Newspaper Page Text
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(jQnr Cmspn!tintts.
For the Index end Baptist.]
The Close Views or Baptists as to tbe Lord’s
Sapper.
Nothing is more common than
to hear Baptists spoken of as “ close
communionists,” referring to their ex
clusiveness in the observance of the
Lord’s Supper. It is not unfrequently
the case that a popular saying is made
up in whole or in part, out of a logical
fallacy, and obtains currency because it
is an ingenious sophistry. This state
ment will apply with full force to the
charge that Baptists are “ close com
muniouists.” That they are close as to
baptism is not denied, because they
do* hold that immersion is the only
form and believers the only subjects of
the ordinancee as recognized by the
Gospel.
They believe that baptism should
precede the Supper, and hence they in
vite such only as in their judgment,
have been scripturally baptized, and
therefore qualified to come to the Lord’s
table. They claim that their yiews of
the Supper are both logical and scrip
tural, and doubtloss most of the oppo
sition to their practice arises from a
misapprehension of the design of the
Supper. Most young Christians, and
some older oneß, think of the Supper as
designed to portray love and fellowship
one for another, and as they love and
fellowship many who have not sub
mitted to believers’ baptism, they are
disposed to extend the privilege to
them as an expression of those feelings.
Love and fellowship for all the children
of God is certainly our duty, but we
are never called upon to express such
sentiments by transgressing God’s or
der ; for that would make our regard
for men greater than for the Creator.
But the idea that the observance of
the Supper has any such design, is
wholly gratuitous, having no founda
tion in the Scriptures of truth. Jesus,
who instituted tbe ordinance, said:
“ This is my body, this is my blood;
this do in remembrance of me.”
Paul, after repeating the language of
Jesus, says : “As often as ye eat this
bread and drink this cup, ye do show
the Lord’s death till He come.” Not a
word about love and fellowship in con
nection with the Supper, but it is a
monument by which baptized believers
express their loving remembrance of
the sufferings and death of Jesus for
them. Our duty in observing the Sup
per, seems to require forgetfulness of
all others; for the time being and
to fix and concentrate our uSofiYiry upon
Jesus the CrßcifietL alopo.i I n jjhis or
dimmoe tj le ldea^pßfles# 8 ”lly,”l to
whom all others must giyf 0 P .he. If,
indeed, immersion onlv is4.hapw, m> and
Baptists are prepared to maintain it
againt all comers, and if this rite
should precede the observance of the
Supper, then our people would be un
faithful to their covenant vowp, should
they depart from their present practice.
The truth is, that errorists find it easier
to appeal to feeling and sentiment,
than to logic and Scripture in this con
troversy.
Rendered, as they must always be,
hors de combat when they assail our
baptismal bulwark* they raise a false
issue, and by arraying prejudices
against our practice, they hope to
gain a verdict against us, which they
know to be impossible, if they appeal
to reason and Scripture. The only
issue between Baptists and others on
the observance of the Supper is really
upon two questions, “ What is bap
tism, and who are entitled to receive it ?
To these questions We give one answer
and our opponents another, and we
ougfct to be allowed, “ to fight it oqt on
this line.” Our formula is brief, and
as explicit m brief i immersion ad
ministered to believers, then the Lord’s
Supper for all such as walk according
to this rule. It is not the eucharist,
it is not a sacrament, hut the lovers of
Jesus obediently gathering around His
table to commemorate His sufferings
and death in their behalf. This is the
whole of it, and whatsoever is more,
cometh not of Him that established
the ordinance, but from Rome, the
head center of religious error, and the
patron of religious abuses.
Thero are but two truths taught in
the supper: the death of Christ and
His second coming. “Ye do shew the
Lord’s death till He oome.” Scripture
being infallible, can always be trusted,
but feeling and sentiment “ changing
as the pulse of error,” are no more to
be relied upon than the mirage that
that appears on the sandy desert for a
moment, and then passes like magic
away. Religion may be impulsive, but
it is not an impulse; it may produce
feeling, but it is not all feeling; it may
be sentimental, but it is more than a
mere sentiment — it it truth, obedience and
reward.
