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178 THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, CA„ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16,1871. Jfulexaiiil fjaptisit J. J. TOON, .... Proprietor. PUBLICATION ROOMS —4 * 6 SOUTH BROADWAY. Editor: Bev. D. SHAVEB, D.D. CORRESPONDING EDITORS : Rav. J. J. D. RENFROE, Talladega, Ala. Rev. 9. HENDERSON, D.D., Jacksonville, Ala. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1871. Alabama Baptist State Conrention. Montgomery, Friday, Nov. 10th. The Convention assembled in the First Baptist Church, (D W Gwin, pastor,) and was organized at 10 o’clock, a.m., by S. Henderson, President of the body at the last session, who read the 52nd chapter of Isaiah. Prayer was offered by JWm Jones. R Fuller Manly was appointed Secretary, pro tern., in the absence of the former Secretary, C Manly, and the following members by delegation and life membership, reported their presence : From Associations. — Alabama, W C Cleave land, B H Crumpton, P H Lundy, J E Bell, C A Kendrick, D W Gwin, B A Jackson, H W Cas sey, J Falkne, M Bishop. Bethlehem, P S Milner, J D Beck. Cahdba, E B Teague, S R Freeman, W II Mclntosh, J W Hudson, 0 H Perry, Canaan , J Grimes, JL D Hillyer, T F Waldrop, A J Waldrop, W J Eubank. Carey , W T Davis, G P Jenkins, Jr., J P Shaffer. Cen tral, B Timmerman. Coosa River, D D Draper, J J D Renfroe, J Headen, S M Crook, S G Jen kins, W Wilkes, H C Taul. Eufavla, W W Battle, J 0 Hixson, E Y Van Hoose, M B Whar ton, J S Paullin, A W Beverly, J W Cowart, J M Thornton, 0 Rhoades. Tuskegee , W H Far> row, H E Taliaferro, W E Lloyd, W II Carroll, W H Roby, R H Rawlings, A C Barron, J J Cloud, Z D Roby, J T Cloud. Ten Islands, S Henderson. Tallassahatehie , J R Webb. Ca haba Valley , M Hendricks. Pine Barren, J C Jones, J B Scott, F Bruner. Shelby, T P Hol combe, T McConnaughey, T C Boykin. North River, D Manasco, M B Harben. Bigbe, C W Buck, J C Wright. Boiling Springs, W 0 Jen kins. Unity, A Andrews. Tuscaloosa, J Hick man. Providence, G F Williams, A B Woodfin, R F Manly, A P Bush, P T Warren, M G Hud son. Warrior River , J P Lovelace. From Churches. — Autaugaville, J I Lamar. Selma, E B Teague, J Haralson, R C Keeble, T S Bowen. Montgomery, First church, R F No ble, H A Howard, R H Molton, W T Hatchett, B B Davis ; Second church, W M Davis, A II Johnson, A Howard, T J Scott, J Fulkes, J M Newman. Siloam, W H Mclntosh, W W Wilker son, 0 0 Huckabee, W T Hudson, P King. Tal ladega, JJ D Renfroe, R B Mosely. Unity , P H Lundy. Mobile, St. Frances st., A B Wood fin, R F Manly, A P Bush ; Marine st., G F Wil liams ; Broad st., P T Warren, M G Hudson. Oxford, E T Smythe, T P Gwin, D D Draper. Life Members. —W B Haralson, S G Jenkins, A Williams, D Lee, J M Newman, D R Lide, A J Battle, J H Lee, C C Huckabee, J B Lovelace, P King, J F Bailey, T A Blunt, I B Vaiden, S II Fowlkes, M T Sumner, W B Modawell, G Hucka bee, W H Mclntosh, H E Taliaferro, J H DeVotie. An election of officers was held, which result ed in the choice of S Henderson as President, and R F Manly as Secretary. On taking the chair, the President adverted to the fact that the most weighty responsibilities ever bcfrne by us, are im posed at a time when we are least able to bear them. Is it not a test of our faith and courage — to prove whether we will trust Him who is able to take of our smallest means and accomplish the most glorious results with them, and whether in this trust we will attempt what was not done wen when wo were full-handed ? The speaker quoted a saying of Jesse Mercer, that ‘so far as means are concerned, God designs to convert the world with men and money.’ He urged the pro priety and indicated the power of prayer. D. W. Gwin, in the name of the Baptists of Montgomery, welcomed the members of the Con tion to their homes and their hearts. He hoped that the meeting would not be one of business only, but would exert a healthy spiritual influ ence in the central city of the Stato, where so many evil forces array themselves. The hours of meeting and adjournment were fixed. The first half hour of each morning ses sion was set apart as a seasoh of devotion. The former Treasurer, S H Fowlkes, was re-elected by acclamation. A committee on preaching was ap pointed, consisting of D W Gwin, J M Newman, B B Davis, A Williams, R H Molton, W W Bat tle, and J Headen. A proposition to appoint a committee on credentials at each annual session, who should report the names of members at the opening of the next, was discussed and laid on the table. Visiting brethren were welcomed to seats: M T Sumner, Cor. Sec., and W. N. Chaudoin, Dist. Sec., of Domestic and Indian Mission Board; W Williams, of the Faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and J. W. Jones, its'Gen eral Agent; I T Tichenor, President of the Sun day School Board; J L Burrows, of the Foreign Mission Board; J J Toon, N A Bailey, C M Irwin, J Barrow, and D Shaver, of Georgia; C Smith, of Fla.; N B E B Hardie, and TII Morgan, of Ala. Reports were received from brethren appointed, last year, to visit District Associations. It ap peared from these reports, that there has been a gratifying increase of co-operation between the Associations and the Convention. The officers of the Convention were instructed to convey, by letter, to our venerable brother, Jesse H Campbell, of Georgia, its sincere sympa thy in his affliction through the untimely death, by accident, of his son, Sherwood. Prayer, led by C. Smith, wa3 offered in his behalf, for the succors of sustaining grace and the comforts of the Holy Ghost. Adjourned, with prayer by D Lee. The Convention resumed its sitting at 8 o’clock P.M. Prayer by P H Lundy. W B Haralson, T F Waldrop and J Lee" were appointed a Com mittee to nominate the remaining officers of the Convention ; and J W Hudson, D D Draper and J M Crook a Committee on Finance. Resolutions were adopted to select one person in each Association in the State to collect histori cal facts, biographical sketches and other mate rials for the preparation in due season of a His tory of the Baptist Denomination in Alabama. E B Teague read the report on Foreign Missions, which