Newspaper Page Text
He would have no knowledge how many!
hr how few’ would be enlisted ; whether all j
the State or not an individual; whether;
male or female; hence, at an titter loss how
to make the necessary arrangements for the
army and mainteinance of an army, and all
for the lack of something definite. Hence j
his mind must be as dark as darkness itself,j
on the subject. Further, if all the Slate in- 1
dividttally were opposed to enlisting, would i
not the President be totally disappointed in 1
his expectation? He certainly would.—!
Now if the number chosen in the mind ofj
Cod is indefinite, then he must necessarily !
be placed in a similar situation, with that!
of the President; for the Saviour has is- j
sued his orders in a similar way, to those j
stated above; hence, if wc disbelieve in a]
definite number chosen, we must believe in j
an indefinite number, and, consequently,
believe in God, our great Creator, who has
fmmed and docs sustain universal creation,
as a being subject to disappointment, defi
cient in knowledge and wisdom, forming a
plan which may all be frustrated, and the
Church, the object of bis love, and the sub
ject of his grace and the purchase of the
blood of Christ liable to be lost forever !
Hut stop ! where have I gone ?
An indefinite number is an unknown
number, depending entirely upon certain
conditions to be complied with or perform
ed by those to whom they are proposed.—
Now if the number is not known, the indi
viduals who compose it are also unknown ;
hence the Church, as a select body, cannot
be known. lienee it is impossible foi
Christ to love the Church and give himself!
for it that he might sanctify and cleanse it!
with the washing of water by the word.— !
But, further; the conditions proposed in the
wotd of God arc such that the sinner, if left
to himself, never will comply with them ;
consequently, he must unavoidably he lost,
for if God has so decided, that his divine
blessings shall be dependant on the sover
eign will of the sinner, they will never be
afforded only through that channel. I will
now ask my brethren, who are dissatisfied
with a definite number being chosen, to
think of the consequence if the number
was indefinite, and to think of what would
become of them and their children. They
would be lost, unavoidably lost.
1 will now try to establish a definite num
ber by the Scriptures. We proceed with
Horn. Rth chap. 29th v. “For whom he
did fore know, he also did predestinate to
be conformed to the image of his Son, that
he might be the first born among many
brethren.” Here a definite number is im
plied, again. Romans xi. 2. “God hath not
cast away his people whom lie fore-knevv.”
Hero also a definite number is implied, a
gain, John xvii. 1-2. “These words spake
Jesus, and fitted up lU s eyes to heaven, and
said, Father; the hour is come, glorify, thy
Soil, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as
thou hast given him power over all llesh,
that he should give Eternal life to as many
as thou hast given him.” In this portion of
scripture we have an address of the Saviour
to his heavenly Father, in which wo have
a definite number plainly expressed. “ As
many as thou hast given him.”
The idea of a definite number may be
further supported from the character of
God. lie is Eternal, Immutably the same,
yesterday, to-day, and forever. God is
light, and in him is no darknessatall. His
eternal knowledge cannot admit of anything
uncertain in hint. We will now close our
remarks on this point, and attend to the
question often asked, why not have the ar
ticle in the words of inspiration on which
wc could all agree ? It would be a pleas
ant tiling for us all to agree on the words of
inspiration. We would then have no need
ol the fourth article in our constitution. It
is because we disagree on the scriptures
that such an article is necessary. But ought
not the strong to bear with the weak and
not to please ourselves ? Answer : In things
mdificrciit wo ought, but we ought not to
sacrifice principle for the sake of the weak
or strong; for this would be doing our bro
ther a serious injury. It would establish
him more firmly in false and unsound prin
ciples. Hut could not the article be so ‘
modified as to meet the feelings ol our bre- i
flircn, without sanitising principle? I an
swer, 1 do not think it could, because there |
is but Eternal and temporal, definite and in
definite, particular and general. If, there
fore, we do not believe in an Eternal choice,
we must believe in a temporary choice ;
and if wc cannot believe in a definite mmi
.Wr chosen, we must believe in an indefinite
number, which will be found, when exam
ined by the Scriptures with scrutiny, to be
heretical in its very essence. This is my
view of the case, yet I am willing that an
etl'ort should be made to form an article in
the words of inspiration and let it come out
jn the Index, that wo may see it. I sub
l.nit the above to your consideration.
