Newspapers / The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, … / Oct. 12, 1839, edition 1 / Page 1
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IE m r. - i'Y; am Ji 111. JJLA 1 i ' . . . I ... ....... I ... nEVOTBP TO RELIGION, MORALITY, liITEHATU R C,! ANDiGENERAIi INTEL It I CENC E. r T, Meredith Editor VOL. V NO 41. lULfelCfSATUHBiVY, OCTOBER 12, 1839. WHOLE.NO. 243. i, i ? . ! - ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' - ' ' ' " .. - .; .'.,'.... I . - :. . . J . " The Recohher & Watchman is pabtished every Sat -urday, at 2. 51) per annum, if paid within sLx months nr 5!Vit nwl snhpane ntlv to that period. . . Anir nersnn irho will becoaie responsible for six copies, or who will forward the names of sixsubscri4 ers,-shali be entuiea oa .MiM uhatis.. .. No subscription will be received for less than oxd tear, unless paid in advance j and' no discontinuance wilt be allowed until arrearages are paid. ' V 1 Persons wishing to discontinue -vCill- be expected' ta give notice to that effect prior to the commencement ol 'a new year; otherwise they will be considered as re ponsiblefor the ensuing twelve months.". ) AU communications except thosei of agents ;whaae1 gratuitously, to secure attention, mast be-osT paid, "AU remittances regularly made t our address ""by Wts:fcall b at our risk. ' ": ". ' Advertisements not incompatible with, the objects o the Recorder, will be inserted on the usual terms. ; CIRCULAR LETTER: - , , a The Bethel Association to the .Bishops, Ded tons, and all thi Members of the Churches com posing that Association : Grace be unto oi and peace front God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. -, , ; . - ; ., BfilVOVED t BrETHREX, ' ! ; . . Again we repeat the custom of addressing you on some subject of interest ; yet we fear,-how ever important the topic,' the fact of this being an old custom, will "cause rriany of you hot to fee interest enough even to read pur. epis;le.' ' ' Oa the present occasion we have selected a eubject of the highest moment to our churches, and whether you hear or. forbear, f we shall en deavor to discharge our duty. : . -, ; The subject appointed by our last associatior isWhat are the qualifications and of riciAL duties of Deacons ? ' ! i;',"!-u The word deacon (translated from thevGfeeL word Diaconos.) nieans a servant,' a. minister". In the New Testament, it is sometimes usee for any minister in the kingdom , of Christ; bui more particularly and generally understood to mean the secondary, order of ministering -servants in'the church. As the necessary qualifi cations of all officers in church or state depend upon the duties to be performed, it will be expe dient to invert the order of the subject as given to us; so as to determine, first, what are te du lies of deacons, preparatory to the inquiry of the essential qualifications for the performance o ' such duties. To arrive at this object, let us in quire, How and why it was this offica in ; the church wa3 first created? For-this, the first intimation we have from apostolical authority is found in the Cth chapter of Acts, when the hum ber of diiciplt'S had. so multiplied that the 'apos tles could not attend to the daily ' ministrations7 f!' the Grecian and Hebrew christians, without neIectinjT the higher duties of the ministry preaching the gospel. - Hence it would appear; that deacons, in their connexions to ministers, would be in some respects as a deputy or aid-j de-camp to an officer,"' or an overseer to his em ployer. ' A full summary ofall the duties devolving upon deacons is clearly inferrible from the fourth verse of this chapter viz: that the apostles "might give themselves continually-tc prayer, tnd to the ministry of the word."- Wherefore we see that deacons are to relieve ministers from all the secular concerns Jof the church; the col lections and appropriations of moneys for the re lief of widows and other poor members, for the support of their pastors, tha building of houses of worship, nnd all the expenditures necessary ibr their particular churches. .Further: accor ding to the practice of the primitive churches, (commended by Paul for their liberality,) the collections and appropriations made were not limited to the support of their; own pastors or poor members. -They also contributed to the suppoit of Foreign Missions and poor brethren in distant countries. Paul was not the, pastor of the church at Philippi: yet while this apos tle was engaged in his missionary .labors at Thessalonica, far distant from this church, she "sent nee and again to his necessities, which be received as fruit abounding to their ? accounta sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God." Phil. 4, 16 to 18. " ' - The churches in Achaia and Macedonia also sent a contribution to the poor Saints at Jerusa lem. Rom. J 15; 55. : . V : -'ri l- All these duties therefore devolve upon dea cons: yet we fear many of our deacons, instead of relieving.their pastors from these duties, even oppose their attempts to perform: them. How and tn what manner deacons were to make their collections, God seems to have left to the exer cise of their un jadgements; except on the oc: casion of the .collections from the G illatiaa and Corinthian churches for the poor saints at Jeru salem," which the apostle directed to be attended to the first day in every week, previous to his visit tolhem. "that therer be no gathering when lie'cameto them;" the object of which seemedi 4o be a timely preparation, and to avota tne con- fusion attending unexpected or, hurried. collec--tions. Again: it will follow, as deacons are to have the management of all the treasures of the fchurch, they should keep a book wherein should; the entered all their receipts and payments; so as to make" reports to" the church whenever called upon: and if any member or members should refuse, or ? neglectduty.in such contributions, as approved of by the church, it will become: the duty of deacons' to report such deli nquents to the church, in order.to! be dealt with according to their discipline; ; The church; will thereby be prepared to judge whether , the poverty fof their trsasuries is owing to the neglect or coVttpusness of their deacotrs orlaVmen Tor the. want'oiitblli- ty. It is a .well, known feet, ijbe. treasuries ofj Bnp'.ist churches: are perhaps, cinie.shamejally , deficient," according to their abilities, than any other denomination of -christians j insomuch that the imputation "-pP eovetousness.' has 1 become ;a proverbial taunt against the denomination. ? And although 'many hare been; the supposed causes why ir is so,: weappnehend.it the secret and real cause were fully- searched out, it is most proba ble in nine cases out of ten it would be found at tho doors of their deacons. Take, for example, a deacon -who commences his subscription list himself with a libera contribution according" to his ability and who, has individually ;Oppealed to everyjmember of his church and congrega tion, and has made suitable efforts for! collection ; and we shall see a church not reproached for her coyetousness. 1 The collection of money for religious purposes tstibJittle cross ; andd'eacons, by?shynnin; this1 part of their cross, have re proached the whole denomination with the black crime pf co veto usn ess, : , This, bo wcver, is but a small, part of the, evjl consequences, j Our min isters are driven to.the plough, or to the west, to obtain a' support for their 'families,1 instead of giving themselves continually to the" ministry of the word : our houses of rorship are often unfit as a shelter from the storm, or to afford room for half the congregation; besides the various other objects for. promoting the Redeemer's kingdom vhich'are neglected, or fail when attempted. However coosiderable these duties, and fearfnl the respdnsibilities resting uponeacons in their discharge of them, there is still another class of duties of no less magnitude. Be it ' remember ed they , were ordained to relieve minister so that their time should be continually employed in the ministry- of the word : but besides the secu lar,. there is avariety of spiritual concerns .not included in merely preaching the gospel the visi ting grjd praying for the sick, the discipline of the church, aiding in the administrations of ordinan ces, &c. :Whatever.may be the wisdom and zeal of deacons in the disliarge of all their duties, con nected. with the pecpniary affairs of the phurch although; they might clothe their niioUteis and church in purple and deck them with fine gold, yet - wjthout attendance to gospel discipline and the general spiritual.concerns of the church, ibey may only frm another Laodicean .church, or a daughter for.the.Mof her of Harlots!. -Without gosT pe) discipline, the fiue gold becomes dim. "VVilft; out spiritual light, a!) js darkness. .'