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2 There should be a Egi care in seeking for scriptural tl and much solemn sup- tl \K cH tionß of the Lord for heavenly h and much consulting of k in the church who seem to p \ aV e the giftof knewledge and wis- t ] iitftßt Wore denouncing one as a £ When it is settled in our g) minds (as a church, not as indi- ,f viduals,) that one is a heretic, our c path of duty is made clear by the j apostles. f H I have seen a sentiment spoken c sos M a “blasphemous heresy,” € when the one who expressed that g sentiment honestly believed it to . be the true sentiment ol the Script- and could see no scriptural B reason given against it by the one i so denouncing it. And I have I I noticed that the one making that serious charge still professed fel lowship for the heretic. This I shows a careloss or heedless man ner of expression. With a Cath olic Priest one only needs to speak a sentiment contrary to the doc trine recognized by the Pope to be b a heretic. And so sometimes we may be in danger of calling that a heresy which merely differs from our traditionary belief. But I did not intend to tak« this course when I began to write. Yet it is of great importance to consider the foundation and expe rience of true fellowship. It is my firm belief that the Spirit of Christ will never direct one to speak of the belief of a brother in away of ridicule or in a harsh and overbearing spirit, but it will direct him to be plain and faithful in expressing his un derstanding of truth and in con tending earnestly for the faith, and is seeking the honor of God. While at the same time he is kind and tender and forbearing in heart and manner toward brethren who honestly entertain different views from those he believes taught in the Scriptures. 1 have never been among the and of your state. I have heard much of brethren there, from Elder Patterson, whom I baipo met. twice, I think, and whose com pany I enjoyed; from ’Elder Z. H. Bennett with whom I have en joyed many pleasant seasons in Florida; from the late dearly be loved Elder Respess, and others. I hope sometime, possibly during the latter part of the coming win ter, if the will of the Lord be so, to visit the brethren in that part. It is often a perplexing question for me, when I contemplete a visit to places where I have never been, whether I want to go mere ly to gratify my desire to meet the brethren, which is always pleasant, or whether the spirit is moving me to go for the glory of God. I do not want to go any where, how ever pleasant it would seem to be, except as the Lord directs me in his service. Ido not want to be left to my own will and judgement, for then I should go down to the depths with Jonah, or fall among theives on the road to Jericho. 1 think I know •omethmg of both experiences. There has always appearec work enough for me, and more than I could do, near at hand, wherever my lot was cast; yet have felt, even with such work waiting around me, the irresistable impulse to accept some urgent in vitation, like that sent me by bro. Respess in 1879, and have felt, as I did then, during and after the visit, precious evidences that the Ixird sent me, and was with me in my journey. We often have some one or more of our ministering brethren from (he South with us at our spring associations, and they are very cordially welcomed, and with perhaps three acceptions in thirty years, their presence and preaching has been acceptable to . We might almost iiuaginSm add ed charm in the preaching of the gospel when we hear the same glorious and comforting truth of salvation by grace proclaimed byp a stranger that we have heard by those who are with us. with only the manner of expression and il lustration new. Os course we know that the true beauty and power of a gospel message is in that it is a message from the dear Lord to our own souls, by whom soever he may sendjt. This year we hadfljtiy four asso ciations in the spring, one having disbanded, and arranged to hold two days meeting in stead, and the other, the Delaware, having decid ed to meet in October this year. So we have had four in succession, in this vicinity, in October. Eld. W Lively, of Alabama, who was with us a year ago last spring, was with us again at three of those lately held, and he has come very sweetly in the hearts of the breth ren among us. His pleaching haU been with power, and his conver sation savory and comforting. We regard him as an able minister of the New Testament; and we hope to h ave visits from others of the Lord’s servants in your part of the country, whose hearts the Lord may be pleased to incline toward us. It seems that you are more abundantly supplied than we, with laborers, and there are many more of you than of us. But though we are comparative ly few we enjoy the great blessing of being at peace among ourselves. > There is now and then, a local disturbance but it has generally of short duration: In all ot our meetings from Maine to Virginia the best of feeling is manifested amon£ brethren and friends; and for more than thirty years that I have been attending there has very seldom been a discordant note in the preaching. I speak of this as one of the best of blessings and one that should keep us thankful to the Lord, and humble at