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THE CHRISTIAN INDEX,
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING
AT MACON, GEORGIA.
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one-half will be charged in all cases.
SAMUEL BOYKIN, Editor.
VOLUME XXXIX.
POETRY.
SPEAK NO ILL.
IIY CHARLES SWAIN.
\ay, speak no ill! —a kindly word
Can never leave a sting behind,
And, oh ! to breathe each tale we’ve heard
Is far beneath a noble mind.
Full oft a better seed is sown
By cho.-ing thus the kinder plan :
For if but little good be know n,
Still let us speak the best we can.
(live me the heart that fain would hide—
Would fain another’s fault efface ;
How can it pleasure human pride
To prove humanity but base Y
No : let us reach a higher mood,
A nobler estimate of man ;
Be earnest in the search for good,
And speak of all the best we can.
Then speak no ill—but lenient be
To others’ failings as your own ;
If you’re the first a fault to see,
Be not the first to make it known ;
For life is but a passing day,
No lip may tell how brief its span :
Then, oh ! the little time w e stay,
Let’s speak of all the best we can.
AN EXPOSITION.
X EMBER 2.
BY REV. S. fiII.EVER.
The phraseology of the last verse at
the head of my article will be noticed,
is identical with part of the words ad
dressed to Peter, whose case we have
already considered.
Our commentators, by compounding
these passages, have confused them all.
Each has its own subject matter, its
own purpose, and its own application.
These differences should he kept, dis
tinctly in view, when we attempt to
explain them. The first, we have seen
was addressed to Peter only. Thesub
ject matter was the part he was to per
form in the opening scenes of the New
Dispensation. The second was add res
sed to the eleven. Its subject matter
was the part which they should per
form in the further development of that
dispensation. And in like manner we
shall find the third equally specific in
its subject and in its design.
Ist. The first question which pre
sents itself, is, to whom were the words
addressed ? I concur with those who
think that they were addressed to the
disciples then present as representing
a, church. This is clear from the scope
of the immediate connection. True, at
that time, a local church did not exist,
but the Savior knew that a local church
soon would exist; that these very dis
ciples would soon be members of such
a church. And he knew, moreover,
that the relation of church membership
would become most interesting in its
character, and must important in its
influences. It was, then, eminently
proper, that he should give some in
struction, as to the duties, and obliga
tions growing out of that relation.—
With this thought, the whole passage
beautifully harmonizes. Let us begin
at the 15th verse. “If thy brother”—
what brother ? my brother bj blood ?
By no means, else he would have re
ferred me afterwards to my family, or
perhaps to my parents for redress.—
Brother, in this place, must mean bro
ther in the church. Hence the verse
may read, “It thy brother in the
church, trespass againsj; thee, go and
tell him his fault, between him and
thee alone. If he shall hear thee, then
thou hast gained thy hi other. But if
he will not hear thee, then take with
thee, one or two more, that, in the
mouth of two or three witnesses, every
word may he established.” Now what
one or two more are meant? Are they
to be taken from the world? or from
the family ? or from the synagogue ?
Surely a child would understand, that
the “one or two more” must he taken
from the church. This is evident from
the next clause, wherein the aggrieved
party is referred to the church for re
dress. “And if he shall neglect to hear
them, tell it to the church. But if he
neglect to hear the church let him he
to thee as a heathen man and a publi
can.” Thus throughout the passage,
the church is in the Savior’s eye. lie
is talking to the disciples as church
members. The topic is, the proper
treatment of a contumacious brother.
The decision is, “let him be to thee as
a heathen man, and a publican.” Then
follow the words, “Verily I say unto
you, whatsoever ye shall biud on earth
shall he hound in heaven ; and what
soever ye shall loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.’ Now who are meant
by ‘yoir and ‘ye,’ in this verse ? Most
clearly the same disciples, viewed as if
they were the identical church of which
he had been speaking, and which, ac
cording to the supposition above sta
ted, were viewed as having declared
the offender a heathen man and a pub
lican. Just at this point, these words
come in appropriately, and with great
force, to assure the church that acting
under such circumstances, her decis
ions shall be valid. In proof of which
it is declared that whatever she does,
shall be ratified in Heaven.
