Newspaper Page Text
158
Clje Cgnsliati Jfnk*.
TILISBAPH POWER PRESS.
JOSEPH WALKER, Editor.
Macon, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1857.
The Pnlpit before Books.
A portion of the Pedobaptist press is ap
parently highly delighted on account of the
open communion proclivities—as it believes
—of many distinguished Baptists. Says Dr.
Rice, “the more intelligent are tending in
that direction.” We make no question—and
we confess this with humiliation and sadness
—that those Baptists whose writings and
practice of late have indicated open commu
nion preferences, are of the most influential
in the Baptist ministry. They are men whose
superior talents are powerfully seconded by
clerical titles, and the positions they hold.
We repeat, it is painful to bo compelled to
suspect this of them. It is a reproach to Bap
tist history. It can be nothing else than a
concession of blended fear and sympathy, ex
cited by the lateral pressures of sectarian er
ror. We think it would advance unadulter
ated Gospel truth, if all ministers of such
views and feelings, would go o\ ei at once and
fully to Pedo-baptism. We might lament
over the loss of such men as Baptist Noel and
C. H. Spurgeon, yet, if our cherished princi
ples are to be—by peace-meal—effectually sold
out by their official endorsation of the very
heresies with which the church of Christ has
for centuries been oppressed and afflicted, we
gay “Let them depart in peace !” Yes, de
part, though our eyes follow them with tear
ful solicitude. We would rather dwell on
some bleak mountain summit, or in the dark
profound of the silent forest, with a few sim
ple hearted spirits of the primitive faith ; than
to recline on a cushioned seat in the most
gorgeous cathedral that pride and wealth
could erect, with the privilege of listening to
the entrancing oratory of the most gifted
preachers the last age has produced, if as a
bonus for the favor—we must embrace, no
lens volens, the multifarious errors of Pedo
baptism. We could not consent to purchase
fellowship at so dear a rate.
B u t we must do justice to the Baptist Min
istry, as a body. While those who have given
occasion fpr the inference that they are verg
ing towards open-communion are from among
our first men, they are no/, thank the Lord !
all, nor indeed, the larger portion, of our first
men. Many of the best minds in the Baptist
ministry, especially in the south, are as ti ue
to the Baptist faith and practice as the nee
dle is to the poles; while scores of others —
less known perhaps, but not less than
their more gifted brethren—are firm, as the
everlasting hills, on the foundation of the
Apostles and prophets. The Pedobaptist
press, therefore, should not draw its conclu
sions too hastily. Positions and titles do not
sway the Baptist masses as much as has been
supposed. And as for the aggregate of Bap
tist church-membership in the South, it is a
unit in sentiment against open-communion.
Inquiries have recently been occupying the
minds of brethren as to the best means of ar
resting open communion tendencies. Some
ministers of high standing are in favor of mul
tiplying well written and attractive books on
the baptismal and communion questions. We
are most heartily with them in this endeavor
to scatter a Baptist literature over the length
and breadth of the land, but books, of them
selves, will not remedy the evil. The great
majority in our churches is made up of those
who have but little time at command for
book-reading. Numbers of them also are
chary of long disquisitions and prolix logical
deductions on controverted subjects. They
despise exploring expeditions into the intri
ate regions of Hebrew and Greek criticisms,
nd have not the patience to waste much time
with the pros and cons of Robert Hall or his
reviewers —though they be unfolded from the
silken drapery of fiction and romance. In
these days of railroads, express-lines, and tele
graphic facilities, they would rather leap to
conclusions by a more direct route, and in the
quickest possible time. How shall their wish
es be gratified ?
We say by Preaching. The longue against
the pen, forever. Let there be more of the
plain, out-spoken, old-fashioned Baptist preach
ing, in the Pulpit, in relation to the distin
guishing tenets of the Baptist faith, and open
communion heresies will dissipate as the mor
ning mists before the rising-sun. For the
want of this, our principles have been stifled in
their development. Prelatical inventions and
earthly rubbish have gained an ascendency
simply by Baptist neglect. The fear of of
fending persons who may have happened to
be present from other denominations, has
kept many a Baptist minister from speaking
out the whole truth, and not unfrequently, has
he changed his subject on espying a Pedo
baptist in the congregation, lest he should bo
considered uncharitable, or fall under the
censure of his own fastidious brethren. Still,
preaching the truth is more potent for good
than writing it can be.
