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THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13,1870.
Kttlex baptist
J. J. TOON, .... Proprietor.
PUBLICATION ROOMS —4 £ 6 SOUTH BROADWAY.
Editor: Rev. D. SHAVER, D.D.
CORRESPONDING EDITORS :
Rev. J. J. D. RENFROE, Talladega, Ala.
Rev. S. HENDERSON, D.D., Fayetteville, Ala.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1870.
Feeling and Prayer.
An exchange accounts it an excellence of the
Episcopal liturgy, that “ the minister is not al
lowed to pick and cull among the Psalms, select
ing such as may happen to agree with his own
private feelings at the time.” The restriction
reaches as well, to the question of agreement be
tween the Psalms recited, and the feelings which
he knows to be glowing, or melting, in the hearts
of bis fellow-worshippers. And the rule applies,
also, to the accompanying forms of prayer of hu
man composition.
This is strange. The Psalms consist largely of
the expression of feeling—and even of private
feeling. They thus testify that this is the highest
type and truest model of Christian prayer. And
yet they are used on the principle of disregard
for the question, whether they express the feel
ings of the minister and the congregation, or not.
That use divests them of their original character
—denies them the privilege of being on the lips
of those who recite them now, what they were on
the lips of those who uttered them first. In other
words, they were written on one rule and are used
on another. As the rule on which they are used
is directly opposite to the rule on which they were
written, is it not illegitimate ?
llow can it be said that the spirit of the Psalms
“pervades” the forms of prayer in the liturgy,
when the Psalms express personal feeling and the
forms are largely impersonal,—must go up from
the mouth whether correspondent feelings reign
in the heart or not, whether the feelings reigning
in the heart do or do not find utterance in them ?
We can hardly conceive of a more manifest un
likeness and contradiction between the two. They
are constructed on distinct and irreconcileable
principles.
It is not surprising that this contrariety in prin
ciple should disclose itself, now and then, even to
Episcopal eyes. In a recent number of the Con
temporary Eevieie, Dean Alford quotes Allon, as
saying that the imposition of the liturgy as the
exclusive service, “is one of the miserable re
sults of the Act of Uniformity,” and confesses
that the remark, while severe, “is not more se
vere than just.” And the Dean adds: “That the
pastoral yearnings of a minister arising out of the
circumstances of Ins flock should have no public
utterance allowed them, is surely a monstrous
thing , —a work which at once condemns the
Church of England as quenching, rather than
giving scope to the influences of Cod's Holy
Spirit, as holding that the decorum of historical
formulae is a better and a safer thing than the
voice of the Spirit of prayer.” These are whole
some words, and our exchange, we hope, will
ponder them.
One thought more in this connection. The
Old and New, not long since, said: “ When peo
ple say what they do not really mean, or pretend
to that which they do not experience or fully be
lieve, that is ‘cant.’ There is oftentimes more
cant displayed by sedulously and ostentatiously
avoiding all allusion to one's religious feelings
and experiences, than there is in a full and
frank relation of them ; and, for this reason, it
is frequently the case that you will hear more
genuine ‘cant’ in a few hours at a Convention of
so-called Liberal Christians, than you would at a
Methodist camp-meeting in two weeks.” This
language will approve itself to the sober judg
ment of every one who has sufficient perspicacity
of mind to see, that there may be, not only a
“cant" of mysticism, but a “cant" of ration
alism, and a “cant" of sacramentalism as well.
In all these forms, we may have the outward ex
pression of pious sentiment, which is not the
echo and utterance of inward feeling. And if so,
what more fruitful mother of “cant” can there
be, than a liturgy which we must use with a uni
form, unbending, exclusive regularity of itera'
tion, without respect to its agreement or want of
agreement with our “ religious feelings and expe
riences” at the time? Such a use of the Prayer
Book—and the Prayer Book exacts it—must fre
quently convert the human forms of prayer, and
even the divine Psalms, into vehicles of sacra
mental and formalistic “cant.” If our exchange
dissents from the position of the Old and New,
and cannot recognize the justice of our conclusion
from it, we can only accept its course as a proof
that doctrinal Unitarianism itself may work less
detriment to certain interests of Christian wor
ship, than is wrought by what Dean Alford styles
“a monstrous thing”—the despotism of an au
thoritative, unvarying, exclusive liturgy!
The Standing Protest.
Accepting the principle, then, that a converted
membership is essential to meet all the demands
of a New Testament church organization, the
question naturally recurs, How can this principle
be preserved in its full integrity, and made most
effective in preserving the purity and promoting
the efficiency of such organization? We might
answer, in general terms : By believing the doc
trines, observing the ordinances, and practicing
the precepts, “ as they were delivered to usbut
we desire to be more specific, and shall therefore
select the observance of the Lord’s supper, as
practiced by the Baptists, as presenting before the
world the most stern, consistent and effective de
fence of all the truth, as it is Jesus, which mortal
agency can offer.
This will appear if we consider the relative po
sition which the ordinances sustain to each other (
as well as to the entire system of divine truth, by
divine appointment. Our theory is just what our
Lord has prescribed. It is this: Believe—be bap
tized—observe all things whatsoever I have com
manded you. These duties naturally arise out of
each other. That is, the obligation to be baptized
arises out of the duty to believe, and the duty of
observing all things whatsoever Christ has com
manded, (and among these “all things” is the
Lord’s supper,) arises out of the two previous du
ties—faith and baptism. While moral duties are
binding upon all men everywhere, positive duties
involve each other, and are therefore obligatory
in the order in which they are prescribed. To
state this is to prove it.
Our position, then, is, that it is at the Lord’s
table that we can and do enter the most solemn
and effective protest against all human innova'
tions upon the law of Christ that can be offered
under any circumstances. Is the baptism of
unconscious infants a human innovation? So
we affirm, and so we declare at every communion
season. Has sprinkling been substituted for bap
tism by human authority ? This is declared in
the most solemn manner at every Baptist church
in our land every time the Lord’s supper is cele
brated. Is a converted membership essential to
meet all the demands of a New Testament organi
zation ? Is it in the power of mortal agency to
declare this great, vital truth more effectively than
we declare it in our observance of the eucharist?
