Newspaper Page Text
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
SAMUEL-BOYKIN, Editok.
-—’ „ ■
powek p^,
Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1860,
Contents of this Paper.
review of “The Supper Institution,” by Flem-
P-
To the Brethren of the Bethel Bap. Association.
Things demanding Reform among Baptists.
Incidents of Travel.
Elder Strange on Settling Church Difficulties.
Sabbath Schools.
Youths’ Department.
Weekly Chat with the Little Ones.
It means Je3us ; “or the Pearl of Great Price.”
Japanese Little Folks.
A Lesson the Grave of Christ.
Election —does it lead to Carelessness?
A notice of Elder Crowell’s Reply.
Singular state of the Baptist Denomination.
The Washington Association.
Peace, or Strife Deprecated.
Body before mind and soul ; or a man will neg
lect, &c.
How he got him.
Looks like a Gambler.
Yery well, I thank jqu.
“Are yer gwine now ?”
Columbian College.
Our Philadelphia Letter.
Ordination.
Editorial Summary.
Revival Summary.
A. Richardson to his old friends.
Immediate action recommended in regard to
brother Campbell.
Poetry.
Dufavel’s Adventure.
Special Notices.
Married.
Died, &c., &c.
Election—Does it lead to Care-
LESSNESS.
DIALOGUE.
Arminus. It is clear to my mind that
if I know I was one of the elect, I should
indulge in sin, I should give license to my
passions, and live careless and indifferent
in regard to appearances and consistency.
Calvanist. This would be the clearest
evidence that you are not of the elect, and
that the holiness was never engen
dered in your heart. The elect cry day
and night unto God ; but while gratifying
you could not pray
K
in’ i- ciTtah; <■: 1.!-
‘■ t-. U'-.ik ‘
gBHHmSpKKPith tear and trembling, lie
and watchful. A man, it
elected, will be like a lazy servant, play
all the time, when he can escape detec
tion.
C. Does a sure title to property render
the owner negligent about improving it,
and careless whether it produce large
crops ?
A. Certainly : so in religious matters,
if I were certain of my salvation as you
elect folks I should not live so
*
H|
.- wg
all in
rs always indicates
carefulness ?
A. Mr. M. has been in law for 10 years
because of a defective title to his planta
tion : he has had uo heart to improve it
and keep up his fences: but mine is good
as the Bank—the title is indisputable, and
I am safe in making improvements.
G. Would not this illustration apply in
religious matters? If a warrantee title to
land makes the owner careful, and in
duces thrift and gives encouragement to
labor ; why not in things that pertain to
the soul ? I know a town near the Oco
nee in this fetate, which for 20 years was
a piteous sight—raggs stuffed into the
t egan to
i"-
• u ’
“II tI.C t.i‘• ■"i ll!l
uru . < \ . I; liu;;i .ud ,
l H “ rt -‘ t ‘ive the force “t your
HHHcion.
If I furnish argument, elucidation, I
IK. not bound to supply comprehension ;
it seems to me, the lesson to be learn
ed is this : as he who holds a title to land
is defective, unsafe, which may be
from him any day, will not im
prove it, but let it go to ruin ; so he who
embraces a system of religion where the
title is bad, which he may lose any hour,
will not esteem it very highly: it will set
loosely upon him because of the uncer
tainty.
A. Certainty always stifles effort, and
this election does.
C. Brother A, suppose an angel should
descend upon the mast of a ship, and as
sure all the passengers and the crew, that
the vessel and all on board would be lost,
except fve ; would any remit effort, would
not each engaged, each be anxious to save
life, in the hope that he was of that num
ber five ? The certainty of the safety of
five would give energy to all: but if they
were told that some might be saved, but
it was doubtful, it was uncertain ; would
not this repress solicitude and produce
despair ? The promise that five should
escape the auticipated catastrophe would
nerve the arm to labor and to suffer in or
der to escape a watery grave.
A. Brother C, we see differently. I
am sure election is a dangerous doctrine ;
for when I believed in it, I was not halt
so good a Christian as I now am.
C. Is it not possible that you look at it,
not as the Bible makes it, but through
spectacles of greenish hue ? Elections se
cures the salvation of some, therefore its
tendency cannot be evil: you misunder
stand its merits and excellencies.
Lotteries.
