Newspaper Page Text
126
JJttfe Kttl Jfljrtfet
J. J. TOON, * - - • Proprietor.
Rev. D. SE£AVER, D.D., Editor.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1868.
“ Lights and Shadows.”
Our worthy exchange At Portland. Maine, the
Zion's Advocate, an'swcrs for its correspondent
“The worst, system of slavery upon which the
sun ever shone,” in the judgment of that writer,
was “ the late slave system of the South.” We
assure Our contemporary that denunciation so ex
travagant has no power to “disturb the equanim
ity ”of the Indkx. The absurdity on the very
face of it supercedes the necessity of defence.
What credulous prejudice against our institutions,
or what profound ignorance of slavery under hea
then forms, must bias and blind the understand
ing, to bring the acceptance of such an opinion
within the range of possibility! We are whiling
to let the matter rest as we put it before. South
ern slavery stands convicted of no “such whole
sale disregard of the second 1 great command
ment,” no “such hideous want of neighborly
love,’’no such horrible “slaughter of the inno
cents,” as the death of one-half of its young la
borers,, “from over xoorlc and long hours ” —and
this, be it remembered, is the indictment on
which “ the factory-service ” of Massachusetts
has been arraigned, by a committee of the legis
lature of that State !
The Advocate waxes eloquent in its eulogy up
on “ the Massachusetts factory system.” “ Many
m 6 operatives,” it tells us, “ become lawyers
and go to Washington to help make laws for the
government of reconstructed States ; and many
graduate as successful teachers, and devote their
powers to the beneficent work of elevating the
millions of the colored race.” “ School books
also, and magazines, and scientific works, and all
kinds of agricultural instruments, these Massachu.
setts factory laborers pour into the South: and
by the blessing of Heaven they will yet succeed
in rendering the South as intelligent, prosperous,
and rich, as slavery has made her benighted un
thrifty, and poor.” All this may be true enough ;
but there is another aspect of the subject, as ap
pears from the following paragraphs, which we
find in the Chicago Standard —an aspect over
which our Portland contemporary throws the
mantle of charity, (so often refused to the South,)
by saying simply that “ there may undoubtedly
be some hardships connected with the employ
ment of too young laborers in Northern factories!”
“ Barbarity and ignorance seem to be quite as
possible under free institutions and in New Eng
land, as elsewhere, even as in the Old World.
In 1842 a law was passed in Massachusetts re
quiring that children working in factories should
be sent to school for a part of the year. A re
port by General Oliver, lately Treasurer of the
State, shows that this law has been very inade
quately enforced. At Fall River he found in a
single establishment ninety-four children from
nine to fifteen years of age, who have not attend
ed school for from one to six years ; and the re
port estimates that in this single city, there are
not less than one thousand children employed in
the factories, most of whom are deplorably igno
rant, some of them not even knowing their own
ages. ‘ A former official party' found twenty-five
children of both sexes employed in a basement
room, in which the air was hardly fit to breathe,
and the floor of stone always wet and cold. The
children were barefooted, ill-clad, unclean, and
pale-looking, earning very low wages, and had
not the proper school privileges.’ Here are some
more facts ol a like nature:
To illustrate the spirit of the employers, the
officer inquired of the agent of one of the prin
cipal factories, whether it was the custom to do
anything for the physical, intellectual, or moral
welfare of the work-people. The answer would
not have been out of place in the master of plan
tations, or the captain of a coolie ship: ‘We nev
er do; as for myself, I regard my work-people as
I regard my machinery ; so long as they can do
my work for what I choose to pay them, T keep
them, and get out of them all I can. What they 7
do or how they' fare outside of my wall, I do no:
know’. They must look out for themselves, as I
do for myself. When my machinery’ gets old and
useless, I reject it and gel new ; and these people
are a part of my machinery.’
Another agent in another part of the State re
plied to a similar question, ‘ that he used his
mill-hands as he used his horse; as long as he
was in good condition and rendered good service,
he treated him well; otherwise he got rid of him
as soon as he could, and what became of him
afterward w T as no affair of his.’ That man, the
report says, had upwards of one hundred children
ir. his employment, most of whom had never at
tended school. These are cases of exceptional
hardship ; but in the majority of establishments
it is believed that, by the connivance of parents
and employers, the law is violated, at least in
some of its parts, to a most fearful extent.”
“ There may undoubtedly be some hardship,”
quoth the Advocate. We should think there
really may ! Ah, if the abuses connected with
Southern slavery (and what system is free from
liability to abuse ?) had met with such kindly
construction, the strife and bloodshed of the last
few years would never have smitten the land
with their curse.
Only Two.
The multiplicity of Christian denominations is
a favorite theme with Sceptics; and they ring
continual changes on it. But there is some meas
ure of illusion in the case. We cannot deny the
diversities of circumstantial detail, indeed—the
variations and unlikencssea which lie on the sur
face. And yet, even where these are found, may
there not be an essential agreement at the core of
systems? May not lormal differences be built,
in great measure, on a unity of great, underlying
principles ?
This not only may be—it is —the case, as re
gards “Orthodox” denominations. Take, for
example, certain statements of fact brought out
by the discussions in the Northern Baptist Anni
versaries. According to one speaker: “The
present Catholic Bishop of New Jersey has said,
‘There are but two denominations of Christians
in America—the Roman Catholics and the Bap
tists.’” According to another: “A Catholic
Bishop recently said in Memphis, ‘There are hut
two parties to the contest now going on in this
country. We (the Catholics) are one, and the
other is our old enemy, the Anabaptists. All the
Pedobaptists take their ordinances from us.’”
We incline to this yjew. In the matter of
church building, Baptists and Romanists lay the
foundation upon principles totally distinct. Oth
er denominations rear their superstructure partly
on the Romish, partly on the Baptistic ground.
As to principle , take from these denominations
what is Baptistic, and you make them Romanists;
take from them what is Romish, and you make
them Baptists.
