Home and Foreign Journal, December 1854

ОМЕ AM) FOREIGN JOURNAk VOLUME IV. RICHMOND, DECEMBER, 1864. NUMBER 6.' of! PUBLISHED BY THE BOARDS OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MISSIONS OF THE SOUTHERN BAPT IB9ARD OF DOMESTIC MISSIONS. f MARION, А1.АПЛМЛ, DKCEMBEIl 1854. At Home. | After on absence of three months, it is j relief to bo onco more in tho Domestio jission room. On every side, it is work, ork; bnt what of that! Idleness was ■ever intended to bo the lot of man. Kentucky General Association. j Wo desired much to visit this large and respectable body during its recent convo¬ cation at Louisville, but found it impracti- Able so to do. Wo hope to have better ick nest year. Tennessee Association. J It was our intention to bo present among jjho Tennessee Baptists nt Winchester a few ■cks since, but were prevented As wo avc been making liberal appropriations for [tiat State, wo hope they will remember oiucstic Missions — that is, the Board a! Marion, when making a distribution of their enevolcncc. New Appointments. Fourteen new appointments have been ,de sinco the 1st of September— three for jftxas, two for Georgia, one for Missouri, 'one for Florida, one for Alabama, one for 1 ^cnncsscc, two for Arkansas, ono for North ^■Carolina, one for Mississippi, and one for (Virginia. Indian Mission. H The Goshen Association at its recent ses- Wappointcd Bro. Moffat a missionary to he Indians. t~ Minutes. • - -«•- We have received minutes of conventions d associations from various quarters, for rliich wo tender thanks. $ Notes of Travel — concluded. It was our settled purpose to visit Kcn- cky and Tennessee before returning to Alabama, but when wo got as far as Philo- i disposition arrested our progress for a week, and in view cf physical disa¬ bility, as soon as able to move, wc deemed Jt best to retrace our steps for homo. So jc swept on rapidly day and night, except *hcn compelled to lie over from inability to make railroad connections, till wo reached Marion. No incidents, by the way, need to related in detail. As wo reached Ли. gusto, Ga., wp found that Me city was from home. Very few doors or window shutters Aero open, and when now and then a door Aid stand ajar, no one was to be seen about but somo faithful colored servant. What ‘occasioned such a sudden arid general stam¬ pede of the citizens 1 All ! the yellow fc- ler, that king of terrors, was brandishing he blade of death over tho city. We shall ot particularize, or attempt to delineate tho isiblc dismay which gloomily perched on ho features of anxious passengers. Two ours of detcution in Augusta could not be voided, and during thoso two hours at the epot, men and women walked lightly and breathed softly, as if they feared to awake slumbering giant. What a mountain was oiled off panting bosoms, when the shrill rbistlo gave notice for departure. SULIM. This plaeo wo reached about midnight on he Oth of October, and went immediately ;o bed at tho City hotel, with the view of estiog during the Sabbath. At S o’clock ere called up, and prepared to attend wor- ihip at tho BAPTIST CHURCH. As wo entered, the worthy pastor, Kcv. A. G. McCraw, was already in the pulpit, md tho choir wore singing a voluntary. A largo and intelligent looking congregation *аз in attendance, and wo felt peculiarly fortunate in being permitted to enjoy, as a hearer, the feast of Sabbath morning wor¬ ship. Tko words of tho toxt, “ Fear not them that kill tho body,” Ao., were announced, as thoy ought always to be, in a grave, om phatio tono. A vory few remarks, exhibit¬ ing fear as a general principle, as, appli¬ cable to tho wbolo animated creation on earth, was a brief exordium. Tho preaoher then dwelt on tho wrong uses of fear ; next, on its beneficial consequences, when judiciously used; and concluded by tho very proper inference, that if fear is a sentinel in tho human soul to warn against danger even in this world, it should servo as a still more powerful monitor to warn sinners against the doom of transgression in a fu- turo state. We wero much edified, and, we trust, profited, by that excellent sermon. We congratulate tho Baptists of Selma in viorv of their religious prosperity. All con¬ nected with the church presents an aspect of progress. Tho congregation is largo, tho singing good, tho scats comfortable, the floors carpotcd— even that of the basement for the colored people — tho Sunday school well attended, and, wo should think, the prayer meetings also. In a word, wo should “ reckon” it to bo ono of tho best churches in Alabama. .from (Dur ftiissionnrirs. VIRGINIA. Richmond, Sept. 8th, 1854. My Dear Brother : — I have nothing of interest to communicate in connection with' my report for tho present quarter, savo the constituting of our church, which took placo on the 4th Sunday in July last. Tho ex¬ ercises were deeply interesting and solemn. Wo constituted with 103 members. Since that time wo havo received by letter 9. We now number 112. May tho Lord increase our piety, and