Newspaper Page Text
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JJttda anil Jgaptfet
J. J. TOON, .... Proprietor.
Re v~D. SHAVER, D.D., Editor.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1869.
Historical Resurrections.
The “clothing blazoned with emblems of
devils,” in which the generation of John
Huss “ hurried him to the pyre,” is but an
illustration of the misconstruction and slan
der with which the world, in every age, has
pursued those of whom it “ was not worthy.”
Our Baptist fathers were called to drain this
cup of calumny to the dregs. No faith or
godliness availed to prevent their names from
being cast out as evil ; and no one was al
lowed to enter a plea of defence or apology
in their behalf. When a nobleman of Augs
burg, in 1526, wrote a pamphlet entitled “A
True History of the Baptists,” it cost him
his head.
But the voice which could not be heard
then, is speaking now; and Baptists of the
era of the Reformation are emerging from
the mists of reproach in which the verdict of
their own age enveloped them. The disman
tled edifice undergoes reconstruction, and
shines more and more as a worthy temple to
the praise of the glory of God. The stains
of proscriptive ignominy disappear from the
pure marble; the fine gold gleams out through
the falling canker with which a haughty prej
udice encrusted it. Schreiber on Hubmeyer,
Keim on Hetzer, Heberle on Grebel, Hast
on the Anabaptists, Cornelius on the Mun
ster Uproar and Rohrieh on Baptists in Alsace
—these monographs of German Romanists
and Protestants, notwithstanding their lack
of sympathy with us, help forward the work
of vindication which shall “ raise from the
dust the pure and holy characters” of our
martyrs in the Sixteenth Century. The ar
chives of the Courts of the Netherlands, too,
from 1525 to 1560, are shedding light on our
history, under the researches of “ the learned
Prof. De Hoop Scheffer, of the Mennonite
Seminary at Amsterdam, in connection with
Frederick Muller, Esq., antiquarian, of that
city.” Altogether, the resurrection of the
honor of our fathers from the graves prepared
for it by dominant ecclesiastical tyranny,
makes hopeful progress. And the time is at
hand when the North British Review can no
longer echo, as it did a few years since, the
groundless calumnies of three centuries past.
Take one or two examples. In that epoch
of wrong and shame, Hubmeyer testified
“ that Christendom shall not receive its rising
aright, unless baptism and the Lord’s supper
are brought to their original purity.” For
his testimony to this great truth, in accord
ance with the principles of our churches, he
was fated to pass through burning flames, at
Vienna in 1528, to the kingdom of glory.
And just after this shameful death, Zwingle,
who had been knit to him by ties of personal
friendship, “addressed him as roasting in
hell for his sin against infant baptism !” So
was it. But “his exalted character all wri
ters of the present century acknowledge.”
Hetzer, also, was beheaded at Constance in
1529. Though “he was like one who spoke
with God and died,” and his brethren could
say that “no one had with so much charity,
so courageously, or so gloriously, laid down
his life ” for their faith, —with what dishonor
has his memory been blackened, in the sphere
of doctrine as a Unitarian, in the sphere of
morals as a polygamist! But, at length,
the cloud breaks away. It is shown, beyond
dispute, that, as respects the charge against
his personal purity, false friends sold him for
a few pieces of silver; while, as respects the
charge against his evangelical orthodoxy, it
stands exposed and refuted by his Works, in
the Bucknell Library of Crozer Theological
Seminary, Upland, Pa.
These facts, (which we have compiled from
an article of Dr. Osgood’s in the recent issue
of the Baptist Quarterly, and from Cramp’s
History of our people,) are not void of
weighty import to the denomination. The
mantle of these fathers descends to us; and
do we show ourselves worthy to wear it?
Do we cherish, as becomes us, ‘the precious
principles which they transmitted through
blood and tears ?’ Are we standing as firmly
against the seductions of our times, as they
stood against the persecutions of theirs?
Are we as incorruptible under the smile, as
they were under the frown, of Anti-Chrisl ?
Let us ponder these questions, looking for
ward to the time when they shall welcome
us to the City of God on high, and their Mas
ter and ours shall ask whether we have led
lives worthy of them— and of him. And
while we enquire, What rank, as respects
spiritual excellence, is our generation entitled
to hold in history ? let each one urge the en
quiry, What rank am 1 entitled to hold in the
generation ?
“After Many Days.’*
There is one prayer which we do not great
ly like. Men frequently ask, at the close of
a sermon, that the word preached may be
“as bread cast upon the waters, the fruit of
which shall be seen after many days.” We
doubt whether this use of the language which
the sacred writer employs with regard to alms
giving, is, when standing by itself, appropri
ate. It, at ieast, seems to surrender all hope
of immediate results from the proclamation
of divine truth. Why should we not expect
and seek fruit to-day from the preaching of
to-day ? Why should we plead with God, as
if “ many days” must necessarily run by,
before His word takes effect?
The prayer is fit and right only as an
alternative prayer. Let us first ask that the
Igypjog and sanctifying power of the truth
ajtkf be straightway manifested—that, at once,
Hifithout delay, it may bring souls to
Christ, or strengthen them in His service.
And then, let us ask, that, even in the cases
where this legitimate result does not follow,
|pp'e : fruit, though long post
poned by that unbelief of sinners which “ puts
far away the” good “ day ” of return to the
Lord, or that unbelief of Christians which
•naflfoar looks nor pleads for an earlier bless
jpg. We should begin by wrestling for “the
God and the gift by grace” now,
pis accompanying, without interval, the utter
ance of His own word. Only in subordina
tion to that entreaty, is there any meetness
in the petition for fruits to appear “after
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SODTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA„ TH URSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1869.
A Special Hanger of the Times.
