The Pilgrim's banner. (Valdosta, Ga.) 1893-1918, June 01, 1895, Image 3

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A. Tour. Dear Brother Simms. I desire to give to your readers a brief' sketch of my littie tour in the Up per and Lower Canoochee Associa tion. I had been deeply impressed to visit those Lndhren for two or thrte months, but so many things seemed to get in my way that it took some time for me to get my consent. They had plenty of preach ers and I was trying to serve four churches here and would have to leave three of them, and feeling my responsibility to these churches greater than all others I was a fraid to go. Again it was among my old friends of youth and my re lation, and I feared that I might be mistaken in my desire to see ‘ them for an impression to try to preach among them. Finally I agreed to go as was pub lished in the Banner for April 15, and left my home on Monday af ter the 4th Sunday in April,. I ar rived in Savannah at 9 p. m. and spent the night with Mr, M. J. Cowart, who married sister Emma Long, and felt that it.was a bless ing to be there. Sister Cowart wa% sick, being confined to her bed, but I enjoyed a pleasant spiritual talk with her and before I left she wan ted me to sing “A few more days on earth to spend” which I tried to do and left the poor afflicted sister with her own sorrows and her God. She has a good Christian husband, but except that she has but little to comfort her except Jesus. She is well provided for temporally and in the midst of that great city of fuss and confusion and idolatry and ungodliness she is securely kept by the power of God, and many times she is refreshed by the smilings of the beautiful face of Jesus. . May the Lord bless them and theirs. I left Savannah at 9: 30 a. m. and arrived at Summit about 5:30 p. m. There I was met By my father who carried me home, home of my chidhood where I have spent many days in wickedness and vice where I was disobedient to my parents,where they were always good to me, where I received* my . sally emerged from childhood to manhood. Little did 1 then think of the many sorrows and sighs and heartaches that lay in store for me. As 1 looked about the old place and saw so many natural accuses many things of the past were brought to my memory,- - and I thought I could plainly see, as I ’have many times before, the re straining hand of God that followed, me, even while I was unconcerned * about Him. That night some of the neighbors came over and we .had a pleasant time till lerte in the night. The next day, Wednesday, brother W. J. Brown had an. appointment at an old saw-mill near my father’s and some distance from any church and they published that I would be w ith him. We met a large crowd and the most of them old relatives and friends, of course I was glad to meet, them but while I was trying to preach I saw in many,aomething mJ| I could see was my cousin, sister Mattie Tree > tor. They all told clearly the works • of God with them and they were , received and requested that I bap tize them,which I did for Canoochee church, and brother Broun bap tized the other two for Hebron church. This is a day long to be rememberedby poor unworthy mi. If I have ever seen the glory ofGod it was upon that day poured out in that congregation in the swamp by the waterside. Many were made to weep audibly and strong, resolute men trembled and wept like child dren. From there we all went to bro ther'Chancie’s, filled with the holy ghost, and the Lord blessed me to speak f gain with power concern ing himself and his kingdom. It seemed when the meeting was over that everybody had received the holy fire,and they could hardly hitch their horses to their vehic les to go home for talking of the goodness of God and their love one -for another. That night I stayed with my wife’s parents, Mr.« and sister Davis, and the next day tried to preach at Canoochee. We had a joyful meeting, but no one joined. That night I went home with one of my uncles, W. G. Rountree, Just here I will digress long enough to tell a dream J had, about his wife. She was raised a strict Methodist, and when she married my uncle she knew nothing of Primitive Baptists. I knew noth ing of her religiously, only that Mie was a Methodist, and had not thought about her until the night *of the snow last winter. I was at Elder Simms’ in Valdosta, and that night I dreamed of being at my uncle’s and that she was the happiest arid most beautiful wo men I had ever seen. Her coun tenance was heavenly. When I awoke I could think of nothing else, and although I knew nothing of her feelings, I felt assured by faith that the Lord was leading her, and I was emboldened to write to her next morning and told her my dreary and asked for a reason uMBf 11 iimr'iu'iWLT my letter she was under deep con viction for sin and 01 dear reader you can’t know the joy it gave me to read her precious letter to me in which she so plainly told of her suffering condition, I- pitied her and rejoiced for her at the same time.