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Skclrkrs of Uif Inle Baptist Con-,
Ttnlion.
Asa Itudy. they were :i fuse looking ?el
of men—am! in intellectual strength l have
jfeHwfflkmn their superiors, Since 1825 l
ttive M£i) neatly nil the tnember* of the
dillferent of Congress, anil the
member# of legislatures of several Sates,
hut the Southern Baptist Convention which
adjourned in* Richmond on the 15th in
stant, will coinpaic favorably with litem in
any porjrt of view.
On entering the Convention, I saw near
the President's chair, a fine looking, rud
dy-cheeked titan, with a keen, penetrating
eye, and determined expression of counte
nance, who, I was tulil, was Rev/’ E.
Kingsford. Mi. K” is decidedly a young
looking man, and I was surprised to hear
ling lie was Wore than 50 years of age.—
During the continuance of the meeting I
had a food opportunity to observe him
well, llis lift: has been an eventful one.
lie left his native soil, (England,) for India,
an ollicct in the British army ; young, am
bitions, nml buoyant of hope, little did lie
anticipaic at that time, that Ins subsequent
life would be spent in preaching the gos
pel. He heard the gospel Itnm the lips of
the la,e Dr. Cary and other Baptist mis- 1
skm.ines, feit convinced ol the iruth, and j
like a talianl soldier, acknowledged its
claims, Jfisftg irding the cost. Tim sword j
was In tushie for the shepherd’s staff; llle j
emblazoned uniform of a military officer
for the simple garb of tile Minister of tin .
gospel; the splendid marquee was Ibrsuk- j
cn, and the youthful olli -et frequented “the I
place where prayer was wool to he made.” j
In his measured step and graceful mien,!
the military training is plainly discernible ; J
but in the kindness of intercourse, and in
nil the lovely virtues of a regenerated, cul
tivated heart, you see the sincere, humble
Christian.
It has been my pleasure to hear .Mr.
Kingsford on one or two occasions, and I
never hear him, in his enthusiastic cnipha-!
tic tnannqr, hut that my nerves are thrilled
throughout my system. For some time
past he has been the agent of the Bible So
ciety ; but is a re.idcnt of Alexandria, I
I). C.
Rev. J. Lewis Shuck interested irm great-)
lv. Before leaving home. I saw an fill-j
graved likeness of this gentleman, and bail
no difficulty in recognizing him. Vt ■ gin- j
inns pronounce Ids name as il il were
“Shook.” Mr. S. is a youthful looking
man, and,.i* probably about 35 years of age;
the face thin with long chin, countenance
sallow, probably resulting fiotn exposure
to a Chinese sun ; large black eyes, with
black hair neatly trimmed, and small black
whiskers. Hu dresses with great taste.
lie will leave this country in a few
months for the scene of his labors in the
Celestial Empire. Keying, the Imperial
Commissioner, esteems Mr. S. highly, and
lias given him some very solid proof of his
regard. Rumor, perhaps scandal has it,
that Mr. Shuck desires a companion of the
gentler sex, to share with him the priva
tions of missionary life. Richmond cer
tainly contains some of live finest biotin,,
men that I have ever seen ; among them I
would pi.ico Mr. S. in the first rank. One)
would be surprised to lead the detail of la- !
borious effort endured by .Mr. Shuck, in
the dissemination of the truths of Christian
ity among the Chinese, alter seeing his al
tenu ued, delicate frame.
On Thursday evening, I attended the
Fust Baptist church, to w itness the ordina
tion of a missionary, Mr. S. Clopton, and
hoard Rev. (J. D. Mallory, of Georgia. I
have heard much of this gentleman, and he
drew my attention forcibly. I should
think lie was about 43 years of age, wears
spectacles, his hail is very rough, much ne
glecied, dress dishabille, appearance at first,
awkward, school-boyish—voice bad, per
haps it may appear so, because of recent
exhausting exercises, or cold, or perhaps
the house lie usually speaks in is smallei
than the Ist church. But after announcing
one verso of that mellifluous hymn com-!
-
nienetng,
“Yes, my native land, I love thte,”
he seemed to improve. The sermon was j
replete with good, original thought, but not
delivered with Interest. From subsiquent j
observation, 1 übset veil that Mr. Mallory’s
lorle was not in declaiming, but decidedly i
in debate. Here he has low superiors.— j
Some preachers have a certain intonation 1
of voice, and peeliliaiity of manner, that
they think essentially necessary to the pub
lic ministration of the gospel —as though
its own truths would not impress the mind I
of themselves, when exhibited as other’
truths are. On such occasions I could
wish the pulpit and all its paraphernalia
removed, and tints their train of associated
habits and ideas broken tip; then let the
gospel be spoken, plainly and earnestly, in
manner ahvl tone, as other ihmgs are s[Aiken.
