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CHRISTIAN INDEX
SAMUEL BOYKIN, EDITOR.
MACON, GEO., APRIL 0, 18G3.
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Gehenna.
It is a singular fact that modern science re
veals an internal fire beneath the earth’s sur
face, far hotter and more intense than the fire
and brimstone Gehenna, referred to in the Bi
ble, as the future abode where the wicked shall
receive their punishment. For every fifty or
sixty feet we descend below the earth’s surface
the temperature increases one degiee of our
Common Thermometer. The water that rises
in the Artesian Well at Charleston, from the
depth of twelve hundred feet is twenty-two
degrees warmer than that drawn from the
common wells around the city. Jn deeper
wells- the temperature is greater.. In deep
it is always higher than at the surface
above them, although no additions are made
to the heat therein from the daily supplies fur
nished by the sun. These and other facts in
dicate an intense heat inside of the earth,
where rocks would be melted and the metals
fused, far surpassing any temperature we can
produce by wood or coal or by the hot blast of
the furnance, or the deflargrating power of the
blow-pipe, or of the electric pile. And if the
Scriptures had revealed a prison-house beneath
the earth where the wicked should “go into
everlasting punishment,” we would have no
difficulty in locating the spot and appreciating
the torture to which the unconsumed body
would be exposed.
The Greeks and Romans who were familiar
with the volcanic eruptions of iEtnn and Ves
uvius had similar ideas of deep internal fires
beneath the earth’s surface.
The only phenomena referred to in the ear
ly history of the Bible, which can be supposed
to be volcanic, is the destruction of Sodom and
Gomorrah, and that is represented
destroyed by fire and brimstone falling from
heaven, as Pompeii and Herculaneum were by
the cinders and ashes from Vesuvius. Still,
traditionary knowledge of early volcanoes in
Judea, or reports of them from ether coun
tries, had probably made the Jews familiar
with these same notions of internal heat which
prevailed in Greece and Borne.
The general belief among the Ancients co
incides with the modern idea of an interior fire
within the earth, and furnished the writers of
the New Testament and our Lord himself, with
a metaphorical representation of intense suf
fering and anguish, hy irhioh *htsy wwe ena
bled to embody and materialize and present in
strong and vivid reality the horrors of the se
cond death, where the wicked shall be cast
into a “lake of fire and brimstone” and burnt
with “unquenchable fire.”
But beyond the idea of suffering we do not
think the Bible contains any representation of
the future condition of the wicked. No place
is assigned to this punishment. No-downward
jouVney is attributed to the departing spirit.
For all we know, it may hereafter reside above
the earth or on the earth, as much as below
the earth; and no discovery by modern science
of a molten lake, deep in the earth and extend
ing down to its very centre, can favor the no
tion of those who seem to think the wicked go
downward when they leave the body at death,
while the good go upwards to heaven.,.
Revelation is silent on many sulyects and
great scandal and harm is done to the cause of
the Bible when we insist that its inspired pa
ges contain doctrines which are not revealed.
Such doctrines may ultimately be disproved
and then an apparent blow is given to the Bi
ble, when the only real blow is the false read
ing we have given to the sacred volume.
Let all be content-with what is clearly and
plainly taught us, and limit our beliefs to the
real revelations that have been made, for they
. alone will make us wise unto salvation.
Bibles and how to get them.
Among the topics to be brought before the
Southern Baptist Convention, is that in-regard
to securing a supply of God’s Word. It will
be a mooted question whether or not we shall
look to Pedo-baptist societies for Bibles, or co
operate with them for a supply, or act inde
pendently, or do without.
We are for sustaining Bible Board of our
own, and placing in its blinds funds sufficient
to import or to print Bibles. We are for un
trammeled, independent action. Then we can
act so as to please ourselves. While we love
Christians of every name, we believe that more
harmony is produced, more zeal provoked,
more good results attained and greater achieve
ments accomplished by an independent course
of action. The irresistible logic of insupera
ble differences will ever prevent a general and
cordial co-operation in the religious enterpris
es of Baptists and Pedo-baptists; and so wc
are for setting up and maintaining a Bible So
ciety of our own—a Bible society backed by
the half million of Baptists in the Confedera
cy.
