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About Christian index and South-western Baptist. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1866-1871 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1869)
102 JWa mS s4* too*, ~ fgaptiisit ■&9 V. I) - -—— vF . SHAVER, D.D., Editor. THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1869. The lord’s Slipper : Judas. A fair correspondent, from Alabama, in forms us that quite a discussion has sprung up, in ier village, over the question, Was Judas present when Christ instituted the or dinance of the Lord’s supper ? “The excite ment here,” she writes, “demands that the Baptist faith should be defended.” Such lan guage gives us no little surprise. We are not aware that the distinctive principles of the denomination are at all affected by the answer to this question. The settlement of the point, the one way or the other, is a mat ter without consequence, as regards our creed, or our litual, and can, legitimately, work no change in either. It is not as a Bap tist, then, —not for the advocacy or defence of any peculiar proposition held, or any pe culiar practice observed, by our people,— that we comply with the request of our cor respondent and ‘give an opinion’ on the sub* ject. The question is one of difficulty. None of the Evangelists records, in chronological order, all the events occurring on the night in whiph the Lord’s supper was instituted. It becomes, therefore, largely a matter ot criti cism, to arrange these events in the proper sequence of time ; and there is space for dif ference of opinion upon more than one par ticular involved in such an arrangement. This liability to conflicting views has manifested itself among expositors, in a marked degree, with regard to the juncture at which Judas withdrew’ from the presence of the Lord and the company of the disciples. For example: Cyprian, Jerome, Augustine, Chrysostom, Cyril, Theodoret, Bellarmine, Baronius, Mal donatus, Gerhard, Beza, Thomas Aquinas, Bucer, Bengel, McKnight, Krafft, Patritius, Stier, Alford, Henry and Gill, decide that his departure took place after the institution of the Lord’s supper; while it is regarded as taking place before that institution by Ammo nius, Hilary, Meyer, Tischendorf, Robinson, Lichtenstein, Freidlieb, Bucher, Ebrad, Lange, Wieseler, Riggenbach, Ellicott, Doddridge, Cal met, Jacobus, Richard Watson, Olshau sen, Nast, Neander, Lees, Jonathan Ed wards, Townsend, Angus, Ripley, and Andrew Fuller. Here is quite a war among the “authorities” (?) —an army (for number) on either side. But it is a noticeable fact that, in the progress of Biblical criticism, the majority has shifted ground. Once, there were, comparatively, few who denied the presence of Judas at the Lord’s supper : now, just as few, comparatively, affirm it. Under these circumstances, it would, per haps, be the wiser course to form no decided opinion in the premises—to leave the ques tion in doubt, after the example of John Cal vin and Thomas Scott. But if that be wis dom, we are fated in this instance to lack it —for we have an opinion, and a decided one too. We believe that Jqdas vr&snot present at the institution of the Lord’s supper. Let us, briefly, show why. On that memorable night, our Lord ate two suppers with His disciples—the paschal supper, belonging to the old dispensation, and what is styled the Lord’s supper, be longing to the new. While they were both observed at the same sitting, there was one circumstance which sharply distinguished them. It had been a rule of the Jews in the celebration of the passover, that the flesh of the lamb should be the last thing eaten. The eating of the lamb, therefore, marked the close of that feast. To take bread after this, was a departure from the old rite—a setting aside of its order. To accompany the breaking of the bread with a prayer of thanks, “as was customary at the commence ment of a festival,” was clearly the introduc tion of anew rite. Here, then, enters, as part of a Christian feast, the distribution of bread, the symbol of the flesh of “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”— here, “as they were eating” what was eaten last in the passover—here, when the passover had reached its conclusion. This view is confirmed by the testimony of Luke, and of Paul, that “the cup” was taken “after sup per for there is no shadow of ground for the supposition, improbable in itself, that an interval lay between “the consecration” of the bread and “the consecration” of the wine > and it seems manifest that if one part of the Lord’s supper came “after” the passover, so must the other. With this point in mind, we proceed. Matthew and Mark pecord the announce ment of His betrayer by Christ before they record the institution of the Lord’s supper ; while Luke records the announcement after recording the institution. No one of the three gives any note of the order of time, in which the two incidents stood to each other. If this were the whole state of the case, there would be a presumption in favor of the sup* position that Mark has preserved the true chronological succession. Dr. Robinson, in his “Harmony of the Four Gospels,” tells us that “in the arrangement of that work, made in accordance with the pr< bable sequence of events, and without ascribing any preference to the order of either Evangelist, this unex pected result has been brought out; viz., that the order of both Mark and John re'mains everywhere undisturbed, with the exception of four short passages in Mark and three in John.” On the other hand, as confessed by a writer against our view, “interpreters regard Luke a* being less observant of the strict or der of events than the other Evangelists.” But this is not the whole state of the case. John associates the announcement and ex posure of the betrayer with the fact that Christ dipped “a sop”—a bit, or morsel— and gave it to Judas. While it is not im possible that this act of eating occurred after the close of both suppers, the supposition is too incongruous to be entertained. Scarcely less is the improbability that it occurred in an interval between the two: since the tran sition from the one to the other could be sig nalized only by making no departure from the old rite except for the sake of the new. We must assign it, therefore, to some point dur ing the continuance of the passover, while we TP " 1 iIE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1869. cannot determine to what period of the meal it should be referred, because the character of the “sop”—morsel, or bit—is not indi cated, and it may have been of the'bitter herbs at the beginning of the observance, or of the bread at a later stage, or of the flesh of the lamb at the close. To one of the three it clearly belongs; and, we incline to think, to the third. Now, this exposure must have assured Judas ‘that his time was up; that he had forfeited his place among the disciples of Je sus ; that if the bargain with the chief priests for the betrayal of his Lord was to be con summated, it must be instantly gone about.’ Hence, we should naturally expect him to ‘hurry off, without a moment’s delay, to the Jewish rulers, to get them to strike at once, as now only was it likely he could do aught in their behalf-’ And so, John writes : “He then, having receited the sop, went immedi ately out ” —“immediately,” before the conclu sion of the paschal supper—“immediately,” while as yet the Lord’s supper had not been instituted. This is the view which commends itself to us as the more probable : and we submit it to the reader, on its own merits. We had designed to notice the arguments for the op posite view, but lack of space forbids, at present. Onr Old Reproach Surviving in Irelaud. Modern Baptists frequently complain of the odium, which they are compelled to bear on account of their faithful adherence to the teachings of the New Testament.. But they endure no reproach which is not “as the small dust of the balance,” in comparison with the burden of contempt and ignominy bound upon the shoulders of their fathers, by prejudice from prince and populace alike. And shall we shrink from the advocacy of Scriptural truth and the maintenance of Scrip tural order, to avoid unpopularity, when those from whom we inherit that order and that truth, stood firmly against the storm and flood of universal, relentless scorn ? The bare conception of so unmanly a course is dishonor. Asa singular relic of the systematic de gradation to which our people were subjected in past times —the infliction of annoyances and affronts in every department of life, by legal enactments otherwise purposeless— take a fact for which the Westminster Review vouches. According to that periodical, even under the present Law of Ireland, “ Baptists are compelled to marry by means of a notice at the poor-house." What could have given origin to such a regulation, but the disposi tion to humiliate our fathers and with that view to brand them as a race of paupers— (a disposition which afterwards fastened on the Wesleyans the same ignominious pre requisite to “wedded bliss”)? That is the spirit of pride and hate with which Baptists, in former ages, were called to fight every where. And now that we have conquered for ourselves an acknowledged title to respect, in England and America, shall we withhold what aid we may be able to render our cause in “the Emerald Isle?” Shall we not help our brethren there to fight the old battle with hate and pride, until, multiplied and pros pered, the argument of their success as a Christian people shall compel the (reluctant) abrogation of such senseless insults under color of law ? A Question of Discipline. “ Is it proper for a church to retain a mem ber, under any circumstances, who has been guilty of fornication or adultery ? ” We refer our querist to First aad Second Corinthians. There was in that church a per son guilty of the heinous offence in question —under such an extreme and unusual forim too, as was “ not so much as named among the Gentiles.” The apostle instructed them to ‘ put away from among themselves that wicked person.’ “ A few months ” later, however, when the purity of the church had been vindicated by discipline and the offender had been brought to repentance, the apostle counselled ‘forgiveness’ and ‘comfort’—which implies, of course, the restoration of fellow ship. We conceive that this precedent fur nishes the principles which ought to regulate all such cases. It is held by some of our writers that “ of fences may occur of such an aggravated char acter, as to require, when fully proven, that the church should at once withdraw its fellow ship from the offender, without any further attempt to labor with him, and notwithstand ing all confessions, penitence and promises.” This teaching can be justified only on the ground that the church cannot otherwise fully “approve itself to be clear in the matter,” or fix an adequate brand of reprobation on gross immoralities. Such contingencies, we incline to think, may and do arise. The cases to which our querist refers, for the most part, fall within the scope of this rule. With out undertaking to determine whether there may or may not be exceptional instances, we should be disposed to withdraw fellowship from all such offenders, and to renew it only when “ their confession and reparation for the past are satisfactory, and their present walk according to godliness.” How they Phrase it. The New York Methodist Preachers’ Meet ing sent a committee, with fraternal greetings, to the two Presbyterian Assemblies, at their recent session in that city. In the Old School Assembly, the Moderator, Rev. Dr. Jacobus, responded to their salutation : “ The General Assembly of the Presbyte rian Church reciprocates the salutations of the Methodist Episcopal church. The church of John Calvin responds to the church of John Wesley, in the name of our common Lord and Head.” If Presbyterians are willing to call them selves “ the church of John Calvin,” and if Methodists are willing to be called “ the church of John Wesley,” we do not know who has any right to object. But so far forth as these titles properly pertain to them, how can they have a “ common Lord and Head ?” The churches of the New Testament are churches of Jesus Christ. We hope they will never be willing to bear any human name, even though it were the name of John the Baptist or John the Apostle. Sin. —He who loves sin, hates himself. He destroys himself, who spares sin. Our Zion—in Our Exchanges, etc. Georgia. Rev. J. S. A. Allen informs us that he expects the constitution of a church, perhaps the coming week, at North End Baptist mission station, t lanta.