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INDEX AND BAPTIST.
BEV. D. E. BUTLER Managing Editor,
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
Bet. 8- G. Hillteb., D D Forsyth, Georgia.
IRiv. J. 8. Baker, D.D Quitman, Georgia.
©a. J. 8. La wtos Atlanta, Georgia.
lUv. T. G. Jones, D.D....Nashville, Tennessee.
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
Bev. G. A. Nunnallt Monroe, Georgia.
Bev. W. T. Bbantly, D.D Baltimore, Md
Bet. A. J. Battle, D.D Macon, Georgia.
Bet. It. W. Fuller Atlanta, Georgia.
Bev. T. B. Cooper Ogeecbee, Georgia.
Bev. J. H. Kilpatrick. .. White Plains, Georgia.
Bet. Marion Hams Decatur, Georgia.
Bev. Wm. C. Wilkes Gainesville, Georgia.
When we have troubles we ought to
take them to Christ. “Casting all our
care upon Him,” we are only doing
what He wishes us to do; and there
need be no fear that we will burden
Him too heavily. He who bears up
the world, who bore our sins in His
own body on the tree, can sustain any
load we may heap upon him.
We think we can take God’s will and
be submissive to it, and acquiesce in
it; but when it presses hard upon us,
then is the proof. It was admirable in
David that when he began one of his
mournful psalms, ho knew that he was
going to groan a good deal, so he said,
"There is one matter we will set right
before we get out of trim. Truly,
God is good to Israel.”
Happy is the man who finds delight
in external nature, who sees and is
moved by beauty in trees and fields, in
brooks and clouds. He is happy, for
the sources of his enjoyment are easily
and abundantly at hand. Nature gives
him perpetual and ever varying pleas
ure. As man is placed amid such #nd
tess variety of natural objects, adapted
to give him pleasuro and instruction,
every principle of self-advantage
should lead him to the cultivation of
his powers of observation and appre
ciation of what is about him. The eye
that catches not beauty and inspiration
from the external world, is like that
which is unable to get wisdom or de
light from the printed pages of books.
It is equally man’s duty and privilege
to cultivate bis perceptions, so that he
may obtain the utmost good from the
printed records of others’ thoughts,
and the unconventional creations of
nature around him.
►- •
Live the truth. Begin to-morrow
with something you understand, with
the neat and demonstrable facts of re
ligion, and livo them. For instance:
You believe in the power of prayer.
Pray, then. You tell us it can per
form wonders. Show us these won
ders in your own life. Get close to
the throne, livo there, and that life
■will shine through you. You attach
much importance to right faith. So
do wo; but the best kind of faith is
that which comes out of a man in
words seasoned with grace, in deeds
clothed in righteousness. The blessed
end of right believing, is right living ;
do not bo satisfied when a man can sav
his catechism without faltering; lead
him on to live his catechism without
stumbling. And do not disparage any
more such choice fruit as common
honesty, truth telling and good neigh
borhood. They are all truths of life
that are worth everything as proofs
that the kingdom of God is indeed
among men.
All nations have considered music
a divine gift, sublime in the temple,
and cheering at the family hearth; of
national festivities the brightest orna
nament, and in solitude the insepara
ble companion, the faithful friend of
in&n. As its origin was, by all nations,
looked upon as divine, so its true
abode was with the gods; and when
man, passing through the gate of
death, had to leave behind him all
earthly possessions, music alone fol
lowed him into the mansions of t‘e
blessed, into eternity; its charm was
sought in the Elysium and Walhalla,
as well in Odin’s Hall, as in Mahom
med’s Paradise. In the creeds of all
nations, music has boen eternalized, by
the rougher Scandinavian, as well as
the more refined Greek ; and, accord
ing to the Chi istian doctrinos, music
will be everkiting ! “There shall be
beard a great voice of a multitude,
as the voice of many waters, as the
voice of. mighty thunderings, singing
Hallelujah, glory, honor and praise
unto the Lord.”
