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ffaptfat.
J. J. TOON, .... Proprietor.
PUBLICATION ROOMS 4& 6 SOUTH BROADWAY.
Editor: Bev. D. SH4VEE, D.D.
CO EKES PONDING EDITORS:
Rev. J. J. D. HENFROE, Talladega, Ala.
Bbv. S. HENDERSON, D.D., Jacksonville, Ala.
THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1871.
Northern Baptist Anniversaries.
After a life of fifty years at the South, our feet
pressed Northern soil for the first time, in Chica
go, 111., on the evening of May 17th. We had
gone over from “ the Mound City ” and the ses
sion of the Southern Baptist Convention, in pur
suance of an official invitation to the members of
that body from the Central Committee of Ar
rangements, to attend the Anniversaries of our
Northern brethren in “ the Garden City.” This
visit was the consummation of a hope which
awoke in our bosom when the dew of
on us and gathered strength with the lapse of
time, but which many hindrances conspired to
‘defer,’ until gray hairs had come to admonish
us in how short a period we must look upon “ the
last of earth.” It was calmer, at least, if not
clearer, vision for which the long delay prepared
us.
For half a century, then, we have led, in some
sense, a provincial life. So to speak, we have
breathed the atmosphere of Southern sentimems
and Southern institutions. True; during all
these years we have communed with Northern
Christians through their religious press—that
weekly photograph of the soul of the section, in
its strength, and in its weakness, too. True ; in
this communion, we have striven not to lose sight
of the , principle (as vfe have sometimes phrased
it) that “ you see This Side, as it is, only when
you pass over, in thought, to The Other Side, and
view it from that:" you can never assay a sys
tem and determine the proportion of gold and of
dross entering into it, until, in imagination—nay,
in sympathy, you stand with its adherents, at
that point of vision where it shows like truth.
For these reasons, we are the more inclined to
trust our impressions at Chicago, as a fair and
reliable finding with respect to the more patent
characteristics of the denomination at the North.
But still, we have known too many instances in
which the South has suffered from the hasty con
clusions of Northern visitors, —Christian men,
and men not unwise, —to allow forgetfulness on
our part, of the necessity that we should form and
express opinions in so new a sphere of observa
tion, if not with hesitancy, yet with modesty.
There is something wholesome in confronting,
for the first time, a multitude, from whom one
has been parted by life-long convictions—against
whom one has been arrayed in the stern antag
onisms of war. As we looked over the thousands
gathered, from day to day, in Farwell Hall, and
thought how, hut a few years since, our presence
among them would have consigned us to a dun
geon opened by no “personal liberty bill,” the
mind, by natural transition, adverted to the larger
concourse in which we, and they, and all men,
shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Then, in the august prcsenco of the Heart Searcher,
the Doom-Awarder, they faded from recognition;
and, as under His eye—under Ilia eye alone— we
‘remembered all our faults.’ The sins of past
years, ‘from our youth up even till now,’ came
trooping back to rebuke and condemn us; and
we felt the vanity of human censure or applause
—felt the supreme need, the transcendant pre
ciousness, of a divine assurance that we had
plunged availingly into the one only Fountain for
uncleanness. In this way, we were driven nearer
to Jesus: we say it unboastfully, as regards our
self—and yet unwaveringly, as regards Him.
Need we add that, by this same process, with no
alteration in the convictions of the past, we found
ourselves drawn nearer to His followers around
us? In our sense of “ the common salvation,”
the points of estrangement seemed less weighty ;
the points of agreement, in love for Him and His
cause on the earth, more dear and more engross
ing. What we saw in Chicago, was seen largely
under this aspect.
One persuasion affords us very high pleasure.
Our piivate enquiries and all public outcroppings
of sentiment during the Anniversaries, assure us
that the Baptist heart at the North is sound to
the core, on the great principles of evangelical
theology and church order. “ The old, old story ”
of Christ and His cross is as dear to them as to
us; and, equally with ourselves, they seek to
build the house of the Lord “ after the pattern
shown in the Mount” of Scripture. As regards
order, there are exceptional cases, doubtless;
some such, in fact, are known to all; and these
are treated, in the name of charity, with an un
wise leniency which may tempt others astray —
with a disregard for the sage maxim, “ Resist the
beginnings," under Whose shadow the nascent
irregularity may swell to proportions not appre
hended at present. Perhaps, there are reasons
underlying this policy, which may at once war
rant and explain the statement of Dr. Young, of
Pittsburg, at the session of the American Bible
Union, that, “after his Northern baptism, he
learned to be more a Baptist through his resi
dence at the South, than if he had never lived
there.” On the whole, however, if we have drift
ed apart from brethren at the North, it is not (we
thank God!) because they have, in any way, re
nounced the vital Dogmatic Faith or the institutes
of a Spiritual Ecclesiasticism, as embodied in the
inspired records of the church, and transmitted
through generations of confessors and martyrs
from her first age !
Another feature that impressed us favorably
was—the liberality of our Northerly brethren.
Taking into account the numerical strength of the
denomination in that section, the receipts of the
three principal Societies alone amounted to an
average of rather more than $1.50 per member.
We are aware, indeed, that these sums did not all
flow into the treasury in the form of contributions,
and that a very considerable deduction must be
made on this score. The receipts of the Boards
of the Southern Convention, on the contrary,
amounted to only about ten cents per member
among white Baptist communicants at the South.
This aggregate must bo largely increased, we
know, by the Domestic Mission work of our peo
ple in most of the States. Nor should it be forgot
ten that the war left us in a condition of financial
wreck, of which the North has had no experi
ence, and which the present generation here will
scarcely be able to repair. But, after every re
adjustment of the question demanded by these
lines of thought, there is a disproportion which
ought not to exist. Our brethren at the North
give more than wo. do—not because their hearts
are warmer than ours—but because better meth
ods prevail with them than with us. And why ? Is
it that their pastoral instruction is more thorough
on this point than we have made it ? Or does
the reason lie in the fact that denominational pa
pers are more extensively diffused among Baptist
families there than here? This, surely, is an
enquiry that needs to be pressed to a practical
solution. *&S**V*»if
But we must turn to less pleasant topics. Our
visit deepened the conviction that the North, as a
whole, is not prepared for any intimate co-operv
tion —still less for any organic union—with the
THR CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, JUNE 15,1871.
