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THE CHRISTIAN INDEX, **)jBLIBHRD EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING AT MACON, GEORGIA. B 7 A COMMITTEE OF BRETHREN, r , J 1 FOR THK GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION. A TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, Two Dollars in advance: or paid within the year If suffered tooverrun theyea-.Two Dollars asd one-halk will be charged in all cases. SAMUEL BOYKIN, Editor. VOLUME XXXIX. POETRY, ’ From tlts Sunday School Times. “Strengthen with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long suffer ing with joyfulness.” Col. I. 11. Work ! Christian laborer, work ! Now while ’tis called to-day ; Toil in thy Master’s work, And, toiling, watch and pray, j The tempter bids thee pause and sleep; f Work! if thou would’st the harvest reap. Pray! Christian pilgrim, pray! And keep thine armor bright, Th rugged be the way, Though cheerless be the night. Through darkest night, and weariest day, Pray without ceasing—Christian ! pray. Fight! Christian soldier, fight! The battle is the Lord’s— Strong in Jehovah’s might, The strength himself affords. O’er foes without, and foes within, Strong in the Lord, the day thou’lt win. Wail! Christian workman, wait! Nor yet impatient be, In this thine earthly state, Thy harvest time to see. The Lord’s appointed time will come : He’ll take his faithful wo:kmsn home. Charleston, S. C., 1860. -A. T. BOOK NOTICES. Five Years in China, with some account of the Great Rebellion, and a description of St. He lena, by Charles Taylor, M. D., formerly Mis sionary to China. Derby and N. Y. 412 pp. For sale by Jno. Burke, Agent. $1 00. This is one of those books we would be glad to have our readers peruse ; for it is full of the most minute information in regard to China and the Chinese, if the houses they live in, Chinese beg gars and costumes, what ind how they eat, their notions of medicine and disease, marriage, punish ments, preparation of tea, funeral rites, schools, inventions, oddities, religions, theatricals, infan ticide, charitable institutions, singular customs, and descriptions of the principal cities, an account of the Great Rebellion is given, the author having made two trips to the insurgent camp. The book closes with a short account of a visit to St. Helena. We advise the reading of this book, it may turn . some Missionary to China, as a field wherein to labor for the Savior. The type is large and the style agreeable, both desirable concomitants to a good book. Premature Church Membership, by Rev. M. H. Fory, A. M., with an introduction, by Rev. Ba ron Stow', D. D., N. Y: A. D. F. Randolph. This is a treatise upon the. evils, the cause, and the preventive of undue haste in the admission ol members to Christian churches. It comes warm ly commended by Dr. Wm. R. Williams, and pre faced by an able introductory chapter from the pen of Dr. Stow. We have oftet* deplored the premature admission of members to the church, and inquired, “Is there no remedy ?” The only preventative swe can see, are developed in the last chapter of this bock, which we sincerely hope all our ministers will ob tain and study ; for it treats of all the evils of pre mature church membership, the causes of it and the resposibility resting on Spiritual guides. Its chapters on Revivals, and Revivalists and on the proper candidates for church membership are interesting and will do good. If all inquirers w'ouldread this book, they would be vastly benefitied by it; as Dr. Williams says : “It is written with force, and contains much of discriminating and well-timed truth.” The Baptists in Sweden, by Mrs. M. F. Anderson. Arne. Baptist Publication Society. This little volume of 192 pages, 18mo. is filled with accounts of the “great things” which “the Lord hath done” for his people in Sweden, w here of every true Christian cannot but be “glad.” It commences with a brief epitome of the early reli gious history of Sweden, and then proceeds to un fold the history of the rise and progress of Baptist sentiments in that country, the narration of which is truly wonderful. To give the reader an idea of the remarkable success of Baptist sentiments there during the last four years, we subjoin the follow ing figures whish we find at the close of the vol. Jan. 1856. Churches,... 12 Members,... 476 “ 1857. “ ... 21 “ ... 961 “ 1858. “ ...*45 “ ...2,105 “ 1859. “ 69 “ ...8,487 “ 1860. * “ ...102 “ ...4,548 We know’ <tf no increase in any other country, in modern times, equal to this. We are glad to know that the American Baptist Pub’ication Society aided greatly in this gool work. We find in the Book a sketch of the life of Wiberg, author of a capital and original work on Baptism. The book is accompanied with maps and will be read with interest by Sabbath School Scholars. Mary Bi n van, the blind daughter.