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THE BIBLICAL KECOKDER, "WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1888. The Biblical Recorder, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1888. -.' TEE ELECTION OF GRACE. We have read somewhere that when Charles 'the Fifth, , Emperor ,' of Ger many, resigned his crown to his son, he retired to a monastery where he amused the evening of his life in endeavoring to make a number of watches keep the same time; bntf finding himself enable to make any two, of .them go exactly alike, bis failure led him to reflect upon the folly of attempting to force men to think ahkV ta'i- - Very many are the opinions held among mankind concerning the, doc- I Some deny them; others pretend to fathom their great depths and thorough ly explain them; others still advise thai they be let aloneor, at least, be touch ed very lightly, " and preached very We confess, that age and experience I ive made Wtuore' careful in forming I have our own opinions, and more tolerant of the opinions of jothersv especially upon such profound doctrines as these abbot which we are-paw writing. .. j In the diBcifiltda of sach themes, it is wise to confine ourselves tocthe word of God, and hold under restraint human curiosity, which, as Calvin has well 'said ' in his IJtsttt4esiUx(y. barriers can re strain from i wandering . into forbidden labyrinths- ad- soaring ' beyond its sphere, as Undetermined, to leave none, of the Divine . secrets UBScrutinized or unexplored. . The secrets of His will which be determined to reveal to us, He discovers in His word, and. these , are all that He foresaw would concern us or conduce to our advantage." Q Whild1 there (majrbe 'some objections against the doctrine of election which we cannot satisfactorily explain away, and some" Inferences may be drawn therefrom by its enemies which may shock our sensibilities,1 and while its relation to, and harmony with, other doctrines of the Holy Scriptures may not be very clear to our apprehension, yet we believe, that no doctrine is more clearlyrf brcibly and frequently set forth in the word of God, or -more generally believed by the people of God than is the dewtrmep eUon. '-llija ourduty, therefore to study the doctrine, and to ' write and preach about it : Especially do we feel it to. be our duty to write this article for the benefit of such inquirers as the young convert who sought an interview with us not many days ago. He was an intelligent young man who desired to unite with the church, but was troubled about the doctrine of election. We put to him some-questions, which he promptly an swered as follows: - . -if Q. Do you believe that all mankind, or only a part of them, will be eternally saved I A. . I believe that only a part of mankind wil be saved. Q. Do"yXorelieve that 'men will be saved by their own efforts, 'of by the" , grace of God t A. I believe that if men are saved at all, they are saved by the grace of God, through the righteousness ' and death of Christ, and the sanctifl ca tion of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Q. Do you believe that God saves men by accident,- that is, without de sign, or according to His purpose pre viously formed! A. Of course; He saves men, as He does all other things, according to His purpose. Q. If this purpose was formed yester day, or last week, or last year, in other words, if this purpose is not from before the foundation of the world, God is changeable. But He says "I am the Lord, I change not." Therefore; if the Lord has a purpose to save men, has He not always had it I A. I believe He has always purposed to save men. Q.Do you not see that if you put your answers together in the order in which they are, given, (1) a part only of mankind will be saved ; (2) they will be saved by -the 'grace of God, through the dath and righteousness of Christ, and sanctification of the Spirit and be lief of the truth; (3) they will be saved according to God's purpose; and (4) this purpose is eternal, you will have ' a pretty clear 'statement of the' doctrine of election ? AT Indeed, it is so plain and simple, I am 'surprised that T should have been so much perplexed about it As the youcg man said, the doctrine itself is very law and intelligible.; The difficulties' aelrbm encumbering the doctrine with the objections, inferences, and cavillings of human curiosity and - unbeliefJ "' "'& v Paul', inhia delightful Epistle to the EpheslaBsV treats of the doctrine in such a falL' and vpetspicuous manner as t answer almosteevery pertinent -question that may beasked respecting it. Says he, "jBles8ed.be .the God and Father of our Lord Jesus CJbrist, who hath blessed us wKh all spiritual blessings In heaven ly places in Christ according as He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the woili'tbat we should be holy and without blame before him In Jove j having predestinated 'ns unto the adop tion of children by Jesus Christ to him self, accprding to the good pleasure of His will,0 to th pf aise of - the glory of His grace."-Eph. 1 : 3-6. 'f iq i-y. The ApoetYe; in this passage, whose every word is laden with riches of grace, begins with, expressions of bumble grati tude to God.- , . tr. :-.. t - Q. For what is he grateful f , A ''ATI . spiritual blesslags'm'heavenlyjpjices in . ChnstJ.;. ; li&?P; -n; .isiiifvJiftfp f,: Q." hertr are1 these blessings depos ited I '-1. llvt Christ1 - - 3 Q.' Are. these blessinga bestowed upon us because we have "chosen Him, or be- causeiSe has chosen us t A. "Accord ing as Hk hath'chosen iig in Him.1 . v I Q. When" did b choose- iis I ' A. ' Before th foundation of he world.! Q Why d id He choose us t , A V That we ehjutdbe' holy and without blame bef ore Him .inlovej- Q. tfbat .further assurance have we that.We , tt all enjoy all lheseepiritual tleEclags I A. "Having predestinated ns ucto tbe adoption of children. ' A? By Q. What Is the ground or source; of this predestinated grace t A. " Accord ing to the good plaasuTe,of Us.wL- Q. To what end is this predestinated grace bestowed upon God's chosen peo ple t A. "To the praise of the glory of His grace," ... i I The final and everlasting ?f elicit y of V a ATciii' int tnaAma Bo Vvlvr AAnrt AMF A4 ws?fc God's -eternal glory What B-fnherf-' tanee of grace upon grace, crowned with glory ineffable, , whose foundation, is laid in the depths of eternity past, and whose duration Is measured by nothing less than 'thevast Eternity to cornel' " Grace tint contrived Uss way ' : To tare rebellious man? -And all the steps