We hope the Georgia Baptist Convention
will tak such steps in this matter, as will
bring'the subject hpfore the Biennial Conven
tion in a way to secure speedy and united ac
tion. A moral obligation rests upon us to
diffuse God’s Word ; and as every enterprise
must have a beginning, so we propose the Bap
.tists begin this heaven-imposed work. Once
’ begun we believe it will take care of itself’
My Saviour. .
Dids’t thou do so much for me. and shall I
do nothing for thee ? Dids’t thou leave thy
blessed mansions above, and endure contume
ly aud sorrow and suffering and death, to res
cue my soul from eternal misery and shall l
do nothing for thine honor and glory ? No,
my Saviour, all that I am and all that I have
is subject to thy will, and shall be devoted to
thine honor. All the love my poor heart is
able to render is thing; all the homage I can
pay thee I will yield ; all the honor t hat a life
of self-denial and sacrifice can bestow upon
thy cause shall be freely bestowed. ‘ For ‘ one
who has done so much for me I cannot do too
much. My soul grieves that it cannot do—
does not do mo- o for thee. It laments past
follies and sins, implores thy forgiveness and
earnestly seeks thy help for the future. Omy
Saviour, leave me not nor forsake me—my soul
pauteth after thee, as the heart pants after the
water-brooks. Light up the darkness and
gloom that overshadows me, with the celestial
brightness of thy love. Relievo me of my bur
deas according to thy promise, for I would cast
all my care oh thee.
When the world froWns, do thou smile.—
When the scorching beams of sorrow afHict I
will fly to thee for refuge as to a high rock in
a weary land.
Jesus, thou Saviour of thy people, be to
them a rock and a high tower ; Inspire them
with courage and zeal and devotion ; inspirit
the weak-minded; cheer the down-cast; in
fuse courage into heart of
give unto all a sweet sense of thy~ loVitjg pres
ence and kind protection. Then will they hon
or thee with a devotion before unknown.
Oh Jesus, let us be unprofitable servants no
longer, but may it be our meat and drink t >
do thy will.
But all our help cometli from thee—under
take for us—then will we rejoice in the light
of thy countenance. Hold thou us up, and
then shall we stand, and thou wilt be glorified.
The Baptists and Sab. Schools.
We would, for the honor of our Denomina
tion, almost dread to see a fair comparison in
stituted between our own and .other denomi
nations, in reference to Sabbath Schools. Al
though at our Associations our Committees
make reports strongly advocating these nurse
ries of the church, and reprehending neglect
of them, yet, year after year, it is the same
thing—continual regret that more attention is
not turned to this subject. Our city churches
do not neglect the Sabbath School,but many of
our country churches are needlessly guilty and
for this deserve reproof. What others are do
ing wo can do. An exchange before us, the.
editor of which had investigated the faithful
ness and zeal of different denominations, in
reference to Sabbath Schools, makes the fol-’
lowing exhibit, as the result of his investiga
tions ;
“We find in 30 Presbyterian churches in
round numbers, 6,900 members, 8,100 schol
ars ; proportion of scholars to every 100 mem
bers, 11 (. In 41 Methodist churches, 12,700
members, 14,400 scholars; proportion of schol
ars to every 100 members. 113. In 30 Bap
tist churches 10,400 member*, 0.-tno scholars ;
proportion of scholars to every 100 members,
04. The same developments are true in re
gard to the proportion of Teachers to every
hundred members of each of these denomina
tions, at least so far as we have been able to
extend our investigations, as the minutes of
the Presbyterian denomination do not give the
number of their teachers, but*we find in re
gard to the Methodist and our own denomina
tion, that the proportion of teachers to every
100 members in the Methodist church is 15,
and in our own, only 9.”
This is humiliating.
We hope the Ga. Baptist Convention will
imitate our energetic and zealous Ya. brethren
and establish a Suaday School and Publica
tion Board. A large and inviting field of use
fulness lies open fo* occupation in this respect.
Repeal of an unjust Law.
We are rejoiced at beholding the speedy re
sults of Bro. Crawford’s communication to the
Index, addressed to certain prominent breth
ren, in reference to that portion of the Georgia
Code, which prohibits slaves from preaching
or exhorting. Wc know not the origin of this
law, but do know that it is totally disregarded,
and that it is wrong in spirit, and an assump
tion of power, by the civil over the ecclesiasti
cal, to which it would be vain to expect sub
mission On the part of Southern Christians.