his feet, and that should be most jealously guarded. When we consider our, vile infallible Mature, and_ remember “how kind- fe —— ——___2.aHMKSg let not. stir up the flesh and excite its evil I propensities in our brethren or ourselves, but to “speak the things that make for peace, and things whereby one may edify another.” Not that we should hold back ' any point of truth which the Spir- . it brings to our mind, nor that we P should hesitate to deal faithfully 1 with each other in the matter of J faults and errors, but that we h should seek earnestly, to be led L by the meek and lowly spirit of t Jesus in our communications and t dealings with each other. It is the fl weakness of the flesh that would p keep us silent about the faults of a ei biot her for fear of exciting his ’ anger toward ourselves, when we ’ feel that it would be for his benefit , to be made to see them in the lignt ( of truth; and it is a great sin for I ’ us to speak of them to another, except as the Scriptures directs. We ought to deal honestly as in the sight of God, and not ask, in regard to any duty, what effect its performance will have upon ourselves. If the Spirit of our dear Saviordirecj us then we shall be enabled to stir up the “pure minds” of our brethren, instea d f their carnal minds, and thus we shall be fullfiling the apos- ' tie’s injunction to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of! )eace.” Your brother in hope. Silas H. Durand. • Wetherington will the Lord willing, fill the following 1 appointments; Bethlehem Berien Co,(ra.,lhursday before the second I Sunday in Deccember. Concord « u Friday Salem “ « gat, and Sun Pleasant “ u Monday Pleasant Grove “ Tuesday I Newhope “ « Wednesday, Empire « “ Thursday, Union Loundes « Friday, Naylor « “ Friday night, He will need conveyaace from place to place. C. W. Sta’llings. OCIILOCKONEE ASSOCI ATION. Another session ol the Ochlock- r one© Association has ju<t closed 1 which will be a green spot in the pa*es ot our memory for years to ( come, should the blessed Savior j spare our unprofitable lives. 6 Many things made this Associa- , tion very interesting and soul- f cheering to us. In the first place, I have never seen more love and | sweet fellowship abound. 1 The business was transacted j without a “jar. Elder- R. H. ( Barwick was chosen to be our Moderator and brother J. N. Gib- ( son, Clerk. These are precious ■ men of God and are worthy of the , esteem and confidence our breth ren have for them. A wise choice Three new chujlhos and Mt. Zion .which mas ffropoed last year, were received into our body, and the Association opened corres pondence with the ChMaw hatcheeof Alabama, and the Up per and Lower Canoochee Associa tions of Georgia. Elders 11. Temples preached the introductory, much to the comfort of all the saints; ho was ' in the spirit on the Lord’s day. Elders L. H. Stucky of Alabama, ! andß. J. Groover of Fla., preached able discourses in the afternoon. Elder P. G. McDonald and Elder ’ T W. Stallings preached ably at • the hall at night to a large con i course of people. r Sunday, Elders J. J. Byrd, P. G. r McDonald, J. C. Williams and 1 A. W. PatHrson preached with I marked ability to the comfort of 1 the saints. Elder J. W. Parker I and A. W. Patterson preached s veiy ably at the Hall Sunday t night. Their discourses were if very impressive and we feel that s good will result from the same, s Monday in the fore-noon, Elder j Stallings preached one of the grandest sermons to me I ever u heard. The power of God is cer [e tainly manifested in this dear w man of God who was educated in j three eights to read the Bible. God in their usual able manner of ex pounding the Scriptures, cloiad by the Moderator. All the preachers had ability to speak and the Lord blessed the hearers to hear. Their hearts were all thrilled withecstat-i lc joy and were loth to leave the | place. The order was excellent and the people well cared for, 11 I feel proud of our good people in I Boston who so kindly cared for our brethren and friends through this meeting. I shall ever hold them in greatful rememberance for their hospitality shown our people. It was one of the sweet est privileges of our life to help i entertain an old Baptist Associa tion, and have so many precious ones at our humble home. How unworthy we telt for such a mer cy and how sad ue new feel since it has past. We shall ever feel thankful to I the good Lord for casting our lot among such precious saints who so kindly enabled us to entertain our dear berethren, sisters and friends by supplying us with pro- ' visions. May the Lord smile up- ’ on them in mercy and pour out of his Spirit upon them, that they may teel his presence Spiritually, and temporally. We feel that there is a good day for us in this association. There were about one hundred members added to the churches within the last year. We feel more than greatful to the good people for responding to the call in defraying the expenses of ; our ministers, and helping dear . old brother Lane’s family. Oh! may we be spared to see another such a glorious meeting repeated at our humble home.