Home and Foreign Journal, November 1853

•f t*W j. E 'AND FOREIGN JO URNAL. Я! U VOLUME III. RICIIM0Nd|'N0VE;.IBEI{, 1S53. NUMBER 5. PUBLISHED BY THE BOARDS OF DOMESTIC AND BOA UI) OF DOMESTIC MISSIONS. MARION. ALABAMA, NOVEMBER. I М3. ’ 7* Tho next number of tlio Journal «Ш contain Ilia reports of our missionaries in tlio homo tiul<l, wbicli, Ьссаимз uf the altscnco of tlio Secretary, have been for set ml months omitteil. t[ j" Logan Sleeper, of St. Louis, is nulliorixod to act as agent for the Home and Foreign Journal, in that city nnd all other places where he may have opportunities to solicit fur subscribers. Our Pdfor. We hope that membere of Baptist churches, throughout our wide country, will exert themselves most vigorously to increase tho subscription list of tho Journal. Much de¬ pends on diflusing knowledge of nhat wo have done in the mission cause, nhat wo arc now doing, and и hat we pro¬ pose to do. Contributions for lire Home FielJ. Brother or .sister in Christ, Miller a few plain questions. Wo shall not he too inquisitive nr otTieious, prying into matters we ought not, Still, you will please excuse u«, if не inquire a little into your ivordly alfairs. There arc some substantial reasons for doing so, just at this time. First, our treasury is quite needy : second! y, the Home Mission work lias loon very long neglected, if not cruelly slighted ; and thirdly, ns the preachers say, hut few per¬ sons are competent judges of their oirn ubdity to give. Every olio is apt to think himself poorer than, in reality, tie is— especially, is this ids impression, when visited by an agent. Л few lending interrogations, therefore, may won¬ derfully assist in determining the degree tf one's pecuniary ability, as well as bis moral responsibility. Well, to begin; What is the amount of your income' “ 0,*’ you remark, “ this is very difficult, if uot quite im¬ possible, to say ; I do not think that I have made much; in fact, I know that I am in debt.” In Air, are you1 Please explain yourself— хеше folks make money by in¬ curring debts and keeping in debt. If you are a mer¬ chant, and owe a part on ijonr stock in trade , your debts и ill not excuse you from giving; or if you nro a farmer, and owe a balance on the hind you cultivate, you are not to withhold from the Lord till the whole of this debt is paid, llemciubcr, nhat Paul says, “ Cpon the first day of the week, let every one of yon lay by biui in store, ns God has prospered him Ho is uoMo-wait lilL-hL debts are paid, hut to lay by for benevolent purposes, as God has given him prosperity. And, you need uot ho told this, home of our most prosperous citizens are the most largely in debt. But you smile, and answer: “What you say is very true, and I have always considered the rule of giving pre¬ cisely iu this light. Although in debt, I make it a poiut to give, every year, to the various benevolent institutions of the d ly. I contribute regularly to the Foreign Mission, to Ike Bible Society, the Education Enterprise, besides giv¬ ing smaller sinus by incidental donations, as occasions seem to demand.” This is very well, as far ns you have gone; but have you not overlooked one worthy enterprise! “ None that I dis¬ tinctly remember, just at this moment.” Indeed, have you then done nothing for the Home Mission! “All! tho Homo Mission— the Home Mission — is that very impor¬ tant,” This point, your own conscience must decide. If I Lave not misread my Bible, it "is” in my judgment, "very important.” You would letter examine somewhat into tho nature of this duty, so clearly made obligatory on Chris¬ tians, loth by divine precept and example. “ Well, I wi-ii to do all the word of God enjoins : and will maturely re¬ flect with respect to Home Missions.” One more question, if you please : Have you not often excused yourself from giving, on slight and untenable grounds! For instance, you have bad your rent to pay, children to educate, servant to hire, taxes to raise ; nud these little responsibilities have supplied you with picas against tl,c importunities of agents. “ Why, yes, I think it not unlikely that I have made excuses on these grounds; lut, arc they not lawful ?” Not always; indeed, I may say, that they are valid but very seldom. Since the world began, such liabilities have pressed the bosom of society, and it would not be justifiable to dam up the streams of Christian benevolence, with such ob¬ structions. No, no— let us give and continue to give, notwithstanding these customary draughts on our resources. Brethren, Sisters, one