Newspaper Page Text
26
If«i*x aui lapttet.
J. J. TOON Proprietor,
PUBLICATION ROOMS —4 t 6 SOUTH BROADWAY.
Editor: Bev. D. SHAVER, D.D.
CORRESPONDING EDITORS I
Rev. J. J. D. RENFROE, Talladega, Ala.
Rav. S. HENDERSON, D.D., Fayetteville, Ala.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1871.
Glimpses of the Times.
I.
The Baptist Union, the New York organ of
loose communionists, quotes “an enthusiastic
brother” as writing that its title “is a keynote
of the right ring, and the ‘ tocsin of war ’ that
ought to rally the whole host of immersionists to
the contest before us.” Commend us to your
men of enthusiasm among the adherents of a
cause, for suffering its real character to crop out:
its folly is wisdom in their eyes —they glory in its
shame—and why should they not trumpet these
things abroad ? That is the reason inciting this
“brother” to inform us that “Baptist union"
is a “tocsin of war!" It needed no prophet to
tell us so. Loose communionists are “ bound to
have peace, in the family, even if they have to
fight for itthey will boggle at no strife and
division in the denomination, if they may but
hope to unite the dismembered fragments upon
their platform of pseudo-liberalism !
11.
According to a writer in the Christian Fra,
“William Gilson Humphrey, late Fellow of Trin
ity, Cambridge, Prebendary of St. Paul’s, etc,”
in the “Historical and Explanatory Treatise”
contributed to the “Student’s Book of Common
Prayer,” a recent London publication, says:
“ Dipping is, without doubt, the most ancient
mode of administering baptism.” Os course, the
apostolic practice is “more ancient” than any
innovations upon it.
111.
The Christian Union thinks, that, while bap
tism was the symbolic medium of Christian pro
fession in the apostolic age, we should accept the
sincerity of those who make such a profession
without baptism, “as a virtual obedience for all
purposes of Christian or church fellowship,” and
welcome them to the Lord’s supper It holds,
too, that if Christ should appear on the earth
now, He would approve this course. But is it
not New Testament law, that a Christian profes
sion shall precede admission to that symbol, the
Lord's supper, and that this profession shall be
made through that other symbol, baptism ? Does
not the Union, then, call on our denomination to
set aside law ? Its position seems to us on a
par, in principle, with the effort of Rev. C. B-
Stebbins, of Lansing, Mich., to exclude wine from
the communion. This divine tells us, in the Con
yregationalist, that Christ used wine in the sup
per, “not because it, more than any other drink,
had any peculiar virtue or superior appropriate
ness;” but simply because it was “ the drink He
found on the table." He asks: “Were He now
in Boston, to establish the ordinance as he did in
Jerusalem, who doubts that He would use tea?"
He maintains that “an adherence to ‘wine’ for
the communion is a mere prejudice, without any
foundation in philosophy or religion;” and says:
“If men, aye, ministers, would rise above a pre
judice of their childhood, soon would the com
munion table give us the clear sparkling water,
the most comprehensive and universal symbol in
nature of God’s regenerating graco; and we
should rise another step from the sensual to the
spiritual, in our appreciation of that infinite love,
poorly symbolized at the best in meats and drink.”
Now, we want to know—if Baptists comply with
the Christian Union, how can they avoid com
plying with Rev. Mr. Stebbins ? Cnee begin to
set aside law in the premises, and the coast is
dear for any amount of innovation upon the
“symbols” of our faith, after the manner of Rit
ualists, and even for their abolition, after the
manner of Quakers. On this platform we should
be logically coerced to pursue the course of a re
cent party of seceders from a Baptist church in
Rockford, (111. or Ind. ?), largely through ‘the
powerful reaction from “close eommunion,”’ as a
writer in the Interior intimates. They have or
ganized what they call “the Church of the
Christian Union,” a creedless body, which, in its
basis of fellowship, says : “In respect to ordin
ances, we hold true baptism, to be the baptism of
the Holy Ghost; therefore, its symbol, water
baptism, is left, in its observance, to the con
science of the believer.” Whereupon, the Inte
rior writer concludes: “The fair inference is, the
New Testament reads thus, ‘He that believeth and
is baptized,—or not, according to his preference,
—shall be saved.’” Precisely ; and that is the in
terpolation which the Christian Union and all
immersionists of the “loose" school ask us to
foist into every passage of Scripture relating to
baptism as the symbolic medium of Christian
profession!
IV.
Our strict communion incurs the disapproval of
the Christian Union, but that paper scorns to
stoop to the usual expedient of more bitter (be
cause consciously feebler) sheets —the substitu
tion of abuse for argument. It says: “We do
not charge upon our Baptist brethren any nar
rowness or unloveliness of spirit. That sensi
tiveness of conscience on the subject of an out
ward ordinance which forbids them to accept the
sincere obedience of an acknowledged disciple as
a virtual obedience for all purposes of Christian
or church fellowship, and so erects between the
different branches of the great family a barrier
which is in various ways injurious to the common
cause, we cannot but regard as unfortunate. But,
while it is regarded as a conscientious scruple, it
must be treated as such. The Baptists are not
deficient in aspirations toward a true unity among
Christians, and their piety can bo safely trusted
to deal with the whole question among themselves.
We propose to let them do it; and are not desi
rous to hasten the natural progress of things by
any outside pressure.” This contrasts admirably
with the tone of a correspondent of the Oongre
gationalist. who feels himself authorized, in rela
tion to the recent exclusion of Rev. A. L. Grimes,
pastor of a colored Baptist church, Boston, from
the table of a Fall River steamer, to say, (“ with
perhaps uncandid severity,” the editor of that
journal tells us:) “To exclude a passenger from
man's table on account of color, is a much smaller
crime ihan that of barring Christians from the
Lord's table for non-conformity to the shibboleth
es ,i sect." As Mr. Grimes advocates “close
eommunion,” this writer informs him that he
*■ was only receiving pay in his own coin,” and
hopes that he will not brood over an offence
* much more excusahle” than his own. How
thoroughly has the critic conned that most palpa
ble shibboleth, not of a sect only, but of sectari
anism in all the sects—the bitter hatred and un
reasoning outcry against the strict and scriptural
practice of onr churches! And, doubtless, like
most who echo this shibboleth, if rebuked for
want of charity, he would reply very much in the
spirit of the boy who said: “I never learnt no
grammar because I never needed none.”