Mr. M. has art awkward nod of the head ;
but with all this, he is one of Georgia’s
brightest jewels. 1 1 is deep piety, his so
cial virtues, kintlurss of heart, rcm|cj[ Jiiiq
vicar to every circle. Mr. M. is one
best of men. His life is without n spots’
O.t the platform where the presbytery
kneeled in the ordination of the young irfis
sionnrv, 1 discovered Rev. Robert Rylatul,
I’rtsidcnt of Richmond College. Twenty
yens had elapsed since I had seen this
gentleman before: we parted then in Wash
ington city. lie is esteemed now, as then
a most devoted follower ol Jesus Christ.
Young sceptics would say that R\ land
“believed there was a God,” Tune lias
made but few inroads on my old (?) liieml-
Were it nov that his head is whitened a
i tic 1 should think he :s llie same, cm
bon point.
His elocution is peculiar, his declama
tion unequal, sometimes rapid and again
clogged. The duties of his position have
doubtless prevented that attention to rhetor
ical exhibition that is due from every pub
lie speaker. His deep conviction ■of the
ciliary of the naked, unadorned truth, may
him to disregard the grare* ofelo
The Old Dominion holds not a
solid worth titan Mr. Rylantl.
R‘v. Sami. C. Furman, of Strut,i Cain
lui i, is a sum', well built man, with light
auburn hair glowing iliin on the top. — j
\V!i n I first saw Mr. I’., it was at a dis- j
tauce of about thirty paces, and lining a
clouily day{ had 1 met him i:l the street. 1
should most certainly have mistakeh him
for the Hon. Geo. E. Badger, of North
Carolina, laic Secretary of the Navy, un
der President Harrison. Mr. F. is about
50 years old; wears spectacles. He is the
son of the late l)r. Furman of Charleston, j
and brother of Professor J. C. Furman, ol ;
Richard and Charles Furman. Mr. F. is
one of the most learned and talented men of
any profession in the Palmetto Stale.—
Without seeking or desiring it, he has ac
quired a most extensive influence. O!
manners most court’ ohs, indeed lie is one
of the most pohalicd-|entleinen 1 met with.
Profoundly learned, ho imiT?Wll&vilfa-nir
alluded case on almost c/erv subject. II is
modesty excels all. His worth is unknown,
save to a few. Firm and decided almost to
a proverb. Honored by the development
of an interesting refined and cultivated fam
ily. His son, yet a youth, lias recently
relumed lioin a tout ol Europe, and is win
ning “golden opinions” as bishop of the
Baptist Church in Newborn N. C. Mr.
Furman ministers to the Chinch at Society
Hill, South Carolina.— Jrjf- Kepub.
(To hr. concluded.)
Ihe lollovving is the conclusion of the ]
I hii ty -second, and last Amina] Report of
the Proceedings of ihe late General Con- j
v'entioi. of the Baptist Lctioiiiiiialion ill tilt:
United States—taken from the July .No. of
the American Baptist Missionary M gazilte. !
W u bespeak lor it two or three candid and I
prayeiful perusals, by every reader of the
Index. H. K.
” The history of the year, in some res-1
peels cheering and auspicious, is adapted j
in others to die pen our sense of die ardu-1
ousness of the enterprise w e have underta |
ken, to lead us to estimate soberly the rate
of future progress, as regulated by the!
measure of our effort-', and to bring us to a j
more determinate conclusion whether to j
prosecute our work negligently,—deceit-i
fully,--or to do it as men who are in ear- !
nest, who have counted the cost, anil will
abide by it.
Thu work, to advance prosperously,
must be wrought zealously. Its relations
and dependencies must not only be known,
bill regarded ; the conditions ofits advance
ment not recognized merely, hut fulfilled.
We shall reap as we sow; and what, we
sow. The missions in Asia are languish
ing ; some of them almost extihrt. They \
have looked for succor, hut there was none;
we had promised, but it was to the ear.—
Wo no v reap the consequences of our
withholding.
The effects ol irregular and inadequate
supplies have become exceedingly injurious
in some even ol our most favored missions.
