Home and Foreign Journal, January 1852

VOLUME T. PUBLISHED BY THE BOARDS OF DOMESTIC RICHMOND* JANUARY 1S52. К NUMBER,?., AND FOREjGN' MISSIONS OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. BOARD OF DOMESTIC MISSIONS, MAIHOX, ALABAMA, JANUARY I8K. Frails iif Itae Mission L’Dbris. The influence of homo missions ia planting ami fostering churches, which speedily beqptno self-sustaining, and even aid in promoting the gospel elsewhere, — is happily illus¬ trated in the following facts narrated by ltcv. (1, .1. John¬ son, of llurlingloD, Iona,— missionary of the Northern Homo Mission Society:— When I fir-t eatno to Iiurlinglnn, nbont two years and nine months since, ns а шМопзгу of your Society, thcro 1 ..a «... - .. .1 1 . . .1 • ... . . were but one Baptist brother and, two or three sisters to he found; nor were there того for several weeks! Those comprised the sum total of our denomination here at that time. Tito onlyjdaco that wo could secure, ill which to hold public worship, was the chamber cf a drinking-saloon, that was n-cd through the week for halls, negro concerts, ami other comic performances; and for the uso of this, unis' upon the Sabbath, we worn obliged to pay seventy-five dollars per year rent. Trusting, however, in the bird, no commenced ; our meetings, from the first, wero well at¬ tended, and in the course of about five months, we were permitted to organize a church of about twelve members. That same day it was my privilege to baptize si.t more, which made our number eighteen. We continued to wor¬ ship in this small and unsuitable upper room for a little того than two years. Meanwhile, by the liberal assistance ef our fellow-citizens, and the help of a few friends of our cause abroad, wo had purchased a valuable lot in the cen¬ tre ef the city, for which wo paid SI ,025, and erected a house upon it at a cost of S 1,5 CO. This wo entered the Utter part of December last, with about forty members. Soon after our entrance, however, into the new house, there wore evident signs of good beginning to appear among us. Sinners were soon impiirinz “what they should do to bo saved.’’ About the first of February, we began to hold meetings from night to night, and with very little interruption, continued so to do for about three months. Several different ministers from abroad assisted us for short seasons, but most of the work was done by the pastor and the church. All were gloriously awake to the inter¬ ests of souls, and salvation in a copious and prolonged shower was poured down upon us, lor thirteen consecu¬ tive Sabbaths, just three months, we wero permitted to visit tho baptismal waters, during which time some seventy- five were buried in baptism. Many others have been re¬ ceived on experience, making our additions, during the last revival, over ono hundred. Our church now numbers about ono hundred and forty, ami is at present considera¬ bly tho largest baptist church in this State. Wcliavo regularly a largo and attentive) congregation, and ah inter¬ esting choir, led by ono of our deacons, and composed en¬ tirely of Christians, and mostly of members of tho church. Onr liOusc-ef.'avof-l.Ipy'-oiWi Mt.hnisbod pwhioh is.all .but. the tower), is said to he the best constructed and finished of any in Iowa. Towards the salary of the pastor and arrearages against the house, our church and congregation are paying monthly, in weekly, and some in quarterly pay¬ ments, a little over $1,200 per year. Wo now think our¬ selves about able to support the cause without farther help from your society, and we aro fondly hoping for tho time when wo shall not only bo able to do so, but to do ninth in co-operation with you to build up tho cause in many other needy places around ns. Surely wo can say, “what wonders find hath wrought!” A good stato of religious feeling exists among us, and I am expecting at oar next communion to baptize several more. Ilclijious Dcsliluiion — Lay ITcaclicrs; llieir Tlipolo"i- cnl Training; liicir uscfnlitss as Domestic Mis¬ sionaries. Once when a largo multitude wore coining to tho Sa¬ viour, he asked Philip, “ wh ence shall we buy bread, th.it time may cut!” Doubtless, he wished as a chief lesson, •Inn indirectly to teach, that it is the duty of those who profess his religion, to provide suitable spiritual supplies for those who Hock to bear tho gospel. Ono method by which this is to be done, is by our churches making all suitable efforts to provide for them a pious and educated ministry. N'or