Newspaper Page Text
- ■ ■ - ———— - c*
BY SAMUEL BOYKIN.
50 NOS. IN A VOL.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
A f AMILY RELIGIOUS PAPER PUB Ll* MED ITKKT FRIDAY
AT MACON, 6A.
SAMUEL BOYKIN, Editor.
One year, - 7- * ?1 A 00 ‘
Six months, - - ‘ “ Jj!
Three months, . ■*- ** u
ALWAYS lif ADVANCE.
masters are athorized to remit money. _ •
Orders for change of direction muet give tbe Poet
Office, county and State to-which the paper ha. been,
and is to ha sent. . , =. .
Money due the office may be sent by matl at tne
risk of the paper. ... . , the
Notice.—To send money with safety, seal the
letter carefully, and mail it yourself, ■*£ZM<bug
to any one about the money* n°t even the Pollu
ter. Address “OIIISTIAN INDEX,” Maeoir, Oa.
RATES OF ADVERTISING.
For advertising our terras are $2,00 for each
square of ten lines for each and every inser
tion.
Macon, Ga., April 22, 1884.
Notice.
Correspondents must always give their post
office when they subscribe or send money to
the Index. Where .they request a change of
office they must give both offices. ts
A Foolish Notion.
We were somewhat amused lately to hear
it stated that, in open session, at the last
Friendship*Association, the opinion was pub
licly expressed that because we, S. Boykin,
are in a business copartnership in a firm of
which one member is a Methodist, that, there
fore, the Christian Index is inclined Metho
dism and under Methodist influence. Besides
being foolish and untrue, the idea is absurd ; >
and we would m.t take the trouble to notice
it if such a sensible brother as T. E. Langley
had not openly advocated it, and brother J.
H. Corley said to believe it. Out of defer
ence to these brethren and to the memory of
brother Perryman, we take the pains to ex
press our surprise at the simplicity which
should have led such brethren to believe such
a thing, and to deny it; because, as wc think
those and other brethren honest, we suppose
. they belicre what they say, and we wish to
disabuse minds.
It is true, wc believe, that the Religious
Herald is printed in a secular printing house;
but we do not find the Virginians on that ac
count, accusing the Herald of being tinctured
with the views of its printers, or under their
influence. The Index is printed in our own
printing office ; what the partnership of a man
of another denomination has to do with the
views of the Index we can’t see—right sure
are we that nothing in the paper has indica
ted any such influence. Editor.
Meetings in the Macon Church.
These meetings continue very interesting
. —fourteen W ll h aving been baptized, and
four or five more candidates awaiting the or
dinance. The meetings have Continued six
or seven weeks and have continually increas
ed in interest: for the last two weeks morn
ing pi-ayer meetings have been held mostly
by the church members for the special pres
ence of the Holy Spirit. Tho’ the church is
revived, and though it manifests much ear
nestness, yet in the ordinary acceptation of
the term this is not what is called a revival.
All is calm and quiet: the nightly preaching
is solem and earnest ; and the feeling deep
and serious, ami mourners constantly come
forward for prayer.
Rev. E. W. Warren, continues unflag
ging in his endeavors to maintain the inter
of the meetings, and has reason to feel grati
fied at. his success.
In the Ilospi'als there is much religious
interest, the chaplains preach constantly—
Rev. F. M. Hay good every night. Some in
teresting conversions have occured among the
soldiers.
‘‘The Sabbath School Wreath.”
This is the title of a collections of hymns,
compiled by a Sabbath Schoolteacher, for the
benefit of the children in the Confederate
States.. It is published by the Sunday School
and publication Board of the N. C. Baptist
State Convention, which lias for sale a very
good Biblical catechism, by Rev. J. J. Lans
dell, and which, also, advertises other cate
chisms for the Sunday School. The wreath
is a choice collections of hymns, 110 in num
ber, and embraces all the most popular songs
gung in Sabbath School; but is not accom
panied by notes. Those desiring it may ad
dress Rev. J. 11.. Howell, Raleigh, N. 0.
