Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 45 NO. 2
Cfjc Christian snkt.
A EELIGIOUB AND FAMILY PAPER,
Published Weekly, in Atlanta, Ga.
J, J. TOON, - - - Proprietor.
Rev. If. 11. TUCKER, D. D., - Editor.
PUBLICATION OFFICE:
Alabama Street, near Whitehall.
Franklin Steam Printing House
AND
BOOK BINDERY.
TERMS:
For twelve months $5 00
For four months and a half, (or IS Nos.) 2 00
For two months, (or 8 Nos.) 1 00
fa? Subscriptions invariably in advance.
ADVERTISING RATES.
One square (8 lines) one insertion $2 00
For a longer period than one month, a discount of
33J per cent, will lie made.
Ju no case toill advertisements be inserted with
out payment in advance Persons at a distance wish
ing to advertise can mark the number of squares they
wish to occupy, and remit the money accordingly.
To Correspondents.—All communications for the
paper, and all letters on husittess. must be addressed
to J. J. Toon, proprietor.
A enter from Dr. Boyce.
Greenville, S. C., Nov. 23, 1805.
Dear Brother Toon: I see in the Index
an inquiry about the Southern Baptist Theo
logical Seminary located at this place. Please
state to your readers that we are again in op
eration. We re opened on the first Monday
in November. All of our Professors are
present, and we are giving the. same course of
instruction as before the war. We have four
students, and have heard of others coining;
so that we expect about ten. If we could
collect the notes and bonds given us before
the war, or even the interest due on them,
everything would be well. Although we re
ceived, during two or three years of the war,
payment in Confederate funds, of monies due
us, we have preserved three fourths or more
of our fuiAts, unimpaired, in the notes and
bonds originally given. We hope to be able j
to collect these; and if so, can afford to await j
a day of greater prosperity in the land, be- j
fore attempting to complete our endowment. :
Meantime our Professors have assumed their !
places, trusting that the brethren who owe the
Seminary, will pay of the large amount of j
interest due, enough, if not to pay their sala- i
ries, at least, to give them a support, though
scanty. Yours truly,
James P. Boyce.
Ordination.
The Baptist Church of Christ, at Millstone,
Ogbthci ,>* couUty, Georgia, having called
brother John G. Gibson to ordination for the
work of the Ministry of the Gospel, set apart
the twenty-third day of November, 1865, and
invited the following brethren, P. P. Butler,
L. R. L. Jennings, L. W. Stephens, B. M.
Callaway, J. P. Rowe, J. N. Coel, G. M.
Campbell, who assembled on the day appointed
to engage in the solemn work. After form
ing the Presbytery, brethren L. W. Stephens
being appointed Moderator, and G. M. Camp
bell, Secretary, they proceeded to the work
as follows:
Ordination sermon by L. R. L. Jennings,
from Ephesians iv: 11.
The church examined relative to candidate’s
character, by the Moderator, L. \\ . Stephens.
Candidate examined on Christian experience
—call to the ministry—faith and doctrines of
the Gospel, by P. P. Butler.
Prayer by J. P. Rowe, and imposition of
hands by the Presbytery.
Charge and presentation of the Bible, by
R. M. Callaway.
Right hand extended by the Presbytery,
followed by the church.
Benediction by the candidate.
On motion of brother L. R. L. Jennings,
Resolved, That our Secretary furnish a copy
of these proceedings to the church; also one
to the Christian Index for publication.
G. M. Campbell, Sec.
Tlic Biblical Expositor.
A pamphlet of thirty-two pages, with the;
above title, devoted to the dissemination of
biblical and historical truth , and cultivation of
our spiritual affections, will be published
monthly by the undersigned, as soon as the
necessary arrangements can be made, at *O.OO
per annum, payable on delivery of the first
number.
The Expositor will contain articles doctrinal,
exegetical and historical; first principles in
theological investigations and discussions;
expositions of popular errors; a series of
brief articles on church discipline; solutions
of cases of conscience; counsel for the godly
and ungodly ; words of comfort for mourners;
instruction for doubting and inquiring chris- i
tians; hints for ministers; miscellaneous ar
ticles, and a brief summary of religious in
telligence. All unpleasant and unprofitable
controversies and all obituary and marriage
notices, exceeding ten lines in length, will be
excluded.
As an afflictive visitation of Divine Provi-’
dence has incapacitated the proprietor for :
pleading the cause of Christ from the pulpit, j
he appeals w ith confidence to his friends and
brethren to aid him in doing so through the
press.
Communications may be addressed to him
at Quitman, Georgia—his present temporary
residence —until otherwise directed.
