Newspaper Page Text
Christian'index.
JOSEPH WALKER, Editor,
SAMUEL BOYKIN, Assistant.
TELIO 2A P H POW £ A PR 18 S
MACON, GrJ±-
Wednesday, Dec. 1> 1858.
Notice.
All communications intended for the
it) EDITOR, must be addressed simp y
TIAN INDEX,” Macon, Ga.
Conflict of T^h^dError-The
importance of contending on sound
IM SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES.
From the day that John the Baptist
announced in the wilderness of Judea
the approaching reign of heaven; from
the time that Jesus began to preach
repentance in Galilee; from the days
in which Paul turned from the Jews
and published the gospel to the Gen
tiles ; from the preaching of the primi
tive Christians to the present time,
there lias been a steady conflict be
tween truth and error. Truth has been
ever aggressive, while error has as
continuously resisted, even unto blood.
’Twas error and sin that beheaded
John the Baptist, that nailed the Bless
ed Saviour to the Cross, that killed
the Apostles by various and cruel tor
tures, that slaughtered the early Chris
tians as sheep for a royal banquet dur
ing the ten persecutions, that scatter
ed Novatians, Donatists, Puritans, Pa
terines and Waldenses over rugged
mountains and compelled them to seek
shelter and safety in rocky caverns,
that dispersed and cruelly murdered
the Anabaptists of Germany, that
whipped, fined and imprisoned the
Baptists of New England and Virgin
ia, and that essayed to crush, even to
annihilation, every Baptist church
which dared to oppose or frustrate its
nefarious designs.
’Tis error—ever and in all places
the same —that would even now, in
this enlightened age of Christianity,
restrain the free exercise of conscience,
repudiate primitive ordinances, turn
church-democracy into church despot
ism, silence Baptist preachers from
proclaiming the whole truth as it is in
Christ, compel every Baptist church
in the land to pay tribute to half
worldly, half religious hierarchies, in
one word —blot out the name of Bap
tist from under the azure canopy of
heaven.
Such has been, and such forever
must be, the tendency of error. No
matter by whomsoever held, whether
by Jew, Pagan, Catholic or Protestant,
it is intolerant, tyrannical, and deadly
in its aims and ends, to the full extent
of its power. If it does not inflict its
vengeance on Baptists in this country
to the full measure of its desires, it is
only because “the voluntary principle”
—religious liberty—is incorporated in
the fabric of the American Govern
ment. This, at present, is a restraint
on persecution which snpercilous sec
tarianism can not withstand.
In view, then, of these indisputable
facts—facts that can be tracked by the
blood of the saints from the death of
the harbinger to the Independence of
the American Colonies—it is plain
that Baptists have still a mission on
earth. They are witnesses for the
truth —the whole truth, and nothing
hut the truth. They must neither re
treat nor waver in their onward march
against errorists and false systems of
religion. Their banner must be lifted
on high, that its mottoes of truth, glo
ry, and victory may be seen and hon
ored by all the true citizens of the
heavenly kingdom, and dreaded by
the dark cohorts of the prince of this
world. They should not be diverted
from their duty by the vaporing gos
sip of ignorant critics among Pedobap
tists, nor the whining complaints of
timid soldiers in their own ranks. The
Baptist church is an army, every man
of which is expected to fight —not with
carnal weapons, but with the true
Gospel amor—burnished and made
bright in the arsenal of Zion’s king—
which is mighty for the overthrow, and
the “pulliug down of strong holds.”
But they should know what they are
lighting for—that is, what are the doc
trines of truth which must be advoca
ted and defended, and what the spe
tious forms of error that should be re
pudiated and rejected. If they fight
“ as one beating the air,” with a zeal
without knowledge, the enemy will
come in as a flood, and utterly deso
late the camps of Zion—leaving noth
ing in his trail but discord, enmity, for
mality without spirituality, coldness,
Fchisms, railing for railing, Paul-par
ties, Peter-parties, and consequently,
langor and death.
For such principles and practices
as the following, Baptists should al
ways, most kindly, but earnestly con
tend :
First, for a converted church-mem
bership ; secondly, for the baptism of
“believers to the exclusion of inf ant bap
tism thirdly, for the immersion of
a believer as the only valid baptism ;
fourthly, against immersions adminis
tered by wnhaptized administrators,
and finally, for the sovereignty, and
the independence of Baptist churches.
On these latter points, there is, just
at present, more danger of falling into
error, than in relation to any of the
others mentioned. We submit these
two features of Baptist usage to the
calm, unprejudiced, and prayerful con
sideration of Christ-loving disciples.
