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THE CHRISTIAN INDEX,
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING
AT MACON, GEORGIA.
BY A COMMITTEE OF BRETHREN,
FOR THE
GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION.
TERMS OK SUBSCRIPTION,
Two Dollars in advance: or paid within the year.
If suffered to overrun theyea'% Two Dollars and
one half will be charged in all cases.
SAMUEL BOYKIN, Editor.
VOLUME XXXIX.
SELECTIONS.
From the Landmark Banner and Cherokee Baptist.
Corrective Church Discipline.
FINAL ARTICLE.
j Dear Bro. Wood:
The matter which I brought to your
notice at the Convention at Macon,
was esteemed by me to be of but little
importance, and would not have been
referred to had it not been that I was
agreeably thrown into your company.
The'editorial to which I referred could
be construed to contain the insinuation
that the Publication Society and cer
tain editors on the one side, and I on
the other, had entered into a conspira
cy to effect a certain object—that it
had been agreed upon between us in
advance that I should write—that the
editors should catch at my articles,
and secure their prompt publication
by papers all over tlie countiy —and
the Publication Society should issue
them simultaneously in book form—
that thus it might appear that “Cor
rectiveChurchDiscipline”ha i received
a denominational endorsement. Now,
all 1 meant to communicate to you on
the subject was in the shape of’a fact.
To disabuse your mind, and to afford
you an opportunity to disabuse the
minds of your leaders, I stated to you
the fact that I had communicated with
no one on the subject before commenc
ing to write—that I had written to
you and brethren Dawson, Walker
and Warren by the same mail; and
that no communication had passed be
tween the Publication Society and my
self in reference to its issue in book
form, until some six or eight numbers
of the series had appeared. I meant
not to pass any criticisms upon the
course of any newspapers, and least of
all did I design to make any avowals
or disavowals as to intentions or mo
tives. If rny little book on Discipline
is properly written, it is applicable, in
principle, to any case that has occur
red in the past or that can happen in
the future.
Before closing this, my last article,
1 avail myself of the opportunity to no
tice two strictures passed upon my
book bv bro. Pendleton of Murfrees
boro,’ Tenn.
1. He and his co-editors character
ize the sentiments I advanced as “re
volutionary,” and originated by men
for present purposes. Now, nothing
is more easy than to show that this
bro. Pendleton is mistaken. His own
testimony and that of Messrs. Graves
and Dayton will furnish all the relief
that I and my little book need. I but
repeat, in substance, what they have
published themselves. It is their own
teaching that a church is independent
and sovereign • that it has exclusive
jurisdiction over its members; that
the majority must rule in the expul
sion of members, as well as other
things ; that the action of the church
is final, and from ifs decisions there is
no appeal. If I can show that I have
published only such sentiments as he
and his colleagues have sent forth in
elaborate books, lie ought not to deny
that I am an orthodox Baptist because
of those sentiments.
I will begin with the author of “The
Great Iron Wheel
Each particular church being ind pendent and
sovereign, is the highest authority, and from its
decisions there can be no appeal; it, however,
can reconsider its decisions whenever the majori
ty is in favor of a reconsideration.—[Great Iron
Wheel, p. 559.
It is the right and duty of each church, as such,
to decide and declare what it considers the teach
ings of Christ as it respects church order, church
ordinances, laws, terms of communion, Christian
doctrine and duties, and to govern its members
accordingly.— [lb.
It is the right and duty of the members of each
church to sekct aud elect their own teachers, pas
tors, and officers, &e., &e., such officers being ac
countable to the church for malfeasance in office,
or unchristian conduct, as are the private mem
bers —[lb.
If the offender cannot he brought to repentance
by private remonstrances, he is to be arraigned
before the whole church—his brethren, his peers,
and by them his case is tried and decided. If he
will not submit to the decision of the church, he
is to be expelled. There is no higher ecclesiasti
cal court to which he can appeal—[lb.
lie [Paul] does not command them, but affec
tionately beseeches them to restore to the peni
tent their former fellowship, saying—“ Sufficient
to such a man is this punishment, which was in
dicted of many”—the voice of the whole, or of
the majority of the membership.—[p. 560.
Local associations are no* judicatories, to which
the churches are amenable, and to which cases of
church discipline are appealed ; hut they ar the
creatures of the churches, &c., Ac. They are al.-o
advising councils, and as such, give advice touch
ing questions of practice or discipline, hut
cannot legislate for the churches which are sover
eign, independent bodies. The churches are free
to associate in these bodies or not. —[p. 565.
