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174
fait* lad jUptist.
J. J. TOOK, .... proprietor.
PUBLICATION ROOMS —4 A 6 SOUTH BROADWAY.
Editor: Bev. D. SHAVER, D.D.
OORHHBPONDIKO KDITOSS •
Rbv. J. J. D. RENFROE, Talladega, Ala.
Rev. 8. HENDERSON, D.D., Jacksonville, Ala.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1871.
A Card.
Notwithstanding my interest in the work, and
my confidence in the future of the Sunday School
Board, I have felt constrained to decline the posi
tion of Corresponding Secretary. This decision is
the result of conscientious conviction, on my
part, that I do not possess the requisite qualifica
tions for the kind of labor, which, under all the
circumstances of the case, seems indispensable.
With such an impression, I could not accept the
office tendered me. I could not make a mere con.
venience of a great Christian organization—could
not subsidize the liberality of the churches as a
means simply of personal support.
It is my puipose not to leave Georgia. When
I came to the State, five years ago, it was “ in my
heart to live and die ” here. That feeling is in
my heart now—unchanged, except that it is strong
er. The Master, I trust, has a work for me among
this people. His servants, my brethren, will help
me to do it. 1 put myself afresh in His hands—
and in theirs. May an honest desire to do good
and to glorify the “ King in Zion,” avail to make
the service I render in weakness, not altogether
unworthy of “ their use and His blessing ! ”
As I trace these lines, a vision of the brotherly
forbearance and generous approval received,
through five years, from the readers of the Index
and Baptist, rises before me, and my heart flows
out to them in grateful thanks. To the individu
als, churches, and Associations, that have given
unexpected expression to the wish for my contin
ued connection with the paper, I feel a special in
debtedness—an indebtedness which it grieves me to
acknowledge in this inadequate manner, and which
I can never discharge. It is with unfeigned and
profound pleasure that I announce the completion
of satisfactory arrangements between the Proprie
tor and myself, to the end proposed by their kind
ness. If there have been misunderstandings, let
us number them with the things of “ the dead
Pastand, once for all, bury them away out of
sight; and, over their grave, strike hands, in un
broken Christian charity, for renewed and effec
tive co-operation as “ Brethren of the Good
Work.” 1 would, not merely request, but urge ,
the friends of the Cause, and my personal friends,
to give the paper a cordial support, to enrich its
columns with the fruit of their pens, and to en
large its circulation among the families holding
“ one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Never was
there more imperative need for a faithful press;
never, richer promise of an abundant harvest
from its agency. Shall we not “ discern the signs
of the times” in this regard? Shall we not im
prove them? D. Shaver.
Prophecy—True or False.
When Neander said, “ There is a future for
you Baptists,” his words came to us all as a
draught from
“ The cup that cheers, but not inebriates.”
This elation was natural, on the part of a peo
ple, whose opponents have manifested a strong
disposition to rob them of their past, espe
cially as it remounts toward primitive anti
quity. Under these circumstances, why
should we not solace ourselves with such dis
tinguished testimony, that an- inheritance of
which we cannot be stripped awaits us ? Why
should we not take pleasure in the thought,
that, ruthlessly cast*otit from bye-gone ages,
we shall yet, in large measure, “ call the age
to come our own ?”
But these delightful expectations, it seems,
were all mere “ castles in Spain”—or “ in the
air.” A greater —or can it be a less?—
than Neander is here. A writer in the (Pres
byterian) Christian Observer brings up quite
a different “ report of the land” which shall
be trodden by the foot of later generations,
—the Millennial Canaan. He s a powerful
writer —one able, with a single dash of his
pen, to sweep the history of immersing cen.
turies aside : as when he says, “ Ninety-nine
out of every hundred that have ever been
baptized on the earth, I presume, have been
baptized by sprinkling !” But the power dis
played in this feat, astonishing as it appears,
is like the mere stroke of a straw. The blow
from the club of Hercules comes, when he
assumes the role of the Seer. In spite of the
old proverb, “ he sows on the sands,” (that is,
“ the sands of time,”) and yet reaps an abun
dant harvest. He says:
“ And now, suffer a prediction. I can pro
phecy true. The prediction is this : W hat
has been, is what shall be. He that was as a
root out of dry ground, whose face and visage
were more marred than the sons of men, will
still sprinkle the nattons. Ten thousand ages
hence, if time so last, the nations will be
sprinkled. Who will prevent it 1 Who can
thwart the divine intentions ?”
Now, the very girdle of Jeremiah could
not have been more thoroughly “ marred and
good for nothing,” after lying “ many days
in “ a hole of the rock,” than the Baptist
cause must be henceforth, since, out of the
heavens of prophecy itself, ‘ this rain de
scends, these floods come, these winds blow
and beat upon it!’ We might as well sign a
carte blanche of capitulation at once, throwing
ourselves upon the mercy of the “ conquering
hero,” who, through the Observer, levels his
guns against our strongholds with such disas
trous effect. But if any in our ranks are un
willing to surrender outright, in the face of
the world, they can save appearances —can do
the thing without seeming to do it—can be
come prisoners of war with the privilege of
wearing (but not using) their side arms—by
embracing loose communion !
—And yet, on “sober second thought,”
the prophecy is of human origin. Perhaps,
“He who sitteth in the heavens,” will yet
say of its authors: “ They prophesy unto
you a false vision and divination, and a thing
of nought, and the deceit of their heart.”
