Newspaper Page Text
82
Kulex mi jkjrtfet
jTTTtoon, .... Proprietor.
PUBLICATION ROOMS —4 & 6 SOUTH BROADWAY.
Editor: Rev. D. SHAVER, D.D.
CORRESPONDING EDITORS:
Rev. J. J. D. RENFROE, TcMadega , Ala.
Rev. S. HENDERSON, D.D., Fayetteville , Ala.
THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1870.
Tbe Lord’s Sapper.
It is not simply, perhaps not chiefly, the preach
ing of Spurgeon which explains his remarkable
success. That end is reached measurably, and
doubtless largely, through the thorough organiza
tion of his church—its marvellous system and
order in business, discipline and worship. A fact
illustrating that characteristic, which has fallen
under our eye recently, commends itself to us as
suggestive of a wide-spread, culpable and mis
chievous neglect on the part of evangelical
churches generally. Every member of his flock
receives yearly “ twelve communion tickets, with
dates printed, one of which he or she is required
. to put in the plate each month, as a proof of pres
ence at the celebration of the Lord’s sup
per;” and the penalty, in case of absence without
sufficient reason, is censure and, if need be, ex
communication.
We do not know that precisely this process is
most expedient, and it is not our purpose to ad
vise its general adoption. But may we not gather
a lesson of wisdom from it? Is not frequent neg
lect of the Lord’s supper, a virtual retraction of
that profession of faith and godliness, which this
ordinance is designed to renew and attest? Is it
not the usual recourse of the backslider jn heart
—of the conscious but yet-unavowed self-deceiver
—of the Christian, nominal or real, who has
lapsed into secret offendings and masks his guilt?
Must not the connivance of the church at this
inconsistency displease the God whose “ name is
Jealous,” “suffer sin” upon the soul of her
members, leave them without the admonition
which might avail to recall their straying feet
from evil paths, and make her a partaker of their
wrong and its chastisement? And yet, is it not
true that but little pains are taken by office-bear
ers to detect delinquency in this matter ; and that,
where it is known, efforts to reclaim the negli
gent parties-! are infrequent and perfunctory ?
Surely, “ there must be a more excellent way,”
and our churches have need to inquire after it
and walk in it. Better the stringent rule of Spur
geon’s church, than our laxity—far better. Loose
communionists as they are, we might well learn of
them in this regard.
What we Gave last -Year.
Taking the statistics of the denominations at
the South, in the American Baptist Year-Book for
1870, as the basis of calculation, the following
table presents, approximately, the average of con
tributions per member , in the several States, to
the Southern Baptist Convention, last year.
States. Costributions. Average.
Maryland, $ 5,765.34 SI.OB 1-4
Mississippi, 3,071-57 11 4-5
Georgia, 11,287.65 10 4-5
Alabama, 6,069.52 10 1-2
Kentucky, 7,194.72 08 1-6
Tennessee, 2,691.45 05
Texas, 1,152.79 04 1-6
South Carolina 2,146.08 03 1-3
Virginia 3,149.14 02 9-10
Missouri 1,348.77 02 1-2
Louisiana, 671.87 02 1-7
West Virginia, 376.29 02 1-7
North Carolina, 1,375.32.... 01 7-9
Florida 135.35 01 1-2
Arkansas, 85.40... 00 3-10
The testimony of this table is not a gratifying
one. We are pained by it. How very little are
we giving for Him who gave Himself fur and to
us! The average, for the whole South, is but
little over six cents per member. Surely, He
who chose for Himself a cross and prepares for
us a crown, is worthy of a better offering .
But we do not think that the case needs argument.
We submit the bald and naked showing to the
consciences—to the hearts —of the brethren.
Shall not the next year bear more creditable wit
ness to our liberality as a Christian people ?
Proof of the Trinity from Experience. (?)
Among the earlier Methodists, Charles Perro
net claimed to have enjoyed experimental evidence
of the distinction between the Father, the Son
and the Holy Ghost. By some interior vision,
‘so different from what is human as to be above
all description,’ he “beheld” (he tells us) “the
distinct Persons of the Godhead;” and, while
He “worshipped one undivided Jehovah,” held
conscious communion with “ each Person sep
arately.” If this testimony were capable of
verification, it would furnish anew and valid line
of argument for the doctrine of the Trinity—a
confirmation of the sense which orthodox Chris
tians attach -to the Scriptures, from the work of
God in the soul of man. But we doubt whether
such a direct apprehension of the distinction in
the Divine Nature, through creaturely conscious
ness and intuition, has not been reserved for the
life to come. Perhaps, it was vouchsafed to Adam
in his unfallen state: for we cannot but reject as
unwarrantable the inference which Bishop Mo
berly (in his Bampton Lectures) draws from the
silence of Scripture—that “our first father”
possessed no knowledge of the Trinity. But let
that be as it may, we question whether saints,
since the fall, are ever lifted so far above the plane
of absolute dependence on the written word, by
the overflow of inward light.
We notice, however, that claims similar to those
of Petronet are put forth in the recent volume,
—“ Experiences of the Higher Christian Life in
the Baptist Denomination.” As matter of curi
ous interest to thoughtful minds, we quote them.
A lady in New York says:
“ I had long enjoyed a sweet nearness to God
in prayer, and felt ardent desire to be unreservedly
consecrated to His service. In one of these sea
sons He was pleased to seal to my soul, in anew
and indescribable manner, its interest in the great
covenant of redemption, making over to my use
and benefit all the riches of grace and glory
which are embraced in that covenant. I have
said it was indescribable, and truly it was so; not
capable of being explained, or even comprehended,
but by "those who have experienced something
similar. The ardent thirst for self-consecration
which He bad implanted in my soul was met and
accepted, as was also an universal transfer of all
that I could call mine. In this I seemed as if
wholly passive, and at the same time mightily and
mysteriously active. The Persona of the Sacred
Trinity — Father, Son and Holy Ghost —seemed
unitedly and yet distinctly , each in His own
peculiar office , covenanting to he mine—to par
don, redeem and sanctify .”
