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(1II!ISTIa . i'miE\ and south-western baptist.
VOL. 49-NO. 2.
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Wliat Ihe Old Year lias Seen.
« When first I came in winter, amid the frost and
snow,
I saw good resolutions, but they’re broken long ago;
High purposes have melted, as ics before the sun,
Some schemes have been abandoned, some never were
begun.”
Reader, is the picture true ?
Does the old year speak of you ?
“ I’ve seen God’s days polluted for worldly ease or
gain,
I’ve seen that somo have taken his holy name in vain ;
I’ve seen God’s book unopened, ,his teachings set at
naught,
I’ve seen his house neglected, or filled with earth-born
thought.”
Reader, is the picture true?
Does the old year speak of you ?
«I’ve seen some angry tempers rise over cheek and
brow.
Revengeful thoughts I’ve noticed, aud some are cher
ished now-,
Feelings of strife and aoyy, unhallowed thoughts Is*re
seen,
And at God's righteous dealings gome nmrmurings
there have been."
Reader, is the picture true ?
Does the old year speak of you ?
“The strivings of God's Spirit I're seen all quenched
and hushed ; .
Sharp prickings of the conscience hare been despised
and crushed;
I’re seen earth’s joys so valued, that heavenly joys
grow dim,
And some enjoyed God’s blessings without one thought
of Him.”
Reader, is the picture truer
Does the old year speak of you ?
“I’ve seen good counsel slighted, I’re seen self-will
and pride,
And ra'ii conceit I’ve witnessed to many sins allied;
I’ve seen ungrateful conduct to parent and to friend,
I’ve seen that some to slander a willing ear would
lend.”
Reader, is the picture true ?
Does the old year speak of you ?
« ()f alt the sad sights I’ve witnessed, the saddest now
I see : ,
A soul that’s still unpardoned, though warned from
wrath to flee;
One which refuses mercy, though Jesus bids it come.
One which prefers to perish, and so must meet its
doom.”
Reader, is the picture truer
Does the old year speak of you ?
The Coming of Christ in His Kingdom—No. 2.
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives,
the disciples came unto him privately, saying,
tell us when shall these things be] And what
shall be the sign of Thy coming and of the
end of the world ?” Matt, xxiv :3.
11. re are two questions. The first evidently
refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, for the
Saviour had just been speaking of t hat event
—see the preceeding verses. The second
question is the point of difficulty. To what
exactly does it refer? It will aid us in set
tling this point, to bear in mind, that the
Saviour, not long before his present conver
sation, had told His disciples that in the life
time of some of them, the Son of Man should
come in his kingdom. And now he had just
predicted the destruction of the Temple.
Hence it was perfectly natural that they
should connect the tvo events together. It
is not necessary to suppose that they had
clear aud definite views of those events. •
Probably, they hrd not. They were asking
for more’light. # But Jiami what Jesus had
said t<* diei*:, audY oni the wonderful parables I
addressed to the «/ews, recorded in previous
chapters, they rnderstood that some great
catastrophe was impending, which would in
clude, Dt, the destruction of Jerusalem ; 2d,
the coining of Christ in his kingdom ; and
3rd, the end of the world, i. of the age or
dispensation. (The Greek is, “ ton aionos,”
she literal sense of which is “ of the age.”)
Hence they asked the questions. First, when
shall this great catastrophe occur ] And
stfcond, what shall be the sign of its coming ]
That this is the. correct view of the question,
is confirmed by the parallel passage in Mark,
who states the questions thus: “ Tell us
when these things shall bie] And what shall
be the sign, when all these things shall be
fulfilled I” —making the sign asked for, the
sign of the things, viz., the destruction of Je
rusalem; while in Matthew the disciples
ask for the sign of His coming and of the
end of the age, or dispensation. A compari
son of these two versions of the same ques
tion, requires us to regard Christ’s coming as
includeil, in the minds of His disciples, in the
catastrophe which was about to come upon
Jerusalem. According to this view of the
question the Saviour shapes His answer;
which, by the way, is further proof of its
correctness. He does not reply to the ques
tion —when] But proceeds at once to give
the signs of His coming, as if that included
the other. But while His disciples, in their
Question may have had reference to a partic
ular point of time, he in his answer had
reference not merely to a particular point of
time, but to that whole period which should
reach from the destruction of'Jerusalem even
to the final eonsumation of all things. This
view of His answer is, I conceive, the key to
the correct interpretation of the whole of this
sublime discourse of the Saviour. Its cor
rectness is confirmed by the Saviour’s own
words in Matt,, xvi: 27-23 : “For the Son of
man shall come in the glory of His Father
with His holy angels; and then shall He re
ward every man according to his works.
Verily, I say unto you, there be some stand
ing here which shall not taste of death, till
they see the* Son of man comfng in His
kingdom.” These verses comprehend the
beginning,and the end of His regal adminis
tration in one view, as one dispensation, one
government, the beginning of which was the
pledge of its consummation. He had been
* warning the people against the loss of their
souls. To enforce that warning He announces
the coming judgment—and as a proof of its
coming, He declares that some of His hearers
should live to see Him enter upon His regal
administration, which should continue till He
should come to the final judgment.
The discourse of the Saviour in the chap
ter before us, aocords with the preceding
views. The disciples ask, When shall these
things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy
coming, and of the end of the world ?