Rev. W. H. Robert.
We refrained from an expression of opin
ion-upon the publication ofbro. Robert’s let
ter, on which brother Bennett animadverts,
because we were unacquainted with all the
facts in the case ; but, we must confess that
at the time, his plan did not meet with our
assent, as we consider communion an ordi
nance to be performed by a church”, and not
by a band of brethren who may, by any stress
of circumstances be together, and who may be
actuated by a desire to engage in the ordi
nance. A church ordinance may not be per
formed by brethren who are not organized in
a church capacity.
“Foot Chaplain* and not a tingle Mission**
ary.
Such is the statement of—W.—, our arfny
correspondent in Virginia, concerning the
number of laboring Baptists Georgia has in
Gen. Lee’s army ; and W. is in a situation to
know the truth of what he affirms. Here,
then, \v something to be pondered by our
who, beneath the quiet shades of
their own vine and fig tree are enjoying that
_ea.se which becomes not laborers in the Lord's
vineyard ; andT wh'b, pfe6trb*£’ *0 -si*®t v psL
lifeless congregations, are themselves becom
ing so petrified in soul, that all disposition to
laborious activity is lost, and all love for per
ishing sinners so benumbed,that they listless
ly permit the teeming thousands of our armies
to go oi in the “broad way,” regardless of
where that broad way may lead them. May it
not be that a visit to the warm atmosphere of
those spiritual workshops—ourarmies —where
souls are so earnestly engaged in forging the
arrows of conviction and melting tho harden
ed hearts of sinners, will animate with a like
,ardor the souls of visiting brethren, so that af
ter a season of refreshing labor they may re
turn to their own flocks overflowing witL zeal,
and thus be enabled to fan into a flame the
smouldering embers on so many church altars
of devotion ? The experiment is at least worth
a trial; and we hope that that trial will he
given to the matter, so that—to say no more—
the reproach may be taken away from the
rank and file of Georgia Baptist ministers,
that only four of them are reaping for their
Master in the white harvest field that so lux
uriantly waves, ripe for the sickles, on the
soil of the Old Dominion. Who knows but
what yet the almost lifeless churches at home
are to be revivified by anew life infused by
the ze.ilous spirit with which circumstances
and the Holy Ghost have inspired our armies
and those heralds of the cross that have,Tor a
time, put from themselves the cup of ease and
home-comforts they were sipping, and have
entered upon the self-sacrificing arena of camp
service ? . .
At our Convention it is to be hoped that
such representations will be made as will fire
the ardor of our best altar-ministrators and
induce them to count the present opportunity
of dealing forth the bread of life to our brave
detenders, as one not to be lightly regarded,*
but as calling for all the efforts and zeal that
they are capable of commanding : if so,, and
if many are thus induced to enter upon army
missionary labor, the assemblage ol the breth
ren in Convention, if nothing else noteworthy
is accomplished, will have achieved enough to
war. ant the holy convocation.
Facts for Ga. Baptists to Consider.
1. They have not half-a-dozen chaplains
and no missionaries of their number to repre
sent them in the army of Northern Va.!!— *
Why is it that more of fttr ablest and best
preachers do not enter upon this field of la
bor ? Let them answer the question: our
Boards are calling for the men ; and our sol
diers are calling for the chaplains and the
missionaries, and God is calling for more la
borers ! Shall not our numbers and our talents
and our zeal and our liberality be better rep
resented in that army ? Shall the shame con
tinue to rest upon Ga. Baptist ministers that
they have not a half-dozen representatives in
Lee’s army ? [Query. llow stands our denom
ination represented in our other armies ?]
2. There are, in Gen. Lee’s army, thirteen
brigades of Infantry, in which there is no
Baptist chaplain or missionary.
3. In the whole of Gen. Rhodes’ Division,
composed ofN rth Carolina, Georgia and Al
abama troops, there is but one Baptist chap
lain, and he a young man just entering the
ministry.
