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THE CHRISTIAN INDEX,
I'URLISHKD EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING
AT MACON, GEORGIA.
BY A COMMITTEE OF BRETHREN,
FOR THE
GEORGIA BAPriST CONVENTION.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION,
Two Dollars in advance: or paid within the year.
If suffered tooverrun theyea r ,Two Dollars and
one-half will be chatted in all cases.
S \ML EL BOYKIN, Editor.
VOLUME XXXIX.
Review of “Corrective Church |
DISCIPLINE”
“QUESTIONS SUGGESTED BY TIIE PRE
VIOUS DISCUSSION.”
No. 7.
The article which deserves our at
tention next commences with the ques
tion : ‘‘Suppose the aggrieved attempt
to bring strictly private offences into
the church without taking ‘gospel
steps,’ what should be done ?” An
swer. It is the duty ot* the Pastor or
other Moderator to inquire whether
the Savior's directions have been fol
lowed, and if he finds that they have
not been, be should rule, as out of or
der, the introducti nos the case. “If
the Pastor should fail to discharge this
duty, then it will be competent for
any one to raise the point of order and
to appeal from the decision of the
chair if it be in violation of the Savior's
rule. This is said of offences exclu
sively that are purely personal—when
the act is not a crime against religion
and morality, and the object effected
by it a brother.”
An end that must be established, if
established at all, by such violent
interpretation ot God's word, such un
warrantable infringements upon logic
and common sense, and by attaching
such folly to any church-member, pas
tor, or church, as is implied in the en
tertainment ot such an offence as is not
a crime against religion, or morality
—deserves to he abandoned at once
and forever ! 1 but repeat what I have
previously affirmed and proved—viz:
that Prof. Mell’s “private offences,”
based upon Mat. 18: 15, cannot be
sustained without cruelly torturing the
words of Christ—that, if Mat. 18:15,
does not imply a violation of religion,
or morality, there is no word in the
Greek language of tiie New Testament
that does. For the correctness of this
criticism, I appeal to Greek scholars
and critics the world over. As to
“morality” the reader will recollect j
that it is nothing distinct from relig- |
ion—that a sin against morality is ne- I
cessarily a sin against religion.
In the above extract the same ab ;
biirdiry, so often heretofore noticed, of
a brother's becoming offended with an- ;
other for an act which does not violate !
religion, or morality, greets us again, j
Tiie writer is heartily tired of using the j
terms,“religion,” “morality,” &c.; but j
the excuse which is offered for doing i
so, is to be found in the fact, that the i
chief error, in Prof. M.’s series, is con :
nected with the use of these terms.— j
II is error runs through every article
thus far noticed, and of course, deser
ves to be pointed out. As advice seems
to be cheap, I will venture to offer a
little myself. Then,
1. To the church member of so lit- I
tie discrimination, as to prefer a charge I
against a brother for an act which vio
lates neither religion nor morality—or !
simply religion—l would give the fol- i
lowing advice :
“Beware, sir, lest you lay yourself j
justly liable to the charge of being a {
slanderer, or a lunatic!”
2. To the church, having such a 1
member, 1 would say—“watch that
weak brother. Nurse him carefully, i
or he may become an inmate of the j
Lunatic Asylum.”
3. To the Pastor who would enter- j
tain such a charge, I would say : “Go I
study your Bible, and pray God to j
give you powers of discrimina ion to
enable you to understand what a tres
pass (sin) against a brother is. Then
if you are still unable to make the dis
crimination, leave the sacred work of
the ministry, and direct you attention
to some simpler occupation, suited to
your capacity.”
4. AV hat shall be said to the church
that would entertain such a charge ?
Do they not deserve the pity of”all
who know them ? Their condition,if not
hopeless, is certainly very lamentable!
Yet, perhaps, their condition is not so
bad utter all; ior only of those to whom
much lias been given, much will be re
quired. So little has been entrusted
to them, their responsibility must be
very slight.
Professor M. ingeniously introduces
his “Mixed offences” at this point. lie
says, “In ‘mixed offences,’ where the
act complained of is a gross immorali
ty—as theft, slander, seduction, fraud,
personal violence and libel, —it will
not be out of order foi the church to j
entertain the charge, though no gospel ;
steps have been taken ; since, tis has
been shown, these and like gross offen
ces against religion and morality, are
‘public offences,’ though they may
have been committed against a church
member.
