Newspaper Page Text
CHRISTIAN INDEX
SAMUEL BOYKIN, EDITOR.
MACON, GEO., JULY 6, 1863.
RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
For the paper will be stopped when the time
is out.
A cross mark after the name signifies that
yooWtime is nearly out, and that you should
forward the subscription for another year.
Advanced Terms of the Index-
For one year, . . . $4 00
“ six months, . . . 2 00
“ three months, . . . 100
INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
Obituaries.— Twenty lines gratis ; and 10
cents per line for every line of writing over 20
lines. If the money is not sent the obituary
will be curtailed. ts
Rags, Rags, Rags!
We once more urge upon our readers to send
us clean rags—white if possible.
A small number may be sent by express to
our address and at our expense, and we, giv
ing 10 cents per pound, will credit the person
on the Index Books and acknowledge per re
ceipt list: or we will send the money.
A large lot may be sent with the weight
marked on them by express or otherwise, and
we will remit the pay.
‘Or if the rags are deposited in our name at
any depot and the number of pounds sent to
us, we will forward payment to the Rail Road
agent, with directions what to do with the
rags. We urge our lady readers to help us,
remarking most truly that every little helps.
S. BOYKIN,
ts Macon, Ga.
‘ls it right for Ministers to en
gage in what is considered law
ful Speculation ?”
This was a question presented to the gener
al meeting of the third District of the Heph
zibah Association. The meeting answered :
“It is right when the speculation is not mor
ally wrong.”
This question and answer give us an occa
sion for some refieetions upon a difficult but,
at this time especially, a very important sub
ject. No doubt but that the meeting felt em
barrassed by the necessity of a brief answer,
which, from its brevity must be to a great ex
tent unsatisfactory. We experience the same
embarrassment. Fully to meet all the points
of the subject would require a well-considered
essay or a book. Os course in an editorial
many things must be omitted, and some dif
ficulties will remaiu unanswered.
The question is put in reference to a par
ticular class of Christians : Is it right for min
isters ? Why single out ministers in a ques
tion of right or wrong ? Is there a code of
morals for ministers and another, and differ
ent one, for other Christians? Gan it be shown
that a certain thing is, in itself, wrong to rr
minister and yet right to other Christians ?
May not the inference be drawn from the query
of the general meeting that though wrong for
a minister to engage in what is considered
lawful speculation it is right to all other Chris
tians ? Admit that the influence of a wrong,
in a minister is greater for evil than in the
case of a more private Christian, still the mor
al character of the act itself is not, on that
that account, changed. We are aware that
opinion prevails far too widely that ministers
should have all the religion and do all the
praying, but the opinion is wrong and injuri
ous. We apprehend that should Satan secure
ministers for engaging in speculation, that
private Christians guilty of the same offence
will bardly escape the torments of the world
to come.
We do not complain of the answer given, if
properly defined and taken with due limita
tions. That answer is this : “It is right
when the speculation is not morally wrong.”
We suppose by the term “morally” is meant,
according to the rules of the Divine law ; that
speculation is right when it is according to
the rules of the Divine law ; that we act right
when we obey the word of God. The answer
is a mere truism, and however little informa
tion it conveys, we certainly have no quarrel
with it, as such.
Whether ministers should engage in specu
lation when it is not morally wrong depends
upon another question; whether a minister
may engage in any worldly avocation which
is morally right. It is evident, that if a min
ister may scripturally farm, practice medi
cine, or law, that he may also speculate ac
cording to the Scriptures. Among avocations
equally right, he may choose that for which
his talents and circumstances best adapt him.
Are not the deleterious effects upon the spir
ituality and usefulness of a minister the same,
in nature and tendency, though not in extent,
in all secular pursuits ? The true question
then is this : shall a minister, while able to
discharge ministerial duties, engage in any
worldly avocation which is not morally wrong ?
We will resume the consideration of this ques
tion after making some remarks upon the sub
ject of speculation.
The term speculation like poor Tray has ac
quired a bad reputation from bad associations.
