North Carolina Newspapers

i , i ri -. :-r-N V .. S pC cr-i W p-v cra 'cr-n , . r L ENID ' I " mm )3n)ptei to tlciigxon, iiloralita; itcrdhirt,; Agriculture anmcrdl 'jSnuili&ttiC V (:m A. MEIIEDITII, PcMlsttr. ;, LUME XYn. NO. 48. RALEIGH; . C, FRIDAY, ' NOVEMBER ,207: 1852., ITOILOO. 1227 u i w ilui i mii to t-- . n rm BIBLICAL-RECORDER, It Religious and Idterary Paper: jhed weekly at Raleigh, N. C, at 2 00 per an- r nraDio in au cases iir adtanck. .-' - . AU letters oa . business should be directed to blisher, Marcus A. Meredith; Letters contain t'Qninunications, or in anyway relating to the ed- fj department, shoula be addressed to Editor of arfical Kecorder. private tetters to tne Editor, . Tho. vv. lobey. ' - f Air communications, to insure attention, must jtcted to Kaleigh, L. U.posz-pata. ' pTFor further particulars see. last page. I . Til. JAW t XStWSi'Al'JtKS.: I cicribers who do not srlTeexnress notiA tn ti. try are eoiisidnred wishing to couUnn their sub- t. If the subscribers order the discontinuance of '.-papers, thepubnsaers may continue to send them ! iB D - . .. t if snbscribers negect or refuse to take their pa- i .i.l rirtnsible until thev Knv ctttA1 tVi-i Km U X - will y r. iffiiihscriDers remove to otner Dlaces withmit in the TMiblislier.and the naneris sent tn t frr- ! 'i-Mft - ' or periodical from the office, or removine and ional iraua. . , I : , Cbica Mission. fi copy 'rom ne Western Recorder the corres- .ce between the For. Mis. Board and brother I. terls of Canton. - We are sorry that bro. R. jjot at once yield to the wishes of the Board rjl MUSIONS-RXT; I. J. KOBERTS-RICHUOSD BOARD. -; -Jt' W hare been , earnestly inquired of by many .ndxland intellirerit brethren resnectin? tne jgei for the dismission and recall of the R'er. I Roberts, M isaionary to China, by ths Rich -Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, recently we hare not had it in eur power ;sswer. The iocnmenis in the case, although j-nrded to us from China, more than a year aeTr came to hand ; and we now obtain 3 from a brothtr to whom they were also Eti We will let these documents speak. for isselres.' We publish onlja part of them thia tai,and will continue them until all are laid iori our readers. We intend to forbear in tic -! in j. comments if we can. ' Richmond, July, 1 851 ; :' Bit. I. J. Boberts, Canlcnt China: Dear Brother: U is made my painful duty i jramniunicate to you the aetion of the Board i4eir last meeting, bj. which the connection ating between them and yourself, will be dis jlred. You are aware that almost from the ear st period , of your missionary serTice, it has iea difficult to preserre those relations of amity itw een yourself and the JBoswd which are so ea-! itiil to success in ruch an enterprise. Is look- i I iter our correspondence it will be seen that $a time to time, the Board have found occasion i ie dissatisfied with your course. N otwith ading the. oft repeated wish of the Board, that i missionary should hare connection with other uomtJons in the ownership of property, to be d is mission property, and although they have ia and again, urged that ; you should either ear the transfer of the Uettung premises to la, or disconnect yourself from them altogeth iad although you gare them a solemn pro se that the desired arrangement shduld-"be de, no measures as yet, have been taken in prd to it. The Board bare never been par salarly desirous of owning these premises, they aptj desired you to be disconnected from them i jour separate ownership in consequence of a continual difficulty which tbey haTe occa- Wc hare receiTed from brother Gale, a letter, r jou to him, in which you state, that in the Be of Chun, the Board "found nothing worthy consideration, and that they would not notice on their records.V Now, the Board eannot re scue this statement "with truthfulness, only on supposition of gross inattention or forgetful si." They were deeply humbled and grieved ;tbe whole manner! and bearing of their mis sfeary towards the young convert,; who sustain ito him, indeed, the relation of a servant, but Jso ought to have been accounted above & ser tt, & brother beloved. You can hardly have fatten the plain and earnest manner in wmcn sail, as individuals, and in the Board, expres i our disapproval of your conduct to him, and ie written and verbal ' concessions of - wrong Hch you made to us. "1 No minute was made i eur record, and we are sorry yon should have iea .advantage of this fact It was witb de (n to your own feelings, that no official ao m was taken, and especially as other unpleas st matters affectin yourself were aecessarfly to igage their attention, and to demand a notice ?an their minutes.