If “these, and like gross offences,”
are the only ones that violate religion
or morality, then is there much less
sin in the world than I had supposed.
Every sin against a brother, is a 6in a
gainst God —against religion. As to
“mixed offences,” I will merely say,
the name ought never to be mentioned
again.
; Now, the “ingenuity” to which lal
lude, consists in this: Prof. M. argues,
in the main, according to his definit
ions of the different classes of offences;
then, lest bis positions should appear
absurd to even the common reader, he
weaves in the terms—“grossoffences,”
“gross immorality.” This is unfair. If
he wishes to defend his position by
confining himself to merely “gross of
fences,” or “gross immoralities,” let
him confine his argument to the legit
imate scope ot such offences. But if he
desires his argument to be co-extensive
with his definitions, let him do so. —
Ilis “private offences” he detiuesto be
such as do not violate religion and mo
#rgan flf % ia. |a|i. Cflitlmition: ktoteb \a ptssinns, JJeligbn, aib % Interests 0f tlje baptist ieiwminatmn.
rality ; while his “public” ones do.—
The position he has assumed, makes it
obligatory on him to construct his ar
guments to suit his definitions —to
treat not mere ‘‘gross offences,” but
all oflences which violate morality and
religion. It is improper to bolster a
position by taking none but extreme
cases. Again : In answer to the ques
tion, “may not the arraigned, himself,
raise the point of order ?” he replies,
“most assuredly.” Then, again, to the
question, “and if raised by him (the
arraigned.) how is it to be decided ?”
He replies, “by the ruling of the Mod
erator first, and if this be appealed
from, by the vote of the church. And
the decision of the church is final.”—
Let us not forget that the arraigned
is brought before the church for a ‘pri
vate offence’—i. e. for an act, the spe
cific character of which is, that it is
not a crime against religion and mor
ality ! Arraignment and even exclu
sion from a church that would enter
tain such a change, I should not con
sider a very great hardship. The con
sciousness of having done no wrong,
and an equivalent admission on the part
of the church, would amply sustain me.
I should not lejil moved to rage, but to
pity. Membership with them would
not be desirable, nor would a letter of
dismission from them be appreciated.
As to tlie ‘finality’ of church action
I have but little to say, since but little
need be said. The action we are now
considering is admitted to be wrong,
inasmuch as it ought to have been ‘ru
led out of order.’ If every wrong de
cision of a church is final, and must
be submitted to, then church members,
in those matters at least in which the
church takes action, are responsible
not to Christ, but to the church. When
a church makes a wilful departure
from the authority of Christ, (and the
departure must, it seems to me, be
wilful, when the church mistakes fora
public what is only a personal offence,)
there is no law human or divine, that
requires the accused to submit to, or
acquiesce in, such departure. Any
church lias the right to discipline her
members for real (not imaginary) sins,
but her right to do even this—moral
right 1 mean—is restricted to the man
ner expressed, or implied, in God’s
word. No church has the right to try
a member in a manner different from
the divine direction. Where the charge
has been entertained by the church
contrary to the teachings of Christ, es
pecially (as is sometimes the case)
where ‘the verdict of guilty’ has been
made out before the trial, and mem
bers have been drilled to vote —in such
a case the arraigned, whether guilty
or not, is under no obligation to sub
mit to trial. To submit to the trial,
would iftoply the right, on the part of
the church, to try him contrary to
God’s law; but the church lias no
right to act, except in accordance with
God’s law; therefore, it wapld be
wrong—sinful—to submit and become
a party to any such trial. Where the
end is to save, and not to destroy, the
accused ; and the church is ignorant,
and not intelligent, the crime of im
properly entertaining a charge would
be much less. The range of possibility
in such cases is very wide. A person
al offence, such as is provided for in
Mat. 18: 15, may be forced into the
church without the offended’s having
taken “gospel steps;” the church may
entertain the charge on the plea that
it is public, knowing that if “gospel
steps” should be taken, the member
would, probably, be saved; the church
may have pre determined the over
throw of the member; she may have
prejudiced the minds of the iguoraut,
young and inexperienced members a
gainst him ; she may have sent copies
of the charges to others at a distance,
with the view of crushing the member
and of prejudicing the public mind a
gainst him, before furnishing the doom
ed man with a copy of the charges —
in such a case, would not a refusal to
submit to trial by such a church be al
lowable? Would it not be his duty to
withdraw from the church, and take
no part in the proceedings? So I
think.
