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PUBLICATION ROOMS —4 16 SOUTH BBOAOWAT.
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Editor: Bev. D. SHAVER, D.D.
OOBKBSPONDING EDITORS :
Key. J. J. D. RENFROE, TdOadega, Ala.
Rby. 8. HENDERSON, D.D Jacksonville, Ala.
THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1871.
The Southern Baptist Convention.
Perhaps a thousand persons, including dele
gates and visitors, were attracted to St Louis, by
the first session of the Southern Baptist Conven
tion west of the Mississippi. The spirit of the
meeting was-excellent, and its influence must be
salutary. The Old School Presbyterian, published
in that city, sayß: “ More than three hundred
brethren are in attendance. Their deliberations are
dignified and earnest, indicating a profound ap
preciation of their high calling and whole-souled
devotedness in its pursuit” “Asa deliberative
body,” writes the correspondent of a Northern
religious journal, “ this Convention is superior
to any other Baptist body with which we are
acquainted.” “ The Southern Baptist anniversa
ries at St. Louis,” the Watchman dk Reflector
says, “ revealed a depth and richness of charac
ter, which our colder surroundings do not tend
to produce.” And the St Louis Central Baptist
testifies: “ The impression left by the Convention
upon the religious element of our city, was all
that could be desired. It was a single wave, to
be sure, that passed over the surface of this
strange community, which soon retired, leaving
no impression on the public mind so intensely
absorbed in worldly pursuits, and so content with
false religion and godless creeds; but in many a
congregation and home the memory of the South
ern Baptist Convention will be cherished among
the pleasant things of life.” Asa whole, we in
cline to think that the speeches called forth by
the discussions of the Convention, were scarcely
equal to those of the past few years; a fact prob
ably due, in great part, to the unfortunate con
struction of the edifice in which the sessions were
held. Perhaps, too, what was novel in the char
acteristics of a great Western city, rather Euro
pean than American, disturbed the usual currents
of thought and feeling in the bosom of the dele
gates, and gave some show of reason to the opin
ion of a writer in the National Baptist , “ that
the meetings were not marked by an earnest de
votional spirit.” But, after every proper abate
ment from these quarters, we unhesitatingly pro
nounce the Convention a success, and should
have grieved to lose just such a “gathering of
our hosts,” the present year, through the zeal of
certain brethren for biennial sessions.
Finances.
The aspects of the work prosecuted by the Con
vention, through its Boards, are hopeful. The
tide rises. The cause moves forward. Witness
the receipts of the Boards for the last year, and
their increase over the year preceding:
Boards. Receipts. Increase.
Domestic Miss.on <81,223 17 < 9,673 44
Foreign Mission 25,749 80 3,811 27
Sunday School 19,193 71 11,872 53
Total <76,171 18 <24,857 24
We are profoundly conscious that, notwith
standing the monetary pressure throughout the
greater portion of our territory, these figures
should have been much larger, in view alike of
the importance and the necessities of the work.
But is there not ground for grateful acknowledge
ments of the Divine grace, actuating our people
to lay upon the altar of Its service this augment
ing offering? And may we not read in it the
promise of a more expansive liberality and a more
efficient labor for the time to come ?
We give a tabular statement of the contribu
tions from each State to the three Boards, with
the increase, or decrease, as compared with the
sums reported at the session of the Convention
in 1870:
States. Contrib'ns. Increase, decrease.
Georgia. <12,841 60 $1,553 85
Kentucky 9,865 02 2,170 30
Alabama 7,896 64 1,727 02
Tennessee 5,815 87 81,24 42
Mississippi 4,527 05 1,455 48
Missouri .... 4,323 96 2,980 19
Virginia.... 4,182 44 1,088 80
Maryland 4,154 27 <1,611 07
South Carolina 8,675 16 1,529 08
North Carolina...... 2,179 62 804 20
Texas 1,819 82 167 87
Louisiana. 1,141 85 469 48
West Virginia 614 62 188 23
Arkansas 452 71 417 81
Florida 122 85 sl2 50
With a judicious system of agencies, this ag
gregate might be doubled; and, since that ques
tion has been referred to the Boards, we hope
they will suffer no timid counsels to embarrass
their action. Agents that cost are most likely to
be paying agents : let us have them wherever
they are found necessary—and is not that every
where ?
Missions.
There has been no period since tbe year 1860,
when the prospects of our Foreign Missions were
in equal measure encouraging. Our Board has
been honored by Providence with the high dis
tinction of securing the organization of the first
“Apostolical Church ” established within the city
o! Rome, since the Great Apostacy, twelve ages
ago, enthroned itself there—an event sufficient to
render memorable, not a twelvemonth only, but
a generation I By no spasmodic effort, but in
legitimate development, our operations are to he
enlarged, in the different fields abroad, by the
employment of fifteen or more additional workers,
—American, African, Italian, Chinese. Progress
has characterized the work at home, also. More
than twice the number of laborers engaged the
previous yeartave been sent into the vineyard;
and their ministry has been crowned with more
than twice the number of haptisras over which
we rejoiced at the Louisville
are quite cheering, as well, that the Lord intends
to give u* a predominant religious influence
ameng the Indian tribes. Everything, in fine,
brightens with tbe sunlight of a more auspicious
epoch, than we have known since the storm of
war fell on the land. In this morning- hour, who
will not gird himself for work ?
Our Seminary.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,
Greenville, S. C., needs a helpful hand. It must
be relieved from a debt incurred largely in the
interest of poor studen ts. No class has a stronger
hold on the sympathy of our churches; and we
cannot doubt that a prompt response will be
made to the appeal which is, substantially and
peculiarly, theirs. The reader will have noted,
too, that the Seminary proposes to change its lo
cation, on condition that the State to which it is
transferred shall raise three-fitbs of the sum nec
essary as an adequate endowment. Now, if part
ed from its present mornings, to what State
should it go, if not to the one which leads all
others in the number of Baptists ? We are One
Hundred and Thirtt-Four Thousand strong in
Georgia: can we not secure the Seminary here ?