Our policy is continual enlargement. The
work grows, and with it grows the de
mand. But there have been decline and
diminution. Look at the Btirman Mission,
mus Burmese department. Its destito
tiuU wild uautltt Imi'ii humi poriroyod l>y Mr.
Ingalls. It is it portrayal of facts; and
though exceedingly humiliating to us, —
not to our missionaries,— it must not be
vvithlioldcn. May i: not he presented L.
vain.
Himself of the Burmese department, Mr.
Ingalls writes from Matihiiain, Jan. 7,
1816, in die fdlovving words':”--
”It is a solemn Jaet, that at the present
time there is not one missionary whose
time is denoted to one great object of preach
ing the gospel to the millions of Burmab, —
no, not one. What preaching ,s done, as
a general tiling, ts mo t imperfectly done
by native assistants. Do not be startled
by this announcement. Look ai the list of
your missionaries, and the various depart
ments of labor to which they arc assigned ;
and see if the statement is not true !
” You have a few missionaries who un
derstand Btirman. Br. Wade is one of the
best speakers of Butman in llie mission ; lie
is in the Karen department. Br. Bennett
is also connected w nil Karen labor. Who,
ts there at Tavoy devoted to the thousands j
ol Burmaus there !—Go down to Mergui; j
j hr. Braynin is alone, and :> Karen missiona- 1
ry. W hen 1 return, 1 must at once,!
| though a Buruian missionary, (and my!
| w hole soul burning with desire to go a-,
| inong them,) commence, so far as 1 ran
work, amoog.tlie’Kareus ol my department
there. Whom have you then lot the poor
hardened Bui mans of Mr rum ?
O
“Come to Matihiiain, the head-quarters
of your Bunnati Mission! Br. Stevens is
!in the theological seminary, and pastor of
j the native church, and editor of a native pa
-1 per, and presiding over some eight or ten
! native assistants ; lie, surely, cannot go out
j to preach much to the thousands who crowd
! this populous city. Br. Howard is m the
j Butman high school, and pastot of the
English church. Ihe rest of the members
! of this station are either aG-home, or in the
Karen department, or in the printing office.
W hom have you lieu 1 ? W hour have you
at Rangoon? at Ava? Whom among the
populous cities on the Irrawaddy, or hi the
interior ol this great empire? 1 have not
j alluded to Aimean. Br. Cutnslo.qk is in
I Ins grave. Br. Stilton is doing all he can,
but much of his time is devoted to the pre
paration of scientific works. Now, if Thu
Tloor into iluruiali were as ripen as you
! could wish, even il llie king of Burundi
should invite you to send him preachers of
righteousness, w hom have you to send ?
And how long would it he before you could
have mutt qualified logo? It requires some
six. or eight, or tea year# to a< quire a
knowledge of the language,” an J customs.
, and leligion of die Burmese, so as to labor
jto advantage. Now if death keeps at Ins
wink among the few you have left, I ask if
this mission will not s'oou be w ritten rfeso
j late ? l’ltc plain duty resting upon the
j church, is to send out n targe reinforce
j ment at once; to have men to occupy des
-1 titutc posts, and be preparing for the great
: work of preaching the gospel in Jjtutmuh.
Brethren, you are killing your missionaries
as la*l a* you ran, by withholding these
I needful succor*, which you might, and as
1 Christians are bound, to semi. YouVtxy
I not know it, and I would not charge yo[7>
with the crime of uurder; by no means
but let me state how the present
the church dooms its missinnariesjo a slow,)
painful , wretched death. .a
“They ate sen: to commence stations
they go ; meet difficulties wI tick ntmcFuj
they themselves and their God can know■
i churches are planted, converts won ; bull
; these churches are filled not with strongJ
! men, like your churches at home, but by*
children, who Jook up to the
every thing. They eaimol
must he led with milk. The iMI
” Itteher sick or well, whelheuL
stames of his family will
(for In: has no substitute
jiot permit this,) must
lagft ainl'Ti'tle'ii'l to Pie wants of the cliurcM
or strengthen die new inquirers. Ilevatiic
icpose, hot time is none for him; he want*
advice, but no one is near to give il. Tie!
cares of the church press down his spirits;!
his health, or the health of his family com]
pletcly fails him, and lie is directed by thai
physician to fly at once to some distunW
place to recruit. ’’’Now comes the struggle!!