Jos. S. Baker.
Letter front Rev. A. Sherwood, D. I).
St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 21, 1865.
Dear Brother Campbell :’ Sherman’s raid
injured me so much that I could not make a
crop. I sold my furniture, rented my farm,
and returned to this region the last of Sep
tember. I have a little left here, and all my
children around me, except one married
dau;,’ ‘er in Charleston. The climate is not
so pleasant nor healthy as that of Georgia.
More money may perhaps be made by the
PEh I jHjjß n gig s-S ran ISira Ist.’ V Cpß Smß Sis V WiM *qKV?^
young, but I advise all who can get bread, to
remain in the South.
Anew Constitution for Missouri was rati
fied by the people, in June, requiring an oath
from ministers, lawyers, doctors, etc.; but
prescribes that even sympathisers with the re
bellion may not vote. Most of Baptists,
Presbyterians and Catholics, refuse to take
it. Some have been indicted and fined for ex
ercising without it. It is hoped the Legisla
ture, now in session, will modify or afford re
lief in some way.
The churches have been torn up both in
this State and Illinois by parties; i. e., some
approved and some opposed the war; some
ministers preaching Jesus, and some and
the war ! It is sad to name such things.
* ***** *
The Baptist churches here,.five or six in
number, have good congregations, and Mission
Sabbath Schools, out w est in the suburbs, but
revivals are much needed.
We had some blessed meetings in Butts
county, Georgia, in July and August. I
preached nearly every day at Towaliga, Lib
erty, etc. At the latter, twenty were bap
tised.
*******
Alton College, where I labored for years,
has now over two hundred students'—fifty
looking towards the minstry.
Truly as ever your brother, in hope of a
better country, Adiel Sherwood.
I.elter from Greenville, S. C.
Congratulation — Tneologi al Seminary—Ejec
tion—New Sunday School Paper—Sun
day School B-oks.
Greenville, S. C., Nov. 23, 1865.
Dear Brother Toon: Let me congratulate
you upon your successful debut, as command
ing officer of the good ship Index. Most gal
lantly has she left her moorings, and I venture
to predict fir her a voyage worthy of the
good cause for which she is freighted, and the
noble State to which she belongs. May her
patrons always “raise the wind,” that her
sails may be kept well filled. We have no
Baptist paper in South Carolina yet. Br ther
Mason promises that the Confederate Baptist
shall be revived in January. We hope he
will be successful in his undertaking.
I see that you have not yet heard of the re
opening of our Theological Seminary. It is
in full operation again, under the care of its
four Professors—Boyce, Manly, Williams
and Broadus. Such a combination of excel
lence and talent will command success. It
has but few students yet, but we have good
reasons to expect a considerable increase. I
hope that the Empire State will send us some
students.
Affairs here are quiet. Our election for
Congress took placeon yesterday. It is thought
that Col. James Farrow, our former represen
tative in the Confederate Congress, will be
elected. The number of votes polled is very
small, for our people, though “ harmonized,”
do not take much interest as yet in Federal
polities.
The Sunday School Board of the Southern
Baptist Convention, located at this place, have
felt it their duty to publish a paper for Sun
day schools, at a price which places it within
the reach of all. They had been appealed to
for this purpose, and the object seemed desir
able and obligatory upon them. Arrange
ments have been made for issuing such a pa
per, tin the first of January next, to be fur
nished monthly at ten cents a year. No
subscriptions to be received for less than t°n
copies. It is named “ Kind Words,” for the
Sunday school children. The pens of several
competent writers have been engaged to suo
ply its columns, and it is hoped that it will
prove a valuable auxilary to the board in the
prosecution of their work. Specimen copies
of the January number will be sent to any
superintendent who will express a desire for
them. Communications for the paper should
be addressed to Kind Words, Greenville, S.
C., and orders for the paper or remittances, to
Mr. G. G. Wells, Mailing Agent, Greenville,
S. C. We hope that Georgia will aid us lib
erally, both with pen and purse.
Our board have a number of question
books, hymn books and primers on hand,
hieh they will sell lower than they can be
purchased elsewhere.
Yours truly,
C. J. Elford.
I l
To tlie Brc lireu <T tlic Washington
t asocial ion, Georgia.
Culpeper C. 11., Va., Dec. 6, 1865.