This , then, is the way in which we would put
the case: There are hat two principles of church
building : The one, inherited by Baptists from
the apostles, is wholly true; the other, brought
in by Romanis.s through the apostacy, is wholly
false: The “Orthodox” denominations around
us, since they adopt in part the first principle,
and in part the second, combine in their systems
the false and true —the apostolic and the
apostate.
Only two: and which is right? That is the
decisive question, and carries all others with it.
Who answers it rightly must come to us: who
wrongly answers it must go to Rouje. And this
will he the end of all the controversies which
now divide Christians with regard to the nature,
organization and work of the church.
Not to praise God, is to deny Him.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA7THURISiff, AUG. 13, 1868.
“ The Entail of Blessing.”
Cases of piety running through successive gen
erations of Pedobaptist families, are often ad
duced by writers of that school, as proofs that
God both owns and rewards the recognition of
hereditary church membership, in the baptism of
infants. They’ would have us believe that the
transmission of grace “ from sire to son ” is the
great distinctive promise of the covenant; and
that this promise is fulfilled in such cases, because
faithful parents plead it by’ affixing to their off,
spring the appointed baptismal seal of the cove
nant. The following incident from the Christian
Era , discloses a not uufrequent feature of Baptist
experience, which explodes this favorite argu
ment. :
“A little lad was baptized at the Second Church,
Boston, on Sunday. Dr. Eddy, as he baptized
him said: ‘Some thirty-five years ago, the great
grandfather of this lad, in Beverly, put his hand
upon my head, and said : “Little boy, do you love
the Saviour?" That voice, that manner, that
mild eye, I have never lorgotten. It is all in
wrought into my Christian experience. Here are
four generations met—-this chi I<l that I hold in
my hand ; his father who stands ready to receive
him as he rises from the waters of baptism ; his
grand-father who sits weeping there with joy ;
and the great grand father who looks down upon
us from heaven. Blessed be the Gcd of our
fathers.’ ”
Candid and True.
A correspondent of the Central Christian Ad
vocate, the St. Louis organ of the Northern Meth
odist Church, says, of Spurgeon:
“Asa Baptist, he is not consistent. He in
vites all to the Lord’s table, which a consistent
Baptist cannot do. I believe all consider that
membership in some church is requisite to com
munion, and an unbaptized person cannot he con
sidered a member. How then, if immersion is
the only mode, can Mr. Spurgeon be consistent
as a Baptist ?”
If the frankness which dictated this admission,
prevailed throughout the Pedobaptist world, we
should hear no more clamor against close commu
nion, as narrow, selfish, and bigotted.
Our Zion—in Our Exchanges, etc.
Georgia.
We received too late for our issue of last week,
tidings that Rev. W. D. Atkinson had resumed
the Lithonia meeting, and that two persons were
added to the church the previous Lord’s day.—
Rev. A. J. Kelly, in his business letter of the sth
inst., mentions a meeting of much interest in
progress at Cabin Creek church, Jackson county,
with many conversions and eight additions to the
church at the time of writing. Four persons
united with Oconee church, four miles from Jef
ferson, at its last meeting.
Alabama.
By’ singular oversight, a note from Rev. E. B.
Teague of Tuslcegee, appeared in our issue of last
week under the heading, “ Our church at Marion,
Ala.” VVe regret the blunder, though our readers
in t.he State were not misled by it, and could easily
make the correction for themselves.—Rev. M. A.
Verser, the missionary of the Muscle Shoals As
sociation, preaches to five white destitute churches,
and to three colored churches which he has con
stituted during the year ; besides preaching some
times in school houses, dwellings and groves.
District of Columbia.
“ Rev. John Bray, formerly a Baptist minister,
writes from Washington city, to the World's
Crisis, that the orthodox Baptist church to
which he belonged violently persecutes the faith
he has now embraced.” In what net of heresy
has he been taken, to utter this bray from it?
Kentucky.
Rov Wm M Pratt, D.D., of this State, becomes
pastor of the New Albany church, Ind.—Bethel
Association reported 377 baptisms during the year,
and the increase of Sunday schools from thirteen
to twenty-two, and contributed about S6OO to the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in re
sponse to appeals from Drs. Boyce and Manly.—
There have been sixteen additions to Clover Bot
tom church, Jackson county, nine to Sligo church,
Henry county; twelve to Liberty church, Garrard
county.
Maryland.
The Maryland Baptist Union Association, at its
last session, pledged to the colored churches of
Baltimore, its help in obtaining two houses of
worship. Since that time its members have as
sisted in the reconstruction of a very comfortable
house for the First Colored church, and a meet
ing at Dr. Fuller’s church raised $3,000, toward
the payment of $5,112.50, the purchase money’ of
a meeting house for the Union church.
Missouri.
The consolidated paper, the Central Baptist ,
has appeared. It is a large well-printed sheet,
published at $2.50 a year by the St. Louis Print
ing Company ; with Rev. J. H. Luther of the
Missouri Baptist Journal, and Rev. Norman Fox
of the Baptist Record as editors, and Revs. A. A.
Kendrick and J. M. C. Breaker as associate editors.
It deserves and will achieve success.—Robert D.
Lawler was ordained to the ministry, at Tebo
church July 2nd. —A. J. Conant, Esq., artist, has
been licensed to preach by the Second Church,
St. Louis. —A church has been constituted at
Hamilton, and Bennett YVhiteley ordained to the
ministry. —Bluff Spring church, Taney county,
has received four recent accessions; and twelve
baptisms have taken place, within four months,
at Harrisonville, Gass county. —The Executive
Board of the General Association issued “a notice
to agents of all Boards, not to visit the General
Association to collect funds.” Bethel church,
Saline county, rebukes this action as “ without
precedent, improper and unauthorized.”
North Carolina.
Prof. Wm. Royall, of Wake Forest College, has
received from Furman University, the title D.l>.
