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CHRISTIANINDFX
SAMUEL BOYKIN, Editok.
Macon, Ga., May 20, 1864.
Standing Rules.
SEE TERMS OX FOURTH PAGE.
*l. Always give your Post Office, when re
mitting money. „ a
2. Give both offices when requesting
change of office, and write plain y.
3*ferßusine communications be entirely
separate from not be
SrisedTf obituaries written on the back of
a business letter never sec the light.
4. Let obituaries not exceed ten or twelve
lines: if longer, 20 cents per line of eight
words must be sent. If this is not done, the
correspondent must not be offended when he
sees liis communication abbreviated.
Five Dollar Bills.
We are reluctantly compelled to announce
that, in common with other papers, and in ac
cordance with the universal practice, we will
receive the hills of the denomination of Five
Dollars at two-thirds of their value only. They
are positively of no more value to us than two
thirds of their amounts. 2t*
The Columns of the Index
will be enriched by tha nr eductions of manv
of our best thinkers and writers; and able
correspondents from Mississippi, the Army of
Tennesse', Richmond, and from the Army’of
Northern Virginia, are secured. Its varidus
departments will be conducted with assiduity,
and all matters of denominational interest
will be duly chronicled and discussed. The
soldiers will receive a large share of attention,
and family culture will not be neglected.—
May we not hope that the friends of the paper
will exert themselves to increase its circula
tion and procure funds for sending it to the
army? 2t. •
Gone to the Front.
The Editor left early Monday for
the battle fiel 1 to administer to the wants of
the wounded brave. In blessing others, may
he be blessed. Iffe was accompanied by a large
committee of our good citizens, among them
brother Haygood, who will be missed from his
important and useful post. Rut we started to
say that the Index again devolves on the Lo
cum Tenens. It is an unexpected burden up
on his weary bones, and the more so since it
has grown ,so corpulent in these prosperous
times. If it should exhibit signs of ill usage
the readers will comfort themselves by the as
surance that it will be but temporary.
L. T.
Gill’s Commentary.
If any brother has this work to sell, lie can
dispose of it by sending it by Express to the
Baptist Book Store, provided his price is not
unreasonably high. L. T.
Episcopal Council.
*• The Episcopal Council for the Diocese of
Georgia convened in Columbus lately. The
Committee ™ of the Church made an
interesting report of the prosperousconuinou
of the Diocese.
The Committeo appointed to prepare a.plan
of Missionary operations in the Army, .made
a report authorizing the Bishop to appoint* two
clergymen at a time for that work, and that a
collection shall be taken up in all the Parish
es on the first Wednesday in June next, for
the support of such Missionary work. \
— -*>♦’ 4
Rev. W. H. Robert.
When in. Atlanta, we forwarded to our Prin
ter a slip from the Atlanta Reveille,” con
taining the first day's Proceedings of the Con
vention. That paper made Bro. W, 11. Rob
ert say: “From remarks made by W. 11. Rob
ert, Missionary, it seems that twenty-three
Baptist Missionaries and Chaplains are labor
ing in the Army of Tennessee; in same quar
ter, fourteen Presbyterians, twe Methodists,
two Romanists, four Cumberlands, one Epis
copalian and one Sceeder.”
Bro. Robert writes us that the above docs
not correctly represent his statement, but that
the following does: “ From his statement it
appears that there are 23 Baptists laboring in
that Army as Missionaries and Chaplains, 14
Presbyterians, 1 Seceder, 2 Protestant Meth
odists, 1 Episcopalian, 2 Catholics,‘4 Cumber
land Presbyterians and 39 Methodists.”
Theatrical Amusements.