Gov. Brown, in his late message to the Leg
islature, rightly recommends its repeal, an!
we doubt not that our General Assembly will
act in accordance with his recommendation.
Bishop Pierce—Dr. Palmer.
On'our first page will be found an interes
ting account of the fast day exercises in the
Capital of our State, where Bishop Pierce and
Dr. Palmer preached. The latter came to Ga.
for that purpose by special invitation of Gov.
Brown. Our contributor is Judge of. the Su
perior Court and every way qualified to give
an opinion on the subjects of his narrative.
Rev. E. L. Compere.
The Banner contains intelligence from this
Indian missionary, as late as Jan. 27Hu lie
and Bro. Slover were well, and intended coin
ing to Georgia, though both had been robbed
of everything and driven from their fields of
labor.
S2OO per Sabbath.
A friends thinks “A Baptist” got to wind
ward of us in that matter. Well, we were on
ly joking anyhow; for we knew the proposi
tion was impracticable. Our only idea was to
stir up country churches and induce them to
sustain their pastors liberally.
The Fast Day-
Was solemnly observed in Macon, by both
white and colored congregations. Sermons
were preached in all the churches td large and
serious audiences.
~\f For the Christian Index.
-Letters from my Study.
;. No. 1.
By sty iug these lucubrations “Letters from
my Study-,” to intimate'that they will
deal, for the most part, with topics suggested
by books, modi and quietreveries, rath
er than by the flints, incidents and events of
the great noisy, fighting, world. No items of
startling news are likely to originate in, and
be propagated Study” —unless, in
deed, God in Ills ntercy shouldupermit me to
announce some instances of conversion as oc
curring in my parish, or constrain me, in His
anger, to record some dire calamity as afflict
ing the members of Jay flock. The first-nam
ed event might not ha regarded as . any great
piece of news by thoiti who are wholly absorb
ed in the war and awaiting with throbbing
interest accounts of the next battle, but
I. know it would as grand in
telligence in heaven, tor it is written, “There
is joy in the presenceof the angels of God
over one sinner that jepepteth.” And as for
the other case supposed—the announcement
of domestic or neighborhood calamities—it is
sad to think tliat this would not be apt to pro
duce any very startling effect. When we are
accustomed to hear of the slaughter of two or
three thousand persons, in as many hours, who
can be expected to be excited by a village con
flagration or a plantation accident? S.j. thrill
ing novelties and sensation rumors cannot rea
sonably be looked for in the “Letters from my
litudy.”
Possibly someone may be tempted to ask
where “My Study” is. Never ini'nT”' sfoout
that, gentle reader. It is sufficient for you to
be informed that, as to its situation, it may be
described as both privato and public, some
what retired and sequestered “from the mad
dening world’s ignoble strife,” but still in ea
sy communication with that world—near
enough to command through its “loop-holes”
some knowledge of the shifting scenes and
thundering stir of the mighty Babel, yet re
mote enough to dim and dull its vexatious
glare and clamor. In writing the above sen
tence my conscience tells me that I hive com
mitted a transparent literary theft, and, which
is much worse, that in my clumsy larceny, I
have much damaged the stolen article. Let
me turn at once to Cowper and make the amende
honorable by quoting verbatim the injured pas
sage.- Here it is in the fourth took of the Task:
’Tis pleasant through the loop-holes of retreat
To peep at such a world; to see the stir
Os the great Babel, and not feel the crowd;
To hear the roar she sends thro’ all her gutes
At a safe distance; where the dying sound
Falls a soft murmur on th’ uninjured ear.
