The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-09-15
ESPoN DENCE.
Letter from Savannah, GA.
SEPTEMBER 9TH, 1886

MesSrS. Editors, rS,-Last Tuesday night
august 3lst), at supreme moment,
there was not an inhdel in this city.
Those who at the time were engaged in
an argument against God cut it short
when the floor began to give way. Those
who in pride of intellect bore their heads
loftily, lowered them when the fragments
of brick began to fall. If any sceptics
remained full of courage, it was only be-
cause they were full of liquor. All the
unbelieving and thoughtless among us
had their eyes open for once. and all dis
covered that there was God. 1t is pro-
bable that there have been some relapses
since, for there are those who have got
ten their eyes shut again. We may have
FIVE hundred infdels here now, and they
will all say "there is no God, but they
did not say so then. Most of our people
are honest enough to adhere to the testi-
mony which they gave when they were
in trouble, and to acknowledge that there
is God that judgeth the earth.
solemnity-to hear so many voices lifted
in prayer-to see the visible giving place
to the invisible in the thoughts of the
multitude. But we must not be deceived.
In brief time the excitement will be
over, the community will resume its
usual appearance-the rush of business
will emulate the roar of subterranean
disturbance-lips that prayed will be-.
come profane-faces that blanched will
take on fictitious bloom-and the tide Of
worldliness will again sweep the field.
The devotion produced by mere terror,
as we well know, soon passes away. In
tact lady passing the house yesterday,
was heard to say that she was getting
tired of all this foolishness." And some
nave already begun to talk about the
laws and convulsions of nature as the
prime cause; as though the laws and
convulslons OF nuture could remove us
from the protection of our heavenly Fa-
ther !" AS if that Father would say to
his children, "There shall no evil befall
you unless there comes an earthquake
or tidal wave, and then indeed you
will have to look out for yourselves"
The Christians here, therefore, aware
that nothing subsidies 80 easily as fear,
are very anxious that before it subsidies
some may be landed near the cross. Two
of our ladies came to me last night with
requests for a daily meeting for prayer.
They know that the earthquake will not
convert men unless it directs them to the
gospel. They want to have the sorrow
OF the world turned into the sorrow that
worketh repentance unto salvation.
There is pastor in this city who has
taught from his pulpit that when sinners
are introduced amid the horrors of eter.
nifty they will be inclined to repent but
such does not seem to be the effect of the
horrors Of time, at least in Savannah.
For the newspapers report that the sa-
looms Of the city have been reaping a
golden harvest during the past week,
and that jewellers have emptied their
glasses in derision and defiance Of the
earthquake that was threatening to swal.
low them up 1t would seem from this
that when the wicked hereafter are gnaw.
ing their tongues for pain, they will be
more likely to blaspheme the God OF
heaven than to fly to his bosom.
Savannah needs only more religion to
secure it an extraordinary prosperity.
Under the god of this world it is not half
the city in population, wealth, and splen.
dor that it would be under the govern
ment of the Prince Of Peace.
w. f. 3.