Newspaper Page Text
34
f silex mi §ajiitet.
J. J. TOON Proprietor,
PUBLICATION ROOMS —4 £*6 SOUTH BROADWAY.
Editor: Eov. D. SHAVER, D.D.
CORRESPONDING EDITORS:
Rev. J. J. D. RENFROE, Talladega , Ala.
Rev. S. HENDERSON, D.D., Fayetteville, Ala.
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1871.
A Word to Brother Cooper.
Tho article we wrote to whichj brother Cooper
refers in his kindly criticisms, was, if he will ex
amine it again, purely hypothetical. We simply
stated, that if those interpretations of prophecy
which niado the Romish hierarchy identical with
“ the Beast," the “ Mother of harlots," etc., of
John, and “ the Man of sin” of Paul, —and if Mo
hammedanism, as a„!system, were symbolized by
the “ false prophet” of Revelations, then certain re
cent occurrences, as well as impending complica
tions in the old world, possessed a lively interest
to the Bible student. Whether, therefore, we are
obnoxious to these criticisms depends altogether
upon the correctness of the theory propounded by
others. And as to that matter, we neither affirm
ed nor denied.
As to the particular 44 Beast in Revelations to
which we referred, we can'only answer, that we
meant that “ Beast ” by which prophetical inter
preters symbolize Roman Catholicism as a sys
tem.
While on this subject, we will add a few words
suggested by more recent'occurrences. »The total
prostration of the only Catholic power in Europe
capable of maintaining the temporal power of the
Popo— France—by the only Protestant nation in
the old world competent to such a task —Prussia
—And that with such unparalleled rapidity as that
it seeins like an “earthquake,” the very term
used by John to indicate the great overthrow —
(see Rev. xvi: 18, etc.)—and the term used by
Louis Napoleon himself
of his overthrow —and all this occurring about
the close of “ the twelve hundred and sixty years”
since popery was invested with temporal power
and declared supreme:—we say, all these facts do
possess a moral significance worthy the attention
of every thoughtful Christiau. pretend not
to say that this is the time for the grand overthrow
of spiritual Babylon ; but we do say that such
breaches have been made in her brazen walls as
to justify the liveliest hopes of Christendom. We
do say that the Pope, being deplumed of all
temporal power—the power to inflict “ pains and
penalties” upon those whom he is pleased to de
nounce as “ heretics,” —does throw open a field of
usefulness to evangelical Christians such as has
had no parallel for more than a thousand years.
We do say that the breaking up of these old sys
tems of error and superstition, does present a
moral surface on wliich to operate, more promis
ing in actual results than any which has been yet
offered to our Christian agencies. And is it not
wise in us to “redeem the time?” Is it notan
evidence of the highest Christian sagacity to know
and to do the right thing, at the right time, and
under the right circumstiyices ? H.
The Boards Again.
A writer in the Religious Herald, hailing from
Baltimore, after arguing for the consolidation of
the two Mission Boards, says, “Having indicated
a remedy, in part, as to our mission work, both
Foreign and Domestic, let the question be sug
gested, would it not be as W'ell, nay, would.it not
bo better, altogether to drop the Sunday School
Board from the list of Boards of the Conven
tion?” Now, if it can be shown that the Sab
bath School Board is a useless institution, taxing
the denomination with an unnecessary and un
reasonable expense; that it has no field to culti
vate, —no work to do ; or that it cannot be made
efficiente-cannot be made able to bear a noble
part in the great work before it, then let it “be
droppedbut why was nothing said about the
worthlessness of that Board until it went to
Memphis, or until it was clear that it would go
i here ? Nothing was heard of the idea that that
Board is useless until it was about to take up its
“ Western TIo.” Then all at once, some how or
other, it became an unnecessary concern; and
Iroin that day till this it has been isolated, ig
nored, attacked, sneered at, and supplanted, until
one may conclude that if these things can be
surmounted, and the Board ;'yet live, it is only
proof that “it has as many lives as a cat.” Does
not the Herald correspondent indicate the true
state of the case in several of the States, when he
says, “Arc not the membership, generally, in all
tho great States of our Southern Zion doing it
already,” (/. c., dropping that Board,) “and what
are you doing in Virginia ? Cannot, and will not,
(lie American Baptist Publication Society, with
its large means and ability, and its power for
good, do far more for us than can be done by any
other organization ?” Here the American Bap
tist Publication Society is directly introduced as
the organization which is to supplant the Sabbath
School Board in the affections of “our Southern
Zion.” And why ? Simply because it has
“ means,’’ “ability," and “power," while the
Memphis Board is to be crushed for no other
offence than that it is weaker—weaker because
“ tho membership, generally, in our Southern
Zion," have “ already ” dropped it, having been
seduced by the “means" and “ability” of
other rival institutions. Now, as Baptists, we
should he thankful that thero is such an institu
tion as the American Bap. Pub. Society. For
ourself, we rejoice that there is on this Continent
so powerful a Baptist agency. We heartily wish
its books were in every family in America. Yet
we can sec no reason now to excite such joyous
emotions, that did not exist a dozen years ago.
We see no reasons for such co-operation now as
will supplant Southern Baptist institutions, that
did not apply with equal force when the Southern
Baptist Pub. Society was organized before the
war. The books read to us just as they did, the
South lies in the same shape as before, Northern
aggressions upon Southern institutions—North
ern disposition to rule—to supplant—to annihi
late Southern ideas and compacts, are precisely
such as prevailed when we gave being to our de
nominational organizations at the South. And
wc now assume that the persistent purpose to
supplant the Sunday School Board with the Sab
bath School Department of that Society, will re
act to the great detriment of every agency of the
Southern Baptist Convention. Brethren may
think differently, and drive blindly on ; but let
them pass the resolution to “drop that Board
from the list of Boards of our Convention ”
after what has taken place in relation to it, and
they will realize the following result: 1. With
half the Baptists of the South, and four-fifths of
them in the South-west, the Southern Baptist
Convention will be as dead as the Southern Con
federacy. ‘J. A Western Baptist General Con
vention will have an existence in twelve months
after the dropping act is passed. 3. A Western
Baptist Theological School will follow in rapid
succession. These things may be regarded as
doubtful and deplorable, and there are many
brethren in the West who would advise other
wise, but soon nearly all would fall in ; for other
causes than that of the treatment of the Sabbath
School Board will operate in moulding the actions
of brethren.