We have received another circular from
Bangs & Cos.. Lottery Managers. We warn
our readers against them. Lotteries are not
only swindling, but sinful operations.
A notice bit Elder Crowells Re*
PLY.
’
Our readers will recollect that a ques
tion “What shall we do ?” was asked of
Elder Crowell, by a writer in the Index,
when he announced that a minister who
had been found guilty of gross immorali
ty and excluded from the church “denied
the right of the church to try him and re
fused to deliver up his credentials.’’
We give brother Crowell’s reply below:
REPLY.
“We regret the difficulty to which our
Florida brother alludes, and will gladly
do all in our power to relieve it. But,
we must first plead not guilty to the
charge of having “unchained a tiger.” On
the contrary, we think that our Florida
brethren have let the tiger out. of the
cage, and that it is their business to cage
him.
“The reference to our book, is, we sup
pose, to that Section in the “Manual”
which treats of the proper course to be
followed in the trial of a minister charged
with delinquency. We believe the doc
trine there laid down to be true, nor have
we ever met with any attempt from any
Baptist writer, to refute it. The case in
Florida is not a solitary one. Ministers
have denied the right of a single church
to annul their ordination “by the hands
ot the presbytery,’’ long before our book
was written ; and they will continue to do
it. A church can take away only what
she conferred.
‘ ‘What shall we do?’ you inquire. Do
this. Let the church of which the disor
derly minister is a member, invite a good
ly number of neighboring churches to
send their pastors, with one or two breth
ren, to meet them in council, to investi
gate the case of this minister, and to in
quire and determine whether he has for
feited his office and standing as a minister
of the Gospel. Let this council combine
as much experience, wisdom, and weight
of character as possible. Let the church
appoint some competent person or per
sons, to prepare the charges, and arrange
the proofs.
“Let the minister be cited to appear,and
be seasonably furnished with a copy ofthe
charges. Let the council organize at the
time and place appointed, investigate
all the charges and proof thoroughly,
and if they find that he is guilty of acts
which render him unworthy of the office
of the ministry, let them so decide, and
publish their decision, if necessary, to the
world. Let the church to which he be
longs (he being now a private member)
take up the case, i. e., if they see cause to
review their former action, and if they
find him unworthy of fellowship as a mem
ber, let them exclude him.
“If he bows to the decision of the coun
cil, gives up his certificate of ordination,
and promises not to pass himself off as a
preacher, it will not be necessary to pub
lish. If he refuses to appear before the
council, let them proceed to investigate
and decide as if he were present.
“If the church in Jacksonville will take
this course, in good faith and earnest
prayer, this man will no longer pretend
‘that he has never been lawfully deposed
from the ministry.’’
To Elder Crowell’s reply we will add a
few words. He says, “A church can take
away only what she conferred.” True,
but what does she confer ? We affirm that
the church confers; ministerial character
and consequently she can take it away.—
Dr. Crowell maintains that she does not
confer ministerial character and hence
cannot take it away.
Let us see. Who decides that the
member, who subsequently becomes a
minister, is called by the Holy Spirit to
the work? The church. Who licenses
the Minister ? The church. Who decides
that he is qualified for the pastoral office ?
The church. Who invites the Presbytery
to ordain ? The church. Upon what au
thority does the assembled presbytery
proceed to act? That of the church. —
Where are the minutes of the presbytery
recorded ? On the books of the church.
Surely then, the church confers upon her
member his ministerial character. The
presbytery acts as her agent, and what
she does by her agent she really does her
self.
The ministerial character stands upon
the foundation of a consistent and regular
church standing. When this foundation
is removed the ministerial character comes
toppling to ruin and desolation. The
church called no Council to give church
standing, on which rests the pastoral char
acter, and she needs no Council in taking
away church standing. When, therefore,
she excludes for grossly immoral conduct
she destroys ministerial and pastoral stan
ding. It is folly to talk of calling a Coun
cil to decide on a man’s worthiness, or
otherwise, for the ministry, when the
church has excluded him from member
ship. No Council can interfere with the
independent action of the church in dis
ciplining, excluding, and thus deposing
her minister.
We opine that the Jacksonville church
will not adopt his advice. She has acted,
and she will not rescind her acts unless
convinced that the excluded was innocent.