“Strictly private oflences, however,
should be Tilled out of order when at
tempted to be brought into the church
without previous ‘gospel steps’ resort
ed to ineffectually. * * * II
he (the complainant) acts thus witli
wilful disregard of bis obligation, he
should be reproved and compelled to
follow the Savior’s rule.”
I heartily indorse this sentiment. It
is wrong to treat a personal ofienc3, as
a public one. * And should the majori
ty of a church act thus with wilful dis
regard of their obligations, they should
be reproved, and should have the dis
approbation of all acquainted with their
act.
There are a few other points in the
a.-ticle which might be noticed, but
they have been virtually, discussed in
previous numbers, and some of them
will be callnd up again.
The offended acts the part of folly,
to think of accusing his brother for
Prof. M.'s “private offence.” The
church entertaining the charge, deser
ves pity, if ignorant ; strong reproof,
if intelligent. If they wilfully violate
the Savior’s direction, in order to crush
the member, the latter is under obliga
tion to take no part in the wicked ac
tion. _ A. S. Worrell.
The proof that we believe in the re
ality of religion is, that we walk in the
power of it.
An inordinate fearing of man, is an
implicit forgetting of God.
MACON, GA., WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1860
* ABSTRACT*
Os the Fifteenth Annual Report if the Domestic
and Indian Mission Board of the Southern
Baptist Convention.
Obituary.
lii November last the efficient la
bors of Rev. Martin Ball, agent of the
Board in Mississippi were terminated
by death.
Corresponding Secretary.
The labors of Rev. R. Holman for
many years the able Secretary of the
Board, have been greatly interrupted
by impaired vision, his resignation was
presented to the Board in March, but
afterwards withdrawn at the request of
the Board, and he has consented to do
what his health may justify. This de
cision doubtless will be gratifying to
the friends of the Convention.
Agencies.
Three Agents have been employed
during a part of the year. Rev. Mar
tin Ball in Mississippi, Rev. Y. E.
Kirtley in Kentucky, and Rev. .T. B.
Hardwick in Virginia.
Home dh Foreign Journal.
This continues to be the organ of
the Board conjointly with the Foreign
Mission and Bible Boards. Its circu
lation should be largely increased, and
could be, if proper measures were used
by the brethren.
Finances.
There was reinaiug in the Treasury
of the Domestic Department at the
close of the last year, April Ist, 1859,
$3,438.75. Add to this the amount
received during the year ending April
Ist, 1860, $29,878.00, and we have
$33,226.75, the total amount at the
disposal of the Board for tiie year.
j Disbursements for the same time are
$30,260.66 ; leaving a balance of $2.-
966.09 in the Treasury.
There was remaining in the Treasu
ry of tlie Indian Department at the
close of the last year, April Ist, 1859,
$3,215.75. Add to this the amount re
ceived during the \ ear, ending April
Ist, 1860, $19,088.30, and we have
$22,334.05, the total amount at the
disposal of the Board for the jear.
Disbursements for the same time
ure, $16,583.32 ; leaving a balance ot
$5,750.73 in the Treasury.
The aggregate amount in the two
Departments for the year is $55,560.*
80, excess of receipts in both depart
ments over preceding year, $3,229.70.
Missionaries in the Field.
One hundred and seven Missionaries
have been employed during the year
in the Domestic Department, and for
ty-nine in the Indian Department, ma
king in ail 156, greater than any pre
ceding year.
Desuits of Labor.
Weeks labor 4275—churches and
out stations supplied, 528—discourses
delivered 15,359. Prayer and other
meetings attended, 4,821. Persons bap
tized, 1506. Received by letter, 670.
Miles traveled in performance of labor
111,182. Number of persons profess
ed conversion, but not baptized, 711.
Pages of tracts distributed, 42,753.
