Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE CHRISTIAN INDEX. SAMUEL BOYT^N,Aiitor. t ■ m? , * ---- ivi^boi^oA. ■4*# —- Wednesday, Sept. 19, 1860, The Unsettled state of the * W ORLD. The present state of the world is remar kable, and calls for the serious considera tion of the church. The Crimean war, short but terrific, originated in the jeal ousy on the part of England and France of Russian aggrandizement on the Bos phorus. The alliance of those two States, for centuries hostile, one Protestant and the other Catholic, was a strange event. The Czar w r as arrested in his march to Constantinople—the Porte was subjec ted, without being strengthened, to Euro pean policy; and England and France re turned from the conquest of Sebastopol, allies in form, but in fact—rivals. Neither then nor now, do we find confidence reign ing between Louis Napoleon, and the Court of St. James. He declared then, and he declares now, that “the Empire is peace,’’ but notwithstanding, adds daily to the already gigantic military and naval strength of France, whilst England re pairs her fortifications, enlarges her navy, and enrolls her militia to meet the exigen cies of the future, whether of defence or aggression. The next act in the world’s drama, is the bloody revolt in India, si lencing the voice of missions, and shaking the very foundations of British domina tion in the East. Then comes the Austro Sardinian French war in the North of It aly, breaking upon the world, with the suddenness and destructiveness of a Cala brian earthquake. The sanguinary fields of Montebello, Magenta, and Solferino, are lost and won. Austria is defeated, but not vanquished. A peace is tendered, and the treaty of Villafranca annexes to Sardinia Piedmont, and other small States of Italy. In a few weeks the Austrian supremacy in the Italian States is thrown oft', the Pope is humbled, and the banner of civil liberty is unfurled where the Hag of despotism had long waved, unchallen ged. Thref Jjhft'f to be noted as re so burvble,/i is the case.’ of this conflict.— cons 7 a true incident jushe head of the will write frequ of the world, _ ."ar childrin, undei mfe with his legions, £•” authority of the Pope, anJrCry cavalierly announces to him, that he is the spiritual head of the church and no more. Second, the excommunica tion of the Pope, for centuries more pow erful than crowns, armies or constitutions, is disregarded—even contemned, in Italy; and third the Bible, under the toleration of that noble gentleman, as well as King, Victor Emanuel, circulates without let or hindrance, from the foot of the Alps, al most to the gates of the Holy City. Again, the heroic ‘Garibaldi, in the ut lorniSn~tyraany, n<T mtVihg re..- rr; mra mWBBBRnrom conquest to conquest, t the people rising almost as one man, to veceive him. Avowing his purpose to march upon Venice, Austria arms to de fend her territory, and once more meas ure strength with France and Sardinia.— Almost contemporaneously with these events occurred the horrible butchery of the pseudo-christians in Syria, and the intervention of France and England.— Revolution within threatens to subvert the Empire of China, whilst the outside barbarians, to wit, England and France, hover upon her coast with powerful arma ments, demanding redress for the past, and indemnity for the future, whilst Ja pan sends to Washington an Embassy of peace, commerce and good will. Such is a mere sketch of the promi nent facts of recent history. % In the mean time the church of God .W -aroused —her leaders are numerous, ‘able and fearless, and her glorious banner is hung upon the outer wall. Revivals are spreading over Sweeden, Denmark, England, Scotland, Irelar 1, and our own Union. The old lC pagan Empires of China and Japan, are I and reluctantly, opening their Sorts to European and American com- and with commerce goes the Bible fcjd-d its civilization. The Turkish Empire, bulwark of Mohomedan delusion, tot ters to its fall. The Crescent, belieing its name, wanes, and must ere long disap pear from the moral heavens. The Cath olic church has lost much of its influence over the minds and consciences of men, and the Pope has at length, lost his power to curse. Civil liberty has gained and is gaining upon her ancient enemies, the Priest and the Sword. The future teems with events involving the interests of Christianity, and the honor of God. What do all of these things portend ? We hope and believe that they are ap pointed agencies for the reformation of the world, and the ushering in of the reign of Christ, over all the earth. We know not what are his purposes, but we do know that God is Sovereign, and that he ordereth all things well. What, in view of the present state of the world, is the duty of the church ? It is clearly this— leave events in the hands of God—pray against all sin and for all good. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,’’ is the prayer for the times. And the work of the church is active co-operation with all that seems, to enlightened faith, to be the will of God. Authority for our “theory.” Some brethren ask us for our authority for the position, that there are some cases in which a church may receive the excluded member of another church. Now this de mand does not seem to us, to come with a good grace from those who assume a po sition which is inconsistent with church in dependence. What is their position?— EJ J— — Why that the decision of one church binds other church. Now, Dr. Dagg,-who is certainly good authority, says on this subject: “Some have regard ed each local church, as acting for the whole body of the faithful: and have in ferred that its acts are binding on every other church. But this opinion is incon sistent with the true doctrine of church independence, and the separate responsi bility of individuals and churches.’’ Since the brethren who oppose our position are attempting to sustain a mere inference which is inconsistent with “true indepen dence and separate responsibility,’’ sure ly upon them rests the burden of proof. We endorse Dr. Dagg’s position—the po sition of Mercer, Meredith, Sands, and generally of the fathers in our denomina tion twenty years ago- It is for those who oppose this generally received opin ion to furnish authority for their “theory.” The case mentioned in Corinthians does not meet their case. That, proves that a church may restore, on his penitence, one whom she has excluded: and it proves no more. About this there is no question. We hold it to be true, that were “all our churches walking in the spirit, sound in faith, correct in order, and careful in discipline,” the decision of one church would be respected by every church, not because it was the decision of a church, but because it was according to the scrip tures. But when a decision is made in violation of the scriptures, it will not be respected by churches who are guided by the scriptures alone, and it ought not to be. There is no appeal to a higher authori ty. An appeal implies revision and trol. There is no revision by the receiv ing church, nor control of the action of the excluding church. The former acts for herself alone, and not for the latter.— There is a remedy for an unscriptural ex clusion, but no appeal. If it be called an appeal, it is not to a higher authority but to equal authority. As however, we wish to be accommo dating, we will refer our brethren to the authority for our “theory.’’ It is abun dant and very familiar to them. It con sists of all those texts of the New Testa ment, which Baptists are accustomed to quote as proofs of church independence. We deem it unnecessary to quote them here. If it is insisted upon, we can do so hereafter. As our position is consistent with the true doctrine of church indepen dence and the separate responsibility of individuals and churches,” of course, all those scriptures which prove that doc trine, prove our position. And on the contrary, the same scriptures disprove the position of our brethren, that the acts of one church are binding in all cases, upon every other church, because their posi tion is with the true doc trine of church independence, and with the separate responsibility of individuals and churches. We hope this will satisfy our brethren as to “our authority for our theory.” If not, they will please excuse us for a time, and attend to the discussion of the sub ject by brethren Baker and Mell, in the columns of the Index. The Household of Bouvirie, OR THE ELIXIR OF GOLD. A ROMANCE BY A SOUTHERN LADY. This is without doubt a very entertain ing novel. It is written in a rigorous, spirited style. Its incidents are numerous and full of exciting mystery. It is high ly dramatic, or rather tragic. We plead guilty to a disrelish of so much and such various horrors. A little strange it is that a Lady should take such an extravagant liking to the tragic muse. In this book we are constrained to ad mire much suggestive matter, and many —very many noble sentiments, but there are things in it that we seriously condemn. And, if the author and other Southern ladies of whom, as writers, we are proud, will hear a kindly word from a kindly critic we would say desist from straining after effect, in the creation of monsters, and portray humanity as it is. There never was so terrific a fiend, in human shape, as Erast us Bouvirie. lie is a caricature of man—absurd—disgusting —revolting. If an authoress means to paint the Devil, very well; but let her call him by his right name. Now Beulah is a book of great intel lectual merit; but who ever saw at the South, a cavilling, doubting, metaphysical, harsh, unfeminine creature like Beulah ! She is not a type of our women. We haz ard the assertion that, be the authoress’ religious opinions what they may, no one, whose opinions are not entirely settled, has arisen from the perusal of Beulah without having his tendencies to doubt increased. And in The Household of Bouvirie wha religious