have the baptists been wanting in efforts to accomplish this. Twenty colleges and nine or ten theo¬ logical seminaries, variously endowed, attest at least a fair degree of pecuniary liberality in this matter. And yet how little has yet been effected towards supplying our de¬ nomination with a ministry at all adequate in numbers and character, to tho wants of tho churches; so that the cry continually rings in our cars, “ whence shall wo buy bread for this multitude, that they may cat!” The cause of this deficiency of properly qualified minis¬ ters, is at least in a great measure owing to the rapid in¬ crease ef our denomination. Tho population of tho United States is about five times vrliat it was in 1790, but our de¬ nomination lias not only kept pare with Ibis ; it has rapidly and enormously gained upon it. Thus in 1700, tho pro¬ portion of tho whole number of baptist communicants was about one in ninety, to the population of the United States, but in 1812, it was one in forty-one, in 183:1, one in thirty-three, in 1S44, one in twenty-four; now it is proba¬ bly nearly one in twenty-one. [n the Southern States tlm position cf our denomination Ls more important still, boro in 1700, there was one baptist to forty-one inhabitants, but in 1844, there was one to every fifteen. This being tho case, it lias naturally been impossible to supply the im¬ mense numbered new churches continually forming with educated pastors. Ilcncc there lias been a ncces-ily of blessed origin, fur a less prepared ministry (ban wo could have desired to sec. What could the baptists do ! IV о could not decline to receive these multitudes who have (look¬ ed to our communion, and have said; “ here is water , what doth hinder t is to be baptized I” Wo never receive any who do not credibly profess to bo converted. Hat vvhereds-tho warrant for refusing any wbo do! This much has been said by way of apology for (ho past. The impression has ciistod in Bomq quartcrs, that tho baptists liavo been un¬ favorable to an educated ministry. Such is not the fact. No other denomination in tho country has founded as many tastitutions for the education of its young men for tho min¬ istry. Wo liavo in tho south cf colleges nnd theological [part of tho year. Their reports werTtruly encouraging, institutions, (ail originating most directly in tho desire for They will continuo three months longer. A number of tho an educated baptist ministry,) two in Kentucky, ono in Virginia, ono in North Carolina, ono in South Carolina, ono in Georgia, ono in Alabama, ono in Tennessee, one in Tex¬ as, ono in Mississippi, just forming. • Very large sums of money liavo hew coutrilutcd to these institutions, and that so many of our ministers aro unedt vied, or but partially educated, results chiefly from tho greatness cf the deumid, causing candidates to bo hurried too quickly into tho work. but iu looking forward to a supply of efficient ministe¬ rial services for tho future— for tho rapidly fornuDg churches of tho new States and territories of tho far vrcsl, the question must come into tho mind of every reflecting baptist, “ whence shall wo buy bread, that these may cat !” Missionary societies cannot crank ministers, they can- only: ns judicious merchantmen of that merchandize “ whoso prieo is above rubies,” assist iu the transportation of tho supplies of heavenly riches and food, to tho points of most urgent and pressing necessity. churches sent up money for missionary purposes. Eight professed conversion and six wero baptized during tho meeting of tho Association. I am literally worn out, aud shall have to lcavo tho missionary field soon, hut there is a vtido field here for usefulness. This is ono of tho poorest parts of Alabama. They ought to bo assisted a year or two longer by tho Southern board. Wo need nothing but cross-bearing ministers, ready to nuke sacrifices for Christ’s ' ike. nfor tho last half century, ono of tho most evangelical' jsoful ministers of our land. .До extract. a^paragrapli ■or two from tho American Messenger iu relation to'liini';— ' l Ho was born April 1", 1702, in Unckt .the valley of Virginia, between tho blue „ ... . , , , Alleeliamos ; and wav of Scotch descent, both his parents It ts under the gu, dance of Divmo grace, from the prt- lb„;nbg cmigrllca first lo the north of Irl.