We shall wait for the fulfilment before we
ground our arms.
Denominational Literature.
Why have we no extensive depository of
Baptist books in Georgia or Alabama ? Are
our people insensible to the importance of
bringing literature of that character into the
hands of the young, the enquiring, the culti
vated—into the hands of all, indeed ? This
is a work which every pastor and every in
fluential member of our churches should
keep distinctly before him. We notice in
one of the papers an example worthy of
emulation. During the past year, a German
Methodist minister disposed of $5,500 worth
of books in his native tongue, issued under
the auspices of that denomination j and six
ty-four per cent, of his sales were made to
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9,1871.
parties outside of its communion. There has
been no interruption of his pastoral labors
meanwhile; and an enlarged success has at
tended them. Is not this a more effective
form of aggression, and a surer means of.
progress, than habitual pulpit polemics?
May not all our pastors do valuable service
in that line? Will they attempt it?
The Great North-western Fires.
Some editors have started the question as
to the causes of the late unparalleled fires in
the North-western portion of the United States,
intimating that a proper solution of these
causes would furnish an interesting chapter in
the psychological history of these times. We
do not propose entering into any suck discus
sion. We long since learned to exercise great
caution in the interpretation of calamities.
That God has purposes in sending such vast
calamities upon a people, we do not doubt;
but that the immediate sufferers of such visii
taiions are “ sinners above all other sinners,”
we do not believe. We do not envy the sen
timents of that heart that can look upon the
hundreds of thousands of sufferers—-men, wo
men and children—who are suddenly stripped
of every thing, with any other feeling than
that of profound commiseration. Fire and
water know no difference between the good
and the bad ; and that a righteous God often
involves the best and worst of men in a com
mon calamity, the history of the world abun
dantly proves. The greatest sufferer record
ed in sacred story was himself the very
model of patience.
It has grown into a kind of proverb that
calamities seldom come alone. They often
come in clusters. Perhaps the reason of this
is, that one calamity becomes the cause of
another. Hence war, pestilence, and famine
are aften found following in the wake of each
other. Is it, therefore, a matter of wonder,
that the harvest of depravity, the seeds of
which were sown during the late war between
the States, should be reaped, North, South,
East and West? War is the school in which
men graduate in depravity. It familiarizes
the mind to every species of crime—murder,
rapine, plunder. That the /ast multitudes of
soldiers, after being accustomed to the use of
the sword, the torch, and every implement of
destruction, suddenly disbanded, and thrown
upon the country, many of them without
employment, should still attempt to carry on
that system of plunder for which war had
educated them, is not marvellous. General
Sherman, when he left that track of smoul
dering ruins through Georgia and South
Carolina, may have been unconsciously edu
cating a class of incendiaries, of which the
ruins of Chicago, and more than forty villages
in the North-west, are the sad results. He
may have been unchaining a tiger, the ravages
of which may spread much farther than these
recent disasters. At all events, the subject
is one deserving the serious consideration of
every thoughtful man. For we, of the South,
have suffered as much, and including the war,
greatly more, from the torch of the incendiary,
than the people of the North. “ Let us not
be high-minded, but fear.]’ H.
The Sect-Spirit against Baptists.
At the recent meeting of the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis
sions, Rev. Mark Hopkins, D.D., President
of Williams College, made one of those dis
avowals of sectarianism, in which its inlens#
ty of bitterness delights to voice itself. He
alleged that the Board has “no denomina
tional ends ;” that “ its object is not to spread
Congregationalism, but only to spread the
gospel abroad in the healing of every crea
ture ;” and that “it is ready to send out
every good man who is in accord with its
object—a Methodist, Presbyterian, Congre
gationaiist, or any other evangelist.” For
his own part, “he would send out men to
dig the wells of salvation, and let the people
take their own way of organizing for the
work.”
There is a very pretty ring in all this. It
calls up irresistibly a vision of Modern Char
ity, mouthing out, in matchless falsetto, her
“ latitudinarian and platitudinarian ” com
mon-places. We are not in the least sur
prised, therefore, when Dr. Hopkins pro
ceeds to say that “ he would not send out a
Close Communion Baptist,” because, ‘if he
should visit his field of labor, the Baptist
brother would not sit with him at the table
of the Lord.’ What miserable wretches we
must be, if unworthy to preach the gospel
even to heathens—if it be better that “ the
wells of salvation ” should remain undug,
than that we should “ dig ” them—if * the
healing of fallen fellow-creatures’ is pur
chased at too costly a price, when effected
through our agency ! O, loose communion !
why should the piquing of thy pride by
what seems to us a necessary strictness, so
harden thee against the very love of which
‘thou makest thy boast?’ Surely, when
fidelity to principle, on the part of Baptists,
is assailed in this style, if they possess the
“ thirty-seven thousand ways of saying No,”
which a French writer ascribes to Parisian
women, they will employ them all.
Two of the Dangers.