By the way, what an occasion of devout
gratitude to God 13 it, that we have suck a tru
ly Christian poet as Cowper! It is sortething
very singular that our literature contains so
little poetry distinctly roligious, . or, perhaps,
more exaetly, evangelically religions. The
great masters of Song have rarely caughttheir
inspiration from .tfee Cross. They UaVe been
more JUmiflar with ancient .mythologies than
with the Bible, and their productions ani
mated ,to a large extent, with a Pagan or
Setni-Pagan spirit. Setting aside the profes
sional Hymn-writers, I cannot now rect',ll more
than three names of high rank in English
poetry that are associated with woiks essen
tially and emphatically christi&n—Milton,
Cowper and Montgomery. Even Milton is not
a religious poet in the complete sense that
Cowper is. In point of genius there is 01? course
no comparison between them. But while the
Paradise Lost is n religious poem, tuud the
grandest poem overwritten, still it does not
touch the Christian heart and satisfy the Chris
tian soul, like the works of Cowper. Milton
does not descend from the awful “height of his
great argument” to give melodious voic;t to the
varieties of religious experience and ‘ melodi
ous statement to the various doctrines of the
Gospel. Upon the whole, I think it clear that
Cowper is the Christian Laureate of English
poetry. Ilfis true that Young is a great favor
ite amongst religious people, and will ; .ilways
continue, no doubt, to be read and admired.—
His “Night Thoughts” are thickly jeweled
with the sententious verses that impress the
mind and fix themselves in the memory so as
to be readily recovered and quoted. But ia
his finest passages there is something strained
and artificial and spasmodic. His flights are
not long and calm and natural, like those of
Cowper. Besides, he is too gloomy and mo
rose to be reckoned a fair expounder of the
Christian spirit. He lacks the cheerful hope,
the sweet charity and the serene courage that
must ever characterize the true Gospel Muse.
If I remember aright, Dr. Samuel Johnson
has noticed, in some of his writings, thi lack
of religious poetry in our language, and la as
signing the cause of this, has the
opinion that Christian themes are not adapted
to inspire bards of the highest order. jThis
surely cannot be a true account of the nutter.
The magnificent and matchlesss Epic of Mil
ton is sufficient of itself to refute this opinion
of the great critic. The trouble lies deeper.
Poetry is emotional, and the poet cannot sing
in thrilling and immortal strains w hat heidoes
not Jtel thoroughly. The gospel subject* are
fitted to excite and sustain his loftiest flights,
but much too seldom have these subjects inte
rested the hearts or engaged the attention of
the wayward children of genius. lienee onr
lack of religious poetry. ’ KAPH.
Bible and Colporteur Society.
Since my last report I have received for the
SI2OO debt, from
James Seymour, Macon.* Ga. .*. 20 <W
R. Sanford, CrossVille.jGa. 10 <K
Former receipts 330 OO
Total... s3oo'oo
- seed up the cash, and let us he oat
of debt. F. M. H AYGOOD, Agt
> :
To dread no eye, and to suspect no tongue,
is the great prerogative of innocence.
1J Atlanta; Mfirch 31, 1803.
I had no thought, in my recent effort to un
veil your interesting cn:respondent in Rich
mond, of calling such crimson hues to bis
modest cheek.” The roalt oulv proves that
what the Speaker of the House of Burgesses
of Virginia said to George Washington, who
was grea.ly embarrassed in attempting to res
pond to some complimentary words which were
addressed to him, may be applied to Semei—
“Sit down, Col. Washington,” said the Speak
er, anxious to relieve the hero from his obvious
confusion, “your modesty is as great as your
worth.” I will not again venture to expose
the incognito in his “safe lock up,” if he w ill
keep his pen unlocked for the entertainment
of your readers.
‘‘ We are now suffering a powerful revival in
this city. But revival is hardly the word ; for
that pro supposes more or less of relapse.—
Whereas in the spirit to which I now’ refer
there has not been, for a long time past, any
sensible abatement of vigor. Within a recent
period, how r ever, the spirit of speulatiou lias
received a fresh stimulus; and such a demand
for cotton, tobacco, flour, rice, bacon, lard, su
gar, and salt is without precedent. Prices
have advanced with such giant strides that
some operators have made $20,000 in'*on^ay ;
by the “rise in the market.” The bcsttfP r all
is, that nobody seems to lose The
honest farmer who, in the beginning of the
season, sold his hog for twenty-five cents a
pound, has pocketed a fair profit and cannot
complain. The first purchaser who sells to his
friend, at fifty cents a pound, will . not com
plain. The second, third and fourth purcha
sers who reap profits until the said hog brings
one dollar a pound, (a much greater increase
jn value than has been attained by the parties
who have been making gain of him,) have no
thing of which to complain. But woe to the
i poor wight who, unable to buy in large quan
tities and to compete with speculators, wants a
pound of rice or a pound of bacon or of sugar;
he must loot the bill and pay over to these
gentry the “market price,” which their hand
some manoeuvres have created. Would it not
be a good thing if someone would take a
scourge of small cords and do for the Confede
racy what our Lord did lor the temple in bis
day ? How else can these Jew's be exorcised ?
