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Jfwlcx and baptist
/lev. D. E. BUTLER, Managing Editor
Editorial Coktrirotorh :
Dm. J. 8. LAWTON Atlanta, Georgia.
Ebt. J. S. BAKER. D.D Quitman, Georgia.
Rmv. 8. G. HILAYER, 1).D., Forsyth. Georgia
Rmv. T. G. JONES, D.D Nashville, Tennessee.
A Christian is a believer in Christ,
a friend of Christ, and a follower of
Christ. A Christian seeks to become
like Christ, labors for Christ, lives by
faith in Christ, his peace, and hope,
and happiness, in Christ. A Christian
reflects the image of Christ, longs to
be with Christ, and know that he
shall never be separated from the love
of Christ. Reader, are you a Chris
tian ?
If the Christian world were a peace
ful and joyous world, taking all the
good things of this life in gratitude
and happiness, while holding itself
pure from its corruption, and not
fearing death, but looking forward
with unwavering faith and hope to an
other and a happier life beyond, the
revivals which it struggles for would
be perpetual, and the millennium
which it prays for would come.
Most of all the preparation to
preach well is to feel the reality of
spiritual things ; to stand face to face
with the great verities of our being
and destiny ; to hearing these momen
tous questions stirring the deepest
and most earnest feeling —What is
our life ? what spirit pervades it? to
what does it tend ? what character is
being formed ? what seed sown ? what
harvest, what judgment is coming, and
every day more and more ? The
Judge is here at the door, knocking
now!
Let not the Lord’s dealing seem
harsh, rough, or unfatherly, boeause it
is unpleasant- When the Lord’s
blessed will bloweth across your de
sires,’it is best, in humility, to strike
sail to him, and to be willing to be led
any way our Lord pleaseth. It is a
point of denial of yourself, to boas if
you had not a will, but had made a
free disposal of it to God, and had sold
it over to Him; and to make use of
His will for His own, is both true
holiness and your ease and peace; you
•know not what the Lord is making
out of this, but you shall know it
hereafter.
One of the practical problems of our
religion and social life, is the proper
union of the active and the meditative
sides of our nature. It is evident,
from history, that the undue develop
ment of either, works harm, and that
there aro comparatively few nations,
ages, or me n, in which the perfect bal
ance has been kept. Devotion to a
merely external life and activity, to
military conquests, to commerce and
money-making, makes bullies and
“Philistines.” Seclusion and a life
wholly separated from the world and
and its activities makes hermits and
monks; and there has hardly ever
been a more useless waste of life and
human force, or worse development of
sin, than that which has been manifest
in scenes of monastic seclusion.
Independent Journalism.—There
are some good and dearly beloved
brethren, who are liberal in their cen
sures of us, if we fail, in their estima
tion, to conform our opinions—or the
expression of them in our editorials—
to what they coucoive to be Baptistic.
We invite the attention of such to the
following extract from an editorial iu
the last Typographic Messenger. The
writer, it is true, has special reference
to political papers, but his remarks are
equally applicable to religious papers :
“There is no such thing as independence of
mind and thought, when wedded to party
theories and dogmas. When every article
written for a newspaper has to be submitted to
the criticism of the political leaders of a party,
and every word and sentence stricken out
that fails to fully accord with the tenets of the
same, the author becomes as clay in the hands
of political jugglers and plotters, and is as ab
ject and mean a slave as those whom Moses di
rected should place their ears against the post
and be bored, as an evidence ana sign of per
petual serfdom. As we understand it, inde
pendent journalism means untrammeled
thought upon all subjects, and expressed with
out fear, favor or affection, or the weighing of
the effect it is to have upon the interest of any
party, theory or dogma.
Bear witii Us.— We have letters on hand
from correspondents, highly esteemed, in up
per Georgia and in Alabama, requesting an
expression of our views on important subjects,
to which we propose to attend at an early day,
the Lord willing. We are sure if our frie.-ds
knew what a sinking sensation the thought of
elaborating an article on any important subject,
in our present enfeebled state of body and
mind, produces in us, they would readily ex
cuse our delay in responding to their requests.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
MERCER IAIVERSITT,
Every Baptist in Georgia baa an in
terest —a deep interest —in our denom
inational college, whether they sure sen
sible of the fact or not. If it prospers
it will refleet honor on our denomina
tion ; if it fails, for the want of aa ad
equate endowment, it will affix a stain
upon the reputation pf the Baptists- of
Georgia. As component parts of the
Baptist denomination, each of us must
share in the honor of its success, if it
succeeds, or in the disgrace of its fail
ure, if it fails. Is there a Baptist in
Georgia so reckless of the fair fame ef
his denomination, and so indifferent to
his own, that he wilL refuse- to contrib
ute at least one dollar for each mens
ber of his family, to aid in building up
our own beloved Mercer? We li---*--
there is not one such to- be fou 1
Whether this hope shall prove a v . t,.
one or not, time will show.
