Newspaper Page Text
Cjje €lpstm Jnk*.
JOSEPH WALKER, Editor
telegraph power press.
<3-A?
Wednesday, Inarch 10,1858,
The Naval Chaplain Again.
The communication of Col. S. T. Bailey
in reply to an article in the Index of the
24th ult., will astonish our readers not a
little. Yv r e have no personal acquaintance
with the writer but have learned that he
is a lawyer of eminence and a communi
cant of the Episcopal church in this city.
The article itself is desultory and less
magnanimous both in its style aud spirit
than we should have expected from so dis
tinguished a source. The phrases, ‘‘a Mr. j
Stockhridge,” “the Examiner man,” “a 1
pernicious example of rebellion,” “insub- j
ordination and licentiousness” are expres- j
sions which would have justified us in re
jecting it, but as it goes before the world j
under the author’s own signature, we are j
sure that our readers will not hold us re
sponsible for these blemishes. It is pro-,
per that the Baptists should be apprised of
every form of opposition with which their
faith is assailed, and their rights are in
vaded.
The ostensible design of this unique
production seems to have been to defend
the United States government and certain
naval officers from the charge of tyranny
in their treatment of the llev. Joseph
Stockhridge while that gentleman was
chaplain of the Government ship Savan- |
nah, but the ulterior purpose was, doubt
less, to pronounce a eulogy on “the beau
ties and sublimities” of the Episcopal
church liturgy.
Colonel Bailey converts complaints into
charges, enters as counsel for the defen
dant, states his {joints aud makes his argu
ment for “the church” and the Xaval Ser
vice, and, of course, against the Baptists.
We shall follow him, seriatim, in his rhap- |
sodical excursions to gain his case by side
issues and the introduction of irrelevant
facts, that our patrons may have the full
benefit of his lucubrations.
Ilis first essay is to defend the officers
of the Savannah and the government
against the charge of tyrannical treatment
in the case of the Rev. Joseph Stock
bridge, a Baptist chaplain, o:i board that
ship. It is worthy of notice here, that the
word tyrannical does not occur in the arti
cle which we copied from thp Examiner.
It is, however, the term which best repre
sents the treatment referred to, and its
introduction by Col. Bailey himself, shows
with what facility lawyers can select words
to convey exact ideas of censurable con
duct. It clamor at the appointment of a
Baptist chaplain in the Xaval service—the
ministerial and social degradation of a min
ister of Christ because he refused to use the
Episcopal service—the rude assaults upon
that minister with orange peelings and
tumblers by ungaflaut Officers—the con- 1
tempt of the superior officers when redress
was sought, and finally, the acceptance by 1
the Xavy I) partment of exparte reports 1
to the permanent injury of Mr. Stock
bridge if these transactions do not con* j
stitute the very essence of tyranny in its
w orst form, we should like to be informed
what else would he necessary. The stron
gest term in the Examiner’s article is “op- ,
pression,” but the instinct of Col. Bailey
outstripped his creed, and compelled him, j
perhaps unwittingly, to characterize the 1
conduct of Mr. Stockbridge’s persecutors
kv the more appropriate term, tykanjtv. !
We accept the amendment. But because 1
the Baptists are complaining of the oxer- j
cise of such tyranny, Col. Bailey charges
them with manifesting an “ungenerous,
unchristian spirit!” If the parties and cir
cumstances had been exactly reversed
if Episcopalians had been the persecuted
and Baptists the persecutors* the public ;
would have liejtf<f Sucjh forensic fiilmina
tions from Col. Bailey and others as must I
have thrilled through the heart of this
great nation aud shaken the pillars of the
Cabinet itself. But the “cast?’ being al
tered, alters the case. If such an oppres
sion of tlie Baptists should be continued,
most earnestly would we say, “delenda est
carthago,” and the sooner the better.
We should rejoice to see any power crush
ed which would not only proscribe’ but
violently attack a minister, of Christ on j
account of his scruples.
In the next place, Col. Bfhley regards *
the remark that tlie Episcopal.churcl 1 is a ;
‘■'■minority church,” as an assault on that
respectable body. If a church can be as- j
sailed by publishing the truth concerning I
it, then the writer in the Examiner assail J
ed the Episcopal church by speaking of it
as in a ihinority. Figures alone are ne
cessary to determine this point. It ten
hundred thousand Baptists are more as to
numbers than one hundred thousand Epis
copalians, than the Episcopal church as
compared with the Baptist, is in the min
ority as one is to ten. And it is because
this “ minority church” has managed to
have twelve chaplains out of twenty four in
the Navy while the Baptists have but one ,
that the Baptists are beginning to inquire
“whether the naval service is a quasi ec
clesiastical establishment.’’ And the in- j
quirv becomes more urgent from the fact, j
that similar disproportions exist in the
Army, and in the Naval school at Anna
polis. Col. Bailey, however, does not de-!
