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_ INDEX.
■ *’***"’ TEI.ftWtADH ryWr.B I’KKSS.
~iTv! ti*'’
GKA-.
Wednesday, July 25, ISGO.
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Missionary Organizations.
Number 4.
Another popular objection against our
missionary organizations is, that they
wrest from the churches the work divinely
and appropriately committed to them. Let
us candidly test the force of this objec
tion.
In the commencement of the modern
missionary enterprise atnftng Baptists, the
churches, both in this country and in En
gland, were strongly imbued with an an
• ti-missianary spirit. It was impossible to
induce the churches as such, to co-oper
ate in the work. The opposition jU> mis
sions had its foundation in antmomian
views, extensively and conscientiously en
tertained. The objection then was, not
that mission boards took the work out of
the hands of churches, but out of the
hands of God. It was then maintained
that if God wishes to convict the h(\V. \
on, he will do it without our intermed
dling. Under these circumstances, to
preserve peace in the churches, and in
many cases to prevent their disruption,
the friends of missions organized them
selves into societies for the purpose ofeor
centrating their counsels and pecunui y
contributions in the mission cause. They
were reduced to the necessity of acting
outside of the churches or not at all; and
in many cases, they were violently ex
pelled from the churches because they
deemed it their duty to contribute of their
substance for the spread of the Gospel.—
Light, however, nas been diffused. The
cause of missions has gained a strong hold
on the confidence and affections of the
churches. The anti-nomian leaven has
been, in a good degree, purged out of
them. And now the objection, assuming
anew phase, is, that boards
*are taking the work not out of God’s
hands, but out of the hands of the church
es. N\ e hail the objection in its new form
as an evidence of improvement.
We yield to none in our conviction of
the importance of churches in the econo
my of envangelizing the world. They
are divinely constituted, in part, for the
edification of their members, and, in part,
for the dilfusion of light. No church
comprehends its true mission, and its sol
emn responsibility, that does not make
earnest, systematic and self-denying ef
forts for extending the kingdom of Christ.
One of the most serious difficulties , in
prosecuting the mission work is, that
churces so little understand, or so little
regard their true position in the work of
evangelization. We believe, and in the
course of these numbers, we will endeav
or to show, that the co-operation of tine
churches—their systematic, steady, gen
erous co-operation, is indispensable to the
success of the mission enterprise? Now
so far from taking the work out of the
hands ot the churches, the constitution of
the Southern Baptist Convention was de
signed, and is adapted, to encourage and
to seouie the co-operation ot churches, in
their organized capacity, in the mission
work. They may contribute their funds
directiy to the boards oi the Convention
—send delegates to the body in propor
tion to the amount ot their contributions;
and, through their delegates, counsel with
their brethren irom other churches, as to
the best fields ot missionary labor, and
the best means of cultivating these fields,
and have their full share in deciding all
questions of right and expediency that
may come before the body. The dele
gates of the churches appoint the mission
boards, define their duties, direct actions
and hold them responsible for their eon
duct. If this is taking the work out of
the hands of the churches, it would be dif
ficult to conceive how it could he put into
their hands.
It is true, the constitution of the South
ern Baptist Convention makes provision
that other bodies besides churches may
be represented in it. State Conventions,
made up chiefly of delegates from the
churches, send their messengers to the
parent body. In this way the churches
are as really and effectively represented
. r. : v * U'messengers.
Otlu - missionary associations also send
th-ii dole” i to tho parent body. But
who coin; these associations? Church
member—generally the most active and
ll]l < ; . members —actiug, not in
opj ...dtion to i churches, but with their
i v ; ‘ vs • a Aad their delegates
j • !••(•! i u m (In churches, and usually
tin* r A,.is and judicious of their
■n A .* pr< isely the brethren that
the churches would select t 6 represent
■. ir views and wishes in regard to Chris
tian missions.
It may be well to notice, in passing, a
pro ,’ ion in the constitution of the S. B.