4. A Baptist chaplain preached in a brig
ade in Lee’s army lately,; and after service a
very intelligent sergeant requested baptism,
saying that he had been desiring it for two
years, but that in all that time no Baptist
preacher had visited the brigade! And, yet,
the Baptist clement in it was so decided that
a Presbyterian Colonel expressed a desire for
a Baptist Chaplain!
Doings of the Domestic Board.
Our Domestic Board has employed, during
the year just ended, 68 army missionaries, 20
doin. missionaries and 25 among the Indians:
to all this Georgia has contributed about 20
men and about $50,000.
The Domestic Board has 16 men now enga
getbin the army of Tennessee; and has re
ceived during the year just past not less than
$130,000. #
All this indicates the activity and useful
ness of this Board,and the confidence reposed
in it, notwithstanding the opposition of those
who sec in great central organizations that
which is calculated only to breed distrust, dis
affection. and—parsimoniousness.
The Secretary of the Board informs us that
the Board is prepared to commission other
missionaries and to purchase Bibles and Tes
taments in large quantities whenever they
can be procured.
Acknowledgement
For bro. J. S. Baker from N. J. Bussey $13,33
J. S. Marlin, * . . , sfoo5 f OO
J Barrow. We will carry your money to
•the Convention for you.
THE PASTOR'S AID: THE CHRISTIAN’S GUIDE: THE SINNER'S FRIEND
MAC&N, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1864.
Army Colportage.
We took occasion last week to allude to the.
-Sunday School and Publication Board and its
labors : now it so happens that thousands of
Georgia soldiers are in Virginia--most gal
lant men who rushed to the front to save, and ’
who did save our capital; and it is to these
men that this Board is sending missionaries,
tracts and religious papers. And as it is thus
benefiting our own people we should assist
them in the work. It is true that ourDomes
-Sie-Mifswtvß iard.is Ailing, a great and a good,
work and deserves a rich support; but we be
lieve it does not essay that amount of labor in
our more Northern States that is undertaken
and well done by the Board of which we are
speaking. We hope that both these Boards
will be sustained, and well sustained, for they
are both Baptist Boards, and deserve support;
but those who wish to send spiritual food to
the gallant Georgians in Virginih will find, in
the Sunday School and Pub. Board, represen
ted by Rev. A. E. Dickinson, an appropriate
channel for their liberality.
How to get Chaplains.
Two communications on this subject have
been received by us, and they both take such
a sensible view of the subject (considering the
indifference and backwardness of home minis
ters) that we cannot refrain from.giving their
idea publicity— so, as it puts the
matter directly in the hands of the soldiers
themselves, who so much desire the services
of these chaplains.
The plan is for the soldiers to choose a min
ister who may have patriotically volunteered
am. gone into the ranks, and send up a petit
ion for him to be their chaplain. We are as
sured that there are many able ministers jn
the ranks who know the wants of the soldier
by personal experience, and who would, there
fore, make excellent chaplains; and it is sug
gested that chaplains and missionaries seek
out these miuisters in the ranks and, upon
the discovery of their capability to fill the of
fice of a chaplain recommend them to some
regiment. The Regiment can easily obtain
bis services by securing the approval of the
Colonel commanding to a petition and getting
him to forward it. But where chaplains will
not thus seek for the hidden talents in the ar
m3T, the brethren may, upon consultation and
Investigation, easily gnni l * pious or
gifted minister who is watching fo* just such
a call; but whose modesty prevents his ma
king known his inclinations.
The following brethren, regularly ordained
Baptist ministers, have expressed a consent
to have it known that they would accept a
chaplaincy: W. J. Hatcher, 31st Ga. Reg.:
J. J. Wright, 61st Ga. Reg ; also Capt. Mc-
Afee, of the 26th or 38th Ga., lleg—all in
Gordon’s Brigade.
Index for the Soldiers.
Charlotsville, Va., Apr 9, 1864.