The present generation of Christians at the
South have been subject to special tempta
tion, and therefore need special wariness and
self-sifting, with regard to questions of mon
ey. Thousands of them have been brought
into both the states which seemed so perilous
to Agur, that he lifted the cry to Heaven,
“Give me neither poverty nor riches.” He
prayed that the course of his life might not
become a struggle w r ith th-. enticements of
the one, or of the other, no matter which,
though that alone should assail him. But to
those of whom we write, riches came first,
and afterward poverty. The trials of faith
and godliness which Agur feared to meet
singly, they have been called to meet in swift
succession—a doubled snare to the soul—a
two-told cord for the use of Satan in his ef
fort to bind them under captivity to himself !
That holy man trembled lest he should be
overcome, if called to fight either of these
battles. They have been thrown from the
heat and stress of the one into the heat and
stress of the other, and have thus been ex
posed to all the hazards of the two!
Under these circumstances, with what cau
tion and self-distrust should we scrutinize our
feelings in the light of Scripture, and review
our decisions as respects giving to the cause
of Christ or withholding from it? May it not
be that the risk from which Agur recoiled
has been too great for us? that we have been
“drawn away and enticed,” until it seems
right in our eyes to keep back “more than is
meet” from “the treasury of the Lord” for
the prosecution of Christian works !
“At the Last.”
The Egyptian goddess, Hekt, Smith tells
us, was represented with the head of a frog!
We read this, perhaps, with wonder that a
people of culture should engraft such unsight
liness upon those emblems of the divine,
which might be expected to combine all that
is most attractive to love and all that is most
venerable to adoration. But is it not an in
stance of a law, universal in the nature of
things—the law that whatever departs from
God, the one only fountain of excellence,
shall degenerate, until the ‘ iniquity’ of this
departure ‘is found to be hateful’ in its out
ward aspects—its face, as it is in its inward
principle—its heart ?
This holds good of Error. Its earlier
stages wear many features of resemblance to
the truth, sufficient, if it were possible, to
deceive the very elect. The form of a god
dess greets and charms the eye. But this
likeness fades more and more ; and in due
season appears—the head of a frog, or worse !
Satan, transformed for a season into an angel
of light, resumes his true and hideous shape.
Thus Antinomianism in theory becomes Li
centiousness in practice—and the decorous
Unitarianism of Channing lapses into the
boldly-blasphemous “Free Religion” of Ab
bott.
This holds good, too, of Vice. There is no
show of grossness in its first beginnings—
there are many tokens, rather, of refinement.
It allures—it captivates. Whatever may
strike the senses, or the imagination, without
repulsion, glitters, and pleases, and woes,
and wins. But look not on this goddess
form : for, at the last, behold the frog-head !
Nothing sends a shudder of disgust through
the soul with such power a« the loat.hliness
of Vice in its final stages.
To “cleave unto the Lord with purpose of
heart”— this is the only safeguard to the
beauty of the soul and of the life. When
we are His in thought and deed, His alone,
His entirely— then, aud never but then, have
we assurance that no evil shall wax worse
and worse within us, until we become an ab
horrence in the eyes of our fellows and in
our own.
Our Zion—in Our Exchanges, etc.
Georgia.
Under date Aug. 3rd, Rev. Dr. Landrum, Sa
vannah, writes : “My vacation commences next
week. I propose passing four or five weeks in
the upper part of the State.”—The Second church,
Atlanta, has voted leave of absence, for six
weeks, to its pastor, Rev. Dr. Brantly. He de
signs, we believe, to visit the Virginia Springs.—
The Richmond Herald , of the sth, says: “Rev.
G. C. Connor, of Ga., preached very acceptably
twice last Lord’s-day at the Leigh Street church
of this city.”—The editor of this paper supplied
the pulpit of Rev. H. C. Hornady, at LaGrange,
last Sabbath, and w 7 as gratified to hear of the
high and deserved popularity of that brother in
both the church and the community.—The col
ored Baptists of LaGrange are organized as a sep
arate and independent church, but worship in
the basement of the white Baptist church, for
want of a building of their own. This kindly rela
tion between the two races, is creditable to both.
—Rev. H. C. Hornady of LaGrange preached sev
eral nights last week and on Sabbath morning for
the Third church, Atlanta, (North End,) and on
Sabbath night for his old flock, the first church.
—Three persons were baptized in connection
with the Third church, Atlanta, last Sabbath.
Alabama.
Rev. C. Manly, Tuscaloosa, writes to the Sun
day School Banner: “ Since January, our Sun
day school exercises have been held in the after
noon, and have constituted our second service on
the Sabbath ; and the school is addressed partic
ularly, every Sabbath , on some truth in connection
with the lesson of the day, (the whole school
studying the same passage of Scripture.)’’—The
Tuscumbia Herald quotes our recent article,
headed “The Administrator of Baptism,” and
says: “We accept the view's of the Editor, be
lieving them to be sound and Scriptural.” We
are highly gratified to have the concurrence of
our judicious brother Shackelford.—Rev. James
F. Shaw reports a revival at Chickasaw, with 14
conversions, 10 accessions to the church and 8
baptisms.—Rev. S. M. Steenson reports a revival
at Moriah church, Franklin county, with the
baptism of 15 persons, among whom was an en
tire household.—A revival is in progress at Mt
Pleasant church, twelve miles east of Tuscumbia,
with some 30 conversions and 12 accessions so
far.—The Louisville Recorder , of the 7th, says :
Rev. B. M. Wharton, of Eufaula, Ala., is spend
ing a few days in the city, and preached for the
East Baptist church Sabbath morning, and for
Walnut Street church at night.—Rev. W. H.
