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The Pilgrim’s Banner. PUBLISHED-SEMI MONTHLY BY A. V. SIMMS & CO. VALDOSTA, - - - GA. EDITORIAL STAFF: A.V. SIMMS, Valdosta, Ga., R. H. BARWICK,... Barwick, “ LEE HANKS, Boston, “ MRS. R. ANNA PHILLIPS, Office Manager. MtJ RSCKIPTION RATES IN Ah- V ANCK. FUKTHK I) NIT Kl* STACKS. CANaUA AH'l> M KXICO. Single copy one year SI.OO Single copy six months 50 Single copy three months, ~. 25 Single copy & Sample copies sent free on appli cation. Address all Communications for publication to THE PILGRIM’S BANNER. VALDOSTA GA, Special Notice. In writing communications for the Pilgrim’s Banner, please obr «erve the following rules: Rule 1. Do not write on but ONE SIDE of your paper. Rule 2. Write PLAIN AND DISTINCT, so that it can be easily read. Special Rule No. 3. Above al things, do not write with a LEAD PENCIL. Strictly adhere to the above rules and you confer a great favor on us and a Special Favor to the Printer and Compositors. The Publishers, Entered at the Post Office at Val dosta, Ga.. as second class mail matter EDITORIALS. NOTICE, On account of the Annual M Hp t» r ; Fla., on the fourth Sun 'ay in this month, the regular meeting at Bethel will be held on Friday be fore. Brethren and sisters are all requested to be present if possible, as business of importance will come before the body.—S. Any one wishing my books will please write me as I have 1 hem ready for mailing now. Price 50c. or $4 00 per dozen —H. By request, it the Lord wills. I shall be at Pleasant Grove (Ozark. Ala,) sth Sunday and Saturday before in November, ami shall fill other appointments as Elder Byrd may arrange for me.—ll. At a meeting bald at Aarna church Coffee county Ga., one week after the Association con vened theie in Octolier. Elder W. 11. Tomlinson baptized four more of the Lord’s little ones This little church, under the faith ful pastorate of our beloved broth er Tomlimson, is growing in num b r very fast. The dear Lord con tinue to bless them.—S. B«th*fl Church, Brooks County Georgia Whereas ; there has been a report circulated upon one of our members. Brother J. N. Gibson to ihe 9fleet that he behaved him self criminally toward at. old c 1- opid women a member with us, which report was circulated by the women heiself, and whereas our church has thoroughly examined the matter. Resolved; —that we have this day thoroughly examined the case an I have publicly proven, in o en conference, that the woman is a rogue and a liar. Resolved :—that we do nnt be lieve the report, and denounce it as being as black and as false as the one who started it. Resolved further: that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the Pilgrims Banner and the Quitman Free Press with a request they publish the same, Unanimously adopted in conference Oct. the 31, 1896. Elder R. H. Barwick, Moderator, J. B. Rountree, Clerk pro tem. Elder A. V. Simms will (the Lord willing) fill the following appoint ments: Macedonia,Terrell county Ga. Thurs day before the fifth Sunday in Nov. Chickasawhatchee Fri.and Sat. Albany Sunday and Sunday night, Turkey Creek Monday. Harmony Tuesday. Antioch Wednesday. Slaughter Creek Thursday. Mt Olive Friday. Beulah Saturday and Sunday. Libert y Tuesday and Wednesday. Hebron Thursdaj, Rufus H. Jknnings. notice. At a good deal of expense we have now arranged to place printed slips with name and date of sub scription on each Banner, so that all may know how they stand. This will also supercoed the neces sity of sending out receipts for money received, as a change of date on slip will show the credit made. So many have applied for back numbers that we arp entirely out numbers 14 and 17. We gladly send them when wo can. We have been repeiying many complaints from subscribers as not getting their Banner regularly. We exceedingly regret this. We mail the paper and fee} jt D not our fault. We have been try ii g to find whose it is; and now think we can assupe oqr subscribers that they will get their paper regularly. R. Anna Phillips. Three Days Meeting, There will be a three days meet ing at Columbia church beginning on Frihay before the Ist. Sunday in Dec. Elder Simms and Bar wick are expected to attend. All are cordially invited to bp with us. This is a good church and we hope to see a goodly number pres ent.—H, A Three L>ays Meeting - Thwyu w»H be a tlirre duya —meet ing at Antioch near Boston, Ga. beginning on Friday before tne 2nd Sunday in November, Elders Cayce, Byrd, Parish, and perhaps Elder Anderson and others will be present. All are cordially invited to attend.