Rev. H. B. Thayer, in the Chicago Interior,
pronounces the baptism of infants, “one of the
cardinal elements" in the creed of “all sound
Presbyterians,” and raises the question: “Are
r \elding Christian obedience to this rule of
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, 6A, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16,1871.
the church of Christ ?” To that question he re
turns answer as follows: “ Fidelity to the truth
compels us to say, that it is to be feared there is
a gradual, growing neglect in this respect; that
to no inconsiderable extent the Church is forget
ting her covenant vows, and neglecting the chil
dren of the Church in the ordinance of baptism.
This great evil has been making inroads upon the
Church for years.” He confirms his answer by
facts. In 1867 the General Assembly enjoined
upon all the Presbyteries within its bounds, to as
certain the number of unbaptized children whose
parents were members of the Presbyterian com
munion, and report to the Assembly of the ensu
ing year. In 1868, reports were received from
43 churches only ; but in these were found 202
unbaptized children whose parents were commu
nicants. The injunction was renewed for 1869;
when reports from 217 churches showed the un
baptized children of communicants within their
limits to number 1,375. ‘‘After this lamentable
showing,” continues Mr. Thayer, “ the matter is
dropped. No further action appears to have been
taken by the Presbyteries, and reported to the
Assembly.” No wonder he says: “ With these
examples before us, we should shrink from an ex
amination of a full report of all the churches
within the bounds of the General Assembly.
Such a report would show a fearful neglect of the
children of the church; an unwarrantable re
missness in a duty that is clearly defined and im
perative.” He ascribes “ this sad state of things,”
mainly, to the want of faithful preaching on the
subject; —a point on which he bears his personal
testimony : “To our knowledge, there are Pres
byterian churches where a sermon upon infant
baptism has not been preached for years, and
where the children of the Church are consequent-
ly not brought and consecrated to the Lord in
the ordinance of baptism. How it becomes us to
‘strengthen the things, which remain, that are
ready to die!’” We have only to say, that if
Presbyterian Pedobaptism, (which is Pedobaptism
in its least pernicious because least logical form,)
is really among “ the things that are ready to
die,” we see no “great evil” in this fact—we
cannot deem it “ most fearful,” or “lamentable,”
or “ sad ” —in fact, we are heartily glad to hear it.
VI.
“ The Second Baptist Church, Holyoke, Mass.,
Rev. R. J. Adams, pastor, has had conversions
every month in the year 1870. Since February,
1870, there have been thirteen baptismal seasons.
The whole number baptized, 108. The prayer
meetings are as well attended now as at any other
time.” This is the normal state of the churches—
the state in which all chuiches should, and if they
were true to themselves and their Head, tcould
be found. In Jerusalem “the Lord added to the
church daily the saved ;” and by how much we
fall short of this constant revival and steady
growth, by so much we betray a lack of faith and
faithfulness. Oh, for daily “labor in the Lord,”
with daily proof that it “is not in vain !” We
could not agree with Rev. Mr. Bidwcll, of the
New York Presbyterian Clerical Association, that
“in view of tbo reliance placed upon human
agents and machinery in conducting (periodical or
occasional) revivals, the whole system might be
considered, however strong the language, as the
devil’s own work.” Full surely, however, it is
“the devil’s own work,” when churches are with
out revival; for not the sovereignty of their Head,
but their sin, brings them into that condition of
coldness and barrenness.
VII.
The Southern Methodists of St. Louis celebra
ted, not long since, the semi-centenary of their
cause in that city, and raised $90,000 for Church
Extension purposes. Cjan it be, then, that the
Baptists of Georgia and Alabama cannot and will
not give SIOO,OOO, each', for the endowment of
Mercer University and of Howard College, and an
equal sum for Orphans’ Homes in their respective
States? With the will to do it, the way will
open before them. Rev. Dr. Eaton secured, the
past year, among our Massachusetts brethren,
$170,000 toward the endowment of Newton The
ological Seminary; and an exchange learns that
since the beginning of the present year, $30,000
have been added to this sum, thus consummating
the movement. Shall these examples be lost up
on us? Are we insensible to the promptings of
generous emulation in Christian liberality ?
VIII.
The Romish Tablet, New York, says that to
claim descent lrom “ the so-called heretics of the
middle ages, is as bad as if one were to pride
himself on being a lineal descendint of Simon
Magus, Judas Iscariot, or the devil.” The Tablet
must hold that these “heretics" came out of
Rome, and that the “sacraments” received from
her had “ impressed an indellible character on
their souls.” On these two suppositions, we
would be half inclined to agree with the senti
ment quoted from it.
IX.
According to the Presbyterian Record, there
were, in the United States, in 1854, 26,048 evan
gelical ministers in a population of 25,953,000
and in 1870, 49,295 in a population of 42,000,000.
At the former date, there was one such minister
to every 987 souls; at the latter, one to every
852. The increase of the population, in these
sixteen years, was 01 per cent.; the increase of
the ministry of this class, 87 per cent. These are
not encouraging statistics, to the infidelity which
boasts as though it were sweeping everything be
fore it. The evangelical ministry more than holds
its ground, despite the niggardly support which
falls to the lot of the greater number—aptly illus
trated, by the way, in the recent case of a New
England village Baptist church, which proffered a
salary of SSOO to a pastor “of considerable cul
ture,” “ a spirited preacher,” but required him to
pay SSO of that sum as rent for a house owned by
the church! If with such an efficient helper as
this niggardliness, infidelity cannot arrest the
growth of the evangelical ministry, it must be as
weak as the “ diluted water ” of which wo read
somewhere a day or two since.
X.