Instead of answering the first question, He
begins to speait of His own coming—“ Take
heed that no man-deceive you, for many shall
come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and
shall deceive many.” This is the first sign
of His coining. Another is, there shall be
wars, and rumors of wars. Nation shall rise
against nation, &c.—“ but see that ye be not
troubled, for the end is not yet,” e. the end
of that dispensation. These wars “ are the
beginnings of sorrows.” Then follow other
jjjjrns—such as the persecution of Christians
—the coming of false prophets—the falling
away of some in love, &c. History informs
us that these signs did occur just as here re
corded, prior to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Another sign, more significant than any
yet mentioned, is given in these words, “This
gospel of the kingdom must first be preached
in all the world, fora witness unto all nations,
and then shall the end come—the end al
ready spoken of, and accomplished in the
destruction of Jerusalem. This is clear
from what immediately follows: “When
, therefore ye shall see the abomination of des
olation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet
stand in the holy place .. . then let them
which be in Judea flee into the mountains.
FRANKLIN PRINTING HOUSE, ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1870.
Let him that is upon the house top ndt come
down to take anything out of. his house, &c.,
to the close of verse 22. All this indicates a
time for haste—for flight to escape impending
evil. The passage is descriptive of what
might occur at the destruction of Jerusalem.
From all which it is manifest that the Saviour
meant to associate His coming with the de
struction of that devoted city. And just here
He might have added the words found at the
36th verse: “ But of that day and hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven,
but my Father only,” and there he might
have left the subject.
But the subject was too important to be
dismissed so summarily. Here he amplifies
the account of that awful event, depicts its
inexpressible horrors, and its inevitable suf
ferings, and adds other warnings that His
disciples should not be deceived by false
Christs, who would, amidst the confusion of
the times, lay claim to that high dignity.
And more effectually to guard them against
the possibility of being deceived, He an
nounces the fact, that His coming at that
awful period would be like the lightning which
shineth from the east even unto the west.
He would appear, not in the wilderness, not
in the field,yet in the secret chambers,
but in the clouds of wrath which were about
to burst in fury upon guilty Jerusalem.
That we may see the propriety of this
figure let us advert to Christ in His kingly
character. One essential, fundamental attri
bute of«a king is, government. . It is his right
to govern which constitutes him a king.
Not his royal robes, not his regal splendor,
not even his exalted rank, but his sceptre of
power. That which clothes him with au-r
thority, which makes his will the law , is
what makes him a king. Now, this attribute
belonged to Jesus in all its fulness. Isaiah
says, “ Unto us a child is born, unto us a son
is given, and the government shall be upon
His shoulders, &c.” And accordingly when
Jesus had risen from the dead, He solemnly
claimed that all power in Heaven, and in
earth was given to Him. As king, therefore,
He was clothed with power to govern. But
one of the most important functions of gov
ernment is to put down all opposition to
legitimate authority—to crush out rebellion,
and to inflict punishment upon the incorrigi
ble.
Christ, it is true, entered upon his kingly
rule when He ascended to heaven. There
He forever sat down at His Father’s right
hand, henceforth expecting till His enemies
be made His footstool. But he did not at
at once enter upon His career of vengeance
upon those enemies. No, the first dispensa
tion of His power was one of grace. He
shed forth His holy Spirit on the day of Pen
tecost. He endowed His apostles with power
from on high, and sent them forth to preach
the gospel in all the world, beginning at Je
rusalem. Oh ! what condescension ! What
forbearance! What mercy! The very people
who thirsted for His blood, —they are first
made to hear His offer of forgiveness and
peace. He holds baek His wrath that He
may give them opportunity to repent. Well,
some did repent. He had a people even in
Jerusalem —a remnant to be saved. Hence
His delay. But this was not the only cause
of delay. It was necessary to illustrate His
justice before the eyes of all men. ’ Hence
the gospel,must Tie preached,to all nations soy
a witness unto them, and that He might make
known to all believers His fearful contro
versy with Jeruseiam. Hence the heralds ot
the cross went forth over the then known
world, into all the provinces of Rome’s vast
empire, preaching Jesus and the Resurection,
and doubtless making known to every con
gregation of believers the coming doom of
the Jewish people. The time at length came.
Christ had during His ministry, taught the
Jews, in one of His most wonderful parables,
the curse that was upon them ; “ Bring forth
these mine enemies, who would not have me
to reign over them, and slay them before
me.” To accomplish this retribution He
now comes. What more appropriate figure
could express this terrible coming ] “As
the lightening, which shineth from the east
even to the west, so shall the corning of the
Son of man be.” In every language, light
ning is an emblem of wrath, of power; and
in this case the bolt which flashes across the
entire sky, may well denote the violence of
the blow which He was about to strike.
Such was the coming of Christ to execute
His vengeance upon the guilty city. True,
the Jews did not see Him. They were
blinded. The vail was upon their hearts. He
had warned them, but they heeded not; He
had wrought wonders before them, but they
believed not. They had murdered and buried
Him,and they knew He had disappeared from
His empty tomb, in spite of the official seal,
and in spite of the Roman guard. But still
they would not believe. Hence they saw
Him not amidst the dangers which were gath
ering over their devoted heads.
Nor did Titus, and the Romans see Him.
In their Pagan blifjdness and ignorance they
knew not that they were only executing the
wrath of a ruler higher than Csesar, and dis
pensing the justice of a power far .above the
throne of the Empire.
But there were those who did see Him.
The humble followers of the Saviour knew what
the gathering of the armies meant. When
they saw the Roman Eagles flapping their
wings around the walls of the city, they re
membered the “ abomination that maketh
desolate” —they knew by these fearful signs
that the hour had come. They looked not at
Titus, they looked not at the legions. By the
eye of faith they looked higher—far above
the din of battle—far above the tumults of
the people they saw the Son of man coming
in His wrath. They remembered His words
—lt was time to fly. They left the accursed
city. Asa proof that we have not over-rated
the case, it is a well-known tradition that no
Christian perished in Jerusalem. So clearly
were they warned by the signs of the times,
that before the walls were completely invested
they had fled to a place of safety, where, in
solemn awe, they could witness the wrath of
God.