Is every church of Christ independent, and there
fore competent to exercise all the rights, privileges
and immunities which Christ has ever conferred
upon any body of men ? This is also affirmed at
the table of the Lord more sternly than anywhere
else. It is here, as it is everywhere else, that
“actions speak louder than words.” When men
act from a principle, they give higher evidence of
its vital power over them than all the logic and
eloquence of the world could impart.
It is, therefore, in our practical views of com
munion that all our churches, at each and every
recurrence of this solemn season, present a stand
ing, living, earnest protest against infant baptism
as a human innovation, and therefore sinful—
against sprinkling for baptism es subversive
the great object of that ordinance—against the in
corporation of dead material among those “ living
stones” which compose the spiritual temple of our
Lord—and against all those spiritual hierarchies
from Romanism down, who assume to “lord it
over God’s heritage,” and thus deplume the
churches of Christ of all the franchises conferred
by the risen and ascended Messiah.
And what would be the effect of withdrawing
this protest? Why, simply this: That infant
baptism is as binding as believers’ baptism—that
sprinkling is as valid as immersion—that uncon
verted persons are as much entitled to church mem
bership as converted—and that those vast central
spiritual despotisms that have crushed out the
rights of local churches, and hold them as mere
dependencies from which to collect their revenues,
are just as divinely constituted as are New Testa
ment organizations. Have we any right to do
this ? Does not fidelity to the truth demand a
maintenance of our position at least as long as
these great errors confront us ?
It does not at all surprise us that other denomi
nations who hold these errors, or at least most of
them, and kindred ones that we have not men
tioned, are so much concerned about what they
are pleased to call our “ close communion.” Rest
assured, reader, there is much more in their con
stant clamors on this subject than mere anxiety
to popularize (!) the Baptists. Our practice
touches the points of difference between us and
them at the tender places, and it is no wonder that
they feel it, and would be rid of it.
We have barely touched upon one aspect of this
subject, which we do not remember to have seen
alluded to in any of our treatises. The reader will
readily perceive that these views could be expan
ded into a volume. Let them be pondered by
every intelligent Baptist. 11.
Rev. A. P. Woodfin.
Rev. A. P. Woodfin, who has been lingering
for many weeks on the confines of the grave, at
the residence of our worthy townsman, Jas. W.
Winfield, Esq., died on yesterday evening at 3|
o’clock, in that peace that ‘passeth all under
standing.’ He was a devoted and useful minister
of the Baptist church, and preached the gospel
up to his last moments. During his long and
protracted illness, he bore his sufferings with
great patience and Christian fortitude, and in a
most remarkable degree, exhibited in his last
hours those beautiful traits of character which
are the offspring of that faith which works by
love, purifies the heart and overcomes our last
great enemy. In him were beautifully and rich
ly blended all the Christian virtues that spring
spontaneously from a well founded hope in Christ.
We would be glad that our time and space would
permit us to pay a fitting tribute to the memory
and worth of this good man. This will be done
by one more adequate to the task, hereafter. His
bereaved family have our sympathy and condo
lence.”
We transfer this announcement to our columns
from the Greensboro Herald of the 6th inst., with
great pain. From his childhood we have known
and loved Bro. Woodfin. We watched, with
hope, his youthful promise; the labors of his
early ministry gave us joy; we sorrowed over
the disease that broke the bands of his strength
in the prime of life; and now that he has ‘en
tered into rest,’ we grieve that he was not spared
to the churches to a ripe old age. But he served
One who “doeth all things well,” and as he did
not murmur when the Master’s summons called
him away, we must not. Heaven shield and help
the widow and fatherless children in this sore
trouble!
Baptism.
“ Baptism, as an external ordinance,” says the
Nashville Christian Advocate, “is a mode of
professing Christ.” Then* no rite performed upon
an infant can be baptism—for the infant does not
know Christ, and cannot profess Him. If this is
not a fair and irresistible conclusion, we should
like to know what logic is meant for or good for.
Is it not strange that men will so flatly contra
dict themselves as to admit infants to “ a mode of
professing Christ,” when the observance, after all,
is so lightly valued—when a writer in the South
ern Christian Advocate can lament “ the loose
manner in which it is done, preachers and parents
seldom referring to it again, and no note being
taken of it in the chronicles of the church ?”
Our Zion—in Our Exchanges, etc.
Georgia.
The Watchman and Reflector, Boston, says of
Mercer University, in the new location selected
for it: “We trust that it may now enter on a
career worthy of one of the most numerous and
influential denominations in the State. For the
last thirty years, although it has worked against
discouragements, it has achieved a history which
it will never wish to forget. Its present endow
ment is one hundred and thirty-two thousand dol
lars, aside from its real estate at Penfield: we
hope that an effort will be at once entered on to
double it, —to double the permanent income , we
mean, putting no more into brick and mortar than
is essential to all desirable accommodations.
The Standard, Chicago, says; “ Prof. J. T.
Robert, D.D., of the Burlington, lowa, University,
formely Professor of the lowa State University,
passed through this city last week on his way to
Georgia. Prof. R. was originally from the South>
and he returns to visit places familiar in bis
youth.” Rev. J. M. Wood, formerly pastor of
our church at Newnan, is holdinga series of meet
ings there, with encouraging prospects.
Alabama.
Mount Pleasant church has secured the services
of Rev. G. W. Wilcox as pastor, and received 24
accessions. The citizens of Blountsville have
subscribed $2,265 toward the proposed Male Col
lege of Warrior River Association. Rev. Joseph
E. Carter, of Huntsville, retires from pastoral
work for a time, on account of impaired health.
County Line church, “ Choctaw Corner,” has
had 49 additions.
