CHRISTIAN SuJS.
F1UDAT, MAY 28,1880.
D. I!. Dunbar,.Proprietor.
Rev. J. Pressley Barrett - - - - Editor.
our pnixcn-uKs.
KfTJww* mdyHninof
tl»o Church.)
2.— TftcHifWic ChrUltan. lo the exclusion of
nil parly, or s^chmnn names.
X—The IfaM.Bililc, or' the Scripture* of the
(j'r'.tutil .^e't'iest.inu’ta a sufficient rule of faith
and practice.
4.--Christum character, or vital piety, the
only test of fellowship, or ehnreh membership.
6._The right of private judgement itud the
liberty of conscience, the privilege Mil duty of
nil.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
Tlie Sunday school Convention
meets'at Antioch this morning. Go.
Bra, ,T. T. LC. is alter “X” suie
enough this week. Well, let them
liAve fair play.
The cause of missions ought to be
tlc:tr to every lover of Jesus. That
pastor <li<l a good thing when lie in
fluenced his members to’ become warm
frientis to the cause of Missions.
Cast Sabbbath we spent in ltev C.
,T. Ralston’s field at Hebron church—
it was a very [fleasantoccasion. Rev.
R. ii. Holland was with ns. Bro.
Ralston occupied our pulpit at Beth
any. .
Windsor Sunday-school of the
Christian' Churijb is expected to be
the banner school of this f ’onferen'eo at
the Convention to-day, it having the
largest number known in any of the
schools. Bro. A. M. Kley is Superin
tendent.'’
Rev. W. T. Walker preached last
Sunday night from the text -‘She
has done wliau slio could.’ flow
lew professing Christians could
justly claim this short sentence as
.the inscription for their tombstone
when they die?
A writer, “T. S. C ” in the Raleigh
Christian Advocate in giving an ac
count of a conversation between him
self and some other party, says : “lie
then asked if I did not remember be
ing at Jno. IBs who was his lather
at a certain time.” Will “T. S. O.”
or the Advocate tell us who was his
father at other times ?
The church at Union in Southamp
ton county, Va. will give an excur
sion June 1, from Franklin, Va., to
Portsmouth and return. Fare ior the
round trip from Franklin *1 from
Suffolk 50. We hope our people will
encourage this^good cause and go on
llie excursion. The train leaves
Franklin at 8 o’clock, A. M , and
Suffolk at'.) :30 A. M. ami will return
in <'00(1 time.
'J’lie Ilyuiu Book is to be published
soon. The Committee’s plans will be
announced in a week or two. Let
every body get ready to give 10 cents
to tbe Convention Fund, so that the
Committee may have enough money
to do the work. Every member of
the Church can give 10 cents. Try
it, now. l’astor.s and people if you
want the Hymn Book, do your best
for the Convention Fund at the June
collections. If the June collections
come in well the Hymn Book will be
a grand success and be ready for use
soon.
M. O. Thomas of Lexington, N. C.
discusses in the Hdlonjh (Jhvixiuin
Adroeaie the subject of regenerated
children. To regenerate is to wash, to
make clean. Kegenci ated children,•in
deed ! Why not talk of regenerating
Heaven itself, for of such (as these
children) is the Kingdom of Heaven.
What new departure isthis our Meth
odist brethren are contemplating*—
doing to advocate the regeneration
of little creatures already lit for the
kingdom of Heaven * Eli, that sounds
mighty strange for good old lashion
ort hodoxy.
Our young Bio. W. J. Lawrence ol
MavsKiuali, Oa., spent a day with us
tliis week. He is iu a fine business
in Savannah—lie is now on a visit to
his many friends in Virginia. Bio.
Lawrence is a laymeinber of the
Christian Church, and though loca
ted so far from us, he is warmly at
tached to the church of his early
choice. He will not giye up the
cause we hold dear. Bro. L. also ad
ded his name to the number of friends
who wished to give $1 each for the
benefit of Union church in Surry
county, Yu.
