Newspaper Page Text
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SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
\
Conduit Proper to be Observed by Baptists to
Pednbuptlsts.
| When wo first assumed the chair editorial &
few weoks ago. an articlo with the above hoading
wraa placed in our hands, which was evidently
the second article of the series. Supposing that
the first article had already been published, we
aent it to the printer. We afterwards learned, to
our regret, that tbo first article had not been
published, and on looking for the manuscript wo
found that in the oonfusion incident to change
it had been lost. We sent our apologies to the
author and begged him to reproduce if he cou'd,
the lost article. In the kindness of his heart he
has done so, and we Rive it below. We feared
that we should place the author at great disad
vantage by publishing his articles in improper
order. But we find that our fears wore ground
less. Each of the two articles is complete in
itself. True, tho second article logically follows
the first, but chronological precedence makes no
difference in the value of either. Taken sepa
rately they are good ; taken together as a whole
they are good ; and such is theii symmetry and
beauty, that like a perfect sphere, one part may
be taken for the top as well as another.]
To Baptists, who, though they may not
believe that Pedobaptist Societies are Chris
tian Churchi s, regard Pedohaptists, never
theless, hs disciples and friends ol Christ, it
is an interesting aud important question;
Whst is the conduct proper to be observed
by them, us Christians, to this defective and
immix'ible class ol brethen V The answer to
this question may, we think, he given in two
words; namely, love and fidelity; that is
love to Pedohaptists, as Christian brethren,
and fidelity to Christ, in maintaining his
truth, and bearing a faithful testimony
against anti-Christian error. A conduct
which is the resultant of these twoco oper
ative principles, is that, we think, which
should characterize the intercourse of Bap
tists with Pedobaptist Christians. We shall
then, to some extent, discuss a> and illustrate
these two principles, as furnishing, in their
combined and properly-adjusted action, an
answer to the question we have staled.
The following is our first proposition on
the subject:
BAPTISTS snoui.l) I.OVK PEDOHAPTISTS AS
THEIR CH KIBTIAN BRETHREN.
Though this principle will, we suppose,
in its teims, be universally admitted, there
is, we fear, a sad deficiency with regard to
Uic apprehension and application of it, in
its true spirit and inipoit. There would be
no pertim ncy in its formal statement upon
the supposition that the love of Baptists to
Pedobaptists is such as it ought to be. This,
however, whatever may be said of a few
exceptional cases, none, we think, will ven
ture to affirm. That Baptists do not love
Pedobaptists as much as Pedobaptists love
them, we do not say, or believe, hut the in
quiry relates not to the duty of Pedobap
tists to Baptists, but of Buptistvto P ilolmp
lists. We do not,; however, >~j>pW, thpt
either of them i entitled to fling stones at
the other It is too, probable—indeed it is
certain, that they are mutually deftetive in
the love due from one to ttie other, and it is
as little to tie questioned that they would,
respectively love each other more, if they
were all, of both parties, what they
profess to be; that is if they were all Chris
tian*i. But unconverted members in and tier
ent churches act as a rcpellant of that
mental love which would lie the natural
consequence of a subjection of all their
hearts to the sanctifying power of the Spirit
of grace. Though imperfection must adhere
to the Church as long as site remains in this
mortal and militant stale, yet, it according to
the design til iter Founder, her membership
consisted of none other than converted per
sons, very and fl rent would belter moral as
pect, and the power witli which she would
assert her claim to universal dominion,
and es|iecially may we believe, that the
current of love wou ii circulate much more
freely through the whole Christian brother
hood. Lei it then be imderatnod, that when we
say that Biptmis ought to love Peduhap ista.
we speak of stteh of both parties as exhibit the
seal in and manifest tiie Spirit of Christ, and we
maintain the claim ol the latter to the love of
the former, and the obligation of the termer to
acknowledge this claim upon the ground of
their common possession of that chancier
which endears them mutually to Christ, and
constitutes them heirs of "the kingdom”
“prepared” for the “blessed of the Father,”
•■from the foundation of the world.”