Cont ention to which exception has been
tab n. It was intended to obviate a dif
ficulty that had been experienced in the
Baptist Tri-ennial Convention. A most
worthy and respectable gentleman, not a
Baptist, but believed to be a pious man,
regularly paid one hundred dollars, and
Look Lis scat in the meetings of the Con
venlion. It was unconstitutional; but no
member of the body could have the heart
that he should be ejected. The
constitution of the S. 13. Convention
-ought to avoid this difficulty, and to
guard against any possible injury to its
great object, by providing that all the of
ficers oi the Convention, all the members
of the Boards, and all the missionaries of
the Boards, shall be Baptists in good
standing. The arrangement is eminently
wise. If the Convention were required
to decide on the go‘od Baptist standing
of all its members, it would*beeome a
court of appeals to which all cases of dif
ficulty and schism, from every part of the
land, would be referred. Its time would
be wasted by the settlement of questions
irrelevant to its great mission.
We do then utterly deny that our mis
sionary organizations take the mission
work from the churches. Or, if the mission
Boards of the Southern Baptist Conven
tion are justly amenable to this objection,
so are the district associations, the State
Conventions, and every other system of
operation, except that most inefficient of
all plans, in which churches act in mass
meetings. We shall resume the subject
of objections to our organizations in our
next issue.
The Terrible Scarcity of Miois-
TERS.
There are in Georgia about 1422 Bap
tist churches and about 500 Baptist
ministers. This manifests that there are
nearly, if not quite, three churcnes to ev
ery minister.
Now, when we remember that it is by
the foolishness of breaching that souls
are to be saved, that the cause of religion
is to be advanced, that‘Christianity is to
be rendered more and more aggressive,
we shall not be charged with creating a
false alarm when we asseverate that this
paucity of minister- is a cause for serious
concern. And, when we go further, and
say that the number of ministers is de
creasing rather than increasing, consider
ing the ratio of our Denominational en
largement, we do but say that which
should add to this concern. But, when
we join to the above this declaration that
our population is rapidly augmenting, that
pure Christianity seems gradually losing
its hold upon the minds of the masses and
that there is danger, if this state of things
continue, that our Denomination will die
out, then the scarcity of ministers looms
up before us with appalling distinctness,
and we are warranted in taking the alarm
and asking ourselves,What is the remedy?
In locking at this subject steadily, we
-lifill discover that nothing butadeviation
from apostolical instructions, and prece
dents has brought things to this pass.—
In consulting the pages of Iloly Writ, we
find distinctly laid down in Ist Tim. 3: 2-
7, and in Vitus, 1 : 0-9, the qualifications
of a minister ; and from these passages
we ascertain that any male Christian “of
blameless manners, pure character, meek,
forbearing, temperate, sober, just, holy,
thoroughly attached to the doctrines of
the gospel, having a natural gift of teach
ing and having had some experience in
the Christian life—not a novice—has the
qualifications for the ministry which the
New Testament requires.’’ And when we
recollect that Paul left Titus in Crete to
“ordain elders in every city,’’and that
he himself did the same iu all the church
es founded by himself, we cannot but ar
rive at the conclusion that, not only have
we set up a ministerial standard different
from that promulgated by Paul, but that
we have been absolutely derelict in our
duty in regard to searching out and or
daining men to preach the Gospel. We be
lieve that the cry of An educated Minis
try is one of the crying evils of the day.
In the qualifications of our church consti
tution we find not the word educated :
not a novice, is the nearest approach to
it ; but we do find there no more than is
met with in dozens of the members of each
church of any size. We do not believe
i i-’ minute that there are a half a dozen
Baptist churches in all Ga., in which at
least,three persons fully competent to be
come Gospel ministers cannot be found ;
md all t’ ey require is to be drawn out.
We have no patience with that squeam
ishneis that fails to encourage the gifts,
coni': red by G ul, lest wc foist into the
pulpit unworthy ministers; we believe
that thousands are caller to preach,
whose talents now lie buried in the
churches, for want of a proper encourage
ment and development. God doubtless
■ ts c .weed enough or his people to do his
work, ami, it they be not brought forward,
let the churches answer for it. It will be
a fearful question that the churches of our
Sute and day and Denomination, will have
put to tin in, at the Great Day, when God
shall say,-Did you improve to the utmost
the talents I confided to you ? We know
one church at this time, whose appropri
ate auswer would be, Xo, Lord, for there
were three of us who would have been
ministers ; but one was poor and we
too stingy to send him to a theological
Institution ; another was talented and we
did not divert him from seeking alter hon
or by the Law ; and another was willing;
but, Lord, thou knowest what a responsi
ble thing it is to put a man into the min
istry !