ny that his is a “minority church.’’ But
he would compensate this numerical defi
ciency by the superior moral character of
those with whom he is ecclesiastically as
sociated. What he lose# in quantity he
gains in quality. He tells us that “in re-,
Jigion and politics minorities are most apt
to be honest”—that “but a small band
travel the narrow way,” and that “no pop
ularity seekers join that company.” This
is paying but a meagre compliment to the
moral integrity of the dominant political
party in this Republic which has been in
power for over forty years, and with
which, we understand, Col. Bailey sympa
thizes and acts. Surely there is at least
one honest man in that “company”— one
who is not “ a popularity seeker.” Or
must we, nolens volens, regard the Epis
copal church as the chief repository of hon
esty and pure affections ? We would not j
raise a finger to deprive her of this envia
ble possession if, indeed, she lias it.
The intimation that the Episcopal church
was disloyal seems to have troubled our
friend somewhat. But that is a question
to be settled by history. That the Epis- ‘■
copal clergy generally, and a portion of j
the laity, during the Revolution, were to- j
ries, is susceptible of proof. It is no dis
credit to the present Episcopal church,
nor to those distinguished Episcopalians
who took part in the Revolutionary strug
gle. But Col. Bailey’s argument breaks
down when be attempts to prove the loy
alty of that church to this country by a’
| reference to distinguished “leaders' 5 in the
‘ colonies. We might ask him who did the
! fighting ? The names he has mentioned are,
j illustrious (deservedly so) in American
history. Whether they were all Episco
! palians, or only the descendants oi Episco- 1
! palians, we have no means of deciding.—
•; But grant the former : —there were oth-
I or leaders and soldiers as brave as they.—
In the Carolinas the Presbyterians would
dispute the palm with them, and in Vir
ginia the Baptists. That “Gen. Wash
ington was a constant communicant of that
; church to the day of his death” we deny , •
and place the onus probandi on him who
makes the affirmation. If “it is notorious
that he was,” the fact can be proved.—
These facts can be proved—namely : i bat
“no Baptist ever was known to desert the
cause of freedom —tnat the Baptists oi
Virginia urged resistance to Great Britain
1 “on account of the oppressions which
brought on the Revolution tnat “ their
ministers desired permission to serve the
army in the capacity of chaplains” —that
by their repeated petitions they were in
strumental in breaking the Virgin
ia church establishment, and that Madi
son, Jefierson and Washington aided them |
iin these endeavors. But we impute no
• disloyalty to the present Episcopal church.
If she will cease “dragooning” non-Epis
: copalians into conformity to her church ,
: ritual, and abandon her efforts to monopo
lize the Army and Xaval service with the
schools at West Point and Anapolis other
denominations will not complain of her
; high pretentions. ‘
The pretence of Col. Bailey that opposi
tion to this chaplain monopoly has its source
. in the infidelity and abolitionism of tire
Xorth which is attempting “to destroy
this Union” on account of Southern slave
ry, is more ungenerous than true. We
have no sympathy with disunion! -ts, neith
er with Xorthern disunionists at the North,
or Xorthern disunionists at the South —
Were it not for Episcopal suppression, the
crusade against slavery would be as prev
alent among Episcopalians as any other- —
as was clearly demonstrated by a late ab
olition sermon from Dr. Ting at Phila
delphia—and that pers ns cf the E|)j
5 pal tfcnominatidhVdn take grounds against
the Union, from one cause or other, was
illustrated more thaftoflee in the secession
and disunion speeches of Col. Bailo-y-him
self. We hope his body is not endanger
ed by living in a tdass house.
We shall now attend to our friend’s strong ;
reasons for the use of the liturgy in the Ar
my and Xaval service oi .this country. — j
They present us with a budget of choice
news items. And first, as the preacliws
say, “the ruloAfhvhat rule?) “requires the
Episcopal service in public worship.” Bap-,
lists, Presbyterians or Methodists may
preach what they please. There is no re
straint upon them if they will only use the ;
liturgy. This reminds us of an occurrence
in the French army when the vote was
about to be taken for a President of the
French Nation.
One of the Colonels formed his regiment
and addressed his men thus: “Soldiers,
to-morrow you are to vote for a 2- * osident.
Every man shall be left free to vote as he j
pleases, but the man who votes against
Napoleon shall be shot, instanter.” And
so says the Macon Colonel: “worship as
you please, but woe betide the man who
shall refuse to use the liturgy.”