— A story of the time of Bunyan. It treats of Bunyan, his family, his history, his troubles, trials, imprisonment, and of the distress of his family, the main figure of the story being Banyan's daughter. The author exhibits acquain tance with the life and times of Bunyan; but uses the language of this day in her portraiture. The work is fascinating; it could not be otherwise, con sidering that it is by the author of Grace Truman. We hope the book will sell by thousands. It is published by Sheldon & Cos. Price, $1 00. The X. V. Chronicle says of it: “The life, love and death-of the blind daughter, Mary ; the heroic affection of the wife Elizabeth ; the godly courage and persistency of Bunyan ; the nobility and martyrdom of Elizabeth Gaunt; with the doings and sufferings of others, who, with, the same spirit bore persecution for Jesus’ sake, form the staple of the book. It is no over-wrought picture of the fiery ordear through which the Bap tist confessors of the sixteenth century passed.” Harpkrs Magazine for J tne. This is an excedent number. The articles on “New Bedford,” “Ancient Mounments in the Uni ted States,” and “Insects belonging to the Cotton Plant,” are especially interesting. Its different departments show great'industry, taste and versa tility, and altogether exhibit a very readable com pound. A Plea for Baptist Principles ; or, the Baptists and the Ordinances. A most sensible Tract, and one that presents our denomination as occupying the only Scriptural and consistent ground in regard to Baptism, In fant sprinkling and close Communion; by Geo. W. Anderson, pastor of the Lower Merion Church. — Published by the Ame. Bap. Pub. Society. 72 pp. Strictures os Rev. Wm. Haynes’ Review of Fil ler and Wayland on Slavery, Second edition, by Thomas Meredith, X. C., Gould & Lincoln ; 63 pp. A triumphant demolishment of the author under review. * The Throne of David, from the consecration of the Shepherd of Bethlehem, to the Rebellion of Price Absalom. Being an'illustration of the splendor, power and dominion of the reign of the Shepherd, Poet, Warrior, King, and Proph et, Ancestor and Type of Jesus; in a series of <§rpn of % (§a. Coiibcnlmn: kbofri) to lidipn, anil fire interests of % baptist |)cnoinina(ion. letters addressed by an Assyrian Ambassador, resident at the Court of Saul and David, to his Lord and King on the throne of Ninevah; wherein the glory of Assyria, as well as the magnificence of J uea is presented to the rea der by an eye witness. Bv Rev. J. H. Ingra ham, LL. D. Those who have read “The Prince of House of David” and the “Pillar of Fire,” will want to see this book. Its style is elevated, florid and ambi tious ; and the reading of the book will help to give an idea of the grandeur and magnificence of the Israelitish Kingdom at the time of David. We have not taken time to read it, but its title is suf ficiently descriptive of its contents. SELECTIONS. From the Banner and Baptist. Review of “ Corrective Church DISCIPLINE.” v the relation the pastor sustains to CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE. Number. 0. Comparatively little objection would be urged against this article of Prof. Mell, did not that same radical error, growing out ot his improper classifica- tion or offences, make its appearance again. By throwing aside his “ private (imaginary) offences,” and’ substituting “ personal” (real) ones, most that is said may be admitted. But it should be observed that the above correction will reverse the order of procedure in a large number of cases; since thous ands of cases which Prof. M. would call “public,” are “personal offences,” and should be settled according to Mat thew 18. I agree with Prof. M. that where the pastor has been trespassed (sinned) against, he has the same means of re dress as a private member. This is true, when the pastor’s membership is in the samfr church with the offend ing.” It is well, too, as Prof. M. contends, Tor the pastor not to “ take sides,” un less the innocent mam is likely to suf fer, or the guilty to triumph. In this case, if the church will not administer justice, the pastor should, in the prop er way, strive to have justice done all parties. This would he his duty as a member, but not as pastor of the church. Such occasions test the nerve of his soul, hut he must not remain silent, when he sees justice trampled in the dust. That the pastor has “entire control of the principles that are operative in the case,” is not the happiest phraseol ogy. In what sense is the above true ? The pastor has access to the jirinciples of discipline as taught in the New Tes tament, and he has access to the church; but the church, and.not the pastor, must “control,” “under Christ,” “ the principles that are operative in the case.” “Again: He (the pastor) has noth ing to do with the facts, or with the guilt