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BANNER & BAPTIST. * /fl I|ri !• .T’Ja “Holy Bible, —Book Divine, Precious treasure, thou art mine.” JESSE M. WOOD, Editor. ROME, GA., MAY 24,1860. NOTICE. From and after this date no Sub scriber's name will be entered on our Books, without the Money, or the same is vouched for by some respon sible, known friend. Who will act as voluntary Agents to extend the circu lation of the Banner A Bap tist ? , A PROPOSITION. We wish all our friends, male and female, to act as agents for the Banner As Baptist. Every minister who will send us 'five new subscribers and the money, can have the paper for a year for SI. Any one who will send us ten subscribers and the money can have it gratis for one year. Will our brethren and friends work for the Banner ? PASTORAL TALK—No. 33. There remaineth a rest for the people of God. It appears reasonable from this that God’s people toil, and labor. The. man who in early morn takes his scythe, and goes forth to reap the ripened grain, who continues toiling until the shades of night come on, will enjoy the sweet rest which the Giver of all good has provided for the weary man. The traveler who starts at dawn of day, and continues his course un til night-fall, will be glad to lay himself down and rest. The soldier who engages in hot contest with his enemies so soon as daylight appears, and continues till the stars peep forth, will be glad to leave the field of battle to enjoy repose. So with the Christian. But how is a man to rest who never does any thing ? “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord,” will fill with gladness the soul of the faithful servant, but how can it be. said of him who has neither been faithful nor toiled for his Lord and Master? The rest which remains for Christ’s hus band men, soldiers, pilgrims and vine dressers, will be sired, glorious and eternal. DIVISION, ONCE MORE. As ugly ns the thought is, it can not be denied that the question is mooted in some quarters. We wish it distinctly known that, if it is understood that Christian fel lowship, Baptist fellowship is involved, we are opposed to it for the reason that we know of nothing which should disrupt it, and make two separate distinct wings of the denomination. But if it is to be pressed upon us it may be well enough to let the world know where we stand, or as a poli tician would say, put out our platform, and enquire upon which item of it, the division is to take place. In doing this we by no means intend to commit the readers of the Banner, but simply to define our own po sition, and the position of those who, as free men, happen to think with us. As Baptists we believe : 1. In a converted membership—that per sons must be regenerated and born again before they are fit subjects for scriptural immersion. 2. That scriptural immersion consists in dipping the body in water, in the mime of the sacred Trinity, by a proper adminis trator, and by proper authority. 3. That no one can boa bona fide mem ber of a gospel church who has not been thus scripturally immersed. 4. That no one can be a properly author- | ■.led minister of the gospel, who is not a member of a gospel church. b 1 hat, therefore, to affiliate wi*h Pedo baptists in ministerial labors is to indorse their errors, and irregularities, which is sin j ful. Baptists would not have pulpit com munion with any of their own ministry whi> should preach, and practice infant sprinkling. and other radical errors. Char ity, s»>d require that they should i be as kind i- those who have heen in their 1 own fold as to those who persistently op. pose them. 6. We believe in strict communion, that those only should be invited to the com-1 munion table, who have obeyed Christ— j followed him in the ordinance of baptism, and who have connection with gospel churches. 7. We believe in the eternal purposes and election of God ; that his people are saved by grace alone, and being by grace ' and not by works, they cannot be lost un- | Jess grace should fail, which is impossible ; I that good works are the fruits of grace with in, and that all Christians will perforin good works, just as good trees bear good fruit. 8. W e believe that churches are Christ’s executives, and that they are bound to car ry out his will in all things; that Christ is law-giver, and ruler. as well as Savior.— A iiatevcr, therefore, his executives do ac cvrdmg tq hi« expressed law and will is 1 r • ’ -lid, and whatever they do *■ '.trary U> h’s expressed will is null and * td. Ibis is necessarily so, as Christ cannot ratify that which is directly opposed to ■■ cannot say, “Well done, good and faiihl-i servant,’ m one wfau !,<;s pot 1 ' '* ’• J ‘- Each cf su.h executiws, rnuier Christ, ft act for herself, Ny < *cc"untal..e to God alone, vet can never action of others, take away the , optaiot} from the public, suppress the freedom of the press, nor control the judgment of the religious world. All alike appeal to the law, and to the testimony— to the Bible, the Christian's highest standard. For which of these are Land-mark Bap tists to be non-fellowshipped ? In regard to those issues which are exciting the pub lic mind let us see how the matter stands. 