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Duties. The duties of pastors to their churchec and churches to their pastors is a subject upon which I have had a great deal of thought, and will now try to pen down a few of thsm, praying the Lord to direct my pen to the glory and honor of His dear name; and for • the good of Mis children ; and I peg, in the outset that the dear readers of the Banner may throw the mantle of charity over my many imperfections. Dear brethren I have no desire tn he dictatorial to the Lord’s peo ple in any way. I only wish to ad monish them in* my feeble way to a faithful discharge of their respec tive duties, as given ns in the bible to be governed by. Let us consider well what these’ duties are, and then lot us perform them with ail meekness and humility. When we as churches make choice of a pastor, we do not want twfess he is prepared of the Lord to take the oversight of the I flock; and when we have made choice of him we expect to meet him at our churches on our meet ing times, and to hear him preach Christ, and Him crucified to the comfort of his flock; not mortify ing the feelings of his congregation by telling them he has no educa tion, that he is poor etc. and then spend the remainder of his time fighting other denominations; for their doctrine and practice. They cannot preach the power of our God, therefore they are to be pitti ed more than blamed. Such preacb- ing is not the gospel of our Lord and Master. ' I have heard some sweet preach- * ers of our order that could hardly read the bible; but whether learn ed or unlearned, all can preach whom the Lord qualifies. And, dear brethren, let me bid you Preach on. But preach nothing except you have a “Thus saith the Lord” for. Fail i.ot to declare the whole council of God, without the fear of man. You are not respon sible for what the world believes; are you commanded to make giving .to'etibLt— Now, a word to our churches: Dear brethren when we call one of God’s faithful preachers to serve us and fail to untie his hands, so that he can come to see us feeling free from financial embarrassment on the churches’ account, and getting the “cold shoulder” of some of the .members, we do not tre;.t him as we should, and in so doing we incur the displeasure of the Lord, and cause our preacher to wonder “Do they love me at all.” Dear brethren and sisters let me beg you to be faithful to each other, for in doing this you are proving your faithfulness to God, I do not believe that any church that is able, and does not take care of her preacher is doing her duty. They are generally poor men, and some of them have large families and their tabor is their only means of support, and they often have four churches to serve; and have but little time for labor; and no time to fish out and hunt out the Lord’s little children as he has commanded them. Yet we look for him at every meeting, and if he, through our negligence, is un able to get there we think and talk ftjat hard about it. We speak of his carelessness and indifference as though we were guiltless. Some times a brother will complain at the absence of the preacher when he does not attend his meetings regularly himself, and has not done anything towards aiding his pastor to come. But he will com plain just if he himself was faith ful, and say “We ought to have another preacher,” but I think we ought to hav ! another member. I heard of one brother who said he * thanked God that he had never given a cent to his preacher and never intended to do so. I am glad to say that that brother is not a member of our little church here at Altoona. Ido not believe it is the duty of any preacher to serve a church that will allow him to do so at Lis own expenses, unless they are unable to bear the burden. But some iwill say “the preacher is command !ed to go.” S(3 they are, and the church is commanded from the same authority to Lear the burden o f it. Let us not blame them un til we fix <he bridge so they can cross without getting crippled. Dont let Us be afraid to do this because others pay a fixed salary to their preachers, for I do not be lieve any of our preachers would g<» into any such arrangement, i Dear brethren and sisters dont i think I am on to something new, but read your bibles and see whether these things be so. And now a word to my brother Deacons, (though I. fear I am a Deacon only in name.) If our only duty consists in waiting on the tables at our communion times, they would bo very light indeed, but they do not stop here. I fear dear brethren we are greatly to blame for the crippled, condition of our preachers. Have you en quired into the condition of your preacher’s finances? Ami have you faithfully reunited the same to the churches. Or has our laxity in duty forced them to tell us the reason they could not come. All is this wrong. Let us do our duty in spirit and bear one another’s burdens. Dear Brethren if any of you dif fer with me, please do so kindly, for I do not desire to do anything that would mar the peace of