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Santlmm-h Satinet & Ctaohce Sapfist
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JESSE M. WOOD,I
Editor. )
L. T. DOTAL, Griffin, Ga. } - - - vyL L
*“• l ““ ATLANTA, GEORGIA,THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13,1860. | N 0 ,4 8.
JOS. S« HARRIS. Fta. Trawl in* CnrreMßondent. .
b* Jr ln» IrH veil Hr t
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■ . . I" I
SCRIPTURAL SELECTIONS.
O sing unto the Lord a new song: for
he hath done marvellous things: his right
hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him
the victory.
The Lord hath made known his salvation:
his righteousness hath he openly shewed in
the sight of the heathen.
He hath remembembered his mercy and
hi* truth toward the house of Israel: all
the ends of the earth have seen the salva
tion of our God.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all
the earth : make n loud noise, and rejoice,
and sing praise.
Bing unto the Lord with the harp; with
the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
, With trumpets and sound of cornet
make a joyful noise before, the Lord, the
King.
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;
the world, and they that dwell therein.
Let the floods clap their hands: let the
hills be joyful together before the Lord ;
for he cometh to judge the earth: with
righteousness shall he judge the world, and
the people with equitv.
PSALMS.
From the Religious Herald.
RECEPTION OF EXCLUDED MEM
BERS.
/f«* oa« church the riflht to receive into its
fellowship an excluded member of another
church, without the consent of the exclud
ing body f
Messrs. Editors: This question duly
alforta the rights of churches and of indi
vidusls, mid is worthy of a cal in and candid
consideration. It is unfortunate that its
discussion should have lieeii complicated—
na in some journals it has been——with the
Nashville difficulty : on which, in my view,
it has no material bearing. I heartily ao
eept the views presented in your temperate
and dignified articles on the subject. You
have shown that the right in question is es
sentially involved in church independence.
With your permission, however, I will
eubmit a few additional remarks for the
purpose of dissipating any remaining
doubts of the soundness of your position.
Every church has an unquestionable
right to exercise discipline over its own
members. This right should he exercised
according to the laws of Christ, and for his
glory. He has not furnished, in the Scrip
ture*, a full and minute code of discipline:
but a few general principles and preeepte,
illustratnd bv a few examples, to guide the
ehurch-'s: Much is left to their discretion,
to’be decided by general principles, and
the merit of particular cases. Churches
are not in&llible in the exercise of discip
line. On this poiat many have had pain
ful evidence. Some churches are small,
and composed of ignorant and inexperi
enced members. Some an* under the in
fluence of prejudieee and head strong lead
ere. Even the best and wisest are liable
to err in the interpretat ion ot the laws of
Christ, or in their application to individual
cases. Ou this point, facts are more cogent
than arguments. An excellent lady was
excluded from a chureh bc-ause she kept a
]>iano in her house—a worthy young man
•was expelled from another for the sin of
singing a temperance pledge —an excellent
bnUhcr was excluded trom another because
he sym pal hired with a member who was
•east out for some trivial ofSniw—and many
good brethren have shared the same fate
fiw uniting with the Mason* or Odd Fel
lows, It will scarcely G' denied that the
s-hurches erred in these •».*«■*, transcend
ing their just authoritv, and inflicting in
jury on individuals, hut we have a cam
higher consideration. Ditgrephes cast
•certain good brethren “ out of thechun-h,’
4, John 10. He seems to have been ar
iaipi-eiou*, overbearing man, who exerted
s contnUHng inSucmv in th* - church. If
mast be coacedsd by thoae who maintah
that the government of the aposttdii
churches was independent and eongrega
ttonal, that he cast out the brethren, not bj
his own authority, lu»t by the control h<
«'xertrd over the church. It must then b
.admitted that, through ignorance, parti
-spirit, the mfiuence ambitious kaders
sjc cortuptkwit. like tboac li.und l» some o
•the * seven chutvhv* of Asia.” churches d<
MHuettmes groeady err in discipline, cxelud
ing good metnbern, we. trivial or fid*
charges
UiraCßla
Is there any redress in these unfortunate
cases? All-must perceive its desirable
ness ; and feel that, if there is none, church
government is a despotism, capable of in
dieting great injury.