- We passed two- -er—’three letters and I found that she at last had a little hope. I had known for some time that ■my uncle had a hope in Jesus, and I tried to-admonish them both to dotheir duties. After I learned all this I had . a deep impression to go to theit house, which I did on Friday night. I. found her sad and cast down, for she wanted tc . follow Jesus and could not feel worthy, and they had recently lost one of their children.. . She was a sufferer-indeed, but as I 1 stdbd and talked with her in the J very place that I dreamed of see- Bryant • and daughter-in-law of Eld. N. W. Bryant now deceased. This was the communion day with Canoochee Church, a day long to be remembered by many ot us as a Bethel spot in our pil grimage here below. The next Tuesday we met again at the old mill and after preaching by Eld. S, M. Anderson and myself we opened the door of the Church and five more came forward. One was a young sister Hattie Lamb; one sister Polly Cowart; one brother Wm. Proctor the husband of sis ter Mattie that I had previously baptized,'them and one was my aunt Nancy Cowart, my father’s oldest sister, and one was Mr. Forehand. They all gave con vincing proof of their acceptance with God and we went to the water and. I baptised the first named four, but the other brother was refered to the conference at Hebron church. His wife had been married before and divorced, and it being a ques! ion among the Baptists we thought best to have his case pas-el upon in Church conference. I was per sonally willing to baptize him but for fear of being misunderstood I refused for the present. I hope in my next letter to give to your readers my reason for saying this, and hope that our people may come to some understanding upon this.point ...... ...» ..•<?- On Thursday I went to Antioch Church and expected to have an otherjoyful meeting, but my hopes all fell to the ground and that, evening was one of the darkest of my "life, I had been so. won? derfully blessed all the time on my trip that I had become exal ted'and did? not know “it; I was not thankful for my blessing, nor as humble as I should have been and the Lord brought-.me low. There was a large crowd present and-much interest manifested but I could not have the liberty of speech as before and no one joined, although I could see many that wanted to, and that Evening alLtiMk TlgHt out, * and mysoul was left in utter oarkness, I was greatly burdened with many lit,tie ones on the outside and was dis appointed and? discouraged be cause they did not come in. That.night I went to my room at dark to retire, feeling wretched and miserable,-and after J had undress ed I noticed a Bible lying on the table and the thought struck me to take it and wherever it opened there the Lord would show me what was the matter. I opened it and read the 13th verse of the 7th chapter of Zach., “And as it came topass that as he cried, and they would not hear,, so they cried and I ■ Would not hear saith the Lord of hosts,” and I went to bed perfectly 'satisfied that it was all well. ' From here I went back to my father’s and spent Friday night with them? and Saturday morning I took my departure from tty*' with all its pleasant ■ ■ i M '* Sr--- ■ sick &- • : ■ Bain. W-j . BL- ' lib ’ 'with biother A. Trapwell the clerk of the Lower Canoochee Associa tion and Monday went to the Lake church and had a very pleasant meeting. I spent that night with brother (Dr.) D. L. Kennedy and Tuesday at Mt. Olive, Wednesday at Reedy Creek, Thur-day at, Sun light and Friday at Ceder Creek, Churches, without anything un usual accuring, and the most of my time in darkness. ■ R. H, Barwick. ■ (To be Continued.) Southampton, Bucks Co., Pa., May, 13th, 1895. Dfear Brethren Simms and Hanks: I spent a part of last winter, andof the two proceding winters, in|Florida, oh account of my wife’s hith. During my first winter tbbre I was able to visit a number of our churches, and enjoyed peasant seasons with them and in thl fellowship of the Gospel. I al«p had some good meeting with them in 1894, Last winter I was on ly able to. visit three, .churches. At one of those I met a brother in the.miniatery who. had. just been called to the pastoral care of the Church. Our interview was very pleasant to me. I was not, looking for anything.else, and so was ' not surprised that it should be so, for I hod been received cordially by all the brethren in the ministery I had, met. there,, and had felt a warin loye and fellowship for them so f|r aS 1 had become acquainted .with them,, and with their. labors in the Lord, .1 was, however, af terward somewhat surprised to leari that, this brother had been in formed, by. a . traveling, minister that I did not believe in the doc trine of the resurrection of the