.Sooner ruigbi we expect the wild asses to draw a chariot in, ort derj and without, difficulty, than deacons a church without gospel discipline (spiritually; administer ed.) ; Time .would tail us ta enume ate all, the train of duties that come under this class; for this we would refer our deacons to the discpline repub lished in our Minutes of lS29.1v ,; . . . : - If such, therefore,. are the high duties and great responsibilities devolving upon deacons of church es, it follows ihat; the standard for qualifications must be rated high enough to effect their perform ance High qualifications are not only -to be in ter r.eiffrorn Hie dutres required; tur are nde more manifest by a full and ctear revelation from Lthe ..pen f inspiration, -and which I is summed up in a few words in Acts 6, 3. ;: "Men of honj est report, full of the Holy Ghost and wis-, dom." A h'.gh character for honesty is necessary to give confidence to the church and congregation, in the security and appropriation of their funds for the purposes designed. They should be full of the Holy Ghost in order to attend to the spiritual con cerns of the church ; for spiritual men will not be led by the carnally blind, and if ihe blind be led by them they will all fall into the ditch." Further as like begets like, deacons under a carnal spirit will in all probability infect the whole floe If, when attempting to execute even correct discipline ; and will generally defeat the Very ohject intended.- Nay more'; they are not only to b j full ol the Holy Ghost, but of visdom, : '' f - 1 ' . He that undertakes to teach' and administer discipline to others bught to be- well Instructed himself, or he, exposes and renders himself so contemptible as to lose the infiuence necessary to govern others ; or it ld by him,;they may be led into error, which will result in strife and confu sion. .' . ; '. . j: - Although the? apostles in ihi3 brief summary seemed to include thejcuief qualifications of dea cons, yet the apostle Paul, as if, he feared a mis construction in so great a matter, gives us a more detailed exposition of all their essential 'trails of characterin the third ol first Timothy 1st. They must be grave, not men of a' vain, light-minded character but serious xaeait 1 : --, 4f, -? -'- I 2J Not xlouble tongued) that is, given to. flattery or dissimulation ;not speaking ,one thing;before men's faces and another. behind their backs; pr chargiag-members with crimes before the worlJ, which (if true) should.excluda them and yet too timid or unfaithful to. God to present the charges before the church. . jrt V.;,. - 3 J. JVot siren to much wine.' . If the apostje prohibited the use of much wme,. and the art pf distillin had then been discovered, he would (no doubt) have made the use of alcohol far more jub-, . ' 1 .1 TT I .tt jectionaoie man ,wne. ; xiow tarneniauiB io ape ootonly deacons, but ministers using much alco hol ! (Deacons who used much wine would prove a bad! example to-the flock; beiog ashamed Jto reprove.those in danger of falling into, excess, for they would expect : the retort "l'nysician neai thyself," . 4th. Not greedy "of filthy lucre t if icovotous, like Judas, they might be tempted to emoezzie the money in their hands ; or be- so illiberal ia their own contributions, that they could' not? without shame urse others to liberality. And in order to evade giving, themselves, theywouid -likely op pose subscriptions, and all plans of public collec tion, kinder the pretension of "not letting the left hand know what the right hand doeth ;" making this a pretext to conduct their gifts with such ut ler and profound secrecy 'that 'Omniscience itself knows not ol the gur. rne reasa is ooyious ; they give nothing. " A church governed by cove tous deacons must necessarily live like ibe family of a miserj in nn open bur,' suffering from cold and poorly fed ;in effect, dead whilst they ' live. Behold an oldwerfther-beatea log-meeting:house with its' ere vices; nd the :roof exposed toswind and rainv and we may look out for covetous dea cons.' -Behold a pastor hanging to his plough-handles all the Week instead:of his Bible, (unless on Saturday and Lord's 'tiavs.) and 4irt two eases out offour wc inay- look'Ior covetous deacons amOagst tho churches he'?sdpDlie3 : 'if not Jikeivise for a Coy h h de etous pastor. 'Again; in cnurcues wwere , . . rnvU wnnfifl. ta,the..defw.uder. o- ear a' great ' cry against monerfr' preachers,. ior :J-It i the flrst-.book. ome-or-foreign Jlabors,M jnVi5 ' 1 ' v .;"-.' ' --s I UC UUVn, Bill vnivvyv 5th. !'Deacons -inws hold the mystery ; oj the faith in a pure conscience." -That is, they must conscientiously and in sincerity be sound, in the faith; for ho w are they to admonish others and deal against heretics, unless they are orthoJox theni selves. ;- , nn -. - r'.;);v.- t 6th. They must first be proved) ' not young converts, but men whose charactei6 are sufficiently tried by the church to afford evidence of suitable qualification?.- ; -;V .-.-J '.:-. K n-i'h vz :.