Bibles, 130. Testaments, 206. Sun
day Schools organized 100. Pupils,
3588. Teachers, 525. Bible classes,
55. Pupils, 362. Volumes in Libra
ries, 4,853. Teachers professed con
version, 40. Pupils ditto, 19.
Colored People.
There are several Missionaries devo
ting all their time, and many a part
to the religious instruction of these
people, and with good success.
California.
Rev. J. Lewis Shuck is employed as
the General Missionary of the Stat£,
whose labors are much approved by
our brethren. He also has charge of
the Chinese interests in Sacramento,
assisted by two native Chinamen of
great efficiency.
Rev. C. N. West is at Santa Cruz.
Rev. Harney Gilbert at San Rafael.—
Rev. Geo. E. Davis, and Rev. J. B.
Hopps in San Ramon and Pacheco
Valleys. Rev. Geo. Pearcy, of Vir
ginia, formerly Missionary to China,
lias been appointed as a Missionary to
the Chinese in this State, but has not
yet signified his acceptance. It is to
be hoped he will, as Ins knowledge of
the Chinese language admirably fits
him tor this field.
Germans.
The Board is sustaining six Mission
Stations for the benefit of this people.
Rev. Peter Kline in St. Genevieve,
Mo. Rev. A. Haeusler in St. Louis,
Mo. Rev. John B. Madonlet in Louis
ville, Ivy. Rev. Win. Fasching in
New Orleans, Rev. John Meuri in
Baltimore, Md., and Rev. Julius C.
Haselhuhn in Cumberland, Md.
Debt of the Coliseum Place Baptist
Church, Few Orleans, La.
The obligation of the S. B. Conven
tion in relation to this debt, the Board
are happy to report, lias been fully and
satisfactorily met. The mortgage up
on the church edifice has been released,
the obligations fully paid, for which
this property was held as security.—
We would express our thankfulness to
the many friends who have so prompt
ly and cheerfully aided in affording to
the Board the means of liquidating
this heavy debt. There now stands in
the great city es the South west, a
monument to Southern Baptist liberal
ity, and an offering of humble hearts
to the God of all grace, whom we in
voke to bless the labors of those who
may in after time meet within its mas
sive walls to celebrate the praises of
our Immanuel.
Indian Missions.
Three additional Missionaries and
their wives have been sent out during
the year, and another has been ap
pointed who has not left for his field
of labor, but will during the year.
Obituary.
Rev. Jatijes Harvey, a native Choc
taw preacher, died in November.—
And many deaths have occurred a
mong the membership of the churches.
Number of Missionaries.
49 Missionaries have been employ
ed during the whole, or part of the
year. Os these, 21 in the Creek; 12
in the Cherokee; 15 in the Choctaw,
and 1 in the Pottawottomie Nation.
Results of tlieir Labors.
Weeks, 1316; Churches and Sta
tions, 119 ; Discourses, 3,524 ; Prayer
meetings, 822 ; Indians baptized, 201;
Colored persons baptized, 24; By letter,
47; Miles traveled, 32,535 ; Total in
fellowship, about 2900 ; Religious vis
its 875; Ministers ordained, 12; Dea
cons ordained 5 ; Professed conversion
but not baptized, 96 ; Indians restored,
54; colored ditto, 9; Meeting houses
commenced, 9 ; Meeting houses finish
ed, 1; Sunday Schools, 4; Teachers,
16 ; Scholars, 126 ; Volumes in Libra
ry, 100; Teachers converted, 1; Pu
pils ditto, 6 ; Temperance pledges se
cured, forty-seven ; Churches consti
tuted, 8.
Schools.
Great and promising openings for
the establishment of Schools are found
throughout the Nations. Haifa doz
en men of good English education, and
of pious deportment, could be sustain
ed. Who will go? (Read the full re
port of the Board.)
The Pottawottomie School.
Is in successful operation, and has
105 pupils under the superintendence
of Rev. John Jackson.
v Mission Houses.
Rev. Willis Burns’ House has been
built and furnished through the liber
ality of brethren at the S. B. Conven
tion last May, (1859.) Houses will
have to be provided for brethren Reed
and Vandivere in the course of the
year.
Translation of the Gospels.
Bro. Buckner’s translation of the
Gospel according to John, into the
Creek language, is ready for the press,
and will shortly be pubi shed. A
Ilymn book and Grammar are also
ready and will soon be issued.
