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HENR Y H.TUCK HR, Kditor.
WHY ARE THEY NOT BAPTISTSf
To the mind of a Baptist, the Scrip
tures are so plain on those subjects on
which we differ with other Christians,
that it is not easy for some of us to see
how it is that everybody does not agree
with us. We stand amazed, and as it
were thunder-struck,when any contend
that persons are in any sense members
of the church of Jesus Christ, who do
not profess nor even pretend to be be
lievers in him, and who have no desire to
be such. We cannot conceive of suph a
thing as a church on the New Testa
ment model, except it be composed
entirely of those who have made a
credible profession of their faith ; and
how there can be any difference of opin
ion on such a subject as this, is to us a
strange mystery. How any one can
suppose that sprinkling is baptism is
to us just as great a wonder as the pre
ceding. When a wise and godly man
thoroughly versed in the Scriptures
solemnly declares that he finds infant
baptism in the New Testament or in
the Old, or anything that implies it or
that looks like it or towards it or that
would suggest it, or that would justify
it, we are as much amazed as if he were
to declare that he found authority there
for the baptism of bells and horses and
cattle.
The three points named are those
which chiefly distinguish us from others
of the Christian brotherhood; and on
these the correctness of our views is as
clear to us as the sun on a cloudless
summer day at noon ; and that any
should differ with ns is as astonishing
to us, as if one should deny the presence
of the sun in the heavens, under the
circumstances above described.
Yet as matter of fact there are men
quite as wise and quite as gojd as any
of us and far wiser and better than
most of us, whose opinions on the ques
tion referred to are the opposites of ours.
How is this phenomenon to be account
ed for? In previous articles we have
suggested in a general way, the man
ner in which these conflicting opinions
may have originated, and the question
now is, how is it that they are kept up?
Why, as light increases, do they not
disappear?
It may be observed in the first place
that the same causes which originated
them, tend now to perpetuate them ;
and though truth may ultimately
prevail, the tendency spoken of will
always, doubtless, remain. Men’s
minds are not constituted alike ; they
differ on all subjects, and the interpre
tation of Scripture is no exception to
the rule. Men’s affections and interests
and relationships will always affect
their opinions. It is impossible that a
man should rise wholly above all his
surroundings; to do this requires a
power which we do not believe God
has vouchsafed to any member of the
human race.
“Yes, but when the Baptist argu
ment is presented clearly to the mind
of an honest man how is it possible
that he fails to be convinced by it?’’
To every argument that a Baptist can
offer, an answer has been invented,
which however absurd and even ridic
ulous it may seem to us, does not seem
so to those who have been taught from
their earliest years to regard it as satis
factory. A man whose mind has been
trained from the beginning in certain
channels must have more than usual
power if he can get it out of those
channels; nor is one apt to feel that he
is convinced until he is silenced, and
a man is never put in such a con
dition that he cannot “talk back all
he has to do is to repeat what he has
said before, and the oftener he repeats
it, the more thoroughly he is satisfied
with it, and hence the longer the argu
ment continues, the deeper his convic
tions become.
Moreover, on such questions people
do not wish to be convinced; on the
contrary, they are determined that
they never will be convinced that their
views are erroneous, if they can possi
bly help it. Whatever argument is
offered, they regard it with suspicion ;
they take for granted in advance that
it is delusive; it comes to them with
an ugly face ; it brings an unpleasant
atmosphere with it; they verily believe
that it proceeds from an evil source.
On the other hand, the arguments on
their own side they regard with com
placency ; they come stamped with
the authority of great names; they
have the prestige of antiquity; they
have done service for centuries; they
are associated with all that is honored
and hallowed; to doubt them Is like
doubting the virtue of one’s father and
of his mother and of all his loved ones,
however pure and holy he may know
them to be.
It is easy to see that one who is in
this frame of mind is not apt to give
up his cherished opinions from the
mere force of pure reason. What sacri
fice will it cost him? He must disown
the faith of his father and of his mother
and of his ancestors; he must throw
discredit on the sweet teachings of the
nursery and of the fireside; he must
cast aside the instructions of the reli
gious guides of his youth whom, from
his infancy, he has been taught to re
vere and love; he must regard as non
sense much of the literature on which,
all his life, he has been fed, regarding
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1881.