In his recent work, “ the Conservative Re
formation and its Theology,” Dr. Krauth
says: “ Our church”—the Lutheran—“ be
lieves that God has appointed baptism as the
ordinary channel through which the Holy
Spirit works a change in the nature of the
child.” This shows, he tells us, “that God
wishes to renew and save children ; and what
so powerfully as this prompts the blessed as
surance that if God fails to reach the child in
His ordinary way, He will reach it in some
other.” Now, the efficiency which Dr. K.
attributes to infant baptism makes the piac
tice fearfully pernicious : the prayer and faith
of parents no longer seek a change of nature
for the child—a change without which it must
perish—because they hug to their bosom the
false persuasion that this vital blessing has
been already imparted ! And then, the “ as
surance” which he derives from infant bap
tism, to commend it, should serve as a po
tent protest against its acceptance: by how
much parents dream that God stands pledged
to rescue their offspring through extraordi
nary methods, if these be necessary, by so
much are they tempted to neglect the dili
gent improvement of the means of grace
the “ ordinary way” of salvation to house
holds ! By a two-fold plea, then, infant bap
tism “ sews pillows to the armholes” of pa-
7 W. 1 ---IT 1 v
rental slothfulness and lack of faithful effort;
and what its advocate mistakenly alleges in
its behalf, takes shape as a strong, invincible
argument against it.
Explanatory.
In our article of the 24th August last, in
regard to file’Alabama University, we quoted
the Rev. TANARUS, A. Cook, one of the Board of
Regents, and an Episcopal clergyman, as hav
ing “ remonstrated” against electing so many
of his own denomination to fill positions on
the Faculty. We should have said he opposed
that policy, and voted against two of the ap
pointees. The word “ remonstrated ” was a
stronger expression than perhaps we should
have used.
A late correspondent of our paper seems to
think that the articles on our University, pro
and con, have accomplished nothing. So far
as we are concerned,we expected to accomplish
nothing in the way of changing the policy of
the Superintendent and Board of Regents.
We only sought to place the facts before our
readers. That much'has been done. H.
Instability. —At the late session of the
Indiana Methodist Conference, only one-third
of the ministers were returned to their
charges for the previous year, while two
thirds were sent to new fields; and ‘this
state of things forms no exception to the
common results of Episcopal appointments
in that Conference from year to year.’
“Change of pasture makes lat calves,” we
know,—we know, at least, that there is an
old proverb to this effect;—but what can
contribute more effectually to ministerial
leanness, than such instability in the office of
pastor? Where it prevails, can the men
who occupy the pulpit be termed pastors, in
the truer, deeper sense of that word ? Are
they not “ tossed to and fro,” hurried hither
and thither, to a degree inconsistent with the
best effect of their labors even as missiona
ries ? Baptists have need to beware, lest, by
failure to make adequate provision for the
maintenance of the ministry, they incur the
mischiefs of an itinerancy, more harmful be
cause less regulated and systematic than that
which obtains among Methodists. Shall
they come into the reproach which the Tus
caloosa Presbytery confesses, when—in ex
planation of the fact that twelve out of its
twenty-five churches are vacant —it says:
“Giving to the Lord as His stewards, is a
means of grace, of which, we fear, many of
our people, and even whole churches, are igx
norant?”
Extraordinary Statistics. —A German
Reformed pastor, not long since, giving a re
sume of his labors for twenty-five years, sta
ted that he had “administered the Lord’s
supper to 19,746 communicants.” Such an
item suggests a very grotesque image to our
mind, of a Christian minister engaged, during
the celebration of the solemn ordinance, in—
taking a census of the parties who share it
with him! The employment strikes us as
one, which even the most circuitous associa
tion of ideas, could hardly deduce from the
words of Christ, “ This do ; in remembrance
of ME.” We hope that among the numbers
who unwittingly betrayed the pastor into so
singular a departure from the spirit which
ought to reign over the Lord’s supper, there
was, at least, no Baptist “Pliable”—no im
mersed believer bearing witness by loose com
munion against immersion.
Scientific Scepticism. —We have never
felt the slightest apprehension, that any legiti
mate conclusions of science can impair the
authority of Revelation. The hand of God
in His works cannot contradict the mouth of
God in His word; for the two are, through
out, regulated by the one unerring mind of
God. (A writer in an exchange calls attention
to the fact “ that some sixty years ago there
were eighty theories concerning the past his
tory of our planet, each of which was opposed
to the Mosaic record, and that now all these
theories are exploded.” This will always be
the case. Wherever science, “ falsely so call
ed,” traverses and assails Scripture, a truer
science, coming after, will bring with it the
decisive refutation. The real case in the
Court of Reason, is—Science (immature)
versus (developed) Science. Scripture is not
a party to the suit at all, but dwells apart in
the light and halo of self-evidence.
The Cost. —At a recent Temperance meet
ing in Exeter Hall, it was uniquely said that
“ forty sovereigns ($193.60) placed on every
verse of the Bible, would not represent the
money annually spent in England for intoxi
cating drinks!” This form of speech is em
nently suggestive. If it were not for the
covering over of verses of the Bible, by the
hope of “ filthy lucre ” on the one hand, and
by forgetfulness and unconcern on the other,
there would be no place found for either the
sale or the use of ardent spirits as a bever>
age. Let the press, the platform and the
pulpit see to it, that the verses of the Bible
which bear on right and duty in the premises
are kept uncovered. Are they covered, reader,
a3 regards your memory? Do your lips
cover them up in silence ?
Pastoral Support. —An exchange men
tions a pastor, whose flock with difficulty
paid him, one year, S4OO in cash, and the next
year, with more ease, in cash arid provisions,
$1 ,100. There may be, in’this fact, a hint of
no little value to some of our churches; it
may open before them a direct path to the
comfortable maintenance of their pastors—
and the bare possibility of such a result
should prevail with them to act on it.
