Newspaper Page Text
2
(far Correspondents.
For the Index and Baptiat.]
“restricted COJDIIISIOV”
So much has been said of late re
specting the “error" of Eev. Dr. Bur
rows iu communing with Caiupbellites
that I am tempted to offer my views
on “Restricted Communion.” The
plea frequently made for “Restricted
Communion,” viz: “They are not
baptized, and, therefore, we cannot
invite them to our communion,” does
not seem to me either true or tenable.
This plea would relieve Dr. Burrows
of- all error in his action. Surely all
the world knows that Camphellites are
pre-eminently “immersiomsts.” No
man ever contended more strenuously
for “immersion” than A. Campbell.
Many Baptist denominations, such as
Freewill Baptists, Primitive Baptists,
etc., aro as much excluded from our
invitation as Methodists or Presby
terians. Does not, therefore, this plea
involve us in a manifest absurdity ?
Lot us look at. facts as they are, and wo
shall find ample reason for our prac
tice.
The Baptists have no general gov
ernment. Each church exists inde
pendently of all others. But by
restricting invitations to the Lord’s
table to “church members of the same
faith and order," we form a common
bond of fellow ship. Disfellowship
from one is disfellowship from all—is
virtually an exclusion from the denom
ination. Fellowship, thou becomes a
chain uniting us in one, body. Break
this chain and we become isolated con
gregations. The integrity of the
den animation is destroyed. If it be
right to have denominations, each must
throw around itself all the safeguards
necessary to its surroundings. But
others complain of us as excluding them
from the table of the Lord. This is
not so! They have the same right as
ourselves to set the table of the Lord.
We do not interfere with their organi
zations, and only ask them not to
complaint of our internal order. We
recognize and love them as Christian
denominations, and only ask a recipro
cal recognition.
We do not demand of the Methodists
or Episcopalians a renunciation of
Episcopacy, or of the Presbyterian,
that he should abandon his Presbyter
ies or Synods, nor do we wish them to
ask us to abandon anything in our
internal polity that we deem essential
to our integrity. Senex.
Atlanta, (in., August 4, 1870.
Fcr the ludex and Baptist.
MIXED COMMUNION.
Can the church consistently retain a
member who openly avows his belief in
the practice or mixed eß%iin union ? 1
say no, brethren, with all the emphasis
of my soul. The question before us is
one of consistency, and not one of expe
diency. It is not a question as to
whether the church can retain a mem
ber of this character, for this she does
every day, but, is it consistent for her to
do so? Most assuredly not. Fora man,
claiming to boa Baptist, professing to
believe in immersion as the only action
of baptism, to declare views of mixed
communion, is one of the incompre
hensible mysteries of the nineteenth
century. Tell me, tell me, my brother,
how can a man who believes that im
mersion is the only action that consti
tutes valid baptism, tolerate such
views ?
Close communion is a misnomer. It
is not close communion, but cloie
baptism. I lay down this proposition :
Wherever you find a member of the
Baptist church clamoring for mixed
communion, that man fails to under
stand the relation between the church
and her sacred institutions. It would
not do to call him an ignoraut man,
but upon this subject, most certainly,
he is ignorant.
The great trouble growing out of this
question is found in the fact that such
members fail to understand the differ
ence between Christian counrurion and
church communion. They confound
the two. They cannot see how it is
that the Baptists admit others to be
Christians, and yet refuse to commune
with them ; and hence for this reason,
the Baptists have been branded with
the epithets of “bigots,” “sefish,” “nar
row-minded,” etc. These charges are
fa’se. Such charges only reflect ig
norance upon those who make them.
Above all people in this world, the
Baptists would be most inconsistent if
they did not rejectfrom their commun
ion those whom they believe to be un
baptized.
The Lord’s Sapper is a church
ordinance, and, therefore, none but
church members may partake of it.
This is a rule of universal application—
universal practice. There is not ade
nomination of Christians in our land
that fails to practice this rule. Will
our Methodist friends commune with
one whom they consider unbaptized ?
