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THE CHRISTIAN INDEX,
PUBLI3HRD EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING
AT MACON, GEORGIA.
BY A COMMITTEE OF BRETHREN,
FOR THE
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TERMS OK SUBSCRIPTION,
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If suffered tooverrun theyea*-,Two Dollars and
one half will be chaiged in all cases.
SAMUEL BOYKIN, Editor.
VOLUME XXXIX.
STANDING RULES.
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TIAN INDEN,” Macon, Georgia.
To day the bow of the covenant arches the sky,
reminding us of the promise—a symbol of salva
tion. Towards it faith points her radiant finger.
And shall we wait until all traces of that bright
promise has vanished from our view—may be for
ever ; as another day may never dawn on us.—
Time’s no Stic wave still hurries onward, onward,
toward the dread “Maelstom,” where once swal
lowed in its dark abyss there’s no return. It has
been beautifully remarked: “Fancie’s favorite
pla--house is “to-morrow.” But, ah! how often
on its shoals have been shattered our fondest
dreams, our hopes, and jojs ? So by that little sen
tence, “wait till to-morrow,” bow many a pure,
bright, earthly spirit has been lost in eternity.
Thus, when to day has flown past,
All in time’s whirlpool is cast;
Oh pause and think, for now alone,
The present moment is our own.
Then seek salvation while ye may,
Wait not another dawning day,
For ’ere to morrow, we may ba
Launched into Eternity.
Gone with its storms, gone with its tears,
Its sunshines and hopes of many years;
Thus life is a mingling of joy amid sorrow,
Wee ing to day, wept for to morrow.
Columbus, Ga.
*
From the German.
DAILY WORK.
In the name of God advancing,
Sow thy seed at morning lighS,
Cheerily the furrows turning,
Labor on with al’ thy might.
Look not to the far-off future,
Do the work which nearest lies;
Sow thoumu-t be f ore thou reapest,
Rest at last in labor’s prize.
Standing still is dangerous ever,
Toil is niemt for Christians now;
Let there be, when evening cometh,
Honest sweat upon thy brow.
And the Master shall come smiling,
When work st~ps at set of sun,
Saying, as he pays the wages,
“Good and faithful man, well done l”
REVIEW OF “CORRECTIVE
CHURCH DISCIPLINE.”
“ Deductions .” “Church Independ
ence.”
BY A. S. WORRELL.
No. 12.
The present number of Professor Mell’s series
is quite lengthy, and contains several points
which deserve a careiul examination. But as all
these important positions are made to depend up
on one, and must fall, if it falls, our present task
can be quickly dispatched. The great foundation
principle of his article is this—
“ The decision of the church is final.”
To substantiate this proposition, it is claimed
that the Scriptures sustain it.
1. “By positive precept.”
2. “Inspired example.” And—
8. “By general principles laid down in the
Scriptures.”
Another proposition which must stand, or fall
with the above, reads as follows:
“The reception of an individual into the mem
bership of a church, and his expulsion from that
same fellowship, are not ‘correlative’ or ‘commen
surate’ ideas.”
1 remark—That if “the decision of the Church
is final” in the sense in which Prof. Mell claims,
then I readily confess that most of my criticisms
must fall ; that the Baptist a few rare
exceptions, must have been mistaken in regard to
one of the most vitally important doctrines con
nected with the existence ofChrists’s Church; and
that fountains of deepest gratitude should, hence
forth, arise from every Baptist heart, to Prof.
Mell, in view of the great service he has done the
cause of truth. “Honor to whom honoris due,”
is my motto. If, therefore, it turns out that the
Author of “Corrective Church Discipline” has es
tablished the Finality of every act of expulsion
from a Church, be the meed of honor, henceforth,
His. He has done a work which none other has
ever done !!
But what does he mean by the “finality” of a
Church’s decision ?
1.) “That one Church cannot receive to mem
bership the excluded members of another ;” and,
2 ) “That such excluded members can be res
tored to fellowship only by the action of the
Church expelling them.”
