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TBS 0R9AN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BAPTISTS-DEVOTED TO BIBLE RELIGION, EDUCATION LITERATURE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE Volume 06 RAfcEIGH; Number 82. The Biblical : Recorder. PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY, lfy:: O FFICE I iiift Corner Hargstt aftd Salisbury Sts., Raleigh, N. C. -, Tui of StmsctimoN Onteopy, ens year..'.., .4...... .- OMCopjr, six months.,, .......i... .,,.,.., 1.00 Clubs of ten (copy stra to tender). ......... 80.00 ' Remittances mnet be sent by Registered Letter, poetoffice Order, Postal Note, Express or Draft, Mrable to the order of the Publisher. Obituaries, slsty word long, are inserted free of share. When they exceed thla length, one cent (or each word must be paid in advance. - Short Sketches of Some of the Bap- tM Pioneer a of Eastern ' -- U Carolina-"NQ 4, . : t Joaa Gue, ' , ; '., Daring the decade ot 1780-'6 the;" Bap tlsts ot North Carolina were brought op to more orthodox views and better disolpline tbroogh the labors of inch ministers as Ben jamin Miller, Peter Vanhorn. William Wal lis, the sley-maker, Robert Williams, who was born In Northampton county, N. 0., in the year 1717, and ordained to the pastor ate of Welsh Neek church, BJ O., la 1752, and one other ' minister, tome aeoonnt of whom will be given in the present paper, on account of hie intricate worth and the Talnable aerviee he rendered to the denom Isatlon la this State, This last-named tain later waa none other than the distinguished .; JOHJT 0150, - who came to North Carolina In the summer of 1784; under appointment of the Phila delphia Association, and strain aboat 1786, under appointment of the Charleston Asso elation, which, from aboat that data to the year 1765, had in her membership several churches In this State. Qano foand a fine field for his eloquence, fortitude and pious labors. Uany professed religion under his ministry, and his efforts at reformation of ths churches were crowned with remarka ble success. The Charleston Association tendered him a vote ot thanks for his faith fulness and industry. , - ; ' ' The work ot' reformation' progressed to such a degree, under the labors of-Uano, together with those' of Miller, Vanhorne and others, that before the year 1765, about all the ministers of the State, ex cept Joseph and William Parker; and a Ur. Wlnfield, and all the churches exeept those under their care (two or three) had embraced the principles of the reformation, or. In other words, the doctrines of grace as held by the Regular Baptists of to-day. He organized a ehuroh In the Jersey set tlement, Rowan eounty, In the year 1768, which he served about two years, or until It was broken up by the Incursions of. the Indiana " . ; , ' -.X I had the good fortune, not long since. to find In the house of Joseph Cavenaugn of Duplin county a copy of John Gauo's . hlrranh mrittmn tw iila inn. . Rf jtnhan . Gano. - From ? this, old . work and . other sources, I glean the following facts j John Qano was born at Hopewell, New : Jersey, July 53, 1727. Bis father, Stephen Qano, was a Presbyterian, but his mother was a Baptist, and bis maternal grand mother," who reached the age ot ninety six, was a member of the Baptist cburoh aboat ? seventy-six in.1'rKi:zw?v& r j.efet2Stx He desired to unite with his father's church t : but having some scruples aboat Infant baptism, he sought to bare them removed by cooTersatlon with some Pedo baptist ministers," and especially with one of the distinguished Tennants. Their argu. menu had the same effect upon Qano that Dr. Watts' sermon In favor ot pedobaptlsm had upon Nicholas Bidgegood they made him a Baptist, lie was ordained May, 1754, and ImmArilAijiW nt.ArAd nnnn va.niraligtia work in North and Booth Carolina. He was pastor In Philadelphia and New York several years, and chaplain In the army during most of the Revolutionary war. In 1787 he went to,, Kentucky and died at . Frankfort In that State, in the year 1804, in the seventy eighth year of bis age. . He was twice married, having selected the widow of Capt, Thos. Bryant ot North Car olina, for bis second wlfs. ' " This wonderful man, of whom Benedict said as an itinerant be was inferior to hone who ever travelled the United States, unless it was the renowned Whitfield," was as much noted for his carelessness about dates and places, as for the sprightllness of his., wit. Therefore, while we read In bis Journal of the