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ESTABLISHED 1821. T-heChristianlndex Fubliibel Every Thursday By BELL «Sc VAN TSKSS Address Christian Index, Atlanta, Ga Organ of the Baptist Denomination In Georgia. Subscription Prick: One copy, one year *2.00 One copy, six months I.o* about Our Advertisers.—We propose hereafter to very carefully Investigate our advertisers. We shall exercise every care to Allow only reliable parties to use our col umns. Obituaries.—One hundred words free of charge. For each extra word, one cent per word, cash with copy. To Correspondents— Do not use abbrevi ations; be extra careful in writing proper names; write with ink, on one side of paper. Do not write copy Intended for the editor and business Items on same sheet. Leave off personalities, condense. Business.—Write all names, and post Offices distinctly. Id ordering a change give the old as well as the new address. The date of label indicates the time your subscription sxplres. If you do not wish it continued, or, Her it stopped a week before. We consider tach subscriber permanent until he orders his paper discontinued. When you order it stopped pay up to date. Remittances by registered letter, money Order, postal note Give. Give as you would If an angel Awaited your gift at the door; Give as you would If to-morrow Foui d you where waiting was o’er; Give as you wou d to the Master if you met his searching look; Give as you would of your substance If His hand your offering took. —Messenger. The Singing Seraphim. "Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.”— Isaiah vi:2. As we return to this inspired description of Isaiah’s vision, we find the piophet still gazing upon the awful spectacle. But he ex hibits no special signs of fright as yet. He remains cool and self-possessed enough to note the new and strange forms pre sen ted by the ranks of attendants doing service beside the august Personage he saw sitting upon the throne. In general, they ap peared to be angels; buthespeaks of them as “seraphim,” a name that, perhaps, seems familiar to us, when we sing or read the primitive liturgies, but which, we are always to be careful to re member occurs now for the first and last and only time in the Bi ble. These seraphim rank as having the highest dignity in heaven. In their position and in their attitude they shine su preme. , , “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the tem • pie. Above it stood the sera phim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.” The word “seraphim” means fire bearers or burning ones. It pictures to our imagination acer tain flashing, scintillating radi ance of intense splendor. These living creatures were glowing with light. It needs that we deeply consider their posture al so; they had three pairs of pin ions; each seraph with two of them covered his face, with two of them covered his feet; and with the remaining two he silent ly supported himself upon the throne light around the king. Or perhaps each kept these in reserve, spread for errands of obedient and rapid flight in case quick command should come. An attitude so sober and quiet was indicative of deepest reverence in the hearts of those who stood there abashed and worshipful. We cannot be exactly certain what force is to be attached to this word “stood.” The brilliant and airy character of this specta cle inevitably suggests that these seraphim were hovering rather than stiffly standing in a posture fixed and statuesque. The word here rendered “feet” is elsewhere in the Old Testament applied to the whole lower por tion of the body; it is thus that the four wings were employed, sine ply in concealing the forms of the beings who wielded the other two, in radiant doing of God’s service. And this is sig nificant of our ignorance too; for we really do not know at all what these seraphim were; we have often sung about them in the Te Deum, and often talked about them in our prayers, in the presence of each other, till, in the traditions of the church, we fondly think ourselves acquainted quite as well with them as with any other of the angels of God. Yet, how could we expect to un derstand much about beings who appear before human vision only once in all history, and then are modestly “covered” with their own wings from faces to feet? Much labor of commentators has been expended in an effort to identify the seraphim with the cherubim. It is difficult to see how anything would be gained by this; for the cherubim seem to have their own mysteries and re serves also; and the study of their characteristics is compli- THE CHRISTIAN INDEX. IbTBSCRIPTION. PebVsae.--82.00. I ITO MINISTIRS. 