Newspaper Page Text
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|Mk# and fßaptist.
J. J. TOON, .... Proprietor,
PUBLICATION ROOMS 4A 6 SOUTH BROADWAY.
Editor: Bov. D. SHAVER, D.D.
CORRESPONDING EDITORS :
Rev. J. J. D. RENFROE, TaUadega, Ala.
Rev. 8. HENDERSON, D.D., Fayetteville, Ala.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1871.
Please take Notioe.
There are two things in the paper, this week,
which we hope the reader will not overlook. The
first is—the request of Secretary Sumner for
Southern Missionary Statistics. We ought to as
certain how much we give to this cause in the
course of a year, whether it proves so much as to
encourage our liberality, or so little as to shame
our want of it. Either way, there is reason to
hope that we shall give more.
The second and more important matter com
mended to the attention of the reader is—the ap
peal of Dr. Boyce for a collection in behalf of the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If our
people, in this exigency, will but manifest a thou
sandth part of the self-denial for the sake of that
Institution which has been exhibited by the
Professors, year after year, all its wants will be
met and all its embarrassments removed. Asa
denomination, God has given us no one thing
more helpful to us than the Seminary, if we right,
ly improve it; and we should seek to approve
ourselves in His sight as worthy of the gift. The
churches that withhold the collection asked for,
fail to do this; and may He not keep back a
blessing from their local interests, because of
their indifference toward the interests of His
kingdom at large ? But view the matter under
more generous aspects ; think of the privilege
involved in the opportunity to contribute to the
support of this “School of the Prophets;” and
give—with thanksgiving to God that He has
placed at your disposal money, which you can,
for such high ends, restore to His treasury, re
ceiving, in exchange, His smile of approbation
and the largess of His hand.
“Bequests.”
Os all the benefactions bestowed by human
agency, bequests may be ragarded as expressing
the profoundest regard to the object which elicits
them. We know it is sometimes said that they
are the reverse, because they come when the par
ty can no longer enjoy his means, and he there
fore makes a kind of virtue of necessity. This
is only true of those which have been made by
persons who gave nothing while living. But
when made by parties who have made liberal do
nations through life, we repeat, they are the most
appropriate expressions of regard to their objects
which can be given. They show “the ruling
passion strong in death.” At no period do the
affections betray their true temper and spirit so
impressively as in the last moments of life. It is
then that a beloved Joseph or Benjamin comes up
to share the full wealth of parental love. It is in
the last utterances that the soul pours forth its
most unmistakable recognition of its supremest
objects.
How beautifully is this thought illustrated in
the intercessory prayer of our Lord, uttered, as
it was, in the immediate prospect of Gethsemane
and Calvary? In no period of the life of Jesus,
are we brought into such direct contact with His
true character. Whether it was the near ap
proach of
“ That last expiring agony—
Those fainting pangs, that bloody sweat,”
or whether it was a more thorough infusion of
the “heavenly into the earthly element,” it is
certain that, in these last hours, we see the lowly
.sufferer in His loveliest form —we behold in Hun
a spiritual beauty more thrilling than we had
ever seen before. It is as He gathers His little
family of disciples around Him to receive His last
counsels and the benefit of His last prayer, that
we gaze upon Him, with tearful eyes, “as He is."
Now, by how much we can catch this spirit of
our adored Master—this spirit of absorbing con
cern for the proper objects of affection—do we
illustrate the true intent of our calling. “If any
man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of His. ’’
Is there a cause on earth that can compare with the
cause of Christ in calling out the liveliest solici
tudes of every Christian heart ? Should it not be
last as well as first, in every disposition we make of
our earthly interests ? O, Christian.! did Jesus re
member you in his last hour of grief—and will
you forget Him at the very moment you are about
to share the highest benefit of His death and in
tercession ? Before you leave a world in which
all the triumphs of His cross are to be achieved,
associate your name and means in some of those
great enterprises which contemplate the enlarge
ment of His kingdom. Thus it will be written
of you as of others of like precious faith,
“ Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord ....
and their works do follow them."
How many professing Christians have we
known, who had enough of this world’s goods to
ruin their children for time and eternity, and who
“died and made no sign” that Christ and His
cause occupied any considerable portion of their
last thoughts? Why is this? In other portions
of the world, it is not uncommon for munificent
bequests to be made to the several departments
of this cause. But amongst us, alas! they are
few and far between. Perhaps it may be because
attention has not been sufficiently directed to
it. Perhaps it has not been properly discussed
by the religious press. Our present purpose is
to call attention to it, not so much to enlarge up
on it ourselves, as to enlist the pens of others.
Surely, if this matter were presented in its-true
light, it would not be long before our Mission
Boards, our educational enterprises, our Sabbath
school interests—nay, all the proper objects of
Christian benevolence, would come in for their
share of the last thoughts of departing Christians.
One man we have known who adopted the prin
ciple, thirty years ago, to make the Lord one of
his legatees, equal to any of his children. He
faithfully carried out the principle, and has gone
to reap his reward, and his children rise up to
bless hiim Brother! sister! remember
Jesus in your last hours as He remembered you.
H.
Our Zion—dn Our Exchanges, etc.
Georgia.
The First church, Atlanta, has invited Rev. Q.
C. Needham, the Evangelist, to visit and hold a
meeting with it. As he is expected to commence,
the last Sabbath in February or tnc first in March,
the church is observing the present as a week of
prayer. After long delay, the repairs of the
house of worship of the Second church, Atlanta,
are completed, and it is proposed to open the au
dience room againon next Sabbath. Some SIB,OOO
have been expended in the enlargement and im
provement of the house, making it quite an orna
ment to the city. At the request of Bro. J. H.
James, the chapel erected by him at West End,
Atlanta, has been adopted as a mission station by
ihe Second church. Rev. I. M. Springer occu
pied the pulpit of the First church, with accept
ance, last Sabbath, morning and night. Rev.
