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THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
PUBLISHRD EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING
AT MACON, GEORGIA.
BY A COMMITTEE OF BRETHREN, |
FOR THE
GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION,
Two Dollars in advance: or paid within the year.
If suffered to overrun the yea*, Two Dollars and
one-half will be charged in all cases.
SAMUEL BOYKIN, Editor.
VOLUME XXXIX.
POETRY.
ALAS! I KNOW THAT T MUST DIE.
BT HATTIE E. SMITH.
Alas ! I know that I must die,
A bitter, bitter truth,
When shown unto the beaming eye
Os happy smiling youth.
Yes, that dread hour mu9t come to me
When 1 must cope with death;
And those I love around shall be
To watch my fleeting breath.
But, ah! though loved ones stand around
’Tis I, and I alone,
.Must feel the chords of life unwound—
The soul from body torn. *
They may gize on my glassy eye,
And watch Death’s chill creep on ;
Yea, they may weep and mourn and cry,
To think I’ll soon be gone.
But none may know the agony—
The deep, the dark despair,
Which fills me when they gaze and see,
And feel I’ll soon be there.
The sharp pangs of my struggling soul.
Ah! no, not one may know,
Or what dread visions there do roll
From whence Death's waters flow.
Oh! would that I could turn to Him,
Whose voice alone can sheer,
Our souls when mid the shadows grim,
Os that dread vale of fear. ,
MRS. JANE POSEY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
It becomes our duty to chronicle the
death of an aged and beloved Sister
in Christ, Mrs. Jane Posey, who de
parted this life at her residence in this
place on the evening of Wednesday
last, the 13th instant.
She was born in Virginia on the
28th day of March, A. 1). 1775, and
hence was at the time of her death,
aged 85 years, 2 months and 18 days.
She was the youngest child of William
and Fanny Strong. During her long
life she was married three times ; her
first husband was Samuel Bridgewa
ter, who died shortly after their mar
riage in the IT. S. Army'; her second
husband was Win. Montford Stokes,
(for many years a Deacon of Ebenezer
Baptist Church, in this county,) with
whofn she spent much the larger per
tion (about thirty years) of her married
life; her third and last husband was
Rev. Humphrey Posey, who died about
10 years since, and who is well known
among the Baptists of Georgia as one
who was an eminent, zealous and pious
minister of the Gospel.
She never had any children.
She was a member of the Baptist
Church for about 00 years, and those
who have known hex long, bear testi
mony to her piety and the general cor
rectness of her Christian character du
ring that long period of time. The
writer of this notice has only been ac
qnainted with her for about 4 months,
but during that time very intimately ,
as her pastor in her house and by her
bedside, can confidently bear
witness to her eminent devotedness a
„ Christian, from the first of his ac
quaintance with her until the day of
her death. Her illness, which termi
nated in her death, had confined her
almost constantly to her bed for about
six weeks, but during that time she en
joyed the almost uninterrupted use of
her mental faculties, and was almost
continually giving evidences to those
around her of her title and fitness for
Heaven.
ghe truly felt the deep inate depravi
ty of her own heart, and habitually
and heartily confessed that she was a
sinner; she was indeed a sinner who
could make a clean breast —a hearty
confession of her sins, and acknowl
edge her need of a Saviour. Her Sa
viour she loved; lie was the constant
burden of her mind, and no one who
associated with her during her sick
ness, can doubt but that all her trust
was in Ilim.
“I can trust Him, 1 can trust Him.
All my confidence is in Him. lie can
save me, Ac.,” she often exclaimed
when interrogated as to her faith in
Him,
During her illness she had a great
concern for sinners. Never will the
writer forget how often she exhorted
him to “preach to poor sinners, and
tell them about Jesus.” Neither will
he ever forget her earnest and prayfnl
concern for him as a young minister
of the Gospel, and as pastor of the
Church in this place. If pastors al
ways had such to care for them and
pray for them, their burdens would be
lighter, and their confidence of success
in doing good among the members of
their churches and in winning sinners
to Christ, would be stronger and more
constant.
She was benevolent; she had a heart
of charity for the poor and afflicted,
and administered unto their wants and
necessities of her means; she was also
liberal to the interests of the Saviour’s
cause, and she bequeathed by will
(she told me a short time before her
death,) *IO,OOO for the education of
poor young men for the ministry.