- 7th. Their.wiresmust be of good character; or they will prove enemies in? the camp J and ever impede'.the usefulness of their husbands by oppo sition slanders. &c.n ' - - .i'-f ; ; - . - 8th. .They must be ihe husbands of one That is, they must not be guilty of-the sin cf polygamy, which would be no less than the sin cf adultery. ;. t-iFi,) jn r ;".'.' Jua yv. .ii ; r o; Further: they must rule their own children and houses well ', tor if not capable of rulingjbeir awn house,' they would be far less qualified to disci pline the spiritual household or children of Christ. irAnd now, dear brethren, if such be the - high qualifications, such the arduous duties, and gie.it tesponsibilities, of deacons, shculd not our church es look well to their choice ; and should not our presbyteries take heed whom they . set apart, by the laying on of , haods, to this office. ; Would it not be better" for a, chdrch to remain without adeacoo, and.for the pastor to supply the place, until God would raise up op?r rather than fill the office with one Who might ever prove a stumbling block to the church? And permit us especially to address you, dear deacons oi' oor ehurchesvj We have in faithfulness, endeavored to;mark out your qualifications and duties, ass laid down in God's word. You may be ready to conclude the standard is raised so high you never can reach it and cry, who isi able lor these things 1 We answer: it is not our standard ; God has. fixed it arid He isable'toq'unhff you fur-it, if He Jias cal: led you to the office. - 'But f hcreW- may be ihe chiel source of all the evils ; a neglect In the use ofproper means to improve the gifts of -the church; If deacons are to be full of the Holy Ghost s and wisdom, it behovei them to pray tor the spirii which' God' has declared He isimorer ready - to give,i than parents are to give good gifu unfu their children., God gave Solomon wisdom when he'prayed for it; If a knowledge of discipline fs neededjHt becomes you td study the discipline welt which Christ and His apostles taught arid 'praeti sed. In short, the chief qualifications of deacons consist in moral and spiritual gifts, or graces; and these, all christians should have, and God is ready to give to then! that ask Him, if they, also study to obtain them. It ia true some of the gifts are natural: there must be. natural strength-of mind j there must be energy of character,' and a' consti tution to undergo the duties required: and one qualification 'is 'circumstantial," the charactery of the wife. These' defects cannot be removed by the individual, and it must not be expected God Wit! perform a miraettf t3Koi1ifoHrti jt-f3Biy evidence that God has hot designed him for such an office ; and by; aiming to fill it without fuch gilts, he will disgrace both himself and the church' when he might he us. lul in a lower sphere. It is to be feared some of our churches have lost valua ble deacons by making those 'preachers whom God intended as exhorting deaconst thereby de priving churches of either preachers or deacons ; because one who 13 out of his station, is not only lost, but worse than a los3 to the church. In thus addressing the deacons of our churches, we shall conclude with a' few general remarks lo bishops, deacons, and laymen. The standard of qualifications for.1 deacons has not only been re duced far below the gospel level ; but also of bi- shopsi We,as ministeis of the gospel,have need to look to ourselves, and measure ourselves,'not by one another, but by the gospel standard : and we shall find a woful degeneracy , from the standard laid down in first or third Timothyr If our lay men will also'seafch the scriptures, and try them selves by the standard of piety therein established, they will also learn they have sunkfar below; thit holiness of life required "in 'the gospel. We all, therefore may take up the lamentation of Jcte miah,"How is the gold become dim ! how is the most fine' gold changed ! ' The' crown' is fallen from our head : wo unto us. that we have sinned! Turn thou u3 unto thee, O Lord; and we shall be turned ; renew our days as ofold." May bishops and deacons, and alt the saints of Bethe!,'awake from their slumbers, arise,1 ascend and pecapy the high stalions Go4 has assigned them in his church militant ; and may we all finally be exalted to some humblestation in the kingdom !of heaven ! ."' ''ThomaV Rav; "Moderatqr:A Elijah Rav, Clerk. .:r ..' , T ' V'-,The Bibl'e'.