or innocence of the parties ; and he should keep profoundly silent on these— giving no occasion to infer what his opinions are.” This is all good ad vice so long as the church is inclined to do right, and has all the necessary evidence before her. But when the church is about to decide a case of dis cipline contrary to “ the facts,” the pastor should, not in his official char acter, but as a private member, express his “ opinions,” either publicity or pri vately, as circumstances and “ the fact” in the case require. If the church is not inclined to act as “ the facts” justify, the pastor, as a member of the church, should strive, in the proper way, to influence it to do what is right. Once more: “In a serious dilflcul ties he (the pastor) should direct his at tention to the accomplishment of two objects : First, to prevent the forma tion of two parties in the church, &c., and second to make the combatants themselves ashamed and tired of their relations.” The former suggestion is a good one. The latter is a good one in some instan ces, viz: where both the offended and the offending are wrong; in this case, the one in the right has no occasion to feel “ ashamed,” nor is it the pastor’s duty to try to make him feel so. With these strictures, the present article may be allowed to pass. We now come to matters of more vital importance. ‘‘Deductions from previous principles. Church sovereign ty and independence.” Since “church sovereignty” and “in dependence” have, of late, been dis cussed by older and wiser pens, and has been, as I suppose, settled in the mind of the denomination, very little need be said on these subjects. Let this explain my brevity. As the article now’ claiming our at tention is quite lengthy, the points will be discussed briefly. 1. “Local churches have exclusive jurisdiction over their members.” — Again: “Under Christ, every local church has supreme jurisdiction over its members.” This latter proposition is preferable, since it marks the origin and extent of the “jurisdiction” a church has over its members. The church at A cannot try the church member at B as to his standing in his church. I suppose this is what is meant by ‘exclusive jurisdiction.’— There is a sense, however, in which the church at A may try a member of the church at B, viz : where the privi lege which the member at B claims, is to be obtained from the church at A. Suppose str. Smith, a member ot the church at B, is guilty of some misde meanor, or is engaged ic some busi ness for which the church at A would exclude one of her own members; the church at B must refuse to admit, to MACON, GA., WEDNESDAY) JUNE 20, 1860. her communion, Mr. Smith ; and, in doing this, she virtually decides that he, in her opinion, ought to be exclud ed from his own church. This decis ion, be it remembered, can have no direct influence on his standing in his own church. No church ought to allow a minister to preach in her house, when that min ister is guilty of conduct for which she would exclude one of her own mem bers. “ Under Christ”—i. e. under the laws of Christ, and no further—each church has jurisdiction over her own members. 2. “Church sovereignty marks the relation the church bears * * * * to its own members ; and signifies her power to govern them under the laws of Christ.” I have no special objection to this. The sovereignty of a church is all “ under the laws ot* Christ.” The power of a church to govern her own members, must be restricted to the laws of Christ.” Beyond the law of the only lawgiver, the church has no sov ereignty. When a church would “gov ern” one of her members in a way dif ferent from the laws of Christ, her sov ereignty, so far, at least, as that act is concerned —is forfeited. 3. “The sovereignty of a church is subverted when her members success fully rebel against her authority ; as when a member under charges refuses to he tried, and successfully tears him self free from her jurisdiction.” Should a member act thus, when the church moves within the legitimate sphere of her soverignty, he would “subvert” to the extent of his rebel lion, the sovereignty of the church ; hut should the church forget herself, and attempt to try an innocent mem ber in a way different from the laws of Christ, his refusal to submit to trial would not subvert her tor, according to the supposition, she has no sovereignty when shells aside the laws of Christ. The member does not destroy her sovereignty, but the church, by her own voluntary wicked act, destroys it. Let the reader ponder this view carefully. 4. “ Church independence marks the relation that the church sustains to other churches ; and signifies her free dom from their control.” There is not the slightest objection to this definition. One church has no right to say to a sister church, “ You must or must not do this or that.” The church at A must not dictate what the church at B must do. Each church must act for itself. This Baptists eve rywhere concede. 