But enough, our sister Posey is no
more; no more a stranger and a pil
grim in this world, but (we believe) a
glorified Saint in Heaven.
• Her last words , were , when asked if
she felt that her way was clear, “0
yes! J want to go! I want to go! I
long to go! All is well. 5 ’
On the morning of the day after her
deceases fuueral discourse was preach
ed by the writer at her bouse to alarge
poncourse of her brethren and other
neighbors and friends, from the text,
“To me to die is given I '— Phil. 1: 21.
11. S. M.
Newnau, Ga., June 18th, IS6O.
Banner and Baptist, Tenn. Baptist
and S. W. Baptist, please copy.
of % #a. gap. Cmilmttum: bebotfb to Hlissions, Jfligiffit, anb % Interests of tjje baptist § enmninatinn.
DOMESTIC BOARD.
Dear Bro. Boykin:
In compliance with your request, I
furnish the following for publication in
the Index; and may in a future series
of short articles, say some few things
in relation to “what we are doing, and
how we are doing it.”
1. The Board of Domestic and In
dian Missions of the Southern Baptist
Convention, is located in Marion, Ala.
2. It consists of a President, fifteen
Vice Presidents, and a Board of fifteen
Managers, two Corresponding Secre
taries, Recording Secretary, Treasurer
and Auditor. The only paid officers
ofthe'Board are its Corresponding Sec
retaries, who devote their entire time
to the duties of their office.
3. It holds its regular meetings for
business, on the 2nd Monday night of
each month.
4. There are two departments of la
bor to which the Board direct their
attention ; the Domestic and Indian
Missions. The former lias for its field
of operation the Southern States and 1
Territories, including California; and
the hder, the Indian Territory and
such other portions of our Territories
as are occupied by the Indian tribes,
and accessible to Missionary labor.
5. The Board has been in operation
fifteen years. During this time it
received for Domestic Missions, to the
Ist of April, 1860, $234,593 39; and
for Indian Missions, (since 1855) SBO,-
730 04.
6. 835 Commissions have been issued
in the Domestic department, and 59 in
the Indian. These Missionaries have
supplied 3,460 Churches and Stations ;
constituted 199 Churches, and baptiz
ed 13,424 persons. For the aggregate
of their labors, we refer the reader to
the published reports of the Board.—
These even are but an approximation
of what has been done.
7. During the year ending April Ist,
1860, 107 Missionaries were employed
in the Domestic department, and 49
in the Indian. These baptized during
the year, 1,506 persons, and supplied
528 Churches and stations in 17 differ
ent States and Territories.
8. But 3 Agents were employed a
portion of their time during the past
year, in all only 23 months services
were rendered. The per cent, of ex
penditure for the past 14 years in the
management of the affairs of the Board,
has been for each, as follows : 1846-7,
22 per cent.; 1547-8, 25 per cent.;
1848-9, 22 per cent.; 1849-50, 24 per
cent.; 1850-1, 17 percent.; 1851-2, 26
per cent.; 1852-3, 22 per cent.; 1853-
4, 20 per cent.; 1854-5, 20 per cent.;
1855-0, 18 per cent.; 1856-7, 12 per
cent.; 1857-8,13 percent.; 1858-9,12
per cent.; 1859-60, 10 per cent.
This calculation embraces the sala
ries of Secretaries and Agents, their
travelling expenses, postage account,
stationery, exchanges, freights, furn
ishing room, printing reports, Ac.—
For the past three or four years, the
expenses have been considerably di
minished, but tbis has thrown addi
tional labor upon the officers of the
Board. It lias compelled them to be
much from home, and endure much
labor.
Can such a work be done with less
expense. Yours, truly,
M. T. Sumner,
Cor. Sec. I)om. and Ind. Mis. Board
So. Bap. Cm.
Report of Mea Shunubbee, Indian
Missionary.
To the Brethren of the Columbus Bap
tist Association, Ga.