A minister in Kansas also says:
On the Bth of January, 1866, while I was con
versing with a godly friend on the subject of faith,
the Holy Spirit —what shall I say ? —came upon
me in mighty power. I could only utter His
name by way of adoration for a quarter of an
hour, as my friend afterwards told me. I fell
upon the floor powerless, though not entirely un
conscious. For more than an hour I was so filled
with an awful sense of the presence of the Holy
Spirit that I had to pray almost constantly that I
might not shrink from what God had in store for
me. I could hardly bear to hear anything spoken
but the name or praises of the Third Person of
the adorable Trinity.
“Then came the precious Saviour and supped
with me. I never saw Him before as He appeared
then. His love melted me till I wept aloud.
During this visitation also I was lost to everything
else. It was the presence of Christ and Him
alone. How long this continued I cannot say
definitely. Perhaps it was half an hour. The '
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA: GA., THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1870.
tenderness, villness, freshness and power of that
blessed season of visitation (I can hardly call it
anything «lse) from Christ, I shall never forget
It was blessedness indeed. It was not so awful
as the previous experience of the presence of the
Holy Spirit It was love and sweetness in the
highest sense. I loved the Saviour then with an
intensity and a personal affection altogether as
real and much more delightful and heavenly than
any love I had ever felt or thought my soul capa
ble of. It was being with Christ in almost more
than an earthly sense.
“Finally came a consciousness of the Father’s
love. He, too, seemed nearer, more precious and
di si •' le than I can express. He seemed espe
c cious to me as my heavenly Parent
Wii, -swing Him in my soul, every other
thought was excluded. It was intimate commun
ion with God as Father.
Thus it was: first, the Spirit, whom I had so
nearly ignored, at least experimentally, nearly
consumed me by His presence; then, the Son
manifested Himself unto me as He does not unto
the world and as He had not unto me; and final
ly, the Father drew near, oh, so near, to me. It
was a spiritual view of each Person of the Trini
ty, only in the inverse order.
I wish to add that at this time I was in strong
health, was not overworked, or in any way nerv
ously excited. I was cool and collected, but
greatly in earnest in the pursuit of godliness, as
God enabled me to be.”
There is an odor of Mysticism about these
things—but they are worthy the space we give
them, if but one soul be led earnestly to weigh
the question, whether a higher, closer commun
ion with God than has entered into its past expe
rience, may not lie within reach of prayer and
faith ? If of no value doctrinally, let us gather
at least a practical benefit from them. Oh, it is,
it must be, true, that God will suffer us to rise
nearer to Him than we have yet risen. The dis
tance that parts us, is not of His interposing.
We have wandered from Him: let us hearken to
the voice of the prophet,—“ Take with you words,
and turn to the Lord: say unto Him, Take away
all iniquity and receive us graciously; so will we
render the calves of our lips.”
Two <• Separate and Distinct ” Baptisms.
Rev. Lovick Pierce, D.D., in the Southern
Christian Advocate , maintains that ‘the two dis
tinct formulas of baptism in the Methodist church
—one for infants and another for adults—prove
that they were to be separate and distinct services.’
He argues, therefore, that “all jumbling of the
two services into one is disorder,” and “ must
lead to a mutilation of both.” And he complains
that presiding elders, who sometimes resort to
this measure, “not unfrequently make an un
seemly mangled mess of it.”
Now, we respectfully submit that baptisms
which require “two distinct formulas” can
scarcely constitute the “one baptism” of the
New Testament. One-ness cannot need “sep
arate services” to give expression to it. One
ness cannot be subject to “ mutilation,” or be
come a “ mangled mess,” by being embraced in
a single service. We must choose between the
two, then, and accept the baptism of infants
alone, or the baptism of (believing) adults alone ,
as the ones Scriptural baptism. And when the
question is reduced to this shape, shall we not fix
our choice on that baptism which the New Testa
ment attests by express precept and plain and
clear example—that is, in the baptism of believ
ing adults?
Mercer University—Correction.
Through an oversight of the proof-reader, (who
chanced in this case to be the Editor,) the name
of Judge JonN T. Clarke, of Cuthbert, Ga., was
omitted last week, from the Committe to Exam
ine Locations for Mercer University. In due
compliance with instructions from the President
of the Board of Trustees, we “apologize.” 1
The Storm and the Calm.
“The English word, soul, and the German,
seele, comes from a Gothic root, saivala, which
signifies to storm." An expressive and not unfit
origin. What a stormy thing is the soul of man,
since severed from God and surrendered to sin!
How restless desires stir it 1 How vehement pas
sions rage through it!
Thank God, there is One who can allay this
fierce tempest. The voice of Jesus has power to
say, “Peace, be still 1” We ‘find rest to our
souls’ from Him —nay, in Him. In proportion
as He dwells within us, a “ great calm ” flows
out from His presence and we repose in it. On
His bosom, what unrest should —or can—disturb
us?
A Frequent and Hurtful Mistake.
A revival reporter, in a late issue of a Baptist
paper, says: “About fifty souls have been con
verted, and at least thirty-five of these are of the
Sabbath school; showing that the Sabbath school
leads the van in bringing souls to Christ."
Now, we are almost afraid to say what we feel,
and what we have often felt, with regard to such
sentiments as that in the last part of this extract.
We have seen and heard many similar statements
in the last few years. In our opinion, the senti
ment is pernicious. How so ? It is certainly a
good thing to have a good Sunday school; and a
church and school which have been blessed as
those enjoying the above-mentioned revival, may
well be thankful for their great grace. But the
doctrine which shoves aside the church and the
ministry, and teaches that “ the Sabbath school
leads the van in bringing souls to Christ,” is a
hurtful mistake. In this very case the writer
tells us how the revival started under the public
ministration of the word, and how the whole
church was enlisted in the good work. And this,
we maintain, is generally the way such a glorious
work is accomplished.