We know of a church that permitted
to wander from its fold and unite with an
other church one in whom that other
church quickly discerned the gift of proph
esying and, accordingly, sent him to Mer
cer at her own expense, where he now is,
studying for the ministry.
But, to repeat, the churches have set up
a false standard of learning as an absolute
ly necessary qualification for the ministry ;
and they have failed to discover and de
velop the ministerial talents of their own
members—to these two causes may be at
tributed, iu a great degree, our want of
ministers. At another time we will men
tion other causes.
To conclude : every Christian has work
— his work —to do : there are no drones
allowable in Christ’s church. Each must
help the other to discover the work to
which he is designated, and urge him to
enter upon it. Thus only can the world
be evangelized ; and thus only will church
es be, as they ought to be, instinct with
life and activity. “Zion would then arise
and shake herself from the dust, and put
on her beautiful garments: her walls
‘would be salvation and her gates praise.”
“If you have anything for me to
DO FOR TIIE CHURCII, LET ME KNOW IT,
I AM WILLING TO WORK.”
Such, in substance at least, was the lan
guage of a young brother, jvho having just
graduated at Mercer University, had re
turned to his home and united by letter
with the church in . The language
was addressed to the Pastor, as soon as
the congregation was dismissed. A few
thoughts were suggested by the remark
of this young brother.
1. The necessity of having an organized
system in every, church, for the increase
of Christian zeal, and the development of
Christian gifts.
Christians are “not their own,” they
should be laborers, not loiterers in the
Lord’s vineyard. There is something
for each one to do, a place for each to oc
cupy. But young Christians, even while
they feel all the ardour of their first love,
are timid, and need to be urged forward,
and encouraged —they have no experience
in the work, and know not how to begin,
unless they are told what to do and how
to do it. Hence the necessity of an or
ganized system by the pastor, where he
can assign to each one a place, for whicli
he may think his capacities best adapt
him. The idea, that a church member
has nothing to do but to attend church
meetings, and hear his pastor preach, is
far below the Bible standard of Christian
activity. We should have something for
them to do, and to encourage them to do
it—this will be in unison with their first
impressions,and it will deepen and mature
these impressions into a uniform Christian
zeal for good works, which will be a hies-’
sing to the member and to his church and
race. Practical Christianity at the pres
ent time, among the private members of
the churches, is a name rather than a re
ality. We have many theorisers but few
actors.
But again. Such a system would de
velope the gifts of young brethren, and
sometimes of old ones, and fit them for
higher spheres of usefulness.
Many gifts lie dormant for years, and
perhaps are at last buried in the grave,
which would have proved of incalculable
service to the churches, if they had been
educed by proper influences. A young
man may feel he is called to preach, but
his pastor has never conversed with him
on the subject, his church is ignorant of
his impressions and his gifts, because it
has had niching for him to do ; he is mod
est, and doubtful as to his call and quali
fications, and weeps over it iu his
closet —and peradventure may after a*
while muster courage enough to hint it to
someone, through whom it may be bro’t
to the church. But if the system of labor
for all the members had been in operation,
the zeal and impressions of this young
brother would have displayed themselves
in good works, and his gifts have com
mended him at an early day to the atten
tion of his pastor and church.
While we pray for laborers, we should
cultivate the gifts among us. We look
too much abroad and too little at home
for ministers.
We would suggest that pastors generally,
aregreatly at fault, in failing to encourage
young brethren to use their gifts in pro
motingthe cause of Christ. We are too
fearful least we should run ahead of the
Divine call, and thus send one without a
message. We should be cautious, but not
retard by our negligence, indifference or
sensativeness on this subject, the cause of
our Master.
The destitutions in our own State, the
waste places of Zion every where, the ory
of the millions of heathen for the word of
life, constitute a call to every church to
see if there are not those among them who
should declare the glorious gospel of the
blessed God. We should not hide our
light under a bushel, but let it shine, that
all may receive its blessings.
