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10 J.J. TOON, ■ - • * Proprietor. Editor: R«?v. D. SHAVER, D.D. CORRESPONDING EDITORS: Rev. J. J. D. REMFROE, Talladega, Ala. Rev. 3. HENDERSON, D.D., Fayetteville, Ala. THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1870. Our Humble Bow. “And some said, What will this babbler say ?’’ Well, we do not expect to be a setter-forth of strange gods, nor of new doctrines; but we as pire to aid, in some humble sort, the promotion of the Redeemer’s cause in Alabama. The propriety of the writer’s connection with the Index and Baptist, as Corresponding Editor, may be questioned by some good brethren—we have questioned it ourself. To all, however, we desire to say that we have consented to this, in the hope that we might, in this way, render some additional service to the Master and the churches. Other brethren have thought that we could; and the Editor and Proprietor have thought the same. Therefore, in association with Dr. Henderson, we have entered into this arrangement with a deter mination to do our best. At this writing, justice to ourself requires that we should say, that we have not at any time sup posed that the editorial force of the paper needed reinforcements. Nor have we imagined that we could add to the interest and life of a paper edited by Dr. Shaver. Since the war our Slate Convention has uni formly adopted this paper as the organ of its en terprises, and pledged its support; and now the most necessary thing to preserve this obligation in good faith, is, that Alabama Baptists will learn to feel that it is their paper. Our Georgia brethren are anxious that we shall practically re member that they and we have a common inter est in the paper. We are perfectly aware that there are other pa pers circulating in our State, whose circulation will continue here. We do not object to this. But it is vastly important that our brethren should concentrate on some one paper: however many others they may take, one ought to be recognized universally as the medium of communication on subjects relating to our denominational enter prises in the State. This would greatly conduce to our union and co-operation, and to a more thor ough organization of Baptist strength in Alabama. We would thus be kept informed of our State en terprises, and would be familiar with the efforts of our brethren throughout the State. Now, it strikes us as very clear, that no odier paper now existing can so easily reach these (Stda as the Index and Baptist. If we could but seer the fact, we would realize that Atlanta is as suit able a location from which to issue a Baptist pa per for Alabama, as any city in our own State. By way of Columbus, West Point, and Rome, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn., there are four lines of railways leading from Atlanta directly through the body of our State, so that in a few hours the paper may be transmitted throughout the State. My paper frequently reaches me at Talladega be fore the printer’s ink is dry, and in 24 hours more it would go to the western border of the State. These things being true, may we not expect that our brethren will make an earnest effort to give the paper a good circulation over the State? May we not ask that every subscriber in Alabama will at once attempt to send at least one new sub scriber to the paper? We know that many will be much pleased to see again the name of Dr. Henderson connected with this paper, and we trust that many will not object to our position and efforts. Then, brethren, let us make a fair test of this matter. J. J. D. R. Short Sermons: Study of Truth. Rev. H. P. Liddon, the Batnpton lecturer on “Our Lord’s Divinity," has been pronounced the foremost preacher of the British pulpit. We no tice in one of our exchanges a statement, that his hearers, while usually content with discourses but five minutes in length, grant him patient au dience for the space of a full hour. Now, is not this a marvel ? A company of deathless spirits, approaching the verge of an unalterable decision and an eternal destiny, are willing to follow, for sixty minutes , the most eloquent man of his age perhaps, in a discussion of the great and vital themes on which hang all their hopes forever and ever! We are surprised —astounded —to hear it. Not because their at tention can be detained, for this length of time, by the disclosures of a divine revelation and the proffers of an infinite mercy; but because the fact should be deemed worthy of special note, in virtue of its rarity. There is a terrible indict ment of our race in it. For what stronger proof of inborn and “ desperate ” depravity can there be, than this indifference to the truths of “ the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory”—an indifference from which men are with such difficulty wakened, and into which they re lapse with such instant haste ? It is the voice of human godlessness that, burdens the air with the outcry for short sermons. The principles of the law and the facts of the gospel, which fix their roots in the infinite depths of the nature of God, and unfold their issues through an immortality without change or end are they short ? The needs of our ignorance, to which the whole spiritual universe is at first an empty void and afterward a chaos of vague or presumptuous imaginings, and the consequences of our probation, which must glow with heightening splendor, or darken into denser gloom, when this universe of matter, “ waxing old as doth a garment,” shall perish—are these short? Why, then, should we demand short speech concerning these things from those who come, as messengers from Jehovah and witnesses for Jesus, to deal with us, in their stead, on the question of salva tion from sin? Why should we bestow on these things short thought, when yesterday the world engrossed us, or passion blinded us, or we lay in the stupor of carnal unconcern—when to-morrow we may have passed from the sphere of trial, and seen the face of the Judge, and heard the sentence of award, and sunk into the abyss of despair ? Oh, there is, there can be, no solution of this fol ly, except that which our guilt and corruption 6upply. We are prisoners whom the deliverer finds in the midnight of the dungeon; but we hate the light which he brings to shine on the way of our feet and make escape sure, and we close our eyes against it. That is