What answer, brethren, will you make f Is Lou
isville to “walk over the course,” and possess
herself of the Institution without a contest f
The Colored Population.
The Convention manifested its abiding interest
in the spiritual welfare of the African race among
us. The Board at Richmond was recommended
U> “train colored preachers” for the work in I
the CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, JUNE 8,1871.
Africa; and the Board at Marion, to “prosecute
its mission-among this people with all practicable
vigor and liberality.” We should have been bet
ter pleased, if these recommendations had taken
the shape of instructions; and if the Board at
Memphis bad been instructed to institute special
efforts for the establishment of Sunday schools
among so large anil important a class of our pop
ulation. “ The King's business requires haste.”
Too many perils environ the black man, and our
own well-being is too Ultimately bound up with
his, to justify, or even to palliate, a negligent per
formance of Christian work in bis behalf We
have scarcely done altogether “what we could”
in this department. Surely, when one Southern
Baptist has SSOO for the “ work among the Freed
men ” as prosecuted by a Northern Society, there
must be funds for this purpose which our own
organizations can call out and control.
Publication.
The expression, on the part of the Convention,
of a “desire neither to establish a general publi
cation department of its own, nor to identify
itself with any such interest now existing,” was
but a return to its original policy. But we en
tertain grave doubts as to the expediency of such
a step. In an age of general intelligence, denom
inational literature is a necessity: no people can
command, or retain, the respect of the public
without it Every denomination has found itself
compelled, in greater or less degree, to issue this
literature for itself: there has been a demonstra
ted and felt call for something more than a resort,
in this matter, to a counterpart of the “ passive
commerce” of the carrying of ex
ports and imports to and fro, not in their own,
but in foreign vessels 1 In the light of these con
siderations, it seemed to us that to disavow the
work of publication was—to invite the intrusion
of Societies located outside the territory of tfie
Convention and in some sort inimical to its inter
ests, for the supply of an absolute and impera
tive need,—or to abandon this supply, within that
territory, to counsels less wise and less safe than
the Convention was competent at once to furnish
and enforce. But the discretion of the brethren
decided otherwise, and we “ acquiesce.”
Personal.
We shared the hospitality of our esteemed
confrere , Rev. J. H. Luther, editor of that enter
prising and admirable journal—the Central Bap
tist. He knows as well bow to make his dwelling
home-like to a wayfaring brother, as to enrich
the columns of his paper. If there were a strong
er way of putting it, our grateful sense of thf>
kindness received from himself and his family
would avail itself of that. Our stay in the city
was marked, too, by the formation of friendships,
strengthening the ties of relationship with the
cement of acquaintance aod affection, which, if
never renewed on earth,- will abide and mature,
we trust, in “the land of the Hereafter.” To
that we all hasten: let us all prepare for it.
The Promises.— Prince Ahmed—so the le
gend runs—received from a benignant fairy the
gift of a tent, lying, when unused, withiu such
narrow Bpace that he might Bnugly stow it in his
pocket, but unfolding, when the hour of need
came, into a shelter for his whole army. Is not
this a fit image of the “exceeding great and preci
ous promises” contained in Scripture ? Before the
temptation or the trial—the sorrow or the ensnare*
ment—overtakes us, for which they were designed,
how little we see in them, —in what dwarfed pro
portions they lie under the eye 1 But when our
path traverses a “weary land”—when the sun
scorches, or the night waxes wild, or the storm
blows and beats upon us, —how they expaad into
A pavilion of protection and repose, and their
.covert wraps the soul about with soothing and
safety i The heart can iearn thij| lesson ex
perience only ; and the experience that teaches it
is blessed, though mingled with disappointment
and pajn in all earthly spheres of feeling. Let us
meekly tread, then, ' the way along which Love
leads us to this knowledge of the “preciousness”
in Its words of promise—and in Itself.
Fashionable Amusements vs. Innocent Se
creations.
We now propose submitting some of those so'
called fashionable amusements to the testa sug
gested in our last issue. And as Theatrical amuse
ments have, perhaps, more apologists than any
other, we select them first. Our objections to these
are threefold: They furnish the merest counterfeits
of virtue and innocence ; they trifle with the most
sacred impulses of the human heart; and they in
capacitate those who attend them to discharge the
most important and solemn duties of life.
I. They are the merest counterfeits of moral ex
cellence. The simple capacity to act virtue is the
passport to the stage of both sexes. All that a
star actor or actress has to do to secure the popu
lar ear is to simulate the assumed character. In
deed, the success of each is measured by the
degree to which he or she can practice this dis
simulation. The holiest language of the human
heart is not unfrequently uttered by the lips of a
debauchee or a harlot, as if to show there is neither
truth nor virtue amongst men; for every one must
see that if the most sacred terms the heart can ex-
press are to be taken up and bandied about by
such counterfeiters of so precious-a coin, it must
undermine our confidence in all protestations of
morality and truth. Do we find the purest and
best models of virtue in the ranks of those who
habitually attend these theatrical amusements ?