that grace display, it wnicn orew tne woaqroas, plan. "Grace all the work shall crown, " Through evwlistlngfdays; - ' It lays in heaven the topmost atoae, , And well deserres the praise," , If the reader desires any further Scrip ture proofs of the doctrine of election, we refer him jto, the following passages:' Epli. 2: 9, 9; Kom. 8j Il-18CEphr i; 4l "5;" Rom. il: 5; 0: lBrleClfJ!; 2i 9; 2The8a.2sl3;2Tim. 1: 9. . Whatever may be the objections urged against election,; or the Inferences drawn from, it, it seems to ua that .we ar oom pelWd to admit that the doctrinei itself 14 dearly taught, ia the Scriptures:, and that, therefore, we tauat believe It; and let the objections get out of the way rememberiag that God has. confined pur. intellectual powers within certain limits beyond which we cannot go. , .; ,xms ; Ooe of the phjei difiiouities in (h way pf inquirers has. grown out of the fact that the adversaries of sovereign grace, having-dislocated reprobation f com is, proper, place, have, selected . it thus, .dis located as their base of operations, jfrom which tiiey bave endeavored .. to demol i&h the doctrine of election by charging upon it the most hbrrid consequences. The .truth is, that reprobation is not the counterpart or direct opposite of elec tion, but the natural opposite of appro bationt&B ia shown by Paul's use ofthe words in 2 Cor. 13: 7, "Now I pray to God that ye do "no evil; not that we should be apprapedt yu thatpye should do that which is honest, though we b& as reprobates." : " ' So far is it from being true, that refp- robation is the opposite of election, thatJ the same person mav be in a state of reprobation and yet may be one Of those whom God chose in Christ before the world was. Says Paul," " know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in yon, except .je be reprobates f 2 Cor. 13: 5. The fact that Christ is not in men is not proof of non -election, but it is proof of reprobation..' There was a1 time when Paul himself had no indwelling Christ, but was full xf mad ness towards those who professed Christ, and during this period he was in a state of reprobation, jn -pther words, his dis position and conduct were such that neither God nor good men could do otherwise than disapprove of them. And yet, the Apostle Paul was never in a state of non election, but bad -always been,, in God's gracious purpose, one of the chosen in Christ. It is evident from ; what- we have now shown, that repro bation is not the. opposite of election; and it is equally susceptible of proof that the horrid ideas which the opposers' of election have associated -with the term reprobation, are as, foreign to the doctrine of election as the term itself. We are unwilling to lay down '6u'rs pen until we have, for the benefit of young inquirers, considered someof the objec tions which haveieen" urged against the doctrine under discussion. . Objection 1. The doctrine of election implies the destruction of those who are not elected, and therefore it' if I reflect tion upon the Justice and benevolence of the Supreme Being. To tbis we reply that the election of the saved and the punishment of the lost are two very different acts, both as to their source and their nature. Elec tion is a gracious act, having its source in the sovereign mercy of God; while punishment is a righteous act, having its sburce in the punitive justice of God. Election has no bearing wbateveRttpOn"' the finally lost, but leaves them exactly' as theywerev and as .theyrpuld ave, been, had there been nb'e&ction at alL Election makes no change in ibejr char acter, or their punishment, -as sinful, criminal, beings . Election pro vides that , there shall be a'diflerence in character and conduct, a difference brought about by the sanctifyingkpowerv of the Spirit and (the belief of, thelruth, as well as a difference, in destiny, between the tjaved and those who live and die In sin 'and unbelief. How utterly ground-i less, .then, is. the jobjectiofl we have been r . 1 . . i J I i ' I' " V"'. i-i J 1 eqiisldfiringf Uft . , tlUt&v' T The objection, . to have any force, should; have, been urged against not the doctrine of. election but the fact that God will aave-only a part, instead' not the wnoie, oi toe. unman raee. - por of a part ia wrong, the Intention to save I is equally ,w,rorig.i 4 We believe' that God, is right both in the ccf of saving ndin the purpose torssve,- part only of the human raeei. Mndeed; 'We behold lav the election of grace a wohderI dispiay'of the Divine: henevolenoe ; lor - had there been net eleetionvhere lu-d been npjal-' vation at allefixee the whole rce would have deservedly perished In" sin and nn- ''" Obi. 2. - God'a Aleetion oe, for ordina tion of . men' t6 aalvation; ia'iaconfliei: with the doetriner of human ' aceount- jPetr. lltt hi sermon on the .day Pentecost, seems Jiot to liaVe kaown f - 2. By whom and to whom ! Je8u Christ to Himself." i t If It 1;rfrrit: ta nAT tnih jT.rf nt 'tha 1 Lau t. -iiit t.-f itiA Vm l eternity eternfljt; U the uiJi iaa ft- tu- -sv r I that can measure the Jove any; such' cooflict; 'for while he recog-'MngV s er.Tiee a : number asked fwi. nlses the; crucifixion of fchrlst aTa mat? J prayer. fiA i t? ;f. i ter of God's fore-ordination, -he charge home upon the murderers, who acted as freely as if there bad been no fbre-ordiM nation, the enormens .icktdcess . ot their crime. " Him,:leiug delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowl edge of '..God,? ye; have ta!?sn;i f rl byX ioieked hands have crucI2ed andlain.' Acts 2: 23. As there Is no conflict here, so there is none In the, matter of salvation. Th$ gospel addr;:ses nenas free, accountable beicgu, t id awards them accordingly. "He that believeth M&iB baptised, shail be eayed ; he that believeth not shall be damned." " " Obj. 3. Election leads men to neglect the. means xi grace, and the cultivation of Scriptural holiness, since , they" may re lyrupokj;thB purpose j t4J0& 3rnlch cannot be-irnstrated, and live indolent, aagodly livea. - , j However unbelievers may thus abuse the docrine of election, sincere Christians will hardly r be guilty of such' wicked neas ; ior,VbQo they do not rely on what they do or can do as the ground of their sklr&tionv. yet they have several Reason's why they 'should abound in good! works. I. They are called thereunto 2. They $y good works, testify their love to God. 3. They show fortb by these, the vir tues of Him whose ollspiing they pro fess to be.v 4. .They - lead . others to Christ by their godly example. ' 5. By