Such was Christ’s coming to ill-fated Je
rusalem. With one blow of His mighty arm,
the city fell to rise no more, ’till the fullness
of the Gentiles be brought in.
The completeness of the overthrow, was
depicted in the following verses. The consid
eration of these, however, I reserve for the
next number. S. G. llillybr.
Forsyth , Dec. 14,1869.
Life and Death.
“ What is life, father ?” “A battle, my child,
Where the strongest lance may tail.
Where the wariest eye may be beguiled,
And the stoutest heart may quail:
Where the foes are gathered ou every hand,
Aud rest not day or night,
And the feeble little ones must stand
In the thickest of the fight.”
11 What is Death, father?” “ The rest my child,
When the strife and the toil are o’er;
The Angel of God, who, calm and mild,
Says we need fight no more;
Who. driving away the demon baud,
Bids the dm of battle cease,
Takes banner and spear from our failing hand,
And proclaims an eternal peace.”
“ Let me die, father 1 I tremble and fear
To yield in that terrible strife!”
“ The' crown must be won fer heaveD, dear,
In the battle field of life;
My child, though thy foes are strong and tried,
He loveth the weak and small;
The angels of heaven are ou thy side
And God is over all!"
Harvest Home.
CHAPTER X.
“ Then I saw in my dream that when they were come
out of the wilderness, they presently saw a town before
them, and the name of that towc is Vanity, and in jjt
there is a fair kept, called Vanity Fair."”
The lively little French lady, who had
stopped Clara in the store to talk about the
wedding, was right in saying, they must have
had invitations. A search through the card
basket proved the fact, and Helen trium
phantly announced it, the same evening, soon
after their return from the shopping excur
sion, rushing into the library for the purpose,
and overturning a footstool, in her eagerness
to show them to her father. Clara, who was
watering some plants at the window, turned
to see what was the matter.
“ See ! papa; here they are—Mr. Mont
marie, Miss Montmarie, and Miss Helen ;
Mr. Hartly Montmarie and Miss Lorrimer.”
“ Yes, yes, Helen; I see. What of it ?”
“ Why let us go, papa, every one of us.”
“ Make young ladies at once of you and
Lucy, hey ! while my modest Clara just be
gins to think of it]”
“ No, no; that wont make us young ladies
—just to go to one weddiDg. We will not
be invited again for an age, and this is to be
the grandest affair-—you can’t think. Every
body is talking about it, every seamstress and
dress maker is hurried, making dresses for it.
Madame Paris has sold all her prettiest
wreaths and head-dresses, and Cunard says
every one of his hands are employed making
the confectionery for the supper. Do let us
go. We will dress just as simply as possi
ble. Lucy and I will promenade with you.
Lucy, you know, is in mourning.”
“ Which will make her feel entirely out of
place in such a scene.”
“ Not if she just looks on with you and
Hartly, and I beside her.”
“And must Hartly and I pin ourselves to
to your apron-string, my imperial lady]”
“ Yes, indeed ! you will both like it. Wont
they, Clara]”
“ Indeed, I can’t answer for them,” said
Clara, laughing; “ but if you can manage to
get to the wedding, I think you will forget to
complain of their desertion.”
“ Well, well, I promise to think of it, and
let you know in time to prepare that very
simple dress you spoke of. So be off at once
to your sampler.”
“ My sampler, indeed,” thought Helen, as
she drew her slight form to its utmost height.
“I am am yet quite child enough for that.”
But she withdrew quietly at her father’s com
mand.
The wedding was not forgotten. As Helen
had said, every body was talking about it, and
great preparations were made for it. The
parents of the bride-elect were wealthy and
fashionable, gay and pleasure-loving. The
young lady herself, though she had a warm
little heart, which she had really given unre
servedly to her betrothed, was not averse to
making a triumphant exit from the theatre of
her conquests; sighing, indeed, that American
customs —such, at least, as prevailed in her
native place—prohibited belleship to matrons.
The heart, i say, was warm; but ill-regula
ted, so that at a period when a thoughtful
woman would be trembling and fearful
lest the precious trust committed to her care
should be wrecked—lest that she gave should
be rashly yjjelded*—poo, - Louise gave at‘Last
half her thoughts, and more than half her
time, to the getting up of her trousseau, its
silks, and laces, and jewels. Her friends, ot
course, must not disgrace the occasion by an
inferior toilet. So they exhausted ingenuity
to get up something elegant.
Helen had gained Mr, Montmarie’s consent
to her attendance and Lucy's, if the latter
would consent. Hartly was to go also, and
all parties besieged Lucy with persuasions*
Love of excitement was natural to her tem
perament, and this desire struggled hard with
her shyness. Finally it conquered sufficient
ly for her to promise to go. A moment af
terwards, she longed to retract it; but no,
she said to herself, I am forgetting my dear
mother’s lessons. This is a weakness. 1 will
conquer it. The hardest trial to me will come
when I have learned to love such scenes—not
to care for them too much.
The eventful day arrived. A keen No
vember blast was sweeping down the avenue,
and iqade Clara shiver, as she opened the door
for her father and Hartly that evening.
“ Mademoiselle Louise will have gloom
enough outside to heighten the cheer within,
if she likes a contrast,” remarked the latter,
as he sprang up the steps.
“ Where are Lucy and Helen 1” asked Mr.