True, the author states incidentally
that an excluded man may apply to
and be received by another church;
but in this he is not only inconsistent
witli himself, but opposed to bro. Pen
dleton also, as I shall show below.—
But surely bro. P. will not condemn
me for coinciding with him rather
than the author of the “Wheel.” It is
true also, that the author has given us
notice of some changes, to appear in a
new edition of his book; but those
changes were advertised after my se
ries was published, and I could not
have had the benetit of the new teach
ing.
I quote next from Bro. Pendleton’s
book of 170 pages,entitled “Three Rea
-80U8.” He teaches that Baptist church
government “distincly recognizes these
truths.”
1. That the governmental power is in the hands of
the people.
2. The right of a majority of the members of a
Church to rule.
3. That the power of a church cannot be transfer
red or alienated, and that church action is final.
—Three Reasons, p. 153.
If, as has been shown, the governmental power
of a church is with the members, it follows that a
majority must rule. That is to say, either the ma
jority or minority must govern. But it is absurd
to refer the rule to the minority. That a majori
©rpt f % in. §sp. Cimkirtura: kkrttii In gtissim, |digini, anil % fit Units nf % ‘gagfist gtraniiiiiatimr.
ty must rule is so plain a principle of congrega
tionalism, and so plain a principle of common
sense, that it'is needless to dwell upon it.—[p.
164-5.
A church, by excluding a member, dec’are3that
member unworthy of fellowship. Will it be asked
what is to be done if the action of a church does
not give satisfaction to all concerned ? I answer,
do w hat is done when the action of a Presbyterian
General Assembly, or Methodist General Confer
ence, or a Episcopal General Convention does not
give satisfaction. There must be a stopping place.
There must be final action. Baptists say, with
New Testament before them, that the action of
each local congregation of believers is final.—[p.
166.
On pages 153 and 159 he speaks of
the ’'''sovereignty'’'’ of the churches.
II the sentiments I advance are “re
volutionary,” and “originated” for a
special purpose, what are we to say of
bro. Pendleton’s, when they are the
same precisely ?
I have space to make but short quo
tations from Dr. A. C. Dayton, Au
thor of “Theodosia
A Baptist Church is, in all that concerns its own
members, as independent of the Association, as it
is of the Methodist Conference. ***** When
a member has been guilty of some offence, it tries,
condemns and excludes him, and from its decis
ion there is no appeal to ;.ny Association, local or
general, or to any convention or other body out
side of itself. What it decides is the decision of
the church, and ends the matter, unless it can be
persuaded to revoke the decision, as Paul be
sought the church at Corinth to restore one whom
it had cast out. ***** The church is under
no necessity to belong to any association.--[Theo
dosia vol. 11, p. 451.
The authority of the association can never go
tiehind its own constitution. It may be possible
that associations sometimes forget this, and act as
though they were not merely advisory, but legis
lative, or judicial bodies; hut if they ever do, they
violate all regular Baptist usage, and thoughtful
ind intelligent Baptists will at once disown them.
—(p. 454.
Much more of the same nature is
found on these and contiguous pages.
i>ro. P. and his colleagues ought sure
ly to be the last men to characterize
my sentiments as “revolutionary,” aud
to charge me with “originating” prin
ciples. I submit whether, with the
above showing, I atn not more liable
to the charge of being a mere copyist.
2. Auother very strange mistake of
Bfo. Pendleton’s I will notice, as it is
convenient. In the Tennessee Baptist
of March 10th, he says :
“Prof. Mell * * * expresses the
opinion that a church has the right, it
it thinks best, to take into considera
tion the conduct of her offending mem
her, even though the case may have
been irregularly, and, if you please,
wickedly brought before her.”
Surely somebody must have imposed
upon my good brother, or he would not
have made the above assertion, and
we would have been spared the many
changes which have been rung upon
the word “wickedly.” To show wheth
er I “express the opinion” laid to my
charge, it is only necessary to insert
here the whole paragraph, from which
the extract is taken. It is as follows:
“Are not the Saviour’s directions for the go
vernment of private offences, of vital importance ?