South, in the prosecution of benevolent enter
prises. May we state the groandtf"of this belief
frankly ? We will aim to do it dispassionately.
1. There is still, in many, perhaps in most minds
there, too Urge a residuum, we will not say of
anti-slavery principle, but of the mental ex
aggerations with which that principle, amid the
excitement of political controversy and of war,
allied itself. Witness the decision of the Bible
Union, (as avowed by Dr. Armitage, the Presi
dent,) to adhere, under cover of the authority of
Tiscbendorf, to “slave-dealers,” as the proper ren
dering 5f andrapodistes, in 1 Tim. 1; 10. Wit
ness the adoption, by the Home Mission Soceity,
of the resolution of Dr. Haskell, pronouncing sep
arate schools for the Freeduien a mere provisional,
temporary expedient, and anticipating at an early
day the admission of teachers and pupils, white
and black, to the indiscriminate enjoyment of the
same free schools and Christian seminaries. (This
resolution was afterwards indefinitely postponed,
we grant, not-simply because some Southern men
objected to the “ social equality” involved in it,but
because it would embarrass the Society at its seat
of operations —would occasion strife in New York
and elsewhere through the North. The advocates
of indefinite postponement, however, all held that
the principle of the resolution is the principle of
the gospel, and members of the Board averred that
they had always acted on it, and might be trusted
to act on it in the future.) Witness the speech of
Dr. Ide, denouncing Southerners as “ the greatest
sinners known to history;” declaring that he
could never take them to his arms, so long as they
“ came with the rags and tatters of their old ac
cursed slavery hanging about them and pre
scribing as the condition of forgiveness from him,
that they should “ confess the great crime of
which they have been guilty, and evince a genuine
repentance for it.” 2. In the case of multitudes,
the era of sober, fair, unprejudiced judgment to
ward Southern men has not yet been reached.
For example, take the illogical leap of Dr. Fulton,
from conversation with one or two individuals, to
the sweeping conclusion that Southern Christians
generally regard the African as a soul-less raoe in.
ferior to the Adamic, and that our alleged want of
influence with the Freedmen arises from the prev*
alence of this opinion among us. (By the way,
certain Northern papers ascribe this monstrous
belief to our speakers at Chicago, in the face of
their emphatic repudiation of it, and their testi
mony that it is not held by “ a corporal’s guard”
of Baptists at the South.) Take, again, the pray
ers, invoking the Divine protection for missiona
ries in Southern fields, “ in places of danger where
their work cannot be prosecuted with safety " and
speaking of the South as a section “ where the
children of God toil and suffer, bleed and die, for
the cause of freedom.” Take, also, the applause
which greeted the statement of Dr. Smith, that
not only were the (exaggerated and even ground
less) reports of certain Northern missionaries, as
to wrong and outrage here, true, but that the half
had not been told. Take, once more, the allega
tion of a speaker subsequently elected to the
Presidency of the Home Mission Society, that * a
greater crime than slavery rules the South to-day
—namely, the prejudice that will not allow the
black man to rise; and this must be, not concil
iated, but crushed out.’ 8. The North has not
learned to accord patient, magnanimous audience
to free—(if you will, to unwise)—speech. When
Dr. Fulton, in tho Southern Baptist Convention,
at St. Louis, “ spoke squarely out” his Northern
sentiments, he was suffered to follow the thread
of his own previous intent, without interruption,
or token of disapproval, or answer in sectional
strain. How changed the scene at Chicago 1 The
speeches of Southern men were “ broken in upon’’
by questions that were argumentative and po
lemic ; questions that compelled them to go fur
ther, in references to the past, than they purposed
at first—to widen their range of remark, and give
a combative semblance to their words. And one
of their number, who uttered not a sentence which
holders of an opposite view could fairly construe
as wanting in courteous Christian respectfulness,
was beset, and badgered, and buffetted, by inter
rogations which were sneers—by causeless calls
to order—by propositions for adjournment before
the time—by the murmur and buzz of disapprov
ing voices through the Hall—by derisive laughter
—by cries now of “ Sit down,” now of “ Put him
out”—by hisses—and at last by the shrill outburst
of feminine rage and scorn ! These things, we
conceive, make our ground good, and we may
arrest the distasteful detail. We can understand
bow some of the manifestations of feeling to which
we refer, may have come, not from members of
the Societies, but from irresponsible parties in the
miscellaneous audiences of a large city. We can
understand how, so far as they came from mem
bers of the Societies, they may be traced partly
to the want of Presiding Officers sufficiently ac
quainted with Parliamentary Practice to hold a
popular assembly well in hand, and partly to the
(undignified) custom of applauding speakers, of
which there were some exhibitions even during
the sermon of Dr. Armitage, at Michigan Avenue
church, Sabbath afternoon—a custom smoothing
the way toward the indecorous expression of all
types of feeling. We can understand how they
may have been indulged, of design, by persons
desiring, if not to widen the breach, yet to keep it
unhealed, under the influence of the Bpirit which
prompted the exclamation of Rev. Mr. Hewitt, of
111.: “ Organic union with Southern Baptists ? 1
do not want it!” We can understand how there
may have been absolutely no sympathy with them,
in the breast of large numbers, perhaps a decisive
majority of the %,500 attendants on the Anniver
saries. But still—so long as such things can be,
intimate co-operation and organic union must wait
for calmer moods of the popular mind, North and
South—wait until (as Dr. Curtis, the Senior, was
want to express it) “ the maximum of agreement”
shall more entirely outweigh the “ minimum of
difference.”