But there are higher grounds upon
which we would base a plea for lib< U
contributions to our University, t< ..
those furnished by a regard for <-us'
denominational honor or our own.
Had we the intellectual and physical
ability requisite, most cheerfully would
we stump the State in behalf of Mer
cer, from its seaboard to its mountains,
and from its eastern to its western
boundarybut carefully would we avoid
following in the wake of our honored
and truly honorable brethren, who are
gathering up and scattering abroad val
uable information relativo to the strug
gles of our ancestors to secure the re
ligious liberty we happily enjoy in the
present day. The information they
impart is highly interesting, very val
uable, well calculated to excite in every
honest and reflecting mind, gratitude
to God, and to prompt us to liberal
contributions to sustain the agencies
through which were secured to us the
religious privileges in which we now
glory ; but for the life of us, we can
not seo that the history of tho strug
gles, to which we have referred, fur
nishes any just ground upon which to
base a claim for our colleges, either to
our gratitude or our contributions. We
cannot conceive that gratitude to God
ever did, or ever eau, prompt one to
sustain agencies that the Lord never
employed in effecting our deliverence
from the thraldom of a persecuting
priesthood. ,
It is not to the agency of colleges we
aro indebted for the privilege of wor
shiping God, unmolested, under our own
vine and fig tree, but to the agency of
the Gospel of Christ. That Gospel
which is the power of God unto salva
tion to everyone th at believeth ; to the
Jew first, and also to the Greek, was
made also the power of God to the sal
vation of our land and nation, alike
from the oppression of their civil and
religious rulers.
It is a notable fact that during the
pending of the struggles for the rights
of conscience, there existed, in various
countries of Europe, colleges of great
renown. They were presided over, too,
by learned men, whose scholastic at
tainments secured them an undying
reputation. It is equally worthy of
notice, and of perpetual remembrance,
that the influence of all these colleges
was exerted, not in favor of the op
pressed, but in favor of their oppressors!
The main advocates of religious lib
erty, too, through whose influence and
persevering efforts success was ulti
mately secured, were not educated, but
uneducated men. The pioneer preach
ers of Virginia, who preached Christ
and advocated religious liberty through
the grated windows of their prisons,
and who have been so highly and justly
lauded by our centennial orators, were,
with few exceptions, if any, illiterate
men. If we extend our retrospect back
to the age immediately succeeding that
of the Apostles, we shall find, more
over, that the first and principal heresi
archs and oorruptors of the Gospel of
Christ, were individuals who issued
from the far-famed metaphysical schools
established at Athens and Alexandria.
In them, Antichrist, whose garments
have been dyed red in the blood of
martyrs, appears to have been con
ceived and brought into being. Iu
subsequent years, he was trained in
schools in Constantinople and Rome,
for the cruel and infamous warfare
against the saints of the Most High,
which he was permitted, in the myste
rious providence of God, to wage against
them—the end of which is not yet.
Zeal in behalf of our colleges is
commendable, but zeal, in the best of
causes, has need to be moderated and
guided by knowledge. If under a tem
porary excitement, induced by the itn-
passioned eleqaeuce of some gifted
orator, we load the shrine of learning
with offerings that should have been
laid on the- htrine of the Saviour, we
shall, most assuredly, incur the dis
pleasure of Him on whom we depend
for success in all our undertakings.
There is ample ground on which to
base a claim fur our colleges without
encroaching on ground sacred to the
cause of Chriot. This is true, at least
of Mercer Un/wemity, as we shall at
tempt to show in a subsequent art'cle,
if life be spared.
THE IMIEX HOW TO WORK. fQt IT.
