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About Christian index and South-western Baptist. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1866-1871 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 1870)
178 fjufex m& f§aptisii J. J. TOON, .... Proprietor. PUBLICATION ROOMS —4 & 6 SOUTH BROADWAY. "zxr. —: , - =: Editor: Rev. D. SHAVER, D.D. COKEESPOXDINa EDITOES: Rev. J. J. D. RENFROE, Talladega, Ala. Rev. S. HENDERSON, D.D., Fayetteville, Ala. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1870. igr=r" 1 ""rr Alabama Baptist State Convention. Opelika, Nov. 11th, 18T0. The Convention met at 10 1-2 o’clock a.m. S. Henderson, President at the last session, read Psa. lxxii, and M J Wellborn, of Georgia, led in prayer. The following delegation, (adding the names subsequently announced,) was found in attend ance. Acsoci ATION3. Alabama. —P H Lundy, M Bishop, T J Miles, D W Gwin, G \V McQueen, J M Newman, W M Davis, E B Hardie. Bethel. —Represented by funds. Bethlehem.— C L Ttiornton. Coosa River. —S Henderson, S G Jenkins, W ilk©*A * Central. —G E Brewer, R Figh, B H Timmer man. Liberty. —J K Tribble, W D Harrington, W C Davidson, S 0 Hearn. W Barrow, J F Stanley. Cahaba. —S R Freeman, A J Battle, W H Mc- Intosh. Carey. —J P Shaffer, ff 1 Davis. Canaan. —T F Waldrop. Shelby.— l T Tichenor, T P Holcombe, T C Boykin. Enfala. —J S Paullin, J R Wood, W S Adams. W S Rogers, E Y Van Hoose, J O Hixson. Tuskegee. —W 11 Carroll, A C Barron, 0 D Cox, J J Cloud, W E Lloyd, J R Hand, Z D Roby, D W Floyd, C Aldridge, A Frazer, H E Talia ferro. Churches. Siloarn. —W II Mclntosh, A J Battle. Tuscaloosa. —C Manly. Unity.— P II Lundy, J Smith. First church , Montgomery. —D W Gwin, J Bullock, W P Yandeveer. Sulphur Springs, Jefferson county. —T F Wal drop. Societies. Ann Haeeltine Missionary Society. —A J Bat tle, G C Connor. Martha Crawford Missionary Society. — C Manly. Life Members. W B Haralson, A J Battle, S Henderson, W H Mclntosh, T T Tichenor, Communications were received from Siloarn and Tuscaloosa churches, the Sunday School Con vention of Union Association, and the Opelika Methodist church (tendering their house of wor ship.) The Convention proceeded to the election of officers, J J Toon and W H Strickland counting the ballots. The former officers were re elected: S Henderson, President, C Manly, Secretary, S II Fowlkes, Treasurer. Adjourned with prayer by P H Lundy. At 2 o’clock, p.m., the Convention met again, with prayer by J P Shaffer, i’he following Com mittees were appointed: State of Religion— J S Paullin, J P Shaffer, G W McQueen. Religious Services —J J Cloud, the deacons of the Opelika Baptist church, W B Haralson, 0 D Cox. Nomination of Remaining Officers —J M New man, T P Holcombe, A Frazer. Finance —G W McQueen, J M Newman. Preachers for Next Convention -C Aldrich, A K Tribble, J Bullock. The Reports of the Trustees of Howard College and of Judson Female Institute were read, the former by W H Mclntosh, the latter by A J Battle, and referred to the Committee on Educa tion. [We regret that we were detained from the Convention until after the hour when these Re ports were road, and are unable to give a resurnU of their contents.) The Committee on nomination of remaining officers was directed to report names to fill the three vacancies existing in the Board of Trustees of Howard College. WII Carroll and W D Har rington were placed on the Committee on Foreign Missions, in lieu of absent members; and A C Barron and R Figh on the Education Committee. Verbal reports on the State of Religion in vari ous quarters of the State, were heard from J P Shaffer, J S Paullin, T C Boykin, J Barrow, S Henderson, R A Whitten, I T Tichenor, W II Carroll. [We reached tho Convention only near the close of this discussion, and regret that we cannot reproduce the whole of it, in substance, in our columns.] The following visiting brethren were recognized and invited to seats in the Convention: J J Toon, Proprietor of the Index and Baptist ; G C Con nor, Representative of the Foreign Mission Board ; SR Freeman, President of Howard College; T H Morgan, of Tuskegee; W H Strickland, M J Wellborn, 0 C Willis, and J J Toon as correspon dents from the Georgia Baptist State Convention ; T E Skinner, of Columbus, Ga.; James Barrow, Evangelist of the Domestic Mission Board; B Manly, Jr., of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; T 0 Teasdale, as Cor. Sec. of the Sun day School Board ; A B Cabaniss, from the Ken tucky Baptist General Association ; T B Cooper, Agent of the Foreign Mission Board ; L J Rob erta, of LaGrange, Ga.; JII DeVotio, of Griffin, Ga.; and D Shaver, Editor of the Index and Baptist. Adjournod with prayer by A B Cabaniss. At 7 o’clock, p.m., the Introductory Seanon was preached by I) W Gwin, of Montgomery, front Matt, xvi; 16. Theme: The Confession of Experience to the Divinity of Christ. Saturday, Not. I2th, 1870. The morning session was opened with prayer by W II Strickland; and P H Lundy, S R Free man and G E Brower were appointed a Commit tee to nominate delegates to the next session of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Report of the Committee on Education wa3 read by DVV Gwin. Remarks were made by G C Connor and A J Battle in relation to Jud son Female Institute, and by C Manly in relation to Alabama Central Female College. IT Tichenor spoke to the general question of education, as in volving the future interests of Alabama and the Baptists of the State. He held that some who heard him will live to see a population of from three to five millions in the State; that this pop ulation will be made up largely from the worst classes of emigrants on tho face of the earth; that if their education depends on a system of public schools, these schools must be without the Bible and raise up a generation of sceptics ; that if religious education be given by other denomi nations, it will be, in effect; against us as Bap tists; and that if Baptists shall neglect education, they will have only an ignorant ministry end dwindle away. The question before the Conven tion really is, whether Howard College, which has a faculty but. no endowment, shall live or die, and with it all our denominational interests in the State. W H Carroll thought that the heart of every Baptist says, Howard College r,ivst live. To this end, something must be done at once, and ire be lieved that it can be done, and will be done. He favored an effort to endow the chair of the Presi dent and to collect funds for