Newspaper Page Text
2
|jkir
For tbe Index anl Baptist. I
“TUB GREAT QrESTION.”
Dear Ind E- Allow me a small
corner in your valuable paper
a few thoughts upon and in connection
with what, is sometimes regarded the
“Groat Q lestion,” as found in Matthew
xvi; 26.
“For what is' a tnan profited, if he
shall gain the whole world, and
lose his own soul? or what shall a
man give in exchange f-lt hib soulr”
Jesus, while on 1h coasts of Cesarea
I’uillippi, ashed Hi; disciples this im
po 'tantqu stion: Whontdoinen say that
I, the Son of man, am ? They replied:
Some say, that thou art John the Bap
tist; some Elias, and others Jeremiah,
or one of the prophets. This method was
very naturally adopted by the Saviour,
in order to ascertain through the dis
ciples His standing with the people, as
well as the light in which they regard
ed Him. Having possessed HimSeli
of this knowledge through His disci
pies, He put this significant question
unto them : Wliom say ye that lam P
Simon Peter answered for them 1 all,
and said : Thou art the Christ, the Son
of the living God.
Jesus answered, and said unto Peter
and the disciples generally, then and for
all time to come: Blessed art thou
Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood
hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is Heaven. Jesus in
t his teaches most clearly and emphat
ically, that God is the maker of all
Christians. That flesh and blood bath
not the power vested in them to regen
erate the soul, or, by the self-determin
ing power of the will, to change their
fatherhood from the devil to God.
“Eye hath not seen, nor ear beard,
neither bare entered into the heart of
man the tjnugs which God hath pre
pared for them that love Ilim.” I.
Cor. ii: 9 After fix : ng thiH gre it truth
in their hearts, and having them as
exemplifications of His work, aud living
epistles of the mighty truth, He pro
ceeds still another 1 step, in order to
establish beyond controversy, that Ho
is the author and organizer of the
church, or visible body of Jesus Christ
on the cartli. “I say also unto thee,
that thou art Peter, and upon this ro.k
I will build my church, and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it.”
As He should say, I am the great,
spiritual foundation stone, and ye are
all spiritual living stones in the spirit
ual building, or body of Christ. Ye
are to be the light of the world, and
the salt of tho earth ; the gi‘and de
pository of the oracles of God. I,
therefore, give unto thee, the keys ot
the Kingdom of Heaven, or visible or
ganization 4 Christ; and whatsoever
thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound
in Heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt
looso on earlli, shall be loosed in
Heaven. “All Script life is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for ieproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness.”
Having made this revelation to His
disciples, and satisfied tlioir hearts and
minds of the power, responsibilities and
obligations vested in them, and through
them to all succeeding churches
through all time to come, began from
that time forth to show unto them, how
that He must go uuto Jerusalem, and
suffer matiy things of the elders and
chief priests aud scribes, and bo killed,
and be raised again the third day.”
The bold aud intrepid Peter, ready not
only to go with but to die for his Mas
ter, could not agree to the above.
Therefore, took Jesus and began to
rebuke Him, saying: “Be it far from
thee, Lord; this shall not be unto
thee.” Jesus turned and said unto
Peter: “Getjjthee behind me, Satan :
thou art an offense unto me ; for thou
savourest not the things that be of
God, but those that be Of mau.” Now,
how was Peter and the disciples to
understand this ? Did Jesus mean to
affirm of and unto Peterj that ho was
a bad man, or having been a good mau
had apostatized from the faith ? By
no means ; Peter was a Christian the*
as before, and was so acknowledged to
be, publicly, by Jesus himself. But,
short-sighted and ignorant, misappre
hended the teachings of God on the
fundamentals of salvation, and mani
fested a zeal for God not according to
knowledge. That Peter was houcst
and sincere in all his attachments to
his Master, none need doubt. He
doubtless said (in his misguided zeal)
much suffering from the hands of the
elders, chief p iesis and scribes, may
be; but to die, never. Jesus had taught,
without the shedding of blood, there
could be no remission of sin. Peter
made issue with this doctrine, and
affirmed his Lord should not die. In
this he was offensive to his Lord. His
doctrine was clearly the doctrine of
Satau, and, if carried out, would pre
clude the salvation of any ; aud uudo
the salvation of all that had beer I
saved upon the promise of the blood of J
the everlasting covenant in the Old j
Testament dispensation. This would !
