Newspaper Page Text
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#ur Coritspniients.
for the Index >ml Baptist.)
SAMIAI.PHON.
There is an old legend in the Tal
mud, that wonderful collection of an
cient Rabbinical love, which repre
sents Sandalpbon, the Angel of
Prayer, standing at the outmost gate of
Heaven, with his feet on the ladder of
ljght, as described by Jacob, “crowded
with unnumbered angels.” He stands
above them all, breathlessly listening
to the sounds which ascend from be
low. Hearing all the prayers of the
children of men, he gathers them to
gether, and they change into flowers
in his hands, radiant and beautiful,
tbe fragrance of which is wafted
through the streets of the Celestial
Ci(y. A beautiful poetic fancy! a won
derful, strange superstition! one
among the many legends of religious
nature showing man’s spiritual long
ing.
How plainly we read the evidence of
the soul’s immortality in the history
of man, in all ages. We see the hun
ger and thirst of the soul for some
knowledge of its ultimate destiny ; even
in the dark ages, when supersition
and witchcraft held their sway ; in the
days of the heathen mythology, a re
ligion which sprang from the immagin
ation of man himself, where his
very Heaven was a creation of
his own fancy. It is still more
clearly exhibited in the teachings of
the ancient philosophers, whose great
minds shown out amid the darkness,
and, in some instances, came very near
Christianity. In the light of to-day,
Divine revelation shines in all its glo
rious brightness, clearing away super
stition, and rendering it no longe nec
essary that the higher order of minds
should resort to their imagination, to
Create a religion to satisfy the yearn
ing of their souls —God-given attri
butes which a God-given religion,
alone, cau do.
Thus the Sandalphonof ancient mys
tical renown, gives place to the man,
Christ Jesus, the true Mediator, listen
ing, in tender mercy, to the supplica
tions of His people. It is sweeter far
to know that our prayers go straight
to a loving Father’s heart, be they
praise and thanksgiving, or broken
prayers of anguish, from “lips that
breathe out God, while earth-born
thoughts break in around.” And far
more wonderful, strange and beautiful
than any one fancy could weavo, is the
story of the Saviour of souls, standing
at the right haild of God, making in
tercession for a weak and struggling
humanity. G. W.
Atlanta, Georgia.
For the Index and Baptist.]
INFORMATION WANTED
In The Index, of Nov. 4th, I find a
long eulogium on the Polish patriot,
Count Pulaski, written by Timothy
Harley. The sentiments iuculcated are,
of course, apparently adopted by The
Index. Now, my object is to gain
some information by asking a few
questions in respect to the great honor,
praise and admiration always heaped
upon heroes in the field of carnage.
Speaking of Count Pulaski, it is said,
We need not enter into the merits of
the cause in whose behalf he died. The
Americans, of course, honor him be
cause the cause was good.”
Admit that the “ cause was good, ”
i.e., admit that the Americans were de
prived of their just rights. Then con
sider the example that Jesus Christ
gave us when the wicked baud of
wretches assailed Him with swords
and staves to crucify Him. He rebuk
ed Peter for attempting to deliver
Him with carnal weapons, saying, “Put
the sword into its sheath, for they who
take the sword shall perish with the
sword.” Did not Peter have as good
cause as Pulaski ? Will The Index
explaiu this inconsistency ?
Again, “ the sincere hero is always
admirable.” What makes such heroes
admirable to Christians ? “ All honor
to the man who died that a nation
might be born !” Which is of the
most value, the birth of a nation or
the life eternal of thousands of souls ?
“ Savannah has immortalized his mer
its.” What are those merits that shall
be immortalized ? The love of his fel
low-men ? If his love for them was so
great, by what spirit did he butcher
them on the battlefield ? “ Let the
people of God cherish, with unchanging
affection, those holy wars and holy
warriors.” Pray, what virtue is found
in a warfare (between Christians) with
muskets uud cannons and swords and
bayonets, to make it so “holy” ? I
thought Christians were to “ suffer
wrongfully.” “Holy warriors!” Chris
tians stabbing each other with bayo
nets ! How is it ? “The church of
Christ has had her champions who
have fallen sword in hand. ” And did the
sword decide that those champions
were right?
