Newspaper Page Text
For the ChrisliaJt Index.
i
f I
Dear lira. Baker —l saw, from ihe In- (
dex of the Ist instant, that tlie Circular Let
ter, for the Tuscaloosa Association, was
written by Dr. Manly, and is on the sub
ject of Election, and was gratified to learn
that you propose transferring it to the col
umns of th” Index. I indulge the pleasing j
hope, that the Doctor has succeeded in ac- i
coimnodattng this most difficult point of!’
doctrine to the capacities of plain men.
There is, to toy mind, a degree of mystery
in this Bible Doctrine, that makes it dan
gerous for those unskilled in the Word of
Life, to temper with it. Some, fond of
talking of the Covenant, Election, and Per
neveiance, as all arranged in the Councils
of Eternity, are much disposed to overlook,
and pass by, the other doctrines connected
with them —as, also, works of charity and
deeds of love, which God hath before or
dained that we should walk in them.
I hope, however, as the article by I)r.!
-Manly is from one who stands prominently
h'orlli as talented and pious, and is addressed
to Churches composed of plain men, that
its character will be such as all must ap- \
ptove, its contents such as all will he able 1
to understand, lly the way, permit me to
say that, as a Baptist, 1 do not admire the
practice of putting tails to the names ol
Baptist Ministers, in the shape of D. 1).:
to my mind, (being a plain man,) it docs
not correspond with the simplicity of the
Gospel. 1 have noLyet found a 1). D. he
JJ <>. *. m. refill, IXr. Peter, and Dr.
John, I think, sound badly. Besides, we
arc all alike in one respect—we have proud
hearts that are easily puffed up ; and 1 guess,
if I bad a D. D. attached to my name, I
should feel a good deal larger than my
brethren who had not, and soon become
like the good brother who was elected
Moderator. Afiurwards, he always signed
his name with his title added, and supposed,
of course, he was to act his part in that (ra
pacity wherever Ire went.
It sufficed) that the servant he as his
master—the Disciple as his Lord. I like
the old-fashioned style of Elder, best of all.
Rev. and I). 1)., when connected with a
Minister’s name, I regard as twin brothers;
• when combined, I should think they would
sink a common man. How wise the peti
tion taught us, ‘Lead us not into tempta
tion.’
Tho meeting of tire Florida Association
took place at the time and place appointed.
The session was harmonious, and we were
more than pleased to have the company
and labors of several of the Ministers from
Georgia. We hope long to remember them,
and often to meet with and hail them us
messengers of the Gospel of Peace. We
call ourselves Missionaries ; and although,
by comparison with other bodies, we be not
fast asleep, we certainly are not fully
awake. Who, of us nil, can render an ac
count of our stewardship ?
As soon as we get our Minutes, 1 will
send you a copy, that you may know ol otir
slate ; and hope, at the same lime, to send
you some new names, with the pay I'm
some already sent—till which time, I sub-!
scribe myself,
Yours, in the Gospel,
A LOOKER ON.
Madison co., Fla., Nov. 15th, 1844.
For the Christian Index.
liro, Baker. —l should have introduced
myself to you sooner, but 1 have been ex
ceedingly busy this year. 1 was acquaint
ed with your predecessor while editor of
the Index, acted as an agent for the paper,
and have been a constant reader of it since
its first publication, but ns we are strangers
will give you a brief sketch of my history,
and that of the Baptists in this country. —
1 was baptized by bro. Jacob King, at
Tliotnaston, Ga., removed to Florida in
1832. and was ordained to “tho ministry in
1833.
There was them but one Baptist church
tn all East Florida. I commenced preach- \
iog, and with the aid of bro. Bates, (then :
almost wornout,) the only baptist preacher!
in E. hlotida, wc received and constituted
several churches. In the winter of 1835,
the Indian war came on and broke up our 1
chutches, burned our dwelling and meeting!
houses and scattered our people. In a
short time the old bro. died, and every
preacher of every denomination (except
tnyselQjleft E. Florida. 1 remained, preach
ed many funerals in Forts, Block houses
and in the woods Ac. of those killed by
the savage. When the war abated, 1 com
menced rebuilding Zion, and had consider
able success, and again with the aid of some
brethren 1 , (especially llro. Jas. McDonal, a !
minister employed by the Baptist Home!