There is a tendency on the part of as
sociations, north and south, to encroach
on the prerogatives of the churches.
Should they be indulged in this, the
indulgence would be in conflict with
the practice of the primitive churches,
as attested by Moshem; with the uni
form custom of the modern Baptist
churches, and with standard works of
Baptists on church polity, now before
the public. All we ask is, tl at these
points shall be studied by the light of
history and Baptist order.
A Shot in the Dark.
We copy the subjoined with the
editor’s prayer for pardon, from the
Southern Christian Advocate of the
18th of November.
From the Southern Christian Advocate.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
Correspondents of the S. C. Advocate.
Mr. Editor—Permit a reader of our
excellent Christian Advocate to say,
that those who have the misfortune to
dwell within the influence of the mor
al miasm, of the Christian Index, are
not a little surprised, that any of your
readers or correspondents, should deem
it admissable , [admissz’ife] not to say
necessary, to notice or reply to any
thing which that paper shall say a
gaiust the Methodist Church. Notice,
is what it seeks, while merited silence
is “death in the pot.”
[The Editor craves pardon of our
correspondent and of those whom he
represents, if he has erred. He has
only made room for those who thought
themselves aspersed. Our correspon
dent is well prepared to speak on the
subject, and, we hope that the writers
for the Advocate will regard his coun
sels, as weighing much with the Edi
tor of the Advocate. We hope to of
fend no more in this direction.]
Now, this “Noscio” may be a man
of some consideration among his com
peers, and the weaker vessels of the
Methodist Eldership would better be
careful how they shed ink in future. —
We have ourself been “surprised,” that
such productions as those of Slaughter,
Clonts, Hanson and Id genus omne,
found admission into the Advocate,
but since the editor —like a good Meth
odist who has fallen from grace—hum
bly “craves pardon” we trust that
“Noscio” will grant him absolution. —
And moreover, as the writers above
named have set a good example to Mr.
“Noscio” by writing over their own
proper names, we think that he ought
to have been a little ashamed to issue
his edict to them under a nom-de
guerre.
The “ moral miasm ” which has so
much disturbed the equanimity of
“Noscio,” was simply an accurate de
scription of some baptisms or immer
sions, administered in a rather ludi
crous manner by some of his brethren.
The Index can not but point such er
ring mortals to the right way, whether
they choose to walk therein or not.
So, we are not to be “ noticed ” in fu
ture. We shall see how long locals,
circuit-riders, and editors can keep si
lence. They have promised us the
same thing frequently on the honor of
their “self respect,” but they have
found it very difficult to keep “death in
the pot.
We sympathize with “Noscio” on
account of the fate which makes it his
duty to “dwell” within the ‘influences’
of the Index, but there is one view of
the subject which entitles us to his
gratitude, namely: he will not be like
ly to have occasion to visit the river or
a “poolP The light of the Index
shines in the direction of the Baptist
church, and—unlike the gas-light in
the Methodist meeting-house last year
—it never goes out. Persons, there
fore, who prefer immersion can always
see where it can be regularly adminis
tered by a baptized administrator.
The only favor we have to ask of
“ Noscio” is, that he cast away his
veil. He may be our next door neigh
bor, and we should like to look him in
theface.
About the same time that “NoscioV
opinion of the character of the Index
came, we received a private letter
from a friend in a distant State, who
though not a member of a Baptist
church, judges of the Index without
looking through Methodist spectacles,
thus:
“Be not over-anxious, you have done
a good work; your fostering care has
uplifted the Index, solidified its foun
dation, expanded its area, multiplied
its supporters, and what is better than
all else, vitalized its spirit, its tone and
made it an exponent of real, active
working bhristianity.”
A New Association.
A friend has handed us the minutes
of the Tryon Association, Texas, in
which we find the following article of
its Constitution :
Art. 0. Also when a serious difficul
ty may arise in an individual church,
which they themselves cannot recon
cile, they may call in the aid of one or
two more churches in the Union to as
sist in the work, and if satisfaction in
the opinion of the helps is not obtained,
the case may be brought before the
Association, which shall take up the
case and act upon it.
Now, this article, in our judgment, is
too loosely stated. The Ascociation
permits the church to do that which it
has the right to do without asking per
mission from the Association. If the
difficulty is of a nature to disturb the
fellowship of the associated churches,
the Association may drop the church ,
thus in disorder, but its action can not
extend to discipline within the church.
Be careful, brethren, how you invest
Associations with power. You may
have a crushing hierarchy before you
suspect anything of the kind.