Brother N. L. MoMekea, of Wash
ington, Georgia, forwarding his sub
scription writes :
“I ana much pleased with Tits Index. E
think it the best paper in the South, and the
crest wonder to- me, is that every Christian ;
does not take it. I think, that one j
issue of The Index, with Us excellent ready
ing matter, is worth the entire subscription
price for a year. Ido hope its influence will
'h extended into every family, and.that you,
will have a large increase of sahseribers to
your most valuable paper. lan vindicating
its claims constantly, and will try to send you
a number of new subscribers soon.'’
'[’hank you, brother M. Apprecia
tive, active and zealous ’■friends, like
yourself, is what The In-des desiaes
to have. A law such, in every chunh,
would soon place it in every Baptist
household in ijbe State, and strengthen
our hands in their labor for the spaead
of the truth,.and the glory of Christ’s
cause.
How many of the brethren will put
their good wishes and faith into prac
tice, like our estimable brothsr in
Washington, and. by personal exer
tion, forward to us the names of at
least two- new subscribers to The
Christian Index, for the coming
year ?
A TEXT FOR SOSIK BROTHER.
Our correspondent, A. J. Cooper, de
sires a sermon to be published,
in The Index, from the 18th chapter
of John and first clause of the 35th
verse.
The subject is a good one, and used
very often by our preachers. Some
differences of opinion prevail upon the
nature of the kingdom, as well as to
the character of the subjects.
If some brother will send us A good
sermon from that text, it shall appear
in The Index.
Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of
this world: ”
1. From whence was it?
2. Who are the subjects ?
3. How are they made subjects ?
4. Divide the business of His kingdom from
the kingdoms of the world, upon a Scriptural
basis.
Brother Editors— give this to
some large-hearted, able minister, and lei us
have a sermon in The Index from these four
points, showiiig in the main, what business
pertains to the kingdom ot Christ, according
to the Bible. Let us have a “thus sayeth the
Lord’’ for all, and oblige yours in Christ.
A. J. Cooper,
Oakland, Georgia.
From the highest point of view—
that is, from God’s point of view—to
Him, nothing is great, nothing small,
as we measure it. The worth and the
quality of an action depends not on
its prominence or on any other of the
accidents which we are always apt to
adopt as the test of the greatness of
our deeds. The largeness of the conse
quences of anything we do is no meas
ure of the true greatness or true value
of it. So it is in regard to God Him
self and His doings. To Him, for His
loftiness, there is nothing high; to
Him, for His gentleness, there is noth
ing low. He as gladly stands bv the
sick bed, and binds up the broken
hearted, as He “ telleth the number of
the stars.”
A Severe Sentence. — We learn
from the Alabama Baptist, that, “A
man by the name of Rush has been
sent to the penitentiary for ninety
nine years from Sanford county.” If
Barnum should live to witness his re
lease from the penitentiary, after his
ninety-nine years confinement in it, we
opine he would be willing to pay a
round sum to have him take up his
abode in his museum, for the residue
of his days.
Rev. 11. WooDssiALL.-We are in receipt
ot a communication from brother Woodsmall,
which, owing to its length, and the pressure of
other matter upon our columns this week, we
are obliged to let go over until next week.
His communication will receive our earnest
attention, and its contents, with such commen
tary as The Index may deem essential to
make under the circumstances, shall be laid
before our readers
Rev. S. F. Fuller has been recalled to the pas
torate of the church in Hamilton.
—We leam, from the Lumpkin Independent that
Rev. J. W. P. Fackler, has accepted a call from
the Baptist church in that place, and will preach
there three Sundays in the in tho month, and
one Sunday at Summer Hill church.
The Bode of lohn’s Baptism with Water In
terpreted by tbs Bode of Christs Baptism
with the Holy Ghost. —Southern Christian Ad
vocate, Macon.
n.
In our article last week, we showed that
Mi. Dunlap’s conclusion, that “John’s baptism
with water waß by uouring,” confuses the gram
mar and the rhetoric of the Scriptures-.
This is not to be-wondered at ; for be set ont
with a false method of interpretation. Of
course it could only lead him astray. Notice
,the caption of his article :
“ The mode of John’s Baptism with Water
Interpreted by the Mode of Chrfct’e Bap
tism with the Holy Ghost.”
Now it is a principle of interpretation, that
we should not interpret a term when used
literally, by the same term when used figura
tively. Another principle of interpretation,
equally well established, is that we should
never attempt to explain a less obscure pas
sage by one which is more obscure.
