Newspaper Page Text
110
ifitdcx and giptiist.
J. J. TOON, ... - Proprietor.
Riv. D. SHAVER, D.D., Editor.
THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1861).
Why Error Spreads and Christ iau Work
Languishes.
A speaker at the session of the American
Unitarian Association, for the present year,
claimed that the true constituency of that
body embraces, “at the very lowest count,
more than half the people of America.” His
view was —that this large proportion of our
population is hopelessly alienated from ortho
dox and evangelical Christianity, and only
awaits a knowledge of Unitarianism to accept
it. Another speaker, while agreeing with the
estimate as to the numbers who “ have had
the old faith ground out of them,” draws a
less cheering picture of their doctrinal ten
dencies. “ Millions,” he says, “ aye, millions
of people in this country are fast getting into
the condition of having no religion, no public
worship, no faith beyond that which they see,
no immortality beyond the duration of the
race to which they belong, and no God ex
cept one who dwells in their own hearts, and
is a mere shadow of their owu little souls.”
These conjectures for, they rest on no
foundation of statistics, —are, doubtless, col
ored too highly by the antipathy of the
speakers to a religious system purer and
more spiritual than their own. But, even if
we grant their approximate correctness, they
admit of easy explanation. The fallen na
ture of man hates that truth of God which
renders its iniquity hateful even to itself. To
preserve a false peace, it must ignore, per
vert or reject that truth. Hence, in every
age, the great bulk of those to whom revela
tion has been vouchsafed, have withstood it —
have made it rather a sound in the ears than
a power in the heart —have contrived, so far
as they might, that it should not be even a
sound in the ears. The shape which this
withstanding has taken, has been determined
largely by the facts of current history and
the general spirit of the times. The slum
bering intellect of one epoch has not aroused
itself to enquiry in the theological sphere,—
truth has been escaped by being forgotten ;
the restless, inquisitive temper of another has
pushed enquiry to the extreme of scepticism,
—men have denied the truth (which they
could not forget) in order to escape it. When
the speakers to whom we have referred,
therefore, trace the dissatisfaction with ortho
dox and evangelical Christianity to the “ sci
entific, political, social and moral experience ”
of our people, they only furnish an instance
of the operation of this principle—an in
stance, namely, in which our natural aversion
to the truth, lays hold of the peculiarities of
the age, to wall itself out from what it hates,
with the materials they supply.
This explanation, however, does not cover
the whole ground. The carnal enmity of
those who withstand the truth, has a most
efficient helper in its evil work. There are
-faults in those who embrace the truth, which
conduce to its rejection. They do not suffi
ciently walk in its light, through patient,
prayerful study of the record God has given
of it. They do not show fortlv its power
sufficiently, by a heart instinct with the im
pulses it communicates and a life moulded
after the requirements it imposes. They lack
an adequate spirit of zeal for its diffusion
among men, and an adequate spirit of labor
and sacrifice to that great end. This low
standard of experimental and practical piety,
among the adherents of orthodox, evangelical
Christianity, operates to clog the wheels of
its progress. And who shall say in how
large a measure it may not be on account of
their deficiencies that so alarming a propor
tion of our people are enemies, or at least
strangers, to “ the old faith ” —the faith as
old as the Scriptures, as true and as imper
ishable? Take two results which flow from
this untoward influence, and hinder the effi
ciency of truly godly men in their warfare
against error and sin.
1. There is a want of proper denomina
tional organization for Christian work. Those
who call themselves one people fail to com
bine their energies upon the prosecution of a
single plan, sufficiently comprehensive in its
aims to embrace every enterprise entitled to
support, and sufficiently comprehensive in its
methods to enlist the activities of all whose
pledges or professions bind them to that sup
port. Hence they fail to develop their full
power for good—to make it properly felt by
others—or evea to discover, themselves, what
it is and what it might be. For, every en
terprise finds (more or less extensive) quar
ters from which it derives no help; and in
every quarter there are (a larger or smaller
number of) those who should be workers
who do nothing for any enterprise. Would
it not be a miracle, then, if the action of the
denomination were not crippled and its effi
ciency weakened, by this want of harmonious
concert among laborers and of general coop
eration in labor ?
To bring this subject home to ourselves,
view it in connection with the work of South
ern Baptists for Foreign and Domestic Mis
sions, Sunday Schools, etc. Does not the
true conception of denominational organiza
tion for these purposes, involve the idea that
churches shall work through or with the dis
trict Associations, while these work through
or with the State Conventions, and these, in
turn, work through or with the Southern
Baptist Convention? Would not this plan
unite the counsels, concentrate the efforts and
develop the resources of our people for the
ends specified? But, alas, there are those
by whom it is, iu part, assailed ; others, by
whom it is, in part, not recognized ; others
still, by whom it is, in part, not acted on.
The first class is composed of such as are
hostile to the general Convention and its
Boards; the second (and much larger,) of
such as admit no specific methods of cooper
ation between that Convention and the State
Conventions; the third (and largest,) of such
as do nothing as members of churches in
concert with the Associations, or as members
of the Associations in concert with the State
Conventions —and many of them, nothing at
all. Hence, our counsels are divided—our
efforts, not a little dissipated—our resources
undeveloped to an extent which must surprise
- r~ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■■ ■■ ■ ■
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA., TH URSDAY, JULY 22, 1869
those who have not examined the question.
Is not this, in great degtee, the reason why
the Southern Baptist Convention reported, at
its receut session, ouly $40,789 07, a3 con
tributed by a constituency numbering, (ac
cording to the incomplete statistics of the
“Year-Book” for 1869,) 666,845 —an aver
age of a little over six cents for each individ
ual. What a spectacle of unused capabilities
—of power running idly to waste —for want
of denominational organization !
