Newspaper Page Text
178
-.- . Oriffwld r
p or t he Index. •
May-Hews from China
y Mat, 1856.
Religious. —lt gives roe great pleasure to be
able lo report religious progress in China from any
quarter; especially from among our protestftnt fra
ternity. Rev. W- L - who was braved the dif
ficulties of settling among the people in the interior,
■ays “I have had the pleasure of admitting 48
persons to baptism, and hope, in a short time,
that I may have a Christian village.” Again, two
□fill irj~~"T of^Gfetaa- hRV
This is rather a rare effort for Canton missionaries
I trust such will become frequent and useful too.
Nanking Patriots.— l have just learued through
“The Friend of Chida” that a party of gentlemen
from Sbaubae have lately returned from a trip to
Nanking where they found Tae-fing Wangle gov
ernment as strong as when visited by sir Geo.
Boubarn in the Hermes three years ago 1 Sang
chaw was added to the patriot holding a short
time since; and 2000 imperialists made prisoners
-igy u °’ ~a : jrniMir I’lDiVULl^'gj u ff ir
way of saving their heads! Letters from Haug
chaw state that in Keaugse of the thirteen inde
pendent departments or foos ten are fallen, —thier
officers all driven out or slaughtered, and all both
people and soldiers become rebals” —very good of
the kind I Whatever may become of Tae-ping
Wang's patriotic revolutionary movement in Chi
na, there is certainly ft “revolution” yet in the
country which U not quite as “dead as area her
rin,” (except he he still kicking,) but living, active,
and powerful; which in all human probability will
turn the country upside down before it is done;
and our prayer and desire should be that the next
dynasty should come right side up: nor can I yet
relinquish, the hope that Tae-ping Wang will be
on top, or nt its head 1
Personal ‘care of Rev. /. J. Roberts.”—ft might
be well to bring up our latitude and longitude
reckoning occasionally by retrospection, and ascer
tain our whereabouts.
May D/,1856. —This day nineteen years ago
Mr. R landed in China—the darkest period
of China’s moral night I The laws of the land
then prohibited the preaching of tho gospel.
Seang Afah had been persecuted and fled the
eountry, and the late arrival was advised to fol
low suit 1 Since then however he has had the
privilege of studying the language and preaching
the gospel among the people in Macao, Houg*
feong and Cauton; of baptizing twelve Chinese,
two of whom he hopes are now in heaven. The
treaty enlarging opportunities of usefulness was
mas made in Nauking in 1842; religious tolera
tion granted in 1844. Tae ping Wang taught by
bim in 1847. and now the gospel in 1856 is preach
ing under the superintendence of 88 missionaries
in five open ports, Hongkoug and tbe
all of whom arSiat liberty to locate with their fam
ilie* among the people. “What hath God
wrought”—within these nineteen years £ “But
the thunder of his pows who can understand ?”
He will accomplish greater tfeingsthan these!
Striking Incident.—One of the most striking
incidents of his missionary life occurred through
the voluntary liberality of Mr. Nve, the principal
of the late firm of “Ny* Brothers & Cos.” which
might at present with .propriety, be told to the
credit of his “good name.” Having been left to
shift for himself with a wife and child to support.
Mr. R was reduced to great straits in 1854^;
was under the necessity of drawing on his agents
in Shanghae for more than he knew how he should
repay —or suffer; had drawn over near S2OO, was
informed of the fact, and just at this cricis receiv
ed a voluntary draft from Mr. N—— on his house
there for that amount with which he paid his
debt ’ This was really one of the most striking
incidents of the missionary’s life. Ihe amount
generously large; the act. nobly spontaneous;
anJ the time, just when most needed I Had it
come directly from above, whence I suppose it did
eome, through the honored agent of whom I speak,
jt could not have been more timely or thankfully
received 1 Without knowing anything of the
roinuta of his trade, the “blame” or credit of his
unfortunate failure, 1 can only say that my sympa
thies are with Mr. Nye—were I able to help him,
I would fain do so. Audit yields me great pleas
ure under the “difficult circumstances in which he
is placed” to speak well of his “good name.”