|,1„J, anJ then to vale members of the churches themselves, that the supply must come. Much of what is now considered ministerial labor, could often quite as efficiently bo performed by des¬ cons and private members, properly appointed by tlo church. The conducting of a prayer-meeting, or oven vi¬ siting the sick, ordinarily dues not.involve gifts so rare, (r responsibilities greater, than tlio superintendence nf a Sab. school, or tho conducting of a bibb class properly. Wo need also aud chiefly, a much larger class of lay preachers. Men of piety, wisdom, and aptness to teach, engaged in va¬ rious professions and walks of life, should ho sought out by the churches, proved, and encouraged to devoto their Sab- baths nnd various portions of their time, to laboring in tho vineyard of the Lord. There aro many pious excellent laymen, of belter education and powersof communicating, than their pastors oftentimes. Such should bo encouraged to address the churches on practical points of religious du¬ ty, or should have preaching station», and thus go out into the highways and hedges, and compel uicn to сото in. Some of the limit able and useful ministers liavo been first of all trained in other professions. Indeed a very large proportion of tho most efficient of all periods of the Christian church, have learned to he useful through tho bufferings of actual life, in oilier walks of life, beforo as¬ suming tho duties of sacred teachers. Tcrtullian was an orator, Origen a schoolmaster, Cyrian a pleader, so was Chrysostom. Augustine was a teacher of rhetoric. Tho and with a Cottager ; the l’oor Man’s Guido and Friend; Tho New Settlement : ami a Dialoguo with a Homan Catho- . lb, 8d pages, winch is ono of tho Society’s lest practical . voluuies. When ho bbserved how wide a circulation tho 1 American Messenger was gaining, ho availed himself of the opportunity afforded to speak to multitudes far Clirist, most ef Ids articles for tho last live years hearing his well known signature, “A. A.” Dr. Alexander. j. It will bo a servico to tho causo to refer to tho distin- (utslicd individual whoso name heads this articlo. lie has Unckbridgo county, in llidgo and tho this country. He received a classical education at Liberty Hall, near the residence of his parents, under tho cliargo of tho ltcv. William Graham, with whom ho studied the¬ ology hvo years, when, at tho ago of about twenty, Octo¬ ber 1, 1701, ho was commissioned to preach the gospel. J. Beforo professing Christ ho was led through severe spi¬ ritual couilicts, that ho might know how to sympathize with others, and guido them in the right way. nldlo vve were reading with him portions of “Flavcl's Method of Grace,” ho said, with a glowing, tender spirit, “ All this carries .inc back to past scenes ils if they were hut yesterday. 1 When I was a thoughtless youth, I passed some time in a family whero was a venerable, pious lady, whoso sight was dim, but who was greatly attached to Flavcl’s works, and often requested mo to read them to her. I read to her this very work. I would read till the truths pierced my own heart, ami affected mo so that I was obliged to stop, when I would excu-c myself till tlio nest day. I would then read again, and again be obliged to stop ; and those impressions never left mo till I found pence in Christ.” In those works of FTavcl was tlio type of tlio great practical views of theology, from which he never swerved, rill on his dying bed, he uttered to liis family theso memnrablo words ; “ All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass, JtSSl'S Christ came into tho world to save sinners.” Fired with this glorious theme, lie went out as a mis¬ sionary preacher through tlio mountainous regions of Ccn- tral ami Western Virginia, and in juris that now belong to Ohio, “proclaiming tho way of life to tlio ignorant and destitute, and gathering tho lost into tlio fold of Clirist. Breaching without notes, with strange discrimination fur ono во young, and with an energy of thought and pathos v;nryso3tom. zvugustine was a leacncr ot гомоне. anuj. , , ,.» «=• . ,, “ , , , • ... , . J . , . . ■ ... . ,, .. > of i delivery rare in tho young or aged, ho spro.nl tho doe— history of ОПТ denomination would i show a similar result "IL^ines of divine truth wherever ho went.” These arduous tho way ilirougii'. •tfThfirins’5iffl6TliWg1(titri(!'ptantal5ei« of common life, that makes men interesting, when they speak. Л converted lawyer who becomes a preacher, is seldom dull. Generally, ho is eminently successful in win¬ ning soul». Many pious men in till tho walks of life, “ apt to teach,” might become exceedingly useful, as lay preachers. All