Bro. Crowell does not reach the gist of
the query which is : Your doctrine, in its
results, is so evil that it is like an unchain
ed tiger, spreading devastation ; what
shall we do ? Snbmit to your views ?or
repudiate them and maintain that a church
has the right to try and exclude all her
guilty members and thus even deposed
her own pastor from the ministry, and that
they who are found guilty, are bound to
submit ?
Our Missionaries.
A perusal of the last Home and Foreign
Journal convinces us that the missions under
the care of our Boards are in a healthy state.
We earnestly advise all our readers to sub
scribe for the Home and Foreign Journal 25
cents, and The Commission $1,50.
Address A. M. Poindexter, or J. B. Tay
lor, Richmond, Ya.
Singular State of the Baptist De*
NOMINATION. APPEAL IN HEHALF OF
BROTHERLY LOVE.
Professedly we all love one another
and can take each other to ourhouses and
homes; but in the papers we are arrayed
hostilely against each other. Why is all
this ? Is it because Baptists are not yet
agreed upon principles ? that they are a
like in name only ? and that it requires
discussion to disclose opposite views, re
veal the truth and establish principles ?
This certainly is the aim and object of
discussion; and when it achieves such
victories it is a real blessing. But the
difficulty seems to be that no one permits
himself to be convinced: either partizan
ism or pride of opinion prevails to such an
extent, that many regard with a hostile
eye those of diverse sentiments, and en
shroud themselves tighter than ever in
the mantle of pre-formed opinions or con
firmed prejudices. Strange it is, that
when our friends differ from us, we re
gard them bitterly, and when they oppose
our prejudices we no longer regard them
as friends. It is an old adage that when
brothers fall out, the feud is a fierce one.
What, then, is to be done ?
O, thou God of heaven, show thy peo
ple the way wherein they should walk. —
abroad thy love in their hearts and
let them see that if they will permit this
love to control their thoughts, their words
and their pens, that the peace of God will
rule in their bosoms, aud variance and
strife be banished forever.
And now, in the name of God, we say
to the Baptists of the South, “We ought
to love one another.”
And we call upon each one of them in
dividually, in the name of high heaven, to
look into his own heart aud see how much
true brotherly love is wanting, and ask
himself the reason. We invoke all the
majesty and power that clings around the
word Love, and in view of the want of
good-feeling that lifts its hideous head in
our denomination, we ask each one to ex
amine his own heart and demand of him
self the interrogatory, How much of the
fault is mine ?
Brethren, may God show you the right,
where there are honest differences among
you; but, oh, where ye entertain hard
thoughts and deal out hard speeches,how,
in the name of the blessed Redeemer, can
ye hope to die in peace, or joyfully to
greet one another on Jordan’s farther
shore? No mediating committees are
there. Sad, sad, it is that there be need
for such love ; and more sad, that they so
often utterly fail in their good offices.—
Brethren, we have one Master and should
all rightly be brethren, in deed and in
truth. O, if it is possible to harmonize the
clashing elem &lil? of our denomination,
let it be done. Let brethren meet and
consult and pray for this single object,
aud let the far off heathen, to whom we
send the Gospel of Peace, no longer have
it in their power to say, In vain do ye
send us the Gospel of Peace, when ye ex
emplify it not in your own actions.
0, brethren, could the poor Indian but
witness the discussio is that rage among
the professed followers of the meek and
lowly Lamb of God, in our own Denomi
nation, think you that they would permit
the words of our devoted missionaries to
affect their hearts and bring them to con
trite repentance ?
Then let us from this time forth enter
tain charitable feelings towards each oth
er, and unite more heartily in the spread
of the Gospel,and make more sacrifices for
its success, and pray more for one another,
and strive harder against the pride that
kills brotherly love and thus, surrounding
the altar of brotherly love and Gospel
success, sacrifice upon it every thing that
militates against the true peace of God
and the honor of his glorious name.
God grant that the time were come
when nothing should be done through
strife or vain glory; but that in lowliness
of mind, each should esteem others better
than themselves, and do all things with
out murmurings and disputings, that we
may all be blameless and harmless, the
sons of God, without rebuke in the midst
of a crooked and perverse nation.
The Washington Association.
Introductory Sermon — Organization — Inter
esting times—Good Preaching—Strong
Missionary Fever — Hospitality—Noble
Hearted Brethren.