Not only so. If we mistake not, we discerned
signs of the times which indicate that even the
territory belonging to the Northern Societies will
itself be parted between distinct, though co-work
ing, organizations —one with an Eastern, another
with a Western, and perhaps a third with a Cen
tral seat of operations. In the formation of a
Baptist Woman’s Missionary Society auxiliary to
the Union, it has been found necessary, or expe
dient, to constitute two—one for the East with its
centre at Boston, and another for the West with
its centre at Chicago. Applause welcomed an
expression of opinion, to the effect that there is a
call for the infusion of a Western element into the
Board of the Union; and was not that the drift
of a warm discussion, protracted until after mid
night, in the evening session of the Board ? Provi
dence, then, seems to point to something like this
—the organic blending of the present Northern
Societies into one, and then the division of that
one into two or more, upon geographical lines.
Will not the highest efficiency be achieved, when
no single organization seeks to “swallow up” the
whole country, but distinct organizations work in
their respective spheres, with mutual good will
and such forms of help as circumstances demand ?
We are ashamed of the length of this arti
cle, and must omit much that we designed to say.
Kay we not crave space, however, to add that we
were the guest of Rev. W. M. Everts, 8.D., and
hold ourselves gratefully a debtor to himself and
his household for oo&rtssies “ In the name of a dis
ciple F’ Brethren Smith, Ghuroh and Goodman,
of the Standard, also showed as kindnesses,
which we will be es slow to forget as they to re
member.
• Soul-Help.
Yonder is the Throne and the One Sovereign
seated on it. The veil that parts eternity from
time hangs between, indeed ; but some rays of the
glory struggle through, and kindle longing after
the vision that at once transports and transforms.
Everywhere around you are souls groping their
way, amid shadows of earth and snares of evil, to
ward that Throne light—toward the grander yet
gentler and dearer light in the face of that Sove
reign. Blessed privilege, to guide their steps, “if
haply they may feel after and find Him” at last!
This privilege have all the saints. Among men
they “ shine as lights in the world, holding forth
the word of life.” Brother—sister —will you
prove unfaithful in this high function ? Oh, let
your lips, let your lives, uplift that torch of truth
which shall lead erring souls in the footsteps of
Jesus to His throne —to His face. If they miss
of that—into what ruin shall they sink! If they
miss of that through you— in what shame shall
you bemoan your guilty neglect 1 Shame, we
6ay : deepest shame that souls—ransomed souls
—souls helped by others in tbeir supremest need
—souls needing help still—should refuse to be
soul-helpers. Pray, let us ponder, in this con
nection, the profound thought of Coleridge:
“ That man’s soul is not dear to himself to whom
the souls of his brethren are not dear.”
“I never make much of the mere getting hap
py,” said Rev. Thomas Collins once to a ministe
rial friend, when discussing Christian experience;
“my great purpose is to get happy in the act of
catching some poor soul that is about dropping
into helL” There spoke the spirit of true faith,
which is a spirit of tender love as well. See souls
everywhere around you, “about dropping into
hell 1” Oh, the stony-heartedness that will not
interpose to rescue them 1 Oh, the divineness of
the joy, when they are not only “ plucked as
brands from the everlasting burning,” but raised
t*
“The land upon whose blissful shore
There rests no shadow, falls no stain;
Where those who meet shall part no more,
And those long parted meet again I”
Not Original. —We notice, in an exchange, a
statement that Theodore Parker once addressed
God, in prayer, as “ our Heavenly Father—and
Mother.” This is adduced as an instance of the
profound sense of the Divine “ lovingness” enter
tained by him, and of the graphic originality of
style with which he expressed it. The fact is,
that he was merely echoing one of the common
places of Shakerism. From the first importation
of that strange system into our country, (1774,)
its adherents have taught, as a “ foundational doc
trine,” “ the existence of an Eternal Father and
an Eternal Mother in Deity—the heavenly parents
of all angelic and human beings.” There is but
little originality in the world at present —unless
in the sense of “ unconscious imitation and of
that little, the very least part belongs to the loose
thinkers in theology, who most deck themselves
out in garish pretension to it The cleverest mu
sician of them all, can only “ play second fiddle”
to some defunct Professor of (dis)Harmony, in
the Melodeon (?) of Liberal Religion.
Baptist Educational Convention for the
South.
This Convention will beheld at Richmond, Ya.,
commencing its sessions on the evening of July
4th and continuing through the two days follow
ing. The topics proposed for discussion are:
“1. The System of Institutions Required for the
Educational Work of the Baptist Denomination in the
Southern States, including (he Methods by which jt
may be realized, and the popular interest by which it
may be effective. An Address by Rev. Barnas Sears,
D D., LL.D., Staunton, Va. 2. The Duty of Pastors
with Respect to the Education ci the Young in their
Congregations.—Rev. A. J Huntington, D.D., Wash
ington, C. T. 3. The question of Prescribed and Elec
tive Studies in Higher Education.—Prof. John Hart,
Staunton, Va. 4. The Education of Women—Rev.
Wm. RoyaU, D.D., Raleigh, N. C. 5. The Education
of the Colored Population—Rev. I. T. Tichenor, D. D.,
Memphis, Tenn. 6. Methods es Religious Teaching
and Influence in Academies and Colleges—A Discus
sion. 7. The Relations of Science to Complete Educa
tion— Rev. Alvah Hovey, D.D., Newton, Mass. 8. The
Advantages to the Cause of Education of the Associa
tion of Educators and Friends of Education—Rev. H.
H. Tucker, D.D., Macon, Ga. 9. The Ministry of the
Baptist Denomination in the Southern States, including
its Increase, Education and Support—Rev. Crawford
H. Toy, D D., Greenville, S. C. All these gentlemen
have signified their acceptance, excepting Dr. Tucker,
from whom no response has been as yet received.”
We hope that this Convention will attract the
interest and secure the attendance due to the im
portant subject with which it is to deal. Our
ministry and churches will feel for generations
the good or evil effects, of a wise or unwise poli
cy now with regard to education. Let no one fail
of his full duty, in these transition times, toward
a work, which, as it is well or ill performed, will
make a long, long future bright or dark.