5. “The independence of a church is infringed upon when other churches, associations or councils either volunta rily or at the instigation ot her reces sant member, interfere with the disci pline, or otherwise attempt forcibly to control her.” ‘ It may be inquired— What is it for one church to inter fere with the discipline of another ? This will be noticed in a future arti cle, as Prof. M. brings up the subject again. Suffice it for the present to say, that the independence of a church is never taken from her, so long as she is unrestrained in her action. The recep tion of an excluded member into one church, does not destroy the indepen dence of the excluding church. The latter may pass a thousand votes of ex communication on the same member even after the former has received the excluded; or she may pass resolutions censuring the church that received the excluded member. Her independence remains unimpaired so long as she has the liberty of voting. True, a church may, and sometimes is disappointed as to the results of her (so called) disci pline. She may, from jealousy or envy, desire to crush a member by unscrip tual means ; and, to effect this, exclude him from the church. Other churches seeing her tyrany, may offer the per secuted man a place with them. This would be an interception ot the design of the discipline, but no interference with the discipline itself. But more of this Union. [AY. 9 concluded next week. LETTER FROM I. T. TICIIENOR. Montgomery, Ala., June 4th. Dear Bro. Boykin: I did not And time while at Green ville to comply witli your request, to write you about the Theological Semi nary, and now that I have returned home, I scarcely know how to give you such an account of it, as will do justice to the Seminary and he accep table to your readers. I have always entertained my fears in regard to Theological Institutions ; and those fears have been based upon “results too often seen. It not unfre quently happens, that our young men troin them delight themselves in dis playing their knowledge of Greek and Hebrew, and are so tilled with a sense of their importance, us to be utterly unfitted to preach the gospel to any or dinary congregation. But appreciating such a course of Theological instruction as will make men able -ministers of the New Testa ment, I could not be content to set by, while efforts were made by others to establish one Theological Seminary upon such a basis as would enable it to meet the wants of our denomina tion. Next to a learned ministry with out piety, I dread a ministry composed of men who cannot teach and will not learn. I attended nearly all the pre liminary meetings held, with a view to establish such an Institution, and watched with deep interest, sometimes with fears, the gradual development of the plan on which this Seminary is founded, and which distinguishes it from all other Theological Institutions. When the meeting held in Green ville in May, 1858,Jaid the foundation ot this “School of Prophets” upon the idea of giving to every man, who might seek instruction there, such a course as would best fit him for his work of preaching Christ, I rejoiced with trem bling. This plan was, of all others, most likely to give us such a school as we needed. Requiring no high grade of scholarship to enter it and adopting the course to meet the necesssities of the students, it would bring all classes of our rising ministry together, and unite them in bonds of love and Chris tian sympathy. When in May, 1859, the present faculty were eiected to take charge of its interests, I felt that in them we had a guarantee, that, if the idea was prac ticable, it would be made to work.— Os these brethren, I have it in my heart to say many things which their modesty and the proprieties of the case forbid me to say to the public.— If I should tell the world what I would tell you in the privacy of your sanc tum, it would look like man-worship, and this, as a man, and especially as a Baptist, I abhor. Knowing them before their connec tion wAh this Institution, no other men would have given me so much confi dence in the success of the enterprise. Young, energetic, thoroughly educa ted, above all eminently pious, they are the men to whom we caa most readily confide the training of our ris ing ministry. But still the thought would some times intrude itself, that, after all, they were bwt men, arid that they might soon overrate the intellectual and un dervalue the spiritual qualifications for the work of the ministry. After the opening of first session last October, I watched with no ordinary interest, everything that indicated the prevail ing tone and spirit of the Institution. All the tidings that leached me were favorable. The energy with which the students