BOARD QUESTION.
Not long since we addressed''Rev.
A. M. Poindexter a series of inquiries
addressed to him officially—our desire
being to obtain information, direct and
authentic, for our readers. The replies
of Bro. Poindexter will constitute a
short series of articles that we coin
uund to the attention of our readers.
Number I.
Richmond, May 17th, 1860.
Editor Christian Index:
Dear Brother—Yon ask me some
questions to which 1 will arive as accu
rate answers as my information ena
bles me, premising that upon some of
the topics statements are more or less
conjectural, and further that I suppose
your inquiries have relation to the Bap
tists of the South and South west.
1. How many Baptists are there t
About 600.000
2. What is their reputed wealth ?
In some of the States, as .Virginia, N.
and S. Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and
Missouri, they compare favorably with
an equal number of other religious de
nominations—though some of the smal
ler denominations are i icher per capita.
3. How much is generally given by
all the Baptists in one year ? Even an
approximate answer can not be given
to this question. Our brethren act
through so many different channels,
and there is no general statistical table,
embracing all these methods of contri
bution. For the three objects, For
eign, Domestic and Indian Missions,
so far as contributed the Boards
of the Convention, the amounts for the
year ending 31st of March, 1860, were
for Foreign Missions, $40,004,13 ; Do
mestic Missions, $29,878,00; Indian
Missions, 12,508,39, exclusive of re
ceipts from U. S. Government.
4. How many missionaries are in
the field? The Foreign Board has in
Liberia and Sierra Seone 17 preachers
and 12 teachers. In Yoruba 4 males
and 1 female and one female teacher.
In China, 5 males and four females,
besides brethren Yates, Crawford and
Schilling and their wives, qn the way
there, and brother and sister Cabaniss
in this county, and four native assis
tants.
5. How much does it co3t annually,
to support a missionary ? In Liberia
and Sierra Leone, the average would
be about $250. In i 7 oruba and Chi
na, for a single man, SSOO, for man and
wife $750 ; lor each child 7 years of
age, SBO ; from 7 to 15 years sloo.
At Shanghai, owing to increased ex
pense of living, these rates have been
raised, say for man and wife S9OO ;
each child ot 7 years SIOO ; from 7 to
15 years, $125; provided, that in no
case, shall the salary of a missionarv
family exceed $1,450 per annum, ex
cept by special provision. These a
mounts, as to Yoruba and China, are
increased by the cost of transmitting
funds. This, to Yoruba is about 15 to
20 per cent.; to China about 40 per
cent. These rates, of course, vary as
the price of specie and freights, and the
state of exchange vary. Specie is pur
chased in New Y'ork and shipped to
Y'oruba. Bills of exchange are pur
chased for China. The Japan and 13ra
zil Missions will probably bo about the
same cost as the China, except that
exchange will not be so high for Bra
zil.
In addition to these items, there are
dwellings and chapels to be provi
ded and kept in repair, teachers and
interpreters to be employed, books
and tracts to be printed, &c. The cost
of these items varies with the condit
ion and wants of a mission.
7. What is the expense of “machin
ery F I made a calculation extend
ing from the beginning of our opera
tion to the year 1858-9, and found the
per centage on the receipts of the For
eign Mission Board, consumed in col
lecting agencies, secretaries, salaries,
traveling expenses and all other expen
ditures incident to the collection and
transmission of funds, _and the general
management of the business of the
Board, together with the publication
of minutes and periodicals, (exclusive
of the expense of transmitting funds
to missions,) was about 19 per cent. —
But, if we deduct for the salaries of a
gents, and a fair proportion of the sal
aries of the Secretaries for the time de
voted by tnem to agency tmd editorial
work, the whole expenses of the Board
have averaged, until there were two
secretaries, not more than S6OO, and
since not more than S9QO per annum.
8. The above statement will meet
your inquiry as to the economy ot the
present plan of missionary operations.
The agency work is not an essential
feature ot the Board system. Its ne
cessity originates in the want of inter
est in the work among pastors and
church members. The editing of pa
pers would have to be done on any
plan,-or missionary intelligence would
be less diffused, and consequently mis
sionary action less liberal and efficient
than now. Upon no other plan could
an efficient and responsible financial a
gency.be secured for less cost ; espe
cially if said agency were expected to
act for many different churches and
associations.