1.00. I cated by the use of some general fas-hions of their appearance and figure in the golden adornment of the mercy seat in the taber nacle and the temple. The She kinah light is said to have shone, on the ark of the covenant, be tween two forms of symbolic con •structinn called “the cherubim.” Still, the office of such heavenly servitors may, possibly, receive some illustration from a com parison or a contrast between these classes of beings. We have long been accustomed to use a hymn which is construct ed on this theme; we think we understand its meaning; there appears nothing strange in these new names. “Holy, holy, holy ! all the saints adore thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the gla»sy sea: Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee. Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be. ” Now, are we ready to say that these are the same order and rank of angels, the cherubim and the seraphim—the same beings? Still, we have to admit that they are represented as making the same ascription of holiness to God, and singing exactly the same song. It does not seem wise to attempt to paraphrase the Scriptures on such a point; and perhaps you will be willing to rehearse what is written in the Old Testament and the New. We will begin with the vision wh’ch John had of a throne and the worshiping assembly around it in heaven; and for the sake of some literary felicities in the modern phraseology we will em ploy the translation furnished us in the new revision. There the evangelist says: “And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Limb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, seven eyes, which are • the seven spirits of God sent, forth into all the earth. And round about thethrone <were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceed lightnings atd voices and thunders. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God; and before the throne, as it were a glassy sea like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes bt so e and behind. And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, which was and which is and which is to come.” Concerning all this, we need only remark now that the “four living creatures” mentioned here, called very unfortunately in the former version “four beasts,” seem to be cherubim rather than seraphim. When we quote what is added in description, there can be no doubt about the identity they exhibit with those symbolic beings which Ezekiel depicts in the vision he saw by the river Chebar. It is as well now as at any time to bring all the partic ulars into examination and note the changes and differences in the several accounts. Ezekiel was then grouped with the mel ancholy captives of Israel who hung their harps upon those his toric willows of which the Psalm ist sang. He saw this marvelous vision of a whirlwind, and then a cloud, and then a fire infolded in it: “And out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the like ness of a man. And every one had four faces; and every one of them had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like the color of burnish ed brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and lheir wings thus; their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle. And their faces and their wings were separate above; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.— The Gospel in Isa iah—Robinson. For the Index. Stone Mountain Association—A Reminiscence. BY REV. WM. HENRY STICKLAND. When Dr. Ragsdale spoke in the last meeting of the Associa tion, calling up the different times the body had held its ses sions with Stone Mountain church, mentioning f‘1869” as one of the da'es, and “Rev. S. Landrum as the introductory preacher,” it set to work a train of thought, and memory that had been slumbering for these twen ty seven years, waked up, and one after another the seems, faces and reflections of that time came trooping up before me till I am able to live them over again joyfully, and so for what may probably be a pleasure to others as well. I will write them out for the Index. 1. To preface,the Stone Moun tain church had protracted its August meeting, having had given them from the Lord a most gracious revival. This meeting continued for five or six weeks, during which forty-two were bap tized. When the Association as sembled on “Saturday before the second Sunday in September” the revival was at its best. Some of the delegates came in on Friday night, attended these services and caught the spirit of the occa sion—saw a score asking the prayers of Christians, and saw some new converts received for baptism. 2. If I am correct in my mem - ory, Rev. Wm. Thames was mod erator, and should have preached the introductory sermon. Rev. S. Landrum was up the country on vacation, could not return to his church in Savannah on account of an epidemic of yellow fever. He and his family had come down to the Mountain fora few days and so attended our meetings and lingered for the Association; whereupon Bro. Thames pressed Bro. Landrum in and had him preach the sermon. “The en trance of thy word giveth light,” Ps. 119:130 was his text. It was a very appropriate ser mon, the fragrance of it lingereth in my memory till this day. The Association, delighted with it, passed a resolution asking for its publication in the Index, which was not done, as the preacher said he had spoken without notes. t I, had met Dr. Landrum before and had learned to love him. On this occasion I met for the first time Mrs. S. Landrum. I was deeply impressed with her dig nity, piety,and lady like bearing. A son, a lad of a dozen years was with them. I remember convers ing with him and was gratified at his manly behavior and intelli gence. I know not whether it was William Warren or another. 