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CHRISTIAN INTf-'Kv Y«irSODTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
VOL. 50—NO. 21.
A Religious and Family Paper,
PUBLISHED WEEKLY UT ATLSXTA. OA-. AT
Three Dollars per Annum,
Invariably in advance.
J. J. TOON Proprietor
Stay, Holy Spirit*
Words written by an invalid in time of extreme
suffering of body, yet strong in faith, and joyous
in the hope of the gospel. In hope that they may
comfort others, they art humbly submitted.
Stay, gentle Spirit, Stay,
And bear my tale of sadness :
’Tis long—the night in which I pray,
And woo Thee, long make Thy delay:
I came not here in madness.
Stav, gentle Spirit, stay,
With Thee my last breath pleadeth.
This once again I call to Thee;
On! leave me not, but let mine lie
Thy help my soul now needeth.
Insulted Spirit, stay,
Nor take Tbv flight forever:
Thy presence oft has strengthened me,
When pain and anguish would not flee,
And death stood near me ever.
Stay, peaceful Spirit, stay,
And turn away my sorrow ;
I will not fear while Thou art near,
Tho' death his icy fingers bear
Upon my life-^-to-morrow.
Stay, holy Spirit, stay—
My soul in dust repineth -.
Far angry words and vicious thought,
Anti heart with only evii fraught,
To wicked acts inelineth.
Ah. blessed Spirit, Thou
In life has not forsaken
This earthly house of poorest clay,
Who has not. known earth’s brightest way,
But bitterest cup partaken.
Yes, gracious Spirit, stay.
Nor leave me now at twilight;
The lamp of life is waning fast,
And soon the midnight must be passed,
Then comes the long, long death-night.
No light of life I see,
But death-shades gather round me.
Then while I tread this lonely vale,
And every fibre seems to fail,
Keep, Mighty Spirit, near me.
Through life's unseen way,
Companion, friend fatemal
Thou hast been. Oh ’ let me be
Sharer of heavenly joys with Thee,
In that bright day eternal.
OuJeJen, Ala., H-jy 10M, I*7l.
Good Templars A Cos.
In the good old times ‘‘gone by,’’ I wrote
a “ medley” or two for the public —that is, j
a little about this, and a little about that, all j
mixed up together, or intermixed, as you ;
m..y please to have it. Now, if I should have
nothing better than a medley about Good .
Templars «k Company, it may at least offer j
occasion for brethren to say that, “ Phil j
Crusty is at his old pranks.” ft is rumored
that the people love whisk/, brandy, gin,
rum, wines, beers and cider. Madatr. Rumor
also has it that they use these articles to ex
cess, and that too many Baptists sympathize
with the people in their taste, so far as to give
tangible proof of alliance with them. The
avowed object of Good Templars, is to put
a stop to this liquor loving and liquor using.
So far, so good. The object being good, mar y
good nun have become members of the or
ganization, who deserve oqr respect for good
intentions; and it may be that, after awhile,
Uncle Phil will feel thankful that he was mis
taken in his objections to the order. At
present, the following difficulties are in his
way, preventing his union with the Order:
1. There has been, for twenty years, in this
country, a tendency to centralism in Church
and State, and of late this tendency has
grown wonderfully stronger,and all such or
ganizations are schools to educate the young
to this lesult. Here is a North American
organization, the only strictly law-making
power in the whole concern. This central
power makes all the Constitutions of State
Lodges and subordinate Lodges in the States,
provides for the expenses to keep up the con
cern, assesses the taxes upon subordinate
Lodges, dictates the oaths and pledges to be
administered, and provides for the suspension
or expulsion for disobedience. This to be
sure, is in harmony with the pre-ent United
States Government. Congress now' not only
amends, at pleasure, the General Constitution,
but dictates State Constitutions, imposes
taxes, dictates test oaths, and for disobedience,
provides for suspension and expulsion as well
as reconstruction. This harmony constitutes
one of Uncle Phil’s objections, and he ad
mits that it may be unfortunate that he be
longs to the Jeffersonian, Calhoun school in
politics, and the Boptistic in church matters.
Not for the sake of mushroom reformations—
not for the sake of the pleasing novelties
which fascinate the young, am l willing to
lend my aid to educate the young to such
views as 1 deprecate.
2. I fear that such institutions, while there
appears to be good accompaniments for the
time, in their ultimatum produce ruinons re
sults. Should 1 charge good brethren with
training children and youth for perjury, they
would resent it indignantly. They have no
such intention. The only serious thing, iu
this respect, which our brethren overlook, is
not examining the seed they sow, An oath,
a pledge for life, is a very solemn thing. If
vou induce a youth to include harmless things,
in a pledge of abstinence, he will soon see
this, and make a plea for perjury', thinking
but little more of the perjury than of the
sweet cider or other harmless things of which
he drinks. This breaks the way to all other
disregard of his oaths. If perchance many
unite because of the parade and social enter
tainments, (as some have contessed to me to
have done, and as many others prove they
have done, by what they say of their weekly
entertainments.) such persons will grow tired
of these, as they grow older aud the cares ol
life press upon them, and will perjure them
selves before they are aware of it. The idea
is too horrible to entertain as a question of
morals. The pill must be sugar-coated so as
to swallow it without knowing it. Look
well to your seed.