Whatever may be the errors of Pedobap
tists, they are ilte children of God, and,
therefore, our brethren. Our denomina
tional itiffi r< rices, though a just cause ot re
gret and humiliation, are, nevertheless not
such as to preclude that affection which is
mutually due to oue ait niter from all the
disciples of (Jurist. Pedobaptists belong to
the great Christian family. They are m< m
hers of that body ot which Christ is the
Head. Whether or not they are saved ac
cording to the law of Clirist'N King tom, no
body denies, units* it may be Campbellites,
or such like, that they are comprehended in
the covenant of red> mptiou, which stretches
its benignant arms over every dispensation
of revealed religion, and according to whose
provisions “all, in evety nation, who tear God
and work riglilrousntss, are accepted with
Him.” Whatever may he the nature of the
Chri-tian oispeUßtion,necessitating an eccle
siastical scpai adon uniting such as differ in ic
lation to its rudimenta! ptiuciples, we re
joice to know that the law of Christ’s King
dom. instead ol forbidding, commands us to
love all who “love tie Lord Jesus Christ;”
and it is also our happiness to know that
among Pedobaptists are found many of the
purest and brighte-t specimens of Christian
faith and piety. If we love Christ, we love
His image wherever it is seen; and this
image we see n fleeted, and often very
brightly in mernbt rs of the Pedobaptist com
muuity. With us they ate lanornig and
praying for the glory ot Clttist, and tltd pro
motion of His Kingdom in ttie world. For
their love to Clttist, their faith, their humili
ty, their exhibition of the spirit of God, t heir
Christian labors, their b’ond sealed testimo
ny to the truth ot Jesus, their success in
planting the standard of the Cross, both at
home and abroad, and in lititigiug sou s to
Christ, Pedobaptists should be loved by al 1
who love the Lord Jes ts Chi Ist, and who
desire the salvation ot a periston,: world.
How, iudeed, can a i hi istian hut love him on
whom he sees the seal of Cini-t, and in
whose breath he scents the )>er'iime ot His
Spirit. How can we refu e our fellowship to
him whose heaven lit eye beau)-* with the
light of love; whose tongue, ‘‘taught of the
Lord,” speaks of the odors of Calvary; whose
heart in sympathy with our own *• ecu lessee”
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST - Dece.ibek 12.
“that Jesus is the Lord whose affections
and our own are kindled by the same Bpiru
into one commingled flame of holy sacrifice;
lo whom together with ourselves, has been
given that “ new name’’ which no man know
eth saving he that receiveth it,” and whose
faith in unison with our own converses with
the same “unseen” and “eternal” realities, and
ascends upon the same “ladder” into the pres
ence of God, and the company of Heaven.
“This,” says out blessed Saviour to His dis
ciples, “is my commandment, that ye love
one another ss I have loved you :’’ and His
tender and affectionate heart seems never more
grieved than by their alienation from one
ano'her, or more refreshed and regaled than
by their mutual love. If we should love Pe—
dobaptists we should observe to them that con
duct which is the proper and legitimate effect
of love. It will, therefore, be proper to eon
sider, to some extent, what iHthe conduct which
may properly lie thus denominated:
1. Love manifests itself in feelings of kind
ness and tender affection for its object. _ Of
those whom we love we hope well, and believe
well. Toward them we feel kindly; of them
we speak kindly, and to them we act kindly.
Instead of regard ng their conduct in a spirit
of censorious and reproachful criticism, we
rejoice in their virtues, and extenuate their de
fects. Whatever may be their faults we do
not rt j dee over them as enemies, hut regard
them with the tender consideration due lo
friends. Wedo not speak ot them a“ a Jew
of a Samaritan, or a Samaritan of a Jew, hut
as a brother of his brother
2. Love naturally draws us to its object. If
we love a man, we shall love his company.
Instead of shunning i irn, or looking askance
upon him, as if we suspected him of some
infection, we shall love his society, and cul
tivate with him all practicable fraternal
intercourse. Such should he our desire for a
fraternal association with Pedohaptists. In
our common character as Christians, the high
est, and sweetest source of spiritual enjoyment
is open to us. The channel in which flows
the grace of the Spirit reaclie- us both ; and
from that channel we may drink together, of
the water of life, drawn by a common at
traction to the foot of the Cross, there, to
getiier, we may love, weep and adore. O !
how worthless ami contemptible is an agree
ment merely in the ritual services of religion,
compared with that “fellowship” which true
believers enjoy with one another, as the effect
of their common “fellowship with the hather,
and with his Son .hsus Christ.” To reject
the company and conversation, and to deny
ourselves the benefit of the spiritual resources
of a Godly man, because lie has not been bap
tized—much as tliis is to lie deplored—w old
be an act of suicidal bigotry. It is certainly
not the conduct of one man to another whom
he loves The truth is, that whatever may he
the necessity for different ecclesiastical or
ganizations, true Christian union exi Is, and
exists wily among the real friends of Jesus
Christ —disclosing themselves, as such, to one
another by the impress of His image, and the
effluxes of Ili- spirit,
3. If we love Pedohaptists we shall rejoice
in their success in promoting the Kingd- m of
Christ, ami bringing men to the knowledge
of the Lord. We shall, in this respect, identi
fv them with ourselves, and regard their
success as our own. We shall thank God for
their piety, their harning and talents, and all
those elements of it Alienee which enable them
successfully to oppose the Kingdom ol Satan,
and contribute to the subjection of this re
volted world to the dominion of <’hriH‘. In
stead of slighting, or depreciating merit be
cause it is,not found among ourselves, “the
flower” of piety w< shall esteem and admire
as “ Divine, where’er-it grows and the per
fume which the memory of Carey and .liaison,
Fuller and Pearce diffuses over our spirits,
will mingle with the odors we inhale from
the fragrant names of Edwards and Newton,
Brainard and Martyn.