But can The Index refer me to one
true champion in Christ’s church who
fell into Paradise while his garments
were dipped in the blood of his breth
ren, though, indeed, his brethren had
made him a slave ?
“The fathers went out and fought,
that their children might divide the
spoil.” That their children might di
vide the spoil! What right had they
to fight, that they might rob their ene
my ? “Ye free Americans ! Glory in
your liberty. * * * Rejoice in
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST.
your Washingtons and Pulaskis ! Fill
your land with their monuments if you
will. ” Should one glory in any liber
ty except that wherewith Christ hath
made him free ? Why should we re
joice in our Washingtons and Pulaskis,
since such men have shed more blood
and caused more misery than all other
causes combined ? And should not
their monuments (if they deserve any)
be dyed in crimson and exhibited to
future generations as incentives to hor
ror, instead of using them to instil in
to the minds of youth the idea of great
ness and honor and virtue to be acquir
ed by dyeing their hands in the gore of
millions ? And lastly, I will ask this
question: If it is “not right for two men
to fight a duel,” how is it “right for
two armies to fight a battle” ?
I desire The Index to give its opin
ion on these questions,
J. W. Davenport.
Morganton, Ga., Nov. 9tb, 1875.
Brother Harley, of Savannah, will,
doubtless give tbe “ information”
sought in brother D.’s inquiries.
The opinion of The Index is against
all wars among men, or between na
tions. They are cruel, and are not jus
tified in the New Testament. But the
New Testament has many illustrations,
which teach great principles and truths,
taken from the armor, weapons and
modes of warfare in use at the time when
tbe writers used them. And in those
illustrations the Christian soldier is
represented as “fighting,” “standing
fast,” “watching,” etc.; all done, and
to be done, in the great battle with sin
and satan —the powers of evil —and
whereby, in living the life of a Chris
tian or as a minister, the Gospel is
{preached for the salvation of souls.
We suppose brother Harley had in
bis mind like lessons when he wrote
his article, and thus exhorts Christians
to emulate the examples of Count Pu
laski and General Washington in zeal,
love and self sacrifice for the cause of
their Master.
For The Index and Baptist. |
FIRESIDE EDUCATION.
By “fireside education,” we mean
the training which we think children
should receive from their parents,
around the family hearthstone. It is
here that thoy should be daily taught,
by precept and example, the great les
sons of truth, virtue, honor, and integ
rity. A parent cannot lecture his
children too ofton upon the worth of
a good character. He should bear in
mind, that they are thrown, almost
every day, with wicked associates,
whose example may load them astray.
To counteract such evil influences, he
ought, by oft-repeated, and earnest
persuasion, to warn them of their
danger, and point them to the “way in
which they should go.”
It is a maxim in law that “one to
whom a power is delegated cannot
again delegate it.” Fireside educa
tion, or the moulding of the character
of eh’ldren, seems to be delegated by
God to parents. They alone know the
nature and have the full confidence
and lote of their children, and, by
availing themselves of these great ad
vantages, are able to counteract the
pernicious influences, daily brought to
bear upon their dear offspring. The
wise parent is sensible of this high
power, and would not, if he could, del
egate it to any third person. It is a
pleasant privilege, a sacred trust, the
moral education of his sons and
daughters.
Children of tender years, who are
sent from home to remain for a long
time at boarding schools, lose far more
in being deprived of parental training,
than they gain in the prosecution of
their studies. Their teachers, however
conscientious they may be, and those
with whom they live, however nearly
related they may be, cannot feel the
deep interest nor exercise the solicitious
care, which nature keeps ever alive for
these children, in the hearts of their
parents. We think, then, that chil
dren should not be sent away from
home, until they have acquired some
age, and have been parentally instruct
ed in the principles of a moral charac
ter.
