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JJ &h% aai ffaptiist.
J. J. TOON, .... Proprietor.
PUBLICATION ROOMS — 44 6 SOUTH BROADWAY.
Editor: Rev. D. SHAVER, D.D.
CORRESPONDING RDITORB :
Rrv. J. J. D. RENFROE, Talladega, Ala.
Rrv. S. HENDERSON, D.D., Fayetteville , Ala.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1870.
Robert E. Lee.
Robert E. Lee— the name that needs no prefix
to make it illustrious—the name that, of itself,
shines a central, superior sun among all names of
the present century 1 That name, alas, is now a
thing, not of “the dead past,” but of the past
which cannot die. He who bore it has “ crossed
over the river” which parts these earthly scenes
from the eternal.
Words cannot voice a people’s woe. The ago
ny that smites the heart of an age cannot utter
itself. We prefer, therefore, to bring our humble
tribute of regret and reverence, and lay it on the
tomb of Lee in silence. How could we sketch,
even in outline, the Great Soldier and the Greater
Man—the foremost of his times ? We shrink from
the temerity of the thought.
On Sabbath morning, the pastor of the Second
Baptist church, (Rsv. W. T. Brantly, D.D.,) in
the close of a sermon from Acts xi; 24, “He was
a good man,” referred to this national bereave
ment as follows. llis remarks are furnished to
us at our request, and will deeply interest the
reader.
The discussion of the subject is closed ; but it
finds such a beautiful illustration in the characer
of the beloved man whose decease, within the
past few days, has filled millions of hearts with
unaffected grief, that this discourse would be stri
kingly incomplete without some exhibition of the
fact. It is rare that a Christian minister can pre
sent one of earth’s most illustrious sons as an ex
ample of a good man, in the sense in which the
honorable attestation was borne to Barnabas It
happens but too rarely, that the qualities which
command the admiration of the world are found
in unison with a devout life, but Gen. Lee was as
good as he was distinguished. He honored Christ,
and was, in turn, honored by Him.
My subject does not require me to speak
of him as a soldier, though 1 may be permit
ted to say that, in my view, he will take rank
among the most sagacious Commanders of any
age or of any country. None knew this better,
conceded it more readily than did the brave men
against whom he fought. I said, one day, to the
officer who led the United States troops on the
bloody field in Pennsylvania, where such a severe
disaster befell the Confederate arms, “Do you
know, General, why you beat us at Gettysburg?
It was because Stonewall Jackson was not there.
“ You are mistaken, sir,” was the reply ; “ I have
found many Southerners who believed that Jack
son was their great General, but it was not so.”
“Who, then,” I inquired, “did you look upon
as the ablest officer of our side?” “General
Lee,” was the reply. “General Lee, sir, un
doubtedly. He was your greatest man.” And
in harmony with this opinion has been the testi
mony, voluntarily tendered, of the highest mili
tary authorities of Europe, both in England and
on the Continent.
The great soldier is not unfrequently a man of
Irrepressible ambition, intent only on the aggran
dizement of self. But to military abilities of the
highest order, Lee added a pure, self-sacrificing
patriotism, lie has been often censured for iden
tifying his fortunes with the South ; but, with his
convictions of duty, he could not have done other
wise. He was educated in the doctrine that the
Federal Government was the creature of the States,
and that allegiance was due it only through his
nativo State. When, therefore, Virginia with
drew from the Union by a Convention legally as
sembled, entertaining the ideas he did, he felt
constrained to follow her fortunes. He had strong
temptations to take a different view of his political
itatui. He was an officer of the United States
army, and held a position in public esteem second
only to that of the aged Commander-in-Chief of the
army. Had he arrayed himself against his State,
the probability is, that the triumphs achieved br
others, would have been his victories, and the re
wards of place would havo been his compensation.
But, acting under the stern promptings of con
science, he turned from the most splendid prizes
which ever allured the eye of man, and took Ins
position with the feeble minority; counting it
higher honor to hazard defeat and calamity with
the weak, than to triumph with the strong. He
has been called a “ subjugated rebelbut the
candid and the intelligent who so pronounce, must
concede that, in accordance with the political the
ory received from his fathers and held by himself,
he was a patriot of the highest type.
But if he had been no more than a sol
dier and a patriot, I should not have present
ed him as an illustration of my theme. He
was a Christian man; and his piety shed a
hallowed lustre over qualities naturally shin
ing; investing them with a higher beauty than
Beeular renown can bestow. The evidence
on which I rely for this fact is not that he was a
professor of religion ; for alas! there is much pro
fession in these days where it is to be feared that
the power of godliness is wanting. “ His doctrine
and bis life coincident gave lucid proof that he was
honest in the sacred cause.” If you will refer to
his public papers, written during the war, you
will see that he never failed, whenever opportu
nity offered, to call the attention of the people to
the great Disposer of all human events, and io in
spire them with gratitude or submission, as the
circumstances might suggest. Even in a brief
telegraphic dispatch, he rarely fails to tnnke men
tionof the Sovereign Ruler of all. I know it may
be said that public men, noted for irreligion and
profanity, have often made pious allusions in their
state papers ; but those who knew Gen. Lee in
private, could not fail to remark that religion was
with him something more than an empty name;
that it was a power lodged in the heart and con
trolling his whole nature. It was my privilege,
during the past two years, to be thrown into his
society, at different times, so intimately, that I saw
and conversed with him every day. and frequently
several times a day. I discovered that, with him,
religion was the theme on which he most delight
ed to dwell. He spoke to me with great interest
of the efforts made by different denominations of
Christian people to promote the spiritual good of
the soldiers. He took pleasure in referring to the
numbers who he hoped had been brought to the
Saviour through the instrumentality of the chap
lains and visiting ministers. Speaking to me last
June of the College under his control, he referred
more than once, evidently with the greatest satis
faction, to the number of students who had been
hopefully converted during the term then just
closed. He also mentioned with much interest
the work of the Young Men’s Christian Associa
tion among the students. When a guest at his
house, the first thing with which he greeted tue,
on coming down in the morning, was the Bible,
with the request that I should lead the devotions
of the family; and when, after reading God’s
word, we knelt down together, his prompt and
cordial responses attested the earnestness with
which he adopted the petitions addressed to the
Throne of Grace.