hare frustrated God's desigus in the i
salvation of Abraham’s seed, from the
first saved one to the last. Peter’s
doctrine, if carried out, would have en
tered and swept Heaven of all except
angels, who had never sinned. Hence,
Jesus said to him: “Thou savourest, or
understandeet, or knowest not the
things that be of God, but those that 1
be of man,” for Peter’s design and doc
trine was really but the design and
doctrine of the devil. This made Peter
THD BU M S3 3 ? AN INDEX—AND HBOffIPS 'WflfiMiIRN BAPTIST
an offense to the Lord; and his doc
trines were earthly, sensua 1 and devel
ieii. Therefore, Jesus could and did
sav truthfully and justly: “Get thee
behind me, '."Van.” The devil was
opposed to the salvation of men, and
knew if Jesus <ue9 not, then bis design
was accomplished. Thus we see that
good old Peter (an 1 many good men
since Lit <fafs unwittingly espoused
the cause of Satan, aud if permitted to
succeed, would have prevented the very
thing of all others most desired by
himself and all other saints.
Jesus said : “Whosoeverwill save his
life, shall lose it: and whosoever will
lose his life for my sake, shall find it.”
That is to say : now, Peter, if vou suc
ceed in pieventing my death, then your
success is the damnation of ybur own
giul, and the souls of all Adam’s race.
Bat, if you do not succeed, and I lose my
life, then your soul, and the souls of all
believers under the old and the new
dispensation, will be forever Baved.
Now, where is the profit if you should
gain the whole world, if in the gain
you should lose your own soul ? or
what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul? What has man to give?
All mankind are under the curse. All
are ten thousand talents in debt, and
nothing to pay. Where is the exchange,
then r and in what does it consist ? If
we keep the whole law, and offend in
one point, then we fail in all. If we
give our bodies tobe burned, and all
our goods to feed the poo - , the iwe
feCl infinitely short of the “redemption”
price. Indeed, righteousness cannot
come by the law. Nothing that we
have; all that we are will not be taken
in exchange for the soul. Blood, di
vine blood, and that alone is the soul’s
ransom. Hence, if Peter had gained
and carried his fleshly desire, or in the
language of Jesus, had gained the whole
world, then he would have lost his soul
forever, and so of all the soulsof Adam’s
race. If I have apprehended the cor*
rect teachings, these four points are
established beyond successful contro
versy :
1. God is the maker of all believers.
2. God is the author and organizer
of the visible churcb.
3 Noth'ng that we have will be taken
in ex-hange for the soul.
4. Ul tod, divine blood as found in the
person of Jesus Christ, alone was ex
change of sufficient merit for the saul’s
ransom.
Let us, then, glory in tbe blood of
our Med ator, who so loved us as to gi e
HimselE for us, as an offering once for
all, that forever perfects the sanctified.
Let us also glory in God the Father,
who spared not His own Son, but de
livered Him up for us all; and will,
with Him freely give us all things.
I would be glad to hear from brethren
on this quostiou, through The Index,
i Wjll not Dr* S. G. Hillyer give us the
b ( yiefit of his views?
B. L. Ross.
Fort Valloy, November 10, 1876.
For the Index and Baiitlat.l
TO TUB CKYI'IUL ASSOCIATION.
WtfjAT THE CHURCHES ARE DOING.
The Madison Church has a Mis
sion Committee whose duty it is to see
every member of the church quarterly,
and solicit a contribution. Paid to me
and turned over to R. F. Lawton,
Treasurer, $ 8.40
The Macon Church ha; a Mis
sion Committee whose duty it is to col
lect and report monthly. Paid over
to Missions snd State Sunday-school
works this year, $176.15.
Bethany Church has a Mission
Committee, which collects quarterly ;
funds go to foreign and domestic mis
sions.