3. I object to the organization especially
as a Baptist. Its constitution and operations
generally, are in conflict with our long-estab
lished pi incipies. If brethren say that the
national, the central, the late-making, tax-im
posing, disciplinary, and test oath elements
are held in common by Good Templars, Uni
ted States Government, Methodists, Presby
terians, Episcopalians, Catholics, Masons and
Odd Fellows, and a thousand and one other
organizations, and that they are all doing good
my answer is, that you have a majority on
your side; but, then, Uncle Phil belongs to
none of these, except to the United States
“ so-called and would like to see its central
idea knocked into a “ cocked hat,” and the
hat put in the bottom of the biggest ocean —
that is, I would like to know it was put there
without seeing it, —would prefer to stay on
terra jirma, and work as a Baptist awhile
longer; do not care to be baptized as deeply
as the hat. If it is said that the central,
law-making, oath-bound idea is necessary to
strength and efficiency, the answer is, that
Baptists have been strong enough to stand
the test of ages, and efficient enough to do
\m A year, f FRANKLIN PRINTING HOUSE, ATLANTA, GA, MAY 25, 1871. \ A RAM
something, and their organization is neither
national, central, nor oath-bound. Their
union, their strength, is cooperative. A
stronger, more influential, more efficient body
of men cannot be similarly collected in the
United States, than this day assembles in St.
Louis, (but for sickness, how gladly 1 would
be there to see them,) and yet, all of them
combined have not one particle af law-making ,
tax-imposing, oath-binding power. Oh, how
we love them, and love their blood-baptized
principles! Brethren, look well to your
moorings. I think lean show how we.sbonld
promote temperance, if brethren will hear
from me. Phil Crusty.
A Yindication of“R.” and “J. S. B.”
In the Index and Baptist of the 27th April
is an article from the pen of our very worthy
brother, H. B. McCalluio, (whom, though 1
know him not personally, I esteem and love as
a brother and faithful fellow laborer in the
vineyard of our common Lord and Saviour,)
which presents “R.” and “J. B. S.” in a very
unfavorable light before the public. As their
reputation cannot be injuriously affected with
out affecting injuriously the cause of Christ—
whose servants they profess to be—a vindica
tion of their character is due alike to Christ
and to them.
1. “R.” one of the Alabama editors of
this paper, is represented as an assailant of
“Florida Baptists.” Bro. McC. says: ‘‘l
infer that ‘R.’ said some hard things about
the action of the Florida Baptist Convention
in accepting,” etc. As this inference is drawn
from an article of mine, I owe it to “R.” to
say, it is erroneous. If he has said or written
hard or soft things of “Florida Baptists,” 1
know it not. The inference is wholly unwar
ranted by anything in the article from which
it is said to be deduced. For the satisfaction
of Bro. McC, 1 will state, that “R.” (Bro.
Rentroe) was ashed what he thought oi the
prospect of permanence in our Southern or
ganizations; and, in the article of his to which
I referred, he assigned reasons for fearing they
would not be sustained. The action of the
Florida Baptist Convention appeared to me
(how it appeared to “R.” I know not) well
calculated to excite such a fear. Sorry lam
that Bro. McC. overlooked “R’s” editorial.
*2. Bro. McC. questions the truthfulness of
my statement that the Horn** Mission Board
ofN.Y. had offered to expend in Florida
S4OO more than the S. D. M. Board at Ma
rion. This statement was based upon a pub-,
lished report of the H. B. and a statement
published in the Index by Bro. A. B. C., of
Monticelio, Fla. The former, in a schedule
to which 1 referred in my late response to
Bro. J. 11. C., proposed to expend in Florida,
during the fiscal year, $2,400, and the latter
stated, that he had been informed the Secre
tary of the S. D. M. Board had expressed an
intention of expending in the State $2,000,
and congratulated his Florida brethren on the
prospect of having their field well cultivated
between (or by) the two boards. lam happy
to add, he did not propose, as I understand
Bro, McC. and the Florida Baptist Conven
tion to do, to exclude the S. D. M. B. from
a cooperation in this good work. Have I
misunderstood them ? Let us see.
The Convention resolved to co-operate with
(or by an auxiliary of) the H. M. Board. If
this d*>es not amount to an exclusion of, or a
refusal to co-operate with, the S. D. M. 8.,
then we have erred—greatly erred—in the
use we have uniformly made, in our contro
versies w ith Pedobaptists, of the ancient and
approved law maxim, “ Expressio unius est
exclusio altenus" —“the naming of one is an
exclusion of the other.” As certainly as the
command to baptist believers excludes infants
from baptism, so certainly does a resolution
to co operate with a Northern Board amount
to a refusal to co-operate w ith a Southern one.