Tuck-hung Chaw. —At this place 190 miles
west of Canton, on the 23d ult. (April,) the breth
ren there were called on by the chief magistrate of
that place, who was much of a gentleman, treated
them with as much respect-as if officers of equal
rank; raised ne objections at their coming, and
■poke very highly of Rev. Dr. Parker —our pres
ent U. S. commissioner, “who be Eaid had given
him medical aid.” On their way up the brethren
passed a large field of Indian com with 150 bowers
and 15 ploughers. This was a rarity for China
which we never see about Canton —all is rice
here!
Note. —News arrived this morning, (May Bth,)
that there has beeD considerable fighting in this
province, (TCwang-ting.) nenr Bell-Koag too one of
the principal places united by the brethren in
April —ult., while up the river west distributing
books. The provincial Reporter of the “Friend of
China” native I presume,—make* Yeoug Sau
tiszin, the eastern king of the Tae-ping Wang par
ty, commander-in-chief in the province of Keaug
*e which has chiefly fallen into the hands of the
Red head Rebels. This province joins Kwang
ting on the north east. And they are flattering
themselves with the prospect of attackjng the city
of Canton, for which report says, they are making
preperations l
v • Missionary Tour.— On the 16th ult, (April,) a
party of our Cantou missionaries started out on a
book distribution tour !ro;u whose journal with
leave, I make the following interesting extracts:
Sunday the 20th. —Entered a school room and
had preaching to a full house of men, women and j
were quite attentive, and the teach- J
er was*ery polite. A boat arrived from Sew-bang I
Foo with ten men who informed us they had been j
sent by tbe officer to take us back to that place, j
After some parley Mr. O. went with them at noon, |
arrived at Sew-hang Foo at 0 P. M.; sent a copy j
‘of each of our books to the officers, who soon
came to him and were very polite, saying that
their reason for sending for us, was that they were
afraid that we should be ill treated by the people
up the river, and that would bring them into trou
ble with the officers at Canton. Whether this
was really their reason or not, it is a fact that the
lower officers are. accountable to tbv4gtre-r for
any,£r£9£|o&ffura)ts<l ’ n their district. Mr. V.
told them that they need not be apprehensive on
that account, as be had been distributing books
for four years and had always been treated kindly,
and that he did not collect crowds about him. —
Tbe officers proposed that he would bring back his
books there and distribute them, as there was a
district examination there at that time, ana many
people from different parts; and also one proffer
ed his services to help in the distr.bution I Mr.
V. told him if he wished to distribute books he
buMbfd lie
the river he must go and distribute the books
himself according to his previous arrangement: —
The officers proposed to send an escort up the
the river with us to protect us, to which strong ob
jections being raised, they ultimately, after con
sulting among themselves, agreed to send him
back to his own boat, and lot him alone to man
age his own affairs.
Note. —They reached hom9 on the 26th April.
Ten dayß out, had been distant from Canton 190
miles west; distributed about 12,000 books; were
kindly treated by the people who had never heard
of the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he
hath sent to save sinners before ! to
go into the country than 3or 4 years ago. We
consider the country open as far as we went to
farther intercourse.
Conclusion. —The above information not yet
published, kindly presented me from an authentic
sour e will doubtless be interesting to your read
ers. To which allow me to add my own recom
mendation, that the subject of sending more mis
sionaries to Chinn, and especially to Canton and
vicinity, be more serious’y and energetically and
zealously taken up, in the spirit of Christ by the
churches generally, and individuals particularly—
both missionaries and supporters!!
I. J. R.
P. B.—-As I desire going north when opportuni
ty offers, I should like to rent or lease a part of
ray mission premise in Canton now, and all when
T go. Apply to f. J. R. on the premises oulv for
mission purposes! 1
i For the Index.
‘Coosa Association.