Such are some of the effects of that love,
which, as brethren, all Christian* should feel
and cherish for one another: and we think it
will appear, from the foregoing considoiation,
that ho must have a very incompetent appre
hension of his duty, or privileges as a Chris
tian, nr of the n tore, excellency, and design
of the Gospel, who does not feel Iris heart
drawn wit* a warm affection to all “the dear
children of God,” W. 11. J.
Oxford, N. 0.
©rural ©omspontlcncf
For the Index and nuptial.l
Acquiescence In (tod’s Mill Is Kssontlal to the
t lirlsdau's Present anil Eternal Happiness.
Happiness is the desire of every one. It
consists in the gratification of one’s desires.
But as few can attain their wishes, happi
ness must be obtained in some oilier way
than in the accomplishment of our own pur
poses. The stoic would tell yon that it is to
lie spcurt (I bv the mortification of passion,
the subduing of desire and the obliteration
of feeling. But when you have risen supe
rior to physical or mental suffering, there is
still cxptiienced a want. Congenial sym
pathy cannot supply it. Jesus Christ in the
flesh passed through all of these stages of
tinman experience. He endured the ordin
ary pangs of tinman suffering, in hunger,
thirst, cohi, loss ot friends by death : yet, in
none of them did He profess to rise superior
to sorrow, and proclaim Unit they did not
exist, or that they could.be relieved by being
e dttred. He accepted them all ns portions
belonging to a world of sin and sorrow If
we contemplate Christ’s petsonal enfft rings,
we will din over many aggravating circum
stances to add to their intensity and the
source, from which, as a man, He drew
strength to endure them all. The first fact
that we notice, in connection with the
Saviour's pi rs. tol sufferings, is the knowl
edge that they J must come. In most ot our
troubles, we ate kept In ignorance of their
approach, till they are upon us Job was
not forewarned i t hiscalamities. They all
came like a whirlwind. Thick and last the
messengers arrived proclaiming one di-aster
titler another. He had no premonition of
their appioach, till they were hilly upon
him in all their dirkness and gloom. He
was not under Ilte necessity ot steeling his
heart to their endurance, lie had to make
no ifl’rt to ward them off. He was not
kept ou the jagged edge of suspense, won
dering how lie would stand it. Like the
bruised tied, alter the h’ast, he arose with
the pious tjacula'ion : ‘ The Lord gave and
the Lord hath taken away, blessed tie the
name of the Lord.”
But with Christ it was far different. He knew
from the beginning what He must endure.
Hence, we find Him saying: “Now is my
soul troubled.” - ‘l have a baptism to he
baptized with, and how am I straightened,
till it be accomplished.” The nearer the
time approached, the darker seemed the hour.
He pat took of the last supper with the
twelve, and then selecting the tlitee chosen
apostles, Peter, James and John, He retired
to the Garden of Gethsemane. . He said,
when He had arrived at liis accustomed
place til pray- r: “Watch ye here, while I
tro yonder and pray.” He agonizes with
His Father in eat nest entreaty. “He sweats
as it were, great drops ot blood falling down
to the ground.” He prays, “Father, if it be
possible, let this cup pass from me, neverthe
'ess not my will, but thine, O, God, be done.”
lie returns to the disciples and finds them
asleep. “What, could ye not watch with
me one hour ?” is His reproachful language,
minged with the considerate ap logy nr
their carelessness : “The spirit truly is wil
ling, but the fh sh is weak.”
When He had repealed His petition a
third time withal! of its agonizing earnest
ness, "Not mv will but thine, O, God, be
done,” He comes forth from the Garden,
prepared to endure all that the malice of
men or devils can heap upon Him. The
The traitorous kiss of Judas, the denial ot
Peter, the splitting and slapping of the sol
diers after lie was blindfolded, “prophesy
who struck thee,” the purple robe, the reed
in his hand,the crown of thorns on his head,
all of these were home with mute resigna
tion. Aod when about to be lifted on the
c oss between the two thieves, He prays
again, but not for hitnseii? “Father forgive
them, they know not what they do.”