Arkansas.
Rev. E. L. Compere, Charleston, has been sick
two months, and most of his family as long.
Kentucky.
Eminence, Flemingsburg, Clarksburg, Mays,
ville, Shelbyville, Danville and Taylorsville
churches, are, at present, without pastors. Mt.
Zion church, Grant county, has had 31 accessions ;
24 by baptism : our church at Athens, 28.
Louisiana,
Rev. M. F. McCraw reports 80 accessions to
Alto church.
Mississippi.
Oct. 28th, a Convention will meet at Sunflower
church, Coahoma county, for the purpose of or
ganizing anew Association. Drake’s Creek
church, eleven miles from Canton, has had 19 bap
tisms, and among them the baptism of a house
hold. Clear Creek church, near Shubuta, has
had 33 accessions. A writer in the Richmond
Herald says: 4 ‘lt was formerly a Methodist
church, numbering 40 members; but in the year
1866, at one of their regular appointments, their
preacher failing to attend, a Baptist minister by
the name of Hilburn, who chanced to be in the
congregation, was requested to preach, to which
he kindly consented. The meeting was protracted
from that day by this old brother Baptist, and
continued for about six weeks; at the expiration
of which time every one of the forty members had
been regularly baptized into the Baptist church.
Thus an entire Methodist church, without the loss
of one, house and all, were converted over."
Missouri.
The Baptists of the State, numbering over 60,-
000, have more than four hundred flourishing
Sunday schools, organized on a Baptist-working
basis. L. A. Ringo was ordained to the minis
try, at Parkville, Sept. 17th. Fee Fee church
has had 24 additions; Mound Prairie, La Fayette
county, 14; Pisgah church, over 60; Fish Creek,
Saline county, 41; Lebanon, Clinton county, 30,
(Rev. Wesley Odum, late of Georgia, laboring in
the meeting.) Big Lick church, Boone county,
has recently built a very neat house of worship.
Rev. L. Burrows resigns the pastoral charge
of our church at Lexington.
North Carolina.
Kings Mountain Association reports 2,763 mem
bers, with a gain for the year of but 69. The
Baptist State Convention will meet in Raleigh,
Nov. 9th. On a recent Sabbath, Rev. John
Jones, of Surry county, aged 81, baptized Mr.
Harden C. Herring, aged 88.
South Carolina.
Rev. A. H. Sands, Virginia, writing to the
Working Christian, of Rev. J. L. Reynolds, D.D.,
one of its associate editors, says : “Os all the
practical writers for the religious press, and of all
the practicable men among editors South, I do
not think Dr. R. has his superior.” Rev. J. K.
Mendenhall is agent for the endowment of Fur
man University. The work of Dr. Broadus, of
our Seminary, Greenville, on the “Preparation
and Delivery of Sermons,” has been adopted as a
text-book by the Kentucky University, (an insti
tution of the “ Disciples,” or “ Campbellites.”)
and 12 additions by letter.
Texas.
Rev. J. D. Chambers, formerly of Virginia, and
more recently of Kentucky, has settled near Paris,
Lamar county, “and expects to ride as mis
sionary.”
Tennessee.
Rev. Wm. Huff was taken suddenly and se
riously ill, with billious fever, while attending
Salem Association. Sweetwater Association,
which was divided into two, forty years ago, on
account of differences as to missions, was reunited
the present year, and divided into two, because of
its great size; the Eastern retaining the name
Sweetwater, the Western taking the name Eastan
allee. A. J. Shelton, McMinn county, has pre
sented to Blue Spring church, a neat and commo
dious house of worship, built entirely at his own
expense, and furnished completely. Friendship
church has had 25 baptisms; New Hope, Clarks
ville, 10; Knoxville, 13. At the Big Hatchee
Association, a “Southern Baptist Publication So
ciety” was formed, to have a capital of SIOO,OOO
and absorb the South-Western Publishing Com
pany, Memphis: Rev. J. R. Graves, President,
Revs. J. F. B. Mays, Tenn., M. P. Lowry, Miss., W.
M. Lea, Ark., and J. B. Link, Tex., Vice Presi
dents; Dr. P. S. Jones, Memphis, Secretary. Over
$5,000 stock was taken. Mulberry Gap Asso
ciation has 2,550 members, and but one Sunday
school.
Virginia.
Rev. A. M. Poindexter visits Texas in behalf of
our Foreign Mission Board, Richmond. -Rev.
J. A. Davis, of Bedford county, is very ill.
Rev. G, B. Taylor, Chaplain of the University of
Virginia, has returned from his European tour;
Elon church, Hanover, has had 40 accessions.
Carmel, Caroline, 23 conversions, (adding to the j
church, a writer in the Richmond Herald believes,
“some whole households”); Beaver Dam, Fluvanna,
15 conversions; Cumberland church, 12 ; Fork of
Willis, 22; Free Union, Albemarle, 15 baptisms;
Burruss’, Caroline, 16 ; Mt, Iloreb, Caroline, 48.
A church has been constituted at Gainsville
of 47 members recently baptized. J. Hardy
Hendren is having a house of worship built at his
expense, at Sewell’s Point, near Norfolk.
“Parsonages,” or “Manses.”
As our readers are aware, the Northern Pres
byterian church, formed by the union of the Old
and New Schools, proposes to raise $5,000,000, as
a thank-oflering to “ the Healer of Breaches.”
We notice, in our exchanges, a recent proposition
that one-fifth of this sum shall be expended in the
erection of “ manses,” or “ parsonages.”
The idea is a wise one. Scarcely any other in
vestment of the money could more directly con
tribute to denominational permanence and pro
gress. No church is complete in its equipment
for stability and for growth, without a Pastor’s
Home. There is gross dereliction of duty, wher
ever the ability to build one exists, and is not
put forth. It is a wilful throwing away of an
important element, conduciye, if pot necessary, to
the comfort, health, efficiency and fixedness of the
ministry; and, in the long run, there is no econo
my in it—no saving, but rather an increase of ex
pense.