2. But this evil has another and even more
serious form—out of which that just passed
under review largely flows. A year or two
since, Rev. J. B. Clark, D.D., of the United
Presbyterian church, expressed the opinion,
that the greatest want, in a'l divisions of the
religious woild, is “ the want of proper con
gregational organization for Christian work.”
The truth and the pregnant import of this
remark struck us with such force, as to fasten
it in our memory, (with the name of the
author, of whom we had never before heard.)
It is the Philosophy of “ Evangelical ”
Inefficiency, in a single sentence. If the
churches were once organized for work in
ternal to their own membership and work
within their own local spheres, we would not
need to wait long to see the denomination or
ganized for the diffusion of the truth and the
conquest of error throughout the country and
the world. Here, then, the causes which
hinder the power and progress of vital reli
gion root themselves. It is not understood
and enforced as it should be, that every indi
vidual Christian enters the church to be a
worker ; and that the church becomes the
home of a number of Christians because they
are, by Divine ordination, co-workers. Gifts
are not sought out; talents are not put to
use ; opportunities are not improved ; doors
for the entrance of the gospel into hearts and
households stand open in vain ; the ignorance
that might be taught, the unconcern that
might be awakened to godly interest, the
wandering that might be reclaimed, the im
penitence that might be won to faith, invite
labor without effect. Beyond a customary
(and often partial) attendance on the public
means of grace, inactivity becomes the rule
and activity the exception; what the church
does is done by a few, and often done even
by these through a sort of spasmodic effort,
and in response to appeals from abroad in
behalf of the general Societies. No wonder
that Zion languishes—that the work of the
Lord stands still in the community —and that
no practical interest is felt in the evangeliza
tion of the world. Oh, when shall this guilty
neglect cease, and our Lord no longer have
occasion to ask, upbraidingly, “ Why stand
ye here, all the day, idle?”
Asa more persuasive plea for congrega
tional organization than any words of ours,
we have placed, on the first page, an account
of perhaps the most remarkable instance of
such organization among English-speaking
Christians. We refer to the article, —■“ Spur
geon’s Beehive,” and urge the reader to
make a study of it. Will church members
seriously enquire, whether none of the fifteen
or twenty forms of active usefulness brought
into full play in “the Tabernacle,” admit of
transplanting into their own communion and
community? Will pastors ask themselves,
whether, ‘in addition to their principal work
as ministers of the Word of God,’ they can
not, in their measure, rival Spurgeon as the
moving springs and superintendents of Chris
tian activities among the flocks committed to
their charge ? A proper answer to these
questions—an answer in the life —would re
new the face of society in our country and
hasten the era of Earth’s universal righteous
ness. The Lord help us to render that an
swer !
A Silly Slander Stirring' Again.
A short time before the war, there appeared
in the Herald of the Future Age, New York,
a statement that the present editor of this
paper had said, ‘if Paul were to come into his
office, and tdhch that man sleeps in the inter
val between death and resurrection, he would
kick him out.’ This statement was furnished
that periodical, by an individual with whom
we had never exchanged a word. The gen
tleman who heard the conversation, in which
such language was said to have been em
ployed, concurred with us in pronouncing the
statement untrue ; and the person with
whom the conversation was held, promised
to have due correction made through the col
umns of the Herald aforesaid. Whether
this promise was ever redeemed, we do not
know.
The statement has been revived recently,
by some periodical of the sect within which
it originated; and the Memphis Baptist not
only copies it, but at least seems to take for
granted that it is true. We thought our con
temporary kuew us better. We were never
capable of speaking in that style—even of
the editor of the Herald of the Future Age,
(who stands, we suppose, at about the far
thest possible remove from the inspiratiou o<
Paul.)
We hope the Baptist will permit its read
ers to see this denial of the charge against, us
—this assurance of our ability, if need
were, to prove it simply and wholly false.
We shall hardly trouble it in future, for the
correction of merely personal imputations
upon us. Our rule in such cases is, to let
these things take care of themselves—and it
is with very great hesitation and reluctance
that we depart from the rule in the present
instance. Silence, therefore, must not be con
strued, either as a confession that accusations
are true, or as a token of indifference toward
the wrong they do us. It is simply an ad
herence to the line of action, which is
necessary to preserve our denominational
organs from becoming largely mere vehicles
of strife between men and about men.
“The Reason Why.”
“How happens it that, so generally, those
who agree together in respect to the mode
agree also in respect to the subjects of bap
tism ? What necessary or natural connection
is there between the two subjects ?”
This enquiry is raised by a writer in the
Church Union. The answer is not far to seek.
When baptismal questions are brought to the
bar of Scripture, and determined on the sin
gle ground of its plain teachings, the practice
of immersion only and the rejection of in
fants from the rite ‘naturally’ go together, be
cause the authority accepted in the case—the
exclusive source of evidence —points, undeni
ably, to these two things. But when the
standards” ot modern churches are admitted
as sources of evidence, and (the less ancient)
“tradition” becomes an authority, it is just as
natural that infants should be welcomed to
the rite and that the rite itself should be cor
.rupted into sprinkling—for these two things
accord with the recognized (though unwar
rantable) grounds of proof in the premises.
Usages sort with their kin—the scriptural
w'ith the scriptural—the unscriptural with the
unscriptural.
Our Zion—in Our Exchanges, etc.
Georgia.
Anew church, of 70 members, Rev. J. M.