abounding in good works they' promote their own growth la grace, find please their Lord. : . .A.i.::.ui -2 i ,:, Obj. 4. If God has elected a part of mankind to salvation," there . is no need of preaching the gospel, since .'bie elected will be saved any how, preaching or no preaching. Hhmm ' We reply that the elect will not be saved anyhow, but will be saved through God's v pre appointed plan, - which em braces the use of means: We have a beautiful illustration of what we mean. la the 27th chapter of Acta. - Paul and other . prisoners, -with the soldiers and sailors, are driven by a terriflo r storm Over the Adriatic sea. All hope of sal vation is' taken away. . God I commun eates to Paul His purpose to save every nian on board " of the doomed : vessel. This purpose fills Paul ! with hope. He Inspires the others with hope, But the Seamen, who know how to manage thet vessel, are about to abandon it. ' ' Does; the Apostle' quietly let them go and as-' snre the soldiers and prisoners that they wilt be saved anyhow t No; but he tells the centurion and the soldiers, " except these abide in the ship ye cannot be Baved."--Acts 27: 31. "Cannot be saved I" they might have, replied, " Did you not say that it was- God's purpose to save ust" "Yes," Paul would have replied, " but' it is His purpose to save us by the use of such means as are with in our reach. Another, illustration. : God has or dained that seed-time and harvest shall continue in the world.' , . Shall . we, rest ing in God's good purpose, fail to sow, and plow, and meanwhile expect -a har vest! ' Vain expectation t Our harvest would be famine. The decree should encourage us to use diligently the means and implements of successful husban dry, m hope of a rewarding harvest. God's gracious purpose embraces not only the end to be accomplished, the salvation of His people, but also all the means necessary : for the accomplish ment of that end,' Amocg these means is the preaching of the gospeL J There fore it is our reasonable duty to preach the gospel, or have it preached j to every creature. But, could we see no other reason for the performance of this duty than the plain command of Christ, this ought to be sufficient. But we have not time or space for the consideration of other objections. There may be many, others, some, perhaps, un Bwerable. , Unanswerable ebjeetions may be urged against the benevolence of God the duty of prayer, and other clearly established truths of Revelation. We must believe them whether we can remove all the objections 'or not, "and bring our minds and hearts into, bar mony with them, as revealed in the In spired volame. : - - ' u h (This glorious doctrine 'of election, we wish to say, before we leave the subject is a source of strong consolation to them who hate fled for refuge to Christ their Saviour.. In the midst of the perplex ing difficulties 'and sore, trials and afflic tions of this . fluctuating : world, it Is consolation to know that God knows and ldves:us, has always known and loved us, and has treasured up in Christ for us grape for all times of need, the sure pledge of glory eternal hereafter. We cannot forbear quoting the burning brds of that godly man and! brother, Dr. fi. H. Tucker " How consecrate to God am I and all that I have! What is this world t - What are its allurements and Its business f What are its cares, its sorrows, its bereavements! ... Suffice it for me to know that God has from eter nity meditated my salvation; that bis love for me had no beginning and will .have no end. . Let bis will be the law of jury me.i uez me oe aosorDeq ut mm. Let my soul forget all but Godt As his asffections'baye dwelt forever on pne so let vmine henceforth ; dwell iorever , on iinnrTbe relation between ni is &perv sqnal relationoeiifWei not cold, and distant, and formal ;. it Is a paioq ot nearts, socn. as; caa exist be tween no two created beings; the deep, gtpwmg, "rapturous love oz eternity is only thing that is direc ted to me, unworthy creature that I am, and the. hef fit sinners I v.MysopIls "overwhelmed I" .vv uv; v:. ' r'yX J - !0a Sunday , 8th inst , the pulpit of the f Tirst church, Raleigh, was .occupied by: .AWE T . V. 0. - 11U.UJ. Mft U 1BVI UlUff , -.UV at nlgbt by Revt SH-PThompsbn!1; 'tef " Ci Durham'preached for thiabernacle in the morning, and for the Fayettevule, tfeet church at night't Three persons nnited with the Tabernacle atthe morn ing serviced' There is' a decided interest th:FayetteyilIe'8treei chnrch, and Pastor Thompson will preach' every. olLeventng this week. ! ' There was one prof I fesslon of faith during the Sunday even- i 1 '', . . ' rL '"V"" Bxv'- Ai'C Drxosrjbt Baltimore, has free elved a unanlmoas call to the t pastorate -of the secon l , chnrch, the seconl .chnrch, t.Bt Louis,' Mo; 'This church recently called DrHoyte,' of Philadelphia,1 at a sal ary of $10,000 a year. ,Bro. Dixon de cUned the call, and his church added one thousand dollars to his salary. - -'. " Our agel and - worthy brother, Bev. Tbomas Stradley, of AsheviUe, Is greatly concerned about tho talk1 in his section of reference to? ih union of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention and the Western K. C. Convention Into one body. Bro. Stradley is opposed to such Aajooion, andjwlsheA Jxls brethren, to know it. " " I Some, ot pur jbnten pf the Western N.C. Convention teem not to under stand our position on this question. - We iave never desired Jot hi antwavaonirht the union of the two Conventions. 'We stated at. the time the two papers were consolidated that, "the objects and in terests of the Western Convention were V De conservea py ine eonsonaaiea pa- I pes,'! ind added that ''weould do. bur best to please and edify our brethren. Should we fail in this, any plan the Wes tern brethren may devise to further their interests shall cheerfully be acquiesced in by ifc&JWfc T&iN -: i The onion of the papers was entered into with no intention or desire to unite thf Conventions." So far as the Rbcor xtaft Is concerned, there has never ex isted more than a mere sentiment in fa vor of sneh onion. in regard to the starting of a new pa- per for , the Western Convention, the BECOBDKR . he hot conoeni whatever: xir -- . , . ... fe -would' no serlycare tteyery L separate church in the Western 27. ,C Convention started an organ of its own. The brethren., pf the orth, .Caroline Baptist State Convention stand by the resolution passed during the session in Durham, when the .corresponding mes sengers toilhe Western Convention were appointed. That resolution reads thus: " Resolved, That these correspondents bear to the Western Convention our fraternal greetings and expressions of our sincere interest in every department of their work, and say to them that, if in their judgment, at any time, the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ and the work of the denomination in the State can be best served by a union of the two Convections, we are ready to con sider such 'a proposition. It will be seen from this that the whole matter was left to the brethren of the Western Convention, where it belongs. Personal and Other Items. .Rev. Dr. D.W.Gwio.of Kentucky. has removed to Decatur, Ala,. Rev. H. W. Norrls, of Rallentine's Mills, called to see us on Saturday. , .... Rev. A. D. Hunter, of Cary, called-' to see us on Friday last. He is well and hopeful, y v , . ! ....Drs. Reese and Manly, of Wake Forest Couege, were In Raleigh on Sat urday last. . . . , Rev. W. B. Oliver, of Marion. 