Feeling, as a certain distinguished
preacher has phrased it, is liable “to
slop over, and when not confined in
proper channels by the Word of Truth
may lead to most disastrous results.
Men sin because their feelings lean
that way. A man may have very strong
feeling for his neighbor’s goods and
possessiohs, but he must not take
them, because God’s Word says: ‘Thou
shalt not steal.’ ”
So one may have strong inclinations
to carry the Lord's Supper to the un
baptized, but the Word says “He that
believeth and is baptized,” and here we
must stop. H. C. H.
For the Chrixttun Index.]
Brother Fatkler—Hippy Hewories—The Past
and the Fatare—Baptist Affairs Is Bingjrold—
Be vital Sorely Needed.
Ringgold, Georgia, June 29,1876.
Editors Index —Since the letter of
our dear brother Fackler in your pa
per, my heart is made to rejoice with
him and the good people of Lumpkin,
at the good things the Lord has done
for them. Long may the precious rea
son of refreshing continue. I will ever
remember brother Fackler as an instru
ment in the hands of God of my con
version. Manifold are the reasons for
wishing him a hearty God-speed in his.:
work, also the young brother Mundy
he speaks of, as doing so much good.
He was with myself and many others,
on the 2d. May, 1875, led down into the
yielding wave, and by our brother F.
buried with Christ in baptism. Even
now can I look back through the dark
and checkered aisles of the past to
that bright aud joyous afternoon when
a band of happy white-robed girls were
standing quietly on the bank as they
saw one after another follow their Mas
ter’s example down into and up out of the
water. Then how gloriously broke
forth their happy voices as they tri
umphantly sang, “Yes we will gather
at the river”—yes, there were no
doubts, no gloomy forebodings of the
then bright and glowing future, no sad
thought of the dark cloud that must
appear behind the silver lining that
seemed so bright to their happy eyes.
“How infinitely wise and merciful is
the Father that He has ordained that
we see not into the future.” Could
we then have seen evea so far —even
over the space of a short twelve
months, how many of us would have
shrunk back appalled, refusing to ac
cept the cross, feeling it were more than
we could bear.
It seems that religion in our town is
only a name, a thing of the past. We
have no minister at our church, no ef
forts being made to secure the services
of one. Since living in the place, now
about five years, I have never known
but one revival of religion, and that
was at?the M. E. church. Oh, that we
Could get a minister to take pity on
our cold, frightfully cold church, and
try to awaken us to a sense of our duty.
I never knew a town in just such a fix.
All, even the old gray-haired members,
seem perfectly indifferent to the wel
fare of the souls of the many sinners
around us, and oh, there are many.
Our young men aro wicked, our young
ladies are careless and all unconcerned.
All, both sexes, pluDge deep into fash
ionable amusements and follies, seem
to take delight only i(i their almost
weekly parties, dances,, etc. Would
thjtt sacli a good true Christian minis
ter as. bfpther Fackler or Mundy,
would pay our church a visit and
preach for us a while, I am sure they
would do much good. Our brethren of
other denominations are at work, are
having prayer meetings every other
night, preparatory to a protracted
meeting to begin the 3d Sabbath in
July. I trust they will have a glorious
revival.
Our Sabbath-school at the Baptist
church seems to be on a stand-still.
They come, scholars and teachers, re
cite their lessons, sing, then return
home. All is the same every Sabbath,
but here lies the trouble, none seem to
take an interest in the exercises. It
is true, they do take delight in singing.
We have a good organ and generally
very good music. We have a gentle
man organist who is surpassed by none.
Our leader in the music is splendid,
and altogether the singing is acknowl
edged to be good, yet we need some
thing more yet. We have only a few
lady teachers and scarcely any gentle
men. We want more teachers, some
.to take an interest and work for the
Sabbath-school.