many Interesting incidents connected with his labor and travels, we are. often made to wish that he bad given more attention to dates and localities. . , ! His leading characteristics were his fear lessness, bis great adroitness In administer-; ing reproofs, and In adapting his texts to bis surroundings, bis exuberance of wit and humor, and his pious zeal in promoting the kingdom of bis Redeemer ' . ' j ; v His fearlessness never seemed to fail him but once, and then only temporarily. It , was during bis first visit to Charleston He preached in the Baptist church, confronted by twelve ministers, among whom was the celebrated George Whitfield. He says ot that occasion !" When I arose to speak, the Slffht of in hrilliflTiK a.n ' A.nr1iAnn. Hman whom" were twelve ministers," and one rt Jhca was lit. Whitfield, for a moment brought the fear of man upon me; buti tlccciii be the Lord, I was soon relieved from this embarrassment; the' thought passed my mind, I had none to fear or -obey trat tne Lord." Aeoordinff to Morgan Edwards' account oi Qano's first visit to Eastern North Caro lina, the brethren, Instead of meeting him as be desired, avoided bim, and appointed a meeting among themselves for consulta tion. Gano, having beard of tbe meeting, went to It, ascended the pulpit, and took for his text the words: 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye!" Some were afraid, some were ashamed of their shy ness, and many were convinced of their errors touching faltb and eon version. One minister, fall of self assurance went tor see and - bear-the stranger, - boasting - that be wrfald return triumphant. . Being asked, ori his return, how he came off, he replied " The Lord have mercy upon you, for this Northern minister has put a men tekel upon mel" r-----' On bid retora from Charlestonrhe deter mined to preach at a place somewhere on Tar river (when or1 where be does not tell us), but was advised not to attempt it, as he had been adjudged -to be e French spy on account of his nam. -He persisted, however,- and had an appointment pub lished, which brought together a large crowd, among whom were a ColotfH and his regiment, it being muster day. t He ap proached the Colonel, who bad threatened, to apprehend him as a spy, and Informed him that, while he was loyal to King George, he was yet more loyal to King Immanoel, and desired to preach to his soldiers The Colonel readily consenting, Qano mounted tbe stage erected for him, and preached on tbe Christian's armor. - The" officer, instead ot arresting him Invited' bim to preach again after a short drill.' Thus ended his threatened chastisement and the fears of his friends. , 2 - J ., , V. I will give but one or two specimens of his way of reproving: r ; - ii Having given great offence once to a couple of young men, while be was preach ing In a very wicked community, the young men dared him to fight. He asked that the fighting be postponed awhile, as be had to preach aain m a" short tim sen ted. At the close of the second discourse, they presented themselves for the fight. He told them that if be had to fight them,' be preferred to do It In a more retired place, and not before tbe great crowd of people. He started for tbe retired place, the young men following close behind. Then he be gan, "Young men, you ought to be ashamed ot your conduct, 1 am an entire stranger here, and know not the names or charae ters of any. .; Ton have proved by your eon duct that you are guilty of tha vices I have censured ; and It 70a feel so much disturbed at say reproofsr low will yoa-etand befor the bar of Qodf- " I beg your pardon; said one. " I beg your pardon; said the other, . I am aof ry. V'4 Jf - T01 lt, gentlemen,," said Qano, 'we will go back? ..While m tbe army he was on his way to the place where be was to pray-with the regiment, and passed by a group ot officers, one of whom wm swearing rapidly. Good morning, . doctor,f said tbey. "Good morning, said he; and then, turning- to the swearing officer, he continued, "Tot pray early this morning." 