The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-12

was
spoken.
Narrative of the State of Religion in
Montgomery Presbytery.
Only twenty churches (35 on rolD sent up
written narratives. OF these the following sum
mary is submitted Following Assembly's form,
Minutes 1877, PIP. AL and 442.)
l. Three churches report nothing as to official
fidelity of officers six report only partial 6deli.
ty and eleven send very encouraging reports.
Commendable diligence on the part of ministers,
elders, and deacons, within our bounds. is the
gratifying conclusion from this majority of good
reports.
2. Only two churches fail to mention the at
tendance upon the sanctuary and while two
others are somewhat discouraged in this respect,
the sixteen remaining tell us good neUs of large
and constant attendance and increasing inter
est. Knowing that hearing is prerequisite to
faith, we here record our gratitude to the Divine
Spirit for this encouraging feature in our work.
3. But our wall of distress is heard in the
voices OF seventeen churches testfying that there
has been no special outpouring Of the Holy
Ghost. Two others do not mention the subject.
and only one of the lepers comes falling at the
Saviours feet with song of praise for the Spir-
it's presence. Such state of things within our
bounds calls loudly for self examination, humil.
lty, and importunate prayer. All our planting
and watering can never accomplish what it is
solely the prerogative of Gods gracious Spirit to
bestow. If the adorable Spirit bless us not with
His presence. we shall look in vain for the in.
crease. The enormous temporal losses of our
people by drought, and this wide spread lamen-
tation that the Holy Ghost is not among our
churches IN any mighty manifestations Of His
Misunderstanding before God. May we as peo.
pie hear His voice to US in his word and in his
providence
4. Intemperance and worldly amusements pre-
vail. Only eight churches out of the twenty
tell us that they are comparatively free from
these evils while five are retcent, and still FIVE
others present gloomy picture: the Saviour
aoounded in the house Of his professed friends
reproached by dram.drinkers and dancers, and
His glorious cause injured intellectually. We
lament deeply these deplorable evidences of Sa.
tan's dreadful presence, and we know that our
only remedy is in Christ-like forbearance and
pity, coupled with firm adherence to the pure
and incorporating principles of the Gospel of
Christ.
5. Ten of our churches exhibit Gods affairs in
many homes, from which the incense of PRAYER
and praise is daily and nightly ascending; but
IN ten others lot the twenty reporting) there are
either the unmistakable signs Of spiritual death
of discipleship manned and dwarfed by world
ly cares riches, and pleasures. There may we
not find the key which unlocks the mystery of
that condition in which worldliness and intern.
perance run riot in our borders2 The Lord of
Zion give us praying people, and the power of
lsraels God will be manifest as He walks among
the candlestcksl
6. Catechetical instruction is apparently in
creasing among US. Three of our twenty church
es are SILENT and the tone of one is lingering
half way between hope and fear, but the rest are
decidedly prosecuting this work in the Sabbath
School and in the family, with the highest hopes
OF success. We rejoice to see this Presbyterian
usage OF olden time once more revived and gain
ing ground with our people, and we sincerely
hope that the custom may still spread, until all
our families shall be found diligently and ha-
bitually catechising their children in the doc.
trines Of the gospel as set forth in the standards
of our Church.
z. Few indeed are the communities in this
nominally Christian land where the Sabbath il
observed as the Word requires. This is the age
and this the country, for Sabbath dissertation
80 we are not greatly surprised when only five
churches lay upon our table favorable reports
and nine others lift up a voice of alarm, while
the rest are speeches.. Devoutly acknowledge
ing the goodness of God in preserving to us and
to our children this Blessed Day of Rest, by de-
feating the many devices Of wicked men to
overthrow it, we humbly pray that our people
may guard its sanctity as their precious herr.
tage and their national safeguard.
3. 1t is pleasing to note the fidelity with
which Gods people are worshipping the Lord
with their substance, within the compass of ou1
pastoral charges. Eighteen out of these twenty
churches send us most welcome intelligence re-
specting this Where the 1.-THE System has been
operated with the consent OF Presbytery) it has
apparently met with the seal OF Divine APPROX
al, and the people are greatly reioiced. Oul
people have devised liberal things in this part o.
divine worship, and it is our prayer and hope
that this grace may increase and flourish vet
more and more until, as people, we shall com
ply with the injunction in Prov. iii 8, 10, and
filling Gods temples with our praises and His
storehouses with our offerings, claim the opened
windows Of heaven to pour us down our needed
blessings.
8. It appears from the narratives that all oui
churches are supplied with the regular ministra
ton Of the Word, except Princeton and Central
Ncolored) Lynchburg. This is matter fol
praise and thanksgiving while at the sam,
time, we discover with sorrow, that some of ou1
other churches are TO be made vacant possibly
at this meeting of the Presbytery.
10. Only six Of our churches are giving any
attention to the religious instruction Of coiorec
people. Some falling because lacking the Cd
A. III