Our future—what of it f What oi
it depends on the faithful vigilance
and work of its members. Bo up and
doing. The Sunday-school cause,
Missions, Education, both in the min
istry and in the laity, and our pub
lishing interest,all these add much to
our sfrougth. Pastor, w hat are you
doing for so worthy a cause as train
ing these peopled ■v.Tiom you preach j
to love these jAtitetprises-to love I
them devoted!jv What say y ou i \
Much’ of our future depends upon you
and your love and your work for tliis
cause. W hat will yoa dof
r PRAYERA POWER.
•It is profi’aeted and intense com
mailings with Clod flint give powerin
prayer. Hold a piece of wax in your
hand up to the sun for a moueut, and
no impression is made upon it; but
hold jt there for hours and it be
comes Soft. So, if, instead of brief
and fiutfil approaches to Clod, we
were to give more time to prayer, the
rocky fycnrt would he made to feel.
Does it mean nothing for us, those
solitary and protracted eommunings
of Jesus with his father.—Reliyiotut
llrrald.
Dock it really mean nothing when
the heart is weighed.down by a hea
vy burden, to have in answer to pray
er, the burden removed and the aclr
ing void fwled with peace aud love I
Did it mern nothing when Jesus
went into a mountain apart to pray,
when he went time aud again ?
Did it mean nothing when the Sav
iour spent so many hours in prayer in
Gethsemane’s lonely gardeu just be
lore he offered himself a ransom for
sin? In the depth of his sonl he ag
onized time aud again in prayer that
the bitter cup oi crucifixion might
pass if it were possible—but he set
its an example in the close of that
prayer, He said, “Thy will, not mine,
be done.” How fervently ho prayed
that the cup might pass—yet be
would not have his will done, but his
Father’s, who had sent him into the
world on a great mission.
Hut he prayed often and loug pre
paratory to going to the Cross to suf
fer death for the sins of others. Sup
pose his prayers had, as many of ours
often are, been offered in the idleness
of dfjf'tlioughts, el only two or three
minutes duration f He would never
have reached Calvary’s top—never
have horn his cross—uever have en
dured the entrance of the rough nails
in his flesh—never have yielded up
the ghost with live bleeding wounds
to attest the reality of his suffering
and the cause of his departure.
We are persuaded that it was his
protracted eouimunings witli God
that gave him power to suffer and
endure such bitter persecution, such
contradiction of sinners. He has
taught us that we ought always to
pray. Jesus knew,its importance—
that, it was the Christian’s vital
breath—his very life. . Hence his fre
quent exhortations to ns to pray—
men ought always to pray.
In ilie Christian life we have no
greater power than prayer. When
we by pious habits and a consecrated
life develop the muscle of prayer, so
to speak, we have a power under God
uot equaled in the realm of nature.
Prayer is the Christian’s fortress—
behind its sacred bulwarks he is pro
tected against tho power of sin—
against the flery darts of the wicked
one.
Most of our private prayers are too
sliortr We ilo not waft our souls,on the
wings of prayer near to the celestial
city, before we close the prayer, go
out into the busy world and the good
effects are lost—our souls are left in
a poor famishing condition, and we
grow weaker spiritually every time
such a misstep is taken.
On one occasion when Jesns had
healed a lunatic, casting out a devil,
his disciples came to Him asking
why they could uot cast out the dev
il, too. Little did they expect the
answer which they received. Said
Jesus in answer to their question :
* * * * * “Xhis kind goetli not out
but by prayer and fasting, llad they
prayed and lasted! We suspect that
they were much like many are to day
—They pray a little, but never fast—
never deny themselves anything for
Jesus’ sake. We really fear that with
the great majority of professing
Christians the thought of denying
themselves for Jesus’sake has not
found a place in their hearts. This
is a sad state of things;’ aud yet we
fee! hopeful, we look to the future
for a change in this matter.
Are you burdened with tempta
tion i Do you want relief? Jesus
will giveyou relief, but reinfm her,“this
kind goetli not out, hut by prayer
and fasting.”