Montmarie.
“ Getting ready for the wedding. I sent
them up stairs fop that purpose,” answered
Clara. “ I must go and see bow they pro
gress.”
Quite a noisy consultation seemed going on
as she reached the upper floor : Rose, the
mulatto servant-girl, who waited on the young
ladies, declaiming loudly ou her favorite sub
ject, interrupted by frequent remarks from
Helen and Lucy. As she opened the door of
their room, she found them just finishing
Helen’s toilet. Lucy’s plain mourning dress
was already arranged, and the last curl of
Helen’s hair just unwound from Rose’s fin
ger.
“ Now the wreath, Rose,” said Lucy.
“ You are not to wear ornaments, Helen,”
objected Clara.
‘f Oh, this is only a wreath of ivy,” pleaded
Lucy. “It just suited her.”
And so Clara thought, when Lucy had fas
tened the dark green leaves around the classic
head, makiug a tout ensemble severely simple,
yet in exquiste taste —the pure white drapery
floating round her like a cloud of spray, caught
back gracefully from the faultless arms and
shoulders, leaving them shaded only by the
shining golden curls. Lucy’s artist eye had
seized upon the only appropriate addition to
this toilet —the ivy-wreath, which only such
a head and face could have borne. Clara
turned at last from the lovely picture, to
scrutinize Lucy.
“ You are quite ready, Lucy, you say ?”
“ Yes, I had very little to do.”
“ But you look nicely. If you could manage
to keep that color up, I should be perfectly
satisfied. Come, Rose, and help me.”
“Shall we go too?” asked Helen.
“No, thank you; Rose can do all I want.
Go wait in the sitting-room for papa and
Hartly.”
When Rose had braided the magnificent
black hair, and fastened a moss rose in it,
arranged the soft, rich lace to fall over the
rose-colored silk, and clasped her mother’s
pearls on her neck and bosom, she rose and
surveyed the effect in a mirror frhich reflected
her full length.
“That will do,” she said, as the girl clap
ped her hands with delight. “ Never mind
going into ecstaeies; just hand me my
shawl.”
“ You will take the eyes of all the gentle
men,” exclaimed Rose, with true darkey em
phasis on the last syllable.
In Clara’s mind, the question rose, Will
Mr. Stanley be there? and she blushed on
the instant at detecting such mn evidence of
interest in the stranger. The party waiting
down stairs, overwhelmed her with kisses and
praises as she entered and threw aside her
shawl, to give them an opportunity to criti
cise.
*' Clara, you are f splendid-looking,” said
Hartly. “ I declare I never knew it till I saw
you in that dress^f
5 Her father’s ey<?*rested on her very fondly,
t- very proudly; then he hurried them into the
close carriage, and wrapped them up snugly
I for their five-miles’ ride.
- The parlors at Mr. Alexander’s blazed with
s light, and echoed *ith music. Dancing was
to be the order of -lie evening, and the band
played a beautiful wedding march as the
guests arrived. The hour came for the wed
ding—a hush felL on all, the bridal-train,
rnefl and maidens, formed a double line, be
tween which the b/ide and groom advanced
to the temporary a.tar, at which the white
robed priest was sending. A Latin ceremo
ny—solemn, but rqeaningless to most hear
ers—united t.hq ptar, and joyous greetings
and Congratulations began: Mirth and music
reigned undisputed.
The Memphis Board S. B. 0.
Erroneous impressions, I fear, are enter
tained in certain in relation to the
Sunday School Bo|u‘s, at Memphis. One
brother asserts that4singular has
characterized the u of the Sunday School
Board of the SouthAi. Baptist Convention, at
Memphis.” And ygara he says, that “ the
Board at Mem pl'izHfltormani Tested -a singular
disregard of the wjSp&s of the. Convention.”
It is possible that others may be laboring un
der a similar misil»ke; and, therefore, it is
proper, perhaps, th*t I should, %s the official
organ of the Boanif placa myself and my
Board, rectus in curia. With your perinis
sion, I will make a-V.mple statement of facts
in relation to this matter, through the columns
of your exce.lent journal, and leave your in
telligent readers to form their own conclu
sions.
At the last meeting of the Southern Bap
tist Convention, (which I did not attend in con
sequence of sicknessjn my family,) I find that
the Report of the Sunday ‘School Board was
referred to a Special Committee, of whom
Geo. C. Gunnor seems to have been chairman.
That Committee offered* the following:
1. ‘ It is to be regretted that the Board
found it necessary to accept the resignation
of the Corresponding Secretary, aud we re
commend the appointment of another.”
The Corresponding Secretary, whose resig
nation the Board “ found it necessary to ac
cept,” was by the Convention itself
in Baltimore; and»jao one, now, will doubt
the wisdom of the Board, in accepting his re
signation. The re< mmendation of the Com
mittee that anothez*- Secretary be appointed
in his place, has be-;n fully adopted, and one
has been appointed, who is trying to work as
well as he can for thp interests of his Board.
There is, I submit, then, no great “ perversity"
in the action of the Memphis Board in this
regard; and no “ Angular disregard of the
wishes of the Convention.”
2. “ In regard to tlze employment of Agents
and Missionaries to arouse the churches to
the discharge of their whole duty in the im
portant work of Sunday school instruction,
your Committee would suggest that the mat
ter be referred to the Bo'ard, with the earnest
request that their unmediate attention be
given to it.” Thi/ second recommendation
of the Committee fc/1 0 been observed to the
letter; *;,nd Agent%-Jiji Missionaries have
Seen employed, to' the fullest extent of its
ability, by the Board, “to arouse the churches
to the discharge of their whole duty in the
important work of Sunday school instruction.”