Carroll baptized four persons at Union Springs,
on Sabbath, the Bth.
Kentucky.
Rev. Robert M. Enlows, of our church at
Hodgenville, died July 2nd, after a severe illness
of several months from disease of the lungs.
There have been 16 baptisms at a school house in
Anderson county, between Lawrenceburg and
Salvisa; 20 at Berry Station, where the meeting
was held in the town hall; and 14 at Zion church,
Pulaski county.—Rev. Smith Thomas, of Floyd’s
Fork church, is dead.
Louisiana.
The Bayou des Glaises church, Avoyelles Par
ish, has one hundred members, about equally di
vided between the two races, white and black;
the whites being mostly sisters whose husbands
are not members of the church. There area dozen
richer Baptist churches in North Louisiana ; but
of this alone can it be said: “At the beginning of
the present year they raised the amount for the
pastor’s salary in advance and» placed it in the
treasurer’s hands to be paid to him quarterly.
Indeed, they raised several hundred dollars more
than he deemed adequate for his support, and
which he declined to accept. In addition, they
have undertaken to provide a parsonage which is
to cost two thousand dollars, the greater part of
which they have raised ; besides, during the past
year they have expended seven hundred dollars
in repairs upon their house of worship. They
sent to the last Association one hundred and for
ty dollars.” They keep up two Sunday schools,
one for the whites in the morning and one for the
blacks in the afternoon ; the two schools includ
ing every member of the church, old and young,
and the greater part of the regular congregation.
—Prof. C. Morris becomes President of Mt. Leb
anon University, and his wife teacher of Mathe
matics and Modern Languages in the Female In
stitute.
Maryland.
F. R. Boston, who graduated with honor at the
recent Commencement of Columbian College, is
the only son of Rev. S. C. Boston, Baltimore.
He enters Crozer Theological Seminary, Upland,
Pa.—Rev. 8. C. Boston resigns the pastorate of
Lee street church, Baltimore, from October.—
Rev. H. Schneider, late pastor of our German
church, Baltimore, has been called to New York.
North Carolina.
Rev. H. Petty, pastor at Warrenton, has bap
tized 12 persons within six months. He becomes
agent, for the State, of the Domestic Mission
Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and
his return to Warrenton, as pastor, is doubtful.
—The First African Baptist church, Raleigh, has
had 58 baptisms recently.—A writer in the Eagle,
Fayetteville, says, of a visit to Oxford: “ I at
tended the Baptist church on Sunday night, and
heard one of the most beautiful discourses to
which I have listened, upon the words, ‘We glory
in tribulation.’ The speaker was the venerable
Wm. Hill Jordan, the Chrysostom of North Car
olina, for surely he is ‘golden-mouthed.’ He is
par excellence the most eloquent minister of his
denomination I have listened to, and is the only
really eloquent Baptist minister in the State.”—
The Raleigh Recorder says: “ The views recently
advanced by Baptists that Christ had ‘no human
soul,’ that ‘Melchisedec waß Christ,’ and that
the human ‘soul sleeps’ somewhere till the res
urrection of the body, are old errors put forth in
new garments.”
South Carolina.
D. Townsend Smith has been elected Professor
of Greek in Furman University.—Dr. S. W.
Bookhart becomes President of Greenville Fe
male College ; succeeding Professor C. H. Judson,
who returns to his position in Furman Universi
ty. —The Executive Board of the Baptist State
Convention has been located at Newberry (instead
of Darlington,) with Rev. R. Furman, D.D., as
President.
Tennessee.
At the recent session of the Concord Associa
tion, S3OOO were subscribed, in behalf of Union
University, Murfreesboro; to be used in fitting
up at once a portion of the building for the min
isterial students and for recitation rooms. A fund
also was raised and a committee constituted for
the support of a colporter (a minister if possible)
within the bounds of the Association.
Virginia.
A colored Baptist church was constituted and
a colored preacher (Beverly Sparks) ordained to
be its pastor, at Zion, King and Queen county,
July 19th, with the co-operation of the adjacent
white pastors.—The Fourth Street church, Ports
mouth, Rev. N. B. Cobb pastor, has but 14 male
members. Three persons have been baptized in
three months; and four excommunicated, (among
them Rev. Cincinnatus Goodall, for habitual
drunkenness.)
Reviews and Notices.
A Grammar or the English Language : For the Use of
Schools and Academies. With copious parsing Ex
ercises. By Wm. Bingham. A.M., Superintendent
of the Bingham School. Pp. 207. Philadelphia:
E. H. Butler & Cos. For tale, Atlanta, by J. J. db S.
P. Richards.
A Grammar or the Latin Language : For the Use of
Schools. With Exercises and Vocabularies. By
Wm. Bingham, A.M. Fourth Edition. Pp. 892.
(Published and for sale as above.)
Cesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War. With a
Vocahulary, Maps and Notes. By Wm. Bingham,
A.M. Pp. 848. (The same publishers and sellers.)
No students, entering College, take a more
creditable stand for thorough preparation, than
those coming from the Bingham School. This
fact creates a strong presumption in favor of the
author’s competency for the difficult task of get
ting up valuable text-books ; and, on the whole,
we think the presumption fairly borne out by the
volumes whose titles we give. If any doubt rests
on this question, the shadow is cast by the “ Eng
lish Grammar,” which, with many felicities of
arrangement and definition, falls justly under the
criticism of being Latinized to an extent which
the genius of our language will not warrant—as,
for instance, when five “cases” are attributed to
English nouns, “ the nominative, genitive or pos
sessive, indirect objective or dative, accusative or
direct objective, and vocative.” But, after all, if
Richard Grant White is right in saying that our
language is really a language without a grammar,
(as we sometimes incline to think he is,) Mr.
