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

to find more attractive fields for minis
terial work, both as to remuneration and
success, than the churches of Bath,
Highland, and Pendleton present, and
yet they are mainly vacant and with but
little prospect of being permanently sup
piled. All this, too, In the face OF the
stronger fact, there are churches less de-
sirable really for substantial comfort and
opportunities for extended usefulness,
whose sessions are bewildered by avail
able names, sent in from all points of the
ecclesiastical horizon.
The preaching services were the main
attraction for the immense audiences that
assembled on consecutive days. During
the past few months religious interest
was developed during services conducted
at intervals by Messrs. ]. A. Preston and
Railey. The church had been vacant
several months, and the meeting of Pres
bytery was anxiously anticipated as a
season of spiritual benefit, when Gods
servants would come in the fitness of
the blessing of the gospel of Christ. To
meet this yearning, Instructive and slim
ulating sermons were preached by Messrs
Bryan, J. II. Smith, and Johnson, on
Christian Service, Resisting Temptation,
and following the Example we have in
the Life and Character of Jesus.
Rev. Plumer Bryan's exposition of
Isaiah xiii: IA, elected some sensation.
He discussed this most notable prophetic
utterance on the theory the prophet had
in mind a Compiler Ideal. The head of
this complex idealistic servant of the
Lord" is Christ, OF whom all that is per-
feet may be predicated; the body of this
complex ideal servant of the Lord, is the
Church, of which all that is imperfect or
whatever is perfect in modified sense,
may be predicated, in the utterances of
the prophet concerning the servant of
the Lord in this and other chapters.
With Messrs. Preston and Walker to
make welcoming speeches, and Captain
Thomas S. Hogshead, who is hospitality
incarnate, to head the committee of ar
rangements, the entertainment rendered
by the Union people was princely in
quantity and character.
1t seems TO your correspondent that if
all deserving of mention should be writ
ten out, book, not letter for your
journal would be requisite to do full JUS
tice to the people or the occasion.
1t should not be omitted to mention
that DIR. Houston's mastery missionary
address was we'll received. 1t was out
of the usual order of such addresses.
There was but little discussion of the fa-
miliar theme, "How shall we reach the
masses and the heather without reaching
them or evangelising them?" DR.. Hous-
ton ought to be looked after, for he thinks
the way to do this all important work of
reaching and evangelizing is to reach
them and evangehze them. The idea is
new and refreshing, and there is serious
reason for experimenting it may be re-
garded somewhat out of the beaten track,
and be objected to as unconstitutional
and not in keeping with methods most
approved by long and historical past.
AS your correspondent is intensely con-
servative and orderly, he feels that breth-
rem with such sentiments need special at
tention, and expositions of the constitu-
ton are in order. If such spirit gets
abroad, people qOiU 90 to aOork and 40
good without waiting for General AS
sembly to formulate methods that will
raise no objection, and persons like your
correspondent would be sent to the rear
guard in the Church militant.
Yours as ever, W. L. 2.