But there are some parents, many
we fear, who neglect to instrust their
children, morally or otherwise, and
leave them to follow their own inclina
tion, and the example of such asso
ciatiates as they may choose to adopt.
If they employ a teacher to instruct
them, they seem to rest satisfied that
they have discharged their whole duty.
They do not suffer themselves to re
flect soberly on this subject, but cast
it aside, pursue their daily calling,
gratify the wishes of their children
under mistaken affection for them, and
hope they will grow up honest men and
women. Alas! what bitter disappoint
ment will follow this ill-founded hope 1
Children thus neglected, will almost
universally grow up with habits that
will work out their own ruin, and
bring sorrow and shame upon their pa
rents.
We hope that those who are luke
warm on this vital subject, will be
come aroused and act in time. Let it
not be forgotten, for all will acknowl
edge that, in almost all cases, the fu
ture good or bad character of a child,
depends upon the care or neglect it
receives in youth from its parents.
God seems to have ordained it thus,
%nd the parent who observes this reg
ulation, will be blessed with children,
who, when they are men and women,
will fulfill his fondest hopes, and be a
pride and solace to him in his declin
ing years ; the one who disregards this
rsgulation will be cursed with an off
spring, who, when grown, will disap
point his unfounded hopes, and be a
reproach and burden to him : n the
waning of his life. These are solemn
facts. “ Sat verbum sapientibue sit.”
H. W. B.
Houston county, Georgia, Nov. 12, 1875.
For the Index and Baptist.]
LEAVES FROM THE FOREST CITY.
NtTNQIJAM DORMIO.
Some time since a vessel came into a
Southern seaport bearing this name —
nunquam domnio —“l never sleep.” It
is so seldom that Latin sentences are
employed as names for ships, that the
singularity attracted our special atten
tion. Week after week as the list of
vessels in port appeared in the local
journals we noticed our classical friend
among the rest, until, after she had
been with us several months, we begau
to think it strange that, if she never
slept, she should remain in a dormant
state so long. Of course her detention
was unavoidable, as is tbe case occa
sionally with other ships, but what
struck us was the inconsistency between
an assertion of incessant sleeplessness
and a slumber iu the harbor for a good
part of the year.
This led us, by natural association of
ideas, to ruminate upon some men with
whom we have sometimes met. One
man, we remembered, made this same
profession of eternal watchfulness. He
never slept. Though all men should
be guilty of such a weakness, be never
would. This he spoke metaphorically,
and we undtrstool him to mean
that he was always alert and
vigilant; never off his guard, nor even
napping at his post. But in au hour
when he least expected it, and when, if
ever, he ought to have been especially
watchtul, he was surprised in a deep
drowse. True, his eyes were heavy,
and an excuse was allowable ; but it
was bard to extenuate tbe failure of
such vehement pretensions. We re
called another whose boast was, I never
drinlc; and he held it to be a cardinal
virtue not to touch, taste nor handle
the cup that might inebriate. This
was all very good ; but our amazement
was considerable when one day we saw
him privately take a little “for bis
stomach’s sake,” or, as he said, “sim
ply as a medicine." Some merchants
hazard more than they cau control;
some moralists undertake more than
they are able to perform. Anothea
man’s protestation took a wider
lie boldly averred, I never sin. He Be
longed to the transcendental few who
believe in the iinpecability of them
selves, and unblushingly asserted his
Christian perfection. He would have
been au interesting specimen of a re
markable race if everything had gone
on favorably ; but unfortunately
it was discovered that though his
honesty was unimpeachable, he didn’t
pay his debts ; that, though he couldn’t
lie, some of his statements liked tbe es
sential element of truth, and that
though he loved all men, he not infre
quently swore at his wife and almost
broke his children’s bones. Now, such
conduct would darken any character,
but it deepened into Cimmerian black
ness when contrasted with his immac
ulate creed. If the feet of Peter, of
David, of Moses, of innocent Adam,
and even of angels, slipped, it becomes
him who “tliinketh he standeth to take
heed lest he fall.” He is a wise man
who says, “I know that in me, that is,
my flesh, dwelletb no good thing,” but
he who vaunts his own integrity, and
indulges the immodest claim that he is
without sin, is a deceiver and a fool.
