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About Christian index and South-western Baptist. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1866-1871 | View Entire Issue (July 22, 1869)
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.
