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JOSEPH S. BAKER— Editor.
VOL. XIII.
TURKS—-‘•PER ASNI'M.
The Christian Index, published
on Friday in each week, (except two in the
year), will be furnished to each subscriber
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trons and agents are requested to notice this.
Every Agent (and all Baptist Ministers
are particularly solicited to become agents)
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pensation for his trouble.
Letters on business, or communications,
must be addressed to the Editor, post paid.
Advertisements may be inserted on usual
terms, at the discretion of the Editor.
For the Christian Index.
Hrotherly Love—Mutual Improvement —
Forced Construction of Scripture, <s'C-
Dear Ilro. Baiter— If I love any object
on earth, it is the follower of the meek and
lowly Son of Got, ; and the more the truth
abounds in him, and the more the gospel
shines in him, the more my love for him
increases. This is one of the strongest
and brightest evidences 1 possess, that 1 am
a Christian. This is the love which not
only “ thinketh no evil,” and which “re
joiceth not in iniquity,” but which “ rejoi
celh in the truth.” This is that divine
principle which “ never faileth.” It is
the same here as in heaven —only that
there it will be perfect: now we know in
part —but when that which is perfect is
come, that which is in part shall be done
away. It usher? ns, finally, into an ocean
of unfathomable bliss.
As we advance onwards towards that
great ocean, we, who are fellow travellers,
require the aid of each other. In order
that we may not mistake as to the means
proper to be used, we should examine the
results of our own experience, anti biing
them to the lest of God’s word. If they
bear this test—this correct standard—we
know they are good ; otherwise, we set
them aside.
I have seen the good effects of the fol
lowing experiment. Brethren of the same
Church have covenanted together for pray
er and mutual improvement. They met
and they prayed for the prosperity of Zion ;
and while associated thus, they agreed,
with Christian affection and candor, to cor
rect each other’s faults—they observed par
ticulars, even improper words, unbecoming
tones, and vain repetitions. At the close
of the service, you would see’ tie brother
take another by the arm, and go off, and
tell him his mistakes ; or, for the benefit of
all. with the consent of all, this was done
in the presence of all. In answer to pray
er, Zion travailed, and brought forth—and,
by these friendly criticisms, all were im
proved in the exercise of their gifts.
And I have seen the reverse of this, too.
Without any suh agreement or understand
ing, some have spoken of the delects of
others behind their backs, and in public,
and alienation and hard leeling were the
result. I conclude that the first was the
belter course.
Again, I have been greatly mortified at
what I conceive to be a forced construction
of the scriptures. Passages are wrested
from their true import and meaning. Take
for example the history of the occurrences
on the day of Pentecost. Acts ii.—l al
lude to the Irequent exhortations of minis
ters of all denominations, addressed to sin
ners, as if icgeneraiion were their own act,
and done in the twinkling of an eye.
There is no evidence that those thousands,
who were added to the Church on ‘.hat day,
came there with their hearts filled with en
mity against God, and would have put all
the apostles to death if they could. For
aught that we know, many of those who
gladly received the word, and weic bapti
zed, came to Jerusalem, anxious to know
Vvhat the men of God could tell them of this
Jesus of Nazareth, who had been three
years preaching his own gospel—and who,
in evidence of his mission, had raised the
dead and performed many other wonderful
Works. Possibly they had been astenish
fed by the darkness that prevailed over all
the land at the time of his Crucifixion ; or
they might have heard of his resurrection
From the dead, and his aacension to heaven.
Suppose events of this sort were to occur in
our day, would not the attention of all men,
(no matter how wicked and thoughtless,)
be attracted by them ?
I recollect, a few years since, attending
a protracted meeting at a village in Geor
gia, and during the progress of the same,
the atmosphere, one night and morning, ex
hibited a wonderful display of meteors
shooting in every direction; and it seemed
as if every man, woman, and child, came
to the house of God to hear what his ser
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
vants had to say. The most wicked men
tell on their knees, and implored the mercy
ol God. It might have been so at Jerusa
lem. Peter had only to tell them of the
prophecies foretelling the coming of Jesus,
and the story of his crucifixion—and to
charge home upon them their guilt—and to
urge them to repentance and faith in the
Lamb ol God, which taketh away the sin
of the world. Then it was the office of
that same Spirit, which had wrought con
viction for sin, to apply the healing balm to
their troubled bosoms—to give them “ beau
ty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and
the garments of praise for the spirit of hea
viness.” Their conversion may have been
gradual. The change is produced by the
operations of ihe4*ptrtv or~G<JTf ; rfii the
convinced sinner first tries his owr. strength,
before he cries out, “Lord save, or I per
ish.”