Nay, there is more hope of a fool than
of one so incurably insaue. '
But let us sound another key-note.
It will afford us unspeakable relief to
turn from imperfect man to the immu
table God, by whom tbe words we are
considering can be uttered with infalli
ble truth. Let God be true, though
every man be found a liar. Assuredly,
the All Seeing eye may say, “I never
sleep." “Behold, He that keepeth Is
real shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Jehovah is thy keeper.” Sleep is ‘‘tired
nature’s sweet restorer;” but His in
finite nature never tires ; the Creator
of the ends of the earth fainteth not,
neither is weary; His inexhaustible
powers need no restorative. What a
glorious guardian is the everlasting
God ! Alexander, being asked how he
could slumber so soundly in the midst
of great dangers, answered that he
might well sleep, for Parmenio watch
ed ; and how much more soundly and
sweetly may we repose when we know
that the Shepherd and Bishop of souls
maintaineth the eternal oversight of
every sheep of the flock, and that He
reinembereth the promise upon which
every trustful bead is pillowed. “My
presence shall go with thee, and I will
give thee rest.” 0 Thou who givest
Thy beloved sleep! teach us to enjoy
sleep as Thy gift, as a divine cordial
for the refreshment of wearied human
ity ; and let the sweetest essence of
that cordial he thy loving assurance, “I
will watch over thee; I never sjeep.”
_ T. H.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise ; be thankful
onto Him and bless His name.
BIBLE SCENES. —50. 1.
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
’Tis night, the sun has gone down
below the western horizon, and the
last faint gleam of gold has faded out
in darkness. The stars one by one are
tracking the blue pavement of Heaven,
and, as it were, are lighting up the ta
pers of night.
The scene is laid in Judea. All is
still; you hear not a sound, save per
chance the whistling of the wind among
the tree tops. The heavens are quiet;
even those Chaldean watchers, the
shepherds, are dreaming, free from care
in the midst of their flocks. Not far
distant, nestles the little village of
Bethlehem, and though its low inn is
crowded to overflowing, that, too, is
slumbering. Near by in a rude hostel
rie, rests a youthful mother. She has
given birth to a son. That unconscious
babe, with its feible, fluttering breath,
is wrapt in swaddling clothes, and laid
in a manger. Suddenly a change
seemed to pass over all nature, myste
rious influences are at work, whisper
ings are in the air, and sounds like the
swift flutter of wings, seem to rush on
in one direction. The daikness is dis
pelled, anew star has arisen, bathing
the whole landscape iu golden splen
dor. Encompassed by the mellow light,
the wondering shepherds rouse from
their dreams. Each looks to the other
for an explanation of this strange phe
nomena, but they see nothing save con
sternation written in each eye. While
they thus stand, hesitating, terror de
picted on every countenance, au angel
hovers above them, saving, “ Fear not,
tor behold I bring you glad tidings of
great, joy, which shall be to all people,
tor unto you is born this day, in the
city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ
the Lord.”
Immediately, ere the wondering shep
herds have time to regain ther scat
tered senses, there appears a host of
radiant beings, singing “glory to God iu
the highest, and on earth peace and
good well to men ” Nor are these all
that join in the exultant shout. The
heavens tremble with song, and far
away, beyond tbe reach of watching
shepherds and listening men, the g!a l
notes are repeated again and again.