Our annual Report to the Convenfion will
show to what an encouraging extent this work
has been carried, with the scanty means at
the command of the Board. I respectfully
submit, therefore, that, in relation to this
second recommendation of the Committee,
the “ Board, at Memphis, h'as evinced no “sin
gular perversity,"' and has betrayed no dispo
sition to contravene “ the wishes of the Con
vention.”
3. “We are gratified to hear of the success
of ffind Words, which has been edited by
tlze accomplished Mrs. Ford since the resiga
tion of the Corresponding Secretary, and also
to learn of the improvements contemplated,
and we most cordially recommend it to the
churches of our denomination.”
The Board has kept a’steady eye on the
matters referred to in this item of the Com
mittee’s report. It has expended several thou
sand dollars recently in the purchase of the
good will and the subscription list of Child's
Delight, together with all its valuable pic
tures ; and the services of Elder Boykin, the
talented editor of Child's Delight, have been
secured in the editorial department of the
united paper. With all these valuable cuts,
and with the new and elegant pictures which
it is intended to insert, from time to time, and
with the combined talent of the Secretary and
Elder Boykin, and the excellent writers for
children whom they may be able to enlist,
the Board hopes to make “ Kind Words-The
Child's Delight," all that can be desired in a
child’s paper, for Sunday schools. I submit,
then, that, in relation to this third recommen
dation of thS Committee, the Sunday School
Board is not justly chargeable with “a singu
lar perversity," in its action; or with “ mani
festing a singular disregard of the wishes of
the Convention.”
4. “As regards the publication of books,
your Committee arc of the unanimous opinion
that the condition of the field at the present
time, requires the energies of the Board to be
chiefly directed to the establishing and main
tenance of schools all over the South. This
work, we respectfully suggest, is of weightier
importance just now than the publication of
Sunday school books.”
Now, in relation to this fourth and last re
commendation of the Committee, I would just
say, that the Board has entirely abstained
from the publication of Sunday school books.
It has neither sent forth any new books, nor
re-published any of its old series. It has now
in process of publication, it is true, the Ques
tion Books of Dr. Manly, for which there has
been a pressing demand. And even in the
publication of these excellent books, not a dol
lar of indebtedness has been incurred by the
Board; nor has a dollar been expended out
side of the Book fund. And then, as to the
work of “ establishing and maintaining schools
all over the South,” I would just say, that
the Board is doing what it can in this direo
tion, through jts State and A ssoc ' a tional aux
iliaries, and through the personal efforts of
its Secrei.ary, its “ Agents and Missionaries,”
and other friends of the cause. A vast amount
of gratuitous work is being done for the Board
in this regard ; and a vastly increased amount
of labor would be expended in this direction
if the churches and friends of the cause, gen
erally, would place at the disposal of the
Board, a greater arnouDt of means. Ido then
most respectfully submit, that in nO sense is
it true that “ a singular perversity has charac
terized the action of the Sunday School Board
of the Southern Baptist Convention, at Mem
phis and that in no sense is it just to say,
that “ The Board, at Memphis, has manifested
a singular disregard of the wishes of the Con
vention.”
But it will be said, that appeals are being
made in the personal addresses of the Secre
tary, and through the public press of the de
nomination, for means to publish books. This
is not denied. The Secretary does not un
derstand the report of the Committee to in
hibit, entirely, the publication of Sunday school
books. That report says, that, in their opin
ion, “ the field at the present time" —not al
ways certainly—“ requires the energies of the
Board to be chiefly"- —not entirely “ di
rected to the establishing and maintenance
of schools all over the South and they sug
gest, that “ this work is of weightier impor
tance just noyi" —not forever —“ than the pub
lication of Sunday school books.” If, there
fore, the Board had gone much more largely
into the publication of Sunday school books
than it has done, it would not be justly charge
able with “ a singular perversity" in its action;
nor could it’be alleged, with any modesty or
truth, that it had “ manifested a singular dis
regard of the wishes of the Convention.”
What has been said about the difficulties
which environ this matter of publication; and
the “ much danger" thereby threatened “to
the best interests of the denomination,” the
Secretary is too obtuse to see, as yet. And
it may be a relief to some who are sensitive
on this point to say, that although, “ in many
portions of the South and West,” (l confess
Ido not know where they are,) “opinions
prevail among Baptists which are considered
heterodox by the majority of the denomina
tion ;” and although “ there are many Asso
ciations existing,” (I do not know them, and
ignorance here is bliss,) “ which are composed
entirely, or for the most part, of churches hold
ing such sentiments;” and although books,
“ diverse in excellence, and differing in opin
ions,” may be submitted to the Board for
publication, they must all pass through the
crucible ol zi rigid examination by the Secre
tary, and be approved by the Committee on
Publications, after* a critical scrutiny of the
MSS, on their part, before they can be ad
mitted into the series of our Sunday school
books.
But, if an individual, a church, an Associa
tion, or a State Convention contribute SIOO
to procure the stereotype plates for a good
sized Sunday school book, will not the Board
feel itself bound to publish the book, with
out regard to its literary merit, its doc
trinal sentiments, or its adaptation to lead
children to Christ! I answer, no, NO. And
it any individual, or any body of Baptists, or
even Methodists, had contributed towards the
publication of a Sunday sohool book, to be
issued by our Board, under the impression
that the Board does not reserve .to itself the
right and the prerogative of judging of its
merits by its Secretary, and by its regular
Committee on Publication, then, the sooner
they are enlightened on this subject, the bet
ter. Our Board will publish nothing, old or
new, that is not first approved by the Secre
tary and by the Committee on Publication.