In commerce, speculation is purchasing lands,
goods, stock, or other things, with the expec
tation of selling the articles at a profit. This
is the proper and necessary business of the
merchant chiefly. We must have middle
men between the producer and consumer. If
the farmer had to take his corn and go in quest
of some man who had an axe, and who would
be willing to'exchange it for corn,'and so in
reference to all he needed on his farm and
for his family, which he could not produce,
how much of his time would be consumed,
and how greatly his productions would be di
minished ! The same is true of the mechanic.
Much time is saved by the merchant who
gathers up and keeps on hand what is needed j
by all; and thus too, the productiveness of the 1
country is greatly increased. Merchants are
necessary, useful, and honorable. Society
cannot exist without them. They are neces
sary in war, as well as in peace, though not
to the same extent, because of the obstructed
channels of commerce and the diminished pro
ductiveness of the country. The hue and cry
raised against merchants, as such, is there
fore, unreasonable and wicked. Speculation
in the sense explained is both necessary and
justifiable.
But in a time of war all regular commerce
is embarrassed; ports are blockaded, the com
forts of life are eut off, and even the necessa
ries are greatly diimnished. Then there is an
opportunity for forestalling the markets,
hoarding up articles of necessity, and practi
cing extortion upon the consumers. And this
word extortion is the true word to be used, and
not speculation. The odium and sin truly
belonging to extortioners whether merchants,
farmers, or artisans, has been transferred in
many instances to the legitimate and useful
merchant. The sin is, of course, the same by
whatever name it may be called, but the dis
tinction is important to vindicate the abused
innocent, and to fix the crime on all to whom
it belongs.
We have no soft words for extortioners,
whether merchants, farmers, manufacturers,
artisans, poultry-raisers, milk-mongers, or
wood-sellers. And who will deny but that
they are found among all classes, and that
their name is legion ? They take advantage
of the necessities of their neighbors, and ex
tort from them unreasonable prices for their
labor, time and risk. They oppress the fami
lies of soldiers, and discourage the hearts of
the soldiers themselves, more than all the oth
er trials which they experience. They are en
emies to their country, vampires of society,
and accursed of God. Heaven is closed against
them, and hell opens to welcome them. Cur
sed are their gains wrung from the blood of a
patriotic people, and valiant soldiery—from
the broken hearts of widows, and the famish
ing cries of orphans! Cursed to themselves
and their children ! More terrible than the
burning spirit of Nessus, will their extorted
gains consume them for life. They are mark
ed now, and their reputations will blacken in
coming years into irredeemable infamy. *
Let no Christian come nigh them ; let no
minister be found in their number except to
win them from their idols, and point them to
the only Saviour of the lost. A r o extortion can
ever be morally right, or right in any way ;
hence no minister, no Christian may engage in
it. Let the fearful words of the Bible be hid
in the hearts of all, that they may not in this
respect, sin against God.
Extortion though so wide spread and des
tructive ; so discouraging to the patriotic and
saddening to the Christian; is no new thing in
the world. The Bible speaks of it in the ear
liest ages ; it was wide-spread in the French
revolution, and fearfully overshadowing in the
first American revolution. It is but the de
velopment of the covetousness of the human
heart, and only the more fearful and promi
nent now, because of the greater advantages
for its While we deplore and con
demn its evils, let us not forget that there are
numerous examples of most patriotic and Chris
tian beneficence, as brilliant and magnificent
as any country ever produced, to stand up in
glorious contrast to the hideous monster.
We are inclined to the opinion, too, that the
extortoner has about lost his occupation du
ring the present war. We apprehend the
War Tax will put a quietus upon liis work of
mischief, and that by next autumn we will be
able to say: “The extortioner is at an end, the
spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors aro consumed
out of the land.” Isa. 16 :4. The tax is enor
mous ; we remember nothing equal to it in the
history of the world. It is far greater than
the estimates of Congress, from the increase in
the value of property. If the people stand this
tax, and stand it they will, the currency -will
be taken up ; the army will be largely sup
plied by the tax in kind ; and thus the govern
ment will not be a buyer to the extent of that
amount. The result will be a falling in pri
ces of productions, and property, and an ap
preciation of all government stocks. Confi
dence will be established, and it is confidence
that accelerates the operations of commerce
that produces an abundant supply of articles
of consumption, and that renders their distri
bution equal and easy. With a downward
scale of prices, which we confidently expect,
the extortioner's occupation will be gone.