his present support. S R Freeman regarded the brethren of the State as living been, since the war, deficient in the hopefulness without which great works can never be accomplished. There is reason for hopefulness. Suppose we were without a College, with an eli THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOOTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1870. gible location, sufficient buildings, a good apara tus and a competent faculty in position; and some body should present us with such an Institution at this session! How we would rejoice over it 1 But wo have that, and yet are despondent. The number of students at Howard compares favora bly with tho 'number at Collegiate institutions throughout the whole country, especially denom inational. There 13 but one Lee in a century, sometimes but one in two or three centuries; and his name drew to W ashington College students from fourteen Southern States, —but that College had less than twice the number of students at Howard. The enterprise, hopefulness and suc cess with which our brethren are laboring for Clinton College, Mississippi, Union University, Tenn., William Jewell College, Mo., Furman Uni versity, S. C., Richmond College, Va., and Mercer University, Ga., encourage us to put forth our strength. If we give our hearts to Howard Col lege, throughout the State, we can—wo will — make it a success. *God has blessed us with the opportunity to do work for Him in tbi3 direction : let us not throw away the privilege. B Manly, Jr., was astonished at the want of hopefulness. The grounds of confidence with re gard to Howard are much greater than with re gard to Furman University; ar.dyetthe Baptists of S. C. are aiming to raise for that Institution an endowment of $200,000. He dwelt on the value of the higher education, as illustrated by the his tory of the University of Virginia, in its reflex influence over lower education in that State. As a question of money, th£ higher education is the most important of all sources of profit to an indi vidual or a people. Our brethren need to appre ciate it, and to guard against the error of the Jews in the days of Haggai—settling down into the persuasion that this is not the time lo work. I> \V Gwin urged the recommendation made in the Report of the Committee on Education, that an effort be made to raise an endowment of SIOO,- 000 for Howard College. Five years have been lost since the war by mere temporary arrange ments ; and we are in danger of losing five years more, unless a definite plan for endowing the Col lege be at once inaugurated. Adjourned with prayer by S G Jenkins. After prayer by W H Carroll, at 2£ o'clock, p.m, the Convention resumed the discussion of the Education report, and D W Gwin presented addi tional arguments in favor of an effort toward the immediate endowment of Howard. P H Lundy believed that the SIOO,OOO can be secured, and would help to raise it. A J Battle preferred an effort to raise $25,000 for the endowment of the Presidency of the College, as the first step to ward securing an endowment of $300,000, and moved to amend the resolution of the Report in accordance with that view. PII Lundy thought that it would be easier to raise SIOO,OOO than $25,000. A B Cabaniss urged to hopeful feeling and energetic action. Virginia, with ten times less resources to fall back upon then than Ala bama has now, attempted, immediately after the war, to endow Richmond College ; and she suc ceeded. W H Carroll offered as a substitute for the amendment, a resolution embodying the plan indicated in the closing sentence of his morning speech, as we have reported it. W II Mclntosh still felt that the proposition of the Board of Trustees, to raise a sinking fund of SIO,OOO for the support of the College for five years, is the wisest thing to be attempted, 'ihis would not hinder the raising of sloo,ooo—a sum which he believed can be raised, though probably not in one year, or two, or three perhaps. But $2,000 must be raised before the first of January, or the College must be cUsed ; and the proposi tion to raise an endowmervl does not meet this ex igency. S R Freeman shdwed, from the receipts of the College from the present session, that the salaries of the Professors are inadequate —are scarcely living salaries —while from that source he has nothing. Let this difficulty be met—this deficiency supplied; and then, an agent, put in the field, will be able to raise SIOO,OOO, for endowment. With this insufficient salary, these Professors, last session, instructed ten theological students, as a gratuity to the denomination. It leaked out, too, without the intent of the speaker, that the President of Howard, last session, gave several students iheir board. S Henderson offered a resolution instructing the Board of Trustees to place an agent in the field, first, to secure a sinking fund of SIO,OOO payable in five annual instalments, and secondly, to raise an endowment of not less than $100,000; and that said agent be retained in the field for five years, if necessary, to accomplish this ob ject. This resolution, with the others, was refer red to the Education Committee ; to which Com mittee were added the President of the Convention and one member from each Association represent ed here, namely, P H Lundy, R Figh, S C Hearn, T F Waldrop, A J Battle, C Manly, I T Tichenor, J P Shaffer, E Y Van Hoose, and W II Carroll. J H DeVotie was requested to address the Con vention to-night on the interests of Howard Col lege. Adjourned with prayer by T C Teasdale. At 7 o’clock, p.m., the Convention resumed its sitting with prayer by T E Skinner. The Com mittee on Education reported a resolution in structing the Board of Trustees to secure the sal ary of the President of Howard College for the present year by collection of funds, or out of any funds at the disposal of the Board or of this Con vention, and then proceed to raise an endowment of at least SIOO,OOO. J H DeVotie addressed the Convention, giving a sketch of the history of Howard College—of the piety and prayer in which the institution had its birth—of the difficulties with which, twice burned, it has struggled—of the great work it has done in educating some seventy ministers, tho promise of much larger efficiency for the time to come. With such a past, who can doubt that the College shall have a future ? The God who heard the prayers of its founders will hear prayer for it now - . The College was commenced thirty-one or two years ago, w hen our brethren in this State