entered upon the work, the number and variety of the spiritual exercises connected with the Seminary, the interest taken by the Professors in these meetings, the wil lingness of the students to preach the Gospel to the poor, their efforts to es tablish Sunday Schools in the vicinity of Greenville, had all prepared me to be pleased with my visit to the Semi nary. But not until 1 attended the commencement exercises, did I realize the full extent of the spirit which is infused into the course of study. “Education aud Missions,” might he taken as the motto of the Institution. I attended one of the Missionary So cieties connected with the Seminary. One of the Professors presided, and two others sat among their brethren. The remaining one was attending the meeting ot the Board of Trustees, or he would have been present. It was worth a meeting to see those young brethren, some ot them recently from the plow, some fresh from University Halls, with no spirit of jealousy, but with the most cordial Christian affection, mingling together their prayers and tears for the cause of their common Master. At that meeting I heard one of the Professors give his parting advice to his classes. They had been engaged in the study of Old Testament in Eng lish and Hebrew. Alluding to the criticisms, on which so much time had been spent, he said, “My Brethren, keep all this as far as possible from your sermons.” He quoted and adopt ed the remark of Dr. Witherspoon, through whose instrumentality, main ly, the Princeton College was built up; “Accursed he all knowledge that op poses the cross of Christ; accrused be all knowledge which diverts from the cross of Christ; accursed be all knowl edge that is not subservient to the cross of Christ.” With this spirit prevailing in the Seminary, we may feel that the pray ers of our brethren have been answer ed ; that God has regarded the cries and tears of the wise and good of our denomination, when they have be sought Him to aid in building “a school of the prophets” for the glory of his name. My every fear has vanished. Most cordially can I endorse this movement, and most confidently do I expect, by the blessing of God, it will live to be a light to the world when the current of years shall have borne us to the great ocean of Eternity. And now I have written you so long a letter, that I have little room to tell you about Greeryfille itself, or the Com mencement Excises. The town is beautifully situated in an elevated re gion in sight of the Blue Ridge. It would be a delightful summer resort to low country men like ourselves. — Bro. Manly says he finds very little difference between the climate there and that of Virginia. The Commencement Exercises may be briefly summed up as follows: On Saturday night an address was delivered before the Andrew Fuller Society, by Bro. J. A. Chambliss, one of the students. Sunday morning the Commence ment Sermon was preached by your correspondent. Sunday night, the ser mon before The Society for Missionary Inquiry, was delivered by Rev. Dr. Samson, of Washington City. Mon day morning the Commencement Ad dress was delivered by Bev. Dr. Man i ly, of Ala., followed by an Address and the conferring of Degrees, by Dr. Boyce, chairman of the Faculty. The Seminary, you know, is divided | into eight schools, and a Diploma is conferred upon the student graduating in these schools. A full graduate of the Seminary must have taken the en tire course, and passed a searching ex amination in all its departments. I close this letter by urging you to attend the next Commencement at Greenville. Yours, Truly, I. T. Tichenok. LETTER FROM ALMOST OUT OF THE WORLD TIDINTIS OF OUR INDIAN MISSIONARIES. Little River, C. N. ) May 11th, ISOO. f Dear IS to. jßoykin : Six miles west from Jjicco, one huu dred soutlnvest from the Creek Agen cy, and one hundred and twenty-five also west from the old Choctaw‘Agen cy, we almost consider ourselves al most out of the world, perhaps would, Lad we not heard a man of veracity say once that Micco was in the center; and we are sure we are nearer Micco than is Macon. You may be sure then we were glad to be hailed at our own gate the other day, by Bro. Willis Burns, from the old Choctaw Agency. He remained witli us six days over Sabbath, #nd preached a most stirring and arousing sermon, that is still leav ing print, for the success of Saviour’s cause. Bro. Burns gives a good ac count of his own field of labor, says the people manifest much interest in preaching. Bro. liogne, in the lower part of the Choctaw Nation, from whom I receiv ed a letter a few days since, reports himself and family well. The Choc taw Association will meet with one of his churches on Thursday evening be fore the 3rd Sabbath in September. Last week I visited the North Fork town, (Micco) and enjoyed the plea sure of welcoming to the Creek Nation and its Missionary labors, Bro. J. A. Preston and his dear wife. His “pas sage” out, was tedious and tiresome, but he is now “regularly in,” and bids fair to become a hold and faithful sol dier. We shall he much mistaken if lie does’nt, should he live, deal some heavy blows upon sin, superstition and error in his labors. With sister P., I was acquainted “in the old country,” and rejoiced to my very soul when I welcomed her to the Creek Mission.