it as almost inspired; he must sever
some of the tenderest ties that bind
him to all whom he holds most dear on
earth; he must break away from his
church—from his dear, cherished, hon
ored religious home—from the altar
where, in his holiest hours, he has paid
his vows to God and held communion
with his Spirit; he must join another
which, perhaps, be has always been in
clined to regard as a spurious organiza
tion, largely compounded of low-breed
ing, ignorance and bigotry. Is it easy
to do all this? We have never been
put to such a test, and for this we
thank God ; but if such a lot had been
apportioned us, it is far from certain
that we should hold the position which,
by the blessing of God, it is our privilege
to hold to-day. If we had imbibed
Pedobaptist sentiments, 3s it were,with
our mother’s milk if we had breathed
them in with every breath we ever
drew—if the sky above us, and the
earth beneath us, and all around us
had combined their forces to keep us
in the early fold, and if all our interests
and all our affections were centered
there; and if all the prejudices of our
nature had been stirred up against “the
sect everywhere spoken against,” it is
by no means certain that we should
have had logical acumen enough to
detect the fallacy of Pedobaptist argu
ments,or strength of conscience enough,
even if we had detected them, to make
the fearful sacrifice required. It is easy
to boast of what one would do under
circumstances in which he has never
been plaeed ; but boasters are always
shallow-minded and feeble-hearted;
and in the day of trial are the first to
fail, and to fall short of their preten
sions. A man who knows the difficul
ty of the situation is sure not to make
light of it.
It is not surprising that there should
be so few who have adopted Baptist
views; the wonder is, that there should
be so many. We count now by mil
lions ; only a few years ago small gath
erings of Baptists worshipped God in
secret places to avoid the officers of
the law; while many of those who
were caught were immured in dun
geons or perished at the stake. There
being so little about us to invite, and
there being such mighty powers to
prevent any from uniting with us, the
prevalence of our views is wonderful,
and, to our minds, is strong testimony
for their truth; and we furthermore
believe that if the influence of God’s
Spirit had not been superadded, the
truth itself would not have wrought
such results.
By the blessing of God we shall abide
in the faith ; and by the same blessing
we shall always regard with respect,
and with Christian sympathy and love,
those of our brethren in the Lord whom
we must think are less fortunate than
we, in their views of truth and duty.
A Paradox.—ln Gal. 6:2 the apostle
says: “Bear ye one another’s burdens,”
and in the sth verse of the same chap
ter he says, “For every man shall bear
his own burden.” The two utterances
almost in the same breath seem to con
tradict each other. It often happens
that mere words appear to be contra
dictory when the things meant by those
words are not so. When we are told
to bear each other’s burdens, it is not
meant that we shall literally and for
life exchange burdens, so that A shall
have all of B’s burden, and B all of A’s;
nor is it meant that one man shall bear
everybody’s burden. All that is meant
is that it is everybody’s duty to sym
pathise with everybody else, and to
help everybody else as far as he can ;
and this is merely the doctrine of a
thoroughly unselfish, and active, forth
putting benevolence—a doctrine every
where taught in the Scriptures. The
special reference of this particular text
seems to be to those who have been
overtaken in a fault, and who need
sympathy and encouragement. Such a
one needs to be “restored.” The com
mon interpretation that such a one
should be restored to the church is pro
bably incorrect. He is to be restored
to the state of grace from which he fell.
Kindly attentions, wholesome counsel, ,
sympathy and prayer, are the only
means of restoration so far as we can
use them. We should consider our
selves, lest we also should need the
same help, and render to another that
service which we should like to receive
from him if our positions were re
versed.
After all, each man must bear his
own burdens. Others may help him,
but nothing more. Every man’s re
sponsibilities, duties, temptations, trials
and sorrows must be his own, and not
another’s Each man’s individuality
is intact; he isTiimself, and not some
body else. Let each one see to his own
account; he will find at times that a
little brotherly help will be of great
service to him; let him enjoy it and
thank God for it when it comes, and
let him reciprocate as occasion may
require.
How nearly allied, how inseparably
linked together, are the mercy and
the holiness of God! Expiation for
the sins of the penitent, and retribu
tion for the sins of the impenitent come
forth as it were together from the
same starting point. In the vision of
the prophet, the ministers of judgment
who were to slay utterly, old and
young, while their eye should not spare
and they should have no pity, stood
to receive their dread commission be
fore the brazen altar, where were offered
the sacrifices which made atonement
for the souls of men! (Ez. IX).
AFTER MANY DAYS.
A STORY IN TWO CHAPTERS.