Stillwell pastor, has been constituted a High
Shoals; and a neat and spacious house of worship
is in course of erection.—A Presbytery consist
ing of Rev. W. T. Brantly, D. D., Rev. J. F.
Hooten and the editor of this paper, with dele
gates from the First and Second Baptist churches,
Atlanta, on Sabbath afternoon, “ recognized ” the
church at North End Mission Chapel. Sermon
by the Editor. We are hopeful of the success of
the enterprise.—The First Baptist church, At
lanta, will occupy the basement of its new house
of worship, Lord’s day, August 2nd.—Rev. R.
W. Fuller, of the First church, Atlanta, preached
in the pulpit of the Second church, on Sunday
night, a sermon of great ability and eloquence.—
Rev. C. C. Willis writes to us, of Bethel church,
Muscogee county: “ I baptized five more colored
persons into the membership of this church on
Sabbath, July Bth, and then preached to a very
large congregation of attentive hearers. I inten
ded to say, in my former communication, that but
few of the blacks attended our meetings for the
whites, but assembled in large numbers on their
day.”
Alabama.
Our Female College in Tuscaloosa occupies the
former capitol of the State, under a lease of nine
ty-nine years: it is probably the most magnificent
house for its present use in the South. The
Presidency of the College is now vacant. —Rev.
J. M. Weaver writes from Stevenson: “There is
a little Baptist church of about 20 members.
There is some life in the church. A young brother
Roache is the pastor. There are about fifteen
hundred Baptists in this county. There is not a
comfortable house of worship in the county.
Before the war there were several, but all were
destroyed, and since then the people have been
too poor to build again. There is talk of erect
ing one in this place by the Baptists.”—Smith
Sheldon, Esq., of New York, exclosing a check
for SIOO for our Domestic Mission Board, Marion,
wrote: “ I have noticed with much interest, from
time to time, the noble efforts of Dr. Sumner to
get the Board out of debt and in a position to
render more substantial aid to the feeble churches
all over the South, seemingly now struggling
harder than ever to get into self-supporting posi
tions. It seems to me aid is worth more to them
now than it can or will be A few years
of prosperity will place them well upon their feet.
Dr. Sumner is battling manfully for the good
cause he has so much at heart. I only wish I
could double the amount herewith enclosed”
Arkansas.
The Second church, Helena, (colored,) has bap
tized 48 within a few weeks. —Rev. B. F. Reese
is laboring as missionary, by appointment of
Dardanelle Association, in the southern and west
ern portion of Scott county.
Kentucky.
The 44 Associations in Kentucky include 901
churches with 82,761 members, who contributed
for State Missions the past yeas $14,008 52, an
average for each church of sls 54, and for each
member of 17 cents. Os the churches 377 were
contributing and 524 non-contributing: of the
members 39,050 belonged to the former class,
43,711 to the latter.—Rev. R. L. Thurman, agent
for the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board,
is recovering from a “severe spell of fever.”
Maryland.
The ten Baptist Sunday schools of Baltimore
report, for the past year, an average attendance of
251 Teachers and 1,511 scholars. —The old First
church, Baltimore, will not remove, but will re
pair, arrange the pulpit and baptistery after the
modern style, etc.
Mississippi.
The North Mississippi Baptist , published at
Tupelo, has been discontinued, and its list trans
ferred to the Tuscumbia Herald, which will fill
up the unexpired term of subscribers who have
paid, and has added to its editorial corps, the
editors of the Baptist, A. L. Stovall and T. P.
Montgomery, to control a Mississippi department
in its columns.—There is a prospect of reviving
our “Mississippi College” at Clinton, which,
under brother Walter Hillman, had 40 students
the recent session. E. C. Eager has again become
agent for it, and calls for $1 from each Baptist in
the State.—A mother and her children in this
State recently contributed S4O to our Domestic
Mission Board. They are not wealthy.
Missouri.
William Jewell College, Liberty, had about 80
scholars the past year, its first year after long
suspension; and its finances are in a promising
condition. The St. Louis Baptist says of the
address before the Literary Societies at the recent
Commencement, by Rev. Lansing Burrows of
Lexington : “ Seldom have we listened to an abler
or more fitting address on such an occasion.
Many of the passages showed a descriptive power
like that of Victor Hugo, and the fixed attention
of the audience throughout the whole delivery
showed how thoroughly it was appreciated.”—
James D. Biggs was ordained to the ministry at
Salem church, Ralls county, June 20th. —The
church at Alexandria, Clark county, extinct for
some seven years, has been revived, and Rev. T.
G. Musgrove called as pastor.—Eleven have been
baptized at Yellow Creek church, Linn county,
where there had not been, before the meeting in
which they were converted, a Baptist discourse
for a year past. —A church has been constituted
at Forbes’school house, Bates county; and an
other at the school house near Robert Ellis’, Ver
non county.—Pardee College, at Louisiana, has
been purchased by several liberal-minded breth
ren, for the opening of a Baptist (Female) College,
in September.
North Carolina.
The Baptists of Chatham- county are doing a
good work, building two new houses of worship,
and opening Sunday schools in well-nigh every
church and school-house where it would be advi
sable to have one.—Rev. J. H. Phillips removes
from the State, to teach and preach in Baltimore.
—The editor of the Raleigh Recorder has for
warded $36 50 to our Foreign Mission Board, the
proceeds of sale of photographs of Rev. Dr. Yates.
—“ W. H. J.,” of this State, promises us a series
of articles on “Worldly Conformity.” The sub
ject claims a serious consideration ; and we doubt
not that our correspondent will discuss it ably.