A writer in the Christian Observer is greatly
scandalized because “ ‘ the bishop,’ so called, of
the Episcopal sect in North Carolina,” applies to
Presbyterian churches the opprobrious epithet,
“ Club Houses.” The offence is the greater be
cause committed “ not privately, but publicly and
repeatedly, on the Sabbath, to congregations com
posed in part of Presbyterians;" though this
writer thinks that these Presbyterians “ deserve
the insult, for giving their countenance to this
impudent ecclesiastical upstart.” Doubtless, if
the bishop and his critic were privileged to put on
the hat, of which German “ Folk Lore ” tells us,
which enabled and compelled the wearer to speak
the truth, the style of both would be materially
i changed. And then, we should have some very
! pretty Baptist talk from them, should we not t"
Meanwhile, “sec how these” loose communionists
“ love!"
XI.
“ The Logic of Infant Baptism,” by the late
Rev. Dr. Nadal, published in the last number of
the Methodist Quarterly Review, brings out dis
tinctly the fundamental error in the “ church
building ” of the American followers of Wesley.
According to this authority, Methodism “admits to
church membership both infants and adults with
out demanding that either shall have been pre
viously regenerated. It will not repel the receptive
seeking adult, but will receive him at once, and
let him come to consciousness of divine life in the
church. It will not repel the receptive infant of
the Christian household, but will receive it and
let it grow up into Christ, and come to assured
experience among the sanctities of the house of
God.” Do men, then, seek 'to rear that “ spirit
ual house,” the church, not of “ lively stones," but
of dead, and claim recognition as scriptural, and
therefore “ wise, master-builders ?’’
XII.
The Protestant Churchman, of recent date,
says: “ The sad fact, the monstrous fact, may we
not call it, is that the Lord's table, instead of be
ing the first, is the last place in which Christians
of different communions are willing to come to
gether.” It is speakiDg, not of the barriers be
tween Baptists and Pedobaptists, but of the spirit
prevailing among Pedobaptists themselves. Loose
communion, then, has quite a large amount of
work to do, before it can bring united forces to
assault the practice of our churches; and why
should those complain that we do not commune
with them, who do not commune with each other ?
The Churchman advocates occasional, or stated
“ united communions,” for the “good and high
purpose” of manifesting Christian unity, and, be
yond that point, discountenances them. It says :
“ When there is no such purpose, it is most ed
ifying and altogether best for them to meet at
their respective boards, where they are at home
and feel at ease in the forms to which they are
accustomed. The pastor should always find all
his communicants around him when he breaks to
them the bread of life. None should be missing
because they have gone elsewhere to a sacraraeni.
This would lead to disorder and might become
religious dissipation.” Now, when loose commu
nion is made this exceptional, infrequent thing,
and reduced to a kind of “ dress parade ” — a show,
one would think that its advocates must see how
very little it is worth contending for. And what
more can you do with it as a general rule, without
the “ religious dissipation,” the “ disorder,” of
neglecting the Lord’s supper in your own church
homes ?
Our Zion—in Our Exchanges, etc.
Georgia.
We regret to learn that, on Sabbath week, as
Prof. J. E. Willet, of Macon, was returning from
church, his horse ran away, and threw him out of
the buggy, dislocating his shoulder. At last ad
vices, he was expected to be out in a few days.
Rev. Dr. Dixon, of Augusta, has baptized
34.——Prof. J. A. Trenchard, formerly Principal
of Elberton Institute for Young Men, was ordained
to the ministry, at Erie, Kansas, Jan. Bth. We
add to the list of subscribers for a Baptist Or
phans’ Home, this week, a second name, pledged
for $25 annually ; and a third, with a pledge for
SI,OOO. These are cheering tokens. Who will
help the work, on next?—Here comes the next;
a lady, who subscribes SSO.
Alabama.
Rev. Eugene O. Gordon, of On., recently set
tled as pastor of our church at Athens, preaches
also at Round Island church, and is the only Bap.
tist minister in Limestone county. Rev. J. R.
Hand, of Tuskegce, died suddenly at midnight,
of heart disease, not long since. “He had at
tained his three score years and ten, and until
recently had faithfully served many of our neigh
boring churches.”
Kentucky.
Rev. S. P. Hegan, a graduate of last year, and
pastor of the old Crossings church, died Feb. 9th,
of typhoid pneumonia. Rev. A. T. Spalding,
D.D., since Jan. Ist, has baptized 16 at Walnut
street church, Louisville. Mt. Washington
church has had 20 additions; Friendship, near
Greenville, 19; Providence, near Rockfield, 33.
There are prospects of a written or oral dis
cussion of the differences between Baptists and
“Disciples,” in Louisville; the parties to jt, Rev.
R. M. Dudley of the Western Recorder, and Rev.
Dr. Hopson of the Apostolic Times.
uouisiawa. .
Wm. H. Chandler has been ordained to the
ministry, at Ramah church, Natchitoches parish:
sermon by Rev. J. A. Harrell.
Missouri.
At Jefferson city, the capital of the State, the
Baptists dedicated, Jan. 29th, anew house of
worship, costing, with the lot, $7,300. Anew
church has been constituted near Cuba. Rev.
D. H. Selph becomes pastor of our church at
Lexington, where he is Principal of the Baptist
Female College. Mt. Ararat church, Howard
county, has had 39 accessions; Sparta church,
Buchanan county, 11; Freedom, Davies county, 13,
(of whom four were Methodists, and one of these
a lady of seventy, who had been a Pedobaptist
for thirty); Crooked Creek church, Monroe coun
ty, 21; Mt. Pisgah church, Washington county,
23. Rev. J. Clay has recently baptized 105,
into Pleasant Grove and Mt. Zion churches, Platte
county.
North Carolina.
Seven persons have been baptized by Rev. S.
G. Mason, at Ephesus church, seven at Milton,
and seven at Beulah; making 21. Rev. Levi
Thorne has been complimented by his people,
with gifts worth $l5O. Our church at Raleigh
has unanimously voted to dispense with the rent
ing of pews. Wo are glad to note this step in
the right direction. Rev. J. C. Hiden, Wil
mington, has baptized several of late. Rev. A.