In an editorial in a good paper, not long since,
the reader’s attention was directed to the pur
poses of the Romanists in the valley of the Mis
sissippi ; and then we are told what is necessary
to confront this flood-tide of error, is “ well
organized Baptist Sabbath schools with a sound
Sabbath school literature, and faithful Sab
bath school workers.” Not one word about
the church and the ministry. It would seem
that it is already nearly realized that these
heaven-ordained agencies for the conversion of
sinners, are old, defunct plans, which have failed,
and are to be supplanted- by a wiser and more
efficient arrangement; which, it will be admitted,
was only, at first, intended as an agent of the
church; but has grown to be an independent in
stitution; as distinct and independent as the
church itself; controlling questions of literature,
questions of music, questions of propriety, and,
in many instances, controlling the church, while
the pastor’s opinion must yield to that of the
officials of the school.
If any one wishes to know the comparative
strength and influence of the several denomina
tions in a given town, he is directed to their re
spective Sabbath schools. The church is scarcely
thought of in the estimate.
Under the efforts <»f the pastor and church a
revival occurs. Most of the young people are in
the Sabbath school, as they ought to be. A ma
jority of the converts, in most revivals, are from the
young people ; and therefore, where there is a Sab
bath school, all who are converted among the
youths, are at once claimed as souls led to Christ
by the Sabbath school; when it is known that
precisely the same class of persons make up the
converts in a revival where there is no Sabbath
school. We believe—or rather we doubt not—
that often souls are led to the Saviour by faithful
teachers in Sabbath schools. But the objection
we are trying to make is to the isolation of the
church from the plane of the young, and the in
dependent position of the school. Our churches
should control the Sabbath school as absolutely
as they do any other agency. Every Sabbath
school held in Baptist meeting houses ought to be
organized by the church, the officers of the school
should be selected by the church, the literature
should be chosen by the church, and all things
pertaining to the government of the school should
be under the management of the church. If the
Sabbath school cause is not an agency of the
churches, it would then be exceedingly difficult
for us to admit that we are a Sabbath school man.
But we hold that it is such an agency, and that
as such it is the duty of each church to control
its Sabbath school. R.
Our Zion—in Our Exchanges, etc.
Georgia.
Rev. R. W. Fuller, of the First Baptist church,
Atlanta, has recently baptized thirteen persons:
among them were three of his own daughters.
Rev. H. F. Buckner, during his recent visit
to the churches of Friendship Association, col
lected over S7OO for Indian Missions, which sum
was increased to $1,300 by monies sent up to the
Executive Committee, Americus, from churches
that he had visited. Rev. H. F. Buchanan,
pastor of the Third Baptist church, Atlanta, bap
tized one person last Sabbath, increasing the mem
bership of the church, which was constituted
with 27 last year, to full 50.
* Alabama.
James P. Bragg was ordained to the Christian
ministry, at Union Grove church, Laurens county,
April 24th. The Christian Herald , Tuscutn
bia, will be enlarged about the 15th of July.
Kentucky.
Rev. T. W. Tobey will soon be connected with
Bethel College, Russellville, as a Professor in that
Institution. Rev. G. F. Bagby is to enter
shortly on an agency for Bethel College. Rev.
J. C. Keeney has been appointed State agent for
the Southern Baptist Board of Domestic Missions.
The churches of the State last year gave for
the Home Missions in the State, $14,008 52.
There are 44 Associations, 901 churches, and 82,-
76*1 members in the State. This money was given
by 377 churches, with a membership of 39,050 ;
524 churches, with a membership of 43,711, gave
nothing; $3,148 08, nearly one-fourth, was con
tributed by 28 churches, with a total membership
of only 3,500; the average amount per church
was sls 54, and per member, only 17 cents.
Missouri.
The First church, Carthage, has had an acces
sion of 42 members. In Audrian county, New
Hope church has had 5, and Hopewell 13 bap
tisms. Rev. A. E. Rogers is the agent of the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, for this
State. There were 22 baptisms, on a recent
Sabbath, at Fox River church, Clark county, and
23 recently at New Garden, Linn county.
South Carolina.
The Working Christian has been removed from
Yorkville to Charleston, and Rev. J. L. Reynolds,
D.D., and Rev. L. H. Shuck have been connected
with it as Associate Editors. It has been an ex
cellent paper, and must be still more so under the
new arrangement. Rev. T. R. Gaines, editor of
the Working Christian , has resigned charge Gs
the Union and Yorkville churches, and accepted
an appointment to the Baptist City Mission,
Charleston. Rev. A. B. Earle, on account of
his feeble health, was obliged to leave for his home,
Newton, Mass., at the*close of his labors in
Charleston, withdrawing his appointments for
Raleigh, N. C., and Norfolk, Ya. “ Since he left
Charleston interesting meetings have been in pro
gress in both the Baptist churches. A number
of persons have professed conversion in Dr. Wink
ler’s congregation. Brother Shuck baptized six
last Sabbath week, and several others are expected
to follow soon. Sunrise prayer meetings are kept
up in both churches.”
Texas.
Our church at Kalletville has decided to deal,
in July, with all its members who have not re
ported at the church for the last twelve months,
unless justifiable reasons be given for their neg
lect. The Houston Herald says: There are
nearly five hundred men in Texas, known as Bap
tist preachers, and about three hundred and fifty
organized churches, of which less than twenty
have preaching every Lord’s day; forty others,
possibly, have preaching semi-monthly; two hun
dred, perhaps, have monthly preaching; and the
remaining ninety have no pastors or regular
preaching at all. Rev. H. R. Puryear takes the
pastorate of our church in Corsicana; and Rev.
W. W. Gwin, of our church in Huntsville.
Tennessee.