No, sir, they are farther from it than
the Baptists, for we do, occasionally,
see a man professing tube a Baptist
communing with those whom he be
lieves to be unbaptised —a thing that
our Pedobaptist friends never do, and
in this are more consistent than the
Baptists. No one, I believe, denies
that the sacrament of the Lord’s Sup
per is a church ordinance; and, if a
church ordinance, it follows, inevitably,
that none have a right to partake of it
except those who are church members.
Now, the question arises, what is
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
necessary to constitute one a member
o'the church? What are the terms of
membership into the church ? There
is but one answer—baptism. On this
subject the Baptists and Pedobaptists
are perfectly agreed. But the difference
ar’sis as to what baptism is. Pedo
baptists believe in three actions of
baptism. Therefore, they can recognize
a man as a member of the church who
has been sprinkled, poured upon, or
immersed; and, hence, sinoirthey ac
knowledge him to be a member of the
church, they can consistently commune
with him. But Baptists believe there
is but one baptism, that of immersion.
Hence, since baptism is necessary to
membership in the church, and no one
has a right to partake of this sacra
ment until he is a member of the church,
and since Baptists believe that immer
sion only is baptism, they cannot con
sistently commune with any who have
not been immersed, for they do not
regard them as baptized persons and,
therefore, not members of the church.
I am sick and tired of hearing people
talk about “close communion." It ex
cites my disgust at once, for I put it
down as an unfailing rule, whenever
you hear a man who pretends to he a
Baptist quibbling and wrangling about
“close communion,” you may know it
is the result of inexcusable igmrance.
Geo. W. Cueves.
Cutlibert, Ga., August 3J, 1870.
+
For the Index and Baptist.]
WORDS TO WOMEN.
Among all the redeemed of God,
there is none whose song of joy and
thanksgiving should thrill through ev
ery chamber of the soul with sweeter
strains, or whose work for the Master
should manifest more intense love for
Him, than woman’s. Christ’s blood
has not only opened the healing foun
tain for her, prepared the spotless robe
of His righteousness, made ready the
feast of joy, thrown wide open the
gates of Heaven, but under the Gospel,
from being man’s slave she has become
his helpmeet. She is raised from being
his toy and play thing, to being his
companion and solace. There are but
two classes of women beyond the pale
of our Christianity—the one performs
the menial services for man, the other
contributes simply to his pleasure.
The Gospel has come to women
making them free and happy. Let
them with grateful hearts look around
and see what work there is for them to
do, whereby they may testify their
gratitude and love.
To the voice of woman God has given
the sweet and gentle tone, to her hands
the soft and attractive touch. Shall
they employ the sweet and gentle tones
merely for the song and merry laugh
ter or an idle hour ? Or shall they
carry it to the abode of sorrow, that it
may breathe a sigh of ><j jnpftihy, or to
that of penury, that it may speak soft
words of courage and good cheer ?
Shall their soft touch be kept only for
the keyed instrument, or the fiuo deli
cate embroidery; or shall they lay it
softly on tlie sufferer’s head, cool the
hot and aching brow, or press with
reverence the toil-worn hand in token
of their love? It is the rough hand
of the toiler, however little they may
regard it, or think of it, that keeps
woman’s hands smooth. All the world
over it is true that hand waits on hand,
aud hence no one liveth for himself
since each one’s toil is for another.
Women are endowed with various
and many attractions. May they not
devote them all to the service of God ?
Have you beauty ? It is one of His
best gifts aud will, therefore, attract
many. You can win your way to many
a heart that would bo closed to an eye
less bright, to a smile less gay and
iovely. Precious woman, use your
beauty for its Giver. Speak reverent
words with humility to ears unstopped
by the sweet tone of your voice. L ok
love and tenderness and sympathy
among the wretched, where all the
joyous, sweet intluonces of life are
wanting. It will teach them that there
is something high and noble and lovely
in human life, and who knows but that
it may draw their miuds up to the
Creator of all good.
Has the Lord bestowed upon you
shining talents, and intellectual power ?