' IT. These amusements trifle wiih the purest and
holiest sensibilities of the heart. These sensibili'
ties were given to man, not to be played with, but
to be appealed to by actual contact with every day
life. Shall we expend that full tide of sympathy
with which God has endowed us upon the mock
cries of oppressed innocence and virtue, as they
are acted upon the stage, when we can “visit the
fatherless and the widow in their afflictions,” and
weep when God dramatizes—when real death
smites a beloved object and educes the catastrophe;
Is it not a fact that as we grow familiar with th e
mock heroes and heroines in suffering, we deaden
our sensibilities to actual suffering f When the
profligate and vile steal the livery of virtue in
which to counterfeit its most sacred achievements,
can the effect be otherwise than deadening to “the
genial current of the soul ?” It is recorded of the
keeper of the Guillotine iu the days of the French
revolution, that immediately after his morning’s
bloody work, in which he bad decapitated the
usual quota of his countrymen, a friend discovered
him weeping convulsively over the “Sorrows of
Worthier I” He could inflict the extremest pain
with the stolid insensibility of a demon, and
then weep over imaginary sufferings with the
saintly cant of a Jesuit. We would repeat it with
a more than common emphasis, it is a great moral
wrong to trifle with these sacred emotions and
sensibilities of the human heart
111. Does not habitual attendance upon theatri
cal entertainments incapacitate the mind for the
most important and serious duties of life ? Leav
ing out of the account the loss of time, which is no
inconsiderable item, we would only speak of the
effect upon the mind and heart Is not this effect
to be deprecated ? As the young mechanic
emerges from the glitter of fashion he there en
counter in what condition is he to enter bis work
shop ? After gazing upon the silks snd diamonds,
laces and jewelry—after being thrilled, entranced
with the pantomimes of a stage every night ip the
week, bow will he look upon the plane, the ham
mer and the trowel f Or if he is studying a pro
fession, in what condition is he, after witnessing
the vulgar tricks and witticisms of clowns, and
the epitomized corruptions of the theatre, to digest
— : ■■ ~—
the dry principles of Blackstone, or comprehend a
treatise on anatomy ? fn one. word, is it not a
fact that all such amusements as these tend rather
to enervate and indispose all the powers of mind
and heart to the active duties of life, than to in
vigorate and inspire them with new energy for
these duties ? So it has ever appeared to us, and
so every person has deposed who has regularly
attended them. They are dissipations rather than
recreations— they dwarf instead of expanding the
mind and heart—they are but counterfeits of the
real vritues which are to be illustrated in the life
and character of rational creatures—and are not
unfrequently the prelude to many of the darker
phases of depravity which end in a death of shame
and an eternity of remorse. H.
Scepticism. —The credulity of modern scientific
sceptics is finely hit off by Froude in his recent
Address on “Calvinism,” where he says of Dar
win : “At this very hour the ablest of living natu
ral philosophers is looking gravely to the court
ship of moths and butterflies to solve tbe problem
of the origin of man, and prove his descent from
the African baboon.” The grand verities of Chris
tianity are the only breakwater which secures for
the human mind safe anchorage from the flood of
false and Wild beliefs. Take them away, and there
remains no roadstead, or harbor, to protect the
creed-argosy of the most gifted from “going to
pieces” before the mighty wave-force of that flood.
A Variety of Items.
Our last piece in the Index —“ Baptists a Pe
culiar People”—had several injurious misprints
in it, which we hope the reader was able to de
tect. We will not attempt, at this late day, to
correct; nor do we complain, for the Indeot-of&ce
men have generally done well in setting type for
us.
The colored Baptist church in Talladega, two
Sabbaths ago, entered their new house of worship.
It is a good house, and they deserve great credit
for the energy, tact and perseverance with which
they have prosecuted this enterprise; for they
have pressed on through poverty with a liberality
and self-denial worthy of imitation. It afforded
us no little satisfaction to preach their opening
sermon for them. Their pastor, Bro. W. H. Mc-
Calpin, a colored young man, reared in this com
munity, is zealous, gifted, and prudent, with a
liberal degree of education and intelligence. His
church numbers two hundred and fifty. We re
cently heard him preach a sermon on baptism and
eommunion, which, for its ability and correctness,
surprised us. We shall expect him to do a good
work. We have tried our best, for five years, to
prepare him for this work, and to prepare the
church for him; and we now earnestly wish God’s
great grace on church and pastor.
The white church in this place are moving on
slowly with their efforts to build a house for the
Lord—moving slowly because it is a weighty en
terprise for a feeble body. Our brethren have
been liberal toward this object, and they will suc
ceed, but it will take some time yet. They
helped the colored church as much as they well
could; and they now would not object to receive
some assistance themselves.
Most of the Baptist churches in Talladega
county have moved recently in the important
matter of improving their houses of worship.
The house at Fayetteville underwent a thorough
repairing and fitting up, while Bro. Henderson
and Bro. Wilkes were together there. The house
at Syllacouga, Bro. Wilkes, pastor, is a good
house, and the church i9 preparing to paint it.
The house of the Tallassehatchee church has
just been ceiled, and otherwise improved. Bro.
E. T. Smyth, of Oxford, is their pastor. Heph
libah has anew house; Bro. Gwin, pastor. The
church at Blue Eye, Bro. W. O. Mynatt, pastor,
bnd the churih at Pleasant* Grove, have both re
cently finished similar improvements. The Tal
ladega Creek cburch is now rapidly building a
new house, which we doubt not, will be a good
one. Bro. Henderson, of Jacksonville, is pastor
of this church. The Salem church is making
some preparation to rebuild at Easta Boga. We
also hear that the Refuge church is preparing to
improve their house. The Baptists at Childers
burg are building a house. There has not been
a church organized in this last-mentioned place,
but there soon will be one, and it is a grow
ing village and an important point. These in
terests are all in Talladega county, and there
are yet four other churches in the county:
Antioch, Cold Water, Shiloh and Mount Sharon,
which we hope will catch the spirit of improver
ment and repair their houses. This is all certainly
good and encouraging, and we rejoice at it Yet
these improvements, which were much needed,
have embarrassed us in this town in our effort to
build, for they deprive us of much of that assis
tance for which we had fondly hoped from our
brethren in the country. The Baptists are strong
in this county, but they are weak in the town ;
and it would seem that every Baptist in the county
should desire to see their denomination have a
real good house at the county site. Other denom
inations have fine houses in this town, and in
building them we know that they received much
assistance from their brethren in the country. We
have been told by a county tax collector that the
Baptists pay half the entire taxes of the county.