were comparatively poor— before they had grown so rich as to be unable to take hold of great enterprises ! The facilities of travel enable us to visit many more brethren in solicitation of funds than could be visited then in a given length of time; they are organized in churches which are well instructed; we have the morale of former success to strengthen our ap peals; and shall we dream of failure—shall we re peat the foliy of clinging to our property now as we did until the war tore it from us ? Education will go forward in Alabama; you have it in your hand now if you will hold it fast; can you be re creant to the trust, and allow it to pass into other hands, as more worthy of it than yours ? J. O. Hixson urged the opportunity and obliga tion of pastors to further the collection of funds for Howard College in their respective fields, as voluntary and unsalaried agents. I. T. Tichenor would not be surprised if an in tellect trained at Howard College, had saved to Alabama from one to two million of dollars. lie referred to John P. Hubbard of Pike county, and to his services in the recent Legislature of the State —combatting schemes of unprincipled ap propriations from the treasury. The speaker be lieved that the endowment of the College can be secured ; but our people must be re-educated to do it, and we must not be impatient for immediate success. He did not wish pastors to glean their respective fields in part, in advance and obstruc tion of the agent’s visit and effort. At his sug gestion, the Convention was led in prayer by J. H. DeVotie, before taking the question as to the adoption of the Report. The Report was then adopted unanimously. The Report proposed the appointment of an Education Board located at Montgomery, to secure funds and superintend the education of indigent Alabama students for the ministry at Howard College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminar}'; and the organization of Ladies’ Educa tion Societies throughout the State with a view to furthering the objects of this Board. A Commit tee consisting of P H Lundy, H E Taliaferro and J J Cloud, was appointed to nominate the mem bers of this Board. Contributions and pledges amounting to $2T1.15 were then taken in behalf of the effort to secure the salary of the President of the College for the present year. A resolution was adopted re-affirming the heart felt sympathy of the Convention with every effort to promote abstinence from intoxicating drinks, and expressing the opinion that indulgence in their use is hurtful in its nature and tendency, and contrary to the teachings of Christianity. Adjourned with prayer by H. E. Taliaferro Lord’s Dat, Nov. l*th. At 9 o’clock am., the Sunday school in the Baptist church was addressed by S Henderson and B Manly, Jr., and the school in the Methodist church by T C Boykin and T O Teasdale. At 11 o’clock, T E Skinner preachsd in the Baptist and T C Teasdale in the Methodist church. At 8 o’clock p.m., a mass meeting of the Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Baptist Sunday schools was held in the Baptist church, and ad dresses were delivered by G C Connor and A B Cabaniss. At night, B Manly, Jr., preached in the Methodist church, and a meeting in behalf of missions was held in the Baptist; W H Mcln(osb and J H DeVotio representing the interests of our Domestic, and G O Connor and J J Cloud the interests of our Foreign Mission Board. Monday, Nov. 14th. The Convention assembled at 9£ o’clock, a.m., and prayer was offered by J Barrow 7 . The Committee on Education presented a sup plementary report, approving tho reports of the Boards of Trustees of Howard College and Judson Female Institute; endorsing the appointment of I T Tichenor as General Agent of the College; recommending -the holding of Educational Con ventions and Mass Meetings throughout the State under the auspices of Agent Tichenor ; and re. questing the churches to raise contributions for the support of theological students during the month of January, 1871, and forward them to the Education Board at Montgomery. The Martha Crawford Missionary Society, com posed of pupils of the Alabama Central Female College, Tuscaloosa, was welcomed to the con stituency of the Convention. The Committee on nominating the remaining officers of the Convention made the following re port, which was adopted. Board of Directors: A J Battle, J B Lovelace, I B Vaiden, M T Sum ner, J H Lee, J F Bailey, John Moore, D It Lide, E A Blunt. To fill vacancies in Board of Trus tees of Howard College : M W Hand to succeed H Talbird, M T Sumner to succeed it H Lee and C Manly to succeed J Moore. Vice Presidents : W H Mclntosh, E B Teague. The Committee on Foreign Missions reported through W Wilkes, Chairman. T B Cooper, agent of the Board at Richmond, stated that this Board has under appointment, for the African and Chinese fields, fourteen American missionaries. Ha contrasted the extent of the work, its difficul ties and its necessity, with the meagre contribu tions we have made to it. 8. Henderson thought the Report opportune, since-the uhurehes need to j be re-educated, in the great principles that under lie the missionary enterprise: generation of believers must re-conquer the situation for itself. He held that the recent convulsions in Europe and the overthrow of the temporal power of “ the Man of sin,” indicated the opening of a more auspicious era for missionary effort. W M Davis mentioned a recent remark by Dr. Poindexter, that ‘two things struck him as strange —that nearly the whole world should now, for the first time, be open to missionary effort; and yet, that never be fore should there have been so little interest in this effort among our Southern churches as at present.’ He argued that the churches estab lished in heathen lands now are the truest, if not the only true missionary churches, springing up under our current labors as a denomination. H E Taliaferro maintained that the difficulty in the missionary work grows out of our want of Scrip tural organization. He thought that little can be done until each church has its own pastor and eldership, meets every first day, takes up a weekly collection, and holds that a church ichich does no thing is no church. W H Carroll had felt re cently a special concern with regard to the work of missions, as bearing on his own responsibility and on the question as to his personal experience of vital grace. He would have all our brethren view it in that light. At this point, the discussion was suspended to hear from B Manly, Jr., in behalf of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Greenville, S C. To improve our benevolent enterprises, we must improve the churches ; the improvement of the churches will be most effectively promoted by proper ministerial education. The apostles had that, with Christ as the Teaeher ; and besides, they could speak and write fluently in two lan guages—the Hebrew anti Greek ; while the gift of the Holy Spirit crowned and completed their fitness for the ministry. The Scriptures were written in two dead tongues, to compel scholar ship and culture: how else could we read, or translate them, or judge as to the correctness of the translations made by others ? Our fathers, who were without scholastic attainments, made the most of their advantages, and would have scorned the contented ignorance of those who may learn and will not: they, too, laid the foun dation of oar denominational colleges, universi ties and seminaries, to give us the advantages they grieved to lack—as when the Charleston Associa tion was organized, 1752, the Philadelphia Asso ciation, 1720, and the General Meeting of the English Particular Baptists, 1689. We can trace this interest in ministerial culture among Baptists back, until we reach the times when persecution rendered it impossible. Brethren must not ex pect education to do what cannot be done by it— it cannot give brains. But it can enable men to do more work in less tims and better work than they could have done without it—to reach a wider circle of mind—and to exert a more potent and permanent influence over the next generation. He wished to carry with him to Greenville seine money to meet the expenses of the indigent stu dents at the Seminary : their number is twenty five, and their monthly expense is about $9 each. R Figh, from his recollections of the Seminary, spoke of its efficiency in showing the students their needs, supplying these needs and making them workers. S R Freeman thought that if we, of the South, were reduced to the necessity of sup porting but one theological institution, it should be the Seminary at Greenville. R H Rawlings expressed his purpose to support one student at Greenville, henceforth, so long as his life and health are spared. Several others spoke, but we did not catch the tenor of their remarks, as the brethren were coming forward to contribute to the Students’ Fund. . The contributions amounted to $lB5. Adjourned with prayer by M Bishop. J O Hixson offered prayer at 2$ o’clock, and the Convention selected Montgomery, as the place of its meeting next year. The Report of the Committee on Foreign Mis sions, and the Supplementary Report of the Edu cation Committee were adopted! The Committee on Domestic Missions, through I T Tichenor Chairman, offeretflhe following re port—which was adopted: “ Resolved, That this Convention feels an una bated interest in the work of the Domestic Mis sion Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Resolved, That in view of the great destitution in many parts of our own land and the wants of the perishing Red inon, we believe the Baptists of the South ought to contribute this Board not less than $50,000 per annum. Resolved, That the efforts of the Board to give the Gospel to the Chinese in our State, meet our warmest approval. Resolved, That recognizing fully the fact that this Convention has no power to instruct the Board, we do earnestly recommend to their prayerful consideration the condition and wants of the Colored people, espeqially those of this State, and request them if possible to devise some plan by which we may more effectually lead them in the ways ot righteousnessj&nd peace.” Remarks were made in connection with the fourth resolution, by C W H Mclntosh, S G Jenkins, S R Freemaq* and W H Carroll. The Report, prior to adoption, was amended by the adoption of the fol!owing.-esolution: '•'•Resolved. That this Convention, profoundly impressed with the importable of sustaining the Mission Boards of the Baptist Conven tion, do moat earnestly request the churches in Alabama to appoint in each a Committee or. Mis sions, whose duty it shall bejto present the claims of these Boards and solicit contribution from each member.” The following resolutions, presented by W H Mclntosh, were adopted, remarks by D Shaver and J J Toon. “Whereas , the Christian Index and South western Baptist, published by J J Toon, At lanta, Ga., has been adopte<s*as the organ of this body ; and Whereas said paper is equal to any in our country, both in its mechanical execution, and in the ability with which its editorial depart ment is conducted; Therefore Resolved , That we cordially recommend it to the patronage of every Bapi#.?family in our State. Resolved, That in Rev D Shaver, D.D., its ed itor, we recognize a sanctified ability in his varied and arduous labors second to that of no man con nected with the religious- stress of our country ; and that his continued occupancy of the editorial chair will give universal satisfaction to the Bap tists of Alabama.” The report of the Treasurer was adopted, upon report of the Auditing Committee that it was found correct. The following brethren w,«re appointed the Ed ucation Board, located at Montgomery: D W Gwin, B B Davis, John Stratford, Willis Chan dler, W T Hatchett, J M Newman, W M Davis, W P Chilton, A H Johnson. A resolution was adopted recommending the Home and Foreign Journal, the organ of the Boards of the Southern Baptist Convention, to an enlarged circulation among the Baptists of the State. The Report on the State of Religion, wa3 pre sented by J S Paullin, Chairman, and after re marks by C Manly, was made the order of the day at 9 o’clock, a.m., Tuesday. “ From the information that we have been able to obtain, we believe that the religious interest of our churches throughout the State, is on the in crease, but it falls far short of what it ought to and might be. This is owing, in a very great de gree, to the want of consecration to the service of the Master, and improper views of our obliga tions to Jesus. ForgetfufHhat we are not our own but bought with a price, the sins of covet ousness and selfishness pat^®®J|he' power and usefulness of the churches,TJßflarize our minis try and raise a barrier on >the of progress. May our God lead us up to where we will count all things as the oi tho knowledge of Christ' 9 - yus oi# Lord.” to t r A Conjttifttee on De Ministers was ap pointed: D W am^ or i and M Bish op. It was empower ( edi(bp its report to the Secretary for publication in the Minutes. Adjourned with prayer by T B Cooper. The Convention, at 7 o’clock, p.m., joined in prayer with J S Paullin.