1. Wc believe that the commission and other portions of the New Testament, are a law of Christ to the churches upon the subject of missions; that this law binds every church, with every Christian in it, to do all in her power tc carry out the com mission, and that responsibility! s limited only by ability and opportunity ; that the scriptures justify churches in the use of men, and means, in the spread of the gos pel ; that it is the eternal purpose of God that it should be so. We believe also that missions would be more successful (because scriptural) conducted by churches and as sociations of churches, than by organiza tions strictly human, formed upon a money basis, having no connection with churches, nor allowing churches, per se, even to have a representation in their counsels. (In this we certainly honor the churches. Non-fel lowship, therefore, upon this ground would be a conventional non-fellowship, and not church non-fellowship, unless indeed you make the one bind the other, from which thought the Lord deliver us.) Upon the rubw’on questian-anti-Bonrrkmert think they place the responsibility where CHRisrplaced it—upon the churches—while others would place it upon bodies wholly irresposible in an ecclesiastical sense. These men, too, are willing for brethren to go on in their own way, obeying their own free will. 2. We believe that the objects of the Southern Baptist Sabbath School Union are good, and the books which have been issued arc good Sabbath School books, which aim to teach all that the Bible teach es, suppressing nothing, adding nothing.— We think that parents are bound to teach their children just what the Bible teaches them, and that to suppress any portion of it is a great sin, particularly if it is done just to please those who hold to error. 3. We believe that the Southern Baptist Publication Society has not done what its friends had a right to expect of it, neither in the number of books which it has fur nished to the public, nor in the kind fur nished ; yet, as wc are “free trade and sail or’s rights” men, we would take of them what we esteem good, and let the bad alone, and would rejoice that it has been spurred up to do something for the denom ination, by the activity of other publica tion interests. We believe that it should stand upon its real merits, just as an indi vidual enterprise, and not be forced upon Baptists as the “par excellence'' denomina tional concern, just because of the relation its managers to the S. B. Convention, un less indeed it first be proven that the voice of the Convention is to Baptists, just what the voice of the Southern Conference is to Methodists. 4. We believe that the Boards, Foreign and Domestic, have, in the main, been composed of good and faithful men, who have been true to the work assigned them, and are not responsible for the defects of the Board system ; if indeed there are de fects, as wc honestly believe. 5. We believe that the Bible Board has been one great failure, and that its history is one of painful interest, especially that portion of it which refers to attacks upon A. C. Dayton, including bitter private let ters to the Board, and misstatements to the public, by the Board itself. 6. Believe that, in the difficulties of the First Church at Nashville, J. R. Graves, and the minority, were badly treated, un scriptntally dealt with and excluded ; that Dr. Howell, and friends in Nashville and abroad, pursued a line of policy toward J. R. G., and the minority, which can never be justified by the scriptures, and the good sense of an unprejudiced public. We be lieve that the I'rst Church exists, in disor- i der, as the. church at Smyrna, mentioned I in the scriptures; that the minority com- ! mitted some irregularities and wrongs, but not of such a type as to displace them from the Baptist family ; that they were more “sinned against than sinning.’’ Mere ir regularities in the steps of protestations, connected with secession, can never out weigh the intrinsic merits of a case, and bar the claims of oppressed minorities. In regard to the men involved, we be lieve that Eld. Graves, and the. minority, i are poor, frail, fallible creatures, like the rest of us. but men who have done vastly more for Baptists than their persecutors; that Dr. IL, and the majority, are also fal lible, and from the facts, appear to have 1 been urfed by a spirit contrary to that, which the Savior encourages, in the New , Testament, and to have prosecuted then i designs with a maddened fury, which can never bear the test of scriptural scrutiny, i nor meet the approval of cool, unprejudiced | men. Yet as the two churches exist we believe, as bad as things are, that it would be far better for influential men to strive to cor rect the wrongs committed, and heal the breaches in Zion than to encourage the wild * measures of denominational contention and | division. This is a candid, and perhaps as full an expression as the public could de mand, and perhaps more so than mere pol icy would suggest. But we have not been sufficiently needy, heretofore, to study pop ularity and interest, nor do we intend our editorial position to change our natnre in this respect. Now with this platform, this i expression of opinion, we ask the public, especially those "ho propose division, to sax fi r which of these items non fellowship 'isto be declared. Let them be specific and Candid, and the Banner " ill know a hat to do. We will not say that the Landmark elements of this platform are at the bot tom of propositions for division. Bat we will say that finis, stubborn facts, go very ()<r towards raising this belief. Nearly all the man on one side of the main trouble some difficulties, from their incipiency, have been violent aati-Landmark' men, andsome ‘of thepi very unsound : those who 1 pra'se Pedo-Baptists, and affiliate with > them, not only on common occasions, but > mix up with them on “dedication occa sions,” &c., &c., while they seem to have ■ no forbearance with their own brethren, I who simply differ in opinion with them. In conclusion let us say to our readers, . study well your positions and your duty. I and decide for yourselves, in the fear of > God, where you will stand. It may be s that God intends to purge us, to thoroughly i try us. Let us pray to know the truth, > and perceiving it dare to embrace it. In - the order of a kind Providence those known 1 as Landmark Baptists are in, at least, a s tolerable condition to act independently, f under Christ. They have a fair share of • papers already in full blast, and can estab- > lish as many more as the emergencies may t demand. There are also publishing houses > and publication interests, which can furnish • reading to the old and young, to our child- • ren and to all clssses of our friends. If ’ Landmarkers kave nothing else, they have , the Bible, King James’ version, and will s soon have the revised edition.* With a > pure version of the Holy Scriptures they • may defy the world. If their opinions are I wrong when tried by this, it is their duty, ; and, we trust, their will, to abandon them. *We might have made the Revision question more l prominent in this article, as we regard it the most . imwmnt movement of this century, political or as those who ouce opposed have TSiUfs* eo“Toifc#, *•-• oni.ludc ibey Lave ( giverßTup. 1 WM. CAREY CRANE. 1 The following article, we have clipped 1 from the Christian Index. It has been go ing the rounds of our exchanges, which ad vocate our Board system as it is, and seems ! to be regarded as a conclusive argument in their favor. No doubt bro. C. so regards it, and bro. Boykin indorses it. We propose to notice this, after saying that it affords us real pleasure to see one article which makes some pretensions to logic, though it says but little of scripture. We shall publish it by sections, and inter sperse with remarks: THE BOARD SYSTEM OF THE SOUTH ERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. Postulate Ist. If the Board system of the greater organization be scripturally wrong, the Board system of the less must be scripturally and logically wrong also. Ergo: The Boards of all State Conventions, Education and Publication Societies, Asso ciations, Colleges, Seminaries and schools, must be wrong.— W. Carey Crane. This is a palpable sophism, containing a latent (?) fallacy. The real question is, can Boards, not created by churches, not controlled by them, nor having any con nection with them, do the work imposed by the Savior upon his churches ? That is to say, can they scripturally propagate churches with the doctrines and ordinances of the gospel ? The question is not wheth er Boards may distribute Bibles, look after educational interests, print books, build Rail Roads, &c. If these were the things, and the only things to be done, anti-Board men might see how the greater and the less were alike. But if it be insisted that the greater and the less alike take charge of the ministry, of ordinances, and of the rearing and training churches, having no church responsibility, nor even church con nection, then the logic would only prove them all wrong. Certainly should the less act unscripturally, it would not prove the greater to act scripturally, while they act alike. Board men would still be asked for divine authority. Pos. 2. If the only scriptural plan of missions is for each single church to main tain its own missionaries. Ergo: The support of one or more missionaries by two, three, or more churches is unscriptu ral and a violation of the spirit and precept of Christianity.