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4 HENR Y H.TUCK HR, Kditor. WHY ARE THEY NOT BAPTISTSf To the mind of a Baptist, the Scrip tures are so plain on those subjects on which we differ with other Christians, that it is not easy for some of us to see how it is that everybody does not agree with us. We stand amazed, and as it were thunder-struck,when any contend that persons are in any sense members of the church of Jesus Christ, who do not profess nor even pretend to be be lievers in him, and who have no desire to be such. We cannot conceive of suph a thing as a church on the New Testa ment model, except it be composed entirely of those who have made a credible profession of their faith ; and how there can be any difference of opin ion on such a subject as this, is to us a strange mystery. How any one can suppose that sprinkling is baptism is to us just as great a wonder as the pre ceding. When a wise and godly man thoroughly versed in the Scriptures solemnly declares that he finds infant baptism in the New Testament or in the Old, or anything that implies it or that looks like it or towards it or that would suggest it, or that would justify it, we are as much amazed as if he were to declare that he found authority there for the baptism of bells and horses and cattle. The three points named are those which chiefly distinguish us from others of the Christian brotherhood; and on these the correctness of our views is as clear to us as the sun on a cloudless summer day at noon ; and that any should differ with ns is as astonishing to us, as if one should deny the presence of the sun in the heavens, under the circumstances above described. Yet as matter of fact there are men quite as wise and quite as gojd as any of us and far wiser and better than most of us, whose opinions on the ques tion referred to are the opposites of ours. How is this phenomenon to be account ed for? In previous articles we have suggested in a general way, the man ner in which these conflicting opinions may have originated, and the question now is, how is it that they are kept up? Why, as light increases, do they not disappear? It may be observed in the first place that the same causes which originated them, tend now to perpetuate them ; and though truth may ultimately prevail, the tendency spoken of will always, doubtless, remain. Men’s minds are not constituted alike ; they differ on all subjects, and the interpre tation of Scripture is no exception to the rule. Men’s affections and interests and relationships will always affect their opinions. It is impossible that a man should rise wholly above all his surroundings; to do this requires a power which we do not believe God has vouchsafed to any member of the human race. “Yes, but when the Baptist argu ment is presented clearly to the mind of an honest man how is it possible that he fails to be convinced by it?’’ To every argument that a Baptist can offer, an answer has been invented, which however absurd and even ridic ulous it may seem to us, does not seem so to those who have been taught from their earliest years to regard it as satis factory. A man whose mind has been trained from the beginning in certain channels must have more than usual power if he can get it out of those channels; nor is one apt to feel that he is convinced until he is silenced, and a man is never put in such a con dition that he cannot “talk back all he has to do is to repeat what he has said before, and the oftener he repeats it, the more thoroughly he is satisfied with it, and hence the longer the argu ment continues, the deeper his convic tions become. Moreover, on such questions people do not wish to be convinced; on the contrary, they are determined that they never will be convinced that their views are erroneous, if they can possi bly help it. Whatever argument is offered, they regard it with suspicion ; they take for granted in advance that it is delusive; it comes to them with an ugly face ; it brings an unpleasant atmosphere with it; they verily believe that it proceeds from an evil source. On the other hand, the arguments on their own side they regard with com placency ; they come stamped with the authority of great names; they have the prestige of antiquity; they have done service for centuries; they are associated with all that is honored and hallowed; to doubt them Is like doubting the virtue of one’s father and of his mother and of all his loved ones, however pure and holy he may know them to be. It is easy to see that one who is in this frame of mind is not apt to give up his cherished opinions from the mere force of pure reason. What sacri fice will it cost him? He must disown the faith of his father and of his mother and of his ancestors; he must throw discredit on the sweet teachings of the nursery and of the fireside; he must cast aside the instructions of the reli gious guides of his youth whom, from his infancy, he has been taught to re vere and love; he must regard as non sense much of the literature