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Vol. 2. Dear Brother Respess:—lt is now a long time since the Baptist in this country were all one people, and the word ‘Baptist” conveyed but one signification. But al though a long time, there are those living who remember it well - , while a large majority of the present generation have grown up separation, and know nothing of the general division into New and Old School Baptist, only as they have been told by others. As a matter of course, the great bulk of the people are liable tb be misinformed, and con* iiequently misled as to many imnortant points involved in the controversy. I say controversy, because each party to the separa tion have generally claimed to occupy the original ground. Thot*e . who lived before and all through the conflict which ended in sepa v ration, are the ones to speak and to b« heard; because they speak What they know, and testify, what they have passed through and such * testimony will not be likely to lead us astray. I may, hereafter, write „ you particularly of some of the incidents and events of that time. One that occurs to me I will relate now, as bearing upon the question of what the division was, what led to it, and what it eventually came to be. I do not propose, however, to give real In my early life, and long before the division above referred to, I • ■ ■ ■. • was acquainted with the location ot a certain Baptist church and personally acquainted with many of its members. Os their character as church members, or their sin cerity, I have nothing to say. This church settled a pastor, to serve every Sunday, Os his character, as an upright man, and one that did what he thought was right, I have nothingjmfavorable to say. As the elements that led to divi sion began to work and develop themseves, this man began to be regarded with doubt by some, as to his soundness in doctrine. No noise, however, was raised about the matter as yet and the call was renewed and accepted from year to year. It may be ob served here, that these yearly calls were in accord with quite general practice of the churches, nearly al ways being accompanied with a stipulation for the year’s services On one occasion, the wife of one of the deacons told her husband that she would accompany him to the approaching annual church me tinga. She told me that she had become dissatisfied with the preaching, and she did not know of another one, neither did she expect any countenance or sympathy from any body, not even from her husband. She felt constrained in honesty and conscience to vote against the preaher’s stay although she expected to vote alone. She said nothing however, of her intentions to anybody. When the vote came, the large number in attendance voted unanimously to renew the call. As the reverse was called for, she rose to her feet, voting “nay’,’. Ofcouisj she was * Ji||l hBL wHL MM mL . M s IIM up “THOU* HAST GIVEN A BANNER TO THEM THAT FEAR THEE, THAT IT MA questioned, and asked to show cause if any she had , the. preacher being spokesman. She said to me “I told nim as well as I cou.ld“ You always put the sinner first ; you say that the sinner must take the first step, and then the Lord will assist him, that there is a work for the sinner to do, and if he will do his pact the. Lord will do his part. You say that ff chnrcMs will have any revivals or other prosper ty, that they must move first in the matter, and use the means, and then they may expect that the Lord will blesr their “efforts.” ‘‘Well,” says the preacher, “that is the way it is and that’s the way we must preach it.” “It don’t tead so, my Bible don’t,” was her quiet reply. I will not folow the church meeting father than to sav that the preacher lost his temper, and: got exceeding angry’, the storm of ; passion raged around the quiet little woman while she kept calm as a summer morning. The preacher accepted the call and remained. The discussion of this day was but the beginning. The Association is about to convene with his ehuroh. Nearly all the preachers of the Association including the pastor above spoken of, have by this time become known ae in accord on the above sentiments. In order, I suppose, to rally all their strength, the in the church letter and presented to the Association. Now comas the issue, the interesting turning point. The session of the Associa tion commences. The flesh is sometimes timid and weak; sister S. told me that she had resolved in her mind not to go but remain at home. However, it was fixed for her to go, and she was urged and finally went, so as to hear the first or introductory sermon. The Lord moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform; and >f he did not move in this matter, to have that