the sad and frightful secret of the whole matter. Men act toward no other truth as they act to ward saving truth. It is for this they reserve their especial indifference and disgust. Contrast, for example, the congregation yf Liddon with the naturalist, John James Audubon. “Discov ering a little wren that so resembled, in tint, the bark on which it *at that it was difficult lo ob iseiveit, he watched the bird until he found n flair that were building a nest • theo, going into the woods with a telescopic microscope, he lav upon his back on a bed of ir.oss and observed its ‘•habits daily for three weeks. After that he felt that he knew the bird, and was satisfied to have purchased exact knowledge at such a price.” Would men but give something of this patience £*id enthusiasm in study to the mighty verities of THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SODTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1870. Scripture! But, alas, what multitudes pass through life, without devoting to the themes in which “ the manifold wisdom of God ” has em bodied itself, and out of which are the issues of eternal bliss or eternal woe for them, so much time and thought, in the whole course of their years, as this student of nature expended on the habits of a wren 1 No wonder, then, that an Infidel publication should represent “the teachings of the Bible as having lost tluur interest for the public mind.” No wonder Ihsit the opponents of definite doc trinal belief, exult in the persuasion that clearly outlined creeds arc among the things that were, and no longer sway the mass of men. Truly to know “ the things that make for our peace,” and rightly to appreciate them, —to have them stand out before the mental vision as substantive, grand realities, and to feel that they lay bold of us with an arm of power,—there must be thought: there must be continuity of thought Without these, our conceptions of divine truth are necessarily indistinct and shadowy. We cannot sharply de" fine it, or live within the sweep of its potency, without these. We protest against the clamor for short ser mons, therefore, as unfriendly to the thought, and especially the continuity of thought, without which the truths of Scripture can neither be known, nor felt, „i> the fullest and best sense of the terms. It is at war, too, with the precise function of the pulpit, as leading in what may be styled, (by way of distinction from other branches of reli gious service,) the worship of God with the in tellect. But on this point we cannot dwell at present. A Jewish Witness. We are indebted to Rabbi Isidor Kulisch for the information, that “all Christians are astray on the form of baptism.” He holds that, for ages before the origin of Christianity, this rite was ob served as “a sign of admitance to Judaism,”by “the submersion of the whole body of the proselyte in water, in an entirely nude stateand that when John the Baptist and the apostles transferred the ceremony to the religion of Jesus, they “surely performed it in the same way and manner as the Jews.” We can hardly concede, on the strength of this traditional argument,that our denomination—“the imitators of John the Baptist and the apostolic church,” as the Rabbi, if we rightly construe his language, terms them—have departed from the “ original and proper form” of the ordinance, in not combining the nudity of the body with its submersion in water. For the Scriptures bear witness to the submersion, but ate without a token or trace of the nudity. But in the discussion between Baptists and Pedobaptists on the form of the ordinance, the Rabbi is an impartial witness, so far as regards the exegetical and philological argument. Hos tile to both parties alike, no bias towards either warps his investigations. And, in reference to the primitive baptismal act, he says, in the Chris tian Union: “There was no sprinkling of water, as can be seen by a description of the baptism which was performed by John. (See Matt, iii: 6, 16; Acts viii: 36.) The Greek expression, bap tisrna, used in the New Testament, shows clearly that submersion of the whole body is required.’’ We commend to the thoughtful this testimony, which, at least lies open to no suspicion of sec tarian prejudice. Church Government. “ Caleb Cushing once remarked that there were but two church governments in the world worthy of the name—one was the Papal and the other the Presbyterian, or the despotic and republican. He seemed to icgard the English, or Episcopal, as ‘neither one thing nor the other,’ lacking the efficiency of both.” This sounds well enough, if men only ignore the teaching of the Scriptures, that the only Christian church, as a n organization, isjhe church “particular,” or “the congregation of faithful men;’’ and that each particular church governs itself under the law of Christ, and regulates its own free co-operation with other churches accord ing to His will, without the intervention of au thority from abroad. The organization of “church es ” in any other sense is the work of men, and their “government,” of course, must be. We are quite willing, therefore, that Caleb Cushing and all others who repudiate the Independency of the New Testament, should speak as though it were not “ worthy of the name of church gov ernment.” It is the Divine provision and protest against all forms of intermeddling on the part of human unwisdom with the structure of the king dom of Christ. It is the safeguard appointed of Heaven, against the very existence of any organ ized churches except the particular, and against the “governments” which override the rights and crush out the liberty of these. Such language, we repeat, is allowable, where Scriptural Independency has first been disowned and rejected. But we view the matter differently when those who profess to embrace this system permit themselves to say, like Rev. Dr. Duryea, a year or two since, that ‘Congregational churches are types of the church of the Millennium, be cause under the personal reign of Christ there will be no need of government either in State or Church, and the Congregationalists have next to none.’ Next to none, indeed! So far as they really adhere to Independency, they have the most complete and perfect of true church gov ernments —for they have the one which Christ himself instituted, and the only one which He will acknowledge in the last day. But the truth is, that American Oongregation alists, (for whom Dr. Duryea speaks,) were led, as far back as 1648, through the unhappy alliance of Church and State established in New England, to depart from strict Independency, and to repu diate the term. This natural consequence of en tanglement in the meshes of politics, taken in connection with the membership of infants and of unregenerate adults as brought in by Pedo baptism, vitiates the claim of that denomination to he recognized as maintaining the Scriptural church government Baptists alone are Jest to occupy the ground of Divine appointment in the matter of ecclesiastical polity; and we hope they may always have grace to say with Zwingle, “Out of man’s devices any may feign what they list: w e rest in the Holy Scriptures.” Baptismal Questionings. We give the following from a list of “ doctrinal queries,” by a correspondent of the Memphis Christian Advocate , as illustrating the unrest which, extensively, disturbs the peace of our op ponents. “ 1. Was spiritual life embraced in the promises of the Abrahamic covenant, and was circumcision, the seal of the covenant, a sign of an inward work of grace upon the heart, or did it have reference only to temporal bles&ings ¥ 2. When a child received circumcision, the seal of the covenant, by divine appointment, and thereby became a member of the church of God, whs circumcision a sign unto the child that it was in a justified condition before God, or was it merely a sign that the child was embraced in the promises of the covenant ? 3. Did the Abrahamic covenant possess all the yjr.tyes of the gospel of Christ, and were men ;;aved through its promises in the same way, and through the same means, as they are under the gospel dispensation ? 4. Was baptism instituted in the place of cir cumcision, and is it the seal of the same covenant of which circumcision was the token ? 5 When a child is baptized, does it thereby become a member of the Church of God, and is baptism a sign unto the child that it is in a justi fied condition before God, or is the baptism merely' a sign that the child is embraced in the promises of the covenant ?” Simply to inquire is to put Pedobaptism in peril. When the mind wakens to doubt and determines to investigate, the sceptre of that system is half broken. As an instinct of seif-preservation, it ought to hate interrogation points , and wage a relentless crusade against them. Their presence in books ought to stand to it, as prima facie evi dence of heterodoxy. 8. S. B. We invite the attention of our readers to the fact that brother Boykin, Macon, Ga., is District Secretary for the Sunday School Board, and that he will receive money for that Board, and for Kind Words. Thatexcellent little paper deserves a very extended circulation. Reviews snd Notices. The Debate: A Religious Discussion, which took place Aug. 31st and Sept. Ist, 1869, between Rev. G. A. Coulson, of the United Baptist church, Hod genville. Ky., and Rev. S. A. Kelly, of the Chris tian Reform church, Horse Cave City. Ky., on the following propositions:. 1. The New Testament Scriptures leach that a man is a child of God, justified, saved, before he is baptized. (Coulson affirmed, Kelly denied:) 2. The New Testament Scriptures leach that all the power is in the gos pel necessary to quicken the sinner. (Kelly affirmed, Coulson denied.) Being a verbatim report by Mor ris E. Jones, Phonographic Reporter. Louisville, Ky.: Jno. P. Morton & Cos. Pp. 93. The title page sufficiently- describes the char acter of this pamphlet. What we have had leis ure to read creates the impression, that the de batants scarcely possess the analytic power which strikes through the intricacies of a subject to its decisive principles. They have not untied the Gordian knot of controversy on the propositions discussed. Death in Old Age. Funeral Sermon of the late Rev William P. Farit h, preached in the Baptist Church, Cha-I llesville, Va., Nov. 7th, 1869, by Rev. J. C. Long. Pp. 16. The name of the author is a sufficient guaran ty, that (his is an appropriate tribute, to one who was eminently successful as a man of business, yet earnest as a Christian, and in later years use ful as a minister. Bro. Farish was an admirable specimen of what is called, with more or less cor rectness, the “ lay preacher and we wish that the class were greatiy multiplied among us. “Why may not farmers, merchants, lawyers, physicians arid mechanics, who have gifts for speaking, exercise these gifts in the service of the Master? They are none the less consecrated because, like Paul, their own hands minister to their necessities.” Lay Preaching. Sermon by Rev. Wayland Hoyt, Pastor of the Strong Place Baptist Church, Brook lyn. At the First Anniversary of the “New York Baptist Lay Preaching Association,” held in the Madison Avenue Church, N. Y., Sunday Eve ning, Nov. 14lh, 1869. With an Abstract of the Proceedings of said Anniveisary. Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society. Pp. 23. This discourse forcibly presents, as “ the New Testament ideal, the whole church a royal priest hood, and so the whole church a preaching church." It deals strong blows against the idea of “ any essential distinction between clergy and laity,” and urges weighty pleas for engaging in “this much'forgotten duty of lay preachers,” as necessary to make it no longer true “ that not more than one-fifth of all who bear the name of Protestant Christians add anything of perceptible importance to the efficiency of the church in the work of the world’s conversion.” We regret, however, that the sermon is not free from the vice of political allusion and of imagery drawn from the recent war. Thus, we are told that, while “slavery is dead and buried, thank God,” “a yet darker tyranny is marshalling its forces, to contest the dominion of this fair Amer ica of ours,” and that, “already in Cincinnati, in the casting out of the Bible from the common schools, you have heard the boom of the first gun against the Sumter of our Christian liberties manned and aimed by Rotnish hands.” A more pretentious passage of this kind, and one liable to the comment that it is an unconfessed but pal pable (and halting) imitation of Dr. Way land’s stirring paragraph, in his sermon on the Chris tian Ministry, with regard to the reception in New York of the tidings of peace between Great Britain and the United