Newspaper Page Text
2
dnr Corrcsponknls.
For the Index and BaptißUi
EXCL.CDIVG MEMBERS.
Is it according to the Scriptures to
exclude a member at his own request
on the ground that he believes he has
never been regenerated when he has
persistingly demanded until all hope is
lost of restoring him to the church ?
At first thought, it would seem that
all would unite in sajinu, exclude him,
*if he will not be reconciled to the
church. But recent developments
prove the contrary, and good brethren
are found to be strongly opposed to it.
They I ell us that it is a bad prece
dent to exclude a member who has
committed no crime, simply because he
asked it. This objection does not take
in all our case. We admit that it
would be a bad precedent to exclude
all members wbo request it without
any effort on the part of the pastor and
church to restore them to confidence
and hope. But when the church has
put forth every means in her power to
restore a delinquent, and yet he will not
consent to remain longer in the church,
can it be considered a bad precedent to
exclude him, though ho may not have
committed any misdemeanor. On the
contrary, should a church refuse, un
der these circumstances, to exclude a
member, the precedent would appear
bad indeed.
It is further objected that to exclude
a member according to the above query,
is not according to Baptist usage.
We cannot and ought not to settle
any mooted question by the usage of
the churches. The practice of the
churches will be according to the prev
alent opinion of the members compos
ing them. TANARUS appeal, therefore, to the
usage of the churches, is to appeal to
an opinion to settle an opinion, and
each of no higher grade than the other.
This is poor authority for Baptists. It
is impossible to s^llequestions in this
way. Let us appeal to Baptist usage
to settle the question as to whether a
•church should give its pastor a salary,
or whether he should labor in painful
uncertainty as to what he shall have,
or whether anything. But wo find the
churches in unhappy disagreement, and
it would be almost impossible to ascer
tain, even in our own State, the prac
tice of a majority of the churches on
this subject.
On the subject under consideration,
the practice of the churches is not
uniform. Some exclude for no other
reason than a revocation of the pro
fession of faith, (than which a higher
charge can scarcely be imagined when
persisted in,) others exclude only for
misdemeanor, or deeds of immorality.
The same want of harmony among
the churches is true in the support of
missions, pastors and Sunday-schools,
etc., etc. The usage of the churches
is simply worth nothing in the settle
ment of such questions.
It is further objected that to exclude
a member, as aforesaid, is not accord
ing to the Scriptures, or that in every
case of exclusion mentioned in the New
Testament, the charge of immorality
precedes it.
Were this true, it would not force us
to the conclusion that the Seripturos
do not justify us in excluding a mem
ber, except on the ground of immor
ality.
It should be remembered that there
are but few organized churches men
tioned in the Scriptures, and among
these few there are still fewer cases of
exclusions mentioned. Add to this
the fact that cases of discipline for
revocation of profession of faith but
rarely occurs among our numerous
churches, even in these days of degon
eracy. We may, therefore, reasonably
conclude that cases of discipline on
this account in the purity of New Tes
tament times, were exceedingly rare,
indeed. Under those circumstances,
we most naturally infer, that no such
case occurred in New Testament times.
But it may be to stop all cavil. In
spiration has mentioned a separation
on the ground that the party were not
Christians. “They went out from us,
but they weie not of us, for if they had
been of us, they would, no doubt, have
continued with us, but they went out
that they might be made manifest that
they were not of us”—l John ii: 19.
The separation of these persons from
the disciples, (or church) was because
they were not Christians, aud their
going out is the only alleged ground of
their separation. No charge of immor
ality is preferred, and nothing else save
the want of piety. As to how the dis
ciples formerly declared this separation,
we are not informed. But we may be
sure that the declaration was in ac
cordance with the facts, aud as noth
ing is mentioned as causing the separa
tion but the want of piety, so this,
doubtless, formed the basis of the
declaration.