If the decision of one church is binding,
as some maintain, on all other churches,
{ then redress can come only from the ex-
- eluding church. But how can it be hoped
for from such a church ? The exeommuni-
- cant cannot seek for restoration to fellow
r ship by confessing his sin; for he has no
sin to confess. His only prospect of relief
is in the enlightenment or the repentance of
J the erring church, an event not likely to
occur. You may recommend to him sub
» mission, patience, trust in God, and such
like virtues; but these do not remove the
• unjust opprobrium from his character, res
tore him to bis religious privileges, or se
cure to him his proper measure of influ
ence and uscdulncss in the cause of Christ.
. It is sad to think that there is no deliver
i ance from such flagrant injustices- But
[ Christ’s authority must lie revered. If he
> has ordained that the decision of one church
1 —though it be a small and feeble, one—by
J a mere majority—through the influence of
i party spirit or a Diotrophesian lead
[ er—in violation of Christ’s law —and to the
manifest injury of u good man—is binding
i on all other churches, and under all circum
stances, then we must piously submit. The
• opinion is revolting to our sense of equali
ty, and should not be adopted without
strong proof of its correctness. I will
briefly state my objections to this rule.
1. It hat no scriptural authority . It per
tains to a case not directly provided for in
the precepts or examples of the Scriptures.
When a church transcends its authority,
and does manifest injustice to one of its
i members, there is ao evil, calling loudly
for redress; but the manner or measure of
. the redress is not prescribed in the. New
Testament. They are left to the discretion
of the churches, to be decided on general
principles, and according to circumstances.
Tlwe only case, so far as I know, urged in
support of the rule, is that of the Corin
i tliian excluded from the church for incest.
1 submit that the ease differs essentially
from the under considerations. The in
cestuous Corinthian was excluded, by the
authority of the apostle Paul; and, upon
his repentance, the apostle urged his resto
ration to the fellowship of the chureh from
which he was expelled. This case legiti
mately proves nothing, except that when a
member is justly excluded from a church,
he may lie restored to the same church by
repentance. 1 Cor. 5: IWS, 2 Cor. 1 : 6
—B. But what should be done when a
church ignorantly or wickedly excludes an
innocent member, the case does not furnish
any light to guide us.
2. Zt hat not the sanction of reason.—
Why should the decision of one church
bind all other churches ? Has it more
wisdom, more piety, or more zeal for the
glory of Christ, than any other church, or
all churches ? The rule is fraught with tn
eoHvenience and perplexity. A member
is excluded from one church—removes to
a distant "place—«•d after the lapse of
years, becomes a penitent and seeks admis
sion into a contiguous Church. Is not this
Church aompetent to judge of his fitness
for fellowship J To consult the Church
, from which he was excluded as to the
privilege of his re-admission would be in
some eases impracticable, in most cases In
“ ciWivenient—and in all eases useless. It
often occurs in a city that a member is ex
’ eluded from one Church, and from eonven
’ ience or choice becomes a regular attendant
at another Chureh—and, after many years,
professes repentance. He is known to the
congregation where he worships, and is ap
. proved by them ; but, according to the rule
[ under consideration, his case is brought be
i fore the Chureh that excluded him ; but no
. body there remembers his case, or feels
i any interest in it, and, after a tedious search,
the brief reeore of his exclusion is found,
and the Church proceeds to act according
. to the wish of the sister Church. How
i much more reasonable and convenient it is
. that every Chureh should judge for itself
of the propriety of admittingthe applicant
[ for membership. Every case has its pecu
s liarities. In some cusvs it might be proper
r to refer the applicant to theCourebes from
w hich they were excluded—in some to,ask
i advice of sister Churches—and, in a vast
i majority of cases, to decide, on their mer-
I its. without consolUrtien. 1-et Churches
, have due respect to the feelings of their
- sister Churches, the interest aud character
. of individuals and the glory of Christ, and
they will do no evil.
j 3. It has not the undivided support of
“ Raptist Maye." This embrace* the’rules
i of govenimeut that convenience, experi
, sik* and customs have sanctioned among
. us. 1 have no great respect for it. It is
. bv no means uniform ; bnt differs at differ
ent times, and in different places. At best.
. it is subject to revision and change, accord
. ing to the progress of light and experience.
