THE ORGAN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BAPTISTS-DEVOTED TO BIBLE RELIGION, EDUCATION, LITERATURE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE,
Volume 88.
RALEIGHNr
Number 38.
The Biblical Recorder.
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Morgan Edwards and the Begulators.
I read with much interest Dr. Whitsitt's
article in last week's Recorder on the battle
of Alamance Creek between the Regulators
and Gov. Tryons forces, fought May 10,
mi.
In that article, the Doctor says many good
things of Morgan Edwards which I heartily
endorse ; bat he ' makes some disparaging
statements concerning the great Baptist his
torian, which to my mind remain to be
proved. . '
r, It is true that Edwards was honestly de
voted to the land that gave him birth, for he
was born in the principality of Wales ; and
because or this devotion, ne was caned a
Tory. He made no war upon the Regular
tors, however, as did Cols. Richard Caswell,
vvuu aaur) vrv4 uaiu utjau , fiuu uuciO
whose memory North Carolinians delight to
Honor. ' -
f Drv William Rogers, who succeeded Mor
gan Edwards in the Dastorate of the First
Baptist church of Philadelphia, preached.
the latters funeral sermon, teb. 82, 17V3, in
whirth Via fit 'Edward' 'IT Alian mt
iwith dUhonor; but he complained cot much'
;oi this, as it was occasioned by bis strong
attachment to the Roval Family of Great
sHritain in fhA hecrlnnfncr nf ilia Amarloon
i:u c J vt .1 - rr ...
vx, wuwu u.eu uu uiui tueuuiueui t J-ury;
this T ithniiM havA omiltfid mntioninc hnd
not the deceased expressly enjoined it ppon
me. For anv person to have been so marked
out in those days, was enough to bring on
political opposition and destruction of prop
erty; all of which took place with respect to
Mr. Edwards, though he never harbored the
thought of doing the least injury to the
TT1. J C1J.-J. 1 .ii -
; vuuru owues, oy aueuiug mw uausw ui uur
enemies."---ltenWc$, History of the Bap
As to the seeminelv contradictory resolu
tions on page 14 of the North Carolina Bap-
use Almanac, 1 would say, by way of expla
nation, that the first: resolution requiring
union with the Regulators as a condition of
membership was passed by a local church
(Haw River) in the midst of the excited and
oppressed populace, and that the second res
olution forbidding taking tip arms against
the civil authority was passed by an Asso
ciation (Sandy Creek) that, at that date, ex
tended over parts of three States, North Car
olina, 8outh Carolina and Virginia.
Edwards did speak of North Carolina as
"ft poor and unhapov Province, whose supe
riors make complaints of the people, and the
people of their superiors; which complaints,
if just, show the body politic to be like that
of Israel in the time of Isaiah," &c,
u there is any truth in history, every word
of the above was distressingly and unques
tionably true; and the statement contains no
evidence of the author's unreasonable preju
dice against the State, or his unreliability as
a historian.' 1
The following extract from EI wards' His
tory shows that our oppressed people had
his profound sympathy instead of his un
reasonable prejudice, and it further shows
that Baptists were prominent in the opposi
tion measures against the recklessness, in
justice and oppression of Tryon's adminis
tration.) The extract is from Vol. II., page
V of Benedict's History, . and relates , to
Sandy Creek church : -.- - f
- " Very remarkable things (said Morgan
Edwards inl775) maybe said of this church,
worthy a place in Gillls's book, and inferior
to no instance he gives of the modern suc
cess of the gospel, in different parts of the
world, it began with sixteen souls, and in
a short time increased to 606. spreading Its
tranches to Deep River and Abbott's Creek,
Which branches are gone to other provinces,
and most of ' the members of this church
have followed them ; insomuch that in sev
enteen years it is reduced from 606 to 14
souls. The cause of this dispersion was the
abuse of power which too much prevailedin
the trovinrA Arid ran sad th inhabitants at
last to rise up in arms and fight for their
privijeges; but being routed May 16th, 1771,
they despaired of seeing better times, and
therefore quitted the province. It is said
that 1,500 families departed since the battle
- of Alamance, and, to my knowledge a great
rnany more are only waiting to dispose of
their plantations, in order' to follow them.