A Particular Baptist.
February ‘Hit, 1,811.
For the Christian Index.
Ucminiscetiffs of fia. Bap. Convention,
I can call up the heads of a discourse de
livered at the first meeting of this Body, or
rather some thoughts presented from the .
(ext “Prepare ye the wav of the Lord.”
Obstacles named as lying in the way, j
were,
1. “II ant of anion of sentiment. II- 1
lustrations were something like these : some ‘
have devised schemes to carry out the com- I
mission “ Go ye,” &c. and thus “ prepare
the way of the Lord ;” others pronounce j
them utopian notions; others suspect their j
motives and ridicule their attempts. Some
maintain that the knife of discipline should
be used promptly : others will wait till the
rotten limb has fallen upon their heads.—
Some that baptism should be but once ad
ministered ; others that if the candidate
thinks he was not converted, it must be re
peated. Some that lire restoration of a fall
en minister to membership, is all that is
requisite; others that a Presbytery should
be called to reinstate him. Some church
es patronize sabbath-schools, others main
tain tint they are dangerous institutions to
make men hcad-christians. Some urge
the v.'.lue of an educated ministry; -others
harp upon the evil of learning. While
I some take the plain obvious meaning of the
j scriptures ; others suppose that is too plain
I and seek for something mysterious in eve-
I ry verse and conjure up, for every natural
J thing, some spiritual instruction. In one
j region of the State, the people are regarded
! by tire other, as too refined and “ fantastic
j fine” in their dress to enteitain religion ;
the others as too downish and barbarous to
j afford h lodgment for piety.
2. Differences in the exhibition of truth.
Some ministers make election only the bur
den of their sermons ; others preach prac
tical religion ; the one are regarded as fat
alists ; the other arminians. Now, neither
can avow with the apostle, that he has de
clared “the whole counsel of God.”
3. Disregard of the institutions of reli
gion and support of the ministry. Some
will go through rain and cold to witness a
baptism; while they will stand out under
the shade-trees when the sacrament is ad
ministered in the house ! Some press the
support of the ministry that he way give
his whole time to the edification of the
church ; others lear to make him proud by
wealth and withhold the common necessa
ries of life, so as to keep him humble !
More careful of their minister’s salvation
than their own.
4. Inattention to the rising generation.
11. Remedies and encouragements. —
More prayer and acquaintance with the Bi
ble. Education of pious young men for
the ministry. God’s people are the instru
ments “ to prepare the way of the Lord.”
The Spirit is promised.
On these and other accounts, wc have ap
peared to the wotld like the image of the
Babylonian King, part iron, part clay, part
brass, with no adhesive composition to amal
gamate and make us one people.”
In 1824, Mr. M. of S. G. was in atten
dance. He had passed several months in
(be village where the session was held,
while ho was preparing for College, and
had very much endeared himself to the in
habitants by bis modesty, deep piety and
deeply affecting manner of speaking, llis
youthful appearance, the powerful appeals
he made to the heart, the recollections of
his former labors when a beardless strip
ling, bis warm and pathetic addresses, pro
duced a wonderful efTcel—his audience
! were in tears. On the Sabbath he was pre
ceded by a preacher from the country, who
looking around on the immense crowd,
asked, where shall we find food for so many
people? Then, as if tccollecting himself,
observed, “ There is a lad behind me which
j hath two barley loaves and a few small lisli
j es ; but what are they among such a mul
titude ?” The effect was happy—the
whole house seemed electrified. The lad’s
provisions were distributed with such an
unction from on high, that every one got a
little—many pressed up for the prayers of
j God’s people. Many persons say they
I shall nevei forget his sermons.