Are you a weak Christian, desiring
strength! Jesus will give it. I!ut
this kind of blessing goeth notout
but by prayer and lasting. Does
trouble, like a heavy black cloud hang
above you, while the lightnings flash
and the thunders roar? Do you
want this darkness removed ! Jesns
will remove it iu answer to sincere
prayer and fasting. Fasting is Deg
lccted,—what a sad mistake ! Fast
ing is an important part of worship.
as individuals we ought to have fre
quent seasons of prayer and fasting.
Farther, ought uot the Chiiistian
CriuEcii to have seasons of prayer
and fasting for the blessings of God
upon her work ? What say you,
brethren ?
Almost Dead.—The old charge
that we are the followers of Alexan
der Cambell is almost dead. A lew
are still reluctant to give us credit for
the name we wear and for what we
are. When it is doubted, you have
need only to tell tbeiiLthat we allow
candidates coining into the church to
select their ojvu mode of Baptism.
That settles it. The Disciples will
never agree to three inodes we think.
AVre are glad to see that misrepresen
tation dying—the quieter it is finish,
ed the better for us. We are not fol
lowers of Cambell.
AN OPENJ.ETTER.
‘'For othtr ' foundations can -no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. 1 Cor. 3 : 11.
The Apostle calls himself and oth
ers of the Apostles, God’s husband
ry. Husbandry is comprehended in
those who cultivate the soil—fields,
gardens, vineyards, &c. Go into my
vineyard and work.
Von are not. commanded to change
boundaries by enlarging or curtailing.
My foundations are all right, and, as
1 want them. Go and cultivate them;
to labor is vonr business, not to plan.
You may plant, water, aud so on,
but 1 will give the increase. You
have no power to give it the increase;
therefore you are laborers—you are
my servants. 1 say to one come, aud
hecometlr; and to another go, aud
he goeth. The servaut is not the
equal of his lord, or master, he is oue
that obeys ; he has no will of his own,
his master plans the work, or lays the
fonndatiou and another buildeth
thereon. Christ has laid the founda
tion of the church aud sent his serv
ants into it, to labor and to build it up
—make it fruitful, Sc. But suppose
the laborers were to sow tares and
other foul plants in his vineyard and
cultivate them, and so choke the true
plaids of the garden ; you would say
those servants were disobedient and
unfaithful servants. Ii'ow this is the
case before us. The foundation of
Christianity has been laid by Christ,
and there are those who have laid
grievous burdens upon the member
ship, too grievous to be borne. Time
would fail me to mention the horrid
additions made by Catholicism and
the attempt by the Jews to blend cir
cumcision with the church of Christ.
Other sects have likewise made addi
tions, as those mentioued in the writ
ings of Saint John about the seven
churches of Asia. They departed
from the faith and became enamored
with thedoctriues of the Nicolatians
and others whom God abhorred.
Christ sent out His Apostles to
preach Ilis gospel. They were to re
peat what He said unto them; they
were not to add anything thereto, or
take anything from it, but preach
Christ as the Saviour of the world.
Paul therefore is bold concerning the
foundation upon which righteousness
and true faith is based.
The tradition's of men are abhorred
and rebuked, as none but an aposttle
can do.
The connecting links that bind to
gether the old dispensation ^iud the
new, is fully explained by the Apos
tle. A misconstruction of the law by
the Jews, and following their tradi
tions brought upon them their liual
overthrow. They set up for them
selves, aud followed after heathen
gods and lost their position as the
people of God. So will those under
the gospel lose their position, if they
fail to stand upon the foundation of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
The iiuperfections of the law dis
pensation are pointed out and the
perfections of the gospel dispensation
are made manifest in the person of
Christ, excluding ignorance, and ig
noring the works of man as hurt Ini
and ruinous. The ministers of Jesus
Christ are to preach the gospel to ev
ery creature; not to formulaic dog
mas, and newfangled institutions
with names of distinction. All are
one iu Christ if we are believers in
Christ. Christ is both the founda
tion and head of the church, and ev
ery belieyer has a right to the ordi
nances of His church, and he that for
bids them violates the laws govern
ing His church.