Is it not strange that, amid all the calam
ities, the sufferings, dangers and apprehen
sions of this war, public opinion can tolerate
theatrical exhibitions night after night? Is
it not wonderful that the voice of a communi
ty, which beholds thick-crowding dangers to
our Confederacy, does not bid the cessation of
those vain shows and silly trifling and mere
tricious amusementsT At a tmiewhenpray/
er and solemnity should fill the land, is it
right for vain puppets to strut the stage and
spout pompous words and indulge every spe
cies of grimace for the purpose of convulsing
thoughtless crowds with foolish laughter—the
laughter that cuts like a dagger into the wid
ow’s heart and into the bereaved mother’s
bosom ? Should those who produce nothing
and who benefit no one be allowed by public
sentiment to drain money from many who can
ill afford to spare it? Is it right for people
to waste upon idle actors that money which
would relieve the necessities of so many suf
fering poor ? Is it a time for theatrical amuse
ments, gaiety, dancing and mirth, when all
the joy and happiness and prosperity of our
land is quivering in ihe balance ? Does it be
come Mayors and Judges, and distinguished
men to write lettera inviting an actor to re
ceive a “benefit,” in such solemn, sorrowful
precious times as these? Does,it nokbecome
ns rather by all possible means to humble
ourselves in the sight of God, and put away
all that is likely to offend him, and by sincere
prayer and supplication, seek his favor ?
Woe to our country if we “forget God!”
This War, / ■
Evidently the result ot divine agency in hu
man affairs, is intended by, the Alpiighty as a
deduce of the Institution of slavery. For
more than.a quarter of a fa
naticism has been battering Sgajnst this
special decree of Providence ; thirty years
this fanaticism has sought to overthrow, in the
South, that Institution which tiW p’anted
here, which ho has ever sanctioned, and for
which he had purposely provided a people-;
and, in order to put a forcible stop to this
sacriligious interference with His own plans,
the Almighty brought about this mighty war,
the consequence of which, by its success on
our part, will be the complete vindication of
Slavery as a divine institution, the certain
eventuation of that destiny which the Lord
has allotted to the South, and a guarantee of
the grand results, whatever they may he,
which African Slavery is intended to effect
upon the human race. Wluxt that effect is,
we know not; nor is it our purpose to inquire-
But wo would simply state, that that Institu
tion must be from God which is as plainly of
divine origin as the Bible i self; which as
clearly possesses divine sanction as do human
governments; to the existence of which all
history and the writings of all the Fathers
bear witness ; which the ancient church ap
proved n.nri practiced; to which nearly all
commentators of note have assented since the
Reformation ; which philosophy clearly indi
cates and establishes; which received not one
word of rebuke from the Savior or his apos
tles ; the propriety of which has been proved
by emancipation i.n the West Indies ; the ben
efits of which have been shown by the moral
and physical elevation of the slave ; the con
sequences of which have been the wonderful
amelioration and civilization of a race that
else had continued to grope in heathen
ness and degradation ; and the eventual lesult
of which may be the evangelization of all
Africa, and its disenthralment from the chains
of gross error, heathen superstition and de
grading barbarism. To such an institution
no sin can attach ; though sin may attach to
its abuse : though it be no sin to hold slaves’
yet the slaveholder may sin in the treatment
of his slaves. Since slavery, then, as an off
spring of the divine mind, is not merely a sin
less institution, but one from which .accrues
benefit to master and slave, opposition to sla
very is the product of infidelity. Such oppo
sition, begot by infidelity, conceived by error,
and brought forth by misapprehension, is
nothing more than an atheistic contest with
God himself. And the sure result of defeat
in thst contest, is the confirmation of atheistic
principles in the mind of the human contest
ant; which is'proved by the declaration of
the ranker abolitionists that if the God of the
Bible is the God of slavery, they will abjure
him altogether.