• Generally it has been maintained that a
t , Chureh lias no right to receive a member
f excluded from another Chureh, without its
[ consent. But whenever a flagrant case of
t injustices (and sometimes unfortunately,
s when the injustice has not been clear.) has
, occured, the injured member has been
j received by smne contiguous Chureh.
f The question return*. Is ther - no re
t dress for a member unjustly excluded
? from R eiwreh I There is certainly none
s under the iron rule eoßtend«*d for ; but that
? rule is not obligatory. There must la* some
e relief from the evil. The loving apostle
I- John spake thus of Diotrephe-, -If I come
e 1 will remember his deeds that he
I He had east good brethren out of the
i- Chureh ; but the day of his retribution was
e st hand. “I will remember his deeds,'
St ssiid the avostle. The casting ot' brethrei
” "out of the Church’’ was an evil—J. ht
n severely cotwienmed it—and proposed t<
d • redress it, but by w'tsrt means he has tn-:
It informed ns. Th* evil must be eorreetef
n I —jlhat i* dear —but as we have no specitb
ie direct: mto guide us in similar vases, i
»- must be corrvcteil by the independen
y Churches, according to the general princi
ie pies of discipline revealed in the Scrip
ie lures. Various means may be suggvstev
y fitr its correction. A new trial may i* re
s, quested—the counsel of an association nay
of be bnmght to bear on the erring Chureh—
|o —time mi' be allowed for reflection—v
d- diaoroe* and cxpwiencvd brethren may gta
to their advice and lend ther influence to st
cure a reversal of the setitence. Nothin;
- - l ."•jZei'U",''- ■ , r ~ ir ~~ —T"~~"—'r-r-"" —'r-r-" Ti'"-'
“HIS BANNER OVER” VS IS “LOVE”
e should be done rashly, or in an unholy
•- temper, but everything for the cause of
h ; truth, and the glory of Christ. But suppose
i- all these efforts should fail to correct the
evil ? Then what should be done ? Why,
the neighboring Churches, or a neighboring
i, I Church, would owe it to truth and right
; eousness, to the offending Church, to the
I Redeemer, and to the injured brother, to
i- ; receive hint into fellowship. We might as
. ■ reasonably wait for a specific command for
o i pulling a drowning man out of the water,
f i as for a special precept for the correction
f i of such flagrant injustice.
j ; To this exercise of sovereign power i
sometimes of necessity resorted to by '
[i i Churches, for the purpose of shielding the ,
e i innocent, several objections have been
.: urged ; which will be briefly noticed.
- I 1. It is said to be the exercise of appel-
■ i late jurisdiction. By no means?. A Church
. I has full authority to exclude any member
- \ from her coniniunion, for any can«e her i
t i deemed sufficient. This decision nb Church, i
J nor churches, can reverse. In an immense |
i i majority of cases the churches will receive ‘
■ , the action as valid and final, and reject the '
f offender from their communion. But in ;
- ‘ rare and exceptional eases, in which it is '
J! obvious that the Diotrephesian, or some ’
; other evil spirit, has ruled the church, they
- i will refuse to be governed by the decision, !
?! and admit the excommunicant to their com-
■! raiMton. if the excommunicating church, •
II not content with the authority to regulate
I i her own communion, claims the right to
control that of all other churches, her ar-
. rogance should be rebuked.
i 2. It tends, it is said, to the subversion of\
Church authority. Not at all. It tends
, rather to the correction of an abuse of
i church authority. Churches generally agree
in discipline. It is only in extreme cases,
t’ in which party spirit or false views, or an
; ambitious leadership, pervert the judge
i merit, that churches will consent to resort
i i to these measures, and these rare instances
i have no tendency to relax the bands of
i ; church discipline ; or if they do, the fault
i is in the excluding, not in the receiving,
I Churches.
3. It may be said, that the receiving I
Churches are liable to error as well as the
1 excluding. That they are liable, to err is
granted—that they are as liable is denied.
Every man, with moderate experience in
Church discipline, knows, that Churches
are sometimes governed by cliques, or lead
-1 ers, or excited feelings. The majority
• rules, and yet the minority may have the
wisdom and strength of the Church.—
' Neighboring Churches may look on, with-
• out excitement or bias, and see that the de
-1 visions are unjust and oppressive. But
churches will not, and should not, because
they are liable to err, permit good and
useful men to be sacrificed by misguided
Churches.
