For the Christian Sun.
“TEMPERANCE IN ANYTHING,” No. 2.
Or a defence of Christian brethren thinking for
themselves, or interpreting the 11 Major themselves
on temperance as well as all else Jaufully, or the
Protestant right of private judgment as to Chris
tian Temperance,
Rut party zealots, or the tribe of people of one
idea only in respect to their darling shibboleth may
say ; the right of private judgment, or of individ
nal Bible interpretation must be kept within the
limits to which all honest men consent, “and no one
presume to judge a bad act a good one, or what God
has forbidden, a Christian duty.” i But this a senti
ment of popery innn insiduous aspect. For, who
the all honest men, to infallibly dictate to others
what a bad or good act ? or what a Christian duty ?
or a God forbidden act? Not to advert to the
fact that Papists claim for themselves and Pope
the entire monopoly of honesty Ac., and therefore
hold that all the rest of mankind no right to think
for themselves in religion, and that every party ol
ultra exclusives pretty much on the same foot
ing as to overly modest claims to say for others
what God’s will is as to faith aud duty, let it be
borne in mind, that ultra teetotalism is a mere
infidel like speck ou the Christian horizon.
For whjle a great parade by these ultras c
thousands of a certain order ; millions of chris
tians in America (not to speak of the countless
-number in the old world temperate on wine ever}
day) adhere literally to the Bible as to temperance
ana utmost alt of whole orders of Christians static
aloof from a society for being with (as to some o
its divisions) as well as of infidels and other ene
mies of true Christianity. And a considerable
and most intelligent portion of the Sons of tern
perance in the old North (noted for sober minded
ness, and not to be led easily into new fanglei
notions) not to go further—hold it to be wrong anc
impolitic for any of their fellows to go ultra 01
beyond their society principles to attack and per
secute in character temperate drinkers. Anc
these true Sons of Temperance consider it riglv
for temperate di inkers thus attacked and persecu
„ ted to defend themselves by Bible and other ra
tional means of argument; and thus confer an indi
rect benefit, at least, to their order by helping Ic
reign in the indiscreet unjust zeal of their ul
tras.
Anau every zeaioi oi a society is pciumwn
to add his humanly invented sins to the catalogue
of God’s pronounced sins—why, we may have
seventeen thousand in tea d of seventeen ere long un
der colour of the;.phrase such like. And worst of
all every Christian virtue besides true temperance,
may thus by one and another zealot be converted
into a vice, and that in the name of that God who
has appended awful sanctions against wresting and
perverting the Scriptures to subserve mere parti
zan purposes. The party cant phrase “ make
drunkards,” often reiterated to prove the absurd
position that the responsibility rests upon the
maker and seller of liquors instead of the buyer
and user. To hold this without exception or
qualification is as irrational as to say that the ma
ker or coiner of money makes all the crimes that
arise from that which the Scriptures declare as to
the love of it, is the “ root of all’evils,” or that
the makers of provisions make all gluttons or of
deadly weapons all blood shed. Or in short that
(with all reverence spoken) the Maker of fire and
water, accountable for all the destruction of pro
perty and life by these elements. The phrase
“ Temperance in all thinys ” being a Scripture
quotation, if it proves nothing by proving too
much that, everi, if so, would not be my fault.
But doubtless the apostle meant by the phrase,
temperance of mind as well as bodily or physical
temperance. And that as to pray always means
to be always in disposition to pray—so to be tcm
perate in all things includes the dssposition to be
humble and moderate as4o all things and matters
Providence calls the Christian to use or encounter.
And as charity the greatest Christian virtue ; so
bigoted denunciation of- brethren for the mere
exercise of Heaven warranted faith and practice
the greatest intemperance. But physical temper
ance as to anything without its moderate use ap
pears to involve a plaimcontradiction. For tem
perance in any thing certainly implies the moder
ate use of that thing. And as teetotal societies
have a special reference and we may say an exclu
sive primary reference to alcoholic drinks; or to
have nothing tp do with these drinks at all as a
beverage, why properly speaking abstinence and
only abstinence is the issue between them and
temperate drinkers. For all cliristians take com
mon cause-with teetotallers against drunkenness,
and for the use of-alcolmlic drinks tpedicinally.