J. M. Stansberry writes to the Christian Herald ,
that, ‘ while the Baptists of East Tennessee hold
to about the views of Alexander Carson and An
drew Fuller on the atonement, we of Georgia
adopt the more ultra views of Gill and Crawford.’
*< , • ■■■■ - - - ---
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN 'BAPTIST: ATLANTA, 61, THDRSDAT, FEBRUARY 23, 1871.
Rev. E. W. Warren, of Macon, in a private
letter to a friend in this city, says : “On last
Wednesday night, on looking round at my prayer
meeting, out of less than ten students, there were
two sons of the pastor in Washington, one of the
pastor of the Second church Atlanta, one of the
pastor of the church in Savannah, and one a
preacher’s son in LaGrange; and lam not sure
but there was one other preacher’s son. How
this fact contradicts the slander, that ministers’
sons are worse than other young men !”
Alabama.
Rev. S. S. Cutting, D.D., of New York, is ex
pected to attend the Educational Convention at
Marion, April 12th. We regret our inability to be
there.
Indian Territory.
Rev. 11. F. Buckner writes that Rev. J. G.
Smith, our best native preacher in his Nation,
Superintendent of Public Instruction, with a
good prospect of being Principal Chief, died Jan.
15th.
Mississippi.
Rev. H. E. Hempstead has recently baptized 29
in his mission field. “Thirteen months ago
there was not a Baptist minister in the six bottom
counties between Memphis and Vicksburg; now
there are four. Eld. A. D. Brooks is located at
Greenville, in Washington county ; Eld. T. P.
Montgomery, from Tupelo, has accepted a call to
the First Baptist ehurch of Bolivar county; Eld.
Lewis Ball and T. J. Sparkman will occupy Coa
homa county.”
North Carolina.
Rev. T. H. Pritchard, D.D., of Raleigh, writes
to the Canadian Baptist: “The Baptists in
North Carolina number about 75,000, organized
into 32 Associations, two Conventions divided by
the Blue Ridge mountains, and some 000 churches.
There are, perhaps, 500 Baptist ministers in the
State. Os other branches of the Baptist family,
there are perhaps 1,000 members of the Primitive
Baptist churches, who are opposed to missions,
Sabbath schools, etc., half as many Campbellites,
a third as many True-luck Baptists, and some eight
or ten churehes who style themselves ‘ Union
Baptists,’ and are open in their communion.” We
never heard before of “ True-luck Baptists.” Will
the Dr. tell us something about them V—-W. J.
Palmer, formerly of Raleigh, has removed to Can
ada, and is Ptincipal of the Ontario Deaf and
Dumb Asylum, Bellville. The Raleigh church
invites the Southern Baptist Convention to meet
in that city in 1872.
Tennessee.
Rev. S. C. Evins, pastor of Friendship church,
near Culleoka, and of three others, has quit the
schoolroom and is now giving his whole time to the
ministry. Rockford church has had 20 ac
cessions ; and llftssy Creek church 33, including
a Methodist preacher. Knoxville church sub
scribes for the support of the pastor, Rev. J. L.
Lloyd, several hundred dollars above the amount
raised last year, and will soon be self-sustaining.
A church has been constituted at Athens, and
Rev. Jno. B. Lee chosen as pastor. The Mem
phis Avalanche, of Feb. 15th, says : “ Yesterday
the South-Western Publishing Company made a
deed of trust in favor of nil their creditors, no
preference being given to any one of the number.
The liabilities amount to over $40,000, and the
assets to $27,000.” The church at Bristol ha 9
purchased the Bristol Female Institute, of Rev.
J. T. Kineanon, for $5,500.
Virginia.
J. E. L. Holmes was afdained to the ministry
at Four Mile Creek church, Henrico, Feb. 12th.
Our church in Manchester has grown until
twice as numerous as all other denominations in
the town combined. During the pastorate of
Rev. W. H. Williams in Staunton, there were 00
additions to the church ; 27 of them by baptism
after the visit of Rev. A. B. Earle.
Glimpses of the Times.
I.
Bishop Marvin, of the Southern Methodist
Church, found in the North-Western Texas Con
ference, two ministers Who had attended the cir
cus. This is one of the straws that show which
way the wind of worldliness is blowing among
Christian denominations. Reversing the maxim
of spiritual prudence, and deeming it ‘ better to
walk on slippery ice than on rugged rocks,’ many
seek to bridge the gulf between the godly and
ungodly in amusement. That is, they go over,
themselves, to the ungodly, in this matter, and
invite other professors of religion to follow them.
More than any other ecclesiastical body, the Epis
copal church is recognized as having surrendered
to this tendency. The Philadelphia Presbyterian
says : “ The passage of individuals and families
from other churches into the Episcopal fold is so
constantly associated with increasing worldliness
and devotion to gay and fashionable life, in those
who go, as to rob the reasons of their going of
any religious character.” “ Let a family be sud
denly or gradually enriched, and the members
thereof launch forth on a life of gayety and pleas
ure, and the tendency towards the Episcopal
church betrays itself so clearly, that even the time
of their departure may readily be anticipated by
those skillful in such matters.” (The Methodist
Quarterly Review , too, says, incidentally : “ Our
view of American High Churchism is, that it is
simply the pseudo-religious side of a lofty attempt
to attract fashionable ladies and sentimental ef
feminates of the other sex to form a religio-social
aristocracy.”) The mischiefs of the policy which
invites accessions of this class, are forcibly illus
trated by a writer in the Southern Churchman ,
of Va. He says : “Young people are taught by
the knowing ones to believe that the Episcopal
church regards opposition to dancing as puritani.
cal, and the eftect is, that the educated youth of
all the denominations are crowding our courts,
as the worldling's saloon and the devil's ball
room. Religion, and modesty, and virtue are in
great danger of vanishing from one sex, while
swimming in airy circles and licentious waltzes
with the other sex. Something must be done to
arrest the evil, or we shall be compelled to close
our churches, for these revellers during the week
profane our services on Sunday by their shameful
irreverence. Light brains, light hearts, and light
heels go together in the world’s carnival, and Sa
tan looks on, well pleased to see his slaves trip
ping it so merily on 4 the light fantastic toe,’ par
ticularly when he sees professing Christians en.
tering heartily into the sport, it being a sure sign
that their religion does not hurt them.” A de
nomination is in sad case, surely, when, with the
pencil in the hand of its own better members, it
is obliged to sit for such a picture. And we hope
that the Baptist reader will seriously ask himself,
Whether he has adopted views and practices, in
the matter of amusement, which, if generally em
braced by the denomination, would bring it into
the same equivocal position ?