But it is said, that tlie word “thee”
instead of the plural “ye,” in the pre
ceding verse, makes the offender a
heathen and a publican only to the of
fended party. 1 cannot see the pro
priety of this criticism. The word
“thee” has here, as it often has, a dis
tributive sense. The Savior had given
to the disciples, then present, instruc
tion upon several points. Among oth
ers, he thought proper to teach them
how an offending brother should be
treated, both by the offended party
and by the church. In order to do so
lie supposes a case, and very naturally
(Srpit of % <§a. fiap. Contention: ktoteb to Missions, Religion, ant % Interests of tire baptist denomination.
adopts the direct address and the sin
gular number. “If thy brother tres
pass against thee,” &c. But he sure
ly does not address one particular per
son as John or James. He evidently
means any one of them all ; thus using
the pronoun in a distributive sense.—
In this form, he proceeds to give his
instructions till he reaches the point,
where the case must be referred to the
church. Then the offender’s refusal
to hear the church completes his con
tumacy, and the Savior states the de
cision which his conduct deserves.—
“Let him be to thee as an heathen man
and a publican.” Now to say that his
contumacy towards the whole church ,
forfeits the fellowship of only one man,
is a termination of the affair which is
almost ridiculous. But give to “thee”
a distributive force—understand the
Savior to say, let him be to every one
of you, a heathen man and a publican,
and the sense is clear and full. The
offender is declared to be a fit subject
of expulsion from the church. Then
follow, in close connection, these sol
emn words : “ v erily I say unto you,
whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall
be bound in Heaven,” Ac., in which
the plural pronouns are used thereby
verifying the correctness of this inter
pretation, by showing that Jesus him
self meant, that the sentence of expul
sion should be the decision oithe body.
If this interpretation needed addition
al support it could he found in the fact
that this interchange of the singular
and plural pronouns in direct address,
is common with all public speakers.—
Any number of examples could be ad
duced to prove it. Our Savior’s dis
courses abound with them. (See this
very chapter Sand 10 verses inclusive.)
So do the writings of the Apostles—
(See Gal. iv. 6,7, 8 ; also Bom. xi: 13,
25 ifielusive.)
But I think the above train of reas
oning sufficient to justify my conclu
sion thafrthe Savior in the 18th verse
addresses the disciples before him con
sidered as a church.
The above, is in my opinion, the cor
rect view of the case; and therefore I
have stated it fully. But if it should
still be urged, that “thee” in the 17th
verse must be restricted to the offend
ed party, it will not, as some have
thought, affect the conclusion. For,
in that case, whatever else the passage
may teach, it will also teach this: that
a church member is not authorized to
withdraw his fellowship from a broth
er on his own responsibility. He must
wait till the ease has been submitted
to the church. Hence its action is pre
supposed, as the ground upon which
the bond of fellowship may be broken.
Hence, while, in this view of it, the
17th verse sanctions the withdrawal of
the fellowship of the individual , the
18th in quick succession addresses the
whole , as it they were the very church
which had acted in the case. Having
thus decided to whom the words were
addressed I will proceed to the next
topic.
What was the design of these words ?
We have seen, that in the two passa
ges previously examined, the design
was to confer upon the parties addres
sed, authority. So here, the design
was to confer authority upon the
church. To determine what was this
authority, we must not look to the
case of Peter, or of the eleven ; but we
must look to the words themselves in
their own connect! n. The subject
matter of the context was a case of
discipline. The instructions given re
late to its adjudication.
Most clearly, therefore, the Savior
designed to confer upon the church ju
dicial authority to discipline its mem
bers. And this is done in language,
which pledges Heaven to ratify its ac
tion. Its decision is final—from it there
is no appeal. When we look forward
into the history of the churches, we
find that they actually exercised this
authority ; and they did so, under the
sanction of an inspired Apostle. See
1 Cor. v.
3. Ho these words confer upon the
churches, infallibility in the exercise of
this authority ? This question is easily
answered. We have seen, that, while
the words to Peter, and to the eleven,
conferred authority, they did not con
fer infallibility. Let me repeat here
what was said in my former article.—
Authority is one thing, infallibility is
another, and we might add a very dif
ferent thing. One is conferred by
words written or spoken. The other is
imparted by working a miracle upon
the subject of it. Iu the words before
us there is no allusion to infallibility.