and ail, old and young— think of tlo Home Mission. FOREIGN -RE¬ MISSIONS OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. ~ — .. - * — Western Steamboat Captains. At tho East— that is, East of tlio Alleghany Mountains, very erroneous impressions wore formerly entertained in relation to tlio standing and characters of Western steam¬ boat men, It was thought, and confidently believed by “any, that this class of persons are not only rudo in their behavior, hut reckless of the lives of travelers who may Лаосе to ho on their boats. Consequently, persons West- »ard bound, have hesitated and feared to set out by tho «ter route. They tiavo dreamed of snags, and trembled о riew of collisions and explosions. It is quito time the public mind should be disabused, ‘“d that captains on tho Western rivers should receive justice from an ingenuous and generous public. Wo hare haveled on n-.ost of tho great rivers and lakes in theso Coiled States, and have made accorato comparisons be- l*cen captains of the East, West, North and South, nnd * th much satisfaction can wo say, IFcsttrn captains, for courteous attentions, river qualifications, ar.d card ofJIfa nud property, aro not a whit behind tho very best. Three years of residence in tlio West, enables us to speak ondhis point, « by tho card.” It' there иго того accidents aTthe U cst than in other places— which is extremely quos’tSna- bio — it is because there is more business doing, and more steamboats nro running. Tlio Missouri river lias it. it forests of snags, nnd is, wo believe, considered tho most dan¬ gerous river in the whole West, nnd yet, it is very seldom that a serious aecidcnt takes place on it. This foot iudi- cates caution and care on tho part of pilots and captains. 'I ho captains generally, are stca ly men, and amply oom- potent for the faithful disehirgo of their duties. In many vases, they aro owners, either in part or in whole, ft tho vessels they command. This, even if they were disposed to bi indifferent, gives a doublo guaranty of sifoty/’Niiw and then, as in other parts of tho world, there will ho met with nn exception, a man of sulky, gruff, uiigcnllcmanly manners; hut such instances are very infrequent. Wo repeat, then, that, as a class, there are no politer, or more obliging “water-men,” than tho captains and clerks on the rivers of tho great West. Capiain flriti Smith's SabbaHt-kcrping Boat. While wo aro able to bear good testimony to the gentil¬ ity and goud citizen-hip of must of our Western captains, wo aro obliged to file a protest aguiust their almost univer¬ sal disregard cf the Sabbath day. On the levees of many of the citiis nud towns along tho Mississippi river, munici¬ pal regulations prevent, as fara« it cau be dune, active at¬ tention to business— such as receiving and unlading freights on the land’s day— hut most, yea, nearly all, of the steam¬ boat men, recognize no Sabbath on the river. That is their own exclu-iio high way, over which, if lie may judge by their practice, God has no control. Hence, from New Oilcans tn St. Paul, and from St. Louis to Council Bluffs, tlio Hatter of wheels may bo heard, and heavy masses of black smoke may bo seen, bearing loud and visible testi¬ mony to Sabbath desecration. And this is not confined to the world : but among these captains are men of the church, couiiiiuuicjnts with tho disciples of Christ — men, though profes-ing to honor Christ, who do “ their own business” on God's holy day! In a dark night, when all earthly objects are concealed from the glances of human vision, it is most pleasant to de-cry the modest, trembling glimmer of only a single star. Beautifully it radiates through tho opening clouds, and most strikingly doits golden beams contrast w ilk surround¬ ing blneknois. So, is it most soul-cheering to ctery trim Chris turn, to Jcuoiv of one Sabbath keeping boat on the Mississippi riser. There has been such a boat on that river for years. It was tho “ A'ominee,” and (’apt. Orin Smith of Galena, was her worthy and highly respected commander. He is now, wo believe, tho captain of the “ Hen Campbell," and still adheres, inlicxiUy, and often apparently against his secular interests, to his old custom of “ tying up” for the Sabbath. Ho will not leave port on the Sabbath, and when the Sabbath approaches, if there is a hank to lie under, a tree to fasten to, or a place to hold the anchor, the boat must stop ’till twelve o'clock on I ord’s day niglit. No threats, persuasions, nor arguments, can move him a foot from tlio