M. Poindexter, D.D., of Va., declines the agency
of Wake Forest College. There are seven or
dained Baptist ministers in and around Forest
ville; good and able men.
South Carolina.
Rev. D. W. Cuttino resigns charge of Manning
and Tawcaw churches, Clarendon county, and as
sumes charge of Santee and Corinth churches,
Orangeburg county. Rev. W. D. Rice, of So
ciety Hill, becomes Corresponding Editor of the
Richmond Herald.
Tennessee.
Rev. J. L. Lloyd, during his first pastoral year in
Knoxville, just closed, has received into his church
two every week (nearly) on an average.
Virginia.
The Richmond Herald is authorized by Rev.
A. B. Earle to say, that he has never had a shad
ow of doubt as to the correctness of the posi
tion of our churches on the subject of commun
ion. Rev. P. B. Reynolds becomes pastor of
our church at Taylorsville. Rev. W. H. Wil
liams resigns charge of our church at Staunton.
Some 80 have joined our church in Lynch
burg, since the visit of Rev. A. B. Earle. The
revival which began, at Belvidere church, Rich
mond, last October, still continues. Rev. B.
Grimsley has baptized 25 at Jeffersonton, Rappa
hannock county.
West Virginia.
T. M. Hughes, of North Carolina, has purchased
an equal interest in the Baptist Record , Charles
ton. Bethany church, Harrison county, has
had 24 accessions; Briscoe church, 17; Centre
Branch, 9; Williamstown church, 20 ; Charles
ton church, 9. -Judson McClung has been or
dained to the ministry at Hopewell church, to
take charge of Good Hope church; and Josephus
M. Wood, of Calhoun also has been ordained.
Prayer for Colleges. '
By order of the Society for Missionary
Enquiry , of the Southern Baptist TheologU
eal Seminary at Greenville, S. C., I have
compiled, as Chairman of the Committee on
Statistics, from the most recent sources, the
following report of the religious condition
of our colleges for young men. Circulars
were sent to 330 of these institutions, but
only 68 responded. These, however, may
bsftq&nsidered as at least giving the average.
are professors of religion; 9,270 students, of
whom 4,675 are professors of religion; 1,133
are pursuing a litterary course with the min
istery in view ; 764 are regular students of
theology, and 38 intend to be foreign mis
sionaries. During the past year, they have
held 204 prayer meetings,—have been blest
with 24 revivals, which resulted in 728 con
versions.
We are safe in concluding that fully half of
the students in the United States are pro
fessed Christians, and that an incalculable in
fluence for good is exerted by them upon the
remainder; and, too, there surely are 100
young ministers preparing ifor the work in
foreign lands, besides about 3,000 who ex*
pect to labor at home. Moreover, it is evi
dent that nearly all of the instructors are
Christian men. Let us hope that the fourth
Thursday in this month wiM be generally ob
served as a day of prayer for Colleges ; and
that these facts will eneouLfige Christian stu
dents in their pious labors, and Christian
people everywhere in their prayers. Ex
changes, please copy. HtfOH F. Oliver.
Prayer for Mercer University.
Paul, the apostle, said,“ Brethren, pray for
us.” He believed in the efficacy of prayer ;
his trust was not in an arm fl sh, but in the
living God ; and hence h«r*aot only prayed,
but besought others to him. Jesus,
to encourage His disciples to pray, said,
“ Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that
will Vdo, that the Father may be glorified in
the Son.” Again, He ye shall ask
anything in my name, I will do it.” Now,
let every brother and sister in Georgia make
Mercer University—its B(*rd of Trustees, its
Faculty, students and subject of
constant prayer, that its-'uSfrucnce for good
may be increased a thousand fold. Especial
ly would I suggest that all the churches set
apart some particular ti.«ne_when they can
pray in concert for the complete success of
the University. I would suggest that the
churches throughout the State set apart the
second Sunday night liKSftch month as a
monthly concert of prayey. for all who are
connected with our own University. Will
you, brother Editor, urge this upon the breth
ren and sisters? Do urge them to pray for
our dear young men who are now pursu
ing their studies with the officers of the Uni
versity. Call upon our sisters especially to
pray for them, and God will hear the prayer
of faith. H. C. Hornadt.
What I Saw and Heard j&§ the Line of the
Georgia Railroad and its Branches.
In the Acts of the Apostles we are told that
Paul once said to Barnabas, “ Let us go into
every city and see how our brethren do.”
Acting upon this suggestion of the apostle,
but with a less exclusive spirit, I have been,
now, for three months, visiting not only the
cities but the towns and villages of Georgia
and Alabama. From a bird’s eye view, 1
would say that the Baptist brethren of these
States do pretty well. All of them, it must
be confessed, are nut burning and shining
lights. Among them there are some seedy
looking sheep, and occasionally one may be
found with a strong odor of the goat. These,
however, are exceptions,and the brethren gen
erally do pretty well. Bfrrthe Baptist ladies
that class which an .old .preacher in South
Carolina used to address as the “ dear sister
ings”—where can their like be found? By
permission from headquarters at home, I have
hung up in the picture gaffery of memory, a
number of bright young faces, and whenever,
in my agency, I meet with a crabbed and
crusty brother, I take down one of these fresh
portraits, look at it, and siatter every shadow
of The Crusty. Ido not Know whether this
plan is orthodox, but it i|*ery refreshing.
In the course of these, jpts to cities, towns
and viliages, I hav<*'re|_ returned from a
trip along the railroad ■ and its
branches. It would be impossibly to- bring
within the compass of a
that I saw and heard during this
therefore only relate those things wnrch inane
the deepest impression upon my mina. Now,
no one who has visited Bairdstown i3 ever
likely to forget the place. On the train which
left Union Point for Athens, I had taken a
seat in the farther end of the hindmost car,
and had asked the conductor to inform me
when we reached the Bairdstown depot. Af
ter an hour’s travel, the whistle blew, the
train stopped. Some one shouted Bairds
town, and 1 alighted from the back of the car.
The depot was certainly \inique. I was all
alone. Not another human being in sight.