Affectionately yours in Christ,
A. M. Poindexter, Cor. Sec.,
For M. 8., S. B. C.
BIBLE THOUGHTS ON THE SPIR
IT OF CHRISTIANITY.
NO. 4.
Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ
he is none of liis. — Paul.
In our efforts to learn the true spirit
of Jesus we can have no information
so reliable as that recorded in the Bi
ble itself, and by reference to that in
fallible source of knowledge, we find
that the spirit of Christ was a Mission
ary spirit. That is to say, he had a
desire that the Gospel, the glad tiding 6
of salvation should be jiroclaimed to
lost men and women. As evidence
that he possessed this spirit in a mark
ed degree, look at the testimony of
Matthew, 4th chap., 17th to 23d verse,
who says that from the time the devil
left off tempting him he began to
preach repentance, and not only did
he spread the gospel by his personal
ministry, but the verse referred to
shows that he ind uced others to become
Missionaries, and caused them to leave
their ordinary occupations and be
come fishers of men. But Mark in
forms us that our Saviour was not sat
isfied to confine his labors to one place,
but that he preached in their Syna
gogues throughout all Galilee, and tho’
at that particular time lie was 60 pop
ular that all men sought after him,
yet he said to one of his disciples, “let
ns go into the next towns that I may
preach there also, for therefore came I
forth.” Mark 1: 38, 39.
Luke also, Bth and Ist, adds his tes
timony to tiie other sacred historians,
and says, in reference to Jesuß, that he
went throughout every city and village
preaching and showing the glad ti
dings of the Kingdom of God. It is
clear, then, that our Saviour gave a
bundant evidence that his soul was fill
ed with a missionary spirit.
Do you feel this spirit, working with
in you, my brother, or you, my sister?
Oh, have you any warm desires, that
others as well as yourself, may bo made
to rejoice with the news of salvation ?
If not, you would do well to examine
your own ground of hope and see if
you are not yet out of Christ yourself.
We know that Jesus had this spirit,
and we are taught that those who were
converted under his ministry possessed
it, as for example, Andrew in Juo Ist
and 40, when he had heard John speak
of Jesus, “He first findeth his own
brother Simon, and saith, we have
found the Messias or Christ,” and in
45th verse, Phillip, after, being called
by Christ, findeth Nathaniel, and saith
unto him, “we have found him of whom
Moses in the law and the Prophets did
write,” and so in other instances did
those who were turned to Christ inher
it the spirit of missions, and if, my dear
reader, you have no missionary spirit
at all in your heart, you are either none
of Christ’s, or Paul is wrong in the
text.
To press this thought still further, I
insist that the spirit of Jesus was the
spirit of Foreign Missions, and the
very best evidence of this proposition
is, that he left his home where Heaven
itself delighted to do him honor, and
where all was comfort and happiness,
and came to this foreign heathen world,
sinking, as it was, in idolatry and hea
thenism, to preach the gospel, and re
store our race from barbarous idolatry
to the worship of the true and living
God. In the first chapter of Romans
you will find a literal description of the
moral condition of the Gentile world
I before Christ was preached to them,
and this,in y brethren and sisters, would
be our condition to-day if Christ had
not possessed a spirit of foreign mis
sions, and this would soon be the con
dition ot the entire world now, if the
spirit of missions were to die out with
the present generation.
But to make it clear that Christ’s
spirit was a spirit of foreign or heath
en Mission, Matthew says, 4th aud
16th, that it was people that sat iu
great darkness that saw his light, and
to them that sat in the region and
shadow of death the light sprung up,
and then our Saviour himself says that
he came to seek and to save that which
was lost.
Now, brethren, if any man have not
the spirit of Christ he is none of his,
and if we have no desire at all in our
hearts that the knowledge of Jesus
shall till the whole earth, how can we
reasonably claim to belong to Christ
omselves. And if we do have such
desires let us all endeavor with earn
estness to pray the Lord of the harvest
to send forth laborers into his harvest,
and then when the Missionary collec
tion is taken, let us have something
laying by in store, ready to give for
the support of the laborers and the
spread of the gospel. May the Lord
increase the Missionary spirit in the
hearts of his people for his names sake.