Providence Church has recently
organized a Missionary Committee;
but not under good headway yet- Paid
to me and turned over to R, F. Law
ton, Treasurer, 50 cents.
Pleasant Grove has two Mission
Committees—one of male-members,
and one of female-members.
Brother J isper Dickinson, the Pas
tor, writes: “I will do all I can to as
sist you in your Missionary effort; but
I will inform you that the Protestant
Methodists have taken our house from
us, and we don't know yet whether we
will build another house, or take let
ters and go to other churches.”
Brother Willis Newton, my co oper
ator in the Providence church writes :
“We will endeavor to send you month
ly contributions. Our next will, I
trust, be larger."
Rev. I. M. Springer, of Bethany
church, writes : “Of course I give you
my hearty co-operation.”
Rev. W. B Crawford, of the Madi
son church, writes: “I preached a
Missionary sermon on the Second Sun
day and took up a collection. The
day being inclement the attendance
and collection were both -mall. 1 try
to keep the subject of Missions before
our people, and endeavor to imp ess
upon them their duty, but with no
degree of success.” 1 hope all our
pastors will imitate brother Crawford's
endeavors, and keep the subject of
Missions before their people.
THE CHURCH LETTERS
sent up to the Association havs been
forwarded to me by orother Springer,
at my request, and from them I leirn
the following.
Union Hill Church has a Mission
Committee composed of males and fe
males.
The Eatonton Church has a Mis
sion Committee composed of two of
the s : sters, whose duty it is to solicit
contributions : they “have not acco d
plished a great deal as yet.”
a The Blountsville Church has a
Committee on Missions composed of
both male and female members, to co
operjjc with the State Committee on
Missions.
T AN EXTRACT
from a kind letter written by brother
S. A. Burney, enclosing the remittance
from his church, I make the following
extract, concerning the work assigned
me by the Association, he being the
one who offered the resolutions adopt
ed during my absence : “It was never
designed by the resolutions that you
should take the field and canvass the
territory of the Association. Your du
ty, as I understand it, is to use all
possible diligence in stimulating the
churches of the Central Association to
make regular contributions to mission
work. This I think you have been
duing, if the “Index” columns are an
index. You have well apprehended
your duties, it seems to me. Go on,
my brother, in the good work! No
cut and dried programme was prepared
f#r you at the Association. The
brethren having confidence in .your
judgment, and believing that your
heart was warm in the work, placed
you as the agent of the Association in
the Mission work. The details are
yours. Carry on the work as appears
best to you. Let there not be a church
in the Central Association that fails to
co-operate with you ! Let there not
be one that shall fall to appear at the
next Association, as having done its
whole duty!”
ft shall not be my fault if any church
in our Association fails to sustain the
great mission work, nor do I have any
doubts that each and all will do so
They have all been accustomed to sus
tain missions; but they have not sus
tained them as well as they should
have done, and mv efforts shall be to
induce them in the future to do better.
And this reminds me of
AN ANECDOTE ABOUT A BOOK AGENT.
1 don’t object to book agents, on the
contrary I rather like them. In fact,
I was a book agent once myself, (for a
short time.) Whenever one comes to
me with a book to sell, I examine the
book carefully, and almost always I
praise it up highly. I make him tell
me all the merits of the book, and I
let him show me the pictures, and call
my attention to the fine paper and
handsome binding. I don’t interrupt
him even if he sees fit to talk an hour,
for I love baoks, and I love to loak at
them and talk about them But it
nearly always happens that “I am not
able to buy,” still 1 like book agents;
they disseminate valuable knowledge,
and ought to be encouraged. Not
long ago, as one of thdm was mounting
the front steps of a residence, b dog
sneaked around the corner, an<i Fefore
the agent knew it, tore off half a yard
of his coat tail. He was about to beat
a hasty retreat when the owner of the
house appeared from round the house
corner, and asked, (earnest curiosity
in his tones;) “Did doze dog bide you?”
“He didn’t bite me, but he ruined my
coat,” was the reply of the book agent.
