Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE CHRISTIAN INDEX, PUBLISHED 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. Book Notices. Soul-Liberty—lts Price, and who paid it. By Henry C. Fish, D. D. New York : Sheldon & Company. A little book of 152 pages, abounding in histori cal truths which every American citizen ought to know. 1. It triumphantly refutes the hackneyed slan der against the Baptist denomination, that they are bigoted, by showing that from the first centu ries of the Christian era to the present time— whether persecuted by Catholics or Protestants— whether before the Inquisition; in the fires of Snlithfield, or tied to the intolerant whipping post of the revered Puritans and their decendeDts; the Baptists hare been the sole advocates of Soul Lib erty. 2. It shows that the framers of our beloved Government were taught the great principles of political equality, which are the palladium of our civil rights, by the religious equality taught and practiced in the Baptist Churches. 3. It shows that the Baptists, by their blood, their patient endurance of persecution for con science sake, their unobtrusive piety, and perse vering efforts, paid the price, ar and obtained for us and our children, that soul-liberty, which is the brightest star in our gloiious galaxy. Thank God for such noble progenitors. Send to the Baptist Book-store and read for yourself. “ABIDE IN JESUS.” BY REV. C. .1. P. SPITTA. “Abide, abide in Jesus, Who for us bore griefs untold, And Himself, from pain to save us, Suffered pangs a thousand fold; Bide witli Him, who still abidetli When all else shall pass away, And as Judge supreme presideth In that dread and awful day. “All is dying : hearts are breaking, Which to ours were once fast bound ; And the lips have ceased from speaking, Which once uttered such sweet sound, And the arms are powerless lying, Which were our support and stay ; And the eyes are dim and dying, Which once watched us night and day. “Every thing we love and cherish Hastens onward to the grave; Earthly joys and pleasure perish, And whate’er the world e’er gave ; All is fading, all is ileeing, Earthly tlames must cease to glow, Earthly beings cease from being, Earthly blossoms cease to blow. “Yet undecayed, while all decayeth, Jesus stands upon the dust; ‘Lean on me alone,’ llesayeth, ‘Hope and love and firmly trust!’ 0 abide, abide with Jesus, Who Himself forever lives, Who from death eternal frees us, Yea, who life eternal gives !” AN EXPOSITION. Number 5. BY REV. S. G. HILLYER. “Thou art Peter, **** and I will give unto thee t, he keys of Kingdom of Heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in Heav en ; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.”—Matt., 16 : 19. “Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them ; and whosoever tins ye retain, they are retained.”—John 20: 23. “Verily I say unto you, w hatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in Heaven; and whatso ever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven.”—Matt. 18: 18. But after all these concessions—and others that might be made—it is yet true, that there are cases, over which each church does have exclusive juris diction. There are cases of discipline arising under the laws of Christ among her members. When, therefore, she has arraigned one of her members for immoral conduct, and, upon Investiga tion, has found him guilt}’ - and impen itent, and for that reason has with drawn her fellowship from him, her action is, according to the teachings of the text before us, the authoritative decision of the case ; and other church es are bound so to accopt it. Will it be said that such decisions are binding only when they are right? If breth ren will reflect a moment, they will see, that this cannot be. If the recti tude of a sentence were made the ba sis of its validity, then its rectitude ought to be universally known. But in the great majority of cases this is impossible. Surely I need not delay to prove this point. We have already seen that decisions may be right and yet not binding. Hence, when bind ing, they are so, for some other reason than because they ought. Will it be said that a principle of courtesy impo ses upon churhes an obligation to ac cept each others decisions? This may have some force under favorable cir cumstances. But courtesy is a bond which will yield to any degree of pres sure. Let the decision be against high and influential parties ; let some no tions of general expediency be invol ved in the issue ; or, let some popular dogma be, in some way, associated with the case, and courtesy is a rope of sand. The question then recurs, why is the decision binding ? For this, and for no other reason —because the church has authority to make it. Here is the principle which covers the whole question, and meets every issue. A decision of a church, when sitting as a court of discipline, is expression of the Savior's government, which he has himselfset up in that church. Here, only, is the basis of its validity ; and here is the source of its binding effica cy upon other churches. All are un der one common sovereign. All owe allegiance to one common throne. The majesty of that throne is as sacred in one place as in another. It has pleas ed the King to set up that throne in church. But he who tills it is one.