Ah! now, they know what means this
bright star ; ’tis the Star of Bethlehem
arisen. For four thousand years the
world has been in a state of expectancy;
tbe great question bad been, bow shall
God be just and yet tbe Justifier of
mau. From the deserted borders of
the garden of Eden, from the Ark upon
Mount Ararat, from the Bethel of
Abraham and the tents of Jacob, the
sacrificial tires had burned, all pointing
to this glorious Star of Bethlehem
which is come as a Saviour to all peo
>The long jvanderinjg of the Hebrews,
tl)e Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy
Seat, the rod of Aaron—all had poiuted
to this mystery, which is now solved
and cleared by tbe bright rays of the
Star of Bethlehem. Oh! with what
thrilling eloquence this Star speaks to
the lost race of Adam. It says behold
the mercy of God; be still and see tbe
glory of God.
That babe shall open th • portals of
H eaven and lead captivity captive. It
solves tbe mystery of Redemption,
shows how mercy and justice maybe
united, and reveals the length and
breadth, height and depth of God’s
love for us. Three great events mark
the history of the world : first, the be
ginning of sin, or the fall of Adafui;
second, the coming of Christ in a hu
man form, as the Babe of Bethlehem;
and lastly, the second eomiug of Christ
as tbe Judge of the quick and the
dead. A single star appeared and
beamed upon His birth, shedding its
soft rays of light upon the world, as
He ever smiles iu love upon us.
But who can tell what His second com
ing will bring? This we know, to each
one it bringeth either life everlasting
or an eternity of woe. Evader to you
which shall it bring t
Eternal joy and life Thy healing bean) may
bring',
But, Oh ! eternal woe to those in Death's dark
sting.
Bunnie.
Atlanta, Ga., December, 1375.
For the Index and Baptist. j
BARS OF A JAIL A\l) OF A MEDLEY.
The Pedobaptists’ heel is on our
shore, and to such an extent that the
little band of Baptist Thermopybeians
hardly ever get to the water. But we
have at last been shown the road to
victory, and that, too, bv an agency
usually regarded as good for nothing.
A few weeks ago, two negroes were put
in jail on a charge of vagrancy—a
charge which everybody, the prisoners
not excepted, thought capable of abun
dant proof. But lawyers know a thing
or two, as some of your readers may
have found to their cost, and the ne
groes were cleared. Both were strong
Methodists on entering jail, and strong
Baptists on coming out. They stated
to the colored Baptist church that they
had never studied the subject of bap
tism, with the Bible in their hands, as
they did while in jail.
Now, we are sure the way to our
triumph is indicated somewhere here.
We are, therefore, led to consider pro
foundly ; 1. Did the imprisonment
produce the happy change ? Is there
something in the atmosphere of a jail
peculiarly noxious to Pedobaptism ?
We know that Baptists thrive under
jail treatment. The thing has been
tried, and they fatten under it like a
pig in a pen.
Or, 2. Shall the Bible study receive
the-credit of this distinguished acces
sion to our ranks? Wo the philoso
pher who would fain see that both
contributed, and proceeds to analyze
how far one and how far the other, we
will observe only that we don’t intend
to complicate this inquiry.) In an
swer to this question, we will state that
Bible study has often been found valua
ble in treating that dangerous disease, 1
known as Pedobaptism, by Doctors of
Divinity, who also record, repeated
warnings, that the disease is ever lia
ble to run into Popery, and drive the
agonized patient to kiss the Pope’s toe,
which, unless the toe be our Tennessee
Pope’s, renders the case fatal. After
most laborious research, we have found
further, that the Doctors, and also
those making pretentions to Divinity
and practicing without license, all
agree, ( mirabile, etc.,) that this medi
cine is dangerous when used in small
quantities and when diluted with a
compound called Commentaries, too of
ten the product of “Common Taters.”
Perhaps we should add that a black
juice, derived from many trees, but
largely in the South from one called
Summers on Baptism, is never to be
mixed with Bible study. Sometimes
this poison is taken alone, but a sure
antidote is found in a little honey
(Mell- is is the technical name.)
And now, gentle editor, you, who
would not willingly tread on a snake
or shake a stick at a poor lion, —dear
kind-hearted man that you are, —you
will be delighted to hear that we have
concluded not to put Pedobaj>tists in
jail. I assure you, sir, that such is
the fact. Already we have prescribed
for tbeir unadulterated Bible study,
and already found ourselves in tbe
midst of another puzzle. How shall we
make them take it ?
