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THE CHRISTIAN INDEX, PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING AT MACON, GEORGIA. BY A COMMITTEE OF BRETHREN, FOR THE GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION. • - TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, Two DoWLARsin advance: or paid within the year. If suffered to overrun theyea>-, Two Dollars and one-half will be charged in all cases. SAMUEL BOYKIN, Editor. VOLUME XXXIX. STANDING RULES. AGENTS. Rky. F. M. Haygood, General Agent. All Baptist Ministers are Agents; and any one remitting 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 fect—not by the return of a 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 agent or agents, they should inform us to whom, when , and how much. Persons forwarding their names with pay eut in advance, will be particular to inform us if ev wish their subscription discontinued when the term of payment has expired; otherwise they are supposed to be permanent subscribers. Agent3 and others in ordering the paper, and remitting payments, should be careful to have the name 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 chauged from one Post Office to another, should be careful to mention the names of both of fices, with the County and State. ZW 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 Advanck. 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 INDEX,” Macon, Georgia. REVIEW OF “CORRECTIVE CHURCH DISCIPLINE.” “ Deductions .” “Church Independ ence BY A. S. “WORRELL. Conclusion of JXo. 12. Let us notice the second proposition that “the reception of an individual into the membership of a church, and his expulsion from that same fellow ship, are not ‘correlative’ or ‘commen surate’ ideas.” When a certain writer advocated, a few months ago, the doctrine that the reception of a member into, and his ex pulsion from, a Church, are ‘correla tive’ and ‘commensurate’ ideas. Elder Dawson replied : “What the Doctor says about ‘correlative terms,’ ‘correla tive ideas,’ ‘co-exteusive ideas,’ ‘com mensurate ideas,’throws nolight upon the subject; as Smith says, they are ‘truisms’ clothed in great swelling words.”—[S. W. Baptist, December 8, 1859. Here we see again that these tw r o leaders in Israel are disagreed. One says, the doctrine is not true ; the oth er affirms that it is a “truism.” It is a little remarkable that two learned men, on the same side of the question, should differ so widely. But still more remarkable is it, that Elder Dawson should regard the point, we are now considering, as a truism, and, at the same time, should endorse Prof. Mell’s “Discipline,” which regards this same doctrine as an UN-truistn ! lie says in a recent issue of the S. W. Baptist:— “We have examined every position (of Prof. M.’s series) with care, and ana lyzed every argument diligently ; and without claiming for the articles abso lute perfection, they present the most faultless view ot the question we have seen.” I leave Eld. Dawson to recon cile these positions. Eor my part, I must say that the ‘reception’ into, and ‘expulsion’ ot a member from a Church, 6eeui to me to be ‘co-extensive,’ or ‘commensurate’ ideas, and susceptible of as clear illustration as any ‘truism.’ Prof. Mell says : ‘The excluded man is still (i. e. after his expulsion) the subject, in a sense, of the Church ex pelling him.’ But he does not inform us clearly in what ‘sense.’ True, he says, ‘the excluded man sustains the relation (to the Church) of one who is the subject of its reformatory discip line !’ The weakest plea (if he will pardon me) I have ever read ! If the excluded man is a subject of the Church at all, it must arise from the fact that his expulsion was only partial—in which case he is partly in and partly out of the church, or else the church may have a subject who is not within it,and, therefore, the church has jurisdiction outside of itself!! Ab surdity of absurdities! Prof. Mell tries to strengthen this position by the circumstances, as he says that the excluded man is not ‘re ceived again (into the church) in the same way as lie was from the world at first. Then, he was admitted by ex perience aud baptism; now, he must not be admitted but restored.’ The man was received ‘at first’ by the ‘vote’ ot the church ; if expelled, he must be expelled by the ‘vote’ of the church ; and if restored to the same church, he must be restored by the ‘vote’ of the Church. This quibbling about terms avail you nothing. But he is still the subject of the Church’s ‘reformatory discipline.’ But what, my dear Sir, will you say, when the excluded ‘is still the subject,’ not of her reformatory, but of her destruc tive discipline? You say ‘every church is bound to obey the commands of the Saviour.’ So say I. But has the church obeyed? this is the question. If she has, all right; but if not, do not try to make it appear that other chnrches ought to sustain her in her wickedness. Let the advocates of the Romish church have such honor! 1l ou say again, ‘The design of Cor #rpn 0f % <sa. CtraMimt: toforfto to piss wits, Mgimt, airtr % Interests of tjre baptist Jenmninatwn. rective Discipline, even in its highest censures,is not to injure but to reform.’ Then, I suppose, you would not call that ‘discipline’ at all, which is design ed to ‘injure.’ If you would not, then we are not so far disagreed on this point after all. But suppose a church should arraign, try, and exclude a wor thy member with the view of‘injuring’ and destroying him, what, sir, would you call this ? Please answer. You contend that the reception of an excluded member into the fellowship of another, without the consent of the church excluding him, is an ‘interfer ence with its discipline; * * * since it is designed to prevent the intended effect of that discipline.’ It has been shown, in a previous article, that a church’s independence is not interfer ed with, in any important sense, so long as every church is left to vote and act as she pleases. * If a church should think an excluded man worthy of mem bership in the church, she would not be independent, unless, if she should choose to do so, she is permitted to give him membership in her own body. What do you say of this? Still, it is not affirmed that one church should receive au excluded member of anoth er, when he has been justly aud prop erly excluded. This would be an in sult to the Saviour. But if a member has been wickedly and unjustly exclu ded from one church, that church, re fusing to grant him membership on his application for it, becomes a party to the wicked and unjust act of exclusion. A righteous act of expulsion deserves the respect of all the churches ; an un rigeteous one, their disapprobation and disrespect. But you say further that the recep tion of an excluded member into anoth er church would destroy Christian union. Admitted. But suppose the man has been unjustly and wickedly excluded, is ‘union’ with such a church desirable? ‘Union’ on truth and jus tice should be sought at all times ; but ‘union’ in or on error, never. Let ‘Christian union’ never be mentioned; when it must be purchased at the sac rifice of truth ; let it cease to have a name, if it can be obtained only by participating in wickedness! Prot. Mell’s three ‘Pleas,’ or objec tions to his position, he does not, nor can hes satisfactorily answer. They would be noticed, if it were thought at all necessary; but as his answers to those ‘pleas’ can be valid only on the ‘plea’ of Church infallibility, 1 am wil ling for them to pass. ’ There is one other matter to which allusion will be made. lam informed that under Prof. Mell’s pastorate an excluded member was once received into the church. The man, if my in formation is correct, had been exclu d A from an anti-missionary church lor his opposition (1 believe,) to ‘Beebeeism.’ The excluded man presented himself to the church of which Professor Mell was, and now is pastor, and was re ceived into the fellowship of the church without any consultation with the church that excluded him. Now, it is supposable — Ist. That the church believed that the man had belonged to a church.— If not, he could not have been receiv ed without baptism. 2d. That Prof. Mell and his church believed the man to have been unjust ly excluded; else they did wrong in receiving him. Now, if the body excluding him was a church, (and it seems that they must have thought so,) and if Prof. Mell’s church did receive the excluded mem ber, it appears that Prof. M. once sanctioned a deed which he now sore ly condemns! How is this? If there is anything incorrect in the above, the writer will gladly receive the correc tion. The facts are available. While on this point, another state ment will not be out of place. It has been, so far as I know, the custom of Missionary Churches to receive, into their fellowship, members, excluded from anti-Missionary Churches for at taching themselves to the Masonic fra ternity, temperance societies and the like; it has also been customary, I be lieve, for Missionaries to receive into their fellowship, those presenting let ters from anti-Missionary churches. — If these two things have been custo mary, it has been customary, accord ing to Professor Mell’s doctrine, for Missionary Baptists, to ‘interfere with the discipline’ of anti-missionary churches. Yet I have never heard of the anti-Missionaries complaing that their ‘independence has been destroy ed.’ In conclusion, I ask again, Does Professor Mell design to teach that one church cannot rightfully receive, into her fellowship, a worthy man who has been unjustly and wickedly expel led from another ? Please answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ DR. S. G. HILLYER’S EXPOSI TION. BY KEY. A. T. HOLMES, D. D. Math. 10, 19 : 18, IS. John 20, 23. Brother Editor: I proposed in my last article to ex amine Dr. IP's Exposition. Before I do this, however, it may be proper to notice Peter’s position in that inter view with the Savior which is recorded in Matthew 16-19. When the question is submitted di rectly to the Apostles, “but whom say ye that I am,” Peter promptly replies for himself, and in behalf of his breth ren, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” In this answer, sanc tioned by the Savior as a Divine reve MACON, GA., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1860. lation, we have explicitly stated, the great fundamental doctrine of Chris tianity. Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Mary, is the Christ, the anointed of the Father, and this fact must be received and acknowledged, as the foundation of every spiritual building, or the su perstructure falls. 11 is a safe con struction, therefore, sustained too, as it is, by wise and pious authority, that Peter’s confession, or the doctrine it involves, constitutes that fundamental truth, respecting the person and offices of Christ, upon which, as a rock (Pe tra) He would build his Church This construction, by a very natural transi tion, presents Christ Himself, as the Rock against which the Gates of Hell should not prevail. “Now, therefore, (Eph. 2, 19-20) ye are no more stran gers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built upon the founda tion of the apostles and prophets, Je- Christ, Himself, being the chief cor ner stone.” In immediate connection with the Savior’s address to Peter, res pecting the foundation of his church, we find the words to which onr atten tion is called in the exposition under review. The conclusions reached, in the language of the Dr., and in accor dance with his own arrangement, are thus stated : “1. These words were addressed to the disciples then present, as represent ing a Church. 2. They were designed to confer up on the Church, authority in cases of discipline. 3. They were not designed to con fer infallibility, in the exercise of that authority. 4. They pledge Heaven to ratify the decision of a Church, in a case of dis cipline, whether right or wrong. 5. They do not pledge Heaven to ratify the decision, in such a sense as to affect the relation of the expelled member to God, and thus bar his ad mission to Heaven. 6. They do give such validity and force to the sentence of a Church, in a case of discipline, as to make it im proper for other Chnrches to receive the excluded member. 7. They do not give such force to de cision of a Church, in a case of discip line, as to make it binding upon other Churches, when the decision is a cor rect verdict upon the case. 8. Sometimes different Churches may draw different conclusions from its teachings. In such cases, no deci sion of one is binding upon others, whether right or wrong, for the simple reason, that none has received author ity to decide for the rest in such a mat ter. When, therefore, one Church do dares an act criminal, which other Churches do not believe to be con demned by the statute book, they may for that reason, in the exercise of a sound discretion, disregard such deci sion.” I have been careful, Brother Editor, to use the Dr.’s language, with his dif tereut articles before me, while I write: for my object is honest examination, and I am sure that I have neither pur pose nor disposition to do him injus tice. I would examine the Word of God, in the fear of God, and I would tremble at my temerity and pre sumption, did I feel that I was forcing a construction to meet a case, or palming upon the Church and upon the world au interpretation of scrip ture, the object of which was to foster and gratify unwarrantable prejudice, or to subserve the purposes of a party. God’s Word is too sacred, man’s ac countability too solemn, and an ap proving conscience too sweet to justify such unfaithfulness. In regard to the first conclusion reached by the Dr. to-wit: that the words under consideration were ad dressed to the disciples, then present, representing a Church, there may be some difference of