The. Penfield Equivalent .—ln the will
| of Josiah Penfield, 82,500 were bequeath
j ed to the Convention for the education of
| the ministry ; provided it would raise an
j equal amount, an equivalent. Before I left
| home, for the session, I tried to ascertain
j what could be done and what were the
! views of several brethren in regard to the
matter. Most said it would not be raised,
and seemed to blame Mr. P. for the restric
tion in his will. T. Carter said “wc ought
to raise it and double the sum ;” but bis
faith had not risen to assurance that it would
be accomplished. Wm. Flournoy allowed
me to use his name for SIOO, if this would
ibe of any avail. When J. M. and C. B.
I came to put down their $250 each,'the thing
! was soon done. But those same brethren
; who laiscd $2500 in 1829, now, if alive
and in the same circumstances, would raise
$25,000 just as easy. Then they had not
tried their strength in great attempts ; they
and their successors have now learned bc
; nevolcnt contributions is a kind of science,
a habit which will increase and strengthen
1 like others.
In 1827, at the session in Washington,
the subject of Temperance was introduced.
Mr. Mercer dashed upon it a bucket of cold
water and the poor thing shivered and left
the house. Mr. M. had been advised bv
physicians to use a little brandy and he
supposed he could not live long without ii!
How we have submitted to authority which !
was more ignorant than ourselves ! In this I
... !
opinion he continued till about 1833, when j
his occasional drinking was quoted by oth- j
ers as their liberty, lie abandoned it alto-1
getlier and commenced the “ Temperance j
Banner” to plead the good cause. 1 hope j
Mr. Mallory ‘s Biography of that good mail
j will soon be before the public. I regret
j the change of form of the Index, but will
j abide the decision of the majority. I regard
it as worth binding, but who, except the
Editor, will bind a Folio ? Glad to ascer
tain your College prospects are brighter.
SENIOR.
I’EiVFI eTTd!
Friday, march 15, 1841.
To Correspondents.
A. E. Reeves was credited with $5 to;
March 42, but the credit was inadvertently
omitted in our published receipts. If the obi
tuary sent has not been published we know
not what has become of it. It was detached
from his letter in order to be published.—
His letter is on file, but the obituary is not.
We request persons making remittances to
note our teceipis carefully and inform u? of!
the fact if we fail to acknowledge them. It!
is to our interest as well as theirs to be ;
made acquainted with all real or supposed
failures.
The Reminiscences of Senior, found in
another column, _cannot (ajl to prove u*r
j esting to the reader. They are from the
j pen of one who was once one of us, and
who has done as much, perhaps, as any
other one man. to elevate the character of
our denomination in the .South.
I lie obituary notices in our present num
ber are long. shat of sister Mason, we
learn, is from the pen of a lady. We will
always allow Indies, who will write as well
as she docs, as much space in our paper as
they may think proper to occupy. For
our part, we never complain of the garruli
ty of ladies. We love to hear them talk ;
especially when they speak lluough our
columns. Will not the fair authoress of
that obituary become a regulai contributor
to our columns ? We would be mote than
glad to have her do so. What lias become
|of our other fair correspondents ? The one
in S. (J., the one in 0., and the one in D.?
Ladies, we know your gentle natuics de
light in making others happy ; and. permit i
us to assure you, it will ever a fluid us much I
happiness to hear from you. Men some
times address you, in flattery, as angelic
j beings. Prove yourselves to be, in muli
j and in deed, “ ministering angels.”
Our Outside Form. —Wo commend the
several articles that appear on our outside
form to the particular attention of our read
ers. The History of the Stultgard cliuich
will be found exceedingly interesting. The
article on Expository preaching will com
mend itself to our ministering brethren.
Our youthful readers, we hope, will read,
until care, the communication of our Beech
Spring correspondent. Our Arminran ?>re
lliren will also find a bone to pick on our
first page. By the by, brother P. send us
your article—we have scarcely timo to
think, much less to write on doctrinal sub
jects ; and fear wc shall not be able to re
deem our pledge.
Do you lkptiK the Second Time?