Leaving these objections, allow me
to say that if we refuse to exclude
members, except on charges of immor
ality, we contradict the very principles
that govern Scripture churches. Ap
plicants are received into our churches
only on profession of saving faith in
Christ. Why not exclude them then,
when they persistingly declare that
they are not in possession of that in
dispensable prerequisite for member
ship.
This view is strangely corroborated
by that acknowledged scholar and dis
ciplinarian, Dr. Shaver. Hear him :
“ The principle of principles in Bap- j
tist (or Bible) church building is, that
the credible profession of saving faith
(or Scriptural regeneration) is neces
sary to membership and communion.
Where the credibility of that profes
sion is destroyed, or where the profes
sion itself is revoked, the title to com
munion and membership ceases. Not
only is the sentence of exclusion proper
in such cases, after one effort has been
made to restore the delinquent parties
without success ; but we must hold
further, that to withhold the sentence,
is virtually to alter (or suspend) the
divine law of citizenship in the king
dom of Christ. It would be a great
change for the better, and healthful to
the Spirituality of the churches, if the
aforesaid principle of principles wore
no longer practically set aside (or im
paired) by the assumption that there
can be no rightful exclusion, except
when there is something against the
moral character.” With this seems to
agree (he distinguished Andrew Fuller,
Speaking on this subject, he says:
“ The private withdrawal of an individ
ual, if it be without good reasons, may
justify a church in admonishing him,
and, if he cannot be reclaimed, in ex
cluding him.” See works volume 3,
page 335.
To refuse to exclude members on this
ground, involves inconsistencies and
absurdities. Suppose a member de
mands an exclusion on the belief that
he is not a Christian ; the church ex
hausts her means to restore him and
fails; he is not liable to any other
charge, and through family connec
tions, etc., he does not absent himself
from the meetings, so that the charge
of absence does not avail. Here, then,
we have the painful spectacle of a
member ever and anon asking exclusion
from the church, and the church as
often refusing it. All Christian sym
pathy and fellowship between the
church and the applicant for separation
is broken up. Every one of them
want to turn him out, and yet no charge
is found sufficent to get rid of him.
Tlius the freest institution on earth
would be degraded to the level of a
prison,* holding its subjects with au
iron grasp.
And, if, in the course of events, a
valid charge is discovered, the church
proceeds to try the party, and excludes
him on a false issue, it not being the
real ground of the separation. Think
of it. A. J. Kelly.
For the Index and Baptist.
KKTHI.EIIEM ANBTIIE DIVINE “GOVERNOR.”
“And thou Bethlehem, in the lund of Judes,
nrt not the least among the princes of Judea ;
for out of thee shall come a Governor, that
shall rule my people Israel.”
Bethlehem was anciently called Beth
lehem Ephratah, and the City of Da
vid.* It was the /city of David’s birth,
also of the birth of Christ, the Gov
ernor here spokeu of being “of the
root and offspring of David.” Here
in this city, was announced to the shep
herds by an angel, “ Fear not, for be
hold I bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people,” all
people shall participate in this joy,
“ for unto you is born this day, in the
City of David, a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord,” and with the ang#
their appeared a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God, and saying,
“ Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men.”
God, the Father, announces His origin
divine. “ This is my beloved Son, in
whom lam well pleased.” Thus being
baptized, Ho went immediately about
His “ Father’s business,’’ teaching and
preaching the Gospel of the kingdom,
giving and expounding God’s com
mandments, “ For this is the law and
the prophets.” And commands them
to “ search’’ them, foi there was no
other Scriptures to search.
He further says, in His prayer to His
Father, “I have given them Thy word.”
He issues His edicts, and the blind see,
the lame walk, the dead are raised,
“ thy sins are forgiven thee 1 ” This
is the ruler in Israel, whose goings
forth have been from of old, from ever
lasting. The Lord, thy Redeemer, that
was dead, and is alive, the first and the
last, the everlasting Father and the
Prince of Peace. This is He of whom
the prophets, from Moses to Malachi
foretold should come to rule Israel.