There are Baptist churches in the South able
to expend a million of dollars in this way, \yjthin
a year from date. We wish they would do it.
The next generation will hardly know how to ex
cuse them for not doing it. The thing will not
look well in history. It will be a stain —or a
shadow, at least—on our memory.
Love of Darkness.
If it were the order of nature that the sun
should give light 'only to those who wished it,
what would we think of men who chose to “ grope
in darkness at noon-day”—who shut off from
themselves the beams which illume and cheer
the path of others, and which, if they allowed it,
would fall brightly around theirs ? Surely, there
would be none so unwise as to renounce day and,
with perverse will, live in perpetual night. But
multitudes are doing in the spiritual sphere, what
no one would do in the natural. Christ, “ the
Sun of Righteousness,” shines only for those who
welcome His rays. And thousands repel them.
They prefer an unbroken “ midnight of the mind ”
as regards the things of God. They will not
permit Him to rise on the soul with heavenly fight.
They “love darkness rather”—and walk, ‘not
knowing whither they go’ —and stumble, and
fall, and perish.
The Right Place for Them.
“ The Vicar of Dorking was, at his own request,
buried the other day in his full eucharistic vest
ments, with chalice and paten in his hands, rest
ing upon his chest."
These follies of Ritualism found at last their
right place and use—to enwrap a corpse and to
lie in a grave. When shall the true life of the
church have power to cast them out into the re
gions of the dead ?
Too Slow to be Sure. —Do not many Christians
set about their “labor in the vineyard,” very
much as Dr. Strong prosecuted the making of his
new Greek Dictionary —which was at so slow a
rate (Dickens tells us) “ that it might be done in
one thousand six hundred and forty-nine years,
counting from the Dr’s sixty-second birthday ?”
Quicken your steps, Bro. Snailpace 1
A Hard Thing to do.—To tap a whiskey bar
rel, and draw wise legislation from it! We hope
we may see the day when no constituency will
attempt a task so difficult.
For Choirs. —Is it really an improvement upon
the original form of the hymn, to sing
“ Let the fiery, cloudy pil low
Lead me all my journey through ?”
Items from Sontfi-west Georgia.
Dear Index: Having*' seen no notice in
your paper ol' the interesting religious meet
ings, which have occurred within the last few
months, in South west Georgia, it is thought
proper to send you the following : There have
been baptized into Friendship church, Hous
ton county, W. J. Collins, pastor, 11 ; Hen
derson church, Houston county, W. J. Col
tins, pastor, 1; Beulah church, Houston coun
ty, W. J. Collins, pastotyj ; Fort Valley
church, Houston council L. Ross, pastor,
10; Traveller’s Rest Church, Macon county,
W. C. W., pastor, '?!' Harmony church,
Dooly county, W. C. W., pastor, 19. Total,
50. The number girfcn for some of the
churches may not be precisely correct. The
above is the number baptized; several were
added to the churches by letter and by re
storation, making the sum total about 60.
It is gratifying to state--that the Baptist
churches in this part o? Georgia are making
rapid improvement in discipline, intelligence
and influence, as well as in numbers. And,
although their piety is far below what it
ought to be, yet it is believed the religious
status here will compare favorably with that
of other and more highly favored portions of
the State.
Not long since, an officer, who duty it is
to wind up bankrupt cases in this part of
Georgia, was asked hovf many cases he had
disposed of, and of that) number, how many
were Baptists. He
and only two were Baptists." The Primitive
Baptists in this part of Georgia, will excom
municate any one of their members who may
dare to take the benefitWif the Bankrupt or
Homestead law.
Spaldiog institu
tion, is a part of the growing in
telligence, enterprise aiißniblic spirit of our
people. It is located iTTtinewly-incorporated
town, named in honor of Miss
Mary Spalding, and is in the South-eastern
part of Macon county-*_Montezuma is, at
present, our post office. The Catalogue of
the school shows that 121 pupils were in at
tendance during the lasftcholastic year. The
school opens well.
With sincere regret do\ve record the death
of Dr. Isaac G. Cheves, one of our most ac
tive, energetic and liberal brethren in this
part of Georgia. The ways of Providence
are often mysterious. But our* duty is to
bow in meekness to Divine will. He
was born in Putnam county, Feb., 1811;
was baptized into Harmony church by Elder
Richard Pace, in the same county, in 1832;
was ordained deacon by Benevolence church,
in Crawford county, in r 483 7; and died in
Spalding, Macon county, Aug. 23rd, 1870.
In some respects, he was more than an ordin
ary man. The Lord haT favored him with
an iron constitution, indomitable energy, and
capacity ,to manage a large business. His
industry and perseveiirrfee were rewarded
with a liberal share of the good things of this
life. But, unlike most ' members of our
churches who are prosperous in business, Dr.
Cheves loved his church,.and rejoiced in her
prosperity. He did not permit worldly mat
ters to keep him away from conference and
Sabbath meetings. He was a warm advo
cate of the of Sunday
schools, of education, and of missions, and
contributed to their support with commenda
ble liberality. His house was a home for
the heralds of Jesus. Q£gn have he and his
family relieved the wants of needy ministers,
and comforted them in laborious and self
sacrificing labors.
He was also a friend "'to the poor. For
years, several poor people near him have
lived upon his charity. But he is gone, as
the writer believes, to hiJfi’eward in heaven.
•For months before his dcmT-he suffered much
but his never wa
vered. When his pastor J-ked him if he felt
prepared for death, in tin event the Lord
should think proper to calf him away, he an
swered, “ I have attended to this matter long
ago; I have not a shadow'of a doubt of my
acceptance through the merits of my Sa
viour.” He has left a wife, seven children,
and friends to mourn their loss.
w, c. w.
Spalding, Ga.
News fronjf the Field.
Another month is out,“Mid 1 again talk to
you through the Index. How fast time flies !