There is no need of dodging the point. If this
doctrine is true, Churcnes are, and must be, infal
lible, so far at least as discipline is concerned! I
understand Prof. Mell to teach thai every act of
expulsion, right or wrong —done in accordance
with the Jfcvine law, or in direct violation of it—
for the purpose of honoring Christ and hia cause,
©rpn of % Conimtfnrit: toktto to f|Rsswns, Meligton, anti % Interests us the gajitist denomination.
or with the malicious design to destroy, it may be,
one of the most obedient, pious servants —howev-
er, or with whatever derign the expulsion may be
done, it matters no!—the act is final!!! Such is
the theology of Prof. Mell! If he does not intend
t teach such monstrous doctrine, let him answer
this simple question : Can a church rightfully re
ceire into her membership a member excluded
f om another Church, when it is known that he
has done nothing worthy of exclusion, and when
it is known, too, that his Church excluded him
“wickedly” and with the design to destroy him ?
Please answer this question by “Yes,” or “No.”
Avow’, or disavow it. If you answer “Yes,” you
should not grumble at taking the consequences
along with the doctrine itself; many of which are
momentous indeed!
1. The doctrine cannot be true, unless the
Church is infallible in her discipline. If the church
is infallible in discipline, why not in every thing
else ? Will you please inform us. But you say
the Church is fallible. It devolves on you, there
fore, to show that the discipline of a Church is
not essential to her existence, or you must modi
fy the above concession, and say, “The Church is
not infallible in her discipline.” Choose between
them.
2. If you persevere in the advocacy of this doc
trine, you must not expect your Baptist brethren
to sustain you. You must find yoursympathizers
among the Popes and communicants of the Chuich
of Rome. Elder Dawson and the most strenuous
advocates of the “finality” of a Church’s decision,
disavow, if I understand them, the above Romish
\
dogma. Yet it appears that Elder Dawson endor
ses, in all important particulars, the entire series
on “Corrective Church Discipline.” This dogma
of Church infallibility is radically important in
Church discipline; will Elder Dawson both dis
claim and commend it at the same time? It ap
pears to me that he now stands in this unpleasant
attitude before his readers. It would rejoice me
for him to explain away the matter.
But to return: Prof. Mell cannot expect Bap
tists to sustain him in this. A few may do it, but
the masses will not. Baptists of America appre
ciate their liberty too highly, to voluntarily sub
mit to be bound by the chaius of Popery.
3. This doctrine, if true, would, if carried to its
legitimate results, well nigh extinguish thq church
ot Christ. Let us see. Suppose the Church in
Athens, Ga., should “wickedly” exclude one mem
ber, then another, and another, until but two mem
bers are left in the Chnrch —suppose every church
in Ga. should wickedly pursue the same course ;
then as there are, I believe, but 765 churches in
Georgia, the membership, by this process, might
be reduced to 1,130. Subtract this number Irom
67,722 (the sum total of the membership,) and
there will be left 66,192 members in Georgia who
could never enjoy the privileges of Christ’s church,
except at the pleasure of their wicked excommu
nicators! How preposterously absurd must that
doctrine be which leads (when carried to its ful
lest extent,) to such results! vV'hat would be
come of Christ’s cause on earth, should every
Church adopt this wicked policy, and the exclu
ded be compelled to submit to Prof. Mell’s doc
trine!!! Is it said, These results will never be
realized ?” I reply—There is nothing in the doc
trine itself to prevent such results ; and if they
never should be “realized,” no thanks to the prin
ciple, which would permit it.
The age is too far advanced to spend much time
in discussing this exploded doctrine. Let Rome
and her subjects advocate it, but let Baptists be
governed by the Bible. But Prof. Mell attempts
to establish this position from the Bible. Is it
true, that Inspiration teaches by “precept,” “ex
ample,” or by “general principles,” that a worthy,
pious member, who has been unjustly and wick
edly expelled from a Church, can never become a
a member any more, except at the option of his
blood thirsty destroyers ? Not a word of it. The
Bible knows no such doctrine! The Bible give*
clear directions, however, with regard to members
who have been justly expelled. In all such cases,
it is in aceordance with the spirit of the Scriptures,”
that all churches should regard a member who has
been justly excluded, as excluded ; and it would
not be proper for any other church to receive in
to hT membership thisjustly excluded man, with
out the consent of, or at least some conference
with the church excluding him—if such confer
ence is at all practicable. The law of Christ, when
executed in a proper way, and by the proper body
is binding upon all Christ’s subjects ; but when an
act of a church is violative of, and in opposition
to, the law ot Christ, his subjects, if the act con
cerns them directly, should denounce it in unmis
takable terms. This is the voice of Scripture.—
Prof- Mell’s great error on this subject consists in
making the Scriptures prove too much. All the
teachings to which he refers, relate to the just and
not to the unjust actions of the church.