Two more Numbers and Then.
• Well, what then ? Why the Christian
Index will have completed its 37th
year. Now, what we have to suggest,
is this: Georgia Baptists might make
it some birth-day presents —not of cakes,
candies, hobby horses nor any notions
from the curiosity shops of confectiona
ries—but in the shape of a long, long
list of new subscribers. The first num
ber in January will be a rich one, and
it will be a number so convenient to
begin with. It is so easy to reckon from
the beginning of the solaryear, and then
the cotton crop will be sold, and the dol
iars rusting in the iron cheats. The
best way to keep them bright is to put
them in circulation, and what better
investment could be made, than to pro
vide with them an Index for every
Georgia family ?
But we are speaking to whole-hearted
Baptists, in particular. Not to those
whose bodies are in the State, and their
souls out of it—not to any who may
perchance imagine that no good can
come out of Nazareth —not to those, if
such there be, who only think that the
Index points right when it points in
their direction —not to fidgety, nervous
creatures, who would fling the paper in
a corner because of their dislike of a
sentence, as a spoiled child would a top
or a rattle—no, to none such do we
speak; but we speak, earnestly, to
all who want a thorough Baptist
paper in Georgia, and want her educa
tional and missionary interests sustain
ed. Os them we ask a list of new sub
scribers to begin with the year 1859.
Action of the Index Committee.
Our book-keeper is now transferring
the names of our subscribers to anew
ledger, and in anticipation of that work,
the Index Committee passed the fol
lowing resolution :
In the transfer of accounts from the
Old to the New Ledger, no name be
transferred which is more than $lO in
arrears ; and that a book of Delinquents
be fi. rmed of those owing more than
$10; and that after a reasonable notice
they be discontinued as subscribers.
We have lately run over the list al
ready on the delinquent book, and find
that the several sums annexed to Chris
tian names foot up about One Thou
sand Dollars. We are now affording
facilities to all the persons above allud
ed to, to get off that book as speedily
as possible, by sending their account
bills, for which we should like to have
good bank bills in return. Do. breth
ren and friends, get out of that book.
If you will send what you owe without
grumbling or making wry faces, we
will draw a black mark over \ our names
so broad, that no person can ever see
that you were on tha.t book—we will.
To the Friends of the Bible and
COLPORTEUR SOCIETY.
By the last Index, you will perceive
that the Board has elected me to the re
sponsible office of Depository Agent and
Corresponding Secretary of the Bible and
Colporteur Society. Permit me to offer
a few views for your consideration.
You are aware that this is a Reading
Age. Books, pamphlets, periodicals and
papers are streaming forth from the press,
bearing to the millions of our country,
that which stamps upon the soul good or
bad impressions. And, everywhere, the
urgency of the popular demand for men
tal food, whether fictitious and vile or
healthful and pure, indicates the ardent
desire for light and information which
pervades society. Go where we will, we
find papers, periodicals, books. News, in
formation, knowledge—is the demand of
the day. The emanations of disordered
brains, the political squibs of editorial de
magogues, the fairy creations of the poet’s
pen, the vile trash of the panderer to vi
cious tastes, the creations of the romance
writer and the brilliant coruscations that
flash from the soul of genius, all are ea
gerly devoured—and all effect a purpose.
The Press ! It is the most powerful
and effective engine, for weal or woe,
now employed by man. By it, virtue is
corrupted, morals debased, the mind pol
luted —yea, the soul itself often brought
to a state worse than annihilation. For ?
when infidelity and skepticism, like rank
poison, are, through the medium of a fair
page and language which genius only can
indite, infused into the mind, destroying
those principles that assimilate us to the
God like and which only accompany true
happiness and salvation, is not that a de
struction worse than annihilation ?
When we look at the groaning book
shelves and count the thousands of vol
umes that contain moral poison : when
we contemplate the unnumbered works
on every side which pander to prurient
tastes, and tend to build up error, dissem
inate pestilential dogmas and spread far
and wide unscriptural notions, we are
fain to exclaim of the Press—lt is an evil
in the Land!