- la reference, to the subject ; introduced to our itention by brother VVhilden, and in : regardto iich you made solemn written confession of sin, are sorry to fiod since your return, that yon ft continually writing in terms of self-justifica-?a. We are also deeply, affected in being ad idfrom different reliable sources of your treat--sat of an afflicted missionary of another -de-aination.' Thcre:. seemed to us a coldness of tsrt in your neglect of him, under the peculiar ! painful cirenmstances of his condition, which Utterly inconsistent with the . character of the ionary. and the Christian. " And then the -JJ-j t--rA Afiss Baker.' with the un- maV rraration cntil forced ibv U stron" demand of popular sentiment among -2 other missionaries, a u , insae luau v "tributed to bring the Board-to the xjonclusion, it will be for tne nonor oi uoa, uu st of the mission cause, that you should ra- pa to tbis ; country l ney - nave, t .merwore jrvfo nn t --Which'.'--after mncb nraver- ' consideration, was -presented by the China ':3ioa Committe.e, of which brother Manly, is :rmn.- The vote was unanimous. , 3 following is popy'of.tha report: "ThYATmrnttflfi ".hare been instructed to con the expr4di2ncy;of recalling Rev. I. J. Rob-J- After mature deliberation m believe that interests of the- Beard; and of the cause of have seriously. sneered and will contin r by. his remaining our missionary. He '-r:t ever since his connection witli this 1 rjainfnl uneasine33 bv" continued - i cf 'tha plainly expressed wishes of the Board: by falling into difficulties, more or less serious, witb nearly, every brother, whether mis sionary or native,' who baa labored in connection wu mm; ny statements w wen could only be re conciled with truthfulness" on the supposition of gross inattention or lorgetfulness; and by numer ous acts m xnemseives small, but which ea to i - .. & tuaae up a course so generally erratic as very greatly, to destroy . our confidence in ibis judg ment and our hope for bis usefulness, while we have endeavored, to maintain a favorable regard for his character as a Christian. . Some facts coming- to the knowledge of the Board just previous to bis last sailing for China, came near arresting his return even at that stage of affairs. But confessions of error and solemn promises of amendment, together with his recent marriage to an estimable lady, led the Board to hope that be would indeed profit bv his experi ence and perform those promises. . Since bia ire- uju iv vuiua, nis general course : seems in no wo iinproTe,- Aamoniuona nave proven ap parently fruitless. s His ; coniuct to the Rev. ur. xnagman; ana to aii&s .Baser, wmcn we forbear to characterize, has at last brought ns to the issue, to which matters have been for some time tending. As trustees of the missionary fund . of .our brethren, we conceive that f we should not be expending them judiciously or faithfully by further sustaining him as our mis sionary m China. We therefore reeommend the adoption of the following resolutions: I. liesolted. I bat the s connection . between this Board and Rev. I. J. Roberts be.' and is hereby dissolved. ; ' . 2. Tnat the salary of himself and wife be con tinued up to the time of his receiving notice of this action; and that he be informed . that the expenses of their return to their home in this country will be paid in New York, on bia ar- !ol . - ---- -: - . .v .; -.: i 1 A. 3. That he is instructed to hand over to Rev. J. B. French the balance of funds of this Board remaining in his hands, together with all papersj accounts, and other property of the Board.' 4. 1 hat it is important to send otner mission aries as soon as : practicable to Canton, and that in the mean lime , the Shanghai mission be in structed to make such arrangements, and give such directions to the native preachers and con verts in Canton as may seem best to them." Permit me to say that the Biard desire you to procure your ; passage in the first good vessel coming oircct to tins country, wmcn win at once be paid upon your arrival. I hough the time intervening between the receipt of tMs and your sailing, will not be considered a officially belonging to the Board, yet your necessary ex penses will be borne. : I will say, too, that no publication of this report in the papers . will be made, unless it should be found necessary, and then all the documentary evidence in our posses sion will be presented. This I suppose will not be required. You can quietly return home, and somewhere, in a quiet way, can prosecute a course of labor, which wa hope may be useful. I shall send a copy of our; proceedings to Rev. Mr. French, in order that he may receive What ever rightfully belongs to the Board. In regard to the Uettung property, I will say that the Board lay no claims to it. They adopted, in reference to the subject, the following resolution: "That the order of this Board requiring Rev. I. J. Roberta to make such arrangements as shall bring bis mission, premises under the di rection of this, or lead to their entire relinquish ment, be