The East Tennessee Baptist , Knoxville, has
been merged in the Christian Herald, Tuscumbia,
Ala., and its editor, Rev. D. M. Breaker, D.D.,
has been added to the Writing Staff of that jour
nal Rev. E. H. Osborne has been appointed
agent of the Southern Baptist Sunday School
Board, for West Tennessee. Fall Branch church
has had 22 accessions, and Cobb’s Creek ehurch,
Johnson county, 36; the fruit of recent meetings.
H. C. Yates was ordained, April 16th, “to the
Eldership of Indian Creek church, Washington
county. We hear that Rev. D. E. Burns, of
Memphis, has received a call to the First Baptist
church, San Francisco, Cal. A revival in the
church at Bristol, Tenn., leaves 25 believers
awaiting baptism. Pastor Noffsinger, of Jones
boro, goes to Morristown as Pastor; and is suc
ceeded in the former field by Rev. R. B. Boat
wright, of Marion, Va.
Reviews and Notices.
Morris’s Grammar. A Philosophical and Practical
Grammar of the English Language, Dialogically
and Progressively Arranged; in which every
Word is parsed according to its Use. By Prof. I. J.
Morris, A. M. Stereotyped Edition, Revised, Re
written and Enlarged. Auburn, Ala. : Published
by the Author. Price, $1 per copy : $lO per doz.
“ The tatters, the very rags,” to which Hamlet
represents “ robustious, periwig-pated fellows” as
‘tearing a passion,’ on the stage, are nothing, for
number, to the rags and tatters to which Prof.
Morris tears the Grammars of Murray and “ the
Murray-menders.” We dare say that Grammar,
waking up the morning after she read this book,
did not know herself. A few of the changes in
troduced by the Prof., will show why.
He divests the science of its division into four
parts,—Orthography, Orthoepy, Etymology, Syn
tax and Prosody. His distribution of words into
parts of speech is, —the Noun, Pronoun, Descrip
tive, (Adjective,) Definitive, (Article, Adjective
Pronoun, and the Possessive Case of the Noun
and Pronoun,) Verb, Participle, Relative, (Prepo
sition,) Conjunctive, (Conjunction,) and Exclama
tion, (Interjection.) He reduces the “genders” tq
two—the Masculine and Feminine: rejecting the
“ Common,” in which there is no distinction of
sex, and the “ Neuter,” in which there is no sex
to admit of distinction. He claims three “ per
sons” for nouns, —the first as well as the second
and third. He robs verbs of their “ voices” and
“moods,” and of all “tenses” except the present,
past and future. He discards the distribution of
nouns into “ common and proper,” denies that
they have “ cases,” and parts them into six classes,
Specific, Generic, Collective, Abstract, Participial
and Verbal. But enough. This is nothing
less than a revolution and reconstruction of the
science. It deserves the serious consideration of
teachers. On many points, we are more than
half a convert to it
By the way, we notice that Prof. Morris accom
panies his work with the announcement that it
has been “ rehashed, slightly disguised, published
and claimed by one P. F. Lamar, of Georgia.” But
have we a Georgian capable of what Prof. Morris
calls “suchpalpable theft?” Does Mr. P. F.
Lamar, an*BSUfior or whom we know nothing, suf
fer this “soft*impeachment” to pass without de
nial and refutation ?
Seclusaval : or, Tbe Arts of Romanism. By Mrs.
A.C. Gravels,' Author of Jepbthah’s Daughter. Mem
phis, TelTrifrSouih-Western Publishing Company.
Pp. 659.
This wortrdeserves a wide circulation. It stri
kingly illustrates how institutions of education in
the hands of Romanists, may, without resort to
avowed and direct arts of proselytism, be pervert
ed, (all the l)ftre effectually for that abstinence,)
into engines for overthrowing the faith of the pu
pils in Christianity. We do not see
how Protestant and Baptist parents can read it,
and escape of the egregious folly of
which they are guilty, when they place their chil
dren or such institutions, and subject
the young its formative state, to the
“ cunning cfafflSSs” of a system most false but
scarcely less plgasible and imposing. The plot of
the story posi&sses sufficient interest to keep alive
the curiosity of the reader, without absorbing the
attention progress and merit of the ar
gument; and the argument is very nearly as de
cisive as a dnjfcsion of the subject, not distinct
ive be. Perhaps, the pleas for
Romanism enjoy an unfair advantage, from the
fact that they jyre enforced by the suave manner
and graceful style of “ Father Floyd” and “Mother
Anastasia,” while the refutation is so largely left
to “ affectedly and exaggera
tedly unpolish«Jrin style and brusque in manner.
But so or not, the work, which,
as we havellßßpated, is undenominational, will'
exert a healttdul/influence; and we commend it
to the patronage of our readers.
Will the author permit us, however, to enter
an earnest protest against the employment of the
word, “Catholicity,” as a synonym for “Roman
ism?” This is not Protestant, not “national,
present, reputable” usage, we are sure. Under tbe
whole heaven there is not now, there never has
been, a systemjtnore utterly given over to narrow
ness, more adßolutely void of Catholicity.
A Treatise on Ministerial Support. By Elder H.
M. Burroughs. Houston, Texas. Pp. 43.
This is a plain and forcible presentation of the
teachings of Scripture with regard to the duty of
churches in the matter of ministerial support—
occupied chiefly with the question of support in
things temporal, but not overlooking the question
of support in things spiritual. Many church
members, and even whole churches, might read it
with profit.
__
The Prophetic Key. A monthly of 48 pages, edited
and publisheiTby Rev. P. S. G. Watson and Rev.
A. F. Baker: Versailles, Ky. Terms: $2.50 a year,
in advance : single copies, 25 cents.
This periodical begins with the issue for June,
which is gotten up in good style. It will contain
nothing denominational, and will be devoted
chiefly to an elucidation of unfulfilled prophecy,
on principles peculiar, we believe, to
the editors, but reaching results in harmony with
the Millennarianism of modern times. This is a
line of enquiry in which our studies have not
been prosecuted far enough to authorize a very
positive estimate" of the merits of the work, as
foreshadowed in the number before us ; and we
can do no more than simply to invite the attention
of our readers to it.