Accepted. —lion. L. Q. C. Larnar has ac
cepted the Professorship tendered to him by
the Trustees of the State University, at Oxford.
ENGLISH GRAIN CROPS.
Throughout the whole United Kingdom the
complaint is an excess of rain, which has great
ly injured the grain crops, but has been more
particularly ruinous to hay and grazing. The
Mark Lane Express says that in England,
sheep and lambs have perished by thousands
and in Ireland cattle by hundreds, from star
vation. Butcher's meat is consequently very
scarce and high, and the laboring populatu n
in London were forming combinations to dis
courage its use. The latest accounts note some
improvement in the weather, and the wheat
crop generally being very backward, was mak
ing some progress towards recovery. 1
COMMUNICATIONS.
Reminiscences of Georgia, No. 6.
UNIFORMITY IN DISCIPLINE.
This was one of the objects of the Con
vention, and named in the briginal consti
tution as adapted in 1822 ; but it was
struck out in 183* through \ the influence
of James Shannon, whose sympathies
were towards a sect which admits of no
creed in word,hui has its substance in deed.
A church with the Bible only, unless the
general understanding ofits leading teach
ings were agreed on, Would be a house for
all creeds and faiths, and the home of in
fidelt.y and universalism ; it would meet
with difficulties and troubles in the ad
ministration of Gospel discipline: better
keep out undigested opinions and crude
notions, than allow them to enter, and
then attempt to kill their influence.
The Bible, it is true, is the only rule of
faith and practice, but knowledge is re
quisite to compare and balance what is
said in different places, so as to arrive at
uniform conclusions. Some maintain that
uniformity in every measure is demanded
and will not move a step unless this be se
cured: others, that this is proper in the re
ception of members,but not in exclusion yfor
the one charged with crime, error or im
morality, would be likely to have some
friend or relative to vote vs. his exclusion;
hence, he would be retained in member
ship through a plague-spot upon their fair
reputation, a grief to all but one member.
The Coriuthean offender was cut off by
the many, the majority (2d Cor. 2 : G.)
The grand doctrines, the ordinances
were not the object, but minor things in
discipline and duties, that come before
the churches, were deemed important, as.
the Bible does not enter into these minu-
Hav. Whether women might vote —the
rights of minorities —are churches sover
eign in such a sense as to disregard com
ity touching other churches? Can one re
store the members of another church ?
Can a church license to preach, except in
her own bounds ? Doet restoration of a
fallen minister to membership restore to
ministerial office, and many other ques
tions are still debatable by some, but re
garded as settled by others. Then there
are in gome churches, negatives , useless,
dry, dead, fruitless brands, or members —
men that are seen around the grocery,
never at the prayer-meeting, not really
drunk, but with a very offensive breathe—
men that talk well, but walking well is no
part of their practice—hangers on that
neutralize all the good influence of the
pious—men that live without family pray
er ; yet, very pleasant in town talk and
gossip. Now it has not been decided
what shall be done with such members—
men that play at games of chance, though
they do not stake their money. If the
minister or deacon urges a man to reli
gious duties he retorts, by answering
“I am as good as John Doe, one of your
members.’’
Is there” no necessity for argument in
regard to such cases ? Some of the best
men say, I can carry this heavy incubus
no longer —he has been a grief and a
curse upon us for years—his bad influence
over balances all the good done by
ten of our best msmbers.
Who does not perceive the importance
of uniformity in matters of this kind? Is
any business allowed by law, a warrant
for Christians to engage in it? This dose
will answer for the present. Testis.
■m
Athens, Lexington, Mercer Uni
versity.
Bro. Boykin :
Your correspondent, Testis, in his ar
ticle on “Houses of Worship,” has made
some mistakes. To be sure, they are of
no great importance, but if the subjects
are sufficiently important to be noted at
all, they ought to be noted correctly.
In Athens, it was several years after
1827, before the Baptists had a house of
worship. Also the statement, that “the
College Chapel was used by both Presby
terians and Baptists for some time after
1820,’’ if it implies that Baptists had any
regular or stated appointments in that
house, is incorrect. I was a student in
College, in Athens, from Jan. 1827 to
August, 1829, and the regular preaching
of that period, was twice a month by Dr.