This is to m an argument, that their griev
ances were real, and their oppression great.
notwithstanding all that has been said to the
contrary.11 (The italics are mine in the las
sentence.) -
It seems to me an easy matter to account
for Hid wards . statement tnat out of 4,000
Regulators he found only seven Baptists.
without impeaching the historian's veracity
or fair-mindedness. In the first place, many
of the Baptists, as ' well as others, left the
sections in wnicn tne battle was fought soon
after the engagement. Secondly, it is a rea
sonabie supposition that, at the time of Ed
wards' visit (1772), the defeated Regulators
were not very forward to inform him or any
otner stranger oi their connection with
movement that had (as they supposed) re
Dr. Whitsitt 6ays that Captain Merrill
the Baptist officer who was hanged for his
part m the earliest battle of the devolution
has endured the obloquy heaped upon him
by the Rev.; Morgan Edwards quite long
enough." It may be that the Doctor has
proof that Ed wards has heaped obloquy upon
the unfortunate Merrill. If he has, I would
like to see it. I confess that I have never
seen anything from Edwards that sustains
tnrcKarger
Edwards does say this of Merrill: "One
of the seven Baptists, by the name of Mer
rill, was executed ; and he, at the point of
death, did not justify his conduct, but bit
terly condemned it; and blamed two men
(of very different religion) for deceiving him
into the rebellion. The man bore an
excellent character, insomuch that one of
his enemies was heard to say that if all went
to the callows with Capt Merrill's charac
ter, hanging would be an honorable death."
Indeed Merrill's speech at the gallows
heaped more obloquy upon him than any
thing that Edwards ever said of him. I give
only a part of the speech : !
kl stand here exposed. to the world as
criminal. My life will soon be a change.
Uod is my comforter and supporter. 1 am
condemned to die for opposing government.
All you that are present, take warning by
my miserable end, when I shall be hung np
as a spectacle before you. My first seducers
were Hunter and Gelaspie. They had often
solicited me, telling that a settlement only
was contended for with regard to public
offlcers,' who, they said, bad oppressed the
people: and that unless these measures were
taken, mere would, oe no remedy or rearess
hereafter. , Thus they pressed me on by as
suring me the disputes (as they called them)
then existing migut .be settled without shed
ding of . blood. I considered this unhappy
Affair, and thought, possibly, the conten
tions in the .country might be brought to
some determination, without injury to any;
and in this mind 1 joined the Regulation
I received, by the grace of God, a
change fifteen years ago ; but have, since
that time been a bacKsnuer; yet fr ovidence,
in which is my chief security, has been
pleased to give me comfort under evils in
my last hour; and although the halter is now
round my neck, believe me, I , would not
change stations with any man on the ground.
till you who thinx you stand, take heed lest
ye fall. I would be glad to say a few more
words before Idle. In a few moments J
shall leave a widow and ten children. I en
treat that no reflection be cast upon them on
my account i and. if possible, shall deem it
as ja bounty, should you, gentlemen, petition
the Governor and Council, that some part
of my estate may be spared tot the widow
and the fatherless ; it will be an act of char
ity, for I have forfeited the whole, by the
laws of God and mansBenedict 8 History,
CP. 116-118. 4 ' '
The truth is, that thousands of Regula
tors (for they abounded from the sea shore
to the mountains) went into the movement
with the expectation of having their griev
ous wrongs redressed without resort to hos
tile measures. It was with this expectation
that Merrill became a Regulator, and could
the unfortunate patriot come back to life
and see the Outcome of that battle on Ala
mance creek, he would retract every word
of his speech that : is condemnatory of the
part he acted in that memorable battle.