—The First Baptist church, Atlanta, will occupy the basement of its new house of worship, probably withi i the next fortnight. -Rev. N. A. Bailey, of Albany, received the degree of M. A , at the recent commencement of Union University, Murfreesboro.—A brother writes to us: ••Your article on ‘Political Assassination’ gives univer sal satisfaction. It is said to be the best that has appeared on the subject.” Alabama. We regret to learn from theTuscumbia Herald , that Rev. R. 11. Taliaferro died on the 11th of June. He was “ a Baptist pioneer preacher in what is now known as Jackson county, Alabama. He organized and assisted in organizing most of the churches in the Tennessee River Association. He was the originator of that Association.” “ He was born in North Carolina on the 27th of March, 1801. He gave himself to God when about twen ty years of age, and joined the Fish River church in Surry county, North Carolina. A few years after he removed to East Tennessee, and was or dained to the full work of the ministry while a member of Prospeet church, Roan county, Ten nessee. For forty years this devoted and pious servant of God labored with unwearied zeal in the Master’s vineyard. During twenty-five years of this time he labored as a missionary, support ed most of the time by the labors of his wife. During his ministry he administered the ordin ance of baptism to over 2,000 persons. He died as a Christian would wish to die, at home, sur rounded by his family and friends, with an un faltering trust in Him who was leading him through the ‘dark waters.’ A few hours before his death he whispered, ‘I am passing through the valley of the shadow of death, but I fear no evil.’ ” —Rev. E. B. Teague, of Selma, in the Tus cumbia Herald says: “Bro. Figh at Wetumpka, is doing a good work. He is one of the best, humblest, most sensible and devoted men I ever knew, and his highly-favored people have long appreciated him. Brother Gwin, at Montgomery, is beloved, as he must be everywhere, and receiv ing a fine hearing. Bre'i von Crumpton and Cleveland, Young and Stiong, are ardently at work in the country South-East of this; they serve some excellent churches. Brother Fox, one of the best preachers Alabama has ever had, a little way South-East is ready for every good word and work, so far as strength permits. He is, however, very feeble in body. Dr. Mdntosh, the long time pastor of the church at Marion, one of the first preachers and most honored men of the South, is strong and laborious, looking well-nigh as young as he did fifteen years ago, and laying deep the foundation of sacred doctrine, and discreet disci pline. Such men will leave their foot-prints en graved for long on the forming strata of the times. At and about Montevallo our brethren Tichenor and Boykin are doing a good work in the pulpit and Sunday school. So of brethren Henderson, Renfroe and Wilks, in Talladega and Shelby.” Kentucky. Rev. G. W. Samson, D.D., will deliver his lec tures on his Tour in the East, in Louisville, next month, for the benefit of the orphans and Sunday school of Walnut street Baptist church.—A house has been rented in Louisville as a Baptist “Or phan’s Home;” brother Weller of the Walnut street church assuming the responsibility.—Our Georgetown Sunday school contributed, in one quarter, more than S7O to the Sunday school de partment of the General Association.— A new church has been constituted at Parmley’s school house, Wayne county; our church at Milburn has entered on the occupancy of its new house of worship; and Mt. Moriah church, Mercer county, has had 10 recent accessions. Mississippi. New churches have been constituted at Eureka, and at Harrison Station on the Mississippi and Tennessee Railroad. Missouri. Pleasant Hill church, a little band six months ago, when Rev. W. Hildreth became pastor, has grown by continuous revival to a membership of 285, and is building a house of worship costing $12,000. —Anew church has been constituted at Garrison’s school house, Shelby county.—Rev. G. W. Johnson, of Macon, Tenn., has been called to Boonville.—Rev. G. W. Rogers, of the First church, Chillicothe, assisted recently in the or dination of two colored ministers.—A National Baptist Sunday School Convention, under the di rection of the American Baptist Publication So ciety, will be held in St. Louis, beginning Tues day, Nov. 2nd.—Barnard street mission chapel, St. Louis, has been dedicated. It seats about 850, and, with the ground, cost some $5,500. South Carolina. Rev. T. R. Gaines has commenced, at York ville,- a weekly paper, the Working Christian , designed as an organ of the Baptist denomination for the State. Terms $2 50 a year. The first number presents a neat appearance, and gives promise of interest and vigor. We welcome it to our exchange list. —Two members of our church at Sumter C. H., are starting a colored Sunday school in the church of Rev. B. Lawson, a col ored brother of good repute.—Rev. J. D. Dur ham writes that he has baptized over 20 Method ists in two months; among them, Rev. Janies M. Herlong, a worthy .gentleman and a good preacher. Tennessee. " The Baptist Educational Society of Tennessee has effected a permanent organization under its charter; H. G. Scovill, President; J. R. Graves, J. Shackelford, J. J. Martin, Vice Presidents ; J. M. Phillips, Sec.; A. B. Shankland, Treas. It has accepted the transfer of Union University, “to be used and applied to educational purposes under and by direction of the Trustees of the University;” and appointed Rev. J. M. Phillips agent, to solicit funds for the repair of the build ing.—Union University has conferred the title LL.D. on Z. 0. Graves of Winchester.—Central or Spring street church, Nashville, now without a pastor, will sell out and seek a better location.— The house of worship of Cherry street church, Nashville, costing $20,000, will probably be lost, for want of a few thousand.—“ Elder Strode,” says the Memphis Baptist , “in Edgefield has been laboring for eighteen months against every discouragement. The prospect was dark, indeed; no bouse to worship in, no ground to build upon, no congregation to encourage, and a handful of members. He has now an eligible building site, a subscription on foot witli promising indications, a nice Sabbath school, and an increasing congre gation.”