Peter, like a Pharisee, determined
not to go to the house of Cornelius,
aud would not have gone, hut for the
vision he saw. He did not believe
that a Gentile could he clean and
worthy of the gospel. lie (Peter)
was likewise a close comminiionist.—
When the command anno to “Slay
and eat,” he said, not so, “nothing
common or unclean had af. any time
entered into Ills mouth,” aud he could
not possibly suf brother to a Gentile
and receive him as a Christian. I use
the name Christian because no other
name was used just then by way of
describing the followers of Christ;
aud Felix understood it that way
when lie said to Paul, “Ebon almost
persuadest me to be a Christian.”
Paul had an opportunity just then
to have corrected Felix, if lie was
wrong in the name.
Believers are called Christians by
Josephus and all the ancient authors,
and the various nanu s we hav e mean
sectarianism. Angels themselves
have uo right to give names to the
church of Christ any more than they
have a right, to preach a different
gospel.
So fixed is this foundation, that ev
ery man is to ho very careful how he
builds thereon. If he uses hay, stub
ble or wood it will be burned and he
suffer loss. Christ, on one occasion,
used a parable expressive of the mat
ter of this subject. He said a certain
man built his house ou the sand, and
the storm came, ami the winds blew
upon that house and it fell,” because it
bad no foundation. Vf ho will say that
Christ was not comparing the works
of men with that of bi», for be goes
further anil says, “There was another
who dag down end built his upon ■
rock, when tlie winds blew and the
storms came.»nd rains descended and
beat upon it, it fell not because it was
bnilt.upon a rook.” Jesus Christ was
that rock, the foundation, upon
which the church was built. Christ
says: “upon this rock 1 will build igy
church and the gates of Hell shall
not prevail against it.”
The Ron ah Catholic says, l’eter
constituted that rock aud the church
is built on hiai. 15ur. Paul settles the
question forever, that Christ, is the
rock and the foundation—the corner
stone the builders rejected which has
become the head of the coruer, Paul
speaking of‘the saints says: “And
aro built upon the foundation of
the Apostles and Prophets, .Tesus
Christ himtelf being tbo chiel cor
nerstone, in whom all the. building
fitly framed together, groweth unto
a holy temple in the Lord.” “In
whom ye also are bailded together
for an habitation of God through
the spirit. ' Epb. 2: 20, 21, 22. Paid
gives a clear discriptive explanation
to the Ephesians of the church and
its foundation in the foregoing. The
Apostles were co-workers with the
Prophets and Jesus Christ in the es
tablishment of the chinch, aud took
part of the ministry, what they
bound on earth was bound in heaven
and vice Vorsa.
The kingdom of Christ is built on
Christ as the foundation; and the
laws of that kingdom of necessity
coineth from Christ as the founder,
aud all believers aro bis subjects aud
aro bound to obey the laws, or sutler
tlioipenahies of that law. The apos
tle then discusses the subject of one
Lord, one faith and one baptism, that
is, whether Jews or Gentiles, they are
to exercise, the same faith, in the
same Lord and be baptized with the
same baptism and all become the
same fold, one general brotherhood.
And when all this a as accomplished
it would be a holy habitation of God
through the spirit, dwelling iu his
church, in his spirit. Christ says, I
am “Alpa, and Omega, the beginning
and the end ; the first aud the last.”
He has left nothing for man to do,
by way of giving the finishing touch
to the foundation of the church. He
commands obedience to bis laws, and
we are not to call in question any
thing he has done; but cling to liim
as the great head ot the church ; the
source of all wisdom, power aud good
ness, the judge of quick and dead.
Suppose be was to visit the churches
to-day as he visited the seven church
es of Asia to hear a reckoning, he
would find them, most of them, in as
bad a fix as he found them. And
some of their leaders would dispute
his authority and wisdom if lie did
not first convince them lie was from
Heaven. To come now. he would find
one saying lb here, aud another, lo
there. He would find them Raying,
‘‘One to another ;
Differ with me and you aro not my brother,
I have the truth ns the or.u-hs tell.
(jo with me, or you will go to hell.'”
Jubilee Smith.
l.iMmul, On.