Such being the position of affairs, and abo
litionism having become so foully rampant, it
need not excite surprise, that the Almighty,
who
“ Works in mysterious ways, his wonders to
pt;nux m, _ —V’ V***
should have awakened the mighty Demon of
War to vindicate His purposes .and punish
Ilis opponents. That we, too, are * made to
suffer, may excite surprise/ but let it be re
membered that w.e may have abased our trust,
or that we may need this fitry purification, or
that our own minds may require this decided
confirmation of the Lord’s will of purpose.—
But we may rest assured of this one thing,
that if we are victorious in the conflict—and
victorious we will be—rtho establishment of
slavery as a divine institution may be consid
ered stx-ongly confirmed; and su ch grandeur
and prosperity will result, or such benefit and
human amelioration will accrue, as will open
the eyes of all, and'astound the nations of
earth, and wring Lorn their reluctant lips
praises to the God of Heaven.
Presbyterian General Assembly.
The Assembly convened lately at Charlotte,
N. 0., aud the opening sermon was preached
on the sth, by Rex. J. A. Lyon, D. D.; and
was sa : d to be remarkable for its force, bold
ness, independence, emphasis and orthodoxy.
It will be published.
Rev. J. S. Wilson, of Atlanta, was elected
Moderator, and presided with gravity, prompt
ness and dignity. Though many of the most
distinguished Presbyterian divines were pres
ent, yet the representation was far fr An full,
and much of the important business on the
docket will bo postponed to the next meeting,
which will occur in May, 1865, at Macfm, Ga.
We present a few items of interest extracted
from a letter to a secular paper.
The Reports of the Committees on Foreign
and Domestic Missions manifest that little is
Kmng d.rne in the Foreign Field, the work he
jfig confined to Missions among the Indians.
The surplus in hand belonging to this charity
is over $30,000, Domestic and Army Missions
have been the principal work of the Denomi
nation, 130 Missionaries and Chaplains hav
ing been employed in our different armies,
and contributions having fallen but little short
of SBO,OOO/with a surplus on hand of $21,-
000. The Missionaries and Chaplains report
the hopeful conversion, during the past year,
of about 12,000 souls among our soldiery.
The Theological Seminary at Charleston is
reported in a sound condition. It has $250,-
000 invested in stocks, witli ample buildings,
and a Library of some 18,000 volumes. But
out of 60 students, only 7 remain, on account
of the war.
Very addresses on Army Mis
sions were made by Dr. Palmer, Dr. Waddell,
.and Rev, Mr. Lacy. .
Acknowledgment.
Received of Union Baptist Church, per Rev.
J. 11. Stoekton, for Army Missions, $402.50.
. M. T. SUMNER, Cor. Sec,
Marion, Ala., April 20, 1864. ... /
The Orphan Asylum.
We aye enabled, this week, to lay .betore
our readers a list of those persons who were
elected Trustees of the Asylum, or Orphan’s
Home, which it is the object of the Orphan’s
Home Association to found aud endow’, with
an especial eye to the children of thoie of our
defenders who maybe slain in battle ;- though,
of course, the benefit will not be confined en
tirely to the offspring of soldiers.
The enterprisers one of those noble, philan
thropic and heaven emanating projects, so
benevolent in its aims, so far-reaching .in its
benefits, and so jtlst in itspracticalopfcrations,
that it must commend itself to every ‘ humane
mind and to every patriotic heart. Jfhppeals
to the, sympathies and excites the sensibilities
of all who have lost a friend in the cause of
independence, or who Cfcmld encourage our
soldiers to deeds of noble daring, or who
would repay, in some faint degree, ur.told Buf
ferings and sacrifices,. or who would aid in
preparing intelligent minds to guard and dec
orate that temple of Liberty of which our gal
lant soldiers are now laying the foundations.
Let it be the delight, and to the honor, of this
generation to take beneathibe wiags of shel
tering love and protection those! whom the
death-embracing patriotism of our soldier-he
roes has left dependent upon their country :
Ini them with grateful and munifieeqj, dona
tions provide a home where, by parental care,
maintenance and education, the Sttte shall,
to the children of her dead sons, show that
gratitude which, in some degree, will repay
the mighty sacrifices they have liade, and
manifest her appreciation of that li>on of lib’
erty and independence which they] by their
valor, shall have won. Though originated by
Baptists, this is no denominationaljenterprise;
and though mostly controlled by laptists, its
benefits are intended for all who peed it. It
will know* no distinction of sects] hut will
stretch forth its arms to the entire* State and
inrite the orphans Os all the iodigenjt toa home
where love and kindness and gratitude will
reign.