States in 1815, we quote in full: “I remember on that Sunday night, in Cincin nati, the other year, when the news broke in up on us that Richmond had been taken, how all were the commissioned messengers of the glori ous tidings; how everybody told it to everybody ; strong men weeping for very joy as they grasped hands in ecstacy —how the trumpets blared it, how bell flung it clanging on to hell, how flame flashed it back again to flame. J* was every body’s news and joy; everybody was its preach er. When Christ died on Calvary, God sent ringing through the world, the glad tidings that the kingdom of Satan had fallen, that now the gates of heaven stood apart for entrance through Jesus Christ the Lord. It was everybody’s glad tidings. Apostle sent it to apostle, believer sent it to believer, father sent it to child, child to father, king to subject, subject to king, master to slave,- slave to master, until the Roman Empire so re sounded with it, that all the hoary gods of heath endom tumbled in the concussion. What was everybody’s glad tidings then is everybody’s glad tidings now. Let us also try it—everybody, everywhere. Thus shall we win the world for Christ.” The First National Baptist Sunday School Con vention of the United States. Under the auspi ces of the American Baptist Publication Society. St. Louis, Nov. 2-4, 1569. Pp. 92. Price, 25 cents. This publication embraces the valuable essays on Sunday school matters read in the St. Louis Convention, with abstracts of the discussions on points of practical importance. It conveys many weighty and fruitful suggestions, and we would be glad to know that our schools were ordering a copy for each officer and teacher. Where this is done, it is furnished at ten cents a copy. Thf. Baptist Quarterly. Rev. H. G. Weston, D.D., editor. Philadelphia: American Baptist Publica tion Society. Terms: $3 a year, invariably in ad vance. Contents for January : Vol. IV, No. I.—l. Christ’s Exaltation and Second Coming, by Prof. A. C. Kendrick, D.D. 2. Spectrum Analysis, by \V. C. Richards, Pb. D. 3. Conception of Christ and Christianity in “ Ecce Homo,” by S. R. Ma son, D.D. 4. The New Dominion, by Prof. J. E. Wells, M.A. ,5. Baptism in the Greek Church, by Prof. A. N. Arnold, D. D. 6. The Three Methods of Preaching, by Prof. J. A. Broadus, P.D. 7. Exegetical Studies. 8. Book Notices. “The pearl among Quarterlies,” as this is styled by the Congregationalist, presents an in viting table of contents for the opening of the fourth volume. We advise Baptists, and espe cially Baptist ministers, to forward their order for it early. General Howell Cobb : A Memorial Volume. Ed ited by Samuel Boykin.. J. B. Lippincott & Cos., Philadelphia, announce to be published early in the present month, with this title, a crown Bvo volume of about 300 pages, elegantly printed on toned paper, ant} illustrated with two portraits on steel. It will include, be sides a variety of other articles, a biographical sketch by Gen. Wm. M. Browne, a discourse by Rev. E. W. Warren, a Funeral discourse by Rev. Wm. T. Brantly, D.D., a friendship’s offering by Rev. J. L. M. Curry, LL.D., etc. Price, cloth, gilt top, $3 ; half Turkey, marble edge, $4.50; English Turkey, gilt, $6. There needs no com mendation of such ft IJeiporial of the lawyer, statesman and soldier, to Georgians. Cosmopolitan Monthly. Wm. Henry Wylly, Editor. Atlanta. Terms: $4 a year; single copies, 35 cents. This is the successor of Scott's Monthly, and the January number gives excellent promise for its future. Among the original articles we notice “Major Martinet; or, thus- Lost Half-Hour,” a serial by Win. Gilmore Simms, “ Words, Words, Words,” by I. W. Avery, “the Ocean Waif,” by Mrs. B. M. Zimmerman, and “Sketches of Southern Character and Scenery,” by Rev. E. B. Teague. We hope that the friends of a home literature wir evince their desue to promote it, by a liberal patronage of the Cosmopolitan. Our Zion—in Our Exchanges, etc. Georgia. Rev. B. W. Whilden writes to us privately from Marshallville: “Thanks for your wishes that I may have a pleasant pastoral connection. I have every reason to expect it. We arrived here Friday, Dec. 31st. Warm hearts greeted our arrival and working Hands had done every thing in their power in advance, to anticipate our wants in our new home. I expect to preach in Marshallville on every Sabbath.” —Friendship Baptist church, Atlanta, (colored) should have been credited with 720 members, not 159, in the Minutes of the Ebcnezer Association. District of Columbia. Rev. John Berg writes to the Richmond [Jerald that the property of Columbian College, Wash ington, previous to the war, consisting of lands, college edifices, houses, ejc., amounted to $337,- 000 ; and that since the about $122,000 have been added, in buildings JLid grounds. It needs, he says, an endowmentiwnd which should give an income of a fund equfcl to at least $150,000; anew edifice which shall rank with the noble edificce of the national capital; an increase of the library ; an addition to the philosophical and chemical apparatus, etc. —Rev. P. Warren, of Navy Yard Church, Washington, has recently baptized six persons ; among them two of his sons.—Several promising youth connected with Columbian College, among them the son of Rev. Dr. Cuthbert, have been baptized at the Calvary and First Baptist churches ; and some who had the law in mind as their profession, are now turn ing to the gospel ministry. Kentucky. Rev. W. W. Gardner, after a pastorale of twelve years, resigns charge of our church at Rus sellville, on account of enfeebled health. He will still reside at that point, and preside over the Theological department of Bethel College.—Rev. J. M. Harrington reports 350 baptisms under his labors, as evangelist, from Aug. 9th, to Dec. 30th. —New Wiland church announces that “Elder J. A. M. Stone, now preaching in Illinois,” is in dis. order, having been excluded from its fellowship for unchristian conduct."