rescinded." Although - this property was contributed by benevolent persons tor mis sionary purposes, and though we have appropri ated larcelv toward them, vet it has: been thought best to leave the whole matter with you to do with it as you please. - You will perceive that the Hoard nave not as cribed the course pursued by. you, to an utter want of Christian character. Concerning ' this they do not decide. They leave it with the searcher of hearts. But they consider you as wanting in many of the essential qualifications of a ,good missionary. Althougn it is one of the most painful acts which they have been call ed upon to perform, yet they have been shut up to the necessity of requiring your return. And now, my brother, I may be: permitted to express on mv own behalf and of the Board,' the sincere wish that you may share in the Divine blessing, and though you wui. reure irom me ueiu, you have occupied, we trust you may so' spend the short remnant of life that you may experience the approbation of God, and at length enter into his heavenly kingdom. ; : ; " ' In looking .back upon , the -past, J am nappy to be able to say, that 1 have endeavored,; in conducting the correspondence of the Board, to . ,t : i j treat you wua Decerning cuum-ay ui muutM. 1 have desired your, welfare, and have felt to wards you as a friend and brother. - f . . On behalf of the lioara. - , , ; . I remain yours fraternally.- , , ,.. " JAS. B.TAYLOR, Cr. Sec. J. MJB. Sj B. C. TO THS 70RXIGW 1IISSIOI BOARD, HICHKOKB, VIRGINIA. . Rtri James B. Tavlor, Cor Sec. .-. Tirar Brother and Brethren of the Board Bv.a letter just received from you under' date of tb l nth. of Julv last. 1 have received the pain ful intelligence of your resolutions Jbj which our connection bas been temporarUy dissolved. I say temporarily, for I can but trust ana pray that when tne grounus ouvjikm l founded shaUbe impartially reviewed, and the necessary : explanations are, made, God m his mercv.may 00 overrule, tnat uiasstep maj w o- rrpd - unA tmnr missionarv restored to your confidence, and during toe r remnany,; 01 uioux enjoy yourprayers,,sympathies and - Permit me now." dear brethren, to" advert to the principal items upon which your resolutions are stated to be based. -s. ' -' ' 1 Yon sav. 5 "Althouea 1 cave the Board a solemn promise that the arrangement should be made" relative - to the transfer, to the .Board of the Uettung chapel property, "no measures as yet have been taken in. regarti to it." ; -, qia transfer was : effected in May last, rtT,K r,d a half before the date of your letter, and a copy was on its way to the Board when you v,tM niiF. Consul. the principal trustee of that property, was absent in the United States t "til n China, and for months after- -?a. rT.nf. 0fr.;nrr Tintnl April last; and hence the delav.: 'But surely a delay does not const! "."-,'Af "fT-nfPnlnco" mthe Dretai3es, the delay was thus unavoidable ! ! This ground of) - - - -- . complaint. I consider. therafore .'entirel v ed, and had ths Board waited a month or two longer, it would uever have been made. ' -:J 2. In reference to Miss Baker I must simply beg to! Bubmit the following-certificate : "We the. subscribers who were the witnesses in , the case, do hereby certify that the unfortunate dif ficulty that oocurred, between Miss Baker while here, and Mr. Roberts and Lady, respecting a certain letter or note, had been satisfactorily ad justed and amicably settled S between h em, to gether with all 'other unpleasant matters that arosa out of the Bame, while she was here ; and it was our candid opinion that the affair should bo considered a fully and finally settled. : , . Signad, x ; - ' Ball, . : i '., - -. J. B. French. . ; Canton, Oct. 11th, I&51.,, 'rij 3.' In reference to Mr. Bridgraan, the follow ing celtifieate and testimony will bo fully satia- factory : "As regards Mr. Bridgraan, the mem bers of bis mission and others, we have felt our selves perfectly satisfied with the explanations which Mr. Roberts has given with regard to the affair, and we wish no censure to be cast on him on that account. : : " . Signed, . . D. Ball, ; J. B. French, ; A. P. Happer, . . 