That instrument will make no music
that hath but some strings in tune. If,
when God strikes on the Btring of joy
and gladness, we answer pleasantly,
but when He touches upon that of sor
row and humiliation we suit it not, we
are broken instruments that make no
melody unto God.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
WORLDLY WISDOM.
We question whether any one appre
ciates more highly than we do, the ben
efits of a collegiate education, or more
sincerely desires to aid in securing an
adequate endowment to all our col
leges ; but we painfully fear that the
extra efforts made to excite an interest
in our colleges, and secure an endow
ment for them, may lead us to err in
two respects, if in no more. 1. In di
verting, from objects of paramount im
portance, the funds that are necessary
to secure them; 2. In leading some
good brethren, especia'ly among our
young ministers, to set an undue esti
mate on college lore, and rendering
them more ambitious to be educated
for the ministry, in our theological
schools, than to be educated in the
ministry, while faithfully laboring in
the vineyard of their Lord and Saviour.
The reiterated appeals of our Mis
sionary Boards, the cries for help from
our missionaries in home and foreign
fields, the wails that daily reach us
from destitute churches, impoverished
ministers, and the various benevolent
institutions that are scattered through
out our land, afford unequivocal evi
dence that the first of the fears ex
pressed above is not groundless. Our
second fear is founded upon our knowl
edge of human nature, the teachings
of inspired apostles, and the testimony
of history, sacred and profane. Had
Paul not been fully aware of the evil
of exalting human wisdom above the
wisdom of God, and of the natural
tendency in man to confide in the
former more than in the latter, it is not
credible that he would have written as he
has done in his first epistle to the Co
rinthians, disparaging the one and ex
alting the other. Were it not likely to
be deemed presumptuous in us, we
would advise alike the teachers and
the taught in our schools and colleges
to study diligently and daily, the first
and second chapters of the epistle to
which we have referred.
Innumerable facts might be reported
to prove that there is danger of over
estimating human wisdom, and prizing
more highly the expositions and criti
cisms of the learned than the simple
teaching of God’s word. If such an
overestimate should not subject one to
the loss of his soul, it will certainly
impair his influence for good, and his
happiness in life. That we are not
singular in the views we entertain on
this subject, the following extracts will
evince. Tho learned and pious Carson
asks, (vol. vii. p. 25):
“How many learned Christians have spent
all their lives in Scripture criticism, yet have
never advanced above the lower forms in the
school of Christ? How many poor, weak
minded, illiterate men have been distinguished
for depth and accuracy of views of Divine
Truth? One of the mightiest intellects that
ever lodged in the breast of men was possessed
by Dr. Samuel Johnson, yet though he died as
a Christian, his attainments in the school of
Christ were among the lowest of all disci
ples.”
The same author, speaking of Bibli
cal literature in Germany, ays:
“ With all its boasted perfection, what has
it done in Germany? With all the noise
about Hermeneuties, the people are perishing
for lack of knowledge; and the writers who
can expound the Scriptures with all the
phraseology of a learned barbarism, are as sap
less aßa tree blasted by lightning.”
Presbyterians are often charged with
setting an undue estimate on human
learning. Hear what Hetherington,
one of their ecclesiastical historians,
says on this subject:
“ Every intelligent observer will at once
admit, that in the middle classes of society ex
ists the greatest amount ol piety, morality, un
bounding integrity, and manly independence
of character. * * * * Learning forms but a
very unsafe criterion; for there are too many
proofs that a man may be very learned, and
yet be irreligious, and immoral, and profane.”
Dr. Cummings, alluding to perver
sions of Gospel truth by the learned,
very truly remarks:
“ Their unanimous testimony does not weigh
one straw in comparison with one single text
from God’s own most blessed word.”
We might fill columns with similar
extracts from the writings of men dis
tinguished alike for their learning and
piety, but forbear. Be it ever remem
bered, that for the system of divine
truth revealed in the Bible, we are in
debted to the wisdom of God, and not
to the learning of men; and its preserva
tion and diffusion throughout the earth
is ascribable, not to any human agency,
but to the power and wisdom of God.