—H. Jennings Fla Oct. 9 1895, Elder A. V Simms Valdosta Ga. J Dear Mr. Simms; ( As I feel like that I had rather s talk with you than any man on l earth, I will, try through my w s»k- t ness and the numberless fears that I has haunted me for along time,' a to write to you, hoping that what you may say will relieve me some for it seems to me that I can neither live nor die feeling just as Ido now. And when I have had the chance to talk with you I would feel so mean and unworthy and was so sure that you would think that I was only trying to deceive you till I would just have to leave you. About two years ago it seemed to me that I realized clealy that every thing I had ever done must have been dictated by Satan himself and I was sure that death was my portion and that it would be an eternal death with me and that if I realy got justice I would die then. At this time 1 was in school at boarding with my uncle who was a Baptist,and who seemed to enjoy talking with ma, but the more he talked the worse I would feel about myself. So I went on in this way partaking of merri ments to keep anybody from ever thinking that I had ever recogniz ed, or even thought of a devine Be ing; -uatrL in July (94) when I commenced to .teach a school at West Lake in this County, and, I felt as thoughlknew that I would not live to teach it out (for I was in the poorest health I have ever been) dnd bn the 17th day of July I was taken sick in school and was carried home feeling just like I was go mg there to die. Sometime after I got home I told Papa that I was going to die and though he talked to me the best ne could, his expression so distinct, made me think that he even do übted that I would die. But although my weakness, and feeling at the same time that if I was spared it would be only through the mercies and forbear ence of Jesus, though I promised the Lord as I hope that if I could only recover I would .try to do bet ter. Up until this time when- . 1 would think of trying to join the 1 (which was only a auu x tease and rebuke me more than I could bear. But before I got up from this sick bed I was made willing (hot advised or invited) to sacrifice the I pleasures of a thousand worlds land the associates there and even my own life (carnal) to be at I peace with the Lord, and to enjoy myself as some old Baptist did. Afterwards at times it seemed d to me that if I only could join se the church that I would be the ir happiest person in the world, but t- knowing I was so young and feel e ing so unworthy and fearing that - I would be deceiving the people s which! adored far above all others 1 it You know whats done,and instead 1 -of being better satisfied I was kill- £ j ed, bad matters wer« worse, things 1 1 once did not notice were now »I dangerous, Ou Saturday after, t ; I went to Antioch, and Mr, Charlie I Stallings told those folks lust what I had done, just how I did jit and just how I felt about it, looking me right in the eyes all the t line? * After leaving the church F solemnly wished to God I ha< r > never been borned; but on Suu f day I went back and heard h'm 3 * and as I do hope gave me some light cn the same thing he ruin ed me on Saturday. Sometimes during the week ► when lam by myself, pondering over my condition, studying the . doubts and fears that seem almost as facts to me, I feel like I can realize a little hope, suspended as it were by a hair; bdt when Igo to meeting my hope seems to banish and I feel so mean and untruthful, for I have promised, as I hope, and ask. the Lord only to spear me till one more oppor tunity ; but then I would feel so sad that I would be deceiving the best people in the world, and that perhaps I was mistaken, till I would feel unfit to ba with such folks, much less to of- fer to become connected with them Mr Simms about a month ago I had the best dream lever lad and I had rather tell it than anything I eier knew. After the dream I waked up, and studied over it along time, thinking I had rather tell it than anything, bat the next morning, fur me think of it, so I could tell jit, was impossible; and never before did I enjoy any thing as I did this dream, and for me to forget it troubled me, for I feared I had been only de ceiving myself allJjie time. Now I feel like this letter may all be foolishness to youMr Simms, but Ido hope that I have come as near as possible writing my feelings. Yours truly, James Powell. We are glad to state that on last Sunday it was our delightful privilege to baptize this dear young brother, together with six other trembling ones. We hone he will pardon us for giving his letter away td fc others. It is very comforting.—S. Savannah Ga., Nov. 6th 95. Dear Brother Simms: —If you will allow me a small space in the dear Banner, I would like to tell the dear saints abroad, of the pro gress, and how our little church and its efforts has been blessed since its constitution. On last Sunday, the first in Nov. after an able sermon by our much loved pastor, to a small congrega tion, three came to the church,ask ing for a home with us, after relat ting experiences of grace as we be lieve, they were gladly received as one with us. Two of these came from other denominations. One said he had grown tired of his re ligious connections, three years ago,but there was no band here, that he might join himself to, that believed as he did. Therefore he was alone he had his the 5 nA The three were baptized in the river canal the same