On one hand was a dark, weather-stained
house; on the other there was a dilapidated
worm fence. Before me' there was a long
stretch of pines and a road. Under these cir
cumstances, the road was the only hope, and
upon reaching it, there, sure enough, was
Bairdstown —twelve dwelling houses and two
stores. I was told, however, that the neigh
borhood was thickly peopled ; and there is
something peculiar in the religious condition
of this community. For twenty years this
section of country has been the tramping
ground of Dr. Mell, and he has made clean
work of it. Within a circuit of eight or ten
miles, scarcely a Methodist, Presbyterian,
Episcopalian or Roman Ciitholio can be found.
Every man, woman and .child—infants only
excepted—is either a Baptist, or has a decided
Baptist tendency. A Methodist preacher,
passing at railroad speed this region,
glanced out of the window, and said to me,
“This is Mell’s Kingdom.”
In leaving this kingdom, I was glad to find
that the President of the' Board of Trustees
of Mercer University was a fellow passenger
on the train —a man who, with rare energy
and business tact, is always genial, and has
an inexhaustible flow of akiimal spirits. I re
ceived from him a the Atlanta Cons
stitution—a paper which *1 find in all parts ol
the State, and which I always hail as an old
friend. Among the items of local news, there
was an announcement that the Rev. J. G.
Gibson, the Spurgeon oflAmerica, was stop
ping at the Kimball Hoifse. It so happened
that brother Gibson was In the car, and I had
scarcely read the announcement before I dis
covered that a large, handsome fellow, w’ith
black eyes and whisKers, and weighing about
250 pounds, was the ver> Spurgeon in ques
tion. Whatever may be his pulpit talents,
—and I hear them spoken of in the highest
terms by the best judges,—in private inter
course he is unusually pleasant, unaffected and
unassuming. He seems to feel, as few min
isters do, the importance of his great work,
and pursues it with a zealous ardor. He is
pastor of the church at Lexington, and
preaches also to two country churches in the
neighborhood. ‘ v -
But Athens ! I had formed great expecta
tions of Athens. Asa visitor, they were fully
realized; as an agent, they were doomed to
disappointment. The tojvn is beautifully lo
cated, and presents an intensely busy aspect.
The streets were thronged with wagons laden
with cotton bales. The stores were filled
with countrymen bartering for goods. This
was, to me, a novel feature in the place, and
one somewhat at variance with my previous
imaginations. That which lends the chief in
terest tojAthens is, its academic associations.
The stately buildings of, the University, the
sound of the College bell, the irrepressible
shouts of the students escaped from the reci
tation room, —how distinctly does all this re
call the memories of a fkf-off time, when, with
the hopes, ambition and aspirations of youth,
a former generation of boys, within a kindred
institution, were preparing to enter upon the
battle of life! How different the conflict from
the bright anticipations ! How much more
real, and stern, and sad ! How few of the
names then heard in the daily roll-call are
now the names of the living! And with the
living, how unsatisfactory aud meagre have
been the results of the life-battle! But
enough of this.
The Baptist church in Athens is not large,
but it numbers among its members some of
the prominent citizens of the place, and, under
the ministry of brother Ivy, is a living church.
The Sabbath school is under the charge of
Professor Rutherford, and, as might be ex
pected, is an evergreen Sabbath school. I left
Athens with many regrets. I regretted that
I had seen so little of the pastor, who had
been confined to his room by sickness. I re
gretted that I had to exchange so soon the
hospitalities and the society of a refined and
pleasant household for the lonesomeness o
travel. And I regretted that I had left so
many Baptist families still voluntarily de
prived of the benefits of their own Baptist
State paper.
What I heard and saw-during the remain
der of this trip, I reserve for future publica
tion. R. W. F.
S. S. Movement—Good Books.
A proposal to the Sunday school men of
our denomination in Georgia, to meet in con
ference, will, 1 doubt not, be acceptably re
ceived by all of them ; and, as our State Con
vention is soon to assemble, I propose that
the lovers of this work leave home one day
earlier, so as to be enabled to devote one day
to consultation and the discussion of Sunday
school matters. I think Dr. Brantly is the
President of our State Sunday School Board,
and authorized to call a meeting; and I hope
he will do so. The apathy resting upon this
good cause, in our State, must be removed,
and Georgia Baptists must stir themselves
notably in the great Sunday school work, in
accordance with the allegiance due to Him
who said, “ Feed my lambs.” Let us, there
fore, meet together, and again organize for the
prosecution of the Sunday school work. I
make the “ motion is the motion “ second
ed?” From such men as Brantly, Tupper,
Warren, Connor, Wilkes, Tharpe, DeVotie,
Skinner, Mansfield, Irwin, Landrum and Hay
good, 1 expect a speedy response, and such
a response as wili at once stamp certainly and
success upon the movement. Please give us
your own views on the matter, so as to ar
rest the attention of all.
In anticipation of a general interest on the
subject of Sunday schools—how to conduct
and make them prosperous, I have procured,
for sale, a lot of books, maps and other ap
purtenauces, which cover the whole ground
of Sunday school work. These books are in
tended mostly for teachers and superinten
dents. And for the advantage of those who
may desire some of them, l will give the
names ol a few, at the same time inviting cor
respondence from all who desire further in
formation: Teacher’s Companion, $1.50;
Class and Desk, $1.75 ; Sunday School, (Da
vid’s,) $2; Blaikies’ Bible History, $1.50;
S. S. Index, (Pardee) $1.25; Teacher’s Mo
del, 50 cts.; Children’s Friend, (English
bound,) $1 ; Infants’ Magazine, (English
bound,) $1 ; Nature’s Normal School, $1.50;
End and Essence of S. S. Teaching, $1
(good); Childrcu in the Temple, $1.50;
Geography of Palestine, $1 ; Treasury of
Anecdote, $1 ; Foster’s Cyclopedia of Anec
dotes, (new and good,) $5 ; Lile Scenes in
the Four Gospels, $2; Life Scenes in the
Old Testament, $2; Teacher and Class,
(English, I860,) $1.50; Smith’s Dictionary,
$3.50 ; Eggleston’s Manual, (good,) 75 cts.;
Scripture Atlas, $1 ; Dictionary of Scripture
Names, 25 cts.; Jesus the Way, 50 cts.; S.