South Carolina.
Rev. W. H. Williams, at present pastor of the
First Baptist church, Charleston, was married
June 22nd to Mrs. M. M. Gailjard of that city.—
Rev. R. Furman, D.D., of Newberry, has been
compelled to relinquish the position of Associate
Editor on the staff of the Richmond Herald , on
account of feeble health. We grieve to hear it.
No nobler heart or abler pen contribtes to our
Southern denominational organs.
Texas.
The Baptist General Association meets at Ty
ler, Smith county, July 23rd.—A church has been
constituted and a pastor is wanted at Evergreen.
Virginia.
Our church at Staunton has secured, as pastor,
Rev. W. H. Williams, now of the First church,
Charleston, S. C.—An eligible lot has been pur
chased in Winchester, near the centre of the town,
and it is hoped that a house of worship will he
completed early in October. The enterprise of
establishing a Baptist church there has been un
dertaken by J. Willis.—Prof. H. H. Har
ris, of Richmond College, was ordained to the
ministry, July- 4th, at New Bridge church, of
which he assumes the pastoral care.—A church
of 14 colored members has been constituted by
Rev. J. T. McLaughlin, Halifax county, in Berry
Hill chapel, which was built, fifteen years ago,
by Mr. James C. Bruce fer his servants, and which
he freely allows them to use.—Rev. R. H. Stone,
our missionary Africa, a native of Culpeper
county, has arrived in New York, on his return
home.
China.
Rev. Dr. Yates, Shanghai, writes, May 9th:
“To-day I have been permitted to baptize two
hopeful converts, one of them seventy-nine years
of age, the motheT of two of my church mem
bers. She had been a paralytic for many years,
unable to walk. Her daughter had told her about
Jesus, how he had healed the sick, restored sight
to the blind, strength to the paralytic.
And strange to relate, from the time she put her
trust in Christ sh» began to acquire strength;
and in a short time she was able to walk and
praise God.” May 17th, he writes: “Yesterday
it was my privilege to baptize two other hopeful
converts. One of them was the grand-daughter
of the aged sister who was baptized on the pre
vious Sabbath. At the morning service another
sister was received as a candidate for baptism
next Sabbath. Others are hesitating, waiting for
courage to overcome the opposition of friends,
while others are knocking at the door of mercy.”
—Rev. R. H. Graves, Canton, referring to a na
tive Christian says: “On the Sunday of his bap
tism, he subscribed $5, as a thank-offering to God
for His grace in changing his heart.”
Reviews and Notices.
Prerequisites to Communion. The Scriptural Terms
of Admission to the Lord’s Supper. By Albert N.
Arnold, D. D., Pa»tessor in Madison University,
Hamilton, N. Y. Boston : Gould & Lincoln. Pp.
121.
This treatise, or tract, was first issued in 1860,
and we are glad to see that it is still able to main
tain its footing. None of the subsequent publi
cations on the question of communion have su
perceded it. It is a succinct, lucid and conclusive
argument for the requirement of (1) an avowal of
discipleship, (2) baptism, (3) church membership,
and (4) an orderly walk, as terms of admission to
the Lord’s supper; with forcible and satisfactory
answers to the usual objections against the prac
tice of our churches.
The Baptist Quarterly. Philadelphia: American
Baptist Publication Society. Terms, $3 a year.
Contents for July. —l. Ebrard’s View of Bap
tism, by Prof. G. I. Bliss, D. D. 2. Goethe’s
Faust, by Prof. J. L. Lincoln. 3. Protestantism
as a Fact and a Force, by J. A. Smith, D. D.
4. Cramp’s History, by Prof. Howard Osgood,
D.D. 5. Royal and Revolutionary Spain, by
Lucius E. Smith, D. D. 6. Ancient Baptisteries,
by Robert G. Hatfield. 7. Exegetical Studies.
8. Notices of Books. 9. Intelligence.
This is a valuable number of the Quarterly.
We hail, with pleasure, the more marked denom
inationalism of that periodical.
Discussion on the Revision of the English Scrip
tures, and on the Character and Work of the
American Bible Union, between Rev. C. A. Buck
bie and Rev. FredSfick Buel, held in the Calvary
Presbyterian chuincn, San Francisco, Cal. Pp. 68.
Also : Revision of tne English Scriptures, by W.
H. Wyckoff, LL. D, Cor. Sec. of the American Bi.
ble Union. Pp. 30.
The first portion of this pamphlet presents a
tolerably full exhibition of the arguments, pro
and con, on the vexed question of revision. Per
sons anxious to see what can be said for and
against the Bible Union, ought to send for it.
The second portion contains the substance of the
articles by Sec. Wyckoff, which appeared recently
in our columns.
Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine. New York:
Leonard Scott Publishing Company. Terms, $4 a
year ; with any one of the Reviews, $7 ; with the
four Reviews, (London, Edinburgh, Westminster
and North British,) sls,
Contents for June. 1. Late for the Train. 2.
Historical Sketches of the Reign of George II:
No. Xl—The Sceptic (David Hume.) 3. A Year
and a Day,—Part 11. 4. Sir John Lwarence,—
Part 111. 5. American Reasons for Peace. 6.
Cornelius O’Dowd, (The Tempter—Selling a
Horse—lreland, in Terrorem.)
An Essay on Happiness, in which the Joys of Futu
rity are especially considered. By Elder T. E.
Richey, Hartford, Ky. Pp. 52. For sale by the
author: price 10 cents —in packages 35 per cent
cheaper.