—Under the labors of Rev. A. Van Hoose, says the Baptist , the church in Murfreesboro “ has doubled its numbers and strength; and be sides his labors here, we learn he has built up a thriving church five or six miles from town, in a wealthy neighborhood, that will soon be able to build and support a pastor. He has done a good work since coming to the State. The new church edifice will not be ready to open much before Christmas, (it will be a very*neat and nice build ing,) one worthy of our brethren and the cause.” Virginia. Flint Hill church, Bedford county, has built a house of worship without help from abroad. One laboring man gave about $l5O. — Rev. J. A. Davis, of Liberty, declines the call to Knoxville, Tenn. Reviews and Notices. A Dictionary of tbk Bible: Comprising its Anliqui ties. Biogra|rtiy, Oleography and Natural History, vv uh Numerous Maps and Illustrations, engraved expressly for thUJVork. Edited by William Smith, Classical Examiner of the University of London. Rational Publishing Company: Broad street , At* lanta y Ga. Pp. Sold by subscription only. The Greece and Rome by Dr. Smith, on their first appearance eclipsed all pre vious works of the kind, and won a place in the front rank of the authorities which guide the scholarship ot the #ge. His Comprehensive Dic tionary of the Bible, which appeared afterward, took a kindred position as, undisputedly, a “ stand ard. ’ The present volume is an abridgement of the larger work,)by Dr. Smith himself. “The saving in space is gained in large part by the omission of the learned etymological comparison and derivation and other learned mat ters in but the more accomplished, even of the ministers of the church, could take any interest, and'from which the people at large could derive no benefit;” while such information is retained as constitutes it “an indispenable aid to Teachers, Families, Sunday School Superinten dents and Bible Stedents and Bible Readers gen erally. ” The ipnblishers say, and, we think, are largely warranted in saying: “It contains every name in the Bible and Apochrypha, of which anything can be said. It gives an accurate ac count of every and every name in the Scriptures, of whkh explanation or illustration is required. It describes every animal, bird, and insect and reptile, every plant, and every mineral, every implement and domestic utensil mentioned or alluded to in the Bible. It gives an account of the manners and customs, costumes, habitations laws, civil and ecclesiastical antiquities of the Jews and surrounding nations. It also embraces geographical descriptions of the Holy Land and other countries,-fording to the most recent and accurate surveys™ and includes a history and analysis of each of the Books of the Bible; bio graphical sketches of the Writers and of all other Scripture Characters; while very many of the longer articles, being the results of the most fin ished scholarship, are complete treatises in them selves, and worthy of a separate publication.” Sixty-five of them among the most eminent Biblical scholars in the world, contributed toward this work, to embody in it the best results of familiarity literature and history, with “the recent great and important advances made in Biblical Criticism, and with the numer ous illustrations of the Sacred Volume brought to light by travellers in Bible lands.” The product is—the best Bible Dictionary which has come un der our notice; anil, notwithstanding a few things which we disapprove as Baptists and as South erners, we earnestly commend it. The Secrets of thjAGreat City: A Work descrip tive of the Virtues! and the Vices, the Mysteries, Miseries and Crimes of New York City. By Ed ward Winslow Martin. Jones. Brothers k Cos.; Broad street, Atlanta. Ga. Pp. 552, with 35 illus trations. Sold only by subscription. It has been said that “New York is the best place in the world to take the conceit out of a man and, accepting the details of irreligion, vice, crime and wretchedness, which fill this volume, we should think that-,New York is enough to take the conceit out oLthe whole race of mankind. Under such a showing, the depravity of our na ture becomes a thing too palpable to be denied, too gross not to bejjeplored and abhorred. We have been profoundly moved with thankfulness for the gift of the gospel of Christ—the only in fluence which can effectually counterwork this depravity, while all other means of correction are as powerless as the pills of the famous quack for “ protection aga^indfearthquakes.” Viewed arigt.t, jpi'variea, -interesting and ex haustive revelations of this Work forcibly illus trate the passage of Scripture inscribed over the doorway of the penitentiary on Blackwell’s Isl and, “The way of the transgressor is hard.” But we doubt, whether, on the whole, it is adapt ed to exert a wholesome influence upon readers ers generally, and especially the young. Too large a space is given to the darker and viler side of life; for while it is said that “thedevil’s work is done here on a gigantic scale, and the will of the Lord on a scale equally great, if not greater,” the bulk of the volume is devoted to a recital of the former, and only a very few pages, or para graphs, here and there, to a most inadequate por trayal of the latter. Nor can we resist the con viction that the wickedness of the city is dealt with in a style of more or less exaggeration—with a deflection, now and then, into the sensational. We hope, however, if the public will read it, that those who risk the familiarity with evil which must come of its perusal, may learn the lesson it claims to teach—namely, that ‘the only path of safety is, a total avoidance of the vicinity of sin.’ The Dead of the Synod of Georgia. By John S. Wilson, D.D., Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Atlanta. Issued in Parts, of from 64 to 80 pages each. Terms: 50 cents for single Parts; $2 50 for the whole series (six Parts.) Orders, with money, may be addressed to the Author, or to J. J. Toon, Proprietor of the Franklin Printing House. The First Part of this interesting and valuable work is on our table. It contains a sketch (run ning through sixty pages or more) of the early establishment and progress of the Presbyterian church in the State, and enters on the principal aim of the work—the biographical memorial of “departed Worthies.” Wc anticipate no little pleasure from the record, beginning with Rev. Joseph Y. Alexanier and Rev. Donald John Auld in this number, which will include the life and labors of such men as Rev. Dr. Jones, Rev. Dr. Tallmage, Rev. Dr. Church, etc. The venerable author lays the Whole Christian public under ob ligations of gratitude and patronage, by the exe cution of a task for which he is so well fitted, and which must convey so many salutary lessons from the example of godly men, who “Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.” Lessons in Geography, for Young Children. De signed as an Introduction to ihe Author’s Primary Geography. Illustrated wilh Maps and numerous Engravings. Pp 72. Price 50 cents. New Primary Geography. Illustrated by 20 colored Maps and embellished with 100 Engravings. De signed as an Introduction to the Author’s New Intermediate Geography. Pp. 100. Price BO cents. New Intermediate Geography. A System of Mod ern Geography, designed for the use of Schools and Academies. Illustrated with 23 copper-plate Maps, drawn and engraved expressly for this Work from the latest Authorities, and embellished with numerous Engravings. *Pp. 110, 4to. Price $1 80. New School Geography and Atlas. A System of Modern Geography, Physical, Politcal and Descrip tive: accompanied by an Atlas of 44 copper-plate Maps, and illustrated by 200 Engravings. Pp. 456. Price $2 50. The Maps of the Atlas compiled trom the great Atlasses of Keith Johnston, Kie pert, the Geographical Institute of Weimar; from the United Skates Coast Survey, the Surveys of the War Department aud of the Several States, and from other Reliable Authorities; drawn and En graved expressly to illustrate this Geography: With imporlaul Geographical Tables and an ex tensive Pronouncing Vocabulary of Nearly Ten Thousand Names. These volumes with the Physical Geography of which we gave a notice some weeks since, con stitute the new series of School Geographies, by S. Augustus Mitchell, issued front the press of E. H. Butler & Cos., Philadelphia, and kept on sale by J. J. &S. P. Richards, Atlanta. They have been on our table for a month or two, and we have devoted an occasional hour, now and then, to their examination, with much interest and pleasure. The publishers claim that they have attained the position of the “ the standard geographical series of America,” and we see no reason why they should not have done it. “ The matter is pre sented in an agreeable and pleasing form ; the ar rangement is systematic and natural; the text and maps are accurate, and the engravings fresh and beautiful;” the mechanical execution is un surpassed in works of their class; and the science, so far as it is taught as a school-study, is carried forward by a regular succession of books, on a uniform plan, in & style to interest and instruct the different grades of pupils, the more and less advanced alike. First Baptist Church, Montgomery, Ala. A protracted meeting, continuing a little more than four weeks in this church, has just closed. Save occasional sermons by brother Johu Stout, of the Theological Seminary at Greenville, the pastor has conducted all the services, preaching every night to deeply in terested congregations. There has been no undue excitement; a quiet thoughtfulness has pervaded the meetings, as brother Gwin so earnestly entreated all to embrace the Sa viour. God has heard and answered the prayers of his people. More than forty have been brought to Jesus, twenty-two of whom have been baptized. Most of these are from the Sunday school. One lady, who for twen ty years has had a faint hope, has put on Christ by baptism, and is happy in the Sa viour’s love. A little girl of ten years came before the church and sweetly told of her love for Jesus, of her belief that her sins had been pardoned. We feared that brother Gwin’s health might suffer from his arduous labors in preaching and visiting; but he has been wonderfully sustained. Sunday, the 20tb inst., the pastor extended the hand of fellowship to twenty-one, who communed with the church for the first time. It was a most solemn and interesting occasion, a larger number observing the ordinance than for many years before. Brother Gwin expects to be absent from us for two weeks. The prayers of a united and harmonious church will ascend to God for his preservation during our separation, and for his speedy return to his field of labor, where he has been so eminently useful. * June 21, 1859. The Rehoboth Mission. Rehoboth Association ; Dear Brethren — God has permitted us to begin to reap the har vest of this mission field—the third that has been opened by me, through you, in this In dian land. On last Sabbath day I baptized the first fruits—a woman of very great moral and mental worth, and one who, l believe, will make a lively stone in this church. She has seen much trouble in her life, and has been wild and gildy, yet she came calmly and resolutely and applied for membership, relating an excellent experience. I have been satisfied of her conversion several months. The death of my excellent wife affected her greatly and for good. She was baptized, and afterwards partook, with the other members, of the eucharist, a happy follower of her Lord. Our little church “Rehoboth” now numbers seven members, three others ready to join by letter, and several , 1 think, by baptism. New Testament baptism has never before been administered in this part of the nation. I took occasion to read and explain the account of our Saviour’s baptism, and then requested the people to compare that account with the ordinance as it was then about to be administered, and judge if they are not identical in all essential points. A profound impression was made upon the wit nesses. Many wept freely as 1 led the re joicing sister out of the water. Her husband is also ready, and will join at the next meet ing, I think. Brethren, you will not lose your interest in this mission ? The success and present prosperity of the Creek and Seminole Stations, is a sufficient reward for all you have done for them. God will bless this station likewise. The harvest is coming in. The mission needs a little more interest