The editor of the Pittsburg Christian
Advocate writes five short paragraphs in
reply to the above query. Wo transfer
two of them to our columns.
Our church recognizes infants and on
baptized adults of proper moral qualifica
tions, as proper subjects of baptism, ‘and
none else. We may not therefore rc-bip
lizeaHy more than we muy baptize a wick
ed man.
If a subject of baptism in infancy, judges
in mature years, that be ought to be im
mersed, it cannot be done by a believer in
infant baptism without sacrilege.
There aro Methodist, ministers both in
Virginia and Georgia, who have immersed
adults who had been previously sprinkled in
infancy, we must therefore conclude either
that Methodists do not esteem infant spiink-
Img to be baptism or they do not consider
that the commission of sacrilege disquali
fies one for laboring in the gospel ministry.
Preachers am! Politics.
The following extract from one of our
exchanges will evince, that we are mu gjjt
gular in the opinion we entertain, relative
to ministers of the gospel making them
selves active as politicians. For our part,
wc never hear a political preacher discourse
in the pulpit but what this passage of scrip
ture seems to ring in our ear, “ Thou, that
teachest another teachest thou not thyself l”
The extract below appears in more than
one of our exchanges, and we are happy to
find that editors of all evangelical denomi
nations concur with us in the views we en
tertain on this subject, and a large majority
of our subscribers too.
If the minister takes but little intetest in
political affairs, it is but a little sacrifice to
yield what lie takes to be a right. If he
lakes much intetest, it may be well for him
to ask il this exercise of his rights with the
excitement it engenders, is not of inferior
importance in his estimation to the calmness
which the omission to exercise them im
j parts to his mind, especially so will he feel
| it to be in his study and in die pulpit, where
| the distraction will impair his preparations
! for. and his freedom in, the sacred desk,
These considerations may at least estab
lish the proposition put forth in the outset
of this article, that the exercise of political
rights by ministers is of doubtful proprie
ty, and whatever assumes this character j
is forbidden. — Rich. Christian ,‘Jdvo.
Ait Admonition from a Non-professor.
The following is an extract from a sub
scriber who, it will be seen, is not a mem
ber of our church. It is encouraging to us,
and yet it is calculated to convey reproof to
many. “ What do ye more than others?”
j was a question propounded by our blessed
! Savinut to his disciples. From this inqui
ry, it is evident, that those who profess to
be Ins disciples should distinguish them
I selves from others by their good works—
; by their zeal and activity in every benevo
lent undertaking. Alas! how many pro
fessed disciples—and, indeed, how many
gospel ministers are doing less than even
this friend of ours, (to whom we are per
sonally unknown.) to promote the diffusion
of religious knowledge ! Brethren, ought
these things so to be ? We would not have
our non-professing friends do less, but we
would have professed chtistiatis do more
than they have ever yet done to advance
i he cause of Christ.
The letter of our correspondent conveys
to our mind this language: “If they, (the
members of our church.) altogether hold
their peace at this time, there shall enlarge
ment and deliverance arise from another
place,” (see Esther 4. I*4) —if theThildren
of the kingdom hold their peace, the stones
of the desert shall cry out; we shall “ find
tongues in trees,” the babbling brooks
shall plead our cause, and the whistling
winds shall pipe to us, as we march for
ward in the way of usefulness, which the
Lord God of Israel has opened before ns.
We entirely concur in the opinion ex
pressed by our correspondent, in the con
clusion of Ids letter, and we are of the same
opinion in reference to other churches.
“ 1 hope your paper will be sustained,
and I know there is no better way of sus
taining it than to subscribe lot it annually
and pay in advance.
There is a fact at which I am astonished;
it is, that lliete is a Baptist Church, within
three miles of this place, consisting of one
hundred and sixty or more members, all
holding, or professing to hold, the same
views for which you so ably contend; and
yet there are but five subscribers to yotit
paper in the bounds of said church. lam
lone of said subscribers, and though I am
not a member, I would not be without your
paper for double the amount it costs. (My
better half is a member.) I have fiequent
ly, without success, urged many of the
members of said cluucl) to take vour paper,
and there are few Baptist churches, if anv,
which need the light and information which
your paper is so well calculated to give
more than does the Baptist church.