3. How many who were in that meeting have gone to their re ward? W. T. Brantly, pastor Second church, Atlanta, was present and preached; C. C. White was present, Fielding Maddox, Samuel B. Churchhiil, S. May field J J Toon, representing the Index, T. E Kennedy, Robert W. Fuller, H. F. Buchanan, Tur ner Goldsmith, W. R. Webster, P. A. Hughes, Joseph Walker, !. A. Baron, W. D. Atkinson, H. C. Hornady, D. E. Butler Wm. Shepherd, E. L Wood, J. L. Hamilton—all these have gone to their reward. 4. Robert W. Fuller was pas tor of Atlanta First church and preached the missionary sermon; the day was warm, the house jammed and packed, but the peo pie stood round the doors and windows and listened to the end. Quite well do I remember his text, I had never heard it used before,nor have I since: 2 Chron. 25:9. The preacher made a most touching and beautiful reference to the great sacrifice that Adoni ram Judson and his wife had made in Burmah, when they gave up their dear little children and sent them back to the States to be educated. On Sunday p. m. the pastor, in the presence of a great throng of visitors, delegates and citizens of the town baptized thirty con verts. It was in the open air,un der broad spreading oaks and hickories, east of the depot. A natural amphitheater, a cold, clear spring gushing from a ledge of rock, its waters caught and held by a rock wall, a grad ual descent into the pool,the peo pie standing or seated all round under the “leafy coolness.” “Shall we gather at the river,” w T as sung. Dr. Landrum lead in prayer, the pastor then deliber ately, and with due decorum, re ceived the thirty, led them into the water, one by one dipped them and handed them back to the deacons on the margin. Af ter pronouncing the benediction, Bro. George Rily Wells stepped forward and said to the pastor, “How long think you it took you to baptize the thirty?” “I have no idea,” said the pastor. “I did ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 24. 1896. not hurry.” “I timed you,” said Bro. Wells. “It took you just thirty minutes to baptize the thirty.” Then Dr. Landrum and wife, Bro. Turner Goldsmith, Maj. Wooten and others came round the pastor to shake hands and united in saying, “This is one of the prettiest baptisms we ever saw anywhere.” Last Tuesday I dined with one of those candidates, Wednesday with still another, and Thursday shook hands with a good many of them. They abide at Stone Moun tain and continue in the faith to this day, are fathers and mothers in Israel and all firm and faithful supporters of the present pastor, M. L Carswell. Some of them have laid down the cross for the crown, and alas! some—a few— have gave back to the world. 6. One of the sweett st sermons during the meeting of the Asso ciation was preached on Satur day night by the District Secre tary of the Domestic and Indian Mission Board, Drr W. N. Chau doin, now of Florida. His sub ject was: Redemption. The peo pie were used to weeping, but on that night it was a Bocbim. I sigh for a return of such meet ings and such revivals. 7. If there were any divisions or wranglings I do not recall them; in fact, in such a blessed spirit was everybody that Satan would have found it a hard job to have gotten up a row. On Monday p. m. ’mid fervent prayers, tears, and handgrasps, with “God bless you” echoing all around, “Blest be the tie” was sung, and the body adjourned to meet the following year at Tanner’s church. I have referred to those who, present at that time, have gone to their glory. I recall some who still linger, who may have their “pure minds stirred byway of remembrance” when they read these lines: Col. W L Gold smith, who was then Superinten dent of the Baptist Sunday school; John H. Goldsmith, now Comptroller of Atlanta; Dr. C.H. Strickland, Sioux City, Iowa; A. K. Seogo, Rev. T. B. Cooper, J. F. Edens, Hon. I. W. McCurdy, G Rily Wells, the writer and others. The meeting of the As sociation just passed, last week, at Stone Mountain, was most de lightful and harmonious, but it could not excel the one of 1*69. Again I say, why cannot we have in our churches now such revivals as were common then? Maybe such obtain in some sections—iter has not seen such ait oilvjj l . h, long time— such an one would do bis soul good. | I spent five years among the Stone Mountain people, shared their joys and sorrows, they shar ing mine; when death came and darkened my home,no truer sym pathizers and comforters