— IP. Carey Crane. This is assuming a proposition as if it were the true position of anti-Board men, whereas they hold to no such position. On the contrary, they say that each church, and each individual member of the church, i ought to do their part of the work of car i ry itig out the great commission, but that it ; ought to be done by the authority, and in I the name of the churches of Jesus Christ, ( | and that they arc free to co-operate in every i good word and work. Churches are com j petent, under Christ, to make all necessary I arrangements for carrying out the commis sion. If co operation be necessary they : are free t<> co-operate. But it by no means ■ follows, that that is the work of churches which ignores their existence, and do not even allow them a representation in their counsels. Pos. 3. If the arguments of anti-mission aries thirty years ago, were unsound, illib eral, and unscriptural, have the lapse of years—the spreading light of evangelical Christianity, and the force and spirit of ■ omnipotent truth, rendered these same ar t gutnents, formerly repudiated and rejected by those who now employ them, sound, liberal and scriptural? Ergo: Is it not better to retain the old and well tried su perstructure, based upon the good founda tion of lung experience, than to surrender .it for untried experiments ? Bftn. Carey I Crane. This argument has three elements. 1. It is borrowed. 2. It was not worth burrow ing. 3- Useful only to show the weakness ' of a cause. Pos. 4. If, in union, there is strength, is I not that union greatly strengthened by the multitude of members enclosed in it ? The ; more rods there are in a bundle the harder is it to break. Ergo: The union of all the Baptists of the South in one general organ ization for the propagation of Christianity, will be tar more useful than the individual and separated unions of small bands of Christians in separate and distinct localities, , operating upon remote and far distant heathen lands.— Hm. Carey Crane. > This is the climax, and that our readers, brother Cr ank, and especially bro. Boykin, may see that the Banner fully realizes its > clearness and force, we will state the argu ment again, w ith a slight variation in its application: li, in union, there is strength, is not that union greatly strengthened by the multi tude of members enclosed in it ? The mure rods there are in a bundle, the harder it is to break. Ergo: The union of all the • ‘ Methodist societies of the South in one ■ i i general organisation, and all of oach State j in subordinate organizations, for the propa gation of Christianity will be far more useful than the individual and separated bands (societies) of Christians in separate and dis tant localities, operating upon remote and far distant heathen lands, or even upon In dian territory, or destitute sections right at our doors. We repeat, this is the climax, and let Baptists remember that here is the danger. This is precisely the argument and the con dition of things among our Methodist friends. Little separated societies are too weak. In union there is strength, and, therefore, there must be one great Southern organization, which must be bolstered by State organizations, and not one of the little societies is to have a voice in this imposing body. It is to be composed of a privileged order, and the societies are not even to be represented. We have not so learned the strength of Baptists from the very men who indorse this monstrous “postulate."— The extract which we took from the South western Baptist, some time ago, presented a very different view of the time-honored polity of our Ipved denomination. This Board argument has run to seed, and will wake up many »ho have seen no danger. Baptists of the South, whither are we tending? Rook this matter sternly in the face. Let us make you a proposition.— When we do nothing, or just trifle with the great commission of our Lord, or simply xvish to go a bathing, dipping in Jordan, or like Pxter, go a fishing, xvhy, the poor little scattered churches will do well enough for ui, but when we wish to spread the gospel of the son of Gon, wish to supply destitution all around us, wish to send men to the Indians, and the news of salvation to heathen lands, just let us give up our old polity, these inefficent, separated concerns, called churches, and follow the lead of Presbyterians and Methodists, and form a national organization and go to the work in good earnest. No odds, if these churches have, per se, nothing to do with the great work, It must be done. As the churches will not do it, Conventions must. Now for one, we are so much of a grace man, and so much of a work man, it grace and works are not in harmony in Baptist churches, and are in harmony in the Con vention, we shall quit the church and join the Convent! on, for certain it is that Christ’s plan, the gospel plan, combines purpose, grace and works. Will the Index say whether it considers brother Crane’s logic sound, and as fairly representing anti-Board men ? As to the bundle of rods in brother C.’s 4th postu late you need say nothing about. It might be dangerous to do so. These Convention rods are strong, and rather ugly things, and some of us have felt their force. Let them be broken over our head, if indeed the head does not break first, in which event perhaps thicker ones will take its place, until their full