'i S. . Bonnet. Cantos, Oct 11th, 1851 ' The Rev. Dr. Parker says : "In the case of the lamented Bridgman, i being f his l physician, I know there was no want of sympathy and fra ternal solicitude, for most of the nieht previous his fatal act, Mr. Roberts was with him, uniting with him and for mm at the throne of grace." ; -Now, brethren, you do not take up matters in your churches which have been settled between the parties concerued according to the Saviour's direction. (Matthew. xviii : 15, 16) and try them over again ! ! And were you to do so, surely you would giv3 each an opportunity of mak ing hi3 own defense. But the brethren ot the Shanghai mission Pearcy, Shuck and others did me great injustice in taking up these mat ters and reporting them to the Board, and that merely rppn exparte evidence, and that too without conferring with me, or sending me a copy of their report. I did think when I heard of it, that it was among the most unkind treat ment I had ever received at thv hand of any brethren ! : Little - supposing that the Board would take up and act upon such a One-sided re port without giving us the opportunity of ex plaining ! Mrs. Roberts wished most earnestly, long since, to give the Board a detailed account of the whole matter,; but I earnestly dissuaded her, considering these things are settled anion? ourselves, and supposing that if the Boardwish- ed details they would call for them. Now, dear Brethren, 1 consider these three items of complaint disposed of, and I hope satisfactorily;-and as to the-other" minor matters re ferred to in your letter, I hardly find them tan gible, or at least the recollection of my corres pondence (not having retained copies) does not sufficiently serve me to discuss them. Permit me to say, that the idea of returning meets with the greatest repugnance in my own mind. . The sense, of duty, arising from the com mand of Christ, that induced me to come at first, requires my continuance at Canton. My work is here. My greatest usefulness, the qualifica tions for which have been attained by much toil, is here. My predilections, my home, my earth - . - m m lv ail. are here. 1 be demand lor a great in crease of laborers has been reiterated aeain and again by myself, from here ; and bow can I aban don the, work while the prospect for the widest extent of usefulness. lies open before me here f The vows of God are on me, and 1 should feel myself recreant to my Saviour to return without some better reason , man any 01 which I am aware, i dare not return, nor nave J made any provision for such an exigency ! I gave up my home, country and friends ; and as it were crossed the river and broke up the bridge. ' And having unfurled Immanuel's banner,' I now resolve, by the grace of God, to persevere unto the end of life; rw -o-- ' - r ' ;;..; :A - - -IvV I have striven with all earnestness, diligence, watchfulness, and prayer, particularly since my return to China, to do my duty as a missionary, and to maintain a good conscience towards God and man. My responsibilities, my trials and my toils, have been more, than' usual for' the time, amid which I may have erred,; for " to err is u man,, but when perceived, with - Christian en deavor I have not dared to fail seeking or ma- .... J' LJi... I; I 1 King amenas. auu wnaiever may nave een my errors, I am altogether unwilling to add this one, the greatest of all to abandon my work, diso bey, my Saviour, destroy my usefulness forever, na wouna my own conscience 1 Dear Brethren, 1 lovo you, and should deeply regret a separation between us. You are the link that unites us to our friends in Kentucky and elsewhere'. Often has Mrs.' Roberts wept since your letter arrived,' and said, bow desolate we feel, that separated from home-friends P But I forbear! The subject is too painful to dwell up n. With' the above explanations and facts, let me commend to the Board the reconsideration of the whole matter, with the earnest . hope ! and confi dent trust that you may, as the4esult, see fit to rescind the resolutions dissolving our connection, and I may be permitted to live, and at length to die yout humble and devoted missionary in China. You say in' relation . to the Uettung chapel property? the whole matter is left with ne to do as 1 please.;1 ? our wishes in respect to this Property have already been complied with ; I only desire, me xoru neiping me, w uccupy it ia me Glscnarge 01 my missiooarj uhm uurit mc, according to its " original design." The church also established here, and the assistant nndcr my immediate charge, 1 desire still to preside over with afaithful Shepherd' care. t 1 remain affectionately, : ; , ' , Yours in gospel bonds, , ' ' . ' . , I. J. ROBERTS. ; Cax-tqx, October 22nd; 1851; ; ' ' 1 ' " v From Dr. Parker. Cantoa. To lixv. James B. Tatlor, Cor. Sec. ' ' 1 mBAWaTlR6THER : With the scrvanU s of Christ, whether irJ their individual - or corporate capacity, the inquiry should na ?" LK)ra ? What Wilt thou have me ta do iV I doubt not, but in the spirit of that inquiry, you and your esteemed coadjutors have acted in the measures you nave recently adopted in reference to the Rev. Mr. Rnberts. till lately a missionary of your Board. In the deep affliction into which'tho recent reso lutions of that Boar4 have precipitated him and his devoted lady, he has shown me your letter, informin ine of that step, and askinz that coun sel and assistaace which none but a .Christian brother can -give.