In what nation were ever abler books pro
duced on baptism, than in England ? Yet
what progress have they made against open
communion ? Had Andrew Fuller or Abra
ham Booth preached in favor of Baptism as
they wrote, the Baptists of England might
to-day have a stronger hold on the public
than they have yet attained. Would Baptist
Noel or C. H. Spurgeon now contend for
Baptist sentiments in the pulpit, and practice
their preaching, they could revolutionize the
religious hierarchies of England and Rome.
But they choose a r different course, and as
men beating the air, waste tneir time by ac
complishing for the march of truth but half
as much as they might effect.
American pastors have been remiss in this
matter of advocating and defending Baptist
principles in the pulpit. We can readily sym
pathize with, but not excuse them for this
oversight, if oversight it was. We are well
aware of the opposition they would have had
to encounter, but then that is what they
ought to have expected. The man who fear
lessly does his whole duty will be called an
ultraist, a bigot, perhaps by his own flock—
certainly by Pedobaptists. But he should
remember that he is the pilot on one of the
ships in Zion. He should grasp the helm
firmly, and fix his eyes fearlessly on every
rising storm. Thus, with trimmed sails and
ample ballast, he would keep his vessel in her
course, enter the harbor of peace, in safety,
and flook her anchor under the very throne
of God.
Yet, to do all this, he must be a man of
nerve. The net has spread
out its meshes in djl directions, and unwary,
docile Baptists are constantly being gilled or
ffnned in them. Pedobaptists are sprinkled
into our schools, colleges and social organiza
tions. They affect our churches by matrimo
nial alliances, commercial and mechanical co
partnerships, civil and social necessities and
by numerous other events and modes of exis
tence, which it is unnecessary to mention.
Hence there are brothers and sisters, uncles
and aunts, cousins and half cousins, husbands
and wives, with the all-povverfull voice of
worldly interest, to annoy and menace the
pastor at his work. But let him not quail.
Just as certainly as Aaron’s rod swallowed
the rods of the magicians of Egypt, will out
spoken Baptist truth annihilate Pedobaptist
error.
“ The Town Council of this place have re
duced the license to retail spirituous liquors
from SI,OOO to SSOO. We are inclined to
think that there would be no more drinking
done if we had a bar in town than there is at
present. And so it may be a wiser step to
make the SSOO for town uses, with a bar, than
to have none of the money, while fully as
much of the “ ardent” disappears as under
the old law.”
We copy the above paragraph from the
Eutaw Whig, and recommend to our Town
Council to pursue the same course. The
boys will drink the “ ardent” and they might
as well have a place “chartered” for that
purpose where a revenue may be derived, to
enable the corporation to lessen our present
taxes. — Marion Commonwealth.
Curious logic this, that friend Dykous
whispers in the ears of the Town Council of
the town of Marion, Alabama! Because “the
boys will drink,” the Town Fathers must
“ charter” a place at which they may make
brutes of themselves publicly instead of tip
pling in private ! On the same principle he
might have to charter other places of mis-’
chief and wickedness. We hope the good
people in Marion will consent to be taxed still
higher before they will raise reyenue by mul
tiplying grog-shops.
A brother writes us, “ I have resolv
ed myself into an Agent for the Index,’’ and
as the result of this resolution he sends us a
subscriber as “seed.” We are in need of
seed as the present is our planting time. —
Who will do likewise ?
Revival Column.
Stephens’ Post Office, Sept. 25, ’57.
Brother Walker : —At special request I met
with the Social Circle church in Walton coun
ty, on Friday before the sth Sabbath in Au
gust, and commenced preaching. I contin
ued with the church until Thursday following.