Bro. Martin: —Did I know that an abler peif
.would. Xiirnisb yoiv •.vith'.veketcb of The session of
the “Coosa Association” which has just adjourned,
having convened (f&Sat., last with those beloved
and trie 1 brethren t Cave Spring, Floyd comity,
I would not write these lines, but not knowing the
minds or engagements of others, and believing
that others than those present, would iike to hear
from the Coosa Asso’n, we write. The delegates
having assembled—after the introductory dis
course, the letters read and names enrolled, the
brethren elected, bro. E. Dyer, Moderator, and
bro. C. H. Stillwell, Clerk, an opportunity being
afforded, 6 or 7 churches petitioned and were re
ceived as members of the body, m iking the pres
: ent number of churches composing the Cos >sa a
bout 37. It appeared from the letters read that
the Lord had blessed bis people in manv places,
by reviving them,-and adding to the churches “the
saved.” I cannot now give you the names of
those who were with us as correspondents from
other like bodies. B;o. Wilkes was there from the
Rock Mountain. We thank bro. Wilkes for his
attendance, and services as rendered, and pray
God to bless him and Sanctify his preaching and
prayers during the session.
The usual badness of tho body was transacted
with unusual harmony, and with some slight ex
ception (as far as known) to tho satisfaction of
those interested. Bro. J. 11. Campbel was with us,
and the agent of the “Foreign Mis don Board”
the claims of which lie urged, not without some
success. Bro. C. likewised preached ably and fer
vently to interesting congregations during his stay.
On Sabbath, Eider E. Dyer preached the Annual
sermon on missions, to a large and interesting au
ditory, and we feel that it is but just to say that
by the assistance of God’s spirit, bro. Dyer abiv,
by force of argument and power of illustration,
maintained those precious gospel doctrines which
Christ and the iuspired appostles taught, and also
pressed the claims of Christ and of the world on
Christians as demanding the gospel at their hands.
You will pardon me bro. Martin for an allusion
to one illustrative example, presented in this dis
course. Whilst insisting on the necessity of pray
er to God, for the success of his own cause and the
certainty of its speedy and ultimate triumph over
all opposition, he allude 1 to the figure used bv
the Saviour as discriptive of the effect
ot vim gs>|>et, brought to view in the leavening
of the meal—God has put his Gospel in the world
to leaven the lump®, aud, said he r it is said, that
there is no process chemical or (after the meal is
leavened,) by which the leaven can be extracted so
as to allow the meal to assume its original charac
ter aud position. Now let us run the anallogy,
and apply the figure, and I trust bro. Dyer will
pardon me, though I run the antilogy a little
further, to enforce a kindred sentiment.
We will suppose the meal to represent the
world. The leaven—the grace of God which
..hi'ingjj saJyatiou—tbe woman—God’s ministers,
“working together with him.” Now let the idea
be retained that, they are Christ’s ministers, and
that Christ is in them, and God in Christ reconci
ling the world unto himself. And then make an
individual application of tbe figure, the minister
THE 0H E I 6 H A 5 INDEX
preaches, thepraafeofGpd is bestowed, the man,* I
the heart, is radically leavened or changed.* Who
I ask, if there is in IteaVftttMSiSfcl* offeglL pow
er or prices* which brought to May which the j
grace of Gcal can be extracted, so as to allow the j
individual to assume fm ojlgioftl character and
poTa-ion. If not, whore then I ask is the p---sibil
ity of the sepemt-km of God’s people from him, or
the prolability of a failure in the great work ot the
extension of*tbe redeemers kingdom. A
tion being taken up, services closed * to afford an
opportunity to take ft little temporal meat, having
had a spiritual meal. I like to halve forgot to give
you bro. Dyers’ tU. here it is, “ \T -e.
Hillyer nijfe„ Rred
in the presence ofdfkSto assembly, and a* we
humbly trust, possessed of the spirit of the apostle
whose language he used as a text, ably,
lucidly, and eloquently, enforced the idea and ne
cessity of erueifixtion to the world, and the exem
plification of Christ in all-the various relations in
life. I will give you the text, Gal 2: 20. lam
crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, jet not
I hut hut Christ liveth in me: and the life that I
to give you at: idea of the sermon and could Ido
bro. tlili ver justice ia this allusion, 1 ?rn sure that
unless there has been a change in jho feeing of
bro. J. F. Dagg since October 1853 “a Baptist
would be charged with having allow/:J his admi
ration of the man to overpower hit judgment,”
and rather than incur the censure of hat good bro t
(failing too as I know I should, to lie justice to
the effort) I wiii pass on and hasten lo a close.