1 have said that his piety pervaded his whole
character. Three things particularly struck me
as I observed him :
1. His conscientiousness. He was called to fill
a position where the trustees asked for but his
name, willing to relieve him of any duty save that
which he chose to assume. But he chose to be
very laborious. Breakfasting at an early hour, he
devoted his whole time to the interest of the pu
pils ; and when it is remembered that there were
850 young men under his supervision, it is mani
fest that his energies must have been seriously
taxed. So deep was the interest which he took
in the personal welfare of the students, that each
one of this large number was known to him by
name, and he was constantly carrying on an ex
tensive correspondence with the patrons of the
College in regard to their sons and wards.
8. His humility was strikingly apparent. There
was nothing in his demeanor to indicate that he
considered himself anything more than an ordi
nary citizen. Some men of distinguished position
never seem to lose sight of the fact themselves,
and to exhibit to others such a demeanor that you
would think they were anxious to remind their
associates of their superiority ; but no one would
have inferred from anything that was apparent in
the bearing or conversation of Gen. Lee, that he
was in the company of a man who was admired
and eulogized by millions.
If any man in the country had reason to be
proud, it wak he. Descended from sires who filled
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA. GA., THU RSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1870.
conspicuous places in the early history of the Re
public, both in the cabinet and the field, gradu
ating with the first honor at the highest military
school in the country, the constant recipient of
praise from multitudes, what a temptation to
poor human nature to be puffed up and vain 1 But
in the midst of all the honors that were heaped
upon him, he seemed wholly unconscious of any
superior claims upon the consideration of his
friends; and you never heard from him the re
motest allusion indicating a self-complacent or
proud temper.
3rd. More beautiful still, was his charity. The
grace nhicli both Paul and P ter mentioned as a
crowning excellence, was are obvious fruit of his
piety. It is hard for men. who have been disap
pointed and overthrown, to suppress vindictive
emotions towards the victors. Passion will oc
casionally rise to ebullition, and revengeful words
will be spoken. But who ever beard a vindictive
expression from Lee ? I was with him in his own
home, and conversed with him in all the freedom
and familiarity of domestic intercourse, but 1 can
not recall a single word he ever uttered in denun
ciation of those against whom he fought for four
years. The war closed, he seemed most desirous
to heal the cruel breaches it had made. He re
fused to go to Gettysburg, last summer, as you
remember, to participate in a service which pro
posed to preserve memorials of the war, declaring
that all mementoes of the unhappy strife should,
as far as possible, be obliterated. A gentleman
told me that, observing at the Springs, in Vir
ginia, some peisons from the North, who seemed
to he wholly unacquainted with any of the guests,
General Lee introduced himself to them, and then
presented them to his friends. This little incident
is an illustration of his charity. “He that ruleth
his spirit is mightier than he that taketb a city.”
Some of the most lllu-trious conquerors ol
cities have been overthrown by their own pas
sions. Tried by the divine test, he was a greater
man than Caesar or Alexander. His was the glo
rious sublimity of self-conquest. He wears,
I doubt not, to-day, the crown which glit
tered to the eye of that Christian soldier who
said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished
my course, I have kept the faith, and now there
is laid up for me a crown.” We mingle our tears
over a common calamity, but the hand of Jesus
has wiped the last tear from his eye. He lias
gone where the “ wicked cease from troubling,
and the wearv are at rest.”
Young men 1 1 hold up before you the lamented
Lee for your imitation. Follow him, as he fol
lowed Christ. You cannot acquire (he military
renown which he achieved. Few have the en
dowments which he possessed. None of you,
probably, will ever see such an occasion of dis
tinction as that which be knew. But you can
imitßte him in that which we now feel was his
highest earthly glory, and which is the ground of
his rijoicing in the skies. You can emulate it is
virtues, you can find, as did he, true greatness in
true goodness. The crown which is bright for
him, when all oiher laurels have faded, may,
through a like faith, be that in which, living, you
may exult, and dying, you may glory.
Power of Early Impressions.
The impressions of our earliest years often be
come the influences which rule ripe age —rule
life even through its lust decrepid epoch. Stamped
on us while nature is yet unrenewed, they deepen
into the channels in which the waters of a future
faith and godliness are to flow.
A striking exemplification of this truth has
been given, recently, to the public.
During the first decade of the present century,
there was, in the city of Yoik, England, a father
who '‘did not believe in teaching religion to very
young children.” lie held that they should be
taught history, however; and from the ancient
buildings of the city and suburbs, be imparted to
his son, in their evening walks, toe history of bis
country lot g before he could read it in books.
Among the most notable of these buddings was
the Uathedral, which commemorates “the con
version of the Saxon king, Edwun, (who was born
in York,) with his priests and followers, from
heathenism, and their baptism by Paulmus, a
companion of the famous Augustin, in the min
ster he had built, AD. 625.” The father told
over that story to bis boy, and it became to him
a fact that could not be forgotten. “ The con
version of a nation from idolatry was a great idea
in his little mind, an I seemed worthy of a menu
ment like the Cathedral.”
Years of scepticism lay between the sowing of
this seed, and the fruit that was to ripen from it.
The boy grew to manhood, and was drifted by
the tide ot emigration to America. Here, some
fifteen years alter these evening walks and les
sons, the grace of God gathered him into the
Christian fold and called him to the ministry.
Need we be surprised, then, to read that he “ had
thoughts of the missionary work n connection
with his first thought of preaching the gospel?”
Is it cause for wonder that May, 1830, found him
on the ocean, bound to Burmah, a witness for
“the truth as it is in Christ Jesus,” under the
auspices of the American Baptist Convention ?
Can we count it strange that now, after the lapse
of lorty years, he still hold- forth “ the word of
life” among the Karens at Toungoo ? No. The
story which his young ears drank in on the streets
of York, made Francis Mason a missionary.
There came forth from it a power, which, when
the Spirit wrought within him, secured more
mighty achievements than those of Paulinus, to
ward ihi tiue *' c -i.veision of a nation” Iron:
heathenism.