presented the facts of Southern Baptist labor in that field, principally as embodied in the St. Louis Report of the Richmond Board. J L Burrows said that the work had been consider ably enlarged since that date, and its present as pects arc encouraging. The despondent refer ence of Secretary Taylor, in the Home & Foreign Journal , to the possibility of a need for the trans fer of our Foreign Missions to Northern Baptists, does not express the spirit of the Board. Our African mission must be kept up, because the Great Commission includes Africa, and because by working for that land with and through its sons in ours, we may defeat efforts in certain quarters to estrange the two races at the bouth. So prosperous is our work in Italy, that he did not despair of yet seeing St Peters a Baptist church edifice. If the anti-mission or the o-mis sion spirit prevails we will die out, as the Primi tive Baptists have done, and the sooner the bet* ter! Christians who undertake to live only for themselves, do not live well for themselves ; and this is true in the spiritual sphere. If Alabama Baptist churches should restrict their interest, sympathy and effort within Stato lines, within these lines our cause would droop, and wilt, and perish. W C Morrow thought that Southern Christians are the best friends of the black race, and most adapted to work effectively for its high est good. On us devolves the training of colored missionaries here to evangelize Africa. After dis cussion by W B Haralson, E B Teague, J W Jones, W II Carroll, B H Crumpton, W H Mcln tosh, J J D Renfroe, M T Sumner, H E Talia ferro, J L D Hillyer,. and D Shaver, the report was recommitted. JJ D Renfroe, A C Barron and C W Buck were appointed a committee on the state of reli gion. Adjourned with prayer by S G Jenkins. At night, in the absence of both principal and alternate, the Introductory sermon was preached by S R Freeman, from Psa. xi: 3. Saturday, Nov. 11th. Devotional exercises, at the opening of the morning session, were conducted by W H Car roll ; and prayer was offered by J Barrow and N A Bailey. The Report on Foreign Missions was read, and after amendment, was adopted, after remarks by I T Tichenor, J L Burrows and J J D Renfroe. Consideration was given to the interests of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Green ville, S C. W Williams spoke in behalf of the Students’ Aid Fund, which, since the withdrawal of B Manly, Jr., from the Institution, has been entrusted to J A Broadus. The Fund has been sufficient to aid, in the matter of Board and books, some twenty students a j'ear since the war. About that number are now in the Seminary needing assistance from this fund, to the amount r of about $125 each for the session. Northern Baptist Seminaries have sufficient endowments to meet‘such cases ; we need the special contribu tions of brethren to this end. We provide, as they do not, for ministerial training to students who lack collegiate culture. No object appeals to Christian sympathy, as a pious young man, thirsting for an education and asking aid in ac quiring it. The best investment for money is— in some young man’s cultivated brain. H E Talia ferro contributed to this purpose a sum entrusted to him by a sister, for what he might consider the best cause appealing for help. J L Burrows thought the student has a claim, in justice, on support by the churches, since he is at the Semi nary in obedience to their call, preparing to do their work. The Virginia churches are now sup porting 84 young men at Richmond College. I T Tichenor told how a young minister had been sustained at Greenville by contributions from a Sewing Society of little girls, and who is now ac cepted as a foreign missionary. The click of their needies will be heard on the other side of the globe, and in heaven ! M T Sumner felt, as a domestic missionary man, that he could not re fuse to aid a cause so necessary to his own special work. Z D Roby suggested that such as are poor preachers should help some young man in learn ing to preach better than they can, and in this way do more good through another than they are able to do themselves. J W Jones appealed for payments on bonds and for fresh contributions toward the Fund for the support of the Professors in the Seminary. The Board of Trustees of Howatd College, through W II Mclntosh, reported the election of Col. J T Murfree as President, of S R Freeman as Professor of Theology, and of F II Hawkcs to fill the Chair of English Literature, (anew profes sorship.) Up to date, 104 students have matricu lated, the present session. The Report was re ferred to a Committee on Education, W C Cleave land, J Haralson and J E Bell; and the meeting at 7 o’clock p.m. was set apart for attention to the interests of Howard College. G F Williams read the Report on Domestic missions. It urged that as scanty means would not be accepted as an excuse fbr suffering one’s neighbors lo die for want of food, it can not be accepted as an excuse for suffering them to perish for want of the gospel. W N Chaudoin ad dressed the Convention, and the body adjourned, with prayer by A J Waldrop. In the afternoon, after prayer by D. Lee, the consideration of the Report was resumed. JL D Hillyer mentioned the case of a young man, who, when in the army and without income, expressed a purpose to devote one-tenth of his future re ceipts to the Lord. He has since done it. Last year, with a widowed mother and two sisters to support, in conjunction with a crippled brother, he gave S3O to religious objects—one-tenth of his salary of S3OO. C Smith held that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. He felt that his own sympathies were more largely enlisted in be half of domestic than of foreign missions. The two are not antagonistic. There are gross ignor ance and shameful neglect of the means of grace —there is a real heathenism —in our country. There is Romanism, too; and hero it is most a living power. D Lee, (who is well stricken in years, having been for forty years pastor of his church,) cultivated a piece of ground, from which he realized SBG, dividod equally between the three Boards of the Southern