Early in September I attended, as you have
already been informed by-Rev. G. R. McCall,
of Hawkinsville, Ga., the session of the Mid
dle Georgia Association, (colored,) at Haw
kinsville. They have in their body 106
churches, (I think.) I endorse in full brother
McCall’s account of its doings, and join him
in the opinion that their Association should
be divided into about four. In addition, let
me suggest to the colored Baptists of Geor
gia, at an early day, to form a State Baptist
Convention, for the promotion of education
and missions. May the Lord bless and keep
their race from error, and especially froip the
influence of Romanism.
“A Delegate" to the Stone Mountain As
sociation says, “ Brother" Hay good got sev
eral dollars for his benevolent wagon.” Yes,
I did get a few dollars. The brethren at
Lithonia were the only ones who sent funds
to the Sunday School Board. Hope all the
churches will remember us next year.
The Tallapoosa Association met at Mount
Zion church, six miles west of Marietta. It
is a small body. They do but little for mis
sions. Received a small sum for Sunday
School Board. Hope they will join the Bap
tist Convention next year.
Attended the Middle Cherokee Association,
at Dalton, Ga. It wa9 a good meeting. Its
members promised to sfind up funds next
year to our missions. J. J. Howard,
the pious banker, pledgeq himself, and Rev.
G. A. Lofton his ehurcl*, (Dalton, Ga.,) for
next year, $25 each, to Foreign, Domestic,
Sunday School and Home Qthep
brethren made considerable pledges. We
had the brightest ray of mission light that I
have seen this year. Lam sorry my good
friend, “Uncle Shad,” was not present. If
he had been, he would tave been illuminated
by such q light, that it is doubtful whether he
would have seen another ihqdow soon.
The Liberty Association met at Athens,
Ala. It is a small body. That session has
but few preachers. I suggest to emigrant
ministers to call at Athens and Decatur.
The Muscle Shqale Association met at
Town Creek, Ala. It is a lqrge body. They
do Hut little for missions, bqt w r ere kjnd tq
me. F. M. IJaygoqd,
Aye&t and Missionary.
Macon , GaOct. 1, 1970.
Columbus Association,
The Columbus Association met with the
Horeb church, Talbot county, on Saturday,
23rd September, 1870, and closed its session
on Tuesday, 26th. There was quite a full
delegation of brethren from the churches, and
a number of correspo'hiJfcYrt*. The Introduc
tory was preached by brother M. J. Well
born, to a very large and attentive audience.
The sermon was one long to be remembered
for its close reasoning and sound piety.
Brother Willis (the Moderator) preached, on
Sunday morning, a discourse on missions,
full of energy and zeal for the cause and
kingdom of Christ, after which a handsome
collection was taken up. Brother Ilillyer
occupied the stand at 2 o’clock, and discoursed,
in his usual clear and perspicuous style, to a
large and appreciative audience.
The business of the Association was con
ducted with great harmony and Christian
love, and all had occasion to rejoice and to
feel that it was “good to be there." The
letters of the various churches did not show
much increase during the year, and it was a
matter of general complaint that there was a
great want in all the churches, of zeal and
enterprise in the work of the Master. Still,
the brethren counselled and prayed, and the
ministry, generally, felt that they eould gird
up their loins, and enter the field afresh for
another year’s labors and trials, believing
that God has given His Son a people whom
He would make willing in the day of His
power, and that through their instrumentality
they will yet be brought into His fold.
The session closed on Tuesday to meet with
Bethel church, Muscogee county, next year.
Delegate.
The Host Economical Plan.
Much has been written, still more thought
and said, about the cost of different plans of
conducting missions; and something of what
has been said and written has had the ten
dency to impress some of our people with the
idea, that our Board plan—the plan of con
ducting Home missions generally , and For
eign missions—was expensive, or costs too
much. How much 1 have been astonished at
the want of information I have found to
exist in some portions of Georgia—the Ban
ner State now—during the fifteen months that
I have been partially engaged in the service
of our Domestic Board !
r As extreme cases in point, 1 will mention
two. It has been reported that Dr. Mell re
ceived fifteen hundred dollars a year salary
for presiding over the Convention of Georgia.
: Then it has been said that it took ten dollars
to get ten cents to the missionary. Reader,
do not laugh at this. These things have been
said, where ministers could not and did not
correct them, because they were not prepared
to. \\ hy not, is not the question lam con
sidering. llow can it be expected that such
pastors or their people will give their money ?
ihey will not. In some instances, there is not
confidence that the money is properly ap
plied. I heard one aged minister say he had
money and could give to missions, if he had
confidence. Another old minister virtually
said that if an Association conducted a mission
in its own bounds, through the Board at Ma
rion, it would be taxed for about one-third of
the money it raised. These things were said
in Associations.
It has been my pleasure in several instances
to satisfy brethren that our Board plan is very
cheap. Take one as a sample, the Board of
Domestic and Indian Missions. It is the Ex
ecutive Committee, one Association, but
of every Association in every Southern State
and fur the Indian Territory ; or it will be, if
desired. VVlmt does it charge for this work?
Nothing at all. There are some incidental
expenses, as printing minutes, renting an of
fice, firewood, paper and ink, etc. Now, I do
not remember what that amounted to last
year, but a very small per cent, indeed on
the whole amount recived. Some think of
the salary of the Corresponding Secretary as
part of the expenses. That is wrong. If he
were confined to his room, and did nothing
but write, his salary would not be expense if
his writing brought in his salary. But he is
missionary, pastor’s aid, and Secretary. There
are not more useful, hard working men in the
South than our secretaries, Sumner, Taylor
andTeasdale. Few (I doubt if any) do more
preaching in the year than they, or more for
the good of the cause. Their influence is not
confined to one State, but is felt all over the
South. How opportune their visits to many
a wearied pastor! How much information
they impart, that arouses the zeal and energy
of pastors and churches ! Ido insist, that it
is not proper to consider their salaries as ex
pense.
r lhe same may be said of agents’ salaries.