4. It leads, it is maintained, to a breach
of fellowship among Churches. Not ne
cessarily. It may ; in some cases, perhaps,
it ought. A Church may exercise its dis
cipline in a mantier so arbitrary and op-
' pressive, as to justify its rejection by the
surrounding Churches. If I mistake not, I
have known a case of the kind. But why
1 should the reception of an excluded mem
-1 ber of one Chureh by another lead to a
1 breach of fellowship ? It is a difference of
! opinion concerning the character of anindi
i vidual. One chureh judges more charita-
■ bly than the other. Is this a worthy cause
t of division? Certainly not. Notice a
• case which often occurs. A member is
■ brought before a Church charged with some
t grave offence—the testimony is heard—
, and the member is retained by the vote of
? a majority, a respectable minority voting
■ for his exclusion. The minority believe
> that the man is guilty and should be ex-
• eluded; but if they are not under some
■ evil influence, they will quietly yield to
1 the decision of the majority. Nay they
, will even rejoice that others are able to
. form a more charitable opinion of the ac
[ eused tlian they can. If any of them re
fuse to commune with the aequi’t d broth
1 er, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred,
f they display a bad spirit, rather than zeal
t for the glory of Christ. Why should the
■ result he different when an exeommuuicant
■ is received by a contiguous church I The i
i members of the excluding Chureh will find ;
• that there are brethren, equally intelligent [
I and pious as themselves, and in eircum- |
• stances perhaps more favorable to a calm j
’ and fair judgement, that think differently (
f from them, form a more charitable opinion
r of tbeaccused brother —aud.ifthey are influ
l end'd bv a Christian spirit, they will rejoice
in it. I know this is not the spirit of hu
f’i man nature. But if division must ensue
s' —it is a pity—-it cannot lie helped. Dio
-1 trephe*, because he rides his own church,
J i ami causes it to cast out the good and
s ! worthy, must not be permitted to rule all
' Christendom. leit the unfettered churches
•' set up a banner against him, ex en if he does ■
• • create a schism. “ For there must also lie
•; heresies among you, that they which are
• approved may l»e made manifest among
r you- ’
s I set', or think I see. the wisdom of the
f rule contended for. It is a misfortune
» when a chureh is necessitated to receive
» into its tellowahip a member unjustly ex
s polled from a sister chureh; but the evil
w ill be abort lived. Passions will subside,
•-' prejudice will die out, a sound judgment
j i will prevail, and, in a few years, harmeny
v i will be restored. The evil lies on the sur
t' fore and must soon correct itself.
e i My mind, Morers. Editors, is deeply
e impressed with the importance of the
c ■ principle tor which we contend. ithout,
” ? it. ant nun, however pure and noble, may
«• I be sacrificed by a prejudiced and overbear
s > ing majority in a church. A pastor, in the
i faithful discharge of his duty may arouse
d prejudices, and stir up evil passions, which
n I may lead to the formation of a party,
o ■ and to his unjust exclusion from the church.
• If neighboring and impartial churches can
d ’ not effectively interp««sefor his support, his
b* character, standing and usefulness are at
•I, the mercy of a Diotrephesian leader, or of
d an excited and misguided majority.
Permit me to re-iterate that 1 have ilis
fr this subject w ithout any reference
d t.> exisUssg c*s>-s; and simply because of
e- its insportajsee.
\ J. B. JETER.
.'T* * "* *
re The Czar of Russia, by an Imperial
e- i ukaa. has placed foreign merchants on the
>g 1 same footing as the native trader*
I COMMIITICATIbO.
j 4 -----
FOR THE BAPTIST.
CHRISTIAN UNION -No. 4.
i " "■ - v'
Should Christion Union belabored for
and how ’ Have we seen tuat it is desira
ble ? That it is attainble and practicable—
If so the first part .of this question is an
swered, and we may look at (be last. Hou
shall we labor for the union of all God's
i people in qne brotherhood where there
I shall be one fold and one shepherd ?
Nor need we stay long heip. I think it is
clear to every unbiased mindthat the foun
dation for union is fri/ZA-g-the word of God
Then how shall I labor 4<>F thb - union, but
with the means 1 have coypauijid? I would
; labor i.u or with union p they pos
; sessed the eleirienfof itnina tftsrt ; but Stirs
i they do not. They are, without exception,
i formed upon a compromise of the truth,
i the ignoring of some of the “ all things”
I which Jesus told us to teach, all those that
believe and are baptized to observe. 1
i cannot labor for union, in union with those,
; w hose first styp towards union is to sepa
j rate my heart from its homage and alle
\ giance to the wisdom of Christ, and join me
to the policy of men. I cannot ask God
to bless an act of disobedience.
If I labor for union, let me labor for one,
the bonds of which, can never be severed;
but are perfected in the truth. I can only
labor for this union with God’s word for
my implement. Let me labor for it then
by the exhibition of all that word, from
the pulpit, in my conversation, in my life.
All societies, which have for their object,
the circulation of the pure Word of God,
are laboring for the union of all Christians.
Every building erected in th>- world, for
the proclamation of the simple unmixed
teachings of the Word of God, is an ad
vance to this union.