- The Report of the Committee on Sunday Schools was read by T C Boykin, Chairman. It contained the statistics of 106 Alabama Baptist schools; with 900 teachers and officers, 6,052 scholars, 1,189 church mem bers, 107 Bible classes; 68 schools use uniform lessons; 61 are “evergreen;” $2,013.10 have been collected, (an average of SO cents for each scholar;) IS prayer meetings are kept up in the schools; Sunday school papers are taken in 06 schools. The Chairman believed that these are not half the Baptist schools in the State. He mentioned a pastor who had said that in his sec tion, this year, where they had Sunday schools, they had the best revivals—which he represented as the legitimate fruit - of the fact that Christians there had been working for Jesus. T C Teasdale, Cor. Sec. of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Bapdst Convention dwelt, at length, on this great work as prosecuted by that Board. He stated, in the course of remark, that there are, in Virginia, more Baptist Sunday schools than Baptists churches. A collection was taken up in behalf of that Board, and the report was adopted as follows—(the last two resolutions having been offered as amendments by W Wilkes.) Your Committee are gratified to be able to present to this Convention a report, not only of suggestions and resolutions, but of facts. We herewith append the Sunday school statistic* of the State, as far as we have been able to procure them. Many schools, we know, have not reported at all, and from many only partial returns have been received. But the statistics collected indicate results that are truly gratifying. And we have every reason to believe that the statistics of another will year show a three fold increase in interest and in numherg. Our sta tistics reveal two facts which are worthy of special notice. First, more than half of the schools have adopted the plan of uniform lessons. Second, a very large number continue during the whole year. Near ly all are reported as being in a flourishing condition, And we find, in proportion as the brethren have la bored in this department of church work, in that proportion has the Holy Spirk been poured out upon them. And while your Committee have no disposi tion to magnify or exaggerate the claims of the school, we do think that the obligation to preach the gospel to the young is just a-, binding upon us as it is to preach it to the old. We also most emphatical ly disclaim the idea that they can transfer this duty to other hand*. We are fully convinced that she should take the oversight and control of this depart ment of her work, as fully as she does of the prayer or other meetings. In this connection we desire to express our opin ion, that the Sunday school is not the nursery of the church, but that, as far as practicable, every member of the church should be a member of the Sunday school, and the interest of the Sunday school is the interest ot the church- We would, therefore, most earnestly urge upon the churches the necessity of greatly increased eflhrt in this department ot Chris tian activity. We take pleasure in reporting that there are at least four organized Sunday School As sociations in our bounds~-one in the Alabama Asso ciation, one in the Tuskegee, one in the Eufaula and one in the Union. In the last named era reported 17 schools, 7L teachers, and 480 scholars. These fig ures show what combined and systematic effort can accomplish. Hence we would recommend— 1. That the churches send up full and accurate Sunday school statistics in their annual latter* to the Associations, 2. That these statistics be reported by the Associ ations to the Convention. 3. That the Convention appoint a Standing Com mittee whose duty it shall be to collect statistics and otherwise promote the cause of Sunday schools. 4. That the Convention appoint Correspondents to the several Sunday School Associations in the State. 5. That the Baptist Teaehtr and Kind Words be commended to our brethren as admirably adapted, the one to the teachers and the other to the scholars, in our schools. . „ , „ Q. That the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention is justly entitled to the confidence, the sympathy and the support of all the churches and Sunday schools within our holders. 7. That the mission work of this Board, which is now being prosecuted with eiruestness, merits our hearty approbation, and should be aided by the prayer and contributions of all our people. C Manly was appointed to preach the introduc tory sermon next year; S C Hearn, alternate. Delegates were appointed to the Southern Bap tist Convention, with authority to fill vacancies ip their number only from members of Alabama Baptist churcher^. Adjourned with prayer by W H Carroll. Tuesday, Nov. 15th, 1870. The Convention met at 8$ o’clock a.m., and T. H. Morgan offered prayer. The following Committees were appointed to report next year: Foreign Missions, E B Teague, W H Carroll, S G Jenkins: Domestic Missions, G F Williams, E T Smyth, W E Lloyd: Educa tion, W M Davis, S O Hearn, P King: Sunday Schools, T C Boykin, C Manly, J S Paullin, J K Ryan, J P Shaffer. The consideration of the Report on the State of Religion was resumed, and remarks were made by J P Shaffer on the importance of securing the co-operation of the 25,000 Baptists in the State who now practically stand aloof from the Con vention ; by E Y Van Hoose on the benefit of ministerial visits and systematic evangelization among our churches in North Alabama; by C Manly in relation to the awakening of the public mind in that section and the vital necessity of making immediate improvement of it for the in terests of our cause; by S R Freeman, T F Wal drop, and W H Carroll . [At this point we were obliged to leave the Convention, to return home, in time for the issue of the paper for the present week.] We desire to express our thanks to Wm, Hurt, Bsq., and to his family, for the courteous enter tainment extended to us, during our brief but pleasant sojourn in Opelika. Churoh*Reflection of Pulpit-Light. If you stand, far in the night, by a railway, how the head-light of an approaching train blazes, and glares, and beats the eye shut with insufferable brightness ! But when it stops near you, and, little by little, you be come able to inspect it, you find that the splendor flows from a lamp with scarcely a larger stream of flame than the lamps which chase the darkness from the cars in part only. The difference is due to the feet, that this lamp is surrounded with surfaces that catch up, and reflect, and augment, and multiply, every ray shot forth from it. Now% the pastor, “ holding forth the word of life” in his pulpit, ; shires as a light in the world.’ Whether he shall shine brightly or dirnly, depends largely on the question whether his flock does, or does not, surround him with adequate reflection. According as this question is decided the one way or the other, he becomes as the car-lamp simply, or as the lamp in the head-light—with feeble gleam struggles against adjacent gloom, or pours a flashing radiance far and wide into the bosom of the night. By the testimony of the lips and of the life, the church may reflect—-repeat and redouble —every ray of the light of truth that beams front the pulpit. Lyman Beecher, to explain his marvellous success in a Boston pastorate, said : “ It is not I that do it—it is my church; I preach as hard as I can on Sabbath, and then I have four hundred members who go out and preach every day of the week !” There is the true secret of ministerial effectiveness —the pulpit lamp was surrounded by a re flecting church. Let no professor of the Christian faith feel himself to assert and the diminished *ss of the ministry, as regards its influence over -the present age, until he first settled with his conscience and with God, the serious enquiry, whether he is rightly performing, from week to week, his own part as a reflector of the ,truth heard from Sabbath to Sabbath. Oh, Brother Overwise, leave off that tinkering of the pulpit-lamp, in which your fingers employ themselves so deftly: for a glance in your mirror will show you a pew-reflector, which is thought to stand sadly in need of polishing anew —and that, we take it, is the better labor for your hands just now. A Grave Imputation. A Chicago correspondent of a Northern Baptist paper, speaks of it as “ the usual his tory ” of commendatory resolutions by churches in relation to retiring pastors, that they are adopted in cases where “a failure ” has been made. We should be sorry to be lieve this. It ‘lays the axe to the root’ of confidence in the uprightness and integrity of the churches generally, and must help to hew it down. If a body of believers gathered together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the transaction of business per taining to His kingdom, with professed reli ance upon the leadings of His Spirit,—if they, under these circumstances, can issue to the world a deliberate falsehood, calculated to deceive other churches on a point so vital as the capacity and efficiency of candidates for the pastoral office, and therefore a mis chievous falsehood, working against Christ, His kingdom, and the souls of men, —we may well question whether they are not of the number who “ have a name to live and are dead.” And if this is “the usual history” of documents so frequently recurring in the course of ecclesiastical events as resolutions on the resignation of pastors,—why should we wonder when scepticism denounces the piety of the age as a sham 1 We “ are per* suaded better things of” the great majority of our churches ; we do not and cannot be lieve what this writer alleges to their dishon or. It is simply and palpably untrue, no matter what may seem to bear it out within his sphere of observation. But if, here and there, a churoh has fallen into this snare of Satan, let it take to itself the shame of its ill-doing, and “ amend it 9 ways ” for the future. “ Dying Out.” “The Missionary Baptists are strangely dying out.” —-Bishop Pieroe’s Bainbridge Letter. Dying—but not dead. In fact, there ia some prospect that they will not die at all in this section; that our blessed Saviour does not intend that they shall die, “ The gates of hell shall not prevail against” His church. A few facts may even convince the sceptical. It was my privilege to attend the last ses sion of the Florida Baptist Association, held with the Summerhill Baptist church, Thomas county, Ga., embracing 3rd Lord’s day in October. The meeting was harmonious and profitable. Rev. A. Manning, a working man, and most useful minister in the Associa tion, was elected Moderator. Most of the old ministers —veteians of the cross —were ab sent. Fuller has been called to bis reward in the skies, and Blewett, the “ Israelite in deed in whom is no guile,” has gone to a dis tant field—Texas. The venerable forms of Cooper, and Ardis, and Campbell, were not seen in the assembly, nor their voices heard in the great congregation. The providence of God kept them at home. Younger men must needs occupy their places. Soon, they will hear the voice of the Master saying, “ come up higher.” Who will wield the sword as they? Who will battle for the Lord as these soldiers of the cross ? Upon wfiom will their mantles rest 1 Lord, thou knowest. During the year just closed, the Associa 1 tion employed three missionaries, who labor j ed zealously and faithfully in breaking the bread of life to the destitute within her own bounds. About $1,500 were raised for missionary purposes—nearly one dollar per white mem ber. The collections were taken up quarterly in the churches. Three hundred and sixty baptisms were reported—a number unprecedented in the history of the Association. The Lord owns and blesses missionary labor. The churches, generally, enjoyed seasons of refreshing during the year. “ They that water shall be watered again.” From these facts, wo conclude that the Bishop is not a true prophet ; at least, he could not see clearly through his Methodist glasses. It may not be so easy to occupy the land. But we speak not boastingly. Let us thank God and take courage. To Him b» all the glory now and forever. Visitor. Quitman, Ga., Nov., 1870. American Bible Union. The anniversary of the Ameriein Bible Union was one of the great events of the past month. The anniversary was held in the church, corner Oliver and Henry streets, on the 29th and 27th October, aud was a decided success. The church, one of the largest in the city, was filled with attentive listeners, and sympathising friends, pastors and dele gates, from Great Britain, the British pro vinces, and many of the States of this Union. Three sessions were held each day, and the exercises of each session more, pleasing and interesting than the preceding one. Dr. Armitage, President ofThe Bible Union, delivered the opening address, in which he gave