The owner of the dog answered, “My
goot fren, excuze doze dog, if he did
not bide y6u ! He ish a young dog.
now; but, by und by, he shall take
hold of some agents und eat der pones
ride oud of dem. He only bites a
coat-tail now; but he shall soon do
better .” And that is just whit 1 want
all the churches of our Association to
do in regard to giving for the great
Missionary work —do belter. Some of
the Pastors are slow in replying to my
letters: I hope they will do belter.
Some of the churches have no! ap
pointed mission committees : I hope
they will do better. Some of the mis
sion committees collect slowly : I want
them to do better. Many church mem
bers have, heretofore, given nothing
to missions : I do hope they wll do
better.
Query —What are churches estab
lished and constituted for, if it is not
to spread the Gospel ? What have they
to do, if it be not to go, or send, into all
the world, and disciple all nations?
And yet, most of our church-members
try to see how little, rather than how
much, they can give for this purpose !
S. Boykin,
Missionary Agent.
Macon, Ga., November 8, 1876.
Fcr the Index and Baptist.
CARROLLTON, GEORGIA.
Dear Index —lndulge me in a brief
account of a visit to Carrollton lately.
I wonder that we never have an article
on fifth Sundays. They are the source
of many experiences, changes and
pleasant episodes in ministerial life, or
the occasion of them rather. Will not
some pastor lead off in one or more
articles, giving us some variety in these
breaks in the routine of pastoral life ?
The above is my introduction to the
fact that last fifth Sunday I visited the
place mentioned above, and it was re
ally a pleasing change.
I went there more as a visitor than
agent. The pleasure of this visit was
enhanced by the following facts: I
preached in the new (but yet unfinished)
Baptist meeting-house. The large
house was nearly full to overflowing.
Then brother Quillian, Methodist pas
tor, did not hold service, but came
over to the Baptist church. Still
another very pleasant circumstance was,
to learn that there was not a bar-room
in Carrollton, and every man who
formerly had one is now a church mem
her. Then, such a very cordial recep
tipn, and, such earnest requests to stay I
longer, made the visit sweet Indeed .l
Another fact that enhanced t h<?|deas-r
ure of the occasion, was' meeting
with the children Sunday afternoon,
and the kindred fact, that so many of
the you“h of CarroTTTon are pious/
The above are onlvpart of the items
making this a pleasant visit, but I de
sist. It requires an effort for me to
speak or write in moderati m of Car
rollton, and tbe people there. Now a
few words by way of application. The
brethren at Carrollton have done well,
and are going to do better, till their
plain, neat, commodious, and well
located bouse, is finished. But they
are straitened and need some help. If
any reader of this can spare fifty cents
or one dollar, and will send it to W. W.
Fitts, M.D., or to W. C. New, M.D.,
you may depend upon it, it will be ju
diciously appropriated by you, and used
the same way by them. This I can
say in moderation, but earnestly so.
The citizens are going to sustain a
real loss in the removal of that vete
ran Boldier and teacher, Prof. Richard
son, to Texas. He will leave shortly,
for the Lone Star State, where a fine
position ie offered him. But I found
at Carrollton, Rev. W. VV. Roop, as
sisting the professor in teaching, who
will remain, and a worthy successor is
he of a grand man. He has been
preaching only three years, and already
has more prudence, discretion and good
judgment than many who are much
his seni >rs, and withal a pious, devoted,
humble Christian. Oh, lor many such,
to be sent into the great harvest. Bro.
Wynne, who succeeds that “ stone
wall” of a man and preacher, H. C.
Hornady, will have in brother Roop a
pleasant companion, a worthy co
laborer, aud one whos’ example will be
a good mode! for a young minister.
How pleasant to hear a people speak
■o kindly of a retiring minister, as they
do of bishop Hornady, to whom they
gave a unanimous call for another
year. The bishop, however, declined,
and they called brother Wynne, and so
will have preaching weekly instead of
monthly.