A New Enterprise. —Rev. Herman Boknm,
who has been favorably known to our city patrons
for several years past, is now about starting a
“Reformed” church among our German fellow
citizens. Other denominations here have con
tributed some S3OO towards this work ; and his
trip recently made to the North enlisted the sym
pathy and material aid of friends there. Rev.
Mr. Bokum stands well, as a scholar and an evan
gelical divine—and his mission is one greatly
needed at this centre of influence. Few things
are more vital to the spiritual interests of our
country, than that the population which comes
to us from abroad should be thoroughly Chris
tianized. In his labors toward that end, we wish
Mr. B. success.
Church Government. —A Unitarian clergyman
recently characterized the government of one of
the Evangelical sects, as “an organized revival.”
Bat revivals are not secured by organization:
they come, not of the outward form, but of the
inward spirit Let us not be content with an
apostolic polity; let us seek to have breathed in
to it the apostolic l ife and power. All forms of
growth, without this, are but disguised decay—
are the garnishing of a sepulchre from which spir
itual death sends up its stench into the nostrils
of Heaven. There is call for grave thought when
statistics show, as in the case of the New York
Methodist Conferdhce, “ that the ratio of increase
of members, in proportion to the means used, is
not five per cent, of .what it was twenty years
ago.” Are there not sections of country, in
which Baptist chnrches have need to inquire
whether something of a similar inefficiency has
not fallen, like palsy, on themselves ? Oh, are we
nowhere practically resting in a scriptural organ
ization, as a substitute for the scriptural spirit of
labor and zeal ?
Baptism. —The Southern Methodist Church,
reporting, the past year, 686,418 members, re
ported also 21,002 infant baptisms—or about one
infant baptism for every 28 members; which
strikes us as quite a small proportion. The
.“adult baptisms” were the more numerous by
18,406; and we are altogether willing to have
them so.
“True Christian Courtesy.” —This is the
character given, by one of onr exchanges, to the
course recently pursued by a Baptist minister in
New York. Two persons, “not believing in
close communion,” desired to be immersed, pre
paratory to their connection with the (Congrega
tional) church of Rev. Dr. Thompson. The min
ister in question “baptized them according to
their wish, accepting the fact of their examina
tion by Dr. T. as sufficient in the case.” We
should like t<f know whether questions as to the
order and ordinances of the church are to be de
cided*at the bar of human “ courtesy,” or of di
vine Scripture ? We should like to know whether
that minister, recognizing the restrictions which
Scripture throws around his right of action in
the premises, might not have rejected the sppli-
cation of these parties with a “ courtesy ” as
“true" and as “Christian?” We should like
to know whether “ courtesy ’’ may not as well
control decisions respecting the eternal, as re
specting the ecclesiastical state of men; and,
therefore, whether the spirit prompting the phra
seology of our exchange, would not, as its last
result, require us, if we would not wear the
brand of discourtesy, to believe, with “ the Uni
versalist, that God is too good to damn men," or
with “the Unitarian, that men are too good to
be damned ?”
Virginia Correspondence.
The late General Association in Petersburg
was a decided success. The attendance was
large, the discussion*, were able and spirited,
the deliberations were harmonious, and the
results reached, promise usefulness. It was
decided to dispense with a Corresponding
Secretary, and to leave to each Board the
management of its own affairs. The general
opinion seempd to be, that churches should
be brought into intimate relations with our
benevolent operations, and that pastors, if so
disposed, could secure larger contributions
than special agents. Certes, if the member
ship could be trained to systematic benefi
cence, there would not be such an incessant
discussion of the best plans for raising money*.
Many of your readers will remember Dr.
W. F. Broaddus’ inevitable announcements
in behalf of deceased soldiers’ children. A
noble work has been done by him, under the
auspices of the Association, and many hearts
have been gladdened by the timely aid ren
dered to the destitute. His labors, in this
direction, will sooh cease, as the public
schools supercede necessity of any efforts
to raise funds for th.§ education of the poor.
The Episcopal Council was in session at
Petersburg contemporaneously with the As
sociation. Some animated debates occurred
in reference to the operatic music which
draws fashionable audiences to some of the
Episcopal meeting houses. Resolutions, not
sufficiently pointed and explicit, were passed
in opposition to Ritualistic and High-Church
tendencies. The influence of such evangelical
Bishops as Moore, and Meade, and Johns, has
fortunately been sufficient to keep Virginia
Episcopacy on the side of orthodoxy and
evangelicalism.
Could not the Editor of the Index, so fa
miliar with the religious history of Virginia,
furnish us with one -of his luminous articles,
drawing a comparison betwixt the progress
of Episcopacy and Baptist principles, in this
State 1 ? The coincidence of the sessions of
the Council and Association in the same city,
at the same time, is wonderfully suggestive.
The Educational Convention, in July, in
Richmond, is looked to with much interest.
Many prominent teachers and friends of Ed
cation have promised to attend. The in
creased concern which higher education has
awakened in Europe and the U. S., should
be communicated to the Baptists. A Con
vention of our best scholars and practical
educators, must have a happy effect. The
Committee desire the members and Faculty
of every College and Academy, to appoint
delegates. Georgia ought to send such men
as Mell.and Willet,and Hillyer,
and Brantly, and Dixon, etc., etc., to repre
sent the Empire State of the South.
We look with much anxiety for the opin
ions of the Editor, in reference to the Chica
go anniversaries. It seems that the Home
Mission Society speedily repented of the
mobocratic proceedings which were gotten up
on the occasion of the addresses of Drs. Bur
rows and Tichenor, % as the action of the suc
ceeding day was wise and conservative.
While reviewing tthfct occurred at Chicago,
do not fail to dissepV f'rem the speech of Dr.
Yeaman, before the. Bible Union. The word,
“ slavedealer,” in 1 Sum. i: 10. of the revised
version, could have been inserted only as the
proof that political prejudices insensibly con
trol the ('pinions of scholars even. Dr. J,
A. Broad us and others have demonstrated,
conclusively, the - incorrectness of the version,
and while the “Union” tolerates such a
perversion of the “exact meaning” of the
Scriptures, it need not expect Southern sup
port. L.