— Therefore, decisions made in comfor mity with the authority conferred up on the church, as his executive, are binding upon all other subjects of that throne. Hence he pledges Heaven to #rgait flf % <sa. Oumbentiun: tofortefc fa gltssians, Religion, anb % Interests af TfTgagtisf genmmnattan. accept such decisions as valid. What is accepted in Heaven ought surely to be accepted on earth. The conclusion just drawn, evident ly applies to decisions in cases of dis cipline without regard to their recti tude. It is true they ought tube right. The church is bound, by the most sol emn obligations, to use all means in her power, to ascertain what is right, in order to establish it in her decision. And ihe great King will, doubtless, hold each member to a strict account for the least want of fidelity in this matter. We may well suppose, that the account will be the more strict, for the very reason that the authority con ferred is so complete. But, after all, the church is not infallible. The Sa vior has left it liable to err; and it does err. What shall we do with a wrong decision? Will brethren still press this question. Well, it is much to he regretted that there ever should be a wrong decision. It is painful to think that the innocent may sometimes suffer ; and that the wicked may some times triumph. It has been the case, however, under the administration of all tribunals, whether secular or eccle siastical, since the formation of regu- lar government. The evil is inciden tal to the imperfections of human na ture. This evil is sought to be reme died in the churches, by denying the validity of wrong decisions. But this presupposes a power, some where, au thorized to declare a decision wrong. If there be such a power- where is it ? It is claimed that it is found in a neigh boring chtwch. It it be so, let the chapter and verse, in the New Testa ment be shown, where such a refer ence of a case of discipline to another church is authorized, or provided for. If this cannot be done, the advocates of such a reference must give it up, or to be Baptists. I deny its exis tence. Hence,for a neighboring church to declare the sentence of another church upon questionsof fact, in a case of discipline wrong, is herself to make a decision upon a case over which Bhe has no jurisdiction. In doing so, she is guilty of usurpation. This usurpa tion is greatly intensified, when such an attempt is made by an association, or convention,or any other outside as sembly of tnen ; forsuch bodies do not even have an existence in the eye of the Gospel, much less any authority under its provisions. What then must be done with a wrong decision ? We are now prepar ed to answer this questmn. Leave it, where Jesus has left it, in the hands of the church which made it. There is one particular in which, a church as a judicial tribunal, differs from all others on earth. When a secular court, of final jurisdiction, has made a decree, it is unalterable. It disposes of life and properity. If it be wrong, the wrong is irremediable. But when a church passes sentenco upon an ar raigned member, though no other pow er may interfere to annul her action, yet she is not bound. If the sentence be wrong she can rectify it. An ap peal ever lies to her better judgment. Let the injured party only do right — let him patiently await the return of better counsels, and the good provi dence of an ever watchful, faithful Sa vior, and lie will not long continue un der the ban of his brethren. They themselves will rectify the error. This has been often verified by experience. Two such cases I myself have known. If my limits permitted me to give the details of one of these cases, the read er would be both interested and edi fied, but my article is already longer than I designed. Suffice it to say, in both cases the parties quietly submit ted to the church. They committed themselves to the care of one who has promised never to forsake those who trust in him. Both, were in a reason able time, freely restored by the vol untary action of their respective churches; and not ajar disturbed the peace of our beloved Zion. O ! how pleasantly does Christ’s government work, when it is left to the legitimate processes which he has ordained for it. Better, by far, leave these wrong de cisions where Christ has left them. Mercer University, April 15, IS6O. Brother Boykin : I have read the editorial articles in several of the last numbers of the In dex, with unusual interest, and I assure you that there is one, at least, who enters fully into the spirit of the wri ter. And one who has long been mour ning over the desolation of Zion, and one too, who is willing to hold up your hands by his prayers, and every means that God has put in his hands, to eu encourage you in thus faithfully prose cuting the work in which you are en- gaged. There are indeed many reasons why there are so few revivals of religion in the churches, and so little spirituality manifest. It is true that controversy and formality have, in too many cases, taken the place of spirituality and holi ness. The cold sermons, the tormal prayers, the listless devotions, and the thinly attended prayer-meeting, are truly, as you have said, the fruits of the idleness, indolence, and lack of zeal in the professed followers of Christ. Now, my brother, I believe in cause and effect, in spiritual matters as well as in natural and temporal things. The farmer, the mechanic, and the merch ant, all know well that it is constant labor and perseverance ouly, that will insure success in their respective em ployments. And the word of God ev erywhere teaches us, that the Lord has j appointed means for the accomplish * ment of his purposes. And where the MACON, GA., WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1860 means of grace are not employed, or where they are improperly applied, spiritual prosperity in the churches need not be looked for or expected. The first, and I think the greatest cause that now exists, and which has a tendency most effectually to paralyze the best efforts ofjhe gospel minister, is the present system and practice of supplying churches with pastors.