Convention. M T Sumner preferred regular contributions at home, to spasmodic efforts at annual meetings. The Re port was adopted. The Report of the Committee to nominate the remaining officers of the Convention, was adopt ed as follows: Trustees of Howard College—M W Hand, C C Huckabee, W W Wilkerson, J F Bailey, A B Woodfin, J G Shorter, E B Teague, John Gamble, W N Reeves and W C Cleaveland. Board of Directors —A J Battle, J B Lovelace, I B Vaiden, M T Sumner, J II Lee, J F Bailey, D B Lide, E H Blunt, J Moore : First Vice Presi dent, WII Mclntosh ; Second, E B Teague: To preach the introductory sermon next year, A B Woodfin: alternate, J J D Renfroe. T C Boykin read the Report on Sunday which recommended the establishment of a State Sunday School Board auxiliary to the General Board at Memphis. He had obtained returns from 148 schools, with 1,164 officers and teachers, with 7,069 scholars, 307 conversions, 23 teachers’ meetings, contributions $2,750.70. One hundred and two schools continue through the whole year. I T Tichenor advocated the action proposed by the Report. G F Williams dissuaded from that action, and offered resolutions pronouncing the Sunday school work properly embraced in do mestic mission work, declining to originate a State organization to prosecute it, and urging special attention to it on the part of missionaries within our bounds. discussion was suspended, for the reading of the Treasurer’s Report, which was referred to an auditing committee; and the Con vention adjourned, with prayer by J Grimes. The session of the Convention at night, was opened with prayer by W C Morrow. The Re port of the Committee on Education, upon the Report of the Trustees of Howard College, was presented, sanctioning the use of the Greensboro Church Fund by the Trustees to meet current expenses, and approving the plan for raising an endowment by life insurance policies. S R Free man spoke to the general subject. The Trustees have uniformly taken a deep interest in the wel fare of the College, and have never held a meet ing without invoking the Divine blessing. The embarrassments of the College have been unpar alleled in the history of such institutions, and the burden of these embarrassments has been thrown back upon the Trustees from year to year, by the Convention. The Trustees have at last devised a plan to rid themselves ol the burden—that is, to endow the College through policies in the Na tional Life Insurance Company, of Philadelphia; which plan the speaker detailed at length. He then recited the financial history of the Institu. tion since his connection with it; from which it appeared that he had donated to the Students in the theological department, $2,150. W II Mc- Intosh hoped that if brethren doubted the pro priety or feasibility of the plan, they would speak then, and if they voted for the plan, would feel themselves committed to carry it out. Ha lament ed the effort to withdraw Prof. Freeman from the College and the State, and felt anxious that Bap tists should do what they couid to retain him, with his invaluable services and commanding in fluence. He suggested that the Convention, in behalf of the denomination in Alabama, pledge him the sum necessary to his support, and em ploy him as Evangelist, to further the interests of the College throughout the State. M Bishop questioned the propriety of the plan, as inconsis tent with trust in God. He thought that if the appeal were made to the churches, in the churches, the money necessary to endowment would be forthcoming. The Report was laid on the table; and a proposition made to raise $2,000, as a sala ry for Prof. Freeman as State Evangelist. S Hen derson had clung, at personal sacrifice, to Ala bama in her desolation, and felt that Prof. Free man must be kept here to aid in developing our future. With frequent brief speeches, the sum was raised by pledges. Aojourned, with prayer by M T Sumner. Lord’s day, Nov. 12th. The Protestant pulpits of the city, (the Episco pal excepted,) were filled .by members of the Convention. In the afternoon, at the First church, in pursuance of a call from the Wetump ka Baptist church, N B Wiiiiams, missionary elect to China, was ordained to the ministry. Reading of the Scriptures and prayer by J J D Renfroe; sermon by S Henderson; ordination prayer by S R Freeman ; charge by M T Sum ner; presentation of Bible by D W Gwin; right hand of fellowship by W Williams. Monday, Nov. 13th. E B Teague conducted devotional exercises; and M Bishop, II E Taliaferro and T P Holcombe offered prayer. Z D Roby was elected Assistant Secretary. P H Lundy, W W Battle and E T Smyth were appointed a committee to nominate delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention. The Committee appointed to collect historical and biographical facts for a history of the denom ination in the State, was appointed as follows: D Lee, A J Waldrop, J J D Renfroe, J P Shaffer, J H Foster, J J Cloud, J S Paullin, YV H Mclntosh, Andrew Jay, R F Manly, E T Reed, P M Cal laway, T P Holcombe, J F Catlitt, J C Wright, P M Musgrove, D Manasco, W J Parker, I W Suttle, J F Bledsoe, M Hendricks, J C Jones, W O Jenkins, A Andrews, Jno B Appleton, Wm Thackerson, J K Ryan, J C Foster.J The Report on Sunday schools was further dis cussed. I T Tichenor thought that not more than one church out of three in the State has a Sunday school. There must be an organization to secure schools where none are; and this organ ization should not be independent of the Conven tion—as it will be unless the Convention creates a Board for the work. With such organizations in ail the States, our General Board at Memphis will be able, in five years, to secure schools in all, or nearly all, the seven thousand Baptist churches at the South. GF Williams held that our mis sionaries and our State Evangelist should attend to the Sunday school work, as part of their work in that character. W H Carroll did not know how one man could prosecute, with best effect, so many lines of operation. He wanted men who would make Sunday schools a specialty ; at least twenty this year. P H concurred in this view. C C Huckabee*questioned whether Dr. Freeman was