The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-08-25
For the Central Presbyterian.
Evangelistic Work.
OFFICE OF HOME Missions
Atlanta, Ca, August 10Th, Sc.

offers to all of Gods people the oppor-
tunity, not merely to discharge duty, but
to enjoy the privilege of contributing to-
wards our Evangelistic work, the work of
having Christ's gospel preached in the
destitute places OF our own great country.
The Status.
On the first of last September the Evan
gelistic year began with debt of $4,000
hanging over this fund During the first
two months of the year, that is during
September and October, 1885, receipts
continued to fall short, so that the Com
mittee was compelled to issue an article
telling our people plainly that nothing
less than complete disaster threatened our
whole Evangelistic work in all of the
weaker and really more destitute fields.
Upon that call the Church rallied not
so as to meet the needs OF this work, but
so as to save it from disaster. 1t is pro-
bable that the receipts for the year up to
September lst (next) will amount to about
Sl0, 800. During the year several Pres
byteries have wished to undertake new
work, but the Church had not furnished
the means, and this Committee could not
give the needed aid. We have been COM
PEELED to invest less (bY more than 81 ,OOOt
in this branch of work than during the
previous year. If the receipts of this
month, August, be the same as those of
last August, the year will close Septem-
Der lst with debt against the fund of
about So, 700, Gas against debt of $4,000
last year,. There are, however, several
legacies in sight, the reception of which
we think may be very surely counted on
within two or three months, which will
be sufficient to reduce the debt to about
So, 200, so that the contributions of our
people for the next year will not be
trelghted with an incubus of an amount
larger than the sum last named.
The Work of the Past Year.
Fifty seven ministers have been en-
ployed. Not more than twenty of these
have given their whole time to this work.
The others have given part of their time
to churches able to provide for them a
partial support, and the other part of
their time Frequently half time) has been
given to this missionary work. An effort
was made by the central Office to get a
full report of the work done during eleven
months, to August 1st. 1t was not en-.
tirely successful. Some of the most USE
full evangelists have not been heard from.
They have been away from home and are
busy. Reports from thirty-three lie upon
our table. 1t Is of course impossible to
put an evangelist's work and spiritual re-
suits into a statistical table, yet statistics
can give us some idea of what is being
done. Judging fairly the work of those
not heard from, by the reports which
have come in, it is fair and safe to say
that through the aid from this Committee
these brethren have held FIVE thousand
religious services, at which Christ was
presented-they have preached to at
least two hundred of our very feeble
churches, churches so situated as that
they cannot as yet be grouped into self
sustaining charges, but many of which we
trust will yet grow into strong churches.
They have held service besides at some
thing like three hundred missionary
points, Gin towns, in country, at the
mines, &C., The Lords Supper has been
administered probably not less than two
hundred times, over thirty churches have
been organized, and the way prepared in
part for the organization of as many more
in the not distant future. One hundred
church officers have been elected, most of
them ordained. Visits paid to families
from six to eight thousand.
In accomplishing this work these evan.
gelists have travelled many thousands Of
miles over bad roads and swollen streams,
they have been much away from their
families, often for weeks together; some
Of them away from home nearly all the
time. They have often been tired and
worn-they have been barely supported.
One Of them, giving an account Of his
work in five counties in Arkansas, says
" My faithful horse has carried me more
than 5000 miles. l have sown good seed
and have all faith in its vitality" That
horse, be it remem bered, has TO be fur
nished at the evaDgelist's own expense.
Now brethren, Of the Church Of God,
look at this case. These ministers are
not beggars-far from it. The case is
this Our God who gave his Son for us,
and "who saved us by His grace, has
given us the honor Of being His heralds.
He has hidden His disciples to "Go-go
preach the gospel" How shall we do
this2 He arrsnges it. He has called
men into the ministry, equipped, quail
fed, ready to 90 out to the destitute
places. Then the Lord has turned to you,
"the people Of God" to whom he has
given worldly means, and he has asked,
how shall they preach except they be
sent2' And you who gave the SIS 500
this year have responded to his call. In