It is authority alone which is given.—
That churches may always hope to be
aided in their judgment by the grace
: and Providence of God, when humbly
i seeking such aid, I am happy to be
lieve But the words give nothing but
authority.
In the next number I propose to no
tice some other important questions,
which are naturally suggested by the
subject.
Mercer University, April 15, 1860-
Every mother and housekeeper must
often act as a family physician in the
numerous illnesses and accidents that
occur among children and servants. —
For many or ffiese cases, I have used
Davis’ Pain Killer, and consider it an
indispensable article in the medicine
box. In diarrhoea it has been used and
effected cures. For cuts and bruises
it has been invaluable. Sold by all
medicine dealers.—[N. Y. Examiner.
When prayer cannot prevail to
keep a temporal mercy alive, yet it
will have a powerful influence to keep
by heart alive when that dies.
MACON, GA., WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1860
LETTER FROM AFRICA.
Awyaw, Africa, )
April 12, 1860. \
My Dear Bro. Wart'en: —l have
not yet received my last two mails,
and cannot tell, therefore, what has
been communicated to me. By the
last mail, I sent you rather a lengthy
account of the affairs of this county, but
have not heard whether my letters
reached the coast.
All communication is still closed
with Ijaye, and I am not yet able to
tell anything about our missionaries
there. I have been to see an Ibadon
Boloyour, who has been stationad in
this town to help defeat the King.—
(He is about equal to a major in rank.
He has assured me most positively
that the missionaries in Ijaye would
not be harmed, if the town was des
troyed. I have, since seeing this Bol
oyour, been informed that the Ibadon
authorities have declared in council
that no one shall trouble the white
man, and his people. How much we
can rely upon this declaration, I can
not now tell, but I am ot the opinion
that our missionaries will be respected,
if they are prudent. Because, from
all that I can gather, I think the arrest
of Bro. Stone has not met with genei
al approbation among the people. His
arrest may have been Providential in
order to open a door of deliverance to
the missionaries in future.
All hope of an amicable adjustment
of affairs between Ijaye and its ene
mies, is now well nigh extinguished.—
For the prosecutors of the war against
Ijaye appear to bo determined that
nothing short of the litter overthrow
of the Are, (the Chief ot Ijaye,) will
satisfy them. This cannot be done
but in two ways, viz : The destruc
tion of lajye, or the murdering up of
Are by his people, to the King and bis
supporters —either is quite uncertain
yet. Several considerations incline me
to the opinion that the latter may be
pursued.
Ist. There Inis been all the time a
strong party in Ijaye opposed to Are,
and in favor of the Awyaw King, but
they have been kept under through
terror of Are.
2. The combined forces which are
reported now to be in preparations to
go against Ijaye, will be too great for
the Ijaye people to stand against, with
out any hope of success.
3. The commander in chief, (Olovi
Boloyour,) of Ibadon, has issued a pro
clamation that all the Ijaye people,
who come out voluntarily shall be al
lowed to go free. A few have already
come out, and doubtless many more
will come as near as they can leave the
town in safety.
There have been a few slight skir
mishes since I wrote.
At the appearance of the new moon
in this month, the Mahomedan fast will
close, and then it is said the war will
be put into fierce action against Ijaye,
to be continued till Are is taken in
some way.
The published cause of the war is a
difficulty between this King and Are,
but I am clearly satisfied that there
are many secret causes and designs.
There are excuses urged for continuing
the war, always throwing; the respon
sibility of its prosecution upon Are,
who has certainly been a principal
cause. Are is evidently the most
powerful man in executive abilities in
this country. Ilis indomitable will
and fearless manner of governing,
strike terror to both friends and foes.
This I believe is the primary cause of
the war, and Are knows it, and he will
not, therefore, voluntarily yield, lest it
might be regarded by his enemies that
his hitherto valor was wainitig.
As it has always been, that a gigan
tic intellect put into operative power,
soon becomes an object of jealousy to
its cotemporaries, so it is I believe in
the present difficulty.
