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-gr ‘ rw ' > —f I Your Committee to whom was referred tlie subject of reading teligious periodicals, have had it under consideration, and ane ptepared, both from experience and infot* illation received, to recommend to the de nomination the reading of some approved religious paper, sever*! of which are now circulated, The Christian Index is partic larly recommended, both on account of the soundness of its Theological matter, and the important general and special informa tion it contains. Thu Alabama Baptist, and Southern Baptist Preacher, or Sermons written by living preachers, are papers which may be safely recommended—all of which may be had at reasonable rates. The importance of leading and studying the {Bible ; the incalculable good which originates in Sabbath Schools, and the gieat moral influence exerted by a religious observance of the Sabbath, are subjects of 100 much moment to bo passed unnoticed. The attentive and prayerful reading of the 1 Scriptures, is thercl'oie particularly recoin- j mended to all the Churches of the Associa tion. And what we say to the Churches, we qiiy to all persons who are willing to receive the best information and direction ojv-sll subjects. From the Bible is obtain (cd the only authentic account of the Crea ’ lion; it unravels the mystery in relation to the nature ol God, of angel* aud man,; the end for which man was made; thtf immor al taliiy of the soul; ilieJCftgHi'oTmoral evil; the vanities of this wforld. and the glory of the world to come; and in it is found sure directions by which that glorious world is to be reached. If information of this kind is desirable search the Sciiptures,—it is there alone to Ire obtained. If it is desira ble that your children, your neighbors’ children and friends should read and under stand the same blessed Book, establish and foster .Sabbath Schools : These are nttrse ties where both of these obj dts may be the most surely anil easily accomplished. And, larther, if it is desirable that the Sab bath should Ire respected and pass ttndese crated; that vice and immorality should be banished ;—aud that religion should be re garded by the world as a substance, .and not as a mere shadow, establish and maintain Sabbath Schools wherever there are chil dren to be instructed. Kep>rl of the Missionary of the Jl'cst'crn •Association, Gu. Dear Brethren—Having been appointed by you the Itinerating Evangelist lor this Association, on the aotli of December, 1813, and having consented to accept tire same, & being deeply impressed with the arduous labors and responsible position of a Domes tic Missionary, 1 at once betook myself to reading, meditation and prayer, which fully brought home to rny mind my total unlit tress and disqualification for so solemn aitd important a service. And also being further well satisfied of the great sacrifice it called tttc to make of the comforts of domestic life, of home, of wife and ten children, which arc and were dear to my heart—allot'which were matters of no small nor unimportant consideration ; but being moreover impress ed that it was my duty to enter the field of labor—all these things were overborne, and 1 entered immediately upon the work to which i had been called by the Committee, and to which my mind had been led, as I tinst, by the Holy Spirit and Providence of Cod. And while lam further fully sensi ble of much infirmity and many imperfec tions, on account of which 1 beg the indul gence and forbearance of my brethren, and earnestly implore the forgiveness and mer cy of Cod. Yet, nevertheless, 1 have great reason to be filled with gratitude to my Heavenly Father, that it is as well with me as it is ; and that amidst many Inals and temptations, and much persecution, (trough which 1 have passed, that the good Lord has been with me and blessed my poor la bors in his great cause. To the King im mortal, invisible and eternal, the only wise Cod, be all the glory forever and ever, a men. . The following is a summary of my labors commencing the 20th December, 1813,and ending tlic 15tb September, 1814. 1 have rode, as near as 1 can estimate from my Journal, 1,842 miles; 2nd, spqnt 225 days ; 3rd, preached 201 limes ; Ith, delivered 81 regular exhortations, besides numerous occasional ones;sth, prayed pub licly over 1000 times, and endeavored to keep up constant secret prayer, 6th, visit ed 118 families ; 7th, baptiseil 6 persons— assisted in the ottlinalion of two Deacons, and aided in the constitution of one Church; and have arrangements on hand to consti tute two mote, one in the 11th of Mcri wether, and the other at Carrollton. 