If then, the majority of a church, in the manage
ment of a case of discipline, disregard those direc
tions, cannot the miuoiity, (leaving the arraigned
out the question,) stand up for the Saviour’s rule,
and unchurch the majority?” Let us see what
you mean by “disregard.” First. The church
may honestly mistake that for a public which is
merely a private offence; or, secoud. Knowing
and acknowledging it to be a private offence pre
maturely introduced, it may decide to entertain it
any how. Let us see whether either of these is a
“disregard” of the Saviour’s directions ; and wheth
er they furnish sufficient grounds for the minority
to unchurch the majority. If the majority honest
ly mistake the nature of the offence, it has only
committed an error; and we have shown in the
previous number, that a church is not annihilated
whenever it commits an error. For the same rea
sons, a mistake made by the church in reference
to the nature of an offence, does not furnish suffi
cient grounds for a minoiity to unchurch the ma
jority. But, second. Suppose the majority know
ing and acknowledging that it is a private offence
prematurely introduced, should nevertheless, en
tertain it—what then ? I answer, they may, like
brother Baker, and other distinguished writers on
church discipline, believe that these directions are
addressed primarily to the offended, to guide his
deportment, and that the church has the right, if
it thinks best, to take into consideration the con
duct of her offending member, even though the
case may have been irregularly, and if you please,
wickedly brought brought before her. In all this
these writers may be mistaken ; and the church,
in acting on this principle, may commit an error,
without designing to “disregard” the instructions
of Christ. Now, as has been shown already, an
error unintentionally committed, does not annihi
late a church ; nor does it afford ground sufficient
for a minority to unchurch the majority. Infal i
bility does not reside in a church, either in its ma
jority or in its minority. On a question whether
a church can entertain a private offence prema
turely and irregularly introduced, honest differ
ences of opinion may be tolerated ; and surely a
mistake on the subject cannotinvolve annihilation.
If a church were by vote and record to resolve
that it would “disregard” or erase from the Reve
lation received by it the 18th of Mat., or any other
part of the Scriptures great or small, it would re
solve itself into an infidel fraternity, and the be
i lieversinits midst should repudiate an 1 denounce
it. But, surely the avowed rejection of the 18th
of Mat., and the erroneous application of its law,
while its binding force is acknowledged, are very
different things.”
Beturning my thanks to the editor
Sos the Banner db Baptist for the cour
tesy and justice with which he has
treated me as one of his contributors,
I have only to add that, so far as I am
concerned, “the case may go to the
jury.” P. 11. Mell.
University of Georgia, May 14.
LETTER FROM AFRICA.
[concluded.]
| Stay all night at a village—Hears of Bro. Stones’
safety and returns home—Baptism—Wall fin
ished—Health.
Febuarv 27.
At 0 A. M. we started, and by 7 A.
M. were in front of the King’s palace
in Iwo. NYe went in and saluted him
and then went on, hoping to reach Iba
dun by night or early next morning.
While passing through Iwo we were
told that Bro. Stone and Mr. Russell
were at the white man’s house in Iba
don. This was joyful news to us for it
was the first intelligence we had had
of them since they left Ijaye. Here
the people told us that two men had
passed there on Saturday before, and
described them so minutely that I
knew they were Bro. Stone and Mr.
Russel. I immediately returned back
MACON, GA., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1860.
and Mr. Menkin went on to Ibadon.—
When I returned to Iwo, I found that
they had left there the previous morn
ing for Ogbomishaw. I determined
then to come directly from Iwo to Aw
yaw. The messenger hesitated some
for he was afraid we would be attack
ed if we came the public road, hut I
did not believe we would be interrupt
ed and so urged him. I kuew if not
interrupted we could reach my station
the next evening, as soon as they would
get there from Ogbomishaw.
Febrnary 28.
At 6 A. M. we started for Oyo, and
after passing a few persons near the
Iwo gate, we saw no one until we
reached the Oyo farms at 1 P. M.—
The road was lonely but much better
than the one we went. We reached
home about half after four P. M. I
sat down in the front piazza to watch
for bro. Stone. I had not been there
but about twenty minutes before my
hopes were realized in seeing him come.
Thejoyot this meeting is inexpressi
ble. Mr. Russel was unwell and had
remained at Ogbomishaw.
Feb. 29.
After breakfast I accompanied Bro.
Stone on his way to Ijaye beyond
where it was probable that lie would
be troubled by the Ibadon or Oyo peo
ple. The Liberian who had gone with
me in search of Bro. Stone, and one of
the boys that Jjved at the Ijaye station
went on with him, and I returned
home. In less than half an hour after
I left him he would he in a small Ijaye
farm town, and two hours more would
carry him to the Station in Ijaye,
where ho would not only he joyfully
received by Sister Stone, bro. Phillips
and their people, hut by the town of
Ijaye which was in a great stir about
their lost white man. I have had no
intelligence from bro. Stone since, nor
from Ijaye since bro. Phillips sent the
message that bro. Stone was gone. Up
to that time bro. Phillips stated that
sister Stone had borne the absence of
bro. Stone, remarkably well. He was
just recovering from a tolerably severe
attack of small pox and not yet able
to leave his room.