opinions are taught, no one can tell. Our authoress deals pretty largely in theology but her trumpet gives a very uncertain blast. Her Calvinism looks very like fatalism—her atonement very like expiation by human suffering ; and her passport to heaven would seem to be extreme unction. If novelists must needs be religious teachers, in common justice, let them tell us, in clear tones, what they mean to teach; and not leave us to gather from their pages a doubt as to the truth of Christian revelation. We do not object to their teaching the religion of the New Testa ment ; but we commend to them as mod. els in this regard, the novels of the author ess of John Halifax, Gentleman; or ofMiss Warner. A more hopeless task than that assum ed by Miss Evans, of bringing light out of German theological metaphysics, no man or woman ever yet undertook. As well undertake, with a rush-light, to il luminate the gloom of a starless, moonless midnight. No such task is undertaken in the book before us. Our objection to this book, so clearly written, so full of incident ana mystery and entertainment, is, that, whether intended or not, it brings into ques tion some of thefundamental truths of Christi anity. This criticism cannot be evaded by the usual reply, that the authoress not to be judged by what she makes her characters say. The objection lies against the book. The question is, what is its permanent effect ? And if an authoress will discuss theology, she is responsible as a teacher of infidelity, if she leaves the discussion just where its effect is to weaken faith in the truth as taught by the Son ofGod.— And when a book, which produces such effects, is likely to be placed in the hands of many of our youug people, it becomes us, as faithful watchmen upon the walls of Zion, to give the note of alarm. What the regular Baptists of the United States are doing. The above question we asked ourself and then sat down, and with the aid of of ficial reports made out the following: They are supporting 44 missions, 192 stations and 1254 out-stations. They have in their employ, 480 regular mission aries, and 538 native missionaries. They maintain 473 missionary churches, which have a membership of 31,934, of whom 7291 were baptized during the last year. The regular Baptists have in the United States a membership of over 1,020,000, and they contributed to our various ben evolent organizations during the last year, $447,653,56, and reckoning those contri butions that were made for other benevo lent purposes, the Baptists of the United States contributed during the last finan cial year, $500,000,00, which is about 50 cents each. In 1813 the first missionary society was formed, and $980.22 were raised the first year. Adoniram and Luther Rice were the only missionaries. They had no reli gious literature, not more than one or two colleges and no theological institution. In addition to what has been given above, there are 5 publishing establish ments on a large scale, owned by Baptists that issue annually an immense amount of denominational and religious matter. The Baptists publish also 21 monthly periodi cals, and 33 weekly denominational pa pers ; and they possess and sustain 34 col leges and 14 theological institutions.— 277 ministers were ordained in their com mission in 1859, and 279 new churches were instituted. The whole number of ordained ministers is 7837, and churches, 12371 —exhibiting an average member ship of 83, or about one minister to every two churches. Counting missionary baptisms and those reported in the U. S., there were bap tized in one year 79,371, and adding mis sionary churches to those in our country, there are 12,844 —ministers 8,316 —mem- bers 1,052,876. Revision. The Bible Union is hastening towards its final mission. Dr. Hackett has com pleted the preliminary revision of Gala* tions. Dr. Conant is working hard on Matthew. (We have not received a copy of that part of Matthew published,) and will add to it a most valuable appendix. “In this Appendix Dr. Conant classifies every case of the use of the Greek word baptizo (/3arri<?w), not merely where it occurs in the original sacred writings, but also in the writings of Greek authors, so far as they have come down to us. For more than a quarter of a century, he has been collating the examples, as his read ing and teaching led him to discover in stances of the use of this word. The au thors whose testimony is analyzed in this appendix lived, some of them, from 200 to 300 years before Christ, others in the Apostolic age, and others still along down to the close of the age of Greek literature. Dr. Conant is thus enabled to determine its use and meaning beyond a doubt or a perad venture.’’ The Union is in need of help; and it does seem most appropriate in all the friends of a true version to help now when we seem almost to be “ sweeping within the gates, to the possession of the great boon so long and so anxiously an ticipated.” Georgia. In Georgia there are 95000 regular Baptists ; these gave to their missionary operations last year $17,121,41 or 19 cts. each, on an average. $20,000 were repor ted to our Convention as contributed to benevolent operations, which is 21 cents each, on an average; but the regular Baptists of Georgia really gave to ben evolent objects last year $25,000, which makes the annual average contribution of each member amount to the round sum of 26 cents. A Missionary. We received a letter lately from which we publish this extract, in order to let our read ers know that the missionary spirit is not dead in Georgia, as the writer is Georgian: September 3rd, 1860. Dear Bro. Boykin : “I have recently suffered a great deal of anxiety and thought in reference to the Afri can mission. It appears that the Lord has directed or appointed me, to go to that be nighted people which for a long time I have tried to avoid. But recently I have been able to resolve to go anywhere that the Lord shall direct me. Believing that Africa is my appointed field, I write this to you as a private letter, hoping that you can tell me how I may obtain the means which may carry me to, and sustain me in that distant land.” Mistake. “The Christian Index , (Ga.) says : “Let ev ery Baptist send for Worrell’s Review of Mell.”— Ttnn. Baptist. There is some error in the above. Perhaps some other paper than the Index was intended, in the quotation above. H. J. W Your verses will appear. Her time was out a little while back. ( COMMUNICATIONS. * Reminiscences of Georgia. Number 10. church independence. As intimated in aprevious article, some associations maintained that they pos sessed higher powers than churches, be cause in them was the collected wisdom of the denomination. But the Savior’s di rections in the 18th of Matthew, “Tell it in the church” w ith the expositions of the “Index,’’ gave a quietus to the whole sub ject. The adversaries quailed under the truth as expounded, ceased their opposi tion to Bible teachings. If the divine rule had been, if the church does not de cide to suit, then report it to the Associa tion, Conference, Bench of Bishops, or Assembly, the case would stand very dif ferently: but the church is the highest ec clesiastical power on earth, unless as many do, you deny Jesus Christ to be the only lawgiver in Zion: then you are out at sea without chart or compass, for one ap peal to other judicatories, does not satis fy the parties; frequently the highest court coincides with the church after years of trouble, vexation and expense: but when you reach that final decision, you have put yourself out of Christ’s pro tection, since you have appealed to one never constituted by divine direction: the individual church is the only court es tablished by the Savior. The church uni versal or denominational could never as semble to adjudicate: hence the local church must be the only power to which Christ entrusted cases of discipline, ad justment of differences. The Georgia Association opposed the acts of some other bodies on this question of church rights, maintaining that they had trampled upon the internal privileges not allowed. She defended the senti ment that no member could be received or dismissed by letter, by a bare majori ty : others that this was lawful in some cases. But see what confusion must en sue : the letter is a falsehood if all do not agree in the vote—the applicant is not dis missed in fellowship, if some object. One association declared her opinion that a church had required more confession of some members returning for restoration than she ought: thus reviewing the acts of the church as a higher authority. The reception of excluded persons into another church is not sanctioned by Bi ble teachings. Instances of exclusion are found in New Testament, but no record that any other church tried to shield them from the ignominy or confession of their wrong : such interference would occasion heart-burnings and separate very friends. “But suppose one has been wrongfully excluded ?” You have no authority to interfere only by advice and entreaty: you can not arraign the act of the inde pendent church and set aside her deci sions: you must acquiesce and bear till the excommunicate is in a suitable frame to be restored. “But he never will be under such unjust treatment:’’ your in ference is a pretty good evidence, that you have no confidence in his Christianity. “But are a church’s decisions infalli ble ?” No—judicial decisions are not in fallible : but they must stand until you appeal to a higher court, and it reverses: but as the Bible knows no higher court on earth than a church of Jesus Christ; so no body can correct the supposed error except the church that committed it.