1 have also attended one meeting for die reconcili ation of differences among Baptists, also 1 have succeeded in adjusting some old stub born difficulties with brethren and in sever al Churches. Many have been convicted and converted at our meetings, and many added to the churches, and baptised by the pastors ol Churches. Os the precise num ber, i have uo means of knowing. Eterni ty alone will tell out things as they are. Now, dear brethren, having thus submit ted my report, 1 take my leave of you, pray ing Cod’s blessing on you and oti all the la bors of your hands; lit parting, permit me to suggest through you to the Association the importance of eulatging the sphere ol Missionary labors—that the Association this •year endeavor to sustain two Missionaries in the field. “ The harvest is truly great, but the laborers aro low.” And would it not be proper for the Committee to meet, alter elected, before the Association ad journs, and select their Missionary, ornrore, so lire delegates of the churches might he informed on the subject, and lints ihewholG association;)! year bo filled out ? VII ot which is respectfully sudinitted. JAMES DAVIS. To Jamks Ccj.cr.nsox, Chait’n of Com. SABBATH SCHOOLS. fitporl of a CommitUc oj the If (stem .As sociation. The Committee to whom was referred much consideration I '**-tnfe-uuujjubv ■'tneirtime.andthe means within their reach/ would permit; and while they desist from saying ought on the present condition of Schools within the limitsof the Association, “they feel that they cannot too forcibly im press on the Ministers and Deacons of the various Churches, the necessity of more vig orous and persevering efforts for the exten sion of this highly useful (and so often blessed of flod) system of Education. Per haps none of what may be properly termed the minor means of Grace, lias ever been more blessed to the conversion of souls than the Sabbath .School. It is a generally ad mitted truth, that early impressions are last ing. How important, tlten, that at the time when the young mind is just expanding— just opening for the reception of imptes sions which will last for life and be felt in eternity ; and when the evil influences of the world, and the temptations of the ad versary of souls, are all engaged in implant ing the seeds of sin aud death—how impor '■ taut, we say, is it that the pure precepts of the Gospel, that which alone is able to make men wise unto salvation,should be given to the youth, that it may be made a light to his feet and a lamp to his path, Viewing the subject in this light, your Committee cannot too forcibly impress upon the Min ister and Deacons of the various Church es, the taking, of Aids cause into their pray rapidly taken of this institution he true, we feel that the appeal we here make to them will be answered by efforts of an eulaigcd nature —efforts width will result in the es tablishing of Sabbath Schools within the limits of every Church; and which, aided by the influence of Clod’s Spirit, we may hope to see blessed to the conversion of many of the rising generation. JOHN J. DODSON, Chairman. , l EDUCATION. , Tteport of a Committee oj the Western As sociation. Your Committee on Education, would : make the following Report: That the increasing interest manifested t by the denomination in almost every scc i lion ol these United States, and especially ■ in Georgia, is a source of gratitude and praise to Cod. Schools and Colleges, ud der the immediate management and instruc t lion of our brethren, have rapidly increased in their number and patronage, and arejust -1 ly entitled to the cordial support of the pub i lie. These various institutions of learning , amongst us, arc exerting a salutary inllu : mice in the youth, both as it respects the j cultivation of their minds and the iuiprove . merit ol their morals. Our growing iium i hers and increasing resources aulhotize the ■ belief that the day is not far distant when . not only our,(Academic S uinl mgli Schools, | but our''Col I egos, will be crowded with r young men. | The Georgia Baptist Convention lias, in , its wisdom aud benevolence, been laboring i to wake up the energies of our people to i the subject of ministerial education- Their I labors have not been without success; yet . there.is much, very much, remaining to be I done, We would respectfully invite the I ! munition of the Churches to the importance , of directing the young gifts within their bounds who ate (in their judgment) culled to the work ol the ministry, to avail tliein ■ selves of the advantages proposed in the Theological department of Mercer Univer- I sity. And would also most respectfully re commend to the Executive Committee of the Convention, the propriety of granting their appropriations to bielhrcn preparing for the ministry, in the form of loans. VVe further recommend to the Association the proptiely ol’ appointing two suitable per sons in her bounds, to whom application may be made fur information respecting the conditions on which admittance into the Theological department may be obtained. We have noticed, with much pleasure, a plan proposed by