The meeting protracted, grew in interes|*ev
ery day. On Wednesday evening I baptiz
ed six persons—one other had joined the
church by experience, but was not ready for
baptism—waiting for some relatives from a
distance to witness the ordinance—and one
by letter, which letter I think had been writ
ten about nineteen years. I sent for and got
the Pastor of the church on Wednesday night,
who protracted the services until the Sab
bath following, and baptized four more. I
also brought F. M. Haygood with me.
I met with the brethren at Lincolnton, on
Saturday before the Ist Sabbath in this
month. Meeting protracted till Thursday—
baptized sour —three of them heads of fami
lies ; one young lady received, and one by
letter. One month before this meeting I
baptized one, making five baptisms in a short
time ; three out of the five were Methodists.
Brethren J. Q., and T. B. West, Hogan
Stockton and Burgess were in the meeting.
Brother Burgess, the only one that remained
till the close. There was at each place a
number of serious persons asking prayer.—
In these meetings, which were pronounced
by all, I believe, good, I saw no very great
excitement.
Yours in the Gospel of our Savior,
J. B. BUTLER.
Mclntosh County, Sept. 29, ’57.
Brother Walker :—lt will be cheering to
the friends of Zion to learn that the dead are
alive again. The South Newport Baptist
church has been frozen up with cold indiffer
ence for the last four years, the house of wor
ship discontinued, with the exception of a
few faithful sisters, who restled Jacob-like
with a good Lord for a blessing, and a bless
ing they obtained. They are now rejoicing
in a time ot refreshing from his presence.
The Lord has come into our midst, and by
the power of his holy spirit upon the sinner’s
heart has caused them to flee to Jesus, the
sinner’s last and only hope. I have baptized
forty-two since we commenced a protracted
THE CHEISTIAN IHD EX.
meeting, two weeks since. Brother Morall
labored with me one day, and brother Brin
son five days, which closed the meeting, at
which time I baptized three persons. Is
Sabbath brother Hudson preached with Hi
and baptized five, making in all fifty, baptized
in a short time. There are many inquiring.
To God be all praise.
Very truly, T.
Eatonton, Sept. 28, ’57.
Brother Walker: —l write to inform the
brethren who read the Index, that the cause
of God and the interests of the Baptists
increasing in these older counties of Georgia.
I have recently baptized twenty-four persons
within the bounds of my work; and have
reasons for believing that truth is gaining
ground, notwithstanding the mighty efforts
that are being made against it. Yesterday
evening about sundown, I a young
lady who had been a member of the Metho
dist Society for several years. After relating
her Christian experience she stated, (without
being asked) that, often when she would
kneel down to pray the words, “ arise and
baptised,” would enter into her mind, and *
consciousness of neglected duty would utter
ly prevent her devotions. How many others
there are whose “ prayers are hindered ” by
the neglect of baptism, I of course can’t say,
but I should guess that their name might be
called Thousand. Let the readers of the In
dex pray especially for the triumphs of truth.
J. H. CORLEY.
Atlanta, Sept. 21, ’57.
Both Baptist churches in this city have had
some unusual interest in religious matters Tor
three weeks past. Several persons have felt
considerable solicitude for their own salva
tion. In the Ist church, last Sahbath, the
20th inst., some 7 or 8 were baptized by
brother Williams, in the presence, of a thou
sand spectators, and others have been receiv
ed for the ordinance. A. S.
West Point, Sept. 28, ’57.
Bear Brother Walker: —We have had a
very pleasant meeting at this place, commenc
ing on Friday evening before the sth Sunday
in August. Our meeting continued day and
night for two weeks. The church was much
revived. Many sinners were brought to bow
to the rightful reign of the blessed Jesus. —
Twenty-three were received by baptism, and
several backslidere were restored, and sever
al also were received by letter.
We have now received up to this time du
ring the present year by baptism, twenty-nine,
five of whom were Methodists and two Pres
byterians.
The cause of truth is certainly advancing
here, over the most determined and obstinate
form of Methodist opposition. We thank
God and take courage.
Yours in a blessed hope,
H. CARMICHAEL.
Madison, Sept. 30, ’57.
Seven more of our colored people were
baptised on last Sabbath.
A. T. SPALDING.
Amekicus, Sept. 30, 1857.