Richmond, Fa., dun* 8, 1871.
Our Interests at Decatur, Ga.
Last Sqbbath was a joyous day to the
Baptists here. We entered our new house of
worship, and, with a very large congregation
in attendance, solemnly dedicated it to the
worship of our God.
Decatur, though a town of fifty years’
standing, never witnessed before, a similar
scene. The Presbyterians have had a church
here for many years, and it has flourished and
grown strong in influence, numbers and piety.
The Methodists have not been here so long,
nor are they yet so numerous. Yet they
have respectability, both in age and influence.
But the “sect everywhere spoken against,”
“ the poor Baptists,” date their existence as
a church, back only to 1866. When Bro.
-Walter R. Webster located here, since the
war, he found eleven Baptists here and here
abouts, “holding letters.” These were in
duced to unite in an organization. Bro. IT.
F. Buchanan, now of the Third Baptist church ,
in Atlanta, was called as pastor, and contin
ued in that capacity until 1868, when the
writer was called lo this office. This little
band, for over five years, held their meetings
in the Methodist and Presbyterian houses of
worship, through the kindness of these breth
ren, from whom we have also-received many
other tokens of kindness and encouragement.
For four years we have been struggling to
build a house of worship, and have at last a
neat brick structure, of good style and ar
rangements, very invitingly situated, in view
of the railroad, all finished and paid for ex
cept a debt of SIOO. For assistance in this
enterprise, we are indebted to the sister
churches of this county and Atlanta, the
Methodists and Presbyterians of Decatur,
and Christians of various orders in the South,
generally. We could never have erected
this house within ourselves, such was our
poverty. Miss Mary A. H. Gay has rendered
most efficient aid in this work. A noble,
self-sacrificing, ardent lover of Jesus, as she
is, she now has some reward in beholding the
consummation of her labors, in the gratitude
of her pastor and brethren, and sisters, in
many prayers that, from loving hearts, ascend
to heaven for her. But her greatest reward
will be, doubtless, in the commendation of
her Saviour, “ She hath done what she could ”
Sister Gay has travelled for three years in
the interests of our church, and has collected
in Ga., Ala., Tenn., Ky., and other States,
over two thousand dollars in cash, to aid us.
Without her aid, or the aid of some devoted
one like her, our “ walls of Zion ” here,
would still be desolate, and our “solemn
feasts ” celebrated under the shadow of an
other’s vine. “ Honor to whom honor is
due.” Our little band has dismissed, from
time to time, by letter, eleven of its mem
members, and now has a membership of fifty.
We have two pious, efficient, godly deacons,
R. Wm. Swann, recently of Lynchburg, Va.,
and W. R. Webster, formerly of Cave Spring,
Ga. We have three ordained ministers, also,
in our church—Rev. P. A. Hughes, Rev. M.
W. Samms, and the writer.
In this connection I must mention Col. S.
W. Lee, a citizen of our village, a regular
attendant on our ministry, with himself and
family, whose liberal contributions for the
past three years have greatly assisted both
church and pastor. He is a member of Dr.
Brantly’s church- in Atlanta, bat we hope to
see him transfer his membership to us soon.
On opening our house, we resolved, unan
imously, to organize a Sabbath school, which
resolve was put into execution last Sabbath,
with seventy seven members, old and young.
Deacon R. Wm. Swann, was chosen as su
perintendent, and Rev. M. W. Sam ms assist
ant superintendent. With these brethren as
leaders, and an efficient corp of teachers, we
hope to build up a flourishing school.
Our dedication services were conducted,
and the sermon preached by Elder D. E.
Butler, pastor at Milledgeville, Ga. “Ye are
the temple of God,” was his text, and from
these words he gave us an able and appropri
ate sermon. At the close of the services,
$215 was collected, to help pay the house out
of debt. At night, a most solemn and im
pressive discourse was given us by Elder 8.,
from Jesus’ declaration to the Jews, “Ve
cannot serve God and Mammon.” His visit
will be long remembered by many who lis
tened to him then for the first time. Our
church had been, for nearly two years past,
worshipping in the house of our Presbyterian
brethren, and during this time we had culti
vated much Christian fellowship and love for
each other. Asa token of the esteem these
brethren held for us, they presented our
church with an elegent copy of the Holy
Bible and Baptist Psalmody, with the follow
ing words printed in gilt lettering:
“ Decatur Presbyterian Church,
to
Deoatur Baptist Church.
Let us love one another.”
We more highly esteem this testimonial, be
cause we believe the motive which prompted
it to be sincere.
I am inclined to the opinion that if all evan
gelical churches would cultivate mutnal love
and Christian fellowship more, we would have
more harmony aud concert in our efforts
against Satan. Under God’s blessing, we
hope to accomplish much, as Baptists, here.
Our opinions and peculiar doctrines are fa
vorably received by the community, and the
field of operations is both ample and encour
aging- ,
Decatur is a thriving village on the Geor
gia Railroad, six miles from Atlanta. It is
rapidly building up. The healthfulness of
the place cannot be surpassed in Upper Geor
gia. The society is of a most cultivated and
refined type. Themoralsof the placeare excel
lent. “ Doggeries” don’t flourish here; the
town affords two “ one horse” establishments
of this kind, but the citizens say they are sus
tained mostly by wagoners going to your city
to market, and by the freedmen. A Good
Templar’s lodge is in successful operation, and
has done great good in reclaiming inebriates.
But I fear “ that soft beard of which “ 11. C.
II.” speaks has already been stroked by Dr.
S., which says, “ Hem ! too long! too long!”
and so 1 close with this remark to you, Bro.
Editor : You have been frequently invited by
pastor and deacons to visit us here, which
you have not yet done. [Did we preach there
in a dream, then?] We renew the invita
tion. Come and preach for us ; see our house ;
drink our pure cool water, (you have none
such in Atlanta,) and extend your acquaint
ance among us, and we will be most truly
obliged to you. W. H. Strickland.
Z‘*catur, Ga., if ay 31*1,1871.