Thefore the teetotalism of said societies cannot
rationally 6e made other than mere negative tem
perance and legitimate sonship a hand-maid to
true Christian Temperance, and I add that the il
legitimate a most insidous deadly foe to that Chris
tian virtue by being virtually infidel against Christ
and his teaching and example. For the Christian
. especially to condemn Christ’s teaching and ex
ample and in doing so to join in to be with and of
(as to society-ship,) infidels and other enemies
of Ghiistianitv is not only the appearance of evil,
but a crying evil itself. It was an evil to reproach ]
Christ for temperate drinking and for being with
publicans and sinners. A mere begging of the
question at issue to say that you cannot be tem
perate on a bad thing or in doing moral evil. For
the assertion without proof by the Bible or reason
that all alcoholic drink!, are bad and their use a
moral evil, goes for nothing of course, with those
thinking for themselves differently and with the
Bible as they interpret it in their right of private
judgment. And to surrender this right is to
give up all primary liberty principles at once to
frmalical arrogance and tyranny of any and every,
description. The allegation of self interest blind
ing liquor makers and sellers come with a bad
grace from ultra ones seemingly anxious in their
very charges of this nature and in judging sordid
moiivos of others by their own feelings, to gain
money, (the sinews of power) as well as prose
lytes into their societies. King James could not
put down tobacco by denouncing it as the devil’s
weed—but some sycophant believing him, might
bandy sordid interest to help!him, by uttering
the sentence that the tobacco’maker was actuated
by either the love of money or the weed; like
teetotal ultras have set forth that a liquor maker
either loved money, liquor or both.
This charge of sordid motive irrespective of
qualification is nothing better than a trick of ar
gument addressed to vulgar prejudice only. This
slang of self interest confounding it with selfish
interest appears to point to the exclusion.of a wit
ness in court to swear money, into his own pocket.
But on the other hand by a lawyer or otherwise
every man’s duty to plead in his own defence.
And so far from money or self interest at stake
setting aside pleas in self defence that the more
at stake, the more just motive for such pleas.—•
Otherwise ; or self interest a barrier to self de
fence and the Christian’s interest for time and
eternity identified with Christianity ; infidel attacks
should carry their sway with impunity.
Self interest to love ourselves ; or as much as
our neighbor, inducing self defence in every thing.
Selfish interest to love ourselves more than out
neighbor, inducing wrong to our neighbor.—
The Bible the standard, every one in just sell
interest to think and act lawfully as to temper
ance—in unjust or Selfish love to think foi
others ; and to injure them in good name at least
i for not submitting to such selfish dictation ovci
| their primary liberty rights. Denunciation evci
follows on the heels of fanaticism ; and persecu
tion of character by denunciation is the next stef
to persecution of the worst stamp whenever fa
naticks gain the power by any means: as bj
wresting the Scriptures or by tricks of argument
The way fanaticks are made is lately well described
' by the eminent judge Sprague of Massachusetts
i in application to a most pernicious fanatacism that
j in its legitimate effects had well nigh ruined our
i republic. The process described is virtually this;
i by making the fanatic himself tell it, say, to warr
; his intended victims. First, I%onder another can
| not see things in the light I do, and my party
j Secondly ; that another cannot be honest in see
; ing or pretending to see things in a different lighl
from me and party. And thirdly I think it righl
to punish others for their wilfully foolish and wick
ed blindness. And as in this country no direct
persecution tolerated of necessity denunciator
must take its place.
One thus infatuated arrogating all sense and al
virtue to self and party in the matter of difference
seems to say, I will cut the crontroversy short bj
dubbing my opponent a fool; and thus nullify in
public estimation or at least in that of my parti
zans all his after arguments ;—and I will take the
place of God and exclude him from Heaven and
send him to hell as a warning to all others to nev
er dare to dispute my opinions and positions. For
j all such dispute is opposing God and righteous
ness, under the false or unlawful exercise of pri
j vate judgnjnnt>^ This (he common routine ol
making (who the maker ?) of all intolerants of
every description. (Let the Christian Sun by
free discussions of free principles unmaslc some at
least.) And the best person^ ever living have
been the earthly sufferers in some way by this
making process. As St. Paul pronounced beside
himself or crazy by the Heathen zealot Festus.—
And the Son of God himself not only denounced
as a wine bibber &c., by the old pharisees, and
their sycophants but unchurched and put to death
by these virulent enemies of private judgment and
its liberties.