Oh, let us keep wa ch, to the utmost of our op
portunity and ability, over the impressions made
on early childhood. A life of honor or of shame,
an immortality of glory or of despair, may be
wrapped up in them. Let us pray, unceasingly,
that the all-wise providence and the unerring
Spirit, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
may prevent evil impressions from taking root in
the tender, trustful bosom, and bringing forth
there a harvest of unbelief and perdition.
Sabbath Schools ami State Law,
Looking, recently, through the “ Code of Geor
gia,” as revised by Judge Irwin, we lighted on a
law’, which Ve suppose to be without parallel in
the present legislation of any other American
State. We give it, as a matter of curiosity :
Ҥ 4495. Ml moneys arising from fines imposed
for offences, the gist of which consists in their
being committed on the Sabbath day, shall he paid
to the Ordinary ot the County, t.o be by him. dis
tributed. for the purpose of establishmg and pro
moting Sabb Uh schools in. the County." (Code,
p. 884)
Tins manifests a very proper appreciation of
the Sabbath school as a safeguard against t e des
ecration of the day of Christian rest—our law.
makers designing, we presume, to employ the
funds accruing from the punishment of that offence
against religion and morality, m the way best
adapted to prevent its repetition in future. But
we should be sorry to see B'ptist Sabbath schools
“established” or “ promoted" by such methods.
It would strike us as a departure from the views
with regard to the separation between church and
State, which have descended to us as a heritage
from our persecuted fathers, and which flow, by
necessary consequence, from our distinctive prin
ciples.
The Assurance of Hope.
Tupper, in a recent volume of poems, says;
“ Though it be hard to tell
How good is bred of ill, or bliss of woe,
Yet somehow, somewhere, and at some fur when,
Uod shall Oeiight in all the sons of men.”
It is this vagueness of Nature, this cloudy am
biguity of Rationalism, this phantasmal, receding
mirage of hope on the desert of Infidelity,—it is
this which men ask us to accept in lieu of the
clear, definite, substantial testimony of revelation
—in lieu of Christ saying, through His Spirit, to the
believer, in the last agony, “ To-day , shalt thou
be with me, in Paradise." Who can be beguiled
into such an exchange of certainty for doubt—of
what is known as the dawn of eternal day for
what may prove to be the prelude of eternal
night ?
Sundries.
It has always been thought the crowding act of
oppression, on the part of the Egyptians, when
they required the Israelites “ to make bricks with
out straw." What profound sympathy has that
act of unmitigated despotism awakened in the
hearts of all succeeding generations! The rhet
oric of the pulpit has been exhausted time and
again in denouncing the infamous exaction. And
yet, it may be pertinently asked, Were the Israel
ites of that age and country the only people re
quired “to make bricks without straw f” —to per
form a given kind and amount of service without
adequate means ? Let us see.
When that father fails to prepare his son for the
great mission of life—when, sensible of the vast
responsibilities which confront the rising genera
tion, religious, moral and civil, he deliberately
dwarfs the mind and heart of his child by doom
ing him to the merest rudiments of an education,
in all the departments of his nature, and sends
him forth on the great thoronghfares of life, in
the hope that he can maintain an honorable status
with those who are fully equipped for every emer
gency, is he not demanding of that son “ bricks
without stiaw ?”
When that mother takes all the cares and la
bors of the household, and leaves her daughrer to
sit in the parlor, thumb the piano, read the last
new novel, flirt with the exquisite Mr. Vapid, with
out any more concern about the stern duties of
life than the pictures that adorn that parlor, and
then expects, after her settlement in life, that she
shall be a “ keeper at home,” that she shall under
stand duties and perform labors of which she
never dreamed, —were the Egyptians more cruel
thaji she when they demanded “ bricks without
straw.”
When a minister of the gospel, no matter how
good his heart or wise his head, fails to exhort,
reprove and admonish his church as to their du
ties—fails to “ declare the whole counsel of God;”
when, through fear that his motives will be sus
pected, he “ keeps back part of the price,” and
then expects that church to corne up to the stand
ard of its duty in all respects, let his meagre
salary, his ragged children, his despondent and
overworked wife, and his scanty fare, to say noth
ing of anything else, speak to his conscience trum
pet-tongued, that he is expecting “ bricks without
straw.”
When a (so-called) church of Jesus Christ,
knowing and acknowledging all its duties, and
sharing all the advantages of a faithful ministry,
dooms its pastor to poverty and daily toil for his
bread, complains that his preaching is unedifying,
--that he does not visit them, and that his con
gregations are dwindling—when they demand of
him a service which they would not exact of the
ox, (for they feed him for his labor) —well, all we
have tossy is, that among all the cruei task-mas
ters of Egypt that whipt these “ hewers of wood
and drawers of water” to their daily task, there
was not one more despotic in his demands than
such a church in exuding “ bricks without straw.’’
When the members of any chuich pray with
great apparent unction, “ Thy kingdom come”—
when the moral condition of the world calls forth
the loudest expressions of their sympathy—nay,
when they shed tears, copious tears, over the sad
spectacle, and when, under the most heart-moving
appeal that Christianity can make to them for sub
stantial aid to supply this vast destitution, they
dole out a few dimes to this great purpose, and
keep their thousmds to gratify “ the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life,”
and then wonder what our missionary Boards are
doing with all the money paid in to them—won
der why every destitute neighborhood in our
country and in foreign lands is not supplied with
the gospel—why only this, Pharaoh himself was
not capable of a more arbitrary demand when he
required “ br.cks without straw.”
But whither have we wandered? We took up
the pen to say what could be said in hall a dozen
lines by way of excuse for the meagreness of our
contributions—that to expect a man who lives
away off - Irom all the thoroughfares—who now
a<id then sees a newspaper— who sees “ the man
who has been to Montgomery” about once a month
—whose recreation consists in walking over a
little farm to see if he will make bread for the wife
and little ones—we say to expect that man to fur.
nish so much matter weekly ior intelligent read
ers, looks very much like—demanding “ bricks
without straw.”