The intrinsic excellency ot the prayers,
it is said, should commend their use. —
“They are unsurpassed in sublime piety'’
that is, ii we understand him, the piety
is in these written prayers.’ This may ac
count for the opinion, that some people
have more piety in their pockets, than in
their hearts.
But “such a service can hurt 210 one but
that invisible being who is the enemy of
all prayer” —namely, the devil. And we
| question if it can hurt him much, yyfeen it j
! falls responsively'from the ton ,
and tnitfme
i “has a written form of prayer.” Xor does
i a ny other church need or desire a form,
! except that which is the spontaneous ex
! pression of devotional souls.
i This “form of prayer can be enforced
jby the officers.” So then, if the sailors
! will not bow down and respond to the
chaplain, they must he pricked to obedi
ence by the points of naval sabi-es ! Glori
• ous freedom this ! Most excellent liturgy!
Our legal correspondent becomes remar- j
kably affectionate towards the close of his
communication, lie “loves all of every
name.” and lias no particular notion of dc
fending the Episcopal church or of exalt
ing her above measure, but “he does lovf j
her beautiful and sublime service.’’ llj
those naughty Baptists would only let the j
Episcopalians have all the Army and Xavy
chaplains—or, if they must have a chap-!
and then —would only bow the j
kftee Baal, f the liturgy,” how
smoothly the religious world would move
i on , ’What “ order and decency” there
would be in the Nav-y! There would not
, be the least necessity for Commodores to
! instruct chaplains what to preach, noi ot
1 underlings to annoy Sabbath Schools with
! orange peelings, nor of supercilious lieu
tenants to do the heac)-breaking with tum
blers ! But these Baptists are so “rebel
lious and licentious,’’ that there is no sub
duing them, and unless the government
interpose, there is no- prospect of ever
making them respond after an Episcopal
j chaplain.
We cannot but sympathize with our
correspondent, inasmuch as we feel sure
that he is doomed to a most signal defeat
in his attempts to enforce jus “ beautiful
and sublime liturgy,” on Baptists. Should
these people bestir themselves as their
fathers did when they overturned the
j Episcopal hierarchy in Virginia, their
voice will be heeded and their power felt. ;
But what must the reader think when
at the close of Col. Bailey’s document he ;
finds the confession of his ignorance ? He !
“knows • not the merits of Mr. Stock
bridge's case,” except as it is presented in
the Examiner ! And does lie believe the
I statements of “ the Examiner man ?”
How does he know that this suspicious in
dividual has told the truth, seeing that he
does not belong to “that small band of
honest men ?” So this pyramid of Col.
i Bailey stands upon its apex! lie .has
plunged from his “beautiful aud sublime
liturgy into ridiculous ignorance. We ad
vise him to ply himself to the law and aban
don the study of theology. In classic
phrase : “let the shoe-maker stick to his
last.”
* Young Men’s Christian Associa-
TIOX.
I
The third Anniversary address before
this Society was delivered on Sabbath
night last in tlie Baptist church of this i
city by the Rev. S. Landrum. Theme:
Temptations of Citv Life.
Sources of temptation : Novelty, over
estimate of iceallk, Triumphs of vice , Li a- j
hihty to vice from the depravity of human na
ture, the design of the Association to counter
act these temptations.
The above points, we learn from a
young gentleman who was present, were
forcibly and eloquently illustrated. The
night was very inclement, but there was
a good attendance of the Society, and
of gentlemen who were not members. —
As the address bad once been postponed,
\ye only regret that it was not postponed
again, for better weather.
CQMMICATKINS.
For the Index.
“The Case of a Naval Chaplain/’
Brother I ‘father. —In your paper of the
24th inst. you give an article from the Ex
amine#, wherein our government and cer
tain naval officers are charged with tyran
nical conduct towards a Mr. Stockhridge,
a Baptist chaplain, on board the govern
ment ship Savannah, because the officers
required him to use the Episcopal service,
in public worship, on board ship, and which
he refused to do; and the writer ungen
erously assails tlie Episcopal church as a
“small minority church,” “which, however
loyal now, held a doubtful nttitpde in ref
erence to our government at its origin.”
May I he permitted to -say, ibis man’-
i tests a very unchristian spirit in the wri.
ter, whoever he - may be ? lie does not
pretend, that tlie church had any hand in,
of sanctioned the grievances (if they were
such) of Mr. Stockhridge. Aud as to the
government, L believe President Pierce
and all his cabinet were non-Episcopalians,
so that if they refused to redress the
i wrongs of Mr. Stockbridge, it was not for
love of that church. As to its being a i
“minority church, ’’ tlie history of the
world proves that in religion and politics, j
.minorities are most apt to be honest. But j
a small band “travel the narrow way”’ no
popularity seekers join that company.