Such an institution men of # all grades and
creeds should help; for it will, benefit the de
scendants of every denomination as well as
those who belong to no denomination. And
it deserves no puny help. It wants the
princely aid of those whose wealth is counted*
by thousands; those whose monej has been
preserved by the valor they thus commemorate-
An endowment of a million, at Hast, should
be accumulated, ere six moons wax and wane,
to establish this Institution once and forever,
upon a firm and enduring foundation. To
secure this fund Rev. H. 11. Tucker has been
appointed Agent, and, under the Providences
ot God, he will proceed to canvass the State
and deliver lectures, in order to make known
the existence, aims and objects of the Associa
tion ; and we hope that, wherever ho goes,
Georgians will hold out a liberal hand and, of
their wealth, bestow bountifully for the bene
fit of this noble cause.
The following are the names of the Trust
ees of the Orphan Association:
N,M. Crawford, Ppulield, Ga.
E. Steadman'.:.... .. . jLn#wrerrc(?vrrrty;-r—-
A. Iv. Seago Atlanta, “
W J Owens. Augusta, “
. E W Warren...........Mac0n, “
S. Landrum..........
Wni Ezzard........ . . .Atlanta, “
M J Wellborn Columbus,. “
W T Brantly .Atlanta, “
Joseph E Brown. / ... .Milledgeville, “
E G Cabaniss..’ . Forsyth, . “
J P Logan ... ... Atlanta, ’ “
D A Va50n ..........-... Albany, “
J L Seward Thomasville, “
H A Tuppcr Washington, “
II C Hornady .Atlanta, “
A J 1Jan5e11.......... .Marietta, “
S R00t... ..... Atlanta, , “
D E Butler .Madison, . ‘ ‘2
• B F Tharp Perry, i‘
W L Mansfield..Lumpkin, “
Its President is Dr. Jno. W. Lewis ; Vice
President, Dr. N. M. Crawford ; Secretary, A
E Marshall ; Treasurer, T. J. Burney.
The President’s Message.
This document presents an encouraging
view of our national affairs, except that it sees
no immediate prospect of foreign recognition ;
but it says: “If our arms are crowned with
the success which we have so much reason to
hope, we may well expect that this’ war can
not be prolonged beyond the current. year.-’
The President is violently opposed to an in
crease of a circulation of Treasury notes, •'be
yond what the present laws admit. lie de
nounces the continued barbarity, of the enemy
in this war; compliments the sufferers .highly :
eulogises the army, and concludes with a very
cheerful and encouraging view of the general
state of the war ; but reminds us that “while
resolute, and devoting all our energies to se
curing the realization of the bright auspices
that encourage us, we must not forget our
humble and most grateful thanks are due. tp
Him, without whose guidance and protecting
c&re all human efforts are of no avail, and to
whose interposition are due the manifold suc
cesses with which we have been cheered.”
The Child’s Index.
“ Child’s Index, by S. Boykin, Macon, Ga.,
cpmes at $5 for five copies to one address.
Children’s minds will be employed, either in
good or evil things. Such a paper would fur
nish excellent mental and moral food for the
mind- This little monthly paper would do a
world of good to children. A minister who
loves souls could easily raise sufficient money
to supply all the children in a neighborhood.
E. DODSON.”
We copy the above from* the “Biblical Re
corder,” and we might produce hundreds of
letters and any quantity of testimony to prove
that the above is the universal opinion con
cerning the Child’s Index. Its circulation is
12,000 and daily inscreasing. Sec advertise
ment in another column-
Denominational .Usage.