such ought solemnly to prepare to follow tho will of God. It would minister much to tho usefulness of such, if theo¬ logical professors were induced to give suitable courses of lectures in the lecture room of some convcnbnt church of tlio chief towns and cities at stated seasons. Fivo lectures a day, for six weeks of each winter, listened to in tho morning, and tho notes written out in tho afternoon and evening, would at the cud of two or threo courses, impart such a knowledge of tlio outlines of Biblical literature, theology, church history, and tlio best modes of communi¬ cating religious instruction, that accompanied by proper reading thumb tlio year, for two or three Ьопгз daily, would bring to light and usefulness, gifts of groat power. It is, thus (hat Normal schools aro carried on. It is thus that Medical schools prepare those who have charge of the health of our bodies. l’cr.-ons so trained, might, without at onco abandoning their present occupations, cultivato many destitute fields under the direction of churches or missionary hoards, carry out a system of Domestic missions, devoting a portion only of their time to such duties. While tlio same instructors might lccturo at several different points in tho course of tho year. TEXAS. J S'amrro со,— Нее. Л’. T. llyars’ Report. During the past quarter five have been baptized and thirty-seven sermons preached. We liavo had several pro¬ tracted meetings this fall, nml great seriousness. Tho church at Nolinvilb, Deli county, was much revived at our last meeting. I baptized two; hut owing to tho distance, I shall have to givo it up during the winter months. I Live just suffered a loss of about $200 by fire. At first I did not know what to do, hut the Macedonian cry being home by every Ireczc, I concluded to go on with tlio work of tho ministry, and bare tlio result with God. ALABAMA. Ileiar. — Rev. Ии. Philips' Report. This missionary lias baptized twenty-threo white persons and received four by letter, preached sixty-two sermons, traveled 795 miles, nnd made 1C4 religious visits to tinii- lics, while eleven того have professed conversion ia con¬ nection with his labors, not yet baptized. He writes: Wo hare had more sickness Hits fall than for many years. Two of my family aro now in hod lick. The dry weather has cut off the corn, and tho rust tho cotton. Many families will not шако enough to eat this year. I attended tic Big Bear Creek Association. The churches generally reported considerable accessions. A missionary spirit generally prevails among them. Two _ *. LLn.in.i !r tl,n l.nniirlj л* 4 bn 4aanniiftnn evutjglilluah labOfS, lioiAtbno «истЫ-ап infiuenoe, juJaaij:-. ing his mind to that clearness and simplicity, ns well as richness of thought and expression, which characterized ids preaching, bis instructions, his conversation, nnd bis ex¬ tensive writings through life. Ho regarded it as a high compliment, when told of a plain woman who had heard hint in a destitute place, aud said, “ I guess ho mint a very lamed man.” In this, his early history, wo may also am liowl’rnvi- deneo fixed in his mind two great principles which charac¬ terized his future life ; his appreciation of sound practical books and evangelical writings, and his sense of tlio ne¬ cessity of going to the destitute nnd tendering to them the go3pel at their homes. Theso two principle», combined in the American Tract Society ami its colporteur system, non his cordial love, counsel, co-operation and support, both in reference to our own country, and foreign ami pa¬ gan lands. At twenty-five, ho was elected president of Hampden Sidney college, in his native State, ami hecauio also pastor of three adjacent churches. He married a daughter of llcv. James Waddell, the eloquent blind preacher, cele¬ brated in tho sketches ly William Wirt. At his death she survived him, as did all their children ; nn only daugh¬ ter and six sonS| tlirco of whom are clergymen, one u dis¬ tinguished professor at l’riuccton, and another, liev. Dr. James W. Alexander, pastor in New Fork city. i From' tlio ago of thirty-four to furiy, ho was an able and beloved pastor in 1‘liilailelphia, till 1812, when lie was called to by tho foundations of the Theological .Seminary in l’rinccton. Ho «as then tho only professor, hut was soon joined by ids loved colleague, the llcv. Dr. Miller, whoso funeral sermon, after thirty-seven years of harmo¬ nious labor, ho preached in January, 1850. For the whole term of his connection with that