But bow unjust to try to excite preju
dice against the Church by insinuating j
that its members were disloyal in the Rev
olution, when it is notorious that there
Mere more lories of other denominations
than of Episcopalians. It. is very true
that there were many rectors sent over by
: the Bishop of London, the then Diocesan
of all the Colonies, who felt it their duty
to adhere to their native country ; but of
the native Colonists, there were fewer
Episcopal tofies than of any other denom
ination. Who were all the great leaders
of the Devolution in the Middle and South
ern States, but Episcopalians ? The Rut
ledges, the Pinckneys, the Haynes, the
Gadsdens, of South Carolina, the Ran
dolph!.', the Pendletons, the Masons, the
Washingtons, the Madisons and Munroes
of Virginia. The Jays, the Livingstons,
the Ilamiltons and the Clintons, of Xew
York. Washington—to whom, under
; God, wo owe our liberty more than to all
other men put together—would not be
apt to prefer a very bad or disloyal church;
| and it is notorious that lie was a constant
communicant of that Church during the
j Revolution, and to f the da}’ 6T his death ;
Christian ever lived a purer life?
! BuPvmat has been tbc conduct of that
Church since the Revolution? Who are
1 they that are seeking to destroy the Un
ion by assailing the Southern people as
heathen, unworthy of Church fellowship,
because they hold slaves ? And are co
: workers side by side with the atheists
ami infidels of the free States, in their war
upon the South ? It is certainly not the
Episcopalians. That Church alone has re
fused to anathamatize their Southern
brethren, because they bold slaves, but in
stead, have bid them God speed on their
journey Heavenward. Hence these cov
ert attacks upon that Church. Since the
abolitionists and infidels cannot use it to
effect their wicked purposes, both it and
the Supreme court of the United States
; must be destroyed ! “ Delenda est Cartha
go” is now their cry against everybody
i and everything that opposes their Vandal
, march on the Southern people. Like the
Examiner man, they are crying out all
through the North, that the chaplains in
the army ought not to be Episcopalians,
pit is adopting a church establishment,”
! say they. Many honest people really be
: lieve that the doctrines ot the Episcopal
chinch are inculcated in our army and na-
Ivy. Nothing is more erroneous. The
i rules only require the Episcopal service in
; public worship to be adopted as a part of
the discipline. Why? Because in both
arms, there are those of all denominations
ot religions belief, and none but the Epis
| copalians among proteslants have a litur
gy, a written service, so as to be adapted
to military rule, and yet strictly scriptural.
| It is agreat mistake to suppose that in that
j service there is to be found anything sec
| tarian. The articles of religious belief of j
that church, form no part of that service,
except the Apostles’ creed, which is adop
ted by all Christians. It is made up of;
lessons and songs taken from Scripture, ;
and prayers that have been pronounced by
eminent men of other churches to be un
-1 surpassed in sublime piety, and a liturgy ;
; that no pious Christian can read unmoved. j
Such a service can hurt no one but that
invisible being whoris the sworn enemy to
all prayer. The fitness of this service to
military rules, consists in its facility of
enforcement. The officer in command
can order and enforce a strict compliance:
not with any theological tenet, but a form
of worship; this is indispensable in mili
tary goverement. The sailor is required
to kneel, and read with the chaplain, a
prayer that no Baptist, Presbyterian or
Methodist can object to. This the officer
may require hinf to do. What, then, is
there here unreasonable ? Does the sail
or object to kneeling ? Then it is high
time he was his Cre
ator by that slight mart of respect and
awe, more especially if it is required by
bis officer. Is it.objected that it is wrong
; to followni form of prayer ? I ask, why?
Mark you, this is only in public worship,
that there may be order and decency in
addressing the great Jehovah. At all oth
er times there may ami ought to go up
constant, spontaneous petitions, fitted to
every individual case. But if there is no
book used, and the chaplain puts up an
extemporaneous prayer in the midst of
\ eight hundred sailors, must they pray too?
j Certainly. Well how? Is each one to;
i continue his own prayer? Xo, but all
P J --r .
j follow the chaplain’s. What is this but
i following a form ? And a form, too, that
can never equal, in purity of language,
| sublimity of thought, and fervid piety,
the prayers of the Episcopal service.—
But depend upon it, in such case tlie sail
j ors would pray not’ at all, they would be
; both thinking and‘doing things very im-j
| proper on such an occasion. But when i
required to pay attention to the hook, and .
follow tlie prayer, the officer in command !