the Convention at its last session, by which it is designed to raise funds for the education of the children of Baptist Ministers throughout Georgia who ara in limited circumstances. J'he plan re ported by the Convention is designed to create a permanent fund of thirty thousand dollars, the interest only of which is to be , used for this specific object. ‘J'he project, ( we think, commends itself to our attention. , The labor of raising the above fund is divi- j ded among six classes of donors, in shares j, of ten dollars each, viz: 1 Class of 10 persons who will each take 50 shares, $5,000 , I “ 20 persons who will each i take 25 shares, 5,000 , II “ 50 persons who will each , i take 10 shares, 5,000 !, 4 “ 100 persons who will each take 5 shares, 5,000 ~ 5 “ 200 persons who will each j, take 2.J shares, 5,000 0 “ 500 persons who will each take 1 shares, 5,000 i j i $50,000 | | Now, as this provision anticipates the | convenience of the childtcn who are to be | beuefitted by this fund, we suggest that a i fund be raised in this Association, to he ap- i plied within its limits ; said fund to be sub ject, in its application, to the control of the I Executive Committee of the Convention. This subject lias been brought before your j committee by several bretluen who have i proposed to subscribe liberally in order to aid the Convention to carry out its designs. For the information of our brethren and i Iricnds who may feel disposed to subscribe ■ i lor the purpose of raising the above fund, 1 we beg leave to stale that the convention al- i lows ihcm the liberty .of paying the money 1 when they subscribe, or of giving their note i !on interest, as they may prefer. We re-; i commend that all funds raised for .the above [’ put pose, be placed in the hands of ourTrea- j i smor, subject only to the order ol the Ex- i ecutive Commute ol the Convention when t directed to the education of children within < our bounds. j. All of which is submitted. < JAMJSL CULBERSON, Ch’n. -j, fa Co|* k : AT,< * s - / °f ,,lt Wntern .is rel|g|ou the bounds of our as 4u afP"articr places, your coiitmTnee det*nWihe highest impor tance to the interests AfZion. \V e rejoice that tje-lime is arrived whe.n we can introduce jiijp omjlftiomiiuittdnand the world, a I!; list Literature; K-Zitt and works must be bott^H We mo* < ordiully ronage of our as a-useful andjriS9ajHHp^f*^ mol l The of Hymns for the use of the recent ly issued by the Bap® vindication Socie ty in Philadelphia, is Eisi cordially recom mended to the a work well a dapted to the wants dfareligious worship, with merits equal, if tit superior, to any now in circulation. MB also recommend, as a most valuable religTiis paper, the Ala bama Baptist, Mai ion, Perry county, Alabama. Wtftannot omit again to commend to the ntliMbon and patronage of our bretlitcn, the (/fcistiart Review, a work published quarterly at Boston. This work, the fust ol the Inml ever issued by us fiom the American prt%s, presents strong claims to the patronage m xfie Denomina tion. It is, doubtless, doing more to devel op the Literary and Theological resources of the Denomination—to give currency and popularity to our peculiat (efiets, and to el evate the position of otu people in the esti mation of others, than any other similar en terprise cvet undertaken by us. The Baptist Publication Society, formed to promulgate Baptist sentiments, are send ing lortli the stuudaid works of our ablest writers, in a form so cheap that they may be procured without burthen. We desire to see them in families of all our brethren. When they shall he more generally diffused, we shall anticipate the rapid triumph of truth. We should he happy to see those works procured and kept lor sale by sonic enterprising brother, for the especial accom modation of those who might wish to pur chase. Education. Itepoft of a Committee of the llappahun nock Association. ‘J'he Committee appointed try the ltap. pahannock Association, at its last session, upon “The Education of the Ministry,” having had the subject under consideiarfon, respectfully submit the following repott: It is an axiom universally true,*Tbat suc cess in —-om|>iisiiniurii oijriji v object, •■..otigli the means of instrumental agency, requires an adaptation of the agent to the object designed. To prove the correctness of this position, a single illustration will suf fice. Hit is impart instruction to the htiii.an mind, in relation ’to any giv en subject, it is indispensably neecssary that the agent employed, be himself fully instructed therein, otherwise iris efforts might lend to bewilder the mind of bis pu pil, nnd involve him iii the mists ofverror, ralliet titan guide him into the pure light of truth. Upon this wholesome principle, the Supreme Ruler ol the universe seems to have bound all the ordinary laws for the \ government of his dominions, so far as they have been revealed to man. Throughout the physical world, system, and order, and fitness, are every whereedisjaluyed. Nor is this principle the less in the moral government of God. Thyinotives presented to man in the sacred Scriptures, as an inducement to love and obedience, are all most happily adapted to that end. M’liile the human agents every where selected, were exactly fitted for their Tspeelivc and appropriate duties. We aro aware that the nrsst active and efficient among the chosen *f2,’ were un learned fishermen, destitute of the advan tages ol literature and science, tmhlinl from this simple fact, many of our brethren de duce tire inference that education is wholly unimportant to the Christian Minister.