The Galaxy: An Illustrated Magazine. New York:
Sheldon & Cos. Terms, $4 a year in advance.
Contents for June. —1. Put Yourself in His
Place, by Charles Reade, Chaps. XLII, XLIII,
with an Illustration. 2. Fra Angelico, by Mar
garet J. Prestonf 3. Tobaccophagoi aud Tobac
cophagism, OThinr-C. Draper. 4. Enola, by
Howard Gljmdon. 5f American Men and Eng
lish Men, by Justin McCarthy. 6. Keeping the
Cash, by J. T. McKay. 7. Ten Years in Rome:
Internal Economy of the Papal States, Ecclesias
tical and Civil. 8. Two Women, by Rebecca
Harding Davis. 9. Ad Astra, by H. D. Ganse.
10. Senator Wilson and Edwin M. Stanton, by J.
S. Black. 11. Hostages, by H. H. 12. Early
Incidents in the Rebellion: A Chapter from Mr.
Thurlow Weed’s Autobiography. 13. The Gal
axy Miscellany. 14. Drift-Wood, by Bishop
Quilibet. 15. Literature and Art. 16. Memo
randa, by Mark Twain, (who writes for the Galaxy
every month.) 17. Nebulae.
Mercer University—lts Location.
Perhaps, no greater interest has been be
fore our denomination fora half century, and
none greater will agitate us for a century to
come. It is not, therefore, surprising that so
many of us write about it. Asa former
pupil, and now grey-haired worker for our
common Israel, my brethren will read a few
suggestions.
The Extremes. —From the nature of
things, the whole South or pine belt of Geor
gia, and Middle and Upper Georgia, will not
likely, at first, think of the same location.
The people of the low country will think of
bleak winds, ice, snow and mud, and conse
quently of pneumonia and pulmonary dis
eases generally, in any strictly up country
locality, during winter and spring. As cer
tainly will those of the up country think of
sand, heat, insects, miasma and inferior water,
and consequently of intermittent fevers, the
whole family of chills and general debility, as
connected with the pine belt, during summer
and fall. They will thus stand apart, in opin
ion, regarding these extremes, modified only
by the fact that it is much easier to carry stu
dents up the country thkn to carry them down
the country. There is not such a dread of
bleak winds in winter as of poor water and ma
laria in summer. Our brethren should look
at these things seriously and with a spirit of
forbearance. If by any means the pine belt
carries its decision will sooner or
later insure aliother College, and a division
of educational interests in the State. If the
up country carries its point, that may result
the same way. Possibly an intermediate
location «might unite our people.
Influences which Mat be Brought to
Bear —Large sums of money may be offered
at places not suitable for a permanent loca
tion. Naturally, all legitimate appliances
will be made by the friends of particular
locations, such as writing to members of the
Committee who have a final vote, overdrawn
estimates of the number of local students,
amount of money, etc., growing out of local
interests and visionary estimates, even though
the parties may be candid in their represen
tations. They are trustees of their own cho
sen localities, and not wholly and specifically
of Mercer University.
Combinations. —The more decidedly con
scientious a friend of the University is, re
garding his choice of location, the more likely
is he to combine with friends upon the near
est point to him, when defeated in his first
choice. Men are so constructed that they
will unite with almost any one, rather than
yield to a first and strong competitor.
The Bluff Game. —This is so ugly a pro
position that it is to be hoped that nothing
will be thought of it, except to pass a criti
cism upon the unknown writer for even think
ing of it as connected with a great enterprise,
yet he who may feel it most, may be first to
strike. But after all, there may be commu
nities whose resources and educational inter
ests will be so greatly developed that their
representatives will honestly feel that they
can and must have a college any how, and
will venture to say so to the Committee,
thereby hoping to secure their object, and, as
an ultimatum, attempt a home college, inde
pendently of Mercer.
Unreliable Offers. —There may be offers
of subscription lists and property amounting
to any given aggregate, which, when reduced
by encumbrances and unreliable subscrip
tions, all to a present cash basis, in financial
circles would not amount to two-thirds, one-
half, or even (in some instances) to one-fourth
the apparent offer. Os course, the sub, trav
elling committee will take take in writing the
distinct proposition from each applicant.
The Ulterior Apprehension. —lt cannot,
ought not, to be denied that with many of
warmest friends of Mercer, there is the ap
prehension that the removal will not unite
the entire denomination in the State. But on
the contrary, that the friends of particular
localities will become so enthused for their
pattiCular locality, that two or three Colleges
will be attempted instead of one, and all
break down together.
The University.— ln the event the above
supposed attempt should be seriously made,
it may be in the providence of God the sure
way of making Mercer University precisely
what its name imports. Should the Commit
tee wisely select a good location, intermediate
as relates to the extremes, with such pecuni
ary offers as would justify such decision,
added to present endowment and character,
already established reputation, together with
the patronage of the Convention, the Uni
versity would measurably take the lead, and
the others become feeders to Mercer, and
thereby a blessing, and not a curse. The
writer almost hopes that God will so direct
it, and thinks he sees a chance of four times
the educational power which we have yet en
joyed. It occurs to me that the University
ought to be distinctly in the mind of every
Baptist of Georgia.
The Canvassers. —These ought not to
mislead, perhaps will not, the minds of citi
zens in any given community. All men
ought to know that it is, and is to continue
to be, a Baptist Institution, and its Professors
are to conduct it as such, and notjby removal
to feel that they are henceforth t» walk upon
thorns, for fear of losing pupils.