44 1 beg, your pardon, sir,", said the offioer. t O, I can not 'pardon you; carry your ease to jour Oq or two specimens ot his adroltnesl In adapting texts of Scripture to circum stances, must suffice, ' r, ' .1 . Qn his removal to Kentucky, he lost some ot his valuables by the overturning of one of the boats,-: After landing in bis adopted State, he preached from tbe words, M Bo they ali got a to land.", h 7 While in the army he was Informed on Saturday that the troops would march on the following Monday, bat that be must say nothing about it till after the sermon on Sunday.' On Sunday, therefore Qano preached from the text, H Being ready to depart on the morrow." After the sermon, the orders weregiven, wV i tx.m tiuti ; ' 1 His son, Stephen Qano, visited him after he went to KentuckyrTbe1 first sermon the; father . preached after the visit. was from the words, "Jam glai of the coming 0 Stephanas ':, y. ,rt-u A short extract from the glowing eulogy- pronounced bv Dr, Klohard irurman must close this artlev:;; 'The late Rev, John Gano will be long remembered with affection and respect in the United States of America. , Here was his character formed, and herei as on a conspicuous theatre, were the actions of his amiable, pious and useful life exhibited. ; As a minister of Christ, he shone like a star of tbe first magnitude in the American churches, and moved in a widely extended ' field of . action.1.. m . ;. He lived to a good old age; served bis genera tion according to the will of God, saw his posterity multiplying around: him ; . his eooatry independent, free and happy; the church of Christ, for. which he felt and labored, advancing; and thos be closed his eyes In peace; bis heart expanding with, the sublime hope of immortality Atd heafi enly bliss. ' i Like John the harj blnger of our Redeemer, 'be was a burning and a shining light, and many rejoiced in bis light Resembing the sun, he arose iq tbe church with morning brightness ad vanced regularly to his station of meridian Splendor,- and then- gently-declined ;witb mild, eflukence. till be disappeared with out a cloud to Interrupt bis rays or obscure his glory. t .." v JifO. T. AIJBBITT0V . rulpU tiimpticity. , '-r (A paper presented by Rev. Jt. Huntington, Milan," tore the Detroit M taisters Meeting, November inn, ismj;,::: -TkSWif The word wasmade ; flesh, and dwelt among us. To one who believes and ap preciates the true value of the gospel, as a revelation Of God to men, there is possibly no single statement, even in inspired litera tore, more richly and expressively fraught with the real meaning of the mission ot Christ to the world, than this. Concise, compact, comprehensive,-it contains tbe fact, the method, and tbe promise of things to come. So far as the gospel is relatively concerned, even with its manifold - phases and aims, it Is all present in this one state ment ai Is the many petailed but In the en folding calyx of the rose. It is not assumed, of course, that there is no mystery looped aboat by these extended lines that mark tne directions ox tne advent and ox tne as j emsiooy Macb-of-RHatloiHs-t seed form.; But the smallest of seeds may bold tbe germ of the greatest of herbs. Revealed truth in comprehensive statement Is like a child before you. There la bodily presence, also mind. Moral attributes and spiritual life are' present before yoa. . You may caress the child.- Yon may know and love it familiarly, but on either side of this little globe, filled with the mystery of life, strike oft tangent lines, that go on indefi nitely, radiating evermore; and these lines are tbe borders of what is possible in the life of the ehild. The gospel as to what it is in Itself, or as to Its effectiveness, or as to its results, cannot be eontained by any measure or boundary. LTo think It can be bounded, would be like proposing to sweep a circumference' around 'the being and works of God. But tbe goapel as to what It Is in its relation to sinful men, and as to the work it asks ot men in its ministrations, Is as strangely simple as It" la strangely di vine. Conformity by Christ to our etate In the flesh was aa complete as it was god ward in tbe Spirit We know him. in the brother hood, as the Father know him in the Son ship. The simplicity of his presence is ex- tended even to the cradle and r Is made manifest along the path of a life conformed to the experiences incidental to a plain and bumble life.; No superhuman effort on our part is required to get to Christ,; for he is made manifest in the" flesh and dwells among us He has made the perfect con neetton with men in the flesh, and baa Sim plified whatever requires pur concern, re specting himself and his work for us, so that aceobntabllity fairty obtains!,-if -the offers be makes are not accepted; and the work be appoints is not done. This general thought has it bearing on, the methods of tha pulpit rThe minister ho! Christ may find bis work, lying far this side ot that which Is