We believe that they are as strong in the county
in all respeots as all other denominations put to
gether. And now is jt not proper that we should
expect our good brethren in our own county to
help us in our church-house building ?
And why do not some Baptists with capital set
tle in our place to do business ? This is a first,
rate town; good society, good water, mountain
air and a fertile region, with fine conveniences, re
markably healthy, very good schools, and as a
business place it is surpassed by only about four
other cities in the State. And yet, with all the
above mentioned Baptists in the county, other de
nominations are allowed to do nearly all the busi
ness of the place in all blanches.
W e have been much pleased with Dr. Hender
son’s editorials, in which he makes several wise
suggestions to Alabama Baptists. Something must
be done to revive the energies of our brethren and
to obtain the co-operation of our churches. And
we are satisfied that we shall not infuse a lively
activity into our own State Convention until we
give that Convention something to do. We would
be glad that our brethren would express their
views on this subject through the Index, and let
us, if possible, have some measures and plans that
will attract the attention of our whole people in
he State. n
Rotation.— “A Layman” in the Philadelphia
Presbyterian suggests that it might be well to
“make the ministry rotary—say every thrfee or five
years.” We think that there would be quite as
much advantage in having certain classes of rotary
laymen—whirling them about, “say every three
or five years,” from one congregation to another,
until fairly cured of “itohing ears” and hypprerit
icism. Why not move them rather than the pas
tor, if they are the discontented and unprofitable
parties f
‘The Reason War." —High Churchmen and
Ritualists in the Episcopal communion, often scout
the idea of their ultimate absorption by Roman,
ism. This, we presume, is for the reason assigned
recently by a Unitarian clergyman for the belief
that there will probably be no union between bis
denomination and Universalists —“because they
are too ne*r of jrin to be married.” But is there
no such thing as “spiritual incest,” through that
lust of error which is the counterfeit 0 f lore for
the truth ?
Reviews and Notices. M
Manual of Theology : A Treatise oil Christian Doe
trine. By J. L. Dare. D.D. Philadelphia: Ameri
can Baptist Publication Society. Pp. 879.
This work of Dr JBagg was brought before the
public in 1858, and has secured, among more
thoughtful minds, a very high repute. It deserves
even a higher. The system of revealed truth is pre.
sented by it, chiefly as “ entering the human heart
through the the Holy Spirit and trans
forming it into the image of God;” and “it ac
cordingly deducesarticles of faith, to ft great
extent, from the inward exejrcises of piety.” In
an age tempted, by many influences, to undervalue
experience, and stiff more to undervalue the rela
tion between experience and dogma, this is no
mean excellence. We are glad to know that the
Publication Society has placed the Manual on its
list, giving assurance of a supply equal to the de
mand for it. The demand, we hope, will be a
growing one. Is the denomination to be favored
from the same quftter with the Dr’s companion
volume, on “Church Order?" We should be
pleased to have it so.
Ella’s Battles. By Mrs. F. R. Fudge. Philadelphia:
American BaptistPublicatiou Society. Pp. 272, with
5 full page Illustrations.
A story of fair interest as a story—putting the
characteristics of true piety in many of its in*
ward exercires, its labors of love, and its conflicts
with evil, in a clear and interesting light. We
quote a paragraph' :*
“Our best emotions are like the evening prim
rose ; too mucfaTfunlight shuts them up ; but the
closing in of night, the falling of the evening dews,
unfold them onetfsy one, and not only is the eye
feasted with ttgfe,modest beauty of the delicate
blossoms, but the air is scented with their sweet
odor. So, in the sunlight of prosperity, we are
engrossed with our own plans and enjoyments;
and our happiness, instead of leading us, in grati
tude to the Fountain of aU good, to seek to dispense
that of which he has given us so freely, tempts us
to shut up our joy in our own bosom, and forget
that there are "all around us suffering ones in
whose sad hearts and weary lives should be dif
fused the sweej>odor of God’s goodness. But by
and by, when His hand is laid heavily upon us,
when clouds and darkness shut out the sunlight,
and tbe evening of sorrow closes around us, then
the chastening (few brings out our graces of hu
mility and charity and brotherly love, of faith and
hope and firm trust in God."
Children Called to Jesus. Anonymous. Pp. 42.
Price 20 Cents.
The City Out of Sight. By Mrs. L. C. Dougherty, of
Louisville, Ky. Price 25 cents.
These are publications of the Sunday School
Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and
seem not unadapted to tbe instruction of the young
in ‘the things that make for the peace’ of the soul.
The Bible versus Spiritualism. By Prof. G. T. Car
penter, A. M. Oskaloosa, Iowa: Call \ Bristol. Pp.
107.
This volume presents, within small space, a very
full exposure flf one of the most mischievous sys
tems of error cursing the times we live in. The
First Part—“ Spiritualism Condemned”—quotes
its leading advocates in proof of its irreligious,and
immoral character. The Second Part—“ The Bi
ble Vindicated" —succinctly and forcibly refutes
the usual objections of these advocates to the sa
cred volume. Those who desire a brief but satis
factory Manual on the subject, will find it here.
Eufaula, Crawfordville, and Savannah.
