Newspaper Page Text
7, 1848.]
his teeth, because he is unable to do more. When William
Pitt first made his appearance upon the stage of usefulness,
the Walpoles thought bv such means to clip the wings of
his genius, and thus bring a mind that was made for the up
per regions, to grovel in the dust. But how ridiculously ab
surd ! As well might they have thought to slay the rest- 1
less heavings of the mighty ocean ! Likewise, ‘when thcj|
youthful Washington was treading with cautious steps the
road to fame, did the infamous Arnold and the treacherous:
Conway conspire to make him lick the dust by their cries of,
“big head,” &c. &c. But as well might they have under- jj
taken to move “the everlasting hills” as to blacken the fair
fame of the “Father of his country.” So, young man, bejj
neither surprised nor discouraged at such treatment. Be|
sure in order to accomplish any thing great or good, you must
sometimes go contrary to the opinions of the multitude.— j.
You must even run the risk of being accused of having “then
big head.” Then up, shake such things from you, as an I
autumnal wind shakes the yellow leaf from the forest trees,
and resolve to do right, no matter who does wrong.
PATER-FA MILT AS.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE BETHEL AS- 1
SOCIATION ON MINISTERIAL EDUCATION.
The Committee to whom was referred the subject pre- (
seated to the Association in the letter from the Palmyra:
•church, which is hereunto annexed, have had the same un
der consideration, ami feel not a little gratified that they have||
an opportunity of expressing their approbation of the meas-l
ure recommended by said church. Your committee believe;
that a more laudable and praiseworthy object could not en
gage the attention of your body, or the churches which com- |j
pose it. And your committee believe that some efficient;
means should be adopted by which it may he consummated.;:
Your committee would therefore recommend that, before’:
your present session closes, an opportunity he given to the !
delegates and brethren in attendance, to express what they
are individually willing to contribute to this object. Your
committee would also recommend lire passage of the follow- jj
ing resolution.
Resolved, by this Association that the churches he re- j
spectfully requested, in their annual contributions, to set
apart from year to year, a fund to be applied to this purpose. j|
And he it further
Resolved, That the Executive Committee take the charge
of this Department of useful effort, and that so soon us the
funds will warrant it, they exercise a sound discrimination
in its application as contemplated in said letter.
The letter to which allusion is made above, after stating
the object, and amounts of the coutribution of the church, pro
ceeds as follows:
“We have ventured to pledge the sum named in the last
item, although it refers to a Department of useful ellort, toj
which the Association has not hitherto directed its attention;;
in the hope and belief, that you will cordially approve and|
promote that object, to the extent of the means which it may
please the churches to place in your hands.
From what has been talked over with brethren in private!
circles, it is believed that the Association is both able and;
willing, to keep one of our young ministering brethren that
lacks the means, hut desires to improve his education, with
a view to more extended usefulness, at some suitable Semi
nary of learning, when that object can be obtained. Wc are
aware that opposition has been shown, at times, to human
learning as an aid to the ministry, hut we flatter ourselves
that there will be none in the bounds of our Association. If
it was necessary that Timothy should study, even in an age
of inspiration, in order to shew himself approved, it is, we
apprehend, not the less necessary now, as there are still gain- 1
savers and carping infidels whose mouths must he stopped.—
In the early age of the Christian church, in order to commu-l:
ideate the gospel to the various nations of the earth, it was
necessary that they should be addressed in their respective;
languages, and hence the miraculous gift of toungues ; but
now, the Scriptures being verified, and the gospel establish-!
ed, these supernatural gifts are withheld ; so that, if all na-j
tions hear now, in their own tongues, the wonderful works of
God, their languages must be acquired hv slow and tedious!
study. But if there be any, who neglect human learning as’
an aid to the gospel ministry, we would inquire of such, whatl
sort of knowledge, (for knowledge and learning arc the same
things,) would you reject ? A knowledge of foreign langua
ges only, or of history, or of logic, which enables the min-!
ister to discriminate between true and false reasoning? Or!
will you go still farther and reject all knowledge of the gram
matical structure of your own language ? Or farther still,
all knowledge of writing, reading and spelling ? Where will
you stop? Who shall decide! In the present age of the
church, when it would be impious to rely upon direct divine
inspiration, for that knowledge that will enable the minister
to “rightly divide the word of truth, giving to each a por
tion in due season,” to seek after it assiduously, by all the
means which may be within h.'s reach. It would be a waste
of time for a brother, who intended to devote his life to min
isterial labors within the bounds of our Association, to study
the language and literature of China. It would he inexpedi
ent for a brother, called in middle life to preach the gospel, 1
to employ his time in the pursuit of the various branches of
learning to the neglect of preaching. It is clear to our minds,
therefore, that the extent to which preparatory studies should
be carried, must he determined by the circumstances pecul
iar to each case. We do not doubt, that there are brethren,
within our bound, called of God to preach the gospel, who
would gladly avail themselves ot any facilities which you |
may be pleased to afford them, to add to their stock of knowl-!’
ed"e and prepare themselves for more extended usefulness. 1
Begging pardon for writing so long a letter, wo commit the!)
whole subject, with all its details to you; praying the Lord,!!
rijc Junrj,*.