But, then, when we reflect that by the
agency of this same Press, the word of
God, bringing joy, gladness and salvation,
is scattered everywhere: when we re
member the double-refined and purified
gold of correct moral sentiment and evan
gelical doctrine that has emanated from
its embrace : when we think of the tens
of thousands and millions of good books,
that, like angels of mercy, have teemed
forth from it, bearing the glad* tidings of
salvation, we revoke our harsh sentence
and say—The Press! it is the arm of the
Almighty, made bare on earth 1
It is a source of intense gratification
that, in the general desire for reading
matter, religious works make up so large
a portion of the public demand. No pub
lishing houses are more popular than those
which issue sound theological, religious
or devotional works. Our thanks are
due to the Great Ruler of events for this
state of things. It becomes us then to
take advantage of this “ tide in the affairs
of men” in order to advance our Redeem
er’s cause and promote his glory. It be*
comes us to furnish such wholesome nour
ishment to the popular mind as to create
a distaste for the common light and sin
ful literatuffc day.
The people desire books, and it becomes
us to supply them with the right kind. —
Let us supplant the loose novels with ex
cellent biographies: let us supplant books
of indifferent morals, with such as incul
cate religious principles; and let us, by the
aid of Alexander’s and Mcllvains Eviden
ces, banish Paine’s productions. If peo
ple will read, let us put in their hands the
works of Doddridge, Baxter, Bunyan,
Flavel, Howell, Venn, Fuller, Wilber,
force, Spurgeon, Wayland, Dagg, and a
host of others, that they may no longer
be wrapped up in the Mysteries of Udol
pho, the Three Spaniards, Jonathan Wild,
Maryatt’s Novels, the Wandering Jew,
and such mind and heart-debasing pro
ductions. The masses can be elevated
by a sound literature only. The Gospel
will have its greatest effect where the
humble Colporteur has distributed his
Tracts and disseminated his religious
books. reports of Colporteurs.
It is ow/and over the same thing. “I
gave sueh a one a book; on my return I
found him a believer through Its instru
mentality.”
Hear the testimony of all experience,
“ where knowledge and information are
diffused, there the people become eleva
ted and refined.” Now let the knowledge
be religious knowledge, and the informa
tion, that of the Gospel plan of salvation,
and what is the result ? Behold a peo
ple made ready for the Lord ! To them
the Gospel-messenger comes as to hungry
men. They drink in the words of eternal
life. Religious intelligence !—diffuse it
among the people and there will be an
end to groggery broils—to election com
bats —to midnight carousals, and to race
course assemblies. You would no longer
hear of riots and murders, sabbath-day
desecrations, and superstitious profanity
and iguowtace. The spirit of the Gospel,
shining forth from the many-tonguedpage,
and lifting up its unceasing protests, and
acting upon the heart of man with a heav
en-lent energy, would put down all these,
and pointing with extended arm to the
heavenly portals, would say, “ This is the
way, walk ye in it!” And society, puri
fied by this heavenly leaven, would grad
ually rise to the level of virtue, morality,
Christianity, happiness—eternal safety.
I am happy to announce that there is
an increasing demand for denominational
books. Newspaper discussions —the agi
tation of great questions—the increased
activity of denominational enterprises, and
the vigor and spirit of inquiry infused in
to the entire body ecclesiastical, by the
gracious operations of the Holy Spirit,
have created a demand for books of a de
nominational character. That demand is
nothing but the voice of the masses, say
ing, Give us light. And surely, in this
case we may say, voxpopuli vox Dei. And
the establishment of so many centres from
which religious knowledge may emanate,
must surely be in obedience to a divine
mandate, Let there he light.
Feeling thus, and acknowledging the
mighty power and high mission of a reli
gious literature, I am willing to enter
heart and soul into this enterprise. All
my energies shall be given to it, that er
ror may be banished, truth made trium
phant, religion promoted, and the cause
of our dear Master victoriously advanced.
I ask of you, sympathy and co opera
tion. Thb enterprise, remember, is a de
nominational one; and will tend to pro
mote Baptist principles. As yet, it is in
its infancy, and needs support. Its aim is’
to send the Bible into every nook and cor
ner of the State. Will you not help to
do that? Its object is, by a right kind of
literature, to promote Baptist principles
which are synonymous with Bible princi
ples. Will you not help do that ? Its in
tention is to build up a mighty supporter
of our cause, whicn is the cause of God.
Will you not help do that? Come, then,
forward and rally to the support of the
Georgia Baptist Bible Board and Colpor
teur Society. Let your contributions be,
not only such as denominational pride,
but such as love fr>r the souls of dying
men, and devotion to a Saviour’s cause,
shall dictate.
Recollect that the Society makes noth
ing. All thalfis given to it is at once de
dicated to the advancement of the Re
deemer’s kingdom.