Brother Wqjker : —A meeting of eight days
at Lebanon church in this county was conclu
ded last Sabbath. Many of the members
were revived, and we hope the Lord by his
Spirit converted several precious souls. Fif
teen were received, of whom fourteen were
baptized. Brother Ilornaday and Stallings
rendered us efficient aid. To God be all the
praise. GEO. F. COOPER.
The Baptist church at Brookville have en
joyed a refreshing and an interesting meeting
of ten days continuance. Fifteen were added
to the church, twelve of whom were bap
tised.
The Richland church, in Stuart county, has
also been blessed with the out-pouring of the
Holy Spirit. During a meeting of ten days
eighteen were added to her number— -sis teen
baptized.
Brother Rushing was with us in these meet
ings and aided us much.
B. L. CLEVELAND.
Atlanta, Oct. 1, 1857.
Dear Editor :—The last six weeks have
been chiefly spent in protracted meetings in
sections north and east of this place, and in
this city. Twenty-six persons have been bap
tized ; several of whom were Methodists.—
vtut manner of excitement and advmssimq
was distinguished by deep spirituality and
diligent precaution.
Numerical force is weak, without propor
tionate spiritual energy.
Pecuniary matters, in this semi-cottoii re
gion, are not half so significant as at the
south and west. Hence, we find it difficult
to do any thing for the Index.* Preachers
in these regions must dig as well as preacji.—
Some good people ministers are eritire
ly devoted to the ministry they will_j>fever
suffer! But I, (mark the pronoun) I have
made an experiment on that battery, tut I
could not force it. In fact, brother W., ftiere
are Baptist churches on these hills that could
not pay a preacher SSO per annum. Soipe of
our churches are liberal according to jtheir
means. Others have no plan whereby they
could procure a minister’s half support.
When system is neglected pupils and teach
ers are in a sad condition to be taught or to
instruct.
We thank God : the poor have the Gospel
preached unto them.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
JAMES M’DONALD.
*A religious paper never yet increased the
pressure of the hardest times, and we do not
know but that if the Index waro generally
taken in the above named regions, the money
matters would soon be easier.—Ed.
Brother Walker: —The latter part of last
August I held a meeting of ten days and
nights with Horeb church, Talbot county, Ga.
We had a good meeting; the church was
greatly revived, Christians were made hap
py in the Lord. Sinners were made to feel
the need of a Savior. Some found the Sa
vior gracious unto them. The tenth day of
the meeting I baptised three, one a Metho
lady of fine influence and good standing.—
God be praised for his goodness. I had the
help.of Rev. S. W. Durham.
GENEHAL MEETING AT ANTIOCH, HARRIS
COUNTY, GA.
The general meeting met on Eriday before
the 2d Sabbath in September. Rev. C. C. Will
is not being present to preach the introducto
ry, according to appointment, James Rees
preached a sermon from the 103 Psalm.
The meeting was then organized in the usu
al way, and continued three successive days
and nights with active success. The preach
ing brethren were J. David, James, Rees,
Mosley, Palmer and Reins. We had a large
and orderly congregation duringthe meeting.
After the general meeting closed, the church
protracted and held on one week. At the
close, or on the last day, I baptised eleven. —
The church restored one to fellowship. May
the Lord continue the good work.
Yours in love,
11. S. REES.
Pond Town, Sept. 28, 1857.
Brother Walker: We have just closed a
three days meeting at this place, and the good
Lord has blessed his church and people. Re
ceived four by experience and four by letter
—one from the Methodist. We left the con
gregation in good feeling, brother Thos. Mur
phy, Pastor. Was assisted by brethren Jas.
Peryman and Jesse Stallings.
Yours in Christ,
BENJ. T. SMITH.
Le Clerc.
Some person observed to this acute and
profound scholar, “I think De mortuis nil nisi
bonum is a good saying.” De mortuis nil
nisi verum,” said Le Clerc, “is a better.”
“ Why so ?” “ Because truth can do no harm
to the dead, and may do great good to the
living.” .
Dr. Young’s Happy Impromptu.