Dear Brethren: After several abortive
attempts to obtain communication with you
through private channels, I have adopted the
present mode. I regret that the condition of
the country and the absence of so many of the
brethren in the summer of ’63, prevented me
from having more conference with you at that
time. Since then, I saw several of the absent
members in the army, and though they were
surrounded by all the circumstances of war,
they were as warm-hearted and as devoted to
the cause of Christ as ever. Two of them,
brothers Duggati and Latimer, I left danger
ously wounded in Richmond, just before its
! fall, but they endured their sufferings like
j Christian heroes. I have since learned that
they died. Peace to their ashes! They were
j gentle as lambs, but brave as lions.
My object in writing this letter is to inform
you that I do not purpose returning to Africa
for the present; and for the sake of the mis
sion, I desire to plainly state my reasons for
not returning.
First of all, I would impress upon your
minds, that it is not because I suspect the
practicability or success of the mission. The
fact that white men can live in Africa has been
fully demonstrated. So well am I persuaded
of this fact that I would have been willing
last summer to return to Africa for several
j years without my wife, if it had been allowa
j ble. The success of this, like all other mis
! sions, depends entirely upon our faith. If I
! could be persuaded that we have no sincere
; and earnest Christians among the converts of
FRANK LIN PRINTING HOUSE, ATLANTA, GA., SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1866.
our Yoruban mission, then I could believe
that none could be found in the world. We
often have to contend with the same propen
sities among some of the converts over which
the Apostle Paul so often lamented. What
church has not had its corrupt members?
Should we expect more of heathen than en
lightened converts ?
Again, it is not because I doubt that the
Lord called me to the work. If I was a sub
ject of delusion in this matter when you sent
me forth in ’SB, I still remain one, and expect
to remain so as long as I live, whether I re
turn to Africa or not. Nor is it because I
dread the dangers, afflictions and privations
attending the work. As the Lord knows my
heart, 1 can truly say, “ None of these things
move me, neither count I my life dear unto
myself, so that I might finish my course with
joy, and the ministry which I have received
of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of
the grace of God.” Beds of languishing and
of pain, days of care and sorrow, and nights
of terror and peril, your very memory is |
sacred !
It is not because I do not love my mission- |
ary brethren, the native Christians, and the j
cause. Whether it will ever be my privilege J
to return to Africa or not, it will always be, 1
hope, as it has heretofore been, one of my
chief pleasures to think of and pray for
them.
Distressing changes which have occurred in
my family since my return from Georgia, in
’63, have brought me to this conclusion. All j
my brothers perished in the late civil war.
My father’s plantation was swept with the
besom of destruction, and a recent destructive
fire has left him, my mother and two sisters
homeless and destitute for the present. The
health of my wife, who, with two sisters, has
recently become an orphan, also offers a very
serious impediment. Under such circuin
stanc'-s, it seems my duty to remain in this
country for the present. This descision has
cost me many an earnest prayer and anxious
thought, and though I here resign the commis
sion which in the providence of God you gave
me, I hope you will not cease to pray for me,
that I may know the will of the Lord in all
things, and have grace to do it. 1 purpose
opening in this place a female school, but 1
hope I shall never forget tnat my principal
mission is to win souls to Christ.
Why does not brother Jennings write to
this wandering sheep his flock ? Why does
not brother Reed let me know where he is?
* Yours in Christ,
R. 11. Stone.
P. S.—The sqm of fourteen hundred and
forty-two dollars, which I received from the
Association in ’63, was transferred to brother
J. B. Taylor with the other money received
for Foreign Missions drawn no sala
ry since returning from Africa, I made a
complete report of the sums received from
individuals, churches and associations to the
Corresponding Secretary of the Board, broth
el Taylor. I would have sent a copy of this
report to the Index at the time, but the dis
turbed state of the country prevented me from
doing so. I will yet do so. R. 11. S.
The Death of tlie Good.
We watched a summer’s sunset. As the
grand luminary, his beams mellowed down
from their midday fiercenes, sank slowly to
wards the horizon, there was not a cloud to
obscure his splendor, not the slightest stirr ng
of a breeze to disturb the serenity of the
scene. As the last glittering rim of his dise
was hidden behind the hills, a roseate tinge of
light diffused itself over the whole sky. At
first the tints gloweu in varied richness, and
then slowly faded, until darkness had envel
oped all the landscape, ere we were aware of
its approach. With all this there was a si
lence—a solemn, impressive, but pleasing
stillness, awakening emotions so holy that a
voice of rarest melody would have seemed a
sacrilege.
