The Christian index. (Washington, Ga.) 1835-1866, September 19, 1860, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE CHRISTIAN INDEX, PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING AT MACON, GEORGIA. BY A COMMITTEE OF BRETHREN, FOB THE GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, Two DoLLARsin advance: or paid within the year. If suffered to overrun the yea>\ Two Dollars and one-half will be charged in all cases. SAMUEL BOYKIN, Editor. VOLUME XXXIX. STANDING RULES. AGENTS. Ret. 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, Bhould 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 wJiotn, when , and how much. Persons forwarding their names with pay entin 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. -Eip- Agents 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 changed from one Post Office to another, should be careful to mention the names of both of fices, with the County and State. Jggp 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 INDEX,” Macon, Georgia. Book Notices. A Church History of the first three centuries, from the thirtieth to the three hundred and twen ty-third year of the Christian era: By Milo Mahan D. D., Professor of ecclesiastical History in the general Theological Seminary, New York. Published by Daniel Dana, Jr., N. Y. The author of this book is an Episcopalian and hence it is no wonder that he sees Episcopacy in N. T. History. With him James is Bishop of Je rusalem, which is called the “Mother Church” where there was a “settlement of the government under one responsible head.” Peter is spoken of as having many churches under his charge and the Apcwtles are styled “the ecumenical, catholic, perpetual ministry.” The author asserts that the Bishopric or Apostolate, as commissioned by .our Lord after the resurrection, had its own seed with in it and was every wly?re transmitted and acknowl edged as the sole supreme governing and ordain ing power.” With the autlier the “angels” of the seven churches are “bishops.” In short the Book is strongly Episcopalian, advocating the “collegi ate principle” strongly. As to history it is very interesting : does not go much into detail, but gives results. Its notice of the early Christian martyrs and fathers is interesting; and much in formation may be obtained from it. Wilkins Wylder, or The Successful Man, by Stephen F. Miller, author of the Bench and Bar of Georgia. Lippincott & Cos., Philadelphia. For sale by J. W. Burke. Being written by a Georgian this book should be read by Georgians. The few pages that we have read in the book interested us. Mr. Ogilby and his friends, Parke and Hardison being the immediate subject matter. Like all novels the book has a beginning, a middle and a successful ending, making its hero a Governor. The moral tone of the book appears good, but its style is rather heavy. Natural History, for the use of Schools and families, by Worthington Hooker, M. D. The author of this Book is a brother to 1 form er Pastor of the Presbyterian church of this city and is the author of several excellent books of a similar character for children. This is intended as a S. book and attempts to ‘cull out from the im mense mass of material which Zoology presents that which every well informed person ought to know.” The book is profusely illustrated, highly interesting and instructive, and should by all means be adopted as a school text book. It is sin gular how this and similar departments-of knowl edge are neglected in our schools—a state of things that ought to exist no longer. Harper & Broth ers, N. Y. Prolegomena Logica ; an inquiry into the psy chological character of logical processes, by Henry Lonqueville Mansel, B. D. LL. D. This is anew book just published by that excel lent publishing house, Gould & Lincoln, of Boston. “It may be regarded as an attempt to prosecute, in relation to Logic, the inquiry instituted by the Prolegomena of Kant in relation to Metaphysics ; namely, What are the psychological conditions under which a scientific system is possible; and what, in conformity to those conditions, are the characteristic features which such a system must exhibit ? It is not intended as a complete treatise either on Psychology alone, or on Logic alone ; but as an exposition of Psychology in relation to Logic, containing such portions of the former as are absolutely necessary to the vindication and even to the understanding of the latter.” The name of the author is a sufficient guarantee of excellence. Those who have read Mansell’s Limits of religious thought, a book on which com petent critics have passed high encomiums, will be glad to see this. But it is not a book for children —the matured mind only can hope for any real pleasure or benefit in its perusal. Rutledge, an anonymous novel, printed by Der by & Jackson, and written by a young lady ofCoL umbia, S. C. It has had an unprecedented run for books of its kind and is pronounced good by those who have read it. Short Stories, by Charles Dickens. Every one likes to read Dickens. T. B. Patter son & Cos., have published a volume of his short stories which will do to while away an odd hour with on a long winter’s night. Nemesis, by Mariftn Holland. Derby & Jackson publishers, N. Y. Nemesis for admirable writing, truthful delinea tion of character, and fine moral and religious teaching, reflects credit not only upon the author but upon the South. It is a Virginia story of real life. A romance founded upon fact. The interes ting plot is a Yankee Shoemaker with his wife and child, emigrating to the South, and their strange eventful history. The honest, industrious and God fearing cobbler, is attacked with rheumatism and unable to work, is oppressed by the heartless, grinding, time serving agent of a wealthy aristo crat, falls in debt and is hurried to jail where he soon dies leaving his family to the mercy of an un feeling world. His wife is the “Nemesis” of the book. A sensible, proud and high spirited wo #rpit of % <ia. fiap. Cmtktttmn: bffarteb Ixr ffltssimis, Jldrgfrrtt, attHjjf interests of tlje baptist Qeimmmatwit. man, she secretly determines to be the avanger of the murderers of her husband. Unknown to her former associates, she marries a wealthy English man, with him goes to England, and after the lapse of twelve years, destiny, as she deems it, carries her back to Virginia, in sight of the humble cot tage and grassy mound that covers the ashes of her former husband. Unrecognized by any one, as the proud, melancholy wife of the Englishman, she secretly plots the downfall of the great and cruel, her enemies, and lives to see the avenging rod descend. She, impotent mortal, however, but half completes the work. A Power, to whom ven geance belonged, came to her assistance, and she triumphantly acknowledged, “He had repaid.” The book introduce incidents of real occurrence. Presents John Randolph as he appeared in the youth of his political glory, and closes with a graphic and thrilling account of the burning of the Richmond Theatre, where the skillful writer man ages to dispose of several of her characters. Marion Harland, in the four books she has giv en to the world, has established an enviable fame. We fondly cherish this opening flowerof Southern bloom, and hope no blighting or decay may fall ruthlessly upon this gifted child of the sunny South. The above, together with the Household of Bouverie, was placed on our table by J. W. Burke, Agent, who keeps a large assortment of Miscellaneous books. HINTS TO A YOUNG MINISTER, And a notice of such books as are likely to be useful to him. No. G. Dear Brother—lt has been well sug gested by Colleridge,that the two great and sufficient arguments for our relig ion are Christianity and Christendom —the excellence of the system itself, aud the obvious effects wherever it has been received. I have discussed, so far only, those books which pertain to the elucidation of the Bible itself, and of its history and effects in the world. And these are unquestionably the most important things for a minister to study. But it is desirable also to have a systematic and comprehensive view of the truths thus gathered, in their rela tions to other truth, and to error.— Hence the importance of systematic Theology, and of Polemics. All truth is a system ; but it is not given to man in systematic form. This shows the importance of studying it first by particulars—and of deriving our views from the Bible, the great fountain of all religious knowledge.— But no thinking man can fail to ob serve the connection between the truths* he believes; no honest man can fail to attempt to reconcile the things which seem to him true, yet contradictory;— no devout man cau fail to derive com fort and delight from observing “how well God’s blessed truths agree.” But this is forming a system. The only question is whether one will form his system deliberately, and studiously, or by haphazard. And it seems as if that hardly ought to be a question at all. Some of the works most referred to in systematic Theology are Turretin’s Institutes,which have never been trans lated from the Latin. Pictet’s Theol ogy iu French, of which only an abridg ment has been translated. Hill’s Di vinity,Gill’s Body of Divinity, Ivnapp’s Theology, Dick’s Theology, Leonard Wood’s Lectures on Theology, J. L. Dagg’s Manual of Theology. The last is a