Once more. Our Pedo-Baptist friends,
in their arguments against the necessity of
immersion in baptism, maintain that 3,000
could not have been immersed in one day ;
and we enter into calculations to show that
they could. 1 think this unnecessary.
The Testament does not say they were all
baptized that day, but that they were “ ad
ded” to the Lord. Were there not devout
men of the Jews present from every na
tion under the heaven 1 Might not some
of them have been already baptized by
John and the Disciples of our Saviour, du
ring the tluee years of his ministry ? Per
haps it only remained for them now to be
embodied into the society of the faithful by
covenant telation—by church organization.
Perhaps they, this day, laid aside their
Jewish notions, and united with the Disci
ples, having been “ taught the way of the
Lord more perfectly.” In that ease, of
course, their re-baptism was not necessary,
and therelore the historian does not say they
were baptized, but “added” unto them,
the Disciples. UNION.
For the Christian Index.
Importance of the Church.
That moral organization, called, in the
Bible, “the Chinch of the living God,”
seems not to he properly appreciated by
those who are constituent parts ol it, and is
still less esteemed by those who a’re not
qualified for its membership. We purpose
dwelling briefly on this topic, and will give
some considerations from which the impor
tance of the Church may be inferred.
Ist. From the price paid for it. — We
know that price is not, among men, an in
fallible criterion of value : they often sacri
fice the greater consideration lor the less—
yet price must be a criterion of worth, when
it is paid by one of unerring judgment.
The highest price that can he given for any
thing, is blood : thut which we buy with
blood is highly prized. What, then, must
be the importance of the Church, when,
in the infallible judgment of God, he gave
for it the blood of Ins Son ? ‘J his was the
consideration urged by the great Apostle up
on the Elders, when he urged them to take
heed unto th msel ves, “ and to all the flock.”
Acts xx: 28.
2d Its perpetuity. —The Jewish dispen
sation!, with its glorious rituals, its splendid
services, and majestic priesthood, has come
to an end. It was an important dispensa
tion : yet, has it been supplanted by the
Christian church! This circumstance atone
would show the importance of the Christian
organization ; yet, the argument is strength
ened, when God declaies that his Church
shall have a perpetual existence. Like Ha
gar, it may be driven into the wilderness,
and become faint from persecutions, but it
shall be sustained. The powersof unright
eousness and of darkness may exhaust tlieii
energies against her, but she shall triumph.
Other organizations shall flourish, and shall
be abolished—kingdoms shall be overcome
—the strong pillars of mighty empires shall
be shaken down ; but the Church of the
living God shall stand—the gales of hell
shall not prevail against it.” Matt, xvi:
18.
Bulwarks of mighty grace defend
The city where we dwell—
The walls, of strong salvation made,
Defy the assaults of hell.
3d. It's work. —Any part in the blessed
service of redemption is honoiable, hut the
Church has assigned to it the most distin
guished position. John, the Baptist, was
called “ the voice of one crying in the wil
derness.” Matt, iii: 3.—The Apostles
were termed “ ambassadors.” 2 Cor. v.
20.—But “the Church of the living God”
is termed “ the pillar and the ground of
the truth.” 1 Tim. iii : 15.—1 t shall, by
its testimony, its character, and its work,
sustain the truth like a mighty pillar.
Again: It shall always furnish matter for
praise and glory to God : its light shall
shine most brightly, and shall never go out.
FOR THE BAPTIST CONVENTIONVOF THE) STATE OF GEORGIA.
PEN FIELD, G.\., JANUARY 24, 1845,
This the Apostle asserts in a memorable
doxology—“ unto Idm be glory in the
Church, by Christ jesus, throughout alt
ages: world without end —Amen.” Eph.
iii : 21.
4th. The instruction it contains. —Froni
Eph. iii: 10, we think it may be clearly in
ferred, (if it be not directly stated,) that
God exhibits his perfections in the Church
more clearly, more copiously, and with more
variety, than he does elsewhere: so that
angels, by the Church’s history, are more
instructed than they are by the great and
glorious works of God, and by the won
ders of his providence. True, in them they
have seen wisdom and goodness, but they
have never seen it in such diversities, and
Trrsueh rich unfoldings, as they do in Hi§
work of love in the Church. There is
“ known by the Church tire manifold wis
dom of God.” These heavenly pupils,
who are always learning God in his works
and in his government, are directed to the
Church for the highest developments of di
vine wisdom and love,
sih. The place it holds in the Saviour's
affections. —The relation that excites in
man the warmest and most enduring affec
tion is adopted by the Spirit, when speak
ingtif Christ’s love for Ilis Church: that
we may know the preciotisness of the at
tachment, she is called “ the Lamb’s wife.”
