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EDITORIAL.
WM. \j. BE;:BE, Editor,
Prospectus for Voi. xii.
In the kind dispensation of the providence of our
God, we have been upheld hitherto, and enabled to
publish eleven volumes of the Southern Baptist Mes
senger. And although it has been all the time with
the utmost difficulty that every step of the publica
tion has progressed, and one obstacle has succeeded
another, as fast as they could be overcome, yet we
desire to feel thankful to an overruling Providence,
that through his mercy it is as well with us now as
it is.
Very many of our patrons arc now in the Confcde
rite army, endeavoring to repel the hireling invaders
of our Confederacy, in consequence of which we are
deprived of their assistance in bearing the heavy ex
penses ; yet, in accordance with the wishes of all our
patrons, ftoin w T hom we have heard, it is our desire
to continue the paper another year. This can he
done only by a firm and united co-operation of all our
patrons and friends. The unfortunate troubles of
our country are as oppressive upon us as upon any
of our brethren ; yet it surely m ist be much easier
for each of theta to spare the small amount of the
subscription price of the paper than for us to bear
the aggregate amount of the loss of all of their re
mittances. Then we will go on with our paper, with
Ihe confident expectation that all our patrons will
immediately send in their remittances, and so en.ible
us to proceed. We have already involved ourself, by
publishing the Messenger , in inevitable pecuniary
ruin, if the paper is allowed to fail.; therefore the
only course left us is td continue the publication, and
trust to the blessing of God and the assistance of our
brethren for support. Shall it be said that the
Primitive Baptists in the Confederate States have
failed to sustain their ,paper, which has been pub
lished and circulated among them, and brought
cheering and comforting news to thousands of them
for eleven years? Alas! how will our enemies re
joice over us, and say that all their taunts and
reproaches are verified if our paper, our b ;st medi ;m
of correspondence, is allowed to fail for want of ade
quate support! But let it not be ! Surely, even in
this most trying time, our brethren can sustain their
religious paper if they will; and confiding in them,
it is our determination to continue the Messenger. —
But in order to do this, with any prospect of being
able to continue the paper, it will be absolutely ne
cessary that we increase the subscription price of the
Messenger at least one half. This is rendered neces
sary by the extraordinary increase jn the price of all
the materials used in printing. Paper has advanced
to double the price at which we purchased it a year
ago, and other things in proportion. So that, saying
nothing of the great increase in our expenses for
living, which is felt alike by all, the actual cost of
furnishing the paper to our patrons is almost doubled.
Two-thirds of our patronage has been cut off by the
war, leaving us only about one thousand paying sub
scribers to rely upon for our support. Surely then,
no one will object to paying this little advance, ra
ther than see the paper fail for want of support. —
This advance in our terms will take effect from this
date. Tln.se who have paid for this next volume be
fore the Ist of April, 18G2, will be credited according
to our former terms, that is, at the rate of One dollar
a year, but chose who pay after that date will be re
quired to pay at the rate of One collar for eight
80U THE ERA li APT I 8 T MEBBE JN G E it.
months, or One dollar and fifty cents for the year. Or
for the sake of convenience, if they will send us Two
we have hope, we are of all men the most misria
dollars in advance, we will credit them for a year
and a half, or four vears for Five dollars in advance.
After the first day of April then, tUr terms \\ili be
as follows, for a single copy :
One volume (one year,) $1,50
One volume and a half, 2.00
Four volumes, (or four subscribers one year',) 5,00
If, by the encroachments of our enemies upon our
country, we shall be compelled to suspend the publi
cation of the Messenger, in the course of the year, we
shall resume it cs soon as possible, and send every
subscriber as many copies as he has paid for.
To those who can write, and particulary to those
who have written heretofore for our columns, we
must still look for future favors in that line. To
withhold from us suitable matter foi publication will
just as effectually stop the paper as to withhold pe
cuniary support from it.
Let those who can w r ritc remember that it is im
possible for us to continue the paper without the
contributions of our brethren and sisters for publi
cation, as well as money to meet the necessary ex
penses.
Then let every one who desires the perpetuity oi
the Messenger reflect that the matter rests with him
Let each one send immediately not only the money
for himself, and as many as he can prevail upon to
subscribe, hut send us also something for publication.
So will the paper be sustained, and the glorious cause
for which we are contending be saved from the re
proaches of the enemies of the truth as it is in Jesus.