Being only a young member myself,
I hope you will pardon my enthusiasm
and earnestness on the subject, fraught
with so much interest to our little
town.
Hoping if you know of any way to
revive; religion in a church, or of any
minister who will pay us a visit some
time this summer or fall, that you will
make a suggestion in your paper, for
seeing that none of the older members
would act in the matter, I have with
out knowledge of any one, taken this
mode of asking advice.
A Young Baptist Sisteb. “Ola.”
Ringgold, Catoosa 00., Ga.
For the Index and Baptist.
CENTENNIAL MASS MEETING.
At the last meeting of the Cave
Spring Association, it was resolved to
hold a Centennial Mass Meeting at
Annuchee church, twelve miles west of
Rome, Georgia, commencing Friday
before the first Sunday in August, and
to invite, specially, the Baptists ot the
Middle Cherokee, Oostanaula, Coosa
and Cedar Bluff, Alabama, Associa
tions to co-operate with us in the
meeting. This meeting is called in the
interest of no institution, but for the
purpose of discussing before our people
tbe history and work of Baptists in
America.
Subjects bave been assigned Rev. J.
W. Pullen, Rev. L. R. Gwaltney, Rev.
C. K- Henderson, Rev. J. G. Ryals, Rev.
R. B. Headden, Rev. F. M. Daniel, Rev.
W. M. Bridges, Rev. D. B. Hamilton,
Rev. W T. Russell, Rev. J. H. Gla
ziuer, Rev. J. J. Cloud and Hou. J. Y.
Wood. These brethren and others,
are expected to address us.
Every Baptist in America may justly
be proud of the history of his deuom
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
mation, and would be, if he but knew
it. Many of our brethren read so little
that they know nothing of what Bap
tist have been and are doing. As
Americans, we love to talk to our chil
dren of the struggles of our fathers
for national independence, and annually
celebrate the day of the declaration of
independence. This is not improper ;
but, brethren, as Baptists we should
much more delight to talk together of
our Baptist fathers’ struggles for re
ligious liberty. Our record is one that
wins the admiration of the world, and
its remembrance should be an occasion
of devout gratitude to God.
"With perfect liberty of conscience,
life cause of truth has won's, victory
on every field of battle, and to-day its
banner floats proudly from a Baptist
pulpit in almost every town and vil
lage in the land. That perfect liberty
of conscience is the trophy of Baptist
faithfulness, none can deny. Our mass
meeting is designed to be an occasion
of thanksgiving, when after discussing
and fully understanding our mission in
the world, we may, with united voices
and hearts, pray for strength and cour
age to fulfill all that the past has
augured for us.
Our church house is large, and the
community able and willing to enter
tain all who will come. Let us have a
grand Baptist gathering, and an occa
sion long to be remembered with
pleasure. Again we say, cordially to
all, come brethren to the mass meet
ing.
J. M. Robertson, Pastor.
For the Index and Baptist.]
WHAT DIVERSE THINGS APPEAR IN A
NEWSPAPER.
The trial, condemnation and punish
ment of an erring brother; and along
side of that the true, sublime, and,
therefore, eloquent tribute to one who
lies in his grave, honored and wept.
Both of the men I love dearly j one in
his grave, the other in life, and cen
sured—Treasurer Burney and Dr. Bur
rows.
The Index has been true to princi
ple and duty. It bas condemned Dr.
Burrows and bis conduct, but it has not
hunted him down. It has said enough,
and will stop right there, unless de
fense is offered, where silence is wiser.
The man bas obligated himself to do
so no more. In personal injury that
is all sufficient. Will not Christ ac
cept, as satisfactory, such acknowledg
ments and obligations from us ? “ For
giving one another even as God for
Christ’s sake bath forgiven you.”
Thos. E. Sninner.