This tract sets forth the insufficiency of all
happiness, apart from the favor of God here and
the joy of His presence forever—which, through
the righteousness of Christ, is secured by repent
ance and faith.
Mercer University Commencement.
Anybody who goes to a College Com
mencement, and stays through it, and gets all
the good of it, in the middle of July—espe
cially this July—is a friend of the human
kind, and a wiser man than he was before he
went. I claim the distinction. Through
heat, and dust, and crowd, I attended all the
exercises of the late anniversary at Mercer
University, and l feel better and broader for
it. Had 1 heard nothing more than the Bac
calaureate Sermon of Dr. Tucker on Sunday,
1 would be repaid. You may imagine how
he “magnified his office,” from the text:
“ teachers, after that, miracles but I doubt
whether you can form an exact idea of the
beauty and power with which he elaborated
and enforced the subject. A man who can
preach as he did, has no call to present a
manuscript discourse to an audience. At
night, Dr. S. Landrum gave us an excellent
gospel sermon : and all day, that day and
night, the congregations were delighted with
the music of what I think a model choir.
The young men of the Sophomore class
acquitted themselves with credit. It seems
almost a pity, when all do so well, to sepa
rate two from the rest, by special honors.
The prizes were taken by Ker B. Tapper, of
Washington, Ga., and J. J. Brantly, Jr., of
Penfield; and were delivered by Dr. W. T.
Brantly, in his own inimitable style. He
managed to make the whole class feel com
fortable, which is the highest success of the
delicate position he occupied. Among the
Juniors and Seniors, there were some capital
speeches. I would like to name them, but
that would be a shame, as the performances,
generally, were so commendable. Mercer
may be proud of the youth she is drilling,
and sending out to the battle of life. In the
afternoon the atidiehee was treated with a de
lightful poem, by Mr. R. J. Larcombe, of
Savannah, before the Literary Societies. And
at night, the festivity was spiced by an exhi
bition of the Ugly Club ; for which the Fac
ulty were careful to inform the people that
they were not responsible, and of which they
advertised in advance, that they were not
members! The thing was very innocent and
very funny : and about the funniest of the
whole, was the concluding speech of a dis
tinguished gentleman of Morgan county,
called out from the audience, who might, or
might not, thank me, were his name pub
lished, as the only honorary member of this
illustrious fraternity.
But the thing which impressed me most of
all I saw and heard—outside of the family cir
cle, where 1 made my pleasant home—was
the strange power which the President ex
erted over that vast assembly, packed, on
Commencement day, to almost suffocation, in
an atmosphere heated up to 90° of Fahren
heit. I have never seen such a crowd, under
similar circumstances, behave so well. Nor
were they better than other sons and daugh
ters of men. It was due to the eye and
tongue of the gifted man who presides over
the University. He is called eloquent, hut
his strength is executive. 1 learn that he is
greatly popular with the students, who think
he has the heart of a woman, and the head
of a sage, and the strategy of a general.
On Wednesday afternoon, A. D. Freeman,
Esq., of Newnan, made, before the Phi Delta
and Ciceronian Societies, the annual Oration,
which was originally conceived, strongly ex
pressed, and happily delivered. Such an
Alumnus does honor to his Alma Mater.
Nothing remained to conclude the celebra
tion, but a delightful “sociable” at one of the
professors. To the President’s levee, the
before, all night flocked and enjoyed them
selves in the flow of soul and of Adam’s ale.
And what shall 1 say of the hospitality of
Penfield ? I was never treated more hand
somely in my life. And I learn that, at some
houses there were no less than from eighty
to one hundred guests.
“Commencement” was over ; but the heat
and dust continued. By carriage and car I
reached home, happy to escape from the din
and dust and poisoned air of railroad travel.
Yet I look back on this season at our beloved
University, and feel that it should be marked
in memory by a white stone.
Nemo.
Alabama Matters.
Like most of your readers, I look forward
with pleasure to the mail which brings the
Index and Baptist. But my heart is often
made sad by reading the paper through and
finding no report of revivals nor additions to
our churches. I think I can appreciate, to
some extent at least, the feelings of Nehemi
ah, who went into the presence of Artaxerxes
with a sad countenance and sorrowful heart
because of the deplorable condition of Jeru
salem. Would that we could be inspired
with his spirit and determination, and say
with our lips and believe with our hearts,
“The God of heaven, He will prosper us;
therefore we His servants will arise and
build.” It would afford me unspeakable
pleasure if I could send you good tidings
from this part of the Lord’s vineyard. We
have, so far, had no very special indications
of the Divine Spirit. We are, however,
looking forward hopefully, and with some
faith, I trust, to a time not far distant, when
the presence of our Master shall be abundantly
manifested in our midst. 1 feel somewhat en
couraged by the fact that we recently re
ceived, by baptism, a valuable member to
our church at Montevallo. In addition to
this, all the brethren and sisters, at our com
munion last Sabbath, entered into a covenant
to pray for a revival of religion. May the
Lord hear and answer our prayers.
I find that the churches in the country are
more or less disorganized ; and some, pastor
less. But lam glad to say that wherever I
have preached, the people seem to hear the
word gladly. Brother Tichenor preaches
somewhere almost every Sunday, tho’ he has
the pastoral care of only one church. His
congregations, everywhere, are always highly
pleased. 1 heard a gentleman say, the other
day, “that he at first thought that brother
Tichenor’s coming here was a great mistake,
on his part; but he is now inclined to be
lieve, that he probably followed the leadings
of Providence.”
I find, up here, a large field for Sunday
school operations. I have frequent calls to
assist in the organization of Sunday schools.