There is a report in limited circula
tion among the people, that the King
has promised Ogunmola of Ibadon,
that if Are is removed withoift the des
truction of Ijaye, that he shall be
made chief of the town, and receive
the title ofßasorom, (Prime minister.)
He now has the title Oton, right-hand
man or what we call an aid-de camp
of the commander in chief of Ibadon.
If perchance such a thing should be
consumated, it would truly be Saton
dethroned for the installation of Beel
zebub.
He is now the head of a strong par
ty of desperadoes, who live by maraud
ing and kidnapping. He urged the
Ibadon people to engage m the pres
ent war when they were trying to set
tle the difficulty without a war.
Our Ogbomishaw agent has just
been to see me and says that the year
ly tribute money which Ogbomishaw
has been paying to [lorin was sent as
usual, but the Ilorin authorities re
turned it, with a threat, that at the
new moon in this month, they would
make war upon Ogbomishaw, and
thence upon this town. Ogbomishaw
acts upon the policy of non-interven
tion, but when assailed, defend their
rights with such bravery that their as
sailants find them no common oppo
nents. If such should be the course of
Ilorin, it is quite probable that they
1 will be thwarted in their design, be
cause Ogbomishaw is now armed from
hoary head to beardless youth to meet
them. I have now given you a gener
al account of the affairs of this coun
county, (Yuruba,) but cannot tell how
near I am correct, for the reports are
so numerous and various.
The condition of the missionaries in
terior appear to be quite perilous, and
may prove to be so, yet i do not be
lieve that the people will voluntarily
injure us, if we are prudent. If the
war is protracted long we may suffer
some from privations and want of food.
It is true, when I at times look around
upon the appearance of things, my
faith weakens and causes fears to arise.
But thanks be to God, I have thus far
been able to overcome much despon
dency by relying upon the precious
promises of Him, who said, “Go preach
my Gospel to every creature, and lo I
9JR with you always, even unto the
end.”
The missionaries in Ijaye are well
.supplied with cowries, and will not
suffer for food as long as any can be
had in the town. I have enough cow
ries 1 suppose to last me three months
with care. Some articles of food have
in three weeks rose 50 per cent in this
town, and will continue to rise while
the war lasts.
You re fraternally,
T. A. REID.
LETTER FROMBRd SUMNER.
Dear Bro. Boykin:
Adi tor Christian Index:
9. Many of the missionaries under
the appointment of the Board are sus
tained by associations, churches and
individuals; and when required dupli
cates of their reports are furnished to
their patrons. This system works well,
and is satisfactory to those who have
adopted it. These parties think the
Board can better attend to the wants
of the missionaries, and the efficient oc
cupation of the field. Promptness in
making remittances is secured; and,
in case extra appropriations are neces
sary to meet the wants of the mission
aries, arising from sickness in the fami
lies, or any other cause, these can be
made with less difficulty from the gen
eral fund of the Board; and, as the
appointees of the Board of the Conven
tion, there is a more general sympathy
among the brotherhood in behalf of the
missionaries, and frequently special do
nations are made to meet such cases,
and thus the whole body are in a posi
tion to bear these burdens. When
bro. Buckner’s family the past year
had suffered much from sickness, a
brother in Alexandria, Va., remitted
820 for his personal benefit.
10. It frequently happens that the
stipulated amount of the salary does
not meet the necessities of the mission
ary —these eases can be provided for
at the discretion of the Board, as in
many instances the past year. The
Board have ever felt a deep interest in
the comfortable condition of their mis
sionaries; hence their efforts to fur
nish suitable dwellings to their Indian
missionaries, provide for the education
of their children, interest the sisters of
the churches in supplying boxes of
clothing and other conveniences for the
use of the families of our brethren,
giving themselves wholly to the work
of preaching the Gospel. The impor
tance then of having such an .agency
tortile churches is manifest.