The party which took bro Stone and
Mr. Russel do not represent the gener
al feeling of the people in this country
towards the white man. That party is
headed by a man who has done noth
ing for many years, scarcely, but ma
raud different sections in search of
booty, and those under him have im
bibed the same spirit, consequently
they show hut little regard for civili
zation of any kind. When they took
them they had been expecting for sev
eral days to be attacked by the Ijaye
people, and they had therefore become
quite desperate in their feelings, and
were ready to seize upon any booty
which came in their reach.
Another reason why they were so
rash was, that Bro. Stone was riding a
large horse which he had some months
previous purchased from Are. It
seems that the horse was expensively
known as one of Are’s principal war
horses. When Bro. Stone was car
ried to Ibadon this was urged against
him until he sent word to the chief
commander that he would sell the
horse to him if lie wished to buy
him. This put an end to the mat
ter. As Bro. Stone was on one of
Are’s celebrated war liorse3 he was
taken for a spy. I do not believe
that there is another party in all this
country that would dare such a thing.
As far as I have seen since, there
has been a general condemnation of
the course pursued by that paiiy.
Fortunately,the missionaries in Ijaye
are well supplied with cowries. Even
if Ijaye is beseiged and taken, I do
not believe the missionaries will he
hurt. There are now no prospects of
peace, but great preparations are be
ing made to humble Are.
On the sth ult., I had the pleas
ure of baptizing Abo, a most inter
esting young man, who has been liv
ing with me during the last two years,
lie gave a brilliant evidence of his
conversion. I feel quite impressed
that iie will he useful to our mission in
future, if he is properly taught. I have
just finished the walls around the sta
tion which will be quite a protection
to us. My health is not good, but as
good perhaps as I will ever have in
this country. I have been very mi
nute in this letter, hut I wanted to
make everything plain.
Yours affectionately,
T. A. Reid.
BOARD QUESTION.
Number. 3.
Richmond, May 17th, 1860.
Editor Christian Index :
I have now responded to your in
quiries. I beg leave to add a few
statements.
Ist. In conducting foreign missions
property in lots, buildings and fixtures,
must he acquired,,how are such pos
sessions to be held ? By the Missiona
ry in his own right? They must, or
else there must be a corporate body to
hold them. Dow would such corpor
ate body be constituted? One for the
whole denomination South ? Or as
many smaller ones as there are Church
es and Associations sending out Mis
sionaries ? If the latter, then, what is
to become of this property when the
Missionary of the corporation dies, or
returns ? Or the Association, or church
ceases to support him ?
2nd. It not unfrequently happens
that the expenses ot a mission are very
much lessened by joint expenditures— *
j that is, providing houses, Ac., for sev--
I eral occupants; who, upon the suppo-’
sition of many independent missions,
is to decide upon the policy and the
pro rata of such expenditures ? And
how, in the event it is deemed best for
the arrangement to cease, is the pro
perty to be disposed of?
3rd. Missionaries, like most of men,
differ in judgment in practical matters
involving expenditure of money.—
Which would be most likely to aid
them with judicious advice, one Board
corresponding with all the Missiona
ries at a place ? Or half a dozen dif
ferent Boards, each hearing the opin
ion of its own Missionary alone?
4th. To the conduct of Foreign Mis
sions, a steady and reliable income is
necessary, flow can this be best se
cured ? By a Board collecting over a
limited field ? Os -*e extendingfts col
lections so that local causes shall not
materially affect the general result?
sth. It is indispensable, either that
there shall be kept in the hands of the
Missionary a large surplus fund, or that
credit shall be had upon which, if an
exigency arise, funds can be obtained.
Il the former course be adopted, what
is to become of this surplus, in the
event of the death of an unassociated
Missionary ? If the latter, how can
credit be secured ? By unknown, aud
unincorporated Associations, or coin
mittees ? Or by a general Board, so
conducting its operations as to gain a
business reputation ? Our Liberia Mis
sions are conducted altogether by the
sale in Liberia, of drafts upon the
Board, and at far less expense than
they could be in any other way. In
Yoruba and China, it has, time and
again, been necessary to borrow money
to enable a 6ick Missionary to return
home. To have been compelled to
wait until funds could be transmitted,
‘would, in some of these cases, have
proved fatal. So, also, in Yoruba,
from the irregularity in the communi
cations, our Missionaries have been
compelled to borrow money to live
upon.
