Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 3.
PWfif
Tjit now I *it me down to write
Some of the joys I feel to-night,
In hope my Jesus here will come,
In fortaste of my heavenly home.
Through Mm I feel my sins forgiven
Which gives to me my hope of heaven;
For Jesus died to set me free,
And he my AH, should ever be.
His throne doth flash before mine
eyes,
I see it towering upward rise,
And Angel-hosts doth gather round
The praise of Jesus loud to sound.
Among that praising host I see
Some who on earth, were dear to me;
Ob happy they, free grace to sing,
And shout the glory of their King.
Yes, father, mother, sister dear
Among that heavenly host appear.
And brother too have joined the
band,
Up in the glory happy land.
Yes, wife'and children they are there
The glories of that land to share,
And bask in smiles of Jesus face,
And fullness oi his saving grace.
Then Oh some Angel come and bring
My spirit on thy golden wing!
That I may join with those above
Te sing my Savior bleeding love.
Lswis Stuckkv,
Eddy Tex.
Oct. 11, 1896.
To Tub Pilgrims Banner, and
BeadersThe Lord willing, I de
sire to give some of my ideas on
Discipline, in the hope to draw out
some abler pen on the same.
The subject is one of great im
portance ; and it doe* seem so plain
that it needs no comment. But
m I lud brethren, and some
&a4 peem to lose light of the plain
teaching of th* Bible on discip
line.
dear Editors, if you will
allow one so ignorant as I am,
space in the beloved Banner for
a few thoughts, I will be as short
M the nature of the /subject will
allow.
I will first call attention to the
language of the Savior as recorded
in Mathew 18. Read the entire
adapter. Now this rule of action
does seem so plain, that one,
though a fool, should not err there
in. If my brother offends me,
the question comes —when shall I
go to him?—How long snail I wait
before going to him, as directed?
We answer—go “in the cool of the
day,’' This U tae time the Lord
went to Adam, If you are not
'cool or calm, and spiritual, you
will make matters worse. Remem
ber, the Bible says “If a brother
be overtaken in a fault, you that
are spiritual restore such an one
in the spirit of meekness.” Then
I contend that none but the spir
itual, or in whom the spirit pre
dominates at this time, can possi
bly restore an erring brother.
Then be sure you are in the spirit
before approaching an offending
bother, Bn* qn Action jig, now
asked me—must we not withdraw
from ever brother who walks dis
orderly? I answer yes, after you
have taken legal gospel steps, and
failed to reclaim him. And re
member for a brother to walk dis
orderly, implies a habit of disor
der. This is very different from
an act of disorder.
Then I ask, if this ii the rule be
tween brethren, what is the rule
between churches? That is, if one
church, as such, offends another?
I answer the same rule that ap
plies to, and governs brethren,
should apply to, and govern church
es. Then, when should one church
withdraw from anothe? I answer
as before—when she has labored
according to the same gospel rule
applying to brethren, and has fail
ed to reclaim her.
®he ftUrim’* IJnimer.
“THOU HAST GIVEN A BANNER TO THEM THAT FEAR THEE, THAT »T MAY BE DISPLAYED BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH.”— Psalms 60: 4.
Has one church the right to say
whether another, or sister church,
shall exclude a member of her own
or not? I answer, she has not; —
that each church is an independ
ent sovereign m herself, and has
the right to receive or exclude
members of her own, independent
* of all other churches, provided she
does not receive or hold members
guilty of adultery, drunkenness,
, covetousness, dishonesty, or other
offenses or crimes, condemned by
the Bible.
1 It is not the excluded members
thi t gives us trouble, but the dis
orderly one retained in the church.
Now, allow me to say that there is
no better evidence of a true Chris
tian, than the spirit of meekness
and forbearance. Wo as Baptist
should manifest all long-forbear
auce as bearing one another burden,
before finding fault with another
brother, sister, or sister church.