Waddel, the Presbyterian pastor, then
also President of the College in the Chap
el, till the erection of the Presbyterian
church, probably in 1828 ; and twice a
month by the Methodist preachers in
their own church. The Baptists had no
regular preaching in Athens then, though
the College Chapel was occasionally oc
cupied by invitation of Dr. W. by Bar
clay Martin. The few Baptists in Athens
then worshipped at the old old Trail Creek
M. 11., a mile out of town, where there was
a regular old time feet-washingßaptist church
There was the membership of the venera
ble Katherine Freeman, grandmother of
John, Junius, and Shaler G. Ilillyer. The
election of James Shannon to the Profes
sorshipof Aucient Languages led to reg
ular Baptist preaching in Athens, and the
old church was erected soon after he went
there, (1830.)
Martin, (before mentioned,) was a Ten
nesseean,who had come down to Georgia
and was very popular. He was quite
popular, I remember, with the students
on account of his very short sermons,
(and students of this generation appear
to have the same appreciation of that very
admirable quality,) apparently thinking
that “brevity is the soul of wit” in the
pulpit as well as elsewhere. Martin sub
sequently returned to Tennessee, was de
posed from the ministry, and excluded
from the church, and went to Congress,
(Facilis descensus Averni.) I saw him
four or five years ago in Chattanooga,
travelling as a special mail agent.
Shannon, as is well known, went west,
turned Campbellite, and' after being suc
cessively President of tliree or four Col
leges, died a year or two ago. lie was a
man of talent and learning, and 1 believe
pious; but bis mind was not well bal
anced.
After Shannon’s departure, the history
of the Baptist church, De written in
the words of legal phraseology. It “lan
guished and languishing did live” until
Bro. Brantly went into the State Univet
aity.* Through his labors as pastor, and
those of his successor, Bro. Jennings, it is
believed, the Baptist cause in Athens has
become permanently prosperous.
Another mistake of Testis, is in regard
to Lexington. The Baptists there had no
house of their own till 1851. Three or
four years previously, they bought an in
terest in the Presbyterian church; but,
wisely preferring a house of their own,
sold back their interest to the Presbyte
rians, and built their present neat and sub
stantial brick bouse. They deserve praise
for this ; because they b,uilt it without so
liciting, (or receiving) aid from abroad,
and because they paid for it as soon as it
was finished. Yet they should not be
praised too much, because they were able
to do it, although there was only one
man of wealth in the church. If churches
and individuals would do just wliat they
are able to do, there would be much less
complaining in the world.
As lam writing, allow me to say, that
while we have at tiris time, ten young
brethren, as beueficiarb s, studying to im
prove themselves in the ministry, there
are means now on hand to receive nearly
as many more. lias the harvest become
small? Or have the laborers become
many ? I only state the fact; that if there
are young brethren desiring to sjpudy at
Mercer University, they may know that
they can be aided.
It may also not be amiss to state that
sister Jane Posey, widow of the late El
der Humphrey Posey, who entered into
her rest on the 13tli of last month, has be
queathed one hundred shares of the At
lanta & W. Point R. R. Stock to the
Trustees of the Mercer University, for the
education of young ministers, the income
only to be used. ‘ When this fund be
comes available, which will probably be in
the course of a year, it will still further
increase our ability to aid young minis
ters.
It may be proper to add that besides
the ten young brethren above mentioned,
there are six or eight others who have
the ministry in view.
Will not those wljp have access to the
throne of Grace, pray for the University?
N.'M. CRAWFORD.
Mercer University, July 15th 1860.
[Note. —*\Ve enter a demur here. Ihe church
prospered under the care of Key. S. Landrum.—
We were in College then and were then baptized
by him. To be sure the membership was not very
very large—say 170.]
—
Literse Boreales. —No. 4.
Providence, R. 1., July 10th, 00.
Dear Index:
Please to point your readers back to my
last letter for a moment. I wish to cor
rect your printer and proof-reader, and to
clear myself of a ludicrous blunder there
in. I recollect to have met with the la
ment of some sensitive rhymester, whose
verses had been misprinted. Uis ’plaint
against the printer ran something like
this:
“When I talked of the dew drops from
freshly blown roses,
The nasty thing made it from
freshly blown noses!