Woman in the Church. —We gravely
doubt whether a Lutheran District Confer
ence in Pennsylvania did not strike the key
note of a necessary reform, in, the decision
that “ it is desirable to re-establish the office
of deaconess in our congregations,” and that
“intelligent, believing women should be reg
ularly appointed by the congregations and
inducted into office.” One thing, at least, is
certain : That church makes but crippled pro
gress, in whose membership no woman feels
herself impelled virtually to'Assume the of
fice of deaconess, (while ‘ she means not so,
neither does her heart think so,’) by bringing
female sympathy, tact, persuasion, tireless
ness, into play, for the welfare of Zion. Every
pastor finds his best helpers in such women,
or is often saddened and foiled for lack of
them. Now, if this ministry of service works
such happy results, in the irregular, occa-
sionat, unrecognized form which it has taken
among us, would not a far more abundant
harvest ripen from an open and well-ordered
return to what seems authoritative apostolic
precedent in the~*case ? We have actual—
why not have avowed?—deaconesses^n our
churches.
Items.— Rev. M.' T. Yates, D.D., our mis
sionary at Shanghai, writes, Sept. 11th, to the
Raleigh Recorder: “My voice is much less
serviceable now, than when I returned in
February. I cannot speak more than ten
minutes before I am forced to stop, by vio
lent coughing. I ought to have remained in
the States two yejrs at least. But rest there
would have been impossible. Everything
now looks as if it will become necessary for
me to leave thq_country again. If I do, I
think I shall go to Europe, where living is
cheap, and where the language will force me
to rest my voice. I mention thi3 as a bare
possibility. Mrs. Yates, the native pastor
and assistants, can carry on the work here.
To remain here and not use my voice/is an
impossibility.” The Baptist house of wor
ship at Robertvilfe,'S. C., was burnt during
Sherman’s march through the State It has
been rebuilt, and, last month, the church, for
the first time in-ilferly seven years, enjoyed
the privilege of assembling where it was
wont to worship, and celebrated the Lord’s
supper. Let the breaches be repaired every
where. With faith, and prayer, and liberal
ity, it may be done. “Prof. J. W. Fow
ler, formerly an Episcopalian, was baptized
recently,” in connection with one of the
churches of the Long Island Association,
“and now feels it his duty to preach the gos
pel. Henry Clay pronounced him one of
the greatest orators in the country.” With
$60,000 already secured for the Theological
Department of William Jewell College, the
Missouri Baptist General Association, at its
recent session, resolved, by a rising vote, to
increase the endowment of that Department
to $300,000. This is the spirit that deserves
success, and achieves it. A letter from
Newton county, Missouri, states that a Bap
tist church in that region recently “ organized
itself into a Sunday school.” There is the
true idea—the church, the 'whole church, a
school of Christ for its own members, and
for all the young who come within its influ
ence! The Texas Baptist Herald says
that man) of our ministers, who turned aside
.five or six years ago, to secular pursuits for
a living, have returned to their work the past
year, with the most happy results. “ Proba
bly, in no previous year has the ministry of
Texas done so much work as in this. Not
less than five thousand members have been
added to our churches the current year, by
baptism, letter and restoration. The whole
State seems to have been pervaded by a deep
religious interest.” *At Madrid, Spain,
Rev. Mr. Knapp has baptized a young man
of talent and scholarship. He had studied
with Daubigne, in Geneva, but left in conse
quence of a disagreement with his Professors
on the subject of baptism. Ignorant of any
such people as the Baptists, he had been much
perplexed because he saw that neither Ro
manists nor Protestants followed the teach
ings and example N^Christ; but now he is
happy in the truth.’- Rev. G. B. Taylor>
giving, through the Richmond Herald, his
impressions of Spurgeon and his church, says:
“ I was much struck with the fact that this
church, though so large, seemed to have a
strong family feeling.” And what is more
becoming, what more vital to the objects of
the organization, than “ a strong family feel
ing” in a company of ransomed sinners,” ac
cepted in the Beloved,” and claiming the
unity of the Spirit ?
Mercer University.
Please say, in next Index, that Rev. A. J.
Battle has accepted the Presidency of Mercer
University. With the blessing of God, he
will enter upon the duties in July next, if
unable to come sooner. Bro. Battle will
visit Macon next week, to see the brethren of
the Faculty, and view the surroundings in the
field of his future labors. A cordial and
hearty welcome awaits him in Macon, and all
over the State. Mercer University is doing
well. Students come in and constantly in
crease the number. The Building Committee
are making progress in their work, and ere
long, the evidences of their wisdom will be
seen by the passengers going into the city on
the Macon & Western Railroad.
The Brethren, Rev. Wm. A. Overton and
Vincent T. Sanford, wilt open the Mercer
High School, at Penfield, in February next.
D. E. Butler, Pres. B. T. M. U.
Madison, Oa., Nov. 4,1871.
To the Baptists of Alabama.
Dear Brethren: At the request of the
Sunday School Board, I hope to meet you in
your Convention at Montgomery. As the
representative of the Board, I shall try to pre
vail on you to inaugurate such a Sunday school
movement in Alabama, as will arouse all the
Baptist churches of the State to full perform
ance of their religious duty towards the chil
dren.