Such, thought we, is the death of a good
man—calm, beautiful, sublime. The cold,
dark vapors that obscured his morning’s dawn
have long since rolled off; the burning rays
of his noon have allayed their heat, and the
clouds, thunder and rain of his evening have
passed away. The youthful folly that led to
wild excess has been replaced by the wisdom
of experience; the fiery blood of manly pas
sion has been cooled by prudence, and all
murmurs of impatience have been .stilled by
the spirit of Christian resignation. He awaits
the stroke that shall free him from the tempt
ations and ills of earth with serious, hopeful
calmness. When at last it falls, he receives it,
not with the forced laughter of the a* heistical
fool, nor with the craven tremblings of the hypo
crite, but with the quiet firmness of well
grounded faith.
The death of the righteous is always serene.
It may not take place amid external peace and
quiet. It may be like that of the gallant Gar
diner, in the midst of the peals of musketry
and the shouts of enemies. It may be like
that of the great Cromwell, attended by the
fierce ragings of contending elements. It may
be like that of Judson, far off from home on
the billowy deep, where the hoarse singings
of the waves fall on the dying ear. But in
every case, the mind diffuses a serenity around
whichmakesthespot hallowed, whether it beon
a field of battle or on a ship’s quarter deck.
There is w.thin a peace above all understand
ing, which external circumstances have not
produced, and no cutward influences can de
stroy.
Cheerfulness. —Cheerfulness and a festi
val spirit fill the soul with harmony; it com
poses music for churches and hearts ; it makes
and publishes glorifications of God ; it pro
duces thankfulness, and serves the end of
charity ; and when the oil of gladness runs
over, it makes bright and tall emissions of
light and holy fires, reaching up to a cloud,
and making joy round about: and, therefore,
since it is so innocent, and may be so pious,
and full of holy advantage, whatever can min
ister to this holy joy does set forward the
work of religion and charity.
The Duties of tfie Hour.
A heavier burden of duty was never im
posed upon any people than that which now
rests on the people of the South; nor was the
demand for the duty ever more
j imperative. To repair the ravages of a four
‘ years war which devastated fields, laid cities
in ashes and scattered peffliry broadcast over
the land, would have been a task attended
with much difficulty had the circumstances
been most favorable. But the results,of the
war have renderel the circumstances not only
not favorable, but decidedly the reverse. We
have difficulties in our way which nothing but
the soundest judgment and the most enduring
i patience will enable us to surmount. If, how
i ever, these qualities be duly exercised, we
| trust, under the blessing of God, that we may
| overcome all obstacles and render our coun
try once mure prosperous and happy.
The most immediate dflf? before us is to
establish our agricultural interest-- or <•. se
cure basis. In order to do this, it ne
cessary tc organize a system of labor which
shall supersede that which has just been W
moved. This is a practical Question,...and
must be met in a practical w
theorii sand visionary speculations w'r
no avail. We must n,ot viait tUtPmWh upon
legislation either; for whijk- good and whole
some laws may do much towards remedying
the evils under which we labor, much will he
left to be done by individual effort. The Leg
islature may say that the afeedman must gain
his living by honest industry; but it rests
with the individual to give him employment,
and with generous kindness meet him half
way in his efforts at self-support. It is our
duty, by dealing with them justly and in good
faith, to disarm that class of that profound
distrust which they have lately conceived for
the white Southron. When this has been
done, one difficulty in the way of procuring
an abundance of efficient and reliable labor
will have been obviated. It is not merely a
fondness f<>r being idle but the fear of being
cheated that keeps the freed men from work.
When convinced that thgre is not an intention,
on the part of his former owner, to defraud
him of the fruits of his labor, it may be that
he will return to the field with his wonted
cheerfulness. But this conviction must be
forced upon him by individual conduct.
Another duty incumbent upon us iu con
nection with this race, is that of doing ail in
our power to afford them religious and moral
instruction. Self-interest should prompt us
to do this, did not philanthropy enjoin the
same course. In the relation which they
formerly sustained to us, while it reflected
much discredit upon us that so little was done
for their elevation, their ignorance and sensu
ality did us comparatAK? little harm. Not
so now. Should they, ItMne new position to
which they have been suddenly elevated, re
remain as ignorant of the laws of morality
as they have hitherto been, the effect
upon society cannot fail to be injurious.
If we wish for the advancement of our com
mon country, we should labor for their im
provement. We have nothing to fear now
from their learning to read. Let them every
where be stimulated to make arrangements
for their children to acquire the rudiments of
an English education, and let them be encour
aged and assisted in building houses of wor
ship for themselves where they may hear the
truths of the Gospel expounded in a style
adapted to their comprehension. All this is
required of us by simple patriotism, leaving
out of notice that far higher consideration, the
advancement of the Redeemer’s kingdom on
earth.