“ Query. Is it right for a Baptist, holding
our peculiar views of a Church and Church
Membership, to stand up and invite men to
unite with other denominations which we do
not consider real churches?” Such is the
query of a veteran in Longstreet’s’ Army who
has witnessed what he describes in the follow
ing language, “ as presented before the large
and witnessing congregation —three Biiptist
Ministers and one Methodist officiating, ihe
Baptist Minister opens the door of the Cjuirch
for the reception, of members into, any of .the ■
Churches. Several -join the Baptist, several
the Methodist, and the next day are baptized.
The Methodist makes it discretionary-Wjth ap
plicants to his Church, whether they will be
immersed or poured upon. Some are im
mersed, some poured upon; those of the Bap
tist, of course, are immersed. After baptism,
we all meet at our place Os worship ; the right
hand of fellowship is given—Baptist and
Methodist uniting ; the new converts all stand
in one row or rank, and all go up and wel
come them into full fellowship into the Church
of Christ.” And in another army a Rafffist
Missionary receiv.eS the experienecofconverts,
takes.“ the names of those of a different faith,
the denomination chosen, and pi'oeures, if pos
sible, a Minister of the same to administer bap
tism and givecertificates.” And still another
instance occurred,
membership who hud been expelled from the
(a) Baptist Church.. He made his acknowl
edgments, and was received.”
We took occasion, lately, to express our dis
sent from certain departures from long-estab
lished Baptist usages—usages founded on the
nature and organization of Baptist churches,
as derived from ScriptuTe; and we take this
occasion to disagree with those who have fol
lowed the above quoted practices. The Church
which has expelled a member is the body to
which lie should make acknowledgments, and
which should restore him.-
It is ridiculous for a Baptist Minister to as
sume to receive members into the;. Methodist
Church; and it is still worse for him to rec
oguize the validity ol sprinkling or pouring as
baptism, by procuring a minister to perform
the act and then give the right hand of fellow
ship. Who ever heard of a Masonic Lodge
receiving members into the Odd Fellows or
ganization? A Baptist Missionary or Chap
lain goes to the extent of his duty when lie
receives and baptizes converts on a profession
of their faith, and gives them a certificate of
bap ism ; nor should lie do this, if he lias rea
son to believe that they do not intend to join
a Baptist Church, or that they intend to unite
with the Presbyterians or Methodists. Our
denominational principles do not permit us to
act in such a way as to endorse sprinkling or
pouring as baptism ; nor do they allow us to
recognize a Methodist or Presbyterian Minis
ter as privileged to perform an ordinance
which will entitle a man to the Church fellow*
ship of Baptists ; nor do they permit us to act
so as to recognize Methodists and Presbyteri
ans a3 regular members of Gospel Churches.
li
continue our practice of restricted communion.
We may recognize and love them as Christ
ians—as sincere followers of Jesus, and unite
with them in prayer and praise ; but when it
comes to Church ordinances, by which we
would admit them, to be members or ministers
of regularly organized Churches of Christ,
we are restrained by principle, and necessari
ly so, from such recognition.
There is a difference between Christian
courtesy and ecclesiastical -fellowship, and
the two are not necessarily congruous. There
is a difference between Christian fellowship
and principle, and the practice of the former
should not be allowed to invade the dominion
of the latter. We hope that laxity iq the ob
servance of denominational principles will
not be permitted, to attend the official functions
of our Missionaries and Chaplains.
“ The Bible View of Slavery.”