In conclusion on this point, let no one slander
Baptists, stultify common sense, or misrepresent
the Word of God, so far, as to imagine that the
absurd dogma—‘that a wrong action of one church
can be binding on any other’—receives, from any
one of these sources, the slightest sanction.
But if Prof. Mell should answer this simple ques
tionby a ‘No,’ what must follow ? Simply this :
that one of the main pillars in his “Discipline”
must fall. This pillar, erected in his definition of
‘ Public Offences,” has sustained a large portion ol
his fabric and its fall lausi be attended by the des
tructive crash of all that rests upon it.
(Conclusion of No. 12 next week.)
HINTS TO A YOUNG MINISTER,
And a notice of such books as are
likely to be useful to him.
No. 4.
New Testakent Commentaries, Ac.
Dear Brother—The New Testament
is naturally our great armory of weap
ons, and the study of it will furnish
one more directly for ministerial work
than anything else. No doubt their
intimate acquaintance, their loving
and constant familiarity with the very
language of the New Testament, gave
the Puritan Divines that deep insight
into its meaning, which they possessed,
in spite of their deficiencies in critical
culture or apparatus ; and thus espe
cially did they obtain that holy unc
tion, tenderness of spiritual power
which made them “mighty in the
Scriptures.” It will be observed how
ever, that they were very far from neg
lecting the old Testament. The doc
trine bad not arisen in those days, of
casting aside, as if too obscure or anti
qnated to be profitable, two-thirds of
God’s revelation, and that the earlier
the introductory, the preparatory part,
suited and necessary to fit one for the
proper understanding of the remaind
j er. It may seem paradoxical, but it is
pretty nearly true,that the New Testa-
MACON, GA., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1860
ment without the Old would be as dif
cult to understand, and as hard to use
as the Old without the New. The
Old, though more obscure, was intend
ed to be used alone, was given to them
who had no other. The New Testa
ment, though more clear and full, was
never meant to be used alone, but pre
supposes the knowledge of the facts
and doctrines of the Old.
This much I have ventured to sug
gest, in opposition to a tendency which
seems to exist. At the same time,
there can be no question but the New
Testament demands our most assidu
ous care, and should take the first place
in any of our plans for systematic
study.
The most complete edition of the
New Testament in the original Greek,
with various readings, marginal refer
ences to parallel places, and carefully
prepared critical annotations, is Al
ford’s New Testament, of which the
first vol. has been republished in this
country, by the Harpers. Their re
print is worthy of high commendation
for its accuracy. In comparing it with
the original English edition, which is
more expensive, I have not been able
to discover any variation. Witli all
the praise which Mr. Alford deserves,
for learning, labor, candor, conscien
tiousness, it must be added that he has
views of the nature of inspiration, and
of the manner in which the sacred wri
tings were composed, which cannot be
accepted as sound; and these views
are so interwoven with all his exposit
ions and criticisms, as to seem extreme
ly plausible, and to be accepted with
implicit confidence, by the unwary
reader.
The same caution needs to be ap
plied to the justly celebrated Com
.nentarieß of Olsbausen on the New
Testament. They are learned, able,
and devout in spirit; and the very er
ror to which I have referred is com
bined with so much that is earnest,
evangelical and true, as to gaiu for it
acceptance with many minds, which
would reject this neological infusion
readily enough, if found in other con
nections. 1 could not forbear to com
mend this work, which is one of the
most valuable contributions of modern
Germany to exegetical science ; but I
could not commend it without this ad
monition.
Ti e Commentaries of DeWetteand
of Meyer are able, and important, in
matters of grammar and criticism, but
besides being decidedly rationalistic,
they are inaccessible to any but those
who can read German, having never
been translated. I shall therefore omit
any further account of them, and of
any other works not to be foiin i in an
English dress.