strength shall be tested. VV e tertainly have no design to invite chastisement upon our friends. The rod of Methodism and the rod of S. B. C. are certainly aAktwo things. Thcy r are strong, ami terror to the’ timid. But wc shall glorify neither, at the risk of > chastisement from both. CHEROKEE BAPTIST CONVENTION. This body met in Marietta, Ga., on Fri day, the 18th inst. The morning was spent in religious ex ercises. As many of the messengers had ' not arrived, the Ainual Sermon was post poned until night, and J. R. Chambers, by request, preached »t 11 o’clock. In the afternoon the body was organized, which resulted in the election of E. Dyer, Moderator, (theformer Moderator having ' declined re-election) W. A. Mercer, Sec retary, and T. E. Stout, Assistant Secre tary. The eveiingwas spent in appointing committees, receiving correspondents, Ac. On a call for visitors and correspondents, brethren from Afferent sections were found to be in attendaice, whose names will ap pear in our nextssue. Among those whom j we remember vere Eld. S. G. Jenkins, of i East Alabama Convention, Elder R. J. Mays, S. Alexinder Smith, and brother Marvin, from the Florida Convention, A. C. Dayton ani Marks of Nashville, rep resenting N. Jia. and Middle Tenn. Asso- | ciation, and fyncord Association ; J. 11. i Corley; S. loykin, Editor Index, A T. Holmes, H. C Hoknady, J. H. Weaver, T. H. Gibbs, and others, from Georgia Convention; ?. Maddox, S. Root, and others, from Stone Mountain Association. Representing kenevolentorganizations were Jas. B. Taylor, Secretary Foreign Mission Board, D. G. Daniel, Agent of the Board, A. C. Daytox, Secretary S. B. S. Union, Jas. Edmunds, Ky., Sec. Revision Associa ' lion, and Agent. We were glad also tu meet bru. Boykin, Editor Index. Al night the Annual Sermon was preach ed by G. F. Cocper of Dalton, who used the text, “J can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.” From this pas-1 sage he enforced the thought that our de pendence was entirely upon Christ, in our idividual spiritual and temporal wants, in ’ our enterprises, religious, educational, and all others. Upon the question of educa tion—in which Cherokee Baptists are es pecially interested—he showed that God had placed them in a field white to the har vest, and placed within their hands ample means to endow our College, so as to make it a permanent success. On Saturday, in the forenoon, the time was taken up mxinly in hearing the report of the Trustees us C. B. College, reading, discussing, and adopting a revised Consti tution and rules of order. In the afternoon, pending the adoption of the report on uii»»ions, the claims ut those missions, which the Baptists of Cherokee, . Ga., were, at present especially trying to promote, were presented, and a collection was taken fur Cherokee Indian Misuous, amounting to over $-200. This was fitllow cd by an address from Jas. B. Taylor, of Richmond, on the subject of Foreign Mis sions. He gave an account of the fields j partially occupied by the Board, number of - Missionaries, &c., and called attention-to 1 the future prospects of this department of r Christian labor. The Convention having been invited to 1 visit the Georgia Military Institute, at - o’clock, the body adjourned, and a large t crowd, led by’ the Moderator, resorted to the field of battle (?) After some prelimi t naries, in arranging thji Cadets for our re . ccption, the officers advanced to the visitors . who halted on entering the campus, when a t scene of thrilling interest occurred. Major > Capers,one of theofficers,addressed the Mod , erator, and members of the Convention, in i a short, pithy speech, full of thought and in ’ terest. He showed that a soldier could i have proper conceptions of divine law, and r the principles which should govern nations 1 and society within nations; that in the pres s ent state of things the soldier of his country, ■ and the soldier of Christ, shared fn the i protection and well-being of their country, - that the sword for protection, and the min . ister for the dissemination of truth, in the [ order of Providence, might go side by side. [ With touching eloquence lie alluded to ; Washington, xvho, at one hour, would, ; alone, upon his knees, pray for the help of , the Almighty, and the next would draw his i sword in the detence of his country; and ■ that the time would conic when arms would . be no longer needed, because of the triumph : of the gospel. Jle closed by extending a hearty welcome to the Convention upon this grounds of this State Institution. . The Moderator, in a short, impromptu • speech, responded, by saying that the Con- • vention, as Baptists, heartily appreciated the compliments bestowed upon them, and fully’ 1 recognized the rights and wants of our country ; that while it was his (the officer’s) business to train men fiir the field, it was ours to train them for higher and holier ends; that, as ministers and Christians, it was ours, by the presentation of heavenly truth, to train the conscience, it was his business, as