The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-01-20


of Lorne, is dying
-Evangelization, (says Prof. Briggs
in the Presbyterian ReUie,0) is to be conducted
by the Church as divine institution, and can
not be safely resigned to voluntary societies.
II is the work of ordained ministers of Christ
and cannot be relnQuished to unordained men
There is abundant work for laymen but 1t is a
shame to ministers that any part of their work
should be neglected and thrown upon others
The work of evengelizing the uuconverted in
our towns, cities and rural districts is not less
important than the work of evangellzng the
Heathen. No minister is faithful to his calling
who Is not an evangelist as well as a pastor 1t
Is because the church has neglected her work
that the Salvation Army and similar agencies
take the field, whose work puts to shame the in
dolence and lack of enterprise on the part of the
Church. What evangelistic work can our
Churches undertake and accomplish this winter?
-DEATH OF THE RICHEST MAN IN THE
SoUTH.-Col Edmund Richardson the leading
cotton merchant in New Orleans, the richest
man IN the South and the largest cotton planter
IN the world, was stricken down with apoplexy
at Jackson, Miss at midnight Monday night
and died before assistance could reach him.
Col. Richardson's fortune was estimated at from
SlO,O00,O00 to $4,000, 900, all of which he had
accumulated himself He was the owner and
manager OF nineteen cotton plantations in Lou
lslana, Arkansas, and Mississippi, covering over
oO,OOO acres. His annual crop was $4,000 to
lo,OOO bales of the value of $780, 900 to $780,
600. He had besides, over 81 100000 invested
IN business in New Orleans in the cotton houses
OF Richardson & May, and was the owner of the
Wesson mills, the largest cotton factory IN the
Southwest He was also interested in many
other enterprises, such as factories and steam
boats. His annual income exceeded 81 600 900.
Col Richardson was chosen president of the late
Worlds Industrial and Cotton Exposition. He
was native of North Carolina, and self made
man of excellent judgment, and very careful
and economical. He leaves a widow, four sons
and daughter
The Evangelstic meetings in Wash
ington Hall, Paterson, n. j., conducted last
week by the Protestant pastors of that city, with
the hearty co operation of the churches, were so
largely attended that overflow meetings were
provided for in the First Baptist Church, near
by where from night to night the attendance
increased, until at the Friday night meeting the
pews in the body of the large church were well
filled. The audiences of about 1900 people
each night in the hall seem pervaded by deep
religious seriousness The most eager atten-
ton Is paid to the services from the time that
they begin until they close. So tar as can be
sscertained from $50 to 200 souls are earnestly
seeking Christ. About 100 have risen for pray
ers, and quite number profess to have found
hope In Christ. The meetings are continuing
The success so far attending these meetings is
very gratifying 1t even surpasses the expecta-
tlons cherished by the pastors, who are cordial
ly united In the good work Last Sabbath
morning there was general exchange of pull
pits; no pastor preached In his own pulpit, or
In the pulpit OF any church belonging TO his
own denomination. 1t looks if the whole
city might soon be thoroughly aroused by
mighty revival.
Public SCHooLs.-We are glad to
see that our Presbyterian brethren are taking a
deeper interest in the moral instruction given
in our public schools. but we are inclined to
think that the substance of all that is asked in
the following resolution is now taught more or
less distinctly in all American schools:
At late meeting of the Presbyterian Synod
of New York resolution was introduced to be
acted upon next year, which urges the impera-
tive duty of opposing the attitude of indifference
to religion which appears in our public school
manuals and in the educational work of our re-
formation, and at the same time of using all
proper means to secure the incorporation with
the course of State and national instruction of
the following religious truths as a basis of ma
tional morality, viz.
Q) The existence of a personal God.
~ The responsibility of every one to God.
(3) The deathessness of the human soul as
made in the image OF Cod after the power OF
an endless life.
(4) The reality Of a future spiritual state in
which every soul shall give an account for itself
before God, and shall reap that which it has
sown.
1t has since been proposed to add fifth sub
ject for teaching, viz:
(5) The decalogue, interpreted both by the
sermon on the Mount and by the life and exam
pie of Christ as the standard of morality From
Journal Of EdUcatton Boston, Jan. ID, 1856.
On the last Sunday Of the year
while Rev. Mr. Campbell Of the Reformed
Church Of Castleton, New York, was preaching
from the text And great was the fall Of it, +"
the wind blew down the high chimney, which
crashed through the roof carried away be arch
of the organ and covered the people with dirt
and dcbris Dhis recalls to the Christian Id
Coc1ie the fact that when the late Bishop Haven
preached IN the Central of Detroit, on a spring
day, from the words The winter IS over and
gone the time Of he singing of birds is come"
IN the midst of an exquisite passage Of the
Come, gentle spring ethereal midness" sort
fierce snow squall came up winch shook the
windows and darkened the house. All Of which
recalls an incident that occurred during the min
istry Of the amented Dr. VIM b. Sprague of
Albany. 1t was early in SOL when the por-
tentous clouds Of war were rolling up In the
sky. In the midst of a sermon Of rare power
the venerable preacher declared that should re-
bellion break forth the elements Of God would
combine to crush it," God would thunder with
awful voice and the play Of bis lightning would
be terrible" And then came down a fierce
storm Of thunder, lightning and hail so deafen-
ing and 30 awful that for a time the speaker was
upabla To r,rocooJ Aforvvo rJa uv,or bciry ro