How can lie leave his post? Il may be, a!
j darling child is ill rtf some lingering sick
\ ties*, whom a change would benefit and le
{store to a mother’s love; /Vo/ the fond
: parents say, we cannot leave tin se sheep ,iij*
| the wilderness; the beasts of prey are!
prow ling around them, (ike Romans.)
| They decide to remain and abide the coi-
I sequences. The first-born dies; and tie’
i lather may have to preach its funeral set moil. !
Such aflliclions tell upon the health, oiler, ‘
When surrounded with Christian sy nip;- ‘
j tides, ami the commingling of friendship’s 1
tears. Missionarier are not made of iron,
their hearts ate suseepublo to feeling, an!
j their eyes know what weeping means.—
; They hear the shot k, and go on w ith then :
! work tdl another aid another falls. At !
I length a beloved companion is prostrateil.
; The physician advises an early removal j
j for the benefit ol a change; but, no; how j
lean the inissionry leave Ins post ? lie!
! stays, till hope no longer, or scarcely, pro
mises a benefit from die. change; lie, then,
with a riven heart, leaves. What is the
result ? The work, il may be of years, de
clines. Assistants begin to grow weary of
their work, or backslide; and the church
conics to a stand. Inquirers go back lo
tho world, and all die interests ofZ'on
mount. The missionary may, or may m>t,
regain his health ; his heart is w ith ids
people, and his spirits are drunk up. God
cofnes to Ms relict, & takes him to himself..
This picture is not overdrawn nor does it
givo the outlines of vvliat many of your mis
sionaries have suffered, are having, or will
have to sutler. How much of dus would
he alleviated, if there were associates to as
sist and relieve in the day of trial. How j
inui'h is lost for w ant of more help, and
how much of deep, mental suffering inflict
ed.
“ I am confident that l could belter sub
serve the interests ol our Biirinati Mission
by remaining here for the time being, and
going over to Rangoon the first go.u! <>j>.
port unity ; and I am not sure but a ittiirn
to Mergui, under the painful cir< nmstance* !
that w ill attend me, will serve lo shorten
my days. But this matters little to me; or
if it should he the means of depriving me I
of my onv surviving babe. Thai moist |
atmosphere has been must delc'ei tons to the
health of inv luuiily, us fo.nr ol their graves
can witness. Still, if l gi? not back, the
cause must suffer. The chapel, where we
once w orshtpp. and. yud where the presence
of God was so sweet to our souls, is closed,
and has been for months. Some of my
assistants, or one, “ho for years wastliv !
main help, has fallen, or become so involv
ed that lie has, nr will have to be dismiss- ‘
ed. Where are the inquirers? Where
are die sheep and the lambs ?
“ Now lei me aU.—is it right, that the
interests of this mission should he left in a
slate so sore to suffer, whenever sickness
and death conics among us;events common
|to missionaries and missions; and is il
j right that the missionary should be so
J placed ; so destitute, that his health is alive- j
ted and his life shortened ; and placed thus j
jby bis dear brethren? Ido not mean to ‘
insinuate that any ol my brethren would,!
intentionally, do such a thing. 1 know
i that they love this mission, and have done !
much to sustain it. Still, I would say, that 1
the w ant of more laborers has subjected 1
missions, and stations, and missionaries, io
a hundred told more than I have attempted
to write. Look at facts. 1 will not point
you to Mergui. Br. Bennett will, l pre
sume, in form >ou how the scene of desola
tion struck him on his recent visit. I would
point you to Sandoway, and request bro.
I Abbott to tell his tale; —to the vacant mis
sion among the Teloogoos, and request bro. !
Day, if he survives to reach you, to icll Ins;
I —and 1 would that hr. Comstock’s field
{ could combine its desolations mm human
words, and address them lo the ears of my
brethren. Look at Rangoon, where sister
Judson nml many a devoted one have 1 1-
! bomd. No missionary voice is heard there
now. The tract distributer is no longer
, there. And so of Ava. ‘flow hath the
Lord covered the daughtci of Zion with a
cloud in his qnger, and east down Iroin
heaven unto the earth the beauty ol lsiael 1’
:j “Let me now just allude lo llie slate of
; t Christians in Burnish l’oper. The Caiho
j lie priests, the Jesuits, arc among them,
and tauntingly ask them, -Where are your
1 j shepherds l Does not the biblo say that
: Thu hireling fleetlt t” Now judge which
are the true shepherds, the Ameriran mis
sionaries or we!’ Brethren, will yon suf
ler such a reproach to rest upon the rising
church m Burinah,—-that her servants .ire
unfaithful? and lobe wielded in such n
manner against the cause? Those, dear
disciples may, at times, have fell that there
was noth in the Jesuits’ remarks, but they
have had faith to stand, though alone But
will tlirse disciples stand, should persecu
tion unto death commence ? They w ould,
; “ ill* missionaries to luce the storm with
‘tin in; and might wiiliout them. Place
1 j yourselyup, it you ran, in the state of these
’ j new disciples, and tell me if you would
Hike io be forgotten, and lorsaken, and with-1
jOot an under-shepherd ?