Perhaps the happiest and most elegant im
promptu ever uttered, was the following by
Dr. Young, author of the Night Thoughts,
H’hfin walking in his garden with two ladies,
one of whom he afterwards married. On “be
ing called away by his servants to speak to a
parishioner on some pressing business, he was
very unwilling to leave the ladies, and being
almost driven into the house by their gentle
violence, he thus addressed them :
“ Thus Adam once at God’s command was driven
From Paradise by angels sent from heaven;
Like him I go, and yet to go am loath—
Like him I go, for angels drove us both.
Hard was his fate, but mine still more unkind :
His Eve went with him, but mine stays behind.”
CtmmtfSttttfw*
For the Index.
Sleeping in Church.
God created man and endowed him with a
faculty of composing his body and mind in
sleep, and thereby take his rest, not only from
corporeal, but mental labor. When a man is
asleep there is a suspension of mental powers,
and the body is motionless and the mind in
attentive to any thing that surrounds him ;
hence, both the body and mind are at rest.
This refreshment of body from sleep is ne
cessary and conducive to health, and should
be regularly had every night to sustain onr
strength and enable us to prosecute our busi
ness with energy and avidity. When we
take our needful rest we are not inclined to
sleep in the day, and will not be liable to
sleep in the house of God. To be asleep dur
ing divine service, is the same as if one was
dead, unconscious of every thing that is go
ing on; perfectly inattentive to the remarks
of the speaker. It is a disgrace to a man thus
to disrespect the services of the house of God
‘—not to say tile speaker. There are persons
who attend places of worship regularly twice
a month in each year, for many years togeth
er, and have never heard a whole sermon in
all that time. It seems to me that nothing
is more calculated to distress a preacher than
to see a hearer asleep, perhaps dreaming,
sometimes making mouths and wry faces, ex
hibiting strange postures, snorting, jerking
and talking in his sleep. It is certainly a
strange place for such an one to choose to
sleep at; for it gives a malicious person occa
sion to suspect him of gluttony, drunkenness,
laziness and other usual causes of sleeping in
the day time ; and besides, it shows a want
of respect to the company, to the minister
and the house of God. To manifest such in
difference is the same as to tell the minister
that his labors are uninteresting, and not
worthy of your attention. It is surely enough
to destroy his pleasure in preaching, and so
discourage him as to dispossess him of all for
titude to finish his sermon, and to continue
his labors to the end of the year. I will now
draw this article to a close, by relating a few
anecdotes upon the sleepy hearer. On one
occasion while a minister was preaching, he
saw several asleep, and thereupon sat down.
Upon his silence, and the noise that present- i
ly arose in the church, they awoke and stood
up with the rest, upon which he arose and
said, “the sermon was not yet done; but
now you are awake, I hope you will hearken
respectfully requested to suspend their opin
ions touching these matters, until there shall
more diligently,’’ and then went on. It is
said that another clergyman was preaching
on a certain day, and seeing that sleep had
gradually taken possession of his hearers, he
stopped short and changing his tone of voice,
called one by name loudly three times. He
stood up and the minister told him, “ I am
sorry to interrupt your repose, but I must beg
of you that you do not snore so loud, lest you
awaken the rest that are asleep.’’ The con
gregation took the hint; even the attentive
were more engaged, the sleeping ones awoke,
and gave heed to the remainder of what the
speaker had to say on the subject.
Jefferson co., Ga. ALPHA.
Brother Walker : —The Western Associa
tion has just closed a very harmonious and
delightful session of four days. Our delibera
tions were enlivened by the presence of
brethren Campbell, Holman, Toon & Fuller,
who presented, with ability and success, the
claims of the organizations whih theyc sever
ally represented.
Two year? ago the Western Association
adopted as her missionary, Brother D. N.
Mclntosh, a native Indian preacher, among
the Cherokees. She sustains him with in
creased cordiffcty. At her late session, she
resolved to appeal to the churches within her
bounds to select and maintain a missionary in
Central Africa. It is believed the appeal will
be triumphantly successful.
