Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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