The future weal of our denomination in
the State demands that the Baptists of Ala
bama shall take hold of the Sunday school
work with boldness, firmness, and with a
persevering and unflinching ardor. What we
need, besides enthusiasm and untiring effort,
is a general concert of action —a plan of
action generally understood, and carried out
by all, unitedly and harmoniously. You
should have a State Sunday School Board,
with officers so zealous and active that they
will soon have District Boards or Committees,
and, under the supervision and active co
operation of all these, the entire State should
soon be canvassed, energy" and enthusiasm
infused throughout the whole State, aud the
werk of the Sunday school put at once in a
state of earnest and unremitting activity.
This is a work that pays. It concerns every
parent, and is the Christian duty of all. You
have been overlooking and neglecting the
great work too much and too long. It is time
for you to wake up, and make such a glorious
beginning, that the hearts of the friends of
Jesus, everywhere, shall rejoice.
I beg of you, therefore, to appoint, in Con
vention, your State Committee, and your
district Committees, and urge upon them
intelligent zeal and activity. Authorize your
State Committee to appoint a suitable Sun
day school missionary, to travel among the
churches, and arouse them to their duty, and
prevail upon the subcommittees to work
zealously, and appoint other Sunday school
missionaries, within the bounds of their dis
tricts. The churches of the entire State
should support the State missionary, and each
District or Association should support its
own special missionary. Where practicable,
the services of the missionaries of the Dom.
Miss. Board may be made available. But
Alabama must do her own work, and pay
most of its expenses. She dare not neglect
it or delegate it to other handsj and the
money she raises for this purpsse, should be
expended within her own borders. 1 expect
to see you make a good beginning in this
great work, and guarantee for you the full,
hearty co operation, advice and assistance of
the Board at Memphis.
In view of this enterprise, I urge upon all
of you to send or bring to the Convention, at
Montgomery, funds to aid in carrying on the
Sunday school work. S. Boykin,
Cor. Sec. pro tern.
1 hope, too, that superintendents and pas
tors will not forget to send the money to
subscribe for the Weekly Kind Words, which
is now fairly started.
Florida Baptist Affairs.
I desire to announce, through the Index,
that the Florida Baptist Convention will meet
in Gainesville, on the Florida Railroad, Fri
day, November 24th, 1871. We extend a
cordial invitation to any of our brethren from
Georgia who can come, to be with us at that
time. We very much desire to see our Bro.
W. N. Chaudoin at the Convention, although
the severe disasters which have befallen our
people have deprived them of the ability to
do much for missions just now.
We have recently attended the fifteenth
annual session of the Santa Fee River Baptist
Association, which convened with the Lake
City Baptist church the 7th instant. The
meeting was pleasant and harmonious, though
not so largely attended as usual, on account
of sickness and high waters. The following
resolutions were unanimously adopted :
Whereas, The Domestic Mission Board of
the Southern Baptist Convention has in past
years extended a helping hand to foster and
build up the Baptist cause, in our State; and
whereas, the action of the last Florida Baptist
Convention, in accepting aid from the Home
Mission Society of New York, has been con
strued by some as excluding the D. M. Board
from our territory— Resolved, 1. That we
disclaim any such intention ; 2. That we
hereby express our gratitude and indebted
ness to the D. M. B. for its past help; 3.
That we encourage our churches that may be
able to give to Domestic Missions, to let the
contributions to this object pass through the
treasury of this Board ; 4. That we would
hail with pleasure the appointment of at least
one missionary in each of our Associations
by this Board, and whatever they might be
able to collect upon their fields of labor, be
applied to paying their salaries.
The next session of this Association is to
be held with the Pleasant Grove church,
Alachua county, Fla. We were much grati
fied to find that our brethren of Lake City
had such a neat, comfortable house of wor
ship. The house is new, stands upon the
margin of a beautiful lake, and needs paint to
give it a more attractive appearance. Our
Bro. H. B. McCallum is the pastor, who is
greatly beloved by his people, and enjoys the
confidence of the entire community.
J. H. Tomkies.
Waldo, Fla., Oct. 17, 1871.
East Tennessee Items.
Duck Town Association. —This is anew
body, formed of churches organized by Elder
T. A. Higdon, of Mine City. It was organ
ized the first week in October, with eight
churches, and a membership of 471, and bids
fair to be a power in the mountain regions of
Polk county. Already, there is not a single
Association in the South that exceeds this little
body in the average to the member of the
contribut’ons. During the next year, their
benevolent contributions will amount to over
SI,OOO. I know of no body of Christians
working so nearly on the apostolic plan as
the church at Mine City. They ail give
largely, and are in a constant state of revival.
Faith, giving and thanksgiving seem to con
stitute the secret of their success.
The General Association. —This body con
vened at Knoxville on Saturday, October 7th.
The representation was large—over 175—and
quite a number of visiting ministers from all
sections except Georgia and Virginia, from
which States we expected a large number.
Elder W. A. Montgomery was reelected
President, S. J. Norton, Corresponding Sec
retary, and J. L. Moses, Treasurer, and T.
C. Karns was elected Recording Secretary.
Stirring addresses on ministerial support,
ministerial education, Sunday schools, For
eign and Home Missions were delivered by
representative men. An unusual interest
was manifested in all these subjects. Twenty
one missionaries have been employed during
the year, and they report 31 new churches and
2,058 conversions. They have not cost over
$4,000. Seeing that the Lord has so blessed
us, we have appointed, so far, 28 men for the
coming year. Over 100 conversions have
resulted from their labors, so far. These 28
men will cost us about $1,200.
Mossy Creek College. —An attempt is be
ing made to secure an endowment of SIOO,-
000 for this Institution. Three or four thou
sand have been secured already, and the work
is just begun. Attempt and accomplishment
are synonymous terms with East Tenessee
Baptists. A. H.