There are other business aspects of
the question of Foreign Missions, which
go tar in deciding the proper method
of conducting them, which are not
likely to occur to any except those
whose duty it is to attend to the busi
ness, hut 1 will not notice them now.
Affectionately yours in Christ,
A. M. Poindexter, Cor. Sec.,
For. M. 8., S. B. C.
LITERS BOREALES.—NO. 1.
Cincinnati, Ohio, May 28, 1860.
Dear Index:
In a pleasant New England city, al
most a thousand miles east of this me
tropolis of the Ohio valley, and a fort
night ago from the date of this missive,
I received your “commands” to as
sume the New England correspond
ence of your columns. I had a strong
inclination to obey at once, but I was
just packing my portmanteau for a
westward trip, as a delegate to the
great Anniversary meeting of the Bap
tists, to be held in Cincinnati, I could
not, therefore, enter directly upon the
duties of my new office, and thought
to delay doing so until I should again
occupy my quiet library at home.
It happens, however, that I find my
self with half a days’ leisure on my
hands, in this “Queen City,” owing to
a sudden change in the programme of
my journeyings ; and I avail myself
of it for the purpose of beginning my
correspondence with your very intelli
gent and amiable readers—among
whom I have many personal and high
ly esteemed friends. You will not be
unwilling to have some memoranda of
the Baptist Anniversary here, and as
you have sent me a somewhat broad
commission, it may be supposed to in
clude the Western as well as the Eas
tern States.
I have chosen, moreover, a compre
hensive title for my letters —one which
will allow me to be discursive and va
rious in my topics and in my locali
ties. So, 1 may chance to mix up the
Connecticut aud the Ohio—the New
England hills and the Western moun
tains, in a somewhat promiscuous man
ner, a liberty which I shall take as
granted.
This is my first visit to the city of
wine and swine, and it happens that I
am here wdien neither the one nor the
other is in its season. The autumn is
for the wine and the winter is for the
swine—when both alike fiow with
crimson currents for the benefit of
man. All I can see now are the emp
ty slaughter houses, and the sunny
slopes of the hills where the grape
vines are putting forth thair leaves and
blossoms with promise of the purple
vintage.
Cincinnati is beautiful just now with
the early verdure of the summer. The
terrible tornado which swept up the
Ohio valley, and through the city and
its suburbs only a week ago, laid mul
titudes of trees low in the dust, and al
most destroyed many lair gardens; hut
still there is almost a world of leafiness
aud bloom left behind by the storm. —
The early fruits—strawberries, cher
ries, etc., etc., are very abundant, and
the gardens are radiant with flowers.
This is a crowded and populous city.
It literally chokes the valley of the
Ohio for three or four miles along the
northern hank of the river, pressing it
self up the steep hills that environ it
about. It lias indeed reached their
summits and spread itself far over their
broad bosom —adorning them with vil
las and mansions, whose chief charms
to their occupants are cool breezes,
and varied landscapes up and down
the Ohio river and over the Kentucky
hills and vallies. There are said to be
twelve score thousands of inhabitants
here, and more than another score in
the twin towns of Covington and New
port, on the Kentucky side of the riv
er, so that there are certainly not few
er than a quarter of a million of peo
ple within a circuit of ten miles around
the centre of the Queen city.
I am sorry I cannot give you a flat
tering account of the Baptists in this
fair town. What there are of them
may be indeed well spoken of; but
their are lamentably few.—
There“ are but two well sustained
churches in this population of 200,000,
and two or three others struggling in
to, or out of, existence. I scarcely
know* which. Neither of the church
es has a house of worship creditable to
the great city, and yet I am told there
is considerable wealth in one of them.
The Baptists here are hospitable,
with something of the Southern signifi
cance of the word. They entertained
the delegates of the Anniversaries gen
erously and heartily. There were be
tween two and three hundred of them
in attendance on the meetings—the
majority being from the contiguous
xegion. New England and New York
were well but not numerously repre
sented—there being perhaps a dozen
D. D.’s besides several smaller fry
from those parts.
The Societies holding their Anniver
saries here, were the Am. Bap. Publi
cation Society ; the Am. Bap. Mission
ary Union; and the Am. Bap. Home
Mission Society, in the order I have
named. Their meetings were all crow
ded into four busy days, two of which
were occupied by the Missionary
Union.