any of our dear brethren, nut dnly de sire to admonish all the dear saints to put on the whole armor of God, and do His commandments with 'singleness of heart. Would be glad to near from other brethren on the subject. Yours in hope, R. L. Hopson. Altoona, Fla. Hope Mills, Page county, Ya., July Bth, 1894. Eid. A. V. Simms: Dear Brother:—Yours of sth July, receved, in reply will say, that I will do all in my power to help get .your paper circulated. I am much plaased with the Banner and would like to see it in all Ppflflflßßl^z^_ SSlogan gave rmr-kix cooxtrt-which I distributed among our people and hdpe to get some subscribers. Thanks my brother for the compliments in asking me to write for its pages, and I’d gladly do it if I knew I could give one word of comfort to the very k ast of God’s little ones, but I’m such a poor weak creature my letters are so imperfect, yet I love to read or hear of the trials of the dear saints. It is a great oom fort to know that others have had the same great battle to fight that I have. But God is good. He knows just how to humble our re bellious nature or make us ready to »ay “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling.” Then we are ready to throw aside our good works as filthy rags. I’ve had more sore afflictions and often feel that “I’m being tried as if by fire,” but its a sweet comfort to know that every affliction draws me that much nearer to Christ. Brother H. C. Hogan of Lidiana spent three weeks with us and preached much to the delight of the Baptist here. Indeed we look on him as one of God’s ministers, so young in years, and in the min istry, yet such an able, zealous ex pounder of God’s glorious truths. He dwells so much on the love of God. “Salvation by grace” is his whole theme. Oh! his manner of preaching is so much like my precious departed husband Eld Benj. Lampton in trying to com fort and encourage God’s timid lit tle ones to take up their cross and follow Him in the- ordinance < f of baptism. Brother Hogan bap tized two in Luray, while here. This is the central of means or Burnam ism, yet there are many hovering around the fold, anxious to follow the old “land marks,” only lacking courage to say, “Jesus I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow thee.” Brother Purifoy tells me that Brother Lee Hanks is so much like Mr, Lampton was in searching out his little tried ones. It seemed to me that his eyes could penetrate the vary souk Ido hope Brother I Hanks will find it in his heart to come to Virginia soon, I am so anxious to hear him. Eider T. S. Dalton is our pastor, and we love him very much for the truth’s sake, and we do feel that he is doing much good here. Now Brother Simms whenever you will send me some papers I will do what I can for you, I love tno Baptist, I love the cause above everything earthly, and I do trust your paper will succeed. I enjoyed your explanation of n Peter 3-9 so much in Juno 15 number. How true that “every one will preach the power that sends him ” Let it be Gcd or money. You, mv dear Brother may the good Lord ever keep you an humble little preacher and bless your labors to the good of His people is the prayer of your sister, I hope. Emma Lampton. This" good letter has been over looked. Write again Sister. —S. Brackin, Ala, Feb., 10th, 1895, Eld. A. V. Simms, Valdosta, Ga. Dear Brother in the Gospel of Christ. I have been thinking for some time I would write to you But being mindful of my imperfec tions and feeling so unworthy of a name amoung the people of God I felt inclined to withhold. I have so many sore trials and temptation to meet with, I am often made to fear that I am not a child of God. My mind has been impressed to J visit the churches in the bounds’ of the Flintßiver,Ochlocknee,Union : aad Pulaski Associations. But JI fear that my impressions are nol i of the Lord, and again there are j brethren that seems inclined to i think that preachers who travel and preach do it for the purpose of making money. But I hope that is not the cause of my impression ;yot that kind of talk often embrasses mo so I am made to shrink when I think of sending appointments. But yet 1 get weary and cannot hold my peace. I feel that I have been sorely chastised and have vowed to the Lord that I would devote the remainder of my days in trying to toll of the sovereign mercy and grace of God.l hope it is not for money,but that I might have an acqu inted concienca; or ease of mind. Sb if you will give space for this in the Pilgrim’s Banner I wiibtry to fill any appointment the brethren see fit to make, begining at.the nearest church to Climax Station, Decatur Co. Ga., going east on through Flin- River,Ochlocknee and Union Associa tion, begining about thelst of April. You and Elder Hanks and Eld. P.G-. McDonald, please arrange ap pointments. Dear Brother Simms I have been solicited to write for the Banner but fear I could not be of any comfort to the people of God, Yet the Lord hath said,” comfort ye my people saith your God speak ye comfortable to