Chapter I. About thirty years ago
a young minister who was anxious to
preach, and who was able and willing
to dispense altogether with salary, ap
peared to be one too many in the pro
fession, for no church seemed to desire
his services. Finding that no one was
likely either to call him or to send him,
he determind to go without being either
called or sent. He discovered a neigh
borhood pretty thickly settled, within
some miles of which there was no
church except one of the “Hardshell”
persuasion whose house of worship was
a mere log cabin. These sacred pre
cinets he could not enter; but some
friends in the vicinity built for him a
bush-arbor in the woods, not far from
the aforesaid edifice; and he unanim
ously elected himself pastor of the said
bush-arbor. He gave out among the
neighbors that he would preach at
stated times at this place ; and to his
great gratification he succeeded in col
lecting a congregation of two or three
hundred people. To these he preached
from his rude pulpit as they sat on im
provised seats, andon the ground, at re
gular intervals during the spring and
summer months, and in the autumn
until the weather became so cold that
out-door meetings could no longer be
held. In the winter he had the honor
to be called to another field, and since
then has usually preached within walls
and under a roof. So far as could be
seen, no good ever came from this hard
and thankless campaign in the woods,
further than this, that a good many
people heard the Gospel preached who
otherwise would not have heard it. The
outlook was disheartening in the first
place, and the retrospect showed but
little advantage gained. The laborer
had ploughed on a rock and had sowed
his seed by the way-side, and in stony
places, and literally among thorns, and
in a place where there seemed to be no
good earth. All was soon forgotten;
the bush-arbor rotted away, the so-call
ed pulpit tumbled down; the punche
ons and logs that were used for seats,
became worm-eaten and crumbled to
dust, and all vestiges of the little
Bethel passed away, and nothing was
left but the primeval forest where it
stood.
Chapter 11. A few days ago at a
place some hundreds of miles away
from the scene last described, the
preacher was sent for to see a lady who
desired to have a conversation with
him. She was a woman of wealth and
culture, and was a pious, prominent
and efficient member of a Baptist
church in the place where she lived.
The preacher had never met her be
fore, so far as he was aware, but she
received him with great cordiality and
enthusiasm. “Do you remember,” said
she, “preaching at a bush-arbor (nam
ed the place) thirty years ago?” “Whe
ther you remember it or not, I do.
Shall I ever forget it? My grandfather
rode twelve miles that day to attend
your meeting; I was a little girl and
he took me with him. I heard a ser
mon that day which impressed me as
I was never impressed before, and have
never been since. It took possession
of my soul; I have never forgettan it;
it has been the light of my life to the
present day. I was a very small child,
but the next day I repeated the text
and much of the sermon to my school
mates, and since then I have repeated
it many times to my children. The
text was in the words of our Lord, “As
Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness even so must the Son of
Man be lifted up, that whosoever be
lieveth in him should not perish, but
have eternal life.” If ever I have pas
sed from death unto life, it was the
exposition of those words on that day,
which the Spirit of God used as the
means of it. If both of us ever attain
to eternal life, I shall be one of the
gems in your crown of rejoicing.”
* * * * * * *
The labor of thirty years ago long
unrequited, has at last met its reward ;
grand wages has the preacher received
for his hard and lonesome toil amid
many discouragements and with few
to sympathise! No man had hired
him it is true, but God has paid him
for his work.
The most surprising feature of the
case, remains yet to be told ; the little
girl at the bush-arbor now developed
into a noble woman, was at that time
only seven years old! The whole story
bristles with suggestive points. We
leave our readers to their own reflec
tions.
A recent great ingathering is report
ed by missionaries of the Society
for the Propagation of the Gospel,
laboring among the Indians, the
aborigenes of Guiana. Rev. E. W.
Pierce baptized 1,376 persons, “in
cluding children, presented by their
parents.” He writes, that he invested
“the great sacrament” with all the dig
nity and ritual appropriate to it,” for
the benefit of “the observant ignorant
heathen.” To this end, “those baptized
were immersed in the clear waters of
the Demarara river.” In other words,
to clothe the ordinance with impressive
ness, he borrowed the apostolic practice
of the Baptist churches!
The Baptists of San Antonio, Texas,
have increased within four years from
six to one hundred, with a stone house
of worship, besides a mission house
worth SI,OOO in which a large Sunday
school is held.
Dr. J. G. de Hoop Schaffer, of Am
sterdam, Holland, ascribes the origin
of his recent work, “The Brownists at
Amsterdam in Connection with the
Baptists,’’largely to enquiries propound
ed by Dr. Whitsitt of our Seminary,
Louisville, and says of him: “His
breadth of view, critical insight and
extraordinary skill in historical research
induce me to hope that he will be ef
fectively supported by his religious as
sociates in executing a labor which
hitherto has never been satisfactorily
performed, namely, to write a history
of the Baptists.”