Whether the members of the Convention
generally designed by their resolution to ex
clude our Southern Board I cannot say. I
hope better things of them; but it would ap
pear, from the article of Bro. McC., that he
designed by his vote to exclude our Southern
Board from all fellowship in missionary la
bora within the State—indeed, from all par
ticipation in missionary labors in any portion
of our country. Hear him. He says: “ I
believe Bro. Sumner himself, were he ac
quainted with all the circumstances, would
say, ‘Co-operate with the Home Mission So
ciety, but give us your aid in Foreign Mis
sions, and iu the Sabbath School work,’ (the
Italics are mine;) and this, I believe, would
be the advice of our wisest and best men of
other States.” If this does not amount to the
expression of a wish that Bro. Sumner would
w holly abandon the work assigned him and
assigned by the Southern Baptist Convention
to other Boaids, 1 know not to what it
amounts. The members of the S. B. C. may
not be the “wisest and best men,” but, be
they wise or foolish, good or evil, they have
decided, time and again, most unequivocally,
publicly and officially, that they deem the
Board, of which Bro. Sumner is the Corres
ponding Secretary, if not an essential, cer
tainly an important instrumentality in the
successful prosecution of missionary labor in
the South. Bro. S. could not give the coun
sel which it is supposed, were he duly en
lightened, he would give, without proving re
creant to the trust confided to him by the
S. B. C.
Bro. McC. says: “Tlad J. S. B. been pre
sent, . . I have no doubt he would have
given the weight of his counsel for coopera
tion.” Certainly he would have favored co
operation with the N. Y. Board, but would
have protested against any act that could be
construed as indicating a wish or desire to
expel the Marion Board. That Board heard
the cries of your State, my brother, for help,
when it was like an infant in its swaddling
clothes. It was moved with compassion;
hastened to afford such relief as it could, and
for five and twenty years or more, has been
yearly sending it, by its missionaries, the
food and raiment treasured up in Christ Jesus,
of which we read in the Scriptures. Even in
the times of war, and subsequently, though
its resources were greatly curtailed, it still
continued its benefactions, * robbing other
churches to do your service.’ It has never
refused its aid, but now the little infant,
through the blessing of Heaven and the fbs
-1 tering care of our Southern Board, is growing
jup to man’s estate. It desires more aid than
• our Board can afford to give. Here comes
i our Northern Board —-(1 say our, for, being,
I trust, a Christian, 1 feel l have an interest
in it as well as our Northern brethren.) The
winds of adversity which have swept away
our wealth has wafted it into the laps of our
Northern brethren, and thanks be to God,
they appear disposed to make a good use of it
a part of it at least. One of their Boards
knocks at your door; you open it; the
stranger is clothed in goodly raiment; he
tells you the Lord has blessed him with
wealth ; he comes to offer you a portion of it;
you bid him welcome,tender him your thanks,
resolve that you will banish that old friend
of yours in his thread-bare coat, who is in the
act of dividing with you, in his poverty, his
scanty treasure; and further, resolve to em
brace this new friend in his gorgeous apparel,
and bind him to you by a formal covenant of
perpetual friendship, to the exclusion of all
all others! My counsel may not be worth
much, but such as it is, I will give it you.
You may receive it or reject it as you list,
■ Your reception or rejection of it will not be
■ likely to affect my standing with my Maker,
. (whatever it may do among men,; nor in my
condition in that eternal world into which I
i know and feel that I must soon, very soon enter
, It is this: Receive your new friend cordially
and co-operate with him actively, provided he
does not require you to abandon your old,
, well-tried and faithful friend. If he makes such
a requirement of you, point him (not your old
rieud) to the do »r, and bid him go and learn
true charity at the feet of Jesus.
1 ever take more pleasure in correcting an
error than in committing one. I therefore
candidly confess that 1 erred in supposing
that the late Florida Baptist Convention was
composed of only 10 or 12 brethren. The
public are hereby duly notified that it was
composed of fully a score of brethren who
represented in the act to which I have object
ed) their own wishes. If any Church or Asso
ciation has expressed a desire that its fellow
ship in missionary operations should be trans
ferred from our Southern to our Northern
Board, I have seen no record of the fact—nor
heard of any.
The commendations of Bro. P. P. Bishop
were unnecessary. He has a good report of
all who kuow him, and the Christian confi
dence of many who have no personal acquaint
ance with him. Such was the confidence of
the present writer in him; based upon the
testimony of reliable brethren, that he did not
hesitate to recommend his call to the pastor
ate of a church occupying (I say not one of)
the most important positions in S. Georgia.
The commendations of Bro. McC. are likely
to do him more injury than good, by awaken
ing a suspicion that the Convention acted
at his instigation, and that he came South as
an agent of the 11. M. Board, not to co-operate
with our Southern Boards and help to build
them up, but to break them down—to “di
vide and conquer” —to reconstruct our South
ern organizations! N-ne who kuow Bro.
Bishop personally will indulge such a suspi
cion, but his personal acquaintance with his
Southern brethren is, as yet, butlimited, and
I fear Bro. McC’s article will injure him in
the estimation of those to whom he is un
known. It appears to me calculated to injure,
also, in a similar manner, Bro. McC. himself,
the 11. M. 8., ar.d the members of the late
Florida Baptist Convention ; for while repell
ing the idea of being “knocked down to the
highest bidder,” he tells us of the liberal pe
cuniary aid given to them, as if to justify the
action'of the Convention in cutting loose from
the Southern Board and tying on to the North
ern! Tfiis looks very much like being in
fluenced, not by principles of right and wrong,
or Southern interests, but by dollars and
cents—purely mercenary considerations.
As to the members of the Board of Trus
tees, I know and love them all as brethren.
Their names are registered on the tablet of
my memory among my best and most disin
teiested friends; and often does my prayer
ascend to my Heavenly Father, that He would
reward them liberally for all the kindness they
have shown to His unworthy servant. As
soon could I forget my parents or my children
as forget the sympathy they have severally
extended to me in my afflictions, the words of
cheer they have spoken to me’raid dark hours
of adversity, and the promptness and liber
ality with which they have ministered to my
necessities in time 9 of need. I ask no further
favors for myself, but I do most earnestly
entreat them to rectify, at the next meeting
of their Convention, error.which it appears
to me was committed at their last session, in
transferring their fellowship and co-operation
in mission work from our Southern Board to
a Northern one, and that without the slightest
■recognition of, or any expression of gratitude
for, the long-continued and valuable services
of the former, or any expression of a desire
that it would not withdraw its support from
the missionaries it was at that time sustaining
in the State, in conclusion, allow me to re
min 1 you, brethren, of the old Latin adage,
'•Haminis est err art, ir.npier.tu veto perteverart.”
The English of which is, “It is common to
man to err, but it is the characteristic of a
fool to persevere in error.” J. S. B.