place ’till tlio Sabbath is pa-t. Mr. Smith is a member of the Presbyterian church, has prospered iu worldly goods, is an universal favorite with travelers, and his b tat — as all boats in charge of men of such principles would always bo — is invariably well pat¬ ronized. The Ladies generally inquire first lor Captain Smith’s boat. Crnokrtl Pearons. l’y this caption, we do not mean stopped shouldered deacons, nr deacons of a cuncd posture, physically ; hut no allude to a moral or social crookedness. Churches sometimes make a great mistake in the choice of deacons. We shall not say, in this place, what deacons ought to he, but what they ought not to he. They ought nut to be self -conceited. Some bare a very exalted opinion of their superior knowledge of Bible truth and cl arch matters. They ought not to be self-willed— obstinate. The glory of some deacons, ill theso times, seems to con-ixt in tho pertinacity with which they cling to peculiar notions of their own. They ought not to he tattlers, “ donbled-tongned,” as the New Testament would say An ij/e-talking deacon is not fit for tho office, and such an one will act on the church, as a clog on a coach wheel. They ought not to he imperious or overbearing. Occ.t-ionally, the churches are liarrassed with just such deacons, who take it npoti themselves to dictate to the pastor what and how he ought to preach— to berate mem¬ bers for occasional absence front the prayer meeting— to rehuko those sharply whoso views do Dot happen to coin¬ cide with their own— and to press, with dogmatical assur¬ ance, their own cherished measures, on the attention of the church. Beacons should not be wanting in gravity. So said tho apo*l!c Paul. To see a deacon in the house of God, whispering and chattering to some one at his elbow, whether of tho masculine or feminine gender, is very an¬ noying to a well bred audience. To continuo thus engaged I till tlio pastor rises to open the devotions of tho occasion, is ill-mannerly and rudo. A few such deacons, as above described, wo have had tho misfortuno to know, aDd they ! have invariably been a hindrance to holiness and church I prosperity. _ • j It is, lmwover, a most gratifying fact, that while we now I and then meet with a crooked deacon, the larger portion of I that respected class of church members, is comprised of inten of humblo heirts, amiable dispositions, intelligent ; ntinds, enlarged nnd liberal views, ready benevolence, and j untiring perseverance in every good work. Christian Temperance. FAMILY MALOGUE. Lettie—" (), Mother, what a largo congregation was at our church to-day, and ivliat a good sermon Mr. M. preach- ed ! I only wish you had been there to hear it.” Mother—' “Indeed, my daughter, and how comes it that you aro so much pleased with the sermon!” Lettie—" Why, the people listened so good, and when the mooting broke up, Mr. 11. said it was tho best sermon Mr. M. ever | reached, and one that bail been very much needed for a long time : ar.il deacon 8. said lie wus so glad father was out— was’nt it good, Wo. Will!'’ IVillie — “ No, / did’nl like it at nil, ши! 1 think Mr. M. would hotter mind his own business.” Mother—" Why, Willie ! what makes you talk so of our minister !’’ Willie—" 0, ‘ Let ’—she aln ays says more titan she thinks— hut I am sure Mr. M. was preaching at father; and I know father thought so loo, lor lie could hardly sit still, and I expected every minute to see him go out, and if lie had, 1 would bare guno right after liitii, so I would.” Mother—" Preaching at your father! Why, son, you astonish mo ; why should Mr. M. have done that!” fVUlie — 11 Weil, lie did not call out father’s name, but he might as well, for nil the folks know nhat he tuna ill, and whom Lo meant.” Mother—" bow, son, explain yourself, and don't judge ottr preacher too hastily.” Willie—" Well, mother, lie had a long yarn about brandy at dinner, nnd mint julep in hot weather, nnd egg¬ nog for Christmas, and wino on New Yca-’s day, nud otteo in a while ite would hook straight at father — 0, but 1 was И red.” Xanay — “ Ye.