Newspaper Page Text
150
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*• . lUIOEAPH PUSS.
, :
JOSEPH: WALKER, Editor.
MaCon, Wednesday, Sep. 23, 1857.
At Home.
Welcome! thrice Nvelcome, “sweet home.’’
Never before did we return from a tour of
four thousand miles with deeper, convictions
of gratitude for Divine protection. Floods
had swept away embankments, tracks sunk
burden of ponderous trains, and
engines beacme disabled, yet we sustained
not thfc least harm.
In the Index Sanctum, things were dis
posed of in the best style. The Junior—ba
ting only his “matri-money-al speculations”—
. deported himself most admirably; but for
these we]can readily pardon him, since batch
elors not willingly and widowers unfortunately ,
are considered as public property.
VROUTE HOME.
wes <sl ihciaenis oy
the way at Cincinnati, and shall only allude
to our flight across the mountains to the Sun
ny South. We left the commercial empori
um of the Buck-Eye State, to spend a day in
the vicinity of Dayton. This district of
country is celebrated for the beauty of its
scenery, the richness of its soil, and the con
fident assertions of its abolitionists. The
country is a garden, the soil will produce as
good tobacco as the best lands of Virginia,
and the Abolitionists, having adopted “Un
cle Tom’s Cabin’ ’ as their text book, can talk
of little else apparently, than half-starved or
slaughtered negroes. At the same time, John
Randolph’s negroes are suffering intensely
from the oppressing hollow-hearted negro
hospitality of that neighborhood. They
are despised and left destitute by Abolition
ists of the strictest sect. We left Dayton
early in the morning by the fast line for home.
Pittsburgh was reached by seven o’clock in
tlje evening, and by ten the powerful train
was rushing up the Western slope of the Al
leghanies. At twelve o’clock it was on the
summit level, when, roused out of a nap, we
just peeped out upon the glorious prospect.
The moon was in full dress. Every knob,
knoll, point, promontory and cayern was in a
blaze of light. Her dark spots if, indeed,
she ever had any, were totally submerged in
the radiance of her splendor. Os course, the
peep became a look, the look a gaze, of rap
ture, and for a full hour, perhaps, we feasted
on the magnificent display of nightly glory
on the mountains. The mighty ridges risiug
successively towards the zenith, were as the
battlements of Omnipotence; the pointed,
peaks as vast pyramids propping up the heav
ens; the fearful abysses out of which oppos
ing ranges lifted themselves to the very clouds,
as the bottomless pit. But no poet, no painter
of the highest artistic skill, much less an edi
tor but half awake, could convey correct im
pressions of mountain scenery on which
“moonlight sleeps.” Away, away swept the
cars; down, down, and yet down these terri
ble declivities darted the fiery train horse,
neighing terror to all opposing obstacles as
he galloped on, till he had safely reached the
Juniati valley, when daylight saluted the
earth.
But we have forgotten our promise barely
to “aZZude” to our home-ward journey, and
ought not to have made it. Passing on
through Baltimore and Washington, we tar
ried two days in
RICHMOND, VA.
This is‘doubtless,the most beautiful City in the
South, if not in America. There is a combi
nation of ornament and convenience in the
construction of its buildings, and the arrange
ment of dwelling-house grounds, which not
only contributes to health, but gives it an at
tractive appearance. We saw none of the
brethren except our well-tried friends, C. T.
Wortham, Dr. Coons, and Dr. Jeter. Were
glad to find them all in fine health.
PETERSBURG.
In this City we spent a Sabbath very pleas
antly with Rev. T. G. Keen, formerly of Mo
bile, Ala. He has been instrumental in hav
ing a first-rate House of Worship erected,
which will soon be ready for occupation. Its 11
architecture is of the “Romanesque” order,
and the most imposing in appearance, in the
City of Petersburg. It does the brethren,
with their pastor, much credit. Bro. Keen
is among the best preachers in Virginia, and
preaches weekly to large and attentive con
gregations.
Here we take leave of journalizing for a
season.
The Crusader.