If so, you have in your hands a great
and wonderful trust. Oh, how numer
ous the ways in whieh to use them for
His cause. Look about, you and see
how many there are struggling aud in
sad need of a helping hand; many a
sister struggling with poverty and
want and weakness. Is there no broader,
smoother path iu which you can lead
her? Does she thirst for knowledge ?
Teach her. Is she alone and without
friends ? Shake her warmly by the
hand, and tell her you will be her
friend. Have her feet gone astray ; has
she wandered in forbidden paths ?
Stoop down aud write while you repeat
God’s words to her: “ Though your
sins be as scarlet they shall be white as
snow ; though they bo red like crimson
they shall be as wool.” “Hath no man
condemned thee ? Neither do I con
demn thee, go and sin no more.”
In your circle of acquaintances are
there no young men who need words of
warning or encouragement ? Go and
speak to them. If you lose the oppor
tunity, they may bo lost to the church
and to the world. Only do good as
you have opportunity, and you will
grow up a power and influence in the
church and in the world, to be felt for
generations yet unborn.
But some of you have neither the
good gift of beauty, nor the great gift
of talents in trust, but God has poured
wealth into your lap. With money
you may gladden the hardened and op
pressed just as the grateful and abun
dant showers gladden the thirsty
plants. You can make the little child
glad at your coming, and cause the
widow’s heart to leap for joy. Surely
there is no limit to the field of woman’s
ministry.
Now there are many women who say,
“we have none of these.” Why, God
has bestowed upon you his grace, and
opened up to you the great field, aud
most of His work is done by just such
as you. God can bestow upon you the
beauty of His own image, the wisdom of
His counsel, the riches of His.tfbarity.
Adorned with these, who can resist
your influence? Have you a lowly
home ? Then you do not need to go
out in search of the needy. Want may
be at your own door. Have you noth
ing to give? Think— nothinyl Have
you not the charity of a sweet, cheery
word for the little child ? Have you
not a helping hand for the aged woman
whose form is bent and wrinkled by the
toils and cares of life? Haye you no
pleasant story to tell the poor old man
as he totters upon the brink Wffhe
grave? Are all these nothing? Aye,
my sweet sister, they go where silver
and gold cannot go—they reach the
heart.
Is your field the workshop? Have
you spoken no word to that dejected
country girl? She has left a home
briming full of love, for ci<y privations
and labors, to provide bread for little
ones that an enfeebled father cannot
do. As the father bade her good-bye,
he mingled with bis blessings and tears
many cautions of city vices and temp
tations. Go and speak kindly to her,
and invite her to the house of God.
Why, it will make her heart swell and
her eye fill as she answers, “it is the
drst sound like home.”
You are all living on a missionary
field. Only open your eyes and look,
why it is broader than you can see;
stretch out your hands, it is wider than
you can compass; send forth your voice
and the sound dies away in the distance.
And ye*, your simplest look of love,
your gentlest touch of kind ness, j'our
softest whisper of sympathy, may reach
even to its farthest bounds. The
feeblest effort put forth for good in the
name of Christ will never stop until it
reaches the very gate of Heaven.
J. L. Lloyd.
Knoxville,Tennessee, August 5, 1870.
For t;.e Indox and Baptist.)
LETTER FROM VIRGINIA.
A Delectable Land—The Pretty Town of Cul
pepper—Baptist Chinch—Female Institute—
Other Points of Interest, etc.
Culpepper, Va., July 28,1876.
There are portions of Georgia* we
adm ired in passing several times thxiAigh
thM grind old . Southern
when I reached this lovely icgu|u of
the Old Dominion, and looked out upon
that exceedingly beautiful mountain
ridge, known as the “Blue Riage,”
when 1 gazed upon tlie fields covered
with the golden harvest, and rested
under the old trees which surrounded
these old-fashioned homesteads, drank
from the deep wells or curling streams,
and inhaled the pure, invigorating at
mosphere which conies morning aud
evening so refreshing from mountain
tops and valleys, 1 was forced to ex
claim, how wonderfully has God blessed
this people!
