Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

BANNER&BAPI’IST. J. M. WOOD, Editor. ROME, GA. OCTOBER 5, 1859. All communications pertaining to the Paper and Office, should be directed to the “Banner & Bap tist,” Rome, Ga. ; all private correspondence direct to J. M. Wood. Money due the Office, may be sent by mail at our risk —always mail it in presence of a friend, (other than the P. HL,) or procure a friend to ntail it for you —never register. A word to our Readers. First of all let us ask your prayers for the cause of our common Saviour; for the Landmark Banner and for your un worthy brother, whose lot it is to edit it. Will you pray that he may have grace, wisdom and patience, to work night and day for you, your children and especially I for the cause of his Lord and master. Fathers and mothers in Isreal! To you we look for counsel sympathy, and encouragement. Your gray hairs we honor, your love and forbearance we crave, your opinions we hope ever to respect and your heart Theology, learned by long experience and years of study, the Bible being your text book, we long to possess, You are. too near the spirit land to be influenced by the temptations of place or position, which ’ is too nearly over to trifle with time and to be turned aside by worldly influences. Too near the grave for unholy compro mises, or to take time to enquire the way of expediency. You simply wish to know what is truth, what is right, and then say, “Little children this is the way, walk ye in it.” The wave that bears you near the throne of God and will soon carry you to our loved Canaan, has borne you safe ly too long to stop and enquire for the popular current which has engulfed so many thousands. Bright garlands await you, they are almost in sight; will you pray foriand counsel your brother, tell ing him what is Bible truth, not what will Injure or profit him. God bless the old pilgrims in the way to heaven. Brethren in the ministry, you have up on you the vows of ordination and, if possible, the more sacred vows made up on your knees in secret, before our com mon father; yes in that never to be for gotten hour when you decided the great question whether it was your duty to preach the Gospel, you talked with the Saviour and the Holy Spirit as an hum ble beging child, and you vowed to your father that you would preach the'truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. You thought not then that many had itching ears and could not bear the truth, and that error would kiss you, pay you poor man. and hug you almost to to take the sharp edge off your sword and let it live and sweep the earth as upon a mission of mercy. You are the gift ofGod to the churches, artd arc we prepared, by the grace of God to say that wcjyill be a blessing to the t'llil rclif.k, one to help us lead them in the right way? We look upon your calling with sacred awe, and regard it ns the most solemn and responsible that has ever been imposed upon a mortal. Those of you that know us, need not be told that we love you and your work. Over hill and dale you go through storm and sushine, through heat and cold, bearing the glad tidings of salvation. Holy men of God work on until the end comes. Will you pray for us and work for a paper which you have helped to start ? You know its object, and what our Churches want. Brethren and friends all, this paper, this Baptist paper, is to be a blessing or a curse to you und your chil dren. Time is too short with us all to trifle, especially with God’s word and things which pertain to the kingdom of Christ. You honestly believe that the principles, of the Baptist Church, are scriptural and that all contradictory prin ciples are not scriptural and you want us to say so. You love consistency and firmness; you love to hear the truth spo ken in love; you want your children properly educated—you wish to see the benevolent resources of Churches devel oped arid you wish to have a religious paper whose editorials and articles shall be full of the spirit of Christ, Then pray and work for us. All the promise we shall make is to do the best we ran, remembering that for all we write God will bring us into Judgment and that the ter minus may be wry soon. For the vein of ine lane holly in this introdudion to our renders we offer this apology. The responsibility weighs heavily upon us ; the future looms up be fore us und our brethren one at a time are going off the stage of action, and now while we write we are entertaining an in vitation to attend the funeral of a brother deacon, a most endeared friend who has passed to his reward, and we are forcibly reminded of the time when we shall end eur toils, and when we hope to lay down our pen at the feet of Jesus. Who religiously says of this paper? •Our Beumer;” long may it wave, O'er tin' land of the tree —the home of the brave." I The Holy Spirit. With what sacred awe should we speak , and write of thi? Divine Being! With out Hun what would poor mortals do?