What arguments will such a course have for
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, MARCH 2,1871.
its justification!*. It will have the influence of
self-defence of those Western rights
which made it necessary to locate that Board in
the West. It will have reason to claim that a
want of confidence has led to a depressing dis
pute all the time the Board has been in the West,
relative to its utility and policy, with a chilling,
slighting course of treatment which bears on its
face intolerant opposition to certain sentiments
that are supposed to hold prevalence in that re
gion. This movement will carry with it the force
of being strongly Southern and strongly Baptist,
—ideas which will have power in all this land for
many years to come.
Now, we say these things simply to indicate
that these questions of dropping, consolidating
and working through Northern organizations,
have two sides to them; and the discussions will
not all be on one side. “ The Home Mission So
ciety,” and “the Missionary Union” have
“means,” “ability” and “power,” and it is
difficult to see why, if the Herald correspondent
be correct, we should not abandon all our Boards
and go over en masse to these Societies. His
logic in relation to the one Board, if correct, has
very sharp angles about it, to jag the sides of all
other Southern institutions. It is on a question
of means—ability—power.
We are reminded of the story of a man whoso
sow bi ought forth alitter of pigs, all of which were
white except ono little black runt. He, wanting
to get rid of that, went, with his gun, to shoot it
out of the way. Many times he levelled his
piece at it, but it kept such a running about
among the other pigs, that he could not single it
out; finally he fired, at a venture. When the
smoke cleared away, to his surprise and mortifi
cation, he found that the black runt was the only
pig left alive. We will not be so much surprised,
but more mortified, if this proves to be the case
with our Boards. The Sabbath School Board
will keep such a running about among the others
that the brethren who want to shoot it will not
be able to single it out, and in the noise relative
to consolidation, expenses, Northern money and
efficiency, the majority of the litter will be killed
or transferred, but the Sabbath School Board will
not go North; and, runt as it is, it, or something
of its will be kept alive by the Baptists of
the South and South-west.
It does seem that brethren might have learned
a lesson as to the spirit of the Baptists of the
South, at the Louisville Convention. Some one
ought to say to our brethren who are looking to
the supplanting of our Boards, that, in the most
part of the South, Southern sentiment has not
changed in five years.
But what of the suggested consolidation of the
Mission Boards ? Does not this suggestion sim
ply mean the transferring of the Domestic Board
further North ? We heard a distinguished D.D.
say, at Louisville, last May, that Marion is no
suitable place for a Board of that Convention.
Many of us believe that a more suitable place and
more efficient brethren, cannot he found in the
South.
If our brethren throughout the South would
heartily rally to and unite with these agencies,
they would at once become so strong that they
would form a grand unifying centre, able to do
the work indeed, and no longer would the finger
of contempt be pointed at our weakness. We
have the necessary strength in all respects, if wo
can only keep united. If our agencies are not so
efficient as is desirable, let us, in a spirit of kind
ness, try to reform and improve them. If our
Secretaries do not well fill their places, or if this
be true of any one of them, they are Christian
gentlemen, and would retire gracefully, if more
suitable men can be found.
But our opinion is that, if these Boards and
Secretaries could receive, instead of severe criti
cisms, the praise and hearty sympathies that are
lavished upon Northern agencies—if they could
be made to feel that our own Boards are the chan
nels through which our Southern Zion will con
tinue to diffuse a united strength,—then it would
be seen that these agencies are of the right sort,
in the right places, and well officered; and that
their work cannot be done cheaper than they will
do it. But some of our brethren have their heads
set toward the North pole, and we fear they will
not stop to look in any other direction until it is
too late. They should remember that the Aurora
Borealis is a false light, which only tlares up oc
casionally, where the sun does not shine much.
Glimpses of the Times.
I.
A bill has been introduced into the New York
Senate, which, “in all institutions, public or pri
vate, incorporated or not incorporated, for the
reception of minors, whether as orphans, or as
destitute, disorderly or delinquent persons,” for
bids, under a penalty of SIOO for each offence,
“any interference with the religious belief which
these minors may have received from their pa
rents.” The Northern religious press is unani
mous and earnest in opposition to the proposed
legislation; since, if it prevails, no Protestant
services, not even the use of the authorized ver
<
sion of the Bible, can be permitted, in News Boys’
Lodgings, Industrial Schools, Orphanages, Juve
nile Asylums, or Houses of Refuge, in the pres
ence of children of Romish parentage. We very
well understand how Baptist papers may con
sistently embark in this opposition; but our mind
is not quite clear as regards Pedobaptist papers.
The bill in question aims simply to protect the
sanctity of hereditary religion ; and hereditary re
ligion constitutes the fundamental, vital principle
of Pedobaptism. When this principle of heredi
tary religion was divinely recognized in the rite of
infant circumcision, it was fenced about by a law
which subjected to capital punishment every man
who sought to entice children from the hereditary
religion. Now, if Christianity includes the same
principle, and, on the strength of it, requires infant
baptism, why should not its sanctity be protected ?
Why should it be left with absolutely no fence at
all ? Is not the New York bill; in fact, Pedolap .
tism carried out, in harmony with the precedent
of circumcision— Pedobaytism shaped into law ?
11.