If the Crusader and its correspondent ‘Citi
zen’ imagine that, by misrepresentations in
the garb of billingsgate, they can drive us
from a hearty support of Mercer University,
they have mistaken us most egregiously.
We have long known that one man in Pen
field has embraced several opportunities to
speak disparagingly, both of the Index and
its Editor, and the article of “ Citizen’’ de
velopes the fact, that there is at least one oth
er kindred spirit. We have never interposed
the weight of a feather to the injury of these
gentlemen or any others in Penfield, and if
they are determined to find a “mare’s nest”
in the harmless humor of “Critic,” we have
simply to say, once for all, that we neither en
treat their clemency nor fear their opposition.
And if the Crusader expects to gain Baptist
patronage by a belligerent attack on the on
ly Baptist paper in the State, his crusade
against it will be hurled back upon him with
overwhelming power by an indignant, because
an injured, denomination. We are too much
engaged with more important duties to think
of breaking a lance with the Crusader , on
any question.
But, no efforts of partizans, either in Pen
field or out it, shall alienate us from Mercer
University. The memory of the revered
Mercer, the energy and devotion of San
ders, the high and honorable standing of its
Trustees, the mental power and moral digni
ty of its ex-Presidents and Professors, the
hallowed and cherished associations that clus
ter about its classic grounds, with the hun
dreds of its graduates, both in this country
and beyond the seas—these, we repeat, at
tach us to Mercer University as by hooks of
steel. If restless spirits in its immediate vi
cinity do its fair prospects by
their ftwguaZimprudence, its prosperity is de
stined to culminate in complete success.
Those who know us, would not require any
further explanation at our hands, and we.
have no intention of recurring to this subject
again if we caa possibly avoid it. As for
Mercer—we leave him to the study of his lu
cubrations and poetry. We have no shot for
small game.
Fictitious Signatures.
We wish to apprize our correspondents and
readers of the fact, that an editor is not re
sponsible for what may appear in his paper
over a fictitious name, unless he refuses to
give the author’s real name, if demanded.
By declining to divulge the author—espe
cially if his article has a personal bearing on
the person applying for it—the editor assumes
its responsibilities. We make it a rule to
give up names whenever demanded, if satis
factory reasons accompany the demand. It
is seen, therefore, that while writing over a
“non de plume” is, in some cases, allowable,
the signature is no protection against expo
sure, if the editor is disposed to mete out im
partial justice to all. We are often bound
to insert articles in deference to the respon
sible and distinguished sources whence they
emanate, but our protection consists in giv
ing up the real names when required to do
so. We hope our correspondents M ill bear
this in mind.
<' i
B3f“We clip the following from the La-
Grange Reporter. It is very encouraging,
no doubt, to our friends Foster and Brooks :
“ Southern Female College. —The exer
cises of this Institution were resunied on the
2nd inst. We are pleased to learn that the
opening has been unusually favorable. When
it is considered that the Fall Term is general
ly thinner than the Spring TWm, it will be
gratifying to the friends of t TO
learn that in the College Department there
are now more pupils than have been in'UPten
dance at any one time during the past two
years. We wish the College such abundant
success as it deserves.
“— t— m. >.
W onder if the subjoined fits any of the
rteaders of the Index:
A Fraud. —To see a man who is
take a newspaper, but too stingy to do iffl
pick up the last paper, when a subscriber
it down, is committing a fraud upon the pub
lisher. We confess we don’t like to tom
man reading our paper regularly who is able
to pay us for it, and yet is not a subscriber.—
Exchange.
■■*
- Mercer University.
We learn from a letter written to a friend
in this city, by Prof. J. E. Willet, that the
Fall Term has opened with the addition of
twenty four new students. This is a larger
accession than usual, at the commencement
of the Fall session. The students are very
orderly arid studious.
We rejoice also, that an interesting meet
ing is in progress with the Penfield church.
Several have professed conversion, and have 7 :
been accepted for baptism. Brother T. D.
Martin is, we believe, the <Pastor of the
church. May many of the young men, at
Mercer be brought into the Kingdom of
Jesus*ißhrist,and becoihe eminently useful:
“ The harTCmS? great but the laborers are
few.”