S. Hand Book, 50 cts.; Outlines of Scripture
History, 35 cts.; Bible Class Magazine,
(1800,) $1 ; First 50 Years of S. S.. $1.50 ;
Branches Running Over the Wall, 50 cts.;
Philip’s School Atlas, $2; Youthful Chris
tianity, 50 cts.; Scripture Illustrations, 50
cts.; Hours wiQ» my Class, 50 cts.; Supt.
What> to Teach, 10 cents; Blackboard,
(folding, 3x3,) $3.75; do., folding, 2x3,)
$2.75 ; Sunday School Text Book, 50 cts.;
Life and Times of St. Paul, $3; Teacher
Teaching, $1.25; Teacher Taught, $1.25;
Gage’s Raised Map of Palestine, $1 ; British
Workman, (’6B and ’69,) $1 ; Infant Class, 75
cts.; Bible Months, 75 cts.; Illustrative
Teaching, 25 cts.; Sunday at Home, (Eng
lish, 1868,) $3; Leisure Hour, (English,
1868, good,) $3 ; Bible Treasury, (capital,)
3 vols., $1.50 each; Young Men’s Class, 75
cts.; Library of Biblical Literature, $1.50;
Map of Palestine in our Saviour’s Time, $5 ;
do., Apostles’ Time, $2; do., Journey of the
Israelites, $5; do., Sea of Galilee, $5; Topics
for Teachers, (excellent,) $3; Blackboard
Manual, (good.) 20 cts. This is not all, but
it indicates the extent and variety of my col
lection. I must not forget that admirable
and unsurpassed work, The Gospel Treasury,
$3.50 —a work I think every S. S. teacher,
superintendent, and every preacher, should
have. Os this book I cannot speak too highly,
for I consider it the very best book on the
New Testament that the S. S. teacher can
have.
My ardent desire to excite a general inter
est in Sunday schools and to promote a bet
ter system of teaching and conducting, is my
reason and excuse for procuring these books
and inditing this letter. I will receive and
execute orders promptly for any Sunday
school books or papers, whether English or
American, as I have facilities, through Van
Lennep, of New York, E. Grafton, of Mon
treal, Canada, and all the publishers, for so
doing. I want all our schools to subscribe
for Kind Words for the scholars. The teach
ers and superintendents should take the Bap
tist Teacher, S. S. World, or some of the ex
cellent English publications. Orders for
books or papers must be accompanied by the
cash, and when a book is to be sent by mail,
money to pay postage should be also enclosed.
Orders may be sent through Rev. F. M. Hay
good, also.
A long spell of sickness and great engross
ment in private business have prevented, on
my part, an earlier allusion to these valuable
works. S. Boykin.
Macon, Feb. 8, 18f0.
Lights and Shadows.
The third Sunday in January this agent
spent in Mitchell county, with the Gum Pond
church—called, in Minutes, Mt. Enon. Bish
op W. H. Cooper has served the church very
acceptably for two years. Brother J. H. In
graham, of Albany, who has been a very
successful teacher of letters for several years,
is going to do more as a teacher of the gos
pel this year, and wili preach at Mt. Enon
twice a month. The church is weak, and the
community composed of two classes, which
represent, in some respects, extremes of so
ciety. But there are churches weaker than
Mt. Enon that are not as weak. Some may
be able to guess out this paradox. I can say
this good thing, that a brother C. down there,
who is a missionary, and claims a visit occa
sionally from this agent, and gets it, under
stands that missionaries ought to be paid, and
I always get ray pay. Now, somehow,
I think he gets more benefit from my labor
than any of them down there, because ho
pays for it.
The Thomasville church is without a pas
tor now. I preached there the fourth Sab
bath, and several nights, and to very small
congregations—some appreciating the gospel,
others too cold. The contrast between the
condition of the church now and when I
preached there last, was painfully palpable.
Bishop A. B. Campbell was then pastor, and
the congregation much larger than now, al
though so many were in the war.
Besides this contrast, I felt so sensibly the
absence of brother P. E. Love, and deacons
Dyson and Metz, with all of whom I had
taken “sweet counsel/’ Sister Thomson,
aged and infirm when I used to preach, yet
always in her place, is still living and suffer
ing;—who lives that does not?—but 1 mean
she is a great sufferer. How much 1 felt,
too, the absence of sister Johnson, so poor
she could not ride, but so rich she always
walked to meeting, nearly two miles, and by
herpiesence and prayers aided her pastor
very effectually. Faithful disciple, “ she rests
from her labors,” and I am happy in the
sweet hope of seeing her before long.
My expectations were not very high, after
seeing what 1 did from another agent, but 1
did more than twenty dollars better than he
did. Some brethren did well for my work,
some gave good excuses, some very flimsy
ones, some none at all. Several dear breth
ren and sisters, by personal kindness, and
valuable aid in my work, have a blessing in
store or reservation for them, which my King
and Saviour will give them.
I visited brother Campbell. He is well as
usual, but much fatigued by unceasing atten
tion to his wife, whom he has to assist to get
in or out of her chair, being almost entirely
helpless. Sister Campbell is perfectly re :
signed, and just waiting for the time of her
“departure to arrive,” that she may “lay
every burden down.” She may say, and can
say***-
“Soon we’ll reach the shining river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease,
S >on our happy hearts will quiver
Wi*h the melody of peace.”
I know ndr ’ ,l ™pher l need apologize for
“ spiraling on ” circuit about Thomasville.
I have none,-*i<v - ex fcept my former re
lations with And lest I might
be long, I \vvas \p omit to say I met
brother VV. H. Ofuike, who is now teaching
in TANARUS., and will go to Bainbyidge to preach
twice a month for the church, brother Camp
bell not being able to do so longer. I felt
bright while writing, but was not describing
myself. Next time I can write some “ light”
if I am under “ shadow s.”