Amen, and Amen. M***.
LE7 CER FROM FLORIDA.
Jacksonville, Fla., May IG, ’6O.
Dear bro. Boykin:
I arrived here on my return from a
western tour of preaching yesterday
afternoon. I escaped a “blow up” on
the Apalachicola river, to meet with a
“ break down” on the highway, by
means of which I was compelled much
against my inclination, to change my
route and pass through Thomasville ;
and indeed to abide there two days
and a half and mingle my lamentations
(because of recent divisions) with those
with whom a few months ago I rejoiced
at the displays of divine power in the
conversion of souls. Ilow inconstant
is man ! How evanescent our enjoy
ments —even our spiritual enjoyments
here below! God only is immutable
and true.
GLOOMY PROSPECTS.
On my way westward, I engaged to
preach at Lake city on last Lord’s day,
provided the necessary arrangements
could be made. I found, on my arri
val, that consent had been obtained of
the Presbyterians, (who are without a
pastor,) to use their house of worship,
and that a notice of my appointment
had been published in one of the city
papers, (the Independent Press) The
editor of the other paper (the Herald.)
I was informed, had also promised to
publish it, but, for some cause or oth
er, failed to do so, though he published
a notice that religious services would
bo conducted in fho Court house by
an Episcopal minister. The editor is
a Methodist preacher, and has always
professed to be very friendly. Ilis
people were holding a quarterly meet
ing. On the morning of the Lord’s
day the bell was rung only once, which
caused some to suppose that I had fail
ed to come, or had declined to preach,
consequently very few attended. In
the afternoon had half a dozen colored
persons, and only two or three times
as many whites. At night the bell
was not rung, nor was the house light
ed up ! No one, it seems, felt sutiic
ient interest in the meeting to attend
to this matter! I have preached, with
in the last twenty-eight years, in many
destitute regions, and in notoriously
wicked villages, but never met with
as cold a reception in any of them. I
iutend to make one more effort in this
flourishing town, and, if I meet with
no greater encouragement, I shall com
mend it to the mercy of God, and
hereafter pass it by as joined to its
idols, or, at least, incorrigibly preju
diced against Baptists.
SAD CATASTROPHE.
The downward passenger train on
our Rail Road ran over a cow this
morning, some or six miles from
town. The passenger car was thrown
off the track, and was smashed up by
the open cars in its rear, which were
freighted with saw-logs. Three men
were killed, and others wounded. One
of the killed was the Cashier of the St.
John’s Bank, who had about a year
since mariied a wife, and bought a
farm about ten miles from our city,
and had expended much money and
labor on it, expecting to reap a rich re
ward in future years ! How often are
we admonished, by the dispensations
of Divine providence, of the uncertain
tenure of human existence ! May the
living lay to heart the admonitions so
often repeated to us of late.
NO TIME FOR IDLENESS.
On my return here I found not less
than two hundred letters awaiting me,
all of them containing the names of
persons desiring to receive “The Lone
Baptist and Christian Investigator.”—
One of them contains a list of nearly
500 subscribers. Several send the
names of from 40 to 60. It is amusing
to read the comments made by some
on my “novel proposition.” By the
way, i would advise all who wish to
gain a thorough acquaintance with hu- j
man nature, to become an editor for a
season. You doubtless can testify as
to the superior advantages afforded in
an editor’s office for the attainment of
this important branch of human knowl
edge.
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION
Is to meet here on Friday, the 25th
inst. We have obtained, for the use j
of the Convention, the Presbyterian■
Terms of Advertising.
For all transient advertising One Dollar per square
of ten line* for the first, *nd 50 cents per r quare for
nil subsequent publications.
BATES FOR CONTRACT ADVERTISING.
1 square of 10 lines per 3 months $ <OO
“ “10 lines “ 6 “ ............ 700
“ “10 lines “ 1 year 10 00
These lines are the text advertising lines and lb e
charge is for the space occupied by ten such lin< a
as are used in the body of an advertisement. Lon
ger advertisementsin the same ratio.