Bingham may well content himself with having
added, to the five hundred works on the subject
published in this country, one of at least average
merit. Os the “Latin Grammar” and the “Caesar,”
however, we may speak in terms of more unqual
ified commendation. The former, since its publi
cation in 1866, has deservedly reached a fourth
edition; the latter, issued last year, must achieve,
we are sure, an equal popularity.
Costbk Grkw : or, The Young Machinist. By Rev.
Geo. B. Taylor, Staunton, Ya. Philadelphia: Amer
ican Baptist Publication Society. Pp. 220, with 4
full-page illustrations.
This book is in the best style of its author,
who earned, years ago, an enviable reputation as
a writer for the young. The narrative is interest
ing, and suggests much to stimulate, direct and
comfort the child of God, or to reclaim him when
wandering from the Father. We quote a para
graph, as a specimen of the happy veins of
thoughts which are characteristic of the author:
“ We often wonder whether we shall know our
friends in heaven, and, on the supposition that
we shall, we are perplexed to reconcile that like
ness to their former selves by which they will be
recognized, with that likeness which they will
bear to the glorified Redeemer. Perhaps, some
light may be thrown upon this difficulty. How
changed is the youth who returns to his bumble
home, after years of absence, during which body
and mind have been developed—so changed that
Sven the mother who bore him, might not at first
recognize him! But when he has made himself
known, as her eye scans his countenance, and her
ear listens eagerly to his tones, she soon begins
to recognize this feature and that trait, as having
belonged to her prattling child; and thus she
links the glorious youth with the child whom she
remembers so fondly; she feels that he is the
same, and loves him not merely for what be is—
worthy as he is of love—but with all the hoarded
affection of a mother’s heart Something like
this may be our experience when we reaoh the
heavenly world. Loved ones will be gloripusly
changed—so changed that we might not at first
recognize them; and yet retaining such linea
ments of face and fcEaracter, that as we mingle
with them and study them, or, as they are made
known to ns—introduced by some bright angel,
or by our Elder Brother, Whom we shall all know
—we shall gradually recognize them, and see and
feel them to he they; persons whom we knew
and loved on earth.” '
North British Review. New York: Tho Leonard
Scott Publishing Company. Terms, |4 a year; with
Blackwood, s7;‘wTtSthe Londou, Edinburgh aud
Westminster Reviews, 112; with the Reviews and
Blackwood, sls.
Contents for July. —l. Dr. Hanna’s Life of
Christ. 2. Henry Crabb Robinson’s Diarv. 3.
History of European Morals. 4. Geological Time.
5. Danish Literature—Ludvig Holberg. 6. Me
moir of Sir Williajp Hamilton, Bart. 7. The
Early History of Man. 8. Walter Savage Lan
dor. 9. The Irish church Measure.
This number, the hundredth of the Review, is
one of peculiar interest. The Editor announces
a change in the cha|Tcter of the Review, of which
we will speak hereafter.
The Sunday SeSnol Work iu Alabama.
I see an earnest communication from our
beloved brother Cloud in your columns, sug
gesting a Sunday School Couveution, to meet
at Oxford the the next Alabama
Convention. 1 great respect for any
opinions of brotherC. on such subjects. We
all know full weinhe “unfeigned faith that
is in him,” and the large measure of the
Spirit of the with which he is blessed.
For my own part, I have to say that I feel
at a loss as to the means of promoting Sab
bath schools. Wnen I lived in Alabama in
early life, our brethren were content simply
to make Sabbatlj sphools a prominent sub
ject of consider*’ in the regular business
of the Convent* * That may be true of
many yet. Ido not clearly see why the sub
ject might not in that way receive sufficient
attention. We should go up to the Conven
tion prepared patiently to remain until the
business for whigj) we meet, of whatever
character, is fully done. Nevertheless, this
subject of Sunday schools has, undeniably,
been very much overlooked.
When I went to Georgia I found a Sunday
School Convention in existence, meeting the
day before the Convention. I quietly, as
usual, fell into ranks. Two or three meet
ings afterwards tqCk place at the Convention
or between the times of its meeting ; and
then the leaders in the matter, for some rea
son, suddenly abandoned their own project.
Last fall 1 went" up a day before the Con
vention, to Marion, and found but two other
brethren, 1 belieYe, in addition to those
already on the ground, present. • Those who
suggested or called the meeting were not
there. So we hajl a good report, as a part of
the business of the Convention, a speech or
two and nothing more.
We do need organization. But whether
we have it not already’, if the subject were
allowed time enough for full discussion, as
one of the topics of magnitude for which we
meet, I am not prepared to say. I think
something might Tie done in that way. Oc
casionally, meetings at other times—county,
district or associational, have been, and will
be, of use. Yet I confess that those I have
attended have, for the most part, been repe
titions of each other, and sometimes very
dull, and, I conceive, not very profitable. It
is expensive to altend these meetings, attend
ed with the neglect of home duties, silences
many a minister for a day, and takes pastors
away from theif fold. This may be no
harm once in a while. But organization
ought to be simple—too much machinery is
one of the tendencies of the times.
We may tax the community of Oxford,
though I supposa not. lam willing to act on
brother Cloud’s suggestion.
E. B. Teague.
Great Revival.
On Saturday before the 4th Sabbath in last
month Rev. David Peebles, pastor of the
church, assisted by Rev. David Lee, E. B.
Hardie, Mathew Bishop and Dr. Wm. C.