Dear Brethren :
Through your liberality, a native
Choctaw preacher has been sustained
for years past, under the appointment
of the Domestic and Indian Mission
Board of the S. B. C. Elder Mea
Shunubbee, residence, Scully ville co.,
Arkansas District, Choctaw Nation,
Post-Office, Choctaw Agency, Choc
taw Nation, West of Ark. Field of la
bor, Cedar Creek Church, Wolf Creek
Church, and Spring Creek Church.—
Daring the year ending April Ist,
1860, Bro. S. had labored 52 weeks,
supplied 3 Churches, travelled in per
formance of his duties, 744 miles,
preached 317 sermons, baptized 8 per
sons, and restored 3. Bro. Shunub
bee is a man of earnest piety, indus
trious habits, good preacher, and
warmly beloved by liis Churches. lie
is doing much to win his countrymen
to the Saviour, and has- the satisfac
tion of seeing his people advancing ra
pidly in all the arts of civilization. —
The labor and expense bestowed upon
the Indian tribes have been amply re
munerative, and there is an increasing
desire on their part to receive the Mis
sionary of the cross. I give an extract
from the report of the U. S. Indian
Agent for the Choctaws and Chieka
saws to the Supt. Indian Affairs, Fort
Smith, Ark., which is found on page
188 of the/eport of the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, 1859. It. will be
read with interest, showing the pro
gress these tribes are making. “The
Choctaws and Chickasaws are steadi
ly, though perhaps, not as rapidly as
may be desirable, advancing to a con
dition which will qualify and entitle
them to rank as citizens of the Dnited
States. A few years more of quiet, of
free trade in all things useful to them,
and of educational, industrial and re
ligious progress only, are needed to
make them quite as “well to do,” as
intelligent and respectable, as many
communities already admitted to equal
ity in the sisterhood of States of our
Union. The Choctaws and Chicka
j saws have already adapted written
1 constitutions and laws for their govern
MACON, GA., WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1860
ment ; the former of which will com
pare favorably with the best State
constitutions. Their Legislature and
General Councils consist of a Senate
and House of Representatives, with
the usual presiding officers ; and fheir
deliberations are characterized by a
degree of order and decorum, worthy
of imitation by their white brethren of
the l nited States. These tribes have
each a Governor, National Secretary,
Auditor of public accounts, Treasurer
and Attorney General. They have
their Courts of original and appellate
jurisdiction, their sheriffs, and other
executive officers. In short, the} T have
the frame work of well organized go
vernments. As yet, they do not un
derstand the working of the new sys
tem ; their laws are defective, the ma
chinery of their government, and the
practice in their Courts do not work
smoothly. But it is not to be expect
ed that any people can suddenly throw
off their dependence upon Chiefs, Cap
tains, and head-men, and become at
once fitted to take part in the admin
istration ol anew and, to them, com
plex form of government. Time, pa
tience and perseverance will remove
all obstacles in their path-way ; and I
hope the strong arm and fostering caTe
of the United States government will
be extended for their protection and
encouragement in progressive civiliza
tion and improvement.”
Thus, brethren, you will see that
your charities are not in vain in the
Lord. We shall expect annually, to
render you an account of the labors of
your Indian Missionary, and, as you
read this report, offer up your prayer
to’ God that the efforts of his Indian
steward may be blessed to the salva
tion of his tribe.
Yours, truly,
M. T. Sumner,
Cor. Sec. Board of Ind. Mis. S. B. C.
Marion, Ala., June 20th, 1860.
The following carefully prepared ar- j
tides we- commend to the careful pe
rusal of the Index readers.
AN EXPOSITION.
N L MIXER 2.
BY REV. S. G. HILLYER.
“Thou art Peter, - ‘ * ‘ arid I will give unto thee
the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoev
er thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in Hea
ven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth
shall be loosed in Heaven.”—Matt., 16 : 19.
“Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted
unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they
are retained.”—John 20: 23.
“Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall
bind on earth, shall be bound in Heaven; and
whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed
in Heaven.”—Matt., 18: 18.
The second verse at the head of this
article, is from John 20: 23; “Whose
soever sins ye remit, they are remitted
unto them; and whosesoever sins ye
retain, they are retained.” The con
nection plainly shows, that it was ad
dressed to the eleven after the Sa
viour’s resurrection, and formed a part
of the closing instructions which he
gave them in relation to the mission
upon which lie was about to send
them. Its design, as in other cases,
was to confer upon the parties address
ed, authority. In deciding what that
authority was, we have only to look
at the plain import of the words. Lay
ing all bias, and all dread of conse
quences aside, we are obliged to ad
mit, that in some sense, and to some
extent, the Apostles received here, au
thority to forgive sins. As Catholics
believe that the rights and powers of
the Apostles have descended to their
successors, they very consistently use
these words to support their doctrine
of priestly absolution. And if their
notion of Apostolic succession were
true, it would be difficult to deny
them the support from this passage
which they claim. But as we do not
believe in any such succession, we run
no risk in admitting these words to
have their legitimate and simple mean
ing. It only remains to ascertain the
sense in which authority to forgive
sins was conferred.
