The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-10-27


can character.
awe are losing the rugged, robust
characteristics of our good old English
ancestors. We think simply upon the
surface. We are fast growing Frenchy.
We cannot abide the profound The
vivacious, the sparkling, the piquant
is what we demand. 1t is the minister
who can say bright things who catches
the popular ear.
"The strong meat which men used
to get from the pulpit, where is that
now? And even the sincere milk of
the Word is sadly dashed with water.
What men those old New England
farmers were Nearly every man of
them was a theologian. They knew
little about brio brac, but they could
traverse the whole circle of elgious
doctrine. They may have been fools
in @stheticism, but they were wise in
grace. Their art culture may have
been deficient, but they knew the deep
workings of the human soul. OF light
literature they were not we'll informed,
but they knew the Bible from Genesis
to Revelation. One of those men who
used to sit under DR.. Griffin or DR..
Emmons, would cut up into hundred
of the present day. Their eyes were
not downward bent, but fronted the
glory of the stars.
"(3) Church going is diminished by
the criminal shJtleSSneSS of Christian
parents. The sad thing in our church
es to-day is that we are not holding
our own children. Look about over
any congregation on Sabbath morn
ing. Where are the children? Left
at home to do as they please upon the
Lords day. Good easy fathers and
mothers will not compel them to go to
church. 1t might prejudice them
against going in after years. Arrant
nonsense! Why do we not keep our
children out of school for the same
reason? A boy is allowed to do his
result: only five per cent CD of the young
men of our country are members OF
Christian churches. 1t is indeei time
that reform should begin within the
Church of God. Let parents bring
their children to the Lords house if
they would have them grow up to rev.
erence it,"
These remarks are true Our people
are running after wealth; they are
crazy unless they are rich there is no
repose; everybody must be amused {;
there is a succession of balls, and the
aires, and card parties, and trips; and
the thoughts of the young are on
clothes, and furniture, and carriages,
and horses, and yachts, and living in
fine houses, and the conviction is deep
seated that ga mans life CONSISTENT in
the abundance of the things which be
possesseth." Religion is too grave for
people in such a mood as this-people
who propose to Jump the life to come.
They want more lively time The be-
lief in the unseen world is weakened
This world is good enough for them, and
they think themselves too good to have
any serious trouble in the next. The
superfcialness, too, of modern society,
and Of the training which we give to
the young-this is also an important
factor And lastly, as the writer spe-
CITES, the children in our homes are
not governed; they go as they please;
it is thought severe to make them at
tend church. meetings, and rein them
up during the week. They must go
to the races, and read dime novels,
and be allowed to smoke cigars and
play cards, and to take chances in
lotteries and gift-enterprises. We are
undoubtedly creating a generation of
gamblers in this country. Look at the
late Fair in this city.
The developments about the falling
off in church attendance in New Eng
land and the constant complaint about
the neglect of the second Sunday SER
vice in our city churches, demand very
serious attention. We hear great
deal about efforts to make such SER
vices "mOre attractive" but they are