—Madison Street church, Covington, has been completed at a cost, of S9V -000 : all paid except $1,200. Maryland. Os a Bible class of twenty-five members, at Sater’s church, Baltimore county, twenty-four have been baptized within three years. —Among the recent accessions to the First church, Balti more, were the two daughters of the pastor, Rev. J. W. M. Williams, D.D. , Missouri. Rev. J. T. M. Johnson begins, in Barton county, the Banner of Truth ; a paper in the interest of virtue, sobriety, morality and religion, without respect to denominational differences. —A meeting at Richland, Boone county, resulted in twenty-six accessions to the church*—A church has been organized at Mt Zion, jjioone, with thirty-two members dismissed from f*7Sasant Grove, and nine accessions since. North Carolina. Our' house of worship at Thomasville, nearly completed and worth about $1,200, is likely to be sold for a debt of S4OO. South Carolina. Rev. J. P. Boyce, D.D., was in our office, a few minutes last week, and reports 58 students at our Theological Seminary, Greenville, with others on the way. Texas. The church at Sabine Pass, organized a little over a year ago with five members, has had re cently an accession of 16—Rev. 11. F. Buckner, in reference to the proposition of Friendship As sociation Ga., to support him, says, in the Hous ton Herald: “ Their offer is generous and satis factory, only I am a Board man as well as an Old Landmark Baptist. I hope when I hear from the Executive Committee all will be satisfactory.”— Rev. Josiah Leake, writes to the Houston Herald from Chatfield Point : “ Errors in doctrine are injuring some of our churches and Associations, such as open or mixed communion, infant holi ness and justification, final apostacy, etc.” Virginia. Henry Williams, Jr., has commenced, in Peters burg, with the title The Shiloh Herald, a paper devoted to vital godliness and sound morality, and issued for the interest of the colored Baptists of Virginia.—Rev. W. H. Williams reports our church at Staunton, organized not more than fif teen years ago with a mere handful of members, as numbering over 200. Since he took charge of it, Sept. Ist, there have been additions by letter or baptism at each monthly communion season, and the Sunday school has been growing every Sabbath.—Rev. J. L. M. Ourry, LL.D., in a pri vate note, says: “The Index, like good wine, improves by age. The editorials are sound, dis creet, masterly. May God long preserve and abundantly reward you, as a Defender of the Truth in Jesus.” Illinois. The St. Louis Baptist gives the following, from the Northwestern Advocate, as a rare case in the history of our people: “Rev. E. B. Fairfield, ex- President of the Hillsdale (Baptist) College, a po litical speaker of acknowledged ability, a popular lecturer of some repute, and a Baptist minister, has recently, with his wife, united with the Oak Park Congregational church, near Chicago. Rev. M. W. Fairfield, his brother, is pastor of the church.” China. Dr. R. 11. Graves, of Canton, as a note from his mother informs us, expected to leave that city, yesterday, for San Francisco, and will remain in this country about a year, or until his health is re established. His plan is, to spend two or three months among the Chinese in California, and from thence tQ go to the Louisville Convention, expect ing to reach Baltimore about the first of June. We are gratified to know that he said in one of his letters to his own family: “I have no ac quaintance with Bro. Shaver, but have learned to love him from his editorials." Next week, we will lay before our readers a communication from his pen. Ordination. On Saturday, before the second Lord’s day in January, (Jan. Bth 1870), at Canton Bap tist church, Cherokee county, Ga., brother M, B, Tuggle wijs ordaifed to the ministry of the Gospel, Sermon by YV. M. Examination of candidate by J,R. Westbrook. Ordaining prayer, by W. M. Reese. Charge and Presentation of Bible, by W. H. Dean. Right-hand of fellowship, by J. R. YV est brook, followed by the Presbytery. Benediction, by the newly ordained minister. J. R. Westbrook, Moderator. A Case and a Query, The sisters in our church have a Sewing Soci ety. The members of this Society (like myself) are opposed to raffles and to other methods re sorted to by some professing Christians, for the purpose of raising money for religious objects. There is amapg the articles w-hich they have on hand, a ricffquiit which they regard as worth a hundred dollars. By raffling it, they can very easily realize this sum and probably more. From Christian principle, they are opposed to parting with it in this way. It is for sale, but they can not get its worth by selling it. They have told me that they will be governed by any suggestions that I may make. YVhile it is pleasant for a pas tor to have the confidence of his people, he is sometimes afraid to give his individual counsel, lest he should give that kind, the following of which, may not be for the glory of God. Please publish this communication, and give us your opinion or any suggestions that may occur to you. Some of the members of the Society have thought of the following plan : Let the members make up among themselves the money that the quilt is worth, and let the money be the property of the Society, to be devoted to the object of its formation, which is the building of a parsonage. Let each member draw for the quilt; then who ever obtains it, will sell it for the highest price that can be realized. The money thus raised will then be either divided among the members, to re imburse them (as far as it will go) for what they have paid out, or it will be put into the treasury of the Society. Something of this kind I thought of, as soon as they stated their difficulty, and I mentioned it. I then found out that we had thought, in sub stance, alike. It has occurred to me that what has been thought of, would be nothing more than members of a family drawing for a piece of pro perty, in which each has a share of ownership. As far as I am aware, there is no member of the Society, that has any desire to get the quilt for her own use. All that is wanted, is some plan not opposed to the spirit of the Bible, by which time and labor spent for a good object, will not be lost. These sitters desire to abstain not only from evil, but from all appearance of it. A Pastor. Georgia , 13 th January , 1870. plan proposed clearly obviates the chief objection toalottery, orraffle, —namely, theappeal to cupidity through the prospect of getting more than the worth of one’s money,—the risk of a small sum, in the hope of realizing a greater without paying an equivalent for it, while other sharers of the risk lose all. But just as clearly there lies against the plan, the objection that it resorts to chance to determine the right