Our Church at Blakely, Ga.
I have just returned from Blakely, Ga.,
where Bro. W. L. Crawford and myself held
a ten days’ meeting with the Baptist church.
The church has been without a pastor for
about one year. They had a debt which
troubled them, and we found the church
scattered and discouraged. The good Lord met
with us at the meeting, and most graciously
poured out His blessed Spirit upon the church
and congregation. The church was greatly
revived, the church debt removed, and twen
ty one gladly received the Word and were
baptized ; and there were twenty-five added
to the church, twelve of the number were
young men. We closed the meeting with at
least fifty mourners, enquiring what they
should do to be saved. Bless the Lord, O
my soul, and all that is within us, bless His
holy name. The church at Blakely is anx
ious to .get a pastor that has no family, to
take charge of the church, and locate among
them. Blakely is an inviting field for a
young minister. The South-Western Rail
road is now building a branch from Albany
to Blakely, which will make Blakely a place
of considerable Importance. The brethren
will be preascd to correspond with any min
ister that would take the care of the church.
By addressing Mr. James 11. Wade, Blakely,
Ga., they can get any* information desired.
Thomas Muse.
C'uthbert, Nov. 1, 1871.
Excommunication.
Whereas, Dr. J. H. Morris, who joined
this (New Hope, Baptist) church, by letter
from Bethel chuich, Chambers county, Ala.,
which letter was signed by Rev. John Comby,
Moderator, and John N. Burden, Ch. Clerk,
he (Dr. M.) professing to be a Missionary
Baptist; and whereas , said Morris, after hav
ing been elected pastor of tnis church, did, in
a very short time thereafter, resign his pas
toral charge and obtain a letter of dismission
from this church, under pretense of removing
west, shortly after which he settled in Fayette
county, Ala., and joined an anti-missionary
Baptist church, still retaining the letter he
received from this church, also taking a letter
from said anti church. The Clerk of this
church was instructed to write to said Morris,
demanding the letter given him by this church,
and also, that he give satisfaction for his
conduct. The Clerk wrote, some months
siuce, but has received no answer.
Therefore be it Resolved, by this church,
1, That Dr. J. H. Morris be, and he is here
by excluded from New Hope Baptist church
of Christ.
2. That from information received, since
he obtained a letter from this church, we are
satisfied that he has acted the part of an im
postor, in that, while he acted as a Missionary
Baptist, he was, as we believe, in reality an
Anti.
3. That all Baptist churches are warned
against receiving said Morris on the letter
obtained by him from this church.
4. That this preamble and these resolutions
be spread upon our church book, and that a
copy be sent to the Christian Index and
South Western Baptist for publication, with
the request that all Baptist papers publish
the same.
By order of the church in conference, this
21st day of October, 1871.
John C. Foster, Moderator.
James M. Smith, Ch. Clerk.
Romulus, Tuscaloosa county, Oct. 21,1871.
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Dear Index: I desire space in your col
umns to make the following acknowledge
ment of contributions received for our Semi
nary :
Columbus Association. —T. B. Slade, $1;
M. J. Wellborn, $5; R. S. Kendrick, $1 ;
John Huff, $5; T. P. Ashford, $5; Walter
Dortche, $1; Miss B. Willis, $1 ; Mrs. T.
B. Estes, $5.
Friendship Association. — D. M. Sloan, $1;
L. Jay, $1; Rob’t Keith, $1; J. H. Souter,
$1 , E. M. Tiiarpe, $1; Jas. Carson, $5 ; H.
T. Jordan, $5; Alex. Chappell, sl.
Georgia Association. —T. J. Burney, $3;
J. Ellington, $2; R. E. McGinty, $10; E.
C. Hawes, $1; F. M. Wright, $5; Asa
Chandler, $2.50; J. T. Wingfield, $10;
White Plains church, sl2; (the last two
amounts through the Finance Committee.)
Rehoboth Association. —R. W. Fuller, $1;
W. Beverly, $1; B. L. Ross, $5; “Cash,”
$2; J. C. (Jheeves, $1; Mrs. I. J. Massie,
$5; T. H. Stout, $5; vY\ J. Collins, $2 ; J.
A. MoClung, sl.
We have also received subscriptions amount
ing to $417, which the brethren will pay at
their earliest convenience.
In addition to these amounts, received for
the direct support of the Seminary, we have
received for the support of Bro. Wm. H.
Norton at the Seminary, s2l, in cash, (which
Bro. Norton will acknowledge by letter,) and
a number of pledges, which the brethren will
please send direct, (by P. O. money order
draft, or registered letter,) to Rev. Wm. H.
Norton, Sou. Bap. Theo. Seminary, Green
ville, S. C.
I have received from the brethren of Geor
gia, wherever I have been, nothing but cour
tesy and kindness, and feel grateful for the
kind reception they have given me. Let me
beg that pastors will at once present the
claims of the Seminary to their churches,
and that individuals will at once send me a
contribution.
It is your Seminary, brethren. Will you
not help us to meet current expenses 1 Ad
dress J, Wm. Jones,
Ag't. Sou. Bap. Theo. Sem., Washington , Ga.
Congratulations and Condolence Extraor
dinary action of the Episcopalians A
Good Hymn Book.
Baltimore, Nov. 1, 1871.