Lest somebody possessed of this
malady, read of the remedy and re
main unconscious that he needs it, we
lay before him the following true story :
Two Charleston commission mer
chants, one of them a vestryman in the
Episcopal church, the other a Baptist
deacon, met one day in the deacon's of
fice. Quoth the vestryman: “Look
here! How many chips are there from
your Baptist block. I Lave heard of
Missionary Baptists, (believe you are
one of them,) Hardshell Baptists and
Freewill Baptists,but not until a few
days back did I ever hear of Pedobap
tists. What sort are they ?” The
deacon confesses to have laughed once,
but you had better put down five more
to make the half-dozen. Soon the
High Churchman went away “a sadder
and a wiser man” on fitidiug that he
himself was a Baptist, iu spite of his
Pravorbook and rector iu a gown.
Perhaps he would join the Hardshell
Baptiste, who are the Episcopal Bap
tists so far as exchanging pulpits goes,
if he but knew of them. He ought to
j have been at the Hardshell Baptist
Association, which met about six miles
from this place iu September. The
writer did not attend, preferring to
take his whipping at second hand. (He
herebv acknowledges its receipt.)
Elder' P. D. Gold, of Wilson, N. C.,
editor of the Primitive Baptist, atten
ded, and laid on heavy blows. He was
once a student in our Seminary, but
now, doubtless, thinks the time spent
there was worse than lost, as siuee
then he has been re-baptized, re-licen
sed, and perhaps re-ordained. Perhaps
he has heard Dr. Broadus tell about
the Hardshell preacher, who said that
“Paul’s eddication” was good enough
for him, and Paul had no “College
laming” but got his “in an old field
school at the foot of Gamble Hill.”
It has been charged upon our Hard
shell brethren that, no matter what
text they take, they always preach the
same sermon. However, this maybe,
brother C. H. Stillwell, of Rome, can
testify to one original prayer offer. '
by a brother who was at the late Asso
ciation. He is now a Hardshell preach
er, but was theii a member of one of
brother S.’s churches. After the ser
mon, the preacher called on him to
pray, which he did, closing as follows :
•‘Bless brother Stillwell, make him like
a roaring lion, going about seeking
whom he may devour. Take his feet
out of the mire and clay, and set him
on a slippery rock, where hope nor
mercy never can find him.” Perhaps
brother S. said Amen, and perhaps he
didn’t. The same brother has afforded
also au original introduction to a fu
neral discourse : “Brethren, our broth
er is dead, and our sister is ev
erlastihgly busted up.”
Brother Horsley and the writer
heard an excellent prayer from the lips
of an aged Hardshell Baptist. Would
that all his brethren would take it up
in regard to their children and grand
children ! Several asked for prayer,
among them the old gentleman’s grand
daughter, who went to him and gave
him her hand. Brother H. called on
him to pray, As he prayed, we were
surprised to hear him say : “And now,
0 Lord, comes our grand-daughter, and
asks her old grandfather to pray for
her. Lord convert her by thv Spirit,
and make her a consistent member of
a Missionaev Baptist church.
Finally. The writer is just as hear
ty ashamed of all this, as you, brother
editor, can be of printing it; but you
asked for a racy letter, and when the
one asked and the other consented, nei
ther had any idea what the letter would
be. So we are both excused.
H. F. 0.
Eatonton, Ga.
For the Index aad Baptist.]
BETHEL ASSOCIATION.
The Bethel Association ml this
year with Summer Hill church, in
Stewart county, and although it was
quite a distal ,e and inconvenient for
many, we hau a very good delegation,
and everythin g passed off pleasantly.
In the absent-- of Rev. F. M. Johnson,
the writer preached the introductory
sermon. The Association met at 2
o’clock, Friday, Nov. sth, and was or
ganized. by electing Rev. Thomas Muse
moderator, and JJro. B. C. Mitchell
clerk. The letters from the various
churches showed that the visitations
of the Holy Spirit had been very gra
cious. About three hundred additions
by baptism were reported for the year,
and most all the churches expressed
an experience of His reviving power.