The editor of the Western Christian Advocate
numbers in his “acquaintance, several ministers
whose habit it is to preach quarterly on temperance,
and one who gives a Sabbath evening lecture once
a month to his people. The effect has been a
great diminution in the number of church mem
bers who drink wine and ale, and an increase in
the number of those who have banished both of
these articles from their sideboard.” Wo have
feared that strong drink is often suffered to en
sconce itself in the pews, without proper discoun
tenance from the pulpit. Shame on the pastoral
lips which are sealed from testimony and remon
strance, when the lips of private and official
members are wet daily with that “fire-water”
which consumes both body and soul!
111.
A Presbyterian church, in Buffalo, N. Y., de
decided that, for the year 1870, all begging,
whether by subscription papers or special collec
tions, should be abolished, and the matter of giv
ing left solely to the conscience of the individual.
Besides $8,312 paid on previous pledges, there
was secured by this plan the gratifying amount
of $6,087; of which 45 per cent, came in sums of
50 cents and under, and 30 per cent, in sums of
25 cents and under. The giving was regarded as
an act of religious worship, and a special prayer
of consecration was incorporated Into the morn
ing and evening service on Lord’s day, immedi
ately followed by the gathering up of the free
will offerings. There is food for thought in these
facts, and we hope that not a few of our churches
will take them into serious consideration. “ The
treasury of the Lord” would receive much more
from them than at present, we are sure, if they
would adopt the plan of frequent contributions—
contributions in small amounts —contributions
from all; especially if accompanied, as in the case
before us, with the following solemn public pro
fession : “ As the Lord has prospered us, we now
lay aside on the first day of the week, according
to the commandment, beseeching a blessing upon
the poor, and the missionaries, and all who re
ceive our gifts from the Lord ; and by this offer
ing, humbly consecrating all that we have to
Him.” Try it, brethren.
Some weeks since, we styled the Baptist Union,
“the young New York organ of Free Will (a3
opposed to the Will of Christ) in the matter of
the Lord’s supper.” The Union quotes this lan
guage, as a “sample” of the “discourtesy," with
which strict communionists “ treat their more
liberal (?) brethren.” Doubtless, George Herbert
spoke with good reason, when he said that
“ fierceness makes truth discourtesy;" but we
can hardly grant to our contemporary that sim
ple, outspoken fidelity works the same mischiev
ous result. Our offending phraseology does no
more than characterize loose communionism ac
cording to its real character. We merely cleared
the cartli from its “ tap root.” Take two recent
proofs. On tho question “as to who are right
fully partakers of the Lord’s supper as adminis
tered in our churches," Rev. J. S. Kennard, of
Philadelphia, (the very unbrotherly “Adelphos”
of the Watchman and Reflector,) says : “ In the
absence of any specific command, the appeal is
necessarily to first principles, an authority more
defensible than the incidental hints which the
Acts of the Apostles may give, since we have no
evidence that their customs, of which we have a
very partial account, were designed to be the in
variable customs of the church in all ages and
under all conditions.” Is not this, undeniably, an
indication that loose communionism will not suf
fer the precedents of the New Testament to stand
in its way—that these precedents are to be set
aside on the authority of its own deductions from
“ first principles;” as though deductions of this
kind constitute a 44 higher law” in the- premises,
and release us from the obligation to follow mod
estly in the steps of men inspired ? But loose
communionism betrays its readiness to go further
still, and to trample down even specific Scriptural
commands,” if these come between it and its
wishes in this case. A correspondent of the
Union, unblushingly, writes: “Even if you
could show an express direction to restrict the
communion to believers who had been immersed,
I should still hold that you had not established
the necessity or propriety of close communion.”
After referring to the injunction that “ women
should keep silence in the churches,” to the
“ holy kiss,” etc., —to which the more ultra of
Pedobaptists appeal, as showing that the apos
tolic practice of immersion does not preclude the
substitution of sprinkling for it, —he adds: “ If,
in so many words, it was written, 4 Let none but
the baptized partake of the supper,’ I hold, that,
under existing circumstances, that injunction
should have no more force than those other in
junctions that we nullify so coolly, just because
there is no sectarian position_at issue.” Now, if
this repudiation of both precedent and precept—
the only two forms under which the Will of
Christ can make itself known as regards positive
rites—docs not suffice to convict loose communion
ism as a preference of Free Will in the matter of
the Lord’s supper, we know of no other evidence
that could warrant such a verdict. Men, indeed,
may label the Free Will, by some strange inge
nuity of self-deception, as the Will of Christ; but
that is a blunder of theirs, and even charity de
mands that, without vituperative epithets, we
should point it out. This is what we have done.
And the Baptist Union complains of this!
Rev. Mr. Cheney, an Episcopal clergyman of
Chicago, has been accustomed, in the baptism of
infants, to omit from the service, the word “re
generate;” except when parents, disavowing the
High Church, “sacramental” sense of the word,
as importing a spiritual new birth, requested him
to use it. For this offence, he has been suspend
ed from the ministry, until he shall profess sorrow
for the past and amendment for the future. His
case strikingly and painfully illustrates the des
potism of exclusive liturgical forms. But his
trial brought out another illustration of this des
potism, which affords some of our exchanges no
slight merriment, hut which seems to us still more
striking and painful. Rev. Dr. Sullivan testified
that he ‘had known one clergyman, who was
always attacked by a violent coughing when
he came to the word 44 regenerate,” and recovered
only when ho had passed it.’ Alas, for the ty
ranny which drives Christian ministers to cloak
conscientious scruples and profound convictions
of truth under such unmanly subterfuges 1 And
yet—is not the worst fruit of this oppressive
rigor found in the case of those who use the word
with mental reservations, which give no outward
sign of themselves, but suffer the lip to belie both
head and heart outright ?
VI.