I am of the opinion, if the Pastor of the
church would place the case properly be
fore his flock, that twenty or mote Subscri
bers might be added to yotu list in this sec
tion. Respectfully,
Peenlinritirs of Millerism.
Millerites denounce as Aniichristians and
infidel scoffers all who do not bow to Mr.
Miller, acknowledge him as a true prophet
and his doctrines as unerring. Mr. Miller
himself, we presume, does not believe, in
March 1841. what he believed and taught
in ‘.March’ 1843. Those who believed
Mr. Miller in 1843 wete considered very
good Christians, who were prepared to meet
their Lord at his second coming. But were
one to interpret the scriptures now, as Mr.
Miller interpreted them in 1843 and contend j
that they each that Christ was to have come
in 1813, he would probably be denounced
ns a scoffing infidel. A strange sect ibis,
that makes that an evidence of Christianity
one year that becomes an evidence of infi
delity the next! Millerism makes the evi
dences of Christianity to change with the
changing opinions of its own advocates.—
Note this as one of its peculiarities.
2. Another peculiarity of Millerism is,
that it makes the same thing both good and
bad. For instance, a spirit of denuncia
tion, in an unbeliever of Millerism, is a ve
ry evil thing; but in an advocate of Miller
ism, it is a holy spirit, the manifestation of
which, is considered as affording evidence
of a heavenly illumination.
3. Another peculiarity of Millerism is,
that it leads its advocates, with great uni
formity, to predicate their future actions,
not on the will oj God-, as directed to do,
Jas. 4. 15; but on the continuance of time.
“If time continues,” (Deo volente aid non
volenle?) they are accustomed to say, we
will do this ot that. For evidence of these,
and other peculiarities equally strange, see
the Advent Herald and quondam Signs of i
the Times. The Signs of the Times, hav
ing taught last year what time has proved j
to be false, has very prudently, like other !
(if we say impostors the editor will
unchristianize us) distinguished characters,
has changed its name.
We say nothing against the doctrines of
the second advent. We believe in a se
cond advent, and believe that to us, (the
editor,) that second advent is near at hand;
but we do deplore the spirit which Miller
istn has engendered, both in its advocates
and its opponents.
Christian Journal. —The editor of this
periodical states that the Index has not been j
received for several months past. We have I
looked into the matter and hope that its vis-1
its will hereafter be regular.
Address.
Rev. Obadiah Echols requests all papers j
and letters sent to his address to be herenf- ■
i ‘er directed to Oarrolton, Carrol county, j
Mississippi.
John P. Brits.
We have received a letter from a brother
in North Carolina, informing us that the
individual, whose name is placed at the
head ol this article, is palming himself off
on the churches in that State, and repre
senting dial we were well satisfied with the
| results of his trial in 1839, and extended to
. him the right hand of fellowship. The re
presentation is false, and Mr. Brice knows
\it to be such. His representations, there
fore, in reference to this .matter, affords ad
ditional evidence that he is wholly unwor
thy the confidence of the Christian commu
nity.
In the Religious Herald for August 30,
1839, a statement was made, that his trial I
resulted in proving him innocent. This j
statement, wc fell ourseif bound to contra- \
diet, and did so, if we mistake not, in the j
Herald published on the 13lh of September, j
For doing this we received a.very insulting
and threatening letter, from one of his most
intimate friends, with whom, we are inclin
ed to think, he lived at the lime, but of this
we are not certaia. The letter is, we be
lieve, still in our possession. We noticed
it amongst our papers but a, short time
since.
‘l’he facts of the case ate simply these :
The testimony against Brice was principal
ly in certificates. We based one charge, j
that of intemperance, in part on the state
ment of two respectable brethren. Hut i
Biice got up some counter certificates and ;
gavw explanations, which, having no know
ledge of the transactions ourself, (never
having, within our knowledge, seen him
befote the day of his trial,) we of course
could not contradict. The witnesses were
not present, while he brought up friends to
testify in his favor. We subsequently
found that la is friends, in one or two in
stances at least, testified to one transaction,
while the charge had reference to another.