of prop erty, where no necessity for such a step exists— ignoring, for the time, the only proper basis of acquisition, in our industry, skill, labor, or fair payment, etc., —and tending to unsettle wholesome habits of thought and action, and to stimulate the imagination with dreams of easy and speedy gain without corresponding effort, (which is the germ from which gambling developes.) A raffle with these restrictions, then, works toward raflles without them ; and the mass of observers will not appreciate the difference, but will regard the action Society as endorsing and countenancing uWbstricted raffles. The wise rule in morals, that nothing of doubtful propriety should be done, except where greater doubt encompasses the op posite, concludes against the plan. Sell the quilt for what it will bring, with the understanding that the members of the Society will make up the difference between that sum and what the quilt is worth. This will cost them less than the plan proposed, and, at the same time, avoid a measure which, to say the least, is questionable. S, S. B. This is to certify that Rev. S. Boykin is duly appointed District Secretary of the Sun day School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, for Central, Southern and Eas tern Georgia and Florida, with full power to make collections for the Board, arrange for the establishment and maintenance of Sunday schools, within his District, and aid in the circulation of Kind Words, dtc. May the blessed Jesus, who manifested His love to the little children, in the days of His flesh, abundantly bless the efforts of brother Boykin in his labors of love, in their behalf! Thos. C. Teasdale, Cor. Sec. Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 4, 1870. In accordance with the above, I assume the position of District Secretary, and ask all the Pastors and Superintendents of my district to correspond and cooperate with me, in the interest of the Sunday school cause. Will they be so kind as to answer, for me, the following questions: is the state of Sunday schools in are the name and numbers of the schools, with which you are acquainted I 3. How many and which Sunday school papers do they take ? 4. What is their system of lessons? 5. How many copies of the Baptist Teacher, are taken ? 5. How many conversions took place in the Sunday school last year? 7. How many libraries and Sunday school books, in your Sunday schools? 8. Are the teachers, scholars and superin tendent generally regular or not? 9. Are more Sunday schools needed, and is their organization possible? Please send the name and address of all Sunday school men. Those sending me their address shall re ceive, gratis, anew Sunday school paper which 1 mean to publish in furtherance of my objects. PUBLICATIONS RECOMMENDED. 1. The Christian Index and South-Wes tern Baptist, Atlanta. 2. Kind Words, the Child's Delight, Mem phis. 3. Home and Foreign Journal, Richmond. 4. Baptist Teacher, Philadelphia, for Sun day school teachers, monthly. Price 75 cents, clubs 50 cents, 5. Lesson Papers, of American Baptist Publication Society, 6. The Sunday School Teacher, Chicago, 111., 81-50. 7. The Sunday School Blackboard, Newark, N. J., 81.00 8. House's Hand Book, Pardee's Index, Eg glestons Manual , Specimen copies of the above periodicals will be sent free, on application to the pub lishers. 1 will act as agent for any of the above publications, and remit for them on re ception of the money. 1 am agent, too, for all the many excellent English magazines and Sunday school papers, about which those desiring information may write me. My object is to promote the great Sunday school cause. Brethren, help me. Contribu tions for the S. S. B. may be sent me, and the receipt will be acknowledged in the Index. S. Boykin, Maaon, Oa. Alabama News. On the last Sabbath of the old year, our beloved Secretary of the Sunday ■ School Board, was with us and preached most earn estly and eloquently the “ Ti uth, as it is in Jesus.” afternoon, although the weather was and cold, he held a mass meeting iWPichools of Tuskegee, and gave the children a' very happy lecture. The at tendance was good, under the orcumstauces, and at the conclusion, he asked all to take his little envelopes and'raise the Board a New Year’s Gift. Quite a number, indeed almost all, took, the envelopes, and have been very active in canvassing the town. Brother T. remained with us three days, and made a good impression upon our people, and won golden opinions, both for himself and neglected cause. On Christmas Eve one of those pleasant episodes of pastoral life which make glad the heart of the creature man, occurred with us. The good sisters of our church and congrega- tion surprised us, very greatly, by calling at the door of the pastor, in the person of a committee, bearing, m their train loads of good and acceptable things. “ When it rains it pours,” is an old ada r e we never appre ciated before; but we do-How, as we look into our well-filled larder, smiling faces of our responsibilities J The charge was made and the out posts carried, with baskets and bundles, waiters and jars, boxes and wheel barrows, little servants and big servants, all, all, anxious to serve us with the many good things and sweet things, substantial things and unsubstantials, which they bore in, de spite our remonstrances, and finally left with us. But we can’t tell the half of what was done to us. Suffice it to say, that our foot fall is now hushed, by the softness of the car pe . We are warmed and fed, and at night our wearied limbs rest ainid the delights of comfortable blankets. After this we had im posed upon us some of the “ root of all evil,” and, as a New Year’s remembrance, a very handsome silver pitcher. But we took up our pen to say how much pleased we are with the new Baptist Teacher and its lesson papers. We think them the best aids to our work of Sabbath school in struction we have ever seen, and sincerely hope they will be instroduced into every school in the State. We are delighted with both Teacher and papers hero, and expect to adopt them at once. How fortunate, too, the union of the Child's Delight and Kind Words. Now, let us all follow the good example and unite to sustain and upbuild our schools throughout the State. The children, as well as grown people, are “ perishing for lack of knowledge.” A. C. B. Tustegee, Ala. Manly Hall. At the