P. s.—Bro. McC. tells of the large amount
expended by the H. M. B. in Florida, but
neglects to inform the reader that a large
poriion of that amount was contributed, not
to sustain missionaries, but to help to build
or repair church edifices in certain towns, as
in Jacksonville and Lake City, and, I believe,
in Gainsville- Again, he tells us that the
missionaries are selected and recommended
bv the Board of Trustees for appointment,
but he does not tell us whether, to secure
their appointment, it is not necessary for their
recommendation to be endorsed, directly or
indirtCtly, by some agent or missionary of the
Northern Board. Would the Northern Board
appoint as one of their missionaries, a brother
who refuses to recognize the validity of bap
tism administered by Pedobaptists if ap
prized of the fact ? 1 doubt it. J. S. B.
Gratitude—Prayer.
Our recent Convention in Cartersville in
duced the pleasant emotion of gratitude to
well up in our bosom, which suggested the
strongest possible motive for devout prayer
and thanksgiving. Two things tended to ex
cite in us this feeling of gratitude. The first
is well known to ail—the spirit and results of
our Convention. We could heartily adopt
the sentiment of the Pslamist, when he ex
claimed, “ Behold how good and how pieas
aut it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity 1 .” Another source of gratitude, I must
be allowed to mention, although appertaining
to myself, yet we doubt not will interest
others', lncause of its historical bearing. At
Cartersville we grasped the hand of a number
of precious ministeriog brethren, with w hom
we associated more or less, as fellow-students
in Pennfield, from the middle of the year
1846 to the last of the year 1549. I will be
gin with the name of Bro. 11. H. Tucker,
whose words were very suggestive. When
I shook the Dr. by the hand, in the presence
of several of Mercer’s sons, he said, in his
open manner, Here are a good many of us
who were in Pennfield at the same time, and
have been working in the cause of Christ ever
since.” The truth is, the Dr. was in Penfield
a few weeks as a student, when (as I under
stand it) the Faculty advised him to enter at
once upon active duty, as they regarded him
in every way well qualified. But to proceed.
We took by the hand, Cooper, Atkinson, Jen
nings, Davi's, McCall, Callaway,Gwin, Steed,
Overton, and the two Kilpatricks. This greet
ing called to mind many other precious breth
ren in the ministry who were students at
Mercer (more or less) during our stay at that
place. Here they are: Dagg, (J. F.,) Ste
vens, Williams, Gaskili, Howel, Clark, Hogue,
Matthews, Davis, (X. K.,) White, Gallium,
Powel, Earl, Everett, Falkuer, Spalding,
Wallace, Cloud, Wilson, Lipford and Dues.
Without the aid of a catalogue, these are all
the names we can now call to mind. As to
the stewardship of these brethren, to our mind,
it compares well. Out of the whole number,
j so far as known to us, but/oiir have been
called from their labor to their reward in
, heaven during the period of twenty years!
: And only two of the number have turned
l aside from the Master’s work, so far as to de
i in and discipline. What a wonderful power
. these brethren have wielded for good in Geor
. gia, and in regions beyond ! Then, when we
add to the above catalogue of names those
noblemen of G°d who preceded our day iu
Penfield, together with those who succeeded
us, we have a mighty host for whom we will
be grateful. Mercer University once was a
success.
The- introductory Sermon at Cartersv ille
portrayed what was patent so ail—-that our
edcational enterprise in Georgia, for some
time past, and at the presenme, was, and
is, unsuccessful. The Educational Sermon
on the Sabbath following, proved to our mind
that education was necessary now to success
in the ministry; and that a> fe« we must have
who are eminently educated, in order to meet
and refute error, and defend successfully “ the
faith once delivered to the saiute.” This dis
course ought to be printed in convenient form,
that it might be sent to resioDs beyond,
where many minds are yet muddy on this
subject.
' Now, lam prepared to press nome to every
true Christain heart the importance of earnest
and devout prayer to Almighty God that the
mantle of Sanders, Dagg, Mell, Crawfiwd
and Hillyer may fall upon those now entrus
ted with our educational er.te7prise, located
in the city of Macon ; nay more, that a double
portion of the spirit of those worthies above
named, may be given the Facul
ty of our University. Everything, just now,
looks propitious. The letter from Penfield,
showing the confirmation of thi action of the
Convention, is magnanimous.-<£lod grant us
a bright and glorious future ! .
J. Stillwell.
The Toar of Pindom,— and \i .tat I Saw by
the Way.-So. I ‘
Leaving the artificial mourn 4 mentioned in
my last article, it was in my v, ay to pass an
other curiosity of no less note with which I
was familiar before the war. On this wise I
made the discovery: Passing, oi.e day, by
the house of an Indian on the hn el v banks of
the Verdigris, I saw that the dip-gap of his
cow-pen was made of very singular materials,
more like legs than rails: and upon a nearer
inspection, I discovered to my agreeable sur
prise, that they were the fossil bones of the
mastodon, megatherium, or some other huge
monster of antiquity! I called to the man
of the house, and said: “Jo. Suttohtokko, —Jo.
Apple,—(for that was his name * “what mon
ster bones are these?” “ ihev are the
bones,” (said he in Creek, smiling,) “they
are the bones of oxen that father Noah used
in hauling the gunnels of the arfc!" “ Where
did you find them?” said I. “There are
plenty of them just down that steep bluff,”
was the English of his reply. I proceeded
at once downAhe very steep declivity and soon
found quite a number of these very curious
fossiLs. The Verdigris being quite iow, made
it favorable to my search; for when that
stream is high, it covers all the curious relics
of the sublime past. (I should premise my
observation by saying that I am an amateur
geologian, but not a scientific one ) The bluff,
as J said, is steep and high; bu{ I could not
see, from rocks or gravels, that it belonged
to the drift period. On the B'ew trees
not unlike those that adorned Qte margin of
the river in other localities; beneath them
was a rich soil of the tertiary period; below
that soil was a clay like that v%ich underlies
the soil of this r* di country; jjpow that was
a grayish pipe cl ben a stratum
or bed of heavy gray roc ing iu a
straight line this
"• t.-Vn. -a . e
lik>- ,-.i many dep '.-its «*Kjßß|EW|,*varioo
periods. until they of slate;
and still Itelow this slate, erv lowest
water-mark, the were im
bedded, or rested upon a stiflHpte clay of the
consistency of whea 1 . doughfAw covered by
the slate. Here, by digging, I found two
fossil teeth with the enamel perfect; one resem
bling an eye tooth, weighing six pounds, and
the other a grinder, weighing seven and a half
pounds. These I kept uutil I lokr them (as I
did everything else) by the war. I searched
in the biue clay only to assure myself that it
was the bed on which the fossils lay; for then
I could have gathered any number of them
that lay in the shallow water and on the
gravel beds, having been washed from their
resting-place of untold ages by previous
freshets. I found no tusks, and have heard
of none being found by others-benjamin Mar
shal, a deacon in the MoskoFe church, told
me that he found a rib tha. measured ten
feet in length, which he sent to Real’s museum.