A renewed and increased attention to the
education of youth is one of the prime duties
that devolve upon us now. For the last four
years, our institutions of learning have lan
guished. Even common schools have been
suffered to go down in many communities, and
all interest in the subject seems to have died.
Owing to these causes, thousands of girls and
boys have been suffered to grow up in igno
rance, and if a change be not speedily made,
the rising generation will be far behind the
present in learningand culture. Besides, there
are thousands of war-made orphans, who are
unable, without assistance, to secure the ad
vantages of education; and these appeal loudly
to our sympathies. Here individual effort
may do much; every man should earnestly
strive to have a school established in his
neighborhood. At the same time, our Gen
eral Assembly should feel it incumbent on
them to devise some plan by which a common
English education would be placed within the
reach of every child in the country.
While due attention is given to common
schools, the higher seminaries should not be
neglected. These have suffered immensely.
Some have been forced to suspend from want
of patronage, and some have had their reve
nues wholly swept away by the failure of the
securities in which they had invested. Here
is a wide field for benevolence, in which all
may- exert themselves. If every man would
contribute to such an object, to the full mea
sure of his ability, our colleges might soon be
re-endowed, and placed on as secure a basis
as ever. Unless this is done, most of them
will be compelled to close doors, and our
young men who desire liberal advantages will
have to seek them elsewhere. Such a state
of things is much to be deprecated, and we
trust our people will bestir themselves active
ly to prevent its occurrence.
“Come.” —l verily believe there is not a
sweeter word in the Bible than the word
“come.” lam sure that when it fell from the
lips of Jesus, when the Spirit and the Bride
uttered it, when it was echoed by the tongues
of apostles and saints, and in all these cases
was addressed to the weary and heavy-laden—
to those who were athirst with spiritual
needs—it was so full of grace and truth that
it could not be exceeded in preciousness by
any word in human speech. And this word
“come” is the key-note of the gospel. “Come,’’
with whatever thirst you faint, “come and
drink; come and take the water of life freely.”
-The late Rev. W. A. Callaway.
This esteemed and exemplary brother de
parted this life in June last, but, in consequence
of the suspension of our religious journals,
no suitable notice- of his life and labors has
been taken. The hand of a friend, who knew
and appreciated him, would now compensate
as far as may be this regretted delay. This
tribute is the more earnestly attempted in
consideration of the instructiveness of his life
and opinions.
Brought to a knowledge of the truth in
early manhood, he soon consecrated himself
to the service of the Master in the work of
the ministry. Endowed with good abilities
and unusual solicitude for souls, he overcame,
in great measure, the deficiencies of early in
tellectual training by making full proof of his
ministry in unwearied and incessant labors,
lie will be long remembered in middle Geor
gia, as the modest and amiable coadjutor of
such men as Sherwood and Dawson, in the
many labors by which lhey sought to build
up the in the central arid
uqkb.hoi^MflpHsfn >i>. Not the least of the
||pwb>good man, was the nerve man
advocacy of the scriptural inde
;.c d'the churches, assailed at one time
in ti/ht region by the influence of eminent
brethren. Though but a licentiate, he exhibi
ted the calm courage of a veteran. It is in
teresting to read, in this connection, the spe
cial blessing of God on his ministry, in the
midst of obloquy and reproach. At a later
period he labored with much earnestness and
success in western Georgia. Few men have
been the instrument of winning a larger num
ber of souls to Christ. •
His theory always was, that a man must
take care of his family, and that the necessary
secularization is not incompatible with, o,r op
posed to, the successful prosecution of the
great work of preaching the Gospel. Accor
dingly, he provided well for a very large fam
ily, and preached more than most men do.
The estimable character of that large family
is testimony to his uprightness, sincerity and
wisdom. Perhaps most ministers, towards
the close of life, if they do not endorse yet
look with leniency on this theory. Unfortu
nate, with all the rest of us, of late years, Ills
life and labors had so conciliated his acquain
tance that we trust his children, who are yet
young, and his beloved wife, will never want
friends or a helping hand.