A writer in the Working Christian throws out
a hint, which may assist some of our pastors in
making fuller proof of their ministry. He says:
44 In tho country, our preachers, many of them, ‘go
to their churches’ and preach one sermon on tho
Lord’s day, and thoir day’s work is done, when
within a eircle of five or ten miles there might be
another congregation gathered eager to hear the
Word of life. Let the pastor go and preach to
them, even if he should be late reaching home.
Others ride ten or fifteen miles to their ‘appoint
ments,’ preach, and return home, passing through,
or not far from a neighborhood where scores
would be glad to hear them. Let them turn
aside and work for Christ. Thus the ‘waste
places might be built up, and the desert he made
to rejoice.’” This contrasts more strongly than
pleasantly with the recent statement of a city
preacher, Rev. Newman Hall, of Surry Chapel,
London : “I usually walk from twelve to thirteen
miles every Sabbath, preach three times, hold a
prayer meeting, and often address some Sunday
school into the bargain. In warm weather I
preach a fourth sermon to a street audience.”'
Both in city and country, alas, how much less is
done by the ministry than might he, and should
be!
VII.
A writer in the Christian Era , Boston, was
once told, by “an infidel of the Paine school,”
that not the Bible, but the conduct of professed
Christians, had tended most to make him an un
believer. To point the same moral, this writer
says : “We have had too much of profession and
the form of godliness, without the power thereof.
As proof of this, look at the South previous to the
breaking out of the late rebellion. What do we
behold? No community had so much religious
awakening, so much going to church, prayers
and communion. No place where so called ‘ revi
vals’ were sc common, and where people were
‘ getting religion’ and observing its forms and
ceremonies. Are we prepared to say, or do we
say, that the religionists of our Southern States
were ' born of God ’ in the true sense of the teach
ings of Christ ? On the one hand we behold them
engaged with zeal in religion, in revivals, prayer
and praise, and on the other hand we see those
same evangelical Christians engaged in crimes at
which humanity revolts with a shudder 1 Again
we ask the question, Are these men 4 born of
God?” It was Burke, we believe, who professed
his inability to 44 frame an indictment against a
whole people;” but this writer knows howto
frame a slander against them. We hope that
4 Infidels of the Paine school’ may not be unhap
pily brought into association jyth him, lest their
disposition to burden Christianity with the faults
of its 44 professed adherents,” should draw from
his conduct reasons availing to 4 make them unbe
lievers’ forever. With regard^to the “crimes at
which humanity revolts with a shudder,” we have
only to say that we know nothing of them. What
can our accuser mean ? Is this a case where ac
cusations invented first for party purposes, have
come, at last, by virtue of incessant repetition, to
be credited by the inventors themselves, 44 even
as the bulls in Borodale” (if we may borrow a
figure from Coleridge) 44 are sard sometimes to run
mad with the echo of their own bellowing ?”
The Christian Register, Boston, expresses the
opinion that ‘lawyers, physicians and farmers
ought to be inducted into their regular work, by
prayer, and Bible reading, and sermon, and hymn.’
Twenty years ago, Samuel J. May prepared
“charges,” suitable for delivery at the “ordina
tion” of persons entering Hie legal profession
and the editorial We do not favor
such rites and forms; but efur hearty sympathy
goes with the desire to impress on men, in every
calling, a sense of their responsibilities “ under
the Great Taskmaster’s All right work is
work for God—work which “He appoints for us,
to which, in the ordering of His providence, He
brings us, and for which, in the revelation of His
righteous judgment, we must give account to
Him, To slaves, in ancient' Colosse, engaged in
menial toil through life, Paul could say, 44 Ye
serve the Lord Christ!” What he said to them,
he says to all. When shall the Christian layman
feel it, as deeply as the Christian minister?
Our Zion—in Our Exchanges, etc.
Georgia.
Rev. A. Dellamonta, (colored,) of Atlanta, en
tered on his labors as pastor of the Colored Bap
tist church at Thomasville, in January. We
hope that the work of the Lord may prosper in
his hands there. Rev. J.'R. Graves, LL.D., in
the Memphis Baptist, his recent visit to
the First church, Atlanta: “The church edifice
is the finest, perhaps, in the State, costing some
$40,000, and it is well-nigh paid for. We were
delighted with the promising character of the
membership—so many young men, just develop
ing into strength and influence. We know of no
pastorate more desirable than this in the South.”
44 We looked through brother Toon’s new estab
lishment, and spent a pleasant hour with brother
Shaver, whom we regard as the ablest writer in
all the land.” He says also: “This visit to
Georgia satifies us that Georgia will readily take
the SIO,OOO allotted to her in the Southern Bap
tist Publication Society: that we write down as
certain.” Dr. Graves, also, says: “We stop
ped at Dalton, and preachqd on Thursday night
to a large audience. Brother Loftin is pastor
here, and well beloved. H*isdoinga good work.
Though young, he is a strong and growing man,
a thorough Baptist, and the church is building
up.” Rev. G. C. Needham, the evangelist, is
preaching for Rev. Dr. Landrum, Savannah, the
present week, and is expected to be with the
First church, Atlanta, nextfcveek. Our church
at Cartersville the friends of
Sundays schools to hold®s!onvention there, on
the day preceding the session of the Georgia
Baptist State Convention, in April.
Arkansas.
After a service of twelve years, Rev. B. F.
Thomas resigns charge of our church at Forest
City, where a large and commodious house of
worship is 44 now receiving the finishing touch,”
and an organ has been purchased.
Kentucky.
Churches have been constituted at Bear Creek,
on Big Sandy, at High Springs, Hart county, and
at Number One, Ohio county, (Slaty Creek.)
Chestnut Grove church has had 23 accessions;
Bethel church, Gainesville, some 80; Hanging
Rock, Grayson county, 61 ; Robertson Creek
church, 23; Sandy Creek, Butler county, 9 ;
Pleasant Grove, Daviess county, 14; Stanford
church about 20.
uOimUAJIA.