11.
If the Episcopal Church lends, or seems to
lend, too great countenance to worldly amuse
ments, we ars gratified to know that there is one
extreme to which she has never been betrayed.
She has never set the seal of approbation upon
the theatre! One of her ablest journals, the Pro
testant Churchman, of New York, says: “Th#
Christian church, in all ages, has protested
against the corrupting influences of the stage,
and warned her children against them. No such
warnings have been more emphatic than those of
our own church. We believe, also, that there i|
now scarcely any one cause so powerful in its de
moralizing effect in our city as the stage. Actors
understand this perfectly welL Dramatists know
all about it. If you wish to learn the practical ef
fect of theatrical exhibitions, as now conducted,
you will not need to go to puritanical moralists
for information. Those more familiar with the
subject, and certainly not prejudiced in their tes
timony, will give it.” Even Frederic W. Saw
yer, in his “ Plea for Amusements,” while main
taining that the drama might be brought under
Christian control and become a valuable aux
iliary of the church in the inculcation of virtue
and religion, nevertheless says: “ The denuncia
tion of theatre.?, as they are, is right; and no one
should patronize them, while they are conducted
and arranged as they are.” By the way, the Na.
tion calls attention to the significant fact, that side
by side with the discussion of the refusal on the
part of a Metropolitan Episcopal clergyman, to
open his church for the funeral of a deceased
actor, “ the papers contained a correspondence
between Mr. George Vandenhoff, a well known
actor, and a person claiming to be his illegitimate
son, in which Mr. Vandenhoff" repudiates the pa
ternity on the ground of the exceeding badness of
the mother’s character.” Beyond all question,
when, branding himself with such open and enor
mous immorality, this man can maintain his posi
tion and popularity on the stage, we may well
look to see the Christian public everywhere set
ting its face, with unanimity, against the theatre
as it is.
111.
The Spare Hour, the paper established in San
Francisco, by Rev. H. A. Sawtelle, a year or two
since, as an advocate of loose communion, has
been suspended for want of patronage. The apos
tacy of the editor from the strict and scriptural
usage of our churches was hailed by Pedobaptists
with quite a flourish of trumpets ; and we were
told that thousands of Baptists stood ready to
marshall themselves under the banner of “ free
dom” which he unfurled to the breeze. These
things gave promise of a liberal support to the
paper; and the paper also earned a fair title to
such support by its sprightliness and ability. But
loose communionism has, in this case, proved true
to its character as sheer “ sentimentality;” has
shown itself unequal to the task of keeping an
organ alive, even at the slight cost of a dollar or
two a year! A fair warning, this, to all recusant
Baptists, who put their trust in the “sympathy”
of the age for their effort to abolish order in the
name of charity, that these hope 9 will “ melt from
them like a snow in a fog."
IV.
Prof. Park, in the Bibliotheca Sacra, for Jan
uary, discusses the question, What can be done
for augmenting the number of Christian minis
ters ? He places the lack of adequate support
among the influences which deter many from en
tering the pulpit, and relates the following inci
dent : “ A young man, the son of a minister, once
said to me, ‘ I dread the fiery process in which
my father was burned. He had a covenanted sal
ary of five hundred dollars, and I remember those
small driblets in which, months after it was due,
that small salary was paid. I cannot forget the
anxiety of my father about his debts for my
school books, and my tuition bills, and my col
lege board. The sons of laymen must take their
turn and go into the ministry. I know too much,’
etc.” As Prof. Park resides at the North and
writes with an eye chiefly to the state of things
in his own section, it seems a legitimate deduction
that churches there have fallen a great way be
hind the requirements of Scripture as to pastoral
isupport. *What shall bq said,, then, in jview o$
the following statement from one of our Methodist
exchanges, which alleges that, as regards pastoral
support,churches here have fallen a great way be
hind the Northern churohes : “Asa general rule,
a given number of pastors in any church in the
North receive at least twice as much for ministe
rial service as in the South, aside from parsonages,
donations and other perquisites.” Surely, Chris
tians at the South have urgent need to enquire
whether this reproach cleaves to them, either in
whole or in part, and, if it does, to wipe it away.
We hope, too, that our city contemporary, which,
notlong since,pronounced hypocrisy “the greatest
and yet the commonest of all ecclesiastical sins,”
will see the propriety of exempting the majority
of ministers, and especially of Southern ministers,
from this charge; since thdYe is no dictate of
common sense more certain than that men will
not play the hypocrite t there it does not pay.
Y.
‘A Baptist church, in Akron, Ohio, has been
re-arranged, so that the water can be warmed be
fore persons are immersed.’ This announcement
seems to amuse some of the papers, that betray a
disposition to keep Baptists “in hot water,” for
their adherence to immersion. Those who at
tempt to sustain sprinkling by Scripture, have
slight ground of merriment in that behalf; and
we do not grudge them this. But how can they
overlook the obvious fact that Christ, who com
mands His followers to be immersed, imposes no
commandment as respects the temperature of the
water in which the act is performed ; and that
the Akron Baptists, therefore, have simply used
the liberty of choice which He allows them ?
