The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-24

AtS'@o 0he'V aI ledsG lew OF them are
able to do so.
In the matter of ministerial support
there has been some encouraging progress.
Only 90 Presbyteries have reported on
this subject, but taking these as fair
average of the others, it is ascertained
that OF the 755 ministers aOhoIlv engaged
in preaching the gospel, AS, or So Der
cent, have been adequately supported by
their own congregations, al Improvement
of per cent over the former year. Be-
sides these, there are perhaps $50 minis
tiers laboring in feeble charges and evan
gelistic fields, who are aided from the AS
sembly's funds and by the non-co-opera-
ting Presbyteries to such an extent as to
bring up their support to the average of
those who are wholly supported by their
charges, so that the proportion of ade-
quately supported ministers is probably
at least ~ per cent of all who are fully
engaged In ministerial work. 1t is ne
cessary, however, to understand the ex-
preston adequately supported" with
considerable qualification. In some cases
it is taken to mean literally a support
that is adequate to lit the minister above
secular care and anxiety, and to supply
his wants to such an extent as to enable
him to give himself freely to the full SER
vice of the church. In others it is en-
Ployed euphemistically for very meagre
subsistence, which is accepted and eked
out, but is far from sufficient. Still there
is probably some improvement both in
the number of supported ministers and
in the character of the support accorded
them.
An encouraging feature of the presby-
terial reports is the evidently increased
attention given by the churches to the
matter of securing manses, 205 of which
are owned by as many churches in 81
Presbyteries. Thirty have been acquired
during the past year. The chairman of
the committee of Lexington Presbytery
says that its churches generally own
manses, but does not give the number.
Winchester and Montgomery have II
each; Roanoke IL; West Lexington, 10;
West Hanover and Concord, 9 each; Cen
trail Mississippi and Mecklenburg, s each,
&c. Only four Presbyteries are reported
as having no manse within their bounds.
Another cheering feature of the reports
is, that Is pastoral charges, embracing
perhaps from 40 to so churches, which
heretofore required aid, have become self
sustaining. 1t is also true that quite a
number have found it necessary to ask
less assistance than formerly. The aided
churches, too, are generally growing
stronger, though in most cases. not rapid
ly, and some not at ALL The Presbyte-
ries seem to be careful in most cases in
the matter of bringing their aided charges
to the point of self-support, and due at
tentlon is almost universally given to the
judicious grouping of contiguous church
-es into convenient and, as far as practi-
cable, self-sustaining charges. . ro1 ~
has been done in the past year, it is ne
cessary to lay before the General Assem-
bly, the work left undone, which now ap-
peals to this venerable court, and through
it to the church for help. This can be
set forth in a few sentences, and perhaps
brevity of statement will best conduce to
impress the facts.
o. AS nearly as can be ascertained
there are at the present time 1873 minis
ters, good and true and many of them
able men, who, for want Of adequate sup
port, are engaged in secular occupations,
either in teaching, farming, or otherwise.
They are not superannuated, or invalid,
or ineffective, but thoroughly capable
and many of them ready and anxious to
give their whole time to the service of
the Church, if they can be sustained. 1t.
is hardly saying too much when it is sug-
gested that if their undivided energies
can be secured, it will be equivalent to
the introduction of so or 60 new men
into our ministerial ranks
CD Another pregnant fact set over
against this is, that there are at this time
800 churches within the bounds of the
General Assembly vacant, because they
have not been able to obtain assistance
in support of the ordinances of religion.
On the one hand, there are scores of well
equipped men ready to 60 forth into the
work on the other, there are hundreds
of the churches calling earnestly for the
preached word. The means to utilize the
one and supply the other are wanting.
g. Another important fact is, that
there are within the bounds of the Gene
raj Assembly 10 organized churches
which Immediately need houses of wor-
ship, but are not able to build without
assistance. They are willing to do what
they can, but must have aid in order to
obtain habitation in which they may
meet for the worship of God.
These are some of the grounds upon
which tho Eveoutiua Com m itfaa boeo ~ 90,