seminary, almost forty years, be labored incessantly, till bio last illness of a few weeks : fulfilling Hie duties of his professorship ; watching oyer tho students as a fothcr, and guiding in an eminent degree by his affectionate advice their future courso ; con¬ stantly appeubd to for counsel in nil tlio varied interests of tlio churches and of tlio cause of benevolence ; nnd witli a discernment of character, a sound, practical judgment, a modesty and humility, and a singleness of purpose for tlio welfare cf tlio Kcdccincr’e kingdom, that gained universal confidence. It was kindly ordered that the synod of New Jersey, of which bo was a member, and out of which ho named on his bed of weakness, one hundred and fifteen who had been his pupils, were iu session at l’rinecton when ho died, and were permitted, with n great concourse of Emigration from Ireland. By tlio articlo below, which wo extract front tho Messen¬ ger, it will ho seen that tlio immeuso immigration to this land, from Europe, is not likely to diminish. 'The obliga¬ tion on Christians of tho Uuitcd Elates to provide for tho spiritual welfare of theso thousands, is of tlm inost solemn; • and imperative character. Tho correspondent of tho abovo named paper thus writes ; — gcly- your . . tlio labors and responsibilities of tlio Society, nnd must coutiuuo to do so. From nil I liavo seen in Europe, I judge that this flood of humanity from tlio old to tho new world is destined to increase rather thau diminish, for a limited period. This tide will, 1 apprehend, sooner ceaso to flow from Ireland, not to rise again, 'than from the con¬ tinent. To say nothing of vrliat there may ho in this country to attract nnd invito the Irish, there arc causes there which must constrain thousands more to сото: — pov¬ erty and destitution ; want of employment aud small com¬ pensation for labor ; hopelessness to genius, enterprise, and industry, of rising to a comfortable position in life; eccle¬ siastical despotism and civil oppression, — theso arc obsta¬ cles which not ono in a thousand can conquer, nnd under which the masses groan with unavailing dissatisfaction. In the country town», as well as iu tho seaports, you will sco posted advertisements of ships to tako emigrants from Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Londonderry, and Liverpool, to tlio United States. In Londonderry, I found two ships about to sail with n full complement. Iu Liverpool, I.ract one captain who was to sail m.tvvo days with over 400, and another, of n still larger ship, who was to sail in two weeks with over 800, mostly Irish. Thcro facts aro of weekly occurrence. In tho rail-ears I frequently found youngand vigorous Englishmen, many of them mechanics, on their way to Liverpool lo embark fur tho United States to settle for life. There arc causes for tho increase of tins English emigration, which are becoming more and more apparent to those who liavo considered tlio rendition of England ns a commercial and manufacturing nation, in relation to this country. Tlio depopulation of Ireland for leu years past, largely caused by emigration til the United States, has already at¬ tracted tlio attention of tlio English government. Tho motives which prems on tlio Irish at homo to emigrate, aro greatly strengthened ly attractive influences wtiioh go from chords in tho human heart, giving ciicouragiiij information about this country, and of their own success nnd comfort, and containing funds to help them pay their passage. Tho hankers and business men of Ireland are surprised at tho number and amount of these remittances. Theso letters aro road by Hie neighbors and friends of tlio recipients, mid their statements confided in. They also know of tho funds sent, cither to aid them to come, or to relievo poor aged and infirm relatives. All this awaitens new interest end hope, and gives assurance that those who are able to remit so much money must he in a Iwltur country than Ireland, and in a more prosperous condition than they can ever hopo to reach at homo. When in Dublin, I learned from an 1 rislt gentleman just returned from a tour in Hie south of Ireland,, that theso influences bad spread Ibis American fever among a better class. Tlio tolerably well nil', the tenant farmers, wore only wailing to harvest their crops nnd get the money, to he off for tlio United States. This statement was confirm¬ ed Ly others, and lias been verified by recent mails.