— Before tune began the precious Saviour covenanted to die for his people, poor lest ; man! In the fullness of time He came to our sorrowing world and poured out his life blood upon Calvary to redeem us to God! The Father was pleased with the sacrifice of His Son and smiled upon His people. And yet without the Holy Spirit what would poor mortals do! Dead in tresspasses and in sins until, by Him made alive. I'rayerless, ttnpenetenu unbelieving until led by Him to the Cross. And al! of us snav sar : AnJ *.» «- V> st- tjJJ and all of us have the same answer to the question, “Why was I made to hear his voice And enter while there’s room’ ’ While thousands make a wretched choice And rather starve than come 1” W e all need his holy precious influence. Ministers need to feelas’was said of the Sa viour bj- the Prophet; “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me ; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek ; he hath sent me to bind up the broken heurted, to proclaim liberty to the captive and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” Brethren we need the unction of the Holy spirit, yes we do, and without it our preaching is “as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.” Praying Christian you need Him to make “intercessions for you with groanings which cannot be uttered! Bereaved, mourn ing, weeping, Christian, you need Him to soothe your aching heart and cheer your sad hours. Hungering, thirsting sinner, you need Him to break to you the bread of life and to lead you to the fountain of living waters. Blessed, precious spirit come and dwell in the heart of thy peo ple! Almighty friend leave us not to ourselves to grope in darkness and des pair as lost children, homeless and friend less, but guide us, cheer us, sanctify us and lead us to glory. !_■. .--l 3 As a matter of taste every one will of course, have the right to form and express his opinions. But as a matter of right we suppose no one will think of raising the question. Out side of taste we have some reasons for the selection. There are certain popular terms which designate principles. The terms whig and demo crat, in political circles, are well under stood. Hard shell, Free will, and Camp hellite Baptist are as well understood in religious circles, So is the term Land markism. We wish our position clearly and unmistakably known at the very be- I ginning so that no man may be deceived. I We are perfectly willing, yea, anxious to discuss all issues involved in Landmark ism with our brethren, in love and good P humor. We say now that our columns are open to a fair discussion of all de nominational questions. But discussion must be conducted with Christian pro priety and free from offensive personalities. There is no reason why brethren should fall out and fight because they disagree, for a time, upon matters of opinion. You do not wish us to sit upon a Kail in our editorial course, for there will be labor enough to stand fiat-footed, or sit, when j we have time, in an easy chair. The “Landmark Banner” then is the name ’ under which we shall work fora common cause trying to keep in mind our motto i “His Banner” over us “is love” and the expression of the Psalmist, “Thou hast given a Banner to them that fear thee, that, it may be displayed because of I Truth." Maj' the great and holj' One give you such a Banner. # - ♦ r ” TWf/WX , III lU.V. t The great question involved in Land markism, and the one about which there has been most feeling and most public agitation is whether Baptist chrches can. consistently recognize Ministers of other denominations, as regular Gospel Minis ers. Our readers of course wish to know our exact position, upon this great ques tion. We say that Baptist churches cannot consistently with their old and cherished principles affiliate with Ministers of oth er denominations,as regular Gospel Min isters. The following is the process by which we come to this conclusion; God has given but one revelation to man This revelation is a unit. Being a unit it ■ teaches the same thing to every man. in all ages, and will so continue until time I shall end. e believe it teaches what is a Gospel ; church or organization, its ordinances, I subjets, and government. That its prop er members must believe on Jesus, to the saving of the soul—that thej' must be im mersed upon their declaration of faith,by ! a proper administrator, in the name of | , the Father, Son and Holj r Ghost. We I believe that the Sacraments of the church 1 are Immersion and the Lord’s Supper. , | That the Ministry is the gift of God to ( j the Churches holding membership with j I ; them, and accountable to them, as well for ■ , I what they teach, us for their Christian de- | portment. The Bible being a unit, teaching the . same thing to all men, cannot be tortured . | to teach that many diverse organizations 1 . j have equal claim to the apostolic pattern, j . ■ Hence, ifwe beafterthat pattern,all others j differing from us are not, if they are not, i when tried by our platform, then we cannot I . consistently nor truthfully say so, by re- i ’ cognizing the Ministry of an unscripturai i organization, ns