I would also labor in the right spirit, as
well as in the use of correct means, “ The
truth in love.” Let me be careful that. 1
am not a partizan in this labor of love. 1
must not conceive that it is necessary to
Christian union that my denomination ab
sorb all others, unless I can dearly see
that mine is alone occupying the true
ground of union. 1 should lie willing to lose
all for the will of God to prevail. How
small a matter is a name. No name can
unite us, though names have much to do
with dividing us—names too that darken
the counsel of God always.
And 1 should labor for Christian union
a* a duty. Having seen how 1 can work
at all for this end, I should now make it
duty, carrying by my efforts the truth for
union to every household where I go, and
proclaiming it with all zeal from the Pulpit
and Press.
I know it horrifies some so-called good
people to hear a preacher press all that he
finds in the Word of God, upon the atten
tion of an audience, I know that he will by
these people be called “ bigoted” «!kc., but
I also know, it never is a true lover of the
truth that fears to hear it preached. Such
know that a part of the testimony of Jesus
is that his truth will give offense, and fear
more to hear an inoffensive than an offen
sive sermon. I only want all lovers of Jesus
united. Let those who use religion for
their ease and comfort in this world, form
a union among themselves. Christians
can do very well without them.
W. M. V.
For the Banner & Baptist.
Baptist Hotel, Brier Creek, |
: Warren Co., Ga.. Sep. 3d, 1860. I
' Editors Banner and Baptist:
Dear Brethren, —Please publish the
I following in your valuable paper, to wit:
Resolved, By the General Meeting of the
Third District of the Hephsiliah Associa
tion, that all those Churches willing to or
’ganize a new - Auociation, out of the three
following Associations, to wit: the Geor
gia, Hephsibah and the Washington Ass<>
ciations, meet with us in Convention, by
Delegates and Letter, at Warrenton, on
‘ the Ist Wednesday after the Ist Sunday in
October next, for the purpose of informing
each other of the same; and that in the in
terim between this time and the time
aforesaid, each church decide in regu
lar Conference, whether they will apply at
the next Session of their respective Asso
ciations for letters of dismission, in order
for the regular constitution ( .f another As
sociation in the bounds of said Ass<x - iations.
The following are expected from the
Hephsiliah, to wit: Little Brier Creek
Mount Horeb, Way's, Silver Run, Old
Union, Abbelene, Fellowship, Mill Creek
’ and Fort Creek —10.
From the Georgia, the following, to wit
i Warrenton, Elam. New Providence, Ray
town. Thomson. Sweet-Water, Union, Pint
Grove—B; and some others.
From the Washington, the following
Long Creek, Friendship and Powelton—3
and perhaps some others. 10,8,3. rnak
1 ing 21 in all. having Warrenton, or Litth
~ Brier Creek for the center; and it is re
j spectfully suggested to appoint Little Brie
. I Creek for the place, and the 3rd or 4tl
1 week in November next, for the time so
all the Churches dismissed, to meet in Con
: vent inn and constitute a new Association.
AARON ADKINS.
I A benevolent physician considers th
► | poor his best patients, for God j* the pay
* master.
For the Banner & Baptist.
SCRAP No. 20.
A Few - Rough Words.
The poor often seem to hate what they
i are pleased to calPthe aristocratic portioi:
of society. They act as though they fell
t the rich to look on them with contempt. —
But who is in fault here? Are not the pool
w most numerous ? Do not the poor goverr
s in this notion ? What could the rieh de
e without the poor ? They would cut just
such a figure as a peacock with no feathers
s left him but his spreading tail. The rich
]. are few. They are dependent on the lower
I classes. The poor ought to know this, and
!t in the right way manifest it; but so far
j from this, like poor simpletons they cringe
-in the presence of their gold-fledged fellow
like # This js especially
, foolish in a i»no titled
j aristocracy. Are you virtuous and hon
>? ; est ?—then you have a right to hold up
j your head in the presence of all men.—
[ Bo man enough to do it. Itis not
> supposed you are base enough to envy
j. the rich. If you do, then cringe, for it
is a legitimate action for you. But if no
c envy rankles in your bosom, then feel that
i] God has made the difference between you
and others. Look at a rich man as your
, brother. Make yourself easy in his com
. pany. Demand of him by your rectitude
y of character that respect which every man
r owes to his fellow man, and he will cheer
-1 fully grant it. W. M. D.
a
For the Banner & Baptist.
; Cassville, Ga., Sept. Sth, 1880.