Mission Society) wo constituted several j
churches. In 1843 an act of Congress en
titled an ael for the armed occupation of
Florida, induced many of the people to a
vail themselves of its benefits which amt in
scattered our people and in some degree
crippled our churches. 1 again commenced
itinerant preaching, and in last month re
ceived a commission hour the Bap. H. M.
S. to continue my work. In the new set
tlements we had many difficulties to sur
mount, but our watchword was, onward.
I found 81 baptists scattered over avast
scope of country, and succeeded in pntting
them under the watch cane of each other.
In the first yaar I baptized only two. sec
ond year, 0 : third year, 10, and since the
first of this month have received 8 more.
So you will see we aregainingand perhaps
doing much good in reclaiming and keep
ing in order our old scatteied members.
Perhaps you will hear from me again.
Pray for us, a war worn people.
Yours in Lore.
JOHN TLOJvER.
We shall always Ire pleased to hear from
brother Tucker. In the progress of the cause
of Christ in Florida, wc feel a peculiarly
deep interest. 15.
For the Christian Index.
Some months ago, before Polk was elec
ted. and while the extent of the cotton crop
was undetermined, on Lord’s day I attend
ed public worship at a certain Meeting:
House, Now whether that M. 11. was in j
Greene, Oglethorpe, or Taliaferro, Pshall {
not say, for 1 do not intend to be personal.
Yet I shall he so far personal, that I have
very little doubt, that the statement of what
I saw there, may with little alteration, Ire
assumed as true of some meeting house in j
either of the eounties designated, or per-1
I haps in almost any one of the remaining j
; ninety counties in the State.
As the day was disagreeably hot, and the j
| hour of meeting somewhat uncertain, to!
1 avoid the heat and to make sure of being ’
jin time, I went early, As I approached ,
! the grove, I perceived a number of horses ]
I tied to the trees, and quite a collection of!
| men grouped about, in sqtiods, of three,
| four or half a dozen. For the purpose of
i refreshing myself by the cool shade before
: preaching, I seated myself a little apart yet
: near enough to be obliged to hear what
if • u+Mupj uit ;oj muff my u**ghhrrrrr. In
one group was a venerable-looking old
brother descanting to several younger men
| upon the severity of the drought upon the
cotton crop. In another part of the yard,
; another old brother, a deacon of the church
| was lamenting a short crop of corn. Up
! j on the horse-blocks, were a set pajtly com
’ j posed of church members, discussing the
’ | probabilities of the election. On the church
steps were a number bemoaning the liard
! ness ol the times, and the low profits of
i agriculture! labor. Several proups of young
• men were gaily conversing obout the bCau
’ ly and ngrccableuess of the girls ; while
j there were several lete a tele’s going on in
which I suspected tire parties of being in
. the act of driving a bargain.
Grieved and alllicted hy these observa
tions, I turned my eyes to the inside of tho
church; and there I saw a considerable col
lection ol sisters who seemed to be for the
( most part, quietly u liisperiug with one a
notlier 1 heard nothing that was said, atul
i the “charily that liopeth all things” led me
; to suppose that they were saying no harm.
. j But upon the back benches I noticed some
1 young ladies, whose constant tittering and
frequent glances towards the knots ofyoung
men in the yard, made me fear that their
thoughts were not such as become the house j
of God!
j As 1 noticed these things, some painful!
j thoughts forced themselves into my mind.
Is this the way, 1 asked myself, in which j
the disciples of our Master keep holy the j
day on which he rose “the first fruits from
the dead?” Would it not he more seemly
for that venerable brother to point out to
hearers the unprofitable nature of sin ?
Might not that worthy deacon be better
employed in shewing the riches of that
• bread “which if a man cat, ho shall never
hunger !” Might not those brethren moro
profitably lie: discussing the slate of the
Redeemer’s kingdom ? And would it not
be more honorable employment for the
: voices of those young men to sing the
praises of God ? While these thoughts
concerning others, were revolving in my
; mind, my reflections turned upon my own
employment. Might not l 100 be better
employed in attempting to warn ray Allow
creatures, than merely observing them ?