Tiie preaching from the first evening services, so
far as I heard was * blear and impressive. Ou Sun
day night bro. Wilkes preached .from
ing “For there shall be no loss jot* anv man's life
but of the ship” Act. 27: 22, “except these abide
in the ship, ye cannot be saved,” 31-. verse, so it
came to pass, they ail got safe to land. The es
fort was an able one. On Tuesday at’ 11 o’clock,
or thereabout at the close of an able and forcible
sermon from bro. Hilly er with weeping Christiana,
and mourning convics, bro. Wilkes;M'in prayer,
we then sang, “Bless ho the tie Bull binds ’ &e.,
took the parting hand, bro. Cowdry offered pray
er and praise, .and we parted, doubtless not all to
meet until our work is done. The to rd we hope
will permit some of his people to see tho fruit of
that meeting. Brethren Ilillyer, Wilkes, and
Chambers stayed over to continue preaching, as
circumstances might justify. A BAPTIST.
October 16th, 1856.
—j.
For the Indsx-
Query for Pedo Baptists-
In the first chapter of the Gospel by Mark, we
find the following record ;
“Jesu* came from Nazareth ofOallilee, nod was
baptized of John in Jordan,” ver. 9,
In the record of 0-—-church, it is said ; “W.
N. was baptized lass Sabbath by LJI*. in
the River.”
Now can any Pedo Baptist tell from the records
what mode was practiced in each of these cases ?
Was it immersion, or pouring, or sprinkling ? If
he should decide that the last named case was by
immersion; will he be so good as to say, whether
there is not equally as demonstrative evidence
that Christ was immersed also, seeing the two ca
ses are mentioned in language equally explicit ?
Where is the difference ? MONITOR.
For the Index. JL
Dear Brother Martin: —l was very forcibly
struck by “a short sermon with long rfiw.
‘•risicb appeared in the last Index. author
appears to he a man of ports , and shows great
familiarity with his——subject. He is particu
larly happy in his illustrations, the examples which
he has adduced in exhibiting tbe style of modern
preaching, being life-like representations. Bro.
W. and brother C. are handsomely touched off,
but neither of them is so fully portrayed as the
redoubtable brother H. I fa'i#y I can see him
now, as with contracted life, distended nostril ami
clinched fist, he cbai rges the columns of Method
i-m, and makes “light some room’’ among them.
Ah ! he is a real “soldier of the cross,” reminding
one forcibly of gallant Jack the giant killer.
Poor Methodists must stand from under when
such a blade as his is flashing over the field, to
sav nothing of Catholics and Pedoea in general—
But when I took my pen it was for thet,purpose of
making some additions to the exemplary illustra
tions of the sermon under discussion. And I do
so tho more readily as I shall Souibless receive the
thanks of the author of that very modest produc
tion. The illustrations aro certain iy good as far
as they go, hut they do riot embrace ail the varie
nes of the -germs preachers I mean.—
For example, there is brother G. He is a man
o {talent?., and it is difficult to say whether be is
more remarkable for modesty , humility , or chari
ty. lie i* one of your great-eouied men who can
hold to ali opinions in general and none in partic
ular. “No pent up Utica” can contract the powers
of his expansive charity. He is at home in any
branch of the Christian church, and in any compa
ny of professors, in this respect very much resent
gresw. Wlv-m ho is wish Baptists tie caffout-bap
'•:>i the orthodox and war like brother 11.. and
Presbyterianism, when he is with them, almost or
quite as well as a nativt. He has no objection to
a spice of popularity just to make the fare of life
go down well. But then there is brother i. He
is a more noticeable character still He is quite
as great a warrior as the chivalrous brother EL
differing fioin him, however, in two very import-;
ant particulars; first, he is mere strategic, anti sec
ondly. his weapons arc levelled against Baptists.