, Dear Brother Wood:
Permit me to say a word in relation to
r the Cherokee Baptist College, and theßap
-1 fist Church in this place. The College
- opened its Fall Session on Monday last, and
contrary to expectations for these hard
s times, quite a number of new Students
e made their appearance at that time, and
1 during the week, which is now just closing.
1 If we only had the endowment completed,
> we would soon, no doubt, have as large a
. number of students in attendance as at any
g College south. It was agreed, some time
e past, to hold a protracted meeting at the
e Baptist Church, which commenced with
;• the regular Conference meeting, on the Ist
i Sabbath. The meetingstill continues, with
j increased interest. Cassville has not had
i such a refreshing shower of Divine grace
for many years. When the call for mourn
i ers was given, to-night, there was quite a
i rush from both sides of the house, loung
t gentlemen and young ladies mostly appear
r to be concerned, and a goodly number are
1 students of the two Colleges. Young la
t dies who have just come to the Female
College, and young gentlemen who have
1 just come to the Cherokee Baptist College,
» to a considerable extent, are moved in this
. great work. The meeting will continue so
long as the waters are troubled, no doubt,
t When closed at our church, 1 have no doubt
> but that it will be opened at some other
i church in this place. The brethren all
j would be glad to have you with us, not
r withstanding we have four ministers in at
. tendance. Yours truly, C.
i
r For the Banner & Baptist,
i Dear Bro. W oon:
» Allow me through the Banner & Baptist,
to call the attention of the Churches com
posing the Coosa Association, and East-
Alabama Convention, to a destitute field
for missionary labour, in which both l>odies
should feel an interest. Lying along the
Georgia, and Alabama State line, on either
side, from Terrapin Creek, to the Nicajack
J trail, or brother .1. T. Smiths Mountain
mission. In this boundary there are thou
s sands of immortal souls. There arc but
- few Churches of any kind, and they are
- far from Wing in a prosperous condition.
3 But few Baptist ministers and they are
- laboring in the good cause to but a limited
- extent. There are no good Church build
r ings. no pastors sustained, no Sabbath,
1 Schools, or but few.
i But few religious papers, or books are
J red, many of them have not the word of
- God. The auti-inission spirit, and two
e Seed Doctrine have ensnared many. My
• self, and worthy brother J. W. Canfield,
t have been surveying, and laboring in the
- field, as far as wo had apportunity for the
r past six months.
*- We find them anxious to receive and
i. obev the gospel. Precious revivals are now
e being held among them. I could tell you
b many interesting facts, and incidents. But
'! I c»nlv wanted to call the attention of
o Churches, and ministers, to this inviting
field now white to harvest. Shall not con
i'. tributions be made up in Georgia and Ala
r- contiguous, to support two or three mis
ie siunaries? The people among whom they
labor well party support them. My pas-
1 toral duties forbid my doing but little.
L [ But brother Canfield is the man, or one
«- of them, for the field—he is a laborious and
axccptible minister. C. B. MARTIN.
e-
r A Beautiful Answer. — A mother, on
being asked how she kept her children sc
> r healthv, mused for a moment over the
n- strangeness of the question, and then re
plied simply and beautifully : ‘•Why, God
has given me a healthy child, and I let it
alone.”
te *
y- Corkscrews have sunk more people that
cork jackets will ever keep up.
( TERMS *2.
? ALWAYS IN ADVANCE.
For the Banner & Baptist.
Rome, Georgia, 3d Sept.. 1860.
; Bro. Wood :
I thank you for the compliment you pai
y me in the last “ Banner,” and regret that
n am not more worthy of it. 1 will do as
It have done heretofore, try to avoid person
_ alities. I don’t think that I have done pei
, r sonal wrong, have only spoken of plain an
n simple facts as they existed and still exist,an,
0 I am sure no Bro., if he were so dis
it posed, could successfully contradict their
■s I hope no one has taken any offence at wha
h I have written. If I have written anythin.
r that I should not have written I take it bac
d and will, if I can make amends. It ha
p not been my motive to wound the feeling
e of any, or do them the least injustice, sue
v a motive, has no lodgement in my breas!
y Some may think I wished to expose their
J" not so my Bro., I only xrtmtwd i<> remin
i. you of your duty, believing it was th
p rr. effectual way of doing it ; i
_ this have been mistaken. 1 have hear
t some say it is their privilege to at
y sent themselves from the Church, as oftei
t as they please, and no one has the right b
o say anything to them about it. I honestb
t differ with such, I hold it is our privilege
i and duty to counsel with each other, am
r correct each other’s errors in the spirit o
. love and kindness. We should be “niutua
s helps.”
i lam one of those who believe that th<
. more we do for the advancement of oui
“Master’s cause,” the more we will desire t<
do,and will enjoy religion in proportion to oui
efforts to promote the cause of our ‘Master.