Sabbath. There are seven that have been baptized since our first effort here in getting the pilgrims ot this city together. Does this not look, as | if the Lord was in the matter? I And is He not blessing us? The Lord be praised for His goodness and mercy. After another instructive dis course by our pastor, another came on confession of faith. So you see dear brethren and sisters our little band is gaining strength. | We now number thirteen. All lovers of truth pray for us, that we may let our lights shine in this wicked city, that we may save some from the error of their way. May the good Lord put it in the hearts of some to help us build a I temnle in His great name, in this place. i Your poor and humble sister, i Emma Cowart. Forest, Texas. Nov., 7 1895. j Elder A. V. Simms. Dear * brother:—l want to tell you and the readers of the Banner, of the j L late session of our (the Primitive } Baptist) association which con vened on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in October last. All the churches, six in number, were represented, and two newly con- stituted churches were received, making eight in all. Received correspondence from four sister associations, namely The Union, I Little Flock, Big Creek, and Little I Hope. The business of the asso ciation was transacted in perfect peace and harmony. Not a dis- senting vote was cast on any ques-1 tion that came before the body. Thirteen ordained preachers were present. While some strong terms , were used by some of them on the < doctrine of predestination, it did ] not cause any hurt or disturbance among them who arendt so strong ’ * in the doctrine. Every thing else was harmonious, and the Lord be praised for it. There seems to be a spirit of reconciliation manifest ing itself among the different fac tions of Old Baptists in Texas, which I hope will finally result in the union of all of God’s dear peo ple, and that there will be no more lines drawn between them. We are all a unit on the doctrine of election and salvation by grace; then why should brethren fall out and declare non-iellowship for each other because they cannot all see these deep doctrinal points alike? Oh that those who are strong would learn to bear the in firmaties of the weak, and let not the weak dispise those that are strong, and may the God of heav en bless all of his dear children with a spirit ot love and forbear ance I trust, is the prayer of the unworthy writer. Dear brother Simms I have just read the account of your good meetings attended by yourself and Elders Bennett and Patterson. Oh, dear brother, how it made my poor heart heave with emotion as I read of the ingatherings at those dear old churches, around the fold of every one of which, if not deceived, I have been a bleating lamb myself. It was in the vicinity of old Mount Horeb church that I first saw the light of this world, and if I am not mis taken in the whole matter, it was in the viemty of Hebron church that I first saw myself a lost and ruined sinner, justly condemned ‘ before a just and holy God. And * although this was in the year of ’ 1859, I wandered about in the ’ wilderness 20 years when I lope ’ I was enabled by divine grace to ' take up my cross and follow my * Master into the liquid grave. Yea dear brethren of Hebron and Beth - 1 el churches, my dear sainted fath er ha.d a name among you when 1 ’ was but a child, a lad in my teens j a young.jngn, and after I had a does my poor heart pou/and may these sweet mercies be con | tinned to you is the fevent prayer of one who loves the people and kingdom of our Lord. Brother Simms I do so much wish you had given the names of those you baptized at the meetings you men tion, for it is very probable that some of them were the friends of my early youth or kindred in the flesh. Your brother in hope. A. M. Starling. We made a very pleasant visil to Union church last Saturday and Sunday. Elder I. A. Wethering ton was also present and preached each day. Two humble young brethren were added to the church by experience and baptism. The church has a large membership I and is enjoying a sweet season of peace and prosperity under the faithful pastoral service of Elder W. H. Tomlinson. We spent one night at this dear brother’s home and mingled our tears together as we talked of our trials and hopes. I OXYDONOR. DEALERS WANTED. NOW IS YOUR TIME. I n want good active dealers in every County and City in South Georgia AUbama and Florida to handle the Oxydonor. Victory which cures with out medicine or doctors. It is a bless ing in any fainily.lt does not raise the dead or keep people from dying when I the time comes for them to fall asleep in death, but it posseses wonderful healing virtues and one instrument will last a family a lifetime. Persons using it should follow instructions closely. If you are afflicted from acute or chronic diseases, or wish to become a dealer, write us at once and enclose a stamp to Lee Hanks Boston Ga., or A. V. Simms. Valdosta Ga., General Dealers. It gives me pleasure to add my tile merits of the OX YDONOR. I was relieved of sciatic rheumatism .in the worst form in two days time and made able to go about my work,with every symptom of the dread ful malady conqured. Truly it is.a little-“ Victor” and a great wonder. Mrs. M.'E. Epkabd