Whether they have used it wisely ? is a question
which none who are wise will pause to answer—
at least until some one who is wise has first paused
to ask it.
vr
The Christian Union says: “The pleaders for
that great symbolical expression of Christian
charity, commonly known as ‘open communion,’
have but one point to make as a sufficient ground
for their appeal, and that is, that on this whole
question of ordinances there is room for differ
ence of opinion. Ought it not to be conclusive
upon this point, in a discussion among Christians,
that such a difference actually exists?” If this
plea avails for “ open communion,” it must avail
“ for all purposes of Christian or church fellow
ship," (to borrow the recent language of the
Union itself); must authorize and necessitate
“open membership” also. Thfl fact that Chris
tians actually differ as to the baptismal act, ac
cording to our contemporary, furnishes conclu
sive proof that “ there is room for difference of
opinion,” in the premises ; and, therefore, on the
ground he takes, we roust admit “acknowledged
disciples ’’ into the church, whether with baptism,
or with the modern substitute for it, or with the
Quaker’s rejection of it. In other words, the ex
istence of churches that restrict membership to
baptized believers, is a blunder and a sin. The
Union , in fact, then, politely suggests to every
such church to become a felo de se ; not only to
copy Robert Hall’s modest man who seemed to
be asking pardon of every person he met for be
ing in the world, but to go straightway out of it 1
This is the invitation with which loose commun
jonista, if we are not to hold them utterly inno
cent of logic, ply the denomination. We decline
to accept it. Neander once said, “There is a
future for the Baptists and we hope that Bap
tists will at least strive to live until they come
into the inheritance. But why limit the rule
of the Union to “ the question of ordinances F”
Why not apply it to the question of doctrines , as
well ? Why not hold that there is room for dif
ference of opinion wherever Christians actually
differ in creed or polity, and strike away all re
strictions of communion, of membership, and of
ministry, arising m this quarter, and merge all
ecclesiastical organizations in one? This seems
a legitimate consequence. Perhaps, the Unietv,
will illustrate and confirm its rule with a j
logically resulting fiwu it, and snall see Ply
mouth chore*, by way of example to Baptists, I
going out of the world of its own free act! It
will be time enough, when that done, for Bap
tists to enquire whether they should follow in its
steps.
Missionary Statistics—Resolution of the Con
vention. .
In accordance with the instruction of the
Southern Baptist Convention, held in Louis
ville last May, we publish the following ac*
tion of that body,: " - \f
“ Whereas, The first- thing necessary to
the intelligent systematizing of our Domestic
Mission work, and to the dooigrfation of la
borers to the most important destitute fields is
knowledge, as accurate as can be obtained, of
what is being actually done.in this direction ;
therefore, -t
“ Resolved, That the Domestic Mission
Board be instructed to collect, and tabulate,
and present, in connection with their annual
report, a list of the missionaries employed
by each State organization and district Asso
ciation, with the salaries paid and the results
of their labors.”
It is important that tfl%"secretaries and
clerks of Conventions and Associations should
forward immediately, the docu
ments to make out, and incorporate the above
information in our next annual report to the
Southern Baptist Conventtpn, that meets in
May, at St. Louis, Mo. IVe hope that a
prompt response may befanade to this re
quest. Fprwardyour miimites, if they con
tain the facts, to End cit > ur flfess ion, or
annual meeting. We waflyf st List of the
missionaries employed; paid
them ; 3rd, The result of their labors] c
Don't delay your aclionjk
M. T. SumJbr, Cor. Sec.
The Baptist denominational papers of the
South are requested to eopfy. M. T. S.
This One Thing -V’— Say.
Dear Index: In ypur oolnmns I have just
seen, for the first time, Teasdale’s appeal
to the Baptists of (xeQtgia, in behalf of the
Sunday School Board, and requesting that
funds for the Board be sent tp me.
I want to say one thing to the Baptists of
Georgia. With the strongest and most intel
ligent Baptist ministry, token all together, of
any Southern State; with (I Chiak) the most
numerous membership ; with church mem
bers certainly not behind those of any other
Southern State in intelligence, liberality, cul
ture, and a love for idfisions and Sunday
schools; and with a capital paper and numer
ous agents constantly appealing to the thou
sands of Georgia Baptists to help sustain the
Board that is working dtfr the special benefit
of children, —our State has given to’the Sun
day School Board less than any other South
ern State. What it has given, in the last
year, amounts almost to nothing . How can
we account for it ? Is'Tlf not a reproach ? I
suppose, and believe, rt|t£ Georgia suffered,
by the war, less than (my other State; and
yet it gives to sustain the noblest cause on
God’s earth the least oThtny.
Where lies the fadlt? In my humble
opinion, it lies in the lukewarmness of our
ministers in the cause of Sunday schools. If
they but felt the interest in this noble work
that they ought to feel,and would boldly bring
the subject before and request
a collection for the Sunday School Board, the
cause of Sunday would flourish in
Georgia, and this reproachful blot be removed
from the escutoheoM. p| what was once the
Banner State of the Sojpth.
1 trust that our ministers will not continue
thus to give our most important Board the
cold shoulder, but talp to build it up and
sustain -aJLitsContributions and
subscriptions to Kindwords may be sent to
me, at Macon, Ga. S. Botkin, Diet. Sec.
Macon, Oa., Feb. IS, 1871.
To the Churches ami. Ministers of Bethel
. . Assoctartifi, Georgia.
Dear Brethren: You all know, ere this,
the action of the last meeting of our Associa
tion, in regard to brother Hogue. No pro
vision was made for his remaining in the field,
but he was offered the position of missionary
for our body, in its bonnds.