—ll. The Flint River Association, It was our pleasure to be at the last session of the Flint River As sociation, which convened at Trin ity church, Decatur county, Ga. To say it was a good meeting does not fully expres-i it as it seemed to us. The Introductory sermon was delivered by Elder D. W. Tay lor of the Primitive Pulaski Asso ciation from the lext “The Lord our God is one God.” He certainly had the Spirit of his text and soun ded flie key note of all the preach ing that followed during the meet ing. One special feature was manifest in all the preaching that was done by the different Elders from their respective locaties, em bracing the states of Georgia, Ala bam a and Tennessee, viz; The denouncing of that kind of senti ment now prevailing in the minds of some that the spiritual enjoy ment of the Lord’s people is not contingent upon their works of obedience. All maintained that the eternal salvation of God’s peo ple was unconditional, but that the time, or gospel salvation here on earth as found by some and lost by others, was conditional. We rejoiced to find much unity on this point, because a denial of this truth would also involve a de nial of th© truth that the people of God were accountable creat ures. Notwithstanding the inclement weather on Sunday there were not less than 1000 people assem bled to hear the preaching of El der Cayce and ing by their presence that they were interested in the things oi , God. It was good to be there.—B. EXPERIENCE « Eld Simins. Dear brother in Christ: —I have felt pressed in mind and spirit for sometime to write for your precious paper, the Banner. I feel constrained to write about the dealing! of the L >rd with me, now the impress ion has grown so strong, notwith standing my weakness, believing the dear children of God will bear with me. I was born in Sumpter 0o { Ala March 17, 1850 My fathers name was James Wheat, my 'Mothers maiden name was Matilda Thom as. My mother died when I was a small girl, and my father mar ried again. In 1870 my father moved from Ala to La { where he lived till his death in Match 1887. I was married to JeronuFNeal in 1877- Th© fi<st serious impress ion I ever had about the future destiny of my soul was an 1869. My father sent mo to Downsville La f t° school, and while there I at tended a Methodist protracted meeting: the third night of this meeting when they called for inoqrners, I was sitting on th** back seat with no notion ol going to the ‘•mourners bench,’’'When all at once a very strange feeling came over me that I never have been able to describe; and then I began to studdv about the condition of mv soul. And I began con cerned—?an*ioi|s and troubled to know what I must do to be saved; for 1 verily believed I must do something, but did not k now what, or how to begin. So I joined the Methodist after a little, believing I had religion, I moved on well fora while; and then -felt and found there was something wrong but did not know whajfrt was. Only I found I still had the same old love for the of this world I had before I joiAd them. So I turned to dancing azain, and told them to exclude bn. Yet, I often had serious thouglgs, about death, and would often trWto pray. . A nd-.Qft.nnp whaloi! in the ball-room, such’*’ serious thoughts, and feelings of condem nation would come to m<& even as they would at other time. But 1 never saw and felt just ho w sinful helpless, and lost was my soul, till in 1879 when attending a Missionaryßaptist protracted mee ting at old New Hope tjhurch. 1 became so deeply concerned about u.y condition that I was in great trouble indeed, I saw jinyself a condemned and lost sinqer in the sight of God, and the very breath ing of mv soul was “what must 1 do to be saved!?” One d’ay during this meeting I and my husband were on- our way to it, and both of us jeemed to be in unconscious silence, neither haying a word to say to the other. My whole heart and mind seom given io the secret prayer “what must I do to be saved!”it seemed to b<? my very breathing, when all of a-sudden it occured to me as if some one had told me in a small still voice— “ You cannot do anything —you are a lost and condemned sinner in the sight of a just and holy God.” This so <>vercamo me that I threw my arms around my husbands neck and’eried out “Oh I Lord have mercy I—what shall I do ?” This so astonished him, that belaid his arms around me and asked me what was the matter? But I could not speak a word. I do not know how long we stood there in that position and condi tion. But while standing there ■ n the road with my arms around my husband, viewing myself a vile, helpless, lost, sinner, all of a sudden, the great burden of sin that was crushing me, was gone, and I was, as it, were, in a bran new world, and all creation was praising God, and I could behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And it seemed to me that love fill my soul —I loved every-body. We went on to the meeting house. My husband at that time was holding a letter of dismission from the Missionary Baptist, but was much dissatisfied with his home among them. He had been wild and reckless in try- ing to get rid of his troubles of conscience. I did not knew any thing of this then, or what caused him to act so reckless. But we went on to the Meeting house as 1 said. And when they opened the door fir the reception of members my husband went and offered them his letter, making his acknowledgements, and was receiv ed. Then I went forward and tried to tell them what I hoped the Lord had done for me, and was received, and baptized at the close of the Meeting by J C. Jones. And so went on my way rejoicing for a while. But it was not long till I had great trials and rr nibles to encounter with the number# who seemed cold toward