And if any have contributed either MSS or
money, under any other impression, they are
at perfect liberty to withdraw their contribu
tions at once. The rule of the Board, in this
regard, is inviolable. So much I deem it
necessary to say on this subject at present.
As to the “ book question,” I am aware
there is • considerable diversity of opinion
amongst esteemed Sunday school workers.
This is not the occasion for discussing the
merits of that question. When the time comes
for the consideration of the subject before the
Convention, l sliall have some testimony to
submit from various portions of our vast field,
which will serve to show ho#r widely the the
ory of a recluse may differ from the expert-
enee of a vaiiatu. .soldier, amid the din and
dust of actual battle. I will just put one wit
ness on the stand at present; and he shall be
an Alabamian. He says, in a recent letter :
“ We have been trying to sustain a Sabbath
school at this place, with the Baptist church,
for three years. We have tried to raise funds
for a library, on the union plan, so as to sat
isfy everybody, but have so far utterly failed.
Iu short, we are mighty poor, and have less
liberality than means. It is impossible”—-‘
IMPOSSIBLE, mind—“ to sustain an inter
est in Sabbath schools without books. These
we have not. Hence our school is delicate
sickly , For the good of the community,
I belonging to no church, but of Baptist lean
ings, have devoted my time, for three years,
to°the school—the time 1 have been living
here. Now, lam poor, too—had a tan-yard
burned to the ground lask week—loss $1,200
—but I wish to buy myself your SIQ Library,
No. 1, Can’t you help nm ip this good work ]
—and how much ] for I can get r.o help here.”
But let this suffice. My object in this com
munication has been to vindicate my Board
against the charge of “ a singular perversity,"
and also against the accusation of manifesting
“ singular disregard of the wishes of the Con
vention.” If I have succeeded in doing this,
I am content.
And, now, let me just say, that if any of
your readers have entertained unkind thoughts
towards the Memphis Board, and said unkind
things in relation to it, I hope they will show
their repentance as Zaccheus did his, “ And
now Lord, the half”—a reasonable portion —
“ of my goods I give to the poor”—the Sun.
day School Board—" and if I have taken any
thing from any man, wrongfully”—if I have
withheld anything, wrongfully, from the Sun
day School Board, “ I restore him four-fold,”
I will give four times as much to the Board,
bv reason of my past delinquency,
T. C. Tbasdale, Cor. Sec.
Memphis, Ten n., Let. 28 th, 1869.
To tlie Baptist Sunday School Workers* of
Alabama.
As Chairman of the State Sunday School
Committee, created at the late session of the
State Convention, I beg leave to call your at
tention to a most valuable auxiliary for your
work. The Baptist Teacher is a monthly
journal for Sunday school workers, published
by the American Baptist Publication Society,
530 Arch Street, Philadelphia. It is edited
by Rev. A. E. Dickinson , of Richmond, Vir
ginia, (one the proprietors of the Religious
Herald), and Rev. Geo. A. Pellz, of Philadel
phia. The former of these brethren is too
well-known to you to need any commenda
tion ; of the latter , every report says that he
is a conservative Christian pastor, writer, and
Sunday school worker. The following ex
tract, irom the January number of the Teacher
breathes the “ true spirit,” and should meet
an appropriate reception :
“ For political issues we shall have no place
whatever, We are confident that the motto
of our late Convention, ‘ One in Christ will
be accepted by Baptist Sunday school labor
ers in ail parts of our land, and when the
Baptist Teacher teaches, or acts upon any
other doctrine, then it will be untrue tp the
purpose of its present owners and editors.”
1 have examined the January number of this
paper, and, judging from its character and
contents, am led to believe that the Teacher
will prove itselfa most invaluable adjunct in
every department of Sunday school labor. To
elevate the standard of Sunday school in
struction, to extend Sunday school .missions,
to disseminate information with respect to
Sunday school organization and discipline,
and to bind together all our Sunday school
workers, are the noble object which it seeks
to promote. For these purposes, it seems
peculiarly adapted.
The series of Bible Lessons for 1870, on
the Life of Jesus, (to which attention has al
ready been called, in the Index,) is most val
uable, Each monthly issue of the Teacher
will contain a lesson for every Sunday of that
month. 1 have examined all of the most pop
ular series of lessons in use, and prefer this
to any of the others. This is also the opinion
of more experienced Sunday school workers
with whom I have conversed on the subject.
I earnestly commend this paper to your
attention and support. Every Sunday school
worker needs it. The interests of the Sunday
school cause in your field, demand it. The
Pastor needs it; the Superintendent needs it;
the Librarian and the Secretary ueecT it. But,
above nil others, the Sunday scjjapl teacher
needs it. For Sunday school teafthing is a
science, in which we can never be too thor
oughly instructed. And, as a science, it needs
much development and elevation. As an
auxiliary to that work, the Teacher is a ne
cessity.
Terms: 75 cents, single copy, one year;
50 cents, in clubs of 10 copies and upwards,
to one address. 11. C. Townsend.
Montgomery, Jan. 1870.
- Elders—Ruling and Preaching.
‘“Let the Elders that rule well be counted
worthy of double honor, especially they who
labor in the word and doctrine.”—l Tim.
v: 17, 18.
1. Ruling Elders, men whose special office
it was to rule,- seem to be distinguished in
this passage.
2. Preaching Elders; men whose special of
fice it was to “labor in the word and doctrine,”
seem also to be distinguished.
