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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.