The Baptist church has for its pas
tor, Rev. A. C. Barrow, of Alabama,
once of Georgia, but more recently
from Lexington, Virginia. He was
absent last Sunday, hence we did not
hear him preach. The congregations
are large and said to be cultivated, more
so than those of many of our city
churches. The people have not ceased
to talk about the “June meeting,” as
the Virgiuia Baptists, inappropriately,
are wont to term tlieir “ General Asso
ciation,” which often holds its session
in the month of May. This meeting
was a grand success, indee 1 it is said
that whenever this body —the “June
Meeting”—meets i some small town of
two or three thousand inhabitants, the
enjoyment is greater, and results far
more gratifying.
The town is embowered iu trees, the
yards are ornamented with shrubbery
and flowers, the streets are regular and
wide, the hotels comfortable and well
kept, the climate superb—it is dry and
braciug, and notwithstanding the ther
mometer has gotten up to the eighties
this week, the nights are invariably
pleasant, ofteu necessitating the use of
a blanket or other bed covering.
The Culpepper Female Institute closed
its session in a very satisfactory man
ner, about two weeks ago. Those who
heard the address of Dr. Williams, of
Baltimore, and witnessed all the exer
cises of several evenings, speak iu loud
praises of the address of the reverend
gentleman, and of the flue oreer and
excellent taste displayed on this very
interesting occasion. There are fine
schools in Georgia, but if our girls will
go elsewhere, before deciding the ques
tion as to the place, it may be to their
advantage to write to Dr. Barrow, or
the principal, Dr. Vaughn, for infor
mation c incoming this school aud this
nice country.
After visiting other points of interest,
I may tell your readers what I have
seen in Washington, Baltimore and
perhaps Philadelphia, and my experience
of the ocean views aud grand ships
that go plowing through the briny
waters so Swiftly.
Men of cold passion have quick eyes.
Hawthorne.
f >r the Index and Baptiat. |
A Fine Revival— The Lord’s Work Prospering.
Center Hill, Walton Cos., 7
July 31 ,t, 1876. j
Editors Index: —Will you allow me
through your indispensable paper to re
cord one of the most precious periods
which has ever taken place in the his
tory of our church at this place; on
last Friday week, Bro J. W. Butts, our
zealous and talented young pastor,com
menced a series of meetings long, long
to be remembered in this community,
which were brought to a close yesterday
(Sunday) morning, after burying in
baptism, the way ou- Master trod thir
teen who had found Him precious to
their souls, and adding three more to
the church by letter.
There have been meetings, where
more have “felt the power of God unto
salvation,” but never one, especially in
this neighborhood, where the power of
God was more plainly manifested, and
the influence of the Holy Spirit more
gloriously experienced, than in the past
week; and now we hear breathed in
humility, from the lips, as it comes
gushing from the heart of every one of
God’s children that we meet, “ I never
spent such a week in my life.” 0, yes,
brother! the influence of the blessed
spirit of the Master was abroad m the
community, and felt in every heart.
Christians were built up in the most
holy faith, and their hope strengthened,
while sinners have been made to quake,
and ponder the things that make for
their eternal good, when the visions of
time and earth shall pass away. The
sacred truths of the Gospel have taken
root like seeds sown in “ good ground,”
and ere long will spring up, bearing
precious fruit for the Master’s King
dom, and making glad the hearts of
His children at this place.