It was our pleasure to attend this Asso
ciation ; and we know not when we were
more highly gratified by the actings of a
band of brethren. There may be strong
er Associations than this; but none in
which the true spirit of religion and mis
sionary spirit manifests itself more. There
seemed in every soul a sincere desire to
glorify the Master and advance his cause;
and, though differences of opin
ion, these are kept down in this body, and
all meet as brethren, to advocate and ad
vance a common cause.
We arrived in time to hear the intro
ductory sermon, by Rev. Wm. M. Ver
dery; and for the information of our rea
ders we will give the head of a powerful
sermon he delivered of “Christian Union.”
The text was from John 10 : 16.
“And other sheep I have which are not
of this fold: them also I must bring
and they must hear my voice; and there
shall be onefold and one shepherd.”
The introduction exhibited Christian
union as a prominent feature of apostolic
Christianity, prayed for and urged by the
Master, and abundantly advocated by his
servants in their writings, having caught
the inspiration from him.
I. What is Christian union ?
1. It is not a union of all Denominations
in any given enterprize.
It is not the union of all denominations
at the communion table.
2. It is the union, in one visible gov
ernmental organization, of all true Chris
tians.
11. Its desirableness.
1. Religious feeling—: Christians love
one another.
2. Religious duties—: social as well as
private.
The preacher enforced these strongly,
insisting that all true Christians were real
ly united in heart, and that all our exer
tions for the conversion of the world are
based upon a sense of duty which urges
us to union.
111. Its practicability.
This was urged by showing it to be
1. The policy of wisdom. 2. The
command of wisdom. 3. The prayer of
wisdom. 4. The history of the church
shows its practicability. It has proved so
where existing.
IV. How attained.
By adopting a platform upon which all
Christians can stand, viz: The belief and
practice of all that is taught in the scrip
tures, and the rejection of all that is not
taught there. The preacher then went
on to show that in this platform or consti
tution all true Christians can agree, and
that a faithful adherence to it, was the in
dividual duty of each one. He then tried
all the leading denominations by this plat
form, averring that we are bound to re
ject all those denominations as not
the true kingdom, into which all cannot
enter on this platform; because Christ es
tablished but one Kingdom, and into that
all Christians can righteously enter. He
affirmed that there was one such —the
Baptist.
In conclusion, he asked, how we may
promote the union of all ebristiuns? Ans.
By a firm adherence to the constitution.
“We have raised our Banner; upon its
folds are written, ‘The Constitution and
the Union.’ ‘What is the Union worth
without the Constitution ?”
On Sabbath morning, bro. Fowler
preached. Bro. Adams then gave us an
excellent missionary sermon from the text,
“Lift np a standard for the people.’’ The
collection amounted to 75 or 80 dollars.
In the afternoon Bro. Corley gave us one
of his characteristic Baptist sermons.
On Monday business was resumed, bro.
Carlos Stevens having been elected mod
erator, and bro. S. Jones, Clerk—both
were efficient officers. There was a full
delegation, each church being represent
ed.
Nearly SI,OOO were sent up, for Bro.
and sister Stone. These missionaries need
not fear for a support, as long as they
have the Washington to look to for it.—
A missionary mass meeting was appointed
for the sth Sabbath in March, which we
hope to attend. The next session meets
with the Bethlehem church in Washing
ton county.
This Association has under its charge a
most flourishing Female Seminary, at
Sparta, which is commended to all in the
Associations. Bro. C. Stevens has been
at the head of this Institution, but wish
ing to give his whole time to the ministry,
he resigned, and brethren Adams’ and
Duggan were elected to fill, jointly, his
place.
We will mention, too, that the Sparta
Church has determined to support and
educate an Indian boy, as a future mission
ary, through the association, and has ap
pointed a committee to enter into corres
pondence with missionaries in the field, in
order to discover a suitable lad for their
experiment.
As with the Rehoboth, so with this As
sociation—we must wait for the minutes
before we can obtain definite and statisti
cal facts.
Much talk was excited by the strong
Baptist sermons preached at this associa
tion, especially by brethren Corley and
Verdery. The latter reminds us of Hen
ry Ward Beecher. In person and fea
tures they are similar, in manner more so,
and in mental characteristics, they are
alike. Neither fears to express his opin
ions, both are out-spoken and popular
among then* people. Bro. O. C. Pope,
Jr., preached a capital sermon on the
Christian warfare. Success to the Wash
ington ! Noble hearts sway its counsels.—
May it continue to stand by the Boards,
the “Index’’ and every good word and
work. To those whose hospitality and
kindness we enjoyed, we tender our
thanks.