add to our numbers such as shall ho saved. Yours, in Christ, REUBEN FORD. Wc had the pleasure, a few weeks since, ot woisljipuig witn mo now cnurcu ис пики our Bro. Ford is tho worthy pastor. We found many old friends in his flock, and church affairs moving on harmoniously and efficiently. No пеш interest has advanced more rapidly. — Ed. Brother John Winter, of Wheeling, ap¬ pends to l.is report ending Sept. 30th, somo explanatory remarks. Ho thinks tho cause at homo “ is looking up.” A better state of feeling exists, and there is more love for prayer. Tho meeting house has lately been cleaned and put in order for tho winter, and good times aro expected. SOUTH CAROLINA. Our missionary at I’cndlcton has recently baptized two of tho pupils of bis Sabbath school. Under dato of October 2d, ho writes in relation to some sad events as fol¬ lows: Wo bad a melancholy death in town last night, a lady, Miss Sarah Smith, a mem¬ ber of tho Georgetown Baptist church. Since the yellow fever panic in Augusta, I have received nothing through tho mail beyond that place, and from what I seo from ihc P. M. at that place, I fear this letter will bo delayed. (Yesterday, 1st Sabbath of present quarter, wc received ono mem ber for baptism.) I was engaged in tho S. S. Bible class and preaching just six hours. I preached three sermons. You did not re¬ tain §5 of my salary last quarter, as my contribution to the Board. I believe I havo said all I need to say. In baste, yours in Christ, T. P. EARLE. MISSISSIPPI. Accompanying his report, Bro. William Philips informs tho Board that ho has re¬ cently aided in three protraetod meetings during which somo 20 persons wero bap¬ tized into the fellowship of tho several churches, and 8 received by letter. Brother Matthews writes, that tho last quarter has been tho most interesting of any previous ono on his field. Additions were had at every one of his preaching sta¬ tions, with, perhaps, a single exception.— Ho had baptized 12, and witnessed in all 20 conversions. Bro. Hempstead, of Bcloxi, has baptized 5 during tho quarter ; says considerable se¬ riousness has prevailed in bis congregations, and that a few persons havo passed from death unto life, but aro cot yet willing to сото out and profess religion openly— that their hesitation is to bo ascribod.to’tlio' pre¬ valence of open communion sentimonts. ' GEORGIA. Tbo following letter Wo givo entire ; Rbv. Joseph Walker : My Dear Brother— This oloses my fourth quarter in this field. I have bap¬ tized during this quarter 09 persons, all colored. Our church is not yet completed. In fact, wo havo not used it since July. I was in great anticipation of gottfog into it heforo tho closo of this quarter, but was prevented in our work by the appearance of tho yellow fever in our midst. "t-We have been compelled to let tho work ceaso till tho fever is over. , I Ьа,то lost some of my congregation by tlio fercr, but nono of the members of my church Lavo been taken away thus far. But wo know not what a day may bring forth. Many in our com- munity havo been called from tiuio to eter¬ nity, and many aro now lying on bods of pain and disease. Oh that God, our hea¬ venly Father, in wrath would remember mercy. And while his judgments aro abroad in tho land, may tho peoplo learn wisdom. Yours, as over, ‘ A. S. MORRALL. Darien, Sept. 2Gtli, 1854. LOUISIANA. In New Orleans, Rev. W. C. Duncan has regularly supplied tho 1st Baptist church, with as much success as could havo been expected during tbo sickly season. The yellow fever has raged with great violence, but our brother did not abandon bis post. Tho latest intelligence iuforms us that the new meeting house is under roof, and that a new church, recently organized, will worship in its basoment in a mouth or six weeks hence. Bro. Bray, missionary at Sabine Parish, baptized during tho last quarter 54, and 11 wero baptized on bis field by others, making 05 in all. He writes thus cheerfully con¬ cerning his success and prospects : в ^ex¬ tracted meetings, all of which havo been well attended. I liavo seen a manifested evidence of tho working of tbo Spirit of God in our midst, and the Macedonian cry is still ‘ come over to our help but it is impossible for mo to extend my field of la¬ bor any more, as every hour of my time is taken up. I have spent but seven days at homo this quarter, and they wero occupied in preparing for my field of labor.” ARKANSAS. Bro. Reuben Jones, pastor of tho Bap¬ tist church at Helena, among much inter¬ esting information, sends us tho following results of meetings held : Tho meetings, after tho closo of the As¬ sociation, were continued by brethren Cox, King, Watson and myself, for six days and nights, and resulted in 23 conversions. Of this number, 1G wore baptized into tbo New llopo church, (tho placo of tho meeting,) 4 into tho Helena church, and ono or more into tho Liberty church. Others will join soon. I think thoso received by this church will niako valuable members, as well as those received