-:ft::s- ',:j It is self-moved that I cow address you. and through you the Board and churches concerned, confident that the disinterestedness of my motives will be duly appreciated by you and by them. I have been intimately acquainted with Mr. Rob erts ror the past fifteen years, and have bad am ple opportunities for knowing both his infirmities ana bis excellencies, and the former I have ever regarded as those of the head rather than the heart, and in the admixturethe " gold has so ex ceeded the quaitz" that 1 have : been : compelled to regard him as a uefuly laborious and self-denying servant of Christ Few f the missionaries witb whom it has been -my happiness to be ac quainted, have breathed? more -of the spirit of devotion to Christ, or manifested a more uniform desire to bring Chinese idolators to the knowledge and love of the gospel."; ' : - ; : That be has sometimes erred in judgment y (and:who may not i) U apparent in part attri-i butable to his not having enjoyed all those early advantages of education and acquaintance with the world which others have.. To the score of error in judgment, the step taken in reference to the recording of the deod should Jprobably be credited.; And '- in the case of the lamented Bridgman, being his physician, L know there was no want of sympathy and fraternal solicitude, for most or the night previous to his fatal act, Mr. Roberts was with him, uniting with Ijim and for him at a throne of grace. j There was want of reflection in the note addressed to'Mrs, Roberts, is manifest, but so soon as he did reflect he dep recated his act and came up ; and the apologies and explanations he subsequently made were con sidered satisfactory to them who heard them. In regard to the Chinese youth, I am not fully in formed, but from my experience : and acquain tance with Chinese character, can easily under stand it, and that even duty to him might require a course ou the part of Mr. Roberts, which per sons less acquainted with Chinese character might not approve." But I do not write so much m the spirit of an advocate as with a desire to bear my testimony to tholpreponderance of the gold over the dross in the character of Mr. Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts feel no desire to quit the service to which they have devoted their lives, and were he to rctura home, the qualifica tions for usefulness here which years of study of the most difficult of languages, and a long resi- , dence with the Chinese have given him, will be of no longer avail ; and other years must elapse involving no small expenditure : of money before b is successor can reach . the . point of usefulness from which he now advances.;; ' ii ! i f It is moreover to be expected that he will learn wisdom from the experience of the vust. and aided by the prayers, sympathies and counsels of, his pious ana excellent iaay, nis luiure course may meet the approbation of an approving Board, and the great object of their missionary enter prise in China be advanced by their restoring him once more to its patronage and confidence. With these observations, commending the case of Mr. Roberts to the Christian retonsideration of your Board, and with devout aspirations to the great Head of the Church, , that his will in the matter may be ascertained and done, I am in Christian bonds, ? : -Yours affectionately, - . ; PETER PARKER, From S. W. Bonney, Missionary of the Am, Board. Whampoa, October 25th, 1851; Dear Brother Roberts : It is with deep regret 1 near tnac you nave received a nounca tion from your directors (Board) to close your operations at Canton.' I cannot bat hope that their resolutions will be rescinded, or at least so modified as to allow you to continue as our fel low-laborer. I have been an eye-witness of your labors for three or four years at Canton, and must say that the 'gospel has been faithfully preached almost daily on your premises. I dare say that many more thousands have heard the first principles of revealed religion from you and your assistants, lb an from any other Society's Agent in Canton. In the distribution, of ' books we all know that you have been unwearied.' ; 1 would not say that you have been perfect in all your labors. But who is ? We I are all of us only earthen vssls, used by our Master that the praise may be given to God alone of con verting the heathen and destroying idolatry. J hope you will make a full statement of your ease to your directors (Boards that there may be no exparte decision. Justice requires that a hearing be granted you. ' Although we differ as to the mode of water baptism, we agree in lov ing one God, maintaining one faith, and praying for the same baptism of the Holy Spirit.4 " Trust in the Lord and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and .verily thou, shalt be ' fed." Con sidering your acquaintance with the Chinese lan guage and customs of the Chinese,"! know of no land where your labors seem to be mere needed for helping i n th cause' of Christ than this land. I earnestly