W. N. Chaudoin.
Quitman,, G 0,., Feb. Ist, 1871.
A Sabbath in the Metropolis.
Last Sabbath we spent in New York city.
The real, though temporary dismemberment
of the country, and the establishment of a
separate government, has not yet ceased to in
fluence the mind of Southerners, and even now,
New York, though our own city, is regarded
as somewhat foreign. To it, also, we ascribe
the greatest progress and furthest advance
ment in all things, being content ourselves if
we. but approximate its greatness. These
facts have determined us upon giving the
readers of the Index, a picture of the phase
New York presented us when wearing her
Sunday dress, trusting it may afford them at
least a part of the pleasure it gave u«.
A N. E. storm had entered the city before
us, and had thrown upon it a shroud of snow
thicker than it has worn in several winters;
and on the dawn of the Sabbath, dark clouds
still hung threateningly around the metropo
lis, presaging still further visitations of the
Ice King. Everybody where we stayed re
monstrated with us, against the folly of ven
turing out on a day so unpropitious, but to us
Sundays in New York, like angels’ visits,
come seldom, and are too important to be
allowed to pass unimproved.
Despite the threatening storm, the snowy
pavements and ‘the biting wind, a few mo
ments before the hour for morning service
found us trudging determinedly in the direc
tion of the Tabernacle Baptist church. On
arriving at our supposed destination, we were
shown a pew, and sat waiting for the appear
ance of the pastor to commence the services.
While our eyes wandered round inquiringly,
examining with admiration the magnificent
interior of the church, and perceiving its style
was not unlike the Gothic architecture whioh
distinguishes the churches of Catholics and
Episcopalians, we grew somewhat curious.
Surely, thought we, Dr. Kendrick has cer
tainly a very stylish church, which every one
must admire, but which no one will say much
resembles a Baptist meeting house. We
thought this but a short time, however, for
upon surveying our pew more closely, we
found a book of common prayer, and becom
ing assured that we were on alien grounds,
we opened the door and took our leave, and
upon looking back, saw, as we left the front
entrance, the white robes of Episcopacy
coming in at the other. The church was that
of Rev. Dr. Tyng, as we afterward learned.
Hastening on, we arrived at Dr. Kendrick’s
as the first prayer was being concluded, and
were pleased to find the Tabernacle scarcely
inferior to Dr. Tyng’s, and certainly possess
ing a more home like appearance. Many
who read this, know personally the pastor of
the Tabernacle, as Dr. Kendrick has had a
home in both Georgia and South Carolina.
His subject was, Jesus our Example. The
sermon was all written, and delivered from
the manuscript, which, however, was viewed
but occasionally, and the Dr’s, well known
excellent delivery made it a treat to those
souls which received it willingly. At the
large cost of seven thousand dollars, the
house received a thorough refitting during the
past summer. A Southern welcome will
always greet a Southerner who calls upon
Dr. K.
Being interested in Sabbath schools, we
made inquiry as to where might be found a
representative school, from which new sug
gestions might be received, capable of im
proving ours at home. That of Ralph Wells,
a Presbyterian, as being large and in charge
of a famous superintendent, was recommend
ed by many, and, accordingly, thither we
repaired. Upon entering the building, we
saw a large concourse of children with happy
faces, who were attentively listening to an
address from the assistant superintendent.
Mr. Wells, we regretted to learn, owing to
sickness, could not be present. We observed
all we could, conversed with the teachers,
and had quite a long talk with the infant
class teacher, respecting her mode of instruc
tion, and from her received some valuable
hints in regard to the use of printed repre
sentations. T-#*, ijiool was well regulated,
and the pM- good, but for Sunday
schools our denomination, as
being best teacher and pupil, the
Baptist Teacher furnishes a superior mode of
instruction.
Leaving the Sunday school, we wended our
way through the streets intersecting the ave
nues running parallel with Broadway, till we
reached the famous Fifth Avenue. On this
street was situated, we had been informed,
the church of Rev. Dr. Hall, an Irish Pres
byterian, whose popularity is so general that
Brooklyn’s ecclesiastical magnet no longer
diaws all men thitherward, and Hall, and
not Beecher, is the ministerial sensation which
itching ears cannot refrain from hearing.
We followed the crowd, and with it, stop
ped at Dr. Hall’s. It was then many
minutes before the stated hour for service
was to arrive, and yet, on all sides was a sea
af people, surging through the doors and
adown the aisles. The day, as before said,
was stormy, and in consequence the audience,
wo wore told, was much smaller than usual.
It was, nevertheless, immense. Sitting rest
lessly, and with groat expectations, on a seat
plaoed in the middle aisle, our attention was
directed towards the pulpit by the low, mel
low' tones of the organ, announcing the ap
proach of the pastor. A tall and portly fig
ure, clad in a dark silk gown, with a white
surplice around his neck, gracefully ascended
the pulpit from behind, and sitting for a few
moments, till the notes of the voluntary had
died away, arose to read the first hymn. Ilis
whole figure was then presented to the audi
ence. His rounded head, thick-set neck,
shaven face and firm shoulders, remind one
alternately, of Pius the Ninth and Napoleon
the First. Ilis reading was fine, though we
have heard better in Georgia, and was raarke4 I
with a few blemishes, borrowed from his
Celtic pronunciation. When he concluded, a
single singer mounted a little stand at the
right of the pulpit, and in a loud, clear voice,
began, with the first strains of the organ, an
old, familiar tune, in which the congregation
readily united, swelling a grand chorus of
praite. Following the order used by most of
our churches, he read, then prayed, and after
a second hymn, announced his text. We ex
pected his diction would be most elegant, his
illustiations the gems of classic lore, and his
figures so numerous and appropriate, as to
leave fallow the field of figurative language.
But plainness, and not elegance, simplicity,
and not depth, unadorned words, and not fig
urative representations, filled the matter of
his discourse. He first read, plainly, “Call
upon me in day of trouble,and I will deliver
thee." All eyes were fastened on him; all
ears caught every sound, all hearts throbbed
in unison with his. And when, too soon, he
checked the stream of pleasure flowing from
his godly lips, all were reluctant to depart.