ever gathered around a bereaved pas tor than gathered around me. I don’t know that I ever had the blessings of God in greater meas ure anywhere else than among them. My dead rests in their beautiful cemetery, and while life lasts and heart holds its love, these goed people will hold a very warm place in my soul. God bless them; the recent Associa tion was so delightful to me. For the Index. In China. BY ANNA S. PRUITT. Our heathen neighbors believe that when they awake in the next world they will find themselves arrayed in such garments as they wore at death. They certainly do not conceive of the place of punishment,to which all descend, as a warm one, for poor indeed must be the person who does not provide a suit of thickly wadded garments for his demise. When his sickness is considered hope less, he is arrayed in these by friends who would forever la ment were they to leave his last hours undisturbed by this ceremony. Woe to him whom death over takes so suddenly that he has not time to be clothed upon with proper earthly garments. I know two women who have mourned for years and felt them selves most unfortunate of their sex because their mothers-in-law bad died suddenly in bed, unclad for the next world. How eagerly they accepted the truth when I assured them that earthly gar ments could in no way warm or benefit the departed soul, and that their absence could not be missed. A wealthy man of our village died recently with so lit tle warning that his wardrobe was not complete, and he was obliged to make use of garments already prepared for his aged father, as well as appropriate his coffin. A mother recently told me how her baby was suddenly stricken with death, and what haste they were obliged to make, one sister tearing off the old gar ments, another bringing the new. She expected me to congratu late her that they actually suc- ceeded in dressing the sick baby before the breath left its little body. One of our neighbors has just died. He was a young man recently married. His last hours were vexed with discussion as to his burial robes. The silken outer garments prepared by his family pleased him well enough. But a cotton undergarment raised his anger. They sought to pacify him by reminding him that his ancestors had died in even poorer garments and did he wish to rouse their resentment by appearing in their company better clad ? But he made him self and others so unhappy over the matter that his young wife promised he should have a silk undergarment, too. Now he is dead and she has dutifully pawned her fine trouseau to buy imitation ingots of gold and sil ver to burn for her husband’s use along the journey on which he has gone. Before his death she asked him “If you die what will become of me ? ” To which he replied, “You have a rope, can’t you follow me?” Now her rela tives are obliged to watch her perpetually to keep her from following her husband’s advice to hang herself. She eats noth ing, but beats her head against the wall. As she is left a child less widow, she sees no hope in this life or the next. She is for ever denied the privilege of rais ing up heirs to perpetuate the family name and to continue an cestral worship at her own and her husband s tomb. Ore night the vigilance of the family having relaxed a little, she sought to end her life by drinking water in which she had soaked a quantity of match heads. Mr. Pruitt was roused at midnight and requested to do what he could to save her life. The remedies suggested by him were successful, and the poor girl’s hopeless life drags on. Oh! that they would come to us with faith in the Gospel’s power to heal their weary, heavy laden souls. Pray with me that the life of this young widow may be filled with hope and joy through belief in God our Father, and Christ our Savior. Hwang Hien, July 23, 1896. For the Index. A Reminiscence. BY L. H. K. As Dr. W. W. L’andrum is now pastor of the First Baptist church of this city, I would like to re late an incident that occurred, I think, in the summer of 1870. The First Baptist church was without a pastor, a day was ap pointed, and a meeting called for the purpose of selecting some one to occupy that place. Dr. W. T. Brantly, then pastor of the Sec ond church, was asked to meet with us and act as the moderator during the conference; he did so. The house was full, all were in terested, when the votes were cast, it was seen that there was but one candidate in the minds of the people. All hearts were turned to Rev. Sylvanus Lan drum, father of the present pas tor. The call was unanimous. Then Dr. Brantly rose, and, with a voice full of joy, called on us to join him in thanksgiving for the unanimity of feeling mani fested, and also to ask the bless ing of God on our choice of an under shepherd. At his sugges tion we knelt in prayer. Sitting next to me was a young lady vis itor, whose home was in Savan nah. Dr. Landrum was pastor of the church where her member ship was. She knelt with us as