desire that your life may be prolong ed for many years; and that you may be permit ted, with God's pelp to gather many sheaves in this great harvest field, where the laborers are bo few. Yours in Christian love, ' ' ' S. W. BONNEY. tThe Iodf cency tt Eatptisn. The Boston? Olive Branch, a Methodist Protestant paper, says: "The thought that nev er entered into the heart of the most carping, that it (immersion) was an indecent ceremony," Surely our cotemporary is not so rennea ia lis notions of decency as many of bis Pedobaptist brethren, nor is he fully posted up in the bap tismal eontroversy.fi We know of some D. D.'s who regard the immersion of females as an out- rage 'i upon modesty j 1 ne vuve crancn pignt confer beneht upon, some ot these iastKiious christians by giving them some quotations from Dr. Wall, the great defender of infant baptism, who pities the weak endeavours of such Pedob ap tists as represent dipping as shameful' and in decent; when it was, in all probility, the way by which our blessed Saviour,- and for certain was the most usual ' and ordinary f; way :by ; which the ancient Christians did receive baptism.'? We copy the above paragraph from the Chris tian Index.. Our own correspondent "Exam iner," has recently employed his able pen on this Subject, and placed the carpers against iramer- Bion, in an unenviable position. , ,-, 5 What is most remarkable about this question is, that Jn most instances, the charge that immer ! sion is an indecent ceremony, is made by D. D.a A and other grave divines of the Methodist Epis copal church.; -It Is well known that this church permits those; seeking admission ; to its fellow ship, to select their own mode of baptism. ?. In other words, it recognizes sprinkling, pouring, 01 immersion; as equally valid, "nodes of baptism. Now, if, as these D, D.'i affirm, the last named is an indecent ceremony; what must we think of a church, thus voluntarily giving its sanction to what its professed expounders aver to be an in decency ? And what must ws think of Hs minis ters who, rather than to lose a member, will con sent to perform ; this indecent ceremony ? v . In the name, too, 'of the holy Trinity invoking the sanction and ; blossing of Father, Son, and Holy . Spirit, . on that which, if they really credit their own allegations, they admit to be an indecent thing.. V Does not this look like "profanf- lLj uay, uiaapnemy ana exmoits a wuiingnese to make any sacrifice rather thanr lose a niein- i I At the time Wesley entered on his ministry, the English Episcopal Prayer Book stilL enjoin ed dipping; and in conformity with the Rubric, during his sojourn-in Georgia, be in one instance refused to baptize in any other way. In his notes he admits immersion to have been , the primitive mode..'.. He did not consider it an indecent oere- nioay ; and we presume after having permitted bis adherents to select any one of the three modes, be would, if he could now appear on earth, be no jittle astonished at the inconsistency and want ui propriety vi duibp ut on tuuowen. uespue the insinuation the practice is increasing , in the Methodist church. The opinions of even D. D.'a and other prominent leaders, cannot arrest this growing, as they would term it, evil.. Be Iievmg the Saviour to have been immersed, many have full confidence, he would -not sanc tion by his example an improper practice. Hun dreds of refined females havo been immersed, and they cannot entertain the thought for a mo-? meat, that they feel less delicacy, less sensitive ness, less fesling of what is due to propriety and aecornm, man reaooaptist ministers. , ; ) In our city, immersion has recently been per- lormea in a neignoonng county quite a num oer nave oeen mus oaptizea. we notice in our exchanges, South and West, hundreds of cases An Old School Presbyterian, who refuses to ira merse,:might be tolerated in thus decrying the mode : -A j Methodist, whose church sanctions it, in thus railing against it places himself in an inconsistent and Awkward position.itez. Her -.r'.; From the Religious Herald. -; . , c There is a creed so prevalent ; amon - the slave 1 population, that it .may almost be pro nounced universal, .which. teaches that when a person has been baptized (not merely immersed but baptized according to the form of the church he may happen to fancy,) no matter what crimes be may afterwards coinmit,iie,cannot ultimately be lost. By . far the larger part of them regard the ordinance of - baptism as no more than lieenso to commit any act, hewever heinous it may be. ... These devils, . (i. e., John and Jane Williams,) consider it perfectly consistent with the creed to murder the innocent infant in its cradle the sleeping and unsuspecting parents in their beds. "f Richmond dctpalth. . , Our acquaintance with the class of I which the writer above quoted speaks may not be as fami liar as bis. He