Brother Callaway was a man of marked
traits of character. So sensitively tu.re and
conscientious was he that any apprehension
that his fellow-laborers were actuated by
questionable motives, so damped and fettered
him that he was unmanned. He read men’s
motives with unerring accuracy. On the
hand,
kindled him intoil^PßHßM^rsr^
He was in theology a moderate Calvinist,
and singularly free from all extravagance of
views on all subjects—eminently a safe and
prudent man. No man was more instinctive
ly discreet in all things; he rarely or never
did anything imprudent or ill-timed. Consti
tutional modesty often induced him, in our
larger gatherings, to withhold the assistance
for which his eminent wisdom fitted him. He
was, therefore, less widely known than he de
served to be. In protracted meetings and as
sociations he preferred a subordinate place,
delighted if he might occupy himself in hor
tatory discourse after his brethren had
preached, or, when occasion offered, in the
conference and prayer meetings. On these
occasions he often became the soul of the ■
meeting, enchaining the riveted attention of
his brethren, and going right home to the con
science of the impenitent by the simplicity,
fervency and affectionateness of his address,
backed by a confidence, on their part, that
knew no limits.
No temptation could ever induce him to
offer any strange fire before the Lord. He
always spoke and acted just as he i’elt, in the
pulpit and out of it. If cold, you could
scarcely wrir.g a word of exhortation or a
sermon from him; if in season, he manifested
the utmost alacrity. HearOessness and form
froze up his spirit and sealed his lips. He
felt powerfully that God is a spirit and seeks
such to worship Him as worship in spirit and
in truth.
His pulpit abilities were good ; his address
grave, decorous and tender. We often heard
the. remark,that “he was in preacher shape. ’
With early training, exclusive occupation in
the ministry, and extensive reading, he might
have been great.
But he is gone—gone up to join the general
assembly and church of the first born. Dis
trustful of himself, and feeling the effects of
late years, as he often said, of relaxation from
the ministerial work, in consequence of the
partial failure of his voice, and nervous de
rangement, he was much comforted during
the last six months of his life, especially du
ring his long and painful illness, by clear and
precious views of the adaptation of the
Saviour to all our wants. Retired upon his
farm, in a neighborhood somewhat out of the
way, he interested himself very actively in the
spiritual wants of his neighbors. They had
become greatly attached to him. He was,
indeed, beloved wherever he lived, confided
in to the last degree, a living epistle, known
and read of all. He passed away in quiet
and holy triumph—lingering in memory with
the brethren with whom he had labored, and
to whom he was fondly attached. The wri
ter records with inexpressible feelings, the
prayerful and tender interest manifested in
him and his. May the spirit of the father
imbue his two sons in the ministry, Revs. S.
P. and J. M. Callaway ! Alas, my brother!
very pleasant hast thou been to me.
E. B. Teague.
A man whom Dr. Johnson reproved for
following a useless and demoralizing business,
said in excuse: “But, Doctor, you know I
must live.”
“I don’t see the least necessity for it,” re-
I morselessly answered the brave old hater of
j everything mean.
[Communicated.]
Our Necessities.
* * * The Index is a necessity to our
denomination. It has been so for thirtyj'eats,
But it was never more needed than now. The
whole country is in a transition state; None
can foretell its condition three•tyeafs-hence.
It cannot fail ,to strike even the careless ob
server, that every body is oppresied with in
tense anxiety for the future. Hence the all
absorbing passion for personal, welfare, and
for individual safety, which now possesses
every heart. Under the sway of Ibis passion,
ca dilation's of selfishness control every ques
tion, whether political, social; or religious.
The country is demoralized. Men have in a
great degree forgotten principles*, which they
had long cherished^-and'which were ‘thought
to be well established. Witness ijie preva
lence of drinking, card playing, dancing,
theatre-going, etc n -among the professed peo
ple of God. Witness ffie number of'tninis
tcrs’who are forced by want to embark In
secular pursuits. But I forbear.
Under the condition of things thus briefly
sketched, what is the mission of the Index 1
, As to politics, it should be cautious and
reserved", and yet not altogether silent. There
is a work-to be done for our country, which
the religious press may at least help to do.
It is to create a correct public opinion as to
the use and power of the ballot-box. Here
tofore it has been abused, it has been made
the instrument,of ambitious men ; it'has been
prostituted to subserve the schemes of polit
ical aspirants. , How much we are indebted
to this fact for our present calamities, I pre
tend not to say. But one .thing is certain:
the ballot box is likely to be the only power
left in our hahds for the protection of Our
rights, arid for the redress of opr grievances.
To lje available feir these high purposes,'it
must be free—if must be pure. It must ex
press really and truly the will of the people.
And it should elevate to office only the wise,
the good and the brave. Can the religious
press contribute aught to qualify the ballot
box for these high functions 1 I would hope
it can. If so this is a part of its? mission.