Jerusalem, are the trials and afflictions an example, to the people of God whereby they may be comforted? Were not the Prophets an example to the suffering saints of the present day? and also the trial and patience of Job, and were nott hesef things written for our comfurf* that we might hope and trust in the Lord? And if the Lord has been, so good and merciful to us, shall we not be willing to be made an ex ample of suffering afflictions, that others who are sorely tried “may bo comforted with the samo com- F' ! fort wherewith we are comforted ol God?” Dear brother asl have written on both sides of my sheet for lack of space, do with it as you think best My address is changed from Victoria, Coffee county, Ala., to Brackin, Henry coounty, Ala. > Please send my .Banner to the latter office. In love to ali the saints I sub scribe my self vour unworthy Bro ther m tne affliction of the Gos pel. Lewis H. Stuckey. Elder R. H. Barwick will please arrange the above appointments and send them (o us for publica tion. —S. Arcola, Ga., Feb , 18th 1895. Eld A. V. Simms, My Dear Brother in the Lord, (if I may be allowed to claim such relation with you.) Since I parted with you at Statesborro I have been wanting to write to you, but have felt that my poor letters could not be of any interest to you, I have differed it until now. I hope I may in return get a few “hand fulls” as Ruth did. I feel that yon dropped a few for me while iq^this section. I was made to feel that surely the Lord had sent you here.lt reminded me of an illustratipnlheard once about a bell that was lost, that had been worn by a tame sheep and was found at last by some one, and as the man was riding along the road ringing the bell for a musement, the flock of sheep heard it, and ran after it. They heard the sound. So I was by the Gos pel bell ■ I hope I know the sound, but it seems to me it had been lost .or my ears had been stopped quite a while prior to your coming. May the Dear Lord Bless you dear Mother and send you to see us again. ■ Your unworthy Brother,. P. R. McEivin. Laston, Ga., Feb., Bth, 1895. My Dear Brother in the Lord:— I will write you to tell you of my unworthy feelings. I cannot ex press the feelings that came over me when I heard you preach at our c inreh. I could not go home satis!'ed without yon and the dear ■JwetfaAn and sisters with us. I Ol our blessed sa “ -vior w>s shed aboard in our mids t that. day. O how thankful I feel of such a comforter to poor humble sinners as you are. My dear Brother, I hope and trust in the Lord that you may have a willing mind to come back to see. us again for I feel like their is ivork here yet for you. O how sweet it is to me to see the little ones come home. 1 feel like sometimes that lam too siiifu| to be amoung the children of Gcd; but dear brother, that is all my pleasure in this life—to try to serve the Lord and go to good meetings. I .now turn my back upon the pleasure I once enjoyed and I thank the good Lord for it . I trust that the good Lord will direct me with the dear Baptists the remainder of my days My dear Brother I feel sadly disappointed in not getting to you** appointments inEmmaneul county, but I feel thankful to the Lord I heard you preach some. MW the Lord’s blessings be with yon «nd family forever. May the Lord direct your mind to come to see us again. I remain your un worthy sister. Tobitha Tompkins. Boston, Ga., Feb. 14, 1895 My Dear and Precious Husband: ; I was very glad to get your dear good letter, saying that you were feeling bettor. I do hope youi health will be good while you are gone, and that the Lord will bless you, and that you may be able to |rjjoy this tour as you did the one previous. I know it is a great cross !pr you to leave home and be gone o much ; yet I fee] that th Q Lord has requii'd it of you and you will be blessed in obedience. I desire to bear my lonely loth wit patience, without murinering, though t tim,e% every thing seems dark and glooj.y. I fl &1 like I should be tho most thankful creature on earth. The good Lord has been so good to me in 'giving my dear husband to me as one from tho dead. I feel like 1 want to praise Him as long as I live. I dont feel like the* Lord spared you to me, because I am worthy of such a dear good husband, but for the work He has given you to do, therefore I desire to be submissive, We are all well. I was glad you wrote to the children. They will write to you Saturday. Darling Pray for us. The time will seem long, so write as often as you can. You have my sympathy and my poor feeble prayer. Yours unworthily, Lummie Hanks. Saint Leo, Fla., Jan. 20,1895. Elder A. V. Simms, Valdosta, Ga. Dear Brother: I have been thinking for quite awhile I would write something of what I feel, to hope has been the Lord’s deal ing with me, but could notget my consent to do so until I read little sister Ada Moran’s experience in the Banner last night. Her let ter reminded me so forcibly of what my pool heart has witnessed in gone-by days until I now ieel encouraged tc write a little