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JO>SEPjg WALKER,
Macon,.Wednesday, May 27, 18 5 1.
The Early Baptists of Virginia.
W e have recently read the Address of the
J ev ; P” C * Howell, delivered in New
lork before the “American Baptist Histori
cal Society,” May 10th, 1857, on the “Early
Baptists in Virginia.” It is embodied in a I
large sized pamphlet of 113 pages, carefully
written, and given in large tvpe. We had
been loo'king for this address for several
months past, and need not say that we em-
braced the very first opportunity for obtain
ing a knowledge of its contents. Brother
Howell deserves the thanks, not only of the
“ American Historical Society,” but of the
Baptists ot the entire country, for his labo
rious researches in books and records, to
place , before the public, facts touching the I
history of Virginia. Baptists, which, had they
been much longer neglected, might never
have been recovered. The history of tlie
\ irginia Baptists is the pivot on which turns I
the history 6f the Baptist denomination in I
the South, ifnot of this .whole Continent, and
it may be seen, in this address, that they had
much more to do in the establishment of civil
and religious liberty, t£gn they have ever had I
credit for, or has been generally supposed.
Writers of other persuasions—such as “ Jar
rett and Burke, Hawks and White, Alexan
der and Foote”—neither had the information
v hich was necessary, nor the inclination—to I
do them justice.
Brother Howell, however, did not rely on
the testimony of their enemies, but turned
his attention to sources of information which
had hitherto been unexplored—“ the records
of the courts of the several counties, before which
they were arraigned in times of persecution, and
by whoseorders they were fined, and scourged,
and imprisoned j and their memorials, and other j
addresses to the Convention, and to the General
Assembly of the Stale.” Their correspondence
with Washington, and with Jefferson, also
supplied our author witli valuable informa
tion. Access to those sources of historical
knowledge enabled Brother Howell to make
statements concerning them with more cer-
tainty, and to exhibit the acts of the Virginia
Baptists in a light somewhat different from
■\vhat tve remember to have seen in any other
work.
This address shows that the Baptist ele
ment existed among the early colonists of
Virginia anterior to 1714, and long before
there were any organized churches. That)
churches -were organized just as soon as the
tyranny of. the Government, which prevented
their formation, Had bjeeh overturned. That
the petitions and memorials of the Baptists
to the State Legislature, and to Congress,
swayed an important influence in shaping
the Federal Constitution, so as to de
fend and protect religious liberty; and that
the untiring perseverance in thus importuning
the Civil Authorities, finally broke down the
Episcopal-Church-Eestablishment, and so gave
rest to dissenting churches, allowing them
the privilege of worshipping God according
to the dictates of their own consciences.
The reader will find, interspersed through
this address, declarations of faith, memorials
to the Government, acts passed in conse
quence of the presentation of these documents,
with the names of the several prominent ac
tors to whom these important trusts had been
confided, which are exceedingly interesting,
and supply a rich treat to all persons who are
in the least interested in Baptist"history.
An important inference—equivalent to an j
attested fact, and. confirmatory of what has
frequently been asserted in relation to Roger
Williams’ successors—is instinctively made
by the mind, on reading this address. It is
this: “The Early Baptists of Virginia” did
not emanate from the First Baptist Church in
Providence, nor could their ministers he traced
hack in a line to Roger Williams. Bro. How
ell tells us, that “the first public ecclesiastical
movement, was made by the citizens of Isle of
Wight and Surry Counties, on the South tide
of James River, opposite Jamestown;” and
that the Baptists, then and there assembled,
after mature deliberation, “decided to"ad
dress, not their friends at the North, but their
friends in England .” The purport of their
- ‘Tttkke&s to their friends in the Old Country
was, that ministers might be sent over for
their guidance-and*instruction. The Bap
tists of .London responded favorably, and
immediately ordained and sent over Robert
Nordin and Thomas White. Only one of
these missionaries lived to reach Virginia,
and enter upon his labors. Other ministers
came soon after, and thus the first Baptist
churches were planted in Virginia.