In the last number of the Sun, 1
notice that l,X” seems to he concern
ed about the short article I wrote iu
your issue of May 14, on “Our Secret
Sils.” It was not my purpose to en
ter into a lull discussion of tlie sub
ject in such little space given me, hut
simply to notice it in a very concise
mauner.
lie says, “An article, iu last week’s
Sun from our estimable brother, J.
T. K., I fear, though lie did not in
tend it„may be accepted by some as
a sort of defense for those who make,
buy, aud sell intoxicating liquors.”
.Now friend ••X,” I do not fear so. I
reckon that no one else will fear it,
and that yon will he left the only
fearing one. livery one who road the
aiticle with any attention y^d thought
at all, will uiidetstand what 1 said.
He further states, It is said that
“Politicians acquire language lor the
purpose of hiding their real designs.”
Now fuettd “X,” pe'rnit me to give
you some advice. Let politics alone
ill these columns.
I am not ouo of your hiding kiud
—I generally speak from the pulpit
and otherwise what I feel to be the
truth. It is my purpose, as far as I •
may be able, to declare the whole
counsel of God. I am not afraid to
speak against intemperance; not
afraid to write against it, nor am 1
afraid to preach against it. I have
the honor of occupying the ohair of
the W. C. T. of Franklin Lodge, No.
9b, I. O. G. T., and it gives me pleas
ure to aid the good cause in any way
lean. But while I feel that this is
my duty, I am inclined to believe
that there is much for me ,to do iu
other directions.
“How can we talk of what is se
cret?” he asks. I answer by saying,
the Bible speaks of “secret sins,” and
it is my duty as a teacher to talk of
them, to guard myself and those
whom I teach against them.
I expect that “X” has secret sins
himself, and that the bare statement
of them caused him to roll up like a
ball. I wish lie would get himself
out of that cross “X,” and have the
manliness to give bis real name. We
don’t like the way you have of hiding
yourself behind an “X.”
J. T, KjlTCHEN.
PROF. MANOUM'S LECTURE.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF CHRISTIAN BE
LIEF.
1. Belief is not complete knowl
edge. It is partial knowledge. “Now
we know in part." “See through a
glass darkly.”
2. The object ol Revelation is to
furnish such ground of belief as will
render it reasonable for man to put.
his belief iuto practical exercise—to
furnish grounds of Buch belief as man
may consistently follow or act upon.
3. The supernatural in religiou is
based upon what is called inductive
reasoning. “Through the collection
of particular facts, we arrive at gen
eral conclusions.'’ From the indivul
ual” to the “all.” This can convince
00 farther than to show a conclusiou
probable, for there is always an as
sumption or hypothesis in the argu
ment. If it were otherwise, fhe es
seuce of the argument would be mat
ter of knowledge, instead of belief.
Belief “siauds somewhere between
certainty and ignorance.” This is
not peculiar to the divine religion.
It applies to all the physical sciences
—all iudnctive science. It is precise
ly the same as the principle on which
rest all the conclusions of those sci
ences which presume to place their
hypothetical conclusions against the
Bible. “Since in physical science, all
conclusions are hypotheses, and the
hypotheses are always more or less
provisional, it is often difficult to
draw the line between the established
results of science and its problems.
Scientific hypotheses pass through
all stages of versification, and are of
various degrees of uncertainty.—
There are some lor which, if it were
worth while, one might consent to go
to the stake. There are others, law
ful euough to be provisionally pro
pounded, upon wbicb it would not be
wise to risk anything.” In religion
as iu science—probable reasoning is
capable of producing rationul belief.
It is not blind guess-work. There is
evidence iu it. It produces belief.
The grouud of Christian arguments
is not only the same in character as
that of scientific theories and conclu
sions, but that ground is abundantly
srroug to bear comparison with that
of science, and far excels them iu the
fact that it liually possesses, iudirect
ly at least, the ultimate and absolute
test of consciousness.
K. E. POBTKB.
Cliapel Hill, X. C.