*• ‘ i
Bible Funds.
It may not I>e universally known that all
funds contributed for the Nashville Bible
Board, in Georgia, should be forwarded to
Macon. The Nashville Board has committed
the whole work in Georgia to our State Bi
ble Board and Colporteur Society.
The leading design of the State Society is
first to supply the destitution at home, but
also as rapidly as possible, to turn over funds
to the Nashville Board, for other fields in
which our Missionaries labor, at home and
abroad. Let it be remembered then by in
dividuals, churches and Associations, that all
funds for the Bible Board of the Southern
Convention collected in Georgia, should be
sent to Macon. Let funds be plainly direc
ted to J. DeLoache, Treasurer of B. B. &
Col. So., Macon, Ga.
. Who has found it ?
On our return home from our recent tour,
we lost somewhere between Augusta and Mil
len, or Millen and Macon, a twenty dollar
gold piece. Whether it was lost in the cars
or at stopping points outside of them, we can
not tell. If any person has found such a coin,
or shall yet find one, on that route, the pro
babilities are as 90 to 100 that it belongs to
the Editor of the Christian Index, Macon,
Ga. Should the finder desire to return it to
THE CHEIBTIAK INDEX.
the owner, he can send it by mail to Rfv,
Joseph Walker, Macon, Ga.
The city papers, and our Augusta exchanges
would oblige us by copying the above notice.
Rehoboth Baptist Association.
This body, pursuant to appointment, ityt
with the Macon Baptist church, on Tuesdiy,
the 15th instant. On the evening previous,
Rev. H. P. Powell, Pastor of the Benevo
lence church, preached a sermon on the why
and manner of “ preaching Jesus.” At sols
past eleven o’clock on the day above
the introductory sermon was preached by
the Rev. W. C. Wilks, of Forsythe, Presi
dent of the Monroe Female University. In
the afternoon the Association convened jn
the Lecture Room, when the Rev. Jacpb
King, of Thomaston, who may justly be styl
ed the patriarch of the body, having occupied
the Moderator’s chair for twenty successive
years, was re-elected Moderator, and the Rqv.
W. C. Wilks, Clerk. At night, Rev. T. U.
Wilks preached in the Baptist church, At
nine o’clock on Wednesday, the, Association,
met for business, and at eleven,
wood p.mwi.uJ. -••rtTr-rrtgrrc-omie smlcday,
Rev. B. F. Tharp preached the Annual Mis
sionary sermon, at the close of which, broth-”
er Murrow, a ‘student recently of Mercer
University, was ordained to the Christian
ministry, prior to his departure for the Creek
Nation, to preach the Gospel to the Indians.
On Thursday morning, on the adjournment ot
the Association, the Bible sermon was preach
ed instead of the usual farewell sermon on
previous occasions, and then the venerable
Moderator made a few touching remarks on
the probability that all would never again
meet in that Associated capacity, when, du
ring the singing of the parting hymn, and
amid copious tears, the delegates and visitors
gave unto each other the usual token of
Christian fellowship—the parting hand. It
was an affecting season, and one that must
long be remembered.
Among the visiting brethren, we noticed
the Rev. J. Scriven, Agent of the Domes
tic Mission Board; J. J. Toon, Esq., Finan
cial Secretary of the Southern Baptist Pub
lication Society; Rev. R. Holman, corres
ponding Secretary of the Domestic and In
dian Mission Board ; Rev. J. 11. Campbell,
Agent for the Foreign Mission Board; Rev.
S. E. Sharpe, Agent for the Southern Bajjist
Sunday School Convention ; the Rev. 11. 11.
Hornady, Rev. G. Daniel, Rev. T. U.
Wilks, Rev. Josiah Warren and Dr. Cooper,
of Americus. There may have been other
visitors whom we did not become acquainted
with, but if there were, we are quite sure
that they were as welcome as those whose
names have been mentioned.