Both these principles Mr. Dunlap bus vio
lated in his interpretation. In J din's baptism
the term “ baptism” is evidently used in its
literal sense.
In seeking its meaning, therefore, wo must
first go to the lexicons, and to the bearing of
the context, and to the umu loguendi in other
passages where it is ueedand, in like manner,
in its literal sense. By comparing these to
gether, we may determine, with great certain
ty, what the literal meaning is. Having thus
determined its literal meaning, we have the
key to understand its figurative meaning* To
reverse this process is unphilological. Yet
this-is just what Mr. Dunlap has done.
The question is: What did John do to his
disciples when he baptized them ? Instead of
-teUiiig the answer to that question in the only
legitimate method, explained above, he brings
forward a passage where the word “ baptize’’
bused entirely in a mutapborical sense. Now, in
the very nature of things, we can form no con
neptioa of this metaphorical meaning, till we
first find out its literal meaning. To illus
trate: A little boy oomes to his father and
says: “ Papa, wbat is a lion ?” He replies,
“ Why, my son, Aoliilleswas a lion.” Hence,
the little boy concludes that a lion in- a brave
'man/ So much for going to a metaphor to find
out the meaning of a word.
Simple as this illustration b, it ex
actly exhibits w-hat Mr. Dunlap has done.
What is baptism? He replies: “Why the
pouring out of the Holy Ghost on the disciples
is called a baptism—therefore, baptism is
4 a pouring oat”’—-just about as true as that a
lion is a brave man. Thus it is clear that
he has violated the first principle of interpre
tation mentioned above.
But he has also violated the second. He
has attempted to explain John’s baptism by
the baptism of the Holy Ghest; the plainer
passage by one more obscure. The baptism of
the Holy Ghost is a profound mystery. No
human miud can form any adequate concep
tion of what it is. Yet this inexplicable ope
ration is made the interpreter of water baptism;
'•fcow, completely Js the rale reversed ' It is
not strange that such a method should lead to
error.
Had the writer taken for bis subject the same
caption, with its members transposed, he would,
at least, have started in the right direction:
“ Christ’s baptism with the Holy Ghost in
terpreted by John’s baptism with water.”
This caption would have led him to investi
gate, first, the literal meaning of baptixe; and
then to use that meaning in explaining the
metaphor, so far as the profound mystery of
the subject would allow. Such a procedure
would, at least, he in accordance with sound
philology and common sense.
Taking this form of the caption for our own,
we propose to examine the baptism of the
Holy Ghost, in the light of John’s baptism, its
we understand it, in order to determine the
propriety of the metaphor.
Let us assume, for the present, that John’s
baptism was an immersion in water, and that
baptize means to immerse. With this hypoth
esis, let us proceed to examine the baptism of
the Holy Ghost. Christ says: “ I will baptize
you with tiie Holy Ghost.” It is granted that
this promise was fulfilled on the day of Pente
cost. Let us notice the circumstances under
w liicli this event occurred. It appears, from
the record, that the disciples, on that day, were
all in one place, in one room. Suddenly there
came the sound of a rushing, mighty wind, and
Jilted the house where the disciples were sitting
What caused that sound we are left to conjecture.
It was not literal wind; it was only like the
sound which a rushing, mighty wind would
have produced. If, now, we take that sound to
be a manifestation of the Spirit’s presence, we
see, at once, how that presence filled the house ;
and, of course, the disciples were enveloped,
t. e., immersed in it. They were immersed
in that which represented the presence of the
Holy Ghost. And this furnishes one point of
resemblance, upon which our Saviour was jus
tified in calling it a baptism—not that it
was a literal baptism; but so called, be
cause of this point of resemblance. Another
point of resemblance is found in the fact that
in immersion the element used is in abundant
quantity. So, in the case of the disciples, the
influence of the Holy Ghost was so abundant
that it might be well compared to an immer
sion. And, therefore, on account of both of
these points of resemblance, or on account of ei
ther one alone, the Saviour's metaphor is justi
fied. Take notice, in a metaphor the resem
blance is never complete. It is sufficient if
we can find a clear resemblance in only a few
points. When we say, Achilles was a lion,
wc do not mean that he had four feet, and
claws, and teeth, like a lion ; but only that he
resembles a lion in a few particulars. So in this
case ; the Saviour did not mean that what He
would do to the disciples would resemble a bap
tism in every particular; but only in the fact
that they would be enveloped iu that which
should represent the Spirit’s presence, and that
His influence should be overwhelming in its
abundance. The fiery tongues had nothing
to <k> with the baptism. There is nothing in
baptism to which they have any resemblance.