There is a question for solution: A
great proportion of those who favor or
practice washing feet in church, bold
that it is an ordinance, and it is fre
quently done at the same meeting that
communion is observed. Has any one
a right to administer ordiances but a
regular minister ? Baptis‘s generally
say, no. What right have the members
then “ to wash another’s feet? ” as they
do. If this is an ordinance, why said
the Saviour, “Ye ought also to wash
one another’s feet,” to the apostles only;
aud the members have no more right to
wash feet, than to baptize or to admin
ister tbe supper. Have they ? I ask
for light. This question was raised by
i country brother in conversation with
Dr. Fitts, and if he is a doctor, be
passed it to me, and I could not spell the
word, aud pass it on to—whoever will
spell it. W. N. Ch.vudoin,
District Secretary.
For the Index and Baptist. ]
LETTER FROJI TTAINKL HILL, GEORGIA.
Friendship, Mill Creek and Salem Clmrrlies.
Eds. Index —Ainu fifteen months
ago I went to tho Middle Cherokee As
sociation, feeling unusuallv depressed
in spirit. I had just recognized a
friend or two and was made acquainted
with two or three other brethren when
one to whom I was introduced, asked :
“Have you the bighead ? I have seen
some students of the Seminary you
have attended badly diseased, I thought,
with tho bisrhead.”
Egotism, no doubt, will do for the
clown and politician, but it makes a
professed follower of Jesus appear de
formed and ugly. So, ever since that
brother asked me the above question I
have made it a rule to go, if possible,
when sent for, and to write tor no paper
unless asked to do so. lam preaching
to three country churches—Friendship,
Mill Creek and Salem. About three
months ago we eujoyed a precious sea
son of grace at Friendship. The house
was too small to hold large congrega
tions, but God’s Spirit seemed to move
poveifully upon those that were there.
At one time I could see but one indi
vidual who was not softened and melt
ed, and he left the house.
The brethren have built anew house
iu which we expect to hold our next
meeting. The building is not fine,
though it will be comfortable and re -
spectable when complete. We are
afraid to contract large debts, and
depend on our friends paying them.
We held a series of meetings at Mill
Creek, beginning Saturday before the
first Sunday in August, and including
the second Sunday. Five claimed to
find jieace and pardon ; and three weeks
from the day the meeting closed I bap
tized five. Oar meeting at Friendship
began Saturday before the third Sun
day in August, embracing the fourth.
Nine claimed to find Jesus. Two were
baptized the day the meeting closed,
anil five others two weeks after. Our
meeting at Salem began Saturday be
fore the fouth Lord’s day in Septem
ber including the first Sunday in Oc
tober. Six were baptize! at the close
of the meeting, and one was received
by restoration. The fourth Lord's day
in October one was baptised. In the
last three months I have baptized 19
persons, three of whom were somewhat
advanced in years, perhaps near forty ;
the remaining sixteen were young,
ranging from about twelve to twenty
four years of age.
All the Baptist churches near here
that held protracted meetings last
Summer, and this fall, have been blessed
|in the addition of converted sinners to
Orbed r number. But our Methodist
Ibrethren, in their protracted meetings
this year, have seemingly made almost
a total failure in this section. I know
of but one Methodist-church in this
section that has enjoyed a revival. I
do not say this in & boasting way, but
say it as a matter of fact.
J. C. Head.
Tunnel Hill, Ga., Nov. 10, 1876.
For the Index and Baptist.
DUTY OT PARFSTS TO THKIR CiJfLDRKX.
Dear Index — l desire to offer a few
thoughts through your valued columns
on the duty of parents to their chil
dren. By reading a few passages, viz.,
Genesis xviii: 13, Deuteronomy vi ;
7,20, Proverbs xix: 18 and xxix : 17,
we see it is very necessary for parents
to train up their children properly.
We hear the wise man say, “ Train up
a child in the way he should go, and
when he is old he will not depart from
it.” In the first place, the parents
should let their example be such as be
cometh the saints of God. “ They
seeing your good works may follow on
after you.” Teach them to “ Remem
ber now thy Creator in the days of thy
youth.” “ Seek first the kingdom of
God, and His righteousnes.”
If professed Christians neglect the
sanctuary, the children will deem it
unworthy of their attention. If chil
dren see their parents doing their own
pleasure on the Lord’s day, and ne
glecting His worship, they will also
learn to dishonor it. Truly Christian
parents will train their children and
dependents in habits of punctual at
tendance on Gad’s house. I envy not
the heart of the man who can calmlv
sit and enjoy his religious privileges
while the immortal beings God has
given him to train for heaven, are
roaming the streets and fields, or wast
in.* the Sabbath in idleness and sin at
home. His prayers for their conver
sion are mockery when he thus allows
them to despise God’s commandments.