AIJC pictlll UIUIUICS I»I1C VYUIU VI VJUU IUSI PlglH
of to lay the foundation of any exclusive denun
ciatory course of any set of arbitrary men ; and
fairly presumable that all their superstructure of
argument is morally rotten or corrupt; however
plausable in some of its aspects. “Something
rotten in Denmark.” And any course of exclu
sives not bearing the light of discussion and thor
ough sober minded investigation carries wrong on
the very face of it. But the very nature of fa
naticism is to denounce in lieu of sober argument
and when for its would be or unjust severity, se
verity is justly retorted, it feigns to consider such
defence so much outrageous rebellion against it's
infallible truth. It a right it seems to attack but
! others no right to defend ; or some principle, oth
, ers no right to choose their own mode of defence;
and above all to adopt its own mode of just se
verity for unjustly severe attacks. But if such
proud arrogance bad-been- abjectly submitted to
by good and wise, and independent, where would
have been Luther and the Reformation; find
Washington and the Revolution ?
With all due deference to brethren in the Lord
most respectfully submitted,
SIDNEY WELLER.
Bnnkleyville, Halifax co. N. C. )
Semptember 23d, 1851. J
Far the Christian Sun.
SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLE.
A SUPPOSED CA8E-BY W. B. S'fOWE.
Many men seem anxious to justify their own
practices by scriptural examples, anrl it is to be
feared that selfishness sometimes leads them to
handle the word of God deceitfully, and use quo
tations merely as excuses for known wrong, or to
ward of the just reproach to which they know
their crimes expose them.
Suppose for instance, a man practices making
and selling wine, and seeks to justify his course
from the. fact that Jesus made wine for others to
drink, docs he follow the example of Christ 2_Is.
the scripture he quotes any real justification for
him? Or has he any ground to suppose that h'e
is following Christ’s example ? Let us see :
1st. Christ made wine of water, and that only
Does he do so ?
2nd. We have reason to believe -iliat the wine
made of water could not intoxicate. Is his wine
as harmless ? -
3rd. Christ made wine hut once. It was not his
common business. Does he imitate Christ in this ?
4th. Christ gave away the wine he made:—re
ceived no pay. Docs he do so? How great the
contrast ! Christy by miracle, to make known his
divine power, once turned water to a harmless
wine, and gave "it toothers without charge, and
now a man makes it a common business Jo make
wine, and furnish it for others to drink, even with
the power of intoxication, and requires ])ay to fill
his pocket, and gratify a selfish, miserly heart, to
the injury of his fellow-men, and pleads the exam
ple of Christ in his defence! “Oh shame ! where
IT TIIY BLUSH !”
But does he really wish to make a single act of
Christ a pattern for constant temporal labor?
Christ once destroyed a fig tree—will he there
fore spend his time destroying fig-trees, and justi
fy himself by the miracle of Christ? Why not?
Is not the example as plain and valid in this case
as in making wine? Again: Christ more than
once fed a multitude, several thousands, and without
pay;—will the wine dealer follow the repeated ex
ample of Christ and do the same ? Or will he have
“ terms ” and pay for his “ wino ” nnd provisions ?
Before a man pleads the example of Christ on
one point, let him see that he conforms to the
general work and principle, and not tnke the ex
ample of an innocent, generous, and miraculous
work, and twist it round to justify his own selfish
and miserly hoarding of gain, in direct opposition
to the teaching and example of Christ, arid in
which he makes himself a curse to his race.
Christ performed many works, nnd when seen
connected, and in their true light, the spirit of
purity and kindness extends through them all.
Ho performed no act to injure others, or for his
own selfish gain. I1b “ went about doing good."
But suppose the wine dealer professes to do good
in his work, and to sell wine for the promotion
of “ True Christian Temperance." Is he there
fore really laboring for good ? or has he any rea
son to think so? Or can a man of common sense
and common information believe that the free use
of wine is “ true Christian temperance ” ? Or can
a man believe that another deals in wine, ns a com
mon drink, on any benevolent or Christian prin
ciple, or would continue to “ do good ” in that way,
if he had no selfish hope to encourage his business ?