The Apology.— These are the first lines
which the writer has offered to the public
upon any phase of the removal question, and
perhaps the last he will offer; and he has
been induced to do so by several considera
tions. He has lived in the extremes, and
middle of the State, and, at least, has had
opportunity to know something of the climate
of all parts, as well as the views of the peo
ple. Neither extreme objects seriously to
the middle belt, as regards climate, water,
citizenship, or accessibility. Both extremes
object to one another, —the upper to the lower
most strenuously—so that of necessity is
developed the opinion, on my part, that it is
the part of wisdom to select some point of
the middle belt. If we wish but one Institu
tion, this decision is a necessity ; for the ex
tremes will not unite upon either. If other
Colleges out of the agitation spring up, let
the University stand between them, as previ
ously indicated.
To brethren of given localities, and to the
Committee, I have just to say : I do not
wish to be regarded as a meddler, but as a
Baptist, who may have just such thoughts
as would occur to your own minds from my
stand -point. Unus.
A Letter from Texas.
I have just received my first number of
your paper, and must be allowed sincerely to
congratulate the Baptists of Georgia and sis
ter States upon the use of such a paper. I
would not presume to ask if they appreciate
and sustain it by a hearty, active cooperation.
I was glad-to see the revered name of brother
Teague, (my first teacher,) and hope now to
have the benefit of his spiritual teaching
through your columns.
I was a little surprised to see my letter
published ; though 1 do not complain. How
ever, I could but see and appreciate your
kind reproof, or suggestion, in inserting
brother Terrell’s letter directly under mine.
Quite a contrast in our practice in reference
to the proper dimensions of a minister’s field
of labor; though I presume there is no dif
ference in our opinion as to what it should be.
Our State paper, as well as your own, advo
cates the plan of each church occupying the
whole time of one pastor; and I reckon no
one questions the efficacy of such course
when and where it can be adopted ; but there
are certainly many places where it would be
entirely impracticable at present.
1. It would lorce the utter abandonment of
a great many churches, and expose them and
their communities to the establishment of
systems of error calculated to demoralize and
create permanent injury.
2. There are many places where churches
have become so impoverished, that no one or
two of them are able to sustain a pastor.
3. The greatest difficulty is, that there are
aTegion of places where Anti missionary and
Antinomian principles have been so much
diffused and encouraged, that churches have
not been educated as to the necessity and im
portance of sustaining their ministers, and
consequently are not aware that their habit
of secularizing them is most suicidal to their
their own interest, and that if they would be
elevated to a state of prosperity and happi
ness, they must remove the barriers to min
isterial intelligence and usefulness, by ena
bling them to “give themselves wholly to
the work.”
I have thought much of the great impor
tance of securing the end proposed by brother
Terrell, and as to the most speedy means of
its accomplishment. I see no way more
promising to ministers and to churches, than
the education of each as to their plain Scrip
tural duties toward each other. But, breth
ren, we should be wise enough to accept the
fact that public discoursing on the subject of
ministerial support, is not well received , and
hence cannot be so fruitful as a short plain
pamphlet, well circulated, upon that subject
would be. Not knowing of any condensed
work exclusively upon that subject, J have
written one which, though very imperfect in
arrangement and composition, has given en
tire satisfaction, as far as heard from, and as
our Editor pronounces it “a good thing,”
and aids in its circulation, I send you a spe
cimen copy. It may be obtained from J. B.
Link, Houston, Texas, or from the Author’s
address, at 30 cents, specie, per single copy,
copy, or $3 per dozen, specie, or its equiva
lent in currency.
But I have drawn too much upon your
space, and must conclude with my best wishes.
H. M. Burroughs.
Prairie Lea, Texas, May 10, 1870.
Our Cause in Montgomery, Ala.
We have had a gracious shower of revival
blessings. The First church (and indeed the
entire community) has not been so revived
for many years. Brotherly love has abounded.
Christian faith and activity have bloomed and
brought forth rich fruits. Never have I had
or seen such a longing for the power of a full
salvation. I trust we have been lifted to a
higher plane, of consecrated service and expe
rience. The cry from burdened, j earning
hearts is,
“ Nearer, ray God, lo Thee,
“ Nearer to Thee.”
0, that believers realized more of that soul
union with Christ which He expresses in His
command : “ Abide in Me and lin you" We
have had over 30 accessions to the First
church, and there will be many more, we be
lieve. Still the good work goes on! Blessed
visitation! Brother Tichenor has rendered
very efficient aid in an earnest and grateful
service of two weeks.
The Second Baptist church, through the
resignation of brother Townsend, is without
a pastor. Brother Townsend’s letter of re
signation was very touching. He says : “ The
continued feeble state of my health is my sole
reason for this step. My physician assures
me that a temporary suspension of labor is
essential to my recovery and to my future use
fulness. All of the engagements of the church
with me have been fulfilled, and all of my
relations with its members have been pleas
ant.” Brother Townsend is warmly com
mended by the Baptists of this city. He
bears the name of a bloved brother. Per
sonally, I greatly, regret his departure from
us, and pray God to establish his health so
that he may speedily resume the work he so
much loves, and for which he is peculiarly
gifted.
The Presbyterians and Methodists were
largely blessed through brother Earle’s preach
ing. Over twenty have joined the former,
over 75 the latter. I cannot but add my tes
timony to others’, concerning the work and
ministry of brother Earle. He is God’s dear,
chosen servant, full of spiritual power, and
unction, and earnestness, and faith. He is,
as a Georgia brother would phrase it, “ a juicy
Christian.” May God raise up more like
him, and —He will. D. W. Gwin.
Montgomery, Ala., May 20,1870.
Accessions.
Feeling it my duty to acquaint you with the
progress af our church, South Newington, 1
take pleasure in stating that my labor, so
far, has not been in vajn. There we added
to the church on the fourth Sabbath in April,
five souls, who were baptized on that day.
On the third S.ibbath in May, three souls
were added by baptism. Received by letter
since organization, five. Trusting that God,
for Christ’s sake, will bless and increase our
numbers; is my constant prayer.
J. G. Norris, Pastor.
Chatham county, Ga., May 17, 1870.
The Revival in Savannah.