can enforce obedience, and that obedience )
will in time produce its fruits of better j
lives amongst tlie sailors. Let them be —
let tlie. chaplains be, if you please, Bap
tists, Presbyterians or Methodists, no one j
objects, nor has a right to object, if they
will conform to tlie rules, and use the
church service in public worship, theyare ,
not restrained in their teaching. The ser
vice contains no homilies, no” sermons. If
the Baptist or the Calvinist chooses to
preach election and final perseverance, he
is not forbidden. It the. Methodist wants i
to hold forth in 1 neniau
cafi do so: * *
deems it his duty* tv> instruct the sailors
that infant baptism is wrong, and that
sprinkling is of no account, be is at per
fect liberty to do so. There is nothing in
the Episcopal service that gainsays it, or
is in his way. The service that the disci
pline requires him to read, is nothing mJre
than the language of tlie Bible. Thou
sands, nay, millions, are scandalized at the
Episcopal service, as something very po
pish, without ever having seen a prayer
book ; or if they have, never having care
fully read it.
But I. did not begin with a view to ad
vocate the Episcopal Church, although I
confess to be a great lover of her beauti
ful and sublime services. And yet I feel
that I love all, of whatever name, who .
love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.—
However our colors may vary, our Cap
tain is the same, and our reward is the
same at last, if we have “fought the good
fight and kept the faith.” But let all
Christians beware, and remember that
the “good fight” does not consist in fight- 1
ing each other. I repeat, then, it is not i
my object to get into such a fight by de- j
fending the Episcopal Caureh, for God is .
| her defence, but rather to vindicate her,
and the government, and navy, against
> such unjust impressio'ns as the article from |
the Examiner is so well calculated to en- j
gender in the minds oi the people.
I know not the merits of Mr. Stock-
I bridge’s case, but as it is presented by the
Examiner, he was guilty of great insub
ordination, such as ought to subject him ,
to a trial by Court Martial, and dismission
! from the service. He seems to have over
| looked the fact, that he was a voluntary
officer on board the Savannah, and there
kfijas-hotnd'*©- anViA-to- • V
1 service, and obey implicitly Lis superior
1 officers. He’ seems to have set a most |
pernicious example of rebellion to the
sailors, instead ot teaching them obedience. .
God grant that, this spirit oi insubordina- \
tion, licentiousness and rebellion, which is
becoming so rife all over the Lnitedj
States, may not soon reduce us to the j
I condition of unhappy Mexico.
S. T. Bailey. ‘
For the Index.
The Sunday School. Convention at AmcMttus
—Georgia Baptists ought to he represent
ed — One subject on which we arc agreed ,
and yet not. agreed.
Bro. Walker. —There is no doubt that
delegates from other States will be in at
tendance on the Sunday School Conver
| lion at, Americus. Is it not the duty 0.
Georgia Baptists to meet their brethren
from abroad in a fraternal spirit, and unite
j with them in deliberating on the impor
tant questions which may be presented 1
j It is earnestly hoped that our churches,
I Sunday Schools, and the Executive Com
j mittees of our Associations, will act
i promptly in this matter, and send up a
j strong delegation to Americus.
Whatever difference of opinion may ex
ist as to the propriety of establishing the
Sunday School Union formed at Nash
ville, the Georgia Baptists ai-e agreed tha
our Foreign Missions in China and Africa
ought to he sustained by the liberality of
the churches. That is, we are agreed in
sentiment on this subject. But lam sorry
to add, we are not agreed in practice. —
Some churches give regularly and liberal
! ly; others give nothing. Shall we not
henceforth be agreed in practice as well
as in sentiment ? “Brethren, your contri
butions are greatly needed. Will not the
pastors of all our churches make collec
tions for this cause, and forward them to
the Convention at Americas? If the-pas
tors should happen to oveHook this ap
peal, will not a deacon or some brother
in each church call attention to it? ‘
It lias seemed to bo my duty to devote
Ia portion of my time, the past winter, to
laboring in revival meetings. I trust the
cause of Foreign Missions will not suffer
:on this account. lam sure those church
es which have experienced such seasons of
refreshing from the presence of the Lord
will do what they can to prevent it. And
I beg that all will give liberally and pray
‘■ fervently for this cam \
J. IF. Campbell. i
?. S.—Since writing the above I have :
read brother Dawson's article, and the ed
itorial, and I now say, let ns be fully rep- i
resented, or not represented rt ;
J Iff- |
. V. . j
C- -&■ f—- --
Tor the Index. ..
A Theological Onestion, and a j
SYLLOGISM. . I
Brother iValkcr. —Permit me, through j
the Index, to ask a theological question, 1
to which please give me an answer, or re
quest some of you-r correspondents, to do
so:
Does the Bible teach that the mediation
of Christ is necessary to the salvation of j
those dying in infancy?
If so, will someone show the unsound
! ness of the following syllogism ?