about it. I think it was in my twelvth year when one day in June an im pression came to me to pray. I thought I heard someone tell me to pray. I looked around to see if anyone was near, but saw no one. Up to this time I had but little thought about de?ltli and the here after. But I with such convictions, that I looked in every direction to see if anyone was near, and seeing no one l'got down on my knees as I bad seen others do, and tried to pray, but soon be came ashamed of my and got up and went my way, butythe impression to pray followed mie, worm (<.y again, but before I got on my J knees, I thought of a secluded spot where I might go and no one would see me; so I started off hastily to this place, but did not. go far before I thought of another place that was not so far away. After I had reached the place and bad offered my little prayer, I felt better, but it was only temporary. Everything I had ever done arose before me and I felt like I had never done anything good. My daily meditations -was now upon death, and everlasting punish ment. I would occssionally try to ask the Lord to forgive my sins but I could not see how he could remain just and show ma any mercy. The hereafter was my continual dread. One day I was made to feel that I must die soon, and I was so much, alarmed about my condition that I went off’ to where no one could see me and and got on my knees to ask the Lord to save my soul from death, but while on my knees there ap peared a brightness or something that 1 had never been able to de scribe, and everything around me seemed changed, and my fear of death was all gone and my soul was full of praise to the Lord. I started to go and tell mother what I had seen, and that I wanted to join the church, but before 1 reached her a fear came over me that all that I had to tell was something I imagined—that I was deceived, and it would not do to tell her or anyone else. I went to church one day, and when conference was begun Old Father Ansel Parrish said ; “If there is anyone present desiring a home with this hated and despised people, I would be giad to see you come,” and then added, “But John said, ‘bring forth fruits meet for repentance.”’ I wanted to go, but felt like I had nothing to tell. I let that opportunity pass, and made promises for several years, but finally alter so long, and wan-, dering about I united with the Primitive Baptists on the 4th Sun day in July 1893, and was baptis ed that same day by that dear brother El dcr M. L. Gilbert. .. I yet have doubts—doubting vften whether I really am a Christ ian or not ; and so my troubles has not yet ended. 'Dear Brothel* if this is not worth printing let it find its way to the waste basket, and all will bo well with me. Your friend and brother in Christ I hope. S. D. Thomas. Elder Sylvester Hassell of Will iamston N. C., is now preaching among (he churches of the Union, and Suwannee associations, much to the comfort of his congregations. He is very reserved in his general manners, but bold in his defense of the truth. May trod be with the man.—S. Change of Address. Elder William Hollingsworth’ address is changed from Pelham, Ga , to Whigham, Ga. Elder ,D. B. Sheffield has chang ed his Postoffice from DuPont, Ga. to Manor, Ga. Elder R. H. Barwick now gets J his mail at Barwick, Ga., instead jfl of McDonald, Ga. JR Altoona Fla Feb 18 IBJH Dear Brother Simms; Thisfl inform you that Elder Lee Ugl fiX was with us at our little Messed him to preach iO die eoiiilort ol die - dear Master. The « is i a en-al gift tj and all of us areJH . r ' visded us. He '•'oiirc! suit sisherjM May the Lord ■ his tour: and nuiM also, uiy (bsir l>r<M d' of Libor I’ravjl ' Your B J II M ™ W Portal, (jB ’ J Eear P>rot heiW J. y? the following W the Bannti: for fl nett, of Florida iiß !10-:< Jlifl • March, is; !i r.u-i i7l hfl d “ 19, ‘ , “ 20, “ 21, - “ 22. * 4 /J ♦ “ 23rd and 24th, “ 35, 26, *fl Publish in next issue if pefl Your unworthily, 1 , H. Elder D. B. Sheffield will preach in the bounds of the Flint River Asssociation (D. V.) as follows: Mispah Church, April 6, and 7 Hopewell “ “ 3 Providence “ “ • 9 New Hope “ ■ “ 10 Popular Springs “ “ 11 Rest “ “ 12 Tired Creek . “ “ 13 and 14 Piedmont “ “ 15 Fainsville “ “ 16 Pisgah “ “ 17 Prosperity “ “ 18 Union “ “ 19 Trinity “ “ 20 and 21 Travel “ “ 22 Pilgrim’s Rest “ “ . 23 Olive Grove “ “ 24 Bethel “ “ 25 Union Church, Miller Co. “ 27 and 28 He will need conveyance, William Hollingsworth. Elder Lee Hanks, of Boston, Ga., will preach ( D. V ) in the bounds of the Mt. Enon and Indian River Associa tions as follows at night. Ocala, Florida., Thursday, Feb., 14th, Antioch, 15th and 17th, Empire, 19th, Little Flock, 21st, Bethel, 23rd„ Mt. Enon, 25th and 26th, Peace Creek, 28th, Corinth, March 2nd and 3rd, Mt. Carmel, sth. Elim, 7th, Mt. Olive, Bth, Hebron, 9th and 10th, Salem, 11th, Kissi name, 12th, Orange, 13th, Mt. Olive, 15th, Mt, Zion, 16th and 17tb, Etoniah, 18th, Union Grove, 19th, Piigrini’s Rest, 21st, Mt. Carmel, 23rd and 21th. I M. L. Gilbkkt.