The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-08-02

senu4HS CIoWuS Ol Immigrants into many
parts of our territory; in causing to
spring up, as if by magic, mining, manu-
featuring, and commercial centres, and
in turning the attention of the world to
the magnificent resources within our
bounds awaiting capital and labor to de-
velop them,-calls upon our people to
give immediate heed to the present ext
gency and to prepare to furnish the Cos
pei to the millions who must ere long re-
side within our reach.
An era of energy, of movement, of
growth is upon US. Men are engaged in
great enterprises. Things are stirring
all about us. A great political and fnan,
clal future is evidently before the South,
but what of its moral and religious com
plexion?
This question is the vital one with the
Church, and its answer depends upon our
fidelity to present obligation. If means
are used to win the land to Christ; if
centres of gospel light are set up in our
rising communities; if missionaries be
sent among these incoming populations
with messages of good will and salvation :;
If the Church of God is planted and
strengthened, and struggling bands of
Christians are aided in maintaining the
ordinances Of religion, there is every
reason to hope that the sanctifying
power of the Holy Ghost will rest upon
our work and that the day will come
when Divine truth will prevail and ours
will be "a people whose God is the
Lord"
There is therefore, a present and press
ing necessity that those who love the
Church and the country shall come for
ward with unwonted iberality in the
support of this branch of work, and that
those who have the ability, shall set
apart liberal portion for this great OBJ
Ject. There is no more promising field
in the world for missionary effort than
that Immediately at our doors. It's
claims ought to be recognized and Chris
tians of means will do we'll to bestow
upon it their largest benfcence.
Another most important agency for
aiding this work, is through
The Sabbath Schools.
Something is already being done by
this agency. During last year, one hun
dred and nine schools contributed ST.
1883 to the cause of Sustentation, and
number to the other branches of Home
Missions. If all the Sabbath Schools in
the Church had contributed in Ike pro
portion, over $l1,0 900 would have been
received from this source. It is an.
parent, therefore, that there is an i'm
mense reserve force here which awaits
development. There are in the bounds
of the General Assembly over eleven
hundred Sabbath Schools with nine
thousand teachers and seventy thousand
scholars. Every one of these scholars
ought not only to be taught the vital
truths OF Christianity, but also to be
trained as an earnest worker for Christ.
A Sabbath School teacher cannot do
the children committed to his charge a
better service than by stimulating them
to Christian work, and developing their
activities In the way of doing good
Their little hearts ought to be enlisted in
some practical service, and their little
hands be taught to do something for the
promotion of the gospel. Nor is there
any more inviting fields for them to enter
than that presented by our Home Mis-
sion work. 1t will not be hard to i'm
press them with the needs of our strug-
Cling churches, and destitute fields, ard
to enlist their efforts in securing as
slstance for their relief.
For several years, the attention of Sab |
bath Schools has been specially turned to
the matter of aiding feeble congregations
In securing houses of worship. OF these
there are one hundred and ten in our
bounds which Immediately need such
aid They do not ask us to build their
churches for them but only to help them
after they have done all they can to help
themselves. They are situated in the .
pralrles of Texas, amid the everglades of
Florida, in the Mississippi bottom, in the
mountains of West Virginia scattered all
over our territory, they are asking for
help to secure place where they NAV
meet for the Worship of God, and to which |
they may bring their children to have
them instructed on the Lords day.
Surely, if these things are told to the
children, some help may be gotten from
the most of them. If proper efforts are
used, it is hardly too much to hope that
the Sabbath Schools may raise this year
P5 900 for this object and if ali will do
what they can, we believe that $4,000
may be gotten. Thus, the children of the
Church may be brought to aid in secur.
ing from fifty to one hundred houses of.
worship during the present year This
IS an achievement sufficiently important