Cleveland, began a meeting with the Bethany
Baptist church at Coljirene, Lowndes co.,
which lasted eleven days, and resulted in an
accession of over twenty members. All
things considered, it was the best meeting I
have ever witnessed. Six or more of the
coldest backsliders of that community have
been happily restored ; and the church well
nigh extinct, looks forward with pleasure to
the procurement of a pastor for two Sab
baths in a month. Other meetings are ap
pointed through the country, and we are an
ticipating glorious times. The churches are
waking up and wanting more preaching ; and
I hope soon we will have Dr. Talbird back
from Ky. I thank God for the introduction
of our efficient brother Cleveland into the
ministry just at this time. Our crops are
fine, churches revived, spirits cheered and
debts almost paid ; and now brother editor,
for a better support of the Index and Bap
tist. B. H. Crumpton.
Pleasant Hill, Dallas co., Ala.
Madison University Jubilee.
You, brother Editor, know all about Ham
ilton. But there are many people who never
heard of this “ gem of the Chenango Valley,”
and the ancient Institution of learning located
here, whose semi centennial anniversary her
Alumni have been summoned lrom the four
quarters of the earth to celebrate. I draw
my bow at a venture —not knowing that I
shall hit any attention among your readers.
Well, the jubilee n over, and a joyous time
it was indeed ! The meeting and greeting of
old class-mates and Professors ; the reminis
cences of th. l , Jiving, and the memorials of
the dead; the speeches and sermons; the
festivities and offerings; the Sight again of
dormitory and lecture-rooms, and library
and society halLawaken emotions in one who
returns to his Alma Mater, after twenty years’
absence, which he must not forget thatsubscri
bers to the Index a thou.-and miles off have
not the slightest interest in. It is due, how
ever, to a great epoch in the history of a Uni
versity, which has given to the world fifteen
hundred ministers, and sixty-seven Foreign
Missionaries, and twenty well known au
thors, and twenty-two Presidents of Colle
ges, and, under the preaching of whose
Alumni several hundred thousand souls have
been converted, that some record of it be
made by the Southern press. 1 will
r’estrict myself to little more than a naked
outline of proceedings.
On Saturday night, the 31st of July, the
Prize Declamation came off. The speakers
were the four best declaimers of the three
first classes of the college. Among them
was a Karen who spoke our language well
enough to pitch into the “rebellion” with
such force as to keep awake, in a Southern
gentleman, who sat just behind him on the
stage, a pretty distinct consciousness of the
latitude to which he belonged. Six prizes
were awarded ; hut the young Asiatic did not
get one. Sunday morning Dr. Shailer of
Portland, discussed, in a clear and conclusive
way, from the text, “Every man hath his
proper gift of God ; one after this manner,
and another after that,” — the propriety of
RECOGNIZING THE DIVERSITY OF GIFTS IN ALL
education. In the afternoon the Alumni
had a precious meeting for prayer and confer
ence, where old associations were revived,
and Christian experiences exchanged. At
night Dr. A. H. Burlingham, late chaplain in
Paris, and now of St. Louis, preached before
the “Society of Inquiry,” a glorious sermon,
“On Missions, as the self assertion of tbs
Gospel : or, the spontansous and ir
repressible EXPRESSION OF CHRIST IN THE
soul.” Our old friend and classmate has
become a power in the land, and bids fair to
be more powerful still. The Alumni met on
Monday morning, and raised $5,000 as an in
stalment of the gift proposed to be presented
to their honored Mother, on this her golden
wedding. After dinner the venerable “Bap
tist Education Society, of N. Y,.” of which
Hamilton Theological Seminary and Madison
University are offsprings, held its fiftieth an
nual meetiug. The reports and speeches
were full of interest. One church had sent
$3,500 for the support of young men in the
University. Some $15,000 had been given
during the year by this and other churches.
Dr. Price, of Wales made some telling state
ments with regard to education in his coun
try. After the business, Dr. Lorrimer, of
Albany was to deliver the annual address,
but a dispatch announced that he could not be
present, on account of domestic bereavement.
The society re-appointed him for next year,
and Mr. Tupper, of Georgia, to preach the !
Education Sermon. “The New Chapel,”
which accommodated 1,500 persons, was
crowded to its utmost capacity at night, in
honor of the anniversary of the jEotiian and
Adelphian Societies. Rev. Dr. Anable, of
Cambridge, Mass., enchained the audience,
while he illustrated “The Service of Sci
ence to Christianity,” —lst, in its aid to
Biblical interpretation; 2d, in quickening
Christian faith ; 3rd, s in its practical promo
tion of the gospel. He was followed by the
Poet, B. F. Taylor, of Chicago, who poured
forth such a shower of word gems, and
thought-gems, that his highly expectant lis
teners were not only satisfied, but, if you
.will suffer the figure “on all fours,” were
completely saturated with the brilliant affu
sion. Tuesday was occupied with the Com
mencement exercises of the Theological and
Collegiate Departments. The speeches were
much as such speeches commonly are ; and
strnogly marked by the distinctive difference
between the oratory of the North and South.
At night, we had Repoits on Class-Histories,
Necrology, Foreign Mission Work, and War
Record. To-day, Wednesday, was the great
day ! President Dodge gave to the Alumni
his speech of welcome, full of lofty thoughts
and broad sentiments. Dr. Eaton built up,
in a Historic Discourse of two hours and a
half, a grand monument for the University.
Dr. W. C. Richards delivered a poem highly
seasoned with Attic Salt, —and then came the
Jubilee Dinner! Under an immense tent,
one thousand were greeted to a superb re
past. The best was reserved for the last,
when the speeches of the Alumni, from all
parts of the world, raised the tide of enthu
siasm to the proper height. The subscrip
tion ball was set in motion again, and before
it stopped an offering of one hundred thous
and dollars was made to the College, as a
' present worthy of the jubilant occasion, and
to complete her endowment of three hundred
thousand dollars. I dare not attempt a des
cription of the scene. I only add, without
the least hyperbole, that the whole season
i came nearer to realizing my ideas of a Jubi
: lee than I ever expected to witness on earth.