— “Then a man must be under censure all his life; and that unjustly.” Deliver me from my friends was the remark of a shrewd man : were it not for their inter ference officiously, real Christians exclu ded through misunderstanding, would soon be restored. Testis. Bible and Colporteur Report. Waymarks for August. Penfield, Ga., Sep. 1, 1860. Freeman’s Creek, Clark county, Ga., is an old church. They have anew house and are in a flourishing condition. Spent a few days with them. The church and congregation gave me S2O 00 to make Rev. J. M. Stillwell, (their pastor,) a Life Member of the Bible and Colporteur So ciety. Long will I remember the kindness of the people here, and at Bethabara, Clark County, Ga. The'friends of the Bible and Col. cause at this church, gave me $ll,OO towards making their pastor, Rev. D. H. Moncrief, a Life Member. I labored at this place pleasantly a few days. God has wonder fully blessed the people here, for the last few years. Their house of worship is not as large, nor as good as it should be, when we consider the intelligence and strength of its growing people. Mars Hill Church, Clark co., Ga. I staid one night with brother Langford, their pastor. They have anew and neat house of worship. Beneath the surface on this beautiful hill, sleeps the bodies of many of my. friends and relatives. Among them is my own dear father. Here, too, I first united with God’s people, and was baptized in A. D. 1835. Sister E. V. B. a member of this church, paid me $15,00 which completes her instalments, to make her a Life Member of our Society. Long may she live, and enjoy the privilege of doing good. Alpharetta is the county seat of Milton county. It has a Baptist church, but they have no house. We preached in their new and beautiful Court House. This is a very handsome little village. I hope the Baptist may soon be able to erect a house for God. Hightower Association met at Union Hill, Forsyth county, on the 10th ult. Rev. A. Webb was re-elected Moderator, and Rev. F. M. Hawkins, Clerk. This body is classed among the missionary associations • yet they do but little in the mission cause. No people in Georgia, (I think,) so much underrate | their strength as these* They complain of poverty, yet they have good houses, good farms and other good things. Bethel Camp-Meeting, Forsyth co. I attended this camp meeting. Receiv ed $8,50 towards'making old bro. King a Life Member of our Society. The young people, (greatly to their credit,) paid the most of the sum named above. Much good was done at this meeting. Crossyille, Dawson co. I spent a few hours at this place. One brother gave SIO,OO for the Bible cause. It would be a pleasant thing to be an A gent, if the country was filled with such people as I saw here. Canton was my home 13 years ago. Oh ! what changes in so short a time. In 1847, I taught school in the Academy here. We then had about 100 pupils. I visited the school now kept in the same house, it also has about 100 pupils. Only three of the present 100 were in my school. The oth ers have all gone. Some to other schools, some to active life, aud alas! others to their long homes. 1 saw many of my old friends, and it was truly to me a pleasant visit. The Baptist have a quiet little church here. Dahlonega has a Baptist church, but no pastor. Re ceived here for my cause $2,00. We had a very pleasant meeting at night. Long will ray traveling friend, and I, remember the kindness of brother Martin and bro. and sister Todd, also Miss Todd. Clarksville is an old town, without any Baptist influ ence. The people are, however, a neat, civil church going people. I preached to a large and interesting congregation, in the Methodist meeting house. Clarksville Association met at Camp Creek church, on Friday 24th ult. Rev. T. M. Kimsay was elec ted Moderator, and S. Sisk, Clerk. This body is doing but little in missions. It is nevertheless a flourishing and interesting collection of God’s people. They are warm in the reception ot agents. The congregation gave S3,GO to aid the Bible and Tract cause, most of which was given by the children. May the Lord bless them, Tuccoa Falls, in Habersham, is as its name would indi cate, a beautiful scene. It is the sudden leap of a medium size creek, over a per pendicular rock to the depth of 180 feet. It falls into a basin below in a beautiful shower. Tallula Falls is on Tallula River, just on the line of Ra bun and Habersham counties. Tallula is an Indian word for terrible, and truly the Tallula Falls are terrible. The river is, on an average, about 50 feet wide and 2 deep, The chasm at the Falls is about 6 miles long. The falls, five in number, are confined to one mile. The other five mil es, are made up of rapids. The fall of the river, in one mile, is about 400 feet, though no fall is more than 60 feet. The grandeur ot the Tallula consist principally in the great chasm made between the op posite banks of the river, and through which it runs. I first saw the river, from the top of its Southern bank, a height of 1,200 feet, the opposite side was 1,500 feet. The wall on each side of the foam ing, roaring, glittering and restless wa ters are nearly perpendicular. Though by the help of our energetic pilot, Master Bonus Melior Optemus Beale, J. Eliot Haygood (my son) and I descended from our dizzy height to the river in three pla ces. Rev. Mr. Hawthorn was drowned here while bathing in A. D. 1837. More anon. F. M. Haygood. Old Choctaw Agency, Aug. 22, ’6O. Dear Brother Boykin : The camp-meetings this year have be gun with interest amongst the Creeks.