4 In conclusion, let me say that I shrink
from controversy, especially with my own
brethren. ! love Dr. Whitsitt, and. would
esteem it a privilege to sit at his feet and
learn; but I think that he has cast unmerited
obloquy upon the good name of Morgan Ed
wards, whose distinguished services to the
American Baptists should forever shield him
from unjust criticism. " "
t ' , JOHN 1, ALBRITTON,
Mt. Olive, N.O. .
tm- ; : ' .
- J ' 'Dabbling or Digging.
A recent number of The Biblical World
Has a fitrons- nlea for more comnrehensive
and AArefnl atndV of the Bible.' It savs with
truth, "We may examine the pupils who for
'ears nave irequentea, ine ounaay bcuoois,
n which the Bible forms the chief subject
nf rnnslrlflrAtion. from which. In most cases.
they come forth with an ignorance of the
most common racts ana tne simplest irams
that in Afitonndinor. Or we mav reach higher
and intrant! onto th Wrtrk 1nf the ITlnltitndA of
colleges scattered throughout the land, called
and represented to be Christian colleges, in
. . . . . Mi A. iL m t i J li M -
Whicnso little oi tne uuin oi ;nrisuaniiy is
taughtand that little so poorly taught as
to make the Christian,' as thus applied,- in
vertr trath a misnomer " ' In short, there is
Slenty of dabbling with the Bible in these
ays,, hut not much downright digging in it.
One of the most hopeful signs of the times,
however, Nis tne growing aissausiacuon at
the dabbling ' , ' '
Answer to Interogatories of James E. Elalock,
The first interogatory Is this "If an or
dained Free Will Antimission, or Campbel
lite. Baptist preacher, be received into the
fellowship of a Baptist church in i North
Carolina, should he be ordained by our own
brethren before becoming pastor of a tJap
tist church t" -MvXokf'. v lX
I think the proper answer to this Question
depends oh something precedent to it; that
is, should a person be received into a E&p
tist church from any of said organizations
on the baptism received in the societies
from which he (tame. If the ministers of
the societies from ' which he came had the
scriptural authority to baptize, then it fol
lows as a logical sequence that they had the
equal right to ordain; ana it they had no
right to perform one act, neither had they
the right to perform the other. And their
right, in both cases, depends upon whether
the organizations to wmcn they belong are
proper New Testament churches Without
entering largely into the discussion of this
question, it will suffice to notice the attitude
of Baptist churches towards the parties in
question4-; km..w.... -Ji.:f:s::
TAsnheK
know the attitude held generally by Bap
tists toward people of this sect, for I have
cever been thrown in contact with them.
and I have very little written information
about them, it is stated in Brown's Jn&
Rel. Knowledge . by one of their leading
ministers that they were organized in the
United States in 1780, and their existence is
carried no farther back.-, Their church
polity and doctrines differ very widely from
the church polity and doctrines held and
practiced by Baptists. It is true that they
immerse on a profession, of faith, but that
does not, in my view of the fitness of things,
cure all other ills. " In our invitation to the
Lord's Supper, to those of the same faith
and order, it seems to me they are neces
sarily excluded. If so, then their organiza
tion cannot be regarded as a proper gospel
church. This being the caserit seems to
me improper to recognize as valid the ordi
nances as administered by them. - r
As to the Campbellite organizttion, their
case is very plain to my mind. Apart from
the doctrinalvyiews which they hold con
trary to those held by Baptists from time.
immemonal, or from the days of the apos
ties, their sect had its origin from persons
excluded from Baptist churches for holding
and teaching views contrary to the teaching
of the Scriptures as understood and taught
by the great body of Baptist churches, v To
accept the ordinances as administered by
them would be an acknowledgment that
their societies are proper Hew Testament
churches. This would open to them the
door of communion with u, else place us in
a very awkward position. . . , t .