Not by might, nor by power, but by
my Spirit, says the Lord, (Zech. iv: 6.)
The first and chief corrupters of the
Gospel, as we have before contended,
were the “schoolmen” of old. Colleges
have done much more, in day* past, to
fetter the human mind, than ever they
have done to emancipate it from sin.
Human learning never was designed to
teach us what to do, but to aid us in
carrying out the revealed will of God.
If bridled and attached to the chariot
of the Gospel, and guided in the Vay
of truth and holiness, It may do much
to aid in transporting saints to their
home in glory ; hut, if allowed, like an
unruly horse that will have its own
way, takes the bit in his teeth and re
fuses to yield to the guidance of the
check-rein, it will involve all who fail
to see and escape from the impending
evil in time, in a general “ smash up”—
the result of which will be the perma
nently maiming, if not the murder, of
many an immortal mind. 6ur counsel
to one and all is, to receive and employ
human learning as a servant, but sub
mit to it as a ruler, never— no never !
OCR NEXT STATE CONTENTION.
Its Work, and oor Doties as Baptists.
As the day approaches when the
Baptist Convention of tK<Y State of
Georgia shall meet, it is well for us to
consider, in advance, somewhat of the
subjects which are to claim our atten
tion. Every brother, when there, must
have a great interest in the proceed
ings, and each one ought to be bur
dened with the Gospel, and the wel
fare of the educational enterprises of
the denomination. Missions, at home
and abroad, with Mercer University
and other agencies, furnish the main
subjects for consideration.
The Assocations have already
elected their delegates, and it remains
for the Missionary Societies, now, to
raise their annual contributions, and
elect their delegates. This business
of the Societies is of vital importance
at this time. The sums of money to
be sent up by them, will add much to
the receipts for the current year. To
raise the money, let none overlook the
day of small things. Every one can
give a little. Everybody can give
something. Everybody can get some
one else to give a little, and every lit
tle swells the aggregate. Preachers,
deacons, clerks, superintendents of
Sunday-schools, teachers, scholars,
choir, rich, poor, members of the
church and congregations, every one,
personally, ought to be called on by
someone else, and the privilege af
forded for a contribute to jjlory
of God and the salvation c* .sou'-#',
We never knew a bettor time for
missionary sermons, such as were
preached thirty years ago. Appeals
made to the heart, conscience, and un
derstanding, will open the pocket;
while an address, simply for money,
usually closes the purso and leaves the
heart hard, and the affections cold and
dead. “Him that knoweth to do good,
and doeth it not, to him it is sin." “The
knowledge of duty increases the obliga
tion to perform it, and the neglect of
known duty is sin.” t
Many persons are forming plans
and laying up money for a visit to
Philadelphia daring the summer. “Go
to now, ye that say to-day or to-mor
row we will go into such a city, and
continue there” —“whereas ye know
not what shall be on the morrow;”
“for that ye ought to say, if the Lord
we shall live and do this or that."
If Any of these, so arranging, are
Baptists, they must not forget what the
apostle means in the above quotations.
They should ease their consciences and
“do good.” Let them lay up in the
treasury of the Lord “liberal things”
for Zion ; then, ‘‘if the Lord will,” go
to the Centennial or anywhere else.
“Will a'man rob God”—“but ye say
wherein ?” “In tithes and offerings ;”
see that this is not done, but bring
“all the tithes unto the storehouse”—
“that the Lord may open yon the win
dows of Heaven, and pour you out a
blessing,” etc., etc. “And all nations
shall call you blessed ; for ye shall be
a delightsome land.”—Ma'l&ch viii:B,
10, 12.
0 eternity ! eternity ! how deep and
vast! how great and terrible art thou!
