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Vol. 2.
A QUESTION.
a sower went to sow,
And as he sowed around;
Some seeds fell by the highway side,
And some on stony ground.
Then came the fowls and ate them
up
Which by the way were sown,
And forth they sprang bat with
ered soon,
Which fell upon the stone.
Somes eeds there were which chanc
ed to fall
Among the thorns and tares;
But being smothered by thorn they
No perfect trait could bear.
But others toll ou bettit ground, :
And brought forth fruit tor store
Some thirty—some a hundred fold,
And others brought threescore.
Let him that hath an ear to hear
Say, “who is he that sows
By the wayside on stouy ground,
And where the thistle grows?”
“Have they been quickened into
life
Who thus no fruit do bear;
Or are they yet in bondage held,
To Satan and dispair ?
who is he that beareth fruit
By thirty fold alone
While others bear a larger share
From like seed which is sown.?
J. E. Blanton.
Lee Fla. Oct. 9th 1895.
ASSOCIATION AL ORGANIZ A-
wsuy of our brethren whether
there is divine authority for anoth
** ££Saqija|u_Qn th<u the church
of God. It is right that we should
be scriptural, holding fast to all
things as they wore committed to
the fathers by Christ and his apos
ties. But if their has been any
thing brought in since, it is an ad
dition and without divine sanc
tion. What is without divine
sanction is a hurt instead of a
blessing. The word of God is plain
upon this subject, that he may
run that readeth. ‘‘Teaching
them to observe all things whatso
ever I have commanded you,”
■aid the great Teacher in lirael.
All Scripture given by inspiration
of God is profitable ♦ ♦ that
the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good
works,” said the great apostle of
the Gentiles. What there might
be more than Jesus commanded
the Scriptures do not furnish,
but they furnish us with
what he would have us teach
and do, nothing more, nothingdess
We shall do exceedingly well if
we do all things he has command
ed of us.
Before we go further let me say,
we are not going to oppose associa
tions! meetings. We would rath
er encourage than to say one word'
to disencourage. These annual as
emblages have been a source of
great spiritual enjoyment to the
Lord’s dear believing children.
But we should see to it, that in
conducting them we do not trans
cend the bounds given us. As
Baptists let us have, “Thus saith
the Lord.” Then we feel safe and
can go forward in confidence. Have
we scriptural warrant for an or
ganization other than the church
sitting for the transaction of buis
ness? We fail to find it in all the
word of God. The church is spok
en of, but another organization,
not the church, doing business
for, and in the name of the Loid
is unknown in all God’s word*
We, as a people, have ever op- '
fcosed Rightly too, the tffigcHptnial i
prioticdß of AdoHN
the WihrWa Banner,
“THOU GIVEN A
as the Sunday-School,the Epworth
League, the Christian
Society, the Young People’s As
sociation. Our people have held
there was no authority for such
organizations in the church, or
in any way connected with it*
Neither is Their
advocates do n<W , elaim it forwiem.
In opposing these creatures of the
Protestant churches ws have
challenged them for their authori
ty for them. They still fail to
show us the least vestage of pre
cept of example given by Christ
or by inspired apostles .Therefore
we reject them as being unscript-
ural. But what answer shall
give them when they turn and say,
‘•What scriptural warrant hive
you for an organization called an
association? Is it the church?
What answer shall we give themf
If we say the association is but
the church met together, then
why this separate organizations
these extra nr separate articles c
faith and rules of decorum? Some
gay “The association is a creature
of the church.” We think that is
correct, as we find nothing sai
about such a separate organization
in the word of God. But whai
right has the church of God to
create? None whatever. Christ,
her King and Lawgiver, never
commissioned her to engage in
B uch business. She can sit as
an executive body and not a law
making body. It is her duty, ir
loyalty to the great King in Ziot
his laws,* UQ t t 0
FA
•
i vtix; mrw&aieiniiy;
call it an associational organiza
tion or what you may, she can by
the same right or power create a
Sunday-school, or any auxiliary
to the church she may see fit.