— Councils and money payments do not now attract the people’s attention so much for the very good reason that there is no mon ey to pay. In the Ottussee town, a few weeks since, I assisted in quite an interesting campmeeting. Three were received and immersed —one anew convert, one a Methodist exhorter and class leader, and one a Presbyterian. The Presbyterian, a woman, said she had long wanted to be immersed, but that the Presbyterians told her if she was she would have two brands upon her,(the Creeks brand all their cat tle,) one the Lord’s brand (the Presbyte rian) the other the Devil’s (Baptist.) Two weeks after I held a meeting in the Hitch-it-tee town and met again with much opposition. The whole town were Methodists, except five persons. I had no interpreter but conducted the meeting as well as I was able for three days—not one soul who could understand one word of English. We received three and I im mersed two —both Methodist. One man abused me very much and threatened to whip me if I immersed his wife, who had given in. I told him she wanted to obey the Saviour’s command aud follow His example, and that I should immerse her, which I did without fear or molestation. At Hlop-hlok-ko town we witnessed a humiliating and saddening sight—two of our members, whom we thought strong and faithful, under the influence of intox icating liquor. The seducing ‘bitter wa ter’ had done a sad work. My interpre ter met the wife of one of the men some distance from the camps. Said he, ‘Sister, take courage, and pray God to bring your husband back into the path of duty.’ She replied, ‘Yesterday I was packing up my things at home to come to the meeting when all at once my husband entered, ran me off the place and then threw eve rything in the world we had in the house in the fire said she, ‘What you see me now have on my back is everything I have in the world.’ There are some ‘pale faces’ who will have a fearful account to answer in a coming day. Crops are almost entirely cut of m the Indian and surrounding country. Many* very many of the Indians have not made five bushels of corn. Suffering has already begun and we dread the coming winter and spring : the Lord knows all things and He only knows what is to become of many poor people here. The gardens made nothing, the fields nothing and the prairies are burned up. Cattle and stock ot all kinds are suffering severely. The day before yesterday I received from Bro. Buckner a published copy of his sermon preached in commemoration of the death of my now sainted wife,Mrs. X. E. Murrow. Truly do I return thanks for those ‘words of comfort,’ like cool water to a thirsty soul. The little book is pub lished by the Southern Bap. Pub. Society, and in very neat style, and has a tolerably correct engraving of the loved subject of the sermon.- May the Lord bless my dear brother and make him long useful to his fellow creatures. To all whom it may concern : There is an old Seminole man with ten children, a Christian and good man—a very fair preacher and loved by all who know him. He is useful and labori ous and could do much good if he did not have to work very hard for a large family. If some Association, Church or individual would adopt him as missionary, and give him SI,OOO a year to support himself and family, I feel honest in saying he would be very useful to the cause of religion. I expect to mention him to the Marion Board —who will pledge his support ? Or if any one wishes to support him indepen dently of that truly useful body, just say so and that can also’ be equally easily ef fected. lam after the good to be done, brethren ; I don’t care a rush what means you employ. Unworthily, J. S. MURROW. Central Ass’n. Mass Meeting. This was a body of great moral power and efficiency, but it is intimated that it has deteriorated—lost its energy—that it is missionary in name not in fact. I think madam Gossip will have to shut her slan derous mouth after the meeting, and eat her own words. A crisis has arrived and she sees that she must do or die; for hav ing resolved to sustain a missionary in an uncultivated field, it will be neeessary for her to put forth energies that may have been slumbering, because no special ob ject of magnitude was in her purview. But if only a part contributed, when our crops were abundant and our fields groaned under harvests; will not a failure ensue in this year of drought and scarcity? This is the very time to test the geniune ness of our love to Christ’s cause. Many give when money is plenty in order to giatily their pride; now it will be a sacri fice, and show our solicitude for the salva tion of sinners. Inspiration chooses to name