I propose to you, here and there, all
over the State, to establish. auxiliaries,
from which those in your immediate neigh
borhood can obtain all the booksf they
desire at a cheap price. By remitting
money to me and ordering what Bibles
and books your neighborhood may de
mand, you will immediately receive them
at reduced prices ; when your books are
sold, the same money will buy more; and
thus, with no expense save a book case in
some brother’s store, you can at once
make accessible to all your brethren,
friends and neighbors the soundest litera
ture, the choicest theology, and the most
desirable books.
Thus union and harmony will be pro
moted, brotherly love advanced, the Bap
tist cause be made to flourish and love
for God. and for dying souls be shed
abroad in the land.
SAMUEL BOYKIN.
Macon, Georgia.
The Life and Times of Isasc Bac
kus.
By Alvaii Hovey, A. M. Professor of
Christian Theology in Newton Theo
logical Institution. —Gould & Lincoln.
—360 pages.—For sale at the Baptist
Depository, Macon.
This book should be read by all Bap
tists. It helps to dispel the grievous dark
ness that enshrouds early Baptist history
in America, and removes the clouds of ig
norance that rest upon the minds of so
many in regard to our early denomi
national history in New England. On
this account the book is valuable, its pub
lication timely, and its perusal interest
ing.
We confess to much edification from
its perusal. We read of persecution of
the Baptists, their incarcerations, their
sufferings for religious liberty, the spolia
tion of their effects and their devotion
to their principles. We read of fines,
imprisonment and cruel treatment by
those in authority; but we found out
that such men as Backus, James Manning,
Hezekiah Smith, John Davis, William
Rogers, Roger Williams, Samuel Still
man, Thomas Baldwin, Stephen Gano and
Jonathan Maxcy were not to be daunted
by opposition or made recreant to prin
ciples by persecution.
The book treats, in a large degree of
Isaac Buckus. He was born in Norwich,
Conn, in 1724, was converted iu 1741,and
died in 1806, aged 83. In a few years
after his conversion, he began to preach
as a “Separatist”—that is one driven into
a separate organization by the opposition
of the “Standing Order’’ to the “new
light” movement —as the great revival
was called. Backus was called to preach
at Titicut, where he labored for more than
50 years. These labors form a small por
tion only of the work of his life : he stood
forth an Apostle for soul—liberty, was
agent for the Baptists, the principal man
of many committees, a wonderful travel-
er in the cause of the Baptists, a Revival
ist, a frequent petitioner to the “ general
court’’ in favor of his denomination, with
pen and tongue busy iu the cause of re
ligious liberty, a valuable historian, an ad
vocate of learning, being a trustee of R.
I. College, now Brown University for 40
years, a man of sterling sense, a man of
prayer and a man of piety.
Our readers should obtain the book.
B.
COM.MI NH ATIONS.
For the Index.
That Indian’s Son.
Dear Brother : Allow me to express
the earnest desire I feel, that the request
of our Indian brother, Win, Cass, that
his son be taken and educated in one of
our Georgia schools, shall be complied
with. I moreover desire that Merger
University should have the honor of ed
ucating the youth mentioned by brother
Murrow, in his letter published in the In
dex of the 10th inst. Cannot the Trus
tees of Mercer University sustain him ?
If they cannot, I hope they will say so ?
In that event, I will make one of fifty to
give $5 annually, or one of twenty-five to
give $lO annually to sustain him at either
of the Baptist Colleges in Georgia—a ma
jority of the contributors to decide to
which College he shall be sent.
Is there not some wealthy brother or
sister in Georgia who would feel it a priv
ilege to adopt ancl educate him? Were
! it not that my enfeebled health renders it
exceedingly improbable that I shall live
many days, I would pledge myself sor 1
his support, direct him to be sent on im
mediately, and turn out and beg the ne
cessary funds. J. S. B.
[Who will be the first to respond to
the above suggestion to adopt and edu
cate the Indian youth—the son of an In
dian Baptist preacher.—Editor.]
For the Index.
How a Church may Prosper.
Upon what does the prosperity of a
Church depends:
1. Much depends in her deportment
towards her pastor. Her conduct ought
on all occasions, to be encouraging to him.
In order to this, it is the duty of'members
to attend regularly on his ministrations.