Those who have been reading the paper in times
past will hardly need to be told that we shall continue
to advocate the doctrine embodied in our original
prospectus, as follows:
Ist. The existence, sovereignty, immutability, om
nipotence, and eternal perfections of the Great Jeho
vah —the revelation which God has given of himself as
Father, Son qnd Holy Ghost. “ These three are one.”
1 John v. 8.
2d. .The absolute predestination of things.
3d. Eternal and unconditional election..
4th. The total depravity, and just condemnation of
fallen man.
sth. That the atonement and redemption of Jesus
Christ are for the elect only.
6th. The sovereign, irresistible, and (in all cases)
effectual work of the Iloly Ghost in quickening and
regenerating tho elect of God.
7th. The final preservation and eternal hapjojness
of all the sens of God by grace.
Bth. The resurrection of the dead, and eternal
judgment.
9th. That the Church of Christ is composed exclu
sively of baptized believers—that to her are given
able ministers of the New Testament—the Scriptures
are the only rule of faith and practice of the saiDts of
God.
OBITUARIES.
Bao. Beebe : —By request of the bereaved pa
rents, I send you the following obituary notice for
publication.
DIED—On Wednesday, Feb. 19th, 1862, Miss
Elizabeth E. Myhand, in the seventeenth year ol
her age. Her death occurred under the following
circumstances: She, in company with a brother-in
law, had started to pay a visit to a sister for a few
days, and had proceeded about two miles from home,
when they were suddenly caught in a terrific storm of
wind and rain, that swept houses, trees, and fences
before it. They both alighted from the buggy to try
to escape the falling timber, when the mdn was blotvn
down, and a large pine tree fell so close to him that
the bark scratched his face, and another fell acrosa
the front wheels of the buggy, lurying it into the
earth. As soon as he could recover from the shock,
and the wind had passed—which continued only a
few moments —he called Elizabeth, but could neither
see nor bear her. lie went about half a mile to tho
nearest house, and gave the alarm. lie, with others,
returned to the place, and found her buried under n
tree, her head and one arm only being visible. They
had to cut the tree in pieces and dig her out. She
was very badly mangled. I went to the place with
her father, and never have I witnessed such a scene.
She was not a professor of religion, but was highly
esteemed by all who knew her. Sho was a regular
attendant at the church of which I am a member, and
where I serve. I have frequently seen her deeply
affected, and she always appeared interested in the
preaching of the gospel. I hope the exchange was
for her a happy one. She was the eldest daughter of
Thomas 8., and Elvy Myhand ; and as many of their
friends and connections live in your section of coun
try, they may be interested to hear of the sad occur
rence.
Dear parents, l have heard of late,
The’ trouble you have had to bear ;
Still strive to enter that straight gate,
And you will find no trouble there.
Ycur Lizzie dear’s been called away
To brighter worlds than this, above,
To chant God's praise in endless day,
With all the objects of his love.
Then come, dear parents, weep no more,
But say, “ Our Father’s will be done,”
And join in praising God below
Till you your Christian race have run.
A few more days on earth to sigh,
And then the joyful news you'll tell
To earth and all below sky—
I bid a final, long farewell.
R. T. WEBB.
P. S.—l neglected to give the date of the death of
Bro. Thomas Levingston. He died atone o’clock on
the morning of the 11th of December, 1861.
m .. —i
Bro. Beebe : —I received t! e Messenger this morn
ing, and in looking over the obituary I sent you, I
find a mistake which is very material. It reads “ Co
lumbia, Ark.,” and should read “ Columbia, S. C.”
Please correct in your next number, and oblige your
brother, I hope, in Christ, P. C. THRASH.
RECEIPTS.
[From March 10 to March 20.]
GEORGIA. —Elder J. Stewart, 3; Bird Bryant, 2;
L. Heath, 1; G. J. Hurst, esq., 1; W. F. E. Ogburn,
4,50 ; D. Royal, 1; Geo. Leeves, 5; C. Ivey, (Present,
accept thanks,) 5 ; Joel Ilardie, 1; N. Center, 1; Eld.
11. M. Higginbotham, 7, $31,50
ALABAMA. —W. C. Britton, (to May 15,
18G4,) 2 ; Elder R. T. Webb, 1, 3,00
MISSISSIPPI.—J. C. Wilkinson, 1; John
Harlin, (to July 1, 1862,) 2, ■ 3,00
ARKANSAS.—EIder D. B. Almand, 2, 2,00
VIRGINIA.—Wm. T. Craft, 2, 2,00
FLORIDA.—EIder J. E. W. Smith, 5, 5,00
\
\ Total, $46,50
191