Imaginative and mystical. The disciple who- stood nearest to -bis - Lord in intimacy, having told of the incarnation in the beginning, of bia gospel, suggests most clearly bis conception of method In the ministry, In the opening phrases' of bis epistles: M That wbioh was from the be ginning which we havewbeardV which we have seen with our eyes,- whichiwe have, looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word -of Ufa, (for the life waa manl- fested and we have seen it) m4 that de clare we unto you." , These are his insis-1 tent words from which cleave awav all dob slbility ol doubt or misunderstanding. The meaning is that the minister is to plainly tell that wbioh has been made plain, to him concerning Christ and his work in the flesh, But from tbe general to the particular, a first step may be i-t . 4 , A WORD OF fJXFtsrtTIOK. This can hardly be necessary, more than to mark a preliminary step.; The termsiav plioity, apart from relative use. It is true, might be shorn of considerable vagueness it laid under the shears of exact definition; but banded up to the pulpit and merged with tbe dignity and sanctity of that highest of thrones of earthly administration, there Is small occasion: of explanation. It is thus barred, of oourse, from sliding dowov wards towards ' the drivel of foolishness, and Is seen in the garb of decoram, and crowned with power. It is true that Paul fact one instance makes special choice ot the word foolishness as fitting the work ot preaching the gospel, but it is an admission formulated by opposition, in the, use of which he an advantage to be. gained. It was from the wisdom of the wise. Paul admits the term as coming from the Corin thian critic, but claims for it the power of God as seen from bis own point of view. Bat, besides the readiness of Paul to allow tbe gospel he preached to be accounted comparatively as foolishness, there is some thing in the persistent method by which he taught his doctrine that explains and en forces the Idea of pulpit simplicity. His manner of discourse was not Involved. He covered nothing. He excused nothing. He made no effort to clothe his doctrine with terms cut after the philosophic patterns so much In fashion about bim at Corinth. Nothing could , be more ; absurd to every Corinthian conception than this doctrine of Paul's as finished, appliedand even glori fied in the cross of Christ- Yet, rather than recede one iota, the faithful preacher in sists, holding that the preaching of the cross U foolishness to them that perish,' but to the saved it is the power of God and by this he Is able tat invert" the order? of the: challenge made to bim, and to state that i God has made foolish the , wisdom, of the world," and has pleased to save them that ' would believe by the "foolishness of preaching.!; He was not after the "wis dom of words, n lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect - Such is the preacher's simplicity plainnesl with tbe troth. j Why, then,- is this method urged t First, because it is In tbe nature of the calling. Ministers who are properly In Office are called of God. Even -the apostles were subject to authority and direction, and tbey so understood it i Nothing was subject to them exeept as they were subject to Christ. We so understand it No point is more strennously held by Baptists than that there must be good evidence of a " call'' to the work,-- superceding ambition, sympathy, education everything, anything that may incline a man to preach. He must be call , ed of God, of which assurance the laying on of hands is but the seal.' But the logic: of this role is decisive that the man so call ed is under bonds to serve. ' The- call and but to servicenot to command, but to obey. He is to preach "the Word," not bis word. He must work to his chart or I089 the ship. A pilot is not- one who knows- the trackless ocean, bat one who steers by the chart and compaes. The in stance of Jonah is in point He evidently had a call. The folly of disobeying this involved him in a sub-marine experience xtrRordlnary.