on your part —a continued fervency in prayer and a little larger portion of your means, (at least I do.) It also needs more devotion on my part, a deeper consecration, and this wild woodland will be changed into a field of God loving, Christ-serving and Gospel-obeying people. Our deacon’s wife said to me the other day, “ Brother Murrow, why may we not have & stated Wednesday afternoon prayer meeting, as the Creeks and Seminoles do, instead of occasional ones? I replied, “with all my heart;” and now we are to meet every Wednesday, for prayer and instruction. Some—said deacon, for instance—live five miles from the Station, yet they agree to come. My frail health forbids me to travel, camp out, etc., as I once did. Yet lam not idle. A smaller field shall be thoroughly cultivated. Will you try to build me a ifiore comfortable house than I now live in ? Please do so, for we —the loved one in heaven, the orphan babes here, and I—have suffered much for want of a comfortable house. Soon 1 will have been twelve years in this work, and have never had a home or house, except as I rented or built out of the small salary ($800) allowed me for current expenses. I have never received one dollar for building purposes. Yet it has been all right, for it has been God’s will. Yours in love, J. S. Murrow. Ah-to-ka P. 0.. C. N., Ark., June 9th, 1869. Things in Richmond. You have had full reports of the proceed ings of the late session of our General Asso ciation. It has been a long time since I at tended a meeting in which there was more and better spirit. The spacious audience room of the First Baptist church was usually filled, and occasionally crowded. The con tributions sent up by the churches were large; our State mission Board was freed from debt, and we were so much encouraged as to au thorize the appointment of thirty missiona ries in the State during the current year. The enthusiasm manifested in the Foreign Mission work at Macon was seen also in Richmond; and the Domestic Mission Board received the hearty sympathies of Virginia Baptists. We all regretted that Dr. Sum ner, who was in the city, was prevented, by sickness, from attending the meeting. He, had, however, an able representative in Dr. Curry. Our people are fully alive to the impor tance of the corning election —when it is to be decided whether the negro or the white man is to rule in our dear old Common wealth. We have frequent meetings on the square, in which the partizans of Wells and Walker ventilate eloquence. There was a very large conservative meeting Tuesday af ternoon : among the speakers was W. W. Walker, formerly a Methodist Protestant preacher. He has made quite a reputation as a political speaker- The crowd listened with great apparent satisfaction to his speech. Judging from the vehemence of his utter ance, and the freedom with which he uses hard, denunciatory language, 1 fear that he has fallen far from grace. Certainly he is very different from that Walker whom I heard years ago in Lynchburg, and who seemed a polished Christian gentleman, a de voted minister of Jesus. I wonder if he is conscious of any deterioration of character; and if he does not sometimes look back with tears to the height from which he has fallen ? By the way, “the common run” of our polit ical speakers seem to me to be very little qualified for the task they take upon them selves. They are great in abuse and denun ciation, but marvelouslly small in argument and good taste. In this canvass, the only thing necessary to arouse the people thor oughly is to make them see the true state of the case. What we need is an earnest, forci ble, clear, presentation of the questions in volved. If we could fully understand our danger, “each particular hair would part and stand on end.” But when little men, too in dolent, or too weak, to understand the tre- mendous importance of this election, amuse ; the mob with sarcasms about carpet-baggers and scalawags, they fail to convince the doubtiug or to arouse the indifferent. Last year, Col. Withers, then candidate for Gov ernor, gave us some model speeches. He convinced us that a politician, if he has not been long at the business, may talk sense, and also (let political speakers make a note of it) that the people can understand and ap preciate sound argument and dignified utter ance. Avery important change has recently been made in the organization of Richmond Col lege. Heretofore, its plan embraced parts ol two systems essentially incongruous. On the one hand, each professor was independent and solely responsible for the conduct of his school. On the other, the College had a President who was also responsible. The Board of Trustees have abolished the Presi dency, and thus made the organization homo geneous. In abolishing the Presidency, they were anxious to retain the services of Rev. Dr. Jones, as Professor of Moral and Intel lectual Philosophy; and offered him the most flattering inducements to remain ; but he has preferred to return to his old home in Norfolk. His resignation as Professor was offered and accepted at the annual meeting of the Board. Thus we will lose the presence among us of one of our foremost men. You have heard Dr. Jones preach, and know something of his lofty, thrilling eloquence. You have heard him talk, and know how he sparkles, flashes, glows, shines in cunversa tion. He revels in lofty thought, and in rich, rythmic sentences. He has won for himself an enviable reputation in the depart ment of philosophy. He is a loss to the chair which he vacates, but a gain to the pul pit which he goes ta fill. I have heard him several times attain to what 1 conceive to be the highest achievement of human effort. Suc cess to him in his new field, which is likewise his old field—the scene of his first labors in the ministry. The loss of Dr. Jones to the College will be seriously felt; but we confidently believe that it will go forward in its career of pros perity. We have a noble faculty. Dr. Curry devotes himself assiduously to his du ties, and succeeds admirably as a professor. His kindness and geniality, not less than his wide culture and unsurpassed eloquence win ail hearts. Prof. Puryear, who has for many years been Professor of Natural Sciences, grows in popularity. Added to a profound acquaintance with the subjects