They stand, therefore, outmdeof the metaphor;
just as the claws and teeth of the lion are no
part af ; the comparison with Achilles. These
symboiiaed the gift of tongues; and there their
signifieancy ends.
It only remains to enquire what is the import
of the phrases, “ I will pour out my spirit upon
ail flesh-:” and, “the HolyGhoot fell on them
as on irat the beginning •. then remembered I
the Word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed
baptized with water: hut ye shall be Iwptized
with tb@ Holy Gbcst,” etc.
Now, according to our methoa'of investiga
tion, we are supposed to boo*o wbat John did to
his disc:pies when he baptized them ; because
the word is, in the case of John, used in its liter
al sense. And we have, for the present, assumed
that he immersed them. Taking this meaning
as the koy by which we stay-open-tile metaphor,
let us seo what are the points of resemblance
between this “pouring oxt” and “felling” of the
Spirit upon these converts and an. immersion of
them. The resmnblance is not in the aeticn, sure
ly ! In what then ? Most assuredly in the ef
fect. When John baptized the subjects were
literally immersed in water; when the Lord
baptize*!, the subjects were immersed, mefaphor
callv, in the Holy Ghost. This, and this only, is
the point of resemblance. The “pouring out of
the Spirit” is cal led a baptism simply to indicate
the completeness with winch thepersons present
were enveloped in the Spirit’s influence. Take
notice t It is said : “The Holy Ghost fell upon
them ason us at the beginning. We have seen
how that was. A sound filled the whole bouse.
It was the manifestation of that spiritual in
fluence which encompassed them, even as tire
watersof baptism enwrapped the subject.
But it may still lie asked, did not Peter call
this “pouring out” of the Spirit a baptism ?
\es, but only a metaphorical baptism. Just
as Milton says of the Angel’s wings that
“Skirted his loins rod thighs with downy gold,
Aii.iicolors dipt io. Heaven,”
Milton sorely did not mean literally, but only
metaphorically, dipped; so we say immersed in
debt—in business—in sorrow, etc, —not literally,
but metaphorically. In such cases the point of
resemblance is often found in the effect of the
things compared. A vast amount of business,
for instance, may so cover up a man that he re
sembles one immersed in a flood. Hence, we
say, beisimmerssed in business. In like man
ner the influence of the Holy Ghost came upon
the disciples in a degree so full, so copious, that
they seemed to be covered up by it, like one im
mersed in water. Hence, upon this resemblance,
the operation wascalied a baptism.
It may still be insisted that Peter clearly im
plies that this baptism of the Holy Ghost was
accomplished by “pouring.” Well, what then ?
The thing accomplished was called a baptism,
Lc. an immersion, because the effect resembled
an immersion. That is all. It is calledso met
aphorically, not literally. Hence, it cannot
justify the substitution of pouring for immer
sion when baptism is to be administered literal
ly.
Thus, it is manifest that the hypothesis that
John’s baptism was an immersion, harmonizes
completely with what is said about the baptism
of the Holy Ghost. Now that this hypothesis
is true —that baptize means lo immerse—we
have shown in our recent article on “Modal
Baptism.” In this article we appealed to the
lexicons, to the ue us toguendi, and to history.
Tlies* are the legitimate sources of proof. From
these sources we find the meaning of the word.
Now, we have taken that meaning and applied
it to interpret the baptism of the Holy Ghost,
and find that it explains the metaphor. This
fact, it .is true, corroborates the othej proofs.
Hence, we conclude that a correct view of the
baptism of the Holy Ghost is perfectly con
sistent with the idea of immersion.
For the Index and Baptist !
The lnjn*t Imputation—The Index Righted.
On reading the letter and editorial com
ment on the little Florida church, and the
Rev. Jesse Knight’s connection with it, I
turned at once to the “table of contents,” to
ascertain the author of tho article. This I
could not do, and concluded that it was the
product of some brother, temporarily in the
office, and for whose opinions The Index
was responsible. I supposed Dr. Butler ab
sent in the interest of Mercer University,
hence my article was against The Index,
not my venerable brother. I did not sup
pose, for once, that he was its author—gave
him credit for more discretion and charity.