To-morrow, I am off for the White Moun
tains of N. H. Alumnus.
Hamilton, New York , Aug. 4th, 1869.
To the Baptists of Atlanta, Augusta and
Macon.
Dear Brethren: We, a few of the members
of the Baptist church, in and around the lit
tle village of Homer, have been for sometime
engaged in building us a house of worship at
that place. Up to this time we have, with a
few exceptions, contributed all the labor,
money, etc., and now have our house up,
covered, weatherboarded, and partly floored,
but we find that we have run short of
means; crops, owing to the drouth, are cut
short, and we can furnish no more money;
and we are forced to ask our brethren abroad
for a little help. With one hundred and fif
ty or sixty dollars, we can (by doing the
work ourselves) get the material, glass, etc.,
and can put our house in a condition that we
can worship in it. We know that our church
can and will flourish, if we can get us a house.
We have now 35 members, and our church
has not been organized a year yet. Will
not our friends give us fifty cents or a dollar
apiece, and thereby gladden our hearts and
advance Baptist interests in this section ?
All who feel disposed to give anything, will
please send it to D. M. West, “Chairman
Building Committee, Homer Baptist church.”
We hope the pastors of the different churches
in Atlanta will take an interest in the matter,
make small collections and send the same to
us. All amounts received will be acknowl
edged in the Index and Baptist. We make
a like appeal to our brethren in Augusta and
Macon.
We are, brethren, fraternally yours, etc.,
T. C. Chandler, L. Smith,
J. J. Wilson, D. M. West,
Building Committee.
Homer, Banka county , Ga ., August 4, 1869.
Georgia, ) I, William Turk, Clerk of
Banks County, j the Superior Court in and
for the County of Banks, take pleasure in cer
tifying to the facts contained in the above
letter; and, although I am a member of a
different denomination, I wish the cause God
speed, and hope that those to whom the ap
peal is directed may respond promptly, and
enable the good work to go forward.
William Turk.
August 4th, 1869.
A Good Work.
I am happy to inform you, and the friends
of Zion generally, that a meeting of six days
has just closed with Carmel church, Newton
county, Ga. The result of our meeting is as
follows: 1. The church is saved from dis
solution. This church has a respectable
membership, and a good house of worship,
and a most inviting field for church activity ;
but so completely had Satan gained the mas
tery, by alienating the feeling of the brother
hood, that it had become a hissing and a by
word in the community; and the more
thoughtful began to advise a dissolution. 2.
Entire fellowship is restored. The older dea
cons had gone off from the church—one by
letter and the other by exclusion. These
brethren are again in their places, and prom
ise again to return to their posts. The breth
ren grasped each other by the hand in token
of their entire fellowship. 3. A weekly
prayer meeting is established, with the prom
ise of organizing a Sabbath school. 4. Some
six or eight professed faith, and two were
buried with Christ in baptism. One pro
fessed who was some seventy years of age.
This aged saint will be baptized at our next
meeting, with others.
Our brother Patillo, recently ordained, did
us good service in this meeting. I think I
shall never doubt the power of God’s grace
iu subduing the evil passions of brethren
again ! J. M. Stillwell.
Correction.
In the last issue of the Index, a letter from
G. T. Wilburn states that the Central Bap
tist Association, after promising to support
brother Wm. Norton at Penfield, had failed
to furnish him with the means of support.
The letter was written under a misapprehen
sion of the facts. lam the Treasurer of the
Association, and paid to brother Norton, in
November last, $25; in March last, SIOO,
recently SBO, aggregating $205. The appro
priation for his support was, I think, $250,
Only $45 are unpaid, and I expect to pay
that amount at or before the next meeting of
the Association. The above has been accom
plished in addition to the payment of the
salary of a missionary employed within the
bounds of the Association.
Thos. G. Lawson.
Eatonton , Aug. 7,1869.
Hephzibah High School.
A good school is a good thing, and the peo
ple should know where to find it. I passed
a few days last week amidst the scenes of the
examination and Commencement occasion of
the Ilephzibah High School, in Richmond
county. The school is excellent. Its teach
ers are doing a great and good work. Tho
school is located in the small village of
Hephzibah, situated about 13 miles South
west of Augusta and nearly equi distant from
the Georgia and Waynesboro’ Railroads.
The location is regarded as very healthy, and
many of the planters of Burke and Jefferson
counties propose locating here for In alth, so
ciety and schools. The growth of the village
is beyond question. The school edifice is a
large wooden building of two stories, and
wings at each end. The upper story of the
main building forms a large and pleasant
chapel. It is used by the Hephzibah church,
as well as by the school. An additional out
lay of money is desirable for furnishing the
school rooms and for the improvement of
the building and grounds, which, no doubt,
the many ardent friends of the school will
furnish at an early day.
The school is mixed; males and females
recite in the same classes- This arrange
ment has its advantages; especially in the
way of aesthetic and emulative influences.
There are about one hundred scholars in at
tendance. All the grades of classes are here
taught, from the primary up to the Junior
class of the of the State. Young
men prepared here find no difficulty in enter
ing the classes in college when they make ap
plication.
Brethren Kilpatrick and Davis are gradu
ates of Mercer University, who have estab
lished reputations as efficient and popular ed
ucators. They are both ministers of the
gospel. As joint Principals of the school,
they are exerting a wide and happy influence.
Having considerable familiarity with good
teachers, and having given close attention to
the examinations of the Hephzibah High
School in its English, Classical and Mathe
matical departments, I have no hesitancy in
commending it without reservation, to all who
desire first rate teaching, with the most
wholesome moral and religious influences.