But that the reader tnay not be wholly without
compensation in reading these rambling thoughts*
we will add, as an item of news, that, assisted by
brother Wi kes, we have just closed a meeting
with the Mt. Zion church, at which there were
seven additions by baptism, letter and restoration.
Others will join at our next meeting, it is believed.
H.
The Evangelical Alliance.
Many wise Baptists seem to he deeply concern
ed on the question, What sort of alliance should
be formed among anti-Catliolics to withstand the
increasing power and defeat the manifest designs
of Romanists in this country? It is generally
agreed that the opposing forces to this monster de
lusion should somehow unite their efforts and
concentrate their opposition. And we imagine
that this general feeling will carry many Baptists
into the so-called “ Evangelical Alliance.” Some
will enter that alliance with the purpose and hope
of overthrowing some of the distinctive principles
and practices of the Baptists. There are others
who wdl take part in this alliance, prompted by
improper feelings of another sort, —feelings of fear
feelings of cowardice. They are airaid of the
Raman Catholics. Now, we are aware that Ro
manists have, in other days, put to death thou
sands of Baptists, and otherwise vexed, persecuted
and wasted them ; and we are entirely satisfied
that they will do the same things again, in this or
any other country where they obtain the power.
Yet, we are not afraid of them. We believe the
old Mother of Harlots to be on her last legs. The
cup of her iniquity is about full. Her civil power
has departed. Her crowned heads and princes
have well nigh forsaken her, or have fallen them
selves. Her Pope with his “infallibility”—his
master-piece of blasphemy—holds his seat to-day
at the mercy of a mob. Although this state of
things with him may not last long, he is compell
ed, when the storm blows over, to find himself
greatly depleted and circumscribed. We do not
believe that he will ever rule another kingdom.
It is humiliating, at a time when the oppressed
of the old world are manfully and successfully
struggling to throw off the oppressor, to see free
Americans thinking of putting their necks under
the yoke, and Baptists trembling and fearing that
they are to be swept away in the general ruin ;
and then hoping to save themselves by forming
an organic alliance with orders who rest their
very being on some of Rome's most fatal errors 1
There are other Baptists who will enter this
alliance from general good feeling—from a will
ingness to become part of almost any combination
of worthy men which promises good to the race.
They do not believe that they compromise any
thing by so doing, and they enter it in good faith
and are in earnest.
We are compelled to credit what so many of our
brethren say, who are better educated to observe
the signs of the times than we, that Romanism is
on the increase in America and in the South,
both by emigration and by perverts ; but we are
slow to believe that its growth, as compared with
Protestant denominations, is such as to justify the
alarm which seems to exist even among Baptists.
But they are growing, and they are already a vast
power in this country. How are they to be met 1
In our opinion, theidliance does now exist, and
has existed for more than 1800 years—the very
alliance which is presTsely suited, if rightly man
aged, to meet and confront this influx and growth
of Romanism ; —the only alliance, too, which can
accomplish this work. This alliance is comprised
of the Baptist churcltes and ministry, with the
Bible—the whole Bible, with every word inspired,
and nothing but the Bible, as a rule of faith and
practice. Let this stand united and have
a full and fair sweep at Romanism, without em
barrassing entanglements with other alliances, and
we do not fear the issue. The wisdom of the
blessed Christ produced an organization which
was meant to propagate all truth and confront all
error. The churcheSV'delineated in the New Tes
tament comprehend the elements of all good, and
such churches need ho foreign power. “Is not
the Lord in Zion ? IN not her King in her ?”
The Baptists are The only people who never
symbolized with Popery, and they are the only
people to day who can enter the arena of this
strife with both hands at liberty, and every limb
unshackled; and there is no other organic alli
ance that they can enter without placing tbe man
acles upon some limb. which is essential to suc
cess in a contest with Romanism.
What could a Baptist say, in the “Evangelical
Allianee,” against Rome—against Rome’s love of
civil power— Episcopal orders—
against Rome’s unscnptural sacraments —against
Rome’s ritualism—against Rome’s “main pillar,”
that would not disturb the harmony of the alli
ance? If Spurgeon would not be allowed a seat
because of his sermoa on baptismal regeneration,
with what grace, amL with what hope of doing
good, could any BanX^t.take his place there?
We have reatMMHry of this sort. In some
war against the In dims, an old Chief presented
himself before the “pale-faced” General, offering
the services of hunsel# and his warriors. Their
bows, arrows and toqpahawks were taken from
them, and fire-arms apd swords were placed in
their hands. They did not understand the use of
these. The battle and they fled the field.
The Chief appealed to the General, protesting
that his warriors were the same as disarmed.
Their original weapons were replaced in their
hands, and they fought bravely and successfully.
In our opinion, a Baptist will make a poor fight
against Rome, in the of this Protes
tant Ecumenical Council. He will fight at great
disadvantage, and unless he return to his own eld
“sword of the Spirit,” he will, finally' quit the
field in defeat.
Let Baptists ue to their God and His
Holy Bible, true to themselves arid to each other,
true to their principles and to their ancient re
cord. Here they wiilrfight best and gain most.
Whatsoever is more than this, conieth of evil.
R.
Our Zion—in Our Exchanges, etc.
Georgia.
A writer in the Watchman and Reflector says:
“It is estimated that there are 115,000 Baptists
in the State of Georgia, 85,000 Methodists, 9,000
Presbyterians, and 2,000 Episcopalians.” Os
Atlanta, this writer says *. “Here are three Bap
tist churches; the First church many of our
Eastern and Western brethren helped to build.
It would be considered a fine church edifice in
any city, and a credit tjp any people. It is just
now destitute of a The Second church
had a fine, commodiousthouse, but it seems it was
not sufficiently commojfious, and they are now
busy enlarging, repairing and beautifying the
edifice. Here Rev. !■ Brantly, well known to
our Eastern friends, specially in Philadelphia,
wheae he lived before 'Wie war and was pastor of
the Tabernacle church"Jof that city, holds forth
to a polite, intelligent and wealthy congregation,
who know how to take care, —if one may judge
from the Doctor’s handsome appearance, —of a
good pastor. By the way, the Doctor has just
martied a very accomplished lady, whom he thinks
is the most beautiful lady in Georgia. She is
certainly beautiful, but what is better, a pious
and devoted Christian lady, and a fortune in her
self to the pastor of the. Second church, and would
be to any minister.” And he says, of Augusta:
“Augusta is also a great Baptist stronghold.