8. C, is in Durham holding a series of meetings with the second church. We regret to learn of the critical illness of the beloved wife of Rev. W. H. H. Lawhon, of Carthage, N. C. John Rippertc e, son of Rev. C. J. Rlppertoe of Charleston, West Virginia, was killed by the oars on April 4th. '....Rev. O. O. Newton, of Durham. has sufficiently recovered to be up and out, and expects to be at work toon. . . . . Reedy Creek church. .Wake coun ty, on Saturday. Mareb 31st, licensed Bro. W. M. Sorrell to preach the gospel. .... Rev, J ames C. . Rockwell, of Fair Bias, will preach for the church in Ma rion, S. C while pastor Oliver is in Durham. ....Rev. Dr. John Mitchell returned from Durham on Friday of last week. He spent & week preaching for the second church. '....Rev. C. W. Blanohard, pastor of. Pleasant Grove and JbLenny's - Creek churches. Wake county, hopes to enter Wake Forest College next fall. ....Rev. A. C. Dixon, of Baltimore. is in Boston, Mass., aiding his brother. Rev. Thoa.' Dixon, In a series of meet- lugs with the Dudley Street church. , ; ... .1 wish all. our .Baptist; people would : take a the - Rkcordbb. .Those who .do not. take it, :do not , know what they miss. IT. M. Duke. . i. ::-Axnote'irom vr. Hufham;- on Friday last, stated that he was well and on his way 'to ' Wilson. He and Bro, Lide are hard at work for the Master in that section. ' .- ' , I . . Yates is no more in the flesh. :. Let the Baptists of 0. erect to his mem ory a monument, at Wake Forest, N. . C, , Start the ball. Who will be first to contribute t C F. R. l. ! Rev. W, B. Morton, of Weldon, writes us that the marriage of Mr. J. L. Coleman and Miss Sauie N. Rod well took place at the resideece of the bride's mother t in VWarrpn county, and pot at Weldon as announced last week. - M-i we - its aies; awwa v f miibs t iiiVf. K C., was m Kalelgn, a. V., last week, and called to see us.; j Besides being one of the best of our. brethren, he is the . n ' ii . J . i j.i n xaiuer oi our guteo juuug urotuer, xvev. ,W. S. BaUard.uu .f s L . i .Hon. J.' C Scarborough, who is' id charge of the Tnomasvllle Female OnTlce. is on a visit to his familv neap SMma. H Bro' Scarborough has the con-i; change in preachers would afieet the in fldenceWd efEectlon pf all his brethren I terese.'4But Bro.sWhlte's preaching; like 1 i U ilVl .U V.I.WI I 111.. f I . . . . Revr J. Vr, Rose; of Pine LeveL colporteur of the taleigbr Association, tilled to see us j on Thursday last.. He Is! doing some, bard,. but much needed, work ou hia field and . has been quite sucoessioL -t We. commend him. to our k m a - oretoreu, . r jvn , i MstM work, is hopeful. We have secured a lot here, and will try to put a ! cuaroii uuiiuiug uu is u agon aim can.' ' I am trying not to let' you forget that I read the Recorder; Long live the BrBunAt' Recorder A. T. Sord Murctngton. " - f-- . Florida is' a, glorious. State. .1 ain pleased with - almost everyt. thing and hope- to be, very-.osefal in my new field, of iaoor, nut i: cannot help turn ing my eyes , back once $a t awhile ;to the old friends-1 have left behind in the Old JtoMtn-JP'&hpt,, , ?.If you wish your pastor to attend toe session Of the Southern Baptist Con vention, to be held in RlchmondVa.. 'on , Friday, May ,11th,4 raise the money by seeing tne members OI your ehurch who read, the Recorder, and get the money to pay his- expeuees.; .'U will not cost more than ten , dollars to make the ! I :. .The North Carolina Tresbyterian of ' April' 4th contains notices . of the deaths of Rev: Dr. Thomas Wbarey, of Texas,' Rev. Martin McQueen, of Moore county, W. CV Rev. W. A. Caldwell, of South Carolina, Rev. Dr. J. W. Pratt, of ' Kentucky Re?; J. D. Sharp, of Tex vs.-and Rev. Dr; James C. Kennedy. Jof Indian Territory. - -' - v - . ..Miss Alice Purefoy. daughter of the l&te Rev. Dr. G. W. Purefoy, died at her home near Chapel Hill, on the night oi March 30th. The church has lost one of Its most earnest and efficient mem bers, and her family is, most sorely be-; reaved". Miss Alice, was beloved and admired by all, and was ever ready and anxious to do her Master's will. Sho -obeyed His last summons with ealm and frmaf fnl rflHiomiitinn t tt-H i iu My church says, You are going to the Convention. We will have the. money ready.' l?o part of my salary either.- I have some brethren and sis ters here who do not give me potatoes and pumpkins and at the end of the year charge up on pastor's salary. Every brother and sister in Horth Carolina ought to read your editorial on 'Tour Pastor. But alas, those who need.it moat vm never see it. ?. W. Harmon, Cherato, S. C. . , , ....The justly beloved Dr. Hufham, after preaching some glorious gospel sermons sermons that were full of pa thos and tenderness and comfort and consolation to weary hearts that bleed left on Saturday for home, and left be hind a golden flood of glorious reflec tions like those which paint the sky in such exquisite colorings when the fare well kisses of sunset fair upon the clouds like streams of heavenly glory. wuson Mirror. .1 think my church-work is moving on quite well. Congregations have been large during all the bad weather of win ter. Ladies Mission ' Society In fine . working order; a girls' mission circle latery 'orgahfted,- and -Punday-school prospering. Our church, though not In working order; a girls' mission circle the Georgia Baptist Convention, has elected delegates to the meeting near at hand,' and also invited the session for 1889 to come to our beautiful city. W. u: StrtefOand, of Gainesville, Qa: ... .Rev. J. M. McManaway,of Shelby. is making an effort to build