The agent is missionary as well; and the
fgent who, as preacher or missionary, with
{the imparted, encouragement
given, and zeal awakened, is worth his salary,
even if he did not raise a dollar, at present, is
not an expense. Otherwise, it is just as pro
per to estimate in the bill of expenses, the
salary of any missionary as of the agent. I
have asked my brethren, who may think my
labors as missionary not worth my salary,
to say so to the Board.
How small the proportion required to run
the machinery, and that always paid out of
funds not designated! Every man, church or
Association contributing money for a special
mission, their money is so appropriated. The
most expensive machinery among us known
to me, are some of our Associations. I have
just received a mipute of the last meeting of
the Hightower Association, which reports
over 2,500 members, and took every cent con
tributed to “ grease the wheels”—pay clerk
and print minutes. 1 was at the last session
of Noonday, Qostenaula and Stone Mountain
Associations, and observed they were all quite
expensive—consuming a very large per cent,
of the funds raised, to run them. I really
know not how we could conduct the work, the
glorious work of missions, any cheaper than
by our present system. The only way would
be to reduce salaries of missionaries, agents,
and secretaries. The twelve good brethren
composing each Board, I take to be honest,
conscientious, Christian men, who, in their
combined wisdom, think every man under ap
pointment worth every cent he gets.
I have been several times requested to make
known, through the Index, these facts, with
others, which I have made often; but let what
I have said suffice. How I desire to see our
dear brethren, my beloved denomination,
more unitpd in the great work of gjving the
world a pure gospel, the whole gospel ! There
are Associations enough in our own Georgia,
—weak it may be, too weak to do much ef
fectively in themselves, —all of whom, how
ever, could give enough, when put together,
to support two or three missionaries at home,
among the Indians or in China, just as many
others are doing. Our Boards afford the op
portunity, easily, cheaply, to do that very
thing.
The Marion, or Domestic Board, have now
upder appointment some seventy men, of
whom at least thirty-five or forty would not
be preaching the gospel in destitute, impor
tant places to-day, but for the opportunity,
througn that Board, of combining thousands
of little amounts, which, in themselves, like
rills, would not do much, but combined, sup
port the heralds of the crqss. And how easily
the number could be doubled, twice doubled,
by just opening hundreds more of these little
streams, and directing them into the channel
or Board at Marion. The men are eager to
\york, the field is white unto harvest, needing
reapers. The Indians are really begging us
to help them. My brethren, would you dis
band our Boards, stop many a minister from
preaching where he is, and cripple the useful
ness of others? No! you would rather the
number was increased. Then send on your
mite, large or small, to the waiter fft Alhgny,
or, it more convenient, to M. T. Sumner, at
Marion, Ala. Send quick, ere you die, ere
your money is all gone, ere sinners die before
they hear the gospel. Send your money and
give your prayers for alj of our missionaries.
Labor, labor now, refreshment in heaven.
W. N. Chaudoin, Agent.
A Season of Refreshing.
I closed a very interesting meeting at
Qhoopie church, Washington county, Ga., on
Wednesday after the 3rd Sabbath in August.
It commenced on Friday before. The church
was much revived, and fourteen were baptized,
nearly all young people. One joined by let
ter. Last meeting tvyo more were baptised,
and there is an encouraging prospect for more.
Brother B. Smith was with me two days, du
ring the first meeting. Three were baptized
at Sister’s, at our last two meetings, I hear
of some very interesting meetings in our
Association, yet there is much coldness.
Thos. J. Cumminq.
War then's Store, Ga., Sept. 28, 1870.
Union Association, Ala.
The Union Baptist Association has just
closed one of the most pleasant and harmoni
ous sessions we have ever had the pleasure of
attending. Every minister and delegate
seemed to have come with enlarged hearts
and full determination to do all in their power
to promote the cause of our Lord and Saviour
on earth, and to lead sinners to the Lamb of
God that taketh away the sin of the world.
The Spirit of the Lord seemed to pervade
every heart throughout the whole meeting.
All returned home with renewed energy and
revived spirit, that we hope will be dissemi
nated in every church and neighborhood all
over the Union Association. The contribu
tions and pledges came from willing hearts,
were freely given, and unusually large—un
expected by many of the brethren ; but God
works to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Collected for all benevolent objects, from all
sources, $320, and then the churches and in
dividuals pledged nearly S3OO more to be
paid during the coming associational year, for
the support of a missionary to labor within
the bounds of our Association. Elected a
Board, located at Carrollton, a central point,
to see after the work and operate throughout
the Board at Marion, Ala. The Board at Car
rollton is composed of seven—M. L. Stansel,
L. M. Stone, P. F. Terrell, W. Ashcraft, J.
F. Gardner, W. G. Robertson, and A. La
tham. We feel like good days are dawning
upon us here. Let us expect great things of
the Lord. He has commanded, let us obey.
My dear brethren, without faith in the pro
mises of God, we are of all men most miser
able. We do believe and trust His word, and
work and wait for the bestowal of the rich
boon. The Index and Baptist was canvassed
and adopted as our organ. The Baptist at
Memphis was highly commended to con
fidence as an able exponent of God’s word.
It was said—-and I believe it—that if any man
would read the Baptist ten years he would be
an excellent theologian and sound in the faith.
The Kind Words was also adopted as our
Sabbath school paper. The Baptist Teacher
and uniform lessons were also commended to
teachers and schools. We had a very inter
esting Sabbath School Convention at the same
place of the Association on the day before.
We are being waked up on this important
subject, and the brethren are in good earnest ,
and going to work for the future happiness of j
their children, to give them a thorough reli
gious education and prepare them—fortify
their hearts and minds against the corrupt
religious teachings of the present day. As
we believe God is perfect, and cannot save t
any one only upon the terms offered us in the t
Bible, this, believed, would make us all one ,
indeed in faith and practice. God cannot 1
contradict Himself. The different sects ]
present Him in this light, and therefore their j
teachings are not of God. j
P. F. Terrell. \
Carrollton, Ala., Sept. 30, 1870.