the church es of Macedonia, on which God had be stowed a peculiar kind of grace, the grace of liberality and to hold them up as a model for our imitation. Though in deep poverty, persecuted and cruelly trea ted by their enemies, their contributions were really beyond supposed ability ; for it may be, the Lord magnified them as He did the loaves with which He fed the hungry multitudes. Let us, brethren, pray for the same kind of grace that ren dered the churches of Macedonia so fa mous and so useful. We need it to prove the reality of our religion and if we have lost the zeal of earlier years, to re-imbue us and start us anew in the path of duty. Though their “poverty” was “deep,’’ probably despoiled of their house-hold goods, it overflowed in the riches of their liberality. They did not excuse them selves, as the apostle feared, but contrib uted liberally, when they were in want of all earthly things. This paradox is like that which represents a poor widow, who with two unites, had surpassed in her contribution, all the rich Pharisees. There are single members in our asso ciational bounds that could buy out all the brethren in the Macedonian churches “bag and baggage,” and yet have enough yearly income to sustain a missionary in the foreign field during life. Some would do it, but dislike to deprive others of a precious privilege. Let us all be present at the mass meeting and take stock in this glorious enterprise. Need individ uals be named? If Madison, Antioch, Providence, Harmony, Blountville, Mil ledgeville and others be well represented and the Holy Spirit be present to bestow the grace of liberality and every mem ber be engaged in prayer for the consum mation of the object; the meeting will be one of joy and gladness and the remem brance of former seasons, of early sessions will melt every heart and moisture every eyA The Lord grant it all. A MEMBER. Missionary Colporteur Report. Dear Brother Boykin : As Colporteur for the Washington As sociation, I have been visiting several churches and find many in prosperous conditions. The brethren and friends around the Ohoopie church have built a very nice and comfortable house of worship which will be dedicated by bro. C. W. Stevens on the first Sabbath in October. The brethren at Horeb, are erecting a very comfortable building. This is, per haps, one of the most flourishing churches in this Association ; and, by the by, are devising liberal things for brother and sis ter Stone. We cannot forbear speaking of a visit we paid brother Pannall at Deoharts.— The meeting was continued from Friday before the third Sabbath in August for nine days. Thirteen were received by ex perience, and others expected next meet ing. But without any doubt we enjoyed our self at Long Creek, Warren county, better than we have in many a day before. The meeting was protracted ten days with very happy results; nineteen were added by baptism and ttto restored. Bro Dug gan, the pastor ot the church, with broth er Veazy of Mississippi, and myself, labor ed through the meeting, brethren Verde rey, Cain and Camp, remaining with us a part of the time. The church was much revived, and we hope much ‘bread cast upon the waters to be gathered up many days hence.’ There is a meeting of some interest go ing on in Riddleville, at this time. O. C. POPE, Jr. The Law Demanded. The Arkansas Baptist avers that “the reception of excluded members islawful— not always expedient.’’ Where is the law ? It may be found in the Statistics of Pope John, of Henry VIII, of Mary or in the New England Blue Laws. If in the Bible, the only Book of Laws acknowledged by Baptist, it is hard to find. Old Dr. Miller used to say, “I assure you, my friends, there is as much proof for sprinkling as for immersioD now the opinion of the Arkansas Baptist is to be classed in the same category. It may be found in the same chapter that recognizes the authority for two churches to commune together at the Lord’s table, and chides, with want of liberality, those who do not see the example ; that too, when only one denomination was known ; for in primitive times, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” only was in vogue. I find reception of members, letters of commendation, exclusion by majority, and restoration by the Corinthian church ; but no account or hint that a church could receive into membership, persons exclu ded by another church. The proof, the law, must be furnished by our brother of Arkansas. When he shall do it, we prom ise to make the amende honorable for cal ling in question his superior judgment in disciplinary measures. LEIDA. Apostolic Baptism. Waymarks to Apostolic Baptism ; or Historical Testimonies demonstrating the original form of the Rite, as ordain ed by our Lord, and administered by his holy Apostles. New York: Sheldon & Cos., 1861. Rev. Dr. Boyce, writes thus of this new book. Greenville, S. C., ) May 23, 1860. f Messrs. Sheldon <fc Cos. The Waymarks has many excellences and is well