Now your printer’s perversion is not
quite so foul as this, but it is eveiy whit
as ludicrous. For see : I “wrote of the
full foliage of the leafy Jane,” but in type
lam made to discourse, instead, of the
fell foliage of “the baby June.’’* Now,
Index, as you are pointing to this blunder,
are you not ashamed of your printer and
proof-readers alike ? lam ! And more
than that, I charge them not to do the
like again, under the penality of receiv
ing a metrical visitation for it. While I
am correcting mistakes, let me go back to
my second letter, in which the substitu
tion of word “pun/j/” for “pan/y’’ as I
wrote it, quite obscured the sense of what
I said about the new Baptist church in
this city. It any of your readers remem
ber the word, they will thank me for the
correction.
I am on the eve of a visit to the “Great
Eastern ,” and as I can tell you something
fresh about her, alter my eye has scanned
her enormous bulk, and her magnificent
appurtenances, I will not attempt to give
you anything at second hand concerning
her. The fact of her arrival, and the re
port of her admirable performance on the
voyage, have quite taken the croakers
aback, and compelled them to change
their tune. Consequently you find in cer
tain Journals which ridiculed, a month
ago, the idea of her ever getting to our
shores, grandiloquent predictions of “a
perfect revolution in the passenger trade
of the Atlantic” to be effected by the
agency of the big ship. Ido not need to
see her, by the way, to be satisfied that’
she is a great deal larger than Noah’s ark
taking the cubit at the most liberal inter
pretation ofits length. I may add, more
over, that all things considered, her speed
is as extraordinary as her size and as her
tonnage. But more of her, hereafter.
By the very recent issue of the second
volume, the excellent ‘■'■History of Rhode
Island ,” by the llon. Samuel G. Arnold,
is brought to a degree of completeness,
beyond which .the Avork cannot be carried
at present. I ought to devote a whole
letter to this work, to do anything like
justice to the spirit ot it, without regard
to its admirable execution. But s must
deal with it very briefly. It is the histo
ry of a small State, but no State in this
broad confederacy has a greater history.
Its history is that of Religious Freedom ,
not of toleration merely, which after all
its sounding, means and implies slavery of
conscience, but absolute and perfect
jsOix LIBERTY. This was the germ of the
constitution of Rhode Island; and Roger
Williams who founded the State, as his
own asylum from persecuting Puritanism
—planted, in these “Providence planta
lions,’’ the noblest root which ever drew
nourishment from the soil. The historian
of the State has shown himself to be deep
ly imbued with this catholic principle of
soul freedom, lie has sought to do it,
and its expouuder and its inheritors, sim
ple justice, arid to thistasK he has brought
a thorough knowledge of his theme —a
; philosophical mind—a thorough intellec
tual culture, amt a fearless but generous
temper. I have made myself sufficiently
familiar with the work to speak of it free
ly. It is, for style and scholarship, wor
thy to rank with our national histories —
the narrative not infrequently being as
fascinating as the pages of a romance. It
is for nice, philosophical discrimination of
motives, clear analysis of principles and
logical estimation of causes, unsurpassed
by any local history; and indeed, equalled
by none, if the element of candor is taken
into the account.
The great principle of democratic lib
erty, ns well as that of perfect freedom of
conscience had its Qrigiu in the founding
of Rhode Island, and this fact, gives ad
ditional interest to the task of the histo
rian. The pages of this valuable work
are not wanting in direct and fearless tes
timony to the influence of Baptist prin
ciples upon the liberties of this great land,
and upon the ideas of the advancing age;
and the Baptist denomination owes the
able author, not go much for its own
sake as for the sake of the principle which
it has so long conserved and promoted—
a great debt of gratitude. Mr. Arnold’s
History covers a period of two hundred
and thirty-six years, ending with the
adoption of the Federal constitution, in
1790, when Rhode Island became a part
of the Union. Beyond this period, the
author does not propose now to carry his
work ; but I hope he will be spared to a
day when he will see fifty years of histor
ic ground still unchronicled, and make his
work richer still by the addition of a third
volume. The work has been published in
very elegant style by the Messrs. Apple
ton of New York, at the price of five dol
lars for both volumes.