—Our church in Hillsboro meets in the basement
of an unfinished house of worship; and desires
seven or eight hundred dollars, in addition to what
is raised at home to complete it. “The church
is evidently looking up, and notwithstanding the
cold, damp basement with its warped floor, in
many places broken through, the Sabbath school
is all the time increasing, new pupils flocking in
every Sabbath.” —The Western Baptist Conven
tion! meets at Mt. Vernon Camp Ground, Ruther
ford county, Sept. 24th.
South Carolina.
The Baptist State Convention had a pleasant
session at Newberry : Rev. J. L. Reynolds, D.D.,
President; Rev. J. 0. B. Dargan, D.D., Vice
President ; Rev. J. F. Morrall, Secretary ; Prof. C.
11. Judson, Treasurer. Action was taken for the
support of Furman University, for the prosecu
tion of State missions, and lor the culture of
Systematic Benevolence in the churches.
Texas.
The Baptist Ministers’ Institute met at Waco,
July 4th; and lectures were delivered by W. C.
Buck, R. C. Burleson, J. H. Stribling, and W. C.
Crane. Twenty-three ministers in attendance. —
The General Association met at Chalfield, Navarra
county, July 17th : Gen. Jas. E. Harrison Presi
dent ; Revs. W. C. Buck, W. B. Featherstone and
W. G. Caperton, Vice Presidents; Rev. R. C.
Burleson, Corresponding Secretary ; J. T. Hand,
Recording Secretary ; aud J. W. Speight, Treas
urer. The meeting was characterized by harmony
and a spirit of Christian enterprise.—The Sunday
School and Colportage Convention, which met at
Waco, July 10th, located its Board at Bryan, and
will meet there next year. —“ Interesting revivals
have occurred at Shiloh, near Wheelock, at Etitaw,
anew church a few miles south of Waco, Mount
Calm, Richland, Springfield, and several other
churches.”—A recent meeting at Pleasant Grove
church, Lanier county, was crowned with thirty
additions. “On the last Sabbath of the meeting,
at the request of the pastor and deacons, a sermon
was preached on the subject of Communion,
which resulted in the avowed conviction of some
open communion Baptists, of their inconsistency,
and of some intelligent Pedobaptists,* who declared
their intention to unite with the Baptist church.”
—There have been fifteen accessions to the church
at Lexington ; twenty to Salem church, Washing
ton county, twenty to Bold Springs church ; four
teen conversions at Towash, Hill county, and
fifty-three at Peoria. A church was constituted
four ami a half miles East of Independence, July
13th, and a meeting held with it added seven
members.—Rev. L. Campbell, missionary of the
Baptist Free Mission Society has baptized 440
colored persons in this State, the last eleven
months.
Tennessee.
The Concord Association, at its recent session,
received two churches, one in Edgefield, the other
at Gethsetnena Hall, eight miles east ol Nashville.
It adopted a resolution recognizing the First
church Nashville, as a church of the Lord Jesus
Christ, withdrawing any' action offensive or in
jurious to the brethren composing it, and tender
ing a cordial welcome should it return. The report
on Union University, represented the prospects for
its speedy release from all pecuniary embarras
inents us flattering, and stated that arrangements
had been made for sustaining ten oc fifteen young
ministers while prosecuting their studies. A re
solution was unanimously adopted recommending
the introduction of the Christian Herald into
every family.—Rev. A. C. Caperton has resigned
charge of the Chelsea church, Memphis.—Our
church at Spring Hill, Gibson county, is now oc
cupying anew house of worship, a credit to the
church.—Rev. W. F. Troughton, for fourteen
years a Congregational minister, was publicly re
cognized as a Baptist minister, at Memphis, July
4th: sermon by Rev. J. R Graves, LL.D.
Virginia.
Rev. Dr. Sears, agent of the Peabody fund, has
contributed S3OO toward educating the children
of deceased Confederate soldiers, as that work is
prosecuted by Rev. W. F. Broaddus, D.D., for the
Baptist General Association. —J. Henry Fowlkes,
colored, was ordained to the ministry, August Ist,
at Mt. Lebanon church, Nottoway: Presbytery,
Revs. D. Witt, E. S. Taylor and T. YV. Sydnor.
—264 Sunday schools in the State report for the
past year, 108 conversions among 2,683 officers
and teachers and 971 among 20,564 scholars.
YY 7 est Virginia.
A revival is in progress at Briscoe Run church;
sixteen baptisms. “ This church has three Sab
bath-schools under her control within her bounds,
exerting a most happy influence over the minds
of the young.”
Reviews and Notices.
Noble Rivers, and Stories Concerning Them. By
Anna lane Buckland. Revised Edition. Philadel
phia: American Baptist Publication Society. Pp
2t>7, with ten full-page illustrations.
We have here descriptions of the Jordan, Eu
phrates, Nile, Cydnus, Tiber, Rhine and Thames
—with Scriptural, historical and legendary nar
ratives associated with them. The book makes
quite a pleasant companion for a leisure hour,
and suggests withal many a wholesome line of
thought.
Herbert Graham; or, A Day’s Temptation. A Sto
ry of English Life. Philadelphia: American Bap
tist Publication Society. Pp. 196, with four full
page illustrations.
Perhaps there is no quality more valuable, or
more rare, than a thorough moral courage, hold
ing steadfastly on in the way cf right, unabashed
by ridicule and unintimidated by danger. This
story affectingly exemplifies its power—showing
how it lays its foundation in the fear of the Lord
and the desire to please Him, gathers strength for
the sorest temptations by fidelity in little things,
and escapes many a snare by ‘hoisting its colors’
manfully from the first.
Sunday School Work in the Benton Street Mis
sion, Saint Louis. By E. D. Jones, A.M., Superin
tendent. Pp. 90.
“ The Benton Street Mission Sunday School”
is one of the wonders of the times. “In five
years a total of foui hundred and seventeen per
sons have been led to faith in Christ and gath
ered into” the Fourth Baptist church, St. Louis.