Bro. Boykin —The Georgians in our hos
pitals are quite elated at the prospect of a
“double sheet” in May. They speak of it as
another proof that Georgia is the “Empire
State” of the South. Very many Georgia sol
diers arc in our hospitals—many, I mean,
compared with the whole number of the sick
—compared with the whole number of Lee's
army, the entire number of the sick in all the
Virginia hospitals is astonishingly small.—
Most of your soldiers who are religious, are
Baptists, and all love the Index. It is delight
ful to see a soldier who cases to read nothing
else, get hold of a paper from his own State.
Many, who never read it at home, say they
must have it when they get home, if it cost
SSO. Go on with your good work, and may
God bless all lawful efforts to do good to our
soldiers.
Yours truly,
W. F. BROADDUS,
Colporter in Hospitals..
Dr. Broaddus is well known to many ofour
readers ; and when he says the Georgians in
the Old Dominion are glad to get the Index,
we may believe it. The main question is,
shall they have them in abundance ? This
we hope our readers will prayerfully consid
er; and if they think so, then they should as
sist in sending papers. Contributions for this
purpose have not come to us freely, of late ;
but we could publish many applications from
chaplains, in all parts of the army, for the pa
per. We will not dwell on this subject, be
ing confident that the Christian patriotism of
our readers will not permit us to remain un
able to furnish the papers actually solicited.
To increase their liberality we will say that
the Methodis's are publishing in Macon, for
gratuitous distribution in the army, a paper
twice as large as a full sheet of the Index,
which in three months only has reached a cir
culation of 14,000 ! And theirdenomination
al organ, the Advocate, published in Augus
ta, is not very far behind that, in its circula
tion. We leave the matter with benevolent
churches and individuals knowing well that
at $lO for a full sheet we shall lose instead
of making money, if prices do not fall speedi
ly-
B Beck. Your S2O for army colportage is
received. Thank you. F M H.
T W Lanier. We cannot send the books
you wish. F. M. H.
B B, Your article is received.
Brief Mention. *
■Camp of 13th Ga. Vols. Gordon’s Brig. )
April 9th, 1864. (
‘Buotuej*. Botkin—Sir: Yesterday. was the
dfj set apart by our President-for fasting.—
fthe morning at 6 o’clock, we had a Brig
i prayernweting. Our General led in pray-’
v?. All seemed to be engaged in fasting and
praying to God for peace on reasonable terms.
ffU the company to which I belong observed
jpeday as a fast day. N-. 11. MILLER, .
Cos. E, 13th Ga. Vols.
L. 11. Milliken, chapfainln JohnstUfftf Hr--
my, writes to us to urge upon the Convention
to do something to supply the army with the
word of God, suggesting that they be run
thro’tie blockade. # We earnestly hope the
brethren will give the matter serious and lib
eral attention, and that God will indeed guide
their minds in devising the best plan for se
curing so desirable an end as the attainment
of the Scriptures for our soldiers.
Bro. Jno. 11. Young writes us of tho bap
tism of two members of the IFwin artillery,
wl tf were on a visit home, and whose conver
sion seemed the special answer to believing
prayer and effort on the part of friends, aided
by the influence of pious officers. Oh, for
more such in our array !
Bro. J. M. Britain, writing from Gordon’s
brigade, says:
‘■'l He Lord is blessing us with a rich revi
val. I have just received eight persons for
baptism in the 38th Georgia regiment. There
are n any anxious inquirers,"and the interest
seems to be steadily increasing. The revival
feeling is felt throughout the brigade. Bro.
AS oodfin, chaplain of the 61st regiment bap
tize I 10 candidates last Sunday.
Elder James Barrow*
Tho Board of Domestic Missions has appro
priated three hundred dollars ($300) per an
num to this aged and worthy brother. Bro.
B. continues to perform his regular mission
ary tours within the bounds of tlie Liberty
Association, Ala., by whose patronage he is in
part supported. The brethren, generally,
however, need not discontinue their personal
donations to this infirm and afflicted disciple
of Christ. Bear, ye, one anothers burdens.