I will help organize one the fourth Sunday in
this month, at Canaan church, twelve or
fifteen miles above here. All the churches
seem anxious to have them, but complain of
their inability to carry them on successfully.
Brother Tichenor and the writer are invited
by brother Henderson to be present at a
Sunday school Mass meeting, at Fayetteville,
the fifth Sunday in August.
We had a visit, not long since, from
brother Hill, the agent for the “Orphans’
Home” in Mississippi. We enjoyed his visit,
but were made a little jealous, by his efforts
to divert the funds of the Alabama “Orphans’
Home,” to the Institution which he repre
sents. This effort, on his part, has led some
of our brethren to agitate the subject of re
viving our own “Orphan’s Home.” It is
hoped that the brethren most interested will
take the matter into serious consideration,
and be fully satisfied that it is inexpedient,
before they allow the funds to go into other
hands. I read brother Teague’s article in the
last Index with much interest, and while I
am not prepared to coincide with him fully,
I think his suggestions worthy of careful at
tention. There is much force and truth in
what he says. I think difficulties attend ei
ther plan. There is no doubt that the ap
prentice system is much better than an im
properly conducted “Orphans’ home.” There
are few men, whose opinions I respect more
than brother Teague’s; but would suggest
that an “Orphans’ Home,” which excludes
boys, would not probably be self-sustaining
—which it ought to be at this juncture. It
is hoped that our Baptist brethren in Ala
bama will give expression to their opinions
through the columns of the Index and Bap
tist. T. C. Boykin.
Montevallo, July Bth, 1869.
North-Western Georgia.
Bro. Index: You have been visiting me
with your excellent paper, for nearly a year ;
and for four years prior to the war, while l
was acting as Lecturer for the Revision As
sociation, I read the Index with much inter
est, for it was then a good paper. But 1 think
the Index since the war, is as far ahead of the
Index before the war, as Atlanta since the
war, is ahead of Atlanta before it. Dr. Sha
ver wields a powerful pen, which is becoming
a power in the land. He is an author ex
celled by few, if any, in perspicuity of thought
and excellency in composition. I have learned
to love this distinguished Editor, not from
any personal acquaintance with him, but for
the sake of his writings. [Types never blush :
if they did, how many kind things would
have to be suppressed, because they are un
deserved things?] I Kuan, if I live to meet
the Coosa Associat’on, in October next, to
lay the claims of the Index before this body,
and also before my churches, Lafayette, Ring
gold, Trion Factory, and Chickamauga.
The Trion Factory church was organized
the 26th of June past, by the writer and
brethren Young and Allen, with 50 members,
in the large and spacious building erected en
tirely at the expense of the proprietors or
the Factory, Messrs. Marsh and Allgood.
Trion Factory has been vastly enlarged since
the war, and is doing a tremendous business.
They are running about 12,000 spindles and
ninety-six looms, etc. This is an institution
in itself whose benefits are felt far and near,
and has built around it a thriving incorpora
ted village, and promises to be an important
field of labor.
I am almost worn out with excessive labor,
having, through the Lord, added a member
ship of near three hundred to my churches
during the past two years, two-thirds of whom
I have baptized. Such a thing as a Baptist
preacher I seldom ever meet in my circuit,
i reckon I am on a circuit, for an old Meth
odist sister said to me, some time back:
“Brother Russell, do you think you will be
put on this circuit next year? Now, if you
are, you must be certain to come to see me.”
There are several ohurches north of me
destitute of pastors, and, as it seems cannot
obtain any. And they are as destitute of
liberality as they are of preachers. The
spirit of ministerial support is at a very low
ebb in this part of North Georgia. They
think if they can take lime to go to hear a man,
he can take time to preach to them. I know
of one country church consisting ot 78 mem
bers, who dissolved because they could not
get a preacher to preach to them for twenty
five dollars a year. The churches that l serve
are about the only ones that are doing much
in the way of ministerial support. 1 wish
the Cor. Sec. of the Domestic Mission Board
would visit our churches and stir them up to
general benevolence, ere they lapse into the
worst of anti-missionism.
W. T. Russell.
Lafayette, Ga., July 6th, 1869.
Our Foreign Missions.
1 am happy to say that our latest advices
from Chiua are full of interest. Brother
Graves reports two baptisms in Canton, and
brother Yates four in Shanghai. They are
greatly encouraged in view of the increased
interest manifested by the churches in their
great work. Will not the brethren of Geor
gia and Alabama combine, and send forward
their contributions, enabling us to enlarge
our force at all our stations in China? The
demand in that field is loud and urgent. One
of our brethren writes:
“ You will be gratified to learn that we are
having something more like a revival of re
ligion here than I have ever experienced in
China before. For several months our con
gregations have been improving, and the in
terest of the hearers better. The feeling in
the congregation seeming to justify, or rather
to render it necessaiy, we have converted our
evening worship into a more extended ser
vice, and have had our room quite full almost
every night for more than a month. Inqui
rers have increased in numbers, and their
anxiety has increased in intensity. Several
have given evidence of conversion, and eight
have been baptized into our church. Some
of these have been inquirers a long time;
some of them are from a distance, whence
they came specially to get religious instruc
tion—women walking the greater part of 200
li with their little feet, in order to be where
they might hear the truth more perfectly than
a recent convert could explain it to them.
These women drank in the truth with all
conceivable eagerness, and three of them,
with the husband of one, hate been baptized.
We trust there will be others to follow soon.”
On behalf of the Board.
Jas. B. Taylor, Cor. Sec.