This closes Prof. Maugum’s lec
tuicson the “Evidences of Christian
ity” for this sessiou. He expects to
put them in book form. They will
then appear much more lengthy thau
1 have reported them. The Prof, de
sires me to thank you for the space
you have given his lectures. I also
thank you for courtesies shown me
siueo 1 have been reporting them.
(Aud we thank the Professor for de
livering them and you for reporting
them for the Sun.—Ed.)
R. E. P.
AN ENQUIRY.
Do you become weary dear Chris
tian ? Weary of life! When cares
multiply and trouble after trouble
comes in your pathway, do you not
sometimes find yourself hopeful,
wishing, praying, that the time
would come when you could lay
your armor by, and dwell with
Christ at home ? Oh what a relief it
is to the weary of earth to lie down
aud die. What a happy exchange is
made wheu the soul freed from its
tenement of clay, rises above every
care, and anxiety, and pain, and sor
row, and is made happy in the pres
ence of Him, in whose presence there
is fulness of joy. -
Our troubles here will sweeten onr
joys there. It is best for you Chris
tian pilgrim that you suffer here.
Tribulation worketh patience and pa
tience experience and experience
hope. While all are happy and will
be happy iu heaven, yet among the
happiest methinks is that poor beg
gar who was among the greatest of
earth’s sufferers.
I have in my mind those who I be
lieve are nearly worn out. . Bodies
wasting, strength failing. How hard
the fight has been. Oh could they
remember ail, and tell all, what au
interesting history, what a thrilling
story would there be. Many a con
flict,—many a doubt. What weari
ness.—what paiufuliiess. But these
wayworn pilgrims are almost in
sight of the heavenly Canaan. Soon
they will be at home, on tire other
side of Jordau. Aud then, oh then ;
tears will be wiped away and the soul
in the rapture of heavenly delight
which angels know will be happy for
ever. Well may the dying saint
have said addressing the heavenly
charioteer, “Drive on.”
E. W. B.
Kev. Dr. Boge of Ricfimoud is trav
eling ia Palestine. His letters in the
Central Presbyterian are of the high
est order.
Bro. Ball is at work at Cypress
chapel this week. He will be at the
S. S. Convention to-day.
NEWS FROM_THE FIELD.
Franklin, VA.-My third quarter
ly meeting at Cypress Chapel was
held last Saturday and Sunday. The
business on Sat unlay was transacted
in a satisfactory manner. Bro. Hall
preached lor us on Sunday to a large
congregation. After which we ad
ministered the Lord’s supper, which
was a most delightful part ol the wor
ship. The Sunday-school is working
well at this church. Miss K. Kate
Riddick and Miss Sallie Brinkley are
among the active ladies in the school.
We earnestly desire that this blessed
work shall move onwnrd.
My thanks are due to Maj. D. B.
Dunbar for assistance given uie, and
to Bro. Amos B. Badger for his kind
neSS‘ ,f. T. Kitchen.
Chapel Hill, N C , May 0,1880:
—I spent last Sunday nt Damascus.
The congregation was very large and
good attention was paid to the preach
ing of the word by Rev. J. W. Holt,
the Pastor. The people around Da
mascus are pleased with their Pastor.
The Sacrament of Lord’s supper was
administejed to a large number of
communicants. Rev. C. A. Boon
was present and assisted in the ser
vices. They have a prayer jneetlng
at Damascus every Sunday evening.
I shall over remember my pleasant
visits to Damascus since I have been
at the University. The people in
that neighborhood are noted for their
hospitality.
J. D. Gunter.
Pacific, N C.—Some of onr Sub
bath-schools in this Pastorate are do
ing remarkably well. The Oburebes
are doiug tolerably well; at tbe pre
sent we have a large amount of sick
ness, which to some extent binders
part of tbe work. Vet we would wilt
submission bow nnder the band of a
loving Father, knowing that all things
work together for good to them that
love God.
. L>. !•’. ■>.
«
Mauley's Mills, N. May 20,
1080.— I think the Pastorate p an is
working well in this Conference. I he
churches in No. 1 are by far in the
best condition they have been lot
some time, if not in the best condition
they ever were. Last Sunday Elder
Brown was unable to preach at Parks
X ltoads on •.tcconol of sickness. The
large congregation were not disap
pointed, however, as Lire. II. T. Mof
fitt tilled ably and acceptably the
place of Bro. lit own lot that occasion.