The safest way is to require all persons
desiring to unite witn liaptist ; churches
from these sects to relate their experience
oi errace. and - baptize them lost lixe anv
other persons, and if one of their preachers
'wish to unite with us, treat him in the same
way, and then if he wants to preach, let
him preach, and if a Baptist church wants
him as pastor, ordain mm, it found worthy,
just like we do in ordinary cases. And it
seems to me that any preacher uniting with
a Baptist church from either of these sects,
witn proper views of a xsew Testament
church and New Testament doctrine, would
not be satished with less than this.
As to the Antimission ct Antinomian
Baptists, their case is quite different from
the other two. I regard their societies as
New Testament churches, though very re
miss in duty; they have the ordinances as
delivered by the apostles, and they preach
a great deal of gospel truth, though J, re
gard them as too contracted in their views.
For these reasons, briefly stated, I think the
ordinances as administered by them, in
cluding ordination, are entitled to respect. '
2. without formally stating the query,!
do not see how a Baptist preacher can be
come pastor of a Free Will Baptist church.
He might preach the gospel to them, (no
doubt but they need it,) but l do not see
how he can consistently be pastor. Being
astor embraces more than preaching; it
ncludes the administration : of the ordi-
a Baptist preacher to administer the ordi
nances of the gospel for any church other
than a regular Baptist church.. A Baptist
preacher who becomes pastor of a Free Will
Baptist church, and persists in such con
duct, I think puts himself in a position for
t iji... i rit-j- t.i .. Lt
unpusis to wiiuaraw ieiiuwbaip iiviu uiiu.
If the Free Will Baptists want a Baptist pas
tor, the way is open. Let them relate their
christian experience and be baptized by a
egular Baptist preacher, and be organized
into a Baptist church. V 1 a"
: Home who are called Baptists are Decora
ne too mongrel. The great trouble with
the Jews were their mixing with and imita
ting surrounding ' nations. Let ' us beware;
a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
7 ANSWERS TO J. ' ll BLALOCK'S QUERIES. .j
Answer to the first: He should first be
baptized, and then ordained.
Answer to the second : 2o. ' v
-: Respectfully, Jno. T. Albritton; '
-March 18, 1883. i - ' -i
We should blush to ask God for greater
blessings while we are refusing to thank
him for "those rwe" already have, tit tot
broader opportunities, while we are falling
to embrace those already glven.-Selected.
Our Boys and Girls.
-Many Christian parents are often perplex
ed by the difficulties of training a family of
children, especially of directing them in the
matter of amusements, and of shielding
inem irom dangers to be met with in mod
era social life. A letter was lately publish
ed in the London Christian from . JAn
Anxious Mother," stating, her difficulties
and asking for advice. A number of replies
were received, some of which are here sub-"
joined. In whole or In part It is interest
ing to see how these fathers 'and mothers.
while using ail precautions and helps which
parental love and wisdom suggest, feel
deeply the importance of enlisting the power
of divine grace in their efforts to secure the
end in view.?"?'1- st W'' s?
:rK - A Thankful Father M writes i 'I have
adopted the same plan with my boys as with
tbe girls, and have always sept them away
from scenes of dancing, acting, and, indeed.
from Christmas parties altogether, feeling
sure that such associations ,were not com
patible with bringing them up in 4 tbe nur
ture and admonition of, the Lord. The re
sults have been most happy, mv w
family of four sonsanl'two daughters being
brought to the Lord in their youth; they are
now connected with the Christian church.
and mostly engaged in happy service for
tne Master.
j -1 should like,' however,' to add that, while
not allowing them to f choose ' their, own
amusements, I have endeavored to make
home the happiest place on earth for them;
and although i could not sanction football,
cricket,1; and rowing ; cf6,. on account of
their associations, yet I encouraged all these
exercises amongst my children and their
young friends, at a good deal more expense
in one way, but perhaps at less if all were
taken into account." Good, bright singing
and musio, with carefully selected but read
able books and periodicals always at hand,
have also contributed to the end in view."