opinion. The in terviews between the Lord Jesus aud his Apostles, recorded in Matthew 16- 19 and 18-18, occurred before his death, while that recorded in John 20 -23, took place after his resurrection. He addressed his Apostles as such, and gave them positive instruction as to the relation they would sustain to Him and the Church, which He designed to establish, and the authority with which, as Apostles, lie was about to invest them. Their instrumentality is positively defined, their authority clearly determined by the directions imposed, and their subordination re cognized in the instruction given; more than this, no unbiassed inquirer after truth would be apt to discover, or be likely even to suspect. The char acter of that instrumentality and the nature of those directions are very im portant considerations. Unfortunate ly for the Dr., he was surcharged with newly conceived notions of Church discipline, and hence the obliquity of his mental vision, as partially discov ered in his first conclusion. In the second conclusion, the pur pose designed to be accomplished by the “Exposition” is more distinctly de veloped. The Church which the “Apostles represented,” had “authori ty conferred, in cases of discipline.”— That our blessed Lord designed to con fer authority is not denied ; but that He designed to confer authority upon the Churches, in cases of discipline, is a gratuitous assumption, unsupported by the facts stated. If discipline was involved at all, it was only in a remote and subordinate sense. When it was said to Peter, “I will give thee the keys of the Kingdom,” could the Dr. see nothing but Church discipline ? When it was declared that “whatsoev er thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in Heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven,” did all other sounds escape his ear, except the sound of Church discipline? And when it is farther promised that whose-6oever sins ye re mit, they are remitted unto them, and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained, was he sensible of no other authority bestowed, but that exercised in cases of Church discipline? It is said that some men, when very angry, are blind to all except the object of their wrath, but him they see with concentrated intensity. When the western frontier hunter comes upon a herd of deer, he selects one from that herd, and when he shoots, sees only the victim of his skill. The Dr. is the sub ject of a “ruling passion” (I trust it will not be “strong in death”) and he sees but one deer, though scores are scampering over the plain—he is con scious of the presence of but one man, though hundreds may be pressing around him. To a man unaffected by a desire to accomplish a settled pur pose, having no other object in view, in the examination of God’s Word, than the ascertainment of its true meaning, the scripture forming the subject of the Dr.’s exegesis would have suggested some other very impor tant and interesting considerations. — It seems very plain to me, that our Lord was preparing the foundation of his Church, with reference to its ulti mate glory and triumph, with his eye upon the opposition which He knew’ it must encounter. That He was invest ing Peter and his fellow Apostles with peculiar power and authority, to pub lish, both to Jew r and Gentile, the principles of the New Dispensation. That under the infallible direction of the Eternal Spirit, they should bind and loose, that is, should forbid and allow, prohibit and permit, pronounce lawful and unlawful, as pertaining to that dispensation. That in the organ ization of church, they should be in fallibly guided by Ilis instruction, and by the teaching of the llol\ Spirit.— That certain Jewish customs were to be abandoned, and others should be continued; that certain rites were to be appointed and others forbidden; and, in every case, their decision should have the f_>rce of Divine au thority. “Our Lord spoke to the Apos tler, and to allot* them. The absolute authority given, was inseparably con nected with their immediate inspira tion, and all their successors, whether pietended or real, from the conclave of Rome, to an independent Church meeting, are concerned in just so far as their decisions, whether they bind or loose, accord with the doctrines, precepts and rules transmit ted to us from the Apostles, and no further.” The Apostles themselves were liable to mistakes and sins, in their own conduct, but they were es factually secured against all error, in declaring God’s truth to mankind, in stating to the terms of salvation, in de fining the character and experience of believers, in deciding as to the