—c&f >
For toe Index and Baptist.) *
* HKPHSBItAB. ‘~
The Ministers and Deacons’ meeting
of the Hephzibah Association will meet
at Hopeful church, twelve miles north
of Waynesboro, Burke county, on Fri
day before the fifth Sabbath in July.
The interest manifested in, and the
good that bas been accomplished by,
these meetings heretofore, is a guaran
tee of future interest and a large at
tendance. In more than one instance,
have fine revivals followed on the heel
of these meetings, when it was sup
posed that the faithful and honest ad
vocacy of Baptist doclßines had done
barm. In these meetings, better than
elsewhere, are our views aad principles
more thoroughly ventilated, and the
war sometimes more successfully car.
tied into the ranks of error. We an
ticipate a season of more than usual
interest at the coming session ; hope
the brethren will come up in strong
fpree and faith.
Do not forget that every Sabbath
school is expected to send a written
statement of its status. The Superin
tendents are requested to report as to
the following items:
1. Superintendent.
3. flow many male teachers.
3. How many female teachers.
4. How many pupils.
5. How many copies of Kind Words
or Lesson Papers, and whether of the
weekly or monthly issue.
6. How many conversions among
the pupils of the Sabbath-schools.
Short, pointed statistics is what we
want, and not elaborate essays on Sab
bath-schools. This report is to include
all Sabbath-schools under the manage
ment of Baptists.
It may not be improper to add that
the Commencement exercises at the
Hephzibah High School, will occupy
but one day, (25th of July,) instead of
four, as heretofore. A private exami
nation before the School Commission
ers will take place in advance, aud
their report will be made public on
Commencement day. Readings by the
girls and declamation by the boys, a
literary address in the evening and a
concert and charades at night, will add
to the edification and eNtertainment of
the audience.
The girls have agreed to wear calico
Commencement day. Hephzibah.
July 1, 1876.
For the Index and Baptist.]
Ol'R SIM) AY-SCHOOL PAPER.
Editors Index —With thanks for
your late kind notice of our Sundav
sehool paper, Kind Words, I ask you to
let me say a few words to your readers
about the paper. It is now firmly es
tablished, and its continued existence
guaranteed by the late action of the
Southern Baptist Convention at Rich
mond. That Convention confirmed the
arrangement, perfected by the Home
Board, by which the paper is to be
printed and published here in Central
Georgia for the next five years, in a sat
isfactory manner. May I not hope that
the Baptists and Sunday-schools of
Georgia will rally to its support univer
sally ? There are some Sunday-schools
in the State which do not take the pa
per, and I should be very glad indeed to
place all their names on my subscrip
tion list. To give to those unacquainted
with the paper the opinion of one who
knows it well, 1 take the liberty of
quoting and extract from a recently re
ceived letter:
Bethany Caurch,
Iredell County, N. C.
June 16, 1876.
(The letter contained a remittance,
and first part of the letter is an order
for the weekly Kind Words. The con
clusion is as follows:)
I expect ever to be a voluntary agent
for Kind Words, ever ready to recom
mend and work for its circulation. I
believe that you are doing more for the
rising generation than any other man
not engaged in a similar work. Kind
Words is the best Sunday-school paper
that I have seen, and I long and pray
that it may become a “ household
word,” especially to every Baptist in
the land. Fraternally,
John C. Turner.
I wish my brethren and sisters to
help me extend the circulation of the
paper, and to aid me in making it bene
ficial, by writing for its columns. Sun
day-school news from all quarters will
be gladly received. Let me hear from
you, brethren. Respectfully,
8. Botkin,
Editor of Kind Words.
Macon Q&., June 21, 1876.
Pfasiira stpitownt.
Rdv. T. E. Skinner, Macon, Editor and Chairman
Committee on Missions.
Rkv. C. M. Irwin, Atlanta, Agent for the collection
of funds for Mission and Sunday-school work.
Rev. T. C. Boykin Atlanta, Sunday-school Evangelist.
