is felt to such
degree by our best organized and most
successful schools, that if the Church
fails to supply the need, they will sup
ply themselves from the publications of
independent publishers, and there is no
security that these publications will be
the instruments of introducing erroneous
teachings into our schools One of these
outside publications, which has wider
circulation in our Church than any
other, has more than once been found
teaching our children and youth dan
gerous error.
Such Sabbath School magazine, in
order to meet the want of which we have
spoken must provide lessons and lesson
helps for all the different grades of in
struction from the primary to the normal
class, it must furnish such suggestions
and hints for teachers as will be helpful
In their work it must give place for the
discussion of practical subjects connected
with the work. To do all this there is
need of all the room which our magazine
the Earnest Worker-now has. With
less room the efficiency of the work would
be greatly diminished, so that the only
way in which missionary department.
could be wisely admitted would be by
enlarging the magazine.
But in order to meet the want of our
Sabbath Schools, this Sabbath School mag
azine must be cheap If the price be
increased the subscription list will un-
questionably be cut down. Many schol-
ars and teachers will do without or will
look elsewhere for help; the hold which
the Earnest Worker now has upon
schools, laboriously gained during the
last three years will almost surely be
lost, and the control which the Church