As in the case of Peter, the conduct
of the Apostles themselves, under this
grant of power, will be the best com
mentary upon its meaning and its ex
tent. In looking to their subsequent
history, we find that in no case, did
they ever pronounce forgiveness of sins
in favor of any individual, as a gift, or
work of their own. What then did
they do ( They simply laid down the
terms of forgiveness, and described
the class which should be forgiven.—
They pronounced forgiveness in favor
of all who complied with those terms,
and belonged to that class. The sins
of all others were retained. Ilms the
Apostles exercised their authority.—
And, by their writings, they have per
petrated it through all succeeding gen
erations, in-so-much, that at the pre
sent hour, the sin sick soul hangs its
hope of pardon upon their word. Here
then, we have an adequate fulfilment
of the words of Christ, verified in all
ages in the sweet experience of every
regenerate heart.
Did.-the Saviour design by this lan
guage, to confer upon the Apostles in
fallibility? I think not. What was
said in the case of Peter will apply
here. To confer authority is one thing;
to confer infallibility is another- thing.
It is true, Christ, in his government,
(and herein he excels all earthly rulers)
has power to do both. But whether
he has done both in any particular
case, is a mere question of fact to be
determined by the circumstances of
that case. I admit, and joyfully ad
mit, that he did confer at a subsequent
period, upon ids Apostles, infallibility
in the power of a plenary inspiration.
Os this, he gave* them an intimation,
when he breathed upon them, saying,
“receive ye the Holy Ghost.” Os this
he gave them an explicit promise,
when he said, “tarry ye in Jerusalem
till ye shall be endowed with power
from on high.’ And of this, he gave
them actual experience, when the
“sound of a rushing, mighty wind filled
the house, and cloven tongues as of fire
sat upon them.” Here we have the
evidence of their infallibility ; and not
in the mere formula of words contain
ed in the verse before us. And it is
worthy of special notice, that, in the
process of imparting this gift, we find
three separate and distinct steps.—
I irst, he breathed upon them ; second
ly? he promised to endow them with
power; thirdly, he actually wrought a
miracle upon them, of a character so
peculiar and significant, as to verify
the effect which it was designed to
produce. All which goes to establish
the distinction upon which I insist,
viz: that to confer authority, and to
impart infallibility,are different things.
Hence, when the Saviour gave to his
Apostles power to remit and to retain
sins, he did not by that commission
constitute them infallible. The im
portance of this distinction will be
manifest in the discussion of the next
verse which I propose to examine in
the next number.
Mercer University, April 15, 1860.
PURITY, ACTIVITY, DEVOTION.
What are the means of Christian !
usefulness and happiness? Are they
to be sought afar ? or lie they on the
very surface of things ? It is believed
they may be summed up in
1. Purity. By purity we mean con
scientiousness in all things; the avoid
ing of everything questionable, the
performance, at least the effort to do
everything which is regarded duty.—
They who indulge even occasionally
in questionable things, have reason to
ponder the import ot those words of
the Psalmist—“lf I regard iniquity in
my heart, the Lord will not heed ine.”
Iniquity, inequity, means anything
not strictly right. The passage ap
plies to all cases where a covenant has
nut been made, (is not kept.) with God,
to do justly and walk uprightly, al
ways and everywhere, holding no con
ference with consequences.
2. Activity. “If any man will do my
will, he shall know of the doctrine.” —
“Keep yourselves in the love of God.”
No one has spoken so much of doing,
as our Divine Master. How constant
ly dyes conscience, the word and the
spirit of God, prompt us to do some
thing? Should we not endeavor to
obey such promptings ? As when the
Saviour commanded the man with the
withered hand, to stretch it forth.