For the Index and Baptist.
The Committee on Missions—lts Design and
Duties.
I regret that the late action of the
Convention at Thomasville in appoint
ing a Committee on Missions should
be misapprehended in any quarter. The
report of the special committee is short,
simple and easily understood. It was
fully and fairly discussed when pre
sented, and an amendment offered,
putting squarely in issue the question
of a State Board. This amendment,
though ably advocated, was rejected
by a decided majority, and the report
adopted as it came from the committee.
Whether the action taken was wise or
not, time alone will disclose. I sabinil
that, for the present, at least, the ar
gument is closed. There must be a
point somewhere, at which discussion
ceases and work begins; else our un
ion in Convention is a farce, and the
objects proposed are a failure. We
are all brethren, seeking the same ob
ject, the glory of the Lord and the
coming of His kingdom, and it would
seem that duty requires us, on ques
tions of expediency, to merge our dif
ferences in the final action of the Con
vention, and to remand all further de
cision to the high court o- experience.
No plan, however wise and efficient
can execute itself. Without hearty co
operation, and an honest, faithful trial,
it will fail of its object. I shall not antic
ipate the lack of such co-operation. I will
not believe that any brother loves some
pet scheme more than the great cause,
or that he will seek to defeat the pres
ent plan by withholding his support, or
by arraying a popular prejudice against
. it. Let it be remembered, it is easy to
object, but veiy hard to present that
which shall be free from objection. We
are all fallible, and if the servants of
the Lord decline to act upon matters
submitted to human judgment, till
human judgment never errs, they will
hardly receive the plaudit, “well done
good and faithful servant.”
It will be readily conceded that all
our missionary plans should have refer
ence to the great end to be accomplish
ed, and should be so adjusted to each
other as not to impede, but to advance
that end. We sometimes forgethis,
and suffer ourselves to be diverted from
the main purpose by our zeal for objects
of local or temporary interest. In the
ardor of our enthusiasm for the object,
we are too apt to forget that there is
an essential unity in the work which
the Lord bas given us to do. The
great law is to “preach the Gospel to
every creature.” The one duty which
springs from this law cannot be hem
med ia by State lines, or circumscribed
by national boundaries. In its broad
sweep it comprehends the lost sinner
wherever he may be found. It is in
part the purpose of the recent plan, to
guard against error from this source
by preserving the unity of the work.
Hence the duties with which the com
mittee is charged, have reference to the
whole work of Missions—Home and
Foreign, including Sabbath-schools.
The plan originated in what is known
to be a pressing want. Let it be care
fully observed that, that want is not a
field to labor in Our difficulty is not
in finding plans of destitution, for
everywhere “the field is white to the
harvest.” Nor do we need men to re
spond promptly to our calls. Neither
do we lack competent faithful agents
to overlook the field and send mission
aries to places of destitution. We
already have such agents in the Boards
of the Southern Convention, and noth
ing would be gained by the appoint
ment of supernumeraries. What we
want is money. It is the grand under
lying necessity of the work. Nothing
can be done without it, and it is ob
vious the more we have the greater,
under God, will be our success. With
a full treasury all our troubles will
vanish into thin air. The present
arrangement is specially designed to
supply the treasury of the Lord. Its
object is not to do the work, hence the
committee has no power to appoint
missionaries; but to raise money, and
to provide the means without which
the work cannot be done. It is, there
fore, essentially financial in its scope
and design.
It will thus be seeD that the problem
which was pressing a solution was, how
can the churches be reached and arous
ed to greater interest and to more lib
eral and systematic contributions ?
The present plan is an attempted solu
tion of that problem. It assumes that
the churches are, for obvious reasons,
more accessible to their own Conven
tion than to any organization beyond
the State; that through the Convention
the co-operation of the pastors in the
State can be secured, without which
very little can ever be accomplished,
and last, but not least, that the seeming
diversity of our missionary work,
resulting at times in antagonisms and
jealousies to the great embarraspment
of particular departments, may be
obviated, and the whole work unified.