That church, chiefly by this agency, and without
protracted meetings or extra means, has witnessed
conversions weekly, and grown from a feeble
band to the largest Baptist church in the city, if
not the largest west of the Mississippi. This lit
tle volume, “issued for gratuitous distribution
among those feeling sufficient interest in it to
send” to the author “for a copy,” points out
the methods by which this great work has been
accomplished. It describes the departments into •
which the school is divided, the officers who con
duct it, the general order of exercises, the les- ‘
sons, the Teward system, the mission work, the :
cards, music, contributions, library, blackboard,
etc. No one can read it without being awakened
to a deeper interest in the Sabbath school, and
gathering weighty hints for the more effective
prosecution of his labors in that sphere. We j
shall make our columns debtors to it.
The Westminster Rerirw. New York: The Leonard
Scott Publishing Company. Terms, $4 a year; with
Blackwood or any one of the Reviews, $7 ; with the
London, Edinburgh and North Brit.sh Reviews, 412;
with these Reviews aud Blackwood, $ 5.
Contents for July. —l. The Character of Bri
tish Rule in India. 2. Davidson’s Introduction
to the New Testament. 3. Co-opeiation applied
to the Dwellings of the People. 4. Nitro-Glycer
ine; the New Explosive. 5. The Marriage Laws
of the United Kingdom. 6. The Incas. 7.
Church and State. 8. The Spanish Gipsy. 9.
Contemporary Literature.
Beulali Church, Conecuh Count}', Ala.
A meeting, of five days, closed yesterday, with
this church. It was a truly refreshing time. The
members were very much revived ; five were ad
ded to the church by experience ; and one old
wayward prodigal who, for the last eight years,
has been “journeying into a far country, there
wasting his substance with riotous living,” coining
to himself, arose and came to his Father. The
congregations were unusually large—though hud
weather—giving tine attention and manifesting
much feeling. The prospect seems good for fur
ther accessions. Brethren C. W. Hare, C. L.
Thornton, and J. F. Cook, were visiting preach
ers. This is the church, in the vicinity of which,
for upwards of thirty years, lived the much be
loved and venerated Alexander Travis, who did
more, doubtless, for the Baptist cause iu this sec
tion of country, than any other man. lie was
both a member and its pastor from its constitu
tion to his death, and his remains lie in the rear of
the pulpit, where he often expressed a desire to
be buried; and truly his works do follow him.
The next session of the Bethlehem Association
will be held with the Zion Church, Monroe county,
Ala., commencing Saturday before the 4th Lord’s
day in September, 1808. Andrew Jay.
August s th, 1868.
Pleasant Spring - , Ala.
The meeting at Pleasant Spring, Macon county,
Ala., continued several days after I left, and ten
were baptized, two remaining over. A most
healthful revival, I think, happy in its effects up
on the preachers who participated, as well as upon
the church. E B. Teague.
Deaconesses. —The church of Henry Ward
Beecher, Brooklyn, is to have deaconesses.
Items from Soutli-West Georgia.
After more than two weeks’ incessant, hard
work in a great revival, wearied nature demands
a few days rest. But “light duty” must be per
formed : time is too prec ous to be wasted. A
little reading, writing and studying can be done,
while the physical man is regaining strength;
and the spiritual man can rally his forces, burnish
his weapons with much prayer, and be getting
ready to “put on the whole armour of God, that
he ma}' be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil.” While posting up the “pastor’s diary,”
1 will, transcribe a few items, which may be of
interest to some of the readers of the Index.
Now, brother S., feel at liberty to alter, amend,
contract, expand, or throw the whole under the
table among the rubbish. " v
On the way to a missionary mass meeting with
Jit. Z:on church, in Pike county, on Friday and
Saturday, before the fifth Sunday in May, learn
ing that several brethren would attend the mis
sionary meeting, the writer yielded to the impor
tunity of the pastor and brethren at Barnesville,
to aid in the ordination of two deacons on Lord’s
day. Accordingly, our much esteemed, faithful,
zealous, tried brethren, George B. James and
Charlie W. Brown, were set apart to the work of
deacons, with appropriate services, in the.presence
of a large and attentive congregation. Would
that all our churches had such deacons. The
Bishop of Sardis learned on his Jonah voyage,
if he did not know it before, ttoe art of making a
visiting brother do all the-preaching ; and when
making pastoral calls of having the same poor
fellow do all the praying too. He claimed the
“ right to rule in his diocese,” and quoted on his
brother the Scripture, “ Let every soul be subject
unto the. higher powers.” So, rather than have
a logomachy, the writer endeavored to obey
orders
* While I was in Barnesville, I was gratified to
learn that brother Jno. A. Jackson, the w’orthy
pastor of Mt. Zion, acting upon a suggestion made
last spring, had organized and was successfully
conducting a good semi-monthly Sunday school,
serving ns superintendent himself. The children
meet him twice a month, on the morning of his
regular appointments for preaching. He approves
the plan, hoping our country cnurches may soon
he willing to do better. There is no mistake,
brother editor, every Baptist church in Georgia,
can have a good Sunday school if the pastor will
do his duty. Let us keep the idea before the
churches.
On the 11th of May, tire Sunday schools of
Marshallville and Traveller's Rest churches, agreed
to unite in Montezuma and favor the children,
teachers, parents and friends with a nice dinner.
A great many people—l,2oo or I,soo—came out
to witness the scene. To a large portion, it was
“ something new.” How important to seize upon
such an opportunity to make a favorable impres
sion for Sunday schools. Some appropriate ad
dresses were delivered by pupils, followed by
entertaining and forcible speeches by brethren E.
YV. YVarreti of Macon, and Prof. 11. T Asbury
of Forsyth. It was a “great day” with the little
folks. They’ll never forget it. All passed off
peaceably and pleasantly as heart could wish. To
the liberality and kindness of Mr. Virgil Powers,
Sup’t. of Southwestern Railroad, the Marshail
ville Sunday school acknowledge their obligations
for a gratuitous ride , to Montezuma and back
home.
It is not, perhaps, knoWn that our lovely village,
Marshallville, besides having a full corps of “city
fathers,” has two good institutions of learning:
One a Select Seminary in charge of Prof. L. 0.