The traveller who proposes to visit the
Southern portions of Georgia or Alabama, in
the early Spring, should go well provided
with vials of smelling salts, or bottles of Dar
by’s prophylactic fluid. In this section of
country, at this season of the year, there is
no mistaking the neighborhood of a railroad
station. As you approach the spot, the air
becomes charged with a compound of villain
ous odors, m which that of sea-fowl guano
largely But when the passen
gpr, platform, where a number
of directly confront nim, the
olfactory nerves must be strong, which can
sustain, unstaggered, the shock of this batte
ry. It was under a severe ordeal of this kind
that I alighted at the Eufaula depot, one Fri
day afternoon in March. I was glad to find
M. B. Wharton watching for the arrival of
some ministering brother; and with all speed
we hastened to seek a purer atmosphere. W e
soon reached the Baptist house of worship—
a monument to the energy and enterprise of
the Baptist pastor. While seated with him
in his study, here, and during our visits to
the members of his church, I had renewed
evidences of his irrepressible energy. He
reminds one of an engine under full head, and
perpetual pressure of steam. If, in talking,
there should be a pause, he will seize upon
some scrap of paper, and fall to writing poe
try. If, in walking along the streets, you
should restrain him in his headlong rush, at
once he will begin to hum something which
bears a faint resemblance to an old hymn
tune. Under the supervision of a min
ister like this, even the drowsiest church could
scarcely dottft. But the Baptists of Eufaula
are a band of Christians, such as are rarely
met. In intelligence, culture, and above all,
in consecration to Christ, they stand in the
foremost ranks of our churches. Loving and
appreciating their pastor, their sympathy al
leviates the trials, and their affection enhances,
the pleasures of the ministerial life. Re
sponding with a kindred spirit, to his zeal,
they are now the religious power of this city,
and we trust that they will long continue to
exert a paramount influence for good.
Several months after I had visited Eufaula,
my course of travel led me to Crawfordville.
A neat brick building, not far from the sta«.
tion, is the residence of L. R. L. Jennings, the
bishop of tbit village and the regions round
about. A bold, clear headed, indefatigable
worker, and a man of prayer, his ministry
has been crowned with success here, and at
Warrenton, where he also preaches regularly.
But while his spiritual children are numerous,
his own domestic circle, unlike that of most
Baptist ministers, issmall. One little Benjamin
is the only olive plant beside his table; and
it is amusrog-to see how his paternity wreaks
itself upon this solitary charge. Every mo
tion, every half-uttered word of the little
rogue, evidently fills him with delighted
amazement, and every feature of his face asks
the question, ■“ Was there ever such a boy ]”
There is nothing in the appearance of Craw
fordville to attract attention. But the genius
and worth of one man has invested it with an
intense interest, such as it never could have
derived, even from the richest works of art,
Or the grandeur of natural scenery, At a
short remove from the depot, there is a two
storied wooden building, defying, in its con
struction, all the models of architecture, sur
rounded by no ornamental grounds, and
evincing, by the absence of many minute
graces, the want of woman’s presence. In
this house, Alexander Stephens, one of the
greatest and purest of Georgia’s statesmen,
has lived and thought. No politician can
point to a record brighter and more unsullied
than his; but the labors and honors of his
public career have not led him to neglect the
charities of private life. Though his benefi
oence has been of that kind in which the left
hand knew the right hand did, still
many acts of noble generosity, and many
deeds of kindness to the poor, have gradually
crept into the light, and thus the unostenta
tiousness of the benefactor, like the mantle
sculptured around a statue, has only tended
to enhance the grace which it partially con
cealed. Mr. Stephens is a professed Chris
tian, and from Hie manner in which his char
ities have been dispensed, we believe that
they did not spring from the fitful impulses
of a natural generosity alone, but have been
the result of * principle caught from the
Spirit of Him who once trod this earth, the
only perfect embodiment of Divine benevo
lence.
.——
With some mention of my visit to Savan
nah, I shall conclude the account of roy past
travels. My sojourn in this beautiful city,
was one of unmingled pleasure. No one,
with the soul of a Baptist, could witness,
without joy, the prosperity of our oause in
this place. Dr. Landrum has succeeded, not
only in building up a strong and united church,
but he has entwined himself in ail the benev
olent enterprises of the city, and is thus ex
erting a silent but wide-spread influence for
the truth. In his arduous work he has re
ceived no little aid from one of whom I should
like to say something—one whose power of
adaptation to ail classes, whose fascinating
manners and conversational talent are almost
unrivalled. But 1 forbear, and close this ar
ticle, as I hear, through the still air, the faint
sound of the distant town clock striking the
midnight hour. R. W. F.
Lonisvilie will Bid for the Seminary.
Bear Index —The General Association of
Kentucky had a delightful session last week at
Georgetown. Among other things it was re
solved to appoint a large committee to secure
a Cpnvention in Louisville, to consider the de
sirableness of removing the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary to Kentucky. This
committee met night before last in the room
of the Western Recorder. The result qf their
deliberations was very gratifying, revealing
the fact that a strong effort will be made to
bring the Seminary to Kentucky. During
the following day, Bro. G. W. Burton secured
the gift of two whole squads of unimproved
property in this city, as a site for the build
ings, if it can be brought to Louisville. These
two squares are worth now ten thousand dol
lars. Bro. Arthur Peter makes a donation
of another whole square, worth about ten
thousand dollars, and 30 located as to be very
valuable ten years hence. Or, he will give
in lieu of this, five thousand three hundred
acres of land in Grayson county, worth now
about three dollars per acre, lying on the rail
road from Elizabethtown to Paducah. Ano
ther brother (J. B. McFerrin) offers several
acres of very valuable land five miles from
he city, as a location for the buildings. So
much for one day. A. T. Spalding.
Louisville, Ky., May Bi*t, 1371.
Sunday School Convention.
A Convention was he|d at Ga.,
on Friday and Saturday before the first Sab
bath in this month. The pastor of the church
in this place was elected Chairman, and Bro.
J. Y. Wood, Secretary. Brethren from nine
ehurches, with a number of superintendents
and teachers from Sunday schools, were pres
ent. A permanent organization was effected
by the adoption of a Constitution and Rules
of Government. This is, so far a9 I know,
the only attempt ever made at a Sabbath
school organization, growing out of the Coo
sa Association, and though feeble in its be
ginning, it is to be hoped it will become
strong, useful and effective of great good.