Upon these fanatical “Old Land Marks” ho is
particularly ferocious. To sHySthem he regards
as a good service especially if he can do so in per
fect safety. When well fortified behind an anony
mous breastwork ho pitches in with a courage not
surpassed even by that of sir John Fallstaff.—
Vfhat feta spirit would bo in ‘-ho open field is not
.vrtsinlv known as his great prudence forbids his ‘
giving any exhibition of his powers there; but put
hi* fe4fee trenches with darkness for bis Grtifiea
tiofe either succumb to ins prow
ess But this brother 1, is a great di
plomatist as well as a great warrior. He has an
evcelleot wayof rallying around him a strong at- .
’Pedoea, who stand to him in the relation
of allies. It is true, they are not often toned wun
arras in their hands, but they nevertheless do good
service aa drummers, truropters and bugler*, while
1 into lh ‘-0!il •
For the Index,
A YUU to Piedmont Association.
Bro. Martin .-—I ti*ve just returned from a vis
it to the Piedmont Association, which convened
with the church at June’s Cr.-ek, Liberty coun
ty, and as it may not be uninteresting to * large
number of brethren. 1 ask a small space in your
columns, to make few statements relative there
to. The session embraced last Sabbath (’ ; z : iM)
Elder as Moderator, with
his usual characteristic dignity. The .-ess.ion was
hanxtonious and the deliberations were of great
interest, for steps was taken u supply :he desti
tute portious of our country, v i'Lin the hon-uU •
the Association. The Missionary spirit, appeals
to be od the increase. There was large cun
course or people on Sabbath, and the large and
beautiful bouse were filled nearly b> overflowing,
good order and attention were observed, and judg
ing from appearances, the Word had the desired
effect on many hearts The missionary Sermon
was preached at 11 o’clock, after wbi.-.ii h u
tion was taken, amounting to about one hundred
dollars, for the Piedmont mission. The churches
were generally represented, and each delegate
seemed to take a deep interest in the business of
the Association. The Association transacting its
business iu the Methodist church, which was kind
ly tendered to the Association by Rev. Dr. Palmes
the preacher in charge. The church and vicinity
showed every mark of kindness lo the delegates
and visitors. It is to be hoped that the meeting
will exert a salutary influence iu the s-eti-m . f
country around. The next session wili is.- held
with the church at Providence, Tatnal county, six
teen miles S. W. of Roidsville. The meeting clo<
ed with interest, we took the parting hand, many
of us expecting to meet no more, nntil we meet
where parting will not take place. Yours in
Christ. ISAAC J. BRINSON.
Perry’s Mills, Oct. 15th, 1856.
Hairilllai:
THURSDAY MORNING. NOV. <>.
SJF'AJi iurauueages are charged at *2 60 per annum,
or 6 cents per number. For all payments in advance
the paper is furnished .♦, 00 per annum or 4 rents
per number if''’
President Crawford—Valedictory—Address to
the Faculty and Students.
On Tuesday the 28th uit., President Crawford
took his leave of the Faculty and Students of the
University over which he has presided for several
years. The occasion was one of dep interest to
his fellow laborers and pupils whos* attachment
for him had regularly increased from the day of
their first acquaintance. The causes that have
brought about ibis painful separation are known,
perhaps only by himself. A sense ofdutv howev
er has induced him to accept ft Professorship at
the University of Mississippi—and lie leaves tho
Institution of our beloved Mercer with the U-*t
wishes of many friends for his future success.
In taking leave of Mercer University, President
Crawford took occasion to speak in the highest
terms of his late co-Iborers in the Faculty and
observed that his regret in parting with the stu
dents was greatly relieved, by tho consciousness
that he left them under the tuition and guidance
of a band bf faithful men amply qualified for their
responsible position.
He remarked that Prof. Sanford had been for
a period of nearly nineteen years, the able Instruc
tor in Mathematics, and had in that time achieved
an enviable reputation for professional skill, and
endeared himself in a remarkable degree to all
who had enjoyed his in*.!ration. Prof. Wiliet he
said hail been foruine years the esteemed and suc
cessful Prof, of Natural Science and had none his
full share in contributing to the preset: pr<-.-n-?ri* v
of the Institution.