I have baptized Jifty candidates ip the last ,
two weeks: on the 7th inst. 30, and last eve
ning 20. A large proportion of those bap
tized are heads of families. The revival has
embraced all ages, from 10 to 80 years. For
ten years past I have not witnessed a work
of such power. God has been very gracious
to us. S. Landrum.
Savannah, May 16, 1870.
From the Field.
I passed from Columbus, Ga., yesterday,
through your city to this point, and am stop-
Sing with Dr. Goss, my cousin, and a son of
llder Isham Goss, who was a minister of
Jesus, and labored with much success for
many years, in the Sarepta Association, of
which he was moderator for a time; but who
now sleeps with his fathers. I was feeble.in
body, my dear brother, when I saw you as I
passed out of Kentucky to South-Western
Georgia, but I now have reasons to thank God
for good health, and a prospect of meeting,
soon, with may of my dear brethren of the
Sarepta Association. With these brethren I
spent all the time of my earlier ministry,
and that, too, not without much pleasing suc
cess. To God be all the glory forever!
I had a very delightful time in S. W. Ga.j
—especially so in Stewart county, where 1
had labored in the Master’s vineyard nine
years, with a measure of the same success,
under God, which had attended my labors as
above. Our cause in Stewart, and other
parts, is not just as heart could wish, but I
thank God that it is no worse.
At New Hope, where I labored last Satur
day and at night, and Lord’s day and at night,
one was added by letter and another by pro
session for baptism. Bro. W. M. Howell,
the pa3tor, was present. Also, I there met
with our very dear young and promising
brother, B. W. Bussey, who was recently
ordained at New Hope. I became acquaint
ed with his young wife, also, and was glad to
find him married to one of the Lord’s excel
lent daughters. May they be blessed and
prospered every way. If some church would
take all his time and let him be fully conse
crated to the great work to which God has
graciously called him, it would be the very
thing to enhance his further usefulness and
the further prosperity of said church. May
it be so ! I spent a night in Columbus with
his father, Dr. Bussey, who is President of
the Eagle & Phoenix Factory Company.
His children are all promising as is this
young preacher. I baptized three of the sons
at New Hope, some years ago, when the fam
ily was residing at Jameston. Anna, a love
ly daughter, has passed into glory, and I trust
the remaining three daughters will embrace
Jesus and go, in the end, to join her in the
high praises of Him who loved them, died
for them, and rose again. May the sons
whom I baptized all be true to Christ, and
both honorable and useful on the earth, and
then get a glorious crown in heaven above.
The Lord go with me wherever I go preach
ing the gospel of the kingdom of God, and
with you and your readers. I. H. Goss.
Social Circle , May 20, 1870.
Rev. G. Gray.
One of the heaviest sufferers by the terri
ble fire at Fincastle, Va., was Rev. G. Gray,
the worthy and efficient pastor of the Baptist
church there. His house and all of his furni
ture were consumed, leaving him utterly pen
niless, with a delicate wife and four children
to provide for. An effort for his relief is
being made, and I have thought that many of
the readers of the Index would be glad to
contribute something. They can do so by
sending contributions to Rev. G. Gray, Fin
castle, Va. J. Wm, Jones.
Lexington, Va., May 18 th, 1870.
Rev. A. B. Earle in Mobile.
Thinking brother Graves did the Baptists
of Mobile and Rev. A. B. Earle injustice in
his extracts and comments on the meeting
held here, I addressed him the enclosed com
munication on the 20th April,with a request to
publish the same, which he ha3 not done. Will
you please give it an insertion in your paper?
Your brother, A. P. Bush.
Mobile, May 19 th, 1870.
Rev. J. R. Graves, LL. D.— Dear Sir :
There is, doubtless, no desire in your heart,
or intention of your mind, to misrepresent
parties or pervert facts, as you have so long
been a bold chronicler of the truth ; and, with
this impression, I take occasion to correct some
unwarranted statements that appeared in your
publication of the 16th inst. Our city has
recently been the scene of a great work in the
Redeemer’s cause, and you are no doubt, de
lighted to hear such news. But first to the
statement of a few facts.
I wrote you on March 25th, enclosing a
subscription, in which I stated that the St.
Francis St. Baptist church, of this city, had
received, up to that time, forty-six members,
and gave other particulars of our meeting, in
connection with brother Earle’s visit to the
city. You gave no notice of my statement,
in your paper; but I see that you copied an
extract from a Secular paper, w hich stated
that there had been three hundred conversions
as the result of brother Earle’s meetings hero.
You also quote from a letter of brother Earle
to the Herald, which stated that thirty-bne
were baptized the last day he was here; and
then you jump at your conclusion viz: Bap
tists thirty, and Methodists and Presbyte
rians two hundred and seventy—result of
union meetings, etc. You also quoted from
a letter from a brother in Alabama, in which
he stated that brother Earle carried off three
thousand dollars, and that the Baptist inter
est was weaker than when he came, etc.
Now for a few facts. Brother Earle was
invited here by the Baptist pastors of this
city to hold a series of meetings in the Bap
tist churches. He preached every day in the
Baptist church, and also at night, till our
church was too small to accommodate the
congregation, when we adjourned to the Pres
byterian church, which was so courteously
tendered to us by that denomination. The
meetings were exclusively under the auspices
of the Baptists wherever held. The result was,
that the Baptists received more than one hun
dred new members, and a deep interest is
still kept up in the churches.
Brother Earle received 8300, instead of
$3,000. Instead of the Baptist cause being
weakened, it has been strengthened and built
up, and the denomination occupies a more in
fluential position than ever before in this city.
All denominations attended the preaching of
brother Earle, and I think were greatly bene
fitted. The St. Francis St. Baptist church is
now thinking of building a larger and better
house of worship.
If, from the above facts, we were injured
by brother Earle’s visit, we glory in being
injured, and hope he will come back and in
jure us that way at least once a year.