Doth affection prompt man to cleave to bis
wife? How much more abiding and lender
is the affection of the Saviour lot llis belov
ed ? He bids husbands observe his un
changing devotion to his Church, that they
may learn how to love their wives. Eph.
v. 25.—The Church shall always be the
subject of his peculiar care—shall always
enjoy his warmest love.
‘Ye!,’ sailh the Lord, ‘should nature change.
And mothers monsters prove,
Sion still dwells upon the heart
Os everlasting love.’
oth. Its glorious destiny. —The Church
has, in every age, exhibited higher excel
lence than any other organization ran boast.
Its members, chosen from the world, have
exhibited virtues which the world could not
imitate. Wherever it hath been it hath
dispensed blessings: it has smoothed the
roughnesses of uncultivated minds—it has
softened the fiercest natures—it has moral
sed the corrupt—it has led to Christ lor re
demption the ruined and the lost. In all
these works of merry, it hath showed it
self to be the “ Church of the living God,”
“Yet dark spots have resled upon ii marring
its glory. But it shall be fair as toe morn
and bright as the sun. Christ will robe
his bride not only in salvation hut in unsul
lied holiness. “ lie will present it to Him
self a glorious Church, not having spot or
wrinkle, or any such thing—but that it
should be holy and without blemish.”
Refections. —How impoiiam to he a
member of the Church! Are we, in the
sight of God, “ accepted” memheis ?—Ap
plication to be made by the reader.
SCRIBE.
For /he Christian Index.
Dear Bro. Baker ; —My main object
in writing, is to request you to inform me
how much lam in arrears for the Index.
I became a subsciiher early in 1824, and
have continued regularly to take it, under
the editorial management of Knou/ls ,
Stow, Meehan , Brantly , Mercer, and
Stokes; and it has been a very useful com
panion, and a welcome weekly visiter. It
has been of incalculable value to me; and
I unfeignedly regiet, that I have not at all
times been able to compensate the primer
and editor in advance. And as“ you have
recently concluded that a pojlion of your
subscribers do not furnish evidence of be
ing either ‘-honest or beneficent;” and as
you have probably, (and not without rea
son,) put me among the said class, it is ne
cessary that T should make the best atone
ment I can. There is but one reason why
I have not been more prompt in paying.
That reason is expressed in three words.
I belong to that class of men commonly
called, poor Baptist Ministers.
With your kind permission, I take the
liberty, respectfully, and affectionately, to
beseech the hundreds of your Baptist read
ers, whom God has blessed with an abun
dance of the good thiugs of this woild,
“that they be not high minded, nor trust in
uncertain riches, but in the living God.Jwho
giveth us richly all things to enjoy ; that
they do good ; that they be rich in good
works, ready to distribute, willing to com
municate.” One method of doing great
good, is to furnish the Index to poor min
isters, who are not able to furnish them
selves. It will kindle and nourish a true
missionary spit ft; it will give them correct
views of the deploiable condition ol hun
dreds of millions of the human race, who
are perishing for lack of knowledge; it
wiljgladden their hearts by the intelligence
of he mighty achievements of the everjast
inggospel, in pulling down the strong
bolls of sin, and in building up the king
duvhf OtfearlSinrv— A wcU jeowduet
ed t.tigioUS journal, will unquestionably
ptoJuce great and” good effects upon the
•heail and life, of a truly pious minister of
iheLoid Jesus Christ. If he will only im
provVthe valuable knowledge it places
within his reach,he will be belter informed,
than lie otherwise could be; he will be
moe liuinbly, more thankful, more pray
erful, more devoted, more laborious, and
mo'e useful. I speak, from ail experience
of more than twenty years; and 1 speak
ashnitq-wise men. ‘ . „
Yer4‘soon nftef the writer <>f AheseTines
had made a public profession of religion,
“The Latter Day Luminary,” the verv
first periodical published by the General
Convention of the Baptist denomination,
was placed in his hands. And not long
alter that, did his soul burn with a strong
desire, to be a missionary on Burinah’s
shore. But a limited education—a large
and destitute field of labor all around Lis
own door—together with other circumslan.
ces, seemed to forbid the idea, of his going
far among the heathen.