Xo one can be condemned by the law 1
of God except for actual transgression.
Those who die iti infancy cannot com- j
! mit actual transgression.
Tuerefore, those dying in infancy arq
not condemned by the law of God.
And certainly, they against whom the ‘
i law has no claim, need no mediator.
I am not committed to the negative of
the question I have put, but as an enqui-
Ter after truth, sincerely desire light, that j
j I may walk therein. Baldwin;
To the question I answer in the affir- ;
’ motive. Because, Adam was the Federal
Head of the human race. As the repre
sentative of all his descendants, he was
placed under the Covenant of works which
annexed the penalty of death, temporal, |
spiritual and eternal, to his violation of I
its requirements. lie did violate them,
and thus involved himself and all he.rep,
! resented in the legal penalty of death.—
“By one man's disobedience many were
made,” or constituted, “sinners.” “The
judgment was by one,” or one offence, “to
condemnation.’’ “Through the offence of
; one, many are- dead.” The Apostle j
• brings our. notice in thisl
• verse-: “X dYeumel •., deatTi reigned from
Ad am to Moses, even over them that had
not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s
j transgression.” In consequence of Adam’s
sin, iniigits came into the world in a state
lof depravity. They, “are by nature the
child I .’fid Os wrath.” David said—“ B
ehold, I Was shapen in iniquity, and in sin
did my mother conceive me.” Our expe-,
1 riene’e and observation coincide with these
truths.
Xow there can be no preparation for a ;
world of holiness for infants, without re
: generation—they must “put off the old
man-and put on the new.” This must be
done by “the washing of regeneration,
: and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, shed
on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ,
our Saviour.”
Then, “the Bible does teach that the
mediation of Christ is necessary to the .
salvation of those dying; in infancy.” It
is a glorious truth that departed infants 1
will stand in glory upon the mediation of i
Christ’s righteousness, a far higher posi- j t
tion than that of unfallen angels, and that :
they will have a personal interest in that i
song of glory to Him that redeemed us, -
and washed us in His blood. :
The unsoundness of the above syllo-[
gism consists in the major premise—it is 1
too restricted by the word “actual,’’ in i
t’.ic sense of personal transgression. It
can be rendered sound thus: X o one can
! be condemned by the law of God except
; for federal or actual transgression.
Those who die in infancy were guilty
of federal transgression.
Therefore those who die in infancy were
\ condemned by the law of God.
i Take another syllogism: Xo one of
the human family could die except he
But jiK&yjts die. .piiMljip
fore, jnfants are sinners.
But as infants have been constituted
sinners without personal transgression, so
we believe from the Scriptures that they
will be saved by Jesus, without personal
repentance and faith. “Stiff r little ehil
; dren to come unto me, and forbid them
not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
❖
For the Index.
Southern Baptist Publication So
ciety
Bro. Editor. —I propose, in a few short
articles, to give your readers some reasons
w hy we should enter more heartily into
1 the support of the above mentioned soci
etv. The reasons stand connected with
each of the names by which the Society
•is designated. It is Southern—it is Bap
tist —it is lor publication purposes —it is a
:’ Society.
It is Southern, All understand that
’ i this refers to the institution of slavery,
which distinguishes the Southern from the
. Xorthern portion of our confederacy. A
few years since, in our country, there was
, no Xorlh, and no South. But the spirit
of Abolitionism, in its disorganizing and
.. fiendish work, has affected the masses, ev
, en of the good, in the Northern half of
- these States, and made them unwilling to
co-operate with the friends of slavery In
preaching the Gospel, and extending the
kingdom of our Saviour on earth. The
spirit first manifested itself among the so
called religious teachers of the North.—
It soon became necessary for us, in self
defence and self-respect, to establish soci-.
eties for all our leading denominational ob
jects. This, as your readers remember,
took place in 1845. Two years after this,
in our own State, was formed tire Society
whose claims 1 plead. This organization
is designed to defend, in every proper
manner, the institution of slavery. The
North, with England, France, and most
of the European States, is in avowed and
deadly hostility to slavery as it exists
among us. They nave slavery in a worse
system by far than our own. There, the
slave is without- a master. Having most of
the world against us, it is our bounden
! duty to show that in every difference on
this subject, wo are right, and they are
wrong. The mission of these States is to
convince the world that there is no evil
in slavery.