Our author shows that from this time for
ward, the spread and progress of Baptist
principles were astonishingly rapid, and that
vast numbers believed and were baptized.
This immense increase of converts suggested
the necessity of Associations, and the Charles
ton Association was formed on the model of
the Philadelphia. It had been supposed by
some that the renowned Patrick Henry took
part with the Baptists in the days of their op
pression and sufferings, but from this address it
seems that he cast the influence of his talents
and fame against them. On the contrary,
Washington, Madison, and Jefferson were
their fast friends and advocates. All honor
to the memory of those liberty-loving states
” men, say we !*
The Baptists were the only people in Vir
ginia who acted constantly in defence of re- ‘
I ligious liberty, in a body. The Presbyterians
aided occasionally, when hard pressed by the i
tyranny of the Episcopal Establishment. The
Methodists aided and abetted their foster
I mother that is, the Episcopalian hierarchy.
But we have not space to speak of the dis
tinguished preachers of those days, nor of the
particular forms of persecution to which the
I Baptist fathers in the Old Dominion were I
subjected—how they preached through prison
windows—how they were whipped with rods
—how they were fined in tobacco for refiising
Ito have their children sprinkled, <fcc., <fcc.
the reader would better procure the address.
\\ e shall make some extracts from it hereaf
| ter. The address is just such an one as the 1
public had a right to expect from brother j
Howell, and the “ American Baptist Histori- “
cal Society was fortunate in obtaiftng his
service for this excellent and necessary “ la
bor of Love.”
How to prepare Short Articles for I
THE PRESS.
In the first place, as the preachers say,
select, your subject. Secondly, study a little
Ito ascertain whether your writing upon it,
would be likely to shed any new light.—
[ Thirdly, should you conclude to risk it, re
solve to begin* at one end of your subject— not
in the middle, as some do, and write both
ways. In the next.place, as the preachers
say, take a sheet of foolscap and fill it on all
sides, with writing, as full as they will hold.
Then place your right temple on the palm of
your right hand, poising your pen on your
ongest finger, and look over your paper to
see if the spelling, the punctuation, and the
wording are exactly as they should be, and
whether you can read your own writing. As
[ you proceed, draw the point—the inky point
—of your pen through the doublets and redun
dancies, that can be seen without spectacles.
V ou may then safely sleep a night over what
you have achieved.
Ihe next day, take the manuscript and
resolutely determine to put all you have writ
ten on four sides, into one half of the same
space, and in exactly the same cliirography.
This will make havoc of your previous day’s
labor. By transposing, rearranging, exscind
ing and suppressing, you may lose in words—
jno serious loss, by the way—but you will
gain in sense and respectability as a writer
Your P ieces w iH then be read, because they
are “ short mid sweet. The farmer separates
the wheat from the chaff before he uses it,
and the mind must have thought , clearly ex
pressed, or it will not have it at all. Men will
not read what requires much time, with the
prospect of but little pleasure. In mercantile
phrase : It don’t pay.”
“Mai May I Go?”
O! Ma! Mr. Lightheel has come again,
land he’s goingrto hold aiming
Jinnie Swiss, a?id Fannie Flirt, and Bell Nim-
I ble, and most all the girls on our row are °fo
ing! Ma! may Igo ?”
“ And who gave my daughter all this news,
that seems to excite her so ?”
“.Why, Carrie Prattle said that Mrs. Gad
about had heard young Mrs. Worldly say so.
Ma! may Igo ?”
10, my precious, mother cannot consent
to your going.”
O! my Ma, why not ? So many girls are
’ going.”
“Because, mother thinks that dancing
schools lead to evil, and the good Lord will
not be pleased if she allows her little daugh
ter to run thoughtlessly into temptation.’’
“ But, mother, Mr. Coldlove is going to
send Jule, and you know he passes for a good
Baptist.”
“ How do you know that, my darling ? I
I hardly think that Brother Coldlove would be
so inconsistent, for it was but the last Sabbath
that I saw him at the communion table.’’
“Well, Lizzie Pert said that she and Jule
Coldlove were going together, and that Mr.