"A Happy Mother" writes We prayed
that our children might be the Lord 8, and
we expectadi they would be, and therefore
trained them for that service into which we
believed be would call them. . We did not
consider worldly amusements would fit them
for this. Charades we thought would only
give them a taste ' for the theatre, dancing
for all tbe Vanities and follies of the world.
We thought , that if we took them to the
edge of the precipice, and told them not to
tall over, they most likely would fail, and
so we had better fceep mem from tne prm
pice. "We also avoided all parties as they
are ..generally : ; understood. , W e guarded
them, so far as we could, from worldly lit
rature, associations, occupations, and pleas
ares. On the other hand, we put before
them the chief end of man f to glorify God
and enjoy him forever;' and endeavored, by
precept and practice, to show ; them the
pleasure qf caring for others," the joys of
inA'a 6prirA t.nA ' rirh .; t,rpsnrfts ' in 'J Ma
Woid. and the satisfying portion in himself.
We were careful also to make their home-
life bright and interesting, giving as many
smiles and kind words as possible, that they
might never connect f gloom and sadness
with separation to the service of God. We
gave them to God, and he accepted them;
inaearly life they were the subjects of his
converting grace, and an are now earnestly
engaged In his service. We sought for
them J first the kingdom,' and he has not
been unmindful of his promise." -
Another correspondent, - " A Thankful
Mother," who has brought up a large family
of boys, all of whom have grown up Chris
tian believers, speaks of her husband's en
deavora to guide and interest them by tak
ing them on excursions and entering into
their . pleasures. Another correspondent
urges the provision of suitable " hobbies."
and that parents should make themselves
one with their children, thus encouraging
their love and.: confidence. Yet another
V Grateful Mother!' says : "My husband
and I were believers when we were married.
As the Lord gave us children, we gave them
Dacx to mm. - ab soon as iney couia unaer-
stand, we taught them their need pf a a
yiour, and set before them the biessedneps
of a life spent for Jesiis and eternity.. We
aimed also, both by : precept and by ex
ample, to'teach them that to live for God
was one thing, and to live for the "world
quite another. To the praise and glory of
God I can say that in the case or each, be
fore they were fourteen years of age. all
seven gave evidence of being born again.
Asto Christmas parties, etc., they are as
numerous with us as in any other locality;
but we have had no trouble with our chil
dren on that point. They never seemed to
care for'tuch things. If, however, as has
sometimes been the case, they have express
ed a wish to go somewhere or do something
which, as parents, we were not quite cer
tain was right, we never considered it wise
sternly to refuse them permission, but we
have reasoned with them, and if after all
they did not seem satisfied, I have gone to
the mercy-seat and told the Lord, and left it
with him. Iuvariablv thev would seek me
out afterwards, and say, 'Mother, I think I
won't go now. We have entered into their
troubles and helped them ; also made the
home bright and cheerful with music and
sacred song. One dear girl departed to be
with' Christ at twenty-two, and a beloved
son at twenty -four years of age, leaving be
hind them glorious testimonies to the power
of Christ to save and keep; and this fills our
souls with adoring praise to God." '
Other correspondents maae userai-sugges
tions. A mother of six, three of them boys,
who in youth professed themselves on the
Lord's side, writes: "Our children were de:
voted to the Lord from their birtb, trained
for him, and taught, to the best of our abil
ity, by precept and example in the home,
that religion was a reality, salvation through
.Christ the only source of real joy, and obe
dience better than' sacrifice. . I always felt
it was mockery to pray for our children to
be delivered from temptation, if we know
ingly placed them; therein; therefore we'
never allowed them, to go to any entertain-.
ments or parties which were even doubtful,
teaching them that there was no real pleas
ure in going where anything was said or
done likely to grieve our Saviour King, or if -he
could not go with us. At the same time, .