likely to be secured for this three fold work. B H Crumpton favored the substitute of G F Williams. After further remarks by W B Haralson and W E Lloyd, the substitute was lost and the report was adopted. W C Cleave land, J M Newman and, W E Lloyd were ap pointed a Committee to recommend the location and membership of the Board. Resolutions were adopted, requesting the Do mestic Mission Board, at Marion, to commission Rev S R Freeman as State Evangelist, at a salary of $2,000; the pledges for this purpose in the session of Saturday night, to bo paid to the Treasurer of that Board, one-half by January Ist, the other half by July Ist. The Board of Directors were empowered, if S R Freeman de clines the position, to appoint another, obtaining first, the consent of parties making pledges. Talladega was selected as the location of the Sunday School Board: T C Boykin, J J D Ren froe, W R Stone, J H Joiner, and E T Smythe, as members. A Report on Systematic Beneficence, (which we will publish hereafter,) was presented, and remarks were made by J M Newman, W C Mor row, S Henderson, J L Burrows, T M Barber, and W W Waller. Adjourned, with prayer by P H Lundy. Prayer was offered at 3 o’clock, p.m., by J P Shaffer; after which the Report on Systematic Beneficence was adopted. J L D Hillyer ad dressed the Convention in behalf of Birmingham and Elyton mission; and the Convention com mended the mission to the liberality of Alabama Baptists. It needs a house of worship—and needs help to build it. . The Board of Education reported, lamenting the apathy of ministers and churches. Appeals to pastors in nine months secured a financial re turn from only one. Receipts lor the year $53.50. The agency of W M Davis, since August, had met its own expenses, with the prospect of a surplus when pledges are redeemed. The Report pro posed that a collection be taken up for the Board in the months of October, November and Decem ber, yearly, and that the Board be removed to Marion. E B Teague had sent the Board no money the past year from Selma, because the church there was itself supporting a student at Howard College. He doubted the necessity of the Board. J W Jones deemed the Board impor tant and indispensable. Virginia has had one for many years,which now has thirty-four students supported by it. WII Carroll thought the fact that the Agent in 82 days had preached 6G sermons, a sufficient argument for the plan and the Board. Remarks were made by WH Mcln tosh, C C Huckabee, D W Gwin, M Bishop, and JJ D Renfroe. The proposition to remove the Board was stricken out, and the Report was adopted. A resolution was adopted commending the cir culation of the Memoirs of Rev. John E Dawson, D.D., by his sister, Mrs. Hill, which were repre sented as in the hands of the publisher, J J Toon. Eufaula was selected as the place of meeting next year. Adjourned with prayer by A J Wal drop. The Convention re-assembled at 7 o’clock, p.m., and W N Chaudoin led in prayer. The Report of the Committee on Education upon the Roport of the Trustees of Howard College was taken from the table. The plan of endowment by life insu rance was advocated by J M Robertson, C C Huckabee, J H DeVotie, W H Carroll, C W Buck and J L Burrows, and opposed by M B Wharton and M Bishop. The Report was then adopted. The Board of Education was appointed: D W Gwin, B B Davis, G W Thomas, W T Hatchett, B F Noble, J M Newman, J C Stratford, A II Johnson, Gfi Molton. The Committee on Finance reported receipts as follows: Foreign Missions $306.95, Domestic Missions $230.44, Indian Missions $148.49, Con vention Purposes, $29, and other sums, in aking a total of $723.83. “ Resolved, That our interest in the Christian Index & South-Western Baptist is unabated, and that we recommend its increased circulation to our churches. “ Resolved, That we cannot fail to express our highest gratification for the continued connec tion of our beloved brother, Rev. D Shaver, D.D., as Editor of the Index and Baptist. The Report on State of Religion was adopted ; (we will give it to our readers in a week or two.) Delegates were appointed to the Southern Bap tist Convention : W H Mclntosh, M T Sumner, S R Freeman, A J Battle, E B Teague, J W Hud son, J Haralson, D Lee, W C Cleaveland, M Bishop, B H Crumpton, T M Bailey, J £ Bell, M Hendricks, A Jay, A B Woodfin, G F Williams* P T Warren, J H Foster, D W Gwyi, W M Da vis, T H Watts, R Figh, W W Waller, F II Moss, J J Cloud, V Z D Roby, W E Lloyd, H E Talia ferro, W II Stanton, W II Carroll, J O Hixson, E Y Van Hoose, J S Paullin, A H Borders, W N Reeves, J G Shorter, M B Wharton, A O Barron, P W Johnson, H Holcomb, S Henderson, J J D Renfroe, T P Gwin, J Headen, T C Boykin, J M Robertson, W Wilkes, C A Kendrick, J P Shaffer, A J Waldrop, H C Taul, J C Wright, W R Stone, L W Lawler, M G Hudson, S G Jenkins, P King, C C Huckabee, M B Modawell, J B Lovelace, J H Lee, B A Jackson, P H Lundy, W W Battle, E T Smythe, J Grimes, C W Buck, B B Davis, W C Morrow. Committees were constituted to report next ycarr■ t Foreign Missions, A B Woodfin, G F Williams, $1 G Hudson; Domestic Missions, M B Wharton, J S Paullin, W W Battle; Education, JII Foster, R F Manly, C C Huckabee; State of Religion, W H Mclntosh, E B Teague, W M Davis. The Report of the Trustees of Judson Female Institute, not having reached the Convention, was ordered to be printed in the Minutes, after refer ence to the Board of Direotors. The Secretary was instructed to insert in the Minutes an appeal for data toward the History of Alabama Baptists. Correspondents were appointed to the Florida and Georgia Conventions ; and the President and Secretary were instructed to address a joint letter to Alabama. Associations not now co-operating with the Cemvention, and invite their co-opera tion. Adjourned with prayer by M. T. Sumner. Our Associates will give a more intelligent esti mate of the Convention than lies within our power. If wo may trust our own impressions, however, the attendance was more numerous, the discus sions more able, the spirit more hopeful, the signs of promise and tokens of progress more decided and cheering, than at the Opelika and Oxford sessions. There is a future for the Baptists of Alabama, and they are awaking to it. We tender to J. C. Stratford, Esq., and his esti mable wife, our thanks for the Christian hospi tality of which we were a pleased partaker during the session of the Convention. Sale of Strong Drink. Timothy unto Paul —Beloved Father: Feeling that your counsel iu matters of difficulty is ever worthy of being sought, I submit the following to your consideration: Ist. Would a minister of the gospel do right, if he should refuse to baptize a person en gaged in selling ardent spirits by the bottle for profit, for medicinal purposes,) provided said individual makes it known that he does not intend to abandon the practice ? 