may have had 'intimate friend ships and conversations with them for years, and the result of - that interesting eomnianion has been the convietion which be has above express ed. For ourself, we can truthfully detlare that never have we heard sentiments of that kind ut tered by any body, white or black. So far from it, the prevalent conviction of the colored mem bers of oUr denomination is identical with that of the white that the baptismal rite jays them under more solemn obligations to discharge their Christian duties aright, and in accordance with this conviction; the regimen which they adminis ter in their ehurch organization is as strict, if not stricter, than that adopted by the whites. We know the remark ia sometimes flippantly made, that the eolored portion of the Baptist ! church regard immersion as a complete washing off of all impurities," and thenceforth consider them selves as incapable of committing sin. t .This U totally untrue. The creed of the blacks on this point, so far as our acquaintance extends, is as sound as that of Jhe whites. 1 r ' ; ' ' We have been surprised, aye mere -we have been mortified to find these loose remarks made in oommon conversation; without due considera tion; transferred to print. ; Of what avail will they be ? What good will they work- The writer whom we have quoted makes them to sub stantiate the position, that the blacks should re ceive better instruction than they new receive. We grant it. It is right that they should. ' A very large portion receive but very little. Those of our city who wait upon the ministry of the Rev. Robert Ryland, have peculiar advantages, and if they fail to receive proper teachings it is their fault Hoot his We! challenge the State to furnish a purer man or. one better adapted to fill his post. 1 His knowledge is correet his manner of 1 speaking plain his style simple.' All the truths he utters are presented in the most per spicuous manner-and though we have not been constant attendants on ; bis ministry, from 1 our knowledge of ihe man, we can safely affirm that in his pulpit ministrations he declares 'the truth, the whole truth,' and nothing but the truth. - ! : ... G, ?' FahprkJ qv Father Matthew's Ts.Mf er ahc Movement in Ireland. It is grievous to see one new feature of Irish life disappearirig. before the echo of the f world's admiration bad died away. Vi At Cork there stands a ohapel, oon- spicuous in its situation, and meant to be so for its beauty Father M atthew's chapel built as a monument of temperance reform. - its pillars are truncated, its arches stop short in their spring, its windows are boarded up ; it stands a sad type of the temperance reform itself a . failed enter prise I he relapse of the people into intemper ance is indubitable and very rapid.; Everywhere, wo are told,' that the temperanco begun- in su perstitien and s political enthusiasm, -was main tained only by the destitution of the famine time ; and everywhere we see but too plainly that the restraint was artificial and temporary. . "Now that ther are better off," we are told, " they are taking, to drink again ;" and so it seems, by what we see in the towns and by the roadside." . And it seems that the experience of the healtbfulness and comfort of sobriety an experience so lauded before tha famine is not enough V Once more, and as usual, we must look for hope and help t hat power which will never disappoint us 1 education and the 'gospel. Of all the nswvfea-' tures of Irish life, . this is the most iniporUnt.r ts name tells -every thing explains its nature. and asserts its value.' It is a leading out of. Education will lead the Irish people oat of their woes : and it will leaa them up to me tnresn- hold of a better destiny. Letters of a Tourist ' in Ir eland y in the London Daily Neut. ; " If ejflcct ntt tin Bible I - It is surprising teuotice.how this sacred book is neglected by sinful men. The votaries of . taste and fashion will spend their days and nights poring over the morbid pages of sensual and fictitious narratirt ; yet if their God were to air them if they had read the book which He sent - tbect from ' II eaven. where would they iooz f-- How could they say that they had never read the -precious book throughout ? Wherever yo go, learn not of those. Take your Bible iayour .: hand ; make it the companion of your way. '; la.r the thirsty desert of this world it will supply you with the water of life; in the darkness of doubt. , and apprehension it will cast a gleam of heaven 4 , over jour path; in the struggle of temptation ;i and the hour of affliction it will lift up the voice of warning,' encourageuient and comfort. Nev er let the Bible be by you uaperused, , It u the enly hslm that can guide you through the oceaa i of life, and brinstyou safly to the' iramarttl shores. It is the enly star that leads the wan- dering seaman by the