It will be recollected by our readers, that at
the request of some personal friends, theßish
op of Vermont, in a pamphlet of moderate
size, thus set forth “ The Bible View of Sla
very.” The Bishop of Pennsylvania got up a
“Protest,” which was circulated for signa
tures among the clergy of his Diocese, and
was widely published, in which the terms
used against the Bishop of Vermont were such
as wc prefer not to characterize. The Bishop
of Vermont replied to the protest briefly, at
the time, iu ‘terms the strength and warmth
of which were natural under the extraordina
ry provocation. In that reply he promised a
full vindication of the correctness of his opin
ion concerning the teaching of the Word of
God as understood and acted on by the Church
in all ages. That promise has been fulfilled
in the publication of a volume giving “ a
Scriptural, Ecclesiastical and Historical View
of Slavery, from the days of the Patriarch
Abraham to the Nineteenth Century,” of
which a second edition is now in press, one
edition of 2500 having been sold. Concern
ing this book the Editor ot the Church Jour
nal, N. Y., March 30, 1864, says :
“ But no one can even attempt to answer
the argument of the book, without first of all
going further than the President and Congross
have gone, without also working directly in
the tqeth of the Holy Scripture and the whole
Church from the beginning; nor, finally,
without Towing theologically in the same boat
with Theodore Parker.”
And also—
“ The modern school of immediate Abolition
• is finally traeed 4o its fountain, and quotations
from Emerson- and Theodore Parker prove
that infidelity is the essence of it now, as tho
roughly as when the French infidels, on .the
same principles, did their work in St. Doniin
g°-” . , \ m \
Baptist Banner.
Our contemporary has assumed anew
dress that much improves its appearance.
“ Organic Union ”
Dr. Thos. O. Summers devotes nearly three
columns in the last “ Southern Christian Ad
vocate,” to the vain endeavor to discover some
basis of union'upon which all denominations
may agree, and form “an organic union of
tne various bodies'of Protestants amongst’ us
—Roman Catholics not being embraced, as
they havp ‘another gospel, ’f If be had no
ticed the Presbyterian papers and observed
the difficulties which seemed to intervene be
tween the union of two classes of that name,
not very-dissimilar, he would at once perceive
the utter hopelessness oif-the enterprise con
cerning which he writes. Speaking of the
difficulties in tire way of union with the Bap-’
tists,-he says :
“ The Lutherans, Methodists and Presbyte
rians are so satisfied that infant baptism is a
Divine institution, and that affusion is the
scriptural mode of administering the ord : .
nance, that it is the height of absurdity to
propose a platform of union which would in
volve the renunefation of these points. On
-tlwHjtiier hand, Baptist brethren arc so satis
fied of the contrary, that it would be equally
absurd to propose a platform which would in
volve the assertion of these points. We have,
ftunsequently, come to ( a dead lock, unless we
can agree to disagree in regard to the points
in question, and meet together at the table of
our common Lord, singing that catholic hymn
of an excellent Baptist—
“ Let party names no more
The Christian world o’erspread,
Gentile and Jew, and bond and'free,
Are one in Christ our head.”
We can unite together in the most spiritual
and solemn of religious exercises, prayer to
Qod, and why may we not unite in commem
orating the love of our common Lord ? We
unite.together in handling his sacred person
by faith.; why cannot we unite together in
looking at his picture and touching the hem
of his garment ? It seems to me, if this diffi
culty were overcome, no other would be insu
perable. Os course, there can he no merging
into one organization, if we cannot preach,
pray and commune together. It does not fol
low from this, however, that we cannot love
one another—no, God forbid! ”
Wo freely agree with the last sentence;’ hut
must freely admit, that besides those men
tioned in the above extract, there are other
insuperable difficulties” in the way of de
'nominational fusion. Besides all our differ
ences in regard to doctrines and ordinances,
wc assure the Doctor that he is right when he
has “shrewd doubts” whether the Baptist:,
who “ are such such sturdy advocates for ah’
solute parity ” “ would be willing to recog
nize bishops in any other sense than simple
pastors of churches.” We are glad, though,
that he says of the Baptists, “ That which di
vides them from us is not mere doctrinal spec
ulation—it is a practical, fundamental matter,
so far, I mean, as Church membership is con
cerned.” So that, not merely considering the
differences between Methodists and Baptists,
but between each denomination and all the
others, we fear tfie Doctor must continue, as ho
savq/ih 1m “ scandalized • at thfi-disjsiorra of
Christendom—at least, mortified at witnessing
them and their pernicious results—altar
against altar, a half dozen separate organiza
tions in a village, whose spiritual necessities
might be very well met by one Church and
Pastor. All this is revolting to us.”