a soldier, to protect the liberty of conscience. But the time would come when the sword would be beaten into ploughshares, and the spear into pruning hooks, and the soldier would be no longer needed, yet our work would go on. Triumph, therefore, was on our side. Whereupon the crowd cheered, and the soldier stepped forward, took the Christian by the hand and confessed the triumphant claim. The visitors were then Conducted intothe main building, the Society Halls, &c. Af ter examining the severaljapartments, look ing from the third storly upon the rich scenery, which surrounds this beautiful site, extending for fifty or more miles in all di rections, we again entered the campus, when H. C. Hornady was called upon to address the Cadets. As bro. H. is one of our cor responding editors, it might be a little in delicate to say much of his speech. Suffi cient is it to say that it was spirited, spark ling, and appropriate. Wethen xvitnessed the field exercises of the young men who are preparing to defend their country should their defence be called for. Taken all and all this whole affair was a treat. Never before did we so fully’ realize the intimate relation of the Christian and the soldier, nor their necessary dependencies. At night, at the Baptist church, the ser vices were devo ed to the interests of C. B. College. Bro. Jas, Edmunds, of Ky., who has large experience in endowing colleges, presented the audience with much valuable information, and gave practical suggestions. Lew men have his store of information, and fewer still can say as much in the same time. He was followed by bro. J. H. Campbell, with a stirring speech, showing that we ' could, and ought to endow the College,that we owe to ourselves, our children, posteri ty, our country, and to God, to do it. We are quite sure that this meeting will bear rich fruits hereafter. The Sabbath exercises, in of worship, xvere ably conducted, and with good effect, as far as we were able to learn. A considerable amount for missions, was collected. On Sabbath night, at the Baptist house of worship, the claims of the revision move ment were presented by W. T. Russell and J. Edmunds. Bro. R. dwelt upon the I history of translations, especially upon King ■ James’ version of the English Bible, and showed the absolute necessity of its revis- : ion. Bro. Edmunds gave a history of the move ! ment, presented many important facts con nected with it, showed that the scholars en gaged in it had theadvantageof King James’ translators of 200 years advancement in learning, and the toilsome researches of the best scholars for that length of time, and ! presented two hundred tracts to the audi i ence, setting forth filets bearing upon the revision subject. Judging from the rush to get them, Cherokee Baptists are enthusias i tic upon this question. On Monday Morning several strictly business items were attended to, the most I important of which looked to the ultimate advancement of C. B. College, and the i cause of education. Before adjournment, A. C. Dayton was ' called upon to represent the claims of the j S. B. Sabbath School Union, which he did j in his usual happy style. He showed that the Union had accomplished wonders, in a year’s time having published fifty volumes of Sabbath School books, and thousands of these had been sent abroad, to bless the churches and the children of our country ; and given a large circulation to the “Chil dren’s Friend,” a little paper for children, which ought to be in every’ family. The afternoon was spent in try ing to finish the business of the Convention, and but two items of special interest need to be mentioned. The Executive committee reported that Bro. J. R. Chambers had agreed to go to the Cherokees to preach as Missionary the everlasting truths of the Gospel to that people. He will, Providence permitting, go out the last of October, or Ist November next, to arrange, do all the i . work he can, and return for his wife, in r time to meet with the session of the Con ven- o lion to be held at Calhoun, on Friday be s fore the 3rd Sabbath in May 1861. Two young men wishing to prosecute J their studies at C. B. College, who are Al ready in the ministry, were present, and 8 talked to the Convention. They no doubt > will be provided for. We shall allude to ■ them at a future writing. The business was not all completed on 3 Monday, but as we had to leave, can give i no account of its conclusion. Our readers r and brethren will excuse Us for inaccura cies, and omissions, in this article, when i we tell them that we write entirely from memory, and with a painful head-ache— I having labored hard at the Convention, and 1 lost much sleep—and with all, hurried to 9 get ready for the press. This meeting, on the whole, was one of » interest and, we trust, of profit, and very s few things occurred that were disagreeable. , As is common with new bodies, there was -a good deal of disorder, and much disposi -9 tion to speech making. Within a year or • two this may be cured or rendered con -5 valescent by the use of a salve which we , have heard of. It is composed of modesty, f humility and discretion. It is said to be a s cwre for the breaking out at the mouth. 