- A very large portion of the churches in this State are virtually without pas tors. One minister undertakes to preach for four different churches, con sequently he cannot be a pastor for either of them. He must, of course, live at a distance from all or most of them, and cannot visit either church, but twelve times in a year. And some of those appointments are often missed in consequence of sickness, rainy weather, or bad roads. Pastoral du tiee cannot be performed when minis ters live so far from their field of labor, and their work divided between so many different localities. The evils of the present system are too numerous to point out in one short article. I expect to refer to the sub ject again. And I hope that some bet ter scholar, with a clearer head than mine, will take up the subject and do it justice. My object in writing this article is to refer to some of the evils that first present themselves to my mind. In the first place the officers and members of such churches are gen erally inactive. There is a want of spirituality and zeal throughout the whole body. There are few, if any, nursing fathers and uursing mothers, to speak words of encouragement and consolation to young converts and to doubting and wavering young profes sors ; none to encourage young men when they first unite with the church, to improve their gifts in prayer and exhortations, the proper means not having been used, the talent of many lies dormant, and the church suffers the loss. A spirit of penuriousness generally pervades such churches; — many members do not pay one tenth part as much as they should, to sup port their ministers. And they do nothing, or very little at most, for mis sionary societies, and for other benev olent purposes. Some brethren who are abundantly able to pay four or five hundred dollars a year for the cause generally,can quiet their conscience by giving ten dollars to their preachers, and perhaps not hear him preach more than six times in a whole year. And to pay two-dollars for the Index is a piece of extravagance that cannot be tolerated by them. Such a thing as “honoring the Lord with all their sub stance,” does not once enter into their minds. The consequence is that a great many members of churches instead of being engaged in Sabbath Schools, and prayer meetings, on Sunday, when they have no preaching, are making visits and taking dinners with their neighbors ; engaging in all kind of conversation, about crops, stock, and politics ; every subject is brought up and discussed but the subject of relig ion. And when the preacher comes around in his turn, he has to do all that is done ; thereis not a brother that will either exhort or pray in public, and I fear there is but few of them who ever pray in secret. All is as cold as the icebergs of the frozen ocean. If the minister succeeds in getting up a lit tle feeling in the church during the Saturday and Sunday that he is with them, his labor is entirely lost, for as sood as the meeting is over all settle back into the same state of indifference, until he cotnes again. Proper discip line is neglected, sore difficulties arise aud go unsettled, and wounded feel ings go without being healed. Sick ness and death frequently occur with in the bounds of the church and con gregation, and there is no Christian minister at hand to pray by the bed side of the sick and dying, or to con dole with the bereaved mourner at the grave. Now I ask where are the Aarons and Hurs to hold up the hand of the gospel ministers in such church es? In concluding this article I take the liberty of saying, that I think the min isters are in the fault, and they are the greatest sufferers by pursuing this ob jectionable system. And it is to them we must look for the correction of the evil. Let them demand an equivolent for their services, and refuse to serve churches that will not give them enough to enable them to give themselves wholly to the ministry. It is true that such a course would diminish the number of churches. But there would be more real good done with half as many churches properly managed, than there now is. The min istry would be better supported and more respected, and there would be more done for the cause of missions, and all other benevolefit institutions in our denomination would be greatly benefitted. Old Baptist. Dear Bro. Boykin : It is not because I have not thought of you and the Index, that you have not heard from me oftener, but that 1 prefer to peruse the many interesting letters and communications in the col umns of the paper, than to trouble you with anything from my poor pen. You know that I am, (too much I reckon,) like the Yankee asking ques tions, if I don’t answer any I have been thinking and thinking over our trou bles, strife and contention; and like other brethren, I have longed for peace. While my mind was engaged upon the subject,it would naturaly turn in search tor cause, and remedy. I thought of our name, our belief, our practice—‘ then our good brother Mallorys ser mon, at Columbus, the subject, the discourse, all flashed across my mind —‘Denominational Idolatry.’ And the question arose, are we not reprehensi ble for attaching 60 much importance to a name ; in other words, ought we not to fear lest by our over-striving for a name, we should fail to accord all the honor and glory, as churches, to our Master, to whom it justly belongs? It is held that a single church is inde pendent and sovereign. Os course, Christ's glory is exhibited through that single church. But we know that His glory is exhibited only in proportion to the godly walk and holiness, found in such church. All men have not faith. All churches are not perfect in this respect. Will it be good logic, (par don the term,) to argue, that in pro portion to the lack of faith and holiness in a church, just in the same propor tion will there be a “zeal not according to knowledge,” and strange as it may seem, yet it is true, that their zeal is tor the name (denomination) universal ly. “They have a name to live (upon) but are dead.” Now put all the zeal of this sort together, which may be fouud in all the churches, (denomina tion,) and how much of the glory of the churches is left for the Savior?— May we not then apprehend that there is just cause for troubles in Israel, ow ing to the fact that we have gotten to ourselves a great name? And upon that name, it is to be feared, too many —too many are living. Hence it is that our troubles are brought on by ourselves. God has, in all ages through the past, revealed the fact that His Zion upon earth has at different periods, under gone the trying ordeal of being refined. A searching with fire. A distinguish ing of the peculiar people from the whole world, that llis name, Ilis glo ry, may be magnified, as the end draws nigh. In view of all these things, ought we not, each of us, to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God ? He may be now on the search with that candle, the light of which will assuredly find out each of us. Let £he solemn question come home to each of us, as our Lord is passing by in the search to find out who they are that trouble Israel. Lord, is it I ? 3 is it I ? We want peace—peace in our beloved denomination. Peace in all the church es—in each church. This can only be attained by and through each of God’s people, realizing that soul peace— “soul prosperity,” which ought to be desired by all—and can only be reali zed in deep humiliation at the foot of the cross. Now fur my queries, which I will thank you or some of the breth ren to answer, and I close. 1. Is there any scripture warrant for deferring baptism, when a person gives a justifiable experience? Suppose a man to apply to me at my home for baptism, giving a satisfactory experi ence, would I be justifiable in refusing to administer the ordinance? 2 Is chureh membership attainable, before baptism ? And is it deducible from the scriptures, that all who were baptized in the days of the Apostles, joined themselves to churches ? Yours, Landmark. [Answer to 1. No. The correct an swer to the second part of this query depenus on the circumstances that might attend the case. There are cir cumstances where, in a proper quali fied administrator, would be justified in baptizing a candidate anywhere, and there might be circumstances iq, which it would be wrong for you to defer baptism under the supposition above.] From the New York Observer. UNCTION IN THE PULPIT. BY THE KEY. HEMAN HUMPHREY, I). D. We all know that the effect of preach ing depends very much upon a good delivery. The voice must be clear, the modulations natural, the articulation distinct, and the slides and cadences adapted to the subject in hand. The preacher must be animated, and care fully guard against falling into monot onous tones of voice, whether high or low. But all this is not enough ; nor when graceful attitudes and gestures, not too many nor too few, are superad ded. It is the becoming and pleasant drapery of the pulpit, with which it should be adorned, and which cannot be acquired without careful training. But w 7 e want something more. How ever dazzling, it is too superficial to meet the wants of the soul. It may flash and play around the head, while it leaves the heart unmoved. To make full proof of his ministry, the preacher must feel what he says, and show that he does. He must con vince his audience that he is not acting a part, but that he comes to them as an ambassador of Christ, beseeching sinners to be reconciled to God. To be a truly effective preacher, in the high- ~~ j i ~ j - O est and best sense, he must have a ho ly unction in his delivery; must put himself*in communication with his hearers by what, for want of a better term, I venture to call a sacred mag netic attraction, emanating from the depths of his own yearning soul. It must show itself in his countenance, in his eye, in the tones of his voice. And when it does, there is a power in it which is hardly possible for the most careless to resist. When it springs up spontaneously in the pulpit, it will sometimes be felt in a moment, like an electric flash, by the whole congrega tion. No matter whether we can ac count for it or not, so it is. We are so made that we cannot avoid, if we try. And no preacher whose discourses