It has been held that the word here rendered
“labor,” is “exhaustive,” meaning “ to toil,
to work hard.” —Lidell and Scott. And that
these strenuous ministers of word are simply
distinguished from their less laborious coad
jutors, each class to be honored in proportion
to their laboriousness. There is ingenuity in
this view, but it is not an obvious one. Be
fore looking into a concordance, we find that
the word in the original is most exactly ren
dered in our version by “ labor,” and that in
both cases it may be said that the term does
not always imply “ toil,” but sometimes
moderate exertion, such as most men exhibit
in their several callings. If this be so, the
construction is forced, or however moie inge
nious than substantial. We fall back, there
fore, upon the interpretation which an unbi
ased mind would make, supposing no difficul
ty suggested by the stronger meaning of the
term in question, and assume the distinction
we have indicated.
The existence of a plurality of Elders in
every church, agrees well with this interpre
tation. The “ Elders” of the Church at Je
rusalem are mentioned many times. Paul
and Barnabas returning from their first mis
sionary tour, came by the churches they had
established, and “ordained them elders in
every church.”—Aotsxiv: 23. Paul from
Myletus, “ sent and called the elders of the
church” at Ephesus.—Acts xx : 17. “ For
this cause left I- thee in Crete, that thou
shouldest set in order the things that are want
ing, and ordain elders in every city, as I had
appointed thee.”—Tit i: 5.
It is not forgotten that the Church, collec
tively, is the highest judicatory—the local
church we mean. That question is set at rest
by a fact mentioned in the second epistle to
the Corinthians, in reference to the exclusion
of the incestrous man. “ Sufficient to such
a man is this punishment, which was inflicted
by many,” literally, of the •major part, the
majority. This may bfe shown in many ways,
but that is not the matter now in hand.
Our conclusion is, that discipline was or
dinarily administered by the eldership of the
church, with the privilege on one hand, and
the right on the other, ot appeal to the church
as a whole.
Prudential reasons often force a judicious
pastor to see to it that a delicate case be pre
paredly the consultation of the wiser breth
ren, before coming into church. Otherwise,
“ firebrands, arrows, and death,” are scattered
around.
What right have we to dispense with a
plurality of elders, whether lay or ministe
rial I E. B. Teague.
The Alabama Convention.
Brethren of Alabama: We hold annually
what we call, the Alabama Baptist State
Convention.” This Convention, we under
stand to be a “ Big Association, with simi
lar powers to those of all other Baptist As
sociations, however small. The only ad
vantage that it has for doing more good than
other or smaller Associations, is to be found
in the fact that the body is composed of more
talent, and represents a larger number of
brethren —that is to say, it is composed of all
the talent of all the others, and hence embodies
all the elements of power in the Stale, in one
body; that the whole of this power may be
brought to bear in a given way, at a given time,
for the accomplishment of a given purpose:
herein consists its superiority. If this be true,
it follows, that if the State Convention shall
represent all other Associations in the
State, and hence all the Baptists of the
State, it will be able to accomplish the
very highest good that the Baptists of the
State can accomplish by any such Conven
tion ; but if the State Convention shall not
represent all the other Associations in the
State, and hence not all the Baptists of the
State, it will not be able to accomplish the
amount of good that might be accomplished
by the Baptists of the State, through said
Convention. And such State Convention
will fall short of doing the good that might
be done by such Qgnvention, just in that de
gree that it falls short of representing all the
Baptists of the State.
Now, if the Convention is held for the
purpose of doing good, (and that is most cer
tainly our object,) and if that good can only
be accomplished in that degree in which the
Convention represents the brethren of the
State, (and I hold as self -evident, that this is
the only way in which it can do good,) it then
follows, as a matter of the very first importance,
and as one vital to the interests of the Con
vention, that it should represent, as nearly as
possible, all the brethren in the State; and if
upon examination it should be found that it
does not represent thbm, but that they are
being represented in other and smaller As
sociations, not corresponding with it in any
way, or if corresponding, doing it as a mere
formality ; it will then most surely follow as
a necessity to the usefulness of the Conven
tion, that we devise some plan whereby it
may be made most emphatically oor Con
vention ; that is to say, the “Alabama Bap
tist State Convention.”
Now, brethren, if my understanding of
what a Baptist Convention is, is right, (and
if my views are wrong I hope some brother
will present better ones,) we should next con
sider the Convention in all its proportions,
and see whether it has the cooperation of the
Baptists of the State. Has it, brethren ? I
need not tell you, no. You know the answer
as well as I do. It is a fact, that large sec
tions of the State, in North and East Ala
bama, are not cooperating with the Conven
tion. We need not say whose fault it is; to
establish the fact is our object. Let us now
consider some of the reasons why we are not
together. The first and grandest reason is,
the want of systematic thinking, and hence,
the want of systematic action, that so gener
ally pervades the masses of the brethren,
from which results the want of orqanized
effort, which constitutes the weakest ele
ment in Baptist character, the very thing that
are now deploring, Now, this state of
WHOLE NO. 2472.
mind is in direct antagonism to Associations
of ail kinds and sizes; for they are advisory
oouncils, having for their object the inaugura
tion of organized effort; hence, this state of
mind among the brethren must be oured (for
it is a dangerous disease) before we can in
duce them to enter in fully into the Conven
tion. Therefore, brethren, we should not
leave any means untried that would be like
ly to remedy the defect. The second reason
is, that quite a large number of Baptists in
the State are opposed to the Convention, and
prejudiced against it. They regard it at tame
kind of a bugbear. They think it is a “money
machine ,” for the support of a feu) favor
ites, from which no good can result. They
think it is composed of aristocrats, who would
scarcely speak to a “ poor country Baptist.”
