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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.