Pastorates Nos 2. .'! iV 4 so far as
heard from are ia a thriving condition
liev. Juo. S. Lawrence comes to tbe
front as being tbe first minister to
bring a new church to the next Don
ferenee—It was organised last Sab
bath, I did not learn the name given
the new church.
H. O. Vestal.
Pastorate No, 2 May 24, 1880.—
This pastorate is composed of two re
gular established churches,Union,Va.
and Mt. Auburn, also two mission
points, Mountain Vir.w, Halifax, Va.,
and South Gaston, Halifax, N. C.—
Union is in excellent working condi
tion, with a good Sabbath-school and
is doing well. This church is now
free from debt, perhaps for the first
time in its history. Mt. Auburn is
one of tbe best working churches iu
our Conference. She is always ready
for every good word ami work. She
always meets nobly every obligation
she assumes. No pastor has left this
church with in the last twenty five
years, with one cent of his salary un
paid. She is true to her pastor and
her principles. Bro. J. H. Fleming,
manages the fiuancesofthe church
with worderful success. Iu my opin
ion he is one of the best collectors *JU
the state. He just will have Vo, and
the brethren know it, too.. J always
make it convenient to ».'ee him every
t ime I go to Mt. Auburn. This church
is also free from debt, with a splendid
organ and a flue Sabbath school. All
things considered Mt. Auburn is tbe
banner church of tbe Conference. On
last Saturday aud Sunday was the
second quarterly meeting at this
place. The business of the church
was transacted iu harmony. On the
same day a missionary society was
organized, with Bro. J. H. Fleming,
President, Miss Bettie Turner, Vice
President,Mrs. Ellen Cole, Treasurer,
Charlie F. Bead, Secretary.
On Sunday the congregation was
large and attentive. Communion
services interesting aud solemn. My
mission poiuts are both hopeful, I
preached at Gaston yesterday,—I am
to night with Bro. Freeman near
Littleton—I hope to be able to orga
nize too new churches in this Pasto
rate this year.
- M. L. Hurley.
New Hill N. C., May 23, 1880.—
We organized a new church to day at
New Hill with 14 members. Several
more will unite with it soon. The
prospects are good. Bro. Clements
will likely give you a full sketch of it.
We are going to work for this church
with our hearts and hands. Who
will help us ?
J. M. Rollins.
Berkley, Va., May 20, 1880.—
Our meeting is still going on in Berk
ley. Up to last night we bad ten
conversions and 0 additions to the
cburcb. Pray for ns.
H. H. Butler.
Very glad to hear good news from
Bro. Butter, and would be delighted
to go to his assistance at Qnce, but
other engagements forbid.—Ed.
Company Shops, N. C., May 18,
1880.—I was with Bev. A. G. Ander
son at Bethleham the third Saturday
and Sunday. The church appears to
be iu good condition—the congrega
tion was large and attentive.
After preaching by Bro. Ati&erson
the Lord’s supper was administered
to a large number of communicants.
I have visited Bro. Anderson’s church
at Apple’s chapel—they are building
a new house of worship. J heard the
brethren speak very highly of Bro.
Andersou as a faithful worker in the
Christiau Church.
S. B. Klapp.
Cypress Chapel, \ a. May, 24,
1880—Onr Subbatb-scbool at this
place wns reorganized the first Sun
day in April, nod I am glad to any it
is now in a prosperous condition. Mr.
JoRiah W ilk Ini is onr Bnperinten
dent, Wm. II. Brinkley Assistant Su
perinteodent, C.J. Riddick Secretary,
Alexandria Harrell Librarian, and
that good lady Hiss li Kate Riddick
is the Bible class- teacher again. I
also have a little class of five very
sweet nud interesting little girls.
Onr good minister, Mr. K-, did
not preach for us yesterday, but Mr.
Ball preached a very good and inter
eating sermon for us. These were
the words of his text: “The spirit
itself beareth witness with onr spirits
that we are tho children of God.”