Religion in the Churches.
Wc are rejoiced to announce that in For
syth, Griffin, Atlanta, Augusta, as well as in
other places, the spirit of the Lord is at work
upon the heart of his people, and is evidently
preparing, by refreshing showers of grace, to
terminate the spiritual drought which has so
long; hung over most of our churches. Glory
to his aiamc, that such is the case! Glory be
to Him who vouchsafes to consider us, amid
all our worldliness and forgetfulness of him,
and to show to us that wc are indeed the peo
ple of his pasture and the objects of his caro !
We were gratified by the report one of our
. country ministers gave as we returned from
the Convention. Said he: “ Bro. Boykin,
I’ve not found it true that our Churches are
so cold and lifeless, as Bro. Warren stated
in the Convention; for, to tell the truth, my
churches are in a better state than I’ve known
them to be in a long time, and I have baptized
a good many, and have some waiting for the
ordinance now.”
This was encouraging ; and O, that it could
be said of all our churches! But, alas! such
is not the case. Still we hope the 7,000 who
have not bowed the knee to Baal are earnest
in prayer and fervent in spirit, and that, be
fore long, they will be tlie means of drawing
down great heavenly blessings upon our
churches. Brethren, how is it with your
churches ? Write to us and let us know. If
you are warm, and if your first love is burn
ing brightly, and if your light is shining far
and wide, write and let the people of God
know it, so that they may be encouraged, and
be induced to imitate your good example.
And if your state is one of coldness ; if luke
warmness has taken possession of your church,
and your love is faint and weak, then write
and let the people of God pray for you that
you may do your first works, and thatGodmay
revive you, and that thus the waste places of
Zion may be discovered and up. Oh,
all wo need is tho warm and united prayers
of God’s people. Let them all pray for tho
churches, then ; and soon we shall have re
vived churches, growing churches, working
churclios—ohurches that shall be an honor to
religion, to our country and to our race.
For Bro. Barrow.
Mrs W. Todd, • . • SIOO
Rev B L Rose, . . 10 00
W Singleton, . . • 20 00
Mrs MG Harris, .■■■ ;. • 10 00
Mrs W llßice, . . . ■ . 10 00
May 7, ’O4.
Mrs. II Lofton /, . . . $0 05
A Friend . . 20 00
All this has Been paid but the last two
smrts. — FiD. . •
Attend your Prayer Meetings.
1. Because it is right. Your Rather com
mands nothing but what is right. He has
c ommanded you to attend the meetings of the
Saints “ Forsake not the assembling of your
selves together.” It is not a matter of discre
tion with you, to go or not, as you please. It
is true, there is no physical compulsion to go,
4uid you can stay away; but you incur the
guilt of disobedience to your Father’s ex
pressed injunction. Were it your own busi
ness, you would be at liberty to neglect it; but
it is®,our. Master’s, who bought you with his
blwd, a’nd who-requires you to glorify him in .
y/ur body and spirit, which are *hig ; hut no
one ever glorified the Savior by disobedience.
Let the love Christ constrain you to go to
your prayer meetings.
2. Your heart requires you to go. It may
be cold .and prayerless ; if so, you should avail
yourself of every means divinely appointed for
its improvement. You should he unhappy,
dissatisfied with yourself when you Lave not
the spirit of prayer and love. “ Woe unto
them that are at ease in Zion.” You are of no
service to the Church, of no spiritual advan
tage to your brethren, have no cheering and
comforting views of your Savior, without a
praying heart; nogoulwillbe saved, no sin
ner awakened bv your influence, none who
are weak will be strengthened, who are
wayward will be reclaimed by you 8p long as
you are without the joy of Goffisisalvation.—
As no Christian occupies a neutral position,
(the very attempt to do so would be treason to
tlic King of saints), it follows that he is dead
weight to the Church—a positive injury to the
cause of Christ, when his heart is devoid of
spiritual joys. It is an anomalous condition
in the Church of Christ. The rule is, “Re
joice always, and again I say, rejoice.”—
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give un
to you.” For a child of God to be without joy
and peace, is as if a soldier went on the bat
tle-field without a gun or sw r ord. Then-go to
your prayer-meetings regularly, devotiffnally,
prayerfully.