Dr. Brantly prayed that God would incline the heart of his ser vant to accept the call thus heart ily given. I was startled by hearing these words, just sobbed out as it were, from au anxious, pleading heart: “Nay, nay Lord, do not take him from us.” When we rose, I could not wait for the services to be over but saidtoher, “Why did you do that, Mattie? What do you mean by it?” Shereplied, “I did not real ize what I was doing when I knelt with you, but when I heard Dr. Brantly asking that our pas tor might be taken from us and given to you, 1 was compelled to mutter a protest.” Well, Bro. Landrum did not accept the call thus tendered him, and I have often wondered how much the prayer of that young lady had to do with his declining to come. I knew when he wrote that he could not come, as his church positively refused to accept his resignation. Two of our mem bers were sent to plead with the Savannah church to re ease him, but failed to accomplish the pur pose for which they went. While pressing their suit, they received this answer from one of the dea cons: “We cannot consent to his leaving us. It is possible that his place might be filled, but we know it would be hard, ex ceedingly hard, to doit, yet it is not impossible, but Mrs. Lan- drum’s place as a minister’s wife cannot be filled in all our land.” Noble praise, what a priceless heritage to have such parents. Have we not a right to expect great things from the son of these godly people? .Atlanta, Sept. 11, 1*96. For the Index. Atonement—Reconciliation. j. g. m’call. Not long since one of your numerous correspondents asked for the leading idea in the first word of the caption above, and not waiting for an answer from any one of your many readers, he proceeded in order to formu late a reply to the question ac cording to his own understand ing. It was apparent that he was prompted to propound the question, not so much for infor mation as to give information to to your readers, or such of them as might need F, touching this great Scripture doctrine. In response to his own question he said, as now remembered,that the leading idea in “atonement” was “sacrifice.” Upon reflection, I desire to demur. Atonement, abstractly consid ered, may be effected without a sacrifice; for two persons at va riance may be reconciled without a sacrifice, of necessity. Atone ment is very nearly synonomous with reconciliation. Reconciliation may be effected by moral suasion—persons at va riance may be reconciled when made sensible of the uselessness of remaining in a state of aiena tion. The word atonement im plies primarily a previous aliena tion—a state of estrangement and a consequent separation of the parties thus alienated. The means employed to effect this reconciliation are incidental rath er than essential, it is true that the atonement between God and man was effected by the death of Jesus Christ. It will be noted that we have a Latin word “aduno,” which is properly translated “atone,” and by the use of the English suffix “ment,” which implies state or condition, as in abatement, fulfill ment and many other words end ing in “ment” we have atonement. Atonement is the counterpart of at-two-ment, if we may coin -a word just now. The doctrine of atonement is a prominent tenet in the Gospel system of redemp tion of the sinner from the power and dominion of sin and Satan, and yet this word is found only once in the New Testament. Rom. 5:11. The Greek word “katallagas”, in this place is translated atonement, This Greek word is found in thirteen other places in the New Testa ment, and in every instance ren dered reconciliation, and perhaps conveys the mind of the Spirit more clearly to the average read er than atonement Atonement has become a theo logical technicality and is an ad mirable word to the Christian. And we do not desire to see it displaced in our English Bible by any other term, though Drs. Campbell, Dodridge and Mc- Knight, in their excellent trans lation of the New Testament use the word reconcile and its cog nates. Another remarkable fact touch ing this great doctrine is that God has provided the means of reconciling to himself man—the sinner. God is graciously pleased and seeks this reconciliation that man is reluctant to be reconciled. This reluctance is the wonder of wonders. While atonement brings to the lost sinner light, life and immortality eternal happiness—yet he turns from it and must be superinduced to ac cept at all. Quitman, Ga., Aug. 16, ’96. One of the things which gives life its interest and its dignity is the fact that no experience stands by itself, but becomes a preparation for that which is to follow. There is a unity and completeness about life on the moral and intellectual sides which gives every act a definite force and which lends even to trivial things that importance which comes from close and vital rela tion to the working out of a large and comprehensive scheme. It is a truism that all life is but a preparation, but it is one of those truisms which very few people appear to believe or, if they be lieve, to act upon. A great many men and women live as if each day bad no bearing upon its successor, and as if each act were related to the acts that are to foliowit They have read neith er history nor their own lives. They have failed to learn the first and most obvious lesson of experience. In every successful career there is clearly revealed the close relation between the culmination in some striking achievement and the fidelity, pa tience, and courage which went before it.