The visit of Brother Toon was peculiarly
opportune and effective ; his intercourse with
the Brethren seemed to charm away all inci
pient fears and prejudicies in reference to the
future movements of the S. P. Society. He
inspired us with hope and zeal in that great
>outhern Baptist interprise—he has left upon
the minds of Western Baptists the im_
pression that the S. P. Society have acted
wisely in entrusting the management of the
practical operations of that association mainly
to the head and hands of one so pre-eminent
ly qualified for the trust. To the urbanity of
the gentleman,and the unpretending meekness
of the Christian, he adds the skill of the veteran
tactition. Had he the eyes of Argus and the
hands Briareus,he could hardly be a more vigi
lant or active Sentinel. His capacity for the
business in which he is engaged is excellent.
He is no ‘graduated dunce’ with a head-full, in
deed,of the topics and figures of Rhetoric, and
ataste as fastidious as a pride of forty-five, but
as little skilled in the details of business, and
as little conception of the tastes and wants of
the masses as Dominie Sampson had of the
graces of a drawing room. Experience will
teach us after a while, probably, that all men
cannot always become all things ; that book
rootns are not “ex officio” skillful, handicraft
man and that there is some good practical
sense in the saying of the old Grecian States
man, that it is better to have an army of ass
es with a lion for a General, than an army of
lions with an ass for a General. Brother
Toon is a workman who need not he asham
ed. Under his auspices, the S. P. Society is
destined to succeed and rapidly attain that
position for good it was designed to occupy.
Yours truly,
OBSERVER.
For the Index.
The Sin of Opium Eating.
This sinful practice is destined if not ar
rested soon, to be more disastrous to virtue
and piety than ever have been alcoholic
drinks. Thousands, not excepting members
of the church, are in the daily habit of stimu
lating themselves either with the article in its
crude form, or with the highly concentrated
extract called Morphine. 1
The universal testimony of medical men is,
that the practice is ruinous to mind and body.
The faculties are rapidly impaired, the moral
sense stultified, the nervous system destroyed.
One can hardly look over an assembly any
where, without noting the swollen face, livid
complexion, and ghastly features of someone
of its victims.
What shall be done ? The offenders are
not unfrequently, highly cultivated ladies, the
slightest criticism of whom would be resent
ed ; persons who have insensibly fallen into
the practice from the moderate use of Mor
jjtrtire at first, to relieve some painful ailment,
but at length are compelled to choose be
tween large draughts of opium or death.—
Keen compunctions now overtake them, but
it is too lite.
It is that a note of alarm was raised
on this subject. The interests of virtue and
piety are already seriously suffering. The
evil is entering the ranks of the ministry
even, a place where conscientious men will
not long submit that it shall go. The respon
sibility of writing such an article as this, must,
I suppose, account for the fact that someone
has not done it before. With assurance that
no personalities are intended, the writer feels
constrained to incur the risk. TAU.
Whom it may Concern.
MIDDLEGKOUND baptist church, scriven
COUNTY, GA.
Whereas, it has come to the knowledge of ‘
this Church that her motives and conduct in
disposing of the difficulties that lately envi
roned her, have been grossly perverted, and
consequently misconstrued, insomuch that
many good brethren, and the public may be
led to form opinions detrimental to her iuteg- 1
rity as a Christian church, it is therefore 1
Resolved by this Church, That our breth- (
ren everywhere and the public, are hereby f
[ have been made public a faithful opposition
in regular detail of every matter and thing,
, from their inception to their termination of
this whole affair: nothing doubting that a
. true history of the case and of every procee
ding of the church relative thereto, will fully
! exonerate her from all censure in the minds
, of a Christian people as well as in that of an
impartial public.
Resolved, That this preamble and resolu
tions be sent to the Christian Index, with a
request that they be published in that paper.
Done in conference, this 26th September,
1857. M. N. M’CALL, Moderator.
11. 11. M’Gee, Clerk.
Tennessee Baptist please copy.
< • ♦ —.