Let the scriptures and well-known facts decide
the character of his work.
Inspiration says, “ Wipe is a mocker,” and
“ They that tarry long at the wine, they that go
to seek mixed wine,” have “ woe,” “ sorrow,
"contentions,” “babbling,” "wounds without
cause,” and redness of eyes and adds, “ Look
not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it
giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself
aright: At the last it biteth like a seui'ent, and
stingetu like an adder.” - And men are said to
have “ erred through wine, to be “ overcome with
wine,” “ defiled with wine,” and “ drunk with
wine”; and the charge that the disciples were •* full
of new wine,” Peter regarded 'as a slander an ac
cusation of crime, that required a positive denial,
sustained by evidence. And again, saieth the scrip
tures, “ Be not amongst wine-bibbers.” Now il
after all this against wine, not only feiknentetj, but
new, (and much more might be quoted,) and the
command to men not to be among wine-bibbers,
a man professing to be a Christian can encourage
the free use of wine as a Christian virtue, aud
offer his own services as public waiter to all the
wine-bibbers of the country, and urge them to
gather round him and drink their fill, is a man to
blame in expressing his shame that he is himsell
a part of that common humanity that has even in
a single instance so deplorable a representative,
! and that too in one who claims the refinement of a
holy religiop in addition to our common nature ?
But the Vel^known facts of our own age ful
ly correspond with the ancient and inspired scrip
tures, in giving wine its character aud iufiuence.
Thousands of sober men bad commenced the
use of wine, and by its influence become common
1 drunkards. Many drunkards have sought to re
form, but chose to continue to us a a little wine
and continued druujeards. And many who have
reformed, have been induced to drink the so call
ed “ harmless wine,” and again they became
urun/caras, wine is ruypr uue ui iue umci tuipic*
ments used in drunkard-making, and it is a well
known fact that it is nearly impossible for a drunk
aid to reform, or one reformed to remain so, if he
allows himself on any occasion, to take a glass of
wine. How can a man promote “ Christian tem
perance” by the very course that makes drunk
ards of sober men, keeps drunkards from reform
ing, and causes those who have reformed to re
turn to their drunkenness ? What a sad speci
men of a man (and much worse of a Christian)
for one in this day-light to rise up before the in
telligence and moral influence of the land, and
open an establishment for wine-drinking, and in
vite all the country, drunkards and sober men, and
ladies too, (for they ought to practice true temper
ance, certainly,) to come and freely drink, and all
for the promotion of “ true Christian Temper
ance,” and he will supply them as a Servant of
Jesus Christ!
Should such a man’ be regarded as a Christian
example ? Or should his hypocritical mask of re
ligious sanctity be torn off ? I say let him stand
out in his true character, a foe in practice, wheth
er intended or not, both to God and man—an ene
my to the piety of the Church, and the peace,
prosperity, and morals of the world. Let him be
seen as he is; not as an object of malice, but
pity ; not to be injured but reformed; and not to
be destroyed as an enemy, pven if he perseveres,
but shuned as a public nuisance. ~
And if it is improper to publish an advertise
ment of a Circus in a Religious paper, (and cer
tainly I think it is,) what shall we say to a call
for a general meeting, Of all classes—Christians,
temperance men, moderate drinkers, wine-bibbers,
and drunkards that use other drinks—to practice
together in harmony, as one loving brotherhood,
the peculiar virtue of wine drinking, for the pro
motion of “True Christian Temperance," and re
ceive their suppfy-froffl-a-6?AW^t'w^—Js-not such
an invitation an encouragement to immorality, and
a disgrace to religion by mingling its profession
with the looseness and immoralities of a sinful
world ? And tvould not a Christian “ Sun ” shine
brighter without so dark a spot on its disk ?
Ogden, New York, Sept. 1851.
For the Christian-Sun.
Bro. Haves : I rejoice to hear of the revivals
and conversions in the Churches in the South.
The Lord push forward the victories of his cross.