work too well known to Georgia Baptists to need my commendation ; but I cannot omit to express my satis faction at the happy manner in which the venerated and beloved author has united the severest logic with the most fervent devotion, thus showing that there is no opposition between Reason and Faith, but that the highest reason and the purest philosophy bring us to the same results, which the humble believer reaches, more simply and more sweetly, by implicit trust in what God has said. Andrew Fuller’s works ought to be owned and studied by every minister. Though not in form, they do in fact present a system of theology, and there are few writers who will so well repay repeated and thorough study. Polemic Theology, it may be sup posed, judging from the aspect of our papers, is sufficiently studied or at least practiced, without making it a separ ate branch of investigation. As syste matic Theology is truth considered in its relation toother truth, so Polemic is truth and its relations to error. For the present,l will only say on this sub ject, read the religious papers passim. And, it that does not satisfy you, let me know, and I can direct you else where. A large part of a minister’s duty is to learn how to simplify and present in attractive forms the truths which he has discovered and embraced. There are several books intended to aid in this, such as Ripley’s Sacred Rhetoric, Vinet’s Homiletics Fenelon’s Essay on Pulpit Eloquence, Baxter’s Reformed Pastor, Porter’s Homiletics, all of which are valuable; but after all practice and observation furnish the best guides. The reading of good ser mons is an excellent corrective of the loose and declamatory style into which young preachers, afflicted with a diar rhoea verborum are apt to fall. They find that men, who really influence thinkers, have been thinkers and not ranters themselves. It is a great mis take to suppose that our country con gregations have no discernment ot the merits of a close and connected chain of argument. Very often they are dis gusted with the meagre soup which is offered to them with a few ideas, boil ed to death, floating about in a great sea of froth. Feed the flock. Among the sermons which I am fon dest of reading are those of Davies, J Leighton, Robert Traill (an old Scotch divine,) Bradley, Payson, E. D. Griffin, MACON, GA., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1860. McCheyne, Albert Barnes, Saurin.— These are all characterized by warmth, directness, and unction, though vary ing much in style. As literary efforts, and combining instruction too -with their elegance of style, but not so high ly evangelical, so simply earnest —may be mentioned the sermons of Melvill, F. W. Robertson, Archer Butler, Man ning and Arnold. Sermons which are suggestive and full of thought, but de mand sifting, and independence in judging for yourself, are those of New man (Parochial sermons, pub. while he was a member of the church of Eng land,) F. D. Maurice, Nathaniel Em mons. Some recently published vol umes of sermons are very valuable, such as Dr. Wayland’s sermons to the churches, his University Sermons, Guinness’ Sermons, two volumes of Sermons by J. Addison Alexander, R. Fuller’s sermons, and some of Dr. Cuinuffng’s volumes especially the one entitled “Twelve Urgent Questions.” I must not not omit to mentionsome works, which though perhaps original ly prepared in the form of sermons, were not published as such : for in stance Dr. Wm. R. Williams’ “Relig ious Progress,” and “Lectures on the Lord’s Prayer,” Phelps’ “Still Hour,” “The Dead in Christ,” by J. Brown, Barnes’ “Way of Salvation,” Dr. Boardman’s “Great Question Answer ed,” “Primitive Piety Revived,” (a premium essay,) by 11. C. Fish, Vinet’s “ Vital Christianity,” “ The Signet Ring,” Hopkins’ ‘Lessons at the Cross,’ Good’s ‘Better Covenant,’ Ryle's ‘Liv ing or Dead,’ ‘Memories of Bethany,’ Thompson’s ‘Better Land.’ All of these are good. ‘The State of the Impenitent Dead,’ by Rev. A. Hovey is a candid, brief, yet comprehensive discussion of one of the most important questions on which our preaching constantly bears. The author is Prof, in the Newton Theolog ical Seminary. ‘The Living Epistle,’ by Rev. C. Tyree, of Va., is an earnest attempt to awaken Christians to a sense of their responsibility as the rep resentatives of and witnesses for Christ. “The Crucible,” by J. A. Goodhue, gives the most elaborate and careful discussion, (since “Edwards on the Af fections,”) of the evidences of personal piety, and while all the author’s views may not be approved, they will be found full of important suggestions, and worthy of close attention. “Soul Prosperity,” by our valued brother