M. T. S.
Elder J. S. Baker.
The Board of Domestic Missions has appro
priated one thousand dollars to the support of
this well known minister of Jesus as pastor of
the Monticello Baptist church, Fla. Brother
Baker will devote as much time as is consis
tent with his pastoral duties, to the spiritual
interest of the soldiers. M. T. S.
Central Association Mission.
Bro. Boykin —l wrote you before fronj Rc
saca. I remained there from Saturday even
ing until Wednesday evening, and preached
for the soldiers stationed there seven sermons.
I never saw, among any people a deeper and
more earnest interest manifested in preach
ing. They plead that I would remain longer;
but having many letters to deliver at Dalton I
was compelled to leave them. I came up to
Dalton, and from thence to Gon. Clayton’s
brigade two and a half miles from Dalton.—
The Gen. received me most kindly, and has
since given all the aid and encouragement
possible in preaching to his command. He is
the same kind hearted man, and open and
candid friend he was before being made a
General. By“profession the Gen. is an Episco
palian ; but he invites and encourages minis
ters of all denominations to come and preach
in his brigade. I found an excellent revival
meeting in progress conducted by the chap
lain. Some forty have already connected them
selves with the various churches. Fast day
was generally observed. It was a very disa
greeable day, but a large congregation assem
bled and gave most serious attention morning,
evening and night.
On Sabbath evening, the 10th inst., I bap
tized 11. J. Byrd, 36th Ala. Reg. Cos. G; 11. C.
Baily of the 18th Ala. Regt., Cos. K., and Is
aac Miller, 58th and 32d Ala. Reg., Cos. 8.,
belonging to Clayton’s brigade, and two be
longing to Baker’s brigade whose names I do
not now recollect. Bro. McVey, a Methodist
minister and chaplain of the 38th Ala. Reg.,
baptized two at the same time. Yesterday I
attended the weekly meeting of the chaplains
and missionaries of Gen. Hood’s csrps. Gra
cious revivals are reported as in progress in
almost every brigade in the corps. To-mor
row I expect to attend the monthly meeting
of the chaplains and missionaries of the entire
army. I may drop you another short note af
ter attending that meeting. I may write fre
quently ; but I intend to \jrite only short
notes unless something extraordinary occurs.
I learn that Gen. Wheeler’s cavalry took a
spy yesterday evening attempting to escape
through our lines. The spy, on examination
was found to be a woman dressed in gentle
men’s clothes and with a surgeon’s sash on.
On her person was found complete drawings
and maps of the entire army with all of our
fortifiqptions, &c., &c. She.was sent to Gen.
Johnson who knows how to and will properly
dispose of all such cases.
Yours truly,
A. VAN IIOOSE.
The following Letter
From Dr. Brantly, we take the liberty of
publishing for its humor, and for the informa
tion it contains.— Editor. • .
Atlanta, April 9th, 1864.
Brother— Your favor 6th
is received. will be no regular com
mittee in attendance'at the cars or church to
receive delegates to flie Convention. This is
superseded by the notice already sent by mail
to the delegates and correspondents, directing
them.to the families who will entertain them
lieir arrival. attendance promises to
be a3 large in bona 1 mi c •ftie Sfr ■
is. We have already received nearly a hun
dred notifications from persons who intend to
be present. There will probably be others.—
Last year the members’ofthe Convention num
bered a few over a hundred, and that was a
full average representation. If any delegates
come who have been so improvident as not to
comply with the Committee’s request, they
shall not be punished for their neglect fur
ther than to find accommodations for a few
hours at our delectable hotels—until we can
make soma arrangement for their lodging.
Wc have sought to give our most convenient
places to the seniors and fathers of tho Con
vention-allowing those whom the apostle
calls “strong” to walk.a mile or so after their
rations. We put for instance Dr. Sherwood
who has been a septuagenarian for several
years, at Col. Dabney’s, immediately oppo
aite the church, whilst we locate our young
friend, the worthy pastor at Griffin, at a dis
tance which will secure him a little physical
exercise whilst in the city.