Niles, and two excellen/*assistants : The other,
the Marshallville Academy, with Prof. W.. R.
Pix'.ey, Principal, assisted by his lad}’, and by
Prof. Benj. H. Clarke in Music Department.
These schools have about 100 pupils, are well
conducted, and entitled to the confidence and
liberal patronage of a generous public.
| The 16 th, 17th, and 18th days of July, were
| probably the hottest ever experienced in this
country. On Friday, the 1 7th, at 3 p.m., our
mercury in Fahrenheit stood at 103 degrees. In
1859 and ’6O, it went up several times 98 to 100
degrees. In 1857, “the Mercury,” says Gov. Ellis,
“ went up to 102 degrees in Savannah,” (see Sher
w’ood’s Gazetteer of Georgia.) In 1854, it vibrated
for several days, between 96 and 98 degrees.
During the hot days of 1828, the Mercury w’ent
up several times to 96 degrees.
Truly can we say, “ The Lord has done great
things for us, whereof we are glad.” On the
11th of July, Traveller’s Rest, church, decided to
hold a series of meetings with the hope that the
spiritual condition of the membership might be
improved. The promise is that those that “ wait
upon the Lord shall have their strength renewed.”
The Lord was evidently with us. Early in the
meeting an agreement was made to return to
meeting next day, fasting and praying for peace
among the members. They did so, each member
agreed to withdraw whatever had been said or
done grievous to any brother or sister, and, in
token of the fact, cordially to extend the hand
to the pastor and to each other. It was a melting
scene. The cheeks of some stout hearts were be
dewed with tears of penitence, forgiveness and
love. Outsiders looking on with wonder seemed
to say, surely theie is truth and power in religion.
This was the opening of a great revival, which
resulted in thirty-eight additions to the church ;
twenty-six by baptism,ten by letter and two by re
storation. Os this number about twenty are
males, giving much strength and efficiency to the
church. The young brethren at once organized
themselves into a Young Men’s Prayer Meeting,
in which fifteen or twenty cheerfully take a part.
It is devoutly hoped that the Lord will raise up
from among this number’several able ministers of
the gospel of Christ. Brother Dr. Hillyer, was
with us the first two days of themeeting; brother
N. A. Hornadv several days; young brother
A. Judson Cheves, a licentiate, all the time.
Brother C. is a fine scholar, a good preacher, and
bids fair to be an able minister of the gospel.
The Lord be praised for his wonderful works.
w. c. w.
August 6th, 1868.
Kollock Street Clinrcli, Augusta.
Since I wrote you last, 1 have baptized 4, and
received two more for baptism, and three by let
ter, making nine in all. On last Thursday night,
our conference meeting, there must have been 20
presenting themselves for prayer, and you know
that it is not. common for the unconverted to at
tend conference meetings. The signs are favora
ble. Our Sunday school is also flourishing, and
on the increase. The Lord has answered our
prayers in sending us a superintendent in the
place of our much esteemed brother, J. G. Coffin,
deceased, Bro. W. S. Howard, whose whole soul
seems to be filled with the love of Jesus, and of
the Sabbath chsool cause.
H. A. Williams.
Augusta, August B th, 1868.
A Revival.
The New Hope church, at Fredonia, Ala , held
a series of meetings, embracing the fourth Sabbath
in this month, during which time the church was
graciously revived, &inners convicted, and mourn
ers happily converted unto God. There are many
still enquiring the wiy to heaven. God has done
great things for us, whereof we are glad. Ten
were added to the church by baptism, one still
lies over for baptism, and ten by letter. I will
try to do something for your paper this fall.
R. A. J. C uMB 113.
Fredonia, Ala., July SI, 1868.
Several Things.
The Index & Baptist is meant to be the “or
gan ” of Alabama Baptists, as well as of Geor
gia. Now, may I take the liberty to ask our or
gan what is to become.of these Alabama churches?
1 feel sad. One year ago we had a ministry in
this State equal to any in the South. What is
our condition at present?
It is but a little over a year since Dr. Howard
(now of Galveston, Texas.) left Gainesville, Ala.,
where he had labored for years. He was sur
rounded by wealth, yet 1 have heard that neces
sity was upon him, and his former field is mainly
destitute.
Last Fall brother Harden—then of Union
Springs, Ala., now of Waco, Texas—left us. He
also left an important field, wealthy, intelligent,
refined, and a rapidly growing town. In these
two brethren Texas has gained two first rate
preachers and first class pastors. Brother Car
rell now lias charge of the flock which brother
° t
Harden left at Union Springs. May the Lord
bless him and his charge.
Then next, I)r. Henderson left Tuskegee, but
fortunately for us, he did not leave the State, and
still more fortunately for my own section, he is a
citizen of our county—lias charge of two good
churches, and is actively at work for the Master.
And it is cause for gratitude that the church at
Tuskegee has such a pastor as brother Teague—
one of our best.
Next, I will mention brother Holman, who
left the State within the last year and went North.
Brother H. is a good preacher, and a man of
great worth.
Brother David M. Reeves, a young minister of
fine attainments and great promise, lias also left
us and gone North.
Brother Van Hoose, now of Murfreesboro, Tenn.,
one of our most talented and useful ministers,
also left within the last year.
Brother Spalding has given up the St Francis
street church in Mobile, and will soon leave for
Louisville. Who is to take his [dace I am not
informed. Brother S. has done a good work in
Mobile, and so he will in Louisville.
Dr. Tichenor has resigned the First Church in
Montgomery, and I have understood that he is
going to cast his lot with us in the mountains,
where I know lie will be greatly useful.
Dr Curry, having resigned the Presidency of
Howard College, has left us, and accepted a pro
fessorship in Richmond College, where, I doubt
not, be is pleasantly and usefully situated, but
w’here, I am satisfied, he would not have been
had the Baptists of Alabama done their duty.
Brother Hawthorn, of Selma, has resigned and
will go elsewhere—controlled by that same law
of stern necessity. Alas, for Selma Baptists!