11. The influonce*of such an aggre
gate presentation of the results of mis
sionary labor is worthy of considera
tion. How could this be done but
through some general agency of the
kind? The Baptists have always silt*
sered in comparison with other evan
gelical denominations in this respect,
because they are not able to present
the entire work, accomplished by
them, owing to the fact that many
small organizations exist, that act in
missions indepently, and their com
bined action cannot be brought togeth
er in one general exhibit. Could all
our domestic mission efforts, for in
stance, be presented iu one report,
how greatly enlarged would the work
appear! And our people would be re
garded as an active missionary commu
nity. In fact, I believe, that no other
evangelical denomination is doing
more lor the spread of the Gospel at
home, than the Baptists of the South.
But can we show really what is the
extent of our aggressive enterprizes ?
12. There is another important idea
not to be overlooked. When great
destitution prevails, and churches are
not able to sustain the preached
Gospel among them, they do not feel
as much reluctance in applying to
some general Board as they would to
a local Board. They know that funds
are contributed specially to meet just
such cases as theirs. And then when
it is the peculiar duty of the Board to
look after these new and destitute fields
they are not so liable to be disregard
ed. Correspondence is had, aud in
formation secured that will keep the
matter constantly before the brethren,
who are specially charged with these
matters. But enough for this time.
Tours truly,
M. T. SUMNER, Cor. Sec’y.
D. &. I. M. B’d. S. B. C.
LETTER FROM ROME.
Rome, Ga., June 26tb, 1860.
Dear Bro. Boykin : —Why should
not the Baptists, as individuals
and churches, be systematic in their
efforts to raise funds for the promotion
of the cause of Christ? Why should
they be different in this respect from
any other people or organization in the
world ? And from themselves too, in
their prosecutien of worldly schemes ?
Nations, States, Couuties, merely hu
man organizations for philanthropic
purposes, corporate bodies for wordly
gain, all understand the importance of
system aud adopt it. Shall the chil
dren of this world always be in their
generation, wiser than the children of
light?
And baptists in their connection
j with these worldly organizations un
derstand and practice system to raise
funds; are they, and shall they he al
ways, wiser in regard to their own
temporal perishable interests than they
are in regard to the imperishable in
terests of the Kingdom of the Saviour
who died for them ?
But we are not left to learn the impor
tance of system in this thing by the ex
ample of human organizations, and by
experience. God teaches it to us in
the Bible—in His government of the
Jews, none of whom were so poor as
to be exempt tVom the systematic con
tributions and offerings in the instruc
tion of the apostle. “Upon the first
day of the week let every one of you
lay by him in store as God hath pros
pered him.” Why not do this all ye
children of the living God, or its equiv
olent ? And if the doing it, render
agency-work unnecessary, one at least
will say, Amen!
lam almost afraid to send this for
publication, because it has been writ
ten under unusual muscular, nervous
and mental debility. 1 have been quite
sick, and so prostrated in all my pow
ers as to be unfit for any effort during
two weeks or more past ; lam better
now, and improving slowly. Some of
my friends wish me to go oft* health
seeking somewhere—to Saratoga,
some say —to Cohutta, others. Per
haps I need rest, but I see not how I
can seek it in the way lecommended.
I hope I shall be as strong as usual be
fore a great while. I don’t wish to re
proach .myself in my last hours on
earth for consulting too much, my own
ease, or for any unnecessary loss of
time. Truly yours, &c.,
D. G. DANIELL, Ag’t.
For Miss. Board.
P. S. Allow me to beg your typos
and many of my correspondents, to re
member always that my name has an
additional Ito that of the prophet. If
there are not two ll’s, it is not iny
name, and does not look like it to me,
and I am often in doubt, when I see
the name with only one 1, the initials
D. G. being absent, whether the writer
means me or someone else. I know
no reason why the 11 is used, save that
my father used it. D. G. D.
BIBLE AND COL. WORK.
Waymarksfor June.
Greensboro’
is an old, but handsome town, nearly
equal distance from Augusta and At
lanta. seven miles South of Penfield.
The Baptist and Presbyterians have
held in common a meeting house, and
worshiped alternately, for many years.
Recently the Baptist bought the Pres
byterian interest. Have repaired the
house and now they alone worship in
it. Rev. N. M. Crawford preaches to
them two Sabbaths in each month.—
The church is in a healthy condition.
The Presbyterians have completed and
dedicated anew and beautiful house.