on which, all his life, he has been fed, regarding THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1881. it as almost inspired; he must sever some of the tenderest ties that bind him to all whom he holds most dear on earth; he must break away from his church—from his dear, cherished, hon ored religious home—from the altar where, in his holiest hours, he has paid his vows to God and held communion with his Spirit; he must join another which, perhaps, be has always been in clined to regard as a spurious organiza tion, largely compounded of low-breed ing, ignorance and bigotry. Is it easy to do all this? We have never been put to such a test, and for this we thank God ; but if such a lot had been apportioned us, it is far from certain that we should hold the position which, by the blessing of God, it is our privilege to hold to-day. If we had imbibed Pedobaptist sentiments, 3s it were,with our mother’s milk if we had breathed them in with every breath we ever drew—if the sky above us, and the earth beneath us, and all around us had combined their forces to keep us in the early fold, and if all our interests and all our affections were centered there; and if all the prejudices of our nature had been stirred up against “the sect everywhere spoken against,” it is by no means certain that we should have had logical acumen enough to detect the fallacy of Pedobaptist argu ments,or strength of conscience enough, even if we had detected them, to make the fearful sacrifice required. It is easy to boast of what one would do under circumstances in which he has never been plaeed ; but boasters are always shallow-minded and feeble-hearted; and in the day of trial are the first to fail, and to fall short of their preten sions. A man who knows the difficul ty of the situation is sure not to make light of it. It is not surprising that there should be so few who have adopted Baptist views; the wonder is, that there should be so many. We count now by mil lions ; only a few years ago small gath erings of Baptists worshipped God in secret places to avoid the officers of the law; while many of those who were caught were immured in dun geons or perished at the stake. There being so little about us to invite, and there being such mighty powers to prevent any from uniting with us, the prevalence of our views is wonderful, and, to our minds, is strong testimony for their truth; and we furthermore believe that if the influence of God’s Spirit had not been superadded, the truth itself would not have wrought such results. By the blessing of God we shall abide in the faith ; and by the same blessing we shall always regard with respect, and with Christian sympathy and love, those of our brethren in the Lord whom we must think are less fortunate than we, in their views of truth and duty. A Paradox.—ln Gal. 6:2 the apostle says: “Bear ye one another’s burdens,” and in the sth verse of the same chap ter he says, “For every man shall bear his own burden.” The two utterances almost in the same breath seem to con tradict each other. It often happens that mere words appear to be contra dictory when the things meant by those words are not so. When we are told to bear each other’s burdens, it is not meant that we shall literally and for life exchange burdens, so that A shall have all of B’s burden, and B all of A’s; nor is it meant that one man shall bear everybody’s burden. All that is meant is that it is everybody’s duty to sym pathise with everybody else, and to help everybody else as far as he can ; and this is merely the doctrine of a thoroughly unselfish, and active, forth putting benevolence—a doctrine every where taught in the Scriptures. The special reference of this particular text seems to be to those who have been overtaken in a fault, and who need sympathy and encouragement. Such a one needs to be “restored.” The com mon interpretation that such a one should be restored to the church is pro bably incorrect. He is to be restored to the state of grace from which he fell. Kindly attentions, wholesome counsel, , sympathy and prayer, are the only means of restoration so far as we can use them. We should consider our selves, lest we also should need the same help, and render to another that service which we should like to receive from him if our positions were re versed. After all, each man must bear his own burdens. Others may help him, but nothing more. Every man’s re sponsibilities, duties, temptations, trials and sorrows must be his own, and not another’s Each man’s individuality is intact; he isTiimself, and not some body else. Let each one see to his own account; he will find at times that a little brotherly help will be of great service to him; let him enjoy it and thank God for it when it comes, and let him reciprocate as occasion may require. How nearly allied, how inseparably linked together, are the mercy and the holiness of God! Expiation for the sins of the penitent, and retribu tion for the sins of the impenitent come forth as it were