But not as a king, as was David, to rule
the literal Israel or the Jewish nation,
but to rule in the hearts of men, not
only Jews, but Gentiles, thus it is that
all the nations of the earth were to be
blessed.
Christ, by “grace and truth” sub
dues the naturally sinful heart of man,
and sometimes it is only a word, as to
Peter and Andrew, “ Follow me,” and
men become fit subjects of the king
dom of Heaven, of which Christ is
ruler. “He is the King of kings and
Lord of lords.” Tsis kingdom John
preached, also Christ, “ the kingdom of
Heaven is at hand,” it is in you, or in
the midst of you, and none can be ad
mitted into that kingdom but br faith
iu Christ. “If thou believest;” it is
faith iu His name; this is the key to
the kingdom. Faith unlocks Heaven
to man, aud men renewed by faith iu
Christ, constitute “my people Israel,”
the true church, who have faith as a
well of water within them springing
up unto everlasting life.
“ Faith is the substance of things
hoped for.” God and Heaven, is what
we “ hope for;” then faith, is God and
Heaven begun in our hearts, and more
than this, “it is the evidence” of it.
Hence, Israel having power with God,
shall prevait, for they are born of God
and heirs with Christ, and ‘“not one of
them shall be lost.” Pebsis
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX / AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
For the Index and Baptist.]
ORGANIZATION OF SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.
Dear Index — l am not a newspaper
correspondent, nor do I often write an
article, but I believe it to be every
man’s duty to contribute that which
experience tells him is good ; this rule
holds in all cases, but especially should
it bold good in matters pertaining to
the Sunday-school.
First, as to tbe manner of organizing
Sunday-schools. My experience and
observation is that, when a few of tike
brethren determine to organize! a
school, they ask the minister to an
nounce that at a certain time, the
members of the church will meet for
that purpose ; generally, a half dozen
or a dozen mombers of tbe
meet; a Superintendent and other of
ficers are elected, and the school is set
on foot, and if the few who have it in
charge can, by their own united efforts,
make it a success, well and good, but,
if a failure, no one except the Superin
tendent, and the few already enlisted,
seem to care; it gives them, appa
rently, no concern. This is not afrit
should be. The commencement is wrong,
and as a consequence, the ending is
bad.
But let us commence right. A
church, when organized, ought to have
a Sunday-school, and the way to get
it is to commence in conference, and
let every action taken be an official ac
tion, and the proceedings recorded o
the church book. Those brethren who
are enthusiastic on the subject, should
discuss its management, its aims, etc.,
and without this action on the part of
the church, the Sunday-school is not
the work of the church, but the work
of the few brethren wbo have it in
hand, and tbe church, as a church,
does not feel the responsibility of the
school resting on them.
Suppose the school is Organized in
tbe usual way, and without any action
of the church, how can it be changed ?
Simply by letting the conference take
charge of it.
Having been a Sunday-school work
er for nearly thirty years, as scholar,
teacher ano Superintendent, I feel that
I am iu love with it, and since my Su
perintendency, I have studied to make
the school a success, have talked on
the streets, in my place of business,
and all places where I thought there
was a chance of interesting tbe mem
bers of the church, but all these plans
were a failure, not in the number cf
scholars, but in the number and kind
of teachers wanted.
Some months since, I moved co
have our rules of order amended, so as
to make it the duty of the Moderator
to call for business for the good of the
Sunday-school, and now each meeting,
when called, I got-up and report .uio
gress, and I enrorace that occajici-,, to
tall tbe ehurcb the the
s/hool. If I need teacners, f say ao,’
and I tell them to come and see how
their children are being taught and
governed. I tell them if there are
more than are needed for teachers, I
can easily form classes for them, and
the result is truly gratifying. I have
an abundance of teachers, and I have
classes of old and experienced persons,
from whom I can draw teachers, if one,
from providential or other causes,
should not be there.