There are six churches—two white and four col
ored. The First, and principal w hite church, is
handsomely located in the very centre of the city,
on the principal street for private residences. The
pastor, Rev. Dr. Dixon, has recently succeeded
Rev. Dr. Cuthbert, now of Washington city, and
formerly pastor of tbe First church in Philadel
phia. Dr. Dixon has the reputation of being
superior as a sermonizer, an original thinker and
an eloquent speaker. It is doubtful whether he
has any superior in the pulpit in the denomina
tion. From the force, precision and striking
originality of his thoughts, combined with the
richness of his language, the rapid sequence of
thought on thought, illustration on illustration,
and the perfect keeping of diction, sentiment and
imagery, he would rivet the attention of the
strongest and most cultivated minds.”
Alabama.
There have been 10 baptisms at Blue Spring
church, Marshall county; 11 at Walnut Grove,
Etaway ; 22 at Mt. Carmel.
Arkansas.
Rev. A. M. Simms, of Lake Village, says
that brother Shepherd, of Carroll parish. La., not
long since baptized 65 in one hour and five min
utes, and adds that twelve men, at that rate, could
baptize three thousand in a little more than three
hours.
Kentucky.
Rev. J. W. Cox, to us, a year or two
ago, from the “Disciplb-,” has returned to that
people. Chestnut street church, Louisville, has
had 8 accessions; Buck Grove church, 17; Rus
sellville church, 14, and among them the eldest
son and daughter of Rev. A. B Cabaniss, born
in China while their fattier labored as missionary
there. A Baptist living near Augusta, and not
wealthy, gave S7UO last year to his church.
Mississippi.
Ellistown church has had 16 accessions; Beu
lah church, Union county, 15; Zion church, 23;
Rocky Springs, Y*zoo county, 30. Robert A.
Whitfield was ordained to the ministry, at Fannin
church, Rankin county, Aug. 21st: sermon by
Rev. J. M. Lewis. Anew church is to be or
ganized in DeSoto county, a few miles southeast
of DeSoto station, where 28 have been recently
baptized.
North Carolina.
Boiling Spring and Camp Creek churches,
Cleaveland county, have had, the former 34 bap
tisms, and the latter 35; Shiloh, Rutherford, 18;
Abbott’s Creek, Davidson, 31; Moriah church,
50. Anew church has been constituted at
Trenton, Jones county, under the labors of Rev.
G. S. Best, missionary of Eastern Association.
Rev. A. B. Earle will visit Raleigh in Nov.,
holding a ten days’ meeting from the 17th.
Rev. G. M. Wells has baptized 124 persons re
cently.
Soutu Carolina.
The Twelve-Mile Association, at its late session,
welcomed a minister and layman, as messengers
of the Southern Methodist Church, asking the
co-operation of that body “to cry down the pop
ular vices of the day, such as drunkenness, pro
fane swearing. Sabbath breaking, lying, dancing,
adultery, etc.” A minister at Twelve-Mile As
sociation stated that “he had quit his plough
handle and preached one year to six churches,”
and that “ they all together gave him about $40.”
Rev. J. 11. Kinnebrew resigns charge of our
church at Barnwell C. H. Thos. P. Lyde, Jr.,
was ordained to the ministry, at Mechanicsville,
Oct. 2nd; sermon by Rev. F. W. Eason: and
Thos. W. Hart, at Darlington, Aug. 28th; ser
mon by Rev. J. O. B. Dargan, D.D. Bro. H. set
tles, as pastor, at Shreveport, N. Y.
Texas.
Rev. N. Lansing reports “precious revivals”
at Sylvan Academy, Shamrock, Concord and
Clarkesviile. —San Marcos church has had 18 ac
cessions ; Brenham some 30, (by baptism;) Har
lis Creek, 28; County Line, 12 ; Ehenezer, Smith
county, 20; Lonesome Dove, Tarrant county,
(the oldest church in Northern Texas, organized
in 1846,) 20. A. G. G. Perkins was ordained
to the ministry, at Waco, Sept. 11th.
Tennessee.
Thomas Newton Fuqua was ordained at New
Hope church, Davidson county, Sept. 26th ; ser
mon by Rev. Wm. A. Whitsitt. Fourteen
have been baptized at Fellowship church, Ruth
erford county. Rev. A. B. Earle begins a meet
ing in Memphis, Nov. 6th.
Virginia.
Our Foreign Mission Board, Richmond, has ap
pointed E. Z. Simmons, of Kossuth, Miss., a mis
sionary to China; and Rev. A. D. Phillips, its
missionary to Africa, is preparing for an early re
turn to that field. Rev. Wm. Hankins has
recently walked 300 miles on a preaching tour.
Twenty-seven have been baptized recently at
Pine Grove church, Washington county ; making
102 within two years, of whom 28 were from the
Methodists and several from other denominations.
Pound Mill, Tazwell county, has had 21 bap
tisms.
TV est Virginia.
At the recent session of the Baptist State Con
vention, Buffalo, it was stated that there has been
a greater increase in the membership of the
churches in the last ten years, than during the
previous thirty. The Baptists of the State have
nearly doubled their number in the last seven
y ears R e v. J. B Hardwicke goes to Charles
ton, the new capital of the State, to take pastoral
charge of the church recently organized there.
Notes by the Wayside—lV
“ Ilis hand shall be against every man, and
every man’s hand shall be against him.” I
sometimes think, brother Editor, that Ishmael
has a great many children besides those who
are descended from him “as to the flesh;”
men who have his spirit; and travellers are
apt to fall into their hands. At Richmond, I
was told by a haekrnan, on my arrival at the
depot, that he would convey me to the hotel
on the same terms that, the omnibus would,
andjw hen I reached the Spotswood, I was asked
why I did riot come up in the omnibus, as
that would have brought me free. I had
paid the hackman my fare, so 1 put it down
as the price of “ experience,” intending to
profit by the lesson. When 1 reached Wash
ington, 1 called out for the omnibus for the
“ Metropolitan,” remembering my late ad
venture with the hackman at Richmond, and
thinking I would have a free ride; but what
was my astonishment, on reaching the hotel,
to find that the omnibus at Washington did
not take passengers to the hotel free! Here
was another lesson in experience; and while
moralizing on it, 1 reached the conclusion,
that, so far as travellers are concerned, every
man's hand is against them.