Barnes’ Notes on the New Testa
ment are too well, known, and too high
ly esteemed to need more than a re
inaik. Though a Presbyterian— not
of the straitest sect, however, he has
treated most points in an unobjection
able way,and with great common sense
and ability.
Ripley’s Notes on the Gospels, Acts
and Romans, are sound, lucid and re
liable. They are rather more brief and
meagre than seems desirable for the
minister’s library. The author has en
joyed for many years the confidence
and esteem of the Baptist churches,
and in recently retiring from the ac
tive duties of his Professorship in the
Newton Theological Institution, he
bears with him the grateful regards of
the numerous students who have en
joyed his instructions.
Jacobus (old School Presbyterian,)
and Whedon (Methodist) in their Notes
on the Gospels represent with ability
the views of their respective denomi
nations. Dr. J. Addison Alexander,
recently deceased, has published, on
Mark and on Acts,Commentaries mark
ed by a rare combination of sound
judgment with varied and extensive
learning. There are few books which
the careful and independentstudentot
the .New Testament will find more val
uable and suggestive than these.
The best critical comment on Acts,
adapted specially, though not exclu
sively, for those who. can read the
original, is Ilackett on Acts. Tiie ver
sion of Acts published by the Ameri
can Bible Union, is decidedly inferior
to any thing else issued from their
press. It betrays the hand of a second
rate and superficial sch< L.r, and can
not bear an hour’s scrutiny, without
disclosing the insufficiency of the au
thor for the work. On the other hand,
the revisions of several of the epistles
and of Revelation, by Dr. Lillie, of
Philemon by Dr. Ilackett, and of part
of Matthew by Dr. Connant, display
abundant labor, large attainments, and
critical sagacity. And whether we
approve ot all the emendations adop
ted, or not, we can scarcely fail to de
rive benefit from the study of the care
ful digest which these gerrletnen have
made of the leading interpretations
given to every text and word which
they have been called on to translate.
On Romans, besides Ripley, before
mentioned,we have valuable comments
by Hodge, Brown, Chalmers, (Presby
terians,) and by Haldane, (Baptist.)
On Galations, Luther’s Commenta
ry retains interest, not only from its
historical associations, but its intrin
sic value, its deep earnestness, and
nervous power. Brown, of the Scotch
Free Church, has also written on this
Epistle. C. J. Ellicott, an English Di
vine, has placed Students of the New
Testament under very great obliga
tions by his volumes on Galations and
Ephesians. They are declared by the
most competent authorities to be with
out parallel in Englaud for thorough,
fearless, and yet reverential examina
tion of every word in the sacred text.
Ilodge on Ephesians, Eadie on E
phesians and Collossians ; Stuart on
Hebrews, Sampson on Hebrews, Tho
luck on the Gospel of John and on the
Sermon on the Mount, will all be val
ued by attentive readers.
The works of Richard Chevenix
Trench have attracted much applause,
as well for the beauty ot their style, as
for the profitable use he has made of
the earlier Christian Commentators.
An excellent specimen of this may be
found in his “Sermon on the Mount,
Illustrated from the writings of Sr.
Augustine.” The works by which he
is best known are his treatises on the
Miracles, and the Parables, full ot
learning, but animated by a warm,
earnest suggestive application,through
out, to spiritual and practical religiun
His Synonyms of the New Testament
and his discussion ot Bible Revision
will be interesting to the Greek scholar.
I must not omit to mention Stier’s
Words of the Lord Jesus, lately issued
at a reduced price, by Smith English
A Go., also Bengel’s Gnomon of the
New Testament offered by the same
house at the very low price of five
dollars. The former is rich in evan
gelical suggestions, in fervent, pious
meditation ; the latter is curt, pithy,
critical; and both have acquired a
high position as standard works.
Stanley’s Sermons and Essays on the
Apostolic Age, James Smith’s Voyage
and Shipwreck of the Apostle Paul,
together with Paley’s Hone Paulinae,
will reveal much that is both interes
ting and important, that escapes the
superficial reader of Acts. I should
also have mentioned in that connection
the celebrated work ofConybeare and
Ilowson on the Life and Epistles ol
St. Paul.
This list might be extended, but I
will pause now, as I am at the bottom
of the sheet.