worthy of general circulation. It seems to have been carefully proposed and that too by one who seeks original sources of information. It might have been much enlarged, but I can scarcely see how the author could have used to greater advantage the space he has taken up. Let me suggest to you however that the title is not sufficiently descriptive of the book —Waymarks of Baptism, would have been better—especially on the cover. Yours truly, JAMES P. BOYCE. DESCENT INTO A COPPER MINE. - A correspondent of the Journal of Com merce on a visit to the Lake Superior Copper regions, make the following note of a descent into Quincy mine: We now stood before an opening, say ten feet square, which appeared like an unfathomable abyss. A cool draught of air ascended, bearing fumes of burnt powder. For a depth of say thirty feet, objects were discernible; but at that point day-light was displaced by pitchy darkness. Is it cowardice to confess that one shrinks from trusting himself to such a fabric as that frail wooden ladder leading downward to unknown depths ? But there was no re treat. After proceeding a few fathoms, can dles were lighted, the Captain placing his in front of his hat, by the use “of an adhesive clay. Clinging to the ladder with a more tena cious grasp, the descent was resumed toward the first ten-fathom level, which was the first of three dismal galleries all having the same general features, but seperated from each other by intervening layers of rock sixty feet thick. All external objects were now lost to view, while the dripping rock seemed to close upon us in a cold, chilly embrace, as though we were ugon the very precincts of the grave ; the sharp clicking of hammers became more audi ble, and whiffs of smoke from subterranean blasts ascended by the upward current of air, so that we were compelled to feel our way into the thick darkness, which the glimmerin can dle only served to make visible. The sur rounding walls of rock, on close inspection, were seen to be coated with a heavy blue mould, slimy to the touch. But in due time, the solid bottom was reached, and we stumbled over loose fragments of stone along a horizon tal passage (termed a level, or gallery, or drift, each designation being appropriate.) There was hardly space to stand upright. Plank for hand barrows were laid along the bottom, and through the murky atmosphere could be dimly seen a long line of feeble lights, stuck upon the walls of the copper vein, to guide the labors of gangs of miners as they toiled with hammer and drill. The place might have been mistaken for the abode of Vulcan, or for Pandemonium it self, as every vault and recess echoed with an unearthly din. The many huge timbers see - .? overhead, (explained to be the floors which supported large masses of superincumbent rock, or rather the refuse of abandoned cham bers,) added nothing to our sense of security. To be sure, these timbers must eventually de cay and fall; but by that time, laborers would occupy other sections of the vein. As we advanced, there occurred openings to the right and left, to connect parallel passages]; and occasionally there were trap-doors almost directly in our path, leading to almost intermi nable depths. But the undaunted Captain, fix ing his light upon a stick and moving it slowly over the rocky walls, disclosed a surface ail brisfing with spires of pure copper. The phe nonr enon was to him a subject of infinite satis faction, for it was evidence that the tens of thousands of dollars which had been expended under his direction might all be returned, with a magnificent surplus of earnings. While en gaged in these contemplations, everv light was extinguished in an instant, and a fearful explo sion reverberated along the rocky labyrinth. A mass of copper had been thrown‘from* its bed in the ordinary course of things ; so the circum stance was scarcely noticed. Matches were drawn, and labor resumed as before. In other levels, the scene presented was only a repetition of what we have just described, only that as the day advanced the smoke occasioned* by blasting grew more dense, but without serious annoy’- ance. The Captain remarked that diseases of the lungs were prevalent among miners, espe cially where less care is taken to secure proper ventilation. Rhuematic complaints are also common. But for all these, as for casualties of whatever description, the miner provides a fund —each single man paying fifty cents per month and married men one dollar, to secure medical attendance. This is very essential, for only yesterday an unfortunate man had his leg whip ped off in a trice, by being caught in the coils of a chain attached to a bucket and steam-engine to hoist mineral. We emerged from the mine after being under ground about half a day, having been exceed ingly interested in the various processes of ex tracting mineral, and more deeply impressed than ever with the richness lavished by Omnip otence in building up these “everlasting hills.”