— A more suitable match, I think, could hardly he found. Bro. P., has a big body, and sister P., has a big heart, so between them they are thoroughly fur nished for any and every work. I visisted my old home, bro. Buck ner’s dwelling. Sister B. received me with her usual cordiality and kindness. I visited “the it was vacant and in ruins, scraps of nouns, verbs and Testaments were scattered around in wild confusion. Hasten back bro. B. for we need both you and your books. Dear brethren and sisters, let me urge} on, you who have not fione so, send up a contribution to Marion for the printing of those Creek transla tions. A very small sum will pay for the publishing of one book, will you then, all of you send just enough to give one book to a poor Indian man or woman ? It may he the means of sav ing a soul. Let me acknowledge with a grateful heart, the reception of two boxes of presents from friends and Christian brethren and sisters in Georgia. One from Perry, the other from Atlanta.— j Each box contained many things of value to us, such too as we were need ing. If it has not impoverished you brethren, it has certainly enriched us. I would especially return thanks to bro. and sister Tharp, Prof, and sister Goode, and to Miss Mattie Y. Warren, also to bro. J. F. Woodbury, Dr. Mas sey and lady, bro. and sister Ilaygood, bro. S. Boykin, and most affectionate ly to the young gentlemen of the twi light prayer meeting, at Penfield. God bless them all. My library was espe cially enriched, (and I hope my head will be, ere long,) thanks to many, es pecially sister Warren; Mrs. M. too returns thanks, aud would express thanks to Mrs. W. C. Moore and, “a little girl,” God bless her. Farewell, please do not forget us in prayer. In an hour I start for an appointment a good way off, Yours in hope of Heaven, J. S. Murrow. BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK.—Rev. iii. 20. He is bent upon admission. lie stands; and he makes known his er rand by liis unceasing knocks, that the inmate may hear and open. lie longs for entrance. lie must be in. To dwell in us is that on which his heart is set. O infinite Lover of souls, what grace, what patience, what compas sion, what loveliness, are thine ! O bewitched and benighted soul of man, shall he stand and knock in vain ‘. Five Things. —ls we are to be the “lights of the world,” there are five things we must believe. That these is a heaven. That there is a hell. In the atonement of Jesus Christ, the son •of God. In the value of the soul. In the shortness of life, and its impor tance in view of the terribly vast in terests that depend upon it. And in order that these five truths may have their designed effect upon us, and lead us to holy, heavenly lives, make us ac tive, useful happy Christians, they must be habitually , seriously prac tically considered. Come to Jesus, and he will give you | a robe washed white in his own blood.i He that hateth reproof is brutish, j JACKSON—VICKSBURG. Dr. jdro. Boyk in : According to a partial promise made you before leaving Georgia, I drop you a few notes, by the wav. Jackson—both you and your readers are aware, is the capital of Mississip pi. It appears rather in a declining state from what is seen by a passing stranger. Anew impetus may be given to it, however, by the Great Northern Railroad which is just com pleted, connecting New Orleans with the great system of Northern Rail roads. But some of its inhabitants think that the passing ot the Bailroad beyond Jackson,'has been a decided injury to the city. It has, theysay, about 5000 inhabitants, most of the denominations are there represented—Catholics hold a prominent place, next Episcopalians, then Presbyteiians, then Methodists, then Baptists, and Campbellites. Ido not vouch for the truth of this state ment, but this is the representation made to me. The Baptists have a small church, and I am told, a good pastor. I did not have time to makq his acquaintance Here is the State House and Penitentiary. The latter appears from a distance, a fine build ing—and the State House is not with out some architectural beauty. It is rather a tasty, though ancient build ing. They have, what I suppose is an important matter in these parts, a “Pistol Gallery,” where men are taught scientifically to shoot at each other, or rather, they are there trained to shoot correctly—preparatory for du elling. Forty-eight miles from Jackson brings on : by B. B. to Vicksburg.