When sufficient time had passed away and
criticism was brought to bear upon himself and
his discourse, candor compelled us to admit
that he had told us nothing new; but yet
novelty seemed to pervade everything at the
time. He certainly gained but little aid from
gesticulation, as, almost all the while, his
arms hung loosely beside him, or were laid
up on the desk or Bible. Neither were his
eyes glaring with vehement determination,
but calmly raising them to heaven he seemed
using them as guides to the Paradise of which
ha spoke. What, then, thought we, makes
this man great? Hard it was to divest our
self of the belief, that it was his own unaided
self—hard to think the Spirit of God alone
accomplished it, so fondly do we become a
hero-worshipper. But that alone can it be.
He is no politician; the advocate of no phil
anthropy alien to religion, and is such a man
as of whom Christians may be justly proud,
and of whom the world is not worthy.
The evening passed pleasantly in the hear
ing of Rev. Dr. Armitage, whom many of
the Baptist ministers of Georgia met at the
State Convention in Macon. At his church,
pastor and people alternate in reading the
Scriptures, thus making a part of the worship
devolve on the congregation. The Dr. is
among the first of the clergymen of the me
tropolis, q,nd his sermons are frequently pub
lished in the journals of the city.
We can confidently assert that all indica
tions, in regard to church worship among
Protestants, are tending to the establishment
of congregational singing, and the engaging
of the people in the worship. This gained,
we will soar still farther from the wily at
tractiveness of syren \oices, which the false
religion of Catholicism has so long used to
draw men into its fold. Will.
New York City, Jan, 81a<, 1871.
Ordluation.
At the request of the church at Mt. Enon,
presented through her and eacons, to the church
at Albany , a Presbytery consisting of Breth
ren N. A. Baily, C. M. Irwin and J. 11. B.
Shackelford, organized by calling Bro. Baily
to the Chair, and appointing Bro. Shackle
ford Secretary. Bro. Shackelford led in
prayer. The deacons of the Albany church
then presented Bro. J. S. Ingraham before the
Presbytery, and requested in behalf of both
the aforenamed churches, that they would or
dain him to the work of the ministry. The
Presbytery waived an examination of the
Christian experience of the rother, —being
satisfied from their long acquaintance with
him and his walk and conversation. Bro. C.
M. Irwin examined the candidate on his faith,
the doctrines of the Bible and its ordinances.
The Presbytery and brethren present, being
not only satisfied but well pleased with the
result of the examination, at candle light Bro.
Baily preached the ordination sermon, Bro.
Irwin offered the prayer, Bro. Shackelford de
livered the charge, and our beloved brother
was solemnlyjordained, and set apart as a full
minister of the glorious Gospel of our bles
sed God.
Albany Georgia, Feb. 6, 1871.
X Plain Talk to Baptists.
We have a religious paper, a good Baptist
paper, published weekly, at Atlanta, for the
benefit of Southern Baptists. It is ably con
ducted, by the devoted and enterprising pro
prietor, J. J. Took-— a thorough Baptist in
principle and practice —much devoted to the
interests of the kingdom of Christ, —zealous-
ly and perseveringly engaged in extending
religious instruction as taught in the Holy
Bible and held by Baptists. It is edited as
principal by Elder D. Skater, whose able
editorship of the paper for several years,
renders it unnecessary now to speak to his
praise; his commendation consists in his
labors as Editor, and is well known and ap
preciated by all attentive readers of ihe pa
per. Associated with brother Shaver, are
two brethren of marked ability, residing in
the State of Alabama— Elders Henderson
and Renfroe. Why do not Baptists, sub
scribe, pay for and read this paper? I wilt
venture to say that it is as cheap a weekly
paper as they can procure. Consider the
value of the subjects upon which it treats.
It calls our attention every week to the dis
cussion of Bible, or religious topics, by the
most able exponents of revealed truth, and
correct practice: presents us with the most
entertaining religious news, both local and
general, bearing on the success of the gospel
of Christ—-the progress ot the kingdom of
Jesus—the increase of gospel laborers, re
cording new ordinations of men to preach,
aud the disabilities and deaths among the
gospel heralds; removals, changes taking
place in the psatoral relation, revival intelli
gence; missionaries, who they are, where
laboring, what success crowns their labors,
etc., etc. Then the Index and Baptist con
tains a most interesting column of secular
news, so condensed that the prominent points
are concisely presented, so that we get a great
deal by little reading, all together, in one ex
tended column; so pointed and pithy as to
give interest to the reader. The paper is
free from politica 1 wrangling and sectional
strife. If it deals in controversy, it is on
grave and important subjects, in a grave and
serious manner.
The Index and Baptist is indeed a great
and a good paper. Its value in dollars and
cents cannot be estimated. Its reading mat
ter is the very best, is in plain print, and
should have a place in every family in the
land. It teaches History, Biography, Theol
ogy, (or the Word of God,) Geography,
Rhetoric, (how to write properly.) It abounds
in good moral lessons to children, as well as
grown people. It is a good weekly preacher
to all the members of churches, including
pastors and deacons. I would not say any
thing disparaging to the secular papers; they
are good in their place: but a Baptist man,
with a family, who spends his money for a
political newspaper of these times, in prefer
ence to the Index, is like a husbandman who
is without meat, who spends Ms money for a
gun and ammunition when there is no game,
in lieu of spending it for a good fat hog.
Th rcc dollars for the Index and Baptist one
year, is a capital investment: under the
blessing of God, it will pay well in any fam
ily. Baptist brethren, try it. If you have
tried it, try it again, and be sure to read it,
and pay for it, and God will bles9 you in so
doing. A. C.
Ciiange of Church Kklations. —Kev. Thom
as Libby, for twelve years a preacher in the Meth
odist denomination, recently joined the Baptist
church, and was ordained in Kuudeyoki, Minn.,
Jan. 18.
Popery. —The three errors of Popery are “ the
church instead of tDe word of God, the Virgin
instead of the Son of God, the sacraments instead
of the Spirit of God.”