But especially and chiefly the Index is the
exponent of Bible truth. Hence it should
advocate a pure and spiritual religion. I need
not dwell upon this point, for you know it
belter than I can tell you. I will only say let
its voice be heard loud and clear like the horn
which calls the dispersed and wandering sheep
back to the shepherd’s tent. Oh! that the
fold of Christ were indeed gathered close
around the great “ shepherd and bishop of
their souls!” i
This letter is already too long, yet I w-ould
beg leave to suggest my opinion upon one
topic which perhaps may soon engage the at
tention of our people. 1 allude to the inter
ests of our domestic and foreign missions. 1
am a Missionary Baptist. I am intensely
anxious that our denomination should not
abate one jot from the efforts we were making
for the benefit of mankind. To this end let
us support our own conventions and boards.
Ambitious. —A highly esteemed friend,
giving wide scope to his aspirations, writes as
follows from one of our most thriving South
ern cities : “ If I had the means I should like to
run from the same establishment, situated here,
a morning political journal, an evening news
paper, a weekly literary, a weekly religious,
a monthly magazine and a massive critical
quarterly. This half dozen, embracing all
subjects of current human interests and re
flections, would soon control the public senti
ment of the South, and command their pecu
niary homage. With complete business sys
tem and order, and thorough organization in
all departments, affairs would go smoothly
and powerfully. In such an establishment a
man could feel like he was living to some
purpose. The journalism of the South is im
proving, but it is yet wretchedly defective.
It waits money thrown into it, and business
capacity, and then the brains will follow.”
Guay Heads seen in It.—A writer in the
Christian Times says, in his allusion to the
Sabbath schools, “ the Bible class, under the
leadership of the pastor, is large and interest
ing, and some gray heads may be seen in it.”
If there were more of the “ silvery lock ”
brethren seen in our Bible classes, or as teach
ers in Sunday schools, we would have more
lively hopes of the future of our churches.
It is very doubtful whether a better little
book can be had for the juveniles at home,
or in our schools, than Browne’s Arithmetic
for beginners. Published at the Franklin
Printing House. Procure a copy and give it
a trial.
Wealth does not secure from death:
“ How vain are riches to secure
Their haughty owners from the grave.”
We should strive for a better inheritance
than can be possessed in this life.
“ Now I esteem their mirth and wine,
Too dear to purchase with my blood ;
Lord, ’tis enough that thou art mine—
My life, my portion, and my God.”
The publisher of this sheet has “ Index on
the brain,” and is determined that (he paper
shall become an “ Institution,” whether the
present editor’s connection with it be long or
short. He is possessed with the conviction
that there are as good fish in the sea as ever
were caught out of it, and is even audacious
enough to suppose that there may be some a
great deal better. One thing the readers of
the paper may rely upon, and that is, if there
is any writing talent in the country, the pub
lisher intends to avail himself of it.
Question Book for Beginners. —Primary
Bible Questions is highly approved and is
being used to great advantage by Sunday
School teachers in their infant classes. Those
who have not given it a trial might do well
to procure a copy and test its merits. To be
had at the Franklin Printing House.
WHOLE NO. 2272
Showing Him a Miracle.
Ernest Renan having said, in his Life of
Jesus, that the proper Way of proving the
reality of a..ipimcle is to shqw one, a paqj-„
niileteer ‘'-shows’’-him oneTn'a letter * Upon
the Establishment 6f the Christian Religion,
as fbrhiws: - ‘ ‘ ‘
: Sir :• Permit mq. to day* tc> .draw,youi? at
tention .again to the ‘establisnTnent of the
Christian religion, afa6t upop which natui
ally drfier-in opinion. Lik£j[ou I have striven
to Identify its cau.se with the mere fbices .ot
mans I have failed in my. endeavor. -The
supernatural, then, lips been tKe only conduct
mg thread which ha§ helped me to escHpe ftoni
the labyrinth..wherq I see you continually,
seekingW iMptlly ymtrseJf,-'witboiit..ever ; floittg'.;
it, aq,d condemned to eccape th'eretrorh ofdy
when you shall have prwved tnat there is no
thing mirations in the -establishment of
cffi-istkfnity. . Pardon little v
go straight to
called the Christian, ‘” Whose foundry was Jesus,
named the Christ. This religion has.
lasted eighteen cer turie's,.apd <which calls it
self ofthflt Judaism
which ascends near to the cradle of the world,
had the ’apostles foe its propagators. Wltfn
these men wished to establish it. they bad for
adversaries: “ ’ ’
The n tional pride of Che;jews;
The implacable hatred off the ‘llatfhf drirn;
The brutal despotism’ of the Roman Em
perors ;
The railleries and attacks of the philoso
phers; t’
The libertinisM and caste-spirit of the Pa
gan priest ‘ '"A-v-.
