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governments under which they should live peaceable and obedient subjects. This intolerant, uncalled-for, unjustifiable, unseriptural, and therefore unhallowed institutions North and South, has already rent or sectionalissed nearly every religious society in the land except the primitive order of Baptists, so that each one thus divided has its “ Church South,” and Church North. If then our civil government should be divided, they viusl be , and as it remains an unal terable fact that “ a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand,” and as the kingdom of Christ “shall stand forever ,” it will give us an additional proof positive to the many we already have, that they con stitute no part of that kingdom. I have traveled among our churches in Twelve or Thirteen of the U. S., and Canada, and have never seen a matter of the foregoing description as publish* ed in the Newspapers brought before one of them, East, West, North or South. And further, the humble writer of this article wishes it distinctly understood that he enters his sol emn protest against the political actions of all such sectional, professed religious combinations, and un hesitatingly believes that every Baptist in the land who understands the Scriptures and desires that his actions should be controlled by their dictates, will heartily join him in the protest. As I have no idea that any 0. S. or Primitive Baptists have disgraced their profession by meeting and mingling in this po litical “ Baptist Convention,” (?) I send } r ou this Brethren, for publication, to disabuse the minds of any who might suppose that we would so far degrade our profession and society as to engage in the un happy political strife that is now so alarmingly dis turbing the peace, and endangering the perpetuity of our beloved country and civil institutions. Please answer the question immediately and briefly, What Baptists are these ? Your brother most truly, J. F. JOHNSON. Reply. The only Convention of Primitive Baptists of which we have any knowledge is the church meeting; and in that convention the only authority recognized as having the right to govern their action religiously, is their Lord Jesus Christ. Os course, then, brother Johnson is aware that this Convention could not have been one of the Old School, or Primitive'Baptists. — It is probably known to most of our readers that we have no distinction of States, or even nations, among us as Old School Baptists. But while as to their re ligious rights they recognize no legislative interfe rence, nor do they ever seek any favors from the gov nients of the eaith, as citizens of the country, they are entitled to the same political rights as their fel low men. They do not ask any government to grant them any special privileges in which their fellow citizens are not allowed to participate equally with themselves. While it is clear that no Primitive Baptist can consistently act with any political organization treas onable in its objects as a church, we can recognize no political test for membership. Could’st thou not Watch one Hour? 1 he night is dark—behold the shade is deeper In the old garden of G^thsemane, When that calm voice awoke the weary sleeper, Couldst thou not watch one-hoar alone with me SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER. 0, thou so weary of thy self-denials, And so impatient of thy little cross, Is it so hard to bear thy daily trials, lo count all earthly things a gainful loss? What if thou always suffer tribulation, And if thy Christian warfare never cease ; The gaining of the quiet habitation, Shall gather thee to everlasting peace. But here we all must suffer, walking lonely The path that Jesus once himself hath gone ; Watch thou in patience through this hour only, This one dark hour ere the eternal dawn. The captive's oar may pause upjn the galley, The soldier sleep beneath his plumed crest, And peace may fold her wings o’er hill and valley, But thou, 0 Christian, must not take thy rest. Thou must walk on, however man upbraid thee, With him who trod the wine-press all alone; Thou wilt not find one human hand to aid thee, One human soul to comprehend thine own. Heed not the images forever thronging From out the foregone life thou livest no more ; Faint-hearted mariner, still art thou longing For the dim line of the receding shore, Wilt thou find rest of soul in thy returning To that old path thou hast so vainly trod? Hast thou forgotten all thy weary yearning To walk among the children of thy God? Faithful and steadfast in their consecration, Living by that high faith to thee so dim, Declaring before God their dedication, So far from thee because so near to Him. Canst thou forget thy Christian superscription— “ Behold we count them happy which endure ?” What treasure wouldst thou, in the land Egyptian. Bepass the stormy water to secure ? And wilt thou yield tby sure and glorious promise For the poor fleeting joys earth can afford ? No hand can take away the treasure from us That rests within the keeping of the Lord. Poor wandering soul—l know that thou art seeking Some easier way, as all have sought before, To silence the reproachful inward speaking— Some landward path unto an island shore ! The cross is heavy in thy human measure, The way too narrow for thine inward pride, Thou canst not lay thine intellectual treasure At the low footstool of the Crucified. 0, that the faithless soul, one hour only Would comprehend the Christian’s perfect life, Despised with Jesus, sorrowful and lonely, Yet calmly looking upward in its strife. For poverty and self-renunciation, Their Father yieldeth back a thousand-fold; In the calm stillness of regeneration, Cometh a joy they never knew of old. In meek obedience to a heavenly Teacher, Thy weary soul can only find its peace, Seeking no aid from any human creature ; Looking to God alone for his release. And lie will come in His own time and power, To set his earnest-hearted children free ; Watch only through this dark and painful hour And the bright morning yet will break for thee ; “Forgive and be Forgiven.” Brother traveler through this life, When misfortunes oft assail; Battle noblv ’mid the strife, mr f Boldly face the fiercest gale ; Seme may fail where they succeed ; Some who manfully have striven ; Keep this motto in your creed, Oh, “ Forgive and be forgiven.” If sneering foes dispute thy way, With a smile still pass them by ; Heed not what their tongues may say, Toiler let thy aim be high: When you reach Fame’s highest goal, For which you manfully have striven, All your foes with feeling soul, Oh, “ Forgive and be forgiven.” Ever trust in God above, Though misfortunes bear thee down, Changeless is thy Maker’s love, Smiles He hides behind each frown ; Then when on your couch of death, Life’s last ties are sadly riven ; With thy last expiling breath, Oh,. “ Forgive and be forgiven.” RECEIPTS^ [From Nov 28, to Dec. 11.} OEO.—Eld. D. W. Patman, 2 ; J. Levingston, 1,50; R. Kelley, 1; S. Bishop, ,30; F. Wright, 1,50'; Miss S, 0. Heard, 1,50 ; Eld. K. Rambo, I; 8,80 ALA.—EId. W. C. Simmons, 3 ; 3,00 IOWA.—T. Stringfellow, ,30 ,30 IND.—C. Newgent, 1 , 1,00 TENN.—EId. P. Culp, 3,50 ; 3,50 MO.—C. W. Baker, 2 ; 2,00 LA.—J. Sandlin, 2; 2,00 TEXAS.—Mrs. N. Dutton, 1; 1,00 $ 21,60 OBITUARIES. In Coosa Cos., Ala., Nov. 23, 1860, of Scarlet Fever, GEORGE ANN, infant daughter of James M., and Matilda J. Connaway, aged 2 years, 4 months, and 20 days. “ The once loved form now cold and dead, Each mournful thought employs, And nature weeps her comforts fled, And withered all her joys.” In Coosa Cos., Ala., Nov. 23, 1860, of Scarlet Fever, LINNEY A. FRANCIS, daughter of Wm. 11. and Harriet Connaway, aged 4 years, 4 months, and 25 days. llow short the race that infant run, Cut down in all her bloom, Her course but yesterday begun, Now finished in the tomb. ” i Mrs. JULIA E., wife of James L. Maroney, and daughter of John W., and Charles Henley, died in Campbell Cos., Ga. She was born June 2d, 1835, and died July 12, 1860. She was consequently in the 25th year of her age. A life so brief, was not spent in vain : the world no doubt had its attractions, but like Mary of old, she did not neglect the good part, which is never to be taken away. Endowed with a good mind, she had obtained a fair English educa tion —and delighted greatly in reading. She loved 175