Os the other Professors lm remarked that -ii
though they were comparatively strangers ;■ th.-
students they were not stranger* to him, and he
could assure the young men that to know the
new Instructors, would be to love timm and esteem
them, lie said that for twenty-five yhe had
been acquainted with tne faculties of ail the Cos!
leges in Georgia, and that during all that time,
he had never known one, which as a whole was
superior in personal merit, sound learning, and
professional ability to that now at Mercer IT: iver
sify. On the retirement of Dr. Crawford. Prof.
Sanford was elected Chairman of the Faculty.
The Board of Trustees recently elected an addi
tional Officer in the department of Languages, so
that although the President has retired, tho mini
■at uow as it ever whs
to small and great the
Rev. 8- G, Daniel.
We learu, that the Rev. S. G. Dauioi, late of .
Millodgeville, has accepted th© unanimous invita
i tion of the First Baptist Church in Savannah, to j
i become its Pastor; and will enter upon his duties, j
on the first Sabbath in November. This Church j
I was recently made vacant by the re-U . noon ot
j J, B. Stitler on account of his declining
| health.
Bro. Daniel requests his correspondents to no
tice this change, and address him herestter at Sa
vannah, instead of Milledgeville.
An Apology.
We offer our readers an apology for the ap
pearance in trie paper of in*t week among tbe
iu ws items, an extract that much better suits a po
litical than a religious paper. We suppose that
our Printer turned the pa|ver over which we sent
him on the wrong side. Our absence during the
time of printing, attending the burial of a deceas
ed parent, prevented the reading of proof before
the paper went to press. This is the first offence
of the kind, and wo hope this explanation will be
sufficient.
LaGrange Ga-
Note —Rvvivjil moong tire colored people since
lust J/ine. Some hopeful conversions, slso, among J
the white congregation. Our new house of wor
ship, conspicuous on the corner of the public square,
progressing towards completion. A handsome
substantial structure, with basement, baptisby and
dressing rooms, and capacity to soat 500 or 600
person*. t. b. t.
For the Index.
Amounts Received for Foreign Missions Pre
vious to April 15th, 1856.
Nathaniel King $ 6 00
L. G. Steed 5 00
C. R. Strother fi 00
Jas. B. Glass o 00
Hepsibab Asso. for For. Miss ... .71 25
Centra! African 101 00-171 25
Dr. T. K. Leonard, Fin 5 00
Mr*. A. N. Childers 1 00
J. A. Barco 1 00
Edwin Hart 1 00
E. Dennard 1 00
From J. 11. Corley, assist 608 23
W. If. Woman 50 00
Geo. W. Holland 10 00
Milledgeville Church 7 00
• Colored people do - 17 00
J. H. CAMPBELL, Agent.
tleligifltts ‘lntelligpiirp.
For the Index.
News from the Creek Indian Baptists.
Rejoice with me, my brethren, for the Lord is
with ur. Last Sunday I baptized my only child,
Walter O. Buckner, aged twelve years and three
months. He professed faith in Christ some time
since; but, on account of his age, 1 advised him
to postpone his baptism until this meeting. He
gave such satisfactory evidence of conversion that
the brethren insisted upon his reception, ü ßless
the Lord Omy soul P’ I feel that God has more
than recompensed me for all my toils. I baptiz
ed five Indians at the same hs a part of the result
of our Campmeeting at the North Fork church.—
It rained every day and night, I believe, from
Wednesday until Monday; while we preached un
der a bush arbor, and abode in tents of canvass; yet
the people remained, and gave heed to the gospel.
Many of the people slept at night where the wa
ter was three or four inches deep under (heir blan
kets; and one night the branch rose so high as to
divide the congregation into two parts. The num
ber of mourners at one time was 42. We had
the assistance of several native preachers, and also
of brother Land, the white man that we ordain
ed some time since.
Elder Jackson Hawkins, from Muskoke church
preached an excellent sermon on Sunday morning
—“Praise ye the Lord.”
H. F. BUCKNER.
Miceo Creek Nation, Sept. 10th, ’56.
Copied for the Christian Index by G.
Interpreter.
For tho Index.
Madison Georgia.