-r-We(d6'not know'where'there is so good a description of the Bible in so small a compass. as. is to. be found in the article be low: :-r-KiH'.r,f -M ''- ; ' ' 4,A nation must be trulvbles?cd if it were gov erned bv no other laws than those of this blessed Book ; it iYo complete n system lhat nothingcan bs ad Jed or taken from it; jt contains every thing needful to be known or done ; it affords a copy for. a kin anda rule for a subject: it gives in? struction and counsel to a Senate, authority and direction ton ma ffistra to: it cautions a witness, re quires an impartial verdict of a juryand furnishes a iudfre Hvith his sentences : it' sets the husband ns lrrd nf iKp hnnsehold:' and Wife' as huntress of the table tel fa him ho w to rule. and her to mart-. affe. Sit en tails honor to parents, .fi hd -ehjoiria o- bedfence upon, children ; it prescribes and limits the sivay of sovereigns, the rule of rulers, and the authority-of masters? compands-the subject. to honor, and the servants to obey ; and promises the protection of its author lo all wno wane in us rules. It gives directions' for weddingr and burials-, it nromises food ahdraiment,'atld limits the use of both; it pointsiout Ojfaithful and eter nal, guardian (otheepaitiog husband and father; tells him with whom to leaveL.hisartherless chil dren,and in whorrt his widow is to trust; and pro mises a father to the former and a nuscana to the,latter.I; ' Itieachey-manhow he ought to set his house in ordcr.'ond howto'niake his will; appoints' a'dowrv Tor bis wile-, and entails tne right ot bis firstborn janaVshows hpwhc young. KilfKi Ipft. .It defends the rights It contains the choicest tnatter, gives the best instruction,-'- and affords the greatest pleaeure and satisfaction that were ever revealed. r It contains the best law and profoundest mysteries that ever Were penned, bVings'the best tidings and affords the best comfort to the inquiring and disconso late. '" It exhibits life, immortality; and shows the eve'rlasting-glory, 1 It is abrief recital of all that is past,- and a certain prediction of all that is to come. It settles all matters . indebate, and re solves all doubt, and eases the mind and con science of all their scruple.: It teveals the on ly living nnd true GOD, and shows the 'way to him ; and sets aside all other gods, and describes the vanity of them, and all that put their trust in them." ' : ' , ' - - " - ' .-'.- .. TALSt; PRIDE. . ' . - I, " It has always been a'n;ilter. of regret with me, that false pride'could hot be made like theft, o criiqinal offence.. , It js thepartner of about as .many crimes as any other yice-r-for such I hold it to. be- at least -some description of .it., ill is much to be pitied, nnd generally leads to impro priety. -How' many honest men haver been made scoundrels Tty the false5 pride5 of a foolish wife, and extravagant; fa mi ly; i It f js a com pou rid' of ignorance, exceptibh and!ehvytljttdjJ'the';worl(i U full of it. ,o'.long:as sit operates upon indf viduals alone, it is a matter of trifling considera tion, but strange as it may appear its influence! strikes at me very root oi a virtuous ana nourisn ing community. - . - Does 'the suciesiful tnerchahl rhake'hls son a - mec hanic ? Vry- seldom. -Does -the - profes sional man-make, bis son t a mechanic? More slil!. "But does not the more fortunate mechanic roake. his son thef guardian of clothes arrd ;cali coes?f ' Why is this t Is the yardstick more honorable than the jackplane? the goose quill more dignifiedthan the typt? But unfortunately, the absurdity runs: farther I Look back-thirty or fortyyears, and. bebold the barefooted adven turer, at the present , tine. roiling in wealth -or speeding his arihuafl iTicpihe ofsome three thous; and dollars peV annum ih mSthufactiiring ladies 6f ; hiV daughters ? 7 Does ; he : teach them the Usual rudiments of housewifery ? Very rarely; Is it because the healthtul exercises ot dorestic duties 13 disgraceful 1 Oh no false pride says "it is ungenteel for ladies to work"-r-as it would tarnish the fair hands and fingers that bring such sweet sounds from the piano, to dust the glorious instrument itself. !, - - - - s - , A How extremely rediculous is this illegitimate pride? Thousand of daughters, vhose mothers tu-bea -tud,in .n. J.