1 _ ■ COMMUNICATIONS. For the Banner <fc Baptist. PROF. J. St. PENDLETON. At a meeting of the students of Union i University, Murfreesboro,’ Tennessee, A pril 29th, 1800, Benjamin F. Latimer was ! called to the chair, and Win. 11. Whitsitt appointed Secretary. The President then ’ stated the object for which the students had i convened, to be the appointing of a com i mittee to draft Resolutions relative to the charge circulated against Professor Pendle , ton, concerning the question of slavery.— ' Whereupon, on motion of J. E. Carter, a i Committee of fifteen was appointed. Sub sequently, on motion of G. A. Coulson, the President was added to it. This Commit i tee reported the following Resoltrtiims, which were unanimously adopted: Whereas, certain designing men have circulated and published to the world, that Elder J. M. Pendleton, Professor in Union University, holds to, and promulgates Ab olition sentiments, and whereas such charg es are made to injure our much beloved University, to prejudice Southern people against him as a Professor, and to destroy his influence. Resolved, That wc not only believe, but we know the charges that Prof. Pendleton is an Abolitionist, to be altogether un founded; and that the spirit in which they have been presented to the public, plainly shows that love for Southern institutions has not prompted his accusers to make them. Resolved, That we denounce as utterly false the charge that Prof. Pendleton has ever taught us principles in any way sub ’ versive of Southern institutions. Resolved, That the instructions imparted to us by Prof. Pendleton, are such as to instill in us a love of virtuous principles, an ardor for tru*e intellectual attainments; and that through life, we will always re member these principles of honor and hon esty, which we have learned from him, since we feel confident they will cause us to refrain from making disrespectful and unchristian allusion to another (as his ene mies have done,) over a fictitious signa tme. Resolved, That we are too ungrateful to return our thanks to the enemies of the Institution, for the interest they have man ifested in our behalf, and to relieve them of further trouble we assure them, that we cherish a love for the South, that wili drive us from the University whenever we are taught sentiments detrimental to Southern rights. Resolved, That whila we feel confident that the insignificant attempt now being made to effect the ruin of Prof. Pendleton will prove a most signal failure, yet our love for truth and justice compels us to express our disapprobation of the course pursued by his enemies, and our high ap preciation of him as a Professor, a gentle man and a Christian. Resolved, That we recommend to all who wish to enjoy the best of advantages, both in the Theological and Literary Depart ments, to patronize this Institution, it be ing free from the many contaminationsand vices that frequent most College#, and es pecially from Abolitionism. Resolved, That, we request the city pa i pers and the various Baptist papers in the different States, and all others friendly to truth and justice, to publish the above re solutions. Needham Holland,of Ark.' John W. Lipsey, of Miss. Thomas 8. Burnett, of Ky. A. J. McGaughy, of Ala. W. H. Gardner, of Tenn. q Jos. E. Carter, of N. C. W. M. Bennett, ofTenn. * Clint Trutrnan, of Tenn. I- Stanhoye H. King, of Ark. ( Geo. W. Martin, ofTenn. » W. IL Whitsitt, ofTenn. .” Martin V. Noffsinger, Va. Wm. A. Williams, of La. R. W. Parramore, of Fla. IL C. McFarland, of Tex. Benj. F. Latimer, ofGa. It is proper to say that our high esteem for Prof. Pendleton, and the purely South ' ern principles which he ever inculcates, has prompted us, without his knowledge, I to take this means of setting the truth be- ; fore the public. [sign.] Benj. F. Latimer, Pres't. Wm. H. Whitsitt, Sec. For the Banner & Baptist. Action of Cedar Creek Church. Floyd Co., Ga., May 6th, ’6O. Whereas there has been a report in cir j culation (secretly,) for a few years, in this country, that Bro. V. H. Dean was preach ing without license, or if he had any, they : j were forged ; and Whereas, on examination of the facts ( in the case, We, the Committee in behalf i of the Church, find that the report is false. Brother Dean has a written license from the Blue Spring Baptist Church, Bradley Co., Tennessee, signed by. her Clerk, D. G. McCully, in behalf of said Church, (giving him Church authority to preach the Gospel, wherever God in His Provi dence may cast his lot.) In further testi-’ mony thereof, a certificate from the Clerk with the Church’s record of the fact, and signed as above, showing that the said li cense was given. Therefore— Resolved, By the whole Church in Con ference, that We spread these facts before the public. E. BREWTON, ] B. f. meek, 11. HUCKABY, j. howk, > Com. W. BELCHER, J. MOORE, D. S. HUCKABY, , It was