rocks,- and breakers, "and aery tempests of uttar 1 dsstruction, and points ' him away to the heights, of everlasting blessed- ness. The Bible contains the only food that cam , satisfy the hungerings of the soul ; it presents ua with the only lava in which we can wash our selves white - and be clean ; it alone talis us of the garments that are worn in the conrts of hea- ven ; it 19 from the Bible alone that we learn to prepare a torch to conduct our footsteps through" the valley of. the shtdow of death ; 'and it is the J Bible alone which can introduce us at last to tit -glories of immortality. Rolert iPollok. r , Hard TTerL'. : A colporteur who for - four years .has been t faithfully laboring at the West, writes, " Permit me to say, that four years experience - and .ob- servatioa has increased; in my estimation, tht 1 importance of this instrumeatality. If eircum- r stances permitted, I should be more than willing ' to spend my days in the colporteur harness. But it is hard work, f I am;not able to fill my. time h in the field. 1 often find myself so worn, down, . that I have to go home and recruit ray strength. - If 1 was able to travel all the time, my salary, -.-. with the ordinary income of my farm, would make i my family comfortable. But as it is, we Are under the neeassity of learning the eceflsitj of selfdeniattTfBut why should I name this ?. My r blessed Master was nob, and - becaue poor fsr me. Oh, my soul, get thee to Jesus' feet aid;" wash them with thy tears. - - j y , " When I began this letter, I expected to elose by asking a discharge, on account of not- having ! strength enough to do the work that eught to be , done. But how can I do it ?'l Having . corns to this point, and not being able to decide what was duty, he went out on a colporteur tour. The roads were very., bad. He left his horse and; walked about fifteen miles.. Returning, be took the cars, where in an hour he sold mare books' than he had in any one day. This gave him the idea that he might be useful as a colporteur; on thoroughfarcs-r the conductor of the - train'' ap proved the suggestion, and he accordingly appli ed for a commission to labor in that direction. . - r Interrstikc Baptismal Cerkmont. ". Th ordinance of baptism was administered Sunday forenoon, by Rev. Dr. Young, at his ' church vx Sumnfer street. ." The Herald states that setcn ; children were baptized, and what added much to; the interest of the ceremony, was the fact that the water used by the jaator was sent to him J from the river Jordan, - by the 4 late lamented Lieut. Dale, of the Ui S- exploring expsdition. Dr. Young opened the seal ef the bottle . con taininr the water in the presenes of the congre-. gation and children, and made some exceedingly.; appropriate and interesting remarks on the occa sion." . - The foregoing record is passiag' the round of the dailies and other papers. A " new thing under the surr" this of baptizing from a bot tle." How imposing must have been the cere mony; as above described, of uncorking it " in the presence of the congregation and ehildren.'f To find chapter and Terse in the Bible fori such a service, Dr: Youag must be rather nonplussed. ; We presume our friend, the-editor of the len- nessee Baptist, would offer . a large reward to the man .who succeeds in finding a scriptural precept ; or example for baptizing children, with , Bottled Jordan vater. Waich. and' Reflector. ' ; " , Keep the Heart- Alive. These words of Bernard Barton are cood. ; Often rood and wiss men in Other things have rendered their old age cheerless and unloving, from want of attention to them : - - " The longer 1 live, the more expedient I find it to extend my ' sympathies and affections. The natural tendencies of advancing years is to nar row and contract these feelings. I do not "mean that I wish to form a new and sworn friendship vert day, to inerease my circle of -intimates these are very different affairs. But I find it con duces to my mental health and happinesso find out all I can which is amiable andi lovcable in those I come in contact with and to make . tha most of it. . It may fall very short of what I was once wont to dream of; it may not supply tho place of what I have kndwn, felt and tasted ; bt it U better than nothing;, it seems tojieep, th feelings and the affections in exercise ; it keeps the heart alive in its humanity j and till we shall bo spiritual, this is alike our daty and our interest. . The. sure way to please God is to submit to the dispensations ojU his grace and provldenca ; and when a man acknowledges Him in - all his ways, He will direct all his steps. "God givetb graca to the bumble. . . . r r - "All that is high is not holy, rM thi sweet, beneficial nor every thing deii:vd, pure; nor every thing that 13 dear te us,' crti.ful to God." - ' ;. . - ' . .- s 4 - $ A .- i .! .1 1 r t V 1 5 "5 11 8 I if I 1 1 4 1 I