-, tun, you know father does take sweet brandy illicit lie cats, and I aiu glad, for lie always gives mo some. Its lo good.” Mother — «lln.lt, pet— papa takes it for medicine be¬ cause lie is sick sometimes; Imt I am sorry to hoar Nanny say that stio is glad to have some.” Xunny — “ But, та, can't I drink nhat fuller drinks!” Mother — “ No, child, not always, unless yuu tnko it for medicine.” Willie — “ Ah ! Medicine, (hat was what made mo angry at Mr. M. Ho talked as if nntny people who drink spirits, only prilend to lo sick. He said— and lie looked at father when lie said it— some church ineiiiliers get sick too often, and then they take too much of lids medicine — that they do not distiko it like salts or castor oil — nor take it only sbnMsmes-iw-eiwwionthsf ws wo take blue pills, but take it every day, and in big doses, as if they looed it, and ho hinted, too, that no brandy-drinking Christians will go to heaven.” June— "l do wish father would quit using spirits; I heard Mr. S. whisper in Mr. Q.'s car at Sabbath School last Sunday, and say, lie smelled father’s breath— and it made mo led so bad.” Mother — “Come, children, ire'll talk no того of tliis now. Your father does not think it wrong to use brandy and wino, but I wish he would not do it. I must own, it looks bad for a c'urch member, and 1 have my fears, too, that my dear children may ho injured by Ins example, t), my sweet ones, 1 hope and pray nono of you will ever he- coiiic druukards.” The following account of ihe Baptist Church ill Norlh Si. laaitis, ivitl Is- read null interest by ntl tin* friends of Church cx- ten-ion. Sliniily before leaving that city, ivo had lire pleasure of ivoi-hlpping with that little (lock, aad felt ileppty interested fur its success nod future prosperity. Fee ihe thane anj Ferclgn Journal. The Baptist riinrcli of North Si. Louis. Hear Droller Walker: 1. This church was constituted on Sept, tllst, 1X51, with seventeen members dismissed by letter from the Sind Itjplist Church of this city. This movement was made, nut through any dissension, or difficulty in the church, but through a desire on the part of all, to improve unoccupied fields of labor -, that Baptist sentiment» might lo propaga¬ ted, aud tho name of our blessed Master honored in other portions of this growing city. We wish in this communi¬ cation, to lay before you a brief statement of the progress we have made, and of our prospects in relation to the fu¬ ture, feeling that you and our brethren in the South-West¬ ern Slates will take a lively interest in our joys and aor- rows, in our Impes and fears. !. When wo left our maternal licinc, wo were indeed a feeble band, consisting not of tho wise and experienced, who might arrange and direct, and stand as pillars in God’s house. This, fur a while, look»! discouraging, and we were ready to exclaim with tho prophet, “ II у whom shall Jacob arise, Jor be is small]” But, through the mercy of our God, wo were not suffered to languish and die in our weakness, Our hearts have been greatly encouraged ; our Sabbath School, which is in a flourishing condition, has accomplished much, and the word preached has not fallen on fruitless gruund. We have every reason to believe that tlio influence now exerted over this community by our little hand, is most salutary; and, under God’s blessing, we feel assured that we shall in due season reap if wo faint not. 3. It is to us a source of pleasing reflection, that in all our labors, the most perfect harmony has always prevailed. No difference has ever ariien between any of car members, no dissenting voice in any of our proceedings; and wo cannot but rejoice that we hive enjoyed so abundantly tho smiles of our heavenly Father, and have been the means of extending the blessings of salvation to many of our dy- ing fellow sinners. 4. But notwithstanding all this, we eannol be insensible to tbs preearbusnes! of our eitualim as a chnreh. Our mo labors are mostly females, who are unable to contribute orach for tho support of tlio cause, or to take but little part ia tlio exercises of social ond publio worship. Tht whole burden devolves on tho few male members, who are young, and in some respects inexperienced ; and should either of theso he taken sway by death or removal, tho loss would be most seriously felt. 5. Looking then at our true position in relation to the present ami future, we feel that something should be soou done towards securing a lot, on which to erect a suitable house of worship. This would give us a permanent foot¬ hold in North St, Louis. It until! ensure us a much wider influence than ire now have, and thus greatly extend our field of usefulness. 1 1 may not ho out of place to mention hero, that we have not the use of the Hall, in which wo now worship, sxoept ou Sundays; and lienee can hohl in it no stated mootings during the week. And besides, tlio Hall is not uufre- qticntly occupied by political parties, aud others ou Satur- d.