— But with becoming deference to the opin ion of such, we would remark, that the pe culiar circumstances connected with that occasion, place it out of the category of ordinary events, and render it perfectly independent of the ordinary laws of the j divine government. Our blessed Saviour made It is advent into the world among a people already instructed in the knowledge of God, by whom the sacred oracles were daily read, and before whom they are daily expounded. Those oracles pointed out the coming Messiah, as the great means of salvation, the sole medium ol communica tion with the Father, and the only procur ing cause of Divine acceptance. Upon 1 these subjects, no additional instruction was required. The important object to be accomplished was, to convince mankind that Jesus of Nazareth was that exalted Be ing. How was this to be effected, surely not bv human learning. All the philoso phy ol the schools would have been found weak aud powerless, for the simple reason, that •• Jhe world by wisdom knew not God.” An open demonstration of the Divine power, strongly marked, and clear ly defined, addressing itself directly to the physical sense of man, was requisite to pioduce that conviction, and hence, the in troduction of miracles, not the leastof which was the extraordinary mental powers with which the Apostles were endowed. And it is worthy ot remark, thal theil labors were confined almost exclusively jo the in habitants of JetusalemySmJ country. But when, in the order, 1 of Pro vidence, the message of salvation’was. ex tended to the other nations of the earth “a different measure was adopted, iSaul of 1 arsus, a disciple of Gamaliel, outs whose mind was richly stored with all Uie learn ing ol the age, was selected as tl c bearer of that glorious message to the enlighten ed Greeks and Romans; and all u ho were associated with him as co-laborer t in the Genffle work, those names svffe still pre scrvwl, were also ditUiiipoiWirJNahr their learning and talents. The early bishops 1 of the Church, immediately'succeeding the ‘ Apostles, were, for the most part, men of highly cultivated minds, and for many sue- 1 ceeding the literature and tire, confineiJ to, anil pPeSWved ‘‘ByTKbl Christian Ministry. In the early part of the 16th century, the powerful mind, the grasping intellect of a Luther, together with other master spirits of the age, were called into requisition for the purpose of dissipa ting the mists ol sophistry which enshroud ed the C'hVisliaii world, and speeding the onward in the pathway of i truth , and indeed to whatever page in the history of the Church we may direct our attention, whether in ancient or modern times, we shall find that those who have been most extensively useful in supporting and disseminating the truths of the Gospel, have either been men of extraordinary na tural intellect, or else, liberally instructed in the learning of their day. We know'their are many useful, very useful Ministers among us at the present day,’ who are destitute of the advantages of an early education ; and it gives us great pleasure to testify that t(ieir labors have been abundantly blessed in bringing thou sands of wanderers into the fold of Christ. But these will generally, if not in every case, be found possessed of strong natural intellects, of great energy of character, and above all, of that sterling pnßy*-whieh stamps the impress of truth upor. all their precepts, and imparts a vital power to all their teaching. And when we consider that the great mass of lire community among whom they were raised up were them selves uneducated, we perceive at once a manifest display of Divine wisdom, i& a dapting the talents and qualifications of the Minister to the circumstances in which lie may be placed, and the degree of enlight enment existing among those to whom he ministers. Past generations possessed hut little information themselves, and therefore required hut little in their ministers. But now the condition of society is altogether different. The march of inipiovciiient is onward in our world, and pre-eminently so in our own country. ‘J'he desire to learn pervades all classes, and the fruits of that desire are daily being developed in the ra pid advancement of entile communities.