The church that obtains Hawthorn’s servicts.
will get the best preacher known to me, of his
age.
Brother Lloyd, of Meridian, Miss., within the
last year, left Athens, Ala., where he was^useful.
Brother Coulson also recently left
bama, and is now teaching in Kentucky., v * .
If there are others, I do not now
have heard of their leaving, but surely this cata
logue is long enough for the present writing.
My heartaches as I reflect upon it. These preach
ers, named above, are, without an exception, men
of decided worth, men of scholarship, and men
w’ho had position in Alabama, and will have po
sition anywhere.
And worst of all, none have entered our State
to take their places. Brother Carter, from Ken
tucky, now doing a good work at Huntsville,
Ala., is the only one that I have heard of who
has come into the State in this tune.
What is it that is working this evil? Necessi
ty, necessity! The churches are ceasing to sup
port their pastors. At any rate, this is mostly
the cause. But may I be pardoned if I say to
our pastors, stop brethren, pause a while. What
is to become of our Master's cause ? Are you
certain, after all, that pastors are better provided
for in other Southern States? Let us “ bear a
little hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.”
But, perhaps, it does not become me to exhort
the preachers, for I am not so certain but that I
may have, soon, to examine my own whereabouts,
and take up my bed and walk. But I mean to
make a brave fight first. This, however, I sup
pose the others have already done.
I look at our country churches and pastors, and
find some relief. Not that the country churches
are doing better for their pastors than the town
and city churches are for theirs, for they ate not
doing half so well, hut these faithful country
pastors are mainly supporting themselves by
their own manual labor, as they have always
done, and still faithfully preaching the YVord,
keeping alive their churches, and frequently add
ing new converts to the fold. 1 hese ministers
seem to be about as well contented as they were
before the war. In them there is something of
the sublime. They are the men who are “giv
ing themselves wholly to the work,” and they
will not lose their reward.
It should be remembered, however, that town
and city pastors cannot thus support themselves.
They have not the opportunity. Situation, cir
cumstances, and pastoral duties will not allow.
Therefore, how are they to live? Their trials are
terrible. Their sacrifices are known to none but
themselves. Brother Chambliss is about half
right. J. J. D. Renfroe.
Talladega, Ala., July 31#?, 1868.
Rappaliannoek Association.
The Rappahannock Baptist Association, has
just dosed its annual session. The meeting was
held at Olivet church, in the eastern section of
this county, and was one of unusual interest.
Some 400 baptisms were reported, but the statis
tical tables will show a considerable diminution
of membership, owing to the fact, that from most
of the churches, the colored people have with
drawn or been dismissed, with a view of consti
tuting churches of their own. Every church
reported a Sunday school, several have two schools
and one reported three. Over three thousand
children are connected with these schools. In this
department of Christian labor, great zeal and en
thusiasm are exhibited. Last year the General
Superintendent of Sunday schools in Virginia,
offered prizes: First, to the country school having
the largest number of scholars, and second, to
that showing the largest average attendance in
proportion to the number on the register. Both
prizes were won by schools in this Association;
the first by that at Matthews G. H., the second
by that at St. Stephens, in King and Queen. In
the latter, of which Col. Alexander Fleet
intendent, the average attendance was over 87
per cent, during the season, and this year the
exhibit is even better. No teacher in thin school,
has been absent from his place within the last
sixteen months , except from providential cause.
Several prominent and beloved brethren from
abroad were present at the Association, and by
their powerful preaching and noble addresses,
added greatly to the interest and profit of the
meeting. Drs. Jones and Curry, of Richmond
College, Dr. Burrows of Richmond, and Rev. J.
Wm. Jones, of Lexington. On the second day
of the meeting, the two first named preached, and
on the third day, the two last. When the sub
ject of ministerial education came up for consid
eration, President Jones and Professor Curry,
addressed the Association with an eloquence and
ability such as is rarely witnessed, and cannot
soon be forgotten by those who enjoyed the priv- J
ilege of hearing them. Ido not believe there is
another college in America, that can put two such |
men on the platform. Dr. Jones has always
belonged to us in Virginia, and we consider him
in some respects without a peer. Both bri liant
and profound, his addresses flash and flame with
the true fires of genius, while those who know
him best, love him most on account of the sim
plicity and transparent sincerity of his character.
YVe are sorry for our brethren “down South”
that they have lost Dr Curry, but we are contin
ually congratulating ourselves upon our own
acquisition of him. He has already taken a place
among the highest, in our esteem, as a man of
high and noble intellectual gifts, and in our hearts
as an earnest loving Christian. YY 7 ith the blessing
of God, he is going to do a great work in Virginia.
Send some of your young men to Richmond Col
lege, which, we think, has now entered, despite all
the difficulties of the times, upon a glorious career
of honor and of usefulness. .
Our protracted meeting season is about open
ing. Rev. D. YVitt, I). D.,-is announced to be at
St. Stephens in this county, to assist the pastor,
Rev. J. R Garlick, on the 3d Lord’s day in this
month, and for several days following. Dr. Bagby
goes at the same time to assist Rev. C. Tyree, in
Powhatan. May the Lord bless the labors of his
servants! . J. R. G.
King and Quten county, Vu., August 4th, 1868.
“The Lord hath done Great Things for Us;
Whereof We are Glad.”
On Friday preceding the third Lord’s day in
Jul}’, began our annua! meeting at Cedar Creek
church. The services were protracted from day
to day, until ten days and nights were spent most
profitably and delightfully. Truly did “our
Beloved lead us into His banqueting house, and”
truly “ was His banner over us love.” The meet
ing was attended by large and attentive congrega
tions at every service. The feeling was very
deep and wide-spread. “ Zion ” truly has, at
Cedar Creek “put on her beautiful garments.”
“There were added unto the church daily such
as believed,” daily were the baptismal waters
troubled by the willing followers of Jesus. I
had the pleasure of leading down into the watery
grave an old father of three score years, accom
panied by little boys and girls of twelve.