Mallary, is one of the books that one will do well to have by him at all time, so as to read frequently, and thoughtfully. It should be read by short portions at a time, say one sec tion every morning—and it will dif fuse a heavenly influence through the day. A minister should haYe some read ing daily, which is adapted to promote his own personal devotion. Especial ly is this the case with one, who is crowded with business, or who must necessarily be conversant with many books. He, more than any other, needs this very arrangement for his spiritual profit; otherwise he may have to take up the lamentation— “they made me keeper of the vine yards, and my own viueyard have I not kept.” Above all, to return to where I be gan, at the commencement of this se ries, let your time be given to the pa tient, repeated, thoughtful perusal of the English Bible. Criticism and learned commentators, books of expla nations, and manuals of devotion are all very well. But let none of them take the place of your pocket Bible. From the variety and multiplicity of books, come back to this perpetually, as-the sun and substance pf what is most valuable in them all. ‘ I have written in haste, and have doubtless omitted many books equal ly worthy of mention with those which I have named ; but these are enough to keep you busy for a good while to come. I close with the suggestion of Luther, “ Bene orasse est bene studu issey The Lord give you power in the ministry, and grace to use it. Yours truly, B. M. J. REVIEW OF ~ CORRECTIVE CHURCH DISCIPLINE.” “ Third Plea BY A. S. WORRELL. No. 13. The three ‘Pleas’ which Prof. Mell introduces, would not be noticed furth er, but for the fact there appears to be something like a process of reasoning to defend, particularly the third ‘plea.’ The principles involved in this ‘plea’ have been noticed already, but as he employs the test of analysis to estab lish his views, I propose to apply the same test to some of his arguments. The ‘Plea’ reads thus : ‘Suppose a Church expel a member for joining the Masons or Odd Fellows, or another should expel its members for favoring the Missionary cause, or, if he is a minister, for maintaining that the Gos pel is to be preached to sinners; will it be lawful in these cases, or in either of them, for a neighboring Church to receive the excluded ? Now, if you answer in the affirmative,you, in effect, give the principle up; for you ac knowledge that, for a sufficient cause, one Church may receive the expelled of another.” He then says, “To an swer this question, it must be analy zed and the parts classified under dif ferent heads.” The result of his analysis is the reso lution of the above into two classes— 1. Those who have been excluded for joining the Masons or Odd Fellows; 2. “The other Church expels its member for practising that which he and we believe to be taught in the Scriptures.” This last ‘part,’ though its terms are general,?.B made to exclude such as have been expelled for those things in which anti-Missionaries oppose Mis sionaries. Hence be it observed that the above two classes do not exhaust the cases that may occur. Many oth er cases ot expulsion might arise for different causes, equally as violative of the Scriptures as the exclusion of a member tor ‘favoring the Missionary cause.” A careful reasoner can see nothing more offensive in excluding a member for the above cause, than for the advocacy of other Scripture doc trines. It is, by no means, self-evi dent that an expulsion Ur things about which Missionaries aud anti-Mission aries differ, are the only things that will justify the reception of the exclu ded. More of this anon. Prot. Mell takes the position that those who have been excluded for ‘joining the Masons, or Odd Fellows,’ ought to be received intoother church es. The discussion of this subject is not at all material to the point at hand ; yet I ask, why does Prof. Mell advise this course ; seeing that those who have been excluded for this reason, do not belong to true churches ? The anti-Missionary Church is (if I under stand him,) in his views, not a church. Now, why I ask, 1. Does he recommend the recep tion of those, who have been excluded for ‘favoring the Missionary cause,’ when, according to his teachings,those excluded for joining the Masons or Odd Fellows, ought not to be received into our churches ? Is it because these bodies are not churches,when they ex clude members for ‘favoring the Mis sionary cause,’ and yet remain church es if they exclude them for joining the Masons, &c. ? This doctrine, besides being strange in itself, is quite latal to a position, formerly assumed by the Professor. In what ? Simply in this —it proves that a Church may cease to be a church of Christ, by an improp er usurpation aud exercise of discip line. I wish the reader to note this especially. Ist. That none but anti-Missionary churches exclude members for joining the Masons, or Cdd Fel lows. 2d. That members excluded, by these bodies, for joining the Ma sonic, or Odd Fellow’s fraterni ty, ought not to be received in to Missionary churches. 