Among us, there is nothing special in the church
es—there are a goodly number who are firm and
in their place, but the world and the devices of
the wicked one have taken a powerful hold on
the affections of many professors. But we look
for better times, and pray for a revival of pure re
ligion—the only thing calculated to warm up such
cold and indifferent hearts, and place the Church
in her proper alilude before the world; the Lord
hasten the time. Yours in Christ,
D. F. Ladlei?.
For tne uiinstian sun.
Buo. IIayes : Our protracted meeting which
commenced as usual (Saturday before the 3rd
Sabbath in August,) resulted in about 24 conver
sions, 14 of which were whites and the remainder
colored. In addition to the labors of our Itine
rant and Local ministers, we were aided by our
highly esteemed brethren Francis Butt of Nor
folk, and Elder Wellons of Suffolk, who continu
ed with us, and “ labored in word and doctrine ”
nearly to the close of the meeting. They preach
ed with much zeal and earnestness, and wc were
truly refreshed by the out pouring of Clod’s spirit.
Thirteen members have since been added to the
Church, nnd thirteen baptized. More arc expect
ed to unite with us sobn. To God be the giory,
both now and evermore. Yours truly,
R. LI. Holland.
Nanscmond, Va.. Sept. 19, 1851.
For the Christian Run.
MINUTES OF TflE CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE
■ OF,HAT ANI) CLAY COUNTIKS, lUSSOUHI.
The Conference of the Christian Church of Ray
and (.'lay counties, Mo., met at Union meeting
house, in Itav County, on Friday before the 3rd
Sunday in August 1851. After introductory ser
vices by Elder John Walker, l>y reading a por
tion of* the sacred Scriptures, and singing and
prayer, the Conference proceeded to organize:
Daniel Albright was appointed Chairman and P.
E. Gill Secretary, with J. N. Ifftker assistant. Let
ters from the churches were then read and report
ed^—peace and fellowship. And the names of the
delegates, called as follows, to wit:
j Antioch, William Klapp, Ilenrv Parton, John
j J, Greeson, IsaacJpook, Elias Albright, Lay Dele
gates, P. E. Gill, Hiram Parks, Wm. U. Cook,
William Albright, Licentiates, Alfred'Whitsitt and
Daniel Albright Deacons.
Jackson—Bracken Fawcett, Daniel Strader,
George McColouch, John Spencer, and Jacob
-Houser, Lay Delegates, John Miller Licentiate,
Fredrick Miller, Alexander Tigarte Deacons. Da
vid McLure Elder.
Oak Forest—Matthew Magaugh, John Craven,
William Glasscock, Archibald Glasscock, James
H. Gant Lay Delegates. Hardy Hoalman Dea
con and Licentiate. ^Jolin Walker Elder.
Union—Agariah Thomas, James Crowley, Ja
son N. Baker, Nicholas Lancar, Samuel Hargrave
Lay Delegates, James A. Whitsitt and William
Cox, Deacon. By invitatjpn Bro. Isaac Odell an
Ekler in the Baptist Church took a scat with the
Conference.
It was motioned and adopted, that nomtffh
ber of the Conference absent himself, from Con
ference more than fifteen minutes without permis
mission of the Chair.
The Conference then proceeded to appoint the
Chairman anti Elder John Walker to appoint the
staiiding t ommittes, who appointed .five brethren
committee on the State and standing of the church
esjidso a Committee of five on our itinerancy, and
a Committee of nine on the state and standing of
the ministry.
A question was brought before Conference as to
the proper method and power of licensing Licen
tiates, to wit: whether the individual Churches
should recommend and Conference license or
whether the individual churches should lincense
After discussing both sides of the question, Con
ference decided that full power, to license Licen
tiates lay in the different individual Churches.
. Conference adjourned till Saturday 0 o’clock
A. M.
Conference met according to adjournment.
A motion was made to reconsider the subject
of,licensing ministers, which was allowed and it
was again decided that the power lies in the indi
vidual churches.
It was then motioned and adopted >that Philip
E. Gil! be obtained Elder by Elders John Walker
and David H. McLure on to-morrow (Sunday) be
fore 11 o’clock preaching.
Conference adjourned till 2 o’clock P. M.
Conference met according to adjournment. The
Committee on the state and standing of the church
es, reported (in substance, that the churches were
in a prosperous and healthy condition.