A Northern Baptist minister who
visited New Orleans writes to the Bos
ton Watchman, that a colored pastor
requested his judgment as to the gifts
of some youths in his congregation who
felt that they were called to the minis
try. He heard sixteen in succession,
and felt constrained to pronounce every
one of them unfit and therefore un
called. Os course, every educational
movement which, tends to raise the
standard of admission into the pulpit
among our colored brethren, deserves
the sympathy and help of all Christian
men.
Bishop Huntington, of Central New
York, can now call to mind only one
article which, while a Unitarian, he
contributed to the editorial columns of
the Christian Register, and that, he
tells us, "was a foolish and furious at
tack on a Baptist.” He ‘begs everybody’s
pardon for it’, and adds: “There are so
many things nowadays that need to be
abolished more than Baptists.” Where
upon the N. Y. Independent says: “That
is true. The Baptists embrace a very
large share of the consecrated scholar
ship and labor of the Christian church.”
“The women,” says Rev. John Stout,
“have made South Carolina the mis
sionary State it is.” It led all the
Southern States, the past year, in con
tribution to foreign missions, and sends
two of its sons to assist the prosecution
of the work in China. Now, what do
the Baptist women of Georgia say to
the proposition that they attempt, the
present year, something of generous
rivalry toward their sisters of the Pal
metto State in this matter? Is not the
banner for liberality worth the winning?
And is it not in their power to win it?
It is spoken of as the deep dishonor
of the Established Church, Canada, a
powerful and wealthy denomination,
that it does nothing for foreign mis
sions. Reader; are you one of the
number who prevent that dishonor
from resting on Baptists? Are you a
laborer and a giver for the evangeliza
tion of the word? The question is a
serious one; especially in view of the
statement by Rev. F. H. Kerfoot, that
these givers and laborers do not amount
to one in ten of Southern Baptists.
There are now 500,000 native Chris
tians by profession in India, Ceylon
and Burmah ; and yet it is only seven
ty years since William Carey baptized
the first Hindu convert. Perhaps,
even the faith of the English Baptist
“cobbler” did not grasp the idea of so
vast a harvest from the seed he cast
into the ground. Who shall say that
similar surprises are not to follow the
labors of our present missionaries in
China, Africa, Italy and Brazil?
Tennyson has said:
“There is more faith in honest doubt,
Believe me, than In half the creeds.”
Well, now, if doubt be really such
a fine thing, perhaps, we may be par
doned if vie spply it as well to the verse
maker as to the creed-maker. Where's
the harm, from his own point of view,
in doubting whether, after all, “doubt”
is so very “honest”, and, if it be, whe
ther there is so very much “faith” in
it?
Rev. Mr. Carpenter, an American
Baptist missionary in India, declined
to receive a collection taken up by a
church of Karen converts for sending
missionaries to a neighboring heathen
tribe, because, in view of their poverty,
he thought it too large. They per
sisted, however, saying: “We can live
upon rats, but the KaKhyens cannot
live without the gospel.”
“And I will be comforted!" So God
speaks of the chastisements inflicted on
apostate Israel. The imagery is ter
rible. Sin wearies God—grieves him
—provokes him : and to punish sin is
to him a comfort! Oh, let the guilty
stand in awe before the stroke of his
hand.
Patagonia—the “No-man’s Land” of
some geographers—has now a Welsh
Baptist church of twenty-six members.
“A cloud, like a man’s hand” for
smallness, we confess; but is it not the
promise of “a great rain” of grtfce,
which shall transform Patagonia in
to a Land of the Son of Man?
Since 1855 the Basle Missionary
Society, by its system of weekly penny
collections has secured $1,156,145,
and from the funds gathered in this
way now supports 115 missionaries.
Is this simply a token of what our Bap
tist poor may do? Nay—it is a pro
phecy of what they will do!
The next course of lectures on
preaching at the’ Yale Theological
Seminary will be delivered by a Bap
tist, Rev. E. G. Robinson, D.D., -LL.D.,
President of Brown University.
GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS.
—Columbus Times: The open air
meeting was largely attendod and the
services were most interesting. These
meetings are always well attended and
productive of great good.
—Athens Watchman: Five colored
people were baptized by immersion in
the Oconee, below the bridge, Sunday
afternoon last. A large number of
colored people, and a good many whites,
were present.