The most striking feature of these
anniversaries for some years past lias
been, I am sorry to say, something
very much like strife about constitu
tions and measures. There is a deep
seated mania, in our Baptist body, for
tinkering constitutions aud amending
the policy of operations in our benevo
lent work. Consolidation movements,
the agency question, life membership
and other bones of contention have
created a good deal of growling and
snapping, and barking among us for
some time past, and the present ses
sions were not free from either the
signs or the sounds of this dissension.
I am glad, however, that there was an
approach here to unusual harmony of
feeling, and the settlement of “ vexed
questions” was cordially laid over by
both sides. A singularly fervent mis
sionary conference closed the meetings
of the Union. It occupied the whole
evening and was reluctantly broken up
at eleven o’clock. I have seldom lis
tened to more earnest and affecting
speeches than those made on this oc
casion, by missionaries and others.—
Delightful singing carried the great
audience captive, and there was some
thing of Pentecostal fervor in the at
mosphere. It was certainly an auspi
cious close of the great anniversary.
You know, doubtless, that the Mis
sionary Union has, during the past
year, entirely extinguished its heavy
aud harrassing debt of $36,000, and
that the great work was accomplished
by one dollar subscriptions from all its
tributary sources, and from some of its
eastern fields of toil also. It was a no
ble movement that led to a noble and
blessed success. Besides this sum,
the Union expended $70,000 in its le
gitimate work the past year. God is
prospering it greatly.
The Publication and the Home Mis
sion Societies are both in a highly pros
perous condition —expanding their op
erations and enlarging their harvests ;
not indeed as freely and as fast as they
have need to do for the sake of the
cause, but stiil to an extent which
challenges the gratitude and the gifts
of the Churches. The Societies have
all received new impulses, I think,
from the spirit and speeches of the An
niversaries, and good reports may be
expected from them all at the next
May meetings in Newark, New Jer
sey.
I went over the river a day or two
since into Kentucky, but although I
was south of Mason & Dixon’s line,
I did not set my eyes upon a single
slave. The spirit of abolitionism and
the fatal facilities of the under-ground
railroad on the opposite shore of the
river have made it unsafe for the
Kentuckians to bring their slaves near
the border. I was told that there
were perhaps not more than fifty in
all the city of Covington—and those
too strongly bound to their owners and
their homes to he enticed away from
them by the specious charms of Cana
da, and its vaunted freedom,
The most saddening token of the
consequences of the “irrepressible con
flict” which I saw in Covington, *vas a
noble building, once the seat of a flour
ishing Theological Seminary of the
Baptists of Ohio and Kentucky com
bined—with broad and valuable acres
of land around it —which the “ vexed
question” broke lip some years ago;
and all that remains of the property
to Baptists, is a small tract of land and
the building, at present occupied by a
Young Ladies’ school. The Ohio wing
of the dispersion tried an independent
school on the “freedom” side of the
river, but its vacant edifice on a lofty
hill is the beacon of its defeat. lam
glad to know that the flourishing Col
lege at Georgetown, in Kentucky, as
the centre of the other interest, tells a
less melancholy story.
Here endeth my first Epistle.
Heavy Robbery.—The Jewelry Store of Jo
siah Gooding, No. 83 Washington-st., Boston,
was robbed, May 27th, of SB,OOO worth of
watches, chain*, and other Jewelry.
NEWS FROM THE FAR WEST.
Micco, Creek Nation, j
„ May 19th, 1860. \
Dear Bro. Boykin:
It being almost impossible to write
personally to all the brethren and
friends, who expressed a wish to hear
from ns when we arrived in the In
dian Territory, you will please give
this letter a place in the Indez, which
I hope they will accept, as though it
were addressed to each of them indi
vidually.
We left Greensboro’ the 16th of
March, for the Indian Territory, and
arrived at Bro. Buckner's the 11th of
April. We Would have made the trip
several days sooner, had we not be’en
delayed at juiiile Rock, in consequence
of low water; from whence we took
staging. We had, indeed, a pleasant
time, notwithstanding the inconveni
ences of our long stage ride. At dif
ferent points we made the acquain
tance of a number of good brethren,
who gave us words of encouragement,
whose memory shall ever be dear to
us.