I write this, brother Editors, hoping
it may be tbe means of helping some
hard-working, but almost broken
hearted, Superintendent, and if only
one is benefitted, I shall feel amply
repaid. Tours in Christ,
A Superintendent.
May 22, 1876.
For the Index and Baptist.]
ORDINATION.
The church at Rocky Creek, Monroe
county, had appointed Friday before
the third Lord’s day in May, to ordain
brother Jesse Mays to the Gospel
ministry. I was invited by brother E.
M. Hooten to accompany him, he hav
ing been requested to be present as one
of a Presbytery.
A pleasant, early morning ride of
twelve miles, over a beautiful country,
brought us to the church. We found
brother J. G. Ivimbell already on the
ground. Very soon, the venerable
pastor, Elder W. G. McMichael, came.
After being introduced to these good
breihren, I was courteously invited to
participate in the exercises.
Order of exercises, as agreed upon,
were—Elder J. G. Kimbell to preach
tho sermon, he having beea previously
invited by the church ; Elder W. G.
McMichael to examine candidate on ex
perience, call to ministry, and upon
doctrine ; Elder E. M. Hooten to offer
the prayer, and after the imposition of
hands by the Presbytery, to give tbe
charge to candidate; the writer to give
the charge to tbe church. The above
order was gone through, we believe, in
apostolic style.
Brother Mays is about forty years
of age, was educated at Mercer, studied
law, but for the past fourteen years has
been engaged in teaching.
I believe all were agreed that we had
done a good work, and we feel confi
dent that auother good, true, faithful
and efficient watchman has been placed
upon the walls of Zion. May he be
abundantly successful in winning souls
to Jesus. John G. Polhill.
Milner, May JJ2, 1876
H. M. Revels. D.D., was elected edi
tor of the Southwestern Christian Advo
cate, at New Orleans. Revels was the col
ored United States Senator f-orn Mis
sissipi.
For the Index and Baptist.
A LETTER FROM GAINESVILLE.
Corinth Chorth, Its Neighborhood and its Pas
tor, Rev. D. S. MtCnr:\.
This is one of the most important
churches, not only in Hall county, but
perhaps, in North-east Georgia. It is
about two miles North-east from the
Chattahoochee river, and about six
miles North of Gainesville. It is a
wood building, neatly framed, ceiled
and seated. It is in the fork of the
road from Gainesville, the right leading
to Cleveland, Ga., and the left to Dah
lonega.
Five years ago this church was con
stituted with twenty-five members, in
the shade of a hickory tree near by ;
now it has on. hundred and fifty mem
bers. In 1873 it was blessed with a
wonderful revival of religion, when one
hundred and sixty or more are believed
to have been converted, one hundred
and twenty-five of whom united with
the Corinth church, and thirty or more
became members of neighboring
churches. This revival revolutionized
the neighborhood within a radius of
three or four miles, or ten square
miles. Now there are only two openly
profane men in that vicinity ; not one
distillery, and not one drunkard. And
of that large number added to the
church, only one has been excommuni
cated.
The church has a flourishing Sunday
school of seventy-five or eighty pupils,
superintended by brother G. G. Thomp
son, a jewel brother. The children
sing admirably, are neatly dressed and
well behaved.
It was the privilege of the writer,
upon invitation by brother 0. B.
Thompson, who kindly sent his carriage
for us and family, to visit this church
on last Saturday and Sunday—Satur
day was conference day. It was a
bright and lovely day. And although
it was a very busy season with the
planters, the plow was stopped and the
implements of husbandry were laid
aside for the time, and husbands, and
wives and children went to church. On
Sunday the house was overflowing.
The isles and pulpit steps were full,
and a number, for want of room, re
mained without. It was a fine looking
congregation, very orderly and atten
tive. In conclusion the Lord’s Supper
was observed with marked solemnity,
making an impression upon the con
gregation which will long be remem
bered.