It was also deemed an object of special
importance to simplify the work and
render it more intelligent to the great
body of our people. Hence, a com
mittee having a single agent takes the
El ace of all the missionary and Sab
ath-school agents in the State. It
should be added that by the present
plan a great saving of expense is effect
ed, an object of no secondary impor
tance when we consider how, even
necessary expense, tends to prejudice
the cause of Missions in the popular
mind.
It will thus be seen that the Con
vention, by the recent arrangement,
created no State Board for Missions,
and that we have no State Missions as
a separate department of labor; not
because the committee would be in
competent to manage successfully such
a work, but because it would be incon
sistent with the object of the appoint
ment. It should not be hence inferred
that the Convention was insensible to
the destitution in our own State, or their
obligation to relieve it, but that, simply
by taking a broad view of their duty,
they selected other means of relief than
a State Board. It is confidently be
lieved that the means selected will be
equally if not jnore efficient than a
State Board. ,•
I will add in conclusion that the
committee has no power to control the
will of any donor, as to the object to
which he shall contribute. The right
to give as he pleases is
right, which neither committees, Con
ventions, nor churches can abridge or
control. Every dollargiven to Missions
may be applied in the State, if the
douors'so elect. Money given gener
ally without specification of the partic
ular object by the donor, will doubtless
be applied by the committee where it
is most needed. J. G. Ryals.
For the Index and Baptist.]
WORDS OF CHEER.
Thanks to the brethren for the letters
received, kindly assuring me of hearty
co operation in the work of Missions,
and specially tbe effort to establish
some plan for the raising of contribu
tions by the churches. Brother J. H.
F., ot Danburg, says: “I shall help
you. I shall co-operate with you. My
churches take collections every quar
ter.”
The good Lord will largely increase
the piety and efficiency of the churches
of this brother. They will assuredly
be blessed of the Lord.
Brother T. J. J., of Villa Rica says:
“I will do all I can, and try to have
your plans adopted, etc.”
Brother J. is not the man to fail
when he says : I will try. We Bball hear
of good results from his churches.
Since the meeting of the Georgia
Baptist Convention, I have had the
pleasure of meeting a number of our
ministers, and visiting some of tbe
churches, and all have assured me of
hearty co-operation with the State
Mission Committee in their work. The
plan suggested to the churches for their
adoption to raise contributions for
Missions, they said was a necessity, and
would urge their adoption.
Come, brethren, let us hear from
you all We would be glad to visit, in
person, every church and pastor in the
State. But that is impossible. Write
me, and let me hear what is being done
in your churches.
C. M. Irwin,
Atlanta. Agent for Nissiona.
For the Index and Baptist]
MISSION COMMITTEES IN THE CHECHES.
In successful labor of all kinds there
must be system employed. That sys
tem recommended by the Convention
of Georgia Baptists is, that each church
in the State appoint a committee of,
perhaps, five, seven, or nine, as each 1
church may choose, called “the Com
mittee on Missions,” whose duty shall
be to visit tbe membership of the
church, aud solicit a subscription for
the vea., to be paid in weeekly, month
ly, or quarterly installments. Let the
membership be divided, on tbe church
roll, into as many parts as there are
members on tbe committee, each com
mitteeman visiting the names in his cr
her section. The first duty is to solicit
a subscription. The second, third, and
fourth, all-the-time-duty, is to call
upon those whose names are on your
list, for the installment, as may be
aureed upon.
Let it be understood that any sum
subscribed to Foreign Missions shall
be applied, in all cases, as the sub
scriber designates. And so of State
Missions; or, if you please, money
desired by the be applied to
the work of Missions in Georgia, if so
expressed by the donor, shall be thus
faithfully expended.
If it is for Indian Missions, or for
any other department of Home Mis
sions, as for instance Sunday-school
work, the “Committee on Missions”
will see that tbe wish of the donor shall
be complied with strictly.