being regular Ministers >of the Gospel. This is eol saying that j we are beyond all question the New Tes tament Church, but simply that Baptists I hpncstly believe it, and believing it, we j shall act upon the belief, until convinced j to the contrary. That this is the old notion of Baptists, will be seen by all who take the pains to search their history. Whoever heard of a Baptist church in any age or any coun try that would receive an applicant, from any denomination whose principles differ ed from their own, upon a certificate ot membership in another organization ? In variably Baptist churches receive such upon an experience of grace, and then immerse them, through the agency of their own Ministry. If they do not ever recognize the membership of other or ganizations. how can they consistently acknowledge the Ministry ! Besides the very Ministry publicly recognized by our ' brethren who favor adiiliation, could not < Cain membership with them, except by ' an experience of grace, and immersion, i an-l w nil th n gain a fosilLn amont? i Baptists, as Ministers, by submitting to re-ordination. The plain truth is, the Baptist church is after the New Testa ment pattern, or it is not. If it is, then all others are not, for certainly the Bap tist church is verj’ unlike all others. If it is not, then some one of all others maj r but not more than one. for the unity of the Bible forbids plurality. One Spi rit, one Lord, one Faith and one Baptism. For our own part, if we were a Methodist or" Presbyterian, or any other kind of a church member, we should be a Land marker. It by no means follows,'that we are to hate and disrespect others. We are required to to love all men—even our enemies. Nor do we interfere with the freedom of opinion and action of others, but on the contrary w r ould ’ encourage it. If all converted persons would agree to let each other alone upon this question, and pray, and investigate the bible upon the subject, we should not be long apart, as regards the principles involved.— Business transactions, and social inter course have nothing to do with the great church question. We are willing to publish any well written article on the other side of the question, and hope always to respect the feelings and opinions of those who favor affiliation. TIIE SOITHERA BAPTIST SAB t-a io This organization was perfected at Memphis, in November last. The ob , jects sought are to encourage in every proper way, the formation of Sabbath Schools, and to furnish a Southern Bap tist Literature for our people, especially for our children and posterity. The Board of Managers has done much, verj' much, for the time it has been at work. The Lord has singularly blessed the enterprise, and we believe he will continue to do so. As this is the first vigorous movement in the South, to furnish our people with suitable Sabbath School books, to teach our children what we as a denomination honestly believe, it has appeared to us profoundly strange, that any Baptist in Georgia, or anj’where else, could find it in his heart or head to oppose it. But we predict that the opposition is about over, and those who were once bold to op pose will, (if they have not already made the discovery,) find that the masses of Georgia Baptists will favor the claims of the Union, and will use their books.— And we further predict, that some who have opposed, and who have regarded some of the chief workers as excluded Bap tists, will hereafter be mutn, or will find out their former mistake, and. fall into the proper current. That we should depend upon Pedo-Baptists, or Northern Baptists to think and write for us, is a burning shame, and a grievous sin, and when our people begin to think, and write,and work, that there should be those amongst us, who would puff into notice Northern compet itors, is lamentable in the extreme. •ftui die Board oT I ii"ii'W4v us to say, that in our opinion, we have made one mistake. The people, the Bap tists of the South, at annual, semi-annual, and mass meetings of the Union, would freely' furnish all the means accessary to carry forward the enterprise, without the employment of a single agent to collect funds. We do not say this byway of blame, to the Board or Agents, nor to jus tify attacks which have been made upon them, but because it is our honest and set tled conviction. Just as soon as present engagements can be honorably termina ted, we most respectfully suggest that the Board employ no more collecting Agents. Money will come whenever it is needed, through the voluntary agency of those who have a heart to work for posterity. Do not be afraid to trust Him who moves the hearts of His people. I Baptist Sc hools in Cherokee, Ga. . Hearn School at Cave Spring. This ' is the oldest school in this section of the State. It has an endowment of 812,000 or more which is in the hands of the ' Treasurer of the Georgia Baptist Conven tion. As a pioneer in Cherokee Ga., this school has done much for our people and and is destined yet to do much. Several ministers have been educated here who are now working hard for the cause of i the Saviour. The Cherokee Baptist College This Institution is located at Cassville Ga., ■ and is under the direction of the Chero kee Georgia Baptist Convention. It is i admitted that the College building is the best in the State. For a voung institu i tion it has a strong faculty, consisting of j a President and three professors. The course of instruction is thorough and the j standard high, shall we say as high as ; . any in Georgia or the South ? But it i I needs an endowment and must have it. ' It now has about §2o.