, The business of the several sessions. wA
have not space for here,Tur"muSt
•the minutes. j£Pj
We must, however, allude to the interest- 4 ,
jng and, deeply affecting statements of broth
er Holman, concerning the habits and present
the Indians. Brother 11. has
recently been through the entire Territory,
E under the Missionary control of the Southern
Bomestic Board, from Kansas down to the
southern limits of Arkansas. No man is bet
ter acquainted *with that country, and the
roßnrior In expansion of the notes of his
speech which M T e took down at the time, but
we expect that foe will give a consecutive ac
count of his travels to the public at no dis
tant day. One will say : Georgia
Baptists increase their contributions
to the Indians. Brotner MMrrow is one of her
sons —a student of her Ibeloved University,
and the Creeks were once the owners of her
soil.
The sessions of the Association were high
ly interesting thrbUghodlfcjhe preaching ser
victflßßftttended, andktjj sßi#t impressions
rnadPfoFgood tfoat ‘"will not soon be forgot
ten. The colored Baptist church, and the
congregation at the Baptist chapel near the
Railroad, had preaching provided for every
successive night during the. meetings.
Many thanks are due to citizens, other
than Baptists, for their generous hospitality.
They will not be forgotten.
A word to those in Arrears.
We intend to begin a course of very gen
tle dunning, which will probably increase inJ
individuality and expli<mhess2s *?foeTilfcuSg^ , j
ties of the Index Treasury may require. \ mk
is now a settled point, that at the end of thjj||
year, all subscribers more than three years 5 ®
arrears, will have to be stricken from the list?]
But to save the mortification which \fe know
a man must feel to be stricken from a news-!
paper list—and that a religious paper, and the i
paper of his church. We shall commence,
next week, by stating the aggregate amounts
which given numbers of subscribers owe at
certain post offices, without saying who they
are. If this shall not prove sufficiently intel
ligible, we may advance a step by giving the
initials of their names ; and, if nothing less ?
will do, strike their names from the books, *1
and publish them if deemed best. We can i
not possibly allow bills that are now as high
as sls and S2O to enlarge. We would much
prefer that such persons should stop, even if
we have to lose what they owe. Could we
DO OTHERWISE?
congratulate the William Jewell
College W the return to it of the brother
mentioned in the following :
Rev. E. S. Dulin, has accepted a professor
ship in William Jewell College, where he
was formerly not only an acceptable, but
very Buocewful teaoher.
Dialogue.
Planter. —“ Well Phil, what’s wanting?’’
Phil. —“ Master saunt me over for de In
dex.”
Planter. —“ What, again ? Why I have
not yet read it myself.”
Phil. —“ Master say he ’spec you not yet
have read it, but he told me to say, he will
send it home jus as soon as he done wid it.”
Planter.— “And why does not your mas
ter subscribe for the Index ? I am sure he is
able enough, and he seems to be very fond of
it?”
Phil. —“O yes, he say it de bes paper he
read, but he takes so many toder ones.”
Planter. —“ Well, what papers does he
take ?”
Phil. — “O, he take de Nation Intelliger,
and de Citizen, and de Saturday Even Pos,
and de Harper Machine, and de Gode Lady
Book, and de Home & Foreign Journal.”
Planter. —“So he pays about $25 a year
for political and secular papers, and twenty
five cents for religious reading, I have a
I&Aat motion never to lend him the Index
again. Ib is too bafl that any member o£ a
fhristian church should act thus.”
Phil. —“ Yes, Massa, me no like it nedder,
hut lots ob Baptis, and Ministers too, no take
de Index.”
Planter. —They ought to be expelled,
every man of them. How can they train
their churches properly with such an example
to counteract their preaching.”
PhiL. —“But, Massa, may be dey be too
poor.”
Planter. —“Then their churches ought to
get up a subscription for them, but they are
not too poor; here take the paper to your
Master and tell him either to subscribe for it,
or not borrow it till I have read it.”
Dear Brother Walker : —The manner in
which you are accustomed to notice all que
ries directed to you, the answer of which you
consider of interest to the denomination, has
induced me to submit one or two for your
decision and answer through the Index:
Is a Minister of the Gospel or a member of
the Baptist Church acting consistent to at
tend such a gathering as the dedication of a
Hotel or other public building by a fancy
Ball ? In such a case what course should the
church to which they belong pursue ?