But to return to our question ; may a min
ister while able to discharge ministerial du
ties, engage in any secular avocation, which is
not morally wrong? The call to the ministry
18 very solemn, and theadmoßition is “give thy
self wholly to them;” “Preach the word, be
instant in season and out of season.” Again
it is said: “No man that warreth entangleth
himself with the affairs of this life, that he
may please him who hath chosen him to be a
soldier.” The general rule is, it seems beyond
all question, that a minister should engage in
no worldly business, hut devote his whole time
to the work of the ministry. Nothing, we
should say, will justify a minister in violating
this rule, but inexorable necessity, or mani
fest interpositions of Providence. Unques
tionably there are such exceptions to the rule.
By the hand of affliction a minister may be
come unable to discharge the duties of the of
fice. The duty of exclusive devotedness to the
ministry implies a corresponding duty on the
part of the church to support him ; th's duty
is clearly stated in the scriptures. When a
reasonable support is denied after faithful in
struction, another exception occurs. He may
like Paul, then go to tent making. Much
good is unquestionably done by those who, as
they think, from necessity, give a part of their
time to worldly pursuits. Nine-tenths per
haps, of all our ministers in Georgia are thus
engaged to-day. Many of them are most pi
ous and able ministers. They know the gen
eral rule of.giving themselves wholly to the
ministry, but they conscientiously believe that
necessity is laid upon them to devide their la
bors ; that their cases are exceptions. It may
be that many of them are mistaken, but others
probably are not. Most of our fathers in the
ministry labored a part of their time to secure
a support, and in their peculiar circumstances
we think they were justified.
There is danger that our ministers come too
hastily to the conclusion that the Great Head
of the church will allow them to suffer, while
wholly engaged in his work. There is much
want of faith in God, and much unfaithfulness
in teaching their churches the duty of support
ing the ministry; and much pride in withhold
ing from the knowledge of their brethren their
real condition and wants.
When one comes prayerfully to the conclu
sion that his case is an exception to the general
rule of giving Igjpaself wholly to -the work,
then we think he may choose among worldly
avocations which are right in themselves—
which are in accordance with the laws of the
Divine word. He should always, however,
give preference to that employment which has
the least “ appearance of evilbeing careful
never to compromise the ministerial and Chris
tian dignity or purity. He must maintain “ a
good report of them without.” The law, poli
tics and speculation, have always seemed to
us unfavorable and dangerous pursuits for a
minister. Though right in themselves, they
are liable to such frequent abuses as generally
to bring evil, in public estimation, to any min
ister who enters them as a business. Farm
ing and teaching are much more favorable and
desirable, as secular pursuits, for ministers
whom necessity drives into worldly callings.
Query.
Bro. Boykin;
Your last week’s issue contains an elaborate
petition, being subscribed to by some of the
brightest lights in our Church, in reference to
the Church licensing negroes to preach. The
appearance of such a document, the spirit
which breathes in the whole of it, besides much
else that has appeared recently, indicates the
wish of the Christian public to ameliorate as
far as possible the condition of our slaves,
which has been too long looked upon with in
difference. There is another subject to which
attention should be called, in close connection
with the social happiness, and moral education
of the slave.
The little regard which is paid, both by
master and slave, to the connubial relation
among the latter class is well known to all. Is
it consistent with the purity of the ministerial
profession to perform the marriage ceremony
for them under such circumstances ? Does it
not tend to increase that disregard which is
now paid to that relation by giving the tacit
approval of the clergy ; and in the same way
does it not degrade and corrupt the office of
preacher itself? Does not a clergyman offici
ating become particips criminis? Will not
you or someone discuss this subject in your
paper, also in such a way as will reach;
■both master and nin-re, urge fee importance of
a more tender regard to that relation ?
I am, very respectfully,
E. D. CAMPBELL,
Chaplain 4th Ga. Cavalry.
Waynesville, June oth, 1863.
ANSWER.
