The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-05-27

whole six and half years it was 145, or
an average of % members per year.
Again: The main audience room of
Third church was opened for worship on
Sabbath morning December 18th, 1876
and the church was dedicated that night,
DIR. Preston preaching the sermon. There
was balance Of debt on the church, and
this find was extinguished by an effort
made on Sabbath morning, February 9Th,
1880. Sometime afterward small debt
was incurred to place an organ gallery
in the church, and part of this debt re-
manned, and was paid off in 1882, after
my departure. These corrections are
made by me only in the interest of his
torlcal accuracy, and because am per-
haps better informed than any one else
on that period of the churchs history.
2. of the GoJveston church. The Sec
ond Sabbath in April marked off the
third year of my work here. As old DIR.
Alexander is reported to have said of his
religion, we have " nothing to boast" of,
still we have much to be grateful fer,
and l trust to give US encouragement.
We are entirely free of debt, and are only
waiting for better financial times to COM
plete our main church room. So far as
figures GO, we have had a yearly increase
of 80 members; our congregations are
large, and our people entirely united and
harmonious. If we could only have such
blessed oeason of grace as dear old
Richmond has had during the past win
ter, our cup of Joy would indeed be full.
We have recently had most decided
triumph in municipal matters-the first
in many years-of the law and order"
element; and confidently expect good re-
suits In the repression of many things
which have been hitherto allowed.
3. And this leads me to say something
of IeroS and TEXANS IN general" There
is much misapprehension on this subject
A great many of the news items" which
get into the papers, of crimes of one sort
and another committed some Of them in
Mexico or New Mexico or the India Ter
rltory (some of them in Texas, are dated
from Cohesion, and so our reputation is
made Only day or two since friend
of the writer-a prominent Judge in the
upper part of the State-called my at
tention to letter from Galveston, in the
Christian Observer of April 22d, written
by Virginian travelling in Texas, in
which the writer says: 1t is difficult
for US to become accustomed to the wick
edness of the IeraS people IN general;
and, In fact, we hope we will never be-
come accustomed to it"
Now, Messrs. Editors, there is a speci-
men If he had only said the wicked
ness of certain class ss or certain cities or
localities, but it IS the wickedness of
the people IN general" There is no es-
cape for any of US
The truth is We ave large and ever
increasing foreigg. population, given to
Sabbath desecrat beer-drinking, etc.
and their inhuer y, particularly in our
cities where they are largely congregated,
is sadly and inj'u;ously felt. No one
can grieve more over it than your cor
who nas it all daily before
his eyes, and as continual burden upon
his heart; but to make general state
ment as above, is manifestly niust.
After three years residence in Texas and
knowledge of her people, 1 venture to
assert that for true manliness of charac-
ter, for morality and good order, the ma
tive American population will bear fair
comparison with any other Locality, be 1t
what it may.
Texas Presbyterianism is greatly stirred
over the approaching meeting of the AS
sembly in our borders. There will be a
pretty general gathering of the clans at
Houston this week and the next.
But must not tax your patience and
room further. l promise L wont do SO
any more" soon.
Yours sincerely, w. N. SCOTT.
For the Central Presbyterian.