Antioch reported a large and flourishing
school. Poplar Springs also reported a good
school, as did several other churches. The
Convention adjourned to meet with the Coo
sa Association, Saturday before the second
Sabbath-in October, proximo. The Coosa
Association meets with the Shiloh church,
eight miles south from this plaoe, in Armuchee
Valley. I take this opportunity to invite
Bro. Teasdale to visit this section of country
then. Dr. Chaudoin was the only foreign
minister present. He preached with his usual
zeal and acceptability; particularly did he
preach an admirable sermon to the children.
The brethren, and especially the ladies, fell
in love with Dr. Shad., and the children want
to know when Uncle Shad, is coming back.
Bro. Chaudoin ought to be well paid for his
sei vices, for he is not only a good agent, but
an excellent Evangelist. May he long live
to dispense abroad that powerful moral influ
ence which he is so well adapted to exert
among his fellow-beings. W. T. R.
La Fayette, Ga., May 16,1871.
P. S.: Wheat crops appear almost eaten
up with rust, in many portions of the coun
try. Owing to weeks of incessant rain, the
farming interests of the country promise but
a small crop this season. W. T. R.
Rotes of Travel.
At Griffin, a radiant couple came aboard,
whom the passengers readily voted brides
groom and bride. The day was a little som
bre, but their joyful faces soon dissipated the
gloom by their “bright smiles ;” and as hap
piness is infectious, the rest of the party were
immediately in sympathy with the youthful
pair.
Reaching Macon, we found the Brunswick
train already at the junction of the roads, wait
ing to receiye its quantum of passengers. A
few minutes sufficed for transferring passen
gers and baggage from one train to the other,
and soon the “ iron horse ” was off upon his
iron race-track, smoking and puffing in all the
wild independence of an Arabian barb in his
native desert. Two hours’ run brought us to
Dykes’s station, and there a “passenger aboard
was left behind” to count the stern hours and
wait for the Hawkinsville train. There is no
, hotel at this unambitious town, (?) but the
writer was pointed to a neat little cottage,
where he was told dinner could be obtained.
It was the 4th of May, and yet there were
plenty of green peas and Irish potatoes upon
the table, so that your correspondent had no
cause to complain of the bill of fare. The
landlady, who presided at table, could doubt
less teach some of our more ambitious hotel
keepers how to be polite and attentive to their
guests. She is a Christian lady, a lover of
Jesus, and should any stray traveler be, like
myself, stranded at Dykes’s, he will find sister
Perry ready to furnish him a good substantial
dinner, at aboqt half the qsual price charged
by eating houses and hotels. But if he is
seeking scenes of classic beauty, such as are
said to lie on the yine clad hills of Greece or
the sunny slopes of Italy, he lyoqld do well
to carry along with him a sac simile of Lord
Ross’s telescope, which he can turn qpon the
moon’s broad disc, or upon the rings of Saturn,
or the belts of Jupiter. There, nour, that will
do for astronomy, as Dykes’s is not tbe best
plaoe in the world for the study, and the wri
ter is not au fast on this partioular branch of
learning.
There were three or four gentlemen of leisure
about the telegraph office, which, by the way,
is the railroad office as well, who were amus
ing themselves with small pieces of colored
pasteboard with Jack, the giant killer, kings
and queens, spades, hearts and something else
painted on them. These were shuffled and
tumbled together until the royal personages
must have found themselves in moat plebeian
company. No matter, it is said politics make
strange bed-fellows, and 1 do not see why the
game played by that “Heathen Chinee” may
not mix things quite as effectually. Not un-
derstanding the game, and not being invited
to participate, your correspondent drew from
his satchel a small edition of the Bible, and
seating himself upon a box, began to read its
lessons of wisdom and instruction. And here
a strange thing occurred: those pieces of
paste-board darted away and hid, just as mice
are wont to do when puss is about, so that the
writer saw them no more. Six o’clock came
at last, and so did the train. “All aboard for
Hawkinsvilie!” was cried by the conductor,
and five of us, all told, scrambled up the steps
and were soon clattering away toward the set
ting sun, (this is poetical,) though we did not
get any nearer to him, as any one ever learn
ed. But we did wbat we started to accom
plish: we reached|Hawkinsville, and two Bap
tist preachers were met by two Baptist Dea
cons, and conveyed tp Baptist quarters.
Brother Oliver opened his doors and received
the writer to his elegant home, and sister
McCall took charge of the other preacher, j
which wasAer husband ; so both of us were
cared for, and were happy. The next morn
ing dawned bright and clear, with just enough
of fleecy clouds to give a soft and dreamy ap
pearance to the atmosphere overhead. This
was to be a gala day in the beautiful town of
Hawkinsville, a number of the Sunday schools
joining in the festivities of the occasion.
About 11 o’clock the Sunday schools of the
town and those from Hayneville formed, and
marched in procession to a grove, where a
stand had been erected to accommodate the
speakers and an excellent Brass Band. Hard
by were long rows of tables, flanking each
other, and groaning under their weight of
good things; (this is what the newspaper oor-
but I did not| hear the groans;)
at any rate, the good things were there in the
greatest abundance, all arranged most taste
fully by fair and delicate hands.
There was singing, prayer, speaking and
music by the band, and all “went merry as a
marriage bell,” though to say the truth, I never
heard that particular kind of brazen-throated
music, and so must take it upon trust from
the great English egotist. The speaking was
performed by the Rev. Mr. Fullwood, Rev.
Mr. Sweet and another “whom modesty for
bids me to mention ;” and, if the last mysteri
ous individual be excepted, the speakers ac
quitted themselves handsomely, and were
greeted with prolonged applause by the large
and appreciative audience.
At night your correspondent preached in
the Baptist Church to a large and attentive
audience. Brother George R. McCall, a grad
uate of Mercer University, is the esteemed
and successful pastor of the Baptist Church,
and is nobly sustaining the reputation of his
Alma Mater. Should the amiable yet redoubt
able agent of the Index find his way to Haw
kinsville, he can not do better than to inquire
for Brother Oliver’s—that’s what I think.