2nd. Would a church act consistently to al low its m,embers to engage in such a prac tice £ Pi*-*:-give us your opinion at the j earliest convenience. Your son in gospel i bonds, Timothy. To Timothy, but not from Paul — Son Beloved: I cheerfully give you my opinion, though it strikes me as exceeding strange that any “ difficulty” should even seem to sur round the matter” you submit. To my mind—and I am conscious of no bias in the premises—there is scarcely space for two answers to either question. The traffic in ardent spirits as a beverage, wears too many marks of immorality to receive toleration rightfully among members of a church of Christ. The heart of the Saviour, all pu rity and love, could not have poured out its blood, to prepare the way for the establish ment of an organization, which should do the work, or coo 'i&eax-cirand connive at the guilt, of the drunkard-maker Every mind would be shocked if the church should appoint one of her members to embark in the sale of strong drink, as her agent: but would this in volve any moral principle which does not un derlie her action when she permits him, with out disciplinary censure, to embark in that sale on his own account ? If these views are correct, it follows, of course, that no person who sells ardent spirits as a beverage and de cides not to abandon the business, ought to be accepted as a proper candidate for bap tism. I should feel that I perverted, if I did not even profane, the ordinance, should I admin ister it in such a case. So, in'brief, the mat ter presents itself to the mind of Your bro ther in Gospel bonds. Supreme Moments. There arc moments in life which do not go from us. The mere lapse of time may range them with the past; but they are an influence, and mingle with and largely make the present. The sou! defies the categories, and weaves these moments into the “Now”in which it lives—a “ Now” not limited within the narrow sphere of the senses, but expand ing until it fills the W'ider circle of the intel lectual and spiritual capabilities. The heart is not like a clock which measures off the moments Jn sunshine and shadow alike, and when each moment flits is done with it for. ever: there arc moments that photograph themselves upon it—foments that it does not simply reeord, out repeats again and again— that even grow more real and more potent, we might almost say more present, with every repetition. We may have such moments in our Chris tian experience* One we must have—the moment of the new birth. There are others that come to us as the life imparted then grows —grows, in some sort, always by or from these moments, whose power arid whose presence abides. They are moments when Jesus makes some fresh revelation of Him self in the soul—when He gives us new glimpses of His glory —when a deeper, di> viner sense of His love thrills us—when He comes in greater power to our own hearts, or, under our ministration, is formed more and more in other hearts, and, therefore, in ours as well! Ye, who love the Lord, are you living with out these supreme moments 1 How long has it been rjlnce you walked in their light? When do you look to have this light break on your eye, beam through your soul, again ? Let us not aim to rest in the unrest which the absence of these moments brings with it. Let us seek their power anew', with the cry of Monsell: ‘•O Thou whose mercy found me, From bondage set me free, And then forever bound me With threefold cord to Thee; Oh for a heart to love Thee More truly as I ought; And nothing place above Thee, In deed, or word, or thought! Oh for that choicest blessing Os living in Thy love, And thus on earth possessing The peace of heaven above I” The two Races. The Acting Governor of this State, Hon. Benjamin Conley, belongs, by birth and training, to the North. His political Asso ciations are with the Republican party, and he is conspicuous for his firm adherence to its policy. Ho is, therefore, a witness not un likely to be credited by the Baptist press on the other side of Mason and Dixon’s line. We call the attention of our editorial breth ren in that section to the testimony borne, in his recent Message, on a question which has elicited some discussion, and will proba bly elicit much more, in connection with the operations of the American Baptist Home Mission Society at the South. He says : “ I can but commend the wisdom and fore, thought of the late General Assembly, in lay ing down, as one fundamental piovision of the system [of Education] in this State, that the different races shall be separate in the schools. We can have no mixed schools. It is not for the interest of either race that it should be so. While there should be equal justice done in the distribution of the public funds for the education of the children of both races, our schools should be separate, and our colleges should be separate.” An Example. —The Broadway Tabernacle church, New York, on the recent resignation of their pastor, Rev. J. P. Thompson, D.D., after a service of twenty-seven years, “made him a present sos $55,000, or a little over $2,000 for each year’s service.” This act combines liberality and justice. The tal ents of Dr. Thompson, devoted to a secular profession, would have reaped, in all proba bility, even a more abundant harvest than that; and was it not simply the discharge of a moral obligation, when the church, possess ing the re’iyiisite financial ability, secured him against loss through the employment of his prime of life for its welfare? The sum of $55,000, doubtless, was added, many times over, to the gains of the members of that church in temporal affairs, by virtue of the influence of his ministry upon their character —upon the principles, the spirit and temper, which, from the Sabbath and the sanctuary, they carried into the business of the week. They paid him but a small percentage on the money, which, through the reflex effect, in “ carnal things,” of his labors in “ spiritual things,” he had fitted and helped them to make. “A Fellow-feeling.