I have a letter from H., written the 33rd
of December, from which I insert these
words: “ I have not yet been able to recon
cile the action of the Association with my
feelings and judgment, as relating to this mis
sion. Q, my, brother, I have thought, and
wept, and prayed ovter the case, but not
alone. When 1 informed Mrs. H. what the
Association had done, she hung her head and
wept, and for several days had scarcely any
conversation with any one. . . . All 1
have seen, are mnch cast down at the idea of
our leaving. Brother Murrow, on reading
the resolutions, came near bursting into tears.
1 will say, as 1 said to the committee, ‘ I do
not feel that I am worth much any where.’
Still, I feel that if I am do anything in Geor
gia, I might do something out here. I have
decided that it seems ijnpracticable for me to
leave here before next fall.” Now, brethren,
I have no comment to make on these expres
sions. They are front the heart, and reach
my heart, and I place them before you with
a proposition. As no provision was made to
that effect, the Association is not committed
to him at all in the Nation, but let us, as in
dividuals and churchp, do something for
him.
He will not be here to work. The Asso-
ciation pledged itself to him for a hundred
dollars per month, for whatever he might be
able to do. Well, if we could pay it to him
here, we can there. Let us do it, then. Asa
member of the Bethel, 4 I mean to do it, and 1
believe my church apd the Albany church
will, I think so. I 2f ve freely with
brethren Cooper and paily, and know they
feel as Ido iu regard this proposition.
The Association, as Saleh, is not committed;
but will not the pastors and churches move
in the matter, take action, and decide that
what we were to pay him here, we will pay
him there, until he getstback i My brethren
in the ministry, I do beg yon, pray over this
matter, and prayerfully try to put yourself
in sympathy with our dear brother H. Stir,
stir the question. The money can be sent to
brother Burnett, or me, or to Marion, Ala.
Do the thing, no maUer much how. And
let #s not wait till fail, to do all. Begin now,
and keep pn. Some of us will not stop chew
ing tobacco or rubbingmuff till fall, We
will get the articles, too : and so we can keep
constantly helping our missionary, if we will.
W. N. Chaudois.
The Lynchlrurg Revival,
The Lord is blessing us. In November
and December last, there were indications of
increased religious interest in our congrega
tions. We began nightly meetings, January
Ist, and during the week following, many
of our members were greatly revived, and
there were a few professions of conversion.
January 6tb, brother A. B. Earle arrived and
preached for four days to large and solemn
congregations. His preaching was pluin,
pointed, practical, purely evangelical, and
abounding in incidents and illustrations. It
was greatly blessed of God. Brother Earle
made his home with me. We had very fre
quent conversations on questions involving
his doctrinal views, and 1 fpund him to be a
conscientious and a sound Baptist. HepmrcA
ed baptism of believers by b urial, is not open
•ommunion, and is with us in his views of
New Testament teaching. While here, he
preached only in our church ; and although
sometimes he does preach in other churches,
it is simply because) he desires to do the
! greatest amount of gjood. Sometimes you
Jtf 0 1 *ould differ witiji him as to the expedi
fw of this, but I do*r>ot believe that, after
Knowing and hearing could question
nh motives. He is a help, foot a hindrance to
lastors, if he does elsewhere as he did here,
fie is a man—and pretends to nothing else— i
with no more imperfections than any of U3
can find in loved brethren, f love him for
his woiks’ sake and his matter-of-fact faith
and piety.
Brother Dickinson remained with us for a
week after brother Earie left, and his preach
ing did great good. He is admirably adapted
to such seasons. Sometimes, after brother
D. left, I was without the aid of any minis
ter. Dr. Burrows, of Richmond, was with
us nearly a week, and brother J. C. Long, of
Charlottesville, was here two days.
The meetings have continued about six
weeks, without abatement of interest, ex
cept on account of stormy weather. There
is yet deep interest. Each night, from 20 to
30 request prayers. Every church in the
city has special meetings, and the interest,
springing originally from ours, has spread
over the place. Other churches have had
considerable additions. About 130 have
united with our church. Among these are
several Pedobaptists. Some 250 persons,
perhaps, in all, have joined the various
churches. These meetings yet go on in all
except the Episcopal and Romish. Since 1
came here as pastor, we have had over 250
additions to our church, but the net increase,
owing to a very large number of removals
South, West, to Baltimore, etc., is not half
that number. A few have died, and a few
have been excluded. The business depres
sion is very great, and many ar* going away
in search of employment or business. The
city is going downwards, but our cause has
relatively advanced greatly. We have over
1,600 Baptists here now, white and colored
—about 10 per cent, of the gross population.
Almost all of them are poor, but they have
more zeal and denominational “ back-bone”
than ever before. They are a power, and
have come to be feared as such. Our church
is the largest white church here, and our Sun
day school far larger than any other. Our
congregations are uniformly large.
C. C. B.
Lynchburg, Va., Feb. i'th, 1871.
Our Church at Cuthbert, Ga.
In these days of financial gloom, when in
dividuals are repudiating debts, it is refreshing
to hear of churches meeting their obligations
upon the square. Our church at Cuthbert,
notwithstanding extensive repairs upon her
edifice, and an increase of pastor’s salary of
twenty-five per cent, for the quarter just end
ed, has met this indebtedness punctually, and
the church is clear of all indebtedness. 1 think
1 can truly say of this Church that she does
not intend to adopt any of the methods, too
common throughout the land, of driving away
her pastor. The attendance upon prayer meet
ings, S. Schools and preaching, is largely on
the increase. I trust that the Lord has great
things in store for us. So mote it be.
T. M. Cali.awav.
Cothbbrt, Ga., Feb. Btb, 1871.
Foreign Mission Agency.
Reference was made, in a recent issue of
the Index, to the expected retirement of our
esteemed brother, Rev. T. B. Cooper, from
the agency of the Foreign Mission Board.