—Perry Home Journal: Rev. A. J 1
Cheves, of Montezuma, pastor of the
Baptist church at Houston Factory
was in town last Sunday. He hopes
to see a large delegation from Perry at
the meeting of the Baptist Sabbath
school Convention at Spaulding on the
fifth Sunday in this month.
—Newnan Herald: Rev. J. H. Hall
is announced to preach at White Oak
Baptist church on the fith Sunday in
this month.
—The Sunday-school Convention,
os the Coosa Baptist Association, will
convene on Friday, 11 o’clock, before
the second Sabbath in June at Macedo
nia church, Villanow, Walker county.
During the Convention the following
brethren will be expected to speak on
the subjests annexed to their names:
J. Y. Wood—The Christian’s Obliga
tion to teach the word of God. J. C.
Clements —The End of a good Begin
ning. J. J. S. Calloway—Sunday-school
Literature. Wm. Shattuck—Early
Training. T. C. Tucker—Who should
Work in and for the Sunday-school.
E. E. White—How to excite an Inter
est in the Sunday-school. M. C. Jack
son—Go to work Early and keep
Working. Elder Blalock of Grays
ville—The Qualifications of Superinten
dents and Teachers of Sunday-schools.
It is further arranged that Elder
Wm. Shaddock preach the introducto
ry sermon at 11 o’clock Friday—the
time the Convention is to meet —and
that an abdress of welcome be deliver
ed by Dr H. Y. Hunt, of Macedonia
church. Brother H. S. Moor, Chairman
of the Executive Committee says : “The
churches and Sabbath-schools are ur
ged to send up their representatives.
Let there be a general turn out of breth
ren and sisters entitled to seats in the
Convention, and every effort made to
help on with the Sunday-school cause
in our churches.”
Columbus Enquirer-Sun: A
large crowd assembled on Mott’s Green
in attendance, and among them were
eleven ordained ministers of the gospel.
The services were opened by Rev. J. H.
Campbell, who gave an excellent talk
upon “The still small voice.” The
train of thoughts presented was that
God could speak to the heart in the
whirlwind, in the storm, or in a “still
small voice” in which we hardly im
agine what it is that speaks to us,
though it is done effectually.
He was followed in conclusion by
Rev. A. B. Campbell, who took for his
subject, “Where will you spend Eterni
ty?” He showed the importance of
each individual answering the ques
tion for himself, and urged that it
be done in a calm, cool, deliberate
manner, and pointed out the good to
come from a proper answer and living
up to the discharge of duty, while on
the other hand a failure to discharge
that duty would plunge them into a
gulf of the darkest despair when they
come to the judgment.
—Americus Republican: The mem
bers of Mt. Olive (colored) Baptist
church, are raising funds for the pur
pose of erecting a house of worship on
a site they have purchased on McKay’s
hill. They ask the assistance of their
white friends for this purpose. The
workmen will commence work on
Thursday morning.
—Rome Bulletin: An interesting
and well attended service was held in
the Baptist church last Sunday even
ing. The church was filled to its
utmost, and seats had to be placed in
the aisle while a number of persons
remained standing. Four young ladies
and one young man were baptized.
The choir rendered the music particu
larly well.
—The Baptist church at Brooks
Station has elected Dr. Phelps, from
near Griffin, as its pastor.
—James P. Mayne, a most excellent
citizen of Oconee county, and a leading
and worthy deacon of the Freeman’s
Creek Baptist church is dangerously
sick and his sufferings are intense.
Let us all pray for him.
—Columbus Enquirer-Sun: A very
interesting revival is now progressing
at the First Baptist, and the church
seems to be fully stirred up in their
religious feelings. The warmest inter
est is manifested and the indications
are good for an outpouring of the Holy
Spirit. The services at this church
will be held at 9 o’clock a. m. and at
8 :15 p. m.
—Meriwether Vindicator: Steps
are being taken to purchase a hand
some organ for the Baptist church.
An organ would add greatly to the
church music, and we hope the effort
to procure one may be crowned with
success.
—Douglasville Star: At last the
Baptist ehurch has been so far finished
as to be in such a condition as to allow
the holding of services in it. This
was done for the first time on last
Sunday. The edifice is still in an in
complete condition, and the committee
is making every effort to raise funds to
complete it
—Augusta News: The every night
services at St. Luke’s church, conduct
ed by Rev. W. T. Cheney, of Curtis
Baptist church, are well attended and
productive of much good.