body, and his mind, had been thus prejudiced against, me; but to my gratification and comfort, I learned a Iso. that during our in terview on Saturday and Sunday, he became* convinced that his in-' formant had been mistaken as he , saw clearly that ! did hold and coijjgud f that precious dootrine; and tTat he felt as though the dwdsent .methqre to remove that from his. mind, and to comfort him. I was glad that I knew nothing of this prejudice on his part dur ing our meeting; so.that jt might be clearly the work of the Lord in establishing fellowship and confi dence.. I was pot aware that there was a brother or sister in Florida that.questioned my belief on that essential point of doctrine. To how many other brethren or churches the same incorrect statements con cerningmy views may have been made I do not know, nor do I wish to enquire., .But I would .caution brethren, for their own peace; security apd comfort, to beware of the “back-biting” tougue. Beware of those who whisper against a brother.. Back-biting and whis perinw are often done thoughtless ly byAnnl brethren. But.it is from theirjtesh, and is the, source of nijury to the cause, and results in evil to themselves. Say to a brother whatever you have to say against him; and require of those who v(onld talk against a brother toyoiithat they go to him with their wigrges, and take a Gospel course. If at anytime one is ccn-- vincej of such irregularity and un sonndness in a professed brother that he cannot walk in fellowship with him, that for their safety he thinks brethren ought to be warn ed against such a one, let him be open and plain and candid about the matter, and not profess fellow ship him to his face while at the same time he speak s evil of him. behind his back. In ; the case of one who has traveled as extensively among the brethren, and has written as much in o»r various periodicals, and have during more than thirty years, it ought not to be difficult to. de cide as to ; the doctrine he believes. If there should however, be any doubt upon your J»md as. to the .belief, of any minister or. brother, fcnquire of himself. Write or ■peak to him candidly and faith »ly. Ido not believe you will Ren fail to I’et a plain answer, ■he I. have met have plainly avowed their sentiments upon/that'subject and have not tried to hide them. I have ever regarded the doc tine of the resurrection of the body as a most important and vital doctrine, as the very ground work, essence and comfort of the Christian’s hope ; and have writ ten several times upon that sub jset. Two of those articles may may be found in my book of “Meditations on Portions of the Word/’ are written about 25 years ago, an other a few years later. Ido not receive all that men have said? and written upon this subject, nos do I receive any of the attempts ot uninspired men to ex plain how this glorious mystery is to be accomplished. Inspired men have never attempted to ex plain.it.- They say, “we know not what we shall be.” It is enough to know that Jesus shall appear we shall d e like him, and shall ap-' pear with him' in glory. It ■_ ik enough to know that he “shall change our vile Body; that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, -according to the working whereby he is able to subdue even all things unto himself. ” It -is good for' the poor, self-loathing sinner to know that it is our vile body'that' shall be changed, not Exchanged for another body, but itself changed? The same body that is sown in death, a natural body, is raised a spiritual body. The same body that is weakness is raised in power. It is changed, ot raised from corruption to in cofruptibn, from mortality to im* mortality and glory. . If Ido not receive the explana tions of one concerning, this mys tery, or if I understand some scriptures which he supposes to bear upon this subject differently from what he does, that gives him no right to say that tdo not be lieve in the resurection of the body. . An evil report may delay the experience of fellowship’ tor one »we never saw for a while, pr. may mar for a season the fellowship already felt; but truth will pre-, vail. Go right on in what you feel to be the path of duty. “Let your eyes look right on, and your eye lids straight before you.” He who comes to the people .of God any where “in. the fullne.ss of the blessing of the. Gospel of Christ,” cannot long be shut, put pf their hearts by prejudice. His gift will make room for fiim in; the hearts of God’s dear children, and his message from the Lord to them will not tail to reach them for their comfort, in the Lord’s good time. It is not his natural power of mind, not his learning, not his eloquence of speech, not his know ledge of mysteries, that , makes room fpr the servant, pf . God per manently among the Lord’s peo ple, nor is it a . flattering tongue; but it is his gift. And that gift is always exercised in love. It