The pastor, Rev. David S. McCurry,
is a fine specimen of a man, physically
and intellectually. He is about six feet
high, well formed, walks erect, of a
dark complexion, and a billious temper
ament. H 8 physiological and phreno
logical developments indicate fine per
ceptive abilities, good common sense,
and, wken aroused, a man of great pow
.sr over his audience. He seems to be
truly pidus, loves, the cajuse aud work
of Jesus, and is greatly’ loved by all
his five churches. His peers in this
part of Georgia are very few.
He is a successful worker for The
Index, a thorough missionary, an able
advocate for Sunday-schools, and wish
es his association to be a member of
the Georgia Baptist State Convention.
At this church is a free day school,
numbering from seventy-five to one
hundred and sixty pupils.
Altogether this is one of the most in
testing communities the writer has ever
visited in Northern Georgia.
W. C. Wilkes.
May 15th 1876.
For the Index and Baptist.]
HELP FOR DESTITUTE SCHOOLS.
Appeals like tbe following, are con.
stantly received:
Dear Brother Botkin —l write this
in the interest of a newly organized
Sunday-school in a destitute commu
nity. It consists of twenty-five schol
ars, five teachers, superintendent and
assistant. There is a fine prospect for
a much larger school. I told the com
munity I would endeavor to get them
Kind Words and some song books.
Now I have not the means to procure
these papers and books; I ask you as
State Sunday-school Evangelist, to
supply the school if it is in your power
to do so. It is strictly a Baptist school,
under Baptist influence.
Perhaps you can procure some second
hand books, if you cannot get new
ones. You cannot help a community
more destitute than this, and where
there is a better prospect of building
up a fine school. * * * With many
prayers for you and your work, I am
yours in Gospel bonds.
Joel M. Butts.
Another letter of the same tenor, is
just received from brother James Hall,
of the Ebenezer Association. These
brethren must be supplied. Will not
those in more favorable circumstances,
help do it ? I should be glad to have
a fund for this special object.
T. C. Boykin,
Sunday-school Evangelist.
DIFFICULTIES IN TEACHING.
One of the essential elements of good
teaching is enthusiasm, without this,
no one need ever hope to achieve sue
cess in secular or Bible teaching. Tuis
is generally to be measured by the in
terest we feel in the work itself, but
more especially in the scholars, A re
ally enthusiastic teacher will not be
indolent or indifferent.
It is not a good plan to offer prizes
to those scholars who shall contribute
the largest amount of money during
the year. Children should be taught
to give from principle. They should
be commended, but not bribed. That
difficulty which causes more anxiety
than others, instead of being the great
est, will be the smallest, because our
anxiety will be sure to stimulate us to
greater efforts. That teacher who sol
emnly and constantly realizes the fact
that his scholars “ are to spend an
eternity either in heaven or hell, and
that their future happiness or woe de
pends in a great measure upon the im
pressions made upon their hearts by
his teachings,” will overcome most of
the difficulties that lie in his way. A
proper sense of responsibility will ex
cite in the teacher diligence in study,
faithfulness in labor and earnestness
in prayer. T. C. B.
For the In'lex and Baptist.]
General Meetin" of the Friendship Association.
Pleasant Grove Church, Sumter )
County, Ga., April 28, 1876. j
The General Meeting of the Friend
ship Association for the third district,
met this day with the above church.
After divine services by Elder J H.
Corley, followed Elder by G. F. Cooper,
recess till 2 o’clock p.m.
afternoon session.
2 o’clock p.m. —Prayer by brother
Wm. Wells. The meeting was then
organized by electing brother E. D.
Watson, Moderator, and B. T. Jen
nings, Secretary.
1. Appointed a committee on preach
ing, consisting of brethren, G. Robin
son, J. Stallings, W. Wells, B. R.