3d. This ought not to be done be cause it destroys the ‘Church union.’ 4th. That members excluded for‘fa voring the Missionary cause,’ ought to be received iuto Mis sionary churches— -sth. Because the bodies, expelling them, ‘cease to be Bap. church es,’ when they expel a member tor this cause. ‘Now, every one can see that his ar gument proceeds on the supposition, that these bodies are Baptist church es, until they exclude a member for ‘favoring the Missionary cause,’ or for something pertaining to the differen ces between the anti-Missionaries and Missionaries. It follows, therefore, that the exclusion of a member for this cause makes a church no longer a Bap tist church. It is difficult for error to keep out of its ow T n way. But to return, I ask— 2. If these anti-Missionary bodies are not churches, why are those bear ing letters from them, received, with out Baptism, into Missionary church es? All such, if these bodies are not churches, should be baptized, and re ceived into the church as though they had never belonged to any church at all. Why was it that Prof Mell allow ed his church to receive a member, ex cluded from the anti-Missionaries,with out baptism, if he did not regard the body excluding him as having been a Church before passing the act of exclu sion ? It is to be hoped that he will explain this. Let us notiee the second proposi tion— 2. ‘The other church expels its mem ber for practicing that which he and we believe to be taught in the Scriptures” If this class had been made more comprehensive in his application, there would be much less objection to it.— But it will be seen that it is made to contain only those who have been ex cluded ‘for favoring the Missionary cause.’ Why did not Prof. M. show why it is (if indeed it is so,) that those expelled for the above cause, (or for their opposition to Beebeeism,) are the only expelled members who ought to be received into our churches ? Why did he not tell us why it is that we are not at liberty to receive into our chur ches such as have been excluded for ‘practicing’ something else (besides ‘favoring the Missionary cause’) which he and we believe to be taught in the Scriptures? (Conclusion of No. 13 next week.) Once at Wotton, Rowland Hill was preaching in the afternoon, the only time when it seemed possible to be drowsy under him. He saw some sleeping, and paused, saying, “I have heard that the miller can sleep while the mill is going, but if it stops it awakens him. I’ll try this method. Accordingly he sat down, and soon saw an aroused audience. REVIEW OF DR. S. G. HILLYER’S EXPOSITION. BY REV. A. T. HOLMES, D. D. Math. 16, 19 : 18, 18. John 20, 23. (Conclusion of No. 2.) The question may arise, however, whether the exercise of discipline was not included in the authority conferred upon the Apostles, and in the instruc tions given. In answer, it is, sufficient to say, that the purpose of the Savior comprehended all that pertained to the organization and perpetuity of his Church. They received from. Him, explicit direction in regard to one case, to say the least. “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault, between thee and him alone, &c., Mat. 18: 15—17. This was ad dressed to the Apostles, to be observed by them, and handed down, as the rule of conduct by which churches and church members should be gov erned. The exclusion of a member, upon the decision of a church, con forming to this direction, is right, and because it is right, it is approved in Heaven. The authority conferred, in a case of discipline, is measured by the instruction given, and any departure from that instruction, or any neglect of its positive requirement, so far from receiving the sanction of Heaven, nec essarily forfeits that sanction. I can conceive of no act of rebellion more positive in its nature, no expression of contempt more insulting in its charac ter, than the disregard of a church, while dealing with a church-member, of the authority of Him, who claims to be the Great Head of the church. A brother trespassed against, may neg lect or disregard the Divine direction, without implicating the Church; but no sooner is his irregularity counte nanced by the Church, than she be comes u particejps criminisf and so far from having the right to plead the rat