. If they become indifferent, careless and
inattentive to their own meetings the pas
tor will conclude that they are uninterest
ed in his preaching; and may, conse
quently, become more or less indifferent
himself. If your pastor should fail to in
terest you, you are not on that account,
exempt from attending Church ; but you
should attend in order to promote the
interest and welfare of others. If you
are not benefited yourself, try to benefit
others. If one excuse himself, another
will think that his excuse is as good, and
so on, one after another until the minister
is quite sure you have something against
him as a man. It is the delight of the
pastor to see each one of his flock present
at every appointment, not only confer
ence, but also, for prayer meetings and
Sabbath preaching. Then be ‘sure to at
tend, and thus encourage your pastor. —
If you think your pastor advances erro
neous and pernicious doctrine, you should
not sound it throughout the neighbor
hood before you let him know it, but go
and tenderly and mildly tell him your ob-
jection and opinion, and the evil you
think consequent upon it. Then if it be
an oversight or mistake, it may be prop
erly and duly corrected, and the cause
saved.
You should be slow to credit evil re
ports against your pastor. Evil and false
reports are often gotten up among the
enemies of religion in order to injure the
cause, and not unfrequently they are con
cerning the heralds of the cross, and if
credited by the followers of Christ, our
adversaries think that they have gained a
victory. You should therefore be cer
tain of the truth of a report againt your
pastor before you credit it.
Let your contributions be distinguish
ed not only for their liberality and promp
titude, but also for the cheerfulness with
which they are given. If you are con
vinced of the necessity of giving, and yet
give grudgingly, neither your nor your
pastor, will be so much benefited by it.
Let him know that you pay him as freely
as you pay any other debt you owe, and
I assure you it will encourage and
strengthen him.
Much depends on the deportment of
the Church in reference to one another.
You may fulfill yonr duty as regards your
pastor, and yet for want of • due regard
for one another the Church may linger.
You should cultivate a spirit of love. —
This principle is implanted in the heart at
the Christians birth, and is an evidence
of his having passed from death unto life.
But if he neglect to cultivate this spirit,
he may degenerate until he have no high
er regard for his brethren than for the
profance. We ought to love one anoth
er even as Christ has loved us and given
himself for us. Be sure to conduct your
self so as to have the confidence of your
brethren. Never effect to esteem them
more highly than you really do - *
Say nothing behind your brother’s
back that you would not be willing to
say to his face. Were I disposed I could
name a Church that has been on the de
cline for two years or more, the start of
- which is attributable to back-biting among
the brethren.
Beware of tale-bearing among one an
other. If any member be so inclined, get
rid of him on the best terms, A Church
cannot prosper while there is an internal
war going on. Endeavor to preserve the
unity of the spirit. Bear each others
burdens. Sympathize with those in dis
dress. Do all that you do for the wel
fare of one another, and the glory of God.
By observing these particulars the Church
may and will prosper.
A- K. ZELLY.
Gwinnett, Ga.
Church Proceedings.
Dear Bito. Walker : —The undersign
ed Committee were appointed by the Mt.
Zion Church, Monroe County, Ga., to
draft the following resolutions, which
were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, our pastor and beloved broth
er, John H. Corley, has accepted the call
of the Board of Domestic Missions to go
as a Missionary to the Western Indians,
and as he has from that consideration
tendered to this Church his resignation
as pastor, therefore,
Resolved, That it is with feelings of
deep regret we accept the resignation of
Bro. Corley, not only because of the loss
we sustain in a kind and devoted pastor,
but also as an able defender of Baptist
faith, and expounder of Gospel truth.
2. Resolved, That while we are pained
in giving our pastor the parting hand,
and thus severing the pleasant relations
which have existed between us for the
past 4 years, we cheerfully yield him up
to the great work to which he is called,
and that we will earnestly pray God that
his labors may prove to be a great’ bless
ing in establising the kingdom of Christ
with the redmen of the West.
3. Resolved, That we recommend Bro.
Corley to the confidence, prayers and
support of all those with whom liis lot
may be cast.
4. Resolved, That these resolutions be
entered upon the minutes of the Church
book, and that a copy of the same be
sent for publication to the Christian In
dex, and request the Tennessee Baptist,
Home and Foreign Journal, and other
Baptist papers West to copy.
Done by order of the Church in Con
ference meeting, 1858.
. JOHN H. SAUNDERS, ),,
JOHN M. SHARPE, [ Uonl ’
Mercer University, No. 2.
We notice next the course of instruc
tion. This claims our especial attention.
The course of study is as extensive as that
any of College in the country. The classes
are thoroughly taught. No student is per
mitted to enter unless-lie is well drilled
in the studies preparatory to the classes lie
wishes to enter, and he is not allowed to
advance with them unless his stand
ing is respectable. This is an important
consideration. It has indeed been the
object of the faculty, from the fouuclation
of the Institution to make scholars, and
not mere graduates. To erect a high
standard ot scholarship has been then
steady aim. To this determination they
have adhered with unwavering fidelity.