want this unction, emanating from the Holy Spirit, is in a right frame to win souls to Christ. We know, indeed, that ministers, like other men, are constitutionally different in their emotional influences. In some they lie much nearer the sur face than iii others. One is easily mov ed himself, by the solemn truths which he utters, and his voice trembles, and the tears start in his eyes, while the fountain lies deeper in another; and we are not to infer that a preacher does not feel, because he is ordinarily less tender in his delivery. But the topics on which every faithful minister dwells are of such amazing importance, invol ving the immortal destinies of his con gregation, that if the yearnings of his soul do not impart more or less unction to his discourses, it should lead him to inquire, whether he has not mistaken his calling. It proves at least that he is in too low a state of declension to expect much fruit from his labors. — While one minister, who is quite de ficient in the outward adornments of the pulpit, may be eminently success fid in winning souls to Christ, by the depth of his piety and the unction that flows from it, it is no wonder, if anoth er, whose praise is in every mouth as a great preacher, but who has little or no unction in his delivery, should, for the want of it, fail to accomplish the great ends ot the Christian ministry. llow then is this motive power to be obtained ? It is the gift of God, and the heart of a preacher can be tilled and kept full of this holy unction, by prayer and devout meditation. It is not possible for every minister to be an eloquent orator. But every preach er ‘who is called of God as was Aaron ;’ can open his heart to receive the divine afflatus, and can pour it out from the pulpit with an effect, which no talents or rhotoric can produce, where it is wanting. To this end, ardent piety is an essential qualification, for which there can be no substitute. Let the preacher of ordinary talents imbue his preparations with humble and earnest prayer, from beginning to end; let him go from his knees to the pulpit under the full impression that he “watches for souls as one who must give ac countlet him pour out the mighty yearnings of his soul over those that are ready to perish, and, by the help ot God, he will pluck them as brands from the burning, when they would be entirely beyond the reach of the mas ters in Israel, without the anointing of the Spirit. This is what I mean by unction in the pulpit, and when there shall be a great deal moxe of it the suc cess of the Christian ministry cannot fail of being proportionately increas ed. LETTER FROM AFRICA. Ijaye, Africa, March 15th, ’6O. Dear Bro. W arren : ’ In writing to the Index, I always like to relate the general news of this country, and tell the brethren as much about our work as I can. But I write at this time with a specific object— and shall perhaps have room for but little more. I must say, however, that the country has not been in such agi tation and confusion since I’ve been here as now. Two or three other towns have combined to war against our chief; and though they are afraid or unwilling to make an open attack; they have liers in wait, nearly all around us, so that it is dangerous to be far from the town walls. This howev er, cannot go to Abeakuta to be sent to America until we have peace, so you will hear more of the war before I close. My object in writing now, is to fight against the idea prevailing in some parts at home, that “white men can not stand this climate.” We have liv ing examples to the contrary of this now in Africa. Rev. Mr. Gallmer, a church man in Abeakuta, has been living in Africa about twenty years — he usually returns home every fifth year, but he told me himself his first term was seven or eight years ; he is now enjoying good health—his wife also enjoys good health—has been here nearly twelve years, and borne two children in Africa. Rev. Mr. Townsend, also, has been here about the same time—his wife not quite so long, and both in good health now. I could also name others who have not been here so long J some twelve and some ten and eight years; all now in the country in good health. What better proof could be brought, that white men can live in this climate. This is not like our own native climate, and we have to be more careful here about diet, exercise and exposure to the sun, than we are at home. But with the necessary prudence, I believe a person with sound constitution may enjoy-good health here. I know our mission has suffered greatly by so many invalids returning home. But I feel safe in saying that not one can trace their failure of health to the cli mate alone. Some have been diseased before they came here, and the cli mate developed it sooner. Some have lost their health from undue exposure to wet and cold. Os this latter class, we may regard bro. Bowen. He told me that the first time he was here he went barefooted—(could not get shoes,) and he waded through the streams like a native, and that in con sequence he was then (1856) suffering, and had it not been for that exposure he would then have been enjoying good health. With all due difference to bro. Clark, I must say, when he left here, I regarded him in good health. — His woik here had been one of toil and care, and I believe that a short vis* it home would invigorate him enough to pay for a short absence from the field. I know he was dyspeptic, but I believe he was dyspeptic before he left America, (if not, he can correct me,) and as I said before, men of sound constitution may enjoy good health.