One peculiarity of the meeting was this: We
ha <no Methodist excitement The work of the
Spirit, not like the sudden bursting forth of a
tornado, or overwhelming torrent of the cataract,
was comparable to the current of a l iver, small
and feeble in its beginning, yet, at every step
gaining force, until upon its broad and placid
bosom were borne down all opposing influences.
I was favored with the help of Elder A. J. Kelly
for three days, after which I was left alone. The
interest felt bv the church and congregation was
as great at the close of the meeting as at any
stage of its progress, and had assistance been ob
tained, much additional good would doubtless
have boon effected. I was forced to close on ac.
count of exhaustion in body. 1 have witnessed
many revival seasons, a*id yet, in this one, I
think we bad more of the Spirit’s work, and less
of animal excitement than in any other that has
ever come under my notice.
The meeting resulted in the following addi
tions: By baptism twenty-five ; received for bap
tism, standing over, two; by letter, three; total
thirty. This church was organized a few years
ago with very few members, and discouraging
prospects. It was surrounded by a most ungodly
people, who spent their Sabbaths in hunting and
fishing, and the proceeds of their labor at the
dram-shop. Yet God has been pleased to convert,
from time to time, many of these intemperate
people, and now, they who were so zealous for
Satan are valient soldiers for Immanuel. The
church feels to “thank God and take courage,”
and truly may we rejoice that our Father lias
poured out such an abundant shower of grace
on us. Wm. Henry Strickland.
Oak Grove, near Lawrenceville, Avg. 6.
Salem Church, Calhoun County, Ga.
The Lord has graciously visited His people at
Salem, Calhoun county, with a glorious revival
of religion. The meeting commenced on Satur
day night, July 25th, and continued till yester
day, August. 2d. I was prevented from reaching
the place till the second day of the meeting; but
one of the private members, Dr. J. S. Clements,
conducted the exercises on Saturday night, ex
horting the members of the church to an earnest
performance of their duty. A deeper and more
wonderful work of grace 1 never witnessed. The
people were drawn thither for ten or fifteen miles
around. The entire church appeared to be at
work for the salvation of sinners. So deeply
were sinners convicted, that they cried aloud for
mercy. In the language of some of the brethren,
we were constrained “to stand still and see the
salvation of the Lord.” Dr. J. S. Clements ren
dered valuable service by his earnest exhortations.
So great was his zeal that some said, “he is beside
himself.” Brother Bryant Page, who was raised
up in this church, and who has been lately or
dained, contributed faithful aid. Brother Wilson,
pastor of the Presbyterian congregation of
Whitney, preached once for us. Seventeen were
received To God’s grace be all the glory.
The Ministers and Deacons’ Meeting for the
third district, of the Bethel Association, meots
with this church on Friday before the fith Sab
bath in this month. Brother Goss preaches the
Introductory Sermon ; brother J. L. Underwood,
preaches on Missions at 11 o’clock, on Sabbath ;
and brother T. Muse, on Ministerial Support, on
the afternoon of the same day. Brother J. L.
Underwood, was appointed to write an essay on
the harmony of the Pauline Epistles ; brother
Chaudoin, on the relation of baptism to the King
dom and the Church of Christ. All deacons and
ministers are invited to attend. Come brethren j
the church will receive you with open arms.
Salem church is about three miles west of Whitney,
Calhoun county.
I tried to preach for the brethren here to night.
The church seems to be very cold. Their beloved
pastor, our venerable brother, Jesse M. Davis, is
now lying at the very point of death. lie has
been sick for three or four months ; so the church
has had but little preaching during that time.
May the Lord revive his work in their midst.
Brother Davis is calmly waiting h s Master’s
call. A great and a good man is about taking his
departure, I fear. May the Lord sustain him by
His grace. T. 11. Stout.
Blakely, Ga., Augusts, 1868.
Work of Grace at Bcthsaida.
A Ministers and Deacons' Meeting met at
Bcthsaida church, Friday, 24th inst., Elder J. S.
Dodd, preached the introductory sermon, from
Ist Timothy, iv. 16: “ Take heed unto thyself and
to the doctrine, etc. After which the meeting
was organized by calling Elder G. B. Davis to the
Chair, and F. M. Dodd, to act as Secretary. Then
we had a very interesting discussion upon the
Doctrine of Election, to much apparent good ef
fect. The next meeting was appointed to meet at
Ramah, near Palmetto, Friday before the 3d Sab
bath in August, 18(58. Elder Jas. Rainwater, to
preach the Introductory Sermon, B. J. Walker,
alternate; A. B. Fears to preach on the duties of
Pastors to Churches, and Churches to Pastors;
W in. W. Calahan to preach on the Duties of j
Deacons; J. Camp to preach on the subject of i
Missions; Brother Edge to deliver on address on
Sabbath Schools.
We protracted our meeting after tho Ministers'
meeting closed, and truly I can say, we had not i
only refreshing showers of rain on our withered
crops after a ten weeks’ drouth, but wo enjoyed I
refreshings in our poor hearts, from the presence
of the Lord. The church is greatly revived:
nineteen willing converts came forward and were
received into fellowship by bnptism. Several of
them were Sabbath school scholars. Many asked
for prayer. Truly we can say, the Lord has done
great things for us, whereof, we are glad. I had
no help in the ministry but brother D. B. Brown,
a licentiate from this church. Brother Brown
was in feeble health, but labored to good effect.
At the close of the meeting, I presented the
claims of the Index and Baptist, got some sub
scribers. I atn trying to make up some clubs. I
commence a meeting to-morrow at. Antioch, pray
for our success. J. S. Dodd.
July 31, 18(13.
Mt. Zion Church, Bibb County, Gn.