11. “Allow me to make one allusion to mis
■bfbns where the gravest interests depend up
Jin the health or life of one individual, and
mfiai Individual in u sickly land; and ask, —
Us it right that he should he left without a
Mbccessor until he is dead for a long time.
U ssy a long lime, for if successors are not
jfppointed until vou learn the death of the
■nissionary, though you might gel the intel
lligcnce in a lew months, by steamer, could
Lyeu find the proper man at once? And
[how long would it take that man lo qualify
[himself to sustain the ioterests assigned
Liirn ? I will simply mention br. Vinton.
iHe is now absent among the Shan Karens;
■lie may, and lie may not return. Let os
nuppose that tidings are brought that he
Llitd in llie jungles, far away and alone.—
[Can you estimate the loss to the cause in
fool having a mail lo lake his post at once?
rMissionaries ilnnk and talk with each other I
about these things, and feel about them.— j
And is ii not tune for the church to feel;
I also ?
“Let me simply state “ hat I am desirous >
von should do, and which 1 wish you to
j think and feel about. It is simply that yqu
appoint successors for your missionaries in
season, and not wait until their death is an
nounced, Appoint one for nit, and send
at once. You nwy require him at
A lcegvi, or ill Borman Proper', long beloie
he has learned the language. Though i
speak only my own feelings, I am suie 1
! write, the levlmgs ol all my brethren. It
! there is one dial feels otherwise, let him
! say .so. Nothing would embitter ihe dying
’ hour so much to me, as the thought dial
(all I had tried to do in my Master’s vine-j
1 yard, was to suffer lor want nf someone to !
; cuter upon the work hi iny stead. 1 led
most ilceplj on dus subject, a ic hope that
it may not he loigoiien or neglected. 1.
I have written you hcretnfme lor lellow-i
laborers; I now ask you to appoint my j
I successor ; ami send hint beloie I die. 11l
my God will permit me to live so long, 1 j
would like to introduce him to the people :
among whom l hate labeled; and I waul
to see. liint, and know that ho is in die held,
il lie should not be wauled for Mergui, he
soon will he lor Burinah. Will you, then,
attend to my request, so Inr us lo make
known my wish upon the subject; amid
a brother w hom you consider qualified for
the work ol missions, present himself, ap
point him ?
•• \\ ill you, my brethren, who leel that 1
God has called tou to jneacli the cierlasl
ing gospel, and are looking for a field ol 1
abor; willj/oi/ sincerely bow beloie llie i
hroue ol love, and say, * Here am I, send |
ne ?’ My brethren who cherish a hope
>1 eternal Ide tluough the crucified Son of!
kind, and who dally pray, ‘Thy kingdom
conic,’ —Arc you doing all you can, to’has
ten the coming nf that kingdom? Have
you doiie as much, as instrumea'.s, lo gam ;
die Bum.ans from hell, as you would wish’
the Burin ms to do lor you, and they were tin
Chtisii.ins and you the pagan? .0 Jesiif !
i,t'surlily I'liiiit'h lo the garden ol gloom
and the Gross ol Iriotid. tiracimislvwioveal !
to them a little ol what Thou hast suffeicd,.
not only lor them but lor poor Burmali;
and grant them set'll a measuie ol thy com-!
passionate spirit, and such desires to glori
fy Thee, that they shall, as one mail, with
their praters anil offerings, •come up to the
help o! die Lord against the mighty.*”
From the .Hahtuna Baptist.
“ On Saturday, Mr. Sanders from die
lib quip lice oi: instruction to colored persons ;
made a report. — flits report recommended |
that a catechism prepared by brother Chani- 1
bfiss of Alabama, be examined by die
Board with a view to its adoption. A de
bate sprung up upon this part ol the report.