— There has been a spice of controversy, for several months past, among Southern Methodists, on certain ques tions touching infant baptism. The Banner of the Church expresses the “ hope that they will keep up the discussion until they arrive at some definite conclusions—at least so far as to be able to tell why they baptize anybody at all.” Now, is the Banner quite sure that this is not a demand which transcends the capabilities of Pedobaptism ? Surely, it can scarcely expect Methodist theologians to ac complish a feat to which its own Episcopal bishops have shown themselves unequal; for the Banner, in reference to the recent declar ation of these dignitaries as to the meaning of contested phraseology in the baptismal office, asks that they will make “such verbal change as seems necessary to give the declar ation a definiteness which will preclude fur ther strife.” Shall the solution which eludes the vision of “ successors to the apostles,” stand disclosed before the eye of “ schismat ics?” Nay, can Pedobaptism, with all its types and schools, ever fix the color of that shifting chameleon —its own “ why ?” Inefficiency.— ln the recent Episcopal Convention, at Baltimore, it was stated by a speaker, that “ the Church,” as established in England, “is reaching but two pei cent, of the working class,” and, as organized in this country, “is not reaching one per cent, of that class.” That “ the poor have the gospel preached unto them,” was adduced by the Great Teacher as a proof of His divine mis sion ; and how can the organization claim an exclusive authority from Him, of which not the least notable characteristic is, that it does not preach the gospel to the poor ? A dis crepancy so palpable and wide, ought to awaken grave doubt whether the flaunting banner of modern “ Churchinanship ” might not be meetly furled, or exchanged for “ a flag of truce ” in the contemptuous crusade against “ the sects.” Gentlemanliness. —The Holston Southern Methodist Conference, at its late session, de clined, by a decided vote, to extend “the usual courtesies” to Northern Methodist ministers, even “in their individual capacity.” This sectional estrangement and want of Christian fraternity moves our regret; but it hardly warrants the harsh style with which the correspondent of an exchange treats it. He desiderates some influence which “will make Christian gentlemen ” of the obnoxious majority, whom he pronounces “so thor oughly' determined to go to heaven in their own way, that rather than adopt any other they' would be satisfied to take passage on the most shabby ‘gravel train,’ with the devil as conductor, fireman and engineer.” We hope when that influence comes into play, this wri ter may be found within its range and prove susceptible to its operation. Rev. J. Dixon, D.D.—The Board of Trus tees of the Georgia Baptist Orphans’ Home, at their last monthly meeting, filled a vacan cy in their number by the election of Rev. Dr. Dixon, pastor of Greene Street Church, Augusta. How is It ?—The Central Presbyterian, Richmond, Va., states that Rev. J. A. Cham bliss has accepted a call to the pastoral care of Four-Mile Creek Baptist chuVeh, in the vicinity of that city. Does this transaction rest on the (erroneous and harmful) rule, that it is permissible for a church which maintains strict communion, to have a pastor holding loose communion views ? Newspaper Change. —Rev. E. 11. Myers, D.D., for nearly eighteen years editor of the Southern Christian Advocate , retires from that position, to take the Presidency of Wes leyan Female College, Macon, Ga. Dr. M. has wielded a vigorous, facile pen, and great ly endeared himself to his own denomination and the genera! Christian public. Rev. F. Milton Kennedy, Presiding Elder of the Or angeburg District, South Carolina, has been elected his successor, and will assume charge of the paper with the opening of the new year. The New Hymn Book. Dear Index: Having examined the “ Bap tist Hymn Book ” issued by “ Bible and Pub. Society, Philadelphia,” 1 desire to give public expression to my sincere gratification in the accomplishment of this great work, and to commend it to the favorable regard of our churches. There are five editions of it, — pocket, pulpit, pew, cheap and music. The cheap edition is a little gem, costing only 50 cents, and containing all the hymns of the others. This is the “ cheapest hymn book in the world.” The music edition, price $2.25, is the most superb book of the kind 1 ever saw. The music is in large aiyl beautiful type, on tinted paper; and belter than this, comprises that style of mu.-ic suited to con gregational psalmody. I think this Baptist Hymn Book is most likely of all others to have a national circulation. It has been adopted by the Ist Baptist church of this city, *and will probably be by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th. A. T. Spalding. News from the Indian Mission. Rev. John Jumper, principal chief of the Seminoles, thus writes : “ Our camp meeting was very satisfactory, and largely attended. We have had camp meetings in oil the churches in this nation. We looked long and anxiously for you, and when you did not come, We felt sure some providence had hin dered you, and we prayed our Heavenly Father to bless you. 1 wish I could write to you in your language. 