(KM>of bond s secur- ■ ed, the interest on ten thousand of which is to be used for the education of poor , boj-s and young men. There are also §IO,OOO more of conditional bonds which will not be available until §50.000 be rais- I , ed. This amount, we trust, will be raised i soon and then we may look for rood results : to our people. The Female College at Cedar Town Ga. This enterprise Commenced in I 1851 as a high school and in the Fall of I 1854 the Baptist of Coosa Association | took charge of it and procured a Charter and employed a Faculty and Steward to ! to conduct it as a denominational College. I This school has done much for the edu cation of young ladies of the up country.. Many in different parts of this state and other slates have received their education at this institution. But the truth to tell i the responsibility of its management be came to much distributed, as -too many cooks spoil the broth” and the conse-; quence is tbe Institution has been under a cloud. To arid to this, very much the fundi d/nnted fur its USB has net bet-u paid in, while every see that its successful operations vay much depend ed upon the which this was done. The distant ie l° cat i° n from the Rail Road toijjias made it dis ficult to unite and our people upon it, — Yet it may be that a kind Providence will open the way for futur prosperity. If the Trustees and friers will rally and procure the services of an efficient work ing man as principal there could be no doubt of success. At any rate they can have a high school of good order. The Cherokee Baptist Convention with which it stands connected passed at its last ses sion the following resilution: Resolved ; “That should the Trustees, of Woodland Female"' C^g e , desire to make any change in reg»rd to that Insti tution, the executive committee of the Convention be empowered to confer with them upon the to ratify the same.” ’ Female School at t Marrietta. This school with chartered privileges is under the management of Eftl. W. H. Roberts and is reported as having done well for the cause of education. In connection with the school there is published a neat sheet called the “Kennesaw Gem” in which appear the compositions of the young ladies .of the seuool. Whoever, has been to Marriettaz®tf seen their pret tv, sjree ts andjjgaujj their pure xvaterz Slid nbtTceTT the' po t pulation, is obKgcd to admit that it is one of the bett if not the very best , locations for a sclool in the whole State. See advertisement in another column. Our Missioiarie Operations. , The duty injoined «in the great Commission, “g< ye into all world and ’ preach the gospd to every creature,” the . necessities of a housand million of pre , cious souls, thepurposes of God to estab lish the Saviom’s kingdom in the whole . earth, the preci>us effects of the gospel, t when preachel, in saving souls; in ( redeeming the lost; in modifying the woes of earth, md in securing the joys of heaven, are considerations quite sufficient i to impress every one with the greatness . of the subject aid to inspire every Chris . tian heart withthe enquiry ; Lord what wilt thou have ne to do?” . We honestly believe that all Christians , appreciate this enquiry and desire to r know their duty in the premises and the |- will of their Lird and Master. We say now, that althcugh, we have been a con , tributor to misiions for twenty years and i although we hive been indentified with missionay Baptists since the memorable day we joined he church, we never have , found it in our heart to abuse our anti [ missionary Brehren. Indeed we have j looked upon than a little like we do up , on tha Jews wi'h a kind of sacred awe, . preserved by oir heavenly Father for a wise purpose, t balance wheel, in the , Baptist watch —a necessary member of the Baptist family. And we believe, that if the missionary question had not been pres .j;i---- Uy -u-QA-ifelirii driver indiyql , uals, Churches and Associations had been the responsible parties, there never would have been a rent in in the denomination. No doubt many Baptists religiously be , lieved that there was too much human , machinery in the plans propossed to car ry out the Great Commision —machinery -for which they failed to find a scriptural warrant and which removed the work too far from the bosom of the church, Say what we may, Christians will do more for a known, specified object than they will for an indefinite one. But it occurs to us, on the whole, that the missionary work is in a better condition now than ever before, Those who are willing to put their means in a common treasury to be disposed of, by others, without fur ther trouble on their part, have ample opportunity to do so, Those churches and Associations whose members prefer to select their own field and their own men, and to hear di rectly from them, have the world be fore them the means in their posses sion and we trust, the “Commission” in their hearts, We confess a preference to the latter plan of operating, and yet we would not question the right of others to operate as they choose nor throw an impediment in the way of the Gospel.