ATLANTA.
We submitted the above queries to a
brother Minister who happened to be in the
office when the question was under consider
ation, and his decision is, Ist. That “ balls ”
are no places for Ministers and church mem
bers ; and 2d. That the church to which
these “ ball ” members belong should pursue
-* *~
Revival Intelligence.
i Emm, Liberty county, Sep. 6,1857.
1 Dear Brother Walker : —l informed you of
he baptism of six at Elim, and the flattering
rospects. The time of meeting again has
ome and past. The result is that eleven
lore have followed their Saviour in baptism,
md two yet to be baptized. And still many
ieem to be mourning on account of sin, some
irofessing conversion. Bro. Brinson had the
issistance of Rev. W. P. Girardeau, and L.
Price a portion of the time.
Yours, &c.,
J. L. SHAW.
Ordination and Revival.
At the request of Flat Creek Baptist
Church, Miller county, Ga., on the 12th inst.,
brother William F. Norris was ordained to
be work of the Gospel Ministry. The Pres
ytery were W. D. Cowdry, S. C. Martin,
nd the writer. The order of exercises were
s follows:
Sermon by the Rev. W. D. Cowdry, prayer
y brother Martin, and imposition of the
ands of the presbytery. Charge and pre
jntation of the Bible. Benediction by broth
r Norris. Oh! may he be£ useful minister.
W. S. LEGGETT.
Sept. 14, 1857.
Pi S’. —We have just closed a protracted
eeting with Flat Creek Church. 16 were
ded to the number—l3 by baptism. Bro.
C. Martin is their pastor. It was truly an
Westin,gmeeting. To God be all the glorv.
W. S. L.
Ip.erLord has blest my labors, and addi
ipave been made to three of my church-
Bps follows:
1 Evergreen 14 —one house-hold Provi
lence 7, one by letter—Richland 13, one by
i|tter—total 34.
5 I would attend your Association, but my
iife lies at the point of death.
Yours fraternally in Christ,
G. R. McCALL.
Expulsion.
Brother Walker : At a regular Conference
icild at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church,
?'ilhoun co., Ga., on the first Saturday in
September, 1857, Richard Griffin was expell
d from said church for immoral conduct,
n4 holding a letter of dismission from said
hnrch, granted some time in 1856. When
st heard from, he was about Columbus, Ga.
I&esolved, By the church in conference,
;aft said letter be published in the Christian
lj, that the said Griffin may not impose
)m|elf upon any other church.
A*true extract from the minutes of the
cateh, 5, 1857. .
1 JESSE ROBSON, Md.
WILLIAM TUCKER, C. Ck.
For the Index.
Domestic and Indian Missions.
EMBARRASSMENT.
Pastor's and Brethren :—Our Treasury is
rapidly draining, and will soon be exhausted-
The funds in hand will not more than meet the
quarterage due Oct. Ist. Had it not been
for the large balance on hand, April Ist, our
drafts could not now be met. That balance
was all required to meet the salaries due
June 30th, and our receipts are vastly less
than our liabilities.
At the last meeting of the Convention, en
larged efforts, in both departments of our
work, were recommended. The Board has
been induced to occupy new fields and to in
crease its liabilities in large towns and cities,
hitherto neglected, relying upon, a correspon
ding increase of contributions. In this we
have been sadly disappointed. Instead of
this encouraging and necessary increase of
means, there has been an alarming decrease.
In comparing the first five mqptjnyof the pre
sent fiscal year, with the corresponding
months of last year, there is a decrease of
$4,327 58. You perceive that the Board,
unless relief comes speedily, will be left to the
nesessity of either reducing the salaries of
these Missionaries, already too small for a
comfortable support, or of declining all future
applications. The salaries of the Missionaries
have been graduated to the most economical
mode of living, when the necessaries of life
were much cheaper than at present. A re
duction of appropriations, with the advanced
expenses of living, would drive many of them
from their fields, or to devote a portion of
their time to secular labor, for the support of
their families. Such, we are sorry to say, has
been the result, in some instances, already.