Is man to exist in eternity ? 0 yes, most
certainly. His being dies not when
his body to death ; his spirit
returns to the Creator. Judgment and
eternity are beyond death, and man
must meet the one and dwell in the
other. What should engage our at
tention and time most ? So to use time
with its vast opportunities and bless
ings as to secure a blissful eternity; to
live here day by day as in the light of
eternity, and just on its brink—soon
to launch away—so to repent of sin,
to believe in Christ, to watch and pray,
to live and act as for eternity. How
wise! How safe!
FIRST BAPTIST CHCRCH, ATLANTA.
On Sabbath last Rev. E. W. Warren D.D.
preached an impressive sermon from 6th chap
ter Hebrews, 10th verse —“For God is not un
righteous to forget your work and labor of
love which ye have showed toward His name,
in that ye have ministered to the saints and do
minister.” The preacher’s object was to urge
upon the followers of Christ the duty to work-
God was not so unjust as to forget the work
which bis disciples did. Jesus does not pay
you to sit down and do nothing, but when you
do work God will not forget it
Some have more ability than others —ac-
cording to the talent or means with which you
are possessed so does God require the same ra
tio of work at your hands. Why that paraly
sis upon the Christian soul ? It is because he
does not, nor will not work. Work.while it is
called to-day, the night cometh when no man
can work.
Nor does God forget your labor of love. If
there be any labor it is the labor of love. The
Christian loves his fellow-man—would minis
ter to his bodily comfort —but loves his soul in
finitely more. The Christian is more than a
philanthropist.
Are you performing any labor of love? Do
you earnestly pray for your fellow-men ? Are
you ministering to his wants bodily and spirit
ually ? If so God will not forget you.
Which you have showed towards His name.
If ye have done the least matter to assist the
disciple of Christ, it is an act of worship. “As
much as ye have done it unto the least ot these
ye have done it unto me.” This is ministering
to His saints. Will you see that young brother,
who has once been an ornament to the church,
forgetting his first love and not warn him of
his danger ? If you do not you are not minis
teriDg to the saints; if you do, that is doing it
unto God.
The poor, worn and beggared woman is your
sister; feed, clothe, and comfort her heart; that
is ministering to the saints. But the family of
the Lord is extensive ; it covers the whole
world, and God’s work is not circumscribed.
Remember our old brother in the low country,
his head frosted with the years of many winters.
He is going about doing good. Too poor to meet
with his brethren as would be his delight when
they meet in convention, but, blessed be God,
not too poor to tell to those around him the
love of Jesus. Old brother Daniel is minis
tering to the saints of God.
But again, the missionaries across the waters
are ministering to the saints —and where they
do minister to the heathen, it is our duty to min
ister to them.
So many failures (financially ) among our
very best brethren, have embarrassed the mis
sion work, therefore we who are still blessed
with some means, must renew our efforts; we
must come up to the help of the Lord against
the mighty. The gifts we make the Lord will
not make us any poorer. Give and it shall be
given unto you again. Yes, this very church
can give. Can I not now pause and ask, will
you give to the cause of Christ? Just give
half you have spent the past week for personal
gratification, and it will he a large gift. God
has made promises and, He will fulfill them.
In the day of judgment every good work will
he remembered—our works will follow us even
to Heaven; that good work of the pious young
man will go with him to Heaven. These
good works are the educators of the soul.
The pious, con-ecrated Christian will be
happier in Heaven than the man who has not
dedicated himself to the work.
It is true all will be happy in Heaven
but he that has not been educated in this
glorious werk of consecration will not have
the same capacity. Every vessel will be
filled, but some will be large, and some
small. Let us all be large vessels, capable
of containing much of the love of God. He
that loves God most here, will love Him most
in Heaven.
After the sermon was over, the Doctor
staled to the church that he desired all the
members to remain for the purpose of at
tending to a matter which deeply concerned
himself and the church.