Since Rev. Dr. Taylor, of Chicago, took charge
of Coliseum Place church, New Orleans, Baptists
from the North have joined it, who had resided
in the city for years and stood aloof. The church
has enjoyed a recent season of refreshing: “ be
tween 20 and 30 have found peace in believing,
and others are yet enquiring.”
Mississippi.
Rev. Theo. Whitfield becomes the regular cor
respondent of the Richmond Herald for this
State, to collect and forward news, etc. Elder
M. P. Lowry, (well known in war times as a Con
federate General); in the Mississippi Department
of the Memphis Baptist , says, of the Index and
Baptist: “We were employed two years as a
stated contributor to that paper, and learned then
to admire and love it. It is orthodox, able, Chris
tian : and what more need be said of any paper ?
Its proprietor and publisher, J. J. Toon, Esq.,
lacks uot one of the elements of a Christian gen
tleman, and his energy knows no bounds. Its
editor, Dr. D. Shaver, is able, discreet, courteous
and deeply pious; and in view of these facts, it
is not surprising that «t has a host of faithful
friends that stand by it and support it, whether
times are oppresive or prosperous. The Baptists
of two States, Alabama and Georgia, are united
in making this paper their organ of religious cor
respondence; and while it is published in At
lanta, Ga., Alabama hasher two able and efficient
editors.”
Missouri.
Martin L. Laws was ordained to the ministry
at Rehoboth Church, Saline county, Jan. 29th:
sermon by Rev. W. M. Bell. Liberty church,
Gentry county, has had 20 additions; Carrollton
church, 60; Mt. Nebo, Linn, 27; Warrenburg
church, (where the house of worship had been
rented to the School Board,) 38.——-At Mt. Tabor
church, Macon county, Jas. W. Saunders was
ordained to the ministry, in February: sermon by
the candidate.
North Carolina.
Rev. B. G. Covington has been appointed mis
sionary for the Eastern Association. Rev. J.
A. Emerson has been called to the pastoral care
of our church at Charlotte. Rev. R. H. Grif
fith teaches a male school in Charlotte, and
preaches to two churches in S. C. The State
Mission Board, Raleigh, has decided to send quar
terly reports of the work done under its direc
tion, to the Domestic Mission Board of 'the South
ern Baptist Convention, Marion, Ala., to be in
corporated, in substance, in its annual report.
Greatly to our surprise, the Raleigh Recorder
says: “We are now convinced that a division of
Northern (and probably of Southern) Baptists on
the communion question is rapidly approaching.”
Such fears seem to us absolutely groundless.
Rev. G. W. Sanderlin, of this State, goes to Bal
timore, Md., as pastor of Franklin Square church.
Our church in Raleigh has painted and re
paired its bouse of worship, and secured an eligi
ble lot just across the street, for the erection of a
parsonage, which is to-be commenced without de
lay.
South Carolina.
Abbeville Association has established a mission
at Greenwood, the preaching done principally by
the professors and students of «mr Seminary at
Greenville: there are 27 members, and a church
is in process of organization.
Texas.
Prof. 0. P. Westmoreland, agent of the Bay
land Orphans’ House, is dead, and Rev. A.
Delaplain has been appointed to succeed him.
The Southern Missionary Baptist, Corsicana,
says: “The Index and Baptist has once more
found its way to our office. We are pleased to
grasp your journal hand once more, brothers
Shaver and Toon. You make a most excellent
paper. May you long live to bless the reading
public.” *
Tennessee.
A private note from Murfreesboro informs us
that 21 young men are studying for the ministry
in Union University, (18 Baptists and 8 Method
ists,) and one or two more are about entering the
class. Anew church has been organized,
three miles from Maryville, and 10 persons added
to its membership. There have been 23 recent
accessions, at Beaver Creek, Sullivan county.
The Memphis Avalanche, Feb. 10, says: “We
are requested by Mr. R. D. Goodwyn, Secretary
and Treasurer of the Southwestern Publishing
Company, to state that the assets of that corpor
ation are SBO,OOO, and the liabilities, $60,000.”
YrRGINIA.
Gar Foreign Mission Board, Richmond, an
nounces that it has four laborers in Rome, Italy,
with two places of worship opened and one church
constituted. Rev. J. B. Hartwell, Tung Chau,
China, reports to the Foreign Mission Board that
the chapel in Chefoo was built and presented to
our church, by a Chinese convert whom he bap
tized ten years ago, and who then was not worth
SIOO. The young men of the First church,
Richmond, have organized a mission on Clay
street. In Scott county, 17 have been added
to Clinch River church, and 24 baptized at Car
ter’s Tow’ii, Rye Cove, where before there had
been but two Baptist sermons preached. The
Second church, Richmond, is to have a fine or
gan : the money has been provided for it.
W est Virginia.
Our church at Charleston has met every night
for six weeks, and conversions are more numer
ous now than at any time since the meeting be
gan. Rev. S. M. Ferrell was ordained to the
ministry at Flat Rock church, Roane county, Jan.
15th : sermon by Rev. J. Bennett. Rev. Thos.
Harmon, Sr., for many years one of the ablest
and most influential ministers of the Teays’ Val
ley Association, is dead. Mt. Moriah church,
Putnam county, has had 28 accessions; Stillwell
church, 13 baptisms, (one candidate having been
strangely and wrongly rejected, by a single vote,
because, being not quite eight years of age, she
was thought 44 too young.”)
The Orphans’ Home.
1 am glad to see that renewed interest is
manifested among the Baptists of Georgia, in
regard to the establishing of an Orphans’
Home.
The great difficulty in such an enterprise
is in securing funds to purchase land and
erect suitable buildings. In Georgia, if the
course I propose is adopted, this difficulty
does not exist.