This is a melancholy view of the case, and
your Board cannot feel indifferent in regard
to it, nor refrain from this public expression
of their feelings. By a careful survey of the
entire field assigned them, they perceive there
never was a time of greater need of evangel
ical preachers in the States, and among the
Indians. There never was a time when the
Board could make aggressive movements at
so great advantage to the cause—when so
many commanding positions could be success
fully occupied, if the requisite means were at
command.
Now, Brethren, we ask you, shall the
Board be left to the necessity of declining the
establishment of new Missionaries, however
commanding the position or promising in suc
cess ? Must our Missionaries be driven from
their fields, or to secular employment to pro
cure bread for their families ? Is there not
pecuniary ability in our churches to prevent
suqh a sad result ? Is rhere not- intelligence
sufficient toappreciate the importance of Do
mestic and Indian Missions ? Is there not
piety enough to command these means and
call forth self denial and exertion to prosecute
a cause so vital to the best interests of our
our neighbors, of the Red man, and of our
country ?
It must be kept in mind that the Board in
its appropriations, is always limited by its re
ceipts. We have but few agents in the field,
and rely mainly upon the pastors, and the lib
eral and voluntary efforts of our brethren.
You have a plain statement of the facts be
fore you. What will you do brethren ? With
you are tfoe means of relief and aid. With
you must rest the responsibility of the results
of these efforts. It is with you to suffer the
right arm of our denomination to become
paralysed, or to make it strong for efficient
service in this great and good work.
We ask you to direct some of your best
thoughts to this work, and give it your fer
vent prayers.
Yours, truly,
R. HOLMAN, Cor. Sec’y.
For, th& Index.
Dr. Sherwood’s Notes.
Mr. Editor : Allow me to call special atten
tion to the excellent article which appeared
in your paper of the 9th inst., oyer the signa
ture of “Bar-Samuel.” The comriiendation,
therein contained of Dr. Sherwood’s Notes,
supported as it is by a few just criticisms,
should lead every one tg of
the work for himself. Ail examination would
most assuredly lead to an endorsement, and
a general endorsement ought certainly to
lead to its universdf adoption. Especially, to
Sunday School teachers and pupils it would
prove a most valuable auxiliary. I would al
so commend to the observation of the reader
the forcible notice of Rev. Mr. Dayton, to
which I perceive “ Bar-Samuel” alludes, and
which appeared in the August number of the
Home and Foreign Journal. It runs thus,
alluding to the exercises of the Monroe Fe
male College, he says, “ the commencement
sermon was preached by one whom Georgia
Baptists delight to honor, Elder Adiel Sher
wood, a brother who is destined to a long
remembrance by Baptists in all the land, as
the author of the most complete and most
thoroughly Baptist commentary upon the
New Testament that has ever been publish
ed in America or probably in the world.” —
Such a tribute from the pen of one, so well
qualified to pronounce upon its merits, added
to the well established reputation of the au
thor, ought to be sufficient to command for
this work an extended circulation, not only in
our own but in our sister States.
Pastors of churches! Will you not show
your appreciation of the effort which has
been made at the expense of much time and
labor to elevate the spiritual and intellectual
character of the denomination. This may
and should be promptly done by presenting
its claims to your churches and congregations,
SEPTEMBER, 1857.
impressing them with a sense of the great
acquisition a work so valuable would be to
their libraries. M.
For the Index.
Baptist Convention—Constitution.
Mr. Editor :—The 4th article requires the
auxiliary Societies to pay SSO for membership
while nothing is required of the Associations.
In the last Minutes some Associations are
represented but it does not appear that they
contributed anything. Can any good reason
be assigned why this inequality exists ?
Should not this feature be amended at our
next meeting ? If delegates may be admit
ted without funds from the Association, why
should the auxiliaries be taxed ? It would
seem proper that as the auxiliaries which are
allowed two delegates for SSO, and for the
third SIOO, so it would seem equable that the
Associations, which are allowed fifteen dele
gates, would contribute some where in pro
portion. I make these suggestions for the
consideration of the next meeting and for
discussion in the Index if necessary.