— I fear bro. Clark did too much, and rested too little when he went to America. If I have made any state ments regarding any of those who have returned, which are not strictly correct, I hope they will concct me. My idea is to show that white men may live and enjoy, at least reasonable health in Africa. And now I do think that every unprejudiced mind is convinced that lam right. We are not now situated as we once were. There are now good houses into which new missionaries may come, and not be exposed as some of the pioneers were. Were Ito tell you of the hard ships we hSve undergone, you would not be surprised that we had bad health, but your wonder would be that we are even alive. I do not wish to offer myself as an example of good health, but I will say, the four years I have spent here, I have enjoyed as good health generally, as any four years of my life, that I now remem ber. True, I have had about ten at tacks of malignant African fever, but most of them have been checked in a few days—(unchecked, they generally terminate fatal in about six days,) and I have generally regained my strength very readily. lam just now recover ing from an attack of smali-pox, by which I was kept in the house mostly for four weeks, but now (in the fifth week.) I feel as well as ever I did, and as full of life and zeal. The cli mate does not seem to retard one in recovering from sickness at all, but I have thought it a favorable climate for recovering. I would not exgerate —I would not mislead the mind of any: and I repeat, we must have more care about our health here, than at home. But with care we may enjoy reasona ble health, or good health. * Now what more could I say to in duce one to believe that white men can live in Africa. I % do not wish to make an appeal or give an exhortation, but I must say, it looks to me like where ever the creatures of God are found, that there the heralds should go, as they are commanded, “go unto all the world.” Experience and observation do not justify us in saying white men cannot live in Africa. Though some of our first missionaries were forced to leave the field, that does not say the rest of us will have to, or die soon. I believe wherever God has a work for me he will keep me there until it is finished. And if I go wdiere he has sent me he will either take or send me away. While I feel my duty calls me here, I will say, “No burning heat by day, Nor blast of evening air, Will take my health away If God be with there. I’ll go and come, Nor fear to die, Till from on high, Thou callest me home.” May the Lord revive his work here, and at home, and soon send us more laborers. Your Bro. in Christ, A. D. PHILLIPS. S. W. Baptist copy. P. S. —This goes by an armed cara van : no news about the war: still shut up. A. D. P. June sth, 1800. Dear Bro. Boykin : living Mt. Lebanon, we passed a country very similar to that already described, and soon came to Minden, situated in the Parish of Claiborne. — This town contains about 800 or 1000 inhabitants, and like Mt. Lebanon, is in the woods. The soil being exceed ingly fine is easily cut up; and windy weather is much driven by the wind. Hence, it is exceedingly unpleasant in dry weather. There are many Geor gians in, and around Minden, enter prising, industrious, and successful in the various departments of business. — The water in the town and country round here, is pretty good. Like all countries just being brought into a state of cultivation, it is liable to “chill and fever.” A little of this is visible, even at the present time. In the town are two church edifices, and three churches. The Methodists and Baptists have good buildings, and the Presbyterians have an organiza tion, but no house of worship. Dr. Ford is their pastor; who is also Pres ident of the Minden Female College. This Institution unlike that of Mt. Lebanon is not denominational; but is in a flourishing condition. The cata logue shows about one hundred and fortv. They understand in this col lege” how to make extra charges, and how to put up tuition. The public here, as in Georgia have been greatly imposed upon by these extras. A girl should be taught as much as a boy for the same money. Bro. Moore is pastor of the Baptist church in Minden, and also of Fellow ship church, 8 miles in the country. He has been here only a few years, and does not seem satisfied with his lo cation. He says he gives attention to pastoral visiting, which is the right arm of the pastors strength.’ I had the pleasure of preaching for him at prayer meeting on Wednesday night, but both preacher and people seemed peculiarly dull. While in this neigh- j borhood, I made a short visit to the family of Dr. N. recently of your city, I found him in his farm directing his Terms ol Advertising. For all transient advertising OheDollar per square of teif lines for the first, and 50 centft<ptr square for all subsequent publications. ,-f'- r ’* *:■ RATES FOR CONTRACT ADVERTISING. ‘ V 1 square of 10 lines per 3 months t -- “ “10 lines “ 6 “ - T A o<r - “ “10 lines “ 1 year 10*00 These lines are the text advertising lines and if e charge is for the space occupied by ten snch Jim s as are used in the body of an advertisement. Lon geradvertisementsin the same ratio. N. S., VOL. 28, NO. 20. own servants, and very much pleased