a new house of worship for the Baptists of that city. For many years a new house of worship has been the, ope special need of that church. . We are glad that Bro. McMan- away nas undertaken the work. He has raised some $2,000 toward the new house. The King's Mountain Associa tion ought to add at least $5,000 more to this and build a house worthy of the pastor, the church, the town of Shelby, and the Association. .Rev. A. B. Dana way, of Church land, Va., has been engaged by the Baptist Dorcas Society to deliver a lec ture on " People Whom I Have Met" at 7f o'clock p. m., Friday, April 13th, 1888, at C. B. F. Institute. The lecture will be followed by a festival. The pro ceeds of the lecture will be devoted to the use of the Dorcas Society, toward making additions to the Institute library and apparatus. Admission to the Iec ture, adults 25 cents, children 15 cents. Murfreesboro Index. .Rev. Robert VanDeventer is preaching a series of sermons on the es sentials of success at the Baptist church every Sunday night. Two of the series nave been delivered. They were strong and forcible and well presented. Mr, VanDeventer ia a close student, an original thinker and a ready speaker. and he makes the most of whatever topic he undertakes to discuss. These sermons will doubtless attract attention and present many new phases of the subject under consideration. Render- son Hold Leaf. ...Rev. Mr. White has been the centre of great attraction at the Baptist church during the past two weeks. wnere ne nas conducted services every night. He receives praise Irom all, and it is evident that his work has unusual success. Greensboro North State, The meetings in Greensboro closed on Tues day last. About one hundred persons professed faith In Christ. Rev. J. L. White, who so efficiently aided Bro. W R. -Gwaltney, returned to his home in Shelby on Wednesday. ....I have been a long time under a very gloomy cloud, confined with bodily is juries three years, and arrested with the intelligence that our Heavenly Father has lifted dear Bro. Yates to the higher, happier regions, before we were ready to give him up, but doubtless he left nothing unfinished his 'Master in tended to be glorified by, and now he goes to sit by the God-man-Mediator, to see the travail of his soul and be satis fled, and all his servants will be happy,' remembering they were shaped as instru ments for the glorious work in any de gree. . Well, you don't see him watching the clouds, any more. His happy bark has gone into port fully, rigged, sky Bcrapers and boomsails ail filled before a full gale of sweet atoning merit. I have a very joyful recollection that while he was here sailing about, I heard him ask the Captain, "Throw the rope nnt tt TVnn I hntui it. mill tnw Wm in ' w v v m , 4. fc. v v . . . ww ft linn .m Thomas Stradley, AshevUle, N. C. Jlf eting of the Boa rd. The monthly meeting of the Board of .Missions and Sunday-school will be held in the office of the same on Friday, eight p. m., April 13th, 1888. A fall meeting is desired. , C. Durham, Cor. Sec P.- 8.'- Delegates to the S. B. Conven tion will please send their own names to the Chairman of Committtee on hospi tality at Richmond. - - - - i i ' Our Meeting. The meeting in Greensboro closed on Tuesday night, the 3d inst, having been continued nearly five weeks. The first two weeks we had Bro. R. VanDeventer withua. His earnest preaching took a firm hold on our people, and the interest grewTdai!y from the beginning.: The night after be left; Bro. J. : L. White - came co-our neip. csome ieared that a Bro. VanDeventer's, grappled the peo ple at once, and the interest continued to: grow ana -tne congregations to in crease ;untu; the house - war full some times to overflowing. ''-t -.1 ! Our members are greatly built up and strengthened and encouraged. There were 96 professions of faith, and a ma jority of these are ' men, some of: them heads of families. We will receive a good number of them. -A large number of them belonged to the Presbyterian con gregation, and ox course most ' oz these will join the Presbyterians. Dr. Smith and his son,' . W. Smith, urged their members to attend the meeting and to co-operate with us, which they did. The Methodists carried on a meeting during the time of ours. I do not know the re sults of their meeting. ,W. R, G. Resolutions of Appreciation. 1. - f At a conference of Friendship church. Harnett county, ; W.- 0., on Saturday, Jan.. 14, 18S8 - the ' following resolutions concerning t Rev; Allen Betts,?' were adoptedr;- c?-r iimn i Resolved 1, That- we regret that It becomes necessary for the union of our body and for the further 'advancement of the cause of Christ to call another to: take his place; not. for any want vof love or interest on his part.! fila 3 .. I Resolved 2dr That we retain to hhn our heartfelt thanks for the valuable service he rendered, and the great for titude with which he showed us our du ty and bore with our infirmity. j 4 W. H. AIXES, ' ' - D; J. Parser, : - , . ; D. s. WixiiAMS, x x 1 j.. i , ; t Committee,: WESTERN DEPARTMENT. JOSEPH. E. CARTER, Editor. CWRead the label on rour paper and yon will see the dar vour sorjacription .expires. we make any mistake, write to ns. 1 j11 AsheviUe office in 1. N. Vofsrsn & Cew's book store. When in the city, call there, g-et a sample , copy the paper, pay your anMcription, fet your receipt, and leave ny order for the Westerd bditor. . . --4 .... .: .. .. ; ..- : I. . ii ii I. i in i.i ' " u 1 1 5yCommunication6 must reach' us iri Henderson ville on Wednesday morn- J mg ot wees oeiore issue o jituuKUistt, to insure prompt insertion; marv-jJt. S S) ' ' " lelwnerof HheEkcoBDEaTs rranning it on a cash basis. If yonr pa per does not come to yon, younay know' that your time is out. Please do.nbt write to us to send yon word what you owe. if yon wish to continue your paper,' but send us from 4U.S0 to $3.00; and we will credit yon on your back' does, set you forward on another year;' and in a short time yon will see printed on aV la bel pasted on the margin ot: the ' paper your name and the date to which yon have paid. If you think there is any mistake, write to us about It. mar7-St. The Wayt6 Da It. f : 'We would modestly suggest now that the subject of uniting the two Conven tions is about being opened up in this paper that our brethren give their ma tured convictions as to the reasons why. to them, it is, or is no wise to unite the Conventions. ; r. an -y?