ification of Heaven, she stands con demned for her unfaithfulness and pre sumption, before its righteous tribu nal. How dare any man assume the startling position, that prejudice, per sonal vindictiveness, envy, jealousy or any other wickedness is sanctified by the decision of a Church. Let it, then, be admitted that Christ intended to confer authority, in cases of discipline, in connection with other great and im portant duties imposed upon the Apos tles, but, at the same time, let it be un derstood that the authority thus con ferred, is determined by express direc tions, and that in no case, nor in any sense, can an act contravening those directions, receive the approbation of Heaven. The Dr’s. fourth conclusion, howev er, demands further consideration.— “Heaven is pledged,” so it reads, “to ratify the decision of a Church, in a case of- discipline, whether right or wrong.” To ratify, primarily, is to confirm, to establish, to settle, and secondarily to approve, to sanction or make valid. If I understand the Dr., he does not adopt the secondary meaning, and, ac cording to his interpretation, Heaven does not ratify the decision of a Church, so as, in fact to condemn the excluded member, or approve the act of the Church, if the verdict is incor rect or the decision wrong. Nay more, the judgment of Heaven is against the Church, if her decision is wrong, and while the recording Angel, under Di vine direction registers the wrong com mitted, in condemnation of the Church, the Council in Heaven, in accordance with its pledge, ratifies the same. In other words, while Heaven disap proves the action of the Church, and refuses to sanction it, nevertheless it must be established stfd confirmed.— While the Church must be arraigned for the unrighteous procedure, and Justice complains because of the ab solute violation of her claims, a voice from the Throne on High declares that “Heven is pledged, and the act with all its iniquity and abomination must be ratified there, and cannot be invab idated.” Does the scripture admit of such a construction ? Will the God of righteousness thus countenance wrong? Can the blessed Redeemer be a party in such miserable trifling? Right is right, whether the act is per formed in Heaven or on earth, and wrong is wrong, and is so regarded, and will be so treated by Him who cannot do wrong, nor will the deci sions of a hundred Churches, in any sense, whether in Heaven or on earth, obtain the approbation of the God of righteousness. The secret of this strange doctrine of ratification in Heaven, whether the decision of a Church is right or wrong, is revealed in the Dr’s, sixth and sev enth conclusions. It stands out in all its deformity, and may be thus stated. The first Baptist Church in Nashville has excluded Rev. J. R. Graves and some thirty or forty others. Whether justly or unjustly, does not enter into the merits of the case, because, right or wrong, it is improper for any other Church to receive them, and all other Churches are bound to abide by her action. Having read the entire expo sition, this construction is irresistible. Some thought, when the Dr., com menced, that he was about to make a formidable assault upon the Roman Catholic dogma of infallible succes sion. Others supposed that he had discovered a lock, a private lock, hith erto concealed, the key of which had been given to Peter more than eighteen hundred years ago, and that a revela tion would be made, which should har monize all discordant elements, and decide forever all disputed points.— And, verily, the startling development is made. Stand aside, ye friends of justice and of right; be silent, ye ad vocates of an honest and faithful con formity to your Master’s commau is.— Nay, ye sympathisers in Heaven with the oppressed on earth; ye holy be ings of a brighter world, do not pre Bume to interfere, for Graves must die, the decree has gone forth from the Nashville Church, and Heaven and earth must bow to the imperial man date. But, Brother Editor, false premises always lead to false conclu sions. If the major proposition of a simple or categorical syllogism is un true, the conclusion is, of necessity, untrue. For instance, Ml short, corpu lent men are grave and dignified— Falstaff was a short, corpulent man, therefore, Falstaff was grave and dig nified. But the hero of the buck-bas ket, if the “Merry Wives and Wind sor” may testify, was any thing else than grave and dignified. LITERS BOREALES. Number 7. [R. sets out on a summer tour and reaches Waterville—reads a poem there—and then given an interesting sketch of his trip.] Waterville is about 240 miles from Providence, and I reached it by way of Boston and Portland—and between