They number as follows : Antioch 91 ;additions
since last Conference 29. Jackson 37 ; additions
since last Conference 2. Oak Forest 50. Union
06, additions since last Conference 9—a small
Church lately formed in Buckhanan No. 3.
The whole 247 members.
The Committee on the State and standing of
the ministry reported (in substance) the ministers
of the conference, to wit : John "Walker and David
McLure Elders, Plilip E, Gill, William Albright,
Hiram Parks, William U. Cook, John Miller, Har
dy Hoalman and Archibald Glasscock Licentiates.
The Committee on Itinerancy reported our Bro.
David II. McLure as an acceptible and useful itin
erant, and recommend that be continue to travel,
they also recommend that Brother Wm. Albright
should travel.
Philip E. Gill was ordained Elder by John
Walker and David McLure on Sunday 17th of
August 1851.
DANIEL ALBRIGHT, Ch’m.
Philip E. Gill, Sec'y.
LETTER TO THE VIRGINIA AND NORTH
CAROLINA CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE^
Dkak Brethren of the North Carolina and
Virginia Conference: Having been appointed to
that office by our Conference, we address you a
few-fmeer thru ugh the Sun. ; We~are as yet Smalt
in the VYest, but are slowly on the increase, and
advance as wji trust under- the smiles, approval
ami-protection -of our Heavenly Fathe'r. Our
Conference is just over, we lmd a harmonious ses
sion and a good meeting, several were hap
pily converted Vb God, being born not of blood
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God, and a goodly number of others mani
fested a disposition to flee the wrath to come, while
solemn feeling seemed to be on sinners generally.
We are true to our principles, holding the Bible as
our creed and book of discipline, and as the only
sufficient rule of faith and practice, believing it to
unwise and dangerous in many respects to the
final establishment of the truths of the Bible, to
be found bound down to creeds and confessions
of faith drawn up by uninspired erring men. We
believe all true children of God ought recognize
one another as sucli and nothing should be made
a standard of membership in the churches but
true Christian character. *We think that whom
soever God receives, all his children should re
ceive into the brothorhood, and that the children
of God should receive none whom God ba3 not
received, that all the true children of God should
commune together at the Lord’s supper and in
all the appointments and means of grnce, which
High Heaven has ordained for the benefit of man
in the salvation of the human family. Our ob
ject is to endeavor to promote the glory of God
and the good of immortal souls, to stand wholly on
the Bible and to know the truth'that We may be
enabled to teach the same, and wc nre sure thnt
standards of Christianity1 drawn up by men and
subscribed to fire in the way of the progress of di
vino light; because these standards nrc made the
keys to the interpretations of the language of the
divine ornclcs as diVerso, numerous, and vnrient ns
they are, awl each creedman sees by the light of
his creed his peculiar doctrine with the clearness
of a sun-beam, though the doctrines of the creeds
arc ns opposite ns light and darkness. Our motto is
search the Scriptures in prayerful dependancc on
Almighty Ood, as the only sure wny to attain to
a knowledge of a right understanding of Seipture
doctrines. Our hearts desire and prayer to God
is, tliat Bible truth may rapidly progress and tako
our ain darkened world. We ask all the members
and brotherhood of your Conference to pray God to
let his blessing be on us in these Western regions.
We subscribe ourselves your brethren in the
Lord. PHILIP E. GILL,
DANIEL ALBRIGHT.
August 24th, 1851.
4
Com.
For the Christian Sun.
Mb. Editor : Since my return to tliis State I
have attended a number of interestiug meetings,
but nothing special as yet, in any of the churches
but we have reason to be thankful, that the cause
is on the advance. In Franklin at the Commu
nion three united with the church, and nine for
prayer with good prospects. Elder James Maple
lias charge of this Church, and is highly esteemed
by the eh urch and community, buh bis health is
so delicate that lie can do but little for his Mas
ter’s cause, lie has just published a volume of
sermons, which I think are calculated to do much
good. . I have road them carefully, and recom
mend them to my brethren in the South.