— . For missions we stand pledged during life, unless convinced of wrong; and our purse, prayers, soul and body arc at the com mand of our Lord and Master. Brethren study the great question “Lord what wilt thou have me to do?” Pastoria! Talk. Con- I ference Meeting, and did yon take part in all the | business of God’s house? Or did you allow things I to pass without voting, and then go off and com- I plain at the action of the Church' Have you ' tried prayerfully and in good faith to correct all the wrongs in the Church of which you are a member, and to promote every good work ' Were you at the Sabbath School and preaching on Lord’s day. or did you go on Saturday simply to save oppearance! While at the Church on Sabbath, if there, did you pray for your preacher and listen to his teaching'—or did vou take your scat far off j from the pulpit and sleep half your time, and the I other half, w, re you thinking of cotton, merchan- • : dise. medicine, law. or politics.' Have you any I I everyday religion! When did you pray in your: family and talk to vour children? How long has , it been since you have talked to a sinner about his 1 condition, and told him of his blessed Jesns? Do you indeed love your brethren and forgive. I I from your heart, their trespasses’ How do you l i stand in your personal relations to Christ? Re i member, brethren, we are soon to pass away.— ' i An- you even acquainted with the members of | i your own Church! I; not. seek them out and be ; strangers do longer The good old apostle who i leaned upon Jesus' bosom, said “Little children. : love one another." Pulpit and Ministry S®. 1. We feel no closer identity with any i class of men oa earth than the Baptist ! knew how to write a Jew articles for their benefit we would , gladly do so and as we feel great anxiety for their.usefnlness, happiness and sne cess in their n.sp?aaibk- work we will furnish a few thought forthem as we maj' have time. No other men have such solemn work to do, such trials, such trou bles, such persecutions, such sorrows and after all such joys and such hope. True 1 ministers of the blessed Jesus do more for • mankind, more for civilazation—for the 1 poor, the broken hearted, than any other ' class of men and ought to be the best * men in the world. But as they are hu- ' man beings they have faults and imper- 1 sections and as they are called of God to 1 preach. He endows them with peculiar gift and rare excellences. In writing about you then brethren, let us save the ' best for the last and speak first of faults and imperfections. Envy and Jealousy are by no means angelic traits as pertaining to men of any profession, and are not sanctified because they may attach to Baptist ministers. — These unlovely traits are developed in a a disposition to speak evil one of another and to detract when others would praise when ministers are under the influence of envy and and jealousy they are the Devil’s play things his toools to injure the cause of Christ, and they ought to to take their sword (which is the word of God) and chop off the old serpents claws and “each esteem other better than him self.” Mose anon. fatJEL'Jjord’a l>eacqn%f used to say that “the Lord had Deacons, and so had the Devil.” Though this brother is to earth no more, “he yet speaketh.” The Lord’s deacons are humble, devoted, God-fearing men, who pray in their fam ilies, help their pastors, look after the poor, and in this way strengthen their churches. The De vil's deacons are worldly minded, care not a great deal about pastors, except to get clear of those who are faithful and act generally so as to be great curses to the Churches. The Lord de liver his people from such deacons. Mercer University. It has been thought by some that the Baptists of the up-country feel no interest for this our . “Nursing Mother.” We say for ourself, that oth er ties cannot losoen the hold which our “Alma Mater” has upon our affections and memory.— 1 Indeed we feel towards it as the Jew feels towards Jerusalem, the city of his fathers, yet like the Jew, who Wanders to other lands, will help to build Synagogues for himself, his children and his brethren. So we must be allowed to work for the cause of education in the best possible way.