me, and to wards one another. They did not show the brotherly love I felt, and that one Christian should have for another. Sometimes I would con« elude it was all iny fault. I was not well satisfied. That same year wo moved up on the line of Arkansaw, and wrote back for our churph letters. My husband be came so much dissatisfied wth them, that he became. wild and reckless again. We staid up there a year, and moved back near Downsville again, and put our let ters m with the Missionaries again. But it was not long till piy hi|s« baud became so much dissatisfied with them that he said he could not stand their doctrine and prac tices. In 1832 we moved to Angelina Co Tex { leaving our membership with them- My husband was bow so much dissatisfied that he again became reckless, trying to drown his troubles, about it. I tried to bear all my trouble# with patience and tried to pray for my husband. We lived in Texas a year and then bought a small place; and in 1884 wrote back to La. tor, and received our, church letters; put them in a Missionary church, and g't along •very well for about a year, when my husband became so dissatis fied again, though not reckless; —uaL agßiy himaftl£. with them. After much bad luck that brought •ub to .poverty, we, having sold all and coulu not pay out, we rented land in another neighborhood, and near a Primi tive Baptist phupch. When to my astonishment my husband found a people that believed as he did; and so well pleased was he with their doctrine, and practices, that he just quit going among the Missionary Baptist. In 1887 he joined the Primitive Baptist. And Oh the trouble of soul and anguish of heart it caused mel I felt separ ated from him forever. I believed in foreknowledge and predestina tion of God to some extent, but could not understand it entirely or as I hope I see and understand it now. And when he and the brethren would try to expla’n it to me, it would seem like pouring hot water on me. I became so disgusted that I actually abhorred that doclrtne. I told them the mon they talked, the more disgus ted I became, and that I never would join the Old Baptist. I be lieved my husband wanted to force me to join them, because he bad. But in this I was misiaked! I found afterwards thnt it was the devil making me believe this, and to deny the truth. So I went on this way till in 1888 I went with my husband to an Old Baptist meeting; and there was a preacher by name of Hud son who had just come from Ala. he preached from the text, “Be ware therefore lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets, behold ye despisers and and wonder and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe (Lough a man declare it unto you” Acts, 13; 40, 41. It seemed to me his preaching was all right at me, and every word he spoke seemed to fall with a heavy weight upon my heart. And that sermon gave me more light on the fore-knowl edge and election of God than I had never before had; and this preaching of the gospel came to me with a power and weight that I had never felt before. So I went home deeply impressed in mind and heart that this was the true gospel. But said nothing to any one about it. I resolved that I would leave it all with God, and ask Him to give me understanding on these things. So I read my bi ble and prayed to God all the week The next Sunday there was preach ing at my house by an old Bap tist; and while he was preaching tho light of the truth broke in up on me, and I dil so plainly sue through all my difficulties—l could then see the for-knowledge, predestination, and unconditional elec!ion of God, and salvation by grace ; and the plan of salvation, and the work of redemption all complete in Jesus Christ, in the wisdom, will and purpose of go<l before the foundation of th*' world and how it was made manifest in time to the elect, or heirs of grace that were chosen iii Christ before the world began But I was not convinced as to which, or when*, was the true oh uroh of Cnrist, till the fall of 1888. I knew there were many “lo here’s,” and “Io there’s;” and that all claimed to be the church of Christ; and I knew all were wrong but one: For I could not find in the bible where Christ '.ver set up but one. So 1 became troubled and anxious to know which this one was.' I pray ed the Lord to show me the tru e church of Christ, And one day while engaged in deep meditation and prayer on the subject, it come into my mind that the Primitive Baptist were the only people who preached and practiced what was recorded in the bible; and then my mind seemed to settle cn this truth, Aqd from that day on I have been fully satisfied that the Primitive Baptist is the one true church of Christ, And on Saturday before the first Sunday m Oct. 1888, I. went to the Littl i Flock church in Angellina county Tex., and tried to tell them a reason of my hope, and was re ceived and baptised by Elder E. J. Smith ; and I left a burden there r thaTlfa o ~neveF fstufK3rn~ifcnd trfr a while, all was joy and peace, and I thought I never would have any more trouble to mar my peace But alas! it was not long till doubfs ana fears as to my hope being of the Lord, siezes me, and I even