It w as loutul to he a very difficult matter to
legislate upon the subject—the laws miqhl
uiierlere with it, and so the recoiiimunda-*
lion was stricken out, and the poor slaves !
lolt without even a catechism unless nidi-!
virtual churches shall think proper to allow
them the benefit ol it.”
The above is l iken from the Christian !
Secretary m Ins report of the doings ol the.!
Southern Baptist Convention. We ask the!
Editor lo cot reel the talse impression w Inch
! must rest oil Ins readers by me above state-!
■ ment. The following is the state of the
ease.
At the last meeting of the Alabama Bap
tist Stale Convention, a committee ol three *
was appointed to examine all the catechisms
prepared lor the religious instruction of i ol
ored people, and make a selection, and re
iMiniueinl one to the next meeting. Tins
committee proceeded ill the duty assigned
them. But on examination found none
which satisfied them, and appointed one of
their number to prepare a catechism suited
to the wants ol the Baptist denomination m
Alabama. The brother appointed (C’kam
b.iss) is engaged in prepanng ihe work.—
Ho expects to complete it in time lor the
committee to examine n, before the next
Convention in November. If the work
meets the approbation of the Contention,!
itis expected that it will be. published by ;
that body, lor t|ie use ol its ministers and .
members. Should the publication be ac- {
ccptable, which we firmly believe it will,
|it may bo used by die Domestic Mission
B&arrl in its efforts to instruct our colored
papulation in the truth and dogjiriue of our
Imly religion. The Southerifflhplisl Con
■ veinion thought best not to racmninend a
Ijiiok not yet written, though the coriiinit
j ter from tufqimuliou obtained, believed it
wauld be a valuable auxiliary in llie work
I lying so near their hearts, as the religious
j UHiruchou of their own households. The ;
i C invention thought best to leave the work
jlo the body which projected it. I would!
j ad I lurthei that our brother is industriously ;
j engaged jn the undertaking, and we antici
. pale the most advantageous results.
With these facts before the world, wc
complain of the following sentence: “and
tlux poor slaves are lelt without even a
! catechism unless individual churches shall
j think propei lo allow them the benefit of
it.”
We belt ve, brother Editor, that you
1 penned the above under the excitement of !
I erroneous leelings, and that it will afford
: vou sincere pleasure to disabuse your read- .
ers of the erroneous impression which the 1
above sentence must produce. Let your ,
readers know wliai we are doing, and iliey ,
will determine whether we are en WfaT
neglecting the spiritual concerns of “Jnb
poor slaves.”
An end may be attained, bitt-mess of
feeling may be excited, alienation mat be
produced, and erroneous sentiments may
be circulated ; but truth and righteousness
will not be adv;need by inisrepiesenlatiou.
“Charity thinketh no evil.’’ “Let brother
lv love continue.” *ll*
I
For the Christian Index.
REironn-rriviLLE. July 25, 1810.
Dear Bis). Keeling. —After leaving l’en
i field, in company will) bro. C. D. Mallary. !
i we spent one day in Lexington, where 1
obtained sixty-five dollars from brethren
! and friends in money, and pledges in lavor
of Domestic Missions. Thence we attend
ed the missionary meeting appointed by t
bro. Mallarv at Ciowd’s Greek. Where
we had truly an interesting meeting. We
there obtained for domestic and foieign
missions between sixty and seventy dollars.
Th pastor of the elrurclt, Rev. I*. ! J . But
ler, gave us a warm reception; enter ng in
to the spirl;, and throwing his whole soul
into the work. We were also cheered by
the presence of brethren and
A. T. N. Yaiiilivere, loth of'■whom mani
fested alively interest in die good cause,
I promising to preach mi the subject at their
- various appoinliiu r.is. The former author- J
zed the agent to tender his services as a j
! missionary lo Lex is. From these we:
j proceeded to MrHsioue, and labmed one’
day, and obtained b. tween sixty and seven- !