When ail nature was in tluoes of sympa
thy with her expiring Lord, Jesus titters
that loud wail of iutensest woe, the concen
tration and consummation of all his suffer
ing “My God, Alv God why bast thou for
saken me!” (as if all lie had endured was
summed up in that single word “forsaken”
of G"d and) gives np the ghost. When
the disorders of nature had ceased, and the
sun began to decline towards the close of
day, the cross was visited by the Pharisaic
Jews to see if their victim could he interred
without viola'i g the Sabbath. Ami when
tiie soldiers examine the b dies they pro
nouncc Jesus dead. “Hardly possible” I can
imagine some supercilious K-thhi exclaim
With that rcmaik, a soldier thinks, he will
settle the question as to hi- death, and
thrusts his lance into IPs side, when out
flows blood and water, typical of justifica
tion and sanctifies ion.
And as Paul avs “It became him by
whom and for whom all things are, if) bring
l g many sons to glory to make the cap
lain of their salvation perfect through
suffering.”
We have in Christ a “high-priest, who
was tempted in all pi inis like as we are
yet without sin, ami is aide to succor them
iliat arc tempted.” Whilst lie trial ah'iie,
the wine pre.-s of God’s wrath, we have him
as a sympathizing friend and as a sufficient
Saviour in evety time of m ed. Christ says
to his disciples, “In the world, ye shall have
tribulation: hut lie of good cheer; I have
overcome the world.” Hitherto have ve
nsk and nothing in my mime; ark and ye shall
receive that your joy may be full. He has
promised his disciples through the II ly
Spirit, in whom they shall find peace, joy
aud comfort. As did Christ, so must Un
christian find his true happiness in commu
nion with God and io acquiesience to the di
\i e will. Tie sorer t lie trial helms to
pass thiottgh,the more importunate must
lie be in prayer. The nearer to God, the
safer and happier at all times is the Chii—
tiati. And when toned up to the discharge
o| vi ry duty, he feels like Paul detcrincs
himsell >n his letter to the Phill.ipii* 1.8 "for
me to live is Christ aud to die is gain.’ O
as he repeats the same idea in his Second
lettet to the Corinlliiai s, “Therefore we are
always confident knowing that whilst we
are at home in the body, we are absent from
the Lord. Wherefore we labor, that, win til
er present or absent, we may he acccptid o'
him. Thus living we shall be prepared
f, 1 tiie tuiflllniint of our Saviour’s premise.
"1 w ill come again and receive you unto my
self, that where 1 am, there ytokiT he al-o.”
. . r-W.vj.M.
- I
For the* Index and Baptist.
MMMY-MIHK 1, WORK.
In compliance with a desire expressed by
the esteemed editors of Tim Index, I pro
pose to write a series of articles on Sunday
school work to which I invite the attention
of brethren and Iritnds.
I hope 1 may tie pardoned for making, at
the outset, some statements cot cerning my
own labor since my appo-ntmeut as Stan
Sunday-school Evangelist. 1 lave labored
in nearly every county in the S ate, visited
702 churches, otgttnizt and 255 schools, preach
ed 534 seimong, delivered 1374 addresses,
liuveled 27,210 miles, added 6371 scholars
to schools, aided in 38 protracted meetings,
have written 2093 letters, distiibmeel 1198
Bible® and hooks, anil organized twenty-two
Associalional Sunday-school Conventions.
Much, however, that lias been done can
not be shown by figures, which to me is the
most gratifying pari ot the work, such as
quickened zeal, iucieased interest, improvi and
methods, higher standard of teaching, mul
tiplied coiiveisious, tiaining of Christian
workers, etc.
One feature that is especially pleasing to
me is the almost universal change ot senti
ment in regard to the relation which the
churches hear to the Sunday-schools. A
few years ago it was only here and there
that it church supervised and controlled the
Sunday school, now a majority, perhaps a
large majority do !
1 think that five-sixths of the answers in
the reports that 1 receive, to the question
“Does the church supervise and control the
school,” are in the affirmative.
Auoiber gratifying feature of the work
is tlte increasing number of adults that at
tend the schools. The absence of adult
church members has been and is yet one of
the greatest impediments to success. Stilt
this difficulty is gradually and surety being
overcome, and we shall hear less and less
of it as our pastors and churches more aud
more, recognize the Sunday-school as an
agency of the church, a department of its
\v- rk and give that consideration to its claims
that its importance demands. Two propo
sitions once fully recognized and accepted,
and we shall have comparatively little of
the difficulties in organizing and maintain
ing Sunday.schools: 1 Ttiat it is the duty
at'every church member to lie an active,
earnest and faithful worker for Jesus
2. That it is the duty ot every church to
provide for the worship of God every Sab
bath day, Ido not mean that it is the duty
of every church to have preaching every
Sabbath, though this would be a grand
thing, hilt to worship, with or without a
preacher. I will take back all I have ever
said in behalf of Sunday-schools, if any
man will show me where the Scriptures
teach that we must w irsliip God only
when a preacher is present, “Fotsake n-t
the assembling of ourselves together” is the
Scriptural injunction and the church that
fails to provide for some form ot Sabbath
worship in my opinion, fails to perform an
important Scriptural duty. In my exhor
tations, 1 have tried to impress ttie duty
of individual Christian effort, the regular
Sabbath worship, and the studying and
teaching of God’s wold by young ami old.