I speak not of those who are only Israelites af
ter the flesh. In these matters the Jew is not
to be ascertained by his physiognomy, for “he
is not a Jew w-ho is one outwardly.” The Jew
is to be known by his acts, and his motives
are expounded by those acts; for “be is a
Jew who is one inwardly.” The man w heth
er calling himself by nature Jew or Gentile,
who in a time of national sorrow ami appre
hended want retires the neeessaries of life from
the market in the hope of contributing to an
extraordinary advance of prices, is levying a
tax upon the mass of consumers (who are al
ways poor) which he can only collect at his
moral peril.
Some of the hotels have announced that af
ter the Ist of April the price for a single meal
will he two dollars. From every quarter the
cry of scarcity is heard. Could the thousands
of bushels of corn clogged up in depots thro’
the mismanagement of commissaries be fur
nished with transportation, and could the
quantities of sugar and bacon and flour be ex
humed from the vaults and cellars in which
the avarice of speculators has buried them, the
people would enjoy very sensible relief. Would
it not be well for the Legislature, now in ses
sion, to legalize a few resurrectionists ivlio
might do for these slumbering hogsheads and
barrels what they do for the Medical Colleges
of which they are the attaches?
It is pleasant to know, however, that our
land is not “wholly given to idolatry.” Last
Friday every place of business was closed and
every house of worship was open in response
to the President’s call for prayer. The Ist and
2d Baptist churches united their congregations
on the occasion—meeting with the 2d church
in the morning and with the Ist church in the
evening. Though it was announced that the
meetings would be strictly devotional—a series
of prayers for the country, large congregations
were in attendance. O how many cries ascend
ed to heaven on that day, in behalf of our af
flicted land ! Have they indeed entered the
ears of the Lord of Sabbaoth ? Do you notice
that, in the President’s proclamations in re*,
gard to religion there is no sliret allusion to
that Divine Being through-vfhgm alone sinners
can find access to the mercy seat. Has procla
mations are finely expressed ; but as they are
addressed to a Christian people I cdiflffS wish
that the adorable name of Jesus were honored
by an insertion in the document.
TIIEOPIIILUS.
Southern Baptist Convention—
Place of next Meeting.
The Southern Baptist. Convention held in
Savannah, Ga., May, 1861, adjourned to meet
with the Baptist Church, in Columbus, Miss.,
on Friday, before the second Sunday in May,
1863. For various reasons it has been thought
inexpedient to hold the meeting in-Columbus,
and at the request of the two Boards of the
Convention the place of meeting is changed to
Columbia, S. C.
The Church has extended a cordial invita
tion to the Convention to hold its next session
■with them. We hope to see a full delegation
of our brethren present.
B. MANLY,
T. STOKES,
P. H.JViELL,
Vico Presidents of the Con.
March 19,1863. 3t.
Revival.
The Baptist church at Macon is enjoying it
season of revival. Nightly large meetings are
held and mourners approach the altar for pray- -
er— one having united with the church.
Fortoe Chmliaßlsdex.
Rev. J. H. Campbell.
The i>KV. Jrssk 11. Cam i’liei.c, Ainty Evan
gelist, preached Inst Lord's day at J o’<*i6elL
P. M., lor our brigade, lle'had preached inL
the foreu tan to ths soldiers near
The officers and men of our brigade turned qJB
bis audience was large, anti, notwitlistancfßH
the sunshine, wind and poor
he held tueto spell-bound for an hour or more,
though bis locks are silvered and his grapeful
form-shows the unmistakable marks of the
weight of'years-, and that our esteemed brother
Is passing away; yet bis trumpet-like voice is
string and falls on the with the-refreshing
mellowness of the gentle summer shower up
on the ploughed ground. .
