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. 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
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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
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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
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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.”