he teaches, is the happiest manner of imparting instruction. Those who witness his experiments and lis ten to his lectures, can scarcely convince themselves that they have not found “the royal road to knowledge.” As lam not writing a biographical dictionary, I will not mention the other professors by name. Two of them are my intimate persoual friends. If they live, they will make their mark. The other is a young man of learning, and has already, in various contributions to our Reviews, given proof of decided literary ability. If you did not have a University of your own, I would take this occasion to invite young men of Georgia to our College, and to this city of hills. But that would be to trespass on the domain of Dr. Tucker, whom Richmond Baptists will always remember and love. Anonymous Scribbler. Richmond, June 17, 1869. Matters in Missouri. How one is thrilled with mingled feelings of wonder and admiration, as he, for the first time, stands upon the Grand Prairie! How the soul swells with admiration arid love to the beneficent Creator, for the mag nificence spread out before the excited imag ination ! How little and insignificant does one appear, as he stands and stretches his eye, and lo6ks North, South, East and West, and wonders at the grandeur of the scene ! This is a delightful season in which to visit the prairie. All is verdant and beautiful; nature is arrayed in her most attractive garb. The flocks and herds, the large and small cat tle, rove at will upon the wide spreading ta ble, on part of which, not a soul is to be seen. Away from the water courses scarcely a tree or shrub obstructs the view : but near the water is the timber, presenting a beauti ful diversity of undulating woodland, and level table-land, cleared of all obstructions, reaching on to the Rocky Mountains. One is forcibly reminded of the Christian—he who is compared to “the tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season,” as he beholds the contrasUbe tween the timber and prairie. The tree lux uriates by the water courses, but in the plain it does not do so well : thought it does grow when planted, it is not thrifty as he “who is planted by the rivers of water.” We are ready to acknowledge that some Christians are fonder of the water, “much water,” than others. This was not always so. The early Christians all loved water —“much water,” and discommoded themselves in order to obey the command and enjoy the blessing flowing from obedience. John the Baptist and all his disciples, Jesus, by p-ecept and example, the Apostles, with their united voices, show their preference for much water ; yea, and the early Christians down, down down the ages, with a very few exceptions— Novatian in the third century being the first instance on record of clinic baptism—till the 15th century. In fact, so strong was the preference for “much water,” that four centu ries later, Edward VI, King of England, and Elizabeth, England’s greatest Queen, were buried in the liquid grave. Now, on the grand prairie, as in Palestine, there are many places where water is scarce, and in times of drought, people have to drive their stock a long distance from home; but there are also ‘LEnons” where there is “much water,” and as many as believe may go and be baptized, and, if they wish, “water their stock too ” —as some modern Theologians tell us, that was why John chose Enon as a place of baptism. Now, if the Christian luxuriates better in obeying the Master’s command, (and who can doubt this fact, that “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to harken, than the fat of rams?”) why not, then, simply go and do just the thing commanded, and thus enjoy the peace which every soul possesses, who repents, be lieves, and is baptized ? But to the prairie again : Blue grass grows spontaneously on it; the prairie grass will, in a few years, be superseded by the blue. The supply is next to inexhaustible. There are great facilities afforded to the herdsmen. He may, on a small capital, expended in small stock, with judicious management, and the blessing of God, in three years, make fifty to seventy per cent, on the amount invested. This State seems destined to be the great grain State of the West. Their crops are the largest ever planted and look encouraging. St. Louis is now competing with Chicago, as to which shall be the emporium for grain in America. If grain continues to be shipped to Europe, in bulk, from St. Louis, with bus one reshipinant, that at New Orleans, nothing can prevent St. Louis from drawing the vast production of the great West to her elevators. Emigrants seem to be apprized of the prospect before Missouri, if their presence be a good indication. It is a cause for devout thanksgiving, that the great Bap tist family, some of them at least, are aroused to the importance of the age and country upon which they have fallen. William Jew ell College is in a prosperous condition. Dr. Rambaut, the worthy President, is doing a glorious work for the Baptists of the State, yea, and the whole country too. He is pop ular ; crowds rush to hear him ; applications come to him from the other side of the “big waters and, travelling over much of the county , his influence is deeply felt* He has succeeded in rhising the endowment foe the Theological Department of William Jeweli. Eight devoted brethren have rushed to the rescue, each one contributing $5,000 ami thus the $40,000 is laid dowu at the foot of the Master to educate those whom lie calls to la bor in word and deed. And this done, brother R. is uow to complete the endow ment for the Literary Department, and strong hopes are entertained that ho will be able, ere long, to lay down this burden also, and announce to the lovers of Zion that their prayers are answered—William Jewell is permanently endowed. It will be a happy announcement for the Baptists of Missouri. May the good Lord, who controls the heart of his people, answer the pleadings of his ser vants, and vouchsafe this long wished for end. G. W. G. * Grand Prairie , Mo., June , 1869. Orphau Asylums—The Common School System, &c. Ac. Some ideas on these subjects have been floating in my mind for several years, begin ning w'ith the agitation of the subject of Asy lums for the Orphans of Confederate sol diers, in the Georgia Convention, in