The fourth of July was celebrated here
with considerable spirit. A fine oration
was pronounced in the first Baptist
church, by the Episcopal Bishop of this
State. The “right reverend’’ speaker
paid a deserved tribute to the memory of
Roger Williams, and pleaded for the
advancement of the monument scheme.
Brown University has just gone into its
summer recess of eight weeks, at the end
of which, tho commencement occurs, in
stead of taking place at the end of the
term, as in most colleges.
While I write, Rochester University is
holding its annual festival. I expected to
be there, and write you in detail of the
exercises, but my plans were hindered.
My next letter will give your readers
some account of the Leviathan of steam
ships, and possibly, also, of the great cat
aract of Niagara to which my face is set.
R.
(*We tried our best to make out the manu
fcjript, but could not.)
How to obtain Peace.
Dear Brother Boykin :
On a tour into Alabama, from which I
have just returned, I met with your pa
per of the ‘2oth ult., which failed to reach
us here, (as also last week’s issue,) in which
I noticed a timely article on the strife and
contention that prevails among us. lam
rejoiced at the manifestation of an increa
sing disapprobation of the course pursued
by those who are continually stirring the
fires of strife, as if tJb make them blaze
more fiercely. I will suggest three rules
which, if observed generally, I am persua
ded peace woul j, soon be restored to our
distracted Zion. The first is,
1. That every individual, church, asso
ciation and convention attend to its own
business and let that of others alone.
The misfortune of it is, that our breth
ren seem to have caught the spirit of that
ancient council, that not only anathema
tized Nestorius, but anathematized also
“all who refused to anathematize Nestori
us. If any of our brethren think proper
to anathematize Howell or Graves.the ma
jority or minority party in Nashville, let
them do so; but let them not think to
compel others to do the same. For my
part, I would sooner lie under their an
athemas than yield the right of private
judgment, guaranteed to me by the laws
of Christ’s kingdom. With ihe light be
fore me, I am compelled to extend Chris
tian and church fellowship to both of the
beliigerant parties, or to withhold them
from both, or violate what I understand
to be both the spirit and the letter of the
Divine Law. I would rather suffer the
anathemas of the anathematizers than
those of my God and my conscience. My
second rule is,
2. Grant to others all the rights and
privileges which we claim for ourselves.
Nothing is more common than for indi
viduals, churches, associations and con
ventions that have participated in the
Nashville war, to condemn the acts of
others with one breath, and with the next
justify the same or similar acts when per
petrated by themselves, or their partizans.
My third and last rule is,
3. Take no part, for or against anoth
er, to which you are not constrained by
the love of Christ.
The love of Christ will never constrain
one to revile, backbite, malign and seek
to blast the character of another —and
perhaps for no better reason than that he
followeth not us—refuse to observe rules
Ayhich we in our arrogance have presum
ed to prescribe for him. Christ repre
sents the whole of the Divine law as be
ing comprehended in the commands to
love God with all our hearts and our
neighbor as ourselves ; and the disciple
whom Jesus loved, testifies, “If a man say
I love God, and hateth his brother, he is
a liar; for he that loveth not his brother
whom he hath seen, how can he love God
whom he hath not seen ?” 1 John, 4: 20,
I)o we —can wo show our love ,
God or our brothn n b> wi-inn
gainst another? and that in tie m. •
lie way possible- - through th pr.
- j. s. i>.
Jacksonville, Fla., July 10, 18C.O.
_
Letter u-om au Alab u r.
Dear Bro. Boykin ;
I received your last l-o. in l r iv, .h
leaving home, and avail myself of th !i- t
leisure moment to express to you rny
thanks for your short paragraph on tin
subject of peace. You have said more in
a few words than is to be be found in many
more elaborate articles; and you have
said it in good time and spirit. If ah of
those who seem so intent on peace will a
dopt your suggestions, we shall soon have
something which deserve the name. It i
a matter of comparatively little moment,
how, or by whose agency we have be n
brought into these troubles; the question
of greatest importance is, how to r< lev.
ourselves without doing a far more sori
ous injury. You are quite right in say
ing that there must be a basis of peace.