Ordination.
At the request of the Antioch Baptist
church, Oglethorpe county, Ga., a Presby
tery, consisting of brethren P. 11. Mell, D.D.,
J. G. Gibson, J. R. Young, J. N. Coil, and
the writer, for the purpose of ordaining Bro.
M. W. Edwards to the full work of the gos
pel ministry, organized by calling Bro. Mell
to the chair. Examination of candidate by
Bro. Mell. Ordination sermon by Bro. Gib
son. Ordaining prayer by the writer. Charge
by Bro. Young. Welcome into the ministry
and right hand of fellowship by Bro. Coil,
followed by the Presbytery. Benediction by
the candidate. M. M. Landrum.
June Ith, 1871.
A Good Work.
1 have just returned from the closing exer
cises of a very interesting meeting, protracted
for six weeks, in this city. It began in the
Baptist church, where the preaching was done
by Dr. S. R. Freeman, President of How
ard College. Bro. F. has few equals as a
pungent and powerful preacher. In the meet
ings, continued some two weeks and a half, or
nearly so, the spirits of several persons were
deeply stirred, none manifesting more earn
estness and unaffected zeal than Rev. E. M.
Bounds, the indefatigable pastor of the Metho
dist church. At this stage of the matter I
left, with great reluctance, for the Convention
at St. Louis. Returning after nearly two
weeks, I found the meetings at the Methodist
church continuing, enlisting the co-operation
of all the earnest-minded Christians in the
community. Many were professing conver
sion. The work ha 9 gone on up to date, the
converts claiming to have found peace in be
lieving, amounting to 150 or more. Seven
have been baptized into our church, three
await baptism, and others are expected. Some
70 or 75 have joined the Methodist church,
and some 50 or 60 the Presbyterian. The
interest has reached many more. The con
gregations have been crowded. A few date
their impressions back for considerable pe
riods past. E. B. Teague.
Selma, June 6th, 1871.
Two Alabama Fields.
You said at our Convention in 1809, at
Oxford, that you wondered how the Alabama
Baptists could keep out of “our paper.”
Well, by your permission, I will occupy a
small space.
I am, and have been for several years, the
pastor of the Mt. Zion church. This is one
of the oldest churches in Alabama. It has
ha*d but few pastors. It is located at the lit
tle town of Springville, on the Alabama &
Chattanooga Railroad, which has three or four
drygoods stores,one drug store,one saddlery
shop, and a line acadamy, well patronized,
and presided over by M. B. Lovett, a fine
scholar and a good educator. The church at
this place has recently built anew house of
worship, (wood) 40 by 60, which is now
ready tor use. It is indeed an ornament to
the town, and an honor to the church. The
church is not -large nor wealthy, but “ they
had a mind to- work .” On the third Sab
bath, and day before, in this month, by in
vitation of the church, Bro. Smythe, of Ox*
ford, paid them a visit, and on Saturday de
livered a sermon formally dedicating the
house to the worship of God. He took for
bis text a part of Heb. viii: 5 ; “ See, saith
he, that thou make all things according to the
pattern showed to thee in the mount.” The
preacher began by saying: “ The practice of
setting apart places for reiligous worship has
obtained among the people of God in all
ages of the world. In the time of Moses, a
command was given to build-a tent or taber~
nacle for the worship of God. In the time
of David, he resolved to erect a costly and
splendid temple, adorned and furnished with
the utmost taste, and with the greatest pos
sible magnificence. God approved of his
pions purpose, and Solomon was chosen by
God to execute the work. This magnificent
temple was dedicated to the solemn worship
of God. [ln the erection of the tabernacle and
temple, the form and dimensions, as well as
the quality and workmanship, were prescribed
with the most minute particularity. The
mode of worship was also prescribed. Now,”
said the preacher, “ we assume that the pre
scribing one sort of material, workmanship
and worship excludes all others. And,” said
he, “ I propose, in the further discussion of
this subject, to explain the principal service
to which the sanctuary is now appropriate!,
and, in doing so, shall first notice some of
the uses, or rather abuses, -of the house of
God.” He showed that a church was not set
apart to hold political meetings, shows, con
certs, nor the teaching of schools; all of
which uses he considered as abuses of the
house of God. He said : “ The service of
the sanctuary consists in praise, prayer,
preaching, and the administration of the ordi
nances all of which topics were discussei
in a plain, furoible and able manner, abound
ing with Scriptural proofs, which was listen
ed to by a large and intelligent congregation
for more than an hour. Bro. Smith is a self
made man, but his sermons are Scriptural,and
breathe forth the true spirit of the gospel.
He is a successful pastor.
Dr. Spalding, (the senior Dr.,) of Gads
den, was with us, and preached two most ex
cellent sermons. But few men in Alabama,
of his age, retain as much of the vigor of
youth in preaching. May his days be multi
plied, that he may preach Christ ,to sinners.
Bro. G. Mynatt was with us, and he, too,
preached two of his soul-stirring sermons.
He is also a self-made man, but he preaches
“ Christ and Him crucified” with great zeal
and power. He is well versed in the Scrip
tures, and may be truly called a man of
prayer and faith; and, by his ministry,
“ much people have been added to the Lord.”
He, too, is growing old.
immediately on the Alabama Railroad is
the growing town of Elyton ; and Birming
ham, two miles away, is a grand thing on
paper, and. no doubt someday will be & place.
Strange as it may seem to you, there is no
Baptist church here. The Baptists once had
a small, feeble body here, but long since it
ceased to be, and here we stand. Elyton or
Birmingham is to be the Atlanta of Alabama.
It is here the A. & C. and S. & N. Railroads
cross ; it is here that the Aberdeen & Ely
ton Railroad centres; it is here the Mobile
& Grand Trunk Railroad centres; and many
others are talked of that will be built soon.
As to the religions aspects of the place: The
Methodists have a church, with Dr. Slaughter
stationed in town; the Presbyterians a church,
with Prof. Kennedy as pastor; the Episcopa
lians a church, with Rev. Mr. Smith to min
ister to them, and are now building. The
Catholics are making arrangements to build.