1 think I would write every mail. You ask if you can do anything for the good of the Seminole churches ? In reply, I say, we need enough lumber to floor our new church house, 20 by 30 feet. If you can aid us by procuring this lumber for us, we will be very grateful. Please endeavor to enlist the sympathies of the good people of the States toward the poor Indians. In this day of helplessness, we need to be especially thought of by all Christians in their prayers to the true God. He alone can avert the danger that threatens to exterminate our race. If you return in time, please visit your Semi nole churches at Christmas time and preach the funeral of my son Peter. We are all praying for you that our Heavenly Father will again, and soon, restore you to sight and to us. The health of my people is very good. Crops are short, owing to dry weather. Still, with economy, we will hare enough to subsist upon until another harvest.” Mrs. Murrow writes Irom Rehoboth mis sion station : “We are getting on smoothly here. Bro. Peter Fulsom preached for us last Wednesday, in English. His ideas were very good. He received your letter and was much pleased; says all the other native preachers are at work for Jesus, trying to do their whole duty. He is much pleased with what has been done for Indian missions in Georgia. I think the Chickasaw mission is especially needing your oversight. Will try to get Bro. Williams to visit that part of the field. The reports from the native preach ers are very good. 21st. Bro. Hogue walked in this morning. Will preach for us to-mor row. I trust he will again be put in condi tion to devote ail his time to the mission work. He is an excellent preacher, and wor thy of all help. He is in fair health, he says. I have been very unwell since you left, until recently ; am now feeling better. Samuel is not stout, though he does not complain. Does Bro. Amos, in his art'de in the Index of Oct. sth, mean that our salary is to be $1,300 a year? If so, surely we can not only live more comfortably, but aid in many more good objects than we are now enabled to do. Samuel and 1 are still alone in the house. You bid me get some one to stay with me. I have tried, but, as yet, have not succeeded. Nor am I afraid. God will take care of me. * Hia love in time past forbids me to think He’ll leave me at last in trouble to sink. Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review, Confirms His good pleasure to help me quite through.’ Stay ill Georgia as long as y our eyesight requires, but it will be a glad day here when you return. For this I constantly pray. Bring some strawberry plants with you, if possible, and some flower slips —rose cut tings, etc.” . . . For the information of any who may have fallen into the same error of my excellent wife, I remark, that S3OO of the $1,300 men tioned by Bro. Amos was for salary of the previous year, which had not been paid. My salary is SI,OOO a year, for which I am grate ful, and with which I am satisfied. My ob ject in living among the Indians is not to make money, but to do good. J. S. Murrow. Atlanta, Nov. ith. Intelligence. Bro. W. M. Davis, Agent for the Theo logical department of Howard College, has been laboring with us at Opelika, Ala., for several days in a fine meeting. Ilis sermons are plain, but exceedingly interesting, and are accomplishing much good. Last Sabbath he delivered a lecture on Ministerial Educa tion, and I am gratified to say that our church at this place pledged itself to educate two young brethren at Howard for the ministry. Are there not other churches in the Tuskegee Association who are older, stronger and richer than we, that will do as well, and bet ter ? The Baptists of Opelika are making steady and rapid progress, and 1 trust it will not be long before we shall have the banner church in East Alabama. We have accessions at nearly every conference meeting, and the waters are frequently troubled. This year, I have been preaching to the church three Sabbaths in the month, but next year we ex pect to have regular Sabbath services. J. J. Cloud. Rev. E. Y. Van Hoose. The Committee (11. C. Hooten, N. M. Bledsoe and W. W. Baker) appointed to pre pare and report resolution expressive of the feelings of the church, on the resignation of Bro. E. Y. Van Hoose,submit the following: Whereas, The relation of pastor and church has been terminated by the resignation of Bro. Van Hoose, of the pastoral charge of Mount Zion Baptist church, Bullock county, Ala.; therefore be it Resolved, Is/, That by his resignation, this church has lost the services and counsel of a punctual, faithful and successful pastor. 2nd, That in dissolving the relation which has so pleasantly existed for the last nine years, we part with him with regret, and we commend him to all among whom his lot may be cast, as an intelligent, zealous and efficient minister of the gospel. Marshallvillb Baptist Church. —We understand, on good authority, that Bro. B. W. Whilden has declined the call of the Marshallville (Ga.) Baptist church, fbr the next year. He does not preach “ trial ser mons but churches desiring pastors and opening correspondence with him, will receive seasonable replies to their communications. His preference is for a pastorate to which he will devote his entire time. Seasons of Refreshing:. Unavoidable calamities prevented me giv ing an account of meetings held during the summer. Elder P. S. Milner assisted me at Brewton and Bluff Springs. At Brewton we formed a Presbytery for the ordination of E. P. Loveless to the office of deacon the church appointing Bro. M. to preach the or dination sermon, and your correspondent to charge the church and candidate. Difficulties called Bro. M. home from Molino. He found his family ill, and could not return. The meeting lasted from Thursday until Sabbath night. No accessions. Was by myself. At Pensacola, Elder J. C. Coleman assisted me. Baptized my wife. We felt that the Lord was with us in the power of ILs Spirit to re vive, if not to convert. The congregation grew as the meetings continued, and we took courage. There were earnest solicitations each church to continue the meeting. Previ ous appointments, however, hastened us on. At Jack Springs (Mars Hill church) I met Elder A. T. Lambert. We had a meeting of importance. Bro. L. baptized two in its wake. Claiborne was our next place. The church was represented as being cold, and we found it so. We regret to mention that not half of the congregation kneeled at prayer. Many members