There are very few streets known byname
in Atlanta, and the city is built in such an
un-orderly manner that it is hard to designate
residences. We have to use various expedi
ents. I tell my friends who ask me where I
live, that I reside opposite Mr. Scrutchins.—
And if they do not know anythingabout “Mr.
Scrutchins,” I tell them I live next door to
Mr. Reynolds. If lie is unknown I next talk
to them about Col. Collier’s big brick house
on tho hill. This is known by every body in
Atlanta; and I take it as a landmark to point
out to my friends my own humble domicil. I
have endeavored to give such cfirections to
the delegates as will enable them to ascertain
their hosts without difficulty.
I wish it had been in our power to have
extefiaeffarrlnvttatiCTii -fco tl>© who usu
ally grace our Conventions, to be present.—
But such is the crowded state of our city that
we have been unable to make room for them.
I hope that we may have a profitable meet
ing—both to the immediate participants and
to the objects v hich the Convention seeks to
advance.
Fraternally, W. T.. BRANTLY.
’ *<49>*
To the Professors of Religion in Cos. K., 3d
Ga. Regiment.
Dear Brethren —Your communication, ad
dressed to the chureh at Athens, has been re
ceived, and read on Sabbath before the con
gregation, and your request enforced by 6uch
remarks as 1 thought called for. I thank you
for writing; and now send you the assurance
that we have been, and aro still praying for
you. May this assurance comfort and stren
gthen your hearts. We try to pray for your
bodies and your souls—for your temporal and
your spiritual welfare. We pray that God
may shield and preserve you in the day of
battle; sustain you on the weary march, in
the sick tent and hospital, as you languish
from disease and wounds, and cheer your
spirits amid your privations, while away from
your families and your homes. We pray that
you may be preserved front all sin and temp
tation, and may find the.grace of Christ suf
ficient for you: so that while you fight the
battles of our country, you may also “fight
the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eter
nal life r” and that while you aro good sol
diers of the Confederacy, you may also be
faithful soldiers of the Cross. We pray that
your prayer-meeting may continue, and deep
en in interest, and spread in influence, and be
the means of the conversion of all your irre
ligious companions in arms, officers and men.
Pray on, brethren, hope on, struggle on
through difficulties and opposition; and we
will unite our supplications with yours, that a
tide of revival influence may ” come swelling
up from the army of the Potomac, and roll
over the whole land, and arouse and refresh
the languishing churches in-its onward flow,
and baptize the whole nation, and every part
of the people and the army in all our borders,
with “the spirit of grace and of supplications.”
Yes, pray on: it is a blessed work; and
you may make your influence tell for good far
and wide in the land. We do thank God that
there are many praying Christian men in the
army : and I ask for myself, and for the
church, constant remembrance in the prayers
of God’s children among you, that wc may be
revived, and sinners saved in our midst.
And finally, we pray that an honorable
peace, and independence, may soon reward
your toils, and that you may return to your
bomes with your garments unspotted from the
world, and infuse new lifo into the drooping
churches.
The Lord have you all in Ilis most gracious
keeping.
Affectionately your brother in Christ,
Pastor Athens Chvrcb.
JCERMS. IXAIWANC6
VOL. XLIII.—NO G 6,
’ For the Christian Index.
Georgia Ministers
In thr Army under’ Appointment o* the
Domestic Board, during past Y@-ar.
Rev. D. G. Daniell,
“ A. D. Cohin, ‘’
“ s WW. ©dom,
“ W. 11. Robert, **
- 2 J. O. Scriven,
“ J. A. Tdgl, V ‘ t
“ G. W. Selvidge,
“ E.TF. Warren,
“ P.* A. Hughes,
. . “ W. J. Murrew, * ’ ’
“ IV W. Lanier,
“ W. Conner,
“ J. M. Stansberry,
■ “ D. B. Hamilton,
“ Thomas Ralubeaut,
W. C: Marbury,
“ A. Van Iloose.