Should we not take it for granted that
God will enable us to perform that to
which He prompts us ? That with the
command, the intimation, He intends
to bestow the power?
There is not a useless or unhappy
Christian in the whole land, who is
prayerfully endeavoring to keep him
self unspotted from the world, and do
ing what his hand finds to do with his
might, For doubters and complainers
the specific is, go to your closet, go to
work, to work with your might.
3. Devotion. Lay yourselves, breth
ren, on the altar of service—soul, body
and spirit—talents, time, energies, pro
perty, all. The relations of Master
and servant —proprietor and property
—exist between the Lord and you.—
Out of these relations yon cannot be
useful and happy. Harmony is the
universal law of efficiency and peace.
The inhabitants of Heaven are in har
mony with their relations to God ; and
earth is elevated towards Ilea Yen in
proportion as man is brought into prac
tical harmony with his relations to
God. Tan.
WESTERN LETTER,
Minden, La., June Bth, 1860.
Dear Bro. Boykin :—My last left
me just in the act of plunging into a
swamp of one hundred miles in extent.
Leaving Vicksburg, the river is crossed
in a steam ferry boat, which places you
on a sand bank on the west side of the
river; in what I fouud to be one of the
hottest places any mortal man ever
survived. A Railroad conducts you j
for 30 miles —one of the rudest and
simplest, perhaps, of all the Roads.—
It has been built at great expense—
was partly washed away in May, ’59;
and will be a constant drain on the
Company who own it. But they are
determined to fortify against loss by
beginning high charges in time. They
now charge $2,25 for 30 miles—about
twice the ordinary fare. But even at
that rate, it is a great accommodation
to the travelling public, for when you
take the “stage,” you pay more than
twice what is charged by the R. R.,
and have all the inconveniences of
that most troublesome mode of travel.
Through the swamp or rather swamps,
they have every preparation for “sha
ving” the traveller —the whole pro
gramme is fixed with reference to that.
At the end of the Railroad, one is j
charged $2,00 for a sort of supper and |
breakfast, and in the language of the :
traveller, “for the privilege of lying on
a shuck bed, and a light-wood knot
pillow."’
But the production of the Mississip
pi bottoms is astonishing to one who
has not often seen it, This vast valley,
if put in grain,'it seems to me, would
be sufficient to feed the whole world of
mankind. Though it overflows, and is
liable to do so, in many places, to the
depth of twenty feet —yet it sells in
the woods, for S2O or more per acre, i
aud in a state of good improvement, i
from 60,00 to SIOO,OO. It costs a great
deal to bring such lands into a state of
improvement. The R. R. is beginning
to bring the lands into notice, and the
axe is being introduced almost every
where along the line of it,
But amid the other objects that at
tracted my attention on the cars, was
a poor, pale, consumptive young man,
leaning upon the arm of a man ser
vant, who, falling upon the rough seat
in the box car, called for water. Wa
ter was given ; and after he was re
vived a little, the writer sought to know
more of him. Like most of these wes
tern men, he was communicative, and
told his own short story. About one
year since lie discovered himself a con
sumptive, and fearing death, he has
been in search of health in various
quarters. He is now returning from
ISan Antonio, where he has been for
some months without any perceptible
benefit. lie does not think that a good
climate for consumptives. He is in
despair of life, and returns home to the
bosom of a sister and father—to die.
The writer tried to point him to “the
way.” He admitted that he was con
cerned about his soul’s salvation, and
wiped away a startling tear. May the
Spirit of God become his teacher.
In the stage, we passed the Tensas
bayou, bayou Macon, bayou Beth, Ac.,
which are navigable streams in the
smamps of the Mississippi, and extend
almost to Monroe, on the Washita.—
Near that place, are some of the most
splendid cotton farms in the highest
cultivation. Monroe is an old town,
founded, lam told, one year after
New Orleans. It contains about 600
or 800 inhabitants. It has fine com
mercial facilities in winter. The river
is navigable tor very large bouts. But
it is an exceedingly wicked place.—
Almost all classes drink spirituous liq
uors ; and the hotel in which we
shopped, had the whole of the first
floor occupied with a drinking saloon
and Billiards. The driver of one of
the stages drove out about the dawn
of morning, carrying the Catholic
Priest, who called for his glass, accord
ing to custom, before leaving. We,
early in the morning, crossed the Wash
ita, and breakfasting in Trenton, took
up our long and tedious journey west
ward. This last is a little town built
for trading purposes on the west bank
of the river, and two miles above
Monroe. More anon.