Why does not some able, pious, devoted man
come here and grow up with the place? II
I was young, 1 know no field of labor that I
should prefer. It promises more in the fu
ture than any field in Alabama with which 1
am acquainted. My piece is too long already.
You will not urge me often.
A. J. Waldrop.
Rockville, Ala., May, 1871.
Varieties.
it is natural for human beings to want
change. Sameness, monotony soon becomes
irksome. Victuals taste better from home,
or when eaten out of our fingers in the woods,
because it is variety. Now, reader, listen,
or read a few moments, and 1 will give you
some of a month’s changes. At Ringgold,
Lafayette, Conyers, Lithonia, Stone Moun
tain, (at, on, over and around it,) Decatur,
Jonesboro, Forsyth, Macou, Montezuma,
through Spalding, to Vienna, Drayton and
Albany. What a variety of places l Yes,
and water, soil, climate, productions, scenery
and sentiment! Variety of people, too;
some pretty, and some not quite pretty;
some missionaries and some anti-missionaries;
some that like agents and some that don’t;
some of them (most of them) glad to see
me, some indifferent; would not let me carry
my “ carpet bag ” and coat, some (not many)
let me carry them; some had my boots and
theirs blacked, some had theirs and not mine,
some had none blacked.
Variety among preachers, too, but I guess
1 had better not be too definite on that point.
Yet, I may say that it would almost bea miracle
to find as many preachers alike, as I have seen
this month. Money in variety, too, as to
quantity and quality. Some places 1 received
more than I expected, at others, more than
the people expected, and sometimes —it hurts,
me to say it, but it hurts the cause worse—l got
very little. Some golxl, some silver, and va
rious kinds of paper money,—quite a variety.
Some are in the habit of giving, others are
not; but I think “the Habit Society” is
increasing. A few give a thank offering when
they get married, but most of them, in the
enjoyment of their honeymoon, forget it.
Some, I rejoice to say, enjoy religion ; but
alas! alas! a large number have just piety
enough to make them unhappy. They can
not sin without conscience giving them unea
siness, and yet they have not grace enough
to keep them from sinning.
Now, this is variety enough for the “ first
course on this month. Possibly I may be
able to fix up a mince pie next time. This
reminds me that my dear brother I. (in
South western Ga.) may be gratified by the
statement, that 1 fared well as to eating, this
month.
Now, u in conclusion,” as ministers say,
my dear brethren and sisters, do not forget
my proposition— twelve thousand dollars, be
tween ,now and next May. Let us go over,
rather fall below that. Now asyourseruant,
I want to work with three distinct objects in
view. A contribution from every Sunday
school, a contribution from every church, a
contribution from* every member of each
church. Now, it will be a long time before
this is done, but let us “ attempt great things
for God.”
Brethren,sisters, ministers, Sunday schools,
will you work with me systematically, and
prayerfully, in the attainment of the above
objects, for Jesus, and for souls'? I remind
you of the Saviour’s beautiful, sweet, soul-ani
mating words: “He that reaps, receives
wages, and gathers fruit unto eternal life.”
Just think of it; pay for your work—no
credit, but cash down—and fruit, sheaves to
take with you, and to rejoice over, even to
eternal life. My Father’s children, it is now
true, “ the harvest is great, but the laborers
are few.” Will you work, talk, read, think,
pray and give? .W. N. Chaudoin.
Bethel Church, Dooly, Ga.
On the second Lord’s day in May, breth,
ren N. A. Hornady and J. R. Fields were
invited to assist the writer, pastor of Bethel
Church, Dooly county, Ga., in the ordination
of brother Hiram Williams a deacon. After
a suitable sermon by brother Hornady, the
candidate was examined by the writer, prayer
was offered by brother Fields, the laying on
of hands by the Presbytery, charge by the
writer. Brother W illiams was chosen by Beth
elchurch, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
death of brother H. H. Ross. Brother Ross
was born March 15th, 1812, baptized in 1825,
ordained deacon in 1840, and the same year
was licensed to preach, died Dec. 19th, 1870.
in his death Bethel church has lost its most
active and efficient member, the cause of Jesus
one of its most zealous and devoted
cates, and the widow and orphan, one whose
hand was every ready to contribute to their
comfort. Brother Ross was one of the few
in this country, who thought that, as a deacon,
he had more responsible duties to discharge
than bearing the elements, at the Loid’s sup
per, to the communicants. lie recognized
his duty to look after the wants of his pastor,
and faithfully did he perform that duty.
Would God give us more such men in all our
churches; they are greatly needed.
Brother Isaac Pitts was pastor of Bethel
for 12 or 13 years, and served them faithful
ly. Now, he is too infirm to travel and
preach, and, like too many others, after many
years of arduous toil in the service of the
church, when no longer able to preach, is
turned loose, the subject of physical infirmi
ties, in cramped oircumstances, to live or die,
without any attention or assistance from his
brethren. Baptists of Georgia, are we not
shamefully in fault in this particular? Ought
not a systematic plan to be adopted for the
aid of aged and broken-down preachers?
Will not some abler pen bring this subject
properly before our people? Is it not a sub
ject worthy of serious thought and decided
action ?
Brother Chaudoin was with me at my last
appointment, in Vienna. He preached four
just such sermons as brother C. can preach,
to large and attentive congregations. We
were very certiin God was with us, for many
of us felt Ilis presence. Christians were re
vived, and many sinners trembled and sought
the prayers of the church. He carries with
him the faithful prayers of many Christian
hearts, and anxiously will many look to wel
come him again among us. The Board made
a judicious selection of agent; for they have
put the right man in the right place.
Brother W. L. Crawford was with me, and
preached twice, at our April meeting; and
though his head is whitened with the frosts of
many winters, he still presents the claims of
the gospel with an energy that ought to cause
a blush from many of our younger brethren.
May the labors of these good brethren iu
Vienna be as bread cast upon the waters.
John G. Polhill.
Vienna, May 29, 1871.
Salem.