3. Your, example is needed to encourage
others. The pastor misses you, and feels dis
couraged ; he wonders where you are, and
rvhy you are absent; he fears your good repu
tation as a Christian will suffer by this one
neglect of duty ; he misses your prayers and
pious co-operation ; he wants your Christian
sympathy.
The younger members of tho Church miss
you, and wonder why,you are not there. They
begin to think prayer-meetings are not so im
portant as they thought, and that it is no
harm to stay away, or you would not do so.—
Either your Christian character or the prayer
meeting suffers in their estimation. Sinners
are present. They listen to the stirring ap
peals of the pastor, but they are unmoved. —
They think that cither the preacher is an en
thusiast, in which event his words fall power
less, or tha.t his church members arc fa he to
their profession, for their seats are vacant. In
either event, they excuse themselves from that
solemn attention and conscientious considera
tion aft lie word of God, which they otherwise
-TrOwM-give to it.
4. You can never fill up the measure of
your moral influence; you can never let your
light shine; you can never prove what is that
good and acceptable and perfect will of God,
without attending your prayer-meetings. You
can never glorify God in your body and spirit
which* are bis, by absenting yourself from
your church meetings.
For each of these reasons, attend your
prayer meetings.. L. T.
Brief Mention.
In a letter to the Religious Herald, Bro. A.
E. Dickinson says of the Georgia Baptists :
“ The Georgia Baptists are, indeed, a pow.
erful body of Christians. They have numbers,
(their membership being not less than 95,000)
wealth, and high social ‘position. Many of
the most prominent public men of the State
are Baptists, and not merely such in name.
They are men of faith, and zeal, and consistent
Christian piety. .The Georgia pulpit is equal,
if not superior to, that of any other State in
the Confederacy, as any one will confess who
is acquainted with N. M. Crawford, 11. 11.
Tucker, W. T. Brantly, J. 11. Cuthbert, A. J.
Huntington, S. Landrum, J. 11. Campbell, A.
T. Holmes, S. G- Daniel, C. D. Mallary, E.
W. Warren, P. 11. Mell, and a host of others
whose names I cannot now mentions”
llospiTAT.iTY.—Speaking of the kindness of
the citizens of Atlanta, he observes :
“ Before closing this communication, I
must .make mention of the munificont hospi
tality extended to us by the citizens of Atlan
ta. Iu times of peace and plenty, when for a
dollar or two a day, ouo can get board at the
hotels, it does not mean 30 much to entertain
delegates; but now, when flour is S3OO per
barrel, and bacon $8 per pound it is a very
different affair. But, really, the friends in
Atlanta feasted the Convention as though war,
blockade and high prices were terms'of which
they had no conception at all. May tho God
of all grace and consolation repay them for
their kindness to us.”
In regard to tha seizure and occupation of
the Southern Baptist and Methodist houses of
worship by Northern emissaries, the Louis
ville, Ky., “ True Presbytrian ” says: “We
say it with all deliberation and coolness, that
no* man can logically show any reason why
theologians who can justify such robbery,
should not solemnly canonize Judas Iscariot
as a patron saint, and declare Simon Magus to
he the genuine apostle and themselves his
legitimate successors.”
—.—... m*
Hasty Telegrams.
- Ro.bt. Raines. Your money amounted to
§0,65 only. You must send more for the book,
the price of which is §5 new issue.
Edgar Jewell. That way .will do as well
as the money if you keep on.
J IIS. No spelling books to be had now.