For to let a boy pass through College with
a mere smattering knowledge of his text
hooks, would he doing injustice to him
and his parents, and would he palming a
gross deception upon the country. Some
men are willing to pay their money to he
flattered, to induce them to believe their
children are educated, but this they will
never purchase at Mercer University. I
once thought the course of instruction
was too severe—that the sons of many of;
our wealthy brethren who were brought
up in ease and affluence, would be induc
ed to enter and graduate instead of en
tering other Institutions, where the man
ner of instruction was less rigid, and
thereby the financial condition of the In
stitution might be improved and its influ
ence extended, but this delusion has been
dispelled when I have seen those young
men return from other Institutions and
in comparison with the graduates of Mer
cer, they have evidently suffered, and the j
difference has been the subject of remark
and observation.
Parental indulgence no doubt has kept
many a boy from Penfield, when it was
the deliberate consideration of his fath
er’s judgment that he ought to have gone
thither. It was also, his father’s reli
gious preference to have had him in a
Baptist Institution, but the rigid disci
pline and hard study frightened the boy
and the father indulged him in going to a
College confessedly inferior, because the
course was easier. Parents are begin
ning to discover that all is not gold that
glitters, and that a diploma is worthless
unless sustained by the solid merit of in
tellectual training. It matters not how
many graduates are sent out, none will
bless the country and reflect lasting hon
or on their Alma Mater, but those who
have been thoroughly instructed.
The writer has known boys frequently
to leave Mercer, because they had to
study hard, and could not occupy as fa
vorable a stand in the Institution as their
class-mates. These same young men have
gone to other Institutions of honorable
distinction and have occupied first rate po
sitions in their classes and left their study
hours and shared with their lass-mates
the higher honors of the institution. On
this part of the subject I might enlarge,
but my limit is full. A.
Tunnelling Through Mountains.
The method generally employed in boring
long tunnels, consists in first sinking several
shafts along the line, then tunnelling from both
ends and in each of the shafts at the same time,
by as many gangs of workmen. This method,
by providing for a great number of operators
to execute the work, shortens its completion,
and the short run of each gang in the tunnel
admits of easy ventilation. Under a high moun
tain, this system of tunnelling is impossible, be
cause shafts cannot be sunk, therefore a tunnel
in such a situation can only be bored from two
points at once—the termini at each side. On
the Piedmont Rail Road, now being construc
ted through the Alps, a long tunnel of several
miles is required between Modane and Bardone
clie. It will be six thousand feet below the sum
mit, and, of course, the sinking of shafts was
impracticable in such a case. By the common
methods of tunnelling, it has been calculated
that it would require thirty-six years to com
plete the operations, and it was also held to bo
impossible, by known means, to ventilate the
tunnel when it had attained to a great depth
owing principally to the great amount of blast
ing required, which would vitiate the atmos
phere. Unless some new means were devised
to overcome such difficulties, the execution of
this great tunnel could and would not have been
undertaken. By the ingenuity of three Sar
dinian engineers, Messrs. Sommeiller, Grattone,
and Grandis, provision was made for surmoun
ting all these obstacles. On the mountain, adja
cent to the line, there was a large stream of
water on a fall of sixty-five feet. This they
have applied to operate a hydraulic motor, which
condenses air in a reservoir to the pressure of
ninety pounds on the square inch; this is con
ducted in an extension tube into the tunnel,
where it first operates machinery which drives
the drills, then it escapes and supplies the mi
ners with fresh air, thus performing two duties,
namely, drilling and ventilating. By this ma
chinery eighteen holes are bored in the same
space required for six miners in drilling, and
each hole is bored in one-twelfth of the time ta
ken up by hand labor. When it is taken into
consideration that three-fourths of the timo in
tunnelling is occupied in boring, the immense
saving of time by these arrangements is obvi
ous. With such original application of con
densed air to tunnelling, it is caculatecf that this
sub-Alpine tunnel will now be completed at a
greatly reduced cost in six years—a very great
difference from thirty-six, by the ordinary means
of boring.
In this tunnel some peculiar phenomena of
temperature are witnessed. The common heat
of the air, at such a depth, is over one hundred
degrees Fahrenheit, too hot for the miners to
work comfortably; but this is modified to a
pleasant temperature—seventy degrees Fah
renheit —by the condensed air which is fed into
the machines. By the refrigerating effects of
expansion, when this compressed air at ninety
eight pounds pressure .escapes, it absorbs heat
from the surrounding air, and thus cools it down.