— How important then is it, that those who seek to instruct others in the most deeply interesting of all sciences, should them selves be well informed. llow very desir able that they should be enabled to draw upon all the departments of learning, for aid either in combating error, on the one side, or enforcing truth upon the acceptance of mankind, on the other. How uccessa that they should “Study to show them selves approved unto God, workmen that need not lie ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” ■ ’*<%* ‘Jt These views, do not, \vc conceive, con diet in any degree with the acknowlvd sov ereignty of Jehovah. Nor do they contra vene the sacred declaration, that “all his people shall be taught of the Lord.” For Cod fS*alike the author of the divine com | inUnication, and of the intelligence which ; enables man to comprehend that comnnmi J cation- Lis only-through bis mental Le nities that man can ever receive divine in struction. For that purpose were those; laculties conferred upon him, and it is the I possession of them alone which raises him j above the inferior orders of creation. Os these considerations our Brethren of other denominations appear to be fully! sensible, and hence it is, that with many of them, who seem to go to an extreme in 1 their requirements, a thorough course of j instruction is an indispensable pre-rcqnis- ! ite to the conferment of clerical orders ; j while all require an amount of education, at least sullicient to enable llieir Ministers j to impart instruction to tlieit bearers with ease and perspicuity. Does it not become j us also to awake to a full sense of the im- j portancc of this subject ? Believing as we 1 do that our denomination stands alone in its , maintenance of the whole truth , is it not : our imperative duty, to bring to its support [ the ablest defender? Oris Truth less wor- j thy than error, of an enlightened advocacy? When we consider the universal proueness of mankind to fall into error, and the loud j tenacity with which they adhere to it, wv j should be unwilling to sit down in apathy, and trusting to the maxim, that “Truth is! mighty and will prevail,” nirke no effort for ! their recovery. That maxim can never be j verified till truth is presented to the human 1 mind, with a power and force that cannot be resisted. And charged as we are, with the exalted privilege, and highly responsi ble duty of being ns only human defenders, it becomes us to use every proper means 1 to fulfill the sacred tiust. Not only should we foster the ministerial talents already ex isting among us, hut would it not bf wise to I exercise a judicious discrimination, in the i ordination of such only, as furnish a tea-j sonable assurance of future usefulness ? : Should this course be adopted, we doubt not the character of the Christian Ministry would soon be greatly elevated, and the Church, so far front losing any poilinnof its talents, would hut improve them all by limiting each to its own peculiar sphere.— We learn from the holy Word, that “there are diversities of gifts bestowed upon the Church, for the perfecting of the saints.” 1 If all these be merged in one, the Church j will present a mis-shapen mass, instead of’ that beautiful symmetry of form, which properly become tire body of Christ. We cannot, therefore, too earnestly re commend, that all our Ministers, as far as it \ may be practicable, should seek to acquire, : x|f they do not already possess, the advan tages of a liberal education. But whilst we do this, we are not mrmindlul that there are other requisites, far more important in j forming the character of the efficient and faithful Christian Minister-requisites with ! out which, the highest order of intellect, | combined with the most extended culliva j tion, would leave the possessor but “sound ing brass or a tinkling cymbal.” To de line those requisites, is not’on this occasion within our province; We contentourselvessingle remark, i-- ; —that deep-toned ’ piety of heart, evinced by a systematic life of practical “godliness, when found united with a full measure of ’ that holy benevolence which, ardently tfe i siring the salvation of met!, induces the ’ niayYvm souls to 75hirst, M the broad foundation on which to build up the Christian Ministry. When these cardinal talents exist, it is the duty of the Church to cultivate them, by all the means which : education can afford. And if this duty i were faithfully performed, we are fully j persuaded that our Churches would all i soon be supplied with Ministers, who for j talents and learning, would favorably com ; pare with the most distinguished men of ! the age, and who would exert an influence | resistless in its power, and wide-spreading i in its extent; before which etror would fall prostrate, and truth, pure and unadulterated, acquire