Last April, the Convention decided to re
move Mercer University from Penfield. The
Commission, to which the business was en
trusted, has fixed upon Macon, and the remo
val would before now have been an accom
plished fact, but for litigation instituted by
the opponents of removal. When this
litigation is concluded, and the legal obstacle,
which postpones removal, no longer hinders,
the question arises, What shall be done with
the property at Penfield ?
My first suggestion was, that a High School
be established in the buildings heretofore
occupied by the University. But as the
offer of the Trustees to the citizens of Pen
field has been so emphatically rejected, and
as it is impossible to conduct successfully a
school of that kind in a hostile community,
some other disposition of the Penfield prop
erty must be made.
I suggest, therefore, that the Orphans’
Home be located at Penfield, and the Uni
versity property there be appropriated for
that purpose. The buildings, as they now
are, will accommodate a hundred children,
and the land is ample for a farm. Tho real
estate thus provided to our hand, the funds
and supplies for carrying on the enterprise
will be readily furnished.
In honor of one of the oldest, foremost,
truest friends of Penfield and Mercer Uni
versity, let the new Institution bear the name
of the Stocks Orphans’ Home, for the Bap
tists of Georgia. N. M. Crawford.
February 20, 1871.
South-Eastern Georgia,
Y our modest offer for 44 Press MS.,” is
not without effect. But what can I write
that will interest your readers and promote
the cause of Christ 1 ? This South-Eastern
corner of our State, bordering on the Atlan
tic, is sparse in its white population, abun
dant in its black, broken down most distress
ingly in its resources, and owing to some
facts peculiar to itself, is not likely to recu
perate as readily as Middle and Upper Geor
gia. All this has had its effect in inducing
persons who were born and raised here, to
emigrate to other sections. It is not easy
for the preacher to avoid this moving conta
gion. He, too, wishes to make the most of
his short stay on earth in building up the
cause of Christ, and for this purpose, looks
for large congregations as affording the best
prospects for accomplishing his object. But
if all the preachers go in search of the crowd,
what is to become of the scattered sheep?
Somebody ought—somebody must —look af
ter them, and why not he that is here? Be
it so, if God wills it.
By appointment of New Sunbury Associ
ation, a Union Meeting was held at South
Newport, in Mclntosh county, on the old stage
road from Savannah to Darien, embracing
the fifth Sabbath, ult. A Union Meeting of
the same preacher and people who have been
worshipping together for over three years
past. No other churches represented—no
other preachers present. The Agent of the
D. M. B. promised to come, and so did oth
ers, but alas! the solitary preacher, as sev
eral times heretofore, in similar meetings,
was left to serve alone. The congregation
was full, especially considering the threaten
ing appearance of the weather. The exerci
ses closed on Sabbath p.m., at the river side,
with the baptism of an interesting young
lnd v.
At the close of the war, this church was
broken up, its book carried off or destroyed
by Federal soldiers, its members dead or
scattered, and the few remaining so discour*
aged as scarcely to consent for the preacher
to make an effort to rebuild. Now they are
organized and working harmoniously and
comfortably. A Sabbath school is conduct
ed under the superintendence of our venera
ble brother, C. I. W. Tharp, 83 years old,
who walks five miles, to and fro, weekly, in
doing this work. The membership and the
congregation have increased gradually, from
the beginning. A collection is taken month
ly, for the support of the gospel, by which an
amount is raised in the year, that would seem
impracticable to the people if it were pro
posed to raise it at one time.
1 have spoken of this section as under dis
couragements now , but it will not always re
main so. The natural and artificial advanta
ges which it possesses, must, in time, over
come its embarrassments, and make it one
of the most desirable sections in our State.
Now, then, in this, its hour of depression, is
the time for persons in want of lands, and
looking for them West, to secure, cheaply,
as good as they can fiud anywhere. 1 am
desirous, brother Editor, to bring this coun
try to the notice of hoine-hunters, not
alone for theirs and the country’s good, hut
mainly to promote the cause of Jesus in
building up efficient churches and Sunday
schools, and other schools also. 1 his can be
done only by increasing the white population.
That there are serious obstacles in the way
now, is true. That they will be removed in
time, I sincerely believe; and to hasten
that object, if I can, by your permission, I
will tax your columns with two or throe
short articles. D. G. Daniell.
Walthourville, Feb. 17,1871.
Progress.
From May Ist, 1870, to Feb. 14th, 1871,
the First Baptist church at Wilmington, N.
C., has had some sixty additions to its mem
bership—making considerably over one-fourth
of its present numerical strength. Thirty
four of this number were received by bap
tism. Elder Hiden, the pastor, has admin
istered the rite of baptism every Sunday for
the past six weeks. Within a few months
past., the Second Baptist church of Wilming
ton has been organized, and, under the min
istrations of Elder Jno. King, now numbers
considerably over one hundred members.
They are about to erect anew house of wor
ship, in the southern part of the city; are
receiving accessions every few days, and are
much revived and encouraged.
Mercer and the Mercerians.
It is now pretty generally known that the
Trustees of Mercer University have appoint
ed an agent to raise funds for the purpose of
further endowing this Institution. This trust
they have confided to me, and I now write to
ask every student who has ever enjoyed the
benefits of the Institution to send me a con
tribution for the alma mater, that her useful
ness may he greatly increased. Let every
one who may see this appeal send some
amount, large or small, to aid in the great
work of making Mercer University the first
Institution of the country. If her children
will it, the thing can be done. Contributions
may be forwarded to me at LaGrange, Ga.,
in checks or in money, by Express or in
registered letters. Who will be the first to
respond ? „ H. C. llohnady.
Church Dedication.
Tho Second Street Baptist church, (color
ed,) Macon, Ga., was dedicated Sabbath,
February 19th, 1871. Hymn by liev. F.
Quarles, of Atlanta; prayer by Rev. Wilkes
Flagg, of Milledgeville ; reading of the Scrip
tures by Rev. F. Quarles ; second hyinn by
Rev. 11. 11. Tucker, D.D., of Mercer Univer
sity ; sermon by liev. F. Quarles, from Ps.
lxxxvii: (5, to a very large congregation,
which gave marked attention. The dedica
tion prayer was offered by Rev. 11. 11.