Mays and J. Jenkins ; also a committee
on airangements, to-wit: J. H. Corley,
G. F. Cooper, A. B. Campbell and J.
H. Cawood.
2. On motion, agreed to take up the
business as presented in the pro
gramme of last meeting in the order as
publishedj
1. “ What are the causes of coldness
and indifference upon the part of church
members, and the remedy ?” Discuss
ed by brethren Mays, Campbell, Wells,
Cooper, Stallings aud Corley. Upon
motion the question was laid on the
table for the present. Subsequently
the question was taken up and contin
ued to the next meeting.
Fixed the hours of meeting and ad
journment, to-wit: M?etat9A.M. and
2 p.m. Adjqurn at 11 a.m. and 5 f.m.
Fixed the hour of 10 a.m. to-morrow
to hear an essay from Elder J. H.
Cawood, on church discipline.
Adjourned. Prayer by J. Stallings.
second day’s session.
April 29th, 9 a.m.— Met according to
adjournment. Prayer by J. H.
Cawood.
2. Question. “When is the time for
revivals ?”
Discussed by brethren Cawood,
Corley, Campbell and Stallings. The
hour of 10 haviug arrived, brother
Cawood read on the subject
“ Church .Discipline.” After remarks
on the same, by several brethren, upon
motion of Elder G. F. Cooper, the
essay was adopted as the sentiment of
this body.
Adjourned. Preaching by Elder A.
B. Campbell.
afternoon session.
2 o’clock p.m. —Prayer by brother
W. J. Sears.
Heard the report of the committee
on preaching. J. Stallings to preach
to-night; J. H. Corley at 11 a.m. to
morrow ; J. H. Cawood at 2 p.m.
Resumed the discussion of the ques
tion, “When is the time for a revival ?”
After remarks by brethren Cooper,
Corley and Campbell, the subject was
continued to next meeting.
Brother J. H. Corley proposed the
following question : “Does tbe finan
cial pressure and the scarcity of money
excuse Christians from contributing to
the support of the Gospel ?” Aiter
some discussion, the question was con
tinued to next meeting.
ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR NEXT MEETING.
The following is the order of busi
ness, as presented by the committee,
for next meeting:
1. Brethren G. F. Cooper, J. H.
Corley and A. B. Campbell, to prepare
essays on subject of their own choos
ing.
2. Questions for oral discussions,
to-wit:
1. “When is the time for revivals ?”
2. “What are the causes of coldness
and indifference upon the part of
church members, and the remedv ?”
3. “What motives should prompt to
obedience to Christ ?”
4. “Do financial pressure and scarci
ty of money excuse Christians from
contributing to the support of the
Gospel ?”
After a resolution of thanks for the
hospitality of the brethren and friends,
in entertaining the members of the
meeting, the meeting adjourned to meet
with the church at Buena Vista, on
Friday before the fifth Sabbath in
July next.
E. D. Watson, Moderator.
B. T. Jennings, Clerk.
Parents, are you blameless in your
life at home ? Can you speak to your
children with a good conscience, and an
unblushing face ? Are your pursuits,
pleasures, friends, the books ' r ou intro
duce among your children and the em
ployment you select for them, condu
cive to piety at home ?
The Presbyterian churches of Phila
delphia report during the year just
closing 3,241 additions, against 1,443
last year. j|
For the Index and Baptist.
THE GERMAN “BCSD. ”
The German Baptists are very much
our juniors, but in one respect they
have far outs tripped us. As with us,
their churches are united in Associa
tions —four of them, including the Dan
ish —but these are affiliated in a Bund,
or union, which meets, I think, trienni
aliy. Some interesting particulars
are given in the Annual Report, Mis
sionary Union, 1875.
In 1851 this Bund adopted the fol
lowing :
This Assembly declares that it considers the
union of the churches in one body just as es
sential as the independence of the individual
church ; and that it is the duly of Christians to
realize both, since both are the declared will
of God.
This noble and Scriptural utterance
is exactly in harmony with the views
and aspirations of our fathers- An at
tempt was made by them “to bring in
to a kind of organic union the Baptist
brotherhood of the United States.”