The marriage relations of Our slaves is wor
thy of the mature consideration of all right
minded men. There is much interest felt up
on the subject by the pious men of the Con
federacy. Having dissolved our connection
with the fanatics of the North, and thus hav
ing the pow.er to protect ourselves against
their incendiary teachings, we feel more than
ever the importance of placing ourselves right
before God and man, in reference to all ques
tions connected with our patriarchal relations
to the negro race. We know that it was in
the mind of one brother to introduce a reso
lution upon this subject at our last Southern
Baptist Convention, but a press of business
induced him to withhold it.
We all know that the Divine Law makes
marriage the intimate and permanent union
of one man to one woman. This is the law
for all men and all races of men. God has
made no exception in reference to the negro
race. All voluntary obstacles thrown in the
way of such a marriage among our slaves
must be in conflict with God's Word, and
therefore sinful.
It has been a subject of some dispute wheth
er marriage is a civil or religious contract.
We think it is both. It has its engagements
to man, to society, and its vows to God. In
every well ordered government marriage has
been placed under the control and cognizance
of the State. Why should the slaves of the
South form an e*eept*en ?-
There are great difficulties in the way of
making the marriages of Blaves among us
what marriages should be ; difficulties which
seem to many insuperable, and which certain
ly cannot be at once overcome ; but something
can be done, and earnest prudent effort may ac
complish much; difficulties from the low views
of slaves inreference to the religious obligations
of the relation ; their unfaithfulness- to each
other; their love of change; the cruelty of hus
andsb to their wives, &c.; difficulties from the
lowviews of many owners; leading to separation
for pecuniary and other insufficient causes •
difficulties from their relation.to us as slaves;
leading to separations in case of the death of
owners, or from debts which force their sale,
<fcc. The difficulties are certainly very great.
Our Churches constantly experience em
barrassments on this subject. They find one
of their members deprived of his wife by the
removal of her master, or by her sale. The
question of his marrying again comes up. To
force him to live single exposes him to temp
tation forced upon him against his will; to
allow him to marry, involves a violation of
the Bcriptural view of marriage. Some pas
tors take the ground that it is equivalent, so
far as the member is concerned, to the death
of his companion, and that he may marry
again. Others hold that he cannot, without
committing a sin which deprives him of church
membership.
The truth seems to be that we cannot make
our slaves perfect church members in tbe
present state of things. They are not pre
pared to vote in the churches of their masters,
nor can they be held rigidly to the same laws
of marriage in all respects, which apply to
freemen. We should receive them and make
them as near the pattern of the New Testa
ment as their condition will allow.
The right of the State to regulate their mar
riage, we suppose, is clear. That much im
provement might be effected by legislation, we
dp not doubt. In marrying, the consent of
the owners must be had. This is right; and
here there is but little difficulty. As to sepa
rating man and wife, this is the point of trou
ble* Frequently one owner will do all he can
to prevent it, while tbe other will make no sac
rifice, but use the conscience of the other
owner for the purpose of extorting from him
an unreasonable price. If there was a law
compelling owners to submit to a valuation
made by disinterested parties, and buy or sell
accordingly, much would be accomplished.
But we cannot discuss fully this branch of the
Our design is merely to give hints in
a practical direction.
As to tbe religious contract in marriage, it
seems to us that we should more carefully in
struct them as to their views and the meaning
of the Scriptures upon the subject. We should
give more religious solemnity to their marri
age ceremonies; not less. We cannot, there
fore, see, with our correspondent, that minis
ters should refuse to marry slaves. It occurs
to us that such a course would tend to depress
marriage in their views and practice, in lieu
of elevating it in reference to this relation.
The minister may give force to the religious part
of the contract, although the State neglects to
enforce and.guard the civil part of the con
tract. Much good in this way has been done.
Many negroes have Scriptural views of marri
age, and live in as full observance of its laws
as any people upon earth. Many owners are
most careful to protect and guard the marri
ages of their slaves. Nowhere, perhaps, up
on earth is the marriage relation so well un
derstood and observed by the African race as
in the Confederacy. This has been brought
about by the influence of religion. Now shall
the-pious withdraw their countenance; shall
ministers withhold their sanction because all
has not been attained that should be ? Surely
not.