Brother Baker’s connection with the article
would never have been known had the of
fice editor simply called my attention to my
error, (or to what he so regarded, without
giving the name which ail newspaper usage
justifies,) or had brother Baker preferred
sottling the misunderstanding after the Gos
pel order, by private correspondence, instead
of the course he has pursued. Jesus says:
“if thv brother shall trespass against thee, go
and tell him his fault, between thee and him
alone but brother Baker says, “tell it to
the world, publish, him.” He knew the
brother offending him; I knew not the one
to whom I was excepting.
Brother Baker further says, that if he had
seen my article before it went to press, he
would have writteu me, and corrected toe
errors into which I had fallen. Well, why
did he not do so afterwards ? If lam what
he gives me credit for being—a brother of
“good sense and kind hearted,” one “who is
usually thoughtful and correct in his state
ments,” why did he not write, me and ask
that honorable reparation be made through
Tiie Index ? Why did he not trust to my
integrity as a Christian and a
brother in the Gospel, to do so, instead of
“exposing the errors” into which I had fall
en ? It is not unusual for these Pauls in the
ministry to "spank” the Timothys, and gen
erally, they take pleasure in making their
rebukes as public as possible, whether there
is any point iu them or not. Let them have
all the glory.
Inasmuch as brother Baker disclaims the
slightest winking at the liberalistic tenden
ces of the times, and is in accord with
brethren Graves and Pendleton, (instead of
being disposed to do them injury,) I am sat
isfied. The Index is righted, and so is
brother B. lam glad of this, for I was not
alone in the opinion that his article was a
reflection on these brethren, and the views
held by them. I can afford to submit to the
"fatherly spanking” for the sake of a cause
so dear to me. What I did was in the in
terest of truth. I sincerely hope that my
venerable and talented brother will livelong
to defend the faith as delivered to the
saint 9, and that he will ever be as ready to
expose departures from this faith as he has
been to “expose” my errors, and that in so
doing, he will always pattern after the ex
ample of the Apostle Paul, who, while not
shunning to declare the whole counsel of
God, dia it in such a spirit as to commend
his charity, not alone to the world, but es
pecially to Timothy, hia too in the Gospel.
B. G. M.
Lynchburg, Virginia.
GEORGIA BAPTIST SEWS.
; —The Ellijay Carrier says that about twen
ty citizens of Twxiptown were baptized on
Sunday the 7 i ult., and have joined the
Baptist church c that place.
—The pews : the Fist Baptist church at
Augusta werer oted a few days ago for $3,800,
which amount ' iii pay the pastor’s-salary and
ifeive a surplus J $S;:J00.
—November .Otha. Baptist Insiitue for off
ered ministers began in Macon, to continue
one month. The t-.rer -ises are conducted by
Sev. W. H. WoottrAiail, assisted by various
white Baptist ministsis ot the State. The ses
sions are held in a comfortable apartment in
.ths Lewis High scfeooi, and are gratuitous.
All colored minister;* and teachers of all de
nominations are invited to jittentl, and enjoy
tho benefit of the instruction given, which con
sists of lessons each day in reading and writ
ing, a Bible lesson each day, and lectures on
various appropriate subjects from such men as
Dr. Battle, Dr. Hillyer, of Forsyth, Dr. Skin
ner, the prospective pastor of the Macon First
Baptist church, Dr. Brantley of Macon, Prof.
Willet, of Mercer University, Rev. G. R. Mc-
Call, of Hawkinsvills, and others. The Insti
tute for colored ministers formerly held in Ma
con by Rev. E. W. Warren, proved so success
ful that nothing but success and much benefit
can be expected as the result of a similar effort
conducted by such able ministers.
—The Cuthbert Messenger says : “From the
proceedings of Bethel Baptist Association, pub
l.Mied last week, our readers have seen that
the Baptist denomination are going to work
with an energy and earnestness for the re-in
vigoration of Bethel Female College, and to
i infuse a vigorous life and wakeful activity in
that once prosperous Institution. We are glad
j to g*e that this step has been taken, and if the
! zeal of our Baptist friends, as set forth in that
! resolution, be oaly put into practical operation,
we can predict for them ultimate suicess.
j Their oliegec buildings and grounds in Vil
| now are all that could be desired, being in a
healthy and delightful climate, surrounded by
a society equal to any in Georgia. We had a
short but very pleasant visit, a few days since,
from Rev. Mr. Cheves, pastor, of the Baptist
charge in this city, who is working actively in.
this matter.