Martin. Vann, my host of the lake, found a
thigh bone that required threc_men to lift it
iu = a canoe, and they were compelled to
throw it out to prevent the canoe from cap
sizing. Some of these bones.are petrified
and others are not, but will crumble by fric
tion when expcee.l to the air and sun. Their
size Is no less wonderful than their number,
especially when we take into fee account the
strong presumption, that for untold centuries
thev have been decaying, and have been all
the while carried off by swift currents from
the swollen Verdigris as they' now are! If
they were not drifted. —of which I can see
no evidence that is satisfactory, —how came it
to pass that so many huge mo&sters left their
bones in that particular locality? There Is a
lick near by at present, and various kinds of
waters, as salt, alum and chalybeate; some
above, and others below the bed of fossils
Did they come to lick as cow- do now?—but
then, there is no miry marsh?: why did they
die in that place? The laV« also and the
river are near by, and the Artificial mounds
are not many miles the mound
builders kill them?—for no tone can prove
that the latter lived, loved s-d labored in the
historic period; and tV ! *s of the former
are in a better state of preser ration.
How ignorant are we, and yet how pre
tending! How “great aud marvellous are
thv works, Lord God Almighty!” One thing
is certain: these animals lived when there
was a climate differing widely from the pre
sent one; for neither the flora nor fauna of
our country, at this time, could support them.
If they were herbiverous, they could have
browsed the leaves and twigs from the tops
of our trees, and the grass beneath, and then
have lain down hungry at might! On the
occasion of this last visit the river was very
high, and I could find no more than the ar
ticulation of a thigh and leg bone, the size of
a half bushel measure, and part of a jaw
bone, too big for Sampson to have used in
slaying the undrcumcised; go I left and pro
ceeded on my Tour of Pinddm.
H. F. Bucornr..
Afiw). Creek Satin.
Worthy or lßuUtUou.
The Bapti.-t churches in Bur mail are an ex
ample to the American churches. Mr. Brav
ton, the Baptist missionary now in this coun
try, says that every one of the more than
twenty thousand members of the burmah
churches, is a total abstinence man or woman,
and that a member would be disciplined for
tippling, as soon as for idolatry.
Would that all our churches could show
such a record. And why should they not?
Hie evils and inevitable resaits of” tippling”
are the same here as in Burmah. The prae
lice jeopardizes the Christian character, and
destroys the influence of the professed disci
ple here as it does there. Why, then, we
ask—and earnestly do we press the ques
tion—why, then, should not our churches also
| raise up a standard against this enemy, which
is coming in like a flood upon our Zion ?
Fealty to our blessed Lord requires it.
Christ’s work is the rooting out of the seeds,
as well as the fruit of all sin; and the churches
are his ordained agents to carry on this work.
“ Tippling” is the seed from which drunken
ness springs. And drunkenness, the Saviour
declares to be a sit which closes heaven
agaiust its victims. The church, then, which
harbors in its bosom the drunkard, or negh cts
to warn and admonish the tippler, who is on
the road to drunkenness, is unfaithful to its
trust, and the blessed Saviour is wounded
and dishonored in the house of His professed
friends.
Faithfulness to our erring brother requires
our testimony against this sin. If be con
tinues tippling and becomes a drunkard, his
soul—precious beyond all price may be
lost, lost forever. What a sad reflection!
A professed disciple of Jesus loat from the
fold, eternally lost, through the unfaithful
ness of the church of which be is a member.
What church is willing to have such a record
as that ?
Faithfulness to ourselves, brethren,requires
this testimony. If we fail in our duty to our
brother, we “ suffer sin upon him,” and guilt
lietb at our door. The blood of our brother
who perishes through our neglect, will be
upon our skirts, and the righteous Judge will
nut hold us guiltless. B. W. I.
Baptist Looking-Glass—sa. 4.
Evening Familt Prayer.
Ministers cf the Gospel, in partaking of-the
hospitalities of their brethren, have frequently
seen aa evil, as connected with this duty.
The family remain up to a very late hour;
some of the members of the family become
fatigued, and some of the children fall asleep,
or perhaps are sent to bed. By and by the
minister is asked to “go to worship He
takes the Bible in order to make a beginning,
and it is with difficulty, sornttimes, even in a
large family, that the presence of more than
the father and mother can be obtained. This
is certainly not family worship; it may be
worship, but it can hardly be called family
worship, as the most of the family ar e absent.
Sometimes, too, the minister is engaged in
this duty while the children are asleep, or
some of the older members of the family are
nodding in the room in which the service is
performed. God, by the mouth of the
prophet Malachi, says, “ifye offer the blind
for sacrifice, is it not evil ? and if ye offer the
lame and sick, is it not evil ? offer it now
unto thy governor; will he be pleated with
thee or accept thy person ? saith the Lord of
hosts.”