-'- f The subject is one of lasting impor tance. If ought to be thoroughlydlff- cussed, after careful consideration. What the' brethren want (is. to know each other's mind each other's reasons ; to carefully think over and ieompare them with each other, and then, weigh ing the whole, arrive at a final conclu sion. This is the only way to consider the matter. The union or non-union of these bodies should not be a mere senti ment, a matter simply of local preju dices, but it should be a, deduction; a conclusion reached after a full and fin cere investigation of all questions in volved. , v. i 1 One brother from the State Conven tion has already given us 'bis -reasons against the union, Mz:' first, we i are so far apart; second, we are working very well in our Western Convention, So. Wow, perhaps some one win reply to him, on the other side, and give exam pie of Tennessee 'about as long as Worth Carolina in teritoy-Nnd Texas much larger than Worth Carolina that you can put this etate Into the toe these two States, up. to a' recent date, had three Conventions and itave only one now. Then again, some one who know8,may reply" that we are notgetting on so well in oar work west Of . the Blue Ridge. By way of rejoinder, a third person may show that there is sometirie pecu liar about Worth Carolina' Baptises, and that, for this reason, their -work can not be compared with the Baptists of Ten h'essee and ' Texas and all the "other Southern States, and Northern States, too, where they have only one Conven- venuon. -ana it may aiso ne rejoinea that we are getting on very well la Worth Carolina as a Convention, even if we had to be helped largely by the Home Board at Auanca ana Dy tne American Baptist Publication Society. ' And thus light will be brought out and facts estab lished, upon which all of our brethren can act advisedly, We repeat, when all this is done, these facts- and arguments will put us all to thinking over che matter, and we can be prepared, after a f nil discussion of all points, to come to a satisfactory, con clusion. ' This matter may be likened to the marriage f-.-widower Jack Smith: and widow Polly Jones. - At their age. in life, they look on matrimony from a rather buainees like standpoint. . Tbe widower reasons to himself as to whether,"under all the circumstances,, he .cannot man age widow Polly's estate for .her, and she, on her part, thinks over the matter of widower Jack's family, as all his chil--dren are married and moved effYL shn and he cannot have smooth sailing on the sea 'of matrimony, notwithstanding the many children she has. .Wow after el general survey of the-situation, the aged couple decide on a contract, and a happy union ensues. . . . The line of procedurevm this matter of our two Conventions must be considered somewhat after this fashion. - , If it turns out, by discussing the mat-1 ter, that Our eastern brethren, to a large extent, think it. best not to unite with na hv thftjE:rfii eip th mttr rit.h the weottiu Lrokhrcu': vice Oerfa, if the conclusion shall be reached by us, west of the Blue Ridge, that our people " gen erally do not desire the union, then the matter will be fully settled as far as pur eastern brethren are concerned. Y We are satisfied that it 19 no venture for us to say, that the 'brethren of-the State Convention do not want the union if we do not desire it. And we are more than sure that the Western Convention does not want it if the brethren, east are not willing to it. Ha'. i , The only way to find the true State of things will be to have expressions bfouf brethren in all directions. The matter must be generally canvassed in all our minds,not after sentiment or local predi lections, as we have said, but after such thought and investigation as sensible and good men will exercise. ; , ; Above all, let the whole matter be considered with good humor and in kind spirit. : Let . no criminations or recrimi nations be expressed, for "we- be breth ren.' ? Let no one publish a word which impugns a brother's motive.: Let no insinuations of an unchristian nature or unkind character he put into prrnVfot. ns all think and speak, and reason, And write like Christiana . t For the result of. this present consideration of the subject may affect our. children -for; the next twenty-five years, and help or hinder the progress of our; Master's kingdom in Worth Carolina for that length of time.v : - f Then when it i?, In this way. decided. let it be one way .or the others peace and. brotherly. love. shall abide, and a nigh respect for the opinions and preferences: of others will dwell in all.hearts. God grant that this may. be, so. oIay tthe Spirit of our God lead us to seeb a tjd-r umphant end.! For this let ns all ear nestly and continuously pray, ; Uilk: i We invite our brethren of the west to write, through our Department as. briefly as possible, their views on the subject Many ought to write, but as lUti4aspos-t stole ought to- be said, in order to. give all - a chance. Wo - brother,k.who jnay differ with our. personal opinion on the subject,' need fear that , his articles will not have fair and full play in appearing in our Department !' j2 t&&:rlf& A - ' " 77.' '-n BRIEW.Y'?Ms i -Ground.ba8- been broken for the new Bapti8fcthurch in Hendersonville. ! Bra JL. tJhambers is taking ap active part in . the young men'aprayer- I Bro. 8. C." Owen haalrecently closed a good meeting at Morgan School-house. Several are-to be baptized. " Bro. G. A. Bartlett is pastor at We w Salem: ehurch near Arden. We learn that - the church, with forty, members two years ago, has grown to seventy and that the work there is progressing. , brethren, not only by patronizing Jud- son College in the education oi his daughter pn Jn other ways, , . " ; 1 . -Mr. 'Pearson's- meeting in AshevQfe nextLmonth is looked for with great in terest and anticipated pleasure."' ' Brethren . will please continue - to send us marriage notices and obituaries. Such will be published in this paper as ln'the;TTem iy; C. Baptist. 