N. S., VOL. 28, NO. 22.
house of worship, The contract for
building our meeting house has been
taken at §2.000. It is to be of the
same size with the Methodist house of
worship, which cost, I think, nearly
twice that amount. Will not our
friends from abroad send us help ? I
am pledged for §IOO. Who will help
me to raise it ? I am pledged for twice
that amount for two other objects con
nected with the advancement of the
cause of Christ abroad, (in Georgia ,)
and will be thankful for any aid afford
ed me in redeeming my pledges.
Come to our Convention, if you can,
and bring as many preachers with you
as you can. You have begun well
your editorial career. May the good
Lord make you to prosper more and
more. J. S. B.
[lt will be impossible for us to at
tend the Convention.— [Editor.
SABBATH SCHOOL.
Oh let us meet in Sabbath School,
To learn the Bible and its truths,
And help each other read and spell
And learn the things this book doth tell.
Oh let us on each Sabbath day,
Engage to read this precious book,
For God commands us every one
To read this noble book of his.
This is a precious book indeed,
That every boy and girl should read,
If they expect to learn God’s word,
Come to the Sabbath School and learn.
Come parents with your children all,
And join this School, both great and small,
To learn the things this book doth tell,
Os God and Christ, and heaven and hell.
Ye teachers all who teach God’s word,
Come join this School and praise his name;
And show the scholars, large and small,
That Christ did die to save them all.
W. D. C. B
SABBATH SCHOOL.
The subject of Sabbath-schools can
not be too well advocated. No insti
tion can be calculated to imploy the
time and minds of our children than
a Sabbath-school, but I fear this sub
ject is too often neglected by parents
and teachers. They suffer their chil
■ dren to violate the Sabbath day, and
do not take the necessary pains to in
struct or admonish them better while
young, to become members of a Sab
bath School institution. The Bible
very plains tells us to instruct the
minds of our children when they are
young and tender. They are in a bet
ter state to receive instruction at that
time than any other. Teachers of ev
ery school too often neglect this sub
ject ; and I am sorry to relate it. But
there are some teachers who refuse to
teach or become a member of a Sab
bath School, simply because they are
not professors of religion. I would ask
such teachers are they not under the
very same responsibility in an every
day or literary school that they would
be in a Sabbath School. They have
the care and protection over children,
and it is expected by every parent that
the teacher inculcates moral and relig
ious principles in the child committed
to his care; this no teacher can deny.
And besides this if we are not to do
anything until it is impossible for us
to err, death will come along after a
while and our children will be left in
ignorance and ruin. Exclude the Bi
ble from the school room and you de
prive the teacher of the privilege of an
appeal to the pure principles it invites
to virtue; take this from the true teach
er and you divest him of a power and
an influence over the minds of his pu
pils for which nothing can compensate.
Every teacher should be awakened
upon this subject, to a sense of his du
ty to teach by precept and by example
in the cause of Sabbath schools, for if
he refuses to teach or become a mem
ber of this institution does it not6pcak
in the loudest terms to the minds of the
little boys and girls that have been
committed to his care. They say at
once to themselves, our school-master
cares nothing for Sabbath Schools ; he
won’t teach us nor join the Sun. School
himselt. I would rather stay at home
and do what I please, any how, on Sun
days.
Y.outh, like the tender wax, with ease will take
Those images that first impressions make ;
Ii they are fair, their lives will all be right,
If foul, they’re clouded with the shades of night.
Youth is the season proper, to culti
vate the minds of our children, and if
we neglect it while they are young it
will be too late when they have grown
old. Solomon says —train up a child
when he is -young and when he is
grown old he will not depart from it.
The parent and the teacher both should
begin to plant and cultivate in the
minds of their children,that it is wrong
to violate the Sabbath day, for God has
commanded us to keep it holy. Eve
ry parent and teacher should encour
age the children under their care and
protection to become members of a
Sabbath School, for nothing can em
ploy their tune halt so well; and be
sides this many good and lasting im
pressions have grown out ot this insti
tution.
Accept these instructions and you
have my thanks.
Wm. D. C. Bentley, S. C.
of Union Sab. School.
If vou can paint fire with charcoal,
light with chalk, and make colors live
and breathe, then you can with words
give a faint idea of the excellence and
magic effects of Perry Davis’ Pain
Killer. Its reputation is of world wide
renown; its introduction is received
with great favor in foreign lands.