Winkatsin, our pastor, said there was no more
harm in girls dancing than jumping the rope.
“ Now, Ma! may Igo ?”
“ No, my child, you must not go. If faith
less preachers, and coldhearted professors,
and worldlyminded mothers have no concern
for the morals and virtue of their children, I
must at least bring up my daughter” in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord. Moth
er will not deny her daughter any reasonable
indulgence, but she can not allow her to at
tend dancing-schools.
H I I > I I
ISP’We copy from the South Western
the interesting com
munication. Prof. Davis, of Howard
College, has, in our opinion, no superior
in his profession among men of his age,
and but few equals. The instrument of
which he has spoken so scientifically, was
ordered by himself, and “ the fine chemi
cal and Philosophical Aparatus” selected
by himself, during a visit to the East,
about two years ago. That the ladies
comprising the society of which he speaks,
are distinguished for refinement, kindness
and benevolence, is a lona fide fact, which
no man of gallantry would for a moment
call in question ; but as many of them are
the lineal descendants of Carolinians and
Georgians, there are doubtless some sis
ters and cousins of the same stock now in
our State, who might be willing to con
trive something pretty for our Mercer.
Ladies of Georgia, do ye take the hint ?
TELESCOPE OF HOWARD COLLEGE.
This instrument’ was presented to the
College by the Ladies Benevolent Socie
ty of Marion. It is one of the many val
uable gifts with which this society has
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
enriched our aparatus.. The cost C one
thousand dollars.
It was manufactured by Alvan Clark
and Sons, of Cambridge, Mass. Mr Clark
has won for himself the reputatio of a
first class artist among scientific men*
His Telescopes compare favorabl; with
those of the best European manufacturers,
and one which he made for an eiinent
English observer has been pronjunced
I “ unsurpassed if not unequalled.” With
his own instruments^he has discovered jit
least seven new double stars, a viuable
contribution to astronomical sciqice.
Three ot these were discovered an
instrument smaller than ours. Aaherst
Williams and other Colleges havi been
supplied with Telescopes from thil facto
ry, and one has been sent to Canda. I
was recommended to secure Mr. Mark’s
service for our College by Mr. V m . C
Loud ot the Cambridge Observatory,
whose discoveries rank him as oneof the
first astronomers of the age. The result
so far as can at present be judged, is most
| happy.
Our Telescope is a refractor, having a
clear aperture of 6 inches, and a focal
length of Bft. 512 inches. It is mounted
equatonally on a cast iron stand weighing
over 300 lbs. A driving clock is attached
by which the instrument is made to fol
low the motions of a star or other qbject.
The machinery is beautifully finished.—
The declination circle is 10 in. in diame
ter and reads by verniers to 30 sec. of arc.
The right ascension circle is 8 indies in
diameter and reads to 2 sec. of time. As
to the quality of the glass of the instru
ment it is impossible finally to judge, un
[ til a series of obseryatops have been made.
Mr. Clark pronouneeFit, (and Instate-
ment may be fully relied on) “ the most
perfect thing imaginable. It will be in
efficiency lor micrometrical work, very
little inferior to the largest instruments,
for objects equal to a seventh or even an
eighth magnitude star.” J
There are but eiyht Colleges in
S. out of some two hundred that
the title, having larger
ours. There may be a very few
but the statement cannot be far fron
rect. I give below the f&A
these, and other instruments.
Colleges, | Aperture. | ifeaTTeifeth.
Harvard University 15 j n
Hamilton College 13£ in
Michigan University 12jin.
Alabama University g in.
Shelby College, Ky ’.7^
Amherst College.. 74- in
Williams College 7 in. ‘
Cullcgc * it
Howard College r, in.
V S. Academy, West P’t. .0 in.
Philadelphia High School. .0 in.
Georgetown College, D. C. 5 in. in
Yale College, 5 in.
Shelby College should not be counted as at
present in possession of its Telescope. wjHlbint
Academy has recently acquired a larger in^^^t
ot other Colleges many haßßine|
others have small, portable instruments!