Darien, Hancock County,
is an old and flourishing church. Rev.
C. W. Stevens is their pastor. They
have an excellent house, large congre
gation, and truly I spent a pleasant
day with them. We had a prayer
meeting, sermon, tract address, tract
circulation, Bible and Colporteur col
lection, and the Lord’s Supper. The
congregation gave me 820,25 to make
their Pastor a Life Member of the Bi
ble and Colporteur Society.
Linton, Hancock County.
The “Washington Institute” is loca
ted at this beautiful little vill. The
Institute is in a flourishing condition.
It bears the name of the association,
who own and foster it. Anew brick
house, consisting of chapel, recitation,
library and other rooms, is about com
pleted, stands on a beautiful hill, has a
commanding view from the country
around. Rev. C. W. Stevens is Prin
cipal, has five assistants and a large
number of pupils, male and female.—
Linton may be regarded as a Baptist
place. They have their membership
at Darien, (close by,) but have a Sab
bath School and hold many other re
ligious meetings in the Institute chap
el. Had the pleasure of attending two
services in the chapel, which will long
be remembered, for God met with and
blessed us.
Sparta
has a Baptist Church, and flourishing
Sabbath School. Rev. C. W. Stevens
is their supply. Long will I remem
ber the kindness of Rev. W. J. Harley
and family. Received for Bible cause
$4,25.
Mount Zion, Hancock, County.
Rev. W. J. Harley preaches to the
Baptist church at this little town. Mr.
W. J. Northen, is principal of the
High School, assisted by Mr. A. D.
Sharp. The school is in a very healthy
condition. These young men are grad
uates of Mercer University. Bro. 11.
and myself held a conference and deci
ded that Mr. N. ought to get married.
He manifested much pleasure when
the report was made, i hope some ac
complishedyatV one will receive a look
from Mt. Zion. If it should be you,
my reader, doubtless you will do well
to entertain the look.
Po W ELTON
is noted as the place where the “Ga.
Bap. Convention” was organized. The
little town is not as large as in former
days. Yet the Baptist church is flour
ishing. Rev. W. M. Yerdery is Pas
tor. They gave me 81,50. Rev. J.
W. Ellington, graduate of Mercer, has
charge of a school at this place.
Warkenton.
Rev. W. M. Yerderey also preach
es to the Baptist church at this place.
I did not meet the pastor, or Church.
They gave rue $2,50 for our Society,
Rev. M. P. Cain, has charge of the
School here. He is also a graduate of
our beloved University. Oh! the good
that is resulting from our cherished
Mercer University.
Thompson,
on the Georgia R. R., is a growing lit
tle village. The Baptist have recently
been constituted into a church, are now
making a house, and hope soon to have
regular worship.
C R AW FOR DVILJ.K.
Rev. S. G. Ifillyer preaches to the !
Baptist church here. They gave me
$20,00 to make Bro. Hillyer a life
member of our Society, and $5,55 be
sides. 1 his is a small town, yet the
church is large. The congregations
are very large and much good is being
done through the instrumentality of
the church and Sabbath School.
Bulkhead, Morgan Cointy.
A brother at this place gave ss,<>o.
Social Circle, Walton Cot nty.
There is a flourishing Baptist church
at this old and pleasant little Circle. —
Received here a small sum. By the
kindness of brother T. A. Gibbs, I was
allowed to meet the church at
Macedonia, Newton County.
Rev. N. N. Edge is their pastor. They
gave me $3,85.
Lythonia, Stone Mountain and Con
yers, have each a Baptist church. The
last named gave me $1,70. They are
all on the G. R. R. between Atlanta
and
Covington.
The Baptist are not numerous at this
town, yet they have a large and good
house. Rev. J. J. Wallace is pastor.
The Masonic Female College, located
here is in a flourishing condition.
- Madison
is a large and wealthy town. The Bap
tist have anew and beautiful house.
Their Sunday School is well attended
by young ladies and gentlemen. Bro
G. Y. Browne is still at the head of the
Georgia Female College. It is more
flourishing than last year.
My Encouragements.