Not the Salem of which Mclchizedt k was
king; not the “Salem near Emm where
John was baptizing,” but the one on the Wes
tern Railroad, between Columbus, Ga., and
Opelika, Ala., is the place of which we write.
Although John never immersed any one in
our Salem, yet there are Baptists here. That
they are few is true, but they are true too--
true Baptists—live, intelligent and enterpris
ing. Two years ago the church here was
composed of nineteen members, of whom four
were males. They had no house, or as good
as none; they had no pastor and no money.
A school teacher preached for them once a
month. He used to talk to them about Sab
bath schools, prayer meetings, etc., but it was
all a sort of “tinkling cymbal” business.
There was no “sounding brass ’ in the ar
rangement. The general impression, at that
time, seemed to be, that the poor little thing
could n’t live ; but “ this sickness was not
unto death.” The deacon, the cl< rk, the
school teacher-preacher and a licensed min
ister made four, all told. What could they
do? They would fry. Results: About six
teen months ago a weekly prayer meeting
was begun and has been kept up ever since.
Three months ago the church occupied, for the
first time, a neat, comfortable and convenient
house, finely located and just finished. This
point gained, the next thing was to organize
a Sabbath school. All were ready, and iu a
short time the work was done. A permanent,
systematic, effective organization was put in
operation, and has been working admirably
and faithfully ever since. All the classes
have the same lesson. The teachers hold their
meetings every Friday evening, and so thor
oughly do tht y prepare themselves for their
important duties with their classes, that no
one of the many pupils fails to be interested
and profitably instructed. Superintendent,
teachers and pupils all seem determined that
this shall be a model school. Just think of
it —a Baptist Sabbath school in Salem ! Such
a thing was never in existence there before.
-An organ has been secured for the use of the.
church and school, which is certainly quite an
advantageous acquisition for both. YVe have
now a good choir and fine music, and we think
this, of itself, ought to make us better. It
does make us feel better, whether there is a
real change or not. Our neighboring churches
have assisted us some with their means, and
we have had several very valuable additions
to our members. As they came in they took
hold in good earnest to help us, and they
have done their duty nobly. YVe l ave now
about thirty-five members, of whom eleven
are males.
The union meeting of our district is to be
held here, commencing Friday before the
fifth Sabbath in July next. Wo hope many
brethren will come, for there are some very
interesting matters to come before the meet'
ing. Wonder if our Ex. M. Board couldn’t
get a meeting then? What say you, breth
ren ?
The Tuskegee Association will meet here
next October, and wo do sincerely hope that
brethren far and near will attend. We want
the pleasure of their presence, and need the
counsels of their wisdom. Bro. Davis, the
licensed minister of whom we spoke, left us
early last year, and is now in Arkansas.
The school teacher preacher is not teaching
this year : he is now the unworthy pastor of
this working church, and preaching at other
churches and points in this vicinity as oppor
tunity offers. Z. i). Roby.
Sunday School Convention.
The Sunday School of the Al
abama Baptist Association, met according to
adjournment, at the Academy iu Rutledge,
April 26th, 1871, at 10 o’clock, a.m. Prayer
by Rev. B. A. Jackson. Franklin Arm
strong was elected Chairman, and D. L.
Brooks, Secretary of the Convention. Most
of the persons present, including the ladies,
enrolled their names as members of the Con
vention. The Chairman explained the object
of the Convention, and announced the order
of business, after which he appointed the
members of the Rutledge Bar to fill the places
of the absent delegates, who had been assigned
questions for discussion.
The questions were discussed in the follow
ing order: Ist. Do the Scriptures authorize
Sabbath schools? —Col. Win, 11. Houghton.
2nd. What should be taught in Sabbath
schools?—J J. Owens. 3rd. Who should
teach in Sabbath schools ?—J. A. Padgett.
Adjourned to 9 o’clock, a.m., the following
day.
The Convention met at 9 am., and was
opened with prayer by the Chairman, when
the discussion was continued in the following
order : 4th. Should little children be taught
in Sabbath schools?—Wm. li. Houghton.
sth. Should adults be taught in Sabbath
schools? —Franklin Armstrong. (B. A. Jack
son in the Chair). 6th. Can Christians inno
cently refuse to work in Sabbath schools?—
L. D. Brooks. 7th. What are the duties of
Ministers of the Gospel?—l. 11. Parks. Bth.
Upon what conditions will God forgive sin ?
—Essay by Rev. B. A. Jackson. 9th. Does
the Bible authorize Christians to deal in in
toxicating liquors? —B. A. Jackson.
The place of holding the next Convention
was fixed at Pine Level, and subjects for dis
cussion were assigned in the following order :
Ist. Is the Sabbath School of Heaven or of
Men?—J. L. Sampey. 2nd. Who should be
taught in Sabbath Schools? —N. D. Wright.
3rd. What should be Taught, and How ?
Jesse Jones. 4tb. Should Little Children be
Taught in Sabbath Schools? —G. W. Mc-
Queen. sth. Should Adults be Taught in
Sabbath Schools? —D. Lee. O.h. Are Sun
day School Celebrations and Festivals Pro
ductive of Good ?—Wm. 11. Houghton. 7th.
What are the Evidences of a Change of
Heart ?—T. J. Miles. Bth. Should the Bible
be used as a Text Book in Common Schools ?
—Franklin Armstrong. 9th. Does the Bible
authorize Christians to Deal in Intoxicating
Liquors?—M. Bishop. 10th. On what Con
ditions will God Forgive Sin?—B. A. Jack
son. 11th. What are the Duties of Ministers
of the Gospel ?—J. A. Padgett. 12th. What
are the Duties of Members of the Church?
J. S. Yarborough. 13th. What is the
Model Church?—W. M. Davis. On motion,
the Convection then adjourned, to meet at
Pine Level on Friday before the sth Sabbath
in July, 1871. L. D. Brooks.
Giving.-—The Northern Presbyterian Church
proposed to raise a fund of $5,000,000, the past
year, as a memorial of the union between the Old
and New Schools. They raised $7,607,499.91,