Peace ;
or strife deprecated.
In another column will be found the in
vitation of Bro. A. Richardson to several
brethren to meet him at Kingston. If we
can surmise his object it is to obtain an
interview and talk over matters pertain
ing to the kingdom of God and see if
something cannot be done to allay some
what of the strife,and confusion that seems
to reign in the Baptist ranks. When all
should be combatting one common foe,
we are strangely engaged in combatting
one another. Well; if error prevails in
the Baptist mind, we do not see why it
should not be uprooted as well as iu the
mind of any other set of people ; but there
is no occasion for harshness to rule, simp
ly because there are differences of opin
ion. To our mind brother Hillyer’s last
article was a model for controversialists,
as far as the spirit was concerned ; and we
are sorry that brother Holmes ventured
somewhat beyond the courtesies of ami
cable discussion ; we hope, however, that
his was only a playful mood. At least he
should give Dr. Hillyer credit for truth
fulness when he asserts the aim and “oc
casion’’of his exposition.
To our mind, Dr. Hillyer does not say
that which permits of a confident as
sertion regarding his motives and objects >
and a man should be judged in reference
to an article for what actually appears in
it. We thought he was discussing prin
ciples of common interest ’to ali our chur
ches : he certainly did not make applica
tion to any particular case ; and Dr. Ba.
ker has already given him credit tor a
good spirit.
This much we say in simple justice to
a contributor, hoping that brethren, who
use the Index, will ever discuss as breth
ren, and in the best of moods.
We are glad to see, however, that both
have taken public farewell of the whole
matter. This is well. To say more might
engender strife, and we are satisfied that
the insertion of Dr. Holmes’ concluding
article will be as much as the Index read
[ ers desire of the controversy.
Body before Mind and Soul,
Or a man will, neglect soul or mind before
he neglects his body.
The above caption is exemplified in this
simple fact that a man will stop his paper
the first thing of all when the fear of pov
erty oppresses him and the necessity of
economy convinces him. At such times
he concludes that what feeds the mind or
cultivates the heart are immaterial, or, at
least, most easily dispensed with. Against
such conduct we demur ; and we place
our objection upon high ground. We
think it a shame that the duty owing to
our immortal part should be neglected.
Man is not made a mere resilient ot’earth.
H• i’ t. live and to grow and progres
siv--!y to reach forward to higher and
higher states of excellency : his mind is to
be expanding forever : his soul shall forev
er and ever become more and more ca
pacitated to enjoy the glories of heaven
and think in the incomprehensibility of
God : and it devolves upon him to prepare
lib immortal nature for these higher scenes
and njt*s meats for a continually en
hancing appreciation of Him, the study
and love and admiration of whose glorious
attributes will be the rapturous employ of
an eternity.
Does not he, then, who refuses to culti
vate his mind or elevate his soul, prove
recreant to the high trusts reposed in
him ‘? Does not he who, to add to the
comfo. t of his body in some unapprecia
ble degree, denies himself the perusal of
those journals which might instruct his
mind or benefit his heart, just so far blast
his prospects of future happiness and di
minish his capacity for future enjoyment ?
Where is the man then, who can with
consistent self-respect and with a due re
gard to his own ultimate advantage, neg
lect to procure for himself appropriate
reading matter ? Or, who, in giving heed
to an economical fear, can cut himself off
from ihe perusal of those journals which
have afforded nourishment to mind and
soul ? Such a man is wanting in the lofty
instincts that animate a truly noble spirit.
Reader, let not your conscience accuse
you of such recreancy to the cause of mind
and soul-elevation.
Let somewhat of the material luxuries
and extravagances that pamper a petted
organization he parted with, rather than
drought be allowed to dry up the sweet
charities of the soul or the expansive ten
dencies of the mind. Deny the body that,
the soul may flourish. Deprive not your
self of that religious reading—the weekly
visits of the improving journal—whose
aim is to benefit and instruct you and en
large your benevolence, and expand the
energies of your soul, and prepare you for
your long eternity.
Do not stop your religious paper.