How can tbe minster corrupt and degrade
his office, or become particeps criminis, when
he discharges his duty in reference to the re
ligious obligations of marriage? Does the
failure of the State to regulate marriage ren
der it wrong for the ministers of religion to
fulfill their duty in the matter? We do not
so see.
Let us enforce the religious part of the con
tract, and thus continue to elevate both the
, of rtMtera and ulivvaa.
Our Reply
To Bro. Poindexter is crowded out; as are
also our Receipt list, the Hasty Telegrams and
a notice of the revival in Columbus.
Faithful Virginia
“ Resolved , 1. That we recommend to pas
tors that collections be taken up in their
respective churches, as soon as practicable,
for the purpose of promoting an increased
circulation of the Religious Herald among
the soldiers.
Resolved, 2. That we increase our efforts
to extend the circulation of the Herald, in
churches also ; that we will use our influ
ence to induce delinquents to pay up ar
rearages ; and that we cordial'y pledge our
selves to support the paper and carry it tri
umphantly through the present pecuniary
pressure.
The above are resolutions passed by the
General Association of Ya. at its late session;
and wo conclude to pass—them over to our
reader 8 to see if they will not’ let good deeds
follow (on their part) such good ‘resolutions.’
Fen and Scissor*.
Northern Baptists. —The American Bap
tist Union, Cleaveland, Ohio, pronounced the
war against the South holy and just, and
pledged themselves to the support of Lincoln’s
administration.
A Hint to the CnuBCHEs.--A minister la
boring among the soldiers writes to the Bibli
cal Recorder: “I am constrained to believe
that there is much more religion in the army
now, than among the people at home.” Will
the churches ask themselves how far their con
dition bears out this opinion ?
Presbyterians at the North.— The Old
and New Schools in the United States are ma
king advances toward a re-union. They agree
In declaring that the support of the Federal
administration in its war policy is a Christian
duty.
Anti-Slavkryism.— A speaker at the recent
anniversary of the Anti-Slavery society, boast
ed that the society “had caused the rebellion!”
The society adopted a resolution in favor of
dividing the lands of rebels among tbe slaves,
the Federal soldiers, and those in tbe South
who prove their loyalty to the United States
government.
Liberality to Pastors.— The Old School
pastor at Harrisonburg, Ya., announces, thro’
the Central Presbyterian, that “while bis con
gregation has suffered perhaps more than any
in the Presbytery from this war, in the loss of
men, the depredations of the enemy, and the
constant demands of our own army, his salary
has been largely increased by gifts at various
times, and quite recently about “doubled by a
single donation.”
Reform. —The King of Madagascar, Rada
mia 11, has written a letter to the African
Times, announcing his “earnest desire to en
courage arts, science, manufactures, commerce,
education, and above all, the religion of the
Bible, among all classes of his subjects, as the
most effective means, with the blessing of God,
of promoting the prosperity of his country.”
This is another page in the history of civilisa
tion.
The Right Spirit. —At the recent Ministers
and Deacons’ meeting of the Union Baptist
Association, N. C., the editor of the Biblical
Recorder ascertained that “they aro still pros
ecuting the work of homo missions with com
mendable zeal and success. While they feel a
deep interest in the army, and are doing what
they can to supply our soldiers with the gos
pel, they are unwilling to abandon entirely
the feeble churches and destitute sections at
home. They have several missionaries labor
ing under their direction, and are only pre
vented from increasing the number by a want
of men.”
Our Slaves.—The Holston Journal approves
the actiory)f the United (New School Presby
terian) Synod, and one of the Southern Meth
odist Conferences, looking toward the revoca
tion of laws which forbid the teaching of
slaves to read; and maintains that Sunday
schools should be organized for their special
benefit, and that wherever practicable, they
should be constituted into separate churches,
and be provided with regular pastoral service.
“Preacher’s Regiment.” —The Standard
and Daily Progress, alluding to the statement
that in the late fight near Jackson, Miss., an
lowa “preacher’s regiment” was nearly annihi
lated, calls for a “preacher’s regiment” for the
Confederate army. Thank you, gentlemen,
we have a “preacher’s regiment” already in
the field. In Lee’s and Bragg’s armies espe
cially, they have been doing noble service.—
They are wellequipped with Bibles and Hymn
Books and Tracts, and religious papers, and
their recent conquests have been glorious.