Should I not even then, cry aloud end
call them at once to the worship of God?
| What might have been my duty 1 knew
| not. but I send you, bro. editor, these lines
: that if you appiove, may warn, not merclv
i the few brethren 1 then saw, but the many
i who read your paper, that in waiting (or
! the public worship of God, they dishonor
not 11 is name and desecrate not His Holy ;
day. Oil nty brethren, while we wait lor j
the service of God, let us attempt to wait j
in the Spirit; especially if it he on tho l
Lord's day. MATIIETES.
For the Christian Index.
minutes of it Ministers’ mid Deacons’ Meeting
of the Coosa Baptist Association.
I /Ida td/ etui s Creek Church, Cass county , \
i commenting on Frida i/, A’ov. 15, IS 14.
Ist. Brother Lewis, and his alternate,
both failing t 0 attend, the lntrodac/orij was ;
delivered hy Elder Win. Woods, from li
tus 1 and 7.
2d. The following then came forward,
and enrolled their names as members, i. e.:
J- IF B. Shackelford, of Cassville, and
W in. \\ end, late ol Gave Spring, ordained i
Ministers; and M. Wright, from the Eden;
((•lunch; A. M. Hamilton, and Pendleton
lsbal, Deacons, from Petal’s Creek.
lid. Called to older, by electing J. H. ii, j
j Shackelford Moderator, and Win. Wood
: Sect clary.
flit. On motion, appointed brethren
| Shackelford, Hamilton and Wood, a com
-1 mitice on business; then adjourned, with
j prayer, till to-morrow, 10 o’clock.
Saturday, Kith—met pursuant toadjouni
i men!. Brethren A. 11. Spruce, and Chas.
Dodson, Deacons, of Petal’s Creek, came,
forward, and enrolled their names as mem- j
I hers.
; sth. Brother Lewis tailing to appear and
discharge the trust heretofore committed to
; him, brother Shackelford was appointed to j
supply, who preached from John 14 and 14.
6th. After an intermission for the Church
to hold its Confidence, the meeting was I
called to order hy the Moderator. The
committee presented its reports as follows, •
which was received :
Ist. Itr what does the office of a Minister
consist? what are his duties; and how
ought they to be discharged?
2nd. In what does the office of a Deacon
consist? what are his duties; and how
ought thet” to be discharged ?
3d. Wlrat are the duties of Church mem
bers, in relation tobotii Ministeis and Dea- j
cons ?
4th. What is the true interpolation of
j Luke 17—3 and 4 ?
Osh. Is it according to Gospel order, for!
j members of the Church to sue for divorce ? i
j II they may be divorced, may either of the j
: patties marry again ?
i Gilt. Is it according to Gospel order, f r
! members of the Church to collect debts from
! each other by law \
i 7th. the Ist and 2d queries were deferred
i for future consideration, and the following
adopted instead of the third: Is it in accord- j
ancc with the genius of New Testainen.
Church order, that there should he definite
stipulations in pecuniary
i finetors and Churches ? Answered nuani
: mous, we believe it is.
Bth. Took up the 4th query, i. c-.: What;
is the true interpretation of Lule 17, and i
3-4 ? Answer—The duty in Christians to
cherish a spirit of forgiveness of injuries, j
as far as consistent with the cliatictcr the
Church ought to sustain, ofmoraljiur.tv.
Dili. The sth and 6lh queries dijTerred for j
future consideration.
Adjourned, with prayer, to tUs place, i
! Friday before the 3d Lord’s Dai. in July i
next, when, we trust, we shall inject more j
of our brethren.
J. 11. B. SHACKELFORI, Mod.
Wji, Wood, See.
For the Christian Index.. (
Revival Intelligent)!;.
State of Louisiana, )
Parish of Claiborne, Nov. 5, 1844.
Dear Bro. linker —Having a little lei
sure, 1 sit down to give to you anil yottrmr-!
morons readers some account of In; grow-;
ing prosperity of our Lord’s Vineyard, in
this western country.
About eighteen months ago, I paid my 1
first visit to this parish, in which I nfnv re
side—and found, indeed, in soot - parts,
many Baptists, and three Churches. The
j one at Mount Lebanon, numbered about
| seventy members, hut had no pastor, and
| were in a very cold slate: added to this,
; they had been in an almost unparalleled dis-;
1 family, which had originated principally
about tin ii former pastor. AtlCrWm
bor and passionate discussion, under lire 1
excitement of the most unpleasant party
feeling, the matter resulted in the exclusion
of seventeen members, and the censure of
I several more. Many of the excluded mem-
I hers being persons of high standing in the
community, and having been long members |
of the Church, thought the discipline of the
Church too hard, and complained nmeh of
the treatment they had received; and the ;
community, generally, participator! in the ;
unpleasant parly strife, and it was kept up, i
with little abatement, for about three years. I
In this condition 1 found the community, i
when I canto here; and many of the mem-1
bers of the Rchobulh Church under the in
fluence of much hard feeling.