those cities had a pleasant mid-sum mer night at sea. I went to Waterville to read a poem before the Waterville Lit. Societies connected with the college, .and had an opportunity therefore of attending the commencement exercises—speech es—dinner levee and all. I shall be excused from saying anything about the poem, except that it was delivered to a densely crowded house, on a hot night, in the dog-days, and cruellest condition for all, both for poet and pub lic, after an oration of an hour and a half in length. It might have been tolerable verse, and yet not tolerated in such circumstances. There were but half a score of grad uates from the college, and not all of them had a part with exercises of com mencement day. Os the eight speech es one only was worthy of high com mendation—and the rest displayed a dull mediocrity of mind and manner alike. The class did not strike me as doing justice to the reputation of the College and its Faculty. Waterville College is now forty years old, and next to Brown University is the old est Baptist College in the United States. Madison University, it is true, dates from the same year, (1820,) but for a long time it was not a chartered college. The Rev. Dr. Champlin is the present President of the Waterville College, and its Faculty is completely and efficiently organized. Two days given to Waterville, I w r as free for mountain travel, and took the nearest way to the magnificent White Hills of New Hampshire. This was the Grand Trunk Railway, a Canadian institution, but extending, by interna tional arrangements —166 miles in the territory of the United States—viz: from the Boundary Line to Portland. Along the grand iron tra'ck I was borne with speed towards the everlasting hills, over a rugged but most pic turesque region, and chiefly up the valley of the Androscroggin river, which has its source in the Umbagog lake. My first stopping place was Gor ham, 90 miles from Portland, and at the very threshold of the grandest re gion of the White Mountains, only a few miles from the foot, of the mighty monarch, the cloud capped Washington. Those few miles drove I with my fair companions, in a light waggon, and from the Glen at the very base of the great mountain, we saw the giant hills in grand array, with un covered heads, and bathed in the ra diance of the setting sun. The ascent of Mount Washington is the great adventure of the White Mountain tourist, and there is hardly a spot from which the toil is less than from the Glen. At present, the pro jected carriage road is not available for any great distance, but by and by, it will be finished to the very summit, and the ascent will be accomplised in two easy hours. My young fellow travellers were both ambitious but scarcely strong enough to ascend the mountain. More over the weather is so treacherous, that the chances of disappointment are very many to one of clear vision. Mount Washington rises to a height of 6500 feet above the level of the sea, and is the loftiest of the New England hills. It is immediately surrounded by the only less majestic forms of Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson, Mt. Madison and seven other magnificent peaks, the least lofty of which is yet 4000 feet high. Leaving the White Mountain region, we pursued our route by the Grand Trunk railway, to the borders of Can ada, and paused for the Sabbath in a green corner of Vermont, and at the picturesque village of Island Pond, which takes its name from a pretty lake lepclose by, in the centre of which there happens to be a small island.— Many names are bestowed on places with equally little propriety. The spot itself is very charming, and the panorama which the summit of its chief hotel commands is worthy to be chronicled —aye to be sung by the bard. We spent one Sabbath delight fully at the Island Pond House, whose proprieter is a noble-hearted Christian Terms ol Advertising. For all OneDollarper gqtiar® of ten fine* for the first, an% 50 cents per square for all subsequent publications. ! * n * % RATES llflt CONTRACT ADUKTIaING. l square of 10 if*.....®*! 1 oo “ “ 10 lines “ t> 7 00 “ “10 lines “ 1 year 10 00 These lines are the text advertisinglines and the charge is for the space occupied by ten such line 8 as are used in the body of an advertisement. ’ Lob ger advertisementsin the same ratio. N. S., VOL. 28, NO. 38 man, and we are glad to say a Baptist. Let Southern tourists in that region, who love the Sabbath, know of this happy retreat, and by all means seek it out. They will start for Canada on Monday morning, invigorated in body by the physical rest and refreshment of the gladdened by the Sabbath wor ship, to be enjoyed in its single little sanctuary. We certainly had this ex perience. • Me spent two days in the quaint and quiet old city of Quebec, where there is more that is novel and interest ing to a stranger, to be seen in such an interval, than at any other city on this continent. Quebec is all picturesque iuside and outside of its massive walls and impregnable fortress, more than half-Roman Catholic in its prevailing worship—its French churches, and memories are numerous and curious to see. Its fortifications are really grand. Its natural position is magnificent.