' New Things.
There is no use in denying it, there are
some new things. Take an instance : I have
been a pastor, after a sort, in three States, and
for sixteen years, and yet, to the best of my
recollection, I never had a brother to call on
me for a talk wholly religious until the pre
sent month ! Allow me, then, to call this a
new thing. This man is a living epistle,
known and read of many, and he seems to
regard his pastor, not as a mere professional
“gospeller,” but as one whose heart delights
in the plan of salvation. Another novelty :
The other day a young man called me on the
street, and 1 answered. What he desired you
shall hear—that I should come to his office
next day, and have my life insured at his ex
pense ! 1 had never paid any great attention
,ta the matter of life assurance; indeed, the
thing did'not “ strike” me, as we say, but the
generous offer of the young brother must not
be neglected. So Mrs. is now in pros
pect of a something to sustain when her hus
band has “ fallen on sleep.”
Another new thing still: After a long time
of drought, I am now in a meeting where the
Converting power of God is evidently present.
Some have already asked for baptism, and
others are hoped for. It is no small privilege
to be among brethren whose prayers are
heard, and whose words are attended by the
Holy Spirit. - Scrap.
Montgopiery, Ala., Sept. 25,1870.
A Hood Meeting.
As has beep notjeed by the Index and Bap
tist, I was ordained to the gospel ministry
on the first Sabbath in June last, at Wehad
kee church, Troup county, Ga. On the Satur
day following, I formally accepted the pas
tqral care of Paran church, situated on the
line of Heard (Ga.) and Randolph (Ala.)
counties, and attached to the Liberty (Ala.)
4ssociation. The former pastor of tfijs church
was forced to resign the care of it in conse
quence of ill health. On the 12th of August,
I began a meeting which was protracted seven
days, and in which the fmrd graciously met
with us in great power. Rvery assembling
grew in importance—every shot from the bat
tery of God’s law seemed to “accomplish that
whereunto it was sent,” and many were made
to cry, “ Wh'at sfiall we do to be saved ?” I
never before witnessed such enrapt attention
to the administration of the Word. Both
saint and sinner were in earnest, and on the
18th, I had the never before-felt pleasure of
bqrying in baptism 22 willing converts—
some of them Methodists. Thirty accessions
were made to the church at this, my first pro
tracted meeting ; and with a thankful heart, I
exclaim with the sweet bard of Zion : *' The
Lord hath done great things for us, whereof
we are glad !” I received much and valuable
assistance from bi others Pritchett and Mfoore.
Upas. S. Johnson.
Troup County, Ga, Sept. 20, 1870.
Pleasant Tidings.
At Mt. Zion church, embracing first Sab
bath in August, we held a meeting of six
days, and received by baptism 13 members;
making about 20 by baptism during the year.
At Pray’s Mill church, embracing 2nd Sab
bath, we held a meeting of eight days, and
received by baptism 19, and 4by letter; 23
in ajl. At Macedonia church, embracing the
3rd Sabbath, we held a meeting of eight days
and received 15 by experience and 2 by let
ter, and at the meeting in September we re
ceived six more by experience, making 23;
and still the interest manifested is great, and
no doubt others will still come. Perhaps
you may remember 1 wrote last Spiing, that
the brethren were keeping up a weekly prayer
meeting at Macedonia church and its neigh
borhood, going from house to house. I then
prophesied that, if the church continued her
prayer meetings, the Lord would bless them,
which He has greatly done. The prayer
meeting is still going on. Oh, that all my
brethren in the ministry would urge upon the
churches the great importance of prayer
meeting* and social conversation on the sub'
ject of religion. J. M. Muss, Pastor.
Carroll county, Ga., Sept. 2 Uh, 1870.
4 Time of Ingathering-.
It is with great joy that 1 am able to report
that the Lord has graciously visited His peo
ple at Little Bandy church, in this county,
Brother J. T. Yerby and myself commenced
a meeting on the first Sabbath in this month,
which continued with great interest for two
weeks, and resulted in a general awakening.
There were added to the church S3 souls—27
by experience and baptism, and 0 restored.
Truly the Lord hath done great things for us,
whereof we are glad. The church is greatly
revived and thoroughly organized for work,
having regular weekly prayer meeting and
Sabbath school. We are expecting others to
join us soon. T. M. Barbour.
Tuscaloosa, Ala., Sept. 26, 1870.
Providence Church.
This church is situated on the old Roswell
road, seven miles east of Marietta ; was con
stituted July 26th, A. D., 1868, of eleven
members, and was received into the union of
the Noonday Baptist Association August 1 >t,
1868, without any house of worship, with only
five or six male members ; and the little band,
not willing to beg for help from abroad, have,
with their own means, completed a comforta
ble house of worship, notwithstanding the de
vastated condition of the country since the war.
This church has not had the first case of deal
mg during the two years. All seem to re
gard each other as brethren and sisters in the
Lord, with love and harmony one to another.
The accessions to the church have been the
first year—seven by letter and one by bap
tism, and two deacons ordained, to-wit: 1).
S. Blackwell and W. M. Johnson. The ac
cessions for the year 1870 : 18 by letter and
8 by baptism, numbering, at present, 45. The
writer humbly prays that the church, through
the instrumentality of the beloved pastor, 11.
B. Johnson, with the labors and zeal of her
deacons, and the prayers of the church, mav
continue to be biessed of the living God unlit
her numbers may be greatly increased, so that
at no very distant day she may be numbered
with the largest churches in the country.
L. A. Jackson.
Roswell, Cobb Cos., Ga., Sept. 28, 1870.
Ordination of Deacon.
Agreeably with the request of White Oak
Grove church, Coweta county, brethren J. 11.