We have requested him to continue in the
work until the 15th of April, when our fiscal
year will close. I beg also to state that we
have advices from our Italian mission, and
from China, of quite an encouraging nature,
and we are desirous, not only to meet the
liabilities of the present year, but also to ar
range for the enlargement of our whole work.
As Baptists, we are prepared to meet and
successfully oppose the errors of Popery and
Paganism. Wilijwe not go into this blessed
enterprise with vigor ? We only need a con
tribution from every church, and every Bap
tist, with the accompanying influences of the
Holy Spirit, to diffuse very widely the truth
as it is in Jesus. J. B. Tatlor, Cor. Sec.
Richmond, FeS. 8, 1871.
I have to day received the foregoing from
brother Taylor. Please state, in connection
with the publication of it, that I will con
tinue, as requested, till the 15th of April,
praying and hoping that our brethren will re
spond liberally and speedily to the urgent
claims upon their offerings to the cause of
Christ. Do tell them, dear brother, how anx
iously our Secretary is anticipating a more
general and lively interest in the world’s sal
vation; how our missionaries are pained at
our apparent indifference; and how the dying
millions are suffering for want of the bread of
life. All correspondents and contributors
will please address me at Milledgeville, Ga.
T. B. Cooper.
MiUedgtville, Oa., Feb. 15, 1871.
Rev. H. C. Hornady.
The following resolutions, presented by a
Committee consisting of W. O. Tuggle, B. B.
Amos, I. F. Cox and J. F. Awtry, were unani
mously adopted by the LaGrange church :
Whereas, Brother H. C. Hornady has been
called to another field of labor, as Agent of
Mercer University, and has been released as
pastor of our church, over which he has pre
sided with eminent success for three years,
during which time every interest of the church
has prospered in his hands, and owing to his
persevering zeal, harmony and brotherly love
have prevailed among the members: there
fore.
Resolved, By the LaGrange Baptist church,
in conference assembled, that we sincerely
regret to sever the tie which has so long and
so pleasantly bound us to brother Hornady,
whom we love as a warm-hearted, Christian
brother, whom we admire as a faithful and un
tiring undershepherd, who neglected not one
of his flock, and whom we shall ever revere
as a devout minister, by whose earnest
preaching of “Christ and Him crucified,” this
church and community have been greatly
blessed.
Resolved, That it is oup heart-felt prayer
that God will make him instrumental in ac
complishing great good for Mercer Univer
sity, and that we commend brother Hornady
as a true follower of Jesus, to the fellowship
of- Christians everywhere.
Resolved, That these resolutions be entered
on the church minutes, and a copy be for
warded to the Index for publication”.
The First Baptist Church at Atlanta.
Though quite in opposition to my wishes,
snd not by any fault of the Index, I notice
that papers abrqad have said that I would go
to Atlanta, as pastor of the first phurch.
This, I suppose, has been inferred from the
fact that last September that church called
me. The call was declined in October, but
in circumstances that led to a delay in any
action of the phurch, further than to request
a reconsideration, and a proposition to allow
time for doing so. So the matter stood until
about the first of December, when on a visit
•to the church, I found such unanimity in their
desire for my acceptance, and such purposes
declared of support and cooperation, together
with the fact that 1 had been many years in
my present field, and also the fact that my
wife seemed to need a change of climate, that
I felt it was my duty to arrange at home for
settling in Atlanta, i felt, and still do, a deep
interest in the church, and a great desire to
see it built up. I believed, with God’s bless
ing, I could be useful to the church.
On :ny return I preached a sermon design
ed to prepare the way for my resignation.
During the day, (a communion Sabbath,) it
distressed me much t:> think of leaving a
united church, to whom 1 was bound by so
many tics, formed in war and peace, joy and
sorrow ; and I resolved to give a day to se
clusion, for searching rpy heart thoroughly as
to the path of duty. After more fully inves
tigating all my relations and obligations at
home, I reached the conclusion, and received
the impression, that the time had not come
for me to leave Savannah to go to Atlanta, or
anywhere else. This conclusion was com
municated to the church in December last..
The conduct of the First church to me has
been kind and generous. They have an ad
mirable location, and a beautiful house of
worship. There is no congregation superior
in this respect, if indeed equal to it, in the
city. The church is organized, and working;
the Sunday school large and efficient. With
a good pastor, judicious management, and the
blessing of the Lord, 1 do not see why it may
not be one of the best churches in the South
ern States. S. Landrum.
Savannah, Feb., 1871.
Friendship General Meeting.
The General Meeting of the Friendship
Association convened with the church at
Buena Vista, Friday, Jan. 27th, at 11 o’clock,
a.m. Dr. Cooper, of Americus, preached the
Introductory Sermon; Elder Isaac R. Hart
concluded with prayer. The body then pio
ceeded to organize by the election of Elder
Hart, Moderator, and J. L. C. Kerr, Clerk.
Brethren Bell, Mays, Hinton and Miller were
appointed a Committee on Preaching. Ad
journed to meet at 2£ p.m. Afternoon ses
sion : singing, and prayer by brother Mash
burn. Brother Cooper read the queries of
last meeting, that were to be discussed at this
session of the body. After some discussion,
the subjects were postponed until Saturday.
Committee appointed, consisting of brethren
Wells, Cooper and Miller, to report at this
session, queries to be discussed at the next
meeting. An expression of the body was
desired, upon the question, whether a church
should retain a member who was dealing in
ardent spirits, which resulted in the passing
of the following resolution : “ Resolved, That
it is the sense of this body, that it is wrong
for any church to retain a member in full
fellowship who is engaged in the sale of spir
ituous liquors for other than medicinal pur
poses.” Committee on Preaching reported,
that brother Hinton preach at night, followed
by brother Hart; brother Lyon at 11 o’clock
on Satuiday, followed by brother Cooper.
Meeting adjourned with prayer by the Mod
erator, until 9 o’clock Saturday.