— Its surrounding scenery is varied and romantic—especially the Mortmorenci Falls and Natural steps, and the Falls of Chaudiere. There is but one Bap tist church there, and that in no very flourishing condition. The Prince was expected in Quebec within a day or two of the time of our visit, and we saw the splendid decora tions of the streets, shops and public buildings—made ready for his recep tion. The interest of the people was actually enthusiastic and expectation was on tip-toe. I did not wish to be in the jostle and press of his progress, and so I hastened from Quebec to Mon treal, which latter although a larger and much wealthier city than the for mer, scarcely interests the visitor as much. There, we saw the Victoria Bridge, the marvel of modern fig i&jftfjpg, and a monument of entej f v 2^i®Bfc^^ftv i >r and now it spans the rence with its ten furlongs of and gives the grand trunk railway an uninterrupted stretch of a thousand miles quite through and through Can ada ! There we saw the sisterhood of the Grey Nuns at their devotions in the quaint chapel of their conv’ :t. — There we saw the magnificent die dral of Notre Dame, (the Fren . Par ish Church,) and altogether ont f the handsomest cities of the western world. Here, too, the Baptist interest is represented by a small church and a very insignificantrhapuL Twenty-five ac. : I visited the known as the Franconia Mountains, on rny homeward route, and spent a very pleasant Sabbath at the magnifi cent hotel at the Notch, called the Pro file House, the most attractive place to my mind in all New England, where to spend a week of August, breathing delicious mountain air, drinking na ture’s beauty, and praising God for “the strength of the hills.” All around this centre are wonders for the eye and ear and heart of the lover of nature, and we left it with reluctance for the renewed labors of life at home. R. ON SENDING CHILDREN TO DANCING SCHOOL. The Presbyterian Sentinel, of Mem phis, speaks as follows: My great objection to sending chil dren to dancing school is that I am persuaded it puts in serious jeopardy their immortal interests. As an amusement it soon becomes exceeding ly attractive, and even absorbing.— Children will neglect their lessons in everything else, but the lesson in dan cing nothing must interfere w !>. The young lady will dance all night, though she sleeps the next day before as a preparation, and the whole of the day i after as a consequence. And then, too, she is brought into a scene of un restrained levity, not to sav of boister ous mirth. And if a word were to be spoken that had the remotest beari.jg upon a serious subject, it would be felt to be sadly out of place. There is, on these occasions, everything to stimu late and exhaust the animal nature; and, I may add, not unlrequently, much to blunt the natural sense of del icacy, without which female character is never really attractive. I think I may appeal to all experience to justi fy me, w T hen I say that the direct ten dency of mingling in such scenes is to cherish spiritual insensibility, and to make religion very distasteful. Quite in harmony with this remark is the fact that whenever a young person, who has been accustomed to attend balls and dancing parties is brought to a serious consideration, that is uni formily the signal for giving up all such amusements. If you were to see a beloved child lying on her death-bed,without any of the consolations of religion, reviewing a life of folly; and anticipating eter nity of misery, would there be any thing to alleviate yonr anguish in the reflection that you had not refused her the advantages of the dancing-school? Mackerel Fishing in Maine —Great Yields. —The Deer Isle fisherman have taken from six to ten thousand barrels of mackerel this season. So says the Ellsworth American. The Eastport Sentinel says: The mackerel still continue abundant, and our people, almost discouraged with the with drawal for some years past of the resources on which the prosperity of the place largely de pends, have again taken courage, and seem de termined to do their part to bring about the “good time coming.”