Richmond, Va., July 8, 1868.
Our Indian Missions.
Bear Brother Muse : lain happy to inform
you that the “box of merchandise sent to us
by the ladies of Cuthbert ’ reached us on the
sth of the present month. For a while we
feared it was lost. Two days after it arrived,
we had to resort to it, to make out the grave
clothes of our dear little daughter, Georgia.
It seems as if it had been delayed for the oc
casion. Georgia was six years and eight
months old. For many weeks she was con
fined, and suffered more than can be told.
She never expressed much desire to get well,
and when she was asked if she wanted to get
well, she answered “I don’t know that
the Lord wants me to get well.” She would
often talk, in her child-like language, of
death and of heaven, and said many things
dear, at least to the memory of her affection
ate parents. Still, we think that we can say
in all sincerity, “The Lord gave and the
Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name
of the Lord.”
We would make known, in the best way
we can, our sincere thanks and gratitude to
all and each of the kind sisters and friends,
for the valuable donation of “merchandise.”
The names of the donors were on many of
the articles, which made them still more in
teresting. We will further say that all was
in good keeping, save a slight damage caused
by the breaking of two cordial bottles. Di
rectly I must start to a two day’s meeting
17 miles away. I hope it may please the
Lord to bless our meeting and to convert
many sinners through His word and spirit.
Write to us as often as convenient. Hoping
this may find you well, and in the enjoyment
of the love of the Saviour, I remain your
brother and fellow-laborer in the Master’s
vineyard, R. J. Hogue.
Armstrong Academy, Choctaw Nation, June 12, ’69.
Visitations of Mercy.
The Baptist church at this place has en
joyed a gracious revival, which began on the
3rd of July, and reached to the eleventh
of the month. The meeting was character
ized by deep, serious, and solemn feelings,
and great interest was manifested from the
first to the last. It was a time of peculiar
anxiety, hope and rejoicings. The word was
preached with “the demonstration and power
of the Holy Ghost,” by Rev. J. W. Il utch
ir.s, pastor, and Rev. W. J. Wooten. Many
sinners were convicted of sin ; many con
verted from the error of their ways, while
seventeen happy, and, as we trust, redeemed
souls, were added to the church, and were,
on last Sabbath, in the Hightower river, by
Rev. J. W. Hutchins, baptized into Jesus
Christ.
Many of the citizens said, “I never saw such
a meetingothers said, “I have been here
thirty years, and I never saw such a meeting
here before.” N< t only were sinners awaken
ed, mourners converted, but the dear chil
dren of God were refreshed and strengthened,
because they had “waited upon the Lord .”
Reverential awe seemed to have rested upon
all the congregation, which, though usually
very large, be it said to their honor, a more
attentive and well behaved congregation was
never known to the writer.
The closing scene was peculiarly impres
sive. When, after the eleven o’clock sermon
it was announced, the series of meetings was
closing, an expression of regret seemed to
overshadow the large congregation. Old
saints, middle aged, and young Christians
met their pastor on the floor, where they had
so often knelt in prayer, and extended the
parting hand, amidst tears. “Brother, pray
for me, and for my children,” was the request
of many parents. One Present.
Auraria , Lumpkin co., Ga., July 14 tn, 1869.
Dn.ps before a Shower.
The religious condition of our church might
be worse than it is, and it might be better.
During several weeks we have had what
some would call “a revival state” among us,
though we had no “protracted meeting.”
From time to time many came forward as
seekers of salvation. They were not told
that the “altar” was the place, the only place,
where they were likely to “get religion,” but
they were told that if they felt that to come
among Christians, as subjects of prayer, was
a privilege, their coming would be joyfully
hailed as a sign that they were operated on
by the Holy Spirit. This is substantially
what they were told.
One young man, formerly a leader in fash
ionable amusements and genteel dissipation,
came to the pastor one Sabbath morning, to
express at once his faith in Jesus and his de
sire to join thearmy of the Lord. He was told
that the church wanted none but workers in
it; that if he had “a mind to work,” we
should be happy to receive him, and n..t oth
erwise. He declared himself ready for any
service that he might be able to perform.
He came “up out of the water” that evening,
rejoicing ip the hope of the Gospel. At the
next week's prayer meeting he offered prayer
with great fervency. Previously he had
gone among the freedmen on his plantation
and told thfem of Jesus. Soon after this he
Jed in another prayer meeting, and made a
beautiful address from the words, “Jesus
wept.” The hope of the pastor is, that this
young brother, Robert Taylor, will go on
from so favorable a beginning, to eminent
usefulness in the work of the Master.
This case illustrates what the writer has
long held to be the true policy in the vecrp
tion of new members into our churches.
When they ask to come in, we are not. likely
U) be under the necessity of forcing them
out. When we drag them in, we shall soon
need the services of a committee to pul them
out. When new members are coming in, let
them be told we have work for them to do,
and they must do it. Without delay, let them
be put to that work. Do not all great and
successful Christians begin early, after union
with the church, to do something for the
cause of Jesus? Are our churches not tail of
inactive members to-day, who might have
been otherwise had they been early placed on
duty ? When inactivity becomes a habit, it is
next to impossible to change it. This fault of
inactivity on the part of Christians, is a great
one, and it lies at the door of church leaders.
How long shall this be the case? How long
till the older members of the churches will
see and feel the importance of training men
and women to work for God ?
W. M. Davis.
Blakely , Ga., July 14, 1809.
A Church In Revival.