•Then, must our associations
go down? Must we be deprived of I
the sweet privilege afforded us of
meeting many of the Lord’s pre
cious children in these solemn
gatherings, where often hundreds I
come up to worship the Lord c
hosts? No my brethren. Le
us not think that we may not con
tinue those happy seasons of as
sem bling together from the eas
and west, north and south, to joir
in devotion by word of mouth.
The question we are wanting tc
consider at present is, how may
we conduct them scripturally. No
Primitive Baptist wants to object
to being scriptural in doctrine and
practice, and strictly so.
He want to keep in mind that
the church is the only ecclesiasti
cal body ever empowered byChrist
the King and Lawgiver to admin
ister the laws of his kingdom,
he association appoints to meet
with the church. But does it
meet with that church as such?
We think not. The church with
which it should meet appoints
messengers of her number to meet
with the association. Then the
association is no more in session
with that church than with all
the cb arches renresented by mes
•engers composing her body.
»»hy not meet with the church?
There is scriptural authority for
such a meeting—such an associa
tion as this. We here cite you to
Acts, xv, 1-4. p aul andh Barna .
bas, and certain others of them
were chosen to go up to Jerusalem
And when they were come to
Jerusalem, were rece j ve( i of
the church, of the apostles
and eiders.” Notice, they were re
eeived by the church, not by mes
appointed by the dhtirch
Here id the sdfxpUfal fuM
evoted to the
BANNER TO THEM THAT FEAR THEE,
VALDOSTA,
down for us to follow- It is a
gafetule. Hear Pauls instruction:
Whether one do inquire of Titus,
Wis my partner and fellow-helper
concerning you: or our brethren
be required of, they are the xms-
churches, and the
glbry Wvfcrist;” H. Cor., viii,
•23 *‘Yet I suppose it necessary
to send to you Epaphroditus, my
brother and companion in labor
and fellow soldier, but your mes
senger;” Phi!., ii,25. There is
authority for messengers appoint-
ed by sister churches to meet with
tho ohutoh.Noiie. though,for meet
ing with another body which is
not ’.be church.
When » sieter church calls for
council to sit with her for the pur
pose of ordaining a minister or »
deacon, the Messengers sent sit in
eouucil with the church. Why
pot the messengers sent by the
several churches sit with the
church which has asked that the
asssciat&n be held with her? We
for such an organ
ization as this. With it in session
i we need no new code of laws, the
entering into the of offi
i cera by a body that is not the
church and has no legal power
to do any thing. If any thing
is nesessary here is the churct
that is impowered to act. Let
her and the act j ust as 4
they would in the buisness meet
ing of an ordination.
It is by request that these
thoughts are submitted for your
prayerful couaidoration.
should be unity. There may
be when we -search and try
our ways. “Thus saith the Lord,
stand ye in the ways and seek aid
ask for the old paths, where is the
good way, and walk therein, and
ye shall find rest for your souls;”
Jer, vi, 16. There is nothing
to lose in enjoyment, sweet com
munion, and sacred devotion to
God by keeping strictly in the
way.
No ; but there is much to gain
that is of lasting good, increasing
pur spiritual strength, elevating
pur service to the divine approba
tion of our Father in heaven, who
is pleased to say of such consecra-
I tion to his will, “And 10, I am
with you alway, even unto the
end of the world.”
Elder R. W. Thompson in
Primitive Monitor.
Cox Ga., Oct. 31st, 1895
Elder A. V. Simms
My Dear Brother I have
just read in the Towaliga Messen
ger, an appeal from the Editor,
relative to the state of division’
now prevailing between the Towa
liga association with its corespond
ence and the Primitive Baptist
of our state. If you exchange
with that paper, you have doubt-
less noticed the article refered to
I would like to call attention to
some features therein contained
and also to hear an expression
from you concerning it. There has
been but two points of general
dissatisfaction, with these church
es for several years viz. receiving ■
members that had been excluded <
from other churches, without due
consideration, and for affiliating
with secret “worldly institutions.”