How he got him, “or he had him
THikJtE.’’
Dr. A. S., every one knows, possesses a
vast fund of humor, and a large head full
of knowledge, and learning to back it.—
Ordinarily he is quiet, but when the time
comes he speaks and, Paixhan-like, de
molishes. Rarely does he miss the mark.
He was in conversation not long since
with a prominent member of the organi
zation established by Mr. Wesley, when
that member, who, bye-the-bye, is the au
thor of a work, entitled “C—s theology,”
insisted that conversion was equivalent to
the “Baptism of the Holy Ghost.’’
Not long after he was met by the Doc
tor, who stepped hastily forward to greet
him, ejaculating in sonorous and rotuud
terms, “Barayshette bawraw elohepm
hashamanigeem va-eth pawawrets ; Kai
eidon allon anggelon ischuron katabainon
to ek tou ouranou, peribeblemenon neph
elen ; O Tytere, tie recubans sub tegmine
jagi!’’ when he was met by the exclama
tion, “Why Doctor, what do you mean ?’’
“What do I mean ?’’ was the reply.—
“Need you ask that who have been bap
tized by the Holy Ghost ? Do we not
read in scripture, that they who have
been baptized by the Holy Ghost, not on
ly undet stood tongues, but were able to
converse in them ?’’
It is needless to add, that there was no
particular insisting upon sucii a baptism
at the interview; but Dr. S., when narra
ting the anecdote, rather facetiously
thinks “he had him there.’’
Looks like a Gambler.
While in the anecdotal strain, we will
tell of an incident that occurred to the la.
mented and excellent bro. Keynoldson,
when attending the Tarwallet association,
Cumberland Cos.; Va. He lodged with a
Presbyterian lady, who told him that an
other lady inquired of her, when he came
into the meeting house, “who is that ?”
“I do not know” was the reply, “but he
looks like a gambler.’’ This was in 1848;
shortly after, he was lost on his way to
England in the ill-fated Glasgow.
Dr. J. S. Baker, who was with him at
the time, enjoyed the joke much ; but
had the tables turned oq him shortly af
terwards.
It was on their return from the same
Association, and they were spending the
night with a lady who picked up a small
box wrapped in paper, similar in size and
shape to a back-gammon dice box, which
the Doctor had used as the receptacle of
some shells, which he designed presenting
to Mercer University, and the shells rat
tled so much like dice, the good sister be
came very much distressed at the thought
that a Baptist minister should be so much
devoted to the game of back-gammon,
that he could not go on a preaching tour
without carrying his box with him.
In her perplexity she asked Bro. Rey
noldson if it was a back-gammon box,
that Dr. Baker was carrying about with
him. Bid. R. roared with laughter, and
was not slow to retaliate on the Dr. for
laughing at him for the mistake made by
the Presbyterian hostess.
“Very well I thank you; how
ARE YOU ?”
And this reminds us of a mistake made
by Bishop Pierce of this State once. At
a revival meeting, he passed among the
congregation and addressed one who
seemed deeply absorbed in thought;gent
ly pressing his hand he made the com
mon inquiry to sin-sick souls, “Well It.
how are you?’’ when, much to his sur
prise, R. sprang to his fi°>t, shaking his
hand vigorously, and ej iculati ,g warmly,
“ Very well, I thank you ; hew are you
“Are yer gwine now.”
As we are in the humor we will narrate
one more. A certain Revivalist of the
Methodist persuasion, named Dickinson>
was exhorting powerfully at a camp-meet
ing near Blakely, Ga., when afar off he
spied a country specimen of the genus
home, who rejoiced in newly made coper
as pants, about six inches too short, and
whose hands, protruding about ten inches
beyond his coat sleeves, rested upon his
half bent knees, while he loaned back
against a post, regarding with open mouth
the enrapturing orator and apparently
wandering, mentally, in the realms of
bliss. Not wishing to lose so favorable
an impression, Mr. D. approached the
wonder-struck specimen, exclaiming with
great warmth, as if to ignite a smoulder
ing enthusiasm, “my friend, don’t you
wan’t to go to heaven ?” What was his
surprise, when from that stolid counten
ance issued the enquiring response, “Are
yer gwine now ?’’
Columbian College,
WASHINGTON, I>. C.