by tbo other churches.” Bro. Vcsay, of Dardanille, writes that lie is endeavoring to establish a nucleus in that place — says tho charaoter of tho Baptists must bo redeemed, and asks tho prayers of the Board that his labors may prove suc¬ cessful. Bro. Georgo W. Bonnard sends us good news from Batesville. lie has added to his own little church, Pilgrims' Rest, by bap¬ tism, during the quarter ending September 30th, twenty-one, and writes as follows concerning other placos : In addition to tho number of baptisms reported in my own field of labor, 1 havo attended three protracted meetings, whero I had tho ploasuro of witnessing or bearing of tho conversion of twenty-threo persons, tbo most of whom have been baptized and added to tho several churches. No revival in the church in Batesville, as yet. The White River Convention is to meet hero in October, at which timo wo hope to accom¬ plish some good. Tho Rocky Bayou Association, at its last session, agreed to raise about ninety dol¬ lars for benevolent purposes— sixty-five of it is for tho purpose of assisting a young indigent brother, (member of Batesvillo church, who professes to havo a call to tho ministry,) in procuring an education. Upon the whole, tho mission ny spirit is gaining ground in this part of tho State.” MISSOURI^ Bio. Toisdalc, of St. Louis, sends ns the agreeablo intelligence, that a' lot has been secured for the 3d Baptist church. По writes as follows: My Dear Brother — I accompany my ro- port with a few remarks. In my last, I stated that wo wero engaged in making ar¬ rangements for building our meeting houso. Did I stato tho fact, that wo had scoured a lot on Clark Avenue, opposito Centre street, a.fino location ! Brethren McPherson, Da¬ vis, Gale and Brothcrton, united and bought 60 feet of tho 75 wo now own at a cost of §4,000, and made a present of it to tho church. Tho church bought 25 foot ad¬ joining _ brother West, for §2250, making tho entire lot, with a front of 75 feet, and a depth of 14GJ feet, cost § G25Q, for tho payment of which provision lias been made.” Brother 0 wells, of the Zion church, writes . My Dear Brother— During the last quarter, our meetings havo been tolerably well attended, considering tho intensity of heat which we liavo endured, and consider¬ ing that very much sickness has prevailed among our church and congregation. _ This also, as we suppose, accounts for the diminished number in our Sunday school. Some teachers, as well as children, havo been unwell, and some absent from tlio city. But now that the beat is abating, wo hope to seo everything going on as prosperously as heretofore, and far того so. Wo look to him who has said, “ not by might, nor by Eower, but by my spirit, faith tho Lord of iosts.” During this fall, wo intend, if possible, visiting one and all tho “ non-pro¬ fessing” families in this part of tho city, to invite them personally to attend tho gospel feast, and to urgo them to send their child, ren to tlio Sunday school." ALABAMA. Brother Muntt stnJt uuhe following ^uodnein from Cedar RlulT : Cedar Bluie, Ala., Sept. 22<3, 1854. Dear Brother Walker — I send yon my report of labor done yoar ending 30tli inst. I have tbo ploasuro of saying, tho Lord has done great things for us, and wo arc clad. .1 UCJU^AUU *JUC\T Jil тми >vu. |>ivhA(>.w meetings in Chcrokco and Dekalb counties. Tho entire number of conversions,! am not ablo to givo, I gavo in my report tho number I havo baptized and received by letter, which you will see, (58 in all.) — Other brethren have baptized as many or того in tho bounds of tlio Chcrokco Asso¬ ciation. Many havo been added to tho Zion of our God for tho three last months.” LYotbcrCalrinCrebbs writes from his station : “Sinco making my last report, I liavo been more deeply impressed with tho im¬ portance and necessity of carrying out tho intentions of tho Board, than ever before. The того I became acquainted with tho nature of my work, tho того I am con¬ vinced it is one which, although attended with many difficulties, is destined to effect much good. In regard to Sunday schools, I find many obstacles. In a largo portion of my field, the children arc growing up without any in¬ struction. Even their parents aro unablo to read or write. Owing to thoso causes, it is difficult to obtain competent teachers. Notwithstanding thoso obstacles, my re¬ port shows that I havo succeeded inorganiz. ing two schools, with fifty pupils and five teachers. Tho teachers and parents aro much interested, and engage with zeal and energy in tho work.” Brother Reeve, nrssionary to the colored people, writes as follows : “Dear Brother Walker — I enclose to you a formula, filled out according to direc¬ tions. One has been received by experi¬ ence. Tho blacks bear the gospel witli great attention, and often with much feeling, and I do hope tho Lord will bless tbo word preached-to them. The week that I was absent from my field of labor, I attended a very interesting pro¬ tracted meeting, nt which 19 were added to tho