‘in this, as in every thing else to direct you for his glory. —
Amen. J. M. DAVIS, Chairman, jj
REPORT OP COMMITTEE OX DECEASED MINISTERS.,
The Committee on Deceased Ministers beg leave to sub-j;
jmit tlie following report:
That during the last Associational year it has pleased God,
in the dispensation of his Providence, to remove by death from
the Church militant to the Church triumphant, Elder James
Matthews, former Moderator ot this body.
Our deceased brother was born iu Wilkes county, in this!
jState, and united with the Church at Clark’s Station in 1825,!
and was ordained to the Christian ministry in 1529. He
was a successful minister of the Georgia Association for ten;
years. In 1889, he moved to Stewart county, where he re-j
sided until his death in March last. He was regarded by us
as a faithful, zealous and indefatigable laborer in the vine
yard of the Lord. Though without the advantages ofa lib
eral education, by dint of industry, and close observation, he
! was enabled to store his mind with a large fund of useful
‘knowledge, which aided by his native good souse and prac- j
! tical piety, rendered him a useful and prominent minister of
j the Cross of Christ. 0
He was a liberal patron and ardent friend of ministerial!
!education, missionary operations and all the benevolent en-j
Iterprizes of the day, and in his death these cherished objects
ofhis heart, his dear family, the friends of Christianity and
the Bethel Association have sustained a great loss,
i Resolved, That in the death of our brother, we are painful-1
iv reminded that we are but pilgrims on this earth as our !
fathers were, and that whilst we arc in life, we arc in the j
midst of death.
Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the bereaved
! family of our departed brother and that we tender to them I
our sincere condolence.
Resolved, That brother James Davis be appointed toj
preach a sermon before this body to his memory on to-morrow |
;at 11 o’clock, and that this Association do adjourn to attend I
the services.
Resolved, That the above be published in the Christian
Index and printed in our Minutes and that a copy be furnish
['ed the family ofour deceased brother.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
F. F. SEIG, Chairman.—
REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF THE WESTERN
ASSOCIATION ON PUBLICATION AND COL
PORTEUR AGE.
I’ Your Committee feel deeply interested in the subject com-:
mitted to their charge ; and are happy in expressing the opin-j
ion that there is a rapidly increasing disposition to read and 1
circulate religious books and periodicals, yet it is evident our
churches have not become as zealous and efficient in this res
pect as they probably should he. The Christian Index, ‘ JO
-ably edited by our talented and esteemed Brother Bi'.jter,
I should be taken by all the heads of families in our ch’grchcs.
The revival intelligence, the historical, practical a'jrj doetrin
: id instruction, with which its columns are so weji filled, ren
der it a valuable auxiliary in the general improvement of
our people. The Temperance Banner, published at Penfield, j
is cheap and well worth the patronage o.!the Baptists arid all!
lovers of the temperance cause. Wc still feel it our duty to
urge upon our brethren the claim'; of tlie Baptist Preacher, a
Monthly periodical issued at Richmond, Va., at one dollar;
per annum, containing choice Sermons from living ministers;
ofour denomination. The Missionary Journal, also publish-1
eel at Richmond, Va., deserves a wide circulation among the!
Baptists.
Respecting the various valuable books now published by!
our brethren oi the South as well us at the North, your Com
mittee are pleased to have in their power to recommend to;
special attention, Dowel’s Book on Sacramental Communion; |
also Remington’s Reasons for becoming a Baptist, and liis
little book on Communion : Having beau a Methodist minis
; ter, he meets their arguments against the Baptists in an able
manner. The Marvelous Doings of Prince Alcohol, a little
book on the evils of intemperance, written by Brother C. D.
Mallury, merits, as it lias received, a general circulation.
!j In reporting on the subject of the Southern Baptist Publi
cation Society, your Committee are decidedly of opinion that!
. the churches should give it all the aid possible. Who are
so well prepared to inform the public mind, respecting the
true sentiments of Baptists as Baptists themselves? Who:
I so well as Southern Baptists can represent the doctrines and
condition of the Southern churches ? Should we not then
! encourage Southern men in their efforts to publish such books;
as are adapted to the wants of our people ? We think thei
Southern States should all come up in their strength to carry
forward the interests of the Society speedily.
We also recommend our brethren to purchase such books:
as they need at the Depository at Charleston.
Respecting the propriety of employing a Colporteur under,
the patronage of your Association, your Committee are fa-!
vorably impres ed. There arc various reasons which might
be offered in favor of such arrangements :
1. The churches in our bounds could all be furnished!
with Sabbath School and Bible Class books at their own doors.
2. Our brethren could conveniently obtain the most valu
able works of a denominational character, at the most reason-!
able prices.