According to previous announcement a
meeting commenced at the Baptist church in
this village on Saturday, the 4th inst., which
closed yesterday, making a session of nine
days. Ten hopeful converts to Christianity
were baptized, one received by letter, two
restored to full fellowship, and one received
as a candidate for baptism at the next meet*
ing; making an addition, really and pros
pectively, of fourteen believers in Christ to
the church. Elders Ryan Friar, and 1. N.
Reid, from Florida, and Grey from Valdosta,
preached with great zeal and acceptance din
ing the meeting. We have every reason to
rejoice and be thankful to God for the bless
ing we have realized. At the. close of the
meeting many came forward and covenanted
with the pastor to continue in prayer until
the Lord, of his infinite goodness aud mercy,
shall pardon their sins, and adopt them into
the family of the living God. The large con
gregation in attendance was deeply moved by
the power of Elijah’s God, and nearly all
were weeping at the close of exercises.
1 cannot close this communication without
saying a word in behalf of that aged and
venerable disciple of Christ, Elder Ryan
Friar. He is a man of deep piety and un
tiring zeal in the cause of his Master ; plain
and unassuming, he is ever ready to take the
lowest seat among the people of God ; and 1
do not think that 1 err when I say that it is
highly probable that, he has baptized more
persons than any minister Georgia has ever
produced. He has lived a frontier life, and
reminds me very much of John the Baptist,
whose meat was locusts and wild honey ; also
1 was forcibly impressed with the passage,
while in his company, which is in substance
as follows: “Aud they wandered about in
sheepskins, of whom the world was not
worthy.” He is, indeed and in truth, a burn
ing and a shining light in the cause of his
Master, and his example ought to be consid
ered by many who seem to strive more for
the tw’o famous letters than the salvation of
sinners, not that l would discourage any in
any work of a laudable character. Hoping
to hear of many revivals through your valu
able paper soon, I will close. Incognito.
Statenville, Echols co., Ga., July 1 2th. 1869.
Au Interesting- Baptism.
At our last regular meeting at Valdosta,
when “the door of the church” was opened
for the reception of members, the brethren
singing that beautiful hymn—
“ln all ray Lord’s appointed ways.
My journey I’ll pursue;
‘Hinder me not,’ ye mucb-loved saints,
For I must go with you,”
an aged lady, with streaming eyes, came for
ward and gave her hand to the pastor, de
siring baptism and a place among the people
of God. In early life she had given her heart
to Jesus, and found peace in believing in him.
For about sixty years she had been a mem
ber of the Methodist church ; but for several
years past she was not satisfied with her bap
tism. She had been sprinkled, desired to be
immersed—satisfied that immersion alone is
Scriptural baptism. She requested baptism
at the hands of a Methodist preacher, which
was refused. She could not be satisfied with
out obeying the command of her Saviour,
and therefore came to us that she might be
buried with her Saviour in baptism. Her
experience was satisfactory to the church, and
in the afternoon we repaired to the water,
and this aged follower of Jesus—now seven
ty-five years old, was buried in baptism. As
she arose, trembling through the infirmities
of age, from the water, she exclaimed, “ Bless
the Lord.” Her soul was happy. There
was “ the answer of a good conscience.”
Never have I witnessed a baptismal scene
more deeply solemn and impressive.
Our church at Valdosta is prospering.
Fifteen have been added by letter this year.
We have a good house, but are not out <>f
debt. Will write again. James.
Church Constituted.
At the request of the Baptist brethren and
sisters at Jewell’s Mills and vicinity, Rev. T.
J. Veasey, Rev. J. W. Ellington and Rev.
James S. Fowler, June 12th, as a Presbytery
to constitute them into a church. Rev. T. J.
Veasey was appointed Chairman; brother
Levi Fowler, Warrenton, Clerk. After sing
ing, reading of the Scriptures by brother
Veasey and prayer by brother Ellington, six
brethren and fourteen sisters presented them
selves as wishing to constitute the church.
After hearing their letters of dismission and
examining the Articles of Faith, and being
fully satisfied therewith, the Presbytery pro
ceeded to constitute them into a church, to bo
known as the Baptist Church of Christ at
Jewell’s. The concluding prayer was made
by brother James S. Fowler. The newly-con
stituted church unanimously elected brother
T. J. Veasey as pastor for the present year.
We then had the pleasure of listening to a
most eloquent sermon from brother J. W.
Ellington, from Matthew xvi: 18. Taken
altogether, the meeting was very interesting.
J. F. C.
JewxlFs Mill, Ga., July sth, 1869.
News from Albany, etc.
Let me inform you and the brethren gen
erally, that our brother Bailey and family are
deeply afflicted, bodily and mentally. His
wife has been quite ill, and just as she was
convalescing, her mother, sister Hester, was
taken with a congestive chill, and never was
aroused again, but died Sunday night, 4th
inst. ’Tis glorious to wear out iu the service
of Jesus, and then fall asleep in Him. Sis
ter Hester was 68 years old, and near 50
years had been a Baptist. But how sad to
her only daughter this death, in her own
afflictions—so sudden, too. She is such a
great and frequent sulferer—and who like a
mother then I—and1 —and now she has to feel the
force of the words,
“ I have no mother now.”
Surely this inlbrmation is a sufficient appeal
for prayer in behalf of this family.
The weather is extremely hot, and show
ers nearly every day passing round. Health
is very good for this time of the year. Peo
ple complain of debility mostly. A good
corn crop is considered as sate now, and cot
ton doing its best. Wm. N. Chaudoin.
Wales.-— The Welsh Calvinistic, Independ
ent, and Baptist Churches, are flourishiug as
to numbers and devotedness.