On the other hand how delightful it
is to the pastor or the Sunday-school
superintendent, to welcome the happy
faces of the children! None who are
in earnest, need wait long for opportu
nities to benefit children as the Scrip
tures demand we should.
Parents obey the commandmen s of
the Lord, and bring your cbi'drrn up in
tbe “ admonition of the Lord.” If we
bring them up in the admonition of the
Lord, we shall point out their errors,
peril and sins, and warn against them.
There is a wrong course often pursued
by ChrUtion parents, they think it is
not best to say much to children on the
subject of religion, until they are old
enough to understand aud consider for
themselves, j
How unwise and how fatal! Why
not defer reading, arithmetic, gram
mar, work, obedience to parents, and all
o’hftr duties, till they are old enough to
understand tbe nature and principles on
which'they are based ?
Another error is to suppose that
children will yield as readily to the
wishes of their parents when it is de
sirable to load them in the ways of
godliness, as they do when we encour
age them in the ways of worldliness.
It is very easy to persuade children to
go in the diiection which their desires
lead them. Worldliness, folly and sin
are natural to all; godliness is not. A
young man may be easily led to the
ball room, the card table, or the wine
cup, but sot so easily to secret prayer
and to the mercy seat. Tares grow
without culture; wheat must be sown
with care and tended with diligence, or
it will come to nothing.
So act that the future shall bring no
regrets. Yours in Christ.
Jaß* A. Cantrell.
For the Index and Baptist. |
Orphans' Hone Acknowledgments for Quarter
Ending Alovemaer 1, 1876.
Bel Air church, 849.75; Hines'
church, $92.15 ; Pleasant, Hill, $78.50 ;
Sharon, Fulton county, s2l 80; Cen
tral Association, $3 15 ; Western As
sociation, $37.75 ; Flint River Associa
tion, $80.60; Friendship Association,
$56.55; Mt. Vernon Association, S6B ;
Georgia Association, $lO2 40 j Reho
both Association, $67.50; Hephzibah,
$101.15; Bethel Association, $93.35;
by T. B. Moss Tr., $5.80 ; W. S. With
ers, $5 ; John Goldsmith, $5 ; W. E.
Boyd & Bro., $2.50; George McDow
ell, $25; Wm. Tonnage, $25; John A.
McWhorter, $25 ; A. R. Churchill, sls;
J. G. Smith, $2; H. H. Truitt, 50c.;
J. C. McMichael, 25c.; C. B. Willing
ham, $lO.
matron’s report.
Five baskets of crackers, apples,
cakes, sugar and jelly from the Ladies’
Missionary Society Second Biptist
church, Atlanta; sixty articles of
clothing, a carpet and other things from
Mrs. James ; twelve articles of clothing
from Mrs. Abbott; forty-eight yards
of calico from Mr Marsh ; ten pounds
of beef from ; one>et of window
shades from .
R. W. Fuller.
For the Index and Baptist.]
PARTINS BETWEEN FRIENDS.
The Carrollton Association met at
Bowden church, Saturday before the
first Sabbath in October. We had a
very interesting meeting, lasting three
days. At the close*, it was, indeed, a
sad parting between friends ; the con
gregation was in tov, extending their
hands in parting, it is, indeed, a sad
thing to part; we will have to leave
each other sooner or later ; ; but if we
strive to live right, we will meet in
Heaven, where parting is unknown, and
where saints and angels unite in songs
of praise to Him who loved us and
gave himself a ransom for us.
0, what a delightful thought it is to
know we shall meet beyond Jordan’s
cold stream, m that landof eternal rest,
where we will meet to part no more.
There will be no sorrow, no weeping ;
all tears will be wiped away ; we will be
with the angels, around the Throne,
singing the songs of the redeemed, who
are robed in garments of purity, sitting
at the feet of Jesus, and singing the
praises of God.