man preach there at that time, it would be hard to say how it came about. Because the inter ests and inclinations of that Association would never have had it so. Be that as it may, the man was there, from some place; and he came in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. His word was of that kind that burned and consumed like fire among stubble. It came not in word only, but in power. Sister -S, said: “When he commenced he commenced well enough, but she expected to hear it spoiled be fore he went far ; but instead of .that, she said, “it got better and better as he wont on, and better and better all the way through; that taken it all in all it was the best sermon to her and did her the most good, of any one she had ever heard, either before or after ward”. After preaching was over quite a number gathered around her and as soon as they could speak to her, began ; “Why, Sister S.that is the kind of preaching you wanted.” And truly enough it was; but it had not been heard in that place in so long that its peculiar ring bad been almost DEVOTED TO THE CAU V ALDOSTA, GA., HARCffI forgotten. The other preachers complained, “Why, brother G.,you give us pork, and give it to us in the whole ham.” This meant, of course, that they could not swal low it. That sermon was, on that occasion, the fan that purged the floor; and fourteen members drew out from that organization to be known afterwards as “O S. Baptist.” That preacher (long since deceased) was aftewards extensively known as a sound and faithful minister among the Old order. It seemed that the Lord had need of him there at that time. Th i sister who acted the prominent part, as above shown, in these events, was a woman of a ; retiring disposition; one of the most quiet, modest and diffident of women, and withal under 0~- dinary size. That this battle' have been fought, alnl the victory won, by such a feeble instrument, was indeed wonderful.! Strong and able men came in after ! ward to reap the fruits and enjoy the rewards of this victory. The } Lord had indeed taken a worm i and threshed the mountain (Isa xh I 14, 15.) ' >ln this eveiit can be the el emerits and the workings of the di vision. The bulk of the then Bap tist ministry was gradually, but surely, drifting from' the track. A few saw and felt it. A grievous famine was developing in the land Trmr-ihe hungry were - VneTWlJwuiq k instead of bread. The preacher comes to a strange land, and among a strange people, to find some ready to famish with hunger fcr that very word of the Lord that he has brought. Can we doubt, er question, that He whose ways are equal has provided a gospel adapted to the wants of the hun gry, the poor, and the needy ? Can we doubt that this hungering for the word of the Lord, is the devel opment of a life in the Spirit? The people personally are strangers to each other. No particular satis faction is looked for. It has teen long enough since nure gospel preaching has been heard, that it is not now expected. But a sur prise is near. And it is like Joseph making himself known unto his brethren. The famine will yet go on in Egypt; out Israel will be nourished in the land of Goshen, and from Joseph’s storehouses they will henceforth have plenty of bread. E. Rittenhouse. —Gospel Messenger. Dearly Beloved Brother:—From a deep impression which I cannot put away, but whether of the Lord I know not, 1 have decided to pen a few thoughts for your considera tion, on the duties ot Christians. When I consider the fact that I am but twenty-four years of age, have been numbered with the Baptists but four years, am nothing but a little lay member and not at all worthy of that, my great weak ness, sinfulness and inferiority to my brethren in knowledge and wis dom I shudder at the task. The subject I am about to grasp is one that is most agitating the Bupl mu - praycß Unit we B mdv eneofli BHBBBBH the timeß v. chid beß t han lovqß ' minded. cB thankful H -ide. and iffl not leal | us. 1 wislß -in m- to B and unst-B miintt B pa -toB I i.e t I UP B ly lor u J. i.-ti invdi® p:eß dclll!) diß tor a cei-tH . reason tB pm ; ng itfl ' f " io H Th. re i-sl inn- mtM ' ~ '< iimir ; lp ß tune haß way of 1. must stAB over f-|| pa-Hn nig and it B t ( » to ® T * !!:ii 1 ’ la! tm\ nii’.ch: B '.•ii'iugti, I ' J elbyT iieip isl mm <dn- j.y'i B it I- righß B <!'-‘»ninM siimiid )B ’m-n.cmß’T / .o-nuß?' i. ■ B' life. A H 1 U m. '-mifi ; • fl wil! apß 1 liosr W isl will ol'.pß -ms e ; ’ "\-slefl|’ Heir sinfl lieu .itlßt ..' hilt ’ he | f ;y kmc. (■ . iT:.; -aB ' ’* " i.-elniß .'Tended. 5 ’* . * T- .• ■..sT ■ -e of t '■!<■ same in 1 give one unity. I dontineanW should support the paW| altogether. He should fami fy tqAvoi’k,for idleness sin. It- has been well said h