is inseparable from love., Wfiat ever else, he may have, without charity he is nothing. , I ask those of pur . brother edi tors in the South and West, who feel willing to do so, to copy this in their perpdicals. Your brother in Hope of the Resurrection of the dead, . Silas H. Durand. Duties of Children to Parents. Dear Brethren in the Lord: I Will now try to comply With my promise to write something under the above heading,' though I have wished ! had not made the promise. I will begin by refering the chil dren and young people Who may read this, to Ex xx, 12. “Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” The first important truth to consider, is that though we may be old and gray-headed,yet we are our father’? and mother’s children,and can yet honour them, or bring disgrace upon. them. There is an idea among grown up y_>ung men and ladies who are barely grown, that they are.free from parental restraint. —' f “free from Papa and Mama,” and can do as they list Some mean more and some less by these words. But all Who have lost respect for their parents have lost it for themselves. Children should honour their par ents as Jong as they live,and when they are in their graves, they can continue to honour and reverence them. That son or daughter who does not reverence and esteem their parents cannot make a good cit izen and is unfit for any social position in this life, for the world will lose all respect for them. Chi ldren who have good pious parents should imitate them in all good ex amples, Whether they be living or dead.- And if you find they have some faults or weaknesses (and all fyave them) you should try to be an example to them by doing bet ter than they. . I heard a father say not a great while ago that his boys had been a, great.help to him. He mention ed his former weaknesses and said that when his boys grew up they abstained from the things of which he was guilty,, and so it learned him an important lesson; that if they could refrain from these evil things, so could he, and that it was a severe rebuke for him. In this his children honoured him and did him great good. It is a weakness of most young people to be too extravagant in dress. They pride themselves in fine clothes, fine cigars, and cary ing themselves id' the most con spicuous manner possible. Their parents plead for economy, but all to no avail. And when these fine clothes have once been pro cured, they then seek for frequent opportunities to exhibit them. They will go to visiting, or to pic nics or any where just so they are having ‘a good time’” • They will plan out a long trip and set their hearts upon it, and then tell father and mother “I MUST go, I’ve PROMISED to go.’’ No doubt many children have brought financial ruin upon > their ’ parents in this way, without ever stopping to count cost of their useless enjoyments. ten cannot toCe Lbeir own good their paints, hence, the necessity 1 for them to'Jfieijjweir advice. Biit I would not be understood to mean that it is expected that children should be like old people, but they should know that their parents love them and studies their interest as none others can. Some children are good enough at home but when away they seem to for get the council of that pious father or that sainted mother and in their anxiety to do as others do, overleap the bounds of discretion, and do things they would be ashamed to hear of. Ghildren should conduct , themselves in the absence ot their parents as though they were pres ent and looking gon. How many good parents have had to wear the blame of the wrong doing of their children? Have you ever heard language like this: “How ugly that boy did do 1 Now didn’t he show his raising?” Thus the wrongs of children are • wrongfully heaped upon their parents. Oh how parents love their children. I heard of a case once where father and son were being tried for murder and the fath er confessed guilt ih order to save his guilty son; Try dear children to conduct yourselves m such away that when God shall call your parents home you will not regret the manner in which you have treated them. It was my sad lot once to; be present when a child looked upon the pale face, pf his father as he Jay silent in death, and said with heart-ren ding cries; “Oh father forgive me of my wrongs and I will be a better . boy I Oh if I could hear him say “I forgive you” That scene and those words are sounding in my ears as I pen these lines. Had he been dutiful and obedient he would not thus have grieved over his misspent life. In conclusion let me admonish all children to honour your father and mother by a chaste and order ly life ; for if you are atf ungodly rebellious son,or erring thoughtless daughter, you will bring the grey hairs of your parents to the grave and they will mourn over you in their dying hours, for they love you. ■ ‘ Yours unworthily, Rufus H. Jennings. March 1895.