The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-11-08

West. 1t was a burning desire To
spread Bible truth and to found in the
new empire the true Church of God.
The hardships our forefathers under
went, the difficulties they met, and the
sutferings they endured in this work have
become part of the history of Ken
lucky. Yet standing now in the light
OF the present and looking back through
the events that come crowding upon us
with the retrospect of hundred years,
there is much in the history of our Church
that saddens. 1t later has not equalled
its earlier growth. The spirit of these mis-
slonary fathers has not always burned
as brightly In their sons. Had the
ylgor and earnestness which characterized
these gospel messengers, as they entered
upon their work in this State one hun
dred years ago, been maintained by their
successor and descendants, the history of
Presbyterianism in this Commonwealth
would have been written in far brighter
colors and stronger lines.
In 1870 the Baptists and Presbyterians
In Kentucky had about the same numeri-
cal strength. Each had sixteen congre-
cations. The Baptists, however, had
thirty ministers while the Presbyterians
had only seven.
Both churches grew rapidly for a little
while.
The Great Tide of Emigration
that set in toward the State swelled the
number of adherents and enabled both
denominations to found many new con-
gregations. Now all branches of the
Presbyterian Church. including the Cum
berland, have only 430 CONGREGATIONS,
while the Baptist number LOO 1t can
not be urged that our system is unsuited
to the people of the State. That form
OF faith and doctrine which contained
so many attractions for the hardy set
tiers OF the latter part of the last and
ilrst part OF this century cannot, surely.
fail to be out of sympathy with their
descendants, who possess the same fertile
lands IN peace, and around whom the
comforts and luxuries that attach to a
well-settled and improved country are
year, by year gathering. To-day the
Presbyterians of Kentucky are .numeri-
cally small company, and occupy geo.
graphically small part of its, territory.
Under proper, earnest, continuous, evan
gellstlc work it should be ten times as
strong as it is and spread over the entire
State rather than be confined to one third
OF Its area. Yet we can only regret past
mistakes and lost opportunities. We can
not change the former nor place ourselves
IN position to improve the latter. They
otter to us lessons we may well study.
Had the Presbyterian Church always
manifested that missionary spirit which
marked It's earliest days in this Common
wealth, had the sons and grandsons of
the men OF 1876 kept alive in the bosom
those Christian energies which animated
their fathers, we would not to-day be
deploring the truth that In more than
one-half the counties Of Kentucky there
is no Presbyterian church. Nav. more
Had we all done our duty in the past
fifteen years as we have in 1882 we might
IN Joy and gladness lift our hearts and
view with thankfulness the evidences of
the blessing on
The Work of our Synod
But fathers and brethren, this hour is
full Of hope and encouragement. Not
withstanding the shadows and gloom
that now hang over the past the slumber-
ing church has been awakened God has
brought it about in His own way and |
In His own time. This Synod to-day
stands on higher plane thar it has
reached for forty years past. The great
lngatherings of the past twelve months
show that the Master has not forgotten !
us that He has not ceased to be graci
GUS that when we do our duty He is
sure to do His, and that He is more will
ling to bestow blessings than we are to
receive them.
This Synod is now missionary body,
and with this feeling permeating it. can
never die. Ithas imbibed the great moving
Of Christianity, of preaching the
gospel to every creature, and in this must
command the attention and secure the
respect of the world. After all, the hu-
man race admircs the gospel of Jesus
Christ most for its unselGshness, that
spirit which prompts church to give its
money and send its men to proclaim a free
salvation and compel men to come in and
accept that redemption which the Saw
our offered to all without money and
without price-this is bound to appeal
to the best thoughts and judgment of
every human being Our gospel is the
only one that is rurely unselfsh in its
aims, IN which greatness, glory and COM
tort must come alone from ministerinp to
others, and this spirit Of willingness and
readiness to give and spend simply to ex-
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