This monument to the zeal, energy and
piety of Luther Rice, is in a flourishing
condition: indeed, considerable improve
ment is going on. Situated at the seat of
our Federal Government,it possesses great
advantages and is calculated to exert an
extended influence ; and the- dignity of
the Baptist name requires that the Insti
tution be supported. Under the Presi
dency of such an able man as Dr. Samp
son, the College ranks among the first.—
Besides the President, there are 5 Pro
fessors and one or more Tutors. The
Preparatory, the Scientific and the Col
lege Proper. The first prepares for ad
mission : the second occupies three years
and, omitting the ancient language, gives
thorough instruction in the Sciences,
Mathematics and the Modern Languages;
and the last, occupying four years, is the
same as the best Colleges. Ever) thing
is done for the improvement and iustruc
tion of students, and they are restrained,
as much as possibly, from dissipated cour
ses. The society and life of Washington
should give quality to manners and im
pose dignity of mein. The attendance
upon the debates in Congress, the access
to the Congressional Library and the im
provement accruing from the lectures of
the Smithsonian Institute, are all advan
tages that can be no where else enjoyed.
The session is about opening now, for
there is but one continuous session; and
the tuition is 850 per annum.
(’OMMI'MI ATIONS.
Letter from Philadelphia.
Number 5.
An unusual eulogy — Politics—Active Infi
delity—How a skeptical young lady was
converted — Southerners.
The letter of that pious and beloved
brother, Dr. Mallory, in the last issue of
the “Index,” reminds me of a circum
stance so unusual, that it ought to be
chronicled. It is that the New York In
dependent has actually spoken in com
mendatory terms of the work called Soul
Prosperity, of which you know, bro. M.
is the author. The “Independent” is
professedly a religious paper, edited by
Congregationalists. But it is so ultra in
its abolition views that it is the accepted
organ of the extreme wing of that party.
At the present time it is advocatingopen
ly, and sometimes in a very unscrupulous
manner, the election of Mr. Lincoln. For
such a paper to find anything issued from
a Southern Publication Society, and from
the pen of a Southern Baptist, worthy of
praise, is indeed remarkable. Aftei* an
acquaintance with its columns for some
years, this is the only instance of the
kind which I can recollect. “Soul Pros
perity” is recommended to their readers
as a book whicMthey may peruse with
pleasure and profit. The fact only shows
that merit is sometimes so obvious and
commanding, as to extort a tribute even
from those who look with the most jaun
diced eyes.
The engrossing theme with multitudes
at the present time, is politics. You ex
clude, and very properly too, from your
columns all expressions which indicate a
preference of one party over another.—
Still you cannot ignore the fact that the
subject fills a large place in the minds of
your readers; and as a Christian Index
you may well point to those religious
principles which should govern all Chris
tian citizens- In these large cities there
is so much fuel and fire, that the political
cauldron is kept in constant ebullition.—
Almost every night in the week there is
some “grand demonstration,” at which
from five to twenty thousand persons
come together and listen to the harangues
of the political leaders, who throng to
these great centres from the remotest sec
tions of the country. lion. 11. V. John
son of your State, spoke for two hours
last Saturday evening, in-favor of his pe
culiar views. On a previous occasion, W.
B. Reed, Esq., one of the most distin
guished lawyers of this city, made an
elaborate address in favor of Breckin.
ridge and Lane. Passing up Vine Street,
the other night at a late hour, I encoun.
tered a crowd of about one thousand men
with transparency! and flambeaux,
marching to the music of a huge bell,
which was drawn along the street on a
wagon. It was a “Bell Club,” who were
inaugurating some new movement on the
occasion. These clubs are found in all
the parties, and their tendency is manifest
ly demoralizing. More than once recent
ly they have come into open collision, and
only through the energetic interference
of the police, has a serious encounter
been prevented. The Mayor had several
of these rowdy patriots before him last
week, when he took occasion to denounce
“political clubs as a nuisance,” and to ex
hort all good citizens’ to abstain from all
such inflammable organizations. Amidst
the uproar which prevails, it is consoling
to reflect that God reigns, and that
his purposes of beneficence and of wis
dom will be executed, whatever finite be
ings may propose or oppose.