universal dominion. Although not strictly belonging to this j report, vet as being intimately connected \ with the subject, we deem it not improper! to call the attention of the Association to the neglect on the part of many of our | ; churches, to niekc suitable provision for j ‘ the temporal wants of those who labor for j them in M’ord and doctrine. This circum stance, perhaps, more than any other, re tards the improvement of our Ministry at j this time. Nor ran it lie otherwise, until j j the evil shall be remedied. * For while our MtmfiFrs 1 by the cares and perplexities oftlie world, and compelled to devote the greater portion of their time to ‘ secular pursuits, in order to procure the i means of support for themselves and fatni i lies, they can never make such advances in ’ the acquisition of knowledge as will plare them upon their proper eminence, and fi: i them for a high degree of usefulness in their holy vocation. j In conclusion, your committee would earnestly recommend the encouragement , of the Richmond and Columbian Colleges, I by the liberal patronage of all our brethren, > believing as we do, that those institutions i are well calculated to afford important aid ; in elevating the intellectual character of our i Ministry, and thereby increasing to an al most inappreciable extent their capacity for usefulness in the Lord’s vineyard. All which is respectfully submitted. AND. BHOADDUS, E. T. MONTAGUE, GEO. WRIGHT. For the Christian Index. Richard Orderly. Mr. Fditor —ln the years 1821 and’22, there wasasaucy writer over this signature, .I in the “ Missionary,” then published al ij Mount /ion in ibis State, who exposed ■! some of our follies and inconsistencies with i a master’s band—vexed many of us and ■ j made some down right mad. This was, ■, I suppose, before you lost your confixing scales. Nn much was a portion oftbccom . mttnity aroused that a delegation was actu ally'sent from Jackson county to demand : the author's name t hot the editor gave them ino sali|lactum and they returned worse ; when they went. 1 cannot call i to mitidall his pieces, but a onc, ‘Our Minis- I ter,” portrayed the feelings of a miscalled j old school Baptist on the subject of Mis- I sions, .Ministerial Education and his fears ; about new ways, when both those subjects ; are old as Christianity. Another No. was beaded “Our School Master.” lie was employed by professing Christians; yet he , ridiculed religion and sometimes carried liis : , bottle to the school bouse—was “ barred i out” in the L'hristmas holidays, a custom j that used to obtain, w hen you and 1 were i boys. Heovcrheard the following one day . as lie was passing the school: Teacher, j I “Bound North Carolina.” The pupil an- 1 swered so low that he could not be heard i by our author on his horse ; hut the Teach er ban led out “Haul I told you it is the biggest Flats in the government, reaches | away to Kaintnc, the Alabain and Natchy j country ?” But the employers thought he was a mighty good teacher, lie brought the ; pupils on so fast and taught so cheap. This used to be the first question in regard to teachers, “What price per quarter?” the qualifications of the man, seemed not tocn ter into the account; but those days arc past. “My neighbor, the Politician,” was an other: here the character of a candidate for the Legislature was drawn and his election eering tricks were exposed. “ My Guest” was a fourth paper, descriptive of a visit, which was paid our ujlhor by a young Scotchman just trom his native country.— He saw our chicken lights—our roads con sir in ted in semicircles to accommodate the long trees thathad fallen across them, which the stranger supposed was at ranged in imi tation of Hogarth’s “line of Beauty”—our desecration of the Sabbath,etc. etc. In go ing to worship one Sabbath about Christ mas, liichard and his guest met some row dies with chickens under their arms, who accosted the stranger, “How’ll ye trade jcrittms?” who answered in his broad ac ; cent, “1 bae uacralurs about me, if ye hae, kape your distance,” The unintentional pun on the word “critter.” which was the i comiiton name for horse, in by gone days, as used by the stranger was really amusing: he designed to insinuate creatures that crawl about dirty low fellows. “The Skeletons,” a description of two discourses by It. and G., furnished a curi ous specimen of our back-woods preaching a quarter of a century ago. One might be compared to “Point no Point,” as there was no plan to the discourse—no point in ! it: nothing was proved or attempted, it was a mere harangue without sense, but not mtomund: the impreesion was like that made by a snake crossing the road, no one can tell whether it was gone N., S., |. or West; so the sermon; the sentences so unconnected that the last might hare beeh first, and yet the impression would have been just the same. Mr. G,’ wasja I>BiA*mii Ii * ot .v—Tgospel of salvation; yet the discourse of R. altogether the most popular. There wefe tears and shouting under it; while the con gregation was suddenly taken with a fit If yawning soon after Mr. G. began! Suii was our taste, at the period of which 1 speaking. Mr Scotchman, in the sent), ment of Richard Orderly, observed that R.i discourse brought to bis mind the retnarkk ofone Doct. Horace, who enquired -if yot would not laugh, to see an aitist paim t horse’s head with a human body and a fisluj tail? and blend the three into one picture? Mr. Orderly wrote with an iron pen af boutsom£ of our customs and manners,ant) i probably induced us to abandon many thal i would now seem om-landish and barbarous i I think we have improved. Our youni | preachers now do not get up and fire awav j without having prayerfully studied w|j a I they ought to say : nor as then that thei I were inspired and would abstain from study jin order to bring more glory to God. Yot | can scarcely conceive of tffe effect producei ,by his Nos. The very captions made nt scringe: then to see how unceremonious ly lie would lug out our foolish customs in-j io view and let us look at their haggardness, was a caution to all delinquents in proprie ty. l’robably some good was done, thomdi Mr. O. was like a rough surgeon—lie prob ed deep. If he were among us now, he might re prove our remaining notions and inconsis tencies. He might satirize some of our “old field schools” with the ignorance of trustees—our monthly meetings when prim itive Christians meet every Sabbath our inspired seimons—our hasty resolutions but tardy acts of benevolence and our want of discipline in the churches, and hurried j admission into them. “7'//e tcould be preacher, or preacher in the potential mood” I presume was front j his pen. 1 think his object was to take off I those who honed\ vrv much to preach, while I a® church cared to license, or to hear them. ‘I he schemes of this class, de-J vised to obtain notoriety, are to sav ilieT ! least undignified. They remove their mem-# bership quite often, to see, if in their ncvvT relations, they may not lie called to lion, and are constantly talking of the ol distant brctlueu'to have them full vested with the sacred oilier. frequently grumbling heraiisc ihrv put forward, annoying the pastor and ling parties in the churches ThcV used to talk about a call as distinct a* IS a nil lie), hut those duvs are over. In regartTic such a class, one plain as your nose on your face, thai ‘lioH who has impudence enough to ask ln| I ecclesiastical office, is unfit for it. er this maxim holds true in regaid to pnl| ca! offices, this deponent doth not sav. is probable, however, we should have good legislatures, if real merit, which is all ways retiring and modest, were by the people and promoted without one’s ] pulling Itis oirn great self into notice. SENIOR. Oconee, Oct. 184-1. For the Christian Index. Diversion. The folly of youth is often exposed, and their vain pursuits utterly disappointed, by the supposition that mere diversion forms the business of “ real life.” ‘J’he young man, who, when separated from his father or guardian, acts according to this supposi tion, however large his patiimony may be, will soon find himself to be a “prodigal,” in deed and truth, without money, friends or credit. And lie, who solicits his favor ite “ Fair One,” merely as a matter of di version, is quite apt, if successful at all, to get a mere “Thing,” instead of a “ Wife ‘J’he very definition of the term itself, being “the act of turning aside from any cause; that which diverts the mind from care, business, or study ; sport, play, pass time, &c.,shouldconvincethe most thought less. that this supposition is an incorrect one. The same is true of the literal signif ication of similar words ; as relaxation, rc creationamusements, &c. Indeed, some Ire quentlyuse these terms to express, of their own conduct, what would be much better expressed by the term “Laziness.” As diversion signifies to wilhdiaw or turn form business, (good or proper business ofcourse,) all that the above supposition lacks of being an absurdity, is expressed by that memora ble maxim ; “those who have no business, are in bcul business.” The mere votary of diversion, often ends his sport, fool-born jests and laughter, by breaking into the real business of. the “State’s prison.” Man was made ior business, and busi ness forman. Hence,all experience proves,, that those, whether rich or poor, who aro really idle, or mere votaries of amusement, which often proves-worse than to have been idle, cannot be happy. How deeply should j this he impressed upon the minds of youth, j both the “ Strong ” and the “Fair!” Stag * riant waters soon become oflsnsive; undis turbed vegetables become petrified; and I one great end of the winds, rains, lightning, ; snow, hail, and the featful tornado, is to re