On motion, Judge Peeples was called to the
chair, and Deacon Swan drew slowly from
his pocket a letter, and read the resignation
of the pastor. While 'his was being done,
most of the church, and many of the congre
gation, were in tears. Judge Peeples stated
that he would never consent to accept the
resignation, but inasmuch as he was fully
aware that his beloved pastor had positively
determined to accept a call to the First
Baptist church at Richmond, Va., he was
compelled to acquiesce. Bro. Norcross
moved that the letter be received, but not
accepted until some future day. Dr. Warren
then stated that as his decision was final, it
would be far better for the church to act at
once.
The motion was then put, and but few
voted either way. It was, indeed, a hard
struggle for that people to give up the pastor
they had for five years honored and loved.
Bro. Warien advised the church to go imme
diately to work and supply his place, and by
no means to wait for months to choose a pas
tor. He urged upon them to pray earnestly
to God to send them a man who would lead
the flock. He then stated that he would
set the example to them, and thus praying
that God would direct them in a choice,
after a fervent prayer the congregation
was dismissed.
Personal. —We had a call yesterday from
Rev. F. M. Haygood, who is traveling in the
interest of The Christian Index. He will
remain in Macon a few days and then will vis
it every point to be reached by the Southwes
tern and Muscogee roads. Mr. Haygood rep
resents one of the ablest and best denomina
tional papers published in the South, and he
deserves a warm reception at the hands of the
Baptist denomination —every family of which
should have The Index, —lelegraph and Mea
tenger, February 25iA.
THE WATCH CARE OF CHCRCHES.
We received a letter from a highly esteemed
brother, some three months since, propound
ing several queries relative to the receivin g of
individuals under the watch care of our
churches. We can assure him truly that our de
lay in answering his enquiries has not been oc
casioned by a want of respect for him, or by a
feeling of indifference in reference to the sub
jects on which he solicits an expression of our
views, but by the extreme lassitude of our
physical and mental frame, and a spirit of pro
crastination, that too often interrupts us in the
discharge of our duties to our own grief and
serious injury. We shall now proceed to
give our views, in as brief terms as we well
can, but we wish it to be distinctly noted,
that we give them only as the views of an in
dividual, who has "a humiliating conscious
ness of his own liability to err, and not by au
thority of The Index, or by that of any of our
colleagues.
Question I—“ Ought Baptist churches to re
ceive a Baptist under the watchcare of a
church? If so, under what circumstances?”
Answer. Under circumstances, to be stated
hereafter, we think they ought. The word
“ought” implies obligation, or duty, and as
there are no express insructions given in the
word of God, in reference to the receiving of
individuals under the watchcare of our
churches, we deem it necessary, in order to
justify the answer we have given above, to
make some remarks in reference to the only
source from which a knowledge of our Chris
tian duties can be derived.
That the word of God is our only infallible
and all sufficient rule of faith and practice is
generally admitted by all Christian denomina
tions, not excepting even Roman Catholics;
but there is a wide difference in the interpreta
tion of that rule by different religious denomi
nations. All churches, whose origin may be
traced back to the Roman church, teach that
the Scriptures are to be interpreted only as
construed by the ecclesiastical authorities.
They do, therefore, as did the Pharisees of
old, make void the word of God by their tra
ditions, making the interpretation of their spir
itual fathers, and not the literal word Ood,
their rule of faith and practice. That this is a
serious error we are fully persuaded our read
ers will be free to admit, without any train of
reasoning on our part to prove it such.
But if Pedobaptists stretch the rule so as to
include.within it their heresies, it is equally true
that some Baptists so contract it as to exclude
from our routine of Christian duties many im
portant acts which we cannot omit without
proving unfaithful alike to our Lord and Sa
viour, to our own souls, and to our fellow
man. They do thi3 who contend that for ev
ery Christian duty there must be a “Thus
saith the Lord” —that is, an express precept,
or an undisputed apostolic precedent. Were
this the case, it might be said ol them as the
apostle John said of the acts of Jesus: “If
they should be written every one, I suppose
that even the world itself could not contain
the books that should be written.”