— Thiity miles of the distance is over a fiat, and rather poor country. This valley of the Miss, is wonderful in its extent. For a long distance it spreads out on either side of the river. Ten : miles before reaching Vicksburg, we ! come to the “hills,” which extend to the bank of-the river. These are cu rious in structure and appearance.— They appear as an extended potatoe field—partly planted in ridges, and partly in hills. The soil seems a sort of lime, and alluvial deposit, overly ing, marl, and a kind of soap-stone. — On such soil, and on the bank of the “Father of Waters,” lies the city of V icksburg. It and environs, contain i about 8000 persons. It. is an old city j —and like its neighbor, Jackson, seems declining. It is the most hilly of all the cities —still in some parts of it, von see evidences of improvement.— They are completing, it is said, the best Court House in the South. It is a magnificent structure for the pur pose of the administration of justice, and I trust, may never be the seat of in justice. It is of modern finish, *and costs 1 am told, nearly a million of dol lars—this it seems to me. too much however. The Great Northern or Cen tral B. 11., as it*is called, has greatly injured the’ boating business on the river, and consequently, this city.— But they are looking for compensa tion, in part, from the B. B. in con struction from this piece; to sfcreve port, and farther West. Following my instincts,' °Y sought out the “seoteyery wher#spok en againsf.” Bulr I found this one of the places where they are not spoken much against, because they are not spoken much of. They are not here. For years the little church here has been aided by one of the Associations, of this State, and the Don* Board, in supporting the Pastor, a bro. Snod grass, whom I did not have the pleas ure of seeing. But from one of the principal members, I gained the fol lowing facts: They have 70 or 80 members in all—4o sabbath scholars, a good, but rather small hoftse of worship, and it about paid forf— I There are only 5 or 6 male members who take interest in the affairs of the clinch. They have 300 volumes in sab bath school library; they have just dissolved their connection with their ! pastor, and are without a shepherd. — They are in a destitute condition. — Why is it, that the Baptists have taken j such little interest in occupying the j towns and cities? It is a mistaken pol- j icy, and should be corrected. But my time is out. They are now in waitiug to take us from this place to Minden, La. We are about to plunge into the swamps of the Mississippi, just one hundred miles in extent from this point. Think of that—entering such a swamp on the 2nd day of June.— Morq-iinon. P. RESULTS OF THE REVIVAL IN ROME. Rome, Ga., June 7th, 1860. Editor Christian Index: It is with a joyful and grateful heart that 1 inform you, that God has mani fested his saving presence in our midst, and not only revived the church which ! had grown cold and .feeble, hut more than forty souls have been led from nature’s darkness, into the light of the precious Gospel of Christ, and scores are still seeking the salvation of God. Our church, has been without a pastor since the resignation of Prof. Ilillyer, | last September, and dependant upon the labors of our devoted Brother Still well, who notwithstanding his pressing and arduous secular duties has sup plied the church once on the Sabbath. The first Sabbath in May, the Rev. Dr. Ryerson, visited us and was received with open arms, by not only our own church, but all classes of our citizens. God blessed his every effort, and a stLti of thoughtfulness and seriousness com ? menced. with many as the result of his [ first effort; and increased with every 1 1 ** ‘ 5 Terms of Adverts sinsr. For nil transient advertising One Dollar per square often lines for the first, and 50 ctns per square for all subsequent publications. KATES FOR CONTRACT ADVERTISING. 1 square of 10 lyies per 3 months $ 4 00 “ “10 lines “ 6 “ 700 “ “10 lines “ 1 year io oo These lines are the text advertising lines and th e charge is for the space occupied by ten such line* as are used in the body of an advertisement. Lon ger advertisements in the same ratio. N. S., VOL. 28, JVC). 25. additional sermon until many asked “ what they should do to be saved.”