-. The Dublin correspondent of a Loudon paper of Octo- . Imr 8, says; “ Day by day Hie emigration is increasing, and 1 tl.e proportion of the letter class of farmers making their way to America is augmenting; while many «mall traders, and some oven of tlio professional fla»s, aro leaving tho country. During tlio last week vast numbers loft Dublin, . some directly from this port, hut the greater majority by way of Li -erponl. Last Friday, tlio qu:i}3 were crowded with emigrant*, male and female, to the number of ot least one thousand, lira far greater portion of whom appeared to ho persons in comfortable circumstances, many of tho females being clothed in silk dresses. One of tlio most re- markable features was tho number of stout, lunlthj-look- ing, well-tressed young men, between tho ages of eighteen and twenty-five. Instead of indications of regret, hereto¬ fore apparent mining emigrants, nil these people seemed iu tho highest spirits on leaving their native country.” These arc significant facts, and may well arrest tlio at¬ tention of England. Who is lu cultivate llio-i lands, now; by special act of parliament Icing thrown into market — those long encumbered estates of lordly hut improvident absentees ' Ireland cannot sustain many years this drain of her population. It will probably eunluiuo till breaches the lowest point of depletion, which cannot ho far distant, May slio not even now liavo nearly reached that point of vital exhaustion, from which a new era of life and hope will spring ' The demand for labor with better pay has clergymen and citizens, to unite in the solemnities of Us j already begun funeral. Tho Catholic priests have hat no small portion of their “ Death never appeared to mo so delightful as now when it is near,” lie said to those around hi* sick led ; and of¬ ten, as strength allowed, ho spoko of tho peace that dwelt in his soul. The records of Us last hours will ho precious to the church, nml they will ho found to illustrate and con¬ firm tic eiperienct ho has written in Us sermons and let¬ ters as tho fitting close of a life of faith." His great work on tlio caimn of Scripture, several other excellent treatises, and all the productions of his active and aide pen, hear the impress of Us singleness of purpose to honor Christ. Dr. Alexander was for many years a vice-president of tho American Tract Society, till his death ; and for threo years, from 1842, was a member of tlio Society’s Publish¬ ing Committee, the works ho read being sent him for his approval. lie was tlio author of seren of tlio principal scries of tracts— No. 32.. «Day of Judgment” — 51. “Mise¬ ry of tho Lost” — Go, “ Tho Amiable Youth falling short of Heaven”— 215. “ Importance of Salvation”— 350. “Fu- missionarics were laboring in the bounds of tho Association ,nr. Iv Л turc l'unishnicnt Endless” — 393. “Justification by Faith.” And 4G2. “ Sinners Welcome to. Como to Christ.” A few years since, bo suggested the desirableness cf issuing a se¬ ries in а тегу simple style, in largo type, and in tlio form of a little hook, for which scries ho himself wrote .(ho six following: Dialogues with a Farmer, with (in Aged Man, people, and tills Ls curtailing their power, influence, and number, by diminishing their income and tho subjects of their imposition and grinding oppression. Protestant influ¬ ences are at work to au extent and with a vigor and suc¬ cess unknown for generations. Is them hot ground for hope that tho spiritual and social regeneration of Ireland has commenced, not to cease till that beautiful and fertile . islo shall teem with a new life 1 In the exilo of so many t of her children to this laud, may i! not ho ono design of' divine Providence not only to make many of them tho par¬ takers of a new spiritual life Imre, hut also to 'prepare them or their children to Lo tho dispensers of spiritual and steal life in their native isle ! Is not this' tho way by which God has often educed great good from great evil and wrong ! Is it not analogous to his providence in the 'past!' Can an Irishman or his children erer ccajdto love Us own ' “ sweet Ireland,” or prizo her wolfaro? Will not thousands of them, having tasted hero tho swcotSof freedom, andfclt tho joys and hopes of n spiritual faith, bail. the opportunity to aid in clothing her with tho beauty and loveliness of a new creation ! That Irish child now brough’lq the house ^ of God by the labors of our colporteurs,. or by reading httf books, may yet ho ал eminent and. 'всссмаЙ preacher- the gospel to thousands there. л * ... e