Yours truly, B. M. J.
LETTER FROM REV. T. 11. MUR
PHY ON THE CURRRNT AGITATION.
Bro. Boykin—Allow me a word in
your paper on the subject of individ
ual rights in the churches. I think
views held by Dr. Mell and other D.
D.’s, and perhaps some expecting the
title are calculated to —and will keep
thinking men out of the churches.—
They admit churches are fallable and
yet contend that their fallable acts
j shall be binding on their members.—
Suppose a church not fully understand
1 ing the right or the wrong in a matter
of dealing because she is fallable—but
in an honest attempt to do right shall
Ido wrong, and turn out an innocent
; member, shall that member be under
the disgrace of exclusion until said
church shall be so enlightened that she
will do justice? Now you will see
there is a good chance fora member to
go down to the grave in disgrace, for
1 think the chances for ignorant church
es to become unenlightened under the
teachings of some of our great men is
becoming beautifully less every day.
But again, suppose a church shall
prove herself fallable by excluding a
member wickedly—which she is liable
to do—for fallibility does notalone be
long to the ignorant; iu that case dis
grace must be the portion of the exclu
ded until the church shall turn and do
justice. This would indeed be a hard
case, for I fear srfch church would have
to be converted which would, in all
probability never be done—therefore
the doom of the excluded would be
fixed for ever. This surely would be
hard and not right, in my opinion.—
Such occurrences might come up in
the midst of pious and unenlightened
churches, yet the sufferer dare not
complain nor the churches dare not
remonstrate because the excluding
church is independent, and a move on
the part of the excluded to get remedy
from a neighboring church would be
an appeal and a move on the part of a
neighboring church or churches to get
the erring church to do right would
also be an appeal and consequently an
interference with church independence.
Can it be possible that brethren will
longer contend for a system so full of
tyranny and so well calculated to de
ter young men from joining our church
es ?
Where is the thinking man that will
risk his reputation as a gentleman,
much less a Christian, by uniting with
a church which may wickedly or ig
norantly turn him out and disgrace
him, and he have no remedy ? he must
be quiet until the church becomes in
fallible, either in wisdom or will, as
the case may be, a hopeless expectan
cy indeed. Some say a Thus saith
the Lord, must be shown for the inter
vention of churches to relieve the op
pressed or they may or must die in dis
grace. I for one hold that the objec
t >r is to show a Thus saith the Lord for
his system of oppression and injustice
before I shall yield the point. I ask
will any one say a church has the right
to violate the laws and no other church
dare say she is wrong, or oiler resis
tance to her wrongdoing by withdraw
ing fellowship ? It a church may with
draw fellowship from a sister church
at all it may withdraw from a part on
ly, (owing entirely to the nature of the
I cause,) and the orthordox or orderly
portion is entitled to and should re
ceive fraternal consideration.
Bro. Boykin, I am not a very old
man, neither have I been a member of
the church as long as many brethren,
but I have known several times mem
bers to bring complaints to sister
churches and have known committees
appointed to wait on sister churches
and petition a rehearing on the part
of the complainant. I have never
known a petition of the sort rejected
on the ground of church independence,
nor any other ground. I never heard
until recently that a church was inde
pendent to the extent that she might
violate the laws of Christ and by that
violation bind all other churches and
individual members. Churches have
the right to exist by virtue of their in
dependence in corruption and miss
rule, but they have no right to bind
other independent churches to recog
nize them as churches of Christ.
Tiios. 11. Murphy.
SABBATH SCHOOLS.
No. 4.
The utility of an instrument does,
not depend entirely on its adaptedness
to the end which it is designed, but on
its use ; nor yet so much on its employ
ment as in its being properly worked.
A scythe is adapted to cut wheat; but
there will be no reaping unless it is
used, nor will as much be gathered as
when the instrument is made to do all
it can —so it is with the Sunday school.
It is an instrument adapted to the ben
efit of young immortality ; but to real
ise the largest results for heaven and
earth, it must be properly directed, and
made to do all it can.
Those who are to wield this instru
ment are the teachers, and as the
amount of benefit depends under God,
principally on them, it may not be
amiss to state what qualifications they
should possess.
Ist. Common Sense.