Bro. Campbell is sustained by contributions
from the Sarepta Association. Bro. Murrow
is sustained by contributions from the Middle
Baptist Association. Bro. Van Hoose is sus
tained by contributions from the Central As
sociation. Bro. Daniell is sustained in part
by contributions from the Sunbury Associa
tion. Bro. Stansberry is a post ehaplain and
his salary is supplemented.
Georgia has not only furnished liberally of
her means to sustain this mission, but has not
withheld her men to reap the glorious results
of its labors. Other applications are before
the Board from Georgia that will receive a fa
vorable response. The Board are prepared to
send out a large reinforcement to tlve army.
Who will go? Will not some of Georgia’s
ablest ministers devote a season to the wants
of the army ? Tho list should be greatly in
creased. Brethren, you will find it a pleas
ant and profitable work. M. T. S.
P. S. Other missionaries are in the army
in Georgia, but not from Georgia.
M. T. S.
A Camp Scene—Tribute of admiration and
Love.
Camp, on Rapidan, March 26tli, 1864.
Mr. Editor — On the 29th ult., I was the
witness of a scene, in the camp “of Gordon’s
brigade, which was exceedingly gratifying to
my own heart. Their gallant commander,
Gen. Jno. B. Gordon, had just returned from
Georgia where he had been recruiting his
health for a month or two. During his ab
sence, bis brigade, prompted by those senti
ments of admiration and love, which as a unit
thej r entertain for him, procured a magnifi
cent steed, which on that day they presented
to him. At the hour appointed for the pre
sentation, the brigade, amid inspiring strains
from their band, assembled in order, before
the General’s quarters, and Capt. Chas. Shor
ter of the3lst Ga. Reg., in a few appropriate
remarks, presented the horse. The General’s
reply was at some length and fraught with
deepest interest to all. In eloquent strains, he
spoke to his command of their past brilliant
history, and with radiant finger, pointed them
tg their future destiny. As I listened to this
noble man, so full of hope and courage, my
blood tingled with a fresher flow and my heart
bounded with a brighter hope, and as I gazed
into the kindling eyes of those whom he invi
ted to “victory or death,” I felt in my heart
of hearts that “There is life in the old land
yet.” God bless Gordon and his noble brig
ade! LIGNUM.
—
% “Meeting God.”
Yes, we must all meet God—willing or un
willing, we must meet him ; prepared or un
prepared, we must meet him. Reader, wheth
er you shall hear the plaudit “Come ye bless
ed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepard
for you from the foundation of the world,” or
shall hear that doleful word, “depart;” you
must meet God.
A student in , who had passed thro’
a powerful revival aud had resisted every o
verture of mercy, all the entreaties of friends
and the powerful strivings of the Holy Spirit,
was left at the close of that season of mercy,
unpardoned and unblest. It seemed to have
been tho Spirit’s last call ; for soon he was an
infidel—was permited to believe a lie that lie
might be damned. 2 Thes. 2: 11, 12. After
wards he moved to . While there the
cholera made its appearance, and when it was
sweeping down multitudes, he made such
light and impious remarks about death and
coffins, as could only be made by a desperately
wicked,cowardly heart. But soon he was strick
en down by the <j rea( l e< { disease ; and as the
fearful malady was fast doing its work, he
held up his hands and looked at his finger
nails. As he saw from their blueness that
death was fast approaching, amid awful blas
phemies and imprecations, he would exclaim
“I can’t die—l won’t die.” And thus he
continued, till the poor spirit was forced from
the body—“forced away.”
llow fearful is it for one in such a state of
heart to betorced into the presence of a holy
God ! No wonder that he clings to life as long
as he can. My impenitent reader, fancy such
a death to be yours ! Is not the very thought
horrifying ? What then must the reality be ?
Continue to reject Jesus, and it may soon be
to you an awful reality.