The interest in the meeting was not
alone confined to our church, but
■spread like leaven; and right manfully
did our Methodist friends come up to
our help—not our help, but to the
“ help of the L ird against the mighty ”
—and all were made to rejoice in the
glorious triumphs of the Gospel, in the
dispensation of light, and love, and sal
vation. Not only Christians, but sin
ners took up the interest, and each
successive day and night the church
was filled *o overflowing; and the whole
congregation, in and out, exhibited a
concern not usual, because it was so
gen -ral; and as brother Butts contem
plates holding a several days’ meeting
here, to begin on Friday before the
fourth Sunday in August, I feel buoyed
up with the hope, trusting in the God
of our salvation, and iu the spirit which
woos,and woos to win, that many will
lay down the weapons of theii rebellion,
which they have been using in the cause
of sin and Satan, *• fall in with the
overtyres of mercy-,” buckle ou the,
-ai Ni'flP'vrt' srJrHif brittle on -
ward and ever in the army of King
Emanuel. God, in His infinite mere/,
grant it; and will you not pray that
fresh supplies of His love, and grace,
and the spirit, may be given unto us,
that we, as His hu-nble followers, may
go on in the discharge of our duties,
trusting in our God for the increase,
and in Him for the victory ?
Part of the time brother Butts was
assisted in his labors by brother Ar
nold, of our church, and brothers Beall
and Worsham, of the M. E. church,
who did us good service! *
B. F. Cami\
For the Index aud Baptist.]
STATE AGENTS.
Perhaps oir good brother Daniel
has not exactly, as yet, grasped the
true idea of the sphere of duty occu
pied by brother Irwin. In my opinion,
it is not so much the duty of brother
Irwin to collet funds for missions, as
to arouse a missions spirit and induce
the churches to collect their own funds.
Our true object should be to make
giving systematic and regular, from
conscientious motives, and thus pro
duce a more sure, stated and constant
ly increasing income for the mission
cause. Our plan would, by no means,
prove itself a failure, were Rev. E. W.
Warren’s prophecy to be fulfilled; for
in a year or two it might result in
creased contributions, though falling
short the first year.
Agaiu, it never has been contempla
ted that our two Boards should send
no agents to Georgia: the Boards are
simply relieved of the necessity of
keeping paid agents in the State.
Should those two Boards, or either of
them,see fit to employ Dr. M. T. Sum
ner, as general traveling agent in be
half of missions, to canvass the entire
South, and stir up the Baptist heart in
behalf of missions, as he is capable of
doing, few, if any in Georgia, would ob
ject to his coming into our State, and
with apostolic zeal, arousing the
churches to greatly increased liberali
ty in behalf of missions. It would
be expected of him, or of Dr. Tupper,
or of Dr. Mclntosh, or of any other
agent whom either Board might send,
or of any missionary, as brother Hart
well of Dr Buckuer,who might visit our
State with the object of exciting in
creased missionary interest, that they
confer and co-operate with brother
Irwin aud our State Mission Commit
tee.
It is heartily to be desired that such
agents come and stir up our churches,
and increase our benevolence. Should
brother J. S. Murrow come into the
State to arouse his supporters in the
Rehoboth Association, brother Irwin
would give him all the aid and support
in his power. But this matter of
agents is something the Georg’a Bap
tists ought to take hold of themselves,
and thus co-operate with brother Ir
win in his work. Each Asaociation
ought to have a special mission agent
to appeal to the churches of that As
sociation, and his services should be
rendered gratuitously. He should
either volunteer his services, or should
be appointed by the Association- or act
at the reguest of brother Irwin. I be
lieve in thorough State organization ;
nor will this, of any other plan, prove
entirely and permanently successful
until we have regular denominational
organization in this work — self-perpetu
ating organization, in connection with
our regular denominational operations.
S. Boykin.
•■■■■■ ■ • -*
For the Index and Baptist. |
MINISTERS’ RELIEF FI ND.
During our last Conventional year,
the Georgia Baptists in connection with
our State Convention, contributed
$299.40, to the Relief Fund for aged
and indigent Baptist ministers in our
State. During its last associational
year, the Baptists of Virginia contrib
uted $960.34 for the same purpose.