The evening family devotions are frequent
ly conducted at such a late hour that those
engaged may be said to be offering before
God the sacrifice of the blind, the lame, and
the s'ck. Among the Jews, the very best was
rtquired fur sacrifice, and the pious Jew
would wish to offer nothing short of the best.
God, in the gospel dispensation, calls for
nothing less in our devotion, than the very
best feelings in our hearts. But we are far
from offering these, when we gather around
the family altar, with feelings better suiting
subjects lor the bed, than with those feelings
that should pos6ess supplicants at the throne
of grace.
For those of our brethren who are not
regular in the performance of the duty of
family prayer, morning and evening, we sup
pose a suggestion on the suoject of evening
family prater to be useless; but for those
who are in the habit of calling their families
around them to offer the morning and eve
ning sacrifice of devotion, we make a few re
marks. We believe that such will find it a
good plan, as soon as the evening repast is
over, to attend to the duty we are consider
ing. Let the Bible be at hand, and let it be
understood, that it be the first duty as soon
as the meat is finished. They will thus secure
the presence of all the members of the fami
ly. The duty wiil not likely be neglected, if
mis be the rule. But allow this time to pass,
and there is great probability that in many
cases the duty will not be performed. Some
thing unexpected may occur in the course of
the evening that requires the presence of the
head of the family to a late hour; or a neigh
bor may pay a visit, and then there is a
temptation presented for the neglect of the
duty, as it may seem to be an intimation to
the neighbor (if the duty is performed) that
it is time for him to go to his home.
We suppose that some of our brethren de
siring to be punctual in family worship, have
been hindered from the duty by the circum
stances that we have mentioned, and perhaps
by others. We aie partial to the custom of
this duty being performed before the members
of the family rise from the table.
If a neighbor should then call to spend the
evening, he will not feel that he is hurried
home , nor will a friend from a distance feel
that he is hurried to bed, if it is mentioned to
each, that tins is the family rule. This meth
od leaves all the members of a family at
liberty to make their own bed time, and it
gives the same privilege to the fatigued jour
neying minister, who is expected to lead the
devotions of the family. The minister, how
ever wearied he may be with his journey, dis
likes to ask to retire if he knows he is ex
pected to conduct family worship; he is fre
quently a sufferer (to a greater extent than
is know n) on accouut of the delay cf this
duty to a late hour. In penning the above,
we have taken (what we regard as) a common
sense view as well as religious view of the
subject.
A CORRESPONDENT OF THE INDEX.
Plurality of Elderg.
Several months ago, the Editor of the In
dex discussed the question, whether deacons
are anywhere in Scripture called elders. He
argued that elders were officers appointed to
rule; and since all ruling most be by the
word of God, he drew the conclusion that
elders must have been ministers or teachers
of the word. The argument was satisfactory
to me, and on this point my mind has been
at rest; but it has frequently revolved a
question which he suggested in connection
with this subject, namely: W hether we have
not departed from the usage of primitive
times in not having a plurality of elders in
our several churches. No correspondent of
the Index, as far as I have observed, has no
ticed this suggestion; and perhaps some of
my thoughts on the subject may not be unac
ceptable to the readers of the paper.
We read in Acts xiv: 23, that elders were
ordained in every church; and in Tit. i: 5, that
Titus was left in Crete to ordain elders in
every city. We may infer from these texts
that a plurality of elders was common, if not
universal, in the apostolic churches. We have,
therefore, departed from the primitive cus
tom, and the inquiry arises. How shall we
return to it ? Shall we insist that all our
churches —some of which have now no elders
—-dv.dl at once appoint two or more to this
office ? To make men ministers of the word
whom the Holy Spirit has not qualified for
the work, wilf result in evil. What is to be
done? We ought to return to the primitive
custom; and if we cannot do it without
causing more harm than good, we are in a
sad dilemma.
if we examine the subject thoroughly, we
shall discover that our departure from the
usage of the primitive times has originated
in onr departure from the spirit of these times.
The way to restore the apostolic custom, is to
regain the apostolic spirit. We attend to our
secular affairs with engrossing interest; and
we forget that our chief duty is to advance
the kingdom of Christ and save the souls of
men. All this is work of so little importance
in our estimation, that we do not think many
laborers in it to be necessary, and we conse
quently do not pray that the Lord would send
laborers into the harvest. A single elder can
do for any church all the work which that
church wishes to accomplish. The gift which
the Holy Spirit bestows to make men useful,
we do not sufficiently prize ; and we do not
pray that they may be bestowed on ourselves
and others. We do not covet earnestly the
best gift. Here begins our failure.
In 1 Cor. xii, Paul speaks of diversities of
gifts proceeding from one Spirit, and of di
versities of members in the one spiritual body
of Christ. Every member in this body has
its proper office, and no one of them can say
to the rest, “ I have no need of you.” Near
the close of the chapter he enumerates vari
ous functions for which different members
are qualified by the peculiar gifts bestowed on
them; and among these he includes teachers,
and helps in government. If Bro. Shaver is
right, both of these may be included in the
class of elders, since both teaching and gov
erning require the use of the word. We have
a like distinction in Eph. iv: 11, where evan
gelists, pastors and teachers are mentioued.
Without including deacons in the elders’
offices, then, are diversities of gifts in that
office qualify itg men for different servibes.
We want many such men in our churches.
We want men who will gladly perform the
precise service for which they are qualified,
as the different members of the body fulfill
their proper functions without saying, “Be
cause I am not the head I am not of the
body.” We want men who will harmo
niously co operate with all other members of
the spiritual body without seeking the pre
eminence, and without declining to labor
because they do not possess it. Such men
cannot abound too much in our churches,
and there is work enough for them all, before
the world is conquered into subjection to
Christ. This diversity of gifts iu the single
office of eldership, is “ for the perfecting of
the saints for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ.” It will
be a glorious time when every church will
have a number of these elders. D.