Brethren, beloved in the Lord ■ hived
lor vour work’s sake, let mu freely
unto you. 1 have often desit v ■ j c rich.
Ah ! say you, that is what we well believe.
But hold niv brethren, and do not judge
quite so fast, i have desired to be rich —
not that 1 might avoid following the plough,
for I am not ashamed of that; —not that I
might have a magnificent mansion to dwell
in t —ngt for the sake of a line carriage to
ride in} —nor ftti* the sake of hundreds of
acres of fertile lands, and hundreds ol ser
vants to cultivate them; —but wholly, for
the sake of being able efficiently to aid the
missionary cause at HOME and ABROAD
in ALT, LANDS.
Finally brethren, give “all diligence” to
“add to your faith, virtue ; and to virtue,
knowledge; and to knowledge, temper
ance; and to temperance, patiuce; and to
patience, godliness ; and to godliness,broth
erly kindness ; and to brotherly kindness,
charity.” “Whatsoever things arc true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
thiiigs atej jilt, whatsoever H/ifngS'are pure,
whatsoever things arc lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if tlicie be any
virtue, and if there any praise, think on
these tilings. Those tilings which ye have
both learned, and received, and heard and
seen,” “DO ;” “and the God of peace
shall he with you.”
Til EOPHILIiS, Junior.
Travelers Rest, Dec. 30, 1844.
For the Christian Index.
Crawfordville, Jan. 7, 1844.
Dear Rio. Raker —l enclose you the
proceedings of our Sabbath School Con
vention, held with the Church in the city
of Griffin. lam happy to say, that I find
the brethren ol the Flint River Association
truly alive, and active, and zealous mevery
good word and work. Thus engaged, we
find our work pleasant. Melancholy and
ennui will flee away —worldly sorrow,
which worketh death, will yield to pious
grief for the miseries of a world, and our
work will ho as pleasant as it is gteat.
Did not Vandcrlieinp act wisely, when
he toiled in a brickyard that lie mightleacli
the Hottentots how to build comfortable
cottages? Did not Mylne consult his real
happiness, when he proposed lo go as a
servant to the Chinese mission, if he might
but go? Did the young and lovely Jane,
whose hones lie u thousand miles in the in
rior of Africa, forget her own mercies and
despise the recompense of reward, when
she left all for that land of darkness ? Her
dying message to her widowed mother and
fatherless sister, was—“ I am glad that I
came to this land;’’ and then she kissed her
babe and died. And, sir, lam constrained
io say, that our beloved old brother, the
Rev. Joshua S. Calloway, will never regret
the day when, as a good and noble hearted
Christian, he stood firm and unyielding, in
the strength of his divine master, against the
storm produced by the anti-mis- ■ >ry here
sy in the hounds of the Flint i{” ii --
ciation. It will cover his head u
laurels than if he wore the crown oi me
Caesars. And that is not all—thousands,
yet unborn, will learn to lisp the praise of
J. S. Calloway; for, 1 tell you, sir, he is
the best man 1 ever saw ! and M this time
doing more good than any minister within
all my acquaintance. May God, in his
goodness, prolong the life of Joshua Callo
way.
The best method of perpetuating the gos
pel *in its purity and power amongst our
selves, and imparting stability to all our
good institutions, is to live, and I’eei, and
act in accordance with the obvious dispen-
sation of the gospel, rommilled to us as a
people, highly favored of the Loid, lest he
come and remove our candle-slick, and
leave us in judicial darkness. May God
help me to remember what 1 have written.
Yviurs, iiubohds, ~
JOHN W. WILSON.
Sabbath School Convention.
A Convention of the friends of Sabbath
School instruction, was held, according to
appointmen., at Grflln, Pika Cos. Ga., on
Saturday, Sunday and Monday the 28, 2D,
and 30th Dec. 1844. (I
Alt iulrodnctory Sermon was delivered
by Bio. Jno. Wilson of Cr;?wfordville,
from *Deut. 6: 6.% “And these words
’which I coinmaud tliSe this day, shall bein
shine heart: ArnHhon shall tcSch them dil
igently unto thy children, and shaft talk of
them when thou sittist in thine house, and
when thou vvalkestby the way.” <fcc.
Jno. W. Wilson was chosen Moderator,
and J. R. Eskew. Clerk.
The following names were then enrolled
as delegates, most of them furnishing let
ters Irout the churches, stating the amount
of their contributions for the objects there
in designated.