I regret to say that I was not pleased with
the fare at the *' Metropolitan.” I had a
miserable supper. I cannot recommend my
friends to stop there.
Washington is a grand city—such magnifi
cent buildings! 1 utterly despair of being
able to <rive any adequate description of them.
The Post Office, the Patent Office and the
Treasury Building, must he seen to beappre
ciated. They are built of marble and iron,
and on a scale so colossal and magnificent,
that the visitor is lost in admiration, (at least
I was,) and involuntarily exclaims: “The
half hath not been told me.” What an ap
pearance of grandeur those majestic columns
give to the respective buildings! But the
Capitol surpasses all the other buildings in
Washington, your correspondent being the
judge. 1 doubt it it has its equal in Ameri
ca— if in the world. 1 found a very accom
modating guide through the lower story, (the
basement,) in the person of John A. Small
wood, a colored man, who waits in the Capi
tol. He took some pains to light the gas in
the passage (it was as dark as night from its
location,) to show me the tomb under the
“rotunda,” prepared to receive the remains
of the “Father of his Country.” It is a
small room. 1 supposed it to be about square,
and to be eight or tun feet in length and width.
In the centre of it is placed a large block of
marble, as a resting place for the coffin. But
Mt. Vernon, hallowed by so many associa
tions,still retains the remains of Washington.
Simon Libron, who fills the place of messen
ger for the President, (if I was correctly in
formed,) piloted me through the rooms on the
second floor. He is a very polite and accorn
modatirig colored man. I was shown the
private room of the President, and the table
w hich he used at the last session of Congress,
and on which the. bills were laid for his signa
ture. Elegant mirrors, extending from the
floor to the ceiling, adorn this room, and
give it an air of regal splendor. Next, 1
made the circuit of the rotunda and its mag
nificent paintings, crowned with the great
masterpiece in the dome. Oh ! it is grand !
grand !! grand !!! From the rotunda I be
gan the ascent of the dome. The distance
from the floor of the rotunda to the picture
in the dome, is one hundred and eighty feet;
the height from the ground base is said to be
three hundred and seventy-four feet. From
the successive platforms around the dome, the
view is exceedingly striking. The weary
climber does not regret his wasting labor, as
his eye is feasted with the scene.
I was much pleased with the Agricultural
Department. A la-ge, handsome building
has been erected within an extensive and very
suitable plat of land. Specimens of all kinds
of fruits, grasses, grains, woods, insects, fishes,
reptiles, —in a word, productions from the
animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms, are
arranged systematically under three depart
ments : First. In a General Division. Se
cond. In a State Division. Third. In an
Economical Division. Prof. Townsend Glov
er, the accomplished and gentlemanly mana
ger of the museum, kindly explained to us
the designs of the Department. It is intend
ed to make it a practical benefit to the agri
cultural interests of the entire country. Any
one w ishing information in regard to the soil,
productions, fruits, grasses, minerals of any
State or territory, or on any subject pertain
ing to agriculture or horticulture, will do
well to address Gen. Caperon, Chief of the
Agricultural Department, or Prof. Townsend
Glover, Lecturer.
1 remained in Washington several days,
and while there (save the first night) enjoyed
the kind hospitality of our d* ar brother, J.
H. Cuthbert, and his estimable lady. What
a privilege it is to be permitted to be inmates
of such a refined and pious home ! May the
blessing of the God of Abraham rest on
brother C—, his family, and his charge. I
spent one Sabbath in the Capitol City, wor
shipping with brother Cuthbert’s church, in
the morning, and filling the pulpit of brother
Meadows at night. Some two or three of
the Washington churches, I learned, were
without pastors. Further than this, 1 heard
nothing of special interest among them.
Leaving Washington at 12:45 p.m., I ar
rived in Baltimore by about 3. More than
twenty years had glided by since my last
visit to the “ Monumental City,” and she
has made rapid progress. Then, her popula
tion was reckoned at one hundred and fifty
thousand, 1 think; now she claims three hun-
dred and fifty thousand. Her advance in
business and wealth has been, perhaps, greater
than her increase in population. I remained
in the city nearly two weeks, and saw many
things that I should like to mention; but I
will pass from the “ Monumental City,” with
two additional remarks, promising (if time
will permit) to devote a letter to her soon.
And, first, Baltimore ranks as one of the best,
if not the best, grocery market in America ;
second, the South ow es a debt of gratitude to
her for her beneficence in the pa-t, though, in
my own case, as representing a local South
ern interest, -he did not exhibit that active
sympathy and generosity which I expected.
Leaving B. at 9 this morning, I reached the
“City of Brother!) Love” at 12:45 this
afternoon. The route of the railroad from
Baltimore to this city, is very picturesque;
sometimes meandering by the side of the
Susquehannah, then boldly stretching over
arms of the bay, almost a mile wide. One is
made to admire human skill, while trembling,
perchance, for personal safety. lam pleas
antly situated at the St. Charles Hotel—a
house kept in strictly European style.
The Philadelphia Baptist Association com
menced its hundred and sixty third session at
the Tabernacle Baptist church, to-day. J was
in the meeting only a short time this after
noon. The body had just organized. Rev.
Chas. Keyser was chosen as Moderator, broth
er 11. G. Jones as Clerk. This is the oldest
Association, I think, in the United States. I
may give your readers some items of inter
est from its meetings. Traveller.
P. S.: Brother Lucius Cuthbert, who was
called to the pastorate of the Franklin Square
church, Baltimore, has decided to remain at
Aiken, S. C. His letter, declining the posi
tion, was read to the church last Sabbath, and
Was touchingly conscientious. Brother Pol
lard, of Va., is expected to assume the pas
t rate of the Lee street church, in lt>s than
two weeks.