\V T e found Bro. and Sister Buckner
well and enjoying life; by whom we
were kindly received and cared for un
til w r e could procure boarding else
where ; for w T hicli we feel very thank
ful. At present, we are boarding with
Bro. Harrod, Bro. Buckner’s interpre
ter. Bro. H. and lady are educated
half-breeds. They have a comfortable
home, and know how to make us com
fortable, which they do. So pleasant
ly situated are we, that we do not feel,
as yet, that we have made a very great
sacrifice in coming to the Indian Ter
ritory.
The Indians have a beautiful coun
try, being interspersed with high
mountains, beautiful groves, and wide
extending praries. The soil is gener
ally rich, and easily cultivated. The
whole face of he country is covered
with grass, affording abundant facili
ties for raising stock.
The Indians are rapidly advancing
in civilization, especially those who
have the Gospel preached to them, and
more especially those who yield to its
influence. The English language is
rapidly taking the place of their na
tive tongue, the former being taught
in all tlieir schools, and the latter in
none of them. Those who make a pro
fession of religion, from what 1 can
and learn, are equally as consistent as,
if not more so than, those in the States
who make the same profession. There
is an interesting informality about
their worship, which the brethren in
the States would do well to copy. —
They generally commence singing and
praying long before preaching time,
and continue until the preacher rises
and calls their attention, sometimes
commencing preaching with,and some
times without other preliminaries, just
as he thinks best. This looks to me
something like worship in the early
days of Christianity.
I have preached several times in the
Territory, sometimes with, and some
times without an interpreter, without,
at North Fork, where nearly all un
derstand English. There is not that
difficulty in preaching through an in
terpreter which I had anticipated.—
Neither is it so dull a business as one
would suppose. The great difficulty
with me is to avoid too much excite
ment. This, however, depends to a
great extent upon the interpreter’s
manner; for both naturally move to
gether in this respect. 1 have not pro
cured the services of a regular inter
preter yet, nor will I, until I decide
relative to a permanent location.
We are only temporarily located at
North Fork, (Micco,) will remain here
only long enough to select a perma
nent location. Bro. D. N. Mclntosh
and I intend visiting some of the most
inviting fields soon, relative to the mat
ter. It requires sometime here to at
tend to such matters. We hope how
ever, to get permanently stationed be
fore Fall.
Our health has been good ever since
we left home ; as an evidence of which
we have both gained flesh. We have
not only enjoyed health, but also life,
and the religion of our Master. Mrs.
P. joins me in saying, that although
we are separated from loved ones, we
are happy, never more so in our lives.
We do not regret having come to the
Indian Territory ; for we believe it to
have been otir duty, and are confident
that happiness is always found in du
ty’s path.
Bro. Murrow has visited us, and wel
comed us to the hardships, as well as
the joys of a missionary life. Bro. M’s.
health is good, and he seems to he en
joying life. On our way out, we spent
a night with Bro. Burns and family,
also on a trip to Fort Smith since that
time. Bro. B. is pleasantly situated,
and I have no doubt, is doing a good
work among the Choctaw Indians.—
His family are well pleased with their
home among the red men. We have
not seen Bro. Yandiver yet, though
hope to soon. He is located at the
xXgency, about forty miles North of
Micco.
We desire an interest in the prayers
of our brethren, that we may be faith
ful arid successful laborers in our Mas
ter’s vineyard.
YMur Brother,
J. A. PRESTON.
A Negro’s Notion Abolt the Color of a
Chinese. —A few days ago, a negro fellow, af
ter gazing intently at the Chinese, who are
now in this city with Rev. Mr. Cabaniss. ex
claimed, “If de white folks is dark as dat out
dare, 1 wonder what’s de color of de niggers.”
Terms of Advertising.
For all transient advertising One Dollar per square
of ten lines for the first, and 50 cents per square for
all subsequent publications.
KATES FOR CONTRACT ADVERTISING.
1 square of 10 lines per 3 months § 4 00
“ “10 lines “ 6 “ 7co
“ “10 lines *• 1 year 10 00
These lines are the text advertising lines and tL •
charge is for the space occupied by ten such lineg
as are used in the body of an advertisement. Lon
ger advertisementsin the same ratio.
N. S., VOL. 28, NO. 24.
BIBLE and COLPORTEUR WORK.
WAY MARKS FOR MAY.
At midnight on the last day of
April, I was at the depot in Augusta,
waiting lor the departure of the Way
nesboro ’ cars. I intend to try and
maintain the character given me in a
late number of the Index, and continue
to be “Indefatigable.” Agents often
spend whole nights on the cars and
highways.