T. 0. Boykin,
8 nndav-school Evangelist.
Smutty-Schools Among the folortd People.
The following letter just received by me,
will, no doubt, he gtatifying to t-tlu-rs as it
has been to myself, and i hope that others
will go and do likewise,
T. C. Boykin.
Dear Brother in Christ —I went to the
I colored biethu-n’s church, according to
promise, on Sabbath after you left, and
organized a Sunday-school for them with
thirty four scholars and three teachers.
They claim the half dozen Testaments that
you promised them Ia so enclose you $4,
for Bibles. You remember you said to them
that you could send them a small size B ble
for twety-five cents, and a large size for
fifty five cents.
Our Sunday -School is in a prosperous
condition. Since you were here it has in
creased in numbers, and every one seems to
be anxious to go through 'he winter.
Yours Respectfully,
J. H. Mauky.
Randolph county, November 26, 1878.
!HK MINISTRY—SO. 11.
“Woe it unto me if 1 preach not the Gospel"
1 Cor. ix : 16.
There are some persons that are tloie to
enter upon the work of the ministry, even
after their brethren urge them to it. There
are some, on the other hand, who seem
determined to enter on it ngainxt the wishes
and opinions of all their brethren. Now, if
there is any difference, we suppose that
these latter ones have more reason to doubt
their call than the former. We love that
spirit which leads one to say, “Here am I,
Lord, send mebut we love also the spirit
which leads one seriously to weigh the im
portance of the work; which leads one to
tremble under a sense of responsibility as
did Moses. who, when God said, “I will send
thee unto Pharaoh,” replied, “Who am I,
that I should go unto Pharaoh, that thou
m a vest bring forth my people, thechildreti
of Israel, out of Egypt ?"
Some of those who seem determined to
preach, enter tue ministry. They fall into
gross sin and are excluded; they give great
annoyance to their church ; they profess re
pentance ; the church forgives and they are
restored to membership; hut that same de
le munition to preach still holds on to them,
and while yet their sin is Iresh in the mem
ory ol the people, and while confidence is
rio 1 yet restored, they ask ot thei r brethren
a renewal of their license. The brethren,
i1 as kind a manner as possible, refute; tell
lie in it is in their judgment, inexpedient,
and thus fora while the matter is at rest,
tint only for a while. The same request is
renewed, and the one who has given trouble
to the church by gross sin, is now perplex
ing the church by his inipt udencc. Such a
one should “walk sotily before God,” and
show more humility than this, before his
brethren. He professes a wish to do good,
hut alas! he forgets that “example speaks
more loudly than precept.” It seems hard
lor him to find out that he will do more
good to the church and to the wo; Id by
silence, than Ly preaching the G'-spel.
We believe that it is frequently the case,
that the object of some ot itie-e persons is
not to do good, hut to help t'.oir own sink
ing character. They feel that the.r reputa
tion is almost gone; and they wisli the
church to put them into the ministry, as
they suppose ilia thus H e community will
think well of them ; but those who suppose
this, make a great mistake. The commu
nity will judge for themselves. They aie
under no obligation to indorse as right the
conduct of a church, unless the church pur
sues a course warranted by the Billie. 1 hat
church sinks itself in the estimation of a
community, that sends forth into the world,
as a “preacher of righteousness.* an immor
al man, or one that is generaly believed to he
such That chinch gives a blow to its own
reputation. The world will very probably
think of the numbers of Uiat church as
they do of the man whom tbev have sent
forth as an “embassador for Christ.”
Tiie characters,such as we have mention
ed. although they seem to led, (if we may
judge by their word*), that they are called to
preach, yet have re ason to doubt their call,
it is not always the one that makes the
most noise about preaching that has the best
evidence of a call to preach.
Some ot these characters, too, will go
from one denomuiation to another with tlie
lie,pc of tiling allowed to preach. They are
Hapt it in. or Methodist*, nr willing to belong
to any denomination that will allow them to
exercise their gifis. The height of tbeii
ambition is to appear in public belore the
people ; 1 * ev seem to be mote anxious to he
known as preachers, than to and" their duty as
Christians. They torget that God lias said,
“Be ye clean, ye that bear the vessels ot the
Lord." B. W. Whildkn.
Trinity, Ala.
For the Index and Baptist.]
REV. J tV. I’. FAfKLKR.