Bro. Spalding, the pastor of this church, in
a note just received, says:
On last Sabbath 1 baptized two more —making
twenty in all who have been baptized in the past
six Sabbaths.
The Commencement Exeicise* of the Georgia
Female College have just ended. We are proud
of our College; and have every teason to rejoice
in that continued prosperity with which God has
blessed this Institution. Rev. C. W. Stephens has
been added to the list of instructors.
j fiTulor.
A Promising Bible Society—By A. C. Dayton.
“My dear brother,” says the Bible Agent to the
Pastor, “I have come to visit your people, and see
what you may be induced to do for the Bible
cause.”
Pastor.—l am'glad to see you, brother Agent.
We like to have our travellidg brethren cali on
us and preach for us; bat as for the Bible cause,
we have a little Bible society of our own.
Agent.—lndeed! Well, I am glad you did not
wait for my visit; but I do not remember that our
Board ever received any thing from your society.
Pastor.—No, sir; we do not contribute to the
Nashville Board. We thought it best to use our
funds to supply our own destitution.
Agent. —And that I hope you have done; if not
it will give the Board great pleasure to assist you.
Let it be done at once; and then you will be at
liberty to employ your funds in aiding us to sup
ply the destitute elsewhere.
Pastor.—Why, truly, I don’t know how the
work has gone on. I remember there was a great
deal of talking about it when the society was for
med two years ago. It was a very promising so
ciety. A constitution was adopted and sorao
money raised, which, I think, was laid out for hi
bles and testament*; but what has become of them
is more than lean tell. Perhaps Doctor Worthy,
the druggest, can toll you. He is the Treasurer,
if I have not forgotten.
Agent bids the Pastor good-morning, and goes
over to the drug-store.
“You are the Treasurer of the little Bible soeb
ety that was formed here *pjp two years ago?”
Dr. VV.—Whv yes sir T was tho Treasurer so
long as ii had any funds, and 1 suppose I am re
garded as the nominal Treasurer still.
I Agent. —The Pastor tells moil was a very pro
mising society.
Dr. W.—Why. yes sir, 1 think it was. It mads
a good many pretty large promises. The mem
hers promised to pay yearly certain sums affix, J
to their name*, but they have not done it. Tiro
society promised to supply the destitute iu this
county with the Scriptures, but it has not done it.
We promised to hold a meeting four times a ■ ear,
but we have never had one since the first. We
promised to hate ft Bible speech or serirsoo at caeli
of these meetings, but riojUn word'has been ‘lull
upon tho subject since our organization. You
may well say, sir, it is a promising Bible socMy,
It has nevtr done anything else but promise.
Agent.-—Bnt voa collected some funds at the
first meeting. What has been done with tbenrs?
Dr W.—The,re they are sir, (pointing to an out
of the way shelf in his store.) I was directed to
lay them out for Bibles and Testaments. I <ii |
so, and not knowing what else to do with ;i;em, I
put them on the shelf there. lam offering them
for less than cost, (for they are greatly in my vmj;
but nobody seems to want them. I sunp <se the
, destitution wgs jes? urgent than £0 imagined.
I- Agents —Th&ae vTia kr -ly destimu. do act
-generally apply fur Bibles. We arc obliged t<>
find them out and send them to their dwellings.
Why did you not at once employ a coipoutui to
carry them round ?
Dr. W.—Oh! sir, that would cost twice as mu h
as the value of 0 e books, and our funds arc n ; i
exhausted now. True, some subscriptions are not
paid in; and the brethren say they will pay up
whenever it w needed; but they say, what is the
use of raising more money while the funds ah in
dy vested are doing no good; and if e had it s i.
it would not be sufficient to sustain a colporteur.
Agent caiis on Deacon Careful.
‘ Good morning to you Deacon. I run the A
of the Bible Board of the Southern Baptist. Cos;:
ventiou, located at Nashville Tenn.. and have vff
ited your church to see if you cannot give us soma
assistance.”
Deacon. —The Bible Board at Nashville—v-s,
yes, I have heard of that—you are engaged in ma
king a sort of anew version of the Scriptures.