together from the same starting point. In the vision of the prophet, the ministers of judgment who were to slay utterly, old and young, while their eye should not spare and they should have no pity, stood to receive their dread commission be fore the brazen altar, where were offered the sacrifices which made atonement for the souls of men! (Ez. IX). AFTER MANY DAYS. A STORY IN TWO CHAPTERS. Chapter I. About thirty years ago a young minister who was anxious to preach, and who was able and willing to dispense altogether with salary, ap peared to be one too many in the pro fession, for no church seemed to desire his services. Finding that no one was likely either to call him or to send him, he determind to go without being either called or sent. He discovered a neigh borhood pretty thickly settled, within some miles of which there was no church except one of the “Hardshell” persuasion whose house of worship was a mere log cabin. These sacred pre cinets he could not enter; but some friends in the vicinity built for him a bush-arbor in the woods, not far from the aforesaid edifice; and he unanim ously elected himself pastor of the said bush-arbor. He gave out among the neighbors that he would preach at stated times at this place ; and to his great gratification he succeeded in col lecting a congregation of two or three hundred people. To these he preached from his rude pulpit as they sat on im provised seats, andon the ground, at re gular intervals during the spring and summer months, and in the autumn until the weather became so cold that out-door meetings could no longer be held. In the winter he had the honor to be called to another field, and since then has usually preached within walls and under a roof. So far as could be seen, no good ever came from this hard and thankless campaign in the woods, further than this, that a good many people heard the Gospel preached who otherwise would not have heard it. The outlook was disheartening in the first place, and the retrospect showed but little advantage gained. The laborer had ploughed on a rock and had sowed his seed by the way-side, and in stony places, and literally among thorns, and in a place where there seemed to be no good earth. All was soon forgotten; the bush-arbor rotted away, the so-call ed pulpit tumbled down; the punche ons and logs that were used for seats, became worm-eaten and crumbled to dust, and all vestiges of the little Bethel passed away, and nothing was left but the primeval forest where it stood. Chapter 11. A few days ago at a place some hundreds of miles away from the scene last described, the preacher was sent for to see a lady who desired to have a conversation with him. She was a woman of wealth and culture, and was a pious, prominent and efficient member of a Baptist church in the place where she lived. The preacher had never met her be fore, so far as he was aware, but she received him with great cordiality and enthusiasm. “Do you remember,” said she, “preaching at a bush-arbor (nam ed the place) thirty years ago?” “Whe ther you remember it or not, I do. Shall I ever forget it? My grandfather rode twelve miles that day to attend your meeting; I was a little girl and he took me with him. I heard a ser mon that day which impressed me as I was never impressed before, and have never been since. It took possession of my soul; I have never forgettan it; it has been the light of my life to the present day. I was a very small child, but the next day I repeated the text and much of the sermon to my school mates, and since then I have repeated it many times to my children. The text was in the words of our Lord, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever be lieveth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” If ever I have pas sed from death unto life, it was the exposition of those words on that day, which the Spirit of God used as the means of it. If both of us ever attain to eternal life, I shall be one of the gems in your crown of rejoicing.” * * * * * * * The labor of thirty years ago long unrequited, has at last met its reward ; grand wages has the preacher received for his hard and lonesome toil amid many discouragements and with few to sympathise! No man had hired him it is true, but God has paid him for his work. The most surprising feature of the case, remains yet to be told ; the little girl at the bush-arbor now developed into a noble woman, was at that time only seven years old! The whole story bristles with suggestive points. We leave our readers to their own reflec tions. A recent great ingathering is report ed by missionaries of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, laboring among the Indians, the aborigenes of Guiana. Rev. E. W. Pierce baptized 1,376 persons, “in cluding children, presented by their parents.” He writes, that he invested “the great sacrament” with all the dig nity and ritual appropriate to it,” for the benefit of “the observant ignorant heathen.” To this end, “those baptized were immersed in