- The waves above him, weeds wrapping about his head, and his ex pulsiou from marine life by a sovereign monster of the deep, brought him fo the pirit of simple obedience; and, willing to go now, ho is restricted In the matter of his mission. "Preach the preaching that I bid thee," Is the limiting Injunction. . i This Idea of the preacher's subordination to tbe divine calling was dearly apprehend ed by Paul, the greatest of preachers. Whether in Corinth, at Jerusalem, facing a mob of frenzied Jews, or before Agrippa, invariably, like , the recurring tide, , he ponjed- upon the reefs of unbelief about him the doctrine of Jesus and the resurrec tion ; It was the substance of the advent,, therefore, of the calling, therefore of the pmchlngr"TbIals hls statement; Ha vlDg obtained help of God, I eontinae onto this day witnessing both to small and great, Saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should eome: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should show light onto the people and to the Gentiles, (Acts 28; 22 23). His impreeeion of his subordinate po sition sm one under Christ is witnessed in bis appeal to the churches of Gaiatia. His' call to be an apostle be insists "is not of man, neither by man,; but by Jesus Christ outd, God the Father who, raised-himfrom the dead."- The spectacle of their removal to "another gospel " amazesjbim, and be indignantly repliesbat-hefe is "not another," andecails lejuatheaua 'upon the man or angel who should, preach anything as gospel that wsAjioJi in matter iilLe.that reqeiyed obimwtTootheraan the jsin eere minister of Christ there would seem) to be serious limitation In the apostle's posi tion here, and from such sources eome t longings tor broader fields, u It-is doubtful if the ark of God, with the old or nsw cov enant, contained, taken upon the, field of controversy, is not liable to be captured, Stored as it may and ought to be, tbe mind of the preacher must, not be cubjeot to subtlety and to departure from "simplic ity "singleness of mind that Is in Christ . Tbe apostolic doctrine was hardly contro verted it was scouted, but It ' turned the world 44 upside -down." It still is tbe salt ot civilization and the power of God not to be ashamed of.... The preaching required is that provided by Christ in matter and in method. An intense dislike grew up in the mind of Qen. Grant towards GenWarren, one of his bravest subordinates,! hatred; that relieved the subordinate general even while tbe glory of his heroism, was gather ing new lustre In the struggle at Appomat tox, and never died, and this because War ren had a habit i, of discussing orders and suggesting ohanges inr them. It -was., a vio lation of one of .the first, rales of good sol-, diershlp, and the superior could not brook it Who is he that will be a good soldier of Jeans Christ and will do otherwise than say the power and. the wisdom are thine 1 service Is afao:-lm g :: , Beoond. Simplicity Is In the nature ot the work. The preacher's objective . point, primarily, Is the heart rather than the Jbeadi It Is moral, rather than intellectual Not to divorce these great functionaries in the hamau constitution, but through, one reach tbe other. With benefloence supreme for both the true method is by way of the heart to the head Save a man, then send hlav to schooli Good ground for experi ment in this matter of preferred primaries has been amply .furnished in this age of mlssiona-' The teacher and preacher have been abroad, and the results have, forced comparison, brhtl-yiAM When the great evangelist of Ongole was forced to abandon, his stoutly cherished plan to capture the stronghold of High Caste, so temptingly ripe In the sunlight of the advanced schools sot western civiliza tion,, from which the way seemed easy to the conquest of the plains of the Low Caste It only confirmed and repeated the experience of Paul and Barnabas at An tlooh. Anxious to first win the Jews, who ieeined to the m to be richer spoil for the faltb, they were expelld by their mora In telligent opposition, and waxing bold they said, 44 It was necessary that the word cf God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing you pot it from you, and jad yourselves anworthy of everlasting life; lo, we torn to the Gentiles." (Acts 13 : ' "Further" back, and by higher authority, comes tbe endorsement of the scene in Si mon's house... Across the . table Cimon flings tbe contempt' and scorn be feels be cause Jesus does not repel the lowly woman whose opportunity had brought her to the feet of her Lord. Back flash tbe divine words of rebuke: "Simon, I have some what to say onto thee," while in the tears of the loviog convert glitter tbe beams of the morning light of its new life in Christ t mi ..1 - x .1. t 1. ' is towards the idea that the gospel is for the people. The election of social and in telleotOal attainment is not in It first in tent. The apllftiDg of the convert is after, rvtunr luui uoiure