New Hill, Ni C., May 22, 1880.—
We organized to day a Christian
Church at this place. Bros. W. U.
Clements and WrH. Franks were
present., fourteen joined and the pros
pects are very favorable. We hope
soon to erect a house of worship on
the lot donated to us by Bro. Olive
Rev. W. II. Franks was chosen pas
tor. Subscriptions come in well. The
ladies are taking hold liberally. We
hope to bo a working few for the Mas
ter’s cause.
L. B. Seagbaves.
Old Shop, N. 0., May 21st 1880 -
Last Saturday 1 was at O’Kell’s. On
Saturday the business of the church
was attended to harmoniously. Sun
day morning the Children’s Mission
ary Society met. It is doing well.
At 11:30 1 preached the funeral ser
mon of little Jesse. K. Hatch, she
died in February last. Little Jesse
was cabght tip from dear father and
mother to that bright world above.
W. G. Clements.
Lafayette, ala., May 21, 1880.—
1 send ttve Mihsui ibers from ltichland,
Ga. They have subscribed for the sake
of l)r Sindh's letters. Sly health has
improved some We have some mem
bers in this little town, 12 uules
from Milltown. Itev. J. If. Elder lives
near there. 1 hope to get thereto
morrow and get my mail. I remained
in Georgia longer than 1 expected.
Dr. Smith is with me—will remain
linee weeks, lie will prepare sever
al more letters before he leaves mo.
1 heard a rumor that Suffolk or Nor
folk was burned hnvo heard noth
ing njere of it and hope it is not so.
• J. W. Wf.llons.
That rumor was wrong. The Per
celI House in Not folk was partly
btiined some week ago .'—Ed. Hun.
STINGINESS REBUKED.
The ago iu which we live demands
action ou our part, if we ever expect
onr church to occupy its true position
before the world and bring those men
incur midst to the front who can
look at life in its broad significance,
aualyze its realities, develop its re
sources and lead men from sin and
sorrow toward Heaven and happi
ness. We must consecrate ourselves
more fully to the Lord by sustaining
its various enterprises. We may
flaunt onr Scriptural name cn our
church banner and boast of oOr ex
cellent form of church government as
a basis for the union of nil of God’s
people, yet a high degree of success
will never be attained by ns, till our
people learu P0 support their pastors
so as to them from secular per
suits, patronize our denominational
organ, push forward our Missionary
cause and sustain our publishing in
terests. We need one thousand dol
lars worth of denominational Litera
ture to inform others concerning the
beauty of our principles. The church
member who gives to the cause of God
and the good of the church only the
surplus of his goods after supplying
his own gratifications is derelict iu
dpty, for God requires the first fruits
of our labor, and he who fails in this
part of worship will be required to
give an account of his stewartship at
the Bpr of Him who commanded His
people to bring their tithes and offer
ings into His. store-house, and see if
he would not pour them out a bless
ing. We find members of the church
who have time during the week to
take their sons and daughters to the
theater or circus, and yet are too tired
to take their children to the Sabbath
school on the Lord’s Day, and if they
do happen to go, never carry any
money to held buy a library. They
seem to understand that it takes
money to run a theater or circnsj and
are perfectly willing to pay money for
the stage actor to teach their chil
dren human depravity, aud the clown
to learn them slang phrases and en
courage jest, and yet are unwilling to
give their children a geod religions
newspaper, such as the Christian
Sun, or to contribute of their means
to enable our Publishing Board to
send both tracts and other religious
matter on missions of mercy to the
erring and fallen. It takes money to
do this work.
O brethren, do not be like the old
man who thought he was happy and
was telling his brethren bow good re
ligion was slated that religion cost
nothing—“glory,’’ fer he had been a
member of the church for twenty five
years and it had not cost him twenty
five cents—“hallelujah.”
T.
The FrbsT Baptist Church,
Richmond, is to hold a Centennial
Celebration June 8 and 9. It has
been a chnrch for 100 years. It star
ted with 14 members—now it has a
great many hundred. It has a noble
record.