Any other sense than this, avails lit
tle in any vocation. It may be plod
ding, but it is practical, it does not
jump from premise to conclusion ; but
carefully pursues the intermediate steps
that lead to it. Its character is rather
mathematical than otherwise, and its
workings have the force of demonstra
tion. A teacher possessing this quali
fication, will not instruct at randutn,
but will inform himself of the ability
and characters of these he instructs,
and will impart just such information
in just such a manner as is clearly with
in the range of their intelligence. llis
aim will be to give clear views of truth,
that his pupils may possess ideas, and
not words. “Understandest thou what
thou readest,” what thou sayest, will
be with him the primary considera
tion. For lie knows that truths not
understood are so much learned lum
ber stored away in the garret of mem
ory, while each one comprehended is a
vital force exercising an immediate and
sacred influence.
He will farther inform himself of the
characters of his pupils. He knows
where “cast iron rules” are made, that
they are more or less inoperative.—
Procustean beds may answer for ty
rants, but not for those whose only
power is moral suasion. The timid
and the gentle, the bold and the for
ward, the yielding and the obstinate,
the frivolous and the thoughtful, re
quire different, but suitable treatment.
The state of the conscience requires
consideration to know how it shall be
operated upon. However gentle or
forcible the means employed for oper
ating upon the disposition and affec
tions of his pupils, love should employ
them all.
Industry
is the next qualification necessary for
large success. This includes some
thing more than constant attention to
his duties at the school; it supposes
likewise attention to his own acquire
ments. lie who teaches, must under
stand his own instructions, and master
his text books. The teacher must
think—must read. The greater his ac
quisition, the greater his ability.—
When satisfied of his thorough ac
quaintance with the lesson to be reci
ted, let him think it over for his pupils,
and see what truths are applicable to
the various members of his class, “giv
ing to each his portion.” A lazy teach
er will accomplish as much as a lazy
preacher.
Piety
is an important element of success.—
This keeps alive a sense of responsibil
ity, awakens zeal, and gives persever
ance and energy to effort. It begets
an Earnestness for the welfare of chil
dren, that commands their attention,
secures their respect, and wins their
love. It i9 the unction that rests on
all ministrations of truth that benefits
the hearts and consciences of men. It
divests the teacher of his magisterial
air, and presents him to his little audi
tory as Christ’s messenger, anxious to
lead them to the heritage of bliss. The
services of pious Sabbath school teach
ers are like the ministrations of angels,
who perform kindly offices for the
“heirs of salvation.”
The pious heart only feels for sinners,
for it only knows the danger and the
dishonor of 6in. It only knows what
conviction means, for it has realised its
bitterness. It only knows the joy of
pardon, tor it has felt its raptures. A
pious teacher has for his object the
salvation of those committed to his
| trust, and as he only has experimental
knowledge in the heart’s rebellion
1 against God, in the spirit’s work of con
viction, and in his renovating power,
so he only is qualified to sympathise
with the subjects of sin, to give in-!
struction in righteousness, and lead
them to the Lamb of God.
Prayer
is absolutely necessary for the imme
diate results of Sabbath school in
struction. No teacher should lose sight
of the salvation of his pupils ; to this
his entire energeis and efforts should
be directed. With nothing less should
he be satisfied; yet in this, he is pow
less. He may till the soil, and sow the
seeds of truth, but their germination,
growth, aud fruitfulness, are beyond
his ability. “God givetli the increase”
it is true, unqualifiedly true; still tee
increase is given to him who prays to
the Father of mercies. There are two
ladies, who formerly belonged to the
church of which the writer is at pres
ent a member, possessing in a good de
gree these elements necessary for suc
cess, who could be satisfied with noth
ing less than the conversion of their
pupils. Day by day T their supplica
tions went up to the Hearer of prayer
—the Lord “kept a book of remem
brance” and granted to his servants
the desire of their hearts. Every pu-
pil in both these classes afforded evi
dence of conversion and became mem
bers of the church. So will it be with
all who labor with prayer.
There is another thought which
should conduce to great diligence in
prayer. It is this : Every truth lodged
in the mind increases the responsibili
ty of the pupil tearfully and will bring
down upon his 6oul increased condem
nation if he is unredeemed. lie may
be “exalted to Heavnn to be thrust
down into Hell. The teacher is there
fore under increased obligation to la
bor, to pray, that this dire calamity fall
not upon his soul—that he become not
the innoceut occasion of its deeper
damnation. * * ll***.