I will here state,however, that they
did depart in a partial way many
years ago,recognizing some official
acts of Mission Baptist, f or which
they afterwards confessed their
error and published their dennnci-
AtiOfi 6f such SOtfl; This was fintie
CAUSE OF CHRIST
MAY BE DISPLAYED BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH.”— Psalms 60:4.
EMBER 15. 1895
twenty years ago. The question
Aren of the validty of bhptism per
firmed by them while in this state
<2 temporary disorder, has been a
l*>wer against themi lam glad to
Imow, however, that.the Baptist
naveabnit settled thia question,
aJ|d I trust our returning breth
r|n will henceforthAiave no diffi
culty at this point. Th® action of
the Upper Canoochee Association
at her last session, receiving the
“Little Union” of churches which
had been so long out of correspon-
—receiving the validity of
tbMf baptism, I think coinmend
, able and manifests the settlement
of this question, as does also the
letter I received from Elder Has
sell upon this subject, which you
read when we were together return
ing from the Lower Canoochee
ksabciation.
We see, by noticing the article
referedtto in first part of this let
ter,, that it is proposed to submit
evely case of irregular reception
by. these churches, for the united
consideration of complaining or
dissatisfied brethren. All breth
ren* who have any affiliation with
secret organizations are humbly
and earnestly appealed to, and
entreated to cease such affiliations.
While our dissatisfied brethren
are humbly asked to hear and con
sider their appeal. Now should
these brethren unite upon. the
principles contained in this
appeal, then I desire to
ask in all candor, can our people
refuse to recognize their return,
receiving and Icvin£ each other.
Ihisi id to me, a serious thought.
It is iio frivolous thing to “call
unclean, that which the Lord has
cleansed.” We do well to heed the
admonition : “Be ware of the leav
«n of the Pharisees,’’lests we, like
the brother of the prodigal, become
wickedly contentious against our
returning brethren. Brother
minims I have penned these scat
tering thoughts as they occur to
the mind. I am, comparatively
speaking, but a youth in the- ser
vice of our Lord, and am quite li
able to err. 1 trust you, as a <
faithful servant, will look over my
short commings and correct my
imperfections. Would like to
hear a word from you upon this
subject. c
lam well pleased with the Bai- „
Nia.
c
Affectionately, t
T. E. Sikbs. F
Had pot Eider §ikes specially
requested our views of the ques
tion set forth in his article, we
should have published it without
comment* for the reason that we
are not fully -informed as to the
details of the disorder existing
in the Towaliga Association as
many of our brethren are, and
therefore not in a condition to nasi
upon such an important question.
The article in the last issue of tho
Towaliga Messenger written by
Elder W. T. Godard, and to which
our attention is called by Elder
Sikes, is written in a very humble, i
forbearing spirit, and will doubt- (
less commend itself to many of
our people. We shall have noth
ing to say now about the terms of 1
peace offered by Elder Godard, p
but will reproduce it in our next E
issue with such thought* as th® b
totd may gin tw.*-Si
Ga. Oct 21,1895.
Dear Brother Simms: —
We had such a sweet meeting
at Antioch Saturday. Three of
those dear young people which *
brother Hanks baptized came ’
to live with us there, Oh I how ,
glad it makes my poor heart to (
See the young people coming to (
the church of Christ and how
thankful I feel to my blessed
Redeemer for such blessings.
And there are others around here
who I believe want to come, and,
if I could, how gladly I would
help them to remove the burden,
but I do feel so unworthy even t o
say a word to them about duty.
But my prayers are, that Jesus
who is able to help them, will
show them the way and enable
them to take up the cross and fol
low him and find rest to their souls.