Alabama Baptist State Convention, a sermon memorial of Dr. Manly, was preached by Dr. Henderson. In addition to that tribute of affectionate remembrance, it was determined by the Convention to testify in more permanent form their respect for the memory of a great and good man, and to erect a building at Greenville for the use of the students, to be called “ Manly Hall.” Rev. E. B. Teague, of Selma, a pupil and friend, was appointed to collect funds for car rying out this honorable purpose. Nations, in all ages, have built monuments to the memory of the illustrious dead. Apart from recognition of merit, and thereby stim ulating worth and patriotism, and cultivating a taste for the fine arts, these monuments serve no specially valuable purpose. By a happy conception, the Convention wisely re solved to combine utility with gratitudet,—o erect a substantial memorial of personal and denominational love—to stamp enduringly a revered name upon a tasteful, architectural structure, and, at the same time, contribute to the increased usefulness of an Institution, which had the entire confidence and warmest attachment of him whose virtues are thus sought to be kept in lasting remembrance. No enterprise, which Baptist liberality has devised, enlisted more warmly the prayers and gifts of Dr. Manly, and it will be a beau tiful regard for his known preferences to identify his name with the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. J. L. M. Curry. Richmond, Ya. To tlic Lovers of Jesus in the South. Anew year is begun. How manifold are the blessings with which the old year was crowned! Who has not a thank-offering to bring to the Giver of all —not only the fruit of the lips, in praises to him, but also some offering which involves self-denial and sacri fice. The Board of Foreign Missions are enter ing upon their last quarter of the fiscal year, and must have the means to forward to their brethren in Foreign lands. They must have them soon. I believe they will come. The churches will not disregard the claim. I now ask every Baptist of the South for a thank offering, in the shape of a contribution for Foreign Missions. I beg each church for its offering. May not this little appeal be at once read to the congregation, and then an oppor tunity given to each one to give something to the cause of Foreign Missions ? I have refesred to the blessings of the past year, and the goodness of the Lord in bring ing us to see the year 1870, as a motive, But there is a higher consideration. The Apostle Paul, in a most pathetic and moving appeal for money, crowns his argument by the ex clamation, “Thanks be unto God for this un speakable gift.” This motive, dear brethren and sisters in Christ, I press upon your hearts. Who will make a thank-offering, in view of the love of God in giving His Son—in view of the love of Christ, in coming to save us. On behalf of the Foreign Mission Board. Jas. B. Taylor, Cor. Sec. Rechmond, Va., Jan. 4,1870. Letter from Baltimore. I forward, herewith, a short account of the doings, religious, and otherwise, of the Mon umental City. Although so far olf from the State of Georgia, yet being the border land, and so much intercouse necessarily existing between the two States, an occasional com munication may not be uninteresting to your readers. It is well known that, since the war, Balti more has rapidly improved, in population and commerce. The city numbers now more than 350,000 inhabitants. Several great tho roughfares are being made by widening streets. Handsome buildings are taking the place of the old ones, and improvements are in pro gress which will involve an outlay of many millions of dollars. I hope, also, there is some little advance morally. The slumbering church appears to be waking up to devise means for reaching the masses, who attend no place of religious worship. Probably, in our city of churches and religious activity, there are more than one hundred thousand persons who never cross the threshhold of any religious temple, and twenty-five thousand children, who attend no Sabbath school, This is a fearful state of religious destitution. How would the weep ing Prophet, or the Apostle to the Gentiles be stirred up, at beholding this spectacle ? “’Tis impious to be calm,” with such a scene as this before us. But one grand and hopeful feature of this third quarter of the nineteenth century is, that Christians are beginning to cast a tearful eye over the moral destitutions of this sin blighted world, and to devise means for its recovery. This is the case, somewhat, in Bal timore. All departments of Christian effort appear to be reviving, and putting forth new energy. For the last four weeks, Rev. Mr. Earle, a distinguished Evangelist, has been laboring in our midst with great success, He preached at all the Baptist churches of the city, but labored chiefly, at Dr. Euller’s and the First Church, Dr. Williams’. Hundreds have been converted, and the work is still going on, Mr. Earle, however, has left, this day, for his home, in order to rest, and recuperate, that he may be fitted for more labor during the winter, It is the intention of Mr. Earle t > go South, and remain there during the winter. He will, probably, visit New Orleans, Mobile and other cities in Alabama and Georgia. I have no doubt he will be the means of doing great good in the South. He is undoubtedly a safe man. Though a native of the North, he is free from politics, eccentricities, or clap trap. He preaches only Christ Jesus,and Him crucified. Without any startling flights of oratory, or attempts at grandiloquent display, he appeals earnestly to the consciences of men, beseeching them to be reconciled to God. Nor does he labor in vain. Success seems to attend him, wherever he labors. In Rich mond, Washington, D. C., Baltimore and other places, of which I have heard, the same results are found. In California his converts were numbered by thousands. He has left a fine impression in Baltimore, and ! felt that it was due to him, and to our dear brethren South, to write thus much in reference to this distinguished Evangelist, who will shortly visit them. They may safely give him a hearty welcome, in the name of the Master, whose servant he is. John Bkko. Baltimore, Jan. 11 th, 1870. Second Baptist Church, Macon. I have just had the pleasure of paying $2lO 50 towards liquidating the debt of our church, and I