WESTERN LETTER.
New Orleans, j
June 16th, 1860. )
Dear Bro. Boykin :
Time and circumstances, did not
warrant my remaining lung in this
most wonderful city. There are no
public places for a stranger to visit ex
cept Jackson Square, the Cemetery,
and the Shell Road. Taking leave ol
my good Bro. Davis, I soon found my
self comfortably quartered on the “At
lantic,” bound for St. Louis—comfort
ably as a man can be, who is scorched
with a raging fever. By attention
from the porter, a mulatto, whom 1
hired to aid me, I soon recovered from
from this, and though I did not know
any person on board, soon became
comfortable. The boats on this river
are the finest of any fresh water boats
on the globe. They are “floating pal
aces” indeed. Here is the highest
style of fashionable living. On the
first elass boats gambling is not al
lowed, except in the “Barber Shops.”
Passing Natchez, where the Baptist
State Convention recently came off.
and Vicksburg, of which, I have al
ready given your readers some account,
1 arrived safely at Lake Providence.—
This lake which gives name to the town,
is about one mile wide, and eight long.
It is a beautiful sheet of water, and
full of fine fish. On the sides of it are
some of the finest farms any where to
be seen. Land along here, sells for
about one hundred dollars per acre.
The swamp here, though very wide,
and subject to overflow, is interrupted
by the “Bayou Mason Hills.” These
“hills” are not very high ; and differ
from the other swamp only in that they
do not oveiflow. The land is excel
lent, and the climate the best in the
W’orld for cotton. The farmers here
expect to make a bale to an acre the
first year. It is also excellent for corn.
If it should prove comparatively
healthy, these lands will be very much
sought after in a few years. Negroes
staud this climate well; and it would
be a positive kindness to them to bring
them from the barren hills of Georgia,
and place them here among these fer
tile val ley’B. These “Mason hills” are
about four miles wide on average, and
extend from the mouth of Mason Bayou
up into Arkansas. I heard of but one
Baptist—he informed me that there
was a preacher some where above, on
the Hills; but he had himself been in
the country only this year, and had not
made his acquaintance. As might be
expected, there is little even of the
form of religion—l do not hear of a
single Baptist church in this Parish,
which is destined to be one of the most
wealthy and influential in all the State.
Wealth is flowing into this section,
even from Western Louisiana, and the
people are anxious to hear preaching,
and to give money to build churches.
At Floyd, the Parish town, a very new
and small place, situated where the
“hills” touch the river, and therefore
above overflow, they are raising 8 or
10,000 dollars to build a house of wor
ship. In Madison, Parish, below this,
they are celebrating the constitution of
the first Baptist Church. I had the
pleasure of preaching in a log school
house, and to the plantations around
during my week’s visit to this section, j
I took boat at Providence’for Mem
phis, and after passing Napoleon, He
lena, Ac., on the river, came after slow
passage to Memphis; thence, by cats,
I soon came to my home in Georgia.
Georgia, whose name is never men
tioned in the West without praise, and
which is justly the praised of all the
States.
Affectionately yours, P.
P. S.—Have just heard of the des
truction of the “Ben Lewis”-at Cairo,
by which from GO to 75 souls were
lost.
TO SOME CHURCHES.
How many of God’s ministers have
you murdered? Does the question
startle you ? Still I repeat it: how
many of God’s ministers have you
murdered, pecuniarily, ministerially,
and physically ? Take an instance;!
and it is only one of hundreds similar, j
The preacher felt the word of God like j
a fire in his bones. “The love of
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Christ” constrained him and he could
not forbear. He was ready to make
any sacrifice to preach Christ to his
fellow men, and imagined that all his
brethren felt as he did about this great
work. lou believed he was “called of
God,” and you “called” for his servi
ces. Perhaps yon were averse to mak
ing any stipulations as to salary, but
intimated to him that he and his fami
ly should not 6ufier. lie confided in
you—attended you statedly—labored
for you in protracted meetings, neglec
ting his own farm or business, wearing
down his own physical and mental en
ergies in your service, expecting that,
at the close of the year, you, who had
monopolized his time, would furnish
him with the means of defraying liis
own and family expenses for the year.