Show me a man that does not do his duty
and has no desire to do so, and I will show
j you one that does not enjoy religion. Il
is contrary to reason and common sense t<
, suppose they would. I may not write any
I more for fear I may unintentionally givt
I offence, for I must write as I feel, and
, write about those things I think deserve
I notice, and acting upon the principle no Bro.,
or sister will be offended if I tell the “truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth”
’ about them. Iha ve often been desceived and
. may bein this. It is my desire to live in peace
with all mankind, but more especially with
my Brethren ; I had rather take’two insults
( than to give one. I would feel better though
. the world would scorn me for it. There is
! another reason, why I think it is my duty
I to stop. It is this. A Bro., is charged oi
beiiiE “ Romeo,” who is innocent of the
charge. Such being the case, 1 may do hire
injustice. Some say they know that it is
he, no doubt they think so. To such ]
would say be slow. It is no hard task foi
some to write as others talk, use their coin
mon expressions, to allude to things and ir
the same way, they are in the habit ol
doing. Don’t pass judgement so soon.—
Adieu for the present. Do your duty
whether you feel like it or not.
ROMEO.
For the Banner & Baptist.
Old Choctaw Agency, )
August 23, 1860. )
Dear Bro. Wood :
I wrote you a short communication some
time in June, and sent it, in company with
some ten other letters, to be mailed at Ft.
Smith, a hundred and fifty miles from my
station—llchoboth. From none of that
package have I received any reply, and as
your part never appeared in the “Bunner,’’
I have thought that it too perhaps lodged
somewhere with the others.
The mission amongst the (’reeks is on
! the advance we hope, and indeed the cause
. of our blessed I .ord is prospering among
. all the Indian tribes at this time, that is,
where missions are established. lam now
on a visit to bro. Burns in the Choctaw
Nation, and i’nd religious matters tolerably
refreshing. The Choctaw Association meets
. next Thursday, the last day of August.—
Camp-meetings amongst our people—the
> Creeks—have begun early and with much
[ interest. I immersed two at one meeting
and three at another lately,—three metho
dists, one Presbyterian, ami one a new con
vert. At another 1 immersed one.
, In secular affairs the people are trclj
f in a lamentable and alarming condition.—
, Throughout all the Indian and adjacen’
country the crops are almost an entire fail
ure. Many, very many of the j«>or peoph
, have now scarcely anything to eat; som<
, are already suffering, and starvation threat
ens to visit the entire country. A strean
j of emigrants from Texas is constantly pass
. ing this road, rolling back again to Missou
j ri and elsewhere. Inquiring where the}
{ are going the universal reply is, “W hen
[ we can find something to eat.” Corn sell:
z here now at $2 00 per bushel, Flour, $7 5(
per cwt., Coffee, 4 lbs. to the sl, Sugar ■
lbs., and Molasses, *1 50 per gallon.
Three military posts just west of usher*
k . are advertising for 18,000 bushels of con
each ; and where it is to be obtained is per
plexing. Some of the Indians arc killin*
e their beef cattle and drying the meat away
j they say they can subsist on dried beel
• and that is better than to starve. Som
i four months drouth is the cause of failur
in the crons. We earnestly hope prospect
n will soon brighten.
e Ido not know bro. J. R. Chambers a<!
dress. Will you send the enclosed lette
d to him, and oblige.
4 From an honest heart I beg you will a<
eept grateful thanks for the Banner A Baj
tist, and believe me,
n Ever Your*,
J. S. MURROW.
I
NASHVILLE CORRESPONDENCE.
Nashville, Tenn., 1860.
Dear Banner:
id Thousands of anxious eyes have been
I turned to the “City of Rocks,’ from all
1 parts of the South, during the past few
n- weeks, and many prayers have ascended
t- for the happy consummation of the labors
id of the “Mediating Committee,” appointed
id by the Mississippi Convention. As your
is- paper stated, the work of that Committee
n. is not yet done, nor am lat liberty to com
at m unicate to you its proceedings, corres
ig pondence, tec., &c. Suffice it to say, for
;k the present, that if an amicable settlement
as of the “Nashville difficulties” be not se
»s cured, it will not be the fault of the Spring
jh Street Church. More as soon as I dare.