This is the first day of November, and at
this season you would suppose that we are
shivering before the autumnal blast, or invo
king the aid of anthracite to increase the tem
perature within doors. But I am writing
without fire, and the mercury at my side
marks 70 degrees. Thus far, we have had
but two or three days of weather which even
a resident of the tropics would pronounce cold.
The weather here, I understand, is usually
most agreable until late in December. Then
come the snow, and the hail, and the sharp
winds, which are the usual concomitants of a
northern winter. With tight houses and
abnndant fuel, however, you are effectually
shielded amid the severest weather.
Allow me to congratulate the readers of
the Index on your determination to remain in
the chair editorial. I believe you are as cer
tainly a born editor as Cowper was a natural
poet. Any man who can keep files of news
papers for ten or twenty years and remember
everything of any importance in them, to
such an extent as to be able to refer, when
necessary, to any article sought, has a talent
for the editorial tripod which falls to the lot
of very few men. You might make a good
secretary, but the editor is au “ accomplished
fact.” When men reach your age, and even
mine, they should make changes with caution,
unless indeed the change is merely local, the
work remaining the same. [Why does our
correspondent use the word “ even” in the
sense of “ still more I”]
I have been pained to learn, through pri
vate letters from Georgia, that our esteemed
friend, Dr. N. M. Crawford, has been smitten
with paralysis. A few weeks ago, you may
remember, that I was predicting for him, when
we met in your office, as he had not then
quite entered on the seventh decade of life,
ten years more of active work for Jesus.
Bating a bronchial affection with which he
was suffering, his mind and body appeared to
be as vigorous as ever, and to give promise
of the green old age. Little did w r e then an
ticipate the trouble which was overtaking
him. 1 remember that his distinguished
father, after having been similarly attacked,
recovered so far as to hold the Judgeship of
the Superior Court and to render other im
portant services to the State. I trust the son
may yet be spared to do for the church, after
his attack, what the father did for the State.
These afflictions of our brethren call trumpet
tongued to the healthy and vigorous to do with
their might what their hands find to do.
Did you notice the singular action of the
House of Bishops, which recently met in this
city, in regard to the import of the word
“regenerate?” Without at all intending it,
they struck the heaviest blow at infant bap
tism which it has received from Pedobaptist
hands in many a day. Verily, after the ac
tion in question, this ordinance may say, “ l
was wounded in the house of my friends.”
We have now been gravely informed by a
whole College of learned diocesans, in solemn
conclave assembled, that the word “ regen
erate,” used in their prayer book in connec
tion with infant baptism, does not signify that
the child has undergone any moral change
whatever! Now, if this be so, I beg to ask,
most respectfully, for what does the priest
give thanks, when, after baptism, he thanks
the Lord that the child is “ regenerate ?” He
does not give thanks, it appears, for any
moral change; for, according to the House
of Bishops, the child, in this respect, is the
same before as after baptism. Is it, then, for
some intellectual change which the application
of the water to the brow has produced for
which the officiating minister gives thanks?
Has his mind been so strengthened by the
process that henceforth he will be in no dan
ger of insanity ? Does the water impart
such virtue to his mental powers that hence
forth he will be able to master more readily
the difficult problems in natural and intel
lectual philosophy ? This, I presume, will
not be claimed. Nor wiil it, I apprehend, be
affirmed that the water has wrought any
physical change. The child is subject to dis
ease and decay before baptism ; he is liable
to the same assaults afterwards. Hungering
and thirsting and crying before the ordinance,
he does thq same things afterwards. For
what,„then, the question recurs, are the thanks
rendered? The bishops have not informed
us, and 1 am sure that I am unable to tell. 1
suggest that you refer this matter to my wor
thy friend, Bishop Beckwith, who was in the
College when this negative definition was
given, and, if possible, procure from him a
solution of the mystery.
Should he still insist on saying that “the
word regenerate does not mean any moral
change,*’ tell him that Noah Webster (whose
unabridged now lies open before me) says
that regenerate means “ born anew ; renova
ted in heart; changed from a natural to a
spiritual state.” Tall him that Dr. Andrews
defines regenetatio, the Latin word which
is transferred to our language, to signify a
“ being born again.” Tell him that Albert
Barnes, an advocate of infant baptism, says
the word regeneration, in Titus iii : 5, means
“ anew birth.” Tell him, farther, that when
a body of learned bishops dissent from the
accepted definitions of our lexicographers
and popular theologians, they produce per
plexity in the use ol language. Tell him‘
once more, that when an old and commonly
received definition of a word is repudiated, it
would be more benevolent to furnish anew
exposition than to leave the people bewilder
ed by a mere negation.
Upset by this action of the bishops, a mem
ber of the Episcopal church called, a day or
two ago, upon a Baptist pastor in this city,
and addressed him, in substance, as follows :
“My dear sir, lam in trouble. I have been
supposing for some years that I was convert
ed when I was baptized. But 1 have been
told by my teachers that I did not then ex
perience any moral change whatever. If I
was not then, 1 have never been regenerated.
What am Ito do? I prefer the baptism of
your church.” And as the man spoke, he
was overcome by his emotions. Copious
tears attested the depth of his feelings. The
minister said to him, “My friend, I fear you
are not converted. Just now, you have noth
ing to do with the question of baptism at all .
That is altogether an after consideration.