spirit ual condition of those who might in dulge the hope of forgiveness, and pro nouncing, in virtue of their Divine il lumination, what God had decreed should be the final doom of the unbe liever, the hypocrite and the apostate. In all this, one thing is obvious—there will be perfect harmony between their decisions and the w'ill of Heaven. As the representatives of Christ, (not of the Churches) their decisions, on mat ters of duty and doctrine, should be ul timate : for being in accordance with Divine instruction, they should obtain Divine sanction. The second and third conclusions, therefore, at which the Dr. arrived, controlled as he was by the one purpose which he enter tained, are not only forced, but strange ly at variance with the plain teaching of the text and context. Common sense, (aud the Dr. has his full share) and the common principles of inter pretation, would have led an unpreju diced man to very different conclu sions. But objects will assume an ap pearance corresponding to the medium through which they are seen, and no interpretation can be admitted, no mat ter how faithful, which conflicts with the design, which, at all hazards, must be carried out. Poor Haman ! lie en joyed the royal favor, he was honored with a seat at the Queen’s banquet; but all this, and all else that could flat ter his vanity, or gratify his pride, availed nothing, so long as Mordecai, the Jew, sat at the King’s gate. (Second half No. 2, next week.) Written for the “Christian Index.” LABORS AMONG THE CHURCH es j Antioch in Pike , and Antioch in Lee ; Incidents and Facts ; the Central Association. As some of the readers of the In dex have seemed interested with one of my late sketches, I have concluded to write another. As “Evangelist for the State at large,” I have an extensive held, and my labors among the church es are only as a drop in the bucket. — Though I may be seldom heard from, I am preaching almost daily, and re joice to witness the triumphs of the Gospel. There never has been a time in my day, when the Baptist denomi tion was more prosperous than at the present. Were it not for the bicker ings and jealousies which have arisen in certain sections, it would, for ought we can see, soon possess the whole State. After my return from that “flying trip to the low country,” I rested but one day, and then engaged in a meet ing at Antioch in Pike, of which, you have already heard from Bro. Allen. With him I can testify to the gratifica tion afforded us by the company and labors of Bro. Lyon, an Bap tist ” He is a man of good natural pares, of excellent spirit, and is suc cessful and useful as a minister of Je sus Christ. The difference between such a man and his missionary breth ren is more nominal than real. A heavenly influence pervaded the meet ing throughout. One day especially, when the time arrived for intermission the benediction was pronounced, but the divine unction was so overpower ing ihat the people could not be in duced to leave the house. For an hour or more they remained togethei, pray ing, weeping and rejoicing ! Verily, “it was good to be there.” They had “meat to eat” which the world knew not of. The fruits of that meeting will be gathered “many days hence.” On my way to assist in a meeting at Antioch in Lee, 1 was gratified to hear that brethren Langley and Brooks were conducting good meetings at Fort-Val ley and Marshallville, preaching at the former place in the day-time, and at the latter place at night. Such tacts as this enable us to account for the prosperity of the denomination, above alluded to. There is no class of men more devoted and zealous, than the ministers of our own denomina tion. If our churches generally were equally zealous and self sacrificing, the results to our Zion would be beyond human calculation. The good accom plished, as a general thing, correspond with the sacrifices made for its accom plishment. If other Christians made as great sacrifices as preachers, the good done would be much greater than it is. We have a tew drones in our ministry, but there are only afew. Bro. Ilornady had appointed tor me to preach in Americas, which I did, and proceeded next morning twenty miles to Antioch in Lee, where I met my es teemed friend and brother, Rev. John 11. Clark, pastor. He has succeeded in gathering together a large congre gation here, and, for two or three years, has received many into the church as seals of liis ministry. But, during the meeting of five days, the clouds were not propitious; or, if much was done, it was not made to appear to the labor ers. We wore constrained to inquire, in sorrow and disappointment, “Lord, who