The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-01-31


Mr.. Morris, the collector Of customs at stka
says thaG during last season small force of |
men, with picks and shovels, by surface-dig- |
ging made over $25O,OOO.
Two weeks ago we commented on
statement by President Becker, of the Columbia
>. q, Benedict Institute Baptist and colored)
made before the Baptist Convention of South
Carolina, that heathenism would be an adj
vance on the condition of many colored churches
IN this State, and it is getting worse every dav"
also, that since the war the condition of the
colored people in South Carolina, as to re-
llgon, Is UNNECESSARILY worse than it was IN
slavery times" We called this statement ON the
face of it false. We have received from Bene-
dIft Institute copy of denial by President
Becker of the fairness Of the report with warm
commendation, of the Christian character of the
work done in some of the colored churches. He
does not specifically deny having used the ex-
aggerated language, and we notice that in The
Religious Herald, half dozen of his hearers
confirm Its correctness. He and his school are
doubtless Doing excellent work but he seems to
nave been stirred to use very strong language
by his conflict with some of the colored people
OF his State, who are insisting that they should
be represented on the board Of trustees Things
are bad enough IN the colored churches of the
South but that their religious condition ha-
lmmeasurably" deteriorated we do not be-
lieve.-N Y. Independent.
1t 10 evident that President Becker did make
IN substance the allegation attributed to him
Northern papers always want to make their facts
about the colored people.
The current number of the THE
Cdthotlc Presbyterian contains a remarkable
paper by DIR. Howard Crosby, Of New York the
purpose of which is to show that the true tests
7 oil Church are not external signs whether an
| historical chain of officers, or primitive ordi-
| nances, or orthodox creeds but the Cbrist-like
character of its members Men are greater than
| systems The Church of Christ is a kingdom of
hearts and not Of faces All this and much
more we believe is true but when DR.. Crosby
| going on to inveigh against novelties, includes
IN these the Week Of Prayer, we think there il
something to be said on the other side
The following are the words Of DR.. Crosby on
this subject go
| Almost every enormty in the nominal
Churches Of Christ started from godly efforts
put forth in human channels The first
week Of the year s seized upon az a week of
special prayer. The idea comes from a foreign
Mission station, and from the hottest Of Chris
tan workers. IL is Of course responded to bv
the Jealous brethren everywhere And so mans
holy week is appended to Gods 6fty-two holy
days, and the false thought that there is special
virtue IN the coincidence Of PRAYER becomes
stereotyped All history shows that the crea-
ton OF human holy time always deropates
rom the Divine holy time, and the concert no
ton Of prayer introduces an element that i'm
pairs the simplicity Of faith
These structures may indeed convey not
unnecessary caution but we do not think thew
are justified by the twenty years experience Of
the Week Of Prayer. We have heard Of manv
blessings, but we have heard of no mischievous
result from this holy week ."-London Chris.
tan.