Philadelphia, Pa, Oct. 4, 1870.
Lights and Shadows.
Brother Editor: (Now that sounds rather
familiar, but you w ill not “ print” it unless it is
good taste to say, brother Editor. Should I
get too familiar, and say “ Doc,” you give
me a gentle scolding.) 1 started to say, that
l wondered at your admitting my pieces,
sometimes; but I think you editors have
your lights and shadows too, and a “ fellow
feeling makes you kind” to pool 1 agents.
Whether autumn has anything to do with my
“ Lights and Shadows,” I will not say ; but,
it is a fact that recently they have both been
more intense. Perhaps money, and kind
w ords, and sour words, and hints—-just little,
gentle hints about expenses —have had more
to do with my fe dings than autumn weather.
At West Point, I found variety, physical,
mental and spiritual. Why, sir, they had to
build the town on various sides of the river,
and in two States. But 1 found shadows
there. I saw Baptists with w— blossoms on
their faces, and 1 gently hinted that, a church,
by not noticing certain wrongs, were guilty,
some times, of confirming their members in
them. 1 saw young people riding out, and
others bathing in the river on Sunday. But
there was light, cheering light to a“ wayfar
ing man.” You may be sure there was light,
in my home there, or homes; for I had sev
eral. The agent or missionary who puts up
at the “ Kendrick House” a* ! ,ng as this de
ponent” did, will regret to leave it. Bishop
Callaway devotes his time to West Point
church, which, a few years ago, was content
to have “ monthly preaching.” That is pro
gress and light. Brother C. has light in his
face and sermons; and little Frank—well, he
is just a ray of light. Some tunes he receives
light, material light, after the sad labors of a
funeral service. How much little extra fa
vors, or pnsents of that sort, encourage min
isters in their toilsome (sometimes thankless)
labors. I could almost see the lingering light
of a happay death that occurred there some
weeks before my visit. A soft, sweet, heav
enly halo of light and gl< ry sh>ne around,
when the talented, amiable Miss Hugely took
her departure from earth to heaven, saying,
“ Let me go to Jesus.” Last, sweet words,
which surviving friends will not forget!
Memory will keep bright such a jewel. I
saw light in the Sunday school there, and had
the privilege of preaching the gospel to
bright, attentive children, and receiving mis
sionary money from some of them. Thank
God for my visit to West Point, and for so
many friends there ! Friendly, friendship,
friends ! Sweet words !
“ It is not in man that walketh, to direct
his steps;” and how little idea had I that the
Lord, “ who directs our steps,” was going to
direct mine to Providence, Ala. But fledid,
and 1 saw, heard and felt light at the General
Meeting there. Renewed .ny acquaintance
with brother Tribble, and made the acquaint
ance of brethren Harrington, Hearn, and
Bledsoe: the first natn and, old and nearly
worn out in the work ; the last named, just
receiit'y graduated at Georgetown, Ky., and
not yet acquainted, like his father and older
ministers, with the “ ups and downs” of a
faithful minister’s life. Brother Ilcarn is in
his prime, or coming to it, strong, clear, earn
est. Has had to pass through lights and
shadows, and told us of some dark things lie
had witnessed ; and in his sermon on a conse
crated ministry, he told us he never meant to
preach to a church again that did not contract
or promise him a salary, and if they failed,
he would quit. I wish that sermon could be
preached all over the country. I may not
have exactly represented my dear brother, so
I think he had better write. “ 1 make a mo
tion that brother Hearn write.” He is on my
side some, and I want him to whip preachers
softly who will preach for churches for noth
ing and board themselves. A minister in one
of the oldest Associations in Georgia lost his
horse last year, and part of the year walked
to appointments, and at the same time was
pastor of one church in which was one mem
ber whose cotton crop, the year before, (or
that year,) brought him the sum of about
fifteen thousand dollars. That good brother
was wrong—did wrong in preaching to such
a church. My brethren, the Lord does not
require you to be muzzled by churches while
you work for them. If you let them do it,
some of them will, especially if you make
yourself out better than Paul, who “ took
wages,” (wages, not charity,) and tell the
churches, “ 1 never sell the gospel.” Not
strange, when you “ poke” out your mouth
and say, “ Here, muzzle me, and I will tread
out your corn for you, and not be so exact
abou’ wages as Paul was,” —not strange, I
say, if some one puts on the muzzle for you.
Then, if you scold them for it, what should
be done with you ?
Have 1 digressed or transgressed ?• Not
the latter, I hope; and the former I am given
to. Brother Editor, would it be transgres
sion for me to say, I have seen lights and
shadows about Atlanta? Yes, in Atlanta,
Georgia, where the centre or focus is, where
the light radiates from, there I have seen
shades, shades, dark shades, even in the Capi
tol—shadows near the Index office even, with
all the blessed light it emits, which I would not
be deprived of for three dollars per week. 1
would not. Atlanta is the centre, to which,
or towards which, many things are drawn.
It has seme drawing for me; and no wonder,
for I preached one little talk to the little, new,
Tnird church, and in a few days, more than
eleven dollars was left where 1 soon got it.
That had a drawing tendency, and I visited
the First church, and—one result was $24.15.
I will quit now, and say more about Atlanta
at another time ; but lest I might forget it,
somebody had better leave some memorial at
the Index office. I mean money. I will not
follow the example of the lady who said,
“ Curtail the superfluity of that nocturnal
luminary.” By memorial, reader, I mean
money. I want money. I want missionary
money, Home mission money, the Lord’s
Home mission money. You have some of it,
and the cause needs it. •* Handed, sent or
thrown” to the Index office, or to Albany ,
Ga., 1 will get it. Now, this hint is enough.
Don’t wait for me to auk you.
VV. N. Chaudoin, Agent.
Houston Association.