From King's Hill, Joseph Smith, Jacob
Smith, B. Barfield, E. P. Bolton—sl lor
S. Schools.
Mount Zion, —S. Jones, W. Ross—
slo for Domestic Missions.
Sardis ,—ll. Smith, J. R. Eskew, $20,-
00 for I).- Miss.
Griffin, —T. Falkner, A.G. Colbert, A.
Shackelford, J. It. Shackelford, $lO for
Miss., $5 for S. S.
Hebron, —15. Lee, .!• McLendon, $lO
for Miss., $2 50 for S. S.
Philadelphia, —J. S. Callaway, T. 15.
Landrum, T. Eason, J. L. Head, VV.Tarp
ly, W. L. Keinbrell $lO for Miss. $5 for
S. School.
Parin, —C. Purefoy, J. Bullock, $5 for
Missions.
Holly Grove, —11, 15. Walls, W. Har
rison, $lO for Miss.
Liberty, Pike, —L. Martin, E. F. Lew
is, $0 Miss. $2 25 for S - S.
Friendship, —S-. Stamper, S. Mattox. E.
Keneday, F. Ellis, sll lot Miss.
Towaliga. —W.Jarril, D LDuffee, I.
Keembrill, T. 11. Connell, S. \V. Bowls,
(. Bryant, D. Evans, sl2 Miss. $2 50 S.
Schools.
Flint River, -E. Harris, Jno. Williams,
$2 for Miss., $3 perse.
Macedonia, —J. Carter, J. H. Feeltlin,
$lO for Miss., $0 50 for S. S.
TntUinirCtf>tttnrnrtvnftvnf m.. —it, vv.
.1. Stephens, $1 for S S.; Lee Strickland,
$5 S. S.; Jno. Davis, $1 for S. S;
Appointed J. S. Collaway, D. L. Duffee,
L. Martin, A. Shackelford and T. Falkner
a committee to arrange preaching.
Appointed J. Carter, J. R. Eskew and
A. G. Colbert a committee on finance.
Appointed J. S. Callaway, J. Carter, J
ll.Feelden, J. R. Eskew, and Jno. VV.
Wilson a committee to arrange the busi
ness to dome before the body,
Appointed T. Falkner, A. Shackelford
and Jno. VV. Wilson, to select a presbyte
ry lor the ordination of a Deacon on Sab
bath, at the request ol Griffin church.
Adjourned to the Acadtrny at Candle
light.—Prayer by bro. Carter.
Met according to adjournment.—Prayet
by bro. Callaway.
Read and adopted the report of the com
mittee on business, which is as follows.
We the committee oil business would
submit the following:—lst. We recom
mend the adoption ol the following consti
tution :
Art. Ist. This body shall be called the
Flint River Baptist Sabbath School Con
vention.
Art. 2nd. This body shall be composed
of delegates from churches and Sabbath
Schools, and of any individuals who may
contribute, each church or school, being
entitled to three delegates, who shall pre
sent a letter certifying their appointment,
and the amount of their contributions.
Art. 3rd. The officers of this conven
tion shall consist of an Executive Commit
tee of five, to he chosen at each annual
meeting who shall have power to fill any
vacancy that may occur in their own body,
a majority of which shall form a quorum
foi busine.-s; whose duly it shall he to pro
mote and encourage Sabbath Schools with
in the bounds of the Flint lllvei Associa
tion, and act as general agent in appointing
special agents to carry out the objects of
this Convention.
Art. 4th. The funds shall he expended
as follows: All donors maybe entitledto
draw half the amount of their subscriptions
in books at cost, the other half to remain as
a permanent fund to operate upon, and up
on the donor’s second application for hooks,
he or she shall have them at cost: but
those who may apply for hooks, who are
not contributors to the object of this con
vention, shall pay 25 per cent oii criSt.—
When any donor or donois may wish to
withdraw from this convention, he, she, or
they, shall be entitled to their proportion
of the permanent fund in books.
Art. sth. No person shall be appointed
as an officer of ibis convention unless he is
a member of a regular Baptist church.
Art. 6th. All persons friendly to the ob
jects of this Convention, and who contrib
ute to the same, shall have the liberty of
speech and vote, and may receive the kind
of books wanted. Provided they be on
hand.
Publisher— BENJ. BRANTLY.
■> Art. 7th. This fill her delibera
tions shall be governed by the decorum of
the Flint R,iver Association.
Art. Bth. This constitution may be al
tered or attended by Iwo thirds of the
members pre&enl at any regular meeting of*;
the convention.
