Newspaper Page Text
brethren as frequently or as plainly as they ought.
The reason they assign for it is that they are afraid
that the brethren will think they are begging, but
that cannot justify them, their duty is one tiling,
and what the brethren and others might say is
another and quite a different thing. They are com
manded not to shun to declare the whole counsel
of God, and declaring a part and leaving out a part
through fear of man does not meet the injunction.
But it does not become me to point out errors in
preachers when there are so many more in myself.
Tne deacons are much to blame that our preach
ers are not better provided for. Private members
as a general thing expect them to lead in contri
buting to the preachers : it they neglect it, or seem
ind.ftereut upon that subject, but little is done. —
Some deacons and private members seem to have
a prejudice against taking up a collection for their
preacher by subscription, while that is the only
plan by which a deaconcan tell what has been done
for the support of his faithful pastor. By that plan
a deacon can by proper diligence make up a sum
that will go far towards defraying the expenses of
the preacher; even a small, poor church can do
much if they but have the will. It is to be feared
that deacons often content themselves with simply
handing round the elements, when if that were
the extent of their duties there would be no use in
their ordination, as any one could do that. They
should make enquiry of their preacher into his fi
nancial concerns, and then if he is involved in debt
or likely to be,,his case should immediately be made
known, and steps taken for his relief; they should
also visit him and ascertain the means of his sub
sistence, and ibere is no danger of the preacher’s
considering this as an*interference into his business,
on the contrary, it would beget closer intimacy,
and create a fellow-feeling that ought to exist be
tween a pastor and floek, for their interests are
identical. It is the duty of deacons to see that
traveling preachers are aided and paid on their
journey ; it is ofien the case that a church seems to
enjoy their labors, speak of the good sermons, yet
when he goes to leave, say by their conduct “ be
conducted and paid.” If churches want preachers
to visit them they must prove their faith by their
works, and works in this case is important.
We are accused as a denomination of being “close
fisted, illiberal and narrow-hearted,” I deny the
charge, yet I own that in many respects there is
room for improvement, and our remissness in the
duties upon which I am tieating is not the result
of a sordid spi-it, but results from a neglect of our
p eacher’s calling the attention of the brethren to
their duty, and is it not strange that our preachers
have been so tenacious to contend for the truth,
and yet so silent upon that which so intimately
concerns their well being? Paul could not have
made a better comparison when he compared them
to oxen, for they are truly great burden-bearers, we
pi*e on and load them, it would seem past endur
ance, yet ox like, they go with their heaas bowed
down, leaving afflicted and poor families behind,
going to break the bread of life to the destitute,
with a woe is me if I preach not the gospel, poorly
fed and clothed, and they go, and if they should
SOU T HERA BAR Ti s i mE S Ckb JN U E it.
j make but one crooked step the brethren are ready
| to magnify the departuie and wound him with
I goads. 1 here is no class of men who endure as
great privations, do as much hard work, and get as
little pay as the preacher. How can we expect to
prosper and claim the approval of God when “The
hire of the laborers who have reaped down your
(our) fields, which is of you (us) kept back by
fraud, crieth ; and the cries of them which have
reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sa
bath.” It is a favorite expression with us that the
Lord only blesses us when we are in the pathway
of duty. Are we in that path now ? Let us assist
these poor burden-bearers by our presence, by en
couragement of word and deed, by our prayers in
holding up their hands, and by our persons let us
divide the burdens with them, go with them as of
ten as we can, and treat them as we should, es
teeming them highly for their work’s sake, being
assured that it is not the fleece that tliev seek, else
they would long ago have abandoned that.
But some may say, how much ought I to <rive ?
“ According as you purpose in your heart.” Prac
tice the golden u'e, “All things whatsoever ve would
that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
If you are willing to work incessantly for nothing,
teed and clothe yourself, then you need not give your
preacher any thing. I know there are churches
whodo their duty, and to whom this article will not
apply, and if the cap fns no one, I will take it hack,
but in all seriousness is my language too severe?
