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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