The kind reception which 1 meet,
and kind words, by letter Ac., greatly
help me in my work of self-denial and
toil. One brother writes to me from a
place recently visited, as follows: ‘‘l
believe the Lord sent you here, and no
one can tell how much good has resul
ted from the little tracts distributed by
you in our community.” More next
month. F. M. IIAYGOOI).
Penfleld, Ga., July 2, 1860.
New York, July I*6o.
Mr. Editor—l have had you in my
mind for a long time—ever since you
re ascended the throne—and have in
tended every now and then, to inflict
a letter upon your readers ; but causes
entirely beyond my control, among
which have been my own sickness and
a severe domestictic bereavement, have
utterly frustrated my intentions.
1 will now, not so much because
there are things new and strange to be
told, but, more because 1 am inclined
to renew a correspondence, which, al
though it may be occasionally inter
rupted, is not without pleasure and in
terest, at least to myself. I am always
glad to see the Index, and to observe
the decided, yet courteous and Chris
tian tones, in which you contend for
the faith. The Truth certainly is worth
contending for ; but the cause of truth
can be never effectually promoted in
any other than the spirit of love. It
is a great mistake to imagine that we
can fight our notions into other people's
heads and hearts—particularly their
hearts. Even Christian people don’t
like to be compered in this way. We
are now passing through what is cai
led the “dull season.” Our population
—the indigenous part of it—is moving
into shaded country-seats, or flying off
to the watering places, and those of us
who have yet to “stay by the stuff’,”
try mightily to keep cool and take
things easy. The religious world shares
this general inertness, and our chinch- :
es are content simply to exist.
There have been one or two iuci
defits of late, however, which have not
a little stir/ed the outside world, and
which, indeed, may affect remotely the
cause of Christian civilization—the one
is the arrival in our harbor of the
“Great Eastern and the other, the
reception and entertainment of the,
Japanese Embassy.
For several days past the public
mind has been much exercised as to
the probable success of the experiment
of navigating the ocean in a ship ot the j
dimensions of the huge monster refer
red to, and the interest in this ques
tiou has increased as the day ot the
predicted arrival drew near. Not a
few were to be found who prophesied,
“bad luck,” and who were “certain
that the Great Eastern would go to the
bottom before she got half way across
the Atlantic.” But the prognostica- !
tors of evil are all dumb to-day. The
noble ship glided gently and majesti
cally into our port yesterday afternoon,
and she now lies safely moored at her
wharf. The voyage is regarded on all
hands as a successful one, although,
for various obvious reasons, the pas
sage —eleven days—is by no means a
quick one. Ris thought that she will
accomplish her return voyage in much
less time. I subjoin, for the benefit of
those of yonr readers who may not
have seen the account elsewhere, a
statement of the dimensions and capac
ity of this ship. She is 680 feet in
length, 83 feet in breadth, and 58 feet
in depth, with screw and paddle en
gines of a combined power of 2,600
horses. She has six masts, six boilers
Terms of Advertising.
For all transient advertising One Dollar per square
often lines for the first, and 50 cents per square for
all subsequent publications.
R ATES FOR CONTRACT ADVERTISING.
1 square of 10 lines per a months i.::..? \ on
•* “ 10 lines *• 6 “ t (in
“ “10 lines “ 1 year 10 Oo
These lines are the text advertising lints and th e
charge is for the space occupied by ten such lii.< .
as are used in the body of an advertisement. Lon
ger advertisementsin the same ratio.
N. S., VOL. 28, NO. 28.
and live smoke pipes. When entirely
i fitted up there will he accommodation
for *OO first class p ifseiigers, 1,200
second class passengers, aud2,ooo third
class, besides her crew, which will
number about 400 tfll told. Her tuu
nage, by actual measurement, is 22,-
500. 8o much for the “big ship.”
I have alluded to the Japanese, who
have been our guests for the past 14
days, and who sail to morrow in the U.
8. frigate Niagara, for their distant
home. These distinguished foreigners
have been treated —as it was highly
proper they should be—with marked
consideration and respect, wherever
they have sojourned in otir country. —
They have not only been officially re
ceived with every demonstration of
cordial welcome and honor, but they
have also been profusely, I mean to say
appressiblv greeted and caressed by
tlie community generally. ‘ They have
been feasted and feted to utter satiety.