There are various objects specified which
we are required to labor to promote, and va
rious principles laid down -vhich we are to
respect in all our acts, at all times, under
all circumstances, but the means by which
we are to promote the object specified are not
always prescribed. We are left free to exercise
the intellectual powers with which we have
been endowed, in devising the means necessa
ry to secure the objects for whi( h we are to la
bor with this restriction only: that we violate
no established principle of God’s word ; such
for instance as the principle of justice, mercy
and humility, the proper observance of which
we are taught in Mic. vi: 8, constitutes the
whole duty of man.
We invite particular attention to what is
affirmed in our last paragraph, and to the
facts to which we shall now refer, in illustra
tion and confirmation of the truth affirmed.
1. We are expressly commanded to preach
the gospel to every creature. This command
imposes an obligation upon every true believ
er to aid, as opportunity and ability are af
forded, in spreading abroad the glad tidings of
salvation through Christ Jesus. To do this
effectually it is absolutely necessary that
Christians should act in concert —in other
words, that they should be organized into lo
cal churches. That apostolic Christians so
understood the command is evident from the
fact, that wherever a sufficient number of con
verts were made to the gospel preached, they
wee organized into local churches. This is a
fact that no one will dispute; but in vain may
we seek for a solitary precept to organize be
lievers into local churches, or for any instance
in which a formal constitution of a church
was reported to have been affected by a pres
bytery, called for the purpose of examining
into their orthodoxy, and deciding whether
they are worthy to be recognized as a church
of Christ or not. The fact that church organi
zations are necessary to enable us to carry out
the commission imposes on us the duty to enter
into such organizations. (Hence they greatly
err who teach that one can serve God as ac
ceptably out of a church as in one.)
2. That believers are required to assemble
themselves together for religious purposes is
evident from Heb. x: 25. It is also expressly
required that, in their assemblies, every thing
be done decently and in order (1 Cor. xiv : 40.)
Now as due order cannot be preserved
in a public assembly without rules of decorum,
written or unwritten, it is as evidently our du
ty to adopt and govern ourselves by such rules
as if we were expressly required to do so.
Hence the adoption of rules of decoum by a
church, so far from being contrary to the
teachings of the sacred scriptures, as some good
brethren, both in and out of the ministry have
affirmed, appear to us to be in strict accord
with them.
3. The case of the foolish and wicked ser
vant who buried the talent committed to him
by his lord, and sought to restore it to him on
his return, to which we have referred on for-
mer occasions, and of which we have a full ac
count in the gospel by Matthew and Luke, af
fords scriptural evidence of the truth of our pro
position, that a command to effect a specified object
imposes an obligation to use the means necessary to
secure the accomplishment of that object. The ser
vant who was condemned, as reported by Mat
thew, for not having put his lord’s money to
the exchangers, or, as reported by Luke, for
not having put it into the bank, was simply re
quired to improve the talent given him: “Occu
py till I come.” This was equivalent to a com
mand to make a profitable investment of it.
For failing to do this he was justly con
demned and punished.
These general remarks are designed to pre -
pare the way for more explicit answers to the
queries of our correspondent, which we defer
to a future issue of our paper, for the want of
time and space to say more at present.
GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS.
—Rev. W. W. Landrum, the successor of
Dr. Wharton in the pastorate of the Greene
street Baptist church, Augusta, has already
made a fine impression. His first sermon in
that city is highly spoken of. The Constitu
tionalist says: “He speaks fluently and ex
temporaneously, and uses few gestures. His
enunciation is good, his bearing dignified, and
the language employed is clear, forcibly and
appropriate. The impression he made was a
very favorable one, and we trust will be las
ting.”
—The Domestic Mission Board, of the Tu
galo Baptist Association, will meet in Carnes
ville, on Tuesday, 11th April next.