—Of the revival meeting in the
First Baptist <}hurch the Enquirer-Sun
says: For some weeks there has been
a spirit of increasing interest among
the members of the First Baptist church,
and on last Sabbath it was so plainly
manifested that the pastor put it to a
vote in the church whether the services
should be protracted. It was decided
in the affirmative by an almost unani
mous vote, and since that time services
have been held at 9 o’clock in
the morning and at 8:15 o’clock at
night. The meetings have been in
teresting from the first, ann each suc
ceeding service seems to increase the
manifestations of the working of the
Holy Spirit. Not only are the members
deeply affected and seem to desire an
outpouring of God’s blessing, but those
who have made no profession of relig
ion seem deeply concerned and are
attentive upon the service. It is hoped
that great good will flow out from the
services, and that they will be largely
attended. The meetings will be con
tinued through the week.
—Rev. J. H. Fortson has served
Friendship church, Wilks county Ga.,
as paster for eighteen yeers; and the
union between his people and himself
appears to be closer now than at any
former time.
—Macon Telegraph and Messenger:
We are glad to be able to announce
that Dr. Landrum is now in the city.
His headquarters in the future will be
in Macon. He enters at once upon
his duties as financial secretary and
lecturer in theology of Mercer Univer
sity. We trust he will meet with
great success in enlarging the endow
ment, and securing many of the young
men of the state as pupils in our Uni
versity.
—The Albany News and Advertiser
says: The ladies of the Baptist church
are preparing for a series of parlor en
tertainments, by which they desire to
raise a sufficient fund to place in neat
and comfortable order the pews of
their church. These ladies are good
workers; they have erected a handsome
pulpit, and now propose to finish the
work of placing the church in thorough
repair.
—Monroe Advertiser: Rev. Dr. S. G.
Hillyer, after preaching a most excel
lent sermon on last Sabbath, surprised
his church by' handing in his letter of
resignation as pastor of the Baptist
church in Forsyth The Doctor has
received a call from the church at
Washington, Ga. He leaves a vacancy
both as President of Monroe Female
College and pastor of the Baptist
church here.
TWO BURIALS.
On Saturday, 13 th inst., Mrs. Emily
Toy Curry was buried under the grave
yard oaks of the Milford church,Baker
county, Ga. She had borne in her
mind all the grace of a thorough edu
cation, directed by her father, the late
Deacon Toy of Norfolk, Va., and stim
ulated by the scholarly spirit of her
brother, Dr. Crawford H. Toy, now of
Harvard University. Her heart had
since her girlhood been beating with
the impulses given it by God’s holy
Spirit. Her life had been one of sim
ple, devoted and exalted piety. It had
been a consecrated life of sacrifice, and
toil and prayer by the side of her pious
husband, Elder W. L. Curry. All
hearts that knew her, and that could
love the good, loved her. She died
very suddenly, after suffering as poor
woman can suffer. It will be hard to
forget the sorrows of that day, as
friends and neighbors, black and white,
young and old, saint and sinner,church
and people, all realized the crushing
bereavement.
The next day, being Lord’s Day, the
writer remained with his bereaved kin
dred, and we met at the church again
for preaching. At the close of the
sermon, the pastor, brother Curry, rose
and asked if there were any who de
sired prayer. Many came. Then Mrs.
Whitlock, wife of Deacon Whitlock,
came before the church and calmly
declared her faith in Christ and desir
ed baptism in his name. She has been
regarded by us all for years as a be
liever ,but had strangely shrunk from
the duty of baptism. No faltering now.
Her bosom friend had just died in her
arms. She had seen and felt the prec
iousness of Christ and she must put
him on. That calm bright evening
she was baptized in the Notchaway.
There was a peculiar, comforting
and elevating influence around that
scene. We had buried Mrs. Curry
with an assurance of her blessedness.
Jesus had died for her offences and ris
en again for her justification. No
doubt of that. The resurrection of
Jesus had given sunshine as bright to
our heart as the white flowers that
were laid on sister Emmie’s grave. Oh!
what a perfect comfort when we bury
a believer! And now, to see another
precious one buried with Christ in bap
tism, setting forth in God’s simple ap
pointment, the grand, glorious, com
forting Gospel of a risen Savior. We
thank God for permitting us to see em
bodied in the baptism the hopes of the
grave. Oh! that we would remember
that Jesus Christ was raised from the
dead, and that we shall be raised up
at the last day!
John. L. Underwood.