When we consider the unfavorable circum
stances for preaching in camp—the soldiers
have but a few camp stools, they meet
open air, in the sunshine or cold, stand
on the broad bosom of mother earth,
ten to the sweet sound of the gospel R
from the lips of t'be faithful minister,
they were heal ing an apostle of
bis ex:ci..-i\o acquaintance, his su-kM
ability, his established character,
the cause of God, his love aud tend<4H|
thy of soul for soldiers, secures for him olWi
occasions the most earnest and •prwfoun $ at
tention. It is-mot the first time life has labor
ed in my field and I bear of his faithful min
istratiofis among the soldiers in aud around
Savannah.
1 concluded to get from the officers of our
brigade a testimonial of his acceptance among
us iu the character of Army Evangelist. I
went to the Colonels, Lieut. Colonels, Majors;
Surgeons of the regiments, Commissaries, &c.,
and found in an hour’s time, it w r as unnecessa
ry to proceed over the brigade for without hes
itation the ollieers of our brigade expressed
themselves in the most decided and unequivocal
terms of his acceptable labors, and gave their
names to the testimonial. I could get the sig
natures of the brigade officers and men ex
pressive of their high appreciation of his ser
vices. The testimonial 1 presented—
-Ist—Jesse If. Campbell, Army Evangelist,
has labored faithfully among the soldiers iu
and around Savannah.
2d—That liia labors have been well received
by the officers and men.
3d —That it is desirable his services should
he continued.
I can say of him as.it was said of a faithful
and devoted minister in the precious book of
Revelations —“Whose praise is in all the chur
ches” —his praise is among all the soldiers. —
They inquire of me, will he continue to labor
among us ; when will lie come again? All of
which shows with what delight they listen to
his flowing .eloquence, when pointing them to
the gracious Redeemer. There are many regi
ments without chaplains. It is not every man
who can preach acceptably at home that can
command continue?, respect from the soldiers,
lie must have special qualifications that fit him
for the work. These qualifications Brother
Campbell has in the highest degree of excel
lence. The preacher must be a patriot. He
must he a good man ; lie must have a tender
sensibility of soul, ready to weep with those
who weep, and rejoice with those wdio rejoice ;
he must understand human nature; he must
go'among the men as a father and brother ; he
must have the wisdom of the serpent and the
harmlcssneSs of the dove. When these qual
ifications are possessed;. the. man of God has
the most inviting field for usefulness that is.
now to he found in the length and breadth of
our distressed land, lie can instill patriotism
into the minds of soldiers more successfully
than any other man—can have the greatest in
fluence over men for good, in every sense of the
word.
Wickedness prevails to an alarming extent;
profane swearing, vulgar and obscene lan
guage, card-playing, chuck-o-luck, and, in a
word, every vice and sin which debases and
degrades man is witnessed in the camp. Our
men are exposed hourly to temptation, and
while enduring privations and in peril by day
and night—.disease thinning their ranks—our
country invaded by a cruel and unfeeling ene
my, that threatens to take our homes, our lib
erty and reduce us to the lowest degradation
and subjugation, should bo cared for, labored
with, and instructed in tiie.pure doctrine of the
blessed Redeemer and his apostles, that they
may be readjfca meet death on the sick and
homely coucli of the soldier,, or brave death
amid the-roafr of cannon and rattling of artille
ry, in the confused noise of battle, and gar
ments rolled in blood, where so many of Our
fathers, brothers, and sons have been made to
kiss the mother earth; how many more will
have to go to the soldier’s grave before tlits un
righteous war war is brought to a close, the fu
ture must decide. If it was right to collect
from the brave soldiers their hard earnings, I
could run the list to hundreds in the shortest
time, hut should not an expression of love for
us come from those at home, for whom we are
willing to sacrifice home with all its endear
ments, and, if need be, pour out our life’s
blood ? I hope, then, to hear that the Conven
tion soon to meet will appoint this beloved and
experienced brother to Continue his work as
Army Evangelist.
I am yours truly,
A. B. FEARS.
Hasty Telegrams.
Rev. M. T. Sumner—Your $51,50 is receiv
ed. F. xi. if.
Rev. A. J. Huntington—Your time is just
out. The,Child’s hook to which you refer will
soon be published. r. M. ir.
E. 11. Harris—You can get a library suita
ble to advanced pupils —such books as “Bax
ter’s Saint’s Rest,” &c. f. m. u.
T. Amis.—Your paper is changed. Your’s
had no money.