I agreed to move to this country, hut was
providentially prevented until last st’mmer. i
1 arrived here about the last of July, of this
year, and commenced my ministerial labors 1
the first Sabbath in August, at which time
!we had a meeting of some inietest; and;
from that time, a gradual change has been
going on—hardness and coldness gave way ,
as the Christians became awake to their du-!
I tics and responsibilities. On conversing j
| with the Church, I found that they believed j
| most of the members, that had been exclud
ed, to be hue believers, though they were ’
out of [lie Church—and I soon found stilii
cient cvidui.ee to convince me that they
were my Father’s Children, and therefore
I wanted them in the foi.J.
To effect a reconciliation, i first labored
to bring the Church to a diligence ;h her
duty, and, consequently, to a proper state
of religious feeling, in the exercise and on- j
joyment of all the Christian graces. I care-1
fully avoided becoming a purtizan', and, |
therefore, suspended lire expression of an I
opinion as to lire correctness of the course I
pursued by the Church itr cutting off those j
members; and, by teaching them all as;
though 1 taught them not, confidence was
inspired in both Church and excluded per-j
sons—and all agreed, so far as I heard, to I
submit the matter of difference to myself;
but, learitrg to lake so great a responsibili
ty upon myself alone, and expecting some
valuable ministering brethren to visit us, we
appointed a protracted meeting to commence
on Friday before the first Sabbath in Nov. j
last. Previous to that meeting, the Lord 1
granted to His children an unusual mea- j
sure of prayerful nfixiety :• the brethren and
sisters all seemed to be deeply solicitous j
that the Lord would revive his wort;, and
restore the joys of His salvation.
A few days before the meeting, brethren !
Perkins and Wallace, from Arkansas, i inn*
with me from the Salim Association, and j
• the meeting commenced with unusual in
terest —evident symptoms of a revival ap
peared. Many of the excluded persons,
mentioned above, became anxious for a re
! conciliation—but honestly differing with
| the Chuich as to the correctness of the dis
ciplrne, by which they had been excluded,
they were unwilling to subrnitto it. They
agreed to submit the matter to the above
named brethren and myself, and to do as
we might direct. This done, we directed
them first to remove all personal and indi
! vidual dissatisfaction, and then present
j themselves before the Church, ami ask to
| be restored, and we would direct the Church
jto such a course as would satisfy them,
! which was to erase their names from the
1 excluded list, so dial their names should
; not stand on the record as excluded.
To litis tiie Church agreed, and all, ex
cept two or three, were thus restored—and
I such a scene, perhaps, has never been wil
; tressed west of the Mississippi River. I
j may give you abetter conception of it,
1 when I tell you that the Church was com
posed, principally, of relations and acquain
tances, from tire same part of South Caro
: lina. Many brothers, sisters, cousins,
; nephews, nieces, and some parents and
children, had been for years separated from
- each othfcr, but now forgetting their differ
ences, they were united in the love and lel
i lowship of our common Saviour ; and so
I imposing was the scene, and so powerful
; the influence of the Spirit of God upon the
! hearts ol the unregenerale, that very many
j were deeply convicted, and about twenty
| converted in a few hours.
We protracted the meeting until Thurs
| day. by which time fifty-seven had been
: added to the Church. We then formed a
- procession to go to the water, and marched
j in the following order: —The ministers in
! (rout, a choir of 12 singers next, the candi
dates next, letnales in front, and males in
the rear, tho relatives o! lire candidates
next, and the rest of tire congregation in the
rear; all marched, in columns of four deep,
\ about three hundred paces to the waters’
| brink. I then baptized thirty-seven, and
1 we marched hack to the house in the same
j order. The newly baptized converts were
| then formed into a straight litre, and the
| Church proceeded to give the right hand of
i fellowship to them all. The hills resound
i ed with the voices of praise from the sweet
| singers of Israel—many hearts rejoiced—
i many tears flowed, and many stood with
aching hearts, and breathless astonishment,
!at the imposing scene. We then took an
affectionate leave of tiie congregation, ami
j each returned home after being together lot
; seven days ami ti ghts.