ty dollars ill money and pledg'S for the ‘
above objects. We spent the night with i
lira, Butler, the pastor of the church at I
Millstone. Brother Butler acknowledged
himself greatly revived on the subject oi l
missions, and subs-ribed twenty five did- ’
tars towards the support of bro. II ill as a
missionary to Texas. Thence we p; oeced-1
ed to Fslfi’ g Creek, where we met with i
die Rev. Mathews, a whole soul brother, ’
who entered at once into .lie spjril of the j
objects of out visit to his church. Here wc
obtained m money ami pledgee, forty dol
lars. At night bro. .Mallary preached at
Libel ton, and received from tin Methodist
church ami congregation fne dollars for
Foreign missions. Thence we proceeded
to Rucknsville where we met with brother
Asa t-handler, whose praise is in all the
churi lies, in company vvitlf brethren Butler,
Mathews and Laiithnm, here we had a
most interesting inerting. At this place
j brg. Mallury prveeeiletl in a connected ar
gumeut, urging the subject of Foreign and
Domestic Missions, on Saturday and
Sabbath, which had a striking and rmn
manding miluciice, while the preacher
himself appeared to be tiffed with a special
j mtluem e Ir m. above. I have no doubt
but lire orra-hm wifi be long lenieinberetl
;by all present, both ministers and people.
There wc obtained sixty-live doll.os in
j money and pledges to the good cause. At
j this place brother Mallary and myselfsepa
j rated to meet again auMadison. I am now
in the family’ ol brother N. Hill, whose
services have been tendered lo the Board
as a missionary to Texas; ami whose scr
vices will no duuhl be accepted. On my
way here, I preached at Walkinsville ;
{ yesterday at Sandy Greek ; last night at
this place. At each ol which places I met j
! with a spirit ol liberality in the promotion
i of the objects of my mission.
JAMES DAVIS.
For the C/lr'istiun Index.
Point Solitude, Burke G 0.,)
July 17. 1816. 5
Brethren Editors :—l trust tins commu
nication will not be altogether burdensome
1 to yourselves or your readers; if you think !
m>, please to suppress it. My object is,
I simply to give you an .ilea ol our situation
iin regard to means of grace, with which
: God has blessed us ; the manner in which
we employ them, Ate. The w riter is a 1
member ol the Brushy Greek church. B. C,
W e have u large, and well finished build
ing, nearly painted within anil without.
: commodious enough to accommodate per
haps trom 800 to 100 persons. Our con
gregation is generally huge. We have
trie gospel pieached to ns every second
Saturday anil Sabbath in the month.—
i V\ o Id it not he well to have preaching in
! our churches fit-monthly ?
i had a pciileroslat season last August,
I and many while ami black professed to
i have found Jesus precious n the pardon of
sins : since that time we have hail no pow
erful and overwhelming manifestations of
spiritual ittlluence. Yet our prayer meet
ing on Sabbath, w hich took its origin some
few mouths beloie the revival last year,
has been piogicsstng at least by continu
ance. Are not prayci meetings powerful
levers in the elevation of the standard of
piety? Bro. Win. L. Tucker is our
\ preacher. We have perhaps over 200
j members ; nearly equal whites and color- j
ed. A gootl many ol the brethren, and j
sisters 100, attend the prayer meeting reg
! ularly, every Sabbath; and doubtless all
; who are in the habit of regular attendance,
can testify with us, that they have enjoyed
grea'er freedom from the condemning poor
er of sin; a stiinigrr hope in Redeeming
mercy; and more of the influence of Ihe
spirit; than they would have done, had
I they tailed to use this means of grace. —
Some ol the brethren usually, sing and
pray, others read and make piaclrcal eum-
menis on plain portions of scriptures rela
ting to Christian duty, &.c.
Notwithstanding we have the above
’means of grace, we have been reduced in a
few instances to the painful necessity ol
using the knife of excision. Intemperance
seems to be one of the grand agents which
Sts employs against us, as well as against
frtner o'famrlies, i,. • *
Oil, tnaTihe limb* were hastened when
’.lds vile monster shall be hurled from the
embrace of Baptists, from the church gen-,
erally, and from the confines ol earth.—
Amen !
W e have a Temperance .Society at otij
church, but we s Idom have meetings or
addresses on the subject. Would it not be
well for every church to have regular tem
perance meetings, and occasional addresses?
We neglected to say, when speaking of
prayer meetings, that some of the brethren
lead and talk to the colored pajrl of the
congregation after the services of the lore
noon are over, when they fuel disposed to
hear. Could not much good be clone il this
system were vigorously sustained in all the
churches. We admire what Bro Josiah
S. Law says on the religious instruction of
our colored population. Would t.> God
the Christian South could fed their great
responsibility on ibis subject.
We simply mention here that, we had a
Temperance eelehraiion on the
Addresses hv John J. Jones,
W. (dark. Rev. Joshua Key; bro. Joseph
Adkins, and Rev, J. 11, T. Kilpatrick.—
Much good doubtless w ill follow their in
teresting labors.