Rev. J. 11. Stocton—Doubtless you sent
$54,25. . , ‘
; 1 V
*
‘ ‘ l: '’ ’'' l -
UPP^hK'.toTln,,!-
P^^BHjß^WetrTTTTmiViiy
gets,-Whited Battalion, Charleston, S. C. Al
so, one copy to E. Gillespie, Cos. B, 20th Ueg.
Alabama Volunteers. Also, send to the Irvin
Artillery, Col. Cutt’s Battalion, Gen. Pendle
ton’s Artillery Corps, Richmond, Ya., for one
year, as many numbers of the Index as you
can for the balance of the money. You wilt
also find enclosed $3, for which you will send
tho Index to Dennis Paschal. Columbia Mines,
Columbia county, Ga.
On the opposite page you will find a list of
donors, and amounts aunexed to each name.
G. Shank * $lO 00
D. Paschal 10 00
J. Shank 10 00
W. Woodall *lO 00
F. Shank ; .. .*• ... 10 00
Thomas H. Strother 10 00 1
W.F. Strother G OlAy
R. W. Quarles f? . .... ft 00
J. Tyler . 2 00
11. E. Paschal 10 00
A. J. Paschal 5 00
W. 11. Tyler 1 00
D.Canjpbell 1 00
M. E. Brookner 1 00
F. E. Gartrell 3 00
J. B. Smith 10 00
C. 11. Bussey 2 00
Mrs. P. Tankersly 1 00
“ A. Woodall 2 00
“ R. G. Griffin , 2 00
A T. Reed 2 00
“ B. G. Paschal 2 50
“ W. T. Paschal 2 50
“ Jane Holliday. 2 00-
“ Jno. Shank..... 2 00
“ Martha Me Alroy 2 00
M iss A. M. Shank 1 00
“ L. A. Shank i 1 do
“ J. S. Shank 1 00
Total * $127 00
Yours, in Christ,
P. F. BURGESS.
Smyrxa CniTßoir, S. C.
You have required a most difficult task of
pastors to report the exact stateof their flocks.
Sometimes I have thought the pastor, the most
incompetent judge. He is liable to he too
much discouraged by,any little unfavorable
circumstance, or, again, he may become too
mucji elated by anticipations that are long in
being realized. As to the present stateof the
Smyrna church, Barnwell District, I can say,
that there are some very hopeful indications.
Some are inquiring the way to Zion. A few,
after long and hard struggle, have come to the
light of the glorious gospel, whilst among
some of the older members of the community
(I use community, because it includes refu
gees and visiting brethren,) there is a deep
spirit of earnest prayer, for an outpouring of
the Holy Spirit.
So far as liberality is concerned, the church
and community are improving every year. —•
They have raised the pastor’s salary for the
present year from SSOO to SBOO, and in every
particular exhibit the most thoughtful consid
eration for his temporal and spiritual prosper
ity.
Whilst speaking of my own church I will
add a word upon the delightful reunions which
wo have on the afternoon of the first'Sabbath
in the month, pt a concert of prayer for mis
sions, held at a school house halfway between
Smyrna and Concord churches. The influence
is most beneficial on every class of the commu
nity. It developes the talents of the brother
hood. It liberalizes the minds of the children
and refreshes every truly pious soul.
I call attention to this meeting so that those
who may live in the country can see that, with
a little effort and determination, the spirit of
missions can be sustained, even in. these ad
verse times. If there is no recent missionary
intelligence of interest, a review of the past
success of our faithful foieign laborers will
prove instructive and reviving.
Yours fraternally, If. J. M.
For the Index.
News from brethren Slover and
Hogue.
Letters have Jjeen received recently from
Rev. T. A. Slover and Rev. R. J. Hogue, mis
sionaries among the Indians. The former is
now in or near Dardanelle, Yoll county, Ark.,
and the latter is at home in the Choctaw Na
tion. Bro. 11. has suffered much from
ness since last October. In September he losfs*vSP[
by death, a little *on. Truly the afflictions 4
Qod’a people are n$ few. I will furnish you ,
his letters for publication soon. May the * j
faithful be constant at the throne of grace,and
implore the Divine Blessing upon this mission j
:o the red man. T. S. J
Attendance upon the Convention of the
| papprs at Millcdgeville accounts i'or.Mfl
twaut of editorial labor, this week.
1 1