Tucker, D.D. A collection was taken up,
amounting to SBS, toward paying the debt of
the church, (some $200.) The house, which
is not entirely finished, is 27 by 50 feet; has
cost $1,400 thus far, and will cost SBOO more.
Will the generous-hearted Baptists (and
others in general) help this poor but faithful
church to complete their house of worship?
Y r es; i( they have the Spirit of the Lord, they
will. Their beloved pastor, Rev. J. A.
James, will thankfully receive any amount
sent to his address, at Macon, Ga. The
church now numbers, in membership, 285.
It was organized in September, 1865, with
150 members. In 1866, a church was organ
ized in it of 27 members, and went to Libe
ria; and one in 1868 of 11 members, remain
ing in the State. At 3 o’clock, sermon by
Rev. Wilkes Flagg. At o’clock, sermon
by Rev. Isaac Prymus, of Perry, Ga.
Cntlibert Baptist Female College.
The Baptist Female College has been res
urrected, the buildings improved and beauti
fully painted, and the establishment is look
ing much better than it ever looked. We
have a live, moiing man at the head of it—
brother W. B. Seals. He is one of the very
best teachers in the State, ( and no mistake.)
If the Baptists want their daughters educated,
(and not galvanized ,) they had better send
them at once to brother Seals. The school
is doing as well as was expected, yet there is
room for several more scholars. I must say
to the friends and brethren that gave a sub
scription to the College, that we need the
money to complete the repairs and purchase
furniture for the school, and I hope they will
forward the amount due, to me at once.
Thomas Muse.
Guthbert, Feb. 22, 1371.
Associatlonal Minutes.
Two Associations have been dissolved or
absorbed by others of which I have received
notice. There may be others. Please pub
lish the list as 1 have classified them, that
brethren acquainted with the facts may in
form me of the dissolution of any, or of any
error in their arrangement. 1 have a copy of
the minutes of each Association for 1870,
marked with a*. I earnestly beg the clerk,
or any brother who may see that, his Asso
ciation is not so marked, to send me a copy
of his minutes at once.
Associations which are members of the Con
vention : Appalachee, Bethel,* Bowen, Cen
tral,* Clarkesville, Columbus, Ebenezer,*
Fairburn, Flint River, Friendship,* Georgia,
Hephzibah, Houston,* Liberty, Mercer, Mid
dle,* Middle Cherokee,* Mt. Vernon, New
Sunbury, * Piedmont, Rehoboth,* Sarepta,
Southern, Stone Mountain, Tugalo, Washing
ton, Western.
Associations not members of the Convention:
Arbacoochee, Chattahoochee, Coosa,* Cave
Spring,* Ellijay, Hightower, Mountain, Law
reuceville, North Georgia,* Noonday,* Oos
tanaula, * Tallapoosa,* Toccoah, Smyrna,
Union.
Anti-Missionary: Alabaha, Upper and
Lower Canouchee, Connasaga, Hatmony, Hi
wassee, Echaconnee,* Little River, New
Hope, Oclocknee, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Prim.
Ebenezer,* Prim. Lookout, Prim. Western,
Pulaski,* Suwanee River, Towaliga, Uharlee,
Upatoie, Yellow River, United Baptist, United
Chattahoochee.
Colored: Ebenezer, Middle Georgia,* Zion,
Western.*
Reader, look at these names, and if your
Association is not marked, send me a copy
of your minutes, together with those of other
Associations you may possess, and you will
deseive the thanks of all who wish to know
the number of Baptists in Georgia.
G. It. McCall.
Ifawkimville, Ga.
Sabbath School Visitation.
I am glad to have an opportunity
of furnishing to your readers the
ing report, hoping that it may prove in
teresting at least to friends of Sabbath
schools. For the last four months I have
been a frequent visitor at the Baptist Sab
bath school of this city, (Marshall, Texas,)
and it is indeed gratifying to reporta decided
improvement in every department connected
with this school over last year. The school
numbers about 150, with a very full average
attendance. Superintendent W. P. Hudgins
is prompt and untiring in his efforts to train
children for Jesus. Oh, what a noble work !
If parents would lend a helping hand by their
presence and prayers in the school, their chil
dren would become ornaments of society and
true followersof the Lord Jesus Christ. (Pa
rents, will you come and give aid to instruct
your own children? If so, you will have
reason to rejoice in the future.) Rev. J. L.
Blitch, the pastor of this church, during his
whole pastorate, has been a co-worker in this
holy work of love,and the cheerfulness with
which he imparts instruction to the children
unfolds to the world a spirit of brotherly
kindness worthy of emulation. There are
two Bible classes; one in charge of Prof.
Boone, the other in charge of Deacon Rainey.
The minor classes are all in charge of expe
rienced teachers, who are ever watchful over
their pupils and prompt in attendance. Now,
it is fair to presume that there are but few
schools anywhere in a more prosperous con
dition. The improvement in music is almost
without precedent, and when the whole
school is singing, their songs are truly devo
tional. May God bless this school and make
it an ornament to the city and a blessing to
all its members. W. M. Willson,
Independent Missionary
Marshall, Texas, Felt. 13,1871.
Ordinations.
At Beulah Baptist church, Lee county,
Ala., Feb. 4lh, after a sermon by Rev. R. A.
J. Cumbie, the following ministers formed
themselves into a Presbytery, (by previous
request of the church,) for the purpose of or
daining brethren W. E. Hudmati and J. J.
Adams to the office of deacon, and brother
Sion Hill to the gospel ministry : Rev. R.
A. J. Cumbie, Rev. W. 11. Stanton,Rev. F. C.
David. The church was now heard from as
to the Christian character and qualifications
of the candidates, —which was satisfactory.