church.” TENNESSEE. From Caney Fork, Bro. Summar writes thns: “ Wo aro in tho midst of a vast destitu¬ tion, and though my report showe but a small increase this quarter, I trust that good has been done in various ways. I am prosecuting my labors in the assurance that thoy are not in vain.” TEXAS. Galveston, Oct. 4th, 1854. Rev. JosErn Walker : My Dear Brothtr— Within you will perceive my report for two months.cnd- ing Sept. &0th. I regret I had no printed form on hand. I used tho last in tho report which I mado for the month of July. During the list two months, wo havo been 1ST CONVENTION. suffering from another of thoso awful visi< tations of God, yellow fever. Alroadj того than four hundred havo boon sont to tboir grave, and amongst that number, many from my own congregation, and some cf ml dearest, most precious friends on earth. On| congregation is in mourning, and our churoll is burdened with grief. For two Sabbath* our house of worship was olosed. All her efficient members and pastor too were with her dying or her dead. . 1 bavo as yet had no quiet rest. At all times of day and night, I ЗШ subject to calls which I cannot resist. At ono time, seven nights out.of eight, I was up con- fitantlj. I feci that I cannot etan J it much longer. Our ohurch has been very active, and I trust that somo of them havo been drawn near to the Cross by this fearful vi¬ sitation. When I appear heforo tho congregation, and look round and see the sad vacancies, and tho badges of grief, it requires all my efforts to control my feelings, so as to go forward with my sacred duties. АП I cun do, is to throw my burden on tho Lord, and toil on, Tho work of death still goes on, and God only Snows where it shall stop. I’ray for me, dear brother, that I may bo sustained, or if I do fall, that I may dio at my post, proclaiming tbo love of Jesus with my latest breath. My own family havo been sick for the last four weeks. Often аи I called to leave a sccno of distress at home which wrings my heart, to attend upon the wants of greater anguish abroad. Your brother, JAMES IIUCKINS. Last year brother Huokins passed through tho fatal season of epidemic safely, laboring all tho timo amid secaes of deep distress, and tho fearful menaces and conquests of tho “king of terrors.” It soems that tho favor has returned with but littlo loss fatality than attended its progress last sea¬ son. Wc trust that Christians will pray that our brother, who toils on daily and nightly, with bis life continually exposed, may bo preserved from « the noisorao pesti¬ lence.”— Ed., VUUUVIumui The subjoined letter from Bro. Shuck wi give entire, that onr readers nay havo th( latest and most definite information froU that important field. Tho § 700 dollars fol tho Chinese chapel, for which our brothel asks, was voted by tbo Board at tboir last meeting, mid a draft has Icon sent for th< amount. The allusion onr brother makoi to his salary may need a word of explana¬ tion. The Board have sent half tho amount of his salary, and requests that tho other half might bo raised by tho church in Sa¬ cramento city, to which ho was dovoting half his time. It may ho host, as our brother suggests, that what he gets on tho field would better be applied to the chapel, and tbo salary will bo sent by the Board as bis quarters transpire. With rcfcrcnco to bro¬ ther Davidson, for whose appointment Bro. Shuck mado application as a missionary to the Americans, the Board havo not been able to make tbo appointment. They fear embarrassment for want of funds. Tho same cause may apply to Bro. Willis. Wo hope for tho best, and must, wait to see wbak a few weeks will indicato as tbo path of duty : Sacramento, 1 th Sept., 1854. Dear Brother Walker— I wroto you a short timo ago, informing you that I bad purchased, for § 300, a lot in an eligible position, on which to build tho Chinese cha¬ pel. The lot is 80 by 40 feet. I gavo out details to a builder for a chapel 40 by 27 feet, and 18 feet high in the clear, Ac,, Ac., and bo brought in his estimate of about two thousand dollars. His figures aro about § 500 dollars too high, аз I Ibink a neat and commodious house can bo erected all com¬ plete for §1,500. I stall not commento until I bear from you on tho subject. Tho Beard will havo to send mo at least § 700, and tho remainder I will, tho Lord aiding, raise here. A pastor is now confidently expected soon, and I am really glad of tho prospect of being released, at an early day. My congregations arc large and increasing, and warm friends aro multiplying— and I hope good will ultimately ensue. As to money matters, tho church is just liko about every body in California, “hard up"— the prospect of getting much from them for my labors in anything but bright, for thoeimph reason that they have nothing to givo.- Tho prospect, however, of getting up I largo and effective ohurch is vory. good, ‘ani I hope Mr. Kallock will provo Ihorightiorf of a man. But it will renuiro a desporaH effort to support him ana hia 'family., II В