hath believed our report ?” I was surprised to learn that there is not a Baptist preacher, of the missionary or der, residing in Lee county. (This is said to be also true of Jones.) The ev idences of good health, even in this limestone region, and are abundant. A more healthy-looking congregation than that of Antioch would be hard to find in Georgia. I was told by the oveiseer on Dr. Jarratt’s plantation, where there are near a hundred ne groes, that fifty dollars would pay all Doctor’s Bills for two or three years past. The seasons have been more fa vorable, and the crops are better here, than in most parts ot the State. Returning, via Macon, a kind friend took me in hired carriage, free of charge, to Judge Hardeman’s, near Clinton, where I spent the night. His general health is much improved, tho’ he is still an invalid. One of our own (English) poets has said—“an honest man’g the noblest work of God.” A more honest and noble man than the Judge, in many respects, has never graced the Bench in Georgia. May he be prepared, by grace, for a seat in glory ! He was kind enough to for ward me on to the Central Association at Salem, which church was raised up through my feeble instrumentality, more than twenty years ago. During one whole summer I preached under a Bush Arbor, and the church was con stituted in Peter Northern’s parlor.— Bro. Freeman of Jasper, an excellent young minister, is now its pastor. It contains many worthy and devoted members. The joy of former years was renewed in meeting at this place some choice spirits, with whom I was associated in this body in past days. Others “have fallen asleep !” It was a melting time when Impressed upon the vast assembly the solmn inquiry, “What more could have been done unto my vineyard that I have not done in it ?” J. H. Campbell. Griffin, Aug. 30th, 1860. INCIDENTS OF TRAYEL. Number 1. By the unanimous conseut of my church, leave of absence was granted me for two Sabbaths. This time I pro posed to spend in visiting an only sis ter and two brothers in Tenn., whom I had not seen in 7 1-2 years. For this purpose, on the morning of the 24th of July, just as old Sol was chasing away the last lingering rays of night,bidding my family adieu and with carpet-bag in hand, I entered the cars. Kind reader—did you ever enter a car filled with passengers at such an hour?— What a sleepy, yawning, woe begone parsel of fellow mortals you beheld. — Just so it was when I entered the cars on the 24th of July last. Soon how ever, among those whose heads and faces were visible, I discovered the Hon. John G. Shorter, wife and daugh ter, H. R. Shorter, Esqr., and wife, W. H. Thornton, M. D., and wife, and the wife of lion. E. S. Shorter, all of Au faula, Ala., with whom I had been pleasantly associated as pastor for five years. This meeting was as pleasant as it was unexpected. These friends were started on a trip of pleasure through the west by the Lakes, Niag ara and New York, and we would therefore, travel together for more than 100 miles. Ere our congratulations were ended, the cry “all aboard ’ sain ted our ears, and the iron horse, with a stomach of fire and breath of steam, stamping his iron feet upon his iron pathway, moved on at a rapid rate, puffing &nd blowing as if independent of “all the world and the rest of man kind.” Soon we reached the city of Atlanta. Here we took breakfast, and my brother, who was to accompany me, and several other friends from Ga. and Alabama were added to our num ber. At Dalton, two of our pleasant company left us, and took the Knox ville road, from thence on to Richmond, Ya. Next we passed through the Tun nel, at Tunnel Hill—this is about 1400 feet long—it is a wonderful work of art —it is walled up all the way and arched over head. It cost one hun dred and eighty-nine thousand dollars. In a short time, we reached Chatta nooga —here we took supper, and sep arated with our kind Alabama friends. We (that is I aud my brother,) took the Memphis Rail Road. This road runs through some of the grandest and most picturesque scenery, be tween Chattanooga and Huntsville, Ala., of which this world can boast. — It I should attempt a description of it I should utterly fail, and then could I succeed it would be unnecessary, be cause descriptions of it have been al ready often written and published.