with the change from city to country life. The best possible motives influ ence him to retire to the country. He has seen the elects of city society on the young, and is satisfied that, boys brought up in a city have very few chances to be of any account to them selves or society. He does forego the pleasure of city 7 life rather than vic timize his sons. I trust that the Dr. will be eminently successful in train ing his children for usefulness, and that his example may be followed by many others. His wife,daughter, and the whole family seem delighted with the change. Peace, happiness and prosperity attend them. On sabbath I had the pleasure of preaching at Fellowship church to many Georgians, and to several ac quaintances. The church is composed ot about one hundred members, with the brethren, John and Jacob. Pearce, from Georgia, rs deacons. Here ma e the acquaintance of Bro. James Ful ler, formerly of Harris Cos. Ga. He has been in this county about eight years, and is a sensible, pious and relia ble man—lie is old, but still preaches and farms. I had heard of him in Georgia, and was much pleased to “see him in the flesh.” More anon. p. AM I A CHRISTIAN. * - Ibis is a momentous question, which exercises the minds of all more or less. There are many false tests and standards, and there is need of much discrimination. Religion does not consist in feeling. Many have nothing but a religion of emotion. When they have a certain frame of feeling, they are satisfied, and look no farther. V ery little matter what has caused this feeling, or wjiat is their life and conduct; their emo tions are excited to their gratification, and this is enough. But it is a great mistake. The Scriptures now here as sure any that they are Christians, merely because they feel well. The selfish may 7 have such feelings. Nor Joes religion consist in having an orthodox creed. With some the great question is, What do you be believe? And if the theory is correct, no more is required. But what does the best theory avail, without prac tice ? Some of the most immoral peo ple have an exalted code of morals.— One of this class once offered himself for church membership, with a confes sion written out at great length, with much ability, and possessing rare ex cellence. But it was to the individual wholly ideal, and in no way expres sive of his own state. Nor, finally, does religion consist in action. We may be able to boast of mighty deeds, arid to say, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name cast out devils, and in Thy name done many w T onderful works,” yet Christ declares lie never knew 7 us. Yes, in action we may go farther. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, .(divine love.) I am become as Bounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gilt of propecy, and understand all myste ries, and all know ledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,and have not charity, lain nothing. And though I bestow all my gqvds to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” Here are tests, which strictly applied, would cut off many talse hopes, and disclose many sandy foundations. Religion is comprehensive.* It first takes possession of the heart, the foun tain of moral and spiritual life, dis placing selfishness, worldliness, sin, and setting God there supreme. en it secures a conformity of the lii and conduct, the intellect and theory.— Thus it makes the whole man new.— The feelings are right, the mind is right, the actions are right, all being in harmony with the Divine will.— Morning Star. Perry Davis’ Vegetable Pain Killer possesses virtue, which not only re moves pain instantly, but regulates the stomach, gives strength, tone and vig or to the system. It is one o** those medicines which is tvorth more than gold. Sold by druggists generally throughout the United States and Can da. +* TIIE CORN CROP, &c. The universal drought of the past month in Georgia, renders it a matter of certainty that the corn crop is to be very short in this State. Corn has ruied at a high price the past j ear, and notwithstanding the promise of abundant grain crops in the West, it will rule still higher this year, unless our Railroads abate their ‘ freight charges on the article. This it will he good policy in them to do. They should show their sympathy with the planting interest, (their great supporters.) by voluntarily surren dering at least a portion of the profits they will make out of their misfortunes. Let corn “o forward this year at reduced rates. It will he a wise as well as a just liberality. In Alabama, as we see by the Mail, the corn crop is already a failure. On thin lands f that paper says, it has already perished, and a scar city approaching famine cannot be avoided in the Eastern and Middle counties. So also in Florida, the drought has been very Severe, and the Tallahassee papers say the crop will be a failure. In regard to cotton, we think its chances aie very precarious. Such an extreme of dry weath er we may reasonably apprehend will be follow ed shortly by a corresponding extreme of wet, and if it comes, the fruit will drop, and nothing hut a very protracted season and late frost will bring an average crop. The past month has i very°materially moderated the expectations of ! planters. j Anew Post-Office has been established at No. 11, South-Western Railroad, in Hous ton county, called Byron, and Geo. S. Peebles appointed Post Master.