Board is offered at the low rate of sls per
month.
Os the addresses at the late Commence-
ment I can speak only of that cf Prof. S. P.
Sanford, of Mercer University, and of that,
merely this: It was learned and entertain
ing; bringing the light of Astronomy and
Astrology to bear upon that somewhat famil
iar publication— “ The Almanac.” S. L.
Savannah , Aug. 3d, 1869.
Another correspondent “Earnest,” of
Thomson, —says : “The commencement exer
cises of this school commenced on July the
25th, and continued four days. The sermon
was preached by Rev. Dr. Landrum, of Sa
vannah, who preached a good sermon—ap
propriate —and delivered with effect, .
The examination was a very thorough and
impartial one, conducted in every instance by
competent scholars not connected with the
school, whenever the Principal or Assistant
could get them to act as an examining com
mittee, —evincing a willingness on the part of
the teachers for a fair test of the proficiency and
advancement of the scholars. Tne examina
tion, as a whole, did credit to all parties . .
The teachers, Revs. W. L. Kilpatrick and W.
H. Davis, are gentlemen of fine rnunners, of
most engaging appearance, fine scholars and
teachers. Rev. Mr. Kilpatrick, whose pro
found scholarship has long since been ac
knowledged by his contemporaries, and
whose reputation as a kind and successful
teacher has extended beyond the limits of the
State, is well worthy of the high position
‘ which he fills. This school was established
just before the war, and was intended to be a
permanent school. A pleasant little town
has sprung up Rround it, the inhabitants of
which are deeply impressed with the impor
tance of educating their children. Provided
with a beautiful and commodious edifice, pos
sessing the advantages of a very favorable
location, remote from influences of dissipa
tion and vice, it is destined, if properly man
aged, to be an honor to the founders, an or
nament to the community and a nursery to
. foster and develope the intellectual and moral
faculties of the youth of the country. It has
been the general opinion that mixed schools
would not prosper, but thus far the Hephzi
bah High School has hurled this idea to the
ground aud stamped falsehood upon its face.
The zeal and pride which actuates and in
spires the girls to surpass and excel the boys
in perfect recitations, and withal the boys to
eclipse the girls, is an argument powerful
enough to convince even the most incredulous
that a mixed school is not only equal, but
superior to those where the scholars are of
the same sex.”
“ Church Communion.”
Os this work, (which is for sale by J. J. &
S. P. Richards, Atlanta,) Rev. William
Williams, D.D., Professor in “the South
ern Baptist Theological Seminary,” Green
ville, S. C., says, in a commendatory letter
to the author, W. W. Gardner :
“When your book was first put into my
hands, and I saw the title, I said to myself,
‘ What need for another book on the commun
ion question V But an examination of it has
satisfactorily answered the question ; and you
have given to the denomination a contribu
tion upon that subject sui generis, and which
I think will be more valuable to the general
reader than any other book, and for which
you deserve the thanks of the denomination.
As one of the number, I return you my sin
cere thanks, and hope the book will receive
a wide circulation, as it deserves.
“ Much has been written upon the com
munion question, but this book has a special
merit and value of its own. With some of
the positions taken, all would not, perhaps,
agree; but the author has given us an excel
lent book, which ought to have a wide circu
lation, especially among the brethren and
sisters of our churches. The style is clear
and plain ; and this book is better adapted,
perhaps, than any other, to meet satisfacto
rily the difficulties that many of our church
members feel upon this subject, and to ena
ble them to answer the objections of cavil
lers.”
Signs of Promise.
I would that I could communicate a state
of revival; but while I cannot do this, there
are, I think, omens of better times religiously,
in this country. There is a spirit of desire
that points in that direction, manifested by
some of the churches, and epecially by indi
vidual members, on the part of churches and
communities. Occasionally, persons present
themselves for prayer. These, we trust, aro
like drops that precede an abundant shower.
O, may it be the will of the great Head of
the church to give us a revival of religion
indeed. We need it on many accounts; and
especially do we need it that God’s people
may be one in heart and effort.
D. 11. Moncrief.
Cklhoun, Gordon county , Ga.
Theological Faculty at Chicago.
We are happy to learn that the Baptist
Union Theological Seminary at Chicago,
will start out with such a noble Faculty of
instruction, in September next. The Faculty
will consist of Rev. G. W. Northrup, D. D.,
Professor of Christian Theology; Rkv. A.
N. Arnold, D. D., Professor of Biblical
Literature and Exegesis; Rev. Wm. Hague,
D.D., Professor of Homiletics and Pastoral
Duties; Rev. J. B. Jackson, A.M., Pro
fessor of Ecclesiastical History. The new
Seminary building, which was dedicated J uly
Ist, is now being furnished, and will h i ready
for occupancy at-4he 'opening of the term,
September 9. Most of the rooms are already
engaged. *
To Rchobolh Association.
Dear Brethren : I have just returned from
a week’s tour. Met brothers Peter Fulsmn,
Simon Hancock and James Williams, unlive
ordained preachers, and a number of excel
lent brethren. I baptized six, and brother
Williams two, into the fellowship ot Zion
church—a new church in Toboxy county,
northwest of ihis station. Brother Kam-pa
lub-bee, an excellent man, was ordained as
deacon of said church. He bids fair to make
a useful officer.
