The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1905-09-27
Two DAYS.

Having been requested by the General Assembly
TO make publication through our Church press as
the time draws near, of the appointment of all
special days and seasons it might from time to
time set apart hereby invite the attention of
the Church to the following two actions of the
last Assembly:
L. Resolved That the first Sabbath in Novem.
per be set apart as of special thanksgiv-
ing TO God for the blessings bestowed upon so
many churches and countries from the great relgi-
Gus revival which we call the Reformation of the
Sixteenth Century"
This action was taken in pursuance of a recou
mendat1on OF the eighth General Council of the
Reformed churches, which met in JULY 1904 in
Liverpool, ENGLAND. This Council after reciting
the fact that this date and occasion had been set
tied upon by the Reformed and Lutheran churches
or the European Continent, and elsewhere for OBJ
servance, declares: "Such commemorative thanks
giving exercises fitted to render most import
ant service in our day to the different Reform
ed and Presbyterian churches of the world They
would also form another link between the churches
OF the European Continent and those located in
other parts of the world. We, therefore, recon-
mend the Observance of such reformation days by
the different churches of this Alliance and would
point out that the present is a most opportune
season for arranging for such commemoration
since the birth of John Knox occurred in 1906 the
death OF Theodore Beza, colleague and successor of
1909"
The General Assembly of the Northern Presby-
terrain Church and the General Synod of the Re
formed (Dutch) Church of America have adopted
similar resolutions.
q In answer to overture from the Synod of
North Carolina, the Assembly recommends chat
the second Sabbath of November, the month in
which the collection is taken, be observed as a
special day of prayer for schools and colleges,
when pastors may lay the call of the gospel min
istry upon the hearts and consciences of young
men and press home to the hearts of the people
the duty of contributing generously to these i'm,
portant causes
This should be distinguished from the day of
prayer for our youth in colleges and seminaries
which has been observed with sanction for the past
nreequarters OF century, and is set for the last
Thursday in February. It's first appointment by
the Assembly in 1888, following by one year the
designation of the first Monday in January, as a
day of fasting and prayer for the divine blessing
on the ministry of the Gospel throughout the
world, for a revival of religion in the whole of
Christendom, and for the conversion of the world
to God. This latter day, under the influence of
the Evangelical Alliance, some thirty-fve years
ago. gave place to the ''WeeE of Prayer" since
widely observed at the beginning of the year The
Southern General Assembly at its first meeting in
Augusta, in 1861 adopted the following: "rThat the
General Assembly designates the first Wednesday
in December to be observed annually as a day of
srecial prayer for the youth of country that
the almighty grace of our God NAV sanctify them
in their homes. their schools their colleges and
their semlnaries to the great work of preaching
the Gospel to every creature" The next wear the
day was changed to the last day of February
Thursday. In 1865 the Assembly apponted the
Sabbath preceding the day of prayer as a day of
special instruction from the pulpit the subject
of increase in the ministry. In 1867 it designated
the third and fourth Sabbaths of February as DAYS
of prayer for the youth gathered in the schools,
colleges and semnaries of our land In 1873 the
Assembly urged the observance of week of prayer
for our institutions of learning and for the youth
of country. beginning with the last Thursday
of February. In 1883 it recommended that in adj
dition to this day. the first Sabbath in November.
the day upon which the annual collection for
education is taken up in most of our churches be
observed day of special prayer for an increase
in the number Of candidates for the ministry.
and ministers exhOrted to preach on this
general subject.
About twenty-five years ago. in order to conform
to the changed custom prevalent in the Northern
fhn 6nv of pto To hi
Thursday in January, and so continued until 1882
when return had to the original date in
February. Meanwhile once again i'm 1895 the AS
sembly appointed the first Sabbath in November
as a special day of PRAYER for youth in orr schools