There are in connection with the
Georgia Baptist Convention 950 church
es, aud 76,677 members. In connection
with the General Association of Vir
ginia, there 650 churches, and 63,435
members. With a smaller number of
churches and church members, the Vir
glna brethren gave three times as much
to this laudabie purpose as we did. In
truth, there is no object for which
Baptists can, with a greater approval
of conscience give, than in support of
their aged brethren, worn out in the
Master’s service, and so poor in this
world’s goods, as to be special objects
of charity. The following is an extract
from a private note to the writer from
Dr. J S. Baker, which was never in
tended for publication, but whieh I take
the liberty of making public:
“ The time of my departure from
earth is near at hand; I am partially
paralyzed in lioth my lower and upper
extremeties, so that it is difficult for me
*o write anything legibly.” Himself
and companion are thus both afflicted
and almost helpless, and both need the
amenities which their brethren should
bestow. Aged, infirm, necessitous, and
faithful servant of God, shall not the
last days of such a minister of the
Gospel, be heightened by evidences of
love and kindness on the part of the
Georgia Baptists ? S. B.
For the Index and Baptist.]
sniILITI DF BETWRKV LIFK ASD A DAY.
Welcome bright joyous morning with
thy glad smile of greeting, to a newly
awakened earth ; what blessings attend
thee, and what beauties herald thy ap
proach. We listen with rapture to the
voice of some nierry bird as it carols
forth its lay of thankfu'ness ; we see
nature’s sweet tear drops, nestling lov
ingly in the hearts of flowers, God’s
loveliest gifts to man : and, over the
eastern hills, rising in majestic gran
deur, the king of day approaches with
royal pomp and pageantry.
Anon, noontide in its matured glory
usurps the throne; the sun shines in
meridian brightness in the cloudless
sky, and we are deluded with the
thought that the day will end in beauty;
but, behold! those clouds that decked
so beautifully the morning sky, have
gathered darkly in the west; the light
ning flashes threateningly from the
dark masses, that seem to frown
upon us; the heavy thunder roars ; the
rain descends ; and for awhile the earth
is veiled in mist and darkness; but
soon the rain ceases; the clouds dis
appear ; the sun once more rides on in
glory; the earth is again robed in
beauty. But the shadows have length
ened ; we see approaching us the night
wrapped in her dark mantle, with the
moon and stars for her crown —fit dia
dem for her who rules with majesty a
slumbering world.
Wa*ch tenderly over us, fair night,
draw closer thy dusky veil, that we
may see the radiance of thy starry
crown; wilt thou not stay with us,
sweet night, ’till thou with thv moon
beams trauscendent lovliness, and thy
sweet solemnity, h st lulled us into
forgetfulness of the many cares of
morning and of noon ?
So it is with human life. How bright
ly in life’s joyous morning did the sun
of her existence shine upon the path
way of that happy child, where flowers
seemingly of amarinthinebloom, sprang
beneath her feet; she heeded not the
thorns upon those flowers, but with
light footstep and happy song she
went onward, grasping at the bright,
delusive fancies in her way, thinking
to reach the goal wheie all would
merge into an unending dream of hap
piness. Sport on, young traveller ; cull
while you may those flowers; drink
deeply of the fountain of sweet waters
that spring up in your happy child
hood, this oasis in life’s desert waste,
for ere many years have passed, you
will find that those beauties, like the
palm waving mirage, have lured but to
deceive.
How those few years have changed
that laughing girl! We see her now in
womanhood’s sweet maturity, but
where is the smile that once lit up her
happy face ? it vanished when the waves
of grief surged over her soul; when
the great simoon of sorrow swept over
her pathway, withering with its burn
ing breath the flowers that grew so
sweetly there; those waters of which
she drank are bitter as those of
Marah’s fount to her parching tongue;
the fruit she gathered of wisdom’s tree
has turned to ashes on her lips. But
des air not, weary one, cherish the re
member ince of thy early joys. Though
“Into each life gome rain mast fall,”
yet when the dark clouds vanish, the
sunlight will chase the shadow from
your heart, the bow of promise will
rest over you, as you enter the serenity
of-old age, when thy many cares
and trials will be plunged into the tur
bid waters of Lethe’s stream.