Yjurs fraternally, P.
EXPERIMENTAL. -
BY W. N. C.
“Within were fears,” Such was the
statement of Paul, an inspired apostle,
a truly devout and pious man.
Does not the sentiment breathed in
this short phrase apply to all Christians
at times , during their career?
Does not the apostle’s language find
a response in every heart, that has
been changed by divine grace ? Or do
anxious fears, misgivings and doubts,
indicate deceived state, and did the
apostle use this language on a special
occasion , and with a special applica
tion to that occasion ?
To myself they seem to apply, even
now, whatever they may indicate.—
The question comes,
Bro’t safely by his hands thus far,
Why wilt thou now give place to fear /”
and revelation says, “Fear not,” but
yet I’m troubled with fears.
1. Ido not fear that God’s promis
es will not be fulfilled.
2. Nor that liis grace is as great as
my sins, for tlio’
“My crimes are great., they don’t surpass
The power and glory of His grace.”
3. Nor do I fear the ability, the wil
lingness of Christ to save! No, no. My
anxious, yea, sometimes distressing
fears, are inward. “ Within were
fears.” They have not their founda
tion so much in tilings external as in
ternal.
1. I fear seriously, seriously ques
tion, whether I find the proper evi
dence of conversion, of a living faith.
Truly, at times 1 feel that “1 love
the brethren,” and have a “will to do
of His good pleasure.” But how little
I do ! Perhaps I am deceived in hav
ing the will. May it not, after all, be
no higher or holier motive than self in
terest f May not these occasional mo
ments, when the evidence seems to be
enough, be merely suggestions of sa
tan, intended as a quietus to lull a de
ceived soul, and give a self-deceived
creature a good opinion of himself?
Do I have “fruit unto holiness ?”•
Will the fruit I bear seemingly holy,
stand the test ? Is it a spontaneous
fruit ? An efleett of conversion, the
cease f May it not be a sort of forced
thing, the result of out-side pressure,
as associations, conventionalities, Ac.,
of life and self-interest ?
DAVIS’ PAIN KILLER.
We have tested this medicine and
assure our readers that it not only pos
sesses all the virtues claimed for it,
but in many instances surpasses any
other remedy we have ever known.—
It should not be classed with the nos
trums of the day, got up for the espe
cial purpose of pecuniary profit, but
be regarded as one of the standard
medicines, for the public benefit.—
Herald of Gospel Liberty.
Rev. I>k. Palmek. —This eminent and elo
quent preacher, the pastor of the I irst Presby
terian Church, New Orleans, has had two invi
tations to exchange his present charge for oth
ers. One of these is from Princeton College,
New Jersey, in which he is offered a professor
ship ; the other is from the church, in New
York, whose pulpit has lately been made va-
I cant by the demise of the Rev. Dr. Alexander.
I We understand that it is not at all probable
1 that Dr. Palmer will accept either call.
„ The following capital piece we ex
tract from the editorial columns of the
Southern Baptist:
THE DOMESTIC BOARD.
It, in any well regulated community
you could inspect the unseen thoughts
and feelings of every individual, you
would find an amazing amount of reli
gious influence which never makes its
appearance on the surface. There are
multitudes of men, even among the
profane and vicious, whose conduct
would seem to indicate the absence of
all religious impulses, who neverthe
less have their moments of serious
thought, when the memory of better
things is revived and when latent reli
gious sentiments seem to be moving in
to life. llow much society is indebted
to the Christian religion for its restrain
ing influence, to say no more, is not
easily determined. A distinguished
gentleman, of skeptical turn of mind,
once remarked to us that, no greater
calamity could befall society than the
loss oi Christian Religion ; for, said he
allowing it. to be unreal in some res
pects, and supposing its doctrines of
rewards and punishment never shall
be realized, yet its precepts we know
to be good, while it posseses a singular
influence over the human mind and al
ways in the right direction. But, he
added, ’this is rather a negative view of
the subject; if to its retraining influ
ence we add its active, although un
seen, agency in the formation of char
acter, the encouragement it supplies to
virtuous and industrial habits, we shall
have a scale of estimates entering into
every department of society. Indeed,
continued our friend, 1 know of no
class or condition of society, no trade
or prolessiou which is not improved
by the application of its precepts, and
what is peculiar, the more rigidly its ‘
principles and precepts are enforced
and practiced the more manifest are its
benefits. Could 1 choose an inheri
tance for my children, I would prefer
above all others a well established, en
lightened Christian character. It com
bines every element of success with
the least possible liability.” To this
we might add the testimony of scores
of the ablest statesmen and wisest phi
losophers the world has ever known.