Brother Peter Fulsorn informed me that
owing to the size of his family, it being large,
and he being in debt, and not getting a suffi
cient, salary from the Marion Board, S4OO a
jear, he proposes to enter into a trading bus
iness, i. e., buying and selling corn and oilier
provisions, to movers passing through the
nation. I fear it will ruin him pecuniarily,
for he has no disposition that way, no tact,
and no experience. Brother James Williams
is the most laborious preacher in the Choc
taw nation. He, somehow, manages to exer
cise an oversight of seven churches. It an
Association would adopt him and give him a
salary of two or three hundred dollars a
year, it would be a very profitable invest
ment. There has been a steady increase in
the .membership of the churches of this na
tion since the war. Brother Williams states
that at the close of the war he found forty
members in good standing in the bounds of
his field ; now, there are one hundred and
ninety. Nearly one hundred increase in all
the churches the past twelve months. Our
own field gives promise "tnf a large yield of
fruit. Let us thank God and take courage
for the future.
It is my purpose to try and leave here
about the middle of September, en route for
Georgia, taking my children with me, to leave
with you. It is no doubt best, yet I dread to
think of parting with them, now doubly dear
to me since their mother’s death
Remittances, recently received from brother
Amos, have relieved all my home necessities,
and if you can supply me, between tnis date
and the Ist of September, with enough to
pay our travelling expenses, it will be sulfi
cient. The sickly season, however is upon
us, and we know not what hour some of us
may be stricken down with fever. In God do
we trust. Pray for us and the poor Choc
taws. Your devoted, yet unworthy Mis
sionary, J.S. Morrow.
Ah-to-ka P. 0., C. N., Ark., July 21*1, 1869.
Revival.
There has just closed one of the most in
teresting meetings at Shiloh, Marion county,
we recollect ever witnessing. The meetiug
was characterized by much seriousness and
solemnity from begining to end, and a time
of much joy and rejoicing. The Gospel
was preached by our much esteemed and be
loved pastor, Rev. G. A. Loftou, with power
and effect. There were, as we hope and be
lieve, thirty happy souls converted, added to
the church, and baptized by our beloved
pastor iuto Jesus, and five others received by
letter. Just one year ago we enjoyed a glo
rious revival, under the gospel preached by
our worthy pastor, Rev. G. A. L. On that
occasion there were added to the church
twenty by experience, and five by letter,
making a total in the last twelve months of
sixty ; in whom we have the utmost conti
dence. Without flattery, 1 know of none
who promise so much in the Master’s vineyard
as our pastor. May the Lord bless him
abundantly. A. C. B.
Preston. Ga., July 29, 1809.
In reference to this meeting, and others,
brother G. A. Lofton writes from Americus,
August slh:
l have been engaged for the last twenty
days, preaching the gospel to the churches—
most of the time night and day. I have
hardly had occasion to rest more than a few
hours during that time. It has pleased the
Lord to bless my labors and those of the
churches to which I have preached, abundant
ly. My labors during this period, have been
confined to two churches under my charge—
Shiloh, in Macon county, and Antioch, in Lee
county. We received in all, thirty-four mem
bers upon a confession of faith, and immersed
them. Os these, thirty were received by the
church at Shiloh, and four by the church at
Antioch. Other glorious revivals are going
on in our midst. One has just closed at
Friendship, in this county—brother Cawood
pastor —in which he baptized thirteen, and
one is now progressing at Shiloh, in this
county, (Sumter) —young brother Tharpe,
pastor —in which he has already baptized
eighteen. So brother Cooper informs me,
who on yesterday evening returned from
laboring with the church. You see the Lord
is doing good things for us, adding unto the
churches daily such as should be saved.
Letter From Arkausas.
With reluctance, but from a felt necessity,,
I wrote last spring requesting you to suspend
sending the Index to me whui my time ex
pired. I regretted when the number came
bearing the ominous figures, plainly sa\ing
this is the last, and I shall not receive your
welcome visits again, nor see your face any
more, for a while at least. But the next
week I was made glad and 1 was made sud in
welcoming my favorite “Index” again; and
every week since 1 “joyfully” receive, and
gloomily respond 1. O. IT. Bear with me a
little longer ; there is some appearance of a
break in the cloud, and the sun will shine
again. Our prospects are more cheering
than they have been any time since the
desolations of the war; crops are promising,
and the evidences of thrift and plenty are
more manifest, and a brighter day is dawn
ing ; therefore, I hope soon to be able to send
you the “material aid” and receive a more
welcome “Index” because paid for.
Our churches have been in a “cold state”
for a year, but there are now evidences of a
“better state”—buddings of a revival spirit
in all our churches ; and we pray that it may
bloom and bear much fruit to the glory of
God in the salvation of souls. Our weekly
prayer meeting has been changed to twice a
week, and is moved from house to house so
as to reach all sections, and to bring all as
far as possible under its influence, The at
tendance is good and the interest is pereeiva
bly increasing at each meeting.
S. W. Cochran.
Union, Fulton Cos., Ark., July 27 th, 1869.
Ordination of a Deacon.
At a call ot the Baptist church of this
place, Elders Wm. S. Tweedell, Jas. Barrow
and G. W. Colquitt, pastor, met on Saturday
last, July 31st, for the purpose of ordaining
brother Wm. M. Whatley to ibe deaconship.
The ordination sermon was preached by the
pastor, who also questioned the church as to
the qualifications of the brother. Examina
tion of candidate by brother Tweedell ;
prayer by brother Barrow. After the charge,
delivered by the same the church
and presbytery united in extending the hand
of fellowship. § P
Thus was set apart to this responsible of
fioe, as we believe, a good and faithful ser
vant. J. B.
Bowdon, Carroll eo., Go., Aug. 4<A, 1869.
Death. —ln his last sickness, Dr. Absalom
Peters, when allusion was made to the com
fort the Christian has in leaving to God all
the details of dying, said : “ 1 have a death to
die, but I have not a death to choose ; and 1
am glad that is not laid upon me. It is all
well, from Him iu whom I believe.”