We should thoroughly examine
ourselves, as the scriptures teach,
and even then, let him that is with
out sin, cast the first stone. I ;
fail to find any command in the
blessed Bible to examine my broth- j
er, or for one church to examine j
another. But I do find that we
should watch over one another for <
good, and to keep at the feet of |
each other. j
Not that I mean by this that we
should not watch and be ever read- E
y to enforce the discipline against i
all disorders forbidden by the word (
of God. But that we, as brethren J
should instead of fault-searching <
and evil-searching, have thatchar- i
itv to bear iand forbear with the t
" weaknesses'of our brethren, and (
thus provoke one another to love j
good works. f
I May God bless us all to that end g
that we can esteem others better <
• than ourself. At the same time <
> never to compromise the law of 1
[ Christ —the bible rule of discip- e
line, which is the very life of the t
5 visible church. And that while 1
[ we apply the law of Christ to this, (
( we may apply the love of Christ '
to the weaknesses and infirmities 1
, of each other, i
The above is submitted to the c
judgment of the Banner Editors, I
[ in love to all saints by your poor t
t afflicted brother, if not deceived. &
> T. J. McMullen. c
j Medulla, yia
I v
f Nashville, Ga., July, 6, 1896. *
i Elder A V. Simms:—Dear t
- brother in the Lord :—I feel some- c
• what impressed to w? ite some of v
t my bitters and sweets-r-ups and T
> down,s since I have had a name I
i with the Primitive Baptist. But t
• it is with fear and trembling that I
• I make the attempt, feeling so un- t
• worthy. t
The day I was baptized was a P
t bright and happy day with- me,
; and I felt that I never see
L any nicjrts trouble. And remained
r sc for several days; when all at
- once it occured to my mind I was
i not a Christian, and that I had de-
1 ceived the brethren, and felt con- t
- demned before God, and made un r
• my mind to go to the next meeting y
■ at Emmaus church —where was my E
i membership—and tell Elder Wil-
liams and the brethren my feelings,
• &c. So I went, but when I arriv- r
j ed and met Elder Williams—the f
j Pastor—and also Elder A. G. Con- i
? nell—a member there—and all the
- brethren and sisters, who met and 1
, spoke so kindly to me, that I could
i not help loving them, and the El- 1
i ders preached so much to my com- c
r fort, that I was made to rejoice,
1 and so strengthed in taith that I I
a’ did not mention my trouble, I
- went on this way two or three i
yeaf§, sometimes ddubtitig, and i
DEVOTED TO THE GAUSE OF CHRIST.
Valdosta, Ga., Novnieber 15. 1896.
sometimes rejoicing in hope.
Then Elder E. J. Wiliams gave
tip the pastoral care of the church,
and Elder A. G. Connell was call
ed, who served as Pasto? two or
three years, and then called for a
letter, and moved to Florida; and
Elder Jacob Young was called, and
the church was m good standing
and fellowship with the Union As
sociation.
Then the church got in trouble
and contusion, that sprung from
false, or armenian doctrine preach
ed, which caused me great trouble,
till finally the church called Elder
Young to take charge of the
church. But I was much dissat
isfied and told the brethren I could
not go with the minority (that had
voted for Elder Tucker, but made
the call for Elder Young unani
mous by submiting) as that Elder
Young had endorsed the false doc
trine preached ; and I asked them
to erase my name from the church
book. But they objected, and pro
posed to give me a letter of dismis
sion. 1 finally agreed to take it;
with the expectation of gaining a
sound church on confession of my
faith.
Some time after, that church was
dropped from the Union Associa
tion, and has been called “Young
ites” ever since.
On October, 8, 1870—a day I
shall never forget—myself, wife,
mother and sister nere received in
to the .fellowship of those dear,
kind, loving brethren and sisters
of Salem church—who are now
nearly nil passed away—so here
wf sjoy and sadneaa. .
On September, 6,1894, I called for,
and rec.ived letters of dismission
for myself and wife; andon 29,
same month with others, we were
constituted into a new church,
called “Concord,” where my mem
bership is still, and where I am
satisfied and the brethren, and sis
ters are very dear to me; and I
hope to live in the sweet fellowship
of love, as long as I live m this
world. For if not much deceived,
I love them. And here 1 rest as
in a home whence springs the most
of my joys and consolations in life.
None but those who have passed
through divisions in churches
knows the trial and distress conse
quent.
Now, brother Simms, I have
written this for your considera
tion, if you see proper to publish
this in the Bannrr, do so; if not,
cast it aside, and all will be right
with me I desire yours and the
prayers of all true praying people.
I, at times, hope I have tasted of
that bitter water made sweet that
Israel of old drank of. If so, it.is
by the grace of God. Success to
the Banner: it is a sweet messen
ger to me.