My object has been to do good and not harm, 1
am no preacher, and hence have not wiitten for
my beuefit, I have oily hinted at a few tilings. —
The subject in my opinion demands notice, let us
try to come up to the full measure of our duty, loose
our preachers and let them go.
The Editors will use their discretion and all will
be right with ANONYMOUS.
Ga., Sept. 25, 1860.
Newton County, Ga., Sept. 6, 1860.
Brethren Editors —I have been for some time
impressed to write out what I hope the Lord has
done for my soul. If lam impressed by the right
Spirit, I hope the Lord will give me the ability to
write for the comfort and edification of those who
have been taught by the same Teacher, if indeed I
have ever been taught anything spiritually. I was
born Jan. 5, 1833, and raised up by religious pa
rents, those who raised their children morally, but
morality will not produce vital religion: as far back
as I can remember, I believed I was a sinuer, and
that there was a place of rest prepared for those
who done good, and a place of torment for those
who done bad, the wicked out-lawed, out-breaking
character. I did not think I was as great a sinner
as some, neither did I think it would take as much
to save me as some others; of course I did not in
tend to go to this place of torment, but intended
and believed that I could go to work, do good an 1
get good when I got ready, I was not then ready
for religion, I did not want it. I thought it well
enough for old people to have it who looked like
they might die soon, but I expected to live a long
time. I thought when I came to die would be time
enough, I would then call on the Lord, and He
would save. O, what a delusive thought! I wanted
to enjoy myself with young people, and partake of
the things of the world, I thought Christians were
debarred of this privilege. (1 did not know that sin
was not the element of a Christian, and that their
happiness consisted in being in the church, being
baptised, partaking of all the humble ordinances
that Christ has left on record for His follower*.)
Sometimes I would get very uneasy a’ out my con
dition, especially 7 when I would hear of some of my
relatives or friends dying, I would go to work, pray
three times a day, and think I ought to be saved
for my good works, so I went on for some years
trying at times to get*religion, looking forward at
some particular meeting when I would obtain it.
I remember I locked forward to the Association
which was at Shoal Creek 7 or 8 vears ago, with
the expectation of getting religion, had it all fixed
up in my mind how I would get it. The time came
on, I tried to get it by my good works, it was all
of self, I failed, so I become discouraged at my poor
success; after working so hard, I almost become
angry with God for not saving me in my own
way. At length I gave it up and thought I would
take my fill of sin, if I was to be saved I would be
saved anyhow. So I went- on in this way for two
or three years, it appears to me that my heart was
harder than it ever was. I become very careless,
had but little feeling on the subject any way, some
times my mother-in-law and other members of the
church would interrogate my husband on the sub
ject, and tell him he ought to join the church, he
would deny having a hope, l was wicked enough
to be glad to bear him say he had no hope, I
thought I could not bear the idea for him to j <io,
the church, it appeared the separation would be 100
great. In the Fall of 1855 my husband went to
the Association at Hebron Church in Jasper coun
ty, there he got aroused up in his feelings, and
made willing to own his little hope that he had had
for years; he could not refrain from telling it ; be
made arrangements to ride with Eid. D W. Pat
man, ('o Harris Spring, there he was to preach on
Thursday,) Ire told Eld. Patman the grounds of his
hope, and told him not to tell it, but as he belong
ed to no secret society, he told him he ought to
join the church, went on to meeting, in the close
of the meeting he personated. Mr. Adam’s prayed
that the Lord would make him willing to do his
duty then, and there. Indescribable feelings got hold
of me that I could not g. t rid of. I hope I wr.s
made to see myself a helpless sinner, and that I
needed a Savior, I hope I was then made willing to
have religion if Icould get it, Idid not think I was too
young then. It was all I wanted. I would have
given this world for it if I had it in my possession.
My constant desire was for the Lord to show me
my condition as it really was, I was afraid I had
not seen the depth of my wicked heart. Some
times I hoped that 1 was convicted for sin, at. other
times I tried to get rid of it. and feel as ! had felt,
but I could not do that, I knew riot what to do.-
I read the Scriptures, and ali the experiences
could find in the Signs and Messenger to see if X
could find such a case as mine ; Out ail to no pur
149