a description of the plans and operations of the Society, the influence exerted by it, not only in this country, but its influence in foreign countries, felt and acknowledged, and producing fruit, yet still felt to be but the germ of greater things to come. One of the instances of the powerful influence exerted by the A. B. U. version may be seen in the Con vocation of Canterbury,—in their appointing a revisionary committee composed of schol ars, members of the church of England and dissenting denominations of Great Britain ; their object and aim being to translate from the originals, giving to the people a faithful version of the Scriptures, purged of the inac curacies, blunders and obsolete terms in the version known as that of King James. The speaker then compared the plan of operation pursued by the A. B. U. and the Canterbury revisers, and, in so doing, proved most satis frctorily and conclusively the superiority of the A. B. U. method. The annual report was encouraging, show ing as it did the progress made in public favor, the high estimation entertained of the B. U., not only at home, but abroad, the widespread diffusion of its plans, aims, and the principles governing it. Among many others, it gave an account of the recent provi dential openings for the distribution of the Scriptures in Spain, Mexico, Italy, South America and other countries, through the medium of the Union. The excellence of its Spanish translation has secured universal commendation and acceptance by Spanish scholars. Its gross receipts, fifty odd thousand dollars, the past year, was a very encouraging feature in the report. Rev. G. F. Pentecost moved the adoption of the report, and, in his address, comparing the plan of procedure by the two societies, said it was impossible to procure a thorough and faithful rendering of the original in the mode pursued by the revision committee ap pointed fly the Convocation of Canterbury. Illustrating it thus: In the translation of the Greek preposition *R, in the discussion all the scholars of the Church of England took the broad ground that i\should be translated in in the formula of baptism as it is elsewhere, but they were outvoted by the members of other denominations. Rev. P. L. Davies, pastor of the Berean church, Rev. S. G. Woodrow and Rev. John Mostyn, of Eng land, Rev. Few Evans, of the Central church, Rev. C. C. Foote, of 28th street, N. Y., Rev. I. W. Wilmarth, of N. J., Rev. W. Cathcart, D.D., of Philadelphia, made stirring appeals. Rev. Dr. Everts, of Chicago, a host within himself, well known and highly esteemed by every one, made one of his characteristic ap peals. One of the great attractions of the anniver sary—a something altogether new and unique of its kind—was the reading of a poem by the Hon. Charles Thurbur, of Brooklyn. I understand it will soon be published. An other very noticeable feature was the offering to the public of the Book of Psaltns, being a complete translation o? the Psalms by Dr. Conant, on the evening of the first day. It is a work of rare merit and beauty, and cannot fail to oommend itself to every reader. It was an occasion, I venture to say, not to be forgotten by any one present. L. Nms Jerk, Nov. 5, 1870. Lights ami Shadows. Brownwood is six miles from Madison, Morgan county, and a delightful visit was mine to that place, my first., but I hope not my last one. Green, as a color, is welcome to the eye, and the “green light” I found there, was pleasant to look at, and it will shine all the way to Texas, or the Cherokee, Creek or Choctaw nations, and make some poor, but hard-working missionary feel good. Those who emitted it have already felt good. Brother E. Jewel is the bishop at Brown wood, and Dr. W. B. Crawford preaches monthly, I believe, and had been conducting a meeting nightly, for some time, when 1 was there. I had the pleasure of preaching twice, and my first sermon was pronounced a “ mess of meat and greens,” which, dear reader, coming from the source, it did, was a ray of light so cheering to a poor Agent, he may be permitted to tell it. Agents some times feed people, as well as beg them. Sweet memories have 1 of Brownwood, and associ ated therewith will be the names of Brown, Crawford and Atkinson, and their Jewel. I saw at B. a ray of light, emitted long years ago, from Savannah, by a brother now in Burmah—Dr. Binney. I met a lady, Mrs. N-, who, when a babe, was given by her dy ing mother to Dr. Binney, -a ho raised her. The praise of that brother is upon her lips, her memory of him sweet and tender, and his influence still felt upon her, and will be upon her children. “No man liveth to him self,” but we all leave our impress for good or evil, upon some one. “ What manner of people ought we to be, in all holy cun versa tion and godliness,” and “So let our lips and lives express The holy gospel we profess." I have been to Rome, but not to a great “ Council.” Yes, I have been to a city with “seven hills,” more or less, and more of the mors than of the less. 1 left there inclined Romeward. It was pleasant there, indeed ; light all about, —light in the large, interest ing congregation, the Sunday sohool prayer meeting, and that dear, good brother and pastor, L. R. Gwaltney, lets his light shine in all his relations. Glad am I that Rome, (and the State of Ga.,) have kept him, for a shadow, a deep shadow, would have come over both, had he left Rome. The most apostolic church 1 know of, is the Rome (not the Romish) church. Giving, “laying by,” contributing, is a part of their worship, and every “ first day of the week,” this privilege is offered as regularly as the privilege of singing, prayer and hearing the gospel. How much 1 wish it were so everywhere ! Well, Would cot that do away with agency work ? By no means, but it would very much relieve agents in one feature of their work. “ There would be no gatherings when we come,” or the churches would not. be “ unprepared ” in this matter, but “ prepared.” II Cor. ix : S -4. The idea of some is, that agent is onlv a ben gar, and his salary is expense. This ” depo nent” does not so understand nor practi' but considers the mere work of “collecting ” as but a part of his agency, and urges tha' it his labors outside of, apart from collecting, are not wrhdh his salary, he is an expense Agencies will needed, whelhei called by that name oftot. They are, in i.h nature of things, a necessity that is lndispt-t sable to success, to general success in ever thing conducted by human beings. God : pleased to use them