Could we but climb where Moses stood
And view the landscape o'er,
Not Jordan’s stream, nor death’s cold flood.
Should fright us from the shore.
Sallie.
Bowden, Ga., October 30, 1876.
For the Index and Baptist.]
DEATH OF DR. E. fi. JJ3JES, OF SIIDISOY.
This venerable citizen died at his
residence in this city, at 3 o’clock this
am., November 4, 1876. His death,
though not unexpected, came sooner
than one, judging from his apparent
vigor a few days ago, would have been
led to apprehend. Day before yester
day he was able to take a ride on the
cars down to Union Point and return,
without seeming inconvenience.
Dr. Jones was born in North Caroli
na, in January, 1795, nearly 82 years
ago. He came to Madison in 1816, and
at once began the study of medicine
under Dr. VVm. Johnson, whose daugh
ter soon thereafter became his wife.
Located here in Madison, he practiced
his profession actively up to the year
1850, when, having accumulated a large
estate, he retired from further practice.
The deceased joined the Baptist
church of this city, in the year 1848.
and was, for a nuoiber of years, one ot
the trustees of the same. Asa Chris
tian, he was very decided in his views
and was regarded as one of the most
useful and consistent members of his
church. As an instance of his lib
erality, he contributed $1,500 towar Is
the erection of the Baptist bouse of
worship in this city.
During the interval from 1816 to
1850, he was elected twice or three
times to the Giorgia Senate from Mor
gan county, and once perhaps, to the
House of Representatives. For more
than thirty years, he was a popular and
efficieat juui -e of the Inferior Court of
Morgan, in which capacity his fine
judgment and patriotism shone con
spicuously in behalf of our county in
terests.
Asa prominent advocite and sup
porter of railroads, Dr. Jones won a
State reputation. His sagacity led him
to favor these great developers of our
resources at a time when the masses
were superstitious on the subject—at a
time when a man must needs be brave
to have combatted the popular oppo
sition to what was superstitiously re
garded as the forerunner of poverty
and destruction. He boldly united
with those enterprising men'who un
dertook the responsibility of building
the Georgia Railroad, the first that was
chartered in this State. Front its in
ception until now he has been a mem
ber of its Board of Direction and one
of its largest stockholders. In hig
death this corporation loses one of its
old land-marks, one of its stanchest
and most judicious friends.
In these days of luxury and fast
living, of abundant disease and early
death, it is well to study the life and
habits of those who attain to longevity.
The deceased was a man of wonderful
energy, both physical and mental. We
venture to assert that no man in our
county of like age, can be found who
has transacted more business of one
sort or another, or who has ridden a
greater number of miles on horseback
than Dr. Jones. He always despised
mere personal ease, and though he ever
kept at command a comfortable car
riage, he rarely made use of it himself
until his infirmities made : t absolutely
necessary, but preferred rather an open
ride on horseback. A great secret of
Dr. Jones’ longevity was that he al
ways cheerfully “ accepted the situa
tion” when it lay not in his power to
better things. He lived, too, on the
principle that it was better to laugh
than to sigh. Accordingly, only a day
or two before his death, he could be
seen indulging with his friends in
cheerful and even jocular conversation.
He was a great favr rite with the young
people of our city, for the reason that
though old in years, he retained to the
last, the sociability and hilarity of his
vouth.
Of the four of his children who at
tained to majority, only one survives—
Dr. Elijah C. Jones, of Bartow county.
A large number of grand children,
however, have lound in him a kind and
devoted father, and upon them his death
falls a dark and cruel calamity.
A telegram announcing his death
was dispatched this morning to his
life long friend and railroad compeer—
the Hon. John P. King, of Ajigusta,
who, no doubt, will be prelent to
morrow at the rendering of the last
sad service to his deceased friend. B.
Msdison, Georgia, Nov. 4, 1878.
1 eannot see with my small tinman sight,
Why God should lead this way or that for me •
I only know He saith, Child, follow me.” ’
But I can trust.
I know not why my path Bhould be at times
So straightly hedged, so strangely barred before;
I only know God could keep wide the door.
But i can trust.