Owing to these circumstances, it is true,
that the charges, in several instances, were
not so sustained as to justify Itis conviction;
but the evidence, in our estimation, was
very far from proving him innocent. There
was one charge, however, which he could
not deny, and therefore admitted, and which,
in our opinion, was sufficient, of itself, to
unfit him for membership in any Christian
church. This was the total abandonment
of his own offspring. No conduct of the
wile, or of the wife’s parents, could justify
him in this, in a country where there are
laws to protect his rights. “ Without nat
ural affection,” is characteristic of a hea
then, Rom. 1. 31.
llis representation, that we gave him the
rtf- ht hand of fellowship, is based upon the
tact, that after the trial we approached him,
oHvroil him our liaml, and look a walk with
him. Our object was to endeavor to pre
vail on him to take such steps as would es
tablish his character, if innocent. We sta
ted to him plainly, that unless he pursued
the course we suggested, he never could
gain the confidence of the denomination at
large, and could not expect to be nivited in
to the pulpit by niinisteiiug brethren—that
we would not feel free ourselfto invite him
into the pulpit, though the council had ac
quitted him. His reply was in substance,
this : lie did not cure about the confidence
of the denomination at large. While he
had the confidence of those in his neighbor
hood it was all he cared for. He never ex
pected to go out of his neighborhood.
We endeavored to follow the scriptural
direction, and treat him, not as an enemy,
but ns a brother, and this has furnished a
basis for his representation, which, we re
peat, he must know to be false.
Mr. Brice is a man of some talents, is a
popular speaker and artful, and can always
find friends among the more ignorant—the
non-reading part of a church, to advocate
llis cause. Though acquitted by the coun
cil, there were but three or four churches in
one remote corner of the Portsmouth asso
ciation that would recognize him as a Chris
tian, much less as a minister. Wcaresur
ptised that any orderly church should be
willing to be supplied by one whose char
acter, to say the least of it, is suspicious—
to admit into their pulpit one against whom
the pulpits of a large majority of their de
nomination are closed. The minister, like
Caesar’s wife, should be above suspicion.
The scriptures require that he should lie of
good report. The course pursued by Brice,
at the trial, was sufficient to convince us,
setting aside all the charges that had been
preferred against him, that lie was an artlul
and designing impostor, lie told a false
hood, in the presence of the council, about
a document which he read. Before the
Council be also positively denied that he
ever drank spirits, but in bis private inter
view with us lie confessed, that in Balti
more lie used to drink gin ! It is most
probable that lie will deny what passed be
tween us during our private interview; but
there are those living in Virginia to whom
we repotted it within a few hours after the
interview closed.
The Council, though principally com
posed of his friends, were not unanimous.
Two of us at least, did not vote for his ac
quittal, but against it, and a third expressed
himself dissatisfied at the time, but subse
quently, we learn, became in favor of Brice.
We have published the facts in this case
by special request. If Briee contests the
truth of our statements, we may report some
other facts which were not brought before
the Council, and of which we teceived in
telligence subsequent to the trial. No
church can stand fair in the Christian com
munity that will uphold Brice. The char
acter of a church abroad depends veiy much
upon the character of its preachers.
The Home Mission Society and Slavery.
It appears that a report has been in cir
culation, that one of the missionaries em
ployed in Texas, has become a slaveholder.
Some of those at the North who busy them
selves about other men’s matters, must
needs pry into this. One of them address
ed a letter to Rev. B. M. Hill, the corres
ponding Secretary of the Society, making
sundry inquiries on the subject; to which
Mr. Hill returned the following answer:
American Baptist Home Mission So
ciety.
New York, Feb. 12, 1844.