— We reach Tuscumbia about sun-up on the morning of the 25th, and eat the poorest breakfast which ever fell to the lot of mortals. Then, after a hard days travel, by rail road and hack, we reached our brother’s at 11 o’clock at night; but Owhat changes I every where beheld. True, I generally re cognized localities and things; but still a great change was everywhere manifest. A great change has passed over the people too, in regard to reli gion. During my sojourn here there was not a missionary Baptist church in the country. There were a few Methodist and Cumberland Presbyte rians. But anti-missionary Baptist were more numerous than any other. These people then, as now, opposed ev erything good, and thus became dark ness rather than light to the world.— One of the most influential and weal thy members kept a distilery, and thus encouraged that greatest of all evils, intemperance. Another attended all musters, elections, and shooting match es, with his barrel or keg of spirituous liquors, dealing out poison aud death to his fellow-men. When professors of religion acted thus, what could be expected of those who made no such pretentions ? And what could we an ticipate as to the history and end of a church which indulged its members in such things ? Evidently that it would only have a name to live while it ex isted, and that, like the churches of Asia, God would sooner or later blot her out of existence. And this is just what has happened. This church ex erted no moral influence for good while she lived,and she has long since ceased to have an existance. is now, in this neighborhood, a prosperous missionary Baptist church, which is ex erting a healthful moral influence up on the people. A. Vaniiouse. Griffin, Ga. Written for the Christian Index. Things Demanding Reform among Baptists. BY REFORMER. Ministerial Example. This is not less true now than it was in the days of Hosea, “and there shall be, like people, like priest.” The taught generally imbibe the sentiments, manner of thought and habits of life, of the teacher. His precepts and ex ample are the mould in which their characters are cast. “Be thou an ex ample to the believers,” said Paul to Timothy, “in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Here is an epitome of the Divine in struction as to a minister’s life. A re formation is needed then, 1. In the private lives of ministers. A want of that dignity which belongs to our “high vocation” is some times discoverable. Ido not mean, we should be austere, but gentle; *not proud, but humble ; not self-conceit ed, but meek and lowly ; not frivolous but serious and thoughtful; not mo rose, but rejoicing in the hope set be fore us ; not assuming a superiority either in piety or intellect over our brethren, but adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour ; not separating our selves from social intercourse with our brethren or with the world, but carry ing our religion with ns; not declar ing ourselves better than others, but by a “well ordered life and a godly conversation,” endeavor to make oth ers better; not belo\y the highest nor above the lowest, but the same at all times and places, ready to counsel, ad vise, instruct, pray for and sympathize with every need of our fallen race.— Some of us preach what we do not practice, and practice what we dare not preach. Some love money too well, and therefore cannot rebuke cov etousness in others. Some love the ap plause of men too well, and therefore cannot rebuke pride and ambition in their hearers, indeed they fear to be faithful, lest they should give offence, rather than secure applause. Others among us, love ease and self indulgence too well, either to study our sermons as thoroughly as we should or do the pastoral work which the ne cessities of our congregations demand, we cannot, therefore, preach self-de nial to others, nor urge upon them the faithful discharge of every duty. Some are fond of frivolity, jesting and anec- Terras of Advertising. For all OnODollatper square wi ten Hues for the first, square “for ajl sut>sei}uan^j)ublLpationg.^/ ka-£|o fobqpMßAc^rjineitßTisi.N#. 1 squared 10 “ “10 lines “ 6 “ 4ft “ “10 lines “ 1 year icultj . Jf -#• ptfc These lines are the text advertising lines and t h e charge is for the space occupied by teirfuoh linc'fc as are used in the body of an advertisement. Loi, - ger advertisements in the same ratio. *’ N. S., VOL. 28, NO. 37 dotes in the social circle, and are, therefore, incapable of fostering a spir it of prayer or of advancement in a holy life. Some, alas! too many of us sadly neglect our closets and the con sequence is we cannot from a heart refreshed with its blessing, urge our brethren to 6ecret prayer. In associ ating with our brethren and their fam ilies, we tall into the current of a worldly conversation rather than giv ing it a religious direction, we thus impress the family, children included, that out of the pulpit we are quite as worldly minded