Several hundred souls have recently been hap
pily converted to God through their instru
mentality. We want no other kind of “prea
cher's regiment,” either at home or in the field.
May be, an “editor’s regiment” might do.—
Will you join?”— N. C. Chr. Ado.
The above is a good answer to those carping
sheets that have expressed themselves on the
subject.
From Bro. Poindexter.
Barksdale, Ya. June 9th, 1863.
Bro. Boykin —ln your Index of June
Ist I find, in your notice of the Convention
an error which I deem it proper to ask you
to correct It is due to brother Sumner no
less than to me, to do so. I have not the
paper before me, but refer to your statement
that there was some exhibition of jealousy
between the Secretaries of the Domestic
and Foreign Mission Boards regarding the
interests of their respective Boards. Now
this is altogether a mistake. So far as I know,
brother Sumner has never manifested any
jealousy of the Foreign Mission Board, or
its Secretaries, and I am sure he would say
the same of brother Taylor and myself. It
has ever been the habit, both as a matter ot
duty and of pleasure, of each of us, (and the
same remark applies to brother Holman when
he was Secretary,) to promote the success
of the other. The matter regarding which
it was thought some jealousy was exhibited,
was colportage as conducted by the Super
intendent of the Va. S. S. and Publication
Board; and all that I said related either to
the impolicy of the Domestic Mission Board
undertaking a general system of army col
portage, which neither the Secretary nor
members of that Board expressed any de
sire to do, but which some seemed to wish
they should: or, were in defense of the
course of brother Dickinson, as Secretary of
the Ya. S. S. and Pub. Board.
Here I might close this communication,
but there is a sentiment in your remarks, so
foreign to what I have ever regarded as cor
rect, and withal, of so mischievous tendency,
that I deem it wrong to pass it unnoticed.
I wish I could quote your language, but I
cannot. The sentiment, however, is this:
That it is the duty of an agent to give his
whole energy to his special object, and for
that object to do all he can. I have often
seen this idea advanced. I have, too, been
told that this was an agent’s duty. I have
always replied, that if such were the duty of
an agent, I should never be a faithful agent.
That. I would not so advocate any one de
partment of Christian effort as to overslaugh
another. I would never by the help of God,
sink the friend of the cause of Christ in the
advocate of a special object. On the con
trary, I believe that no man is fit to be an
agent who is not alive to the success of eve
ry Christian effort, and ready at all times to
promote it. It is the duty of an agent to
attend specially to the business committed
to him, but at the same time to do all he
can for other good pbjects. The instruc
tions of the Board of Foreign Missions, and
so far as I know or have reason to conjec
ture of the Domestic Board and the Va. S.
S. and Pub. Board also have ever been in
accordance with these views. And breth
ren Sumner and Dickinson both have acted,
and will continue, I doubt not, to act upon
them. This was not the difficulty—but
whether the work being done by the Virgin
ia Board, would interfere with the success of
the Domestic Board.
I hope you will accept this correction as
kindly as it is tendered by
Very sincerely and affectionately
Yours in Christ,
A. M. POINDEXTER.
For tbe Christian Index.
General Meeting—Queries An
swered.
Waynesboro’, Ga., June 6, 1863.
Bro. Boykin. —ln accordance with previous
appointment, the General Meeting for the 3d
district of the Ilepzibah Association met at
Ways Meeting-house, Jefferson county, Ga.,on
Friday before the fifty Sabbath in May last,
when the following queries were discussed and
answered:
1. Is baptism a church ordinance?
Answer.—Yes.
2. Should church members be allowed to
visit billiard saloons, race-tracks, grog shops
or dancing parties, as mere spectators?
Answer. —No.
3. Is it right for ministers to engage in what
is considered lawful speculation?
Answer.—lt is right when the
not morally wrong.
4. Is it the duty of the church or the State
to educate poor children ?
Answer.—lt is the duty of the State and
counties, and not the duty of the church.