The candidates related their Christian expe
rience, and brother Hill his call to the minis
try, and were examined as to their belief in
scriptural doctrines as held by our denomi
nation, brother Cumbie leading. On Sab
bath, Feb. sth, the sermon was preached by
Rev. R. A. J. Cumbie, from Paul to Timo
thy, “ Study to show thyself approved,” etc.,
which was interesting and edifying to all the
lovers of Zion ; Rev. F. C. David offered the
prayer ; and Rev. H. D. Harington deliv*
ered the charge, and presented the Bible.
I cannot now remember ever hearing a more
solemn charge, or one more to th < point.
The benediction was pronounced by Rev. S.
Hill. F. C. David, Sec.
Lights and Shadows. .
How pleasant it is for the sun to come out
cheerfully and bright, after a long, cloudy
spell. It was a similar case with me when I
went from Thomasville to Quitman. It was
my first visit, too, but 1 hope it will not be
the last. I was in attendance upon a Union
meeting of the Association, which was inter
esting, though thinly attended. Bishop Mc-
Bride, —dear man, —knows how to make an
agent feel good, and a sweet home had 1 in
his house. He is a working, praying, earn
est, Index, Sunday school and missionary
pastor. Now, need i say be has a good
church, after saying what I have?. I must
tell you, l was only allowed to do half my
work. Preaching and collecting is my work,
but 1 was not allow'ed to do the collecting.
I preached to good, appreciative audiences,
and the money just came in, and before l left
there, a large ray of green light darted to
wards Marion, Ala.
Brother Mcßride preaches there bi month
ly, and has for some time, and is “ esteemed
very highly for his work’s sake.” The church
is favored which has him as pastor, and the
church that grumbles or starves him away,
will not soon duplicate him. Dr. J. S. Ba
ker lives at Quitman, and is feeble, and real
ises his nearness to eternity, and, I hope, is
ripening for heaven. He is contemplating
the preparation of an article on “ Heart Cul
ture.” I think he is right in saying that “if
the love of Jesus was perfected in the heart
there w’ould be less of sectarianism and con
troversy,” or words to that effect. Elder C.
S. Gaulden has removed from his plantation
to town. He is also feeble, but able to preach,
and is “growing in grace,” I think. Elder
J. G. McCall has nearly quit the gospel for
the law, and in the latter is doing well, 1 sup
pose. He is devoted to the Sunday school
and prayer meeting. If man is a “distin
guished link in being’s endless chain,” then
Quitman, and my first visit there, is a bright
link in the chain of events, in my being.
(Bro. Editor, tell Bro. R. W. F. that I have
my Night Thoughts yet.) Sweet will be my
memories of the quiet, neat, church-going vil
lage of Quitman, and if I, in prayer, act on
the rule,
" Remember all who love Tbee,
All who are loved by Tbee,
then I will remember all in Quitman, and
many there will sometimes think of me, on
the same principle.
1 found lights and shadows at Brunswick,
“ way down on the Scilla river,” and near the
Atlantic. The Baptists have the best house
of worship in the place, large, neat, well lo
cated and nicely seated; and the little church,
besides “straining a point” to support their
pastor, with an appropriation from our Do
mestic Board, have re painted their house
outside and renovated it partly inside, la
less than two years the church has increased
from 8 to 0:2 members, and more than 20
were added by immersion. Besides all, and
the “ tightness” of the times there, they
helped the mission cause, and treated the
agent well. But several members did not
give any, and, from-some eausea, 1 could not
dun or ask them ; but their energetic pastor,
Bro. Barrett, will get nearly as much more
as 1 got, no doubt, and send to me. Bro.
B. hjw a house and. lot, and hones has now no
rent to pay, and I hope will continue there
and be blessed iu his labors as he has been.
He has some noble eo workers. The Domes
tic Board did well in helping the church at
Brunswick. The amount so appropriated will
be like “ Seed corn,” —it wilt not be lost.
Bro. B. is a 'missionary, and a working one.
1 was well taken care of by the proprietress
of the Globe Hotel (wbo went from
and various others ; and by Bro. B. was
vored with a nice boat ride, and by Br™
L. with a carriage ride over a large part of
the place. Now, one shade I expect to have,
taken away soon, when I get more green
light. One other will be, when my dear Bro.
11. takes the Index; for there is light in the
Index to his dear w ife, if not much to him.
A shade, a deep shade settled on mo Sunday,
after I preached, to have to pray again.
Cruel !—feeble as I was. You see, Bro.
Barrett was not present, and the deacons
would not. No matter; they will do better
next time. VV. N. Chaudoin.
Ordination.
At the call of New Lebanon church, Car
roll county,Ga., the church at Bowdou called
a Presbytery consisting of Eldeis W. S.
Twedell, James Barrow, and G. VV. Colquitt.
The candidate being examined by Elder W.
S. Twedell and Elder G. W. Colquitt, on his
call to the ministry, faith and doctrines, was
found orthodox. After prayer, charge, pre
sentation of the Bible, as the book of his
counsel and guide of his life, by Elder James
Barrow, the Presbytery set him apart for
the glorious work of the gospel ministry.
Benediction by the candidate.
Our church in Bowdon has in its regular
conference, a call for contribution for the in
cidental expenses of the church. To pay our
paator, we have a resolution recorded on our
church book, that we will insure him SIOO
each year, for one Sabbath in the month, and
pay half his salary in February, the other
half in November; but, yve regret, we have
failed a little in tjie first half. Our
deacons are at work to carry it put. Brother
G. VV. Colquitt is our pastor, raised up in
our midst, loved by all for his example of
piety and sound doctrine. James Barrqw,
Bou'don, Ga., Ftb. 8,1871.
SS^**There is a alight omission in the foregoing
account —to-wit, the name of the brother oidained.
Who will supply it ?