— At lais time the Rev. Mr. Fisher came from Atlanta, and for tot days they have larbored together day and night for the good of souls. Last Sabbath Bro. Ryerson baptized fifteen joyful converts, and will baptize more than that number on next Sabbath, many of them are our best citizens and heads ot lainilies ; quite a number have and will unite with the other churches of our city. The church has unanimously called the Rev. J. E. Ryerson, D. D., to be come its pastor, and the call is enthu siastically seconded by the whole com munity. Other denominations warm ly welcome him in our midst. Broken health has, however, decided him to desist from all labor for some months, and we will have to him up for a tew days, when lie will leave Georgia lor the North. May God restore him to health and strength and to the South again, and his future be one of unin terrupted usefulness in winning souls to Christ, is the prayer of hundreds in this community as well as of your un worthy servant. Ax II l'jiei.e Follower of Jesus. From the Louisiana Baptist. WHITHER ARE WE DRIFTING? Must the Nashville difficulties of necessity result in a division of the de nomination ? Is there no alternative ? There is a fearful responsibility some where. On whom shalHt rest? Bap tists of the South, to you the appeal comes. By the love you bear the Re deemer, by principles dear; to every Baptist heart, bj r the blood of our mar tyred ancestors, interpose and arrest the tide that is driving us upon the frightful rock of schism. The blessed Savior once “turned and looked upon Peter. ‘ In that look was conveyed a sentiment that had the desired ef fect. May we not suppose that he be-* holds, with the same glance of re proach, the posture of affairs in our beloved Zion ? Think what is at stake. The inter ests of the denomination—the love of Christians one for another—the spread of the g spel in the world. What shall be done, and whose duty it is to do it? Do I hear the answer, that ; “principle” is involved, and therefore there can be no compromise? Stop, <ny brother. May not the “principle” of pride be the chief barrit r ? True, while the present state of feeling lasts, there’ can be no adjustment. The breach is widening—difficulties are •thickening—dangers are increasing.— Now, I repeat, what shall be done?— Where are our wise men ? Where our patriarchs They do not answer.— There is too much involved to let mat ters go on as heretofore. No one else has spoken; none seem disposed to take the initiative. Then hear me for my God and Savior. Come to my aid, ye sages of the church. Mighty mas ses of the great Baptist family, breast the storm. Let each, as he reads this, ask him self the question as a lover of Jesus, What can Ido ? First, my brother, decide what you will not do. Have you hitherto takes sides in the contest ? Have you entered into heated disputes in defence of your favorites? Dave you suffered yourself to utter bitter things against those you considered in the wrong? Then you can stop all this. Let a truce be enteced into for six months. Let those Baptist papers which have been involved in the con flict, take down the red Hag for the time. The supplies being cut off, the soldiers in the ranks will no longer revel in blood. Six months is not long, yet long enough to give time for reflec tion and prayer. Do not write, do not talk, do not even think (Except as a subject of prayer,) of the personal difficulties, but pray* and strive after the Spirit of Christ. Meantime let the old and wise ones of the church devise terms of settlement. Now, dear brethren, what say you ? Bro. Lee, will you not second the move ? What say the Tennessee Bap tist and Baptist Standard ? The Reli gious Herald has not been a party to the contest, yet I have known brother Sauds long and know he will favor peace. Bro*-Farrar, we fonght side by side in other days; bring up the Mis sissippi Baptist to the rescue. Bro. Baines, too; I know his spirit, and re ly confidently on his co-operation.— The Texas Baptist will rally its forces to stem the torrent. Other papers that love Christ a*nd his cause more than the gratification of personal feel ing, will speak favorably, I feel sure. A now have written what was in my heart, and pray God to take the mat ter in his own hands, and overrule to bis own glory and the advancement ot his cause. F. Courtney. Mt. Lebanon, La. Will Baptist papers please copy ? Lady Byron. —This lady, a few days previ ous to her death, sent the sum of two hundred dollars to the Sicilian committee of London, in aid of the Garibaldi fund. By her death her el dest grandson, aged twenty-four years, enters the House of Lords as Baron Wentworth. A short time since a child of Mr. Evering hain, residing in South Troy, Mas seized with an alarming illness, the prevalent symptoms be ing violent spasms of coughing. After the lapse cf a week, during which time this myste rious attack continued, the child spn. out a large carpet-tack, Mrhich had been lodged in its wind pipe, and caused all the trouble. It is now do ing well. ! Another Wonder. —A most magnificent cave has been discovered in El Dorado county California. Several large rooms M ere found in it, several hundred feet in length by nearly as many broad, and a lake, the extent of M'hich is as’ yet unknown. The floors as well stasa lactities are all of a beautiful white crystalized marble.