Farewell—Yours in hope,
J. M. Handcock, ;
Esteemed Sister Phillips ;
You kindly ask for a communica
tion for the Banner And as I
read your request, and recalled
your industry, energy and care in
maintaining the paper I am remin
ded of the typical woman in tne
book of Proverbs —“She is like the
merchants ship, she bringetli her
food from afar, she riseth up while
it is yet night and giveth meat to
her household, and a portion to
her maiden” We believe you
have been doing with all your
might what your hands findeth to
do; and we trust that like the
bread cast upon the waters it will
be found in the day of hunger*
It would be pleasant to com
mune m words of kindness with
the deaf distant farethOfi who
read the Banner and love'the
3 truths to which it is devoted. I
, may, at least, send them greeting
■ iq the name of our Emanuel, and
Wyuld so much love to encourage
1 them in the way. If your people
i aie like myself and the pilgrims
‘ Q now ’ I k now they need the help
’ i|lg hand of love and strength as-
■ ttu'ded by like experience; they
need the fellowship of kindred
hearts, and to speak often one to
another ot the joys and sorrows
of his pilgrim-life. No place is
fcjhnd in the hist'.ry of Gods
children where they were
a proud, over-bearing, self-satis
fied, or an exacting people. If
suph faults ever appeared, they,
came as do noxious weeds in the
garden, they do not belong to the
planting of the Lord, and hence
shjill be uprooted.
J’hough banners are an emblem
hostile army, generally ; yet
the banner of Gods people is a
banner of love. Compassion,
kindness, and love are strange
yet they are invincible.
Fepd the man that hates you, and 1
yq|i put a fire on him that will 1
birn up every vestige of hatred ’
auu ill-will. The Captain of our '•
sanation has not left his little ar
mj» without suitable weapons of
delense. “Thy neck” says the
of songs .which is Solomon’s
“i<ike the tower of of David build
edjF-or an armory whereon there
halgs a thousands bucklers, all j
sKalds of mighty men.” Paul de
scsbes to us the weapons of the “
CiXUtian warfare—the breast-plate *
,L.,, . . ~ t
jii I." - . 7 H——nwnv-*’--rtiri-. > WUKt tliO
shields:—weapons not made of •
iron and steel, but of truth, and
righteousness, and faith and peace. 1
Th? bucklers and shields in Da
vid’s tower w’ere for temporal, i
fighting of Israel. They were for 1
aggressive, resentful warfare: —An €
eye for an eye, and a tooth for a j
tooth, was the inscription on these t
banners. But this iron rule pass- i
ed away with the advent of Zion’s c
King. Then the sword should be 5
beaten into plowshares; and the r
spears into pruning-hooks. And j
love was to be on this banner of j
gospel Zi.»n, and upon the hells of £
the horses, “Holiness to the Lord.’ 1 }
What a wonderful transformation j
when the time comes for the Lord f
to beautify the place of his sanct- .
uary, and to make the place of
his feet glorious? Wonderful king
dom of the Lord 1 with its offl
cers peace, and its exactors right
eousness! Violence is to be heard
no more, nor wasting nor destruct
ion within its borders. “Its walls
shall be called Salvation, and its
gates Praise.” Truly it must be a
prepared people that shall become
citizens of this spiriual Jerusalem
which is from above As the elect
of God, holy and beloved, their
whole being must be embued with
mercy, kindness, gentleness, hum
bleness of mind, meekness, long
suffering, and above all these, they
are to put on charity, which is the
bond of perfectness. What peace
and joy must be found in such a
community as this? What a bless
ed privilege to be one of them?
Do we who profess to belong to
this amazing household, have good
grounds for the claim we make?
For one, 1 am cast down with sad
ness when I scan my life—my dai
ly walk and conversation—of
three score years. When I ask my
self where aie the fruits that mark
the Christian? Where is the pa
tience, the forbearance, the kind
ness and the love that belongs to
a disciple of the Lord? It means
much when the wise Apostle bid
rtß to “examine ourselves whether
#8 B 6 ih ths faithj find to pf6ve
i our own selves.” It is well tor
' poor sinful mortals that they have
; a merciful High Priest that is
I touched with a feeling of all their
» infirmities, and that knoweth our
s frame, and remembereth that we
1 are but dust.
Let this then be our comfort,
brethren; and since Gods word,
and our own hearts reveal our im
perfections, let us, as best we may,
at least, strive for the grace of
humbleness of mind, and to be not
proud in spirit. For how unseem
ly in one professing Jesus Christ
ot Naz .reth, to be heady and high
minded? And how seemly and
lovely to see the meek and lowly
spirit of Jesus manifested in such?
Let us then with gentleness., iieek
ness and diligence, run the race
set before us, ever looking unto
Jesus It is indeed a race, and the
prize worth the running, and may
not be far away for some of us.
The best blessing for our mor
tal life is to walk worthy of our
high vocation.
Commending each one to the
gra?e and mercy of the Lord—our
common Lord and Savior—l re
main in sincerity’a loyer of peace,
and of the brethren.
S. B. Luckett.
Crawfordville, Ind., Oct. 1896. ‘ 1
- • 1
Children.