Morning session. Prayer by brother Cay
wood. The query, “ What is the character
and extent of the rule of the officer called
Bishop, in and over the church of Jesus
Christ?” was discussed by brethren Lyon,
Hart, Cooper and Caywood. Adjourned un
til 2£ o’clock p.m. Brother Lyon preached
at 11 o’clock a.m. His sermon was edifying,
full of wholesome Christian truths. After
noon session: Prayer by brother Mays,
Committee on queries reported. Brother
Hinton was appointed to write an essay on
the question, “ Was the commission given by
the Saviour to the Apostles, limited to them ?
If so, by what authority do ministers now
preach the gospel?” Brother Wilburn was
appointed to write on the query, “Are the terms
Eider and Bishop used interchangeably in the
New Testament, as applicable to the same
officer in the churches of Jesus Christ? If
they are so used, are all Bishops Elders, and
if they are, are all Elders Bishops? Do all
Elders in the churches of Jesus Christ labor
in word and doctrine? If all do not, what
is the work of those who do not, and if these
have a scriptural title other than that of El
der, what is it?” Questions to be discussed
at the next General Meeting: 1. “Has a
church the scriptural right to require the at
tendance of lier members upon her confer
ence or business meetings?” 2. “Is there
any secular business to which we can attend
on the Sabbath, without violating the law
which requires us to keep it holy ?” .‘i. “Are
thire any circumstances under which one
called of God to preach the gospel may de
cline the work, and give himself to secldar
employment?” After debate on general
questions, a motion was passed, that a copy
of the proceedings of this General Meeting
be furnished the Editor of the Index and
Baptist, with a request that he publish the
same, and request the Baptist to copy.
Brother Buckner’s (our missionary to the In
dians) claims were presented to the brethren
by brethren Cooper and Wells, in warm,
feeling speeches. Brother C. gave a very
encouraging statement of brother B.’s suc
cess. Brother Buckner is sustained by the
Friendship Association, Prayer for brother
B. and his mission was offered by brother
Shepperd. A vote of thanks was extended
to the citizens of Buena Vista for their hos
pitality. Prayer by brother Deavers. Meet
ing adjourned to meet with the Baptist church
at Ellaviile, on Friday before the fifth Sab
bath in April. Brother Caywood preached
on Saturday night. Brother Wells delivered
an address to the Sunday school, on Sunday
morning, and then brother Cooper preached
an able sermon. A public collection was
taken up for Indian Missions—s34.ls raised.
Brother Canby preached at night, one of his
usual good sermons. J. L. C. Kerr.
Hum.a Vista, Feb. 1,1871.
Alabama.
1 have visited Tuscaloosa. It is singular
that a town of so much importance has been
without a railroad. I told brother C. Manly,
the pastor of the Baptist church there, that
they had lived so far from railroads that the
members of his church had not yet learned
to exhibit the pride (the objectionable pride,
I meant) which some town and city churches
have the reputation of exhibiting. One good
sign of religious vitality in this church, is
the fact that the weekly religious prayer
meetings are well attended. The Baptists in
and around Tuscaloosa ought to rally around
brethren Manly and Foster, who, by sacrifi
ces, are keeping up the Tuscaloosa Baptist
Female College. These ministers invite their
brethren to visit the Institution, and see for
themselves,
I met a gentleman, (fifteen miles from
Tuscaloosa,) one having in yievy some pqblie
works in Alabama. He asked me if 1 had
any reading matter. I handed him a copy
of the Index, of the 26th ult., containing a
Prize Essay, on the fourth page. He ex
pressed himself pleased with the essay ; said
it was just what he wished to see. Knowing
that I had a duplicate at home, I gave him
the paper. He most warmly thanked me,
and said he would not take five dollars for it.
Friendship Church, Thomas County, Ga.
The house in which this church holds its
meetings, is twelve miles north west of Monti
cello, Jfla., and about a mile withiu the State
of Georgia- Pei haps half of the members
Jive in Florida. They number seventy and
are, in the main consistent, intelligent and
pious. For liberality towards their pastor,
they are not surpassed by any country church
of the same means in the wiiter’s acquaint
ance. Like New Hope—-its nearest neigh
bor-—this church and congregation make
quarterly contributions to Associational Mis
sions, which amounted, last year, to nearly
one hundred dollars. Thell 1 ordinary con
gregation is large, and on extraordinary oc
casions the house, though seating about six
hundred people, is filled to overflowing. Last
year the pastor had the pleasure of baptizing
thirty professed converts. The indications
now, are more encouraging than they were a
year ago. The writer’s predecessor was El
der W. J. Blewett, now of Texas, who had
served this church nearly twenty years. He
has left behind him many spiritual children,
and is fondly remembered and often spoken
of by the people. Allow me to say that, it
is strange that the churches should allow so
excellent a brother and so useful a preacher
to sell out and remove from their midst to a
distant State, from a well-grounded appre
hension that he could not continue to serve
them without eventually reducing his family
to abject poverty. His churches all received
the announcement of his determination to
leave them, with many sorrowful tears; but
all their entreaties could not clnnge his pur
pose. Should this communication meet his
eye in his far-off Texas home, (he was, and
probably still is, a constant reader and warm
admirer of the Index and Baptist,) he will
allow his over grateful Timothy to say that the
impressions made upon his people here by
his upright example and faithful ministry,
have not been effaced ; and that the solemn
admonition ho gave them in his farew'eli sor
mon, concerning their duties to their pastor,
has produced results the most gratifying.
Friendship is situated only a few miles
from the Mickasukie Lake, and is, conses
quently, surrounded by good farming land,
some of which is very productive. But like
all other sections of the country, the planters,
though thrifty, have to contend with the draw
backs peculiar to these times.