7 rr-Tbe next ehurch the Western editor visits will be Cane River at Fair View. Me .will tell of -their -new school enter prise when he "interviews' the brethren. Bro. " J. ,W. Anderson.' has recently accepted a call to Gash's Creek church near Asheville. He is now dividing his. time: two Sunday s at 'each place be tween: Gash's, Creek' and Cane River, The two have' a membership of 350. ,, .1- Bro. - W. P. Southern, our 'colpor teur and missionary for Asheville, re-' ports progress in bis new work. He nas lately entered the ministry,- and has the lovev and prayers of a large circle of brethren and friends who wish ' him good speed fntiislworkv'?;- ;7 (fV Capt.C. H. Sowers though not. a member,, baa. kindly interested himself for our .little, -mission -chureh at : Hot a f " a til. xl Li. prwKB,. auu, wiui .iuh. uu. oi uu co workers of the tobacco trade in Ashe- ville. has. presented the church , with a new and beautiful -pulpit Bible. - .: Bro? P." P. Morgan' has recently Deen ordained deacon oi nominy cnurcn. It was Our pleaJnre to enfoytntr hoiipi- tality of him and'hEs good wife; and Miss' Lou, their daughter,; on1 urTreeent rtrip' through ' uuneombe. Bro. M. snows that he is in the advance line of our -rtWe had 'a pleasant visit to the beaq- tlitu valley or Jf igeon, wpen we preaenea in the Locust Field church. We have. never seen "a meetingthouse. mare im proved than In the remodeling of theirs. Theb new .church-spire is t. a. beautiful piece of architecture, Bjro. C. B. Mingus is pastor. , , j .. - tj j j Bro. C. E. Lee, so long a prominent worker in oar Western Convention and in the First Baptist church, Asheville, has been recently quite ill. His many friends here and In the east end of the State; will svmnathize with him., He married one oi tne good daughters oi Bro. F. M. Jordan. ' 1 Elder. Enoch Morgan is one of the mutual preachers and good men and citizens of the west and of Buncombe county j e. is, growing too old .to do much active work in the ministry, and has given up charge of his -last church. May God. bless bun- and his aged com-. panion lumese their latter days. t UlCbUV VUI UVUJC. UUIlUk vui a c cent visWto Haywood.witH Bro. Wiley , M. Johnson. It Is always a pleasure for us to accept the hospitality of him and his kind wife. By' the by, Bro. Wiley says be would like to see a union of the two Conventions, and he is another prominent brother of Haywood who .favprs the union. ' Vnipu from Jaknr Strain and Haywood are heard in our correspond ence In reference tothecoDsoudated pa pers and our Conventions. .This is but the beginning of what we shall hear. It is eminently to be desired that the breth ren will speak out their minds, even if in no more, than a. few words, on both sides of these questions. Bro.A.B. Thomas, of Macon county. will accept our thanks for the interest he manifests in our consolidated napers, by Bending in renewals and by writing such encouraging words. Hiswordf are additional evidence of the growth of in terest in the brethren over the whole of Western Worth Carolina for the Re Cordbk, as it is now run. - No wonder the church house at Lo cust Field has been so much improved,. when such brethren as W. M. Johnson, J. y. Smathers, L. N- Pinner and oth ers, and such ladies as Sister MiDgas and others have earnestly worked for it. Soma of those brethren worked with their own hands for six weeks to ac complish this object, besides giving their money. f The Asheville Citizen says: 'Up to 9 o'clock last night the city police had made 16fi 'arrests for the month of March..- It "seems strange that Asheville shonldlead the other cities of the State in the number of arrests and the amount of 'fines.' It is not so strange after all, when you consider to what extent bar rooms are increasing in Asnevuie, air. Citizen. Rev. C. B. Mingus' is opposed to the union of the Conventions, because, for one thing, the State is so long that it 4 "will cost too much money for the dele- irether.- -As we said last week, when we gave Elder Collis's opinion, in favor of the union, we expect to give the opinion of brethren on both sides, as we meet up with them. I We would liketo remind the churches of our Western- Convention that our Conventional year is fast pstesing away, .And but little has been heard so far of bur mission work. .Our Treasurer has promised to publish his receipts soon, ' in this paper. Look after your churches, brethren, and see if they are coming up to their expectations.' Our missionaries are at work, and the needs of their fam ilies require that- we should think of their wants. I Brother Humphrey Haines, of Hay wood, is one of our most substantial and interested Baptists. His paper is paid in advance to A. D. 1890. Several years ago he represented our Senatorial dis trict (Haywood, Transylvania and Hen derson counties) In the Legislature. He is ja member of the church at Clyde, is one. Of the commissioners of Haywood county at present and bids fair to be a u useiui memDCT ox tne cnurcn me remain.- I.. .tkl. J... . ' . r X.n;i; : .-.... i-lBro. S. S Westmoreland-of Hay wood, is one-tof, oar ood and psefal brethren. ' He was kind enough to rsay to ns that he bad observed the toils and sacrifices of the editor of the Western N. C. Baptist, and that be 'was willing to. trust' him in the matter of the consohda- , tion of the papers, especially as he re- r membered how much . the said editor had shown that he had the good of the Baptists Of Western Worth Carolina at heart ;w Thanks, brother; such words can, never die. : -rEvery w here the call now. is for the The Presbyterians, have lately signified ia desire for a great increaee; of colport- age among them. ui ail people on eartn Baptists ought to push this kind of work. They, haye aU to:gain.and nothing to lose by it, as .they challenge, the world to try their doctrines. . Who.ean tell the immense amount of good a tract, like George B. Taylor's will do.' He says: VWe have thus gone back to the middle, of the third century, at which time in fant baptism was Introduced. And da ring all the centuries, from the Refor mation to the middle of the third cen- j turyf we have: found evidence, more or t less Convincing; of the existence of Chris- 1 tians refusing, to baptize infants and in sisting :. tnat only believers ! in - - Christ should receive i that ordinance. Th Origin of Baptists, page 3lst Brethren, let lie print tracts and -scatter them ev erywhere that the world may seetbe light, and:. the people be undeceived,: while the saints shall be -more firmly es tablished in the great doctrines of God's word. - .'