Agent.. —Not at all sir; we have nothing to do
with the work of revision. That is the business
of what is called the “Bible Union nrd Revislm
Association.” We are circulating the common
version. We are endeavoring to supply with such
versions as already exist the vast amount of desti
tution which prevail in our own and other lands.
Deacon. —Ob! yes sir, I understand you now.
That is a great worS, a noble work, as one may
say. Our church has always felt a great intere-t
in that work, sir; we have had a Bible society for
that very object for over two pears. I was pres
ent when it was formed. It was one of the most
promising societies that I oversaw.
Agent. —So Dr. Worthy, the Treasurer has
told mo. It seems to have been very promising
then, and to have done nothing bnt promise since.
The money promised has not been paid. Tiia
meetings promised have not been held. Xho_
speeches promised have not been made.” The col
lections promised to be taken up have not been
taken, and the destitution promised to be supplied
have neverbeen relieved. But do you rot think
your church might now be induced to do some
thing for our Board? You say it, is two years
since they made this little contribution ou which
your society is based.
Deacon C.—l don’t see, Bee, sir howjye could
weil have the heart to ask them to do ifs Your
work and curs are just the same; aud chanty, 'you
know begins at borne. How can we consistently
s* nd funds to Nashville, when there is so much
destitution right here at our own doors? It is a*
much as we can-do to sustain our own society.
Now thin church is abundantly able to giveouj
hundred dollars a year to the Bible cause; and if
properly applied to by the pastor or the agent,
they would give some ten, twenty-live or thirty
dollars; but they never will do any thing so long
as that society and those iilv selected bo:>ks re
main to furnish a standing excuse fordoing noth*
iHg \
The agent who gives us the account of the cir
cumstances, desires to l:r.ow what he c ught. to do
in such a case.
We eay to him, go back to those brethren.
Get a meeting of their society. Explain to them
that Bible societies are good things. The organ
ization of Bible societies is a part of our plan ; vve
desire to see one wherever one can be sustained.
But every such society should be made, directly or
indirectly, auxiliary to the Bible Board at Nash
ville. “The held is the world.” Let. societies be
formed, and let them act in view of th 8 great fact.
Do not leave them until they have declared them
selves auxiliary to this Board in our world-wide
work of Supplying all the destitute eve ywln ro.
Persuade them to turn over to us at once their
books and their subscriptions, with the understan
ding that we will do what they have promised to
do. If their funds are too limited to employ a col
porteur, gather more in the neighboring churches;
and if you cannot get enough otherwise, draw up
on us in Nashville. Employ some pious, worthy
man, furnish the books, and let the work be done.
I'he brethren will then find no excuse, and will, iu
coming years, heartily co-operate and generously
contribute to carry out the general plan.
There aro four reasons why every local society,
whether large or small, should be thus associated
with us.
1 st. It will secure greater efficiency ia the work.
—All experience has shown that any sort of busi
ness can be managed most successfully by those
whose time and attention are devoted exclusively
to its interests. They will know better what to
do and how to do it. It. is the subject of their
daily study, and they will of necessity be made
familiar with all its practical details.
2d. It will secure greater economy in the work.
Dealers in Bibles, like dealers in other articles,
can and will give betteiteims to these who make
large purchases. The Bible Board can purchase
cheaper than local societies, because it will buy
thousands where they buy tens. We can furnish
the books to our auxiliaries on better terms than
they can get them for themselves. Wo have
made such arrangements with some of tho princi
pal Bible houses as will make it for the interest of
all who need Bibles and Testaments to order them
through the Bible Board at Nashville. Aud as
orders shall increase in number and amount, we
wili be able to furnish terms more favorable still.
3d. It will expand the views and enlarge tho
benevolence of those concerned.—These local in
j dependent Bible societies are usually formed for
some local and temporary purpose. There is some
local destitution, which it is desirable to supply.
Funds are collected, books are bought, and if they
are distributed, the brethren feel that tho work is
done, and they cease to contribute to the Bible
causo. But if, as is most commonly the case they
j select books of so unsuitable. style, or choose
i someone to carry out their plans who proves so
• inefficient that the books remain in their deposito-
November