—Brother D. J. Daniel! gives us the follow
ing interesting information from Southeast
Georgia. He writes from Waltkourville, No
vember 22d;
The Lord has given us another token that
He has not forgotten to be gracious to us in this
destitute cm ner. According to previous under
standing, Bro. Atkinson, of Brunswick, met me
at South Newport, on Saturday before the first
Sabbath, inst., for the of holding a se
ries of meetings, should the Lord encourage
us. He did encourage, and the meetings-were
continued twelve days, during which I bap
tized twenty-one persons, including all ages,
from grandfather to the youth of fifteen years —
males predominating in numbers. One re
mains over for baptism, and others are in a
very hopefn! way.
This church was the home of old Bro. C.-J‘.
W. Thorpe, who died in June of last year, at
eighty-seven years of age, without peeing any
of his numerous sons brought into the church.
With only one of his children, a daughter,
did he enjoy Christian fellowship on earth.
Now two of his sons and seven ol his grand
children rejoice in being members of the church
of their father.
When I went to this community in October,
1807, as the missionary the New Sunbury As
sociation and Domestic Mission Board of the
Southern Baptist Convention, I found the
church scattered ; some dead ; others removed ;
the church book destroyed, or carried off by
Federal soldiers ; the people dispirited by the
foraging of the Confederates and raiding of
the Federals, until they seemed disinclined to
encourage an effort to rebuild. We did re
build, however, and, now, what hath the Lord
wrought ! blessed be His holy name!
Bro. Atkinson’s labors were abundant during
tiie meeting, very acceptable to the church and
Biople, and attended hv the Spirit’s blessing.
is coming was to us as “the coming of Titus.”
I very much fear that he will be, ere long, lost
to this, section of our State. It will be a loss,
indeed, and I hope will not he permitted to
occur! Should Ibe left behind, I will feel
more lonelv than 51 he had never come.
—Brother W. S. Lumpkin, in a communi
cation from Flat Shoals, November 22d,
says :
We have been travailing and trying to stir
the hearts of the brethren in the interest of
the Master’s Kingdom, and find many inour
country churches ready to become more fully
enlisted, and willing to devise some system
of operation among themselves that will aid in
sustaining and spreading the glorious Gospel
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We visited Bell Wood church yesterday
(Sabbath), and were made happy by meeting
brother Geo. R. Moor. The congregation
seemed to be deeply interested, and brother
Moor closed the meeting with profound inter
est.
Three penitents asked the prayers of the con
gregation, and two members were added to the
church by letter. The brethren are in good
heart and ready to raise their new house.
They are building with untiring energy. May
God bless their efforts, and the brethren lend
them a helping hand !
—From brother J. N. Brittain, we received the
following cheering revival news from Conyers,
where a meeting of thirteen days in the First
Baptist church, has just closed. Brother Brit
tain says:
The Lord has given us sixteen accessions dur
ing this season of refreshing, for which we are
very gratefnl. Rev. J. W. P. Fackler, evangel
ist, remained with us until Wednesday night
last. Our community will long remember this
faithful brother, whose praise is already in the
churches. Day and night he labored with un
tiring zeal, preaching with great earnestness
and success to large crowds, who gladly heard
the eartiest appeals of the man of God. We
felt that the Spirit of the Master came with
brother Fackler, and from the very outset he
gained the affections of our people. While
many have joined us, some will join other de
nominations, and manv more are lingering with
hopes, praying for brighter manifestations ,
others still, are inquiring the way of salvation.
Our church is greatly revived, the membership
realizing, more than ever, the importance of
working in the vineyard of the Master. This is
one charming feature in brother Fackler's ef
forts, the earnest appeals to church members to
be active and zealous in the cause of Christ. We
have received over thirty additions to our
church since the first of August. The First
Baptist church of Conyers was never more
united, or more determined in their efforts to
advance the cause of Christ. God grant that
we may ever honor, and faithfully serve, tho
Great Head of the Church.