Brethren Wallace and Perkins then
went, with many others of the brethren,
the next day, to a Church, about twenty
pve miles south, lately constituted, where
■ we had equally as interesting a meeting for
two days only, when I baptized fifteen ;
and, having other appointments, we were
compelled to dismiss tire in eting with
great reluctance.
Tim work seems to be going on. The
j voice of the Turtle Dove is heard in our
laud—the ties its and solitary places are
i made glad—the wilderness is blossoming
like the rose-—and the glorious Sun of
\ Righteousness has arisen with healing in
| his wings.
Yours, in Christ,
GEO. W. BARNES.
Letter Bora Mr. Tryon,
Through the kindness of brother Sati
| ders, we are permitted to make tire follow
ing extracts from a letter received from bio.
Tryon. Both Mr. Tryon and Mr. Heard,
whose death is noticed, were known to ma
| ny ol ottr readers :
Washington, Texas, Nov. 13,’l l.
Dear Bro. Sanders: —l received your
friendly letter some months since, and with
it the Christian Index, the nuiiibeas of
which have come duly to hand up to this
time. Upon the reception of your favor, 1
felt gratified that, notwithstanding the mul
tiplicity o! business which 1 know must
press upon you, have taken time to address
me. By sending my old acquaintance, the
Index, you have placed me under renewed
obligations. “ Whosoever giveth a cup of ;
cold water to a discipie, in the name of a
disciple, shed/ not lose his reward.”
During the past summer and fail, I have
travelled, and preached extensively, in dil- ;
icrent parts of the Republic. The people
Universally manifest great anxiety to hear j
the Woi'.d- In many places, the blessing
of the Lord has attended the ministration of!
truth ; and numbers, >ve trust, have been
hopefully converted to Christ. Tae Meth
odists are doing much in this Republic, j
They have preachers in almost every conn- |
ty ; and, in many places. Baptists are unit
ing with them, because they cannot hear :
Baptist preaching, and there are no Baptist
Churches!
1 recently visited Harrison county. East- |
era Texas, where 1 attended, as a delegate
from the Western, the Sabine Baptist Asso- i
ciation.—This body was constituted in Oc- :
tober, 1813 : it was composed, at that time,
of six Churches, connected with which,
were one hundred and forty-two eommuni
eauts ; it at present comprises nine Church
es, which embrace two hundred and fifty- j
eight members—the increase, as shown by i
letters, being almost exclusively by baptism j
The meeting eommeuced oil the Friday !
before the first Lord’s Day in October, and i
continued until the ensuing Wednesday,
j Elder Lemuel Herring was re-elected Mod-
I erator—the business of the Association was I
[transacted with much harmony—the con
| gtegations at the stand were large, respec
i table in appearance, and orderly in beha
| viour. We have also reason to believe that j
the ministration of the Word was attended
with the Spirit’s power, as very many
manifested deep seriousness—and fourteen,
ere the meeting closed, put on Christ hy ;
baptism. During the time of my attend-;
ance upon the Association, I was hospitably j
entertained at the residence of Mr. Web-;
ster, formerly of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. J
Mr. W- is the father-in-law of the late Geo. j
F. Heard. Mrs Heard, his daughter, and I
her infant son, reside with him. With j
brother Heard, 1 first became acquainted in
Georgia. Our intimacy was renewed in ;
Alabama: we were together at a protracted j
meeting in Montgomery, in the year ’39,1
at which time many were added to the i
Church : we served as members of the Ala.
Baptist Convention in the same year, atid j
subsequently met frequently, both in pub
lic anilin private circles.—.ludge, then, tire
delight with which l learned, last fall, that
brother Heard had settled in Eastern Tex
as ! By a member of Congress, from Har
riso.i county, on his return home from
Washington, I sent him a letter, in which,
among other tilings, I suggested a plan of
co-operations for the advancement of the
cause of Christ throughout the Republic.
But, alas ! ere the letter reached its desti
nation, his spirit had taken us everlasting
1 flight—it had gone to its long sought home !
Ours was the loss, but his the gam.