The savage- and “cruel ignorance of the
masses^
The fagot and bloody games of the circus.
They had an enemy in
Every miser;
Every debauched man ;
Every drunkard; ‘<
Every thief; _ / , o \
Every .murderer ; • ~ V
Every proud man;
Every slanderer;
Every liar. , ?
Not one of the vices, ’ n fact, whjch abuse
.our poor humanity, which did not constitute
itself their adversary.
To combat so many enemies, and surmotmt
so mauy obstacles, they had only
Their ignorance; - -“i
Their poverty; ;
Their obscurity;
Their weakness;
Their fewness;
The Cross.
If you had been their the
moment when they began their work, and
Peter#ad said to you : “Join with us, for we
are going to the conquest of the world ; before
our word Pagan temples shall crumble, and
their idols shall fall upon their faces; the phi
losophers shall be convinced of folly ; from
the throne of Cassar we shall hurl the Roman ,
eagle, and in its place we shall Uross; ; ■
we shall be the teachers of ; the’
ignorant and the learned, them
selves our disciples ! ” speak
thus, you would have said, “Be silent, imbe-’
cile ! ” And as you are tolerant from nature
and principle, you would have defended him
before the Sanhedrim, and have counseled it
to shut up the fisherman of Bethsaida and his
companions-in a niiiii-ltwuse. And y*, sir,
what you would have thought a notable mad
ness, is to-day a startling reality, with which
I leave you face to face.
m f i> m
Fossil Remains in Vermont. —The tusk
of a fossil elephant was found in a muck bed,
about five feet below the surface, on the farm
of D. S. Pratt, in Batt'eboro’, Vermont, on
Saturday, September 2d, by a workman who
was digging muck. The tusk is forty-four
inches in length, and eighteen inches in cir
cumference at the largest end, and eleven
inches at the smallest. It is in a fair state of
preservation, although some parts of it crum
bled after being exposed to the air. The tusk
belonged to a species of elephant long since
extinct, that inhabited the northern part of
North America, having wandered across the
Siberian plains to the Arctic Ocean and Behr
ng s Straits, and beyond to this country,
south to about the parallel of forty degrees.
Their bones show them to have been about
twice the weight and one-third taller than our
modern species. The remains of one (>f these
elephants were found at the summit of the
Green Mountains, at Mount Holly, in ’B4B,
by workmen engaged in building the raiiroad
from Bellows Falls to Rutland.
Anew Sect in Germany.—A new sect has
recently sprung ,pp in Germany, under the
the whimsical name of “ Cogitants.” The
founder of the sect is a Dr. Edward Lowen
thal, who has published a book about his opin
ions, which he calls a religion without a con
fession. The Cogitants have also es ablished
a magazine, which bears the following motto:
“Our knowledge is our faith; our dignity is
our morality ; our worship is life; and our
religion is—our secret.” There is nothing
very religious in their doctrines. They hold
that neither fraud nor theft should be punish
ed with imprisonment. All good Cogitants
are to have a good dinner for nothing on
Christinas day. Easter Sunday and Whitsun
day. The head of the sect is to wear a black
camlet cloak with upright collar ornamented
with three silver stars. Among the rules of
the order is one which we fancy will not meet
witn the concurrence of the German police.
It is that when a Cogitant is buried, only a
portion of the coffin is to be covered with
earth. The reason for this absurd regulation
is not apparent; but nothing is too absurd for
a radical German philosopher.— Examiner db
Chronicle.
Rice Crop — Affaius on the Coast.— From
a Jacksonville letter in the Journal of Com
merce, we take the following:
The rice crop this year amounts to little or
nothing. Oil the Savannah river, where for
merly 800,000 bushels were raised, there are
this year 10,000. On the Altamaha, where
600,000 were raised, this year 6,000, &c.—
But all this is not to be wondered at, w hen a
man could not go into the field without risk
ing his life at the hands of the cowardly guer
rilla. General Howard made a speech the
other day in Savannah, in which he said that
the sea-islands were to be restored to the
original proprietors on the Ist of January.
This has disconcerted the darkies. He gave
the darkies much good advice, and told them
that the government will give lands to neither
blacks nor whites, and that if the colored pec
pie wish to own lands, they must work, acci.
mulate money and buy them.— Journal db
Messenger.
Holiday Presents.— There were imported
into New York in one week, $152,174 worth
of toys and other holiday presents. Expen
sive times—these.
With the quantity and quality of the read
ing matter contained in the Index, no one can
say that $5 00 is too dear for it for a year. i