began to doubt having a hope; I feared I had deceived the people of God, which caused me great sorrow of soul and m .this anguish of spirit, I cried to God, and I believe |he heard me, and that I could hear a small still voice saying “This is the way, walk ye in it;” which fill°d my poor soul again with joy and gladness, which made me to rejoice in my Savior, and the riches of his grace; and all my doubts and fears were gone. I received such a bright ev idence of my acceptance with God that I thought I could never more doubt. But. this did not last long, and again I was in darkness. And up to the present time I find that I am first in the light and then in the dark; and that I am like Ja cob of old—a short step and then a stumble. Still, I do believe I can look back and see the kind hand of Gcd gently leading me in away I had ’iToHfrqown, and making crooked places rough places smooth. And I God’s people. And we know we have pa°Hed from death to life be cause we love the brethren. Now, dear brother Simms, this is tho first time I ever trid to write for publication, and I have not written my experience just as I felt it, but I have done the best I could in my poor weak, trembling, blundering, manner; feeling sure all the children of God will bear with me, And now brother Simms, I ask yoq, and all, is this an ex perience of grace?—ls this the path of poor pilgrims to the bet ter land? I leave it to your judg ment whether to publish, or not. Before I close I want to say that my husband is a subscriber to the- Pilcrims Banner, and that we find it a source of much comfort. May God spare you long to speak comfortably tp Jerusalem, I want to say to your dear wife, and those of all our preachers, that I think I know what it is to serve as such, and what a burden they bear. Will close-by asking the 'prayers of all God’s children. Your unworthy sister; if one at all, C. C. Neal. Clawson, Tex. Dear Sister Phillps Ca» I draw a little on your patience, space in the Banner to say a few things to the brethren about relig ious controvorsies? Brotherly dis cussions inay Im profitable; but heated controversies never. The spirit actuating a discussion gen erally determines the worth of it. If both parties are susceptable of being informed as well as to in form others, it is well; hut if the only object or desire- is-to teach others, it is probably CaThkL This I make as a general suggestion ; but I particularly purpose speak ing of the numerous controversies about gospel preaching—its object and end. No good has resulted from it, Why? Because both par ties are trying to toach something they uro only guessing at them selves— neither one knows. What finite mind can fix the bounds,and grasp the scope of so stupendious a thing as the gospel ol Christ? Nay verily. But let us try our wits first on things more tangible. Guess how God made this .great earth from nothing? And man out of dust? How did the first man begin to live? When wo know, this, wo may brgin to tell how tho “new man” begins to live. But we ar© told that man received the “breath of God, and became a But tn is fails to relieve or remove the mystery. What is the breath of God?—the Eternal Spirit? And how infused into a lump of dust? The only answer is—just as God willed- The same is just as true m regard to the “new man,” and we have as little right to an opin ion as to how the new man is quick ened, as to how Adam was quick ened, < HW asseft “ttftrtr" God does, or does not, queken dead sinners in this, or in that way? Brethren should go slow while they guess, with no more to guess from. Many divines in expounding the scriptures teaching the “plan of redemption,” take for granted many a wild conjecture, and issue from conclusions at which he has only guessed. Tiu , > ©generation is necessary.—“Ye must be born again but now this is done, who can tell? Jesus suid “As the Father raiseth up the dead and quickcn eth them,-even so the Sou quick eneth whom he will.” Thus bring ing the working fully under the scope, or office work of God the Father, or Christ the Son. But does any christiqn know how of when he began to live? We should be careful how we teach the How, and Wherefore, of this mysterious life. We say when Christ was on earth none received him but by revelation, and that his written word and preached gcspel, are on ly understood and received in the same way; And yet among Chris tian people there is every conceiva ble shade of doctrine preached and believed. “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,” said Paul. mmTpoho^ Tea it before the fall? Does he possess the same now? What part of this triune man now dead, is made alive in regeneration? As there is stilt an antagonistic spirit there. What is the difference between “mind of Christ,” and the “carnal mind” in the same man, at the same time? How does one control his actions to-day, and the other to-morro ? I mention these things to show how little we know about what is quickened, or how quick ened, or its extent in this life. God knows, and we don’t; and heated controversies on it never informs or comforts any one, or brings par ties any nearer together. ' % M. Sikes. Chauncey, Ga*