I do not know the number of conversions
that have taken place, as meetings have been
carried on in all the churches since brother
Earle’s departure; but I do not think that
they received a single new member up to the
time of his leaving.
Your brother in Christ, B.
jj£ir , Since the foregoing article went into type,
we notice that the Baptist for May 7th contains
a much longer communication from M. G. Hud
son, of Mobile, giving substantially the same state
ment of facts. Editor Graves probably thought
that this correction was sufficient, under the cir
cumstances ; and why should not “ B.” accept it
as such ?
Things Said and Done.
Publication.— The American Baptist Pub
lication Society makes a gratifying exhibit
for the financial year just closed. The total
receipts in all departments amount to $321,-
799 08. This is a gain of 849,638 46 over
the receipts of last year. In the Business
Department, the receipts are 8254,414 90,
being 827,431 02 more than was received in
this department the previous year. In thp
Benevolent Department, the receipts from all "
sources amount to $67,284 18, which is $22,-
207 44 more than was received in this depart
ment the preceding year.
France. —lt is said that the Baptist church
in Paris is not allowed to immerse converts
in the Seine, or in public anywhere. As their
place of worship will not admit a baptistery,
they are obliged, in baptizing a convert, to
bring in a large box for that purpose.
Doctrinal Purity. —Henry Ward Beecher,
in a recent editorial in the Christian Union,
said : “ The Baptist churches of America have
been less infected by heresy than any others,
and they are the very churches which have
relied upon the living spiiit of piety in the
church and not upon creeds, to keep the faith
pure.”
Effects of Open Communion. —A corres
pondent of the Examiner <& Chronicle says :
“ It is noteworthy that members of the Gen
eral Baptist churches of England [strict com
munionists]* who emigrate to this country
usually unite with our churches, while in-not
a few cases the members of open communion
churches cast in their lot with the Pedobap
tists. The writer not long since met with a
family, most of whom had belonged to Spur
geon’s church, in London. Yet when they
came hither they readily united with the
Methodists, and one of the members of this
family, as the writer was informed, is now
studying for the ministry in the Methodist
Episcopal church. It is not, therefore, a mere
conjecture, but a stubborn and frequently
verified fact, that open communion directly'
leads to the concealment of our principles audi
the extinction of our churches.
Seeking Rest. —Rev. Edward Bright, D.D.,
after fifteen years of close work as edifcoc of
'the Examiner <& Chronicle, goes to Europe!
from late in May to early in October, leaving
its columns under the care of Prof. Lucius E.
Smith, for the past eighteen months Literary
Editor of that journal.
Division. —The American Christian Re
view, Cincinnati, an organ of “ the current
Reformation,” (“ Campbellism”) says of that
sect: “ There are two elements in our midst,
entirely alien to each other, at war, as much
as flesh and spirit, in Paul’s description.
Some are clearly drifting into one current,
and some into the other. The different things
in which they manifest themselves, at one
time in this and then in that, are not the
cause, but only the occasion, for manifestation.
These two elements have existed fifteen years
or more, but their growth has been continu
ous, and is increasing of late. In one half
hour’s conversation the one or the other cam
be detected. The symptoms are discernible
to any person of moderate spiritual discern*
ment.”
Not Simply “Wet” and “ Dry.”—The
Christian Secretary well remarks: Mr.
Beecher, in the Christian Union, indicating
the points of agreement among the several de
nominations, says that ‘the Congregationalist
is only a dry Baptist, and the Baptist a very
wet Congregationalist.’ That will do for a
dry Beecherism. But we protest against the
idea which he has thus curtly paraphrased,
that the difference between the Baptists and
any denomination of Pedobaptists has respect
simply to the quantity of water used in bap
tism. All the outside wetting possible would
not make Mr. Beecher nor any other Congre
gationalist a Baptist. The chief error of Pe
dobaptism is not the mere substitution of
sprinkling for immersion.”
Cheering News from Africa. —Rev. J*
T. Richardson, formerly of Virginia, has beer*
in Liberia, in Africa, for forty-one years. He
is pastor of the Monrovia Baptist church. He
writes January 4th—“ Such bright and cheer
ing prospects have never been witnessed by
any one before. Throughout Liberia the kind'
invitation of the Spirit of Almighty God has
been felt, convincing sinners of the error of
their way, and quickening cold-hearted pro
fessors to a sense of their duty. Sinners of
all grades and tribes have bowed to the mild
sway of Jesus Christ, speaking with glad
hearts the wonderful goodness and the love of
God shed abroad in their hearts. The heathen
all around us are stepping into the gospel
pool and are being made whole. Glory, glory
be to God ! the darkness of idolatry and vice
is fast receding, while the light of the glorious
gospel is spreading far and near. It would
gladden your heart and strengthen your faith
to be here to witness what is going on.” At
Virginia Station 27 believers were baptized
December 7th, one-third of whom were na
tives and Congoes. On November 7th, 28
were baptized at Monrovia, and 9 more De
cember 19th. At Carysburg Jifty-eiyht were
waiting for baptism, of whom two-thirds were
natives. At Grand Case Mountain, 40 con
verts were also waiting. Throughout Liberia
the natives are waiting and are daily calling
for preachers and teachers.
Baptist Unity. —The assertion is often
made that Baptists are greatly divided in ref
erence to their doctrinal belief. The National
Baptist thinks differently, and says : “There
are such differences among us as are likely to
prevail among persons who are in the habit,
of thinking and speaking for themselves, with*
out much regard to any authority except -that
of our one Lawgiver and King; but those:
who have occasion to test the matter w ill find
that Baptists are a somewhat compact body,,
knowing pretty well what they believe and
why they believe it, not easily moved from,
their principles, accustomed to demand a
scriptural reason for any new religious opin
ion, and presenting a solid and disheartening
front to those who undertake to defeat or
disregard them.
New England. —During the past year,
Baptists suffered a loss in five out of the six
New England States, either in churches, in
ministers, or in members.