Proceeding to Mr. Webster’s, alter en
tering Harrison county, 1 had jimmied to
1 within a mile of his residence, when, as I
passed over a small elevation which once
had been the cite of at: Indian village, to
my right, shaded by a few trees, L discov
; ered two graves. One of these graves con
tained the remains of George F. Heard!
Often, during my stay in the neighborhood,
did 1 seek that lonely spot to meditate—
; to A’ecp !
“ ’Tis hard to lay into tire ear h.
;A countenance so benign! a form that
walked,
: But yesterday so stately o'er the earth !”
Brother Heard was universally esteemed
! in Harrison county, and he manifested, du
ring Iris short residence in Texas, a deep
| anxiety lor tiie prosp ritv of Mion. By Ins
! death, the Republic lias lost one of her best
citizens, and the Baptist cause a wan who
j promised fair to stand foremost in its sup
: port.
Fir the Christian Index.
To the Minister- and Beacons of the liinl
litter. Both Mountain, and Centra!
j Associations, — G a extinct ;
Dear Brethren.— At a general meeting
iof the Central association, (28ih lust.) it
j was unanimously agreed to appoint a Miti
! ister sand Deacon’s meeting at Sharon, 0
nines east of McDonoueh, to commence
on Friday Li fiua lire ii fill Sabbath in March
1 next. i’he church ol Sharon was in con-
I tcrenee with the meeting, and it was unaui
; mnusly resolved that tiie appointment he
! published in the index, and the brethren
! he earnestly solicited to attend.
Will you come brethren? Do! The
] Lord has blessed Sharon \t ith a gracious re
| ‘ival of religion, and also added the neces
j series and coinfoits of this life in . : inula ice.
Tiie objects of the meeting arc, Union
among ourselves—Mutuni ediileat: n -Thc
advancement of the Redeemer’s kingdom,
and the glory of (I ■ 4 !
In behalf of the church and delegates.
W. BRYANT, Sec’y,
N. 15. J. S. Callaway is appointed to
preach, on Friday, to the deacons ; and ’]’.
1 I '. VV ilkes on Saturday, to the ministeis.
W. 15.
For the Christian Index.
A Suggestion.
lira. Baker. — We now understand,
; without a doubt, timl it will he utterly im
| possible for us ever to give onr slaves an
i opportunity of reading for themselves the
word oi God, without incurring the danger
ol their pocket being filled with incendiary
, publications; and, feeling desirous to do
what we can ior them, I now propose tile
following Query to the brethren, which I
would be glad you would Irstneaud propose
io them, provid: and von believe good could
come irom it. As we are starting atul cou
dm ling Sabbath Schools itr many ol our
churches, could not one or two of the breth
ren of each chuich be induced to spend a
couple of hours, in reading the Testament
and explaining the same to the slaves, at a
e’ertain hour, after the close of the sabbath
school on each sabbath ? If thought advi-;
sable, 1 would propose the reading of so
many chapters each day, commencing the !
next sabbath, where it was left oil” the pro
ceeding onm so ns to read the whole scrip- j
ture before them This is my method be-;
fore my family. By these means our ser-1
vatris could, in a few read, become, from I
memory, both acquainted v/'tli the scrip-1
lures, than many whiles are now, and :;i
possible injury could result from it.
Yours respectfully,
A. E*. WHITTEN.
Persecution in Madeira.
By a letter from Dr. Robert R. Kuliev, :
dated Madeira, Sept. 27, which we find in j
the London Times, it appears that the work !
of persecution is still going on-there. Du- i
ring the summer many readers of the Bible !
had been beaten, some by day on the pub- >
lie roads, and others by night after their!
their houses had been broken open- On I
the 24th of September, an officer with sis-!
ty soldiers surrounded several houses,
stripped them of whatever was valuable, j
and took twenty seven prisoners. These i
are confined at Funchal, denied ail commu- 1
mention with their friends, and not allowed!
lb have even food given them. Besides i
those in prison, there is a large number in !
hidings, in caves and dens of the earth.—
The letter says, “AI! this is perpetrated
without a cause, without a shadow of ex
cuse. The only reason why they are trial-1
treated, in point of fact, is because tjiey read
God’s word, aud seek to follow its dictates,
notwithstanding the opposition of men.”
PENFIELD. ‘
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1545.
To Correspondents.