sat every time of prater. Still the Lord granted us a revival. Sceptics were compelled to acknowledge the realities of religion, and one old man was added to the church upon profession of his faith. The church called Bro. L. and myself to set apart John Thomas to the office of deacon. Ap pointed me to preach the sermon and deliver the charge to the deacon and church, all of which took place on Sabbatli morning, fol lowed by the Lord's supper. A more im pressive meeting w’o never witnessed. We left, against the protestations of the commu nity, for Montgomery Hill. This church is cold. Has had no preaching for a year. We commenced Friday morning, with a small congregation, apparently smaller, from the size of the #ne old church—a memento of better days. At night, our congregation doubled, and continued to increase until the house was tilled. On Sabbath morning a gloom wa3 cast over the congregation by the announcement of the death of a young man who attended church Friday night. Fro. L. preached his funeral at 11 o’clock Monday. It was an able discourse, warning us that we were in the midst of death, and a heart searching appeal to prepare for judgment after its dark valley is passed. Our meet ing was prosperous. Sev-eral old mem bers came forward with the young peo ple for the prayers of God’s people. Our last appointment was Little River. The church called on us to set apart Brethren Stark and Boyes to the office ot deacons, and appointed me to preach the sermon and charge the church and candidates. This 1 again ob jected to, but Bro. L. overruled. We re ceived two for baptism—Bro. Lrmbert’s daughter and a young man —Willie Staples. From ail these churches went up a sweet savor, of which Paul so beautifully speaks. But no more. We will visit Montgomery Hill on the fourth Sabbath in November. John T. Beck. Brewton, Oct. 31,1871. Union Mectlug. The Union Meeting of the Houston Asso ciation met with Antioch church, Pulaski county, on Saturday, the 28th Oct., 1871, and organized by calling Bro. Wm. B. Cone to act as Moderator, and N. H. Mobley, Secre tary. The following churches were represented* Antioch, Huwkinsvilie, Harmony, Friend ship, Blue Spring, and Pine Hill. Bro. Wm. Ridley, Chairman of the Com mittee appointed at the last meeting to pre pare business for this meeting, introduced the following queries : Ist. To be a Christian, is it necessary to know the time and place of our conversion! 2nd. Is it right for a mem ber of the Baptist church to sell intoxicating drink to his fellow-men; and is a church dis charging her duty that retains a member who persists in vending the same! The first que ry was taken up for the consideration of the meeting. Most of the brethren present par ticipated in the debate. After a full inter change of ideas, it was unanimously decided that it is not necessary that a Christian know the time and place of his conversion ; but the Scriptures teach us that there must be a change of heart, according to the language of the Saviour to Nicodernus, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.” Proceeded to discuss the second query, which is one that very much interests the churches of the Houston Association, as the vending of spirituous liquors is a very common prac tice among Baptists having membership with them. Ttie investigation of this subject was long and animated, during which the best of feelings existed among the brethren, and a unanimity of sentiment prevailed. In re sponse to the query, this meeting considers it utterly wrong for Baptists to engage in the sale of intoxicating liquors, and that if a church cannot prevail on her members to give up the unholy traffic, and no longer engage in the same, it is her bounden duty to turn them loose upon the world. This meeting earn estly requests the churches of the Houston Association to meet the question firmly, and combat it wherever it may present itself, as it is now the greatest evil against which we have to contend ; and, if not arrested by the churches, will prove a great hindrance to the progress ot the cause of our blessed Saviour. Appointed brethren N. 11. Mobley, A. J. Pound, J. Ilobbs and It. W. Anderson, a Committee to prepare business for the next meeting, which will be held with the Haw kinsville church, on Saturday before the fifth Sabbath in March, 1872. Oostanaula Association. Ia compliance with your request that the brethren should write, on my return home, wearied and fatigued, having been engaged more than fifty days in active service, trying to preach the glorious gospel of Christ, I feel it my duty to d:op you these lines. I held a series of meetings with the churches I at tend. At Unity, 1 baptized 8; West Union, G; Forestville, 11 ; lfinon, 5. Others were received by letter, and several by restora tion. Also, assisted Bro. Chceney at Mt. Pleasant, where we had a glorious meeting, and he baptized 9. Massadonia, Cor.naoena, Blue Pond and other churches of our Asso ciation have had gracious revival seasons, for which we feel grateful to our blessed Re deemer. Since writing the above, 1 attended a Sab bath school celebration at Mt. Pleasant on the 27th of October. A nicer procession, sweeter singing, better things to eat, and a happier crowd 1 never saw. 1 preached from the text, “ Sutler little children to come unto me and forbid them not.”* The aged, middle aged, children and speaker wept together. After a feast of soul and body, our venerable and aged brother, Dr. Cheeney, preached to us from the motto on their pretty white flag, worked in beautiful letters, The Bible. We are alive to the Sabbath school cause. The next day we attended the ministers’, deaoons’ and church meeting of the first district of our Association, held with West Union church. It was organized by calling deacon Marsh to the chair; F. Everett, Secretary. Several queries were ably discussed. The meeting had a happy effect on all present. I cannot close without referring to sonW thing written and published in the Ikdkx ia| reference to our Association. I allude J|B§ closing article of Bro. Stillwell’s of CwK sth, where it is said we were a olicitgg||l£Hßj come counecied with the Conventib#; V W»