Nor is this attributable to what has
been denominated an “innate religious
sentiment in man.” This sentiment
untrained develops itself the world
over, in the wildest absurdities, the
most degrading indulgencies, and the
most stupid rituals. It is the peculiar
mission of Christianity to train that
sentiment for high and holy purposes.
We shall never rightly estimate the
obligations of society to the Bible un
til we can trace its ramifications
through all the intricate lanes and av
enues of life. Now we have an out
line, a mere surface view, “we see
through a glass darkly,” the time may
be, when, with admiring angels and
glorified saints, we may look farther
into the now, incomprehensible
scheme, and with a profounder feeling
admire the “manifold wisdom of God.”
The time will come when infidelity,
amazed and confounded, will realize
that in opposing Christianity it has op
posed the world’s best friend; and
when tardy Christians will see the
measure of their recreancy, the melan
choly fruits of their neglect of duty.
Brethren, what is Christianity worth
to the world ? What gift can you eon
fer upon the destitute which is to be
compared with it? What blessing
which is so much a blessing ? Give
wealth without it, and you give the
foster mother of idleness, and vanity,
and vicious indulgence, and poverty !
Give power, without it, and you but
arm madness for self-destruction ! But
give it, give it in its simplicity, pure
as it came from the hands of its glo
rious author, and with it you give
wealth, and reputation, and power.
And then if to these social and na
tional advantages you add its more im
portant blessing, those which relate to
immortality, what can enhance the
picture ? Now, by all of these consid
erations, by the tremendous interests
involved, we urge upon all the impor
tance and duty of sustaining those in
stitutions that are engaged in diffusing
this heavenly leaven, this glorious in
fluence throughout every district and
section of our country. As you pro
mote this object you advance every
personal interest you possess, as you
elevate those who are beneath you,
you elevate yourself—as you multiply
virtue and intelligence yon give stabil >
ity to society and protection to its in
terests. Every reclaimed idler is so
much capital added to the world’s
wealth ; every reformed debauchee is
a conservative element thrownfinto so
ciety, every converted soul is a trophy
to the cross of Christ. Christianize
the mother and you spring a fountain
whose limpid streams will flow on
through eternity; Christianize the
father and you add an element of pow
er to the very heart of social life;
Christianize the young, and you give
stability and perpetuity to every inter
est. In this glorious work our Do
mestic Board is engaged, and, beloved
brethren, shall we not all help ? Shall
we not help with earnestness, with be
coming zeal; by holy living, by fer
vent prayer, by liberal contributions ?
Who would be excused, if excuse were
possible ? AYhat, not help in a work
like this! Not help your country !
not help your destitute neighbors ! not
help your own family ! not help your
self / not help your Savior! Every
benefit conferred, even upon the most
distant sinner; every good agency
created, however small, adds so much
to the great kingdom of benefits and.
Terms of Advertising.
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of ten lines for tbe first, and 50 cents per square for
all subsequent publications.
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N. S., VOL. 28, NO. 27.
agencies: they are not lost, they ra
diate and reciprocate, combining and
recombining until the swelling tide
rolls back upon those who put them in
motion.
‘‘Give and it shall be given unto
you ; good measure, pressed down, and
shaken together, and running over,
shall men give into your bosom. For
with the same measure that ye mete
withal, it shall be measured to you
again.” D.
FROM THE LAND OF THE RED
MEN.
Reiioboth Station, C. N. >
May 31st, 1860. \
Dear Bro. Boykin : —l write to the
Index 6o frequently that I fear ere
long you will become weary, and your
readers btyned with my scribbling. I
write now, however, Ist, to make an
“amend honorable,” and 2nd, to point
out to the attention of any interested
or any who will become interested, a
new field for Indian missionary labor.
