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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.