Monroe, Walton County, Ga., )
Sept. 24, 1857. \
Brother Walker:—Sir, the Appalachee As
sociation has just closed its annual session,
with the Church at Sugar Creek, Morgan
county, at which time the following resol u
lutions were passed, and they are sent to you
by request of the Association, to be publish
ed in the Index:
Resolved unanimously, That the Appalachee
Baptist Association sanction, adopt, and re
commend to our churches and people, the
Preamble and resolutions, recently passed
by the Central Asociation, relative to the late
action of the American Tract Society, which
read about as follows :
Whereas, the American Tract Society has
begun a course of action contrary to the
teachings of the Bible, adverse to the inter
ests ot the South, and repugnant to our
Christian faith and feelings, therefore be it
Resolved, That this Association reprobate
the recent action of the American Tract So
ciety, and recommend to the churches of this
Association to withhold all jiatronage from
. the Society, and to discountenance the efforts
* their agents in raising funds for its Colpor
, teurs in the sale of its works until that Socie
; ty sball have recinded its recent action and
i S one back to its original silence on the sub
. ject of Slavery in all its hearing.
[ Wb add also, that we have recently seen
; an explanatory circular dated 10th of Sept.,
t an< t signed by the Committees and Secreta
. lies of that Society, which utterly fails to
f give us satisfaction and restore our confidence.
3 M’NORTON, Chairman,
j The Tennessee Baptist and other pa
} pers will please publish the above.
For the Index.
’ Tuskegee Association.
The Tuskegee Association held its regular
. session, 17th to 21st ult., with the Philadel
• P b ‘ a Church in Russell county, Alabama,
seven miles from Columbus Ga.
The introductory sermon was delivered by
Elder J. P. W. Brown. Hon. W. W. Ma
son, of Tuskegee, was elected Moderator,
and Elder Chas. A. Stanton Clerk.
The business of the body was conducted
with proper decorum; and the reports from
the churches were upon the whole encouiw"--
mg, some of them have enjoyed gracious re
vivals during the year. This is an efficient
and liberal body. J. \y WATT
Columbus, Ga., Sept. 24, 1857.’
For the Index.
That old Bible.
For two or three years past I have seen the
following remarkable story going the rounds
of the papers. And no longer than last week
it appeared in the columns of the Christian
Index; and I supposed from its wide circula
tion it must be very generally believed to be
true.
The oldest hook in the United States it is
sai ’ J ’ ia a manuscript Bible, in the possession
ot Dr. \\ itherspoon, of Alabama, written over
a thousand years ago ! He describes it as fol
lows : The book is strongly bound in boards
ot old English oak, and with thongs, by which
the leaves are also well bound together. The
leaves are entirely made of parchment, of a
most superior quality, of fineness and smooth
i ness, little inferior to the best satin. The
pages are all ruled with great accuracy, and
written with great uniformity and beautifully
in the old German text hand”, and divided off
into chapters and verses. The first chapter
ot every book in the Bible is written with a
large capital of inimitable beauty, and splen
didly illuminated with red, blue and black
ink still in vivid colors; apd no two of the
capital letters in the book precisely alike.
There are some, things said about this Bible
that Ido not believe to be true at all; for
example, I do not believe it is the half of a
thousand years old. In my reading I find no
account of the division of the Bible into chap
ters and verses until the thirteenth century.
And besides the use of different kinds of cap
ital letters and different colored inks, to say
nothing of other remarkable things respecting
it, all strike me as evidently modern and not
ancient. If others choose to believe the
whole story, that is their privilege, but I am
too incredulous to do so.
J. M. WATT.
Columbus, Ga., Sept. 23, 1857.
Notice.
For the accommodation of brethren at a
distance, who may desire to visit the Henh*
zibah Association, to convene Saturday be*
tore 4th Sabbath in October, conveyances
will be in attendance at the half station (Law*
ton) on Augusta and Waynesboro R. R both
Friday and Saturday.
It is requested that brethren, wishing to
aval l themselves of this provision, will notify*-
.bro. S. v\ allace or the undersigned, at Mil
ieu, Ga.
By order of Buck-head Church.
BATT JONES, Clerk.
The subscription list Os the Religious
Herald, just by a ttitle effort of the pastors,
has been increased in one mouth by 257.
Our list is also increasing, but might not many
pastors do more for it ?
OCTOBER 1857