These are terrible prejudices, and prevent
thousands from co-operating with the Con
vention ; but if these brethren could only bs
made acquainted with it, these prejudices
would be removed ; for they would find that
the Convention was not, cursed with any of
those things which constituted their objection
to it. We must not curse our brethren be
cause they have not co-operated with us in
the Convention, for they are good brethren
and want to do right; but we must sbk right
before we can act right. I warrant that an
acquaintance with the Convention will usually
remove all the prejudices of this olass of
brethren ; therefore no effort should be spared
that will bring these brethren in contact with
it, that they may be made acquainted with
its operations, and learn to love it, and help
it, and call it our Convention.
I know that a great many brethren of the
Convention, aud able brethren, too, think that
all such objections as these have long since
given way to light and knowledge. They
found this opinion upon their knowledge of
the country where they live, and it is true in
regard to those districts, but not true of
all. Brother Teague, during the last meeting
•of the Convention, remarked, and truly too,
“That many needed to be lassoed yet.” I
was glad to hear him say it; for, brethren, I
know that it is emphatically necessary in re
gard to thousands. Let them be “ lassoed,”
and their prejudice is gone. Brethren, I
speak plainly in regard to these matters,*not
fearing that I will be misunderstood ; fori
want it distinctly understood that I am a
friend to the Convention, and it is on this ac
count that I have spoken as I have. Ido
hope that when the Convention meets next
year at Opelika, every Association in
East Alabama will be represented. I hope
that brethren who think it important that not
only those Associations and churches that
have heretofore been represented in the Con
vention, but all in the State, will spare no
pains in extending by personal effort, the in
vitation to attend, more widely than it has
been done heretofore. Brethren, we may do
more good in the future than we have in the
past. Let u3 fully awake, and in all the
strength which God shall supply, go forth to
plant the interests of the Convention in the
hearts of the brethren, s6 that when it speaks
and acts, it may speak and act with a majes
ty and power .worthy of the brotherhood of
the State. Let it be what it ought to "be.
Not Air “Alabama Baptist State Convention,”
but the “Alabama Baptist State Convention.”
John P. Shaffer.
County Line, Ala.,'Dec. 20, 1869. t
A Good Omen.
In a day of “rebuke and blasphemy?’ one
hails with delight anything ominous of good
to the Israel of God. Let every Baptist re
joiee at the advent of“77ie Baptist Teacher
a monthly journal for Sunday school work
ers, published by the American Baptist Pub
lication Arch Street, Philadel
phia. In addition to the vast utility of such
a publication, a most gratifying fact is reach
ed : a Sunday school paper for the whole
Baptist communion, East and West, North
and South. The crippling policy of having
so many publications of the kinfl is abandon
ed, and one, ably edited by an editor North
and South, is substituted for the thumbpaper
issues of the past. The Lord be praised !
It is heart-sickening toevery lover of truth
to see the Baptist family in the United States,
with intellectual and physical forces enough
to move the word, divided, and subdivided
in their plans of doing good. This should
not be, and the Master has so decided. The
signs and tokens are good for a coming to
gether. The “Baptist Teacher" will, a little
monthly as it is, contribute largely to unify
the great Baptist family. The time, the
blighting time, is past for setting metes and
bounds to the Baptist Israel of America.
The bone of contention which was used by
religious demagogues is removed, and noth
ing but captiousness and self-interest now pre
ventathe most satisfactory unification. Among
Baptists, let there be no North, South, East,
nor West; in their faith, practice, energies,
lives and deaths, let them be “one in Christ
Jesus.”
Baptists have a great work to do ; a great
battle to fight. They are the constituted and
legitimate opponents of error, and it has been
the wise policy of the “Prince of this world”
to divide them in their counsels and energies.
And alas I how well he has succeeded. But
we “thank God, and take courage,” at the
signs of the times. The Muster has rebuked
demagogues.
And what now prevents the whole Baptist
brotherhood from rallying to the American
Baptist Publication Society, and make it an
engine of power all over the world 1 Why
should not the Baptists at the South make it
their Publication House ? They helped build
it up in the good days of union and love.
Business men, and godly men, have charge
of it now, and let every Baptist thank God
that they have such an institution, managed
by such men, and rally to its support. And
can any Baptist, in any Section, give a good
reason, a reason that would stand the test at
the Judgment, for more than one Board of
Missions, Domestio and Foreign, in the Uni
ted States ? The reasons that have existed
do not now exist, and there should be but
one Board and one Publication Society. Let
Baptists away with their ponderous machin
ery, and centralize their etlorts, and then the
world will feel their power. No thoughtful
person will envy the heart that can plead for *
sectional efforts.
As a man lam a Southern man, as a ChrisU
ian I am a Baptist—an advocate for a united
Baptist family. “Is Christ divided? Was
Paul crucified for you ? or were you bap
tized in the name of Paul ?” Let those who
would keep up the old geographical bounds,
thereby weakening the energies of God’s
people, know assuredly that their davs are
numbered. k. T.
Worship of Makv. — lne JV-. Y. Observer
says: Anew dogma, arising out of, and a
natural sequence of the Immaculate Confti*
tion, has been inculcated by Dr. Oswalcr —
Romish theologian, who affirms in his “ Man--,
ology “We maintain the co-presence of
Mary in the Eucharist; this co-presence is
the necessary consequence of our Marian the
ory, and we have no reason to dread the con
sequences which flow from it,” And “we
believe that the presence of Mary iu the sacred
elements of the Eucharist is complete, and
that she is to be found perfectly consistent in
them both in body and soul.” Is this new
dogma to be broached in the Ecumenical Coun
cil this month ?