Editors Index —Dear Brethren: For two
reasons 1 think 1 am entitled to a hearing
through The Index in vindication of the
dear brother whose name stands at the head of
this letter:
First, my opportunities lor knowing him,
even in his inside life, have been as good,
perhaps, as any man South or North. \\ hen
brother Fatkler first cinie back South, from
Cleveland, Otiio, lie lived in the house wiih
us several months. Ido not remember exactly
how long, but long enough for tne to know the
man thoroughly.
Secondly: THK Index lias allowed itself
to be instrumental at least, in casting a shadow
over the fair name of this good brother, with
out waiting to know all the facts in the case.
Some writer fn The Index associated the
name ot J. W. P. Fatkler with that of “one
Dr. Breaker,” who seetus to have been proven
a bad man, and was accordingly excluded
from his church
The Lumpkin Baptist church, of pious and
intelligent brethren, wiih the aid and co oper
ation of the Hon. John T. Clarke, of Cuthbert,
after a fair, candid and thorough investigation
into all the facts in the case of E der Fackler,
have pronounced him ‘ not guilty.”
The Lumpkin brethien have not only vin
dicated their former pastor against the slan
derous reports and charges which had been
hurled against him by the press and other
wise, but they prove ilieir good faith in the
conclusions they have reached by calling him
to again become their pastor.
In the matter ot slicing fir a divorce, it is
hm just and right that I should sia'e thus pnb
liolv, lhai 1 advised brother Fucker to (hit
eouite. I did it conscientiously, and would
do the same again. I had learned Irom his
i wn lips of the constant rejection ot IPs olt-re
peated overtures to his wt e for re-union, and
I knew something of the trials and temptations
surrounding one of his years in his condition.
After, thtrefore, having examined every text
in the New Testament relating to this subject,
l cattle to th“ deliberate conclusion that he was
at liberty to obtain a divorce and marry again.
First, Cor. vii: 15 gives this ;>ermissioii, in
my judgment: “But it the unbelieving de
part. let him depart. A brother or sister is
n -t under bondage in such ca-es ’’
1 have understood from die first that Mrs.
Fackler was a Campbellile, or Bible Chris
tian ; and, inasmuch as they do not require re
generation or faith of their members, I, ol
course, count her with the unbelieving.
I wish to slate further, heiore 1 close this
paper, mat when brother F. first came to my
house his surroundings were such as to create
au unfavorable impression on my mind; but
alter we had lived in one house, and been to
‘ get her by day aud by night, talking, reading,
prayißg and preaching together for many
months, my mind underwent a radical change
in regard to his character. I knew him when
he was the subject of sore trials —when dark
storm-clouds hung all around his moral hori
zon. I saw him, too, when the clouds broke
away, and the bright Bunlight of prosperity
and happiness did stream in iqiou his pathway
and in all these changing vicisitudes he was
the same constant, humble and devoted servant
of Christ.
He is a man of prayer ; he prays much, and
in earnest ; and, therefore, he has thus far
been able to stand and withstand.
I never knew brother Fackler to speak dip—
respeci fully of any one, or to utter an tratruth
in all the time ot our intimate association and
acquaintance. God must be preparing this
dear brother for some great and good work,
ami, therefore, purifies and tries him in the
furnace of affl etion and persecution.
May the Lord direct and control all for His
own glory Amen! J. H Corley.
Dawson, Ga , Nov. 20, 1878.
For th® Index aud Baptist.]
Ke-ulntlens Adopted by the Salem Baptist
Church, Silicon County, Ga., Iu Conference
November 24, 18*8.
The committee appointed 10 give expression
to the feelings of this church upon the re
moval of onr pastor, submit the following:
Whereas, our heloveu brother, E'.der W. F.
Duncan, who hasserv- and us faithfully as pastor
lor the past six years, b been, and is now,
severely affl cted with disease, ami has been
advised by his physician to remove and seitle
permanentlv in a higt er latitude, as the only
chance of building up his physical system;
ihere'ore, he it
Resolved, 1. T"at we record with pleasure
the high esteem and love with which he has
ever been held by us, as a member arid pastor
of this church.
2. That while we mourn the loss of cur
brother’s services, we will fondly cherish his
memory, and endeavoi lo profit by his exam
ple and faithful dispensation of the Gospel 10
us.
3. T’at in the removal of brother Duncan
this church has lost a faithful and effluent
pastor, the community a good citizen, and ihe
younger portion of the community their best
adviser.
4. That under the blessings of our Heaven
ly Father, should the health of our brother be
restored, some other field will find in him a
faithful laborer and an able expounder of the
Word. We pray that the Great Physician
may speedily restore him to health and use
fulness.
6. That this testimonial be placed upon our
minutes, a c py be furnished to brother Dun
can, ami a copy be sent to The Christian
Index for publication.
J. D. Ddncan,
James Horsley,
P. Z. Hill,
Committee.
