The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-11-07
NARRATIVE OF THE SYNOD OF VIR-
GINA


state OF religion in each individual soul is
its chief concern. All its work and plans
for work are dependent for their efficiency
on this
The state of religion in our many fields
is manifested by certain practical signs.
These indications of the state of religion
are presented to the Synod by the Presby-
ter1es in a definite order.
The first of them is the indication given
by attendance the services of the
sanctuary. This is a sign of the state
of religion which is seen of all men, and
1t is a test Of the love of Gods people
for one another, for Him whose we are
and whom we serve and of our faithful
ness to His command not to forsake the
assembling of ourselves together as the
manner OF some was even in apostolic
churches.
The churches report to the Presbyteries
with an approach to unanimity most
favorably as to the attendance on the SER
vices of the sanctuary on Sabbath morn
ings; but almost all our city churches la
ment the fact that the Sabbath evening
services are not well attended, and some
mention the same encouragement in con-
nectiOn with the mid-week meetings.
The second test of the state of religion
is faithfulness in family worship AS
has been the case for many years past,
the reports from the Presbyteries on this
subject are discouraging; but a pleasing
exception appears this year in tho reports
Of the PrebyteFies of Abingdon and Lex
ington. 1t will be a great announcement
when we and our families calling on
the name OF the Lord, in increasing num-
bers. A third test is the observance of the
Sabbath; and here, while the report is
in most eases favorable as to the absti-
nence from Sabbath breaking on the part
of church members the conduct of out
siders in many communities is deplored.
Sunday excursions and other signs in
some places suggests the danger of some
thing like the continental Sunday. 1t is
to be feared that the standard of Sab
bath observance has been lowered in the
minds OF many of our own people and
that favorable report are sometimes made
on this basis. One of our PresbyteriaI
reports contains this suggestive remark in
relation to this and a kindred subject:
what Is meant by Sabbah observance
and worldly conformity seems to be a
changeable quantity in the minds of most
people, accommodating themselves to the
different age and circumstances In which
we live; and it is feared that Gods i'm
mutabillty is forgotten"
fourth test OF the state of religion
is the religious training Of children From
the great Presbytery of Lexington with
its sixty-nve churches, comes the cheering
report that this is well attended to in
the Sabbath-school," and that the same
reports come from other Presbyteries. The
Presbyteries generally report more or
less worldly conformity in their churches;
but the report OF one is that worldly con-
fOrmity has no hold on the people of
this PTesbytery; only one church knowing
OF any within its bounds, and that TO a
limited extent"
As to the evangelistic work done by the
churches in regions around them. the
reports Of some Presbyteries are silent or
indehnite but it would seem that about
one third OF our churches are engaged
in 1t, while our largest Presbytery re-