Tire brother, who says, “I would write
more and oftener, were it not for the tax of
postage, and my fear of doing harm,” is
i informed that we are willing to pay the
postage on his communications; but, as
I our paper is small, we must condense or
i epitomise long communications.
Brother J. M. Chiles’directions, through
I D. E. Butler, Esq., have been followed,
j Robert Jones is credited only to Jan. ’4l ;
| his estate is consequently indebted for
j four years’ subscription.
Bro. J. G. Milner’s acc’t, (State Right,)
[ and sister A. Sharp’s, are corrected, a3 di
’ reeled by our esteemed brother and agent,
J. M. J. There are two J. G. Milners,
: who are subscribers for onr paper. We
j send the Index to three Dr. Terrells : one
[of them was returned nearly a year a^o,
| with the request to stop it. Which of die
! tl liee V - ;1S to he stopped, we have never
| been able to ascertain.
| f A min.her of communications, queries,
I &e. are unavoidably crowded out of this
: number. We shall be compelled to con
dense the articles of our correspondents,
j unless they curtail them.
Our Credits.
We hope our subscribers will note them
carefully end inform us of any omissions
oi errors they may discover. At this sea
son of tiie year wo are peculiarly liable to
j commit emus from the variety and ninlti
; tuile of the orders received. The
credits of the two, liro. G. W. Milners are
I now duly corrected. We gave credit to
one of them which wc should have given
to die other.
Nat at Hour.
We do not expect to leave Pcnfirld slroit
; ly, hut we design to be “ Not at Home,”
!nt ihe polite acceptation of the phrase, for
a few weeks to come. We shall leave our
j colleague to perform the honors of our table
| editorial.
j Ao/rt Bom. —Those wishing to pay up
; arrearages are informed that wc will always
he in place to receive ‘ funds, give credits
and acquittances. Also, new subscribers
ar- assured that we will take particular
cate to ho “at home.,'’ when they call, or
send us their names, as we are much in
want hot It of money and pa'rons.
‘A e hir e paid over four dollars to Rev.
r. L. Brooks us directed by Rev. W. L.
Tucker.
Mr. Robcil Junes’Estate is due the of
lie, iron) J in. 11-313. I’iiis s’atiment
is made by request.
We have received 8i i from the I\ M-
Lawiencrviile, on account ol A. E. Whit
ten. W i!l bro. W. direct us how to ap
propriate it ?
IvC\, Jos. rodiill requests his correspon
dents heteafter to direct allcontmunications
intenoed for him, to Waynesboro’, instead
of Augusta.
Hyraa Book.
A brother writes, “I atn much plessed to’
sec a proposition for a Southern hymm
hook. I will he one of one hundred, or a
iny number over that, who will take and
iay for 20 copies.” If a competent man
| will undertake the compilation of one we
• will insure him a handsome profit. Wc are
| satisfied with Matts and Rippon, or Dos
i fi(, y's choice ; but many desire anew livmn
j hook. Who will undertake the work?
Klrjticlnnsnt
.M tny feel t!ic importance of retrenching
| i!ieir expenses during these “ everlasting
| hard times.” We once were voung, but
| :irc now in tire wane of life, yet soft times.
or times that die extravagant and avarieious
would admit to lie prosperous, have we
never seen.—“ The timas are hml—stop
my paper,” has been sounded in the ear of
editors annually from time immemorial.
We h ive received a number of orders to
discontinue our paper, from brethren who
assure us that they are well pleased with it,
ami regret Id have to order it stopped.
What is to become ofourpaper, thechurch,
tire cause of Christ at large,*il ::'l b’gin, as
too many do, their retrenchment with titeir
religious papers? We know some that think
they cannot possibly give- 82 50 for a re
ligious paper, that give that amount or more
for political papers, and for other tilings
wholly unnecessary, if not hurtful.—ReU
gious papers should be the last item in our
list of retrenchments. For our part, we
would give up two msa!s a day, before we
would give up our religious paper. We
would retrench in butter, sugar, coffee, tea,
and even in bread, the staff of life, before
wc would deprive ourself of the opportuni
tunity of becoming acquainted with the pro
gress of the cause of Christ, the fulfilment
of prophecy, &e.
Brethren, you who may be thinking of
stopping your paper, consider, before you
decide to do so, whether you cannot, by the
practice o.fa little self-denial, sava fivqcents