There is no moral evil in it. Slavery is |
|no sin. The great ground of opposition
! to, and attack upon, our peculiar institu
tion is, that it is a sin against God. This
; we deny ; and ask, what law of God do
we violate in liokling men slaves ? The ;
; Old Testament authorizes and sanctions j
it. We are no more sinners than Abra
ham, who belli, probably, more than a
| thousand “men, women and clrildaen” in
! bondage. And yet lie is called not only
I faithful, but the “father of the faithful.”—
Wo sin with Jacob and Job, who were
eminently the “friends of God.” In the j
Mosaic law, great particularity is observ
j ed in relation to the duties and rights of
- One of the ten commandments ;
I expressly mentions them as property not
: to be coveted. In one isolated place on
ly, do we find apparent contradiction to j
these positions—Deuteronomy 23: 15, 1 <.
i But by reference to the context it will be
seen that reference is had, not to slavery j
1 among the Hebrews, but to fugitives from
the nations around them, destitute of the
means of salvation, and having the power
:of life and death over their slaves. These
were not to be delivered up to such mas
ters. This ease is very different from
; slavery as it exists among us ; and refusal
; to deliver up slaves, by the Northern por
tion of our confederacy, finds in it no
: countenance nor support.
In the Old Testament the s!a e is espec
ially called “the money” of his master.
Nor is the New Testament less plain
and explicit. There the duty of master
and slave is pointed out—motives to obe
j (lienee are presented, and the blessings of
! obedience promised. A whole Epistle is a
written by Paul to inculcate no other du
ly or doctrine than to show thatusven a
Christian slave is not free from the claims
of his master; and by such to Philemon,
his master. By the we scarcely
know whether to pity or anathematize the !
poor efforts of such men as the great Dr. !
Barnes, who attempts to parry the force
of this epistle, and eyen to convert it in
to an abolition document. But this is the
tendency of abolitionism —to obscure and
pervert the plain meaning of the Word of
God.
Nor will it avail to tell us, as Dr. Way
land has done, that the general principle
of “doing to ‘others as we would have
them do to us,” would cause the abolition
of slavery. By the abolition interpreta
. tion of this rule, I might covet my neigh
bor’s land, or estate, or wife, and I should
at once have to five him mine ; or I might
be a judge, and very much desire, if in
the place of the criminal, to be delivered
from justice—and does that make it my
duty to deliver him ? Tin's precept de
signs only to make us see and do the right ,
by imagining ourselves in the places of
those with whom we are acting.
By the right interpretation of that rule
of life, we should not-liberate our slaves;
because that would be the worst thing for
them. But we should imagine ourselves
in these conditions, in order that we may
see and give to them, “that which is just
and equal.” We can have the whole
light of Divine Revelation on this subject
without disturbing the relation of master
and slave. In owning men as “property,”
we violate no law of the Old or New T6s- ,
tam cut. Fuller, Bledsoe, and .^others,
have done much to institu
tion from the attacks of abolitionists; but
we want societies, organized and acting,
which shall select and endorse books and
literature for our people. For this end
was the Southern Baptist Publication So
ciety instituted ; and for this reason it be
mauds the patronage of all patriotic Bap
tists. II- _
For the Index. ■* m ,
Augusta, Ga., )_ j
March 1, 185S. )
Mr. Editor : You will doubtless be sur
prised to receive from your “New York
Correspondent’’ a letter mailed at this j
place. Your surprise, however, cannot be
greater than his would have been could
he have been informed two weeks ago
that he should to-day be addressing you
from this spot. The illness of an aged
and venerated father called me suddenly
from my post, which otherwise I could
not have consented to leave at tins time,
and brought me in fitly four hours to the
banks of the Savannah. Barring the im
mediate cause of my visit, I am l ight glad
to be here, and it does me more good
than I can well express, to breathe once
more my native air. The very sod ol
Georgia is precious to me, and I can see
in her swamp and pines (unromantic as it
may seem to some) more beauty than I
ever discovered in ciitnrnct or mount-mil
scene. This, of course, can be understood
by those alone who have visited the scenes
of their childhood after years of absence,
and who have not outlived the recollec
| tion of the boyish sports and pleasures
which are associated with no other name i
than ol home. I catch myself, every now
and then repeating those words of the
poet —the sentiment of which I feel deep
down in my heart—
“ Breathes there a man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own—my native land.”
I should like to “run over” and “look
j on” upon you, Mr. Editor, but I fear I
snad not now bo allowed the pleasure.—
j W-k of duty is loud in another dinv
| tion.
cannot give you any recent intelli
gence from the churches, I must be con
tent with noting a few “jottings” of
travel, or, I might say rather, a single jot.