Rev. B. P. Byram,
Dear Brother, —Your favor of 6th ult.,
came duly to hand. I regret that in conse
quence of an unusual amount of important
business in my hands, 1 have been prevent
ed from making you an earlier reply. The
kind spirit you evince, relative to the oper
ations of the Home Mission Society is du
ly appreciated.
_ You iiiquirc.il. ‘-Does the A. B. 11. M.
Society support any aAhiiissioiiaries'known
to be slaveholders?”
I answer; they are not aware that any of
their missotiartes are such.
2. “Are the Rev. Messrs. Hueieins- and
Try on slave-holders, to the knowledge of
the Board?” 5
I answer; they are not,
3. You ask, “If slave-holders;-ciui they
be retained as missonaries* and: supported
fiom the funds of the treasury?”
I reply; that subject has never been dis
cussed by the executive committee, and,
therefore, I am unable to say more than to
refer you to their “Circular” issued in
1841, and to remind you that a considera
ble proportion of the Society’s funds has
been supplied by its Southern members—
mote than sufficient, I presume, to cover
all the appropriations ever made by mis
sionaries in the Southern States; so that,
“•funds obtained from Northern churches”
have not, probably, been appropriated for
their support. I add, that considerable
sums to have been paid into mvr treasury,
and designated especially for our missiona
ries in Texas; and there can be no objec
tion to our Northern friends designating
their donations for missionaries in the lieo
Slates, if they desire it. In such cases, I
assure you. the money will be faithfully ap
plied as they direct.
lain truly thankful for the kind icgnrd
manifested'’ toward* the Society by voutself
and friend's’ heretofore, and I trust that, for
the sake of tht* numerous feeble churches
and destitute places in our vast field which
look to ucTor aid in the days of their ne
cessity, -etc shall still continue to share your
sympathies and co-operation.
Alky the Divine guidance and blessing
rest upon you and the people ofyottr chargo.
Yours with Christian regard,
B M. H li.i., Cor. Sec.
As this letter has every appearance of be
ing written in bis official character and lias
been published in abolition papers, it is en
titled to the attention of those u the South
who ate in the habit of contributing to the
hinds of the Home Mission Society• From
this letter we infer, 1. That the Board
would not give a commission to one who
was known to them to be a slave-holder.—
2. That the Executive Committee consid
er that they have the right to discuss, and
consequently to decide, in their official ca
pacity, the propriety of continuing in their
employment, one who is discovered to he a
slave-holder; or, in other words, to decide
whether slave-holders shall receive, in their
labors of love, assistance from the Society.
This is a plain inference from the reply
to ihe third inquiry. Now as slave-holders
have contributed to the Society much more
than has ever been expended for their ben
efit, we think that the South has a right to
inquire of Mr. Hill and the Executive
Committee, whether these inferences ate
just. Georgia alone has contributed more
to the Home Mission Society, in one year,
than has ever been expended on missiona
ries in Texas, during any two years. The
single Association with which we are con
nected contributed, in one year, for benevo
lent objects, S4OOO, nearly. About S2OOO
of that amount, if we mistake not, was for
Home .Missions. This was the year that
Mr. Huckens first visited us. Now if it is
a settled principle with the Society, that no
minister that is a slave-holder, even though
he may have been made a slave-holder by a
dispensation of Divine Providence, (by
birth,) is to receive an appointment by the
Board, we of the South ought to know it.
We hope that Mr. Hill will extend to us
the courtesy he has extended to B. P. By
ram of Valley Falls, and answer definitely
the following queties:
1. Is it true that the American Baptist
Home Mission Society will not employ
one as a missionary known to be a slave
holder?
2. Does the Executive Committee claim
the right to decide whether slave-hold
ing shall be considered as disqualifying
one to serve as a missionary of the Soeiety?
A speedy answer is respectfully solicited,
in behalf of tiie one hundred thousand Bap
tists, and more, who occupy that section
of countiy through which our paper citcu
luates.
Christ is a pearl, which whoever hath can
never be poor, and which whoever wants
can never be rich. Christ’s riches are so
many they cannot be numbered; they are so
precious they cannot be valued; they’ are so
great they’ cannot be measured.