There are other large Telescopes in the IT.
S. as at the National Observatory,’* near
Washington. Some are owned by socie
ties, others by private individilals.
It is to be regretted that this elegant
instrument cannot at once be mounted for
the benefit of our present graduatingtdass.
It must be mounted permanently’ ‘and
will require a separate building for re
ception, with a revolving dome, &#. It
is the intention of our Board of Trustees
to erect this observatory &s soon
can command the means. I fear it- will
not be completed before Fall.
The possession of so large a Telescope
it will be observed places us, in this par
ticular, in the front rank of Colleges in the
Union.
It is but right to remark that none but
a practised observer can appreciate the
superiority of larger instruments. No
class of College boys could even perceive
it, and hence no particle of advantage
would accrue to our course of instruction
were the Telescope larger.
Our fine Chemical and Philosophical
Aparatus, continues to receive accessions.
In this also -we claim a place in the front
rank. A superior Sextant, by Ghir&w,
is on its way. I hope very soon to be
able to communicate another instance of
the zeal and liberality of our Marion la
dies- N. K. DAVIS.
Marioh, May 6.
The French in Algeria are sinking ar
tesian wells in the desert, the benefits of
which will be incalculable. The well of
Temacin gave 120 quarts the minute, others
more. The Arabs were frantic with joy in
seeing fertility at once restored to* their
grounds. Speeches of the most grateful ac
knowledgement were addressed by the chiefs
of tribes to the I rench officers and engineers’
New York, May 13.
The American Tract Society this morning
received the report of the Investigating Com
mittee, as .to the Society’s refusal to publish
tracts against slavery. It was read by Judge
Jessup. The report asserts that while the
political aspects of slavery are clearly beyond
the Society’s province, those morals which
grow out of the existence of slavery, do fall
within their province, and ought to be dis
cussed. The report was unanimously adopt
ed.
CfwmitmtiiM*
For the Index.
“Expect Great Things.”
Mr. Editor : —This was Carey’s motto just
at the beginning of the spread of the Mission
aiy spirit towards the close of the last centu
ry. It kindled up and gave energy to it—a
spirit that has been burning and spreading,
till it has enlightened and warmed into action
most of the Christian world.
C hristians of little, feeble faith, never expect
much, and hence pray for but little. They
seem to be unable to take hold of the strength
of the Almighty in filial confidence and their
prayers are unanswered. They regard them
selves as unworthy and do not feel that bles-
sings in proportion to the merit and willing
ness of the great Redeemer are to be vouch
safed, but according to their contracted views,
which are really fraught with depreciation of
Him in whom “dwells all the fulness of the
Godhead.’’
How is it, that in times of revival this class
of men pray with a confidence and fervor that’
astonishes? They begin to exercise faith or
rather dormant faith is awakened by God’s
wonderful works on the hearts of his people
and the conversion of sinners. Now, evidence
of God’s willingness to answer prayer, that is,
sight has aroused them and they feel and act
like confiding Christians.
If we walked by faith and not by sight , we
should be full of expectation— not living in
the unscriptural notion of periodical prayer 5
for God is ever ready to answer our petitions;
the deficiency is in us; we fail to “open wide
our mouth,” and hence it is not filled. Who
can compute the influence of desire? If our
desire were strong, our expectation would
correspond with it, and we should implore for
great blessings; but as our desire for a revi
val of religion is weak, our prayers are con
sequently marked with a listless indilference
that should shame and humble us.
A rev ival foi* 1 85 < —hotv havn we prayed
for it ? with a certain expectation that God
would bring it about; or rather with an if
He should pour out His Spirit ? I acknowl
■pdge for one, that I have prayed in this way,
Pwithout any deep and abiding impression that
lit is certain to come to pass. I have not, Avith
confidence, implored the blessing,
Mpjig rather that if the Avork should begin,’
would be increased, but all along the
way has been obstructed Avith ifs. This is a
humiliating confession, but it is the truth and
shows most clearly, that if a Christian at all,
lam not one that “ Avalks by faith” in God’s
unchanging*- promise. My faith does not rise
up to expectation, and hence deserves not the
LH atne of faith, because it is so low and grovel
ling. It has no claim to be classed with that
by4fle “fathe* of th faithful.”