Rhetoric—Logic.
We use the word Rhetoric as that which has
reference to the manner of composing orations,
essays, etc., and also as the art of speaking with
propriety, elegance and force. Aristotle is gen
erally regarded as the first who gave to rhetoric a
scientific form. Some may ask, “ Was there no
oratory before rhetoric was reduced to a science ?”
We at once answer, that there was, just as there
is a language before a language is reduced to a
system. Those who wrote on rhetoric or gave in
structions in it, and those who afterwards reduced
it tc a system, obtained their principles from the
best works and from the oratorical performances
of those who were distinguished for oratory.
Some sages of ancient Greece were once en
gaged in the discussion of the question, “ Which
is the best form of government ?” The one who
spoke last gave it as bis opinion, “ that that is the
best form under which an injury done to the hura
bteei citizen, is regarded as injury done to the
Slate.” .
This was,tbe kind of government in tho Grecian
States ft. owe liundr-dand fifty years. Then U
was that freedom of speech on ail important pub
lic matters was permitted and encouraged. Then
it was that oratory had her palmiest days ; then
it was that Demosthenes, and Pericles, and others
charmed the listening and enraptured audience,
moved the hardest heart, and drew tears from
eyes unused to weep.
It is frequently the case, however, in the pre
sent day, mat the one that is most easily affected
under the eloquent appeal of some public speaker,
is the ver f one that will object to the study of
rhetoric. No two studies have been more mis
represented than rhetoric and logic.
The object of rhetoric is not (as some have sup
posed) to cause us to forget nature, but to bring
us back to nature—to correct errors into which
every one is liable to falL When the pupil writes
an essay, we do not design, through rhetoric, to
teach him how tnaDy words he &hould have in
every sentence, and how many sentences he
should have in every paragraph ; what arguments
he should adduce, and with what figures he
should adorn bis subject. When the pupil speaks,
we do not design, through rhetoric, to teach him
bow often be should raise his band and point to
the heavens, or extend bis hand and point to the
objects around him. We only design to give some
general hints, and to lay down some general prin
ciples for his guidance.
“ Nature and art,” says the writer, “so far from
being always opposed, are often the very same
thing. Thus, to adduce a familiar example, and
one closely related to the present subject, it is nat
ural for a man wbo feeis that be has not given
adequate expression to a thought, though he may
b&ve used the first words suggested, to attempt
it again aud again. He, each time, approximates
nearer to the mark, and at length desists, satisfied
either that be has done what he wishes, or that
he cannot perfectly do it, as the case may be. A
writer, with this end, is continually transposing
clauses, reconstructing sentences, striking out
one word and putting in another. All this may
be said to be art, or the deliberate application of
means to ends; but it is art consistent with na
ture.”
With regard to Logie , some have supposed that
it is an art of reasoning, or, in other word?, that
its object is to teach the pupil to perplex and de
ceive others with false reasoning. So far from
teaching us to use sophistry in arguing with
others, the object is directly the opposite. The
object is to prevent others from misleading vs
with their sophisms. Logic is a friend , not an
enemy to truth. If she goes into the recesses of
error, it is not that she has any friendship for
error. As the vigilant public officer brings the
transgressors of the law from their hiding-places,
that thus they may be arraigned before the bar of
their country, so logic goes where error lies con
cealed, to bring her out into public view, that all
may behold her and pass sentence against her.
This is her recommendation, and no higher can
be demanded for her.
The minister of the gospel should make use of
every lawful means that can assist him in his
great work. Paul’s “ preaching was not with en
ticing words of man's wisdom”—be did not rely
on anything human for success, yet he was both
an orator and a logician. The minister should
bring, not his studies, but the/nuf of his studies,
into the pulpit After be has done all that human
preparation can do, he should remember, “ God
givetb the increase.” B. W. Whi jikx.
MerskallttUU, Ga.
A Tbit to a Lunatic Asylum.
There are two institutions for the insane in
Kentucky. It has been my good fortune to visit
the one located near Hopkinsville, called the
Western Lunatic Asylum. With the genial editor
of the Western Recorder, and some other friends,
one bright morning in April, we entered a rock
kindly provided for us by Dr. Rodman, and
rode about two miles to the institution. The en.
tertaining conversation of Bro. Rust and Dr. Rod
man, with now and then a word from Bro. Dun
can, so shortened the distance, that we were only
fairly prepared to begin our ride when the im
mense pile of buildings loomed up before us. By
the way, if we ever take a long trip and have the
choice of compenior.s, give us these gentlemen.
Their knowledge of the world, exteat of informa
tion and ready command of what they know, ad
mirably fit them for *• compagnons du toyage."
The asylum for the insane has been, for several
years past, under the superintendence of Dr. Rod
man. As we drew near to it, we saw, on every
side, evidence of his taste and skilL The first
thing which struck us, was the air of neatness
which pervaded the entire establishment.
Every part of the building which we visited, ap-
WHOLE NO. 2541.
peared as if it had just passed under the supervi
sion of an eminent admirer of neatness, who had
been making special arrangements for the recep
tiotf of guests. Yet we have reason to believe that
we saw the institution in its every-day dress.
In the hall, we were introduced to the amiable
wife of Dr. Rodman, whose presence adds so much
to the happiness of the unfortunate inmates of this
sad abode. .
As we passed from ward to ward, we could but
admire the admirable arrangements for the com
fort of the inmates. We are not surprised to learn
that so many of them are happy and contented.
While we were there, a poor lady, who was aware
of her condition, made an application for admis
sion.