But alas ! as you stipulated nothing,
you gave him nothing, or next to it.—
fir, it you stipulated any amount, you
failed to pay a considerable portion of
it, and the preacher found himself in
debt, without the means to pay. If he
had any means of his own, they went
to supply “your lack of service to
wards” him, and this process contin
ued until he became bankrupt. Or, if
he had no means of his own, the re
sult was the same—he could not pav
his debts. lie lost his character—a
hue and cry was raised by the wicked
sgainst him, as a dishonest man, and
you joined in the cry too. He was de
graded from the ministry, if not by
church action, yet by public sentiment,
and the man retired into a corner stung
with a deep and harraesing sense of in
justice and cruelty. II is heart was
oruken, his energies crushed, and he
■ank into an untimely grave within a
few years, leaving his family unprovi
ded for, and under reproach —the wid
ow crushed in spirit, and the children
to be raised in ignorance.
Tull me now, was not this man mur
dered in his finances, ministerial char
acter, and something very much like
tin his person? (Would it hot have
been belter for him, his family, and
the cause of Christ it some a sast-in
had driven a dacrsrer or a ball tioontrh
ins heart before this trip'u murder
came upon him V) And who did it ?
Possibly he was’ not wholly innocent,
but dare you say that you d : d not des
troy him? O but, you a ) adv to
say, that is not murd v Well; I
will not contend with yo tech
nicalities. Cail it pecui ..m-ht
er, minister-slaughter, m filter
if you prefer; but the man .. s ruined
and you did it mainiy. And 1 this
too, while you were growing rich and
-k,
destroyed in this way? .And wWFou
propose still to pursue the same pro
cess iu time to come? Remember,
dear brethren, that God is in heaven,
and there is a judgment to come !
Monitor.
FEMALE VOTING.
Dear Bro. Boykin :
Considerable discussion was had last
year in the “Index” and “Baptist
Champion,” upon the right of female
members of churches to vote. My ob
ject is, not to revive that discussion,
but call attention to a case, which ex
ists in this county, (which shall be
nameless for the present,) as it gives
rise to several new and interesting
questions, if it be true that females
have no right to vote in churches.
The church alluded to, has in it now
none but female members.
Not long since, at a conference, in
which none but females voted, a letter
of dismission was granted to the only
male member, who has taken his let
ter, and joined another church.
Now, if it be true, that female mem
bers have no right to vote, was not the
vote granting a letter to t\ ■ ■ brother,
a nullity ? and is he not sti . igbtfully
a member of the church, wiiere he ob-1
tained his alleged dismissal? If the
sisters who voted him a letter, had no
right to vote, how can he be said to be
dismissed? And if his letter of dis
mission is void, so likewise was his re
ception by the church to which he car
ried liis letter—it not rightfully dis
missed by one church, he was not right
fully received by the other. If he
should hereafter be guilty of any mor
al delinquency, so as to subject himself
to church discipline, before which
church must he be arraigned for trial?
And which will have jurisdiction over
him ?
Again—if females have no right to
vote, is not the church, which has none
but such members, ipso facto dis
solved ? How can they transact busi
ness ? How can they choose a pastor ?
Who will be authorized to choose <me
forthem? And it now \vi >; me,
which is true, how can they ev< r get
one? If the church is Hi - !ved Aon
the fact, that there in it i mb
authorized according to tht A* w ‘I s
tament to vote and trar ; .'li e--,
how can the present nu get cer
tificates of dismission to other
churches ? Who can gra: T cer
tificate®?
Upon heating of the case above al
luded to, these questions have sugges
ted themselves—and if the and :cn sion,
as to the right of female members to
vote, should ever be resumed, let them
receive their due share ot attention—
and let the difficulties to which they
give rise, be removed, if possible.
QUERIST.
One Dollar expended in procuring a large bottle
of Perry Davis’ Pain Killer, may be worth more
to you than thousands of dollars invested in bank
stock. It will eradicate disease froji your sys
tem when all other medicine fails. Thousands,
both in this and foreign countries, readily testify
to the feet.