The contributions, however, were not so
large as we had hoped they would be,
still the entire amount compared favora
bly with former years. Peace and
harmony prevailed throughout the
session, ana brotherly love was express
ed in unmistakable tokens, when the
hour came for parting and singing the
farewell song. The question of mis
sions occupied no small part of our time
and thoughts, but was entertained and
acted upon as one of vital interest.
It was resolved to be more systematic
about raising money than had been the
custom heretofore, and the thought of
ixe. uting the r solution was forcibly in
sisted upon. Henceforth we shall ex
pect our churches to forward contribu
tions to the various Boards every three
months, and not wait the whole year.
Certainly such a state of things is de
sirable. " When all our churches real
ize the fact that it is easier, and
bv far the more practical, they will sure
ly adopt such a plan. I hope and pray
to see the day when all our churches,
throughout the entire country, will
thus be working harmoniously and
systematically, and then, and not till
then, do I have much hope of hearing
the cry,‘money ! money!” from our
Boards silenced*. The Sunday-school
question occupied au important place
with us, and though we are not able
to report very much good news from
the past management, it is hoped that
next year will find us considerably ad
vanced in this important field of Chris
tian labor. We have now a Sunday
school Board in each District of the
Asssociation, who will co-operate with
the State Sabbath-school Evangelist,
and also with the State Board. The
report of the Committee on Sunday
schools exhibited quite a lack of in
terest on the part of many of our
churches for Sabbath-schools, as well
as a careless neglect of the schools in
their contributions. We hope now by
the aid of the committees of each Dis
trict, that the Evangelist will have no
trouble in reaching all the churches
and destitute portions .of our Associa
tion, and will build up a greater inter
est iuthis field than has ever been
known. We certainly need it. The
object to be kept before the Schools,
to elicit and encourage contributions,
is tbe Sunday-school cause. I think
it would be decidedly practical, and al
together right, to insist that the schools
support our Evangelist and aid in gen
eral Sabbath-school work, and not be
so divided as the schools generally are
throughout the State, some contribu
ting to Indian Missions, someto Foreign
and some to one object and some to
another, makin : iu all quite a division,
whereas, if we were more concentrated,
there would be more unanimity iu all
our efforts. There is great strength
in union. We expect to have a grand
Sunday-school meeting with our
church here, commencing Thursday
evening before the second Sabbath in
December, when brethren Boyken and
Fish will be with us, and it is hoped
that the Sunday-school cause will re
ceive a fresh impetus. I hope to be
able to publish the programme for
that me ting next week.
Another very important question
which occupied the attention of the
body, was the interest of Bethel Fe
rn vie College. This time-honored in
stitution has been somewhat neglected
of late years, and in consequence of
which, it has not flourished as it
should have done. The College has
been interrupted in its regular classes
this fall term, the trustees being una
ble to engage a suitable instructor in
time to open the regular session. A
new board of trustee* were elected, and
instructions given them, by the Asso
ciation, to open the regular College
course of instruction the first of Janu
ary, 1876, if possible. The Associa
tion voted a renewed energy in the in
terest of the College, and are, on no ac
count, willing thatthe institution should
be closed. We hope that the charitable
mantle of silence, at least, will be
thrown around us by our brethren
and friends, who are not so sanguine of
success as some of us are. Why this
school should not be a success we are
unable to see, when we consider that it
is the only Baptist school, of such a
grade, from Forsyth to the Gulf. Cer
trinly there are enough Baptist girls
in this immense territory. Why should
not Bethel be patronized ? We desire
to see, and will have it a success, if
the bretheen on whom we justly have
a claim, will but rally to our assistance
and support. Come brethren let us
pray and labor for it, and the God of
mercies will bless us.
You will hear from us again on this
subject. J. B. Chevis.
Cathbort, Ga., Nov. 10 1875.