the clear waters of the Demarara river.” In other words, to clothe the ordinance with impressive ness, he borrowed the apostolic practice of the Baptist churches! The Baptists of San Antonio, Texas, have increased within four years from six to one hundred, with a stone house of worship, besides a mission house worth SI,OOO in which a large Sunday school is held. Dr. J. G. de Hoop Schaffer, of Am sterdam, Holland, ascribes the origin of his recent work, “The Brownists at Amsterdam in Connection with the Baptists,’’largely to enquiries propound ed by Dr. Whitsitt of our Seminary, Louisville, and says of him: “His breadth of view, critical insight and extraordinary skill in historical research induce me to hope that he will be ef fectively supported by his religious as sociates in executing a labor which hitherto has never been satisfactorily performed, namely, to write a history of the Baptists.” A Northern Baptist minister who visited New Orleans writes to the Bos ton Watchman, that a colored pastor requested his judgment as to the gifts of some youths in his congregation who felt that they were called to the minis try. He heard sixteen in succession, and felt constrained to pronounce every one of them unfit and therefore un called. Os course, every educational movement which, tends to raise the standard of admission into the pulpit among our colored brethren, deserves the sympathy and help of all Christian men. Bishop Huntington, of Central New York, can now call to mind only one article which, while a Unitarian, he contributed to the editorial columns of the Christian Register, and that, he tells us, "was a foolish and furious at tack on a Baptist.” He ‘begs everybody’s pardon for it’, and adds: “There are so many things nowadays that need to be abolished more than Baptists.” Where upon the N. Y. Independent says: “That is true. The Baptists embrace a very large share of the consecrated scholar ship and labor of the Christian church.” “The women,” says Rev. John Stout, “have made South Carolina the mis sionary State it is.” It led all the Southern States, the past year, in con tribution to foreign missions, and sends two of its sons to assist the prosecution of the work in China. Now, what do the Baptist women of Georgia say to the proposition that they attempt, the present year, something of generous rivalry toward their sisters of the Pal metto State in this matter? Is not the banner for liberality worth the winning? And is it not in their power to win it? It is spoken of as the deep dishonor of the Established Church, Canada, a powerful and wealthy denomination, that it does nothing for foreign mis sions. Reader; are you one of the number who prevent that dishonor from resting on Baptists? Are you a laborer and a giver for the evangeliza tion of the word? The question is a serious one; especially in view of the statement by Rev. F. H. Kerfoot, that these givers and laborers do not amount to one in ten of Southern Baptists. There are now 500,000 native Chris tians by profession in India, Ceylon and Burmah ; and yet it is only seven ty years since William Carey baptized the first Hindu convert. Perhaps, even the faith of the English Baptist “cobbler” did not grasp the idea of so vast a harvest from the seed he cast into the ground. Who shall say that similar surprises are not to follow the labors of our present missionaries in China, Africa, Italy and Brazil? Tennyson has said: “There is more faith in honest doubt, Believe me, than In half the creeds.” Well, now, if doubt be really such a fine thing, perhaps, we may be par doned if vie spply it as well to the verse maker as to the creed-maker. Where's the harm, from his own point of view, in doubting whether, after all, “doubt” is so very “honest”, and, if it be, whe ther there is so very much “faith” in it? Rev. Mr. Carpenter, an American Baptist missionary in India, declined to receive a collection taken up by a church of Karen converts for sending missionaries to a neighboring heathen tribe, because, in view of their poverty, he thought it too large. They per sisted, however, saying: “We can live upon rats, but the KaKhyens cannot live without the gospel.” “And I will be comforted!" So God speaks of the chastisements inflicted on apostate Israel. The imagery is ter rible. Sin wearies God—grieves him —provokes him : and to punish sin is to him a comfort! Oh, let the guilty stand in awe before the stroke of his hand. Patagonia—the “No-man’s Land” of some geographers—has now a Welsh Baptist church of twenty-six members. “A cloud, like a man’s hand” for smallness, we confess; but is it not the promise of “a great rain” of grtfce, which shall transform Patagonia in to a Land of the Son of Man? Since 1855 the Basle Missionary Society, by its system of weekly penny collections has secured $1,156,145, and from the funds gathered in this way now supports 115 missionaries. Is this simply a token of what our Bap tist poor may do? Nay—it is a pro phecy of what they will do! The next