Accept Jssus Christ as your Saviour.” The
minister thus presented Christ to the man,
who was evidently an awakened sinner; and
after a few more words of conversation and
prayer, the two separated. This is one of
tile first fruits which hove some to my knowl
edge of the action of the bishops in regard to
the word regenerate. It would not surprise
me if it were succeeded by a considerable
harvest of such cases.
Have you seen the cheap edition of the
new hymn book published by the American
Baptist Publication Society I It certainly
has one merit. It costs only fifty cents. It
is the cheapest book I know in the whole cir
cle of hymn literature. Think of it: a thou
sand hymns for fifty cents; that is, twenty
hymns for one cent ! Nor is cheapness by
any means the only merit. The book con
tains many of the very finest hymns in the
English language, both new and old. With
such.a book, no pastor needs ever be at a loss
for appropriate, beautiful and devotional po
etry with which to conduct the worship of
the sanctuary in the line of song.
The hymn and tune book 1 have received,
having purchased a copy of the Society. The
type is so beautiful that the eye finds it a lux
ury to rest upon it; whilst the name of the
compiler—John M. Evans—is a guarantee
that the music will be choice and applied in
best taste. Theopiiilus.
8. S. Lessons for 1872.
To the Baptists of the South : 1 have adopt
ed, in Kind Words , for our Baptist Sunday
schools, the same series of lessons that is
published in the Baptist Teacher, of Philadel
phia. This gives teachers and superinten
dents the advantage of the Baptist Teacher
and other publications, while the children
will have the benefit of the lessons in Kind
Words. These lessons will be written by
Dr. B. Manly, of Georgetown, Ky., and will
purposely be made easy and simple, yet
clear and comprehensive. The text from the
Bible will be published, and also such expla
nations and questions as will render the les
son comprehensible to young children, even.
The school, therefore, that takes the weekly
Kind Words will have a Bible lesson com
posed of the text, all necessary explanations,
and a catechism for distribution each week.
I sincerely hope that every Baptist Sunday
school in the South will subscribe for Kind
Words , and reap the benefit of these admira
ble lessons.
I am glad to see that subscriptions for the
weekly Kind Words are coming at the rate
of one thousand per month, and yet very
many schools do not take it. The price of
the weekly is 50 cents per copy, where ten or
more are taken. It supplies the place of
Bible, catechism and commentary.
Subscriptions in Georgia and Alabama may
be sent to the Christian Index, or J. J. & S.
P. Richards, Atlanta, or Rev. F. M. Hay
good, Macon, Ga., or to S. Botkin,
361 Main St., Memphis.
Rev. W. N. Chaudoin and Rev. T. B.
Cooper are also agents for Kind Words.
Items from S. W. Georgia.
I. Friendship Association convened with
Pleasant Grove church, in Macou county,
on Saturday before the first Lord’s day in
October. Dr. G. T. Wilburn was elected
Moderator, Bro. J. 11. Cawood, Clerk. This
is a large, intelligent and efficient body. It
is also a growing body. At almost every
session, we learn, churches are knocking at
her door for membership. It is a liberal,
missionary body, too: pays Bro. Buckner
$1,200 to preach to the Indians in the far
West; contributes SI,OOO or more, this year,
in cash and bonds, to enlarge the endowment
of Mercer; gives a handsome sum to the
Southern Theological Seminary, at Green
ville, S. C.; helps to pay Bro. Norton’s ex
penses there this year; brethren subscribe
for the Index and S. W. Baptist, and the
Baptist, cheerfully. In a word, it is a capital
body. The subject of Union Sunday schools,
under any circumstances, gave rise to some
diversity of opinion. The Association agreed
to meet, hereafter, on Friday.
11. Houston Association. —On Friday be
fore-the second Sunday in October, the writer
started for the Houston Association, 43 miles
distant. Down the River Road, on the east
side of the Flint—no flint rocks here—we
travelled; passing through Draytown, at 16
miles; now entering some of the best farm
ing lands we ever saw, cultivated by 11. L.
Dennard, Elijah Butts, John B. Lewis, Thos.
Whitsett and others—lands wortli $25, SSO
and even SIOO per acre—some of the plan
tations having palatial residences, occupied
by men who have plenty of money, are out of
debt, and whose independence and hospitality
are not surpassed by the fertility of the soil.
This part of Dooly is a little empire within
itself. Two objections: Ist, Too much Anti
ism and “bald face;” 2nd, education is “be-,
low par.”
We passed near Fort Early, inhabited only
by gallinippers, gophers, owls, etc.; crossed
Blackshear trail, and passed along some to
talities rendered memorable by awful savage
atrocities. At the end of 17 miles, we
reached Warwick, in the edge of Worth coun
ty—one store a post office and two or three
small residences—and travelling 10 miles
more, plunging our Bob pony into two swim
ing creeks and one pond, we reached the long
looked for Red Oak church. But not an Oak
could we see. Pine! pine! nothing but pine
and ponds. No wonder the people are all
Baptists' down here; for, without a doubt,
there is muoh water in Worth county. We
hauled out our chronometer, which told us
it wanted 15 to 2 p.m. —just in time to be taq
late for the “esculents.” We were tired and
hungry. The Association had met, the tables
were cleared off, and the sisters who manage
the “ baskets,” had taken their places in the
house, to hear that the letters from the churches
are read correctly. There was no escape:
we had to endure it until night.
Elder Jesse R. Hortae was elected Moder
ator, and A. J. Cone, Clerk. This is an old
body, organized, perhaps, 43 years ago. It
is large in numbers, and covers a considerable