iuo uuuiuj. a w iubv sheep Is to be found before it can be fat- social and intellectual elevation, Inciuental to Christian civilization' there is' many an - -accomplished mind tbat needs still the coronation of nietv. vet there need be no question as to method In tbe work to be done for such.': 8in wrapped about by ac- ' complishment is sin nevertheless, and Is alas too often ail tbe more siuful because of its environment Nioodemus needs to be born of GkI jusfj an much as Xary of 1 David could not' scale the' walls of the Jebnsites, but he could gain the citadel by way of ; the gutter. Bo then- the work of the minister, like that of the tl aster, is first of all humane in kind. It seeks to uvbi luo uun ui uie peupiB, turn wo ratuj of the thief as an Immediate tropby of the cross, is evidence, enongh, that oar Gavior , makes no fences among the lost sheep, but sweeps the boundary about , the utmost borders of the pastures of sin; 1 COKFOEMITY OF METHOD. ; " Simplicity in the preacher, then, eozzce at last to be only a matter of essentis.1 con-, formlty to the nature ol the calUu j be re-' cognizes, and to the nature of tLe wo: given into his hands. He need not fear the 7 loss of dignity, or the loss of power, if la his methods, especially In' his iacB&29 t9 gives special attention to plainness. TLa language we use la only at its best when la Its purest Baxon orthography and iuioms. There is danger that the preacher may yield to tbe temptation to follow the style of the essayist and the metaphysician, and he-' come polysyllabic and Involved, .in order that he may be acceptable to the intellec tual As sorely as he yields, he will expe rience a loss of power at the point where be needs It most If he has a' pure, sweet word for the child, and-the-illiterate toiler before him, the light and heat of that word will be sure to reach the attention of bis most intellectual hearer. , If. be strikes well t e hot iron of truth with the ringing bam- ' mer of Saxon simplicity, the better clad minds will be first of all to heed the sparks. Webster, was, Saxon, with the constitution for. its exposition. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe says of Wendell Phillips that "be had the uncommon advantages of grace and ele- ganee of person and manner. The plain, almost homely English which be . need in many: of his addresses, showed that he chose to speak tbe language of th9 people, In order to win for his thought tbe most entire understanding and the broadest ac ceptance. He was, howsver a maaf amiliar with all that is polite, in literature and out of it". Surely there need be no fear in the ' use of plain English when we see the honor won by suoh men., But honored examples ' 'like Phillips on the platform and I! roadus . Ma the pulpit ; are only gHnticgs of the method of the Master to whom the com mon people came, and whoso divine words flowed In simplicity alsa divine.' . How charming Is bis pictnred preaching. Would ne . snow how the soul went out to wasting and want, there is the pic- the soul returns to Qod. 7 Lot the prod Igal returns. ' Goods " gone, want pres sing,! will subdued,.. he is soon in the father's home. ; What is the Christian in the world! : 4 'Salt,', 44 light" Howare the disciples to gain men. to the gospel? FLh for them. Cast the net and gather of every sort. ".What is the kingdom incipient! A mustard seed, and afterward! Tbe greater t of herbs. What is tbe Lord's care for .3 people! The shepherd to the sheep. VTts.t his instant and vital relation to them! A3 the br inch to the vine. II ear the divb? mandate of forgiveness. 14 Go in eace asi In rA mn.a t . Raun minrAa anA atrc.v nna w. Mw . WW VM VW.AU Hut. v - . J V a monosyllable. Do you see yonder a lad in picnlo.att'ra. with a little basket of luncheon on tlj irr.t That boy is Christ's minister to Eve t!: 1 sand people,; ..His loaves and fi- hs r 1 ' 1 text, broken into, bits eatable, IS r through the Master's hand, eni p c 3 t feast. The preacher's woncrf. A c: . nity, to gain tbe children, to v ia V ? lies In bis faithful, simple t lectedBibleLet Mm, 19 t 1 ? and richest of gems, gather V 1 " light of God's gospel ta 1 : 1 reflect, resolve that ,L'-it, 5 giving no false coir-'.- - i t' beams. Christian!' " '', ' When tbe j--n r ' the ralooi: Li I 'I looa keepcra r-' 11 ! tha rcjl.oi: 44 1' wrorjeJ, t:: 1 1 ( t - .4 I J An.
The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Feb. 12, 1890, edition 1
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