We have no regularly organized Mis
sionary Society, though we contribute our
mite to tiie support of missions. The
brrlhren at Head Quarters seem entirely
engaged in promoting the glorious work of
spreading the gospel at home and abroad.
Gould they not be greatly assisted, il all the
churches bail regularly organized missiona
ry Societies, and contributed something,
say every iitnntli, to the advancement of
ilieir efforts to publish universally the
Good News ? Lord awake they people
front their slumbers on ihts subject We
would have had no objection to a Southern
Publication Society. W ould M not be well
to send more mlporiiiers into ihe field ;
this is a secret yet successful way ofaltack
ing me enemy. Pardon our digression.
A word iti regard to our Sabbath School.
This is regularly attended by lltn children
in the neighborhood; and it we he allowed
tojoilge, they are improving rapidly. Some
ol the btelhrcn and sisters too. take a live
ly interest in training the lender minds ew
tlcr their charge. Otirnpiniiui is not w nrtlt
much, hut we von'uie to give it. We be
lieve it Sabbath schools were instituted
and properly .•oinlm-tcd throughout the
churches, the number of ehrististi* in and e
next generation wonid he increased ten fold.
We mention one more means of a race
which we enjoy. Some of t< take anti
read the Christian Index. It w ould he su
perfluous to speak in its favor; it speaks
lor itsclt. Another question—Ought not
ccery Bnjdist (at'east m the State of Geor -.
gh;)_lii take, puy for ami read the Index ?
1 think so. Add my name to your list of
subscribers lor “The Southern Baplrsl Re
view.” 1 think such a periodical is loudly
called lor, by the demoninatinn, at least,
urgently demanded, if our interest and ne
cessity are allowed'io speak. I clixe tlirse
broken remarks by giving y,,n my ilotii r
lion of a u hole-son I Baptist, viz: An indi
vidual “ho has a daily evidence ol accept
ance with God ; who trusts entirely in the
merits ol Glnists atimemeot; who pravs
Iriqiienily and is always io a praver'ul
tr.iinc; who “speaks evil of no ntan ;” who
is ‘•limited with humility:” who does all,
that he does, with an eye single to the
glory ol God. :-e good of his own, and the
jsonls ol his fellows; who, if ho ran read,
j reads his Bible much ; who ts a firm advo
cate of the Temperance Reformation, of
the missionary cause, of prayer meetings,
I mill ol Sabbath schools ; w ho attends chutdi
regularly on conference, and preaehing
j days, and finally who lake* pays for and
! reads the Index, or some oilier religious
paper. Pray for ns.
Yours truly,
OBSGL RITAS.
P. S. We have to lament the recent
death of several of our brethren ; among
them, that of our aged and beloved brother
Job Gresham. We have lost in brother
G. otic ol the firmest pillars ol our church.
O.
Mints of Mexico. —The actual wealth
realized tit Mexico, like that of Brip<rtrtka,
dia, has been greatly There
is no dou.tl that the mineral resources are
vast and almost inexhaustible. But the
natural indolence of the people, the want of
sufficient enterprise, and the internal di
sensions that have long distracted that
country, have prevented the mines from
being worked lo advantage. Besides this,
the mines mostly exist in the/table lands of
the northern departments, and the working
of them reqires a great deal of time, labor?
and expense. The most enterprising mer
chants and capitalists reside in the south,
and thus a vast source of ptofit is allowed*
to remain barren and unprofitable.
There are very few veins of gold ore as
yet disaovered ir. Mexico, although from
the quantity found formerly in the beds of
the sticams, there is no doubt that exten
sive gold mines exist. A few have been
discovered in the neighborhood of the rich
valley of Oaxaca, formed by the south-eas
tern slope of the Cordilleras. The princi
pal portion of tire gold is found Jit combina
tion with silver. The ores of Guanahuato
afford the largest proportion of gold—three
i pent'y-weights of gold to one mark of sil
ver. The gross produce of the mines of
Mexico, from 1090 to 1803, is estimated
, at $1,358,452,020, averaging about $12,-
000,900 per annum. The highest amount,
which was in the var 1796, was $25,644,-
566. Since lha’ time ft has aveiaged about
,$22,000,000. The profits of the Guana
liuato mines for last February amounted to
l about $559. The Bolano mines $404;
Rio dtl Monte. $7512. The expenditures
of the Paeliucur mines exceeded the pro
, fits. ‘