— ' There is room for all our schools and as many more, and all must stand or fall upon their own merit, and none must expect us to puff or praise , beyond our convictions of propriety. It is the great aggregate to which all liberal minded men look, and such will rejoice that our people are ed ucated, whether it be done in a warm, mild or ■ cold climate. Encouraging Incidents. We had the pleasure of attending the Noonday . Association, held in Marietta, including the 3d Sabbath in September. The brother who had been appointed to preach the Missionary Sermon on Sabbath, not being present, and his alternate declining to pleach, the lot fell on Jonah! This 1 same Jonah, alter presenting the general claims ] F of Missions, towards the close of his talk, said . that the Cherokee Indian Mission was very dear to his heart, and that, should the good Lord spare ■wiiu im, i., iwiimu iu nt H mwl< lt . hilly established. While the brethren were tak king up a collection, a young lady, not having • any money with her. took a pure gold ring from • her finger and put it in the hat. i After the Congregation was dismissed a widow . sister, who was then an entire stranger to us. , came up and said that she had sympathy for the mission mentioned above, and placed a purse in our hand which she wished appropriated to it.— ' The purse contained twenty-four and a half dol lars in gold. This incident is worth the more be cause the donor did not wish her name known!— [ God bless our sisters in Christ Jesus! But that ( purse, brethren,-—what shall we say of it? Our Lord and Master intends much good to come of it. We have a good notion to call it the Ladies’ 1 Cherokee Indian Mission Burse, and let our sis -1 ters make up enough to pay a year's expenses to some good brother who will go to the red man of the West and proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ. Already the amount has been increased at home by our better half and little daughter six years old. who says she will give one of her dollars to the little Indians. While speaking of the praying woman in Jesus, we had as well say ■ a little more now, (for it is bound to come.) The turning point in our decision to edit the Banner, was on learning that about the first one who sug gested the name was a praying sister in the up country. The first advance payment was by a young lady at Fort Valley, Ga., and we heard three weeks ago, that a lady in Alabama, whom we ! baptised a few years ago, had obtained thirty sub scribers and that she said she didn’t intend to stop until she got a hundred. Some of these things may appear trifling, but to us they arc of priceless value. May the great Jehovah grant us the use of brother Mallary’s Battle-axe that we may worth ily fill the place assigned us. Brethren not taking the Paper. We have a considerable number of friends in Georgia, who have not sent in their names as subscribers. Some of these differ with us, no doubt, upon some questions great and small, but we know not how brethren are toget together with out a free and brotherly interchange of thought, and it might be of service to any one to read on both sides of all questions. I Besides, if anj' of our brethren know that j they are right, and that we are wrong, j thej' might be doing a good work-by show- i ing it by scripture, and logic, and “convert ! us from the error of our ways.” Be as i sured that any article scripturally and lo : gically written, shall have a place in the “Banner,” for we have profound respect ; for both. 1 There is one brother especially, that we 1 1 i wot of, who works in the Potato Creek [ 1 i country, bj' the name of K , from whom I' ; we hoped to obtain a long list,, who has I 1 | not yet come up to our expectations— , ’ Now, this brother is a great transgressor, 1 andasthisisadayofexposures, if he stands off, we shall hunt up his transgressions. * As we must be allowed to do things in : l our own way, we have some thought of ! j publishing transgression No. l,this week, ’ ! but as we do not wish our sanctimonious j ■ readers to see it, we shall give direction 1 to have it put off in a comer, on the third ’ page. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it ( holy, . • ( [For the Banner & Baptist.] Church Independence. Circumstances have led lately to much discussion of what some brethren call the sovereignty of the churches, I will say, at the outset, that I think the term, sovereign is utterly misplaced when applied to a church, which by all consent is subject in all things. We may as well say that a justices court is sovereign. Jesus Christ is the only king, the only sovereign.— But under Jesus Christ, I not only admit, but maintain the independency of the , churches; and I presume, this is all that brethren generally mean when they speak of church sovereignty. Dr. Dawson in an article on “Editorial Troubles” in the South Western Baptist has defined his position with great clear ness and force. Dr. Mallary has in the same paper, sanctioned the views of Dr. D. These views are not speculative and theoretical, but are of immediate, practical bearing. We can not put them aside.