All that Christian benevolence can require, and
cnltivated medical skill suggest, appears to be
done for tbe improvement of the unfortunate in
mates.
It is singular what a variety there is in the
manifestations of insanity. Some were seated
with folded hands and down-cast eyes, the very
picture of despair; while others laughed merrily,
and seemed full of glee. Some were busily en
gaged, working as if compelled to finish an assign
ed task in a given time, while others were leisurely
sauntering to and fro. Some were* disposed to
cooverse, while others turned away in sullen si
lence.
We felt like thanking God for placing it in the
heart of men to provide such a comfortaole refuge
for the afflicted of our State.
We visited the bakery, where s skilled artisan
was preparing loaves of excellent breid—the en
gine-room, where a beautiful machine was quietly
performing its daily labors, and saw it throw a
stream of water to a great height; and the chapel,
where religious worship will soon be held; and
everywhere noticed the same marks of care and
management
We certainly shall not soon forget our visit to
the Western Lunatic Asylum. W.
Loose Discipline. '
1 frequently see passing remarks in regard
to discipline, on which I wish to say a few
things.
Ist. I say that discipline is the foundation
of all institutions, both civil and religious.
Without a foundation nothing can stand.
Loose discipline is worse than none. Then,
when the rains descend, that house must fall,
according to the Scriptures.
2nd. The remedy. I think the remedy
lies couched in the hands of the ministry. 1
see in the small sphere of my acquaintance
some members absent from conference from
thiee to six months; hear of some drinking,
fighting, gambling, dancing, selling whiskey,
making w hiskey, etc., and the preacher in
charge seemingly unconcerned. Oh, alas !
watchman, what of the night 1
3rd. The process of remedy. I frankly
acknowledge, 1 approach this with reluctance
and timidity, that 1 should advise you or any
of my superiors. But this i9 it: Let us
have from your pen, or some other able or
worthy brother, a note appear in the Index
from now until the convening of our Asso
tions, on strict discipline. Urge upon that
body to endeavor to do something to save us
from ruin, caused by loose discipline.
Wm. McCarter.
Rod Mills, Ala , May 3rd, IS7I.
New Ideas to Many.
First. An experienced, intelligent, sys
tematic, extemporaneous public speaker can
compose and memorize a speech in leoa time,
without pen or pencil, than with them.
Second. Nearly all systematic, well-di
gested discourses have boen previously mem
orized, almost verbatim et literatim , whether
delivered by Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian
or Statesmen.
Third. Every orator of note uses notes as
a help.
Fourth. One of the most difficult things
that an inexperience public speaker has to
learn, is that of arranging his notes to the best
advantage.
Fifth. Our public speakers, as a class, are
our deepest and most profound philosphers.
No more at present. Mac.
Jfffedsm Cos., 6a.
Tests of Pastoral Efficiency.
is there iiot a lack of prayer in seeking
for, and calling Pastors 1 The conduct of
some churches is singularly inconsistent.—
Sometimes a hot haste, a greedy covetous
ness, is apparent in their calls. Examples
are numerous where there could have been
but little inquiry or prayer. One minister
of the writer’s acquantance, not espeically
gifted, and certainly not a profound theolo
gian, has beeu invited to churches in twelve
different States. It is harsh to affirm that
importunate prayer had not preceded these
diverse calls. Precipitate action is some
times the result of a reputation for popular
oratory. Desire to possess a showy and at
tractive man in the pulpit may concpal itself
among the motives prompting a preference.
It is much to be feared that there exists,
even among Christians, very erroneous esti
mates of the requisite qualification tor the
ministry. There is too little reliance upon
the Holy Spirit, and too feeble a sense of
indispensableness of active co-operation be
twixt Pastor and people. Culture is a less
potent element of ministerial success than
Christian character. Zeal, piety, common
sense faith, earnestness, loving mamiers, of
ten win that which learning and eloquence
fail to secure. Statistical tables are not the
conclusive proofs of church prosperity. A
better way may be found than the baptisms
in a year. Baptisms are to be desired, la
bored for, but a church 19 to be instructed and
trained. The greatest preacher is the one
who does the most good. The most suc
cessful Pastor is the one who gets his mem
bers to work [and keeps them at it. I sus
pect that our churches need much instruction
in reference to the ministery, and reference
also to the duties and obligations of Chris
tians, individually acting in association.
TheProvidkktial Order. —A man of rank
possessed a painting, which looked at as it
lay extended upon a Jong table, showed onlj
a tew coarse strokes and patches of color;
but when viewed through a glass, w hich was
fixed at one end, beautifully portrayed a most
charming woman. This picture very aptly
represents the all-wise government ot the
world. Viewed merely ou the surface, noth
ing can seem more jarring or disordered. It
offends not only the heathen, but also Chris
tians. Solomon saw that the race was not to
the swift nor the battle to the strong; nor yet
bread to the wise; nor yet riches to men of
understanding. On the other hand, they who
contemplate the state of the world through
the glass of the word and of faith speedily be
come convinced that a secret order runs
through this apparent disorder; so that what
wc call fortune, accident or chance, is in re
ality nothing but the execution of His merci
ful, righteous and inscrutable plans. — Got
thold.
Hastt Crrrds. —As unnealed glass will
fly to pieces because the surface has hardened
into form, without giving time to the parti
cles within to take their natural positions, to
a creed or a church which is accepted out
wardly, before the mind within is prepared,
is likely to be broken apart. Such a creed
or church may have the outward aspect ot
unity, but it is in a condition of unstable equi
librium within. Its emblem is the gltss toy
called a Prince Rupert’s bubble, made ot
glass suddenly ohilka, which w.ll fly asunler
if you scratch the turface anywhere ever so