■ ' ;
Dear brothei and sister, did you -
know your children were.a gilt to <
you from the Lord? And now will (
you strive to your utmost degree 1
to brina Thorn nn.nghU j 1
you both alike responsible for this.
Then know that as you talk, they
will talk; as you act, they will act.
Learn your children to talk and
act at home, as you would have
them talk and act abroad. Nev-,
er say a word in their presence
you would not be willing for them
to say; never act in a wav you
would condemn in them. Chil
dren naturally think—and it is
well they should—that father and
mother are the best and smartest
people in the world, and will im
itate you, therefore you should be
an example to your dear children
in word and deed. As you would
have them talk and do; so you
must talk, and do. Do not speak
in a brawling, scolding manner
to your sweet, impressible chil
dren, but in a low,, loving gentle
voice, if you would have them
so speak. Never tell your child
to do anything but that which is re
ally right and necessary: and then
be sure they obey you. Never
threaten them unnecessarily. But
when you do say to them you will
punish them if they do not do so
and so, never fail in your word
to them; for every such failure will
cause them to have less and less
respect for you and your words.
If you want your children to love
and obey you, be kind, but firm
and faithful with them, never vio
late your word to them. Let
them know they must be humbled
and loving, and above all, obedi
ent to your commands. As much
as possible keep them in your
sight and directly under your con
trol, keep them home at night as
much as possible. And as soon
as old enough, give them employ
ment, or keep them at school.
Be sure to keep your older boys
and girls out of the ball room,
where many dear sons have lost
their lives, and many precious
girls their good name which is
above rubies. Teach your sons
to flee from drinking saloons, and
such as visit them; as they Schild
»vi 4’/I io ¥ V
r from the devil himself. Besure you
u do not use v ulgar nor profane lan
’ guage, if you would not have your
sweet children whom God has giv
en you, do the same. What a
shame to punish a child for doing
what he has seeen his parents do!
More children are ruined by
threats from their parents that are
never fulfilled, than anything else.
When we see ill-mannered, ugly
spoken children, we know at once
what their parents are. Be loving
to your children at all times, even
when you must correct them; and
teach them to love another. Bring
a child up in the way it should
• go, andnaturally, when he is old
he will not depart from it,is as true
as the bible. ,
j.a W.S. Broom.
Waresboro Ga Sept. 25th 1896.
~ , Elder A. V. Simms.
Dear Brother; —It is in 1 much
weakness that I attempt to write
a few lines for publication in the
columns of the Banner, in re
sponse to the request of many of
my dear brethren whom I met
white on my tour in west Florida
ahd Alabama, as published in late
issue of your paper. It was
through the’ divine providence of
God that I left my home on Aug.
12th, and after some, delay arrived
at Bonifay Fla, on the night of
Aug. 13, and? was there met by Bro
J; H. Bagley of th at. town and oth
er very kind brethren and filled an
appointment that was arranged for
the privilege of addressing a godly
congregation. And.oh the morn
ing of the‘l4th I left for my first
appointment on the. fiifteenth
at Beulah church in ‘ the bounds
of the Clay bankAssociatiom; when
and where I met many kind and
affectionate brethren and traveled
from th.eppe to said Associa
tion,, in and returned
back to a district meeting at Beth
el in the bounds of the Chapola
on Friday and Saturday including
the 4th Sunday in Aug, where 1
met many kind brethren and able
ministers.' The latter part of my
appointments being in the Chapo
la, and closing up at ‘Chapola
church rfi Monday 31st, I return
ing home on Wednesday Sept. 2nd
and found all well and doing well;
and I then felt that surely God
had heard the prayer of his people,
surely Israel’s God is worthv to be
loved by me and all mankind. I
met many kind brethren and min
isters among whom was Eld I. P.
Bradley of the Clay Bank, whom
I much regretted to find very low
down with fever; aUor’Eld.’ Jack
son and Brethren . W. S.
Rice and many other dear breth
ren ; and also many dear Lambs
who were lingering 1 around the
fold; to whom I desire ,to say—
ween not dear little ones, for your
Redeemer .lives. I regretted to find
that, the Chapola was suffering
sorely on account of trouble that
was existing and had caused a de
vision ; but it seemed that all of
the churches have returned back
except about two. So dear broth
er lest I should worry you or con
sume too much space in your val
uable paper, I will close asking
an interest in your prayers; I am
as ever yours in gospel bonds.
J. B. Mullis.
Five were received at Mt. Carmel
3rd. Sunday, two at Pelham, five
at Bethlehem the same meeting.
Two were baptized at Mt. Pisgah
last Sunday. Praise the Lord.
No 21