But I see Brother Shaver begins to drats his
hand softly over his flowing beard, which,
know all agents “by these presents,” is a sign
that he has heard enough; and so, dear reader,
l will act as all sensible people do under sim
ilar circumstances—close the narrative.
H. C. H.
Springville and Elyton, Ala.
The undersigned accepted an invitation to
preach a dedicatory sermon, of anew
church-house for the Baptists of Springville,
St. Clair County, Ala., on the third Sabbath
in last month (May.)
Springville is directly on the Alabama &
Chattanooga Railroad, and about thirty miles
above Elyton. It is a pleasant little village
with decided signs of improvement: several
good resident and business houses, are now
being built in the place. The Bap
tist’s are in the ascendancy in the village, and
surrounding country. The new church house
does great credit to the Baptists, both as to
its architecture, and finish. It is well located
to accommodate the village and country peo
ple. The church worshipping there, is a live
body, being ready for every good work. El
der. A. J. Waldrop, i9 their efficient pastor,
and is deservedly popular with all classes,
having been their pastor for many years.
With two improvements the church there
might be one of the best churches in this part
of the State.
First, preaching at least twice every month,
(Elder Waldrop, lives twenty miles away,
and preaches for them only one Sabbath in
each month.)
Secondly, a good Baptist Sabbath-school.
(Their Sabbath-school is a Union school)
The writer also paid a flying visit to Ely
ton ; found that there was no Baptist church
there, although Elyton is the County town
of Jefferson County, Ala., There has been
and still is a great drawback on Elyton, reli
giously as well a9 otherwise, by the
crossing of the North and South Railroad,
near twojmiles above the present town. Great
efforts are being made by a strong organized
company, to draw the town up to the cross
ing of the Railroad.
When the mineral resources of the country
around Elyton are developed, there will be
a good town built up somewhere in the
nighborhood of the crossing of that Railroad,
and it will depend in a good degree upon the.
energy used in developing the resources of
that country, whether a good town or city
is built rapidly or not.
There are 4 few Baptists in and around
the town of Elyton, (and l believe they own
a lot,) looking forward to the building up of a
Baptist interest there. The organized com
pany have laid off the plan of a town at the
crossing, and in the plan have reserved lots
for the building of churches of the different
denominations, and have generously propos
ed to donate lots to the denominations that
will occupy them with church buildings.
The Roman Catholic Bishop, has already
1 learn, gone up and received a title to a
lot. With lots at both the crossing and Ely.
ton it is believed and hoped as soon as the
question is finally settled where the town is
to be located, a Baptist church will be organ,
ized. 1 know of no more inviting fields of
labor now, for young men willing to work for
the Master tor a few years with small com
pensation with the hope of building up the
cause, and growing with the growth of the
country, than Springville and Elyton.
E. T. Smyth.
Oxford, Ala., June 1 st, 1870.
To the Churches of the Hephalbah Associa
tion.
Dear Brethren: I have visited, since my
last report to you, the following churches in
the order named, endeavoring to carry out
the instructions of your Committee. First
Saturday in April, and Satur4ay before, Lit
tie Briar Creek, spending some time in the
community, preaching, while there, five times.
Qn the second in Ap r 'h with Mijl
Creek, in the same manner, and preaching
the same number of sermons. Both of these
churches are served by oqr esteemed brother
Pilcher, of Warren poqpty, whose labors
among them will pertainly be blesged. We
had meetings in the interest of the Sabbath
school at both these ohurches, and { left them,
assured that,schools would at once be organ
ized ; and if, at Briar Creek, Bro. Sam. will
only M fall in ” and take the lead for a good
Sunday school and prayer meeting, and sus
tain his warm hearted pastor, they will have
such a revival to report before long, as is not
often seen. The young people are there.
May the harvest be near at band ! The same
at Mill Creek. On the third Sabbath and
Saturday before, l was with our church at
Hopeful, in Burke ooupty—Bro, Davis pas
tor, going from thence to Hephgibah, on Sab
bath night: preaching at both these plaoes.
1, then, by permission of your Committee,
visited, or went as a delegate, to the Ga. Bap,
Con. But that meeting has been reported on
sufficiently, but nobody has told you what I
did. Well, I went, I saw, I came away, and
the following week, including the fifth Sab
bath, I attended the Geueral Meeting at Heph
aibah. There I worked again, and may God
bless the dear young people who listened to
me Sabbath night of the meeting, and the
brethren who are so faithfully educating them,
not only for this world, but for God. If we
live to meet at the Association, I will tell
you a secret about our High School. “ Un
cle Ned ” had better “ take the field ” for the
“ Royal Bantling,” as he facetiously calls it.
We could not afford to lose such a school,
nor such men as conduct it, and they (the
men) are in demand. Let good brethren
everywhere pray for those men, and that
school. But the General Meeting was a de
lightful one, and the O neral and the Hard
case, who were present and did duty, with
the no less valuable and labor-loving “ mem
ber of the dub,” added greatly to the inter
eat of the meeting. When the friction of
Christian love can bring us tears of joy, we
are happy. We hope to see these brethren,
and many “ more of the same sort,” at the*
Ministers and Deacons’ Meeting, at Duhart’s
Creek, Friday before the fifth Sabbath in July.
The first Sabbath in May, I was at Way’s
church, to relieve the pastor from labor. The
seoond, I was at Rocky Creek. The third, I
was at Pine Hill, (colored,) of the Walker
Association; and I will tell you about these
colored people in my next. We must do
something for them. The fourth, I was at
Bark Camp. I have travelled, in the two
months, about 350 miles, visited 8 churches,
preaohed 24 times, besides other labor. Well
received everywhere; and although I must
report so much coldness, 1 feel encouraged to
believe my “ labor is not in vain.” Let me
have your prayers and .earnest cooperation.