Talking of clubs reminds me of the in
fidel clubs, which are found in our north
ern cities, and of the aggressive spirit
which of late they have evinced. Gen
erally infidels have been contented with
their own renunciation of Christianity, and
have not manifested much zeal in prevent
ing its growth, or in undermining the
faith of others. But there is now a grow
ing disposition to change their tactics. As
one evidence I mention, that since the
departure of the Japanese from the coun
try, a letter has been produced, written
by two prominent infidels in this city, to
those heathen islanders, warning them
against the efforts which the “Priests”
would make in this country to seduce
them from the faith of Japan, and as
suring the visitors at the same time, that
nearly all the learned men of this country
rejected the Christian religion. Had such
men the power, they would “breathe out
threatenings and slaughter, make havoc
of the church, and cast men and women
into prison, 1 ’ for no other crime than that
of believing on the name of Jesus. Some
of our ministers assail them from the pul
pit. But this, in ray view, is unwise, as
it calls attention to them and gives them
a notoriety., which extends their influence.
It is better to preach without de
scending to discussions with bold blasphe
mers. An eminent minister once told me
that he spent a number of months in
preaching on the evidences of Christiani
ty. He gave to the subject the most
earnest thought, and produced as good
discourses as he was able. But after all
his efforts he could not learn that a single
skeptic had been convinced, or a single
person converted by his arguments. The
truth is, all infidelity is owing to the fact
that “the carnal mind is enmity against
God.’’ If we can assail that mind with the
preaching of the cross, we may hope for
the blessing of God on kiie word and for
the conversion of the sceptic.
I met sometime ago in my inquiry
room, a young lady who confessed that
she was an infidel, yet “seeking to have
her infidelity removed.” I discovered
that her mind had been poisoned by some
hater of Christianity, whom she had met.
She was very familiar with the oft repeat
ed and oft exploded objections to divine
revelation, and in the course of the cor
versation, she mentioned several passages
of scripture, which were so contradictory
in her view, as to be proof that they could
not have proceeded from one Divine
mind. She professed to be anxious to
believe, but declared that she could not
repress the infidelity into which she was
driven by these inconsistencies, (as she
judged) in the word of God. I saw ner
repeatedly and explained as clearly as I
was able, all the difficulties which she sug
gested. But the explanations, though
accepted at the time, did not relieve her
mind. “Convinced against her will, she
was of the same opinion still.” She de
clared that she could not help her infidel
ity I put into her hands some of the
best works on the evidences—she read
them carefully, but they did not satisfy
her. I felt very sad that so bright and
sincere a mind as hers seemed to be,
should be surrendered to infidelity. I
prayed with her, and led her to her own
reflections. After some time, she met me
one day with smiling countenance and
tearful eye, and grasping my hand, ex
claimed, “it is all right now.” My objec-
tions are removed. I see the way. I take
Christ as a Savior. “And what cured
your infidelity ?” I asked. “It was the
prayerful reading of God’s w r ord. I
asked God, if the Bible really was true,
that he would open my eyes to see it.—
With that prayer I read, and for the first
time I believed.” Not long afterwards
she was baptized on the profession of her
faith, and is to-day a rejoicing and devo
ted Christian.
Our hotels continue crowded with
Southerners. Occasionally I manage to
get an excellent sermon out of some cf
your ministers. Last Sunday evening,
Rev. Lucius Cuthbert, of South Carolina,
preached an animated and eloquent ser
mon from the words, “Come, for all things
are now ready.” Next Sunday we are
to have a sermon from the Rev. Silas W.
Sexton, of Mississippi. Last Sunday
week, Georgia and South Carolina were
fairly represented in the Tabernacle Bap
tist Church, by some particular friends of
the Editor of the “Index.”
Theophilus.
Ordination.
At a call from the Baptist church in
Macon, Ga., the brethren King, Clarke
Weaver, Wilkes, Langly and Tharp, were’
formed into a Presbytery for the purpose
of setting apart brother Samuel Boykin
to the work of the Gospel Ministry. The
sermon was preached by brother Tharp
from 2 Cor. 2 ch. 15, 16, 17, after which
he was examined to the satisfaction of the
Presbytery. The consecration prayer was
made by bro. Clarke, the charge given
by bro. King, the Bible was presented by
bro. W r ilkes, and the right hand of fellow
ship given by brother Weaver followed
by the Presbytery and congregation.
Benediction was pronounced by the
candidate.
Fort Valley, Sept. 16, 1860.