In all cases, where sums of money
are sent to the Treasurer of the Com
mittee en Missions, located at Macon,
and no instructions are given as to what
particular department the money is to
be devoted, then the committee will use
its discretion.
Rest assured, brethren, that the plan
involves work on the part of the
churches. “Go work, to-day, in my
vineyard.” The salvation of souls, the
conversioa of the world, always will be
in proportion to the zealous labor of
the people of God, and the sincerity
and faith of their prayers will corres
pond to the same. This is so, because
it has pleased the Lord to make it so.
“Ye are the light of the world; ye are
the salt of the earth.”
Do, brethren, appoint your Mission
Committees and inform brother Irwin
of the fact. T. E. Skinner.
For the Index and Baptist.
how nm r
I am anxious to know how many of
the churches have adopted the plan or
any other plan for raising coutributions
for the Missions suggested in the cir
cular sent them. A number of churcfcei
adopted plans before the meeting of
the at which the State
Mission Committee was appointed. I
should be glad to hear how they are
succeeding. Write me.
C. M. Irwin,
Atlanta, Oa. Agent for Missions,
Fcr the Index and Baptist.]
ASSOCIATIONS.
These religious bodies will begin
their sessions the Ist of August and
continue through to the Ist of Novem
ber. The churches of each of the As
sociations are requested to make most
vigorous efforts to largely increase their
contributions to be sent by their'
delegates, for Foreigu Missions and*-
Home Missions. This can be done, if
each brother and sister will give of
their means as the Lord may enable
them.
I beg to remind the churches, funds
will be needed to sustain our mission
aries in Georgia and our worthy
Sunday-school evangelist, brother T.
C. Boykin. C M. Irwin,
Agent for Missions.
For the Index and Baptist.]
DESTITI'TION’ IS GEORGIA.
The following, from an earnest and
faithful brother in Berrien county, de
serves the serious and prayerful consid
eration of Georgia Baptists;
“I received through Bro. Fish hooks,
papers and testameptg to the amount of
$7 13, four-thirteenths of which was a
donation from jou ($3 of this furnished
by the Hickory Head Sunday-school,)
for which I send thanks .of the children
and teachers of our Sunday-school.
“ Think of this, my dear brother, that
there is a section of country here about
thirty miles wide and- sixty long, in
which there is not a Missionary Baptist
preacher. What few Missionary Bap
tists there are in this section are of the
kind who never do thb cause any good,
because they try to be missionary in
profession, while their practice is in the
opposite direction. . My observation is,
that the mass of the people are sick
and tired of, this so-called Primitive
faith. They are reaching out, groping
about to find tbe truth, and with none
to lead them. If we could have an in
telligent and pious teacher or evangel
ist to go to and fro, time and again and
hold meetings over this section, there
are a great many now with the Primi
tives who would go with us.
“ The young and the griddle aged
would come by scores. They need only
tbe Light —the glorious Light of Gos
pel truth—the religion of Jesus, in its
simplicity and purity, to open their
blind eyes and lighten the way that
leads out from these man made ways to
the glorious highway that Jesus has
raised up. The Macedonian cry go.
up, ‘ is there none to answer the call ? ’
“ If I could have done so, I would
have gone to Thomasville and tried to
have this section and its urgent wants
brought to the knowledge of the Bap
tist people, and to the leaders there as
sembled, to see if something could not
bave been done for us.”
Only those who have been in those
places where the sentiments, te which
our brother refers, prevail, have any
idea bow every effort in the direction of
Christian activity is paralyzed. Tbe old
are as immovable as a rock—our hope
is among the young.
T. C. Botkin,
Sunday-School Evangelist.
—There is a movement on foot among the
Reform part of the Jews of New York to hold
religious -ervioes on Sunday mornings for the
benefit of those wb < not attend rvice-° on
Saturday.