This power of absorbing heat by expansion is so
great, that water placed close to the escape air
valves is congealed into ice. A sufficient sup
ply of fresh air is secured for the ventilation of
this tunnel at its greatest depth. No less than
14,320 cubic yards of six atmospheres’ pressure
can be furnished every twenty-four hours. The
progress now making in excavating this tunnel
from both sides is nineteen feet per day. AY hen
completed it will be one of the wonders of the
world.
The use of condensed air as a motive and
ventilating power for tunnelling power should
arrest the attention of engineers in every part
of the word. On all mountains where deep and
long tunnels are to be cut, there are usually
high waterfalls, which can be applied to drive
a simple turbine wheel, capable of condensing
air in a reservoir by wor‘ ing pumps, and this
air can he made to oper ite drilling machines,
and also to ventilate the tunnel, as in the one
described. The same use of water power and
. condensed air is applicable for mines in hilly
regions. _ To our miners in the mountains of
California, and those engineers who must at
some future day tunnel through the Rocky
Mountains, in constructing a Pacific rail road,
the foregoing information should be treasured
up and carried into practice when the favora
ble opportunities are presented. AVe live in an
age ol wonders, and the boy may now be living
who will be called upon to undertake the work
of letting daylight through the mountains bo
tween us and the Pacific coast
Fox aud White lie Id.
Mr. AVilberforcc in the recollections of his
parliamentary life, related that “Fox used some
time to roll on at full tear in the House of Com
mons for two or three hours.” Rogers, in his
Table Talk says he had often known Fox to
take up the candle to go to bed, and stand talk
ing till it had burnt out in Uie socket.
There is a well authenticated anecdote of
\\ hitefield to the same effect. The night be
fore his death he arrived at the house of Rev.
Mr. Parsons, in Newburyport, after a week of
abundant labors at Exeter and elsewhere. His
coining was soon known. Before he had fin
ished his supper, a crowd surrounded the house,
and found their way into the entry. AVhite
field, quite exhausted, rose from the table, and
said to a minister present, “Brother, you must
speak a word to these good people; I can do no
more. He then took a candle, and setoff’hur
ricdly for his chamber. But he had to pass
through the hall, and as he ascended the stairs,
looking down upon the crowd whom the word
oi life from his own lips had stirred up to the
inquiry, “\\ hat must we do to be saved ?” how
could he pass them in silence ? He could not.
He turned on the stairs to commend these anx
ious souls to the Saviour, and continued speak
ing till the candle burnt down and went out —
an emblem of his own laborious life, which in
giving light to others consumed itself. Those
were his last words, lie went to bed, and ex
pired the next morning about six o’clock, in one
; of his paroxysms of asthma.
‘J'he eloquence of both these remarkable men
was an illustration of that divine maxim, “Out
ol the abundance of the heart the mouth speak
eth. fox, the statesman, patriot, and scholar,
poured out inexhaustibly the themes and
thoughts of which his heart was full. So did
\V hitefield, the Christian preacher, rich in the
words of Christ, and burning with love to the
souls of men. Here is the true source of fluen
; C V— a mind full of thought, a heart full of emo
. Th ? , ljCKt preparation to speak to others
of diy.ne things, is thus the highest mental and
spu dual culture m ourselves. ‘Cultivate a ten
der love of souls, said Doddridge to his stu
• - Wh , na^e y° u eloquent.” Meditate
in these things said Paul to young Timothy,
e i\ c i\ self \\ holly to them— that thy profiting
may appear to all. ” Apollos was ‘Eighty in
the Scriptures, and fervent in spirit,’’and there
fore “an eloquent man.” Let your heart be as
a quiver full of the arrows of God, and let them
ly on this side and on that; for they are like
the arrows fabled by the ancient poet to be gif
ted with intelligence , and longing to reach their
mark.
How Coal is Bought and Sold In
LONDON.
In the city ofLondon coal is sent to consum
ers in sacks containing-one hundred pounds
each. These are loaded on large carts, drawn
by enormous horses, with scales and weights to
each cap, and, if desired by the purchaser, the
sack is weighed by the driver. When the hon
esty of the coal merchant and the integrity of the
river are well established, the weighing of the
sack is seldom required. And in the purchase
of a cart load of sacks, some three or four of
e . m > ta ken promiscuously, are tested by the
sea es, and if found correct the weighing of the
emamder of the load is dispensed with. This
mnnv- ? U^in a qd selling coal is the result of
dnn ‘^. ex P erie nce in the vast city of Lon
honost uJu to do justice to the
, aOl the consumer than any plan
weh„e seen ~ practice or propo J £ so,