unanimously agreed to reqxiest its publication in the Banner & Baptist, with the request that Tennessee Baptist copy, and oblige, Ac. All done in Conference, and signed by order of the Church, J. R. CHAMBERS, Mod. E. BREWTON, Clerk. ♦ i For the Banner & Baptist. DIVINE BENEVOLENCE. When God created us, he either wished our happiness, or our misery, or be was unconcerned about both. If lie had wished our misery, he might have made sure of his purpose, by’ forming our senses to be as many’ sores and pains to 1 us as they are now instruments of gratification and enjoy ment ; or by placing us among objects so ill suited to our peremptions, as to have continually’ offended as, instead of minister ing to our refreshment and delight. He might have made, for example, everything we tasted, bitter and loathsome; every thing we touched, a sting; everything we smell, a stench—and everything we hear, a. discord. If he had been indifferent about our happiness, or misery, we must impute to our good fortune, as all design by this, supposition is excluded, both the capacity of our senses, to receive pleasure, and the' supply of external objects, fitted to pro duce it. But either of these, and still more both of them, being too much to be at tributed to accident. Nothing remains but. the first supposition —that God, when he created the human species, wished their happiness, and made for them the provision which he has made with that view and for that purpose. The same argument may be proposed in different terms. Thus contrivance proves design, and the predominant tendency of the contrivance indicates the disposition of the designer. The world abounds with con trivances, and all the contrivances which we are acquainted witff, are directed to beneficial purposes. Evil, no doubt, exists, but is never, as we can perceive, the object of contrivance. Teeth are contrived to eat, not to ache; their aching now and then is incidental to the contrivance, perhaps, in separable from it; or even if you will let it be called a defect in the contrivance, but it is not the object of it. This is a distinc tion which well deserves to be attended to. In describing implements of husbandry you would hardly say of a sickle that it was made to cut the reaper’s fingers, though from the construction of the instrument, and the manner of using it, this mischief often happens. But if you had occasion to describe instruments of torture, or execu tion, this engine, you would say, is to ex tend the sinews; this, to dislocate the joints; this, to break the bones ; this, to scorch the soles of the feet, &c. Here, pain and misery arc the very objects of the contrivance. Now, nothing of this sort is to be found in the works of nature. We never discover a train of contrivance to bring about an evil purpose. Since, then God hath called forth his consumate wisdom, to contrive and provide for our happiness, and the world appears to have been constituted with this design ; at first, so long as this constitution is upheld by him, we must in reason suppose the same design to con tinue. The contemplation of divine nature rather bewilders the mind, than effects it. There is always a bright spot in the pros pect upon which the eye rests; a single example, perhaps, by which each man finds himself more convinced than by all others put together. I seem, for my own part, to see the benevolence of the Deity more clearly in the pleasures of very young chil dren, than in all other things put together. The pleasures of grown persons may be secured partly of their own procuring, espe cially if there has been any industry, or contrivance, or pursuit to come at them, or if they’ are founded on music, painting, or upon any qualifications of their own ac quiring. But the pleasures of a healthy in fant are so manifestly provided for it by another, and the benevolence of the provis sion is so unquestionable that every child I sec at play, at its childish sports, affords to my mind a kind of sensible evidence of the finger of God, and of the disposition which directs it. But the example which strikes each man most strongly, is the true example for him, and hardly two minds hit upon the same, which shows the abun dance of such examples for us. Wc conclude, therefore, that Gou /ils and wishes the happiness of his creatures, and this conclusion being once established, , we are at liberty to go on with the rule built upon it, namely, That the method of . coming at the will of God, concerning any action by the light of nature, is to inquire into the tendency of that action, to promote or diminish the general happiness. J. T. COOPER. noble mind weighted down and j obscured by suffering, may be likened to ■ one of the plain wooden clocks of our fore father’s days. A glance at the outside dis closes nothing brilliant or beautiful; noth ing strikes the eye but the dark, heavy weights which give it motion. But for uaefulncss, these are the best of clocks. irresolute never prosecute their views so long as they have any. excuse for deli’iftg. -