The preacher who stands in this pulpit may
be sure of looking out upon a company of
sensible and attentive faces. The next Dis
trict Meeting is to be held with this church,
commencing Friday bofore the fifth Sunday
in April. As it is a central point, and sur>
rounded by a hospitable community, we hope
the attendance will be large.
Thus, brother Editor, I have been led, by
the appeals of yourself and “ W.,” to give
your readers an account of all the churches
that I serve. If you say so, I will wiite one
more letter about a well ordered colored Bap
tist church and their pastor. [Write, by all
means.] A. B. Campbell.
Monticello, Fla., Feb. 9 th, 1871.
Rehoboth Missionary in Great Need.
Beloved brethren, of Rehoboth Association;
your missionary is now in pressing need of
funds, as I am informed by brother Amos*
your Treasurer. Will not ever church and*
friend of the Master’s cause come to the res
cue? Let the pastors urge the churches, ah
the earliest opportunity, to pay as liberally
as the times will warrant, and send to brother
Amos, Forsyth, Ga. Brethren, as you love
the cause of God, and sympathize with the
spirit of missions, respond to this call.
B. L. Ross.
Fort Valley, Feb. 10, 1871.
A Solemn Warning.
Madison has witnessed a strange sight to
day. Two funerals have been crowded into
its brief hours. One was the funeral of Mr.
Wrn. M. Burnett, an aged and highly re
spected citizen. The writer conversed with
him, on one of our streets, on Friday last—
Tuesday following, saw him a corpse; and,
this morning, our entire community congre
gated to witness the burial of the dead. Miss
Carrie Foster, eldest daughter of A. G. Fos
ter. Esq., was at school at Salem, N. C. A
telegram, on Monday eve, informed her pa
rents that she was very ill. Within two
hours, another dispatch announced her death.
Her remains arriving to day, the funeral ser
vices were attended by a very large assem
blage of sorrowing and sympathizing friends.
It is understood that the deaths of both were
theresultof paralysis. Another remarkable
feature is, the reported death of Miss Foster’s
most intimate school mate, a few days earlier,
by the same disease.
Thus, age and youth, mature manhood and
blooming beauty, all unexpected, enter to
gether the silent abode of the dead. The
warning to the living is impressive. Be ye
also ready, for in an hour ye think not, the
Son of Man cometh. Friend.
Madison, Feb. 10.
The Missions of the South.
The Domestic and Indian Mission Board
of the Southern Baptist Convention is doing
its best to meet the increasing wants of our
churohes, and to give the gospel ministry to
the vast destitution of our Southern land.
Ninety men are now under appointment of
the Board in the various States and Indian
Territory. They must be sustained, or they
will be forced to abandon the field. Though
our receipts are not less than four thousand
dollars ahead of last year, there remained
due missionaries for past services to the first
of January, 1871, some eight thousand dol
lars. The salaries of another quarter will
soon be due, and our fiscal year is fast draws
ing to a close. What showing will the Board
be able to make in May? Will not the
friends of the mission come forward and fur
nish immediate relief? What is done should
be done quickly.
M. T. Sumner, Cor. Sec.
Marion, Ala.
County Line Church, Ala.
I am a member of County Line church,
near the line of Chambers and Tallapoosa
counties. Brother Frank Moss is our Pastor.
Our church is a large one, but seems to be
cold at present, and working rather slowly.
I could wish to see more zeal manifested in
our Saviour’s cause, on the part of profess
ors. We have an energetic preacher and a
good man, one whom we esteem and love
as a Christian brother. We have had no
Sabbath school for two years. The brethren
seem backward about this work; lor which I
am sorry. The churches through here, gen
erally, seem cold. We need and pray for
a deeper interest, more zeal, more faith, more
love in and for our Lord’s cause and king
dom. (Mrs.) S. A. Mills.
Dadleyeillt, Ala., Feb. 10, 18T1.
Newington Church, Ga.
Newington church, of this county, is in a
very healthy and prosperous condition. The
community in the neighborhood, though scat
tering, take a lively interest in the prosperity
and success of the church. The members, at
present, are gradually increasing. On the
third Sabbath of December last, we had an
addition of two members, and on the fifth
Sabbath of January two moye were added to
the church, (all by baptism.) Five members
were added by letter. The total number now
is fifty-one. J. G. Norris, Pastor.
Savamtuth, Ga., Ftb. 15, 1871.
To All Whom It may Concern.
By an appointment of the Georgia Baptist
Association, at its lust session, the General
Meetings of both the first and third districts,
belonging to that body, are to meet on the
fifth Lord’s day in J uly next, which, of course,
makes thetwoconflict with each other. Since
some of the brethren from each of the dig
tricts desire to be at both General Meetings,
therefore, by a request from the Ist district,
the church at County Line, with which the
General Meeting of the third will be held,
has changed the time of the convening of the
General Meeting of that district, from the
fifth Lord’s day in July next, ns appointed
by the Association, to the fir.-t Lord’s day in
August next. A. A. Fjlukkr, Clerk,
Tiic Chinese, South.
Please acknowledge, through the Index, for
missions among the Chinese, South, the fol
lowing sums : Donations from individuals at
Benevolence church, Crawford county, Ga f ,
s7ws; in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Mrs Richards,
$1.50; Mr. Skelton, $1; Miss Prince, 50
cents. The Marion Board are greatly indebt
ed to brethren Gw in, of Montgomery, Man
ly, of Tuscaloosa, Warren, of Macon, Teague,
of Selma, Shaver, of Atlanta, and Weaver,
of Chattanooga, for obtaining for me trav
elling privileges in laboring among the Chi
nese. The Chinese whom I visited on the
sth Sabbath in last month, were not very far
from Tuscaloosa. 1 was very much encour
aged in holding religious services with them.
They are said to number between seven hun
dred and a thousand; better satisfied than
they were two months since, and w. rk pretty
well. B. W. Whildeh.
MarthaUeills, Ga. j