it was our endeavor to make home as bright
and lively as possible, and to allow the
young people to do every thing we could that
was a healthy, recreation, or combined in
struction with amusement." , ,
"A father" writes "Though the ques
tion is asked in regard to ' Our' Boys,' I
would rather put it 'Our Children.' The temp
tations and the difficulties for boys may be
different in character and degree from those
affecting girls; yet the principles involved
Jnfivery .-case. are i the ame whether en
proached from the child's or from the pa
rent's, point of view. What is the duty of
the parent in any doubtful case t What is
the duty of the child I . If we can arrive at
an answer to these questions, as in the Bight
of God, I believe we shall also, if we seek
always to be guided by him, find the path
will be made clear,' and that blessing will
follow - -
V ..; " What is the parents' duty f It is clearly !
to bring up our children in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord. Not merely in a
general and indefinite way, but by making
this the first and absolute end and aim be
fore us, by prayer, by faith, by precept, by
example. Two instances in the word of
God have always 'been to us, the one a
guide, ; the other a beacon, in steering
through these troubled seas: Abraham, 'I
know him, that he will command his chil-.
dren, and his household after him,' (Gen. :
18: 19); and Eli, who 'restrained them not,'
(1 Sam. 3: 13). I believe the divine law is
responsibility on the parents' side, with the ;
right to command. The child's duty is as
clearly to obey., But if they do not obey!
Here a most difficult problem comes in. It
is certain, command and obedience must be
no spasmodic things, but the result of early
training and continued habit, as in the sight
of God. With this I believe in dependence
on God's power that the result will be gain
ed and the control be effective. "" At least, in .
our experience, we have thankfully to say
Ebenezer, after a married life of nearly .
t wen tv-nine Vf8rs. We have often been
, brought to an end of self, and yet this word
has been made true. we nave always en
deavored to make our home as bright and
happy as tee. could, whilst . we have et our
faces against? the theatre, dancing, and
questionable amusements, explaining that,
though perhaps some might be engaged in
by others, and arguments be put forwards
for them, we were convinced that their ten-,
dency was to draw the soul away from
Christ, and to entangle it in the world; and
therefore we did not allow them in our fam-'
ily and our household. I ought perhaps to
say,, with great thankfulness to God for his
mercy to us, that all our children, ten of
whom are living, early gave their hearts to-
him, and that active Christian work, suit
able to! their ages and powers, has filled .
many an hour which otherwise would have
been open for the claims of the world, and
in this way lessened the questions that have
from time to time arisen amongst the chil
dren on these subjects. As we can say
Hitherto,' so I believe we shall find it true
unto the end.'" Christian Secretary.
. - - Ho Sabbath. ; -
Horace Greeley, when traveling in Switz
erland some years be fore, his death, wrote
tbe following:
"I could wish you might stand an hour
With me, on Sunday morning, in the labor
market, in Geneva, and see the troops of
dull, tired and saddened looking laborers,
unwashed from the grime and sweat of one
week's work of seven days, trudging off
sluggishly and wearily, like dumb, driven
cattle, to the work of the next week of seven
days. Are these slaves!' you ask. Slaves I
Bless you, no. These are free men. These
are voters and citizens in a land of universal
suffrage, under the freest government on.
earth, with' an advanced and liberal consti
tution of the latest French .invention, and
with the modern improvements. No blue
laws here. ' They once had blue laws in
Geneva, but they have laughed them down
long ago. s This which you see is liberty-
complete," untrammelled, personal liberty.
Every one or these free citizens nas a rvrut,
a proud, irrevocable right to work oa Sun
day if he chooses, and that is what it en J3
in for him, and that is what it will crA in
for yon if you choose to make the costly ex
periment. The worklngman who rn.iy rn'.
on Sunday, has got to work on Sunda y . ! .
work Is wanted. The right to. wcr"
each, depends Upon the law of tczi f
Think of it, think twice, think cf it
then say if yod will barter away yr
right, the American Sabtath, th 3 ;
privilege of rich and poor, for VJ :
French delusion, this coati : ' 1 '
through which half cf t- 1 :
toil that the other half 1 f
'flector, .'v. ;...,1;V,.,I....;:.
. m0 r
Life is made up cf KU' ) V '