hope, hereafter, to pay a simi lar instalment every few weeks. This money is the result of a consultation of two Com mittees, appointed, one by the First Baptist Church of our city, and one by the Rehoboth Association, to examine into the condition and prospects of our Church, and inaugurate, if possible, some plan by which the building, which was mortgaged for the debt, might be preserved to the denomination, and the church itself saved from extinction. lam proud of the nobleness with which the brethren of the First Church have come up to our help and hope as much from the churches of the Rehoboth when I shall visit them. But why need they, or any of the Georgia Baptists, wait for me to visit them? They ought, to know that it is for the interest and honor of our denomination that this position, which has been acquired by much labor, expense and sacrifice, should not be abandoned. Why, then, not come up to our help 1 A small donation from each one who reads this, would free us from this incubus to our church, and permit us to start off vigorously and prosperously. Until this debt is paid, 1 fear our church will not prosper. Therefore, I make a special appeal to the churches of the Rehoboth, (which 1 was invited to vis t by the Committee, brethren Tharp, Lawton and Ross), and ask them to lay the matter before their churches, put down the names of those who are willing to give us from 50 cents to $5 per month, and remit the list and money received to me, at Macon. All the money shall be sacredly appropriated to the pay ment of this debt. I call the special atten tion of the following brethren to this matter, and beg them, in the name of Him who said, “Bear ye one another’s burdens,” to present our case to the churches: S. G. Hillyer, W. J. Moorcock, Dr. J. S. Lawton, W. C. Wi 1 Ices, W. J. Collins, B. F. Tharp, B. L. Ross, A. L. Moncrief, D. H. Moore, John A. Jackson, W. W. Ferguson, W. H. Richardson, J. H. Weaver, W. 11. Rice, G. W. White, K. B. Murchison—all good then and true. Very truly and fraternally, theirs and yours, S. Boykin. Nashville Tidings. The First Baptist Church has re called, by a unanimous vote, Rev. Dr. Skinner, to the pastorate of the Church, and he has ac cepted the call. So this Church has now a regular pastor, and is in fine working order. It has had six accessions in the past fortnight, three by baptism and three by letter. Its Sunday School is its “Crown Jewel;” and under the guidance of brothers Thomas and Pohlman, is going along finely on the road of progress. Brother John W. Thomas, the Superintendent, is also the Superintendent of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, and knows how to run both institutions “ to a dot.” Brother Pohlman is a Jewelry Merchant, and can detect a gem in the animal as well as the vegetable kingdom. lie is peculiarly fitted for the Sunday School work. Brother G. W. Inrnan commenced his la bors as pastor of the Cherry street Baptist Church, the first Sabbath in this month. We all hope that both churches will soon be greatly blessed, now that they have regular pastors. Dr. Skinner’s labors it is confidently believed, will be productive of more good in the future than heretofore. His pulpit min istrations are of the first order. He stands deservedly high as a minister and a man. Senola. Nashville , Tenn., Jan. 13, 1870. Albany Letter—Appeal. The Church in this place is much afflicted —the whole community is —by the death of Mrs Judge Vason, wife of our much loved brother D. A. Vason. She died yesterday forenoon, most calmly and sweetly, yet tri umphantly, for her confidence was unshaken, and hence, through Christ, her way was clear. Brother Editor, you or the Proprietor, come to our meeting in Albany. Rather you would—think it will pay. Our people know the “ Index man,” but not the editor so much. The Bishop may have invited you, but if not, all the same, come and welcome. We want a good turn out, and a good meeting, so come. Will you not? Say yes! We learn that Dr. Teasdale will represent the Sunday School Board, and it’s possible some one will the Domestic Mission Board, and brother Bailey’s large heart takes in all, and he will speak perhaps for the Foreign Board, and we want the “ Pointer” to point us which way to g°- We must have brethren from various places —Cuthbert, Lumpkin, Dawson and Americus. Fort Gaines is “honor bound” to come en masse, or very largely, for we give them the Association next time. Wm. N. Chaudoin. Cottage Home, near Albany , Ga. , We shall be happy to attend, if Provi dence permits, but cannot decide tho question just now. Rev. G. A. Lofton. Rev. George A. Lofton was called to ordination by this church two years ago, and has been serving us ns pastor since then, ably, faithfully, and accept ably. lie having been called to the pastorate of the Dalton church, and having accepted the call, we desire to express through tho col umns of the Index, our deep regret at losing a pastor we all love, and whom we would willingly have continued. Duty calls him from us; and we earnestly commend him to the brethren at Dalton, aud congratulate them upon securing so able and efficient a worker as brother Lofton. Our loss is their gain. Adopted in Conference at Antioch, Lee county, Georgia. Jas. D. Green, C. C. Dec. 4th, 1869. A Sad Affair. A young man, aged about sixteen years, named Thomas Wilcox, died at his father’s residence, a few miles from this place, on Sunday evening last, from an injury received during Christmas week. Young Wilcox, with some of his companions, were at a neigh bor’s house. One of them wishing to have some sport at his expense, filled a pipe nearly full o {powder, putting some tobacco on top of the powder, and gave it to young Wilcox to smoke. The powder soon exploded, burn ing his face and mouth dreadfully ; and the flame went down his throat, and burned him internally, so severely as to cause his death. Let those who seek amusement at the ex pense of others take warning from the fate of young Wilcox. W. M. R. Woodstock, Cherokee Cos., Ga., Jan. 13th, 1870. Rev. J. E. Dawson—Last Appeal. Mrs. A. P. Hill being about to publish her sketch of Dr. John E. Dawson, once more requests the use of such private letters of her brother as any of his friends may still have in their possession; and she hopes they will kindly search, and if any are found, send them to her by mail, at Atlanta, Georgia. *