3. The young members particularly would have the op
portunity of learning fully the doctrine and duties held by I
consistent Baptists, and tlie older members of the church,:
and the community at large would be benefitted.
j From the above reasons, among many others that might be
’offered, your Committee feel fully authorised to suggest the
‘propriety of appointing a suitable person to travel in the
! bounds of the Association, and other parts contiguous, to soli II
(the books of the Southern Baptist Publication Society, adapt- i
ed to the religious wants oft he denomination. In order to car
ry out this suggestion, we propose that the Executive Com
mittee be instructed to engage the services oi someone to
!preach as Domestic Missionary and travel as Colporteur, im
mediately, if possible; it being understood that they feel
authorised to employ sutdi a portion of the funds already
sent up for Domestic Missions, as they may think proper, hr
hitherto, in supplying the destitute in their own Association;
and that an effort be now made to raise the sum of one hun
dred dollars, for the purchase of books upon which to com
mence operations.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
ROBERT FLEMING, Chairman.
Selections for the Benefit of Abolitionists. —Our
anti-slavery friends at the North harp much on the subject
of “unrequited slave labor,” hut reluctant are they to discuss
the evils of “unrequited free labor.” The fact is, slave labor
is not unrequited; free labor often is, as the following extract
from the New York Christian Advocate evinces:
“In the city of New York a great majority of the dress
makers get nothing, or next to nothing, for their work. The
plan works after this wise—a number of sprightly girls are
taken in to learn dress-making, who are to remain six months,
sew for nothing, and board themselves. No favor is shown
to one wishing to become an apprentice, unless she is apt at
the needle. Such a one is taken, and kept constantly at dress
sewing, a thing she very well understood before she became
an apprentice. The day before her apprenticeship expires,
(she is passed through a few ceremonies as to cutting and fit
ting dresses, and then set adrift, ns tlie services of journey
women, on wages, are not desired in an establishment where
all the work is done by apprentices for nothing. So affairs
move on—as soon as the ‘education’ of one class is finished,
another comes on to make thctiinl—the dashing proprietress
becomes rich and aristocratic, and the poor girls ure turned
out to starve or to sell themselves to infamy !”
Here, then, is the glorious liberty of Northern day-laborers
—to work, or “seta for nothing , and hoard themselves —
We do not believe a parallel to that can bo found in all the
annuls of slavery.* Let those who are wont to admit that
“slavery is an evil,” remember that free labor is as great at i
evil —that tliy-rc are, de facto, slaves in the so called “free
States,” whose condition is infinitely worse than that of'our
Southern slaves.
The. corrupting tendency of Northern slavery,, is feurfully
delineated in the following extract from the same article:
i “ K woman who is without friends, and without means, and
j without a home, in the midst of a populous city, herself a
’ .stranger and forsaken, will scarcely hesitate to sell her char
acter for her lifo. Starvation, and rags, and ruin, and death,
are terrible things to lie encountered by any one, and rather
than meet these, the female heart, if forsaken, will meet al
most any thing else. Life will he cherished and clung to,
no matter what depth of ruin is attached to it, unless despair
settles upon the mind, and suicide tells the horrible deed.”
j If a slave rebels against his master and is killed, or even
wounded in tlie scuffle, the circumstance elicits many a long
jeremiad and whole chapters of denunciation; but an event
like that reported in the following extract, is allowed to pass
without a word of comment! It is only murder in self-de
fence —just fable homicide! Hcu pudor !
Murder in Self-Defence. — We understand that yesterday,
as the proprietor of the Ball Spring Cottage was reprimand
ing a servant woman for some neglect of the table furniture,,
she seized a carving knife, cut him severely on the wrist, and
followed it up so furiously, that he, fearful of his life, caught
up a poker from the stove, and knocked her down with it—
inflicting a wound from which it is thought she will not reco
ver.—New Haven Register.
* We know of no parallel in the South, except it be among
the servants of the church. Baptist ministers are often re
quired to work for nothing and hoard themselves.
Infant Sprinkling and Sudden Death. —Having read in a
recent number of the Recorder an article taken from the
New York (Paedo Baptist) Observer, headed “Immersion
and Sudden Death,” I have thought by way of and offset to
send you the following statement of facts. Perhaps, too, the
Observer may think it of sufficient importance to transfer it
to its columns.
j Not long since a lady of rnv acquaintance, very anxious to
(appear at church and have her infant sprinkled, ventured
out rather sooner than, in the judgment of her friends, was
I prudent—the consequence was, she took a severe cold which
j occasioned her death soon after she returned home.
I know of another lady, who, some years ago, going to
church for the same purpose, on rather a cold day, wrapped
her babe up very closely, and on arriving at tlie house found
it dead, having been smothered in her arms.— N. Y. Rec.
Don't Stand Still. —ls you do you will be run over. Mo.
lion —action—progress—these are the words whioh now fill
the vault of heaven with their stirring demands, and make
humanity’s heart pulsate with a stronger bound. Advance,
or stand aside ; do not block up tlie way and hinder the ca
reer of others; there is too much to do to allow of inaction
any where or in anyone. There is something for all to do;
the world is becoming more and more known ; wider in mag
nitude ; closer in interest, more loving and more eventful
than of old. Not in deeds of daring : not in the ensanguined
field ; notin blood, and tears, and gloom, hut in the leaping,
I vivifying,exhilarating impulsesof the better birth of the soul,
Reader, are you doing your part in this work ?
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