—The Franklin Register, alluding to the
fact that Rev. I. R. Ivie, ot that place has ac
cepted a call to Providence Baptist church,
Madison county, says: “This is a large, influ
ential and growing church, and they acted
wisely in their selection of an “under Shep
herd.” Mr. Ivie is a zealous and very ac
ceptable minister, and we have no fears but
that the church will thrive under his minis
try.
—Brother Daniel Meadows who died last
December near Grantville, was nearly ninety
seven years old. He joined the Baptist
church in Wilkes county in 1802. His vener
able wife, who died in 1873, was over ninety
two years of age, and was baptized in 1806.
Their bright and useful Christian lives were
blended, as man and wife, for the period of
seventy-three years, six months and four days.
—The Sabbath-school attached to the Bell
wood church, near Atlanta, is in a very flour
ishing condition. Rev. G. R. Moor, an effi
cient pastor, and an able minister, has assum
ed the pastoral duties of this new church,
which promises to be a most fruitful field of
Christian labor.
—Brother R. T. J. G. writing from Egypt,
under date of February 17th, informs us that he
has resigned the mission work, but not the
charge of his church. He wili visit Atlanta
for medical treatment. He says the Lord has
been very gracious to the six Baptist churches
in his county. During last year Power’s
church had 18 additions, New Frovidence 16,,
Springfield 9, Turkey Branch 22, Corinth 24;
and Eiim 2.
—The Macon Telegraph and Messenger makes
the following tru* and appreciative comments
on Chancellor Tucker’s magnificent discourse
from the text: “For whosoever shall keep
the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he
is guilty of all,” which he delivered on a recent
Sabbath in that city, at the First Baptist
church:
This great sermon was called for a second
time in Atlanta, by request of the bar of that
city, and if it were the only production of the
learned divine, would be sufficient to place
him in the very front rank of pulpit orators.
It was first a massive, logical and powerful
contrast between human law and the decrees of
the Omnipotent Ruler of the Universe, then the
superior justice of the latter was vindicated, and
finally that crowning act of clemency and mercy
which gave the world a saviour and vicarious
mediator, set forth in language of rare sublim
ity and tenderness.
The style of the Chancellor is terse and vig
orous, delivery graceful, and his sentences
brief, nervous and otttimes epigrammatic. We
have never seen any single effort in the pul
pit or elsewhere, fortified and illustrated by a
grander array of irresistible logic. And yet
it may be truly said there were portions of
the discourse, when the speaker depicted the
passing love of the blessed Redeemer, replete
with pathos, and impassioned tendernesss. The
attention of the large congregation was com
pletely rivited upon him for one hour and
ten minutes, without the least appearance of
flagging.
We refrain from any reproduction of this
remarkable sermon, because it would emascu
late its future effect upon those who may be
privileged to hear it, and it ought to be re
peated in every community and city of the
State.
—A new Baptist colored church (“Spring
field”) was constituted at Iceville last Sunday,
by Rev. W. M. Grant, Rev. James Baker and
Deacons W. Bonner and Allen Peters.
The sermon was preached by Rev. W. \I.
Grant. The membership of the chuich is
thirteen. Its prospects are very good. The
church will be served, for the present, by Rev.
W. M. Grant.
—Brother James Barrow, writing from
Bowden February 20th, says: “Our monthly
meeting closed yesterday, with fine results.
On the preceding Saterday we listened
to a delightful sermon from our new
pastor, Rev. John Scott, of Alabama,
on the subject of the Good Shepherd.
Ten members were then received by letter.
On Sunday morning we had a large increase in
our Sundav-school. Brother Scott is a good
and efficent pastor. May the Lord bless him.”
Brother B. also says that the prospects of
Bowden College are excellent. Profi A. C.
Reese, of Carrolton, the new Principal, is an
experienced and competent teacher. He will
give a series of lectures on the first Sabbath in
the month for the benefit of young people.
Whittle and Bliss, the evangelists, are ex
pected in Montgomery about the middle of
March to hold a series of meeting* under the
auspices of the Y. M. C. A.