— We are compelled to consider them ; we are compelled to take position. As the question is forced upon us, Bro. IJd-. itor, let us look at it as beconjj&g'men and refers to the Nashville .4ffiicult} r as the “single question which is now likely to produce destraction.” Brethren, all over the country, have look »ng of evil to that difficult)'. Bro. Dawson with a firm but not un gentle hand has raised the curtain and showed us what is to come. I will repeat the “facts” as Dr. D. has stated them. The first Baptist church in Nashville has passed sentence of exclu sion against certain members. Notwith standing this, “some excellent brethren” consider these members “not excluded (i. e. not rightfully excluded) and there fore that they are, both ministers and private members, to all the priv ileges of regular church members.” — he says: “On the other hand there is a large number” “who think dif ferently” and adds “of course these breth ren can never recognize the excluded until they are rightfully restored, without the abandonment of a cherished organic principles." But he goes futher. The non-fellowship extends not only to Graves, Dayton, and their company, but to all who have fellowship for them. He says, “Zs must come to this, that those identify ing themselves with the excluded, can no more be recognized by the other, than the excluded themselves. This is the ten dency, and the result." [Mj' italics.] This then is Dr. Dawson’s position, endorsed by Dr. Mallary. Let us now look at the practical work ing of the matter. At the Columbus Con vention, a brother volunteered to go as correspondent to the General Association of Middle Tennessee and North Alabama. Objection was made ; but the difficulty which threatened the integrity of the Con vention was avoided by the prevalence of it up i rit »r ti ii 1 1 ii t ii.ui ; HO- principle was abandoned or compromised on either side. Correspondents however were ap pointed to the Baptist Convention of Cherokee Georgia. Some of them attend ed and were received. Dr. Dayton and at least one other of the [so called] ex cluded members of the Nashville Church were also received, and their membership in the Spring Street Church was specially recognized. Here then is a body which represents the fourteen thousand Baptists of Cherokee Georgia “identifying them selves with the excluded.” The same principle which would refuse correspon dence with the Tennessee Association will also cut off all correspondence with the Cherokee Convention ; and Bro. Dawson’s dictum, endorsed by Bro Mal lary, forbids any recognition of the mem bers of that body. I will barely refer to one other fact. At the Cuthbert meeting, Bro. Lot Warren presided, and J. R. Graves was present, and was not merely re cognized, but welcomed with a special welcome. Lot Warren then has identi fied himself with J. R. Graves; and he and Bro. Mallary are both members of the Albany church. Willi brother Mal lary, attempt to enforce the dictum which he has endorsed ? Or will he practical ly ignore it ? These facts show that the question meets us at our own door, and that wc can avoid and ignore it no longer. As “the only remedy” for the evils which threaten us, Dr. Dawson proposes “a return to first prinples." I agree to the proposition. What then do the first and great principles of Church independence require? Do they require all other churches to recognize, respect, and sub mit to the decission of the Nachville Church in excluding these members, whether that decisions is right or wrong? With due deference to brethren Dawson and Mallary, 1 think differently. Stripped of all its personalties the question is simply this, can one particular, local, visible church bj' its act bind all other particular, local,visable churches? If so, we are bound by the decision of the Nashvill Church; otherwise we are not. A church is not bound to receive a member into its fellowship, because an other church has so received him. Usu ally indeed one church receives a mem ber on a letter certifying his fellowship in another church, but this is matter of courtesy and not of right; the church is not bound to receive him, and I have known a church to reject such an appli cant. Neither is a church bound to receive as a minister one whom another church so receives. It decides for itself whether ; 1 it will so receive him or not, and I have known more than one instance where churches have refused to receive such. Again, a church is not bound to reject a member who has been rejected bj' an other church. If a man applies to one church for mcmberAip Bn experience. and is rejected because his experience does not satisfy them, he may neverthe less be received bj' another upon the very same experience. Nobody will deny this. Upon the very same principle, one who has been excluded by one church may be received by another. The instances just given show that neither in receiving nor rejecting members can one local church bind any other local church. It has been argued that a majority must govern, and that its decision cannot be called in question. But in the cases ♦above refered to, there might be unanim ity in receiving or rejecting a member in one church, and still another church would not be