araxawttat
ON THE
SENTIMENTS
OF THE
®2UWa» AS«W&4*VftB*
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN A SERIES OF ESSAYS IN THE
STATESMAN, AT MILLEDGEVILLE, Ci
8Y mWBMZAX*
MILLEDGEVILLE »
vAKAS & EAOWD.i'EIKTE?.?
Strictures, «fcc
No. I.
An extract lrom the minutes of this body was published some
months ago in the public papers, and now for the purpose of
enlightening us, ignorant Georgians, the Declaration and Circu¬
lar are reprinted in this State. Desirous to give wider circulation
to this precious morce.au, I beg, Mr. Editor, you will allow me a
corner in your paper for a few weeks, that I may bring it before
our community generally, and shew them what great fools they
have been, for, lo! these twenty years past! Ought not our Le¬
gislature to bestow a pension on thot pucriot, who without hope
of reward, save th»* otitering our wretched condition, has
been at the pains to republish these things at his own expense ?
I shall make such extracts from the pamphlet now before me
as will subserve the purpose of enlightening our ignorance, and
such remarks as the subject seems to require.
Extract. " We hesitate not to say that the Societies and prat-
tices referred to [meaning Missionary, Tract and Bible Societies
and Theological Seminaries] have no warrant from the New
Testamenty nor in the example of Christ and his Apostles." Page2.
From this extract, you will infer, gentle reader * that the Kehu-
kee Association are so great sticklers for scripture* that they have
a " Thus saith the Lord" for every step they take, for every
sentiment they adopt, and every measure they recommend ; else
they will be as much exposed as the boy in the glass-house cast¬
ing stones at all who passed by. Let us see : The first article
in their Declaration is as follows : " Our body shall be known by
the name of the Reformed Baptist Association of Churches ! /"
Now our Georgia Bibles know nothing about " Reformed Asso¬
ciations" Where is the scripture for the publication of a scur¬
rilous pamphlet, which condemns the practice and impugns the
motives of a commanding majority of the most laborious and
self-denying servants of God of all denominations in our coun¬
try? Where is the warrant that J. S. should have it reprinted
and sent abroad throughout the State to teach us to adhere to
scripture only for our guide 1 We, ignorant Georgians, can dis¬
cover that the practice of these reformers is at variance with their
Declaration. If they have denounced Missionary and other
Societies because there is no express scripture in so many words
for their formation and operations ; M e have a double reason for
uot receiving their instructions. If we, Georgians, have com¬
mitted any great fault by supporting societies without an ex-
4
press warrant for our conduct; our North Carolina friends are
in a bad situation to reclaim us, because they are guilty of a
kindred crime, and that too while they are delivering their les¬
sons of instruction. He will be an unsuccessful preacher who
coramit3 the same sins against which he cautions his hearers.—-
God never designed that a specific direction should be laid down
for every duty ; for if so the volume of inspiration would be so
large that no one could find all these directions, and of course
have no time to obey them. The authors of the pamplet before
us, are informed that we have the same warrant for Missionary
and other Societies, that they have for Associations, meeting on
stated dayi a clerk and book for their churches, &c< &c,
No. II..
" Whereas, from twenty ywrs experience of thepr ogress of Mis¬
sionary plans and proceedings among *., Jind that no benefit
has arisen to the cause of Christ or his Church." Page 3.
Is there no man in the Kehukee Association, who knows that
the word Missionary is synonimous with Apostleand that the
first verse of the first chapter of the first Epistle to Corinthians,
would be correctly translated if it read " Paul called to be a
missionary of Jesus Christ, &c. 1" We, ignorant Georgians*
know it, and the Kehukee Association can learn-this if they will
apply at Chappel Hill. If so, they will then see that they are
venting their spleen at the Apostolic cause> If a warrantfor the
principle of the " Missionary plans and proceedings" is not found
in Philipians iv. 15, 16, and elsewhere, we have misunderstood
this subject. Paul went through many sections of country,
preaching the gospel, and his brethren, communicated to his jae«
cessities; such is the missionary cause. Ministers now-a-days
go preaehirig the same gospel, and their brethren assist them in.
the same manner.
The several Bible Societies within these " twenty years" hav®
distributed some millions of Bibles. Is this of no benefit
does not the Kehukee Association know the value of that kind
af book 1 A person ignorant of what kind of a body anAs^o-
ciation is, would suppose that they were unacquainted with the
contents of the Bible, when they denounce Mission and othef
Societies because they have no express iearrant for
tence, and yet declare their own name, to be the 41 Rtfmw&iAs~
sociation
Some millions of Tracts, pieces founded on tb&i5C?iptg£fti&&|
important facts, have been circulated, and so
been the means of saving many souls from eternal ruin,
-f v. o teni F-tit ?
<£»
By Missionary Societies the Bible has been translated iato
wore than a hundred languages, in which 30 years ago, there
was not a text of scriptire.' Is this of no benefit? By the la¬
bours of these Societies too, some thousand sinners have been
redeemed from the darkness of heathenism and slavery of the
devil. Is this nothing? Does not the Kehukee Association la¬
bour for similar objects? We hope they are not afraid that all
sinners will be converted, so that their benevolent hearts and in¬
dustrious hands will have nothing to do.
If the Kehukee Association did not know these things, they
ought not to have asserted so roundly, that "no benefit has
arisen" from Mission and other societies. A