QUIS.
We believe that tjjfjs question was sally dis
cussed at Washington wfoen the Constitution
was amended, and the present basis of repre
sentation was deemed entirely satisfactory to
the convention. EDITOR.
For the Index.
The Baptist Convention.
This body was organized at Powelton,
Jun, 1822, as suggested by the Sarepta Asso
ciation, in Oct., 1820. But the Sarepta be
came afraid of her own resolution, and in Oc
tober, 1821 resolved that “we see no need
of such a body !’’
Jesse Mercer, James Armstrong, Wm. T.
Brantly, W. Hillman, J. P. Marshall, from
the Georgia, Cyrus White from the Ocmul
gee, and A. Sherwood, a volunteer from the
Sarepta, were the framers. The latter had
drafted the resolution for the Sarepta in 1820.
Brother Posey, a Missionary at Valley Towns,
Cherokee Nation, was present —also, brother
Compere, afterwards amonggjthe Creeks—
Elisha Perryman, Thos. Cooper, and others
from Eatonton, and brethren from distant
points.
Brother Hillman died first of the original
framers, in 1823 ; Marshall in ’32, Armstrong
in ’35, Mer in ’4l, Brantly, who was the
draughtsman, in ’45, and White, probably at
a later date.
The first collections were brought to the
meeting in 1825. For Burman and Indian
Missions by C. White, agent, sls. Educa
tion of Ministers, $17,50. A. Sherwood,
agent, do., $5,50. This was the nucleus for
ministerial Education by the Convention.
The Georgia and Ocmulgee Associations
directed their Mission funds paid over to
the Convention, so that in 1820 the'Treasurer
had in hand some
cation. r
In March, 1829, at Milledgeville, the Pen
field Legacy was announced. The equiva
lent was raised in a few minutes, and notes
given to the Treasurer payable when the Le-
gacy became available. Os the twenty-six
persons who raised the $2500, eleven are still
in the land of the living, while of the 30 who
raised in 1831 the SISOO to purchase the land
where Penfield now stands, only eight or
nine survive. The Clerk had secured the
promise of some hundreds before he left
home for the meeting in JJ329. AMICUS.
Sept. 14 th, 1857.
For the Index.
Why was it necessary for Christ
TO BE DIVINE ?
It is the commonly received opinion—the
old scholastic view—that when man sinned,
he sinned against an infinite law , and that con
sequently an infinite punishment was required
in order to make satisfaction. God beino- an
infinite being, to sin against him, was to com
mit a crime of infinitely wicked dye—conse
quently an infinite satisfaction was required
before he could be reconciled to the offender.
Now, as man is a finite being, no atonement
that he could make would be sufficient.—
Why ? Because for a finite being to suffer
infinitely he would have to suffer forever. —
That is, he would be forever satisfying offend
ed justice; and to be forever satisfying is not
to satisfy at all. Besides, neither the Law
nor the Law-giver could ever be satisfied by
the sufferings of
tbo of tbingf> tor-Ote
mand the punishment of criminals. So no
amount of suffering, on his part, could ever
have released man from the curse of the Law.
And, again, for man’s atonement to have
been efficacious, it must have been voluntary ;
and, (as death was the punishment demanded
by the Law) man not only wanted the incli
nation, but did not possess the right to give
himself unto death, that he might make
atonement.
Now, all that was lacking was en
joyed by Christ—he being man
had sinned, Christ assumed, humanlkiturc,
that, as man , he might suffer. But in order
to an all-sufficient Atoner, it was necessary
that he should have an inalienable right to lay
down his life for others. Now, Christ only,
as a divine being, one possessed of the power
to make lite and to destroy life, to give life
and to take life, had this inhorent right to lay
down his life for others. No one gaHre him
his life, hedfee he was dependent on no one
for it. As God, the creator , he alone had the
right thus to lay it down—no created being,
no one not ditine , enjoyed this right.
Nor would'his death have given full satis
faction, if he had not laid down his life of his
own accord.
Hence he himself says; “I laydown my