— The Outlook. VOL. 76~N0. 39 For the index. Reminiscences of Georgia Baptists. BY S. G. HILLYER, D.D. VII. REV JAMES SHANNON As stated in a previous paper, I first met Mr. Shannon at the Convention of 1829, in Milledge ville. I had, however, but little opportunity, at that time, to be come personally acquainted with him. But I heard him talk, and I could not fail to observe the re spect and affection with which he was regarded by those who had previously known him. In 1831, it came to pass that I had a better opportunity of be coming acquainted with him. He was then professor of languages in Franklin College—now the State University—and also the pastor of the Baptist church in Athens, Ga. Though not yet a member of the church, I often at tended his ministry. When Mr. Shannon entered upon his duties as a professor in the college, there was no Baptist church in Athens. There were a few Baptists; but their member ship was in a church two miles from town. Mr. Shannon at once went to work among those scattered sheep, and within the year 1830, he was able, by the blessing of God, to organize them into a church and to see them set tled in their own house of wor ship. He of course was elected pastor of the little Hock. In the spring of 1831 there was a wonderful revival of religion in Athens. It extended to all the churches that were then in the town. The number of those who professed conversion probably exceeded a hundred. Much of the largest part of them, it is true, joined the Methodists or Presby terians, for the Baptist church was scarcely a year old, and for thirty years there had been no regular Baptist preaching in Ath ens till professor Shannon intro duced it the year before. Never theless some of the converts united with his flock. On the 12th of June, 1831, he had the pleasure of baptizing eleven young converts, of whom it was my precious privilege to be one. The baptisms were administered in the Oconee river. A large crowd was present to witness the scene. After the usual devotion al exercises Bro. Shannon led the candidates, one by one, into the water and there baptized them, upon a professsion of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the name of the Fath er and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. It was a day which I have never forgotten. Nor shall I ever forget the dear man who led me into that baptismal water. As we were walking out into the stream he said to me in a gentle voice, “Look to Jesus.” Only three words, but they have lin gered in my memory for sixty five years, and they have been my comfort in many a dark and trying hour, through the years that have passed since that sweet epoch in my life’s history. The scene was very impressive. It was an object lesson well calcu lated to teach many of the spec tators who were pedobaptists,the way of the Lord more perfectly, if they would only heed it. It is now in order to speak of Bro. Shannon’s antecedents. What I shall say I received chiefly from his own lips during the years he was my pastor. He was a native of Ireland. His parents were Presbyterians, and, as was natural, he inherited their faith. At an early age he was enabled to hope for salvation through faith in Jesus. Very soon, under the light of this new hope, he became anxious to be educated, and his father at once took steps to gratify his desire. In due time he graduated at Bel fast College in his native coun ty, and was soon made a minis ter in the Presbyterian church. About the time that he had completed his preparations, Mr. Shannon met a good opportunity to find employment in our coun try. He embraced it, and came to Sunbury, in Liberty county,of this State. He came to take charge of the Sunbury Academy, which at that time was a famous school, patronized by many peo ple living along the seaboard of Georgia. This gave him position, at once, with all the people. The Presbyterians and Congregation alists, especially, received him with great cordiality. They were, at that early day—not later than 1820 —quite numerous in the sea board counties. Hence Mr. Shan non started to work in his new field of labor with fine prospects before him. Now it happened that there was at that time a Baptist church at Sunbury, of which some of the most prominent citizens were members. But the Baptist cause was then weak in that section of the State. Mr. Shannon had not known much about the Baptists