F Brethren, if there are others in this class,
we must change, we must be converted , we
must shake off this kind of sight religion, and
begin to pray in confidence. At this poor,
dying rate, we have existed , not lived, long
enough. We must approach the throne more
like beggars, expecting blessings which we
need. The promise is sure for such—bles
sings larger than our capacity to contain. Yet
ay e hesitate, we dishonor God by our conduct,
our faithless prayers, our sight religion. We
must expect great things to be done this year
in the Lord’s vineyard; we must try to get
our hearts in order to enjoy the wide spread
influence; we must put the coals together;
we must exhort one another to love and good*
works; we must confess our faults to one
another; we must be importunate as was the
distressed widovv, whose case was unaveng
ed.
What reason to expect great things? There
is our poverty, our great need, our unworthi
ness, but especially the infinite merit of him
in whose name we approach the throne.
What had poor, old Jacob more, on that
dreary night, when he arose so high in his
importunity as to use language seemingly ir
reverent and disrespectful, “I will not let
thee go, except thou bless me.’’ We have
more encouragement than he had; more in
stances of the fulfilment of God’s promises ;
more eminent cases where prayer was direct
ly an sabred, to strengthen our faith. What
special promise had the disciples in regard to
the release of Peter? None. This and ma
ny others are before us, but Jacob could re
fer only to his personal history; yet his faith
was tenfold stronger than ours; so was that
of the disciples in Mary’s house at prayer.—
We ought to be ashamed of our sight religion
and of ourselves, that we so disparage our Sa
viour by want of confidence.
But Ave are so umvorthy, that it is presump
tion to expect great blessings. Was the Cen
turion Avorthy? Christ seems to have an
swered his request, suggesting the sense of
unworthiness as a reason of bestowing the
desired boon. Who, in all sacred history, is
mentioned as receiving blessings because they
were deserved ? Why then shonld Ave, un-
Avorthy as Ave are, fail or hesitate in so mo
mentous a matter ? How many will perish
in their sins this year, unless converted ?
How many churches will exist in a cold, dead
state; how many will be torn by dissensions
and become extinct ; lioav many prayer-meet
ings will be deserted ; how many pious souls
will pine in secret for the fresb bread of life,
unless God revive his Avork in our midst ?
Let us begin prayer and prayer-meetings and
cease not, even Avhen we see the showers of
heavenly rain coming dpwn upon us ? How
refreshing is a Avarm shoAver to our parched
earth! But who can estimate the blessings
and the fruit and the joy and the consolation
Avhich AviU spread over, be exhibited, and en-
joyed by God’s people under showers of di
vine grace ? OLOGOPISTOS.
April 15 th, 1857.
For the Index.
Brother Walker :—There are many Bap
tists like myself that can only understand plain
things, hence some of the articles of late in
the Index puzzle us much. Rev. T. J. Bow
en’s visible, unorganized Church idea, is one of
them. I propose, with your permission, to
put this matter before the weak brethren in
a plain way: Next Fall the people, that is,
the voters in all the counties in this State,
will elect members to compose the next le
gislature. After the election, and while the
members thus elected are at home, will they
be the legislature? Or after they arrive in
Milledgeville, on Monday morning before or-
ganizing, and while mixing and mingling with
hundreds of other men, will they be the legis
lature ? Certainly not; although elected to
form the legislature when organized. It will
be seen, therefore, that organization is neces
sary to the carrying out the wish of the peo
ple, and complying with the terms of the con
stitution. The constitutional requisitions be
ing complied with, the legislature is formed
and is visible. Now, during recess, the legis
lature is, in fact, in existence, but is it visible ?
All the members may even be in one compa
ny promiscuously mixed up with perhaps
more or less in number of other men, w ill the
legislature be visible in this condition ? Os
course not. How, then, are we to decide ?