as others. In the par ty strifes which have rent our denom ination, and which have proved a bane from which we? may not recover in years, we hsve led the van in acrimo ny and denunciation, we have foster ed and fanned the kindling flame and now look with sadness at its desolating ravages, we cannot, therefore, preach forbearance, nor pray to be forgiven— we have diverted the minds of breth ren from the practice of godliness to religious strife, not, perhaps, intention ally, hut certainly very imprudently ; and now we are reaping the bitter con sequences in the coldness, discord and alienation which are more or less dis coverable in all our churches. Let us repent of our past follies, an I reform ; and we will soon see the face of the sky once more clear, and feel the bles sed rays of the rays sun of righteous ness arise in our souls with healing in his wings. A PASTORAL VACATION. BY REV. J. R. KENDRICK. Charleston, S. G., Aug. 28, ’6O. Bro. Index—lt may not be wholly uninteresting to your readers, to be in formed how a Charleston Pastor spent the month’s vacation which his flock allowed him. (R ought to be noted here that the flock imposed no restric tions in the matter of time, but the pastor did not choose to prolong his absence.) Leaving Charleston about the middie of July, I made my way direct for Limestone Springs, in Spar tanburg District, the seat of the cele brated Female Seminary established by the venerable Dr: Curtis, now in heaven, and his son William. This School has proved one of the most de cided and triumphant successes that the history of Literary Institutions re cords. From the first it entered on a career of prosperity which it has stead ily maintained, and with .constantly brightening pros 1 tools. Its his t<> ‘itjugrajj tent to way of founding and schools, and that there is no real ne cessity for taxing public liberality for their outfit and endowment. It is true that the Curtises were ab\e to a vail themselves of a very happy com bination of circumstances in starting their enterprise. A large edifice which had been reared for a fashionable sum mer resort, had proved a disastrous failure so far as its original design was concerned, and was obtained by these gentlemen at a very low figure. Had it been built under their direction and to suit their views, it could not have been much better adapted to their wants. The locality is pleasant, the air salubrious, and the water, from which the Seminary takes its name, delicious. When I was there, near one hundred and seventy pupils were in attendance, with a prospect of increase beyond the capacity of the main buil ding. Rev. Dr. Crawley, formerly of Nova Scotia and more recently ofCin -cinnati, has just been added to the corps of instruction, and will, no doubt, prove an admirable coadjutor to its present accomplished Principal. The Commencement Exercises pas sed off pleasantly, eleven young ladies receiving testimonials of a e t; factory .completion of the appointed course of study. Your correspondent delivered delivered the annual Address to a large and attentive audience. It is delightful to be permitted to add that a subduing religious influence has pervaded the School duringthe present year. Some thirty young la dies, if my memory is not at fault, have been baptized, and yet others are expected, to take this step. After a most agreeable sojourn at Limestone of five or six days, I passed on to Spartanburg Court House, some twenty miles distant. Here I found a large and flourishing village, display ing signs of wealth, refinement and progress. It was my privilege to preach on a week-day evening, to a congrega tion that nearly filled the very spacious Baptist house of worship. This is a commodious and imposing brick edi fice, erected not long since at a cost of some eight or ten thousand dollars.— The Baptist Church is a strong body, the strongest, I suppose, in the place. The Pastor, Rev. J. G. Landrum, has long been a sort of recognized bishop over all the adjacent region. His dio cese includes Spartanburg District and even the parts beyond. Would that all bishops exercised an influence as powerful and salutary! This village is the seat of Wofford College, under the management and patronage of our Methodist brethren, and of a Female Seminary under sim ilar control. Both Institutions were discribed to me as being in a prosper ous condition. Spartanburg seems to be a signally favored section of our State, blessed with fountains of knowledge almost as numerous as the cool and sparkling water-springs that bubble up in its green valleys, or burst from its hill sides. (Continued on Hh page.) Jit. m