It is however, a source of great and
just regret) that these intelligent heath
ens while they have been enabled to
gain a correct estimate of the wicked
ness and crime, which abound in this,
as in otherlauds—while they have been
taken to our prisons and onr pauper
houses, have not been permitted, at the
same time, to form a correct estimate
of the benign influence of Christianity,
by visiting and being made acquaint
ed with the management of the hu
mane and religious institutions which
are the real glory of our land. It is a
matter of the deepest regret that these
men will return to their Island Em
pire, knowing as little of Christianity,
in its true spirit and fruits, as when
they embarked for the country which
scud them Missionaries.
Oglethorpe.
COME TO JESUS IN FAITH.
In the New Testament we read very
much about faith. We are said to be
“justified by faith,” and “saved by
faith,” and are told to “believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ, that we may be
saved.”
Faith is confidence, reliance. If I
am hungry, and a kind friend offers me
something and 6ay it is bread, hut it is
dark, and 1 cannot see, if I begin at
once to eat it,Mine is faith. 1 trust in
his word. If lam lick, rnd medjjine
i6 given me which I am told Will do
me good, and I dvLiV it, this is faith.
I believe or have confidence :i the doc
tor’s skill. Jesus came into the world
to die for sinners. He says, Believe in
me. I have purchased a full pardon
tor you, and you may go free. It cost
my own blood to obtain it, hut you are
! freely welcome to it. If you obey iq.
words, and trust in my protects .City
will engage to save you from dea t ,. and
hell: I am quite able to do this. Here
is bread to eat, which will make you
live for ever eat it: here is a
medicine which will so cure your soul’s
sickness that you shall never die. —
Come unto me—believe in me, and
you shall be saved.” Faith is just
trusting to what Jesus says. Faith is
simply coming to Jesus. He has died
for thee. Believe it. and take the ben
efit of his dying. He has opened the
prison door for thee. Believe it, and
make thine escape. lie is willing to
bear thy burden for thee. Believe
it, and cast thy sins upon him. He
has paid all thy debts. Rejoice. He
brings salvation to thee, and says, It
shall he thine, if thou art willing.—
Stretch forth thy hand, aud take it with
a grateful heart. Like the prodigal in
the parable, thou hast wandered far
from home; but Jesus has obtained for
thee permission to return. Thy Fath
er, for his sake, is willing to welcome
thee hack. Believe it, and say, “I will
arise, and go to my Father.” 1 e
sire to he trusted by your hush: or
wife, or children ; you would let: Hurt
by their doubting your word. So Je
sus wishes to be believed when he
says, “Poor sinner, lam able and
willing to save thee. Come unto me.”
Do not grieve him by distrusting his
word. If you do not come because yon
think you are too great a sinner, you
say in effect, that he is not able to save
you, though he tells us “he is able to
save to the uttermost all who come.”
You make him a liar. Believe that lie
really will do what he promises. Go
to him at once. Say to him, “Lord, I
believe ; help thou mine unbelief. —
Thou art able to save to the uttermost
— save me.
Early Humble Piety.—Thomas Us
tick, who became a useful “minister
of the New Testament,” was baptized
w T hen little more than thirteen years of
age. In reading the hymn to he sung
ou the occasion, the administrator of
the ordinance so changed it that it read
—“His honor is engaged to save the
youngest ot his sheep.” Young Ustick
leaning on his pastor’s arm, looked him
in the face and said, “Why did you
not read the word as it is, “The mean
est of his sheep,” for truly so I am.”
The Boston Traveler understands,
from reliable authority, that Rev. I. S.
Kalloeh, pastor of the Tremont Tem
ple Church, of that city, has either re
signed his charge, or is about to do so.
He will, under appointment ot the
Baptist Home Missionary Society, take
charge of a church in Leavenworth
City. It is also understood that the
Baptist pastors of this city have recom
mended him for this post.
Effects of the Heat. —Coroner Eden held
two inquests on Wednesday last, one on the
person of a inan named Donahoo; the other on
the body of Edward L. Massey. The verdict in
both eases was—Death from exposure to the
sun and intemperance. — Sac. Xcics.