By seeing the members organized. The dif
ferent members of a church being promiscu
ously dispersed among the balance of the
I community, it is impossible to distinguish
them, only as it may be known that they
have previously complied with the terms of
organization, and even this previous compli
ance Avould not acquaint the stranger with
the fact. But if the stranger should see all
the members come together under their rules
of organization, he would knoAv they Avere
the church Avithout knowing their names.—
I think I have shoAvn that it is impossible for
a church to be A'isiblo Avithout organization.
M.
Buena Vista, Ga.
For the Index.
Backbiting.
Vas there ever a more unreasonable and
wicked disposition cherished, or habit prac
ticed, than backbiting ? In a world Avhere
every one needs all the friendship there can
be exercised by mankind, and Avhere CA ery
one should throxv the mantle of charity over
another’s faults, to see persons seeking to de
stroy the reputation and blast the peace of
their neighbors, and resorting to mean, loav,
contemptible falsehood to do so, is shocking
beyond expression. Yet the habit is but too
common aU OWf-uelgborhooda. Much of
it is done intentionally, and perhaps some un
intentionally ; but in either case, it is repre
hensible, yea, absolutely cruel and wicked.—
Do, reader, set your face against it, and be
sure to guard your own tongue. J.
For the Index.
Sanders’ Professorship.
Brethren will have learned, from the last
Index, that I am already in the field to solic
it contributions for the Sanders’ Professor
ship.
It is essential to the complete success and
the greatest influence of our Institution, that
this additional endoAvment should be immedi
ately secured, for its whole income is at pre
sent insufficient to pay the salaries of the of
ficers now on duty,- aftd other necessary ex
penses.
Another officer, it is expected, will soon
take his place among the faculty, and it is
hoped and believed that the Baptists of Geor
gia will not suffer their College, founded by
the bounty, and nourished by the prayers and
labors of the Fathers of the Church, to be
crippled in its work, m’ circumscribed in its
influence, for the want of the means necessa-
ry for its support. Brethren are requested to
take into serious and prayerful consideration
their duty in this matter, and let each one re
solve to do his part in the good Avork of ele
vating the character, increasing the efficien
cy, and extending the influence of our be
loved Institution. J. F. SWANSON.
For the Index.
The G-a. Sap. Bible and Colporteur
SOCIETY.
At the late meeting of the Georgia Baptist
State Convention, a SoSiety Avas organized
with the above title, auxiliary to the Bible
Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
It goes into operation under circumstances
which forbid the fear of failure. It is design-
ed to supply the means, and find the men, to
supply the State of Georgia, not only Avith
the Holy Scriptures, but also with our de
nominational and religious books. This is a
work that must be done, and the brethren in
Georgia are the men to do it. It Avill enlist,
at once, the Avarmest sympathies of the great
Baptist heart. The money will be raised. —
The depository Avill be established. The Col
porteurs will be employed. The books M ill
be sold. The seed of Gospel truth will be
scattered broadcast over the whole State. It
will spring up and produce a plentiful har
vest of living, active, praying, and Avorkiug
Baptists. It makes our heart rejoice now to
think of the good time coming. But Avhy are
we so confident ? First, because we believe
our cause is the cause of truth , and therefore
the God of truth will bless and prosper it, and
second, because it has pleased God in His
providence to give the work into the charge
of men who do with all their might the things
they undertake to do for Christ and His
cause. Our Dear Brother J. H. DeVotie is
the President of this Society. In Alabama he
held a similar position, and the prosperity of
our noble auxiliaries there is the best testi
mony of his zdal and efficiency. Much, very
much of what the Alabama Baptist’Bible
and Colporteur Society is, we owe, under
God, to the -watchfulness, the energy, the
tact and the talent of its former President.—
He brings the same qualifications, matured
and aided by a larger experience to his new
field of labor in the adjoining State.
The Vice Presidents of the Society are
among the leading spirits of the denomina
tion.