Hall, E. S. Harris and the writer, ordained
brother W. T. Arnold to the office of deacon,
on Saturday, Ist inst. The examination, by
brother Harris, was concise and exceedingly
satisfactory. This church is in fine working
order. The brethren appear to be keeping
the “ unity of the Spirit in the bonds of
peace.” Besides the foregoing evidences of
a healthy condition, brother Hall was called
to the care of that church several years since
indefinitely ; the connection subject to disso
lution at the pleasure of either party. I think
that the Scriptural plan. In the close of the
year brother Hall receives his salary and
proceeds with his labors; no drumming for
votes to have him recalled, no dunning for
money to pay him. I learn from brother H.
that he is preaching for another church, that
is doing likewise. Taos. 11. Murphy.
Hogansville, Oct. 5, 1870.
Ordinations.
Brother Richard Moore was ordained to
the work of the gospel ministry at Paran
church, Randolph county, Ala., on the 10th
of September, 1870. Presbytery: Elders
It. A.J. Cumbie, Early Greathouse, Win.
Davis, G.T. Leverett, Jas. Pritchett and C. S.
John-on: examination of candidate by It. A.
J. Cumbie, consecration by G. T. Leverett,
imposition of hands by Presbytery, charge
by Early Greathouse. At the same time and
place, and by the same Presbytery, brother
A. J.O’Niel was ordained to the office of
church deacon. Ciias. S. Johnson, Mod.
One Day at a Hardshell Church.
On last Saturday it was our privilege to bo at
the “Primitive Ebenezer Association in Wil
kinson county, Ga., at which several things oc
curred that we noted, a part of which we will
give your readers.
I was informed that the Association numbered
only fourteen churches, with something over three
hundred members, and sent up for Associational
purposes about thirty dollars. They had a pretty
large corps of preachers, from different parts. 1
saw twelve or fifteen in the stand; (do not know
whether all were in the stand or not.) Rev. Mr.
Rowe preached in the house, upon the subject of
Fatality, (he called it Election,) at 11 o’clock.
At the same hour, Rev. Mr. Mullis preached at
|.!iu stand, ands desire to girfe a slight sketch of
fns discourse. (I didn’t hear Mr. Rowe, but did
.hear Mr. Mullis.) Mr. Mullis set out by telling
us that he did not think he would take any text,
as there were so many that taught what be want
ed to say, he did not know which one to read;
therefore, he would read none, lie began by
giving us a part of his Christian experience and
call to the ministry. lie said he did not want to
hurt any one’s feelings, because the Bible com
manded him not to offend God’s children. He
told us of a very bad man of his acquaintance,
who abused his wife terribly, and of a frightful
dream this man had, and how the bad man thought
it was a call to the ministry, but he (the preacher)
thought it was a call to treat his wife better. Ho
then told us how he (the preacher) loved his wife
—how he cried when he told her good-by, when
he started to the Association. He said his wife
was a great weaver—could make excellent cloth,
if she only had strong warp; but if the warp was
rotten, it mattered not how strong the filling was,
the cloth would bo poor. That reminded him of
a preacher with whom he was acquainted, that
was composed of Methodist warp and Baptist
(Hardshell) filling, and, by-the-byo, he was a bad
composition. He said he was not like some
preaohers who sold their sermons, for be could
hardly give his away. Some denominations sent
their boys to College to have them manufactured
into preachers; he didn’t boliove in that plan, and
he had his doubts ahout any one’s acceptiug an
education if it was offered him, after God had
called him to preaoh. As for his part, God had
called him to the work of the ministry before he
even knew his alphabet, and it was all a notion
for people to say a man can’t preach without an
education, for he, himself, never went to school
but four months and a half, and that was after ho
began his work. After going on in this style for
near an hour, he turned around and saw brother
Fields in the stand taking a quiet nap, and ex
claimed, “Oh ! brother Fields, wake up and hear
my text! I thought I wouldn't take any text,
but I believe I will now, so wake up, my brother,
and hear it. It is the same text 1 took the last
time I was with you—the time I was in the brush
so badly; don’t you remember it? Ido. And 1
was ashamed to take it again beforo you, you aro
such a sharper; but I believe I will be compelled
to take it. I can’t help it,” With this he
branched off, and never told any one but brother
Fields his text. So I will close for the present,
and if I feel like it at some future time, I will
tell you more about the Hardshell Association.
Visitor.
September 27, 1870.
A few Words More to Bethel Association.
Dear Brethren: As one of you, let me add
a few words to what brother Muse has said.
The following items I would urge upon your
attention, to stir up your minds by way of
remembrance:” 1. We meet on Friday, and
not Saturday, as before. Brethren, be there,
and remain till Monday. Will you not?
The introductory will be a treat: do not miss
it. 2. Do not forget to report what system
you have adopted, if any, and how it works.
I have heard of but a few churches that have
complied with the resolution of last year.
3. Remember brother Hogue, lie will be
with us, God willing. Some shadows have
been cast upon him somewhere. I want us,
as a body, to do two things—pay him up
first, and then deoide once, for all, whether
we will continue our mission work. I trust
every ohurch that is not hearty in the work
will not hesitate to take action,and so report.
Let us understand each other. Let us say
whether we are what our name imports, and
if not, “ take down our sign.” 4. Brethren,
let us go up praying, pray before we go, and
go up “to do good and get good.” If we go
to do good and do it, we will be sure to get
good ; for our Redeemer will bless us, and
that is the good we need. “ Glory to God
in the suporlativo degree,” said a happy
young Christian, when praising God. May
God make our coming meeting a good one,
superlative one—fill us so full of Tlislo\e
that we will give Him superlative praises.
Amen ! W. N. Chaudoin.
Following the Truth. —“ I will go wher
ever truth will lead me, except over Niagara
Falls,” said Dr. Beecher one day to Dr.
Taylor, during a discussion of some topic.
“Well,” said Dr. Taylor, in reply, “I will
go wherever truth leads, if it is over Niagara
Falls.”