- it jatn,. oind their ; fathers in a horse stable, would feel insulted if asked if they had ever made a loaf of bread, orwashed, out a handkerchief 1- -They -would more likely! prate about "good society," 'mixed 'companyj and the dignity cftheirahcestors ! A few years more roll around, and the thrifty and imprudent; parents die, and then come3 the scramble often! to 12 divisions of his hard earned; estate. How small docs a large fortune appear when apporj tioned to numerous heirs. . The daughters must marry gentlemen, for . pride dictates it, and gen- tfemen of coursej must squander their patrimony.! And what has the parent bequeathed to society and his country 1 Children raised in idleness,; without the stimulant to add one iota to the gen erai suostantiat prosperity oi me communuy A MOTHER S INSTRUCTION. i ' The'following quotation frorri an address ofthe Principal of the Flushing Institute, Rev. Dr, Muhlenburgh, should be laid to the heart of eve ry mother :.. : ":.r-f , ' !...) "We are often asked, , What kind of boys do you want' To thU question loo the. theory of our inititulion furnishes an answer.,. Give ,us such boys as have been blessed .with the in&truc tions of "a pious mother.' 1 This is a qualification for which'no sabslitute can be found on earth. f Never would we despair of the child who has been used in infancy to hear the precepts of heav enly truth inculcated in the. occents ofmalernal i lo ye. nyTruihs thus instil ! ed live for. ever in the memory. They are interwoven, with, all the sen sibilities of the soul.. They are- the fortress of conscience; not iin pregnable, it fs true, but in d est r u c ti bl e. ' T h eyfu r ri fs h t h e ra i n d vi i h ch 6 r d 3 which : in s later life seldom faif to vibrate to the tduch of faithful expostulation Theyare an in extinguishable spark, which, -after being seed inglymothered under a heap of corruption, majr be fanaed by the breath of friendly and spiritual counsel into the pure ar.d genial; flame of, piety. The child of a, mother's prayers, said 'fx, Augus-. tine, (and may we ' not brlieve 7) is never lost. It is those children who have been dedicated to their Maker under the auspices of "a pious and vigilant mother,; whose education we should csteen it a happy and useful vocation to continue. While on" the other hand ;ve 'should .deem xr an act of temerity equallyhopeless and presumptu ous, to become responsioie ior tne youtn in wnose 2'J J v Z. u - I. ;...lr Unihii'' n h nnfrff otl 'wit Vi ri arid devotednes ivtotlrrMshijig Journal. : Ox DEAF AND 5 DCMtf 'BOY S THOUGHT i;M v:.-1, i.-.'-HtVAiiiVl lr-iikliC-'VtU tt'i.l-SitiiiS UV: f Written by pupil ia "the Vcst of England! Instt-? , ... . tntioa fpr.the Deaf and J)unib.j,.., tV Itia thy command; O Godj thaTI should pray j Prayer drivesr away jtheie Vila otvtny mindj md makes me cipable of receiving thy goodness J.and my helplesshess'tells tne,I must pray fa support and shelter my ignorance -and I doubt tell ,me I must pray -fordight aDd couragefand the dangers that surround me,and the crafts of ray spirit's foe tell rrte, w ith great torcey that I mnit ; pray for pro tection and guidance; O, niylGod! thou -knows est when the false man told me. prayer wasvam. because thou art unchangeable, jhatny heart was fanning ' ff txn the?," been use -1 : lost'iny 5 hope in tnee. ' I wns li.led with desnair. bpp.i!i i tr.r.fi.-i thou was: duapproachnble bv mP - aLl I H" happy, because :1. believed thou didst reject mf. cry unto thee; but, O Godot my sanation M will glorify thee for ever, because thou didst direct our sus Christ:- O. mv Father! I rk Wr.. I give no alms to my brethren ; but I pray to - khee1 topour.thyricbesupoahera;Iam cb; and can not goto thy.sanctuatyybut I may on my bed pray for thy blessing and thy love. I am ignorant, and cSnnot, instruct: my fellow crea!ures; but l can pray that thy Spirit may test on them,'and guide them j and in my" supplications untdj thee, 0 God -I am'ever -cherished and supported bylthy promi ses. When my long-attached friend comes to me; Ihave pleasure to converse with him jahd I rejoice to pass my eyes over his; countenance-; but soon I amiwearyioL spend ing my time' causelessly and unimproved, and I desire to leave him (but not in rudeness,) because I wish to be engaged in mv businessTlbuttbou. O my-Father! knowest that ! always delight to commune with thte.in my lone' and silentheart. I am never full of thee. I am always desiring'thee'.'' I hunger with strong hope and affection rfoi thee, and I thirstifbr thyrace andSpiritI see a -well, of pure waer.! lc is uabletornvn lor health and eomfortg but I see ad pipes to take the waterJo men's dwellinjs; the good water R thefe, but it is neglected X itwould refresh men, but. they lo bot seek itj and I think iibout tbis.gopd well, and I say it i'si.like thericlf blessings of my Father's kingdom,aad I say, pray er js the means to .conyey His great, mercies itf men. 's i. t rl - -.r .. -.