-'-'j . v Bro. G. H. Church moved with Vila familv from Brevard to Charleston on April 4th. He will be a strong man in the' ministry of Swain' county, and the -Tennessee River Association. Amomr the native preachers of these mountams ' there is no:rablerjDr. more useful man, r nor one who is more in the spirit of the v progress, oi our denominational work. we comment uua to cro. Li. Collins and to other, members of the . Charleston ' church, who, we : suppose, will be true ' yokefellows with him,in' their Master's ' work.; ' ' ' : ' ' : ; ; "v ' ': We'can. expect no more than a dif- - f erence of opinion, and hence we are not - surprised that a few brethren called a meeting last week in Asheville, and, as sisted by Bro; W. W. Wells, decided to call a . larger meeting for the next week for the purpose of considering the possi bility of starting another Baptist paper u II vewiu fiyivu vBVUUCh A4 WO ore correctly informed, one object of start- ing the new paper is to oppose the union of the two Conventions. On the other hand, brethren are writing to ns," and talking to ns, from every section ofs Wes tern North Carolina approving the' con solidation of the papers and expressing their hopes that the Conventions will be united; and JtJro. Bailey published re- ' eently that the following brethren, be sides about fifty others, had written to him approving the consolidation of the papers: "Kev..j3. M. Collis of Bakers vllle, Rev. D B. Nelson of Horse Shoe, Raw F. M. Jordan of Hayesville, Rev. J. B. Boone of Hehdersonville, Rev. Dr. W. A. Welson ot. Asheville, Kev. GJ 8. Jones of Hendersonviller Rev. W. H. pOllts of Spear, Rev. Dr. J. L. Carroll of Ashevule.17 Add to this that Secretaries B." Griffith and, I. T. Tichenor; whose Boards have supplied means by gifts of 'books end money to do' about half of - our mission work, are 6otA pleased at the union Of our papers and one of them has already expressed, at the same time, his desire ; for: .our Conventions to be ' united vjW . , CORRESPONDENCE.' A Voice from Swain Count? o the Consolidation of the Fapers aad tke Union of the Conventions. 'T - Bro. Carter: As to the con solidation of the- Western N. C Baptist and : Biblical Recorder. I am well pleased, am now and ever shall be as warm a friend to the Recorder as I was to the 'Baptist. I think we can have in the consolidated papers all, as a re ligious journal for our Baptist people of the.wbole State of Worth Carolina, that we need. ,i ... . , ., pur prayers and efforts should next be, to make of the twain one great 8tate Convention , and Baptist bulwark, of truth, to honor, love and work for God in every section. Should we become one, let . ns have three divisions of the. State Eastern, T7r.. rt : .! VCUL1IU, 1ISOWIU K1U1 U1B, UUUVeUUOU to rotate its sessions in each division. .This. I think, would suit every body from Cumtuck to Cherokee. i I am only one, and can only think and speak for One,-; but; I have thus spoken with nothing .but the present ob jects in view. We should feer- as mnch love for Christ and bis people on the sea-shore as we do for those of the hills and mountains. , . . v i I do hope and pray that all sections or local matters of past organizations may cement and become one to aid you ahd Bro. Bailey in the new undertaking. Let us hope that the strong will help the weak, and that the destitute shall have a liberal push wherever found within - Worth Carolina. - " ' X r ' Your brother in Christ, .... i . JOHH .Si Smixxt. . Bro. Smiley is one of the prominent ministers in Swain and Superintendent of Public Instruction lor his county. Westers Editor. Important Point ia Madison. Let oar Mission Board consider.' Westers Editor " Bro. Carter; Although I have never met you, I have learned to feel very ten derly toward you; and now as you and . our good rsro. Bailey (one of the bap tist's greatest workers) have, taken your tasks together, I do wish you and he, with our wisely edited organ, God speed. - when 1 ait and read the good news from ail parts cf our State, my heart is made to feel sad to think that we have no representative here. 1 think it such - an important field. The former pastor, . who represented the Missionary Baptists ' at a union church-house near here, has left We are few in number and poor; but own an interest in a house, together with Methodists and Freewill Baptists. : , Wei ther denomination (as usual in a nnibn church) is doing much; but as the Meth odists have a very good preacher, as , well as a smart man, of course they are taking the lead, and one would think - that it was only a Methodist church. Wow what I want is our interest out of the union-house and into a Mission ary Baptist church in or near this place, accessible to the people on each side of the river here. 1 have only been here a short while, but long enough to be some what aroused on the subject, and I think I can see in part what is needed; and, with an eye to this I have been talking to' some few of the brethren who express themselves as pleased with the Idea, so much so that a Methodist brother offer?" a lot free of charge and also to subscribe to the building. Our trouble now Is in not having a good shepherd. I feel like now is the time for the Baptists to take hold.' E. B. AtkessoX Barnard Station, Madison Co. Transylvania Union Meeting-. The next Union Meeting of Transyl vania county will be held with East VaV ahnMh ai thillfth RimAsvin Anril. - l . fV, k k. w,TWrt tn ftttArtil hW friAftw ' Important Ones- t- . d- . tions will be discussed. ' C M. Gaixamore, for Com. Brevard, April 2d. , Bro. 'Jasper L. Morgan, of Clyde, is one of the leading Baptists and most prominent citizens of Haywood county, in a letter of recent day, referring to the statement made in the RECORDER that there was not a man in Haywood county who favored the union of the Conven tions, says: mrst-''---- v--P. !There is at least one' man in Hay wood county who does favor the union of papers and Conventions, and hasn't ; any aspiration to run a paper., r' A ; Writing of the prosperity of his church, he says: . ' : ; - ." .';'. . i The baptizing was postponed till the fourth Sunday In April ; some 25 persons approved now, and more expected to join; then; will be near 35 additions some by letter. The young men's prayer meeting Is doing well ; most all the young . converts lead in prayer and talk, and, also,' several of the older members that i have refased before. ' We re-organized y our Sunday-school last Sunday; hope to ., enroll 200, and average 125 during the j summer. V ' J. L.'MohqaS.'- . ; , . x'" ' n ' ; - "v ' . - 4 ' -;: . Kinrf VfnrAm frnm Slater. -. i ...4 Sister; D. J. Allen,- of Sylva, Jackson 4 WUU(J, WOO VUO V IUD iOOU At v. the - Western North Carolina Baptist. Wow that the papers have consolidated, she knows -how to consider rand appre ciate the move. In- a private note she writes, under date of April 2d : r "We are all pleased with the'RECOR Der, and expect to continue to take, read and pray for it", J
The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 11, 1888, edition 1
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