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THE CHRISTIAN INDEX, PUBLI3HRD EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING AT MACON, GEORGIA. BY A COMMITTEE OF BRETHREN, FOR THE GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION. TERMS OK SUBSCRIPTION, Two Dolt.arsin advance: or paid within the year. If suffered tooverrun theyea*-,Two Dollars and one half will be chaiged in all cases. SAMUEL BOYKIN, Editor. VOLUME XXXIX. STANDING RULES. AGENTS. Rev. F. M. llatgood, General Agent. All Baptist Ministers are Agents; and any one retaining SB.OO and the names of four new subscri bers will be entitled to an extra copy. By Club bing six persons can procure the paper for SIO.OO. Subscribers wishing to have their papers discontinued, should give express notice to that ef feet—not by the return ofa paper, but by letter.— They should be sure that all arrearges are paid ; and as far as such payments may have been made to an ayent or <xyeu.ts t they should inform us to whom , when , and how much. Persons forwarding their names with pay ent in advance, will be particular to inform us if ey wish their subscription discontinued when the term of payment has expired; otherwise they are supposed to be permanent subscribers. Agents and others in ordering the paper, and remitting payments, should be careful to have the n irae and Post Office address of each subscri ber with the amount paid, DISTINCT AND LEGI BLE. Our accounts are kept with each subscriber individually, and not with agents merely. Persons ordering the direction of a paper to be changed from one Post Office to another, should be careful to mention the names of both of fices, with the County and State. Bank-notes, if properly secured from de predation may be sent to us by mail, at our risk ; provided that, if the receipt of the money is not ac knowledged in the paper within one month, the sender shall promptly notify us that the money was sent. When the amount is large send by Express, or by Check. TERMS :—Two Dollars, in Advance. NOTICE.— To send money with safety—Seal the ietter carefully and mail it yourself, saying no thing to any one about the money, not even the Post Master. Don’t register. Address “ CHRIS 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 Terms of| Adyeruptc For all transient advertising OneDoJn: ptr ?qure cf ten line* for theiirst, anfcoo ctwa per t qrnre for all subsequent publication's: ** RATES FOH CONTRACT ilWjtf I'rcft,. 1 square yf Jo lifies per 3 * •W 4 ©o “ lines ** 6 •* •■•••y'o.Ji’ yo . “ “10 lines “ lyifir .. . 10 to The?e lines are the text advert*- * *i,tithe charge is for the space occuf Ai < • mA ]j] < p as are used in the body of an ad* V.tirff J, o|- ger advertisementsin the same ratio. N. S., VOL. 28, AO. 35. 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.