This evening as I was driving
home I was made to rejoice to
think what a dear Redeemer we
have —one who is able to do all
things well, and how I wanted to
praise Him for his goodness and
mercy towards me a poor sinner,
and I believe that I did praise
Him in silent prayer, and my
thoughts was carried to you so for
cibly, is why I am trying to write
. to you to night. My memory has
gone back to the night when you
gave me so much comfort in Atlan
ta. thoughts to me
for lesu9I esu9 was ere
. to come here so far to bury me
. beneath the waves of a liquid
grave, when I felt, and still teei
to be so unworthy, and looked
upon you as being so pure in the
sight of God. At Lott’s Creek I
looked at you while you was pro
claiming the precious truths of
Jesus, and I almost envied the
image of Jesus which I saw in
your countenance. I feel that if I
could come as near bearing
the image of Him as you do, my
doubts and fears would’ not be so
great. And I look upon all God’s «
children a» being far better- than
myself. •
I feel that God is blessing his
people here, and Oh I if they will
only do their duty, he will contin
ue to do so. Fathers and mothers
are made to rejoice to see their
children come home confessing
their sins. If not deceived in my
poor heart, I want to walk nearer
and nearer to Jesus, and how
particular we should be to follow in
his footsteps and receive the bles
sings which he has promised us.
He will not tail in giving, if we
will only do what he has command
ed us to do. But I miss it so far
until I need not wonder at my
dark seasons. 1
’ Brother Simms I had better close.
1 May God bless you and yours, and
i enable you to declare His whole
council, from the pulpit, and
through the Banner. It was filled
with good news for me this wees.
May He bless his people every
where, and especially the little
ones on the outside of the church.
Pray for me that 1 may ever ne
found in the path of duty and up
and doing what he has command
ed me, and never murmer at my
lot though it be dark.
If this is tedious please pardon
me. I feel now that I can go to
sleep and dream of the beautiful
home beyond. My mind is easy
now. Your little unworthy
bfothM. '
ftka ft.
Wade Ga., Oct., 28th 1895.
Elder Lee Hanks.
Boston Ga.
Dear Brother in Christl will
trv to write you a short sketch of
my past life. I went to the
church Oct. Ist 1895. Oh! what
a cross it was to me. I stayed
away six years after I was impress
ed to go, but had no encourage
ment, which kept me away. Had
it not been for you, I might have
been away yet.
I felt so unworthy,! didn’t feel
like I had a friend in the world.
Every body had forsaken me, even
the family at home.
Night after night I would steal
away from home, and fall upon
my knees, trying to beg for mer
cy, but could say nothing but
“Lord have mercy on my poor lost
soul.” I would return to the house
and retire, but could not sleep, for
the tears in my eyes. The last
thought would pass through my
mind was this:
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
I would rise again in the morn
ing with my eyes full of tears. I
have heard a great many say they
have their doubts about which is
the true church of God. My doubt
was whether I was fit to live with
as lovely looking people as Prim
itive Baptist were. Some do
not±Uisve in asking any one to
com V »be church, but I do,
Io are imprests
I hope W
like I did, and rebel against their
impressions. Ido have a tender
feeling for those poor heart-broken
ones, who are staying away on ac
count of unworthiness, for I have
fel t so much relieved since I obey
ed God. lam yet a sinner, but I
am glad to say, I have been kill
to the love of sin.
Your little unworthy brother.
Cicero Durden.
Remember the Chinese Proverb:
‘Talk about your own faults while
you are awake, and the faults of
others when you are asleep.” .
* The tongue is an unruly mem
_ ber and should be guarded cau—
s tiously. A word spoken cannot
r be recalled, then watch the tongue.
? Do not talk about your pastor. If
his services are not appreciated
r and a change would be beneficial
l to you, why then you should take
. the matter to the Lord and pray
. him to direct you aright, and call
’ one whom you love and are willing
to hold up his hands in support
him temporally and defending his
character.—H.
i
( We are at a loss to know why
some people complain so bitterly
against the doctrine of election so
plainly taugfet in the Bible, It
condemns no one, but embraces
all the saved. Certainly those
who are elected or chosen in Christ
to salvation cannot object to it. It
must then come from the other
side. A candidate for office will
almost invariably find fault of the
election when he is defeated, and
will cry “Unjust, Unjust.” But
the successful candidate rarely
ever complains. This may be the
cause of all objections »—S,
ftab&ribe for Tag
No. 21.