Adjourned to Monday morning 0 o’clock:
prayer by bro. Shackelford.
Monday morning, met According to ad
journment—Prayer by bro. Stephens.
Adopted the following Queries, and reso
lutions *
Ist. ,Query. Is it practicable to sustain
Sabbath Schools in country congregations?
Alts. It is, provided parents do their
duty.
2nd. Query. Bo we consider Sabbath
Schools of so much imporlauce that not
withstanding the obstacles known to exist,
is it thy ihM.y of the church to keep them
up?—-Ans. We do.
Resolved, That we recommend a more
general use Ol the Bible in all our Schools
and Colleges;
Resolved, That we suggest to all Minis
ters of the Gospel, the propriety of preach
ing, at their earliest convenience, on the
subject of Sabbath Schools, and of using
their efforts to establish them.
Resolved, That we approve the lesolu
tion of the Baptist State Convention, au
thorizing its Executive Committee to ap
point an agent, part of whose business is*to
travel through the Slate, and nrire upon the
Churches the claims of Sabbath Schools ;
ami that, as one object of the said Conven
tion is to promote useful education, we
deem Sabbath School Instruction a most im
portant branch of it.
Resolved, That each member of this
Convention agrees, on his return home, to
use all reasonable e(Tolls to get up and sus
tain a Sabbath School within his neighbor
hood.
Resolved, That this CoTivention has seen
and highly approves the proposition, as
made by a gentleman of Georgia, in the
Mjjjedgeville papers, in reference to dona
tions to Sabbath Schools on certain condi
tions, and cordially recommends lo our
brethren and friends, who may be active in
pioinoting Sabbath Schools, to avail them
selves of the proposition;
Resolved, That we recommend the
Churches of the Flint River Association to
observe the 3d day of July next as a day of
prayer for the blessings of God on Sabbath
Schools.
Appointed the next meeting of this body
at Griffin, on the 4th day df July next,
Elected Rev. Joshua S. Calloway, John
VV. Wilson, S. Stamper, A. Shackelford,
am! .1. H. V’ -Smw (nn CuiauutUnu
The Committee on Finance made the
following report:
For Sabbath School purposes, we have
received, through the delegates to tins Con
vention, in cash, s3t 85; and in subscrip
tions, fiom the same source, SB I*2 50; by
public collection, sll 56 in cash—which
we h;lve,placed in the hands of A. G. Col
bert, the agent, appointed by your Execu
tive Committee. The unpaid subscriptions
we.e placed in the hands of your Executive
Committee.
I: It ESKEYV,
A. G. COLBERTj
J. CARTER.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this
Convention be signed by the Moderator
and Clerk, and forwarded to the Editors of
the Christian Index, and Georgia Jefferso
nian, lot- publication.
JOHN W. WILSON, i\lod.
Isaac 11. Eskew, Clerk.
On Sabbath, the ordination of a Deacoil
was atteeded to, and such was the solemni
ty of the occasion, that all seemed to feci j
and during the preaching and duties of the
day, a (ixed attention seemed io pervade all
persdilS.
For the Christian Index.
Salilmlli School (ioiivenlioii.
Shiloh. Troup co., Ga., Dec. 29, ’44-
Dear Rro. Raker —We are instructed,
by the Sabbath School Convention, which
met at this place on the 27th and 28th of
December, to forward this report to ydu sos
publication, which plan was adopted by
the Convention. The Convention is to
meet again at Ilepsibah, Trotip co., at
which time the Churches are requested tri
represent themselves by a delegation equal
lo their representation in the Association;
also, brethren Posey, Dawson, and Bacon,
are requested to prepare and deliver ad
dresses on ‘.lie occasion;
[report.]
The Committee of the Sabbath School
Convention, (James Davis, Chairm.an--
John White, Tlios. Jennings, James Rain
water, John Davenport,) to whom was re
ferred the devising of some plan for getting
up, and permanently establishing, SunddJ
Schools and Bible Classes, in the bounds
ol all the Churches in the Western Bap
tist Association, beg leave to report as fol
lows :
The Committee, being deeply infpress-i
ed with the great importance of Bible Class
es and Sabbath Schools, upon the simplest
and plainest principles of Bible instruction)
have unanimously agreed to appoint and re
quest the Ministers and Deacons of the
Churches to enter fully into the work, on
the following divisions of their labors, viz :
Rev. James Rainwater—Hepsihah and
Western : Rev. N. 11. Williams—Bethel
NO. 4