Brother Walker, former Secretary of the
Domestic Board of the S. B. Convention. A
man who has shown himself more than suffi
cient for every emergency, who, especially in
the management of the disheartening and ar
duous task devolved upon him by the trans
fer of the Indian Mission debt to the Conven
tion, two years ago, has shown that he could
bring order out of confusion, confidence out
of distrust. And who, as Editor of the
Christian Index, has in a few brief months
w 1 ought such a change in the ap2>earance
and character of the paper as has already
won for it a place among the very best of all
our denominational organs. Brother Joseph
\Y alker is the first V ice President, and owing
to his locality will be President of the Board
of Managers.
The other Vico Presidents are brother
illiams the estimable professor of Theology
in Mercer University. And brother Ryerson
the eloquent pastor of the Church in the city
of Augusta. Both men who love the Bible
cause and will delight to labor for its advance
ment. Brother Ryerson is appointed to
preach the next annual sermon before the so
ciety. And Professor Mell, the President of
the Georgia Baptist Convention, formerly of
the Mei cer and now of the State University
his Alternate.
The Board of Managers is located at the
city of Macon, and there the depository will
be kept. Some of the Managers are known
to us, and we feel safe in saying, that no men
in the State are more competent to conduct
such a work with energy and efficiency than
they.
But avc have not only the assurance of the
blessing ol God and the energy and ability and
zeal of the brethren to encourage us to hope
great things from this Society, but Ave have
the first fruits already in hand. There Avas sent
up to the Convention and collected for it at
Augusta near a thousand dollars, on which it
can at once begin active operations. And the
favor Avith Avhich the annunciation of its
formation Avas received by those present, as
evinced in their readiness to contribute to
set it up, is the best token Ave could desire of
the hearty co-operation of the denomination
in the State. Georgia Baptists love the Bible
and they love the truth as held and taught
in our denominational books. They have the
means and the heart to use them for the
spread of the Bible and the books. Some of
them have long been laboring in a limited
way and under most discouraging influences
to conduct just such a Avork as this Society is
now about to undertake upon a scale com
mensurate with its importance. They will
greatly rejoice to see a general system, co
extensive Avith the State put into operation
tor the supply at once of our denominational
literature and that Holy Word of God, which
it is designed to explain, illustrate and enforce.
And thousands of others ivho have heretofore
taken but little interest in the Avork, -will be
come its hearty supporters when they find it
undertaken by a State organization, controlled
by such biethren as these A\ r ho cannot fail to
secure their entire confidence. God speed
the. Georgia Baptist Bible and Colperteur
Society, and let every Georgia Baptist say
amen * A. C. DAYTON.
We should prefer that our good brother
Dayton, when writing for the Index from
“ the great West,” should eschew personali
ties; especially, Avhen
“The plaster is too thick,
For all the praise to stick.”
[Ed. Index.
*
The Anchor Dragging.
In Rev. Mr. Shuck’s discourse, last Sunday
night, on “ Hope, the Anchor of the Soul,”
a beautiful and forcible comparison occurred.
The speaker told of haAdng been in a storm
at sea, in Avhich the captain of the A'essel was
started from the cabin, in great alarm, at
some unusual noise. Returning from’the
deck he explained the cause to the uneasy
passengers: He had heard the anchor drag !
The ship was near a rock-bound coast and
nothing was so terrible to the skipper as the
dragging of the anchor. “But,” said the
preacher, “on the most wrathful waters and
annd the most furious driving of the winds
and Avaves, the true Christian never hears the
anchor drag r In all the range of thought
is there any contingency more sublimely Ter
rible than the anchor of the soul tearing loose
Avhen the Christian’s bark is trembling mi the
“river deep and Av r ide.’’
Avord in the Cherokee language to represent
baptism otherwise than by immersion; and
pedobaptist translators are confounded Avith
their own rendering, when told by their con
verts that their explanation does not conform
to their translation. Hence they require at
their hands immersion, the only scriptural
mode of baptism known to God’s Word
where the mind of the Holy Spirit which ut
ters the command is not obscured by the
clogs of earth’s Babel dialects.— Mississippi
Baaptist.
MAY, 1857.