Ist then, I have beard that my
“questions and answers” upon “Indian
Missions,” as published in the Index
some time since, have to some extent,
wounded the feelings of some in the
Nation, than whom there are few I
love more dearly, and esteem” more
highly. It was thought my remarks
were too general, and included all In
dians, “as poor, ignorant, and unculti
vated.” I have looked over those ar
ticles, and would judge from them my
seif that there were exceptions to ev
eiy subject where destitution of any
kind was mentioned. With your per
mission, I would now say however,
that there are some Indians—a good
many, who are highly intelligent,
wealthy and well cultivated—the}’ live
with every comfort , and even in ele
gance and luxury. Some possess
minds and thinking powers a long
ways above mediocrity, and own libra
ries of rare value and worth. Society
at and around the Creek Agency, (Mus
cogee Station,) in this Nation, is quite
as much refined and agreeable as in
most, or all places in the I nited States.
In some parts of all these four Nations
may be found Indian ladies and gen
tlemen of education, cultivation and
refinement. 1 trust the day is not far
distant when such will be the case gen
erally, when supersiitution, ignorance
and sin will be driven from the red
man’s country by reason, wisdom, and
righteousness.
Again, I would state a fact which
may be unknown to most of Georgia
Baptists. One hundred and fifty miles
west of this place, there is now in pro
cess of construction, anew Fort, (Ft.
Cobb ’tis called,) and twelve miles off
is the Witch-it-taw Agency. Around
these places are located 3000 Indians,
of seven different tribes. The Fort is
for protection against the wild and
hostile Camanches and other tribes.—
At the Agency and Fort, are all the
conveniences and comforts necessary
to life and living, on earth. Th ‘ire are
interpreters there now, and these could
readily be secured for missionary la
bors. Here then is another field open
for the Gospel to be preached. How
long will it be before some messenger
of mercy will go out there to tell those
seven different tongues that Christ
died for sinners ? One of our old na
tive preachers was out there last week,
and was telling me of a sight he saw,
which he said excelled anything of the
kind he ever saw, although he is now
fifty years old. This si_ lit was about
2000 Indians of both sexes in one dance.
A few days before that, a party of
them had been out and had killed, by
way ot reprisal , three wild Caman
ches, and they were then dancing
around the still seeking scalps, set up
on poles. The old man said they con
tinued the dance with but L e inter
mission, for eighteen hours. Several
other of the incidents he related to me
were quite interesting. At one time
he had an argument with an old Sonk
a-lma Indian Chief, upon the new reli
gion which the Creeks were adopting.
The old Chief seemed towards the last
to be much interested, and when he
was told about the Bible, that it was
the Great Spirit’s book, and had been
given by Him for instruction to men,
he immediately asked for one of the
books, and said he would have it read
and explained to him.
Brethren, the harvest is plenteous >
but the laborers are so few. May the
Lord soon send many faithful work
men into the field.
Farewell—Yours in love,
J. S. MURROW.
Bro. M. need not fear of wearying
U3 with his communications. They are
always welcome, and so will letters be
from any missionary.
Eakly History of Virginia.—Col. Angu-
McDonald, of Winchester, Ya., sailed for Eu
rope on Saturday for the purpose of examining
into the State paper office in London for exist
ing evidence of the early times of Virginia.—■
The Secretary of Commonwealth, Col. (Jen. W.
Munford, lately purchased on State account,
from Mr. Stevens, of the British Museum, in
London, an index to all the papers in said of- *
fice relating to the objects proposed to be ac
complished by the journey. A copy is now
being made for the guidance of Col. McDonald,
and it is supposed that he will be enabled to
develope a great deal tending to solve the ques
tion of disputed boundary between Maryland
and Virginia.— Whig.
Massacre or Missionaries. —Buenos Ayres,
April 18.—Capt. Peel, of H. M. S. Buzzard, has.
been ordered to Patagonia, to inquire into the
facts relative to the murder of some twelve Eng
lish Missionaries, who sailed in the Allan Gard
iner from the Falkland Islands, and who it is re
ported, have fallen victims to the tastes of the
natives. At last accounts, Capt. Page, in -i.-
little steamer Alpha, had arrived at Corrientes
for supplies, he having penetrated over 2,5i0
miles in the interior. His next report will be
looked for with a great deal of interest.