5. Can masters teach their slaves morality
and religion, i. e. can they personally instruct
them, and mingle with them in devotional ex
ercises, and still maintain their respect and
obedience ?
Answer.—Yes, provided masters will do
their whole duty.
C. What is the most practicable plan for the
moral and religious training of slaves ?
Answer. —Oral instruction at home, and the
preaching of the gospel regularly for their
special benefit.
The next general meeting for this district
will be held at Fort Creek, Meeting-house,
Columbia county, Ga.. Bro. J. Huff was ap
pointed to preach the Introductory sermon ;
and Bro. Tully his Alternate.
Bro. E. R. Carswell, G. Stapleton, and J-
W. Brinson, were appointed to suggest queries
for the consideration of the next meeting.
It is to be hoped that the interest manifest
ed in the discussion of the above queries, and
of others suggested on Saturday afternoon,
will elicit more attention for our general meet
ings than they have oflate received. The dis
cussions of the various topics proposed, espe
cially those on Saturday, quite animated,
edifying and respectful. Brethren Adkins,
W. L. Kilpatrick, M. P. Cain and E. R. Cars
well, of the ministry, and brethren N. Smith,
T. D. Key, Geo. Stapleton, J. W. Brinson, J.
Wren, J. S. Willson, and perhaps others of the
laity, participated more or less in the debates.
The above notice of queries and answers is
published by order of the general meeting.
CYRUS HUDSON,
Clerk of General Meeting.
A Patriotic Church.
Midville, June 16, 1863.
Bro. BoYKiN. — Enclosed please find Two
hurdred and sixty-six dollars and fifty cents,
a collection from the church and congregation
of Bark Camp church, for the purpose of fur
nishing religious reading for our volunteer^.
They have selected the Index as that medium,
and you will please send the 88 copies to com
panies and regiments in the list annexed. We
feel that if every church and congregation,
not only of our own, but of every denomina
tion of Christians, would but make an effort,
thousands and tens of thousands of our reli
gious papers could and would be sent to every
soldier in the service. We are living in earn
est times, and every energy should be used to
care for the moral as well as temporal condi
tion of our soldiers, for it is indeed and in
truth, the grand missionary enterprise of the
age. Yours, truly,
W. c.'musgrove,
Clim’n Com.
Columbus, June 18, 1863.
Rev. S. Boykin —Dear Bro.—Please apply
the ten dollars enclosed in renewal of my sub
scription for your paper for twelve months en
suing, at the rate of $5 per annum, and the
residue in distributing the paper among our
soldiery. As ever, yours, &c.,
M. J. WELLBORN.
Madison, Ga., June 23d, 1863.
Editor Index. —l send you five dollars—
please credit me for one year’s subscription,
and oblige Yours, truly,
JOHN B. WALKER,
Madison, Ga.
For the Christian Index.
“Sacerdotal Sons.”
Dear Bro. Sherwood.— ln “chapter four,”
of your “Life and Times of Jesse Mercer,”
you say that Dozier Thornton and Win. Davis,
both were “fathers of several sacerdotal sons.”
My dear Brother, what kind of a thing is that?
I know several of the sons of Wm. Davis, all
capital fellows, and some of them excellent
Baptist preachers, but I do not know that I
ever met any of the “sacerdotal sons.” Did
you mean Jeptha?” He is a quizzical look
ing fellow sometimes, but I never suspected
him of being “sacerdotal.” lie is too lean
and lank, too honest and upright.
N. M. CRAWFORD.
Mercer University, June 23,1863.
“Priest.”
The Confederate Baptist takes exception
to our using the word “Priest” or minister
or preacher , pleasing to be rather captious;
but we did it as a synonym for the sake of
the rythm and because “We wished to avoid
tbe common place in some little degreo, ex
pecting to be well understood. Why so cap
tious ?
Rev. James B. Taylor
Was in Savannah on June 28tb, and prea
ched at night. He visited Charleston and Sa
vannah for the purpose of making arrange
ments for the transmission of funds to our
missionaries in China and Africa. He resigns
his chaplaincy and will devote himself wholly
to the Foreign Mission Board.