He advocates the doctrine of the Christian
Church without incorporating any doctrine or
phrase found in the dark ages, or in the corrup
tions-of Christianity. Ood grant that hemay'live
long to write and preach the doctrine of Christ
to the world. At Hay Run Church six united,
and several more were deeply impressed with a
realizing sense of securing an interest in Christ.
At Williamsport the meeting was attended with
the blessings of God. Sabbath evening thirteen
for prayer, four professed conversion. Monday,
fifteen for prayer, and the Jiord was in our midst.
IDuiing the meeting three finited with the Church,
and three baptized by the pastor.
Elder Thomas W. Hand has the pastoral charge
of those churches, and is much beloved by the
people of his care, is doing much to add to the
character .and numbers of those places of Zion,
and the prospect is good for doing much more.
May the Lord bless the Pastor and people in
these places for their kindness to mo, for they have
always done better by me in remunerating me
for my services, than any other churches in the
State.
The reason I have not replied to Bro. Lemnv,
is, I have not finished my series of communica
tions, and if my brother had waited till 1 had pre
sented my series of articles with the recapitalisa
tion of the whole; lie could never have written
the unscriptuml and unreasonable doctrine of the
Trinity. It is certainly very strange for a Chris
tian preacher to advocate a doctrine upon which
we have always differed from other churches. This
is the ground of our separation from the sects,
and when we take the Bible for our rule of faith
and practice, it is strange for a brother to say
that Christ is the Supreme God, where no men
tion is made in any shape whatever in the book of
God, of such an idea, nor no where else but ip
creeds, and the mistaken views and false doctrines
of men.
Is Christ the Son of God ? Yes, says the Bible.
Has Christ a Father? Yes. Who is the Father
of Jesus Christ ? The Supreme God. Has the -
Supreme God got a father 1 if so, who is the
father of the Supreme God ? I shall be glad to
know. Can Jesus Christ who has a father, be *
that Supreme God, who has no father ? This is
ill I shall say, till I have finished my whole series
of articles, and then if circumstances demand, I
shall review. As Bro., Lem ay has directed his
fast communication to Elder Summorbell, he will
reply I have no doubt, and I am fully satisfied
that my son in the gospel will do good justice to
the cause. I shall leave in a few days for New
York, to preach to the Church of my former
diargo, and I pray God to go with me there, and
mlp me once more to do good in the name of the
Lord. Pray that I,may be successful in winning
nariy souls to my Great Master.
I am rejoiced to hear that the good cause is
prospering in the old North State and Eastern
Virginia. The good news from Bethlehem Camp
Meeting in Alamance was very gratifying to me,
ind I pray, that all future meetings may be at
■onded with the blessings of God. The revival at
Damascus under the preaching of Elds. "Welkins
md M. B. Barrett fill^me with joy unspeakable,
hat church has contended against the influence
>f sectarianism for a long time, but now she has
riumphed, aud stands forth in the beauty and
lower of the gospel. From Providence near Nor
o!k 1 hear a good report, and also from Betide-,
lem in Nan'semond.
Ini the close, suffer me to say to my brethren in
be South who may visit New York after the 1st
>f October, that I shall be glad to see any of them,
fly residence will be No. 84, Attorney Street, and
divays if you should spend a Sabbath in tho oily,
o meet with us at the Suffolk Street Christian
Dliurch, between Delaney and Rivington Streets.
Through this hasty written scroll, I send my
ibristian salutations to all my dear brothers and
isters in the South. My family also, wishes to
ie remembered affectionately to all.
Yours respectfully,
ISAAC N. WALTER.
Cedar Spring, Sep. 15th 1851;
P. S. My Correspondents in the South-«nd
•tlier places, will take special notice to address
ne No. 4, Chatham Square New York. No un
laid letter will be taken from this Post Office.
For the Christian Sun.
TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS.
In thinking of the amount of labor required to
et the type for a single paper, and the haste in
rhitsh it often is, and must be< done, I often won
ler that so few mistakes are made in tho use of
o many and so small characters, which are so'
'arioiisly mingled for tire representation of
hought. Rut though mistakes are perfectly ex
;usable, or even absolutely unavoidable, yet the
oss is not the less real when tho intended idea
loes not appear, or is improperly expressed, or
in opposite one is inscrlod.
Kycn small errors arc often very afflicting;
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