Atlanta, during the war. My views, offhand, were then and there given at the request of an es teemed brother, who had a report to prepare touching the subject. J have thought of the matter, frequently since, and feel disposed to think a little on paper. I think our efforts in behalf of the orphans of the country, so far as asylums are con cerned, should.be confined.mainly to the most needy girls. This will be as much as we can achieve. For boys, with rare exceptions, 1 think the old apprentice system far the best. Many admirable men used to be trained under this system. ' It developes self reliance. The young man thus brought up, reasons in this way : 1 have already, in my minority, paid my board and provided my clothing, given myself an elementary educa tion, and purchased an outfit; what can I not now do that I have reached man’s estate ? The habit of self-reliance is an invaluable ac quisition. The asylum system is not adapted to produce it—rather the contrary. Wheth er sons or daughters, I should prefer having my own children—certainly the former—in the hands of a good family. The aggrega lion of boys or girls, in large numbers, is al ways, in itself, attended with evil—evil coun terbalanced, to be sure, in many cases by ad vantages, but evil still. Happy those chil dren reared entirely amid the amenities and security of the family. It is the normal, God-ordained place for them. All systems of education which largely transfer parental re sponsibility upon other parties,are defective Even the church an i the Sunday school, must not become a substitute, but an auxiliary to parental training. These thoughts have been prompted by an interview with the Rev. J. Albert Hill, the efficient agent of the Lauderdale Springs Or phan Asylum, Miss. Conferences, of brother Hill, w'ith leading brethren in this State, in reference to transferring the assets, but of moderate value now, of the proposed Ala bama Asylum projected during the war, have led to a proposition to hold a meeting of the friends of the orphan at Marion on the 28th instant. I learn that it is most likely that Alabama brethren will prefer separate State action ; and if the enterprise in this State is resuscitated, as I trust it will he, I throw out these suggestions for the consideration of brethren meanwhile. Though not strictly germane to the subject,, allow me to add that 1 doubt the policy of the public school system as it obtains at the North, and is being inaugurated at the South. The public, probably, ought to provide for necessitous cases, but no farther. Let the people be relieved from taxes, and left free to help themselves in the matter of educating their children. Let light burthens inspire them with the spirit of taking care of their own. Public schools must either use the Bible as a text book, or they must not. If it be in troduced into those schools, the sects will squabble everywhere, first or last, as in New York. Or the State, as now in that case, will resort to appropriations to particular denom inations. Tne Catholic will demand the use of the Douay version,the Protestantof there ceived version, somebody else of the revised version, now being extensively circulated. Exclude the Bible, as in some of the North western States, and you make the schools in fidel. If public State education to any high grade become universal, or tven common,, much me#ns will be wasted on untoward pu pils needing quite another kind of training. Children ought to be educated with reference to the sphere they are destined to fill. Let no one attribute these views to a want of interest in the children of our noble dead, or in any other unfortunate ones. The ques tion is wholly about plans, and the philosophy of schools in general. Hoping these hints may provoke thought, and contribute to wise counsels, I am, fraternally, E. B. Teague. Commencement Week at Independence, Texas. On Sunday, June 6th, Rev. Wm. Howard, D. D., of Galveston, preached the Commence ment Sermon, Psalms cxix: 9. The sermon was a success. In matter, treatment of top ics, sound theology, perspicuous statement, cogent reasoning and earnest delivery, it de serves to rank with the best Commencement Sermons. It will be long remembered. On Friday, 4th, and Monday, 7th, the classes of the University were examined, and sustained themselves creditably and to general satisfac tion on the whole curriculum of study.. The Annual Commencement took place at 9 o’clock on Wednesday, June 9th. The ex ercises were opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Howard, and concluded with benediction by Rev. J. H. Stribling. Seven undergraduates delivered original orations, developing careful culture in the departments of elocution and rhetoric. Two young men graduated.— Charles Judson Crane , (second son of the President,) delivered an original oration on “Ambition,” and Valedictory to Students and Audience. Dansel Mclntyre , of Brenham, de livered an original oration on the “Influence of Oratory on the Destiny of Republics,” and Valedictory to Faculty and Trustees. Win. 11. Crank, Esq., of Houston, delivered the Annual Address before the Literary So cieties. His theme was the “ Social and Political Condition of our Country, and the Duty of the Hour.” It was a carefully pre pared production, abounding in rhetorical beauties, sound sentiments and eloquent ut terances. It fully met public expectations (and it did not exceed them.) After the deliv ery of this address, the President (Rev. W. C. Crane, D.D.,) delivered his Baccalaureate Address, and conferred the degree of A.B. on Daniel Mclntyre and Charles Judson Crane, and the honorary degree of D.D., on Rev. Wm. Howard, of Galveston, Rev. A. Paul Repiton, of N. C., and Rev. A. W. Chambl s.-', of Ky. The Annual Junior Exhibition occurred at night, and gave very great satisfaction. The examination and Commencement of the Fe male College took place Tuesday Bth and Ihursday 10th, and elicited great applause. Dr. Howard’s Sermon, Dr. Crane’s Bacca laureate, and Maj. Crank’s address, will ap pear in print. * * * Growth. —The Baptists in the Northern States increased in the half century previous to 1864 at a rate faster than the entire popu lation of the country, though the large immi gration contributed next to nothing to the Baptist strength.”