in the natural and moral world, and it would seem, designed to show us thereby, their potency and utility. They are potent, useful, and almost indispental) <* to raising money for any purpose, to awaken ing and keeping alive an interest in any obj■ ut or enterprise. But I have committed my usual blunder - digression—and hence, must come back (rath er go back, in person) to Rome, to say ■» word or two more. Personally, I would like to have an organ in every church, if used to aid devotion, as the organ is used in the Rome church. The tunes were familiar tin congregation sang, there was no operatic dis play, no irreverent disorder or levity in tin choir. As said above, personally, 1 would not object to such music every time I have to preach ; but as it would “ drive the preach out of some,” or cast a shadow over them, I don’t recommend it —do uot oppose it. i expect there will be “harps” as well as voices in the music of heaven. More- anorr of Rome, for I cannot say all now. Rome, in Oa., has attractionPfor me. I have learned that there is anew church. It has no name. It originated in Hart conn ty, Ga. I could learn of only two or three distinct traits, and they could hardly be so regarded. One is, that a Christian ought to belong to nothing but the church. The one made prominent by my informant, is, that they have discovered anew idea of worldli ness, or of what worldly conformity consists in, viz: fine dressing, or fashionable dressing, or both. But their views of worldliness do not keep the ministers from being in the legislature, for my informant belonged to it. Perhaps that is not a worldly place, accord ing to the new view of worldliness. The leading spirit in this “new church,” was a Baptist minister, till he saw the better way. Should the new church, or reformation, eve: have a place in history, it will be—what? The members, I guess, will be called Bow erites. The Reformation now has a young competitor. Not much light, I fear, from this “ reform.” W. N. Chaudotn. The Dalton Baptist Church Opens her subscription list to the brethr en and friends of a common cause. It will be remembered that Dalton, with its whole sur* rounding country, was devastated and pillaged during our late struggle. Our house of wot ship was occupied by both armies as a hos pital, and so damaged and abused, and is now tending so rapidly to decay, as to lender the erection of anew building necessary. We are too poor to do the work alone, else we shouldnot beg for aid in our laudable and necessary enterprise. Dear reader, wo all endured common suf ferings and misfortunes. Many of you, how ever, have grown rich again—at least, attained to comparative prosperity. Though rising from our ashes, yet we are still poor here— especially our church. Will you not lake stock in our enterprise ? Will not each min ister take stock, and induce others to do so ? Many of the ministering brethren have »I ready done so, and it is our desire that every brother, in Georgia especially, will lay up a little treasure at least, in this part of the i kingdom of God. May the Lord bless you all, and return to* you twice as much as you may send to us. Gao. A. Lofton, Pastor.. Ordination. In response to an invitation of the Baptist church at Rehoboth, a council was convened, Nov. sth, 1870, to consider the propriety of ordaining brother J. L. Quisenby to the work of the gospel ministry. After the usual ex amination, it was voted, unanimously, to proceed with the ordination. The order of services were as follows: sermon by Rev. J. H. Fortson, examination of the candidate, Rev. T. J. Beck; ordaining prayer, Rev. N. L. McMekin; presentation of the Bible, Rev. T. J. Beck; charge, Rev. J. H. Fortson; hand of fellowship, Rev. J. Hogan, followed by the other presbyters and the church ; ben ediction by the candidate. Vr Send Forward your Minutes. The meetings of the various Associations are about over, and their minutes will soon be distributed. Please remind the clerks and brethren of these bodies that. 1 need a copy of their minutes to make up the statistical table of the denomination in this State. If possible, I wish to secure a copy of every As sociation in the State, whether a member of the Georgia Baptist Convention or not— whether white or colored, Missionary, Anti missionary or neutral. Do not let one bro ther fail to send because ho thinks somebody else will. I had rather receive a dozen dupli cate copies than to fail to get any. Brethren W. N. Chaudoin, T. B. Cooper and F. M. Haygood, who are passing over the entire State, are earnestly requested to look after this matter. Give your aid, brethren, and let us see if we cannot have the facts as to the numerical strength of our denomination it the State. Send forward the m inutes. G. R. McCall. Htmkintiillt, Ga. This Yoar, and Next. Having bought a farm in Elbert county, Ga., I purpose to get my family back from Kentucky, soon, that we may residft again in our native State and county. The Lord bless us in the removal. 1 have been travelling and sowing gospel seed this year, The Lord follow rny labors with art abundant blessing. What my labors shall be another year, is not yet determined. The chinches here are so well supplied, that 1 may be obliged to continue my journeys from church to church and from house to house. This work is more congenial to the emotions of my heart, than any other. Pray for me and mine. The Lord answer. I. H. Goss. Eagle Grove, Hart county, Ga., Nov. 10 th, IS7O. Is it Fair I It Seems Hard. Poor Agent and Secretary ! 1 use the 6in guiar, because brother Campbell did, in his article last week, in which he asks me to cor rect his figures if wrong. The “impression of some minds,” it seems, is, “ that of the seven thousand dollars paid last year, by the Baptists of Georgia, into the treasury of the Marion Board, at least two thousand dollars were cousutned in salaries and travelling ex penses of the Corresponding Secretary and Agent.” I want to say only this, in answer to brother Campbell: • 1. 1 think his figures are rather high. I had not —1 am “the agent”—been iu the field quite a year, or under appointment, and had not made full time, and had I dune both, my part would have been a thousand; but it was not much more than half that. 1 know not what percentage of Georgia’s seven thousand v\as consumed in Secretary’s salary, for I have not made the calculation, but 1 should not think it more than a thousaud. 2. Suppose it w era two thousand: would it bean “impression,” or oppression that need*