course of lectures on preaching at the’ Yale Theological Seminary will be delivered by a Bap tist, Rev. E. G. Robinson, D.D., -LL.D., President of Brown University. GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS. —Columbus Times: The open air meeting was largely attendod and the services were most interesting. These meetings are always well attended and productive of great good. —Athens Watchman: Five colored people were baptized by immersion in the Oconee, below the bridge, Sunday afternoon last. A large number of colored people, and a good many whites, were present. —Perry Home Journal: Rev. A. J 1 Cheves, of Montezuma, pastor of the Baptist church at Houston Factory was in town last Sunday. He hopes to see a large delegation from Perry at the meeting of the Baptist Sabbath school Convention at Spaulding on the fifth Sunday in this month. —Newnan Herald: Rev. J. H. Hall is announced to preach at White Oak Baptist church on the fith Sunday in this month. —The Sunday-school Convention, os the Coosa Baptist Association, will convene on Friday, 11 o’clock, before the second Sabbath in June at Macedo nia church, Villanow, Walker county. During the Convention the following brethren will be expected to speak on the subjests annexed to their names: J. Y. Wood—The Christian’s Obliga tion to teach the word of God. J. C. Clements —The End of a good Begin ning. J. J. S. Calloway—Sunday-school Literature. Wm. Shattuck—Early Training. T. C. Tucker—Who should Work in and for the Sunday-school. E. E. White—How to excite an Inter est in the Sunday-school. M. C. Jack son—Go to work Early and keep Working. Elder Blalock of Grays ville—The Qualifications of Superinten dents and Teachers of Sunday-schools. It is further arranged that Elder Wm. Shaddock preach the introducto ry sermon at 11 o’clock Friday—the time the Convention is to meet —and that an abdress of welcome be deliver ed by Dr H. Y. Hunt, of Macedonia church. Brother H. S. Moor, Chairman of the Executive Committee says : “The churches and Sabbath-schools are ur ged to send up their representatives. Let there be a general turn out of breth ren and sisters entitled to seats in the Convention, and every effort made to help on with the Sunday-school cause in our churches.” Columbus Enquirer-Sun: A large crowd assembled on Mott’s Green in attendance, and among them were eleven ordained ministers of the gospel. The services were opened by Rev. J. H. Campbell, who gave an excellent talk upon “The still small voice.” The train of thoughts presented was that God could speak to the heart in the whirlwind, in the storm, or in a “still small voice” in which we hardly im agine what it is that speaks to us, though it is done effectually. He was followed in conclusion by Rev. A. B. Campbell, who took for his subject, “Where will you spend Eterni ty?” He showed the importance of each individual answering the ques tion for himself, and urged that it be done in a calm, cool, deliberate manner, and pointed out the good to come from a proper answer and living up to the discharge of duty, while on the other hand a failure to discharge that duty would plunge them into a gulf of the darkest despair when they come to the judgment. —Americus Republican: The mem bers of Mt. Olive (colored) Baptist church, are raising funds for the pur pose of erecting a house of worship on a site they have purchased on McKay’s hill. They ask the assistance of their white friends for this purpose. The workmen will commence work on Thursday morning. —Rome Bulletin: An interesting and well attended service was held in the Baptist church last Sunday even ing. The church was filled to its utmost, and seats had to be placed in the aisle while a number of persons remained standing. Four young ladies and one young man were baptized. The choir rendered the music particu larly well. —The Baptist church at Brooks Station has elected Dr. Phelps, from near Griffin, as its pastor. —James P. Mayne, a most excellent citizen of Oconee county, and a leading and worthy deacon of the Freeman’s Creek Baptist church is dangerously sick and his sufferings are intense. Let us all pray for him. —Columbus Enquirer-Sun: A very interesting revival is now progressing at the First Baptist, and the church seems to be fully stirred up in their religious feelings. The warmest inter est is manifested and the indications are good for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The services at this church will be held at 9 o’clock a. m. and at 8 :15 p. m. —Meriwether Vindicator: Steps are being taken to purchase a hand some organ for the Baptist church. An organ would add greatly to the church music, and we hope the effort to procure one may be crowned with success. —Douglasville Star: At last the Baptist ehurch has been so far finished as to be in such a condition as to allow the holding of services in it. This was done for the first time on last Sunday. The edifice is still in an in complete condition, and the committee is making every effort to