bound by its action. Even unanimity in error or wrong should not be respected. It certainly is no new doc trine among Baptists, that a minority how ever small, which adheres to the gospel, is to be respected rather than a majority which holds to error and violates the laws of Christ. If it is admitted that a wrong decision of one church is not binding on all others the whole case is yielded, for each church must then decidrTof~~itself whether the decision is right or wrong. It is courtesy to respect the decision of a sister church, but courtesy should never ovrrrule right. It the decision of the Nashville church is vindicated on the. ground of right, it is easy io show that it is entitled to no re spect whatever. _ Holding these opinions, I am not pre- " pared to go with Brethren D. and M. in declaring nonfellowship with those who identify themselves with Bip, Graves and Dayton. lam happy to know that these opinions have been acted upon in other cases without producing any harm. In deed how can the principles of the’gospel produce harm ? Eight or nine years ago several members were excluded by Dr. Cone’s chureh in N. Y. City. They were almost immediately received by an other church in the same city. A little irritation was produced, but the great bo dy of Baptists moved on, undisturbed by the difficulty. Act upon the same prin ciples in regard to the Nashville difficulty and it will be shut up within the city of the Rock and die out through mere star vation. It lives now by aliment drawn from abroad. A great deal has been said about the action of the Concord Association in de ciding a matter touching the independence of the churches. If Associationsjexist at all, they must have power of deciding who are its own menbers. This is an in alienable right of every representative body, when two societies present them selves claiming membership under the same title, the Association is compelled to decide. If there is any thing wrong in this, it is a wrong that exists in the very nature of Associations, and can be got rid of only bj' abolishing them altogether. And Bro, Dawson would seem to be veering round to this point. The right in ques tion was exercised by the Georgia Asso ciation in 1822 when the minority of the Williams’ Creek church was received as the true churchfnul the majority declared to be no church, but a disorderly faction. (See Mercee’s History Georgia Baptist Association page 80 81.) I can not help thinking that much, if not at all, of the clamor about the Concord Association violating church independence is owing to the fact that their decision is adverse to the opinions and wishes of those who consider Graves & Co., excluded mem bers. The bull has gored their ox. I am confirmed in this opinion by wit nessing the manner in which brethren re ceive the action of the Southern Baptist Convention. There is current a very com mon saying that the Si B. C. intended to ignore the Nashville difficulty. Yet, in every way in which it was possible for that Convention to recognize the existence of that difficulty, they did recognize it; and recognize it to sustain Howell and discountenance Graves. Dr. Howell was elected President for the very pur pose of sustaining him. That election and his subsequent election as President of the Bible Board did recognize his ecle siastical position. He claims it as a tri umph; and so do his friend and Graves’ enemies. On the other hand, every thing was done that could be done to show that Graves was considered an excluded mem ber. Why was he not appointed to preach ? Was it not because of the Nash ville difficulty? Now while the oppo nents of Graves and friends of Howell claim the action of the S. B. C. as con demning the former and sustaining the latter. I submit that the Convention did within its sphere just what the Associa tion did within its sphere. If the Con stitution of the Convention had made membership in a Baptist church a qualifi cation of membership in the Convention, the members would have been compelled to decide whether G. was an excluded man or not. If therefore a decision of this kind is a violation of church inde pendence, we must bid farewell to all our Associations and Conventions, and recog nize no other organization than the New Testament church. We may perhaps be compelled to consider this question. In these remarks I have discussed prin ciples, not personalities. I have alluded only to facts which are well known and in disputable. I have discussed a question which is brought to our very doors, not as a speculative but as a practical ques tion—a question which we must meet and decide each for himself. The conclusion to which principles leads me, I am willing to stand by. That conclusion is that I cannot declare non fellowship with the brethren of the Cherokee Convention, or the Cuthbert mass meeting, or any others who have identified themselves with Graves and Dayton. If for this lamto be nonfellow shipedby Brethren Dawson and Mallary, I shall bear in sorrow the loss of their fel lowship ; but I shall bear it, INDEPENDENT.