The remarkable feature of my journev
, From Aew v ork to this’ place (only last
week) is, that I traveled every foot of the
way through a sheet of snow. There has
1 keen literally snow from Maine to Geor
gia ; and what, to my mind; is the most
remarkable feature of all, is the'\vct that
ihe quantity of snow seemed to imtssqase
as we proceeded southward from Yirgfh
ia. It has all disappeared now, however,
nature is beginning to put on her beauti
ful livery of green.
t find the ehuven in this place in a very
I flourishing condition. Brother Rverson,
their excellent pastor-—and a truly noble
minded man lie is—has great occasion for
encouragement and thanksgiving. I heard
him deliver an admirable address last
; night, before the Young Men’s ChiDtian
i Association, and lam glad to find that
he has a strong iioid upon the young men
of the community, especially I was happy
to meet here also, my old friend, W. J.
Hard. Time: lias dealt gently with him,
■ although like others of us, he lias tasted
i the inevitable cup of domestic affliction.—
fie is one. of those men who never grow
| old. Ile lias the art. Ile understands it.
Ogletiioupe.
■
Who vie re Their?
Many a deed of true Christian charity
i shall remain unchronicled; but the last
day will disclose all secrets, and ‘those
: who, in obscurity, sock now to lead souls
I to Chris t, will then be openly rewarded. >
Not long since a young professional
man of this city was followed to the bed
side of a poor sufferer by two ladies close
ily veiled. The diseased belonged to one
of the best classes; and while the young
physician was proceeding in his examina
tion, the two ladies entered and seated
themselves. Thinking them to be sent
on an errand of mercy to the afflicted man,
he waited to observe their action?; hut
instead of addressing the j sick one, they
spoke to him, and asked him if he was a
Christian. His reply was in the negative.
They then stated to him that a series of
meetings were in progress in that city,
and they were endeavoring to get the
young men to attend, and requested him
to do so. And in addition, they added
many words to induce him to seek a kind
Saviour. VJho knows what may be the
result of that act ol Christian charity ?
j Who knows how many other action , of a
similar character may have been and are
being performed in secret by those who
love their Lord Jesus in sincerity? It is
believed that already good fruit has re
j suited from that action. Oh! Christian !
if you knew your power, you would use
it. Go ye out into the highways and
hedges, and - by urgent entreaty compel
them to come in.- Work while ye have
1 the light ; work while the Spirit of God
is manifesting His power in the place;—
work while, by tender expostulation, the
sinner’s heart has been softened; and who
knows but what the obstinate heart may
be softened, and a soul saved from death ?
For flic Index.
The Right Spirit.
Ameeiccs, Ga., March 3,1858.
Bro. DeLoache: For sometime I have
felt it was my duty to contribute some
tiling to the enterprise of which you are
the manager. Herewith please find en
closed Ten Dollars ($10) which you may
apply in whatever direction you think it
is most needed. I wish I were able to
giv.e you a thousand dollars annually, but
sir, my desires exceed very much my
means. Ten dollars, however, can distri
bute Bibles and other good books enough
to be the saving many precious
souls. MayspPe Lord thus bless the mite.
< big who tremblingly looks
y - *to Jesus for Salvation.
[May the Lord bit; s the donor, and make these
ton dollars ministers of mercy in the distribution
of Bibles and other books among the destitute.—
Editor]
Revivals. .
.On T.ord’s-day night, Feb. 28th, Elder
J. B. Jeter baptized five candidates at
Grr-e st. Church, Richmond, Va.
j Bro. Wall:hr —It may be encouraging
to your readers to know that on the fit s.
K"„.4-,v in Celmcp .siy wp.i’e.lm.nti/. ‘d at
Barkeavnp church in Bonce county, and t n
the third Sunday two, and twq standing
over for baptism- Yv r . T>. Ticker.
Scarborough, March 4, 185”.
The Christian Era of the 18th ult. sums
up the additions to the churches for one
week as follows:
“In Massachusetts 0-52 conversions are
reported. In Maine 175, New Hampshire
30, and revivals in five towns, not report
ing the number converted. Vermont 113.
Rhode Island 210, Connecticut 300, New
York 800, New Jersey 200, Ohio 704, In
diana 723, Illinois 393, Pennsylvania 710,
Virginia 21 7, Tennessee 180, Kentucky
325, North Carolina 235, Georgia 47, Ma
ryland 317, lowa 462, Florida 20, Wiscon
sin 20, Michigan 210, California 80, Can
ada 81. This gives a total of conversions
reported, seven thousand five hundred and
fifty, not including a large number of re
vivals without statistics.’’
£s§ff = ”The city of St. Louis has been wit
nessing for some time, joyous scenes. < n
Sabbath before last, the pastor of the Third
church, Rev. AT. Barnhurst, gave the
hand of fellowship to near forty, who have
been received, most of them by baptism,
since the last monthly communion. It
was a pleasing sight to see so many youth,
with some in the meridian of life, giving
| themselves to the Saviour of sinners. The
work has gone on steadily, noiselessly,
peacefully, under the labors of the pastor,
and the prayers and co-operation of the