A true extract from tiie minutes, as unani
mously adopted. J. D. Ddncan, Clerk.
For the Index ano nan! I*l.l
WHY IS IT SO I
A few vears ago there was a iittle village
church. (I need not locate it, though I could,)
which hv mistreatment of pastors, and other
causes, had worked itself down to per'ect’pros
tration. There was no prayer meeting, no
preaching, no Sunday-school. Ttie doors
were not opened for service for weeks, perhaps
months. At length, an humble, unpretending,
countrv pastor, diffidently proposed to one of
the dtaeon* to give them ore Sabbath in each
mouth till they could do better The deacon
gladly acoep'ed the ofler, saying that he was
hungry for preaching. Tne doors were again
opened, the old bell again called the worship
ers to the house of God. Three years passed,
several good meetings had been held, a flour
ishing Sabbath school was built up, and an
interesting prayer-meeting was established,
and about twenty five members had been bap
tized, others were added by letter, and the
church was again on her feet. Still, tlie
country pastor lays no heavy demand on this
church. What does she in her gratitude do
for th s fa thutl service? Dies she perma
nently call him with a living salary ? Not a
bit of it. She cads another matt wiih the
money that should have been bestowed on him
who helped her up. She ignored her bene
factor, lavished her money and honors on a
stranger, who left her in a worse condition
than he found her, and she is now in fair wav
to close doors agam.
Why should übe so? S mie iniee churches
are led to lose good pastors by taking a fancy
to some brilliant man that pays them a tran
sient call; sometimes their vanity makes
them dislike the plain Gospel and leads to
want a “showy service;” sometimes they
want a cheap preacher. I have known sev
end changes ot pastors from various causes
s milar to those referred to above. Who has
not? If such changes take (dace for such
causes among weak and illiterate people, it is
not so strange, but it is the case sometimes
even among latge, wedlhy. and intelligent
churches. Why is it so? Is it a want of
piiety, of common sense, or something else?
It matters not how good the pastor, how able
the preacher, such treatment will injure both
church and pastor, whether a change is eflect
ed or not It a change is needful, lei it he
made in the right way and for good reasons,
hut let every church and church member
know that God will not allow His lailhful
ones trampled under foot without defending
their cause. H.
For the Index and Baptist.!
Clßlls BlPtlM CIII KCB, At crSTA.
Dear Index —The Lord is bless
ing us at Curtis We have received
twenty nine since the commence- |
rnent of our meetings, three weehs
ago. Dr. Teasdale remained with us
two weeks, and left for Perry. His
labors were much blessed here, and
many wilt long remember the verier i
ble servant of God with affection.
For the last week or ten days the
interest has been steadily increasing,
and w T e are hoping for a thorough
revival of religion in the church, as
well as a large ingathering of such as
are to be saved.
C. H Strickland.
Augusta. Ga., November 16. 1878.
for tti Index and Rspitst |
Southern Baptist theological Seminary.
Kentucky has compipted.orabout complet
ed her quota of $300,000. North Carolina has
nearly raised her $25,000. Maryland has
nearly raised her $lO 000. Georgia Ims con
tributed in response to my appeals over $35,-
000. Other States are going actively for
ward, hut it should be wiih u a matter of
gratitude to God. as well as denominational
pride, that Georgia is ahead of all the States
except Kentucky, where the Seminary is
located. The Religious Herald, in its last is
sue, snvs: “The motives to contribute to
this object are exceedingly weighty. It is,
in our judgment, the most important of all
our Southern denominational enterprises.
The success of the Seminary commends it
to our cordial support. B-. sides all the good
it has done in the pant, it Ims now ninety
students, a number exceeding that of any
other Baptist institution in the world, and
its prospects lor the future are brighter than
its successes have been in the past. The
heroic eff irts and noble sacrifices of its pro
fessors, to which we can only allude, should
secure for it our cordial and generous sup
port.” M. B. Wharton
Albany , Ga., Nov. 22d, 1878.
Rf VI VAL IN AIGISTA
Bro. Tucker:
We have closed our meeting, after four
weeks’ continuance. 31 received by experi
ence, and several bv letter. During this year
of my pastorate here, our membership has
been more than doubled. December, 1877. we
numbered 86; to-day we aggregate 181. Dur
ing the year, S7OO has been raised and ex
pended on our Louse of worship—the salary
promised the pastor lias been (raid monthly,
and perfect peace and harntonu has prevailed
among the members. Next year we hope (de
sire with expectation) to do something for
others as well as ourselves.
Fraternally, C. H. Strickland,
Pastor Curtis Bap. Ch., Augusta, Ga.
November. 28, 1878
flic jumjan-f(hool.
International Snnflay-Scfiool Lessons,
Lesson XIII December 29,18*8.
QUESTIONS FOR RkVIHY.