This attempt was partial, and did not
result in a Union like the German
“Bund ;” but it is interesting to note
the views of our predecessors :
“A long course of experience and observa
tion,” wrote the Philadelphia Association to
the Warren, “has taught us to have the high
est sense of the advantages which accrue from
association; nor, indeed, does the nature of
the thing speak any other language. For as
particular members are collected together and
united in one body, which we call a particular
chu'di, to answer those ends and purposes,
which could not be accomplished by anv sin
gle member, so a collection and union into one
associational body may easily be conceived ca
pable of answering those still greater purposes
which any particular church would not be
equal to. And by the same reason, a union of
Associations will still increase the body in
weight and strength, and make it good that a
threefold cord of strength is not easily bro
ken.”
In 1828 the Warren Association
agreed to the opinion.
That the time has arrived when we should
have some regularly constituted bond, or cen
tre of union toward which, as a denomination,
we might look.
And it was advised that
The Baptist General Convention for Mis
sionary purposes take into consideration the
propriety of forming an American Baptist
Convention, to assemble triennially in a cen
tral part of the United States.
So the Germans have done, what our
fathers tried to do.
The above is clipped from a corres
pondent of the “Examiner and Chroni
cle” of a recent date. The effort of
our “fathers” to form a “more perfect
union,” alludes, doubtless, to the old
“Triennial Convention,” which was af
terwards disintegrated by the slavery
excitement, and gave us our present
Southern Baptist Convention.” In
the formation of the latter our fathers
attempted what the German Baptists
have successfully accomplished—to
have a united denomination lor com
mon purploses. They did not succeed.
Instead of an organized denomination,
they gave us a Missionary Society—
good, it is true, but falling far, very
far, below the realization of the pur
pose at which they arrived, and which
the German “Bund” has attained.
Their aim, as declared in the Preamble
to the Constitution, was to organize “a
plan for electing, combining and direct
ing the energies of the whole denomi
nation in one sacred effort for the
propagation of the Gospel;” but, alas !
the principle of association of church
es, was betrayed in the fundamental
law—the result was, as before stated
not a combination of the “whole de
nomination,” but a Missionary Society.
The practical German mind did differ
ently, and with grander results. We
attempted, they attained, denominational
union. Have we the wisdom to correct
the mistakes of our fathers ? Is not
any “plan” that does not give the com
bination of the whole denomination in
our bounds a mistake, and, pro tanto, a
failure ? And, much as we have done,
if other denominations, with more per
fect forms of union, have surpassed us,
shall we content ourselves until we
realize the aspiration of our fathers for
a combined whole denomination ? Let
this subject be discussed in a spirit of
candor, and with an earnest desire to
reach wiser methods, if we can.
But,are we behind others? It has
been questioned. Fortunately this is
a question, not of opinions, but of
facts and figures. Let us take Foreign
Missions and compare. We will as
sume that we have in the bounds of
the Southern Baptist Convention 700,-
000 white Baptists. It is not believed
that we have less, but rather more.
With this assumed number, the fol
lowing table will compare us with some
of our leading denominations :
Baptists, 700,000; Foreign Missions, $45,000,
or six and one-half cents per capita.
Methodist Episcopals South, 700.000 ; For
eign Missions, $102,000, or fourteen and one
half cents per capita.
Protestant Episcopals, 65,000; Foreign Mis
sions, $55,000, or eighty-four and one-half
cents per capita.
Presbyterian, 100,000; $33,000, or thirty
three cents per capita.
These figures are made up in round
numbers, and are sufficiently accurate
for comparison. It will be seen that
we are behind all others, and far be
hind. All others represent their local
Societies in their higher Councils—have
combined denominations —we do not so
represent, and have no such “Bund.”
Would we differ from others in results,
if we only had the courage and practi
cal wisdom to work out a close and a
representative union ? W. A. M.
Some of the students of Virginia
University walk five miles and over to
teach Sunday-schools in the mountains
around Charlottsville.