Summertown, Emanuel Cos.,
Is a pleasant and handsome ville. It
lias one store, a good school and lec
ture room. The Baptists have preach
ing twice each month, by Rev. W. H.
1 )avis, pastor of the Bark Camp church,
Burke county, who is a graduate of
Mercer University. They gave me
815 50 for the Bible cause.
1 Yay, I , ?boro 1
Is the county site ot Burke. It is an
old village, newly painted and looks
well. The citizens are social, hospita
ble and kind. A complaint was made
against me for stopping at the Hotel,
notwithstanding, I reached the place
at 2 o’clock at .night. The family of
Mr. T. 11. Blunt, and others, will long
be remembered by me. The Baptists
are pretty thick, yet they have 10
church in town.
Alexander
Is a small place in Burke, at which a
young man gave me $5 for the Socie
ty. Through the kindness of Mr. P.
at No. 1, R. R., I was tendered a horse,
on which I went to Alexander.
Mg Bean, Burke Cos.,
Is anew church ; is supplied by breth
ren, L. F. Powell and L. F. McNorrill,
who are promising young ministers.—
Received here $1 50 for Society.
Botsford's, Burke Cos.,
Was (doubtless) the second Baptist
church constituted in Georgia, though
I could not learn the date of its organi
zation. They have just finished anew
house, at a cost of nearly $3,000, all of
which is paid. It is neat and beauti
ful. Did not see their pastor, (Rev.
Mr. Mnrrow.) They gave me $29 50
for Society. Near this church, I was
called to a house of mourning. Miss
Laura S. Wimberly was burned to
death ; her clothes caught on fire and
could not be extinguished until 6he
was severely burnt. She suffered ex
tremely for one month—was in her
21st year, intelligent, amiable and
kind. I saw her corpse, it was beauti
ful, had marks of intellect. I offered
the weeping family all the condolence
possible. May other young ladies take
warning and “prepaie to meet God.”
Rocky Creek Church
Is also in Burke ; Rev. W. L. Kilpat
rick, their pastor, is also a graduate of
Mercer University. They gave me
§3l 50 for Society. Have a good
house. Had a large congregation of
good looking people. The little folks
and I had a happy time; I made a
glowing speech to the children and
gave each a Tract.
Brushy Creek
Is the last church in Burke County,
to which I will call your attention. The
congregation pledged S2O, to be paid
at their Association, to make Rev. E.
J. Pannell, their pastor, a life member
ot our Society. They have a good
house and had a large and intelligent
congregation.
Mahedonia, Bullock Co s.,
Is a church bnt recently extracted
from the Anti ranks. They have a
good house, and gave me S2O to make
their pastor, Rev. W. S. Moore, a life
member of our Society. One brother
also redeemed a pledge six weeks old,
to give me $5 for a certain Tract. I
presented the Tract, he accepted it,
and said, “here’s the money.” and paid
me $5 in silver for one Trac. I offer
ed a Tract to each white member of a
large and interesting congregation.—
One lady in middle life shook kerheab
when I offered her a Tract, I after
wards asked if she was married, was
told that she was not, whereupon, I
sent her word, that she never would
get married if she always shook the
head, as she did to me when I offered
the Tract.
A legal gentleman, on learning my
name on the cars, said, he knew me by
character, for his wife was a Baptist,
and took the Index, that he had read
my reports, and wished to add his name
to my list of contributors, and gave me
5 and marked it to Sylvania, Ga.
Augusta,
Here I received $75 for Society. The
city is beautiful and flourishing. I
think it is the most handsome city in
Georgia. Broad and Green streets are
wide and parallel to each other, each
has, in many places, four rows of beau
tiful trees, about two miles long.—
Rev. L. M. Carter, a life member of
the Bible and Colporteur Society, is
pastor at Canaan, a Mission House con
nected with the Augusta church. Ma
ny of the members of the regular
church, have taken letters, and are pre
paring to constitute a church at Ca
naan. The old and new interest, are,
(I think) in perfect harmony. All
seem to regard the up town, or Canaan
church, as very essential. There is
also, room for a like work, down town.
Bro. Carter is doing a good work in
this important and growing city.
F. M. Haygood.
Penfleld, Ga., June Ist, 1860.
♦+■
THE JAPANESE EMBASSY.
Washington, June B.— The Japanese Em
bassy left Washington for Baltimore this morn
ing. They are reported to be impatient to re
turn to Japan, and will not visit Niagara Falls.
They will visit Philadelphia and New York.