[These questions and answer* are intended
as mere suggestions to the teacher ]
Lesson 1 What should we learn from this
lesson ? Luke xiii: 24.
Lesson 2. What is taught in this lesson?
1. That “all tilings are ready” for man’s sal
vation. 2. That we should earnestly strive to
save men. 3. That ihose who refuse the pro
visions of grace will be shut out from Heaven.
Les-on 3. What precious truth in this les
son ? That our Heavenly Father graciously
forgives the penitent sinner.
Lesson 4. What alarming fact mentioned in
this lesson? If men will not listen to the
Bilffe they cannot be saved.
Lesson 5. Tell in your own words the story
ot tiie ten lepers, and what yon learn from it.
Lesson 6. Whom does the Lord receive?
Lesson 7. Relate the account given of Zsc
cheus tiie publican, and tell whether yon think
he was a eiiscip'e of Christ.
Lesson 8. When was Judaism overthrown?
Lesson 9. On what day of the week did
Christ appoint the Lord’s Supper? Where
was lie on the morning of that day? Why
did he send into Jeru-slem to make prepara
tion tor keeping the Passover? What two
disciples did he send ? How were they to find
the house in which He would eat the Pass
over? At what hour of the day was the
Pa-sover eaten? Drscrihe the Pa u *over Sup
per. What cup is referred to in Lukexxii;
17? What in ver e 20? What is Christ
called in I. Cor. v: 7? Of what was the Pass
over a memorial? How many years had it
been observed ? Of what is the Lord’s Sup
per a memorial ?
Lessen 10. Where was Christ crucified?
What did He say as they nailed Him to the
cross? What d'd He sav just before He died ?
Lesson 11. Tell in your own words, the
story of this lesson.
Lesson 12 What were the very laßt words
o' Christ 10 Hindisciples? Wedo not know.
We know only that they were words'of bless
ing.
REMARKS.
In the last half year we have had twenty
four lessons in the life of Christ, from His
birth to Htsdeath, and from His re-umetion
to His ascension. What we have harried will
he a savor ol life or death to us. May God
grant His blessing to every teacher who lias
used these expositions.
We do not know that Baptists are addicted
to the practice condemned in the selection,
which we give below from an exchange; but,
as there is a good deal of human nature in
them, and as an ounce of prevention is better
titan a pound of cure, we would warn them of
a danger into which some o! our race have
fallen :
“Same slipshod mortals insist that it is per
mi-sib e, and, indeed, commendable, to tell fibs
ill cases whirs the Uilerarice of the plain truth
might give (.flense nr pain. That this doctrine
is pracncal'y carried out in society, we all
know. Persons who wish to avo and receiving
unwelcome visuors without resorting to a pos
itive rehuff, direct their servants to sav they are
“not at home.” 1 Glad to see you,” is the
greeting with which the man of polished man
ners greets the bore whose appearance he
regards with horror. Invalids past hope of
recovery are informed by smiling friends
that they are look ng better every day. Rash
men of business are congratulated on their
brilliant prospects tty those who know they
are on the verge of ruin. Io tact, never to
utter di-agreeabie truths, and to deal lioer
ally in agreeable talsehoods, seem to be the
accomplishment*—n gative and positive
most indispensable to individuals who desire
to be “pe feetly at home in polite society.”
To such courteous hypocrisy we cannot
Rub-crlbe. It mav sometimes be inexp di
ent to tell the tiuth, but never nece-sirv to
invent talsehoods for courtesy’s sake. Infinite
; harm is done by what are calltd “white
lies.’’ In nine cases out of ten, the plain
truth, kindly spoken, is beneficial to those
who seek counsel, advice, or any kind of
information or aid. In no case is falsehood,
however well intended, really justifiable.
When it is deemed unwise to speak the
truth,say nothing.
—ln a recent isue of our paper, we quoted,
from one of onr exchangee, the statement that
there was a tendency among the Unitarians to
return to evangelical views. In proof of the
truth of this statement, we etlect from the
Recorder the following paragraph :
“Here is a grand truth fmm the lips of
James Freeman Clarke, a Unitarian, at the
I Saratoga Convention: “D and Luther and Cal
vin and Melancthon shake Europe to its cen
i tre. and overturn dogmas and rituals rooted in
men’s convic’ion during ten centuries, merely
j hv offering them a more advanced form of
thought, and a more liberal and rational doc
trine? The electric force of the Reformation,
in i origin, was that it proclaimed a God
readv to forg ve without priest or sacrament,
as soon as men were ready to trust thpmselves
, to Hi divine grace. The religion came firt and
the rational theology afterward. Being first
rooted and grounded in love, they then became
able to comp-ehend with all saints what was the
j length and breadth and height of that which
passeth knowledge.”’