It is a great mistake that this is a local
question ; if it were so at first it is not s<>
now, and disguise it as we may, the two
prominent parties are now the represen
tatives of certain principles. These or
ganic principles are too discordant lor har
uionous results. Now, my dear bro.bcr,
what it the use of proclaiming peace ’ hi
the real cause of discontent is not ev n
modified? I appreciate the pious emo
tions of those “who seen] so earnest on ti is
subject; but I very much question th
correctness of their judgment. K i;
ting men are disgusted with the period I
cal compromises which have character! 1
many of our public meetings; they : ‘
the appearance of being gotten up for an.
occasion, and give to the whole d
nation a character for fitfulness and con
tention which it does not desei re. We
have had several specimens of this kind
in the Georgia Convention, and a magnifi
cent exhibition in the Southern C e.
tion at Richmond, the results of which
are history. Nino tenths of our
agree in relation to church poiit y, ><i v
resist any and every effort to establish the
right of appeal. The difficulty ii l'r
application of admitted princij lea to a
particular case, and hence no satisfaetorv
adjustmentof that casecan 1> made vhi
dees not fully indicate those princij h . -
And will you allow :ne to suggest, os- .
daily to those who wri'o upon this
ject ; that, in many car s, I,mgu:>go
osed and insinuations indulged in, ,hi
are far better calculated to widen the t
heal the breach.
Thereare scores of the best men in the
South, men whose consistency and devo
tion to the denomination have never been
questioned, until recently, who or
thick they see, the eminent peril oi prin
ciples, dearer to them than life itself, and
hence their zeal and persist, n o ■
defence. To them ti >
would have no charm, ti : li p ... <„u !k, ..
• tist principles. These bicil vn may be
mistaken, but they are honest and entitled
to common ability, at least, to denounce
them, to accuse their motives and even
question their piety, as one of your cor
respondents does, is not, in my judgment,
the way to secure peace.
Many good brethren seem not to ui
criminate between an open, unreserved
expression of opinion, or a candid and
manly argument, and an unchristian spl
it. Some men think softly, and ?j \
and write cautiously, while others arc
stern and use stronger expression -. It L
not exactly just to infer that tho and alter is
less pious than tho former, simply on that
account. Nor are brethren more discrim
inating in relation to personalities. It of
ten happens than individuals are s ,
nected with events that you cannot ex
pose error without alluding in some way
to men, but it is a great error to de
nounce this as “offensive personality.”—
alternative is between the correct! n
of error and such personalities, in such
case an honest man cannot hesitate. B: >.
Boykin, ray opinion and position are oi
but little consequence, but I am willing
and anxious to meet the whole Baptist
family on your suggestion ; men, e. u U.
greatest men, are but as dust in the b;,b
ances—but let nothing induce us to con
front those principles which have charac
terized us as a people from time immemo
rial. •
May the Lord bless you, dear brother,
and prosper you greatly in every good
work. Yours tralv,
J. F. Dawson.
Marietta, July 11.
P. S. —I am this fai
Christian’s Consoled.
By J. 11. S.
No. 11.
“Blessed are they that, mourn,’
Phe world is clad in mourning, the
sequences of sin. They who are and id in
it, “iu trespasses and sins,” can look alone
to the world for comfort, in sorrow. Ti.<
dead must look to the defid for solace.
Not so with the “poor in spirit” people,
who are born into anew life—the rejoi
cing life. While they are an afflicted and
mourning people, they know from whence
comes soi row, and why they are enabled
to “rejoice even in sorrow.’’ They know’
too, that they are not created anew sim
ply to mourn, but that they might rejoice,
having comfort while they mourn. The.
“poor in sj V'.” Lave son •** ; ;
according to the station w'.mvi: they .
called. But thanks to our Heavenly I ath
tber, the source of comfort is the sane, it
is ever full. And, as in being made anew
we fly to our Saviour alone for life, so in
the new life, we must go to Him and Him
alone for the comfort we need. He has
the power and the will to send the com
forter.
Brother, sister, “poor in spirit,” mour
ning soul, do you mourn over your sin—
your unworthiness ? Jesus has the com*