Your Evangelist, Wii. M. Verdery.
La Fayette. Ala.
It was my privilege, a day or two since, to
pay a flying visit to La Fayette, Ala., and to
note the evidences of returning prosperity in
that once thriving town. Until recently with
out railroad facilities, it had fallen into that
decline which, in this progressive age, usually
attends isolation from the great lines of travel
and commerce. But this is no longer the mis
fortune of our neighbor; the steam whistle
now daily signals the arrival and departure of
the iron-horse, while the great work—the E.
A. & Cin. R. R.—which is to introduce her
to the acquaintance of the North and East, is
going forward with energy. Asa consequence,
her citizens are beginning to awake from the
sleep ot years, and to bestir themselves to put
a better appearance on things. With a free
application of paint, they are already effacing
the signs of decay, and ere long, with a con
tinuance of the same process of renovation,
La Fayette will brighten and glow with beauty.
The Baptist church and Baptist Female Col
lege will soon be quite presentable, and num
bers of elegant residences only need to be re
touched to become as attractive as formerly.
This place is both honored and blessed as
the residence of a lady, whose name is like
“an ointment poured forth.” It is my happi
ness to make occasional pilgrimages to “the
Colonnade,” which is known far and wide as
the abode of refined hospitality, Here f find
adoption as a son, have accorded me the free
dom of the place, and enjoy delightful Chris
tian companionship. Mrs. Col. Erwin, the
presiding, informing spirit of this elegant
household, is an ornametrfc to her sex and a
blessing to society. It is her occupation “to
do good and to communicate.” Your corres
pondent has been the recipient ot kindnesses
which he will ever cherish “as a memorial of
her.”
Bro. S. C. Hearn, a strong preacher and
energetic worker, is pastor here. He is held
in high esteem by the whole community, and
though he complains of a languid condition of
the church, there is hope that, under his earn
est ministrations, and with the Divine bless
ing, the brethren there will be quickened into
a higher Christian life.
Rev, H. E. Brooks, formerly of LaCrange,
more recently of Tuskegee, is President of
the Female Institute. 1 was glad to learn
that there is a goodly attendance of pupils,
and that the prospects of the school are en
couraging. Rev. Win. Bledsoe, son of a
former President, is engaged as assistant
teacher, and also preaches to two or three
churches in the county.
Noticing a photograph which showed a
striking resemblance to the handsome editor
of the Index, I was informed that it was the
“counterfeit presentment” of the recent Pre
siding Elder of La Fayette District. I con
soled myself with the reflection that that
brother Shaver, though keen his instrument,
can’t cut as sharply and cloeely in matters ec
clesiastical as the former. . S. P. C.
West Point, oa., June B d, 1871-*
Who Will Answer l
If permitted, I wish to ask, through the
Index, some of our ablest ministers or disci
plinarians, a question which we have had be
fore us lately, in order that we may know
whether we have taken the right step or not.
The origin of the question is this *On mo
tion, a Committee of three was appointed to
draft resolutions to this effect; that if any
members engage io singing plays, or other
similar plays usual in the parties kept up
through tfiis section of the country, k charge
shall be preferred against them, and they shall
be dealt with accordingly. After the Com
mittee made their report, some beoame un
willing to adopt it, and eventually they were
cast out. Now, I wish to know whether the
church has done right, or not 1 and whether
the adoption of those resolutions as a law in
the church, would be an advantage to the
cause of religion, or not? I hope‘you will
give us au answer in your next number, so
that we may be satisfied if right, or, if wrong,
may correct it.
For Brushy Creek Church.
Butler county, Ala., May 17, 1871.
|3f“ We have no special information as to the
character of the “plays” involved in this ques
tion ; but the strong probability is, that they are
properly subject to discountenance, and, if need
be, to discipline, on the part of the church. A
difference of opinion on that point, however, is
not a sufficient ground for exclusion. Exclusion
should be reserved for offending acts and incorri
gible persistence in them. “Cast out” those
who engage in the “plays,” if, in the judgment
of the church, the Scriptures require or warrant
that measure; but do not cast out those who
simply fail to see this warranty or requirement.
Besides; the multiplication of disciplinary reso
lutions and rules, is a policy open to grave ques
tion ; and where there is opposition to it, the best
method, perhaps, is—to waive the rule v or reso
lution, arid try offences under the general princi
ples of Scripture, and by appeal to them alone.
to Secure Kmjds.
I hsve for many years taken a great inter
est in all the organisations ot the Southern
Baptist Convention; have contributed of my
means, and often wished I could do more;
studied them, loved to talk about them. Now,
sir, the 700,000 Baptists in the South could
support all of these organizations and never
feel it. Twenty cents from eaoh will give us
1140,000. Think of it I All we want is
system in the churches. Every pastor could
get this amount from his church or churches.
A few days sinpa, 1 hftd a conversation with a
minister who bad just returned from thg
Southern Baptist Convention. 1 suggested the
idea that the Associations incorporate an ar
ticle in their. Constitution making it the basis
of representation in the Association, say twen
ty cents a head for each member of eaoh
church the ohurch, or individuals, exercising
the right to say to what organization his, or
her, or their contribution should go. Churches
that give more would, ot course, be allowed
to do so. The number of delegates now is
upon the basis of numerical strength. This
need not change that, but ouly a basis for the
ohurch and the members by the old rule. I
cannot write. Make any use of this yoq see
proper, except that of my name. The goqj
brother with whom I had the conversation
asked me to write you, *
Montgomery, Ala., May 30,1871.
Tam Northern Anniversaries.— Our impres
sions, at Chicago, lie over until next week, partly
for want of space, partly because certain misrep
resentations which have crept into the public
prints require, for their correction, a more extern,
ded statement than we had, at firtt, designed to
make. ’ -**