raise funds to complete it —Augusta News: The every night services at St. Luke’s church, conduct ed by Rev. W. T. Cheney, of Curtis Baptist church, are well attended and productive of much good. —Of the revival meeting in the First Baptist <}hurch the Enquirer-Sun says: For some weeks there has been a spirit of increasing interest among the members of the First Baptist church, and on last Sabbath it was so plainly manifested that the pastor put it to a vote in the church whether the services should be protracted. It was decided in the affirmative by an almost unani mous vote, and since that time services have been held at 9 o’clock in the morning and at 8:15 o’clock at night. The meetings have been in teresting from the first, ann each suc ceeding service seems to increase the manifestations of the working of the Holy Spirit. Not only are the members deeply affected and seem to desire an outpouring of God’s blessing, but those who have made no profession of relig ion seem deeply concerned and are attentive upon the service. It is hoped that great good will flow out from the services, and that they will be largely attended. The meetings will be con tinued through the week. —Rev. J. H. Fortson has served Friendship church, Wilks county Ga., as paster for eighteen yeers; and the union between his people and himself appears to be closer now than at any former time. —Macon Telegraph and Messenger: We are glad to be able to announce that Dr. Landrum is now in the city. His headquarters in the future will be in Macon. He enters at once upon his duties as financial secretary and lecturer in theology of Mercer Univer sity. We trust he will meet with great success in enlarging the endow ment, and securing many of the young men of the state as pupils in our Uni versity. —The Albany News and Advertiser says: The ladies of the Baptist church are preparing for a series of parlor en tertainments, by which they desire to raise a sufficient fund to place in neat and comfortable order the pews of their church. These ladies are good workers; they have erected a handsome pulpit, and now propose to finish the work of placing the church in thorough repair. —Monroe Advertiser: Rev. Dr. S. G. Hillyer, after preaching a most excel lent sermon on last Sabbath, surprised his church by' handing in his letter of resignation as pastor of the Baptist church in Forsyth The Doctor has received a call from the church at Washington, Ga. He leaves a vacancy both as President of Monroe Female College and pastor of the Baptist church here. TWO BURIALS. On Saturday, 13 th inst., Mrs. Emily Toy Curry was buried under the grave yard oaks of the Milford church,Baker county, Ga. She had borne in her mind all the grace of a thorough edu cation, directed by her father, the late Deacon Toy of Norfolk, Va., and stim ulated by the scholarly spirit of her brother, Dr. Crawford H. Toy, now of Harvard University. Her heart had since her girlhood been beating with the impulses given it by God’s holy Spirit. Her life had been one of sim ple, devoted and exalted piety. It had been a consecrated life of sacrifice, and toil and prayer by the side of her pious husband, Elder W. L. Curry. All hearts that knew her, and that could love the good, loved her. She died very suddenly, after suffering as poor woman can suffer. It will be hard to forget the sorrows of that day, as friends and neighbors, black and white, young and old, saint and sinner,church and people, all realized the crushing bereavement. The next day, being Lord’s Day, the writer remained with his bereaved kin dred, and we met at the church again for preaching. At the close of the sermon, the pastor, brother Curry, rose and asked if there were any who de sired prayer. Many came. Then Mrs. Whitlock, wife of Deacon Whitlock, came before the church and calmly declared her faith in Christ and desir ed baptism in his name. She has been regarded by us all for years as a be liever ,but had strangely shrunk from the duty of baptism. No faltering now. Her bosom friend had just died in her arms. She had seen and felt the prec iousness of Christ and she must put him on. That calm bright evening she was baptized in the Notchaway. There was a peculiar, comforting and elevating influence around that scene. We had buried Mrs. Curry with an assurance of her blessedness. Jesus had died for her offences and ris en again for her justification. No doubt of that. The resurrection of Jesus had given sunshine as bright to our heart as the white flowers that were laid on sister Emmie’s grave. Oh! what a perfect comfort when we bury a believer! And now, to see another precious one buried with Christ in bap tism, setting forth in God’s simple ap pointment, the grand, glorious, com forting Gospel of a risen Savior. We thank God for permitting us to see em bodied in the baptism the hopes of the grave. Oh! that we would remember that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and that we shall be raised up at the last day! John. L. Underwood.