-ty evenings, which rendarn the floor and soats altogether unfit for tlio attendance of Indies on the Sabbath. ti. The great importance of the field wo now occupy, lias not ye', we think, been fully understood and appreciat¬ ed. It embraces the whole region tvilhin the compass of tho Hulling Mill, the llesemdr, the Mound Market and the Mississippi, containing a papulation of at least fifteen thousand, the ninss of tilioin are more accessible to the Gospel than almost any others in our city, being largely American mechanics, who have received a religious or morel training during early life, in soiiio of tho older Sla'cs. Anioug them are found several who bare onco been members of Baptist churches, and who, by suitoblo means, might ho reclaimed. Wo feel того and того th importance of this field of labor, and tho responsibility tiiat rests on our denomination to cultivate it. *. Uttr congregations aro always respectable, both in numbers ami intelligence. Our Sabbath School has always been prosperous, and is at present filled with intelligent, pretty children, representing some of the host families in tliis |»irt of tlio oily. During lira last summer, it lias are- raged one hundred and thirty. Oar church now numbers fifty-eight. Sixteen of theso havo been received sinco the first of May last— nine by baptism. Wo feel that we need much wisdom and strength from ou high, Hint wo may net prudently and efficiently in matters of so great importance. “And now limy the Owl of l'eico that, brought again from tho dead our laird Jesus, that great Slumlord of tlio siieep, through tlio blood of tlio ovcrlistingcovcnant, тако us perfect in every good work to do iris will, working in us that which is well pleasing ill Iris sight, through Jesus Christ, lo whom ho glory forever nnd over— Amen.” EDWAItD OWEN, Pastor. It. S. «КАПАМ, Deacon. D.L. 1.ЛТ01П1ЕТТЕ, Clerk. Doniestio missions arc, indeed, lit tlio foundation of all our benevolent enterprises, sinco upon tlio number nnd vigor of our diuretics, must, under God, depend iu a great шеи our nbiliiy lo prus'-euto foreign missions, our edu- cnliuiuil designs nud all our other purposes for the honor of divine truth nnd the saltation of шеи. Donnlioiis. Itr.ctiprs OF nit I tow tine Homo гном Mir3lsr roSxrr. Hid, I Kit. Baptist В, I, I- Society , Newberry District, S. C.,per llev. W. It. Johnson, Mrs.' Mary Vuss* r, .Miss , t” r llev. J. C. h'is-ney, Mis. Sarah II. Bacon, Tuilegwr, All., pel llev. J. II. l-'iHrr, Hpy.J.S. ЦфюМчои, Ag*ni, \ a , jlt-v. Д. ( oIIhh, А AU.ruHfciptl hi Talkwlinirli'T Chun'li, ALi , Ml./wn Church, ЛЬ., .Ml Hurrh Church, All-, f olK'iion (Ml'imbunm, Slulby со , Ala., Spring < ‘ги*к Church, Ala., .Ml Zion t'hurrh, Omi llivcr As'ocutiun, ЛЬ., Fruiuldiip Church, C««m ltivir Association, A hi , ( 'oh! Walcr Church, Tel ro.,AI«, Filv-r llun Acailriny, ГиЬ. Го1 , All , HiJi-m Church, (’«w Hivor Association, ЛЬ., U.fjzr Church, ТяНкЬка со., Ah , [Ии* Ky** Church, Talladega, ЛЬ , Antioih Church. Talbd'-gi, Ala, l’in<* Spring Church, colli-clion, R I1. Lid»\ Cartmille Church, Dalbi со., Ala., llev. W. M. Farrar, Ag'-nl, Mm , Sr. Helena Baptist Church, H. Carolina, per L. Rr«*vc Heims, M. D., C. Fnl/miiig'-r, South Carolina, per J. S. Reynold* Rev. Hrndby Kimbrough, Ag*nt, Tenn., Rev. Bradley Kimbrough, Ag«-nt,Tcnn., for C'alifur- Rev. J tf. ReynohJson, Agent, Va , Trens. East 'leones* e Association, draft h favor of llev. K. Strode, Bethel Association, Ala , draft in favor of Rev. J. Reeves, Bethel Asiociation, Ala., draft in favor of Rev. Jacob Barker, Л. I). Kelly, Treai MJ Asa<«ciation, by draft in favor of Rev N. Davis, Biff Bear Clerk Association, Ala., draft Rev. Wm. Ma»'V*w3, Cherokee Association, Ala., draft Rev. Jay. Fields, General Association, Va , draft Rer K. Ford, While River Convention, BateeviJI«',Ark , draft, Rev. J.W. Miller, . . w, ... .. Edmund Elicit, (on subscription,) franklin со., Ala., for California, м _ ... Mrs. S. W. CioIJsbjf. Dallas, Ala, R-r. W lVtlzes, Friend of Missions, Marietta Baptist Church. 0a. , Baptist Chnreh, Augusta. Cia., per D. K.W right. Executive Boards, Baptist Convention, Texas, draft io favor Rev. D. Fisher, Rev.J.S. lleynoldsoa. Agent, >». llev. J. S. itejnolilsoa, Agent, South Carolina, [lev. J. S. Reynold*™, Agent, Norlh Carolina, S3 on UI uu S (III I.OJj 50 4 0П B) CO Й50 !) 75 3 CO 0 00 H 85 7 73 •l 50 5 110 ti 75 75 1 CO 5 05 10 00 50 00 130 00 1,500 00 175 00 25 00 110 02 25 00 MOO 25 00 2-5 00 7.5 00 12 50 02 50 25 CO 25 00 8 CO 7 CO И 75 IOO 00 4!0 05 SOSO 67 24 41,230 66 WM. i lOUNBb'CKLE, Taxas’».