The Houston Association closed its last
session on yesterday. It organized by the
election of brother J. G. Polhill moderator,
and brother Mobly clerk. Brother Pollhill is
the son of brother Joseph Polhill, so long and
so well know’n throughout the liephzibah As
sociation. The previous session had passed
a resolution making any member ineligible to
fill the office of moderator at two successive
sessions. Before proceeding to a permanent
organization, this resolution was declared in
operative. The body felt that the object of
appointing a presiding officer was not to con
fer honors, nor to impose burdens, but to se
cure a competent man to preside, that the
business might be dispatched w ith pr< p r
rapidity and propriety. Brother Polhill was
a good selection. He presided w ith dignity,
and did credit to himself and to the Associa
tion.
The body has many poor churches an I a
large, destitute territory, and hence does but
little outside of its own bounds. Tne contri
butions of the churches were an improvement
upon those of the past year. There is a
waking up among many of the members;
and if the pastors and prominent m-tubers of
the churches would do their duty, the amouuts
could be easily doubled.
Brethren B. F. Tharpe, W. C. Wilks and
W. J. Collins, from the Rehobnth, J. S. Ba
ker from the Mercer, and G. R. McCall and
M. N. McCall from the Eoenezer, were
present. Brother Tharpe plead the claims of
Mercei University, and secured several huu
ored dollars. The Association endorse, unani
mously, the removal of Mercer to Macon.
The executive committee was instructed to
continue a missionary in the bounds of the
body. The report of the committee on mis
sions, in which the propriety of cooperating
with the Domestic Mission Board was sug
gested, was carried unanimously. Brother
G. R. McCall represented the Index, Kmd
Words, and the Home and Foreign Journal ,
and received subscribers for each of these
papers. Brother Wilks presented the claims
of brother McClendon, a young minister,
whom he has been teaching gratuitously, and
secured pledges for Ins maintenance. The
session was characterized by harmony. The
preaching by brethren Baker, Wilks, Tharpe
and Collins was excellent, and the. impression
made upon the community at large was de
cidedly favorable. G. R. M.
Htnvkinsville , Oct. 11, 1870.
Removal of Mercer University.
Report adopted by the Georgia Association, Oct. 10th,
IS7O, at lieulah Church , Lincoln county, Georgia.
The Committee appointed under a resolu
tion of the body to consider the expediency
and the right of the removal of Mercer Uni
versity from Pen field, and the relation the
Institution sustains to this Association, beg
leave to submit the following:
First: Upon the question of expedient—
Is the present location objectionable? It is ac
ecssi'de, being surround* and by railroads, beau
tiful, healthful, central, and hallowed by the
sacred memories of the past. Up to the re
cent agitation of the removal question, the
University was a signal success at its pres
ent location. The present endowment is quite
sufficient to sustain the Inslitutiou where it
is. Are all these facts true of the contem
plated location? Macon, though central and
accessible, is not healthful. It would require
an endowment of at least half a million dol
lars to sustain the University there. We,
therefore, think and respectfully submit that
the present location is the most appropriate
in the State, and any change in this particular
is inexpedient. Moreover, at the present
location, the poor Baptist boys of Georgia
can be educated, the expense of living and
dress being comparatively an inconsidera
ble item. At the contemplated location, the
excess of expenses would about equal the
necessary expenses at Penfield.
Upon the moral right feature of the ques
tion, we respectfully submit: That the sylvan
retreats of the present locality are incom
parably more favorable to the good morals
of young men than the haunts and purlieus
of vice of M.icon or any other city. It is
not wise in the present impoverished con
dition of the country, to bring about a state
of affairs which will necessarily result in
schisms and divisions, and in the complete
overthrow of the educational interests of ti e
Baptists of Georgia. We, therefore, respect
fully submit, that the removal, to any other
location than the present, would be wholly
inexpedient, unwise, and fraught with evil.
The next question, is it right? First, Who
contributed the present endowment? What
was their ot>jeet? and Where did they locate
it ? To the first, we answer— the pious dead,
“ whose works did follow them,” until dis
turbed by the present removal agitation. To
the second, we answer, To consecrate learn
ing to the cause of religion in the dissemina
tion of Baptist sentiments. To the third we
answer, As was the manner of the Fathers,
alter prayerful consideration, mature delib
eration and examination, they located their
Institution at Penfiuld, Greene county, Geor
gia. As humble Christians, and followers of
a common Lord and Master, and lovers of
the departed saints, we would respectfully
submit, That it would be morally wrong to
remove Mercer Univesrity from its sacred
home.
What relation dees Mercer University sus
tain to the Georgia Baptist Association?
Mercer University isthechildof benevolence.
The Marshalls, the Mercers, the Walkers and
others, were the sacred founders of the Geor
gia Baptist Association. The Ga. Bap. As
sociation is the fruitful mother of Georgia
Baptist benevolence. From this body have
emanated influences which have dispelled the
gloom of anti missionary darkness, and lifted
the veil of ignorance which has so long shroud
ed the minds of our people, and which have
lengthened and widened to the shores of the
Pacific. Mercer University is, therefore, un
questionably the offspring of the time-honored
Ga. Bap. Association. The institution at
Penfield had its beginning in 1833. The Ga.
Bap. Convention was founded in 1822, being
itself the offspring of the Ga. Bup. Associa
tion. At the recent dite, 1835, the Ga. Bap.
Association was the only Association belong
ing to the Convention. The Georgia Baptist
Association, therefore, is the legitimate mother
of the Ga. Bap. Convention, Mercer Institute
and Mercer University. This being the re
lationship which Mercer University sustains
to the Ga. Bap. Association, and it being t«-
expedient and morally wrong to remove Mer
cer University from its present sacred home;
be it therefore
Resolved , That we solemnly and earnestly
protest against the contemp ated removal of
Mercer University, as being unwise, injudi
cious, morally wrong, and necessarily tending
to the destruction of the unity, and the edu
cational interest of the Baptists of Georgia,
Denial of the Spirit. —A (“Cambpellite”)
writer in the American Christian Review, says :
“ In the progress of revelation, the mind is
first directed to a ‘ bodily ’ descent of the
Spirit, then to a miraculous overwhelming
with the Spirit, then to a limited, or special,
yet miraculous influence, and last to the force
of the truth taught by the Spirit. The first
three are eveuts of the past. The last alone
remains."