it. Moanings and groanings pervade our
n, city, superinduced by the failure of crops,
id We are all complaining, fretting and grum
fe bling; many oi uswalioui. a U««a.
in few of us have any fears of our lacking the
rd iferifMarfrs of life, but the luxuries —Oh !
b- the luxuries, how shall we subsist without
in them ? Think not, however, that business
to is duller than usual, in Nashville. Far from
y it. We bustle as much, fuss as much, and
je sell as much as we did at this time any pre
id vious year. What is dull and flat, (sad
jf terms,) is religion. No revivals, feeble
ul prayers and little zeal. Yet we pray and
hope for better times ere long.
ie Our last meeting of the Concord Asso
ir ciation closed a few weeks since, and was
o a harmonious one. No wrangling, no
ir controversy, more zeal and more money.
The almost universal coldness of the
r, churches pained us for a while, but the
w earnest promises of our brethren to labor
It and pray more earnestly and devotedly,
o during the present Associational year, re
y vived our hope, and strengthened our faun,
e A resolution was adopted, appointing a
d Missionary to the Wachita Indians. This
e by the Concord, remember, which some of
~ our friends (?) say is anti-Missionary.—
L The session was held with the Gallatin
” Church, who have just completed a beauti
d ful house of worship. They have in oper
e ation, a Sabbath School, numbering about
h 70 pupils; organized since the Association.
,s And now for an answer to a query. —
h While in your State, some time since, 1
s was frequently asked, which Hotel I ivould
y recommend in Nashville, to people visit
*f ing the city? At that time 1 was doubt
e ful, but since I have looked about, now
n am prepared to advise. In the course oi
is the next two years the Mammoth Hotel,
I pn the corner of Cherry and Spring Streets,
,r will be finished, but at the present time,
I- the best Hotel in the city, is the Sewanee
n House. The proprietor has recently new
>f ly papered and carpeted and painted the
- House, and has fitted it up far in advance
y of anything in the city. For the dining
room, we can also vouch. This informa
tion is at the disposal of my friends, and
your readers.
But I must close my gossip. In a few
weeks, I will be able to furnish some facts
worthy of record, at present an embargo
e is laid on such exports from this city.—
[j Weather, hot.
Success to the Banner, and the new Pub
lishing House, (what is its name ?) a noble
. enterprise managed bv noble men.
NEANDER.
8 -
A THOUGHT.
Postulate. —The power that restores a
person to church and Christian fellowship is
n precisely equal to the power that excludes.
Illustration. —The Baptist church at
e Tuskegee excludes A to-day ; the Baptist
= church at Montgomery restores him to
> morrow. Now, the question arises, Is there
o anything to prevent the church at Mont
v gomery arraigning a member of the church
at Tuskegee, and excluding him, if she
chooses ? According to our postulate, the
8 power that restores is precisely equal to the
- power that excludes. Montgomery church
e restores a member excluded from the Tus
h kegee church. Cannot Montgomery church,
therefore, exclude a member from the Tus
” kegee church ? Is there any flaw' in this
■*' argument?—<S; W’. Baptist.
'* The “postulate” is good, but the illustra
tion is inapplicable; because, a member ex
y eluded from the Tuskegee church is no more
under the jurisdiction of that body than if
be had never been a member of it; and no
II more under her jurisdiction than under the
!• jurisdiction of the Montgomery church.—
Ie The excluded member is to all churches just
ie as though he had never been a member of
t . any one, except as it respects his baptism,
and that is the same to the church that ex
-11 eluded him and all others.
*- But the illustration is inapplicable, also,
J- because the church at Tuskegee has the
v right to discipline and exclude her own dis
orderly members, while the church at Mont
gomery has no such right, except over her
8 own members. But all churches have the
0 right to receive members from the world,
5 when deemed qualified, without any respect
to their former history, further than may
. c affect their present character.
The postulate says the power chat rc
-11 st*jres must Ims equal to that which excludes.
r * Is not the power of the church at Mont
ig gomery equal to that of the church at Tus
r. kegee ? Then it is plain, that by the pos
tulate itself, the church at Montgomery has
’ the power to restore A, who had been ex
ie eluded by the church at Tuskegee.
re The “illustration” is sophistical because
to it attempts to change the sense of the word
“equal” in the postulate so as to make it
j mean “same,” —the power that excludes is
1 the same as the power that excludes. But
er then the postulate would fall.
The above was clipped from the Louis
iana Baptist, and shows most conclusively,
1 that the editor of that paper understands
I the difference between sophistry and logic.
H. C. ff.