- From Townson's Journey to the Rocky iMountins"; iWOKSHlP OF CHRISTIAN INDIAN?. " After snpper war concluded, we s'at :onrsfH down on a buffalo robe atjbe entrance of the lodge to see theilndiansat their devotionsf The'whole thirteen were soon collected at the call of one whom they had chosen for their Chfef, and Seated with "sober, sedate countenances around a largV fire; Afterremaioiri? in perfect silence fur per-' hapi fifteen minntes the chief commenced a ha rangue in ja solemn and impressive tne,rernitiding them of the object for which the jwere thus as Semhled, jthat- of worshipping the f'Great Spirit who made the light and the darknesV, the fire and" the watery' and assureu' them that if they offered, up their prayers ' to him - with but fone tongue,' they woo Ijd certainly-be -accepted.'! He then. rose troni his jsqoatting position to his' knees, and ht example iras followed by all the others. In this situation ;he"commenced a prayer eonsistingof short sentences tittered rapidly but with great ap parent fervour, his hands clasped upon bis bfeasff and his eyes cast upwards with a beseeching Took? towards beaen: A iWcohclusioft ot eachwSen' tence, a ehoral response of a few words "Was made accompanied frequently by low moaning. The" prayer lasted about- twenty minutes. r After itar onclusios, the chief, still maintaining the same? position df his body and hands, butlwith his head bent to his breast, commenced a kind of psalm of sacred sdng, in which the whole fcoropany pres- ently joined. v The song was a simple expression1 of a few sbundsno intelligible wordk being uttered It resembled' the words, Ho-ha-!to-)(ici-ho ha-hd cif commencing in a low tone, and gradually swelling to a full, found, and beautifully modulated chorus" During the song, the clasped hands; of the wor shippers jwere moved rapidly; across the breast and their hodies swung with great energy to the" time of the music. . The chief ended the song that he had commenced, by a kind of swelling groan which wasrecboed in chorus. It.was then taker up by ariother, and the same1 routine was gone through. - The whole ceremonv occupied" perhaps one and a half hoursja short silence then succee ded, alter! which each Indian rose frbii the ground, and disappeared in the darkness?wiiha' step'noisr less as that of a spectre. ' - '.-) I j I think! I never was more gratified joy anyethif biiion in my life. The humble,' sn$ Jiued, and be seechir.gupon their hcavenlv' Father- to --forgive their smi, and continue his' mefciejsto'them, and the evident anJ heart-felt sin'cerlty which charac terized the whole scene,' was trul affecting, and? vciy impressive. ' ' '.. A SEASON ABLE D1SCQURSE, Some!vears since, a clergyman,' who held a r spectable rank among his broth rv became con-' vinced that the time for the arrival of the great' Ias.t day jhad approached ; and, frbtn a'careful examination of the prophecies, tviis able to fix upon the very Sabbath upon which the Judge would Wake his appearance.; So deeply . impress ed was lie. with lhi3 important :rnb that it gaver a new 'impulse to his preaching, fahd proinptedr him to the mcstincredibre labors and exertidhs He vventjfrom cphgreganon to coffgregation, and announced' his message. He exhorted tha Jhif pen itett with an eloquence, which h never couldl command before ; and his language awakened the thoughtless and interested the curious,1 Ho ..;.;i: in:. ,i..t;;i:!'..-:"1 1 - I One evening, he rode throughfthe fain: as it fell in torrents, to meet anappointaent in one of the villages of New Jersey,wherk cbngaegationV had gathered, with great anxiety ,jto hear.hia an nuociations. He ascended th'e desk, and com menced his fervid exhortation.; IThree'daysf hence" said he, and yon will behold ihe Son' of Map corning in the clouds bf HtayenV rPref ar to. .meet Jht raj ,-t,j(,i : w:f A :Th'e $abbath cameon. The house of dod noC iaty in that village.but m tbe.neihbo.ring town5r ivas erowded: and all earsj were epen .to.heav and all eyes awake to see : i; s,4 L.o-sl iltiV, ilA venerable clergyman rn the vjHage to ?thic&-we- refe rj in fo rmed t" that h e te red b is - desk"- v that morning astonished at the exert emenf around him.V ,H!? took hi text in the RehUiionuBe. hold . he .cpmeth JncTo"udsr; and eWr'y 'eyeshall see, him. and- thev also that pieicetl him ; and all . Kioareus qj ineeafta snawati oetusc v uuir. :. imnus unny worusoi truih and of lifej and I see there, that, thou dost desire us to pray, and thou dost piomise to answer our petitions. thrniiTh T... preached several times everyday;; be crowded on his journeys through -storms and darkness; nhd' acted hisriself under the fuili'iithnrcssibA of c 1 I- I - -1 1 - - - - . ... . !'' -.;: A'V;': '.:'.:'-.:'V;. V: : ; ; ; '': : ' " ! -" ' ' - ' : -"" i ' I
The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 12, 1839, edition 1
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