The General Meeting of the Flint River Asso
ciation appointed for the Ist and 2d of August,
at the above named church, was largely attended,
the more so, perhaps, because a Sunday School
meeting was appointed at the same time. Breth
ren Gwin, "of Griffin, Langley, of Smithville,
Boykin, of Macon, and Thomas, of Bibb county,
were present. Brethren Gwin, Langley, Mon
crief, and Thomas, preached powerful and effec
tive sermons, twice each day, during Friday,
Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and .Wednes
dnv. A strong impression was made upon the
hearts of the congregation, and many went up to
be prayed for.
Rev. I). W. Gwin made an address on black
board teaching, on Saturday, and Rev. S. Boykin
spoke on Sunday Schools, and to the children on
Sabbath morning. Reports were made ns to the
condition of Sunday Schools in the churches,
and they indicated some degree of interest, and
the existence of zeal in some of the brethren.
Good results, it is hoped, will attend the Sabbath
School cause. The congregations were very
large and attentive, and.the hospitality_of the
neighbors unbounded, The writer has rarely be
held a more generous and elegant display of
mere creature comforts, at Associational gather
ings. The singing of the Sunday School children
on Sabbath morning, led by Mrs. Haygood, was
exceedingly sweet and touching, and affected the
hearts of some, even, who are not “ zealously
affected” in the Sabbath School cause. Bro.
Langley was on a visit of recuperation, having
been ill lately, but preached with much power
and feeling. To great natural ability, he unites
a fine person, a good delivery, a warm heart, and
a soul burdened with love for the truth. lie is a
laborious and useful minister, though young in
years. Bro. A. L. Moncricf pastor of Mt. Zion
church, is an excellent preacher, a man of great
piety, and well beloved by all who know him.
Some of his sermons are hardly excelled in pow
er and pathos, by the giants of the pulpit; but
his deafness militates against Ins activity and use
fulness. Bro. Gwin gave us an eloquent and
striking sermon. To a handsome person he adds
personal piety, severe application, great mental
ability, and eloquence of a high order. He is
destined to assume a commanding position, if he
retains health and strength. One thing I admire
in him, he is a strong Sunday School man, and
abreast of the times in Sunday School matters.
On Friday, the first day of the meeting, Rev.
F. M. Haygood (who was present that day only)
preached a sermon, and delivered an excellent
Sunday School discourse —his object being to
impress on ail greater earnestness in taking care
of children. lie thought that more vigorous
and systematic effort should be made to bring
children to Jesus, secure their conversion, and
save their souls. And it is true, that, while we
labor hard in Sunday schools, and in other ways
for the good of children, any special effort is not
generally _[)>r tlfn conversion of their souls.
And yet, I will venture to assert that a far greater
number of those who join the church at maturity
backslide, or make shipwreck, than of those who
profess conversion and join the church in child
hood. To make converts of the young should be
a greater aim with us, than is the case. B.
The Work in Texas.
The Rev. W. B. Hardin, former pastor of our
church at Union Springs Ala., now of Waco, Texas,
thus writes to the Corresponding Secretary of the
Georgia Baptist Sunday School Board :
“ The Texas’ Baptists are becoming fully
aroused to the importance, and 1 may say neces
sity of inaugurating and carrying forward an
1 Evergreen Sunday school’ in the bounds of every
Baptist church. We have just passed through a
very delightful Sunday Scitool Convention, which
held its session with my church, at this place.
God bless you brother Connor, in all your efforts
to promote this glorious work.”
Waco, Texas, July 30 th, 1808.
Revival at La Fayette, Ga.
On Saturday, before the third Lord’s day in
July, I commenced a meeting with my church in
this place, which continued for thirteen days and
nights—resulting in forty additions to the church.
A large number of sinners were brought to the
knowledge of tho truth, making open profession
of faith in the name of Jesus. The church was
much revived and strengthened. This is tho be
binning of a series of meetings, with the seven
churches 1 am endeavoring to serve tho present
year. May the Lord give success to his. Word and
send more laborers into Ids vineyard. The Index
may hear from me again. W. J. Russell.
The Antioch Revival.
I commenced a meeting at Antioch the Ist day of
this month, which closed last Friday, (the 7th.)
Twenty-four were added to the church, eighteen
baptized, the church much revived. Brothers
Spurlin, Brown, and W. C. Barns, aided me in
the meeting. I came to Fairburn yesterday, to
fill my monthly appointment, one was received
by experience. Next Friday a general meeting
commences at Ramah, near Palmetto. I expect to
continue through the week. We have a club
promised at Antioch to take tho Index & Baptist.
J. S. Dodd.
Fairburn, August 9, ’B6B.
Imprisoned for Christ’s Sake.
Rev. W. C. Van Meter writes from Paris,
France: “This morning I met with Lord Rad
stock and ten others, in a quiet little room, where
we lifted up our hearts in prayer for a dear brother
who goes to prison for distributing religious tracts.
This brother resides in Fontainebleau, but is a
member of the Baptist church here, and though
not a minister, he is trying, in a quiet way, while
engaged in his daily work, to lead souls to Christ
by speaking a word, or giving a tract. Some
Romanist was offended, ami availed himself of tho
legal prohibition of tract-distribution, and to-day
our brother pays the penalty by being impi isoned.
He also must pay a lino of 130 I'rmcs (which ho
is not able to do) or continue thirty days longer.
True, it is the Government that does it; but all
know very well that tho Government cares noth
ing about it. Rome, fearing tho consequences if
she does it in her own name, gets the government
to enact such laws as will enable her to accomplish
her end—just as the chief priests said they could
put no one to death, yet by their clamoring com
pelled the government to crucify our Saviour.
Accessions. —Rev. A. D. Williams recently
baptized Rev. Carlos Smith, a Methodist preacher
at Blooming Prairie, Minn. Rev. Mr. Okerson,
also baptized Rev. Erick Johnson, a Norwegian
Pedobaptist preacher. About one-eighth of the
Baptist ministry of Minnesota came to us from
other denominations.
Pastoral Non-Sufi'Out. —A correspondent of
tho /Southern Presbyterian throws out this chal
lenge: “ Show me live count!y-pnstors in South
Carolina that do not pay from S2OO to SSOO per
annum for the privilege of preaching lire gospel!”