How glorious will be this night of
thy life aged one, how bright thy path
way, illumined by the halo of hope’s
day star, the effulgent rays of which
comforted thee on thy pilgrimage
through earth ; and when angel hands
have lifted the veil that envelopes thy
life, with what grandeur will the “home
of the soul” burst upon thy undimmed
vision. The “Jasper walls,” the pearly
gates, the great White Throne, and the
many intelligences that surround it,
will greet thv sight while humbly wait
ing ; and when thou hast crossed to the
other shore, and a crown of rejoieiug
is given thee, then, wondering upon the
banks of the river that flows from the
throne of God, and of the Lamb, thy
happiness will be complete, thy song
of praise unending for _ _ J
No hidden gnef,
No wild and cheerless vision of despair,
No vain petition for a swift relief,
No tearful eyes, no broken hearts are there. .
Ida Low M.
Cdsseta, Gi.
For the Index and Baptist.
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
Revivals and Church Organizations—Fort Crane
School House—Bronson—Rocky Hammock—
The Country—Personal—Pleasant Grove.
Pleasant Guove, Fla., Aug. 1,1876.
Editors Index — l began a meeting
at Fort Crane School House, on Paine’s
Prairie, iu Alachua county, about eight
miles from Gainesville, on the night of
the 14th of July, and the Holy Spirit
was with us in its convicting and con
verting power from the beginning.
Some of the hardest and most profane
young men were brou -ht to deep re
pent ince. The meeting only continued
three days, and we were compelled,
very leluctantly, to close and go on to
other appointments. Five were bap
tized," and Christians much revived. A
number of appointments followed the
writer to where he dined, the last day
of the meeting, and tearfully sought
an interest in prayer at parting.
At an appointment near Bron
son, where we organized a church
in June, one was recei ed for bap
tism. At Rocky Hammock, where we
also organized a church in June, the
writer engaged in a meeting beginning
the 22d of July. Four were received
into the fellowship of the church, and
two by baptism. Here we received a
“ refreshing from the presence of the
Lord,V but this meeting closed, on, the
third day also, as we had to go on to
other penitents, leaving a large
number inquiring what to do to be
saved. My heart feels sad while I
think of the destitution of Florida, the
harvest, indeed, is plenteous, and the
laborers, O how few ! Will not some
of my ministering brethren of deir old
Georgia—my native State—hear a wan
dering brother’s appeal, and leave your
poor lands, and, perhaps, unprofitable
fields of labor, and come to Alachua,
Marion, or Levy county, select a home
while lands are cheap, plant an orange
grove, which will support your families
in a few years, and enjoy the sweet
climate of East Florida, and help in
the work of the Lord against the
mighty ?
We have a more pleasant climate in
the summer than more northern States.
While the thermometer stood at 110
degrees at the North, it was not higher
than from 90 to 96 degrees generally
in this section. Our wint&GS are more
lovely than an Indian summer at the
North. We have a'most perpetual
spring, and ever opening flowers.
Any one who may desire to come to
this section of Florida, and will write
to the undersigned, will get all the in
formation that the writer is able to
give respecting the country.
Rev. J. H. Tomkies, of Gainesville,
has returned from Virginia, where he
went in the hope that his health would
be restored sufficiently to resume his
labors in the pastorate of the church
at Gainesville, but our Heavenly Father
has not seen best to answer our earnest
prayers and warmly cherished hopes for
bis recovery; and though the writer
has not seen him since his return, we
hear he is still unable to preach, and
we have no one to take his place. He
was doing a noble work at Gainesville,
and no one can tell how his faithful
and self-sacrificing labors are missed
but the faithful little church that has
been blessed with his services. Will
not some brother, who has no field of
labor where he is, come to Gainesville
and supply this church ?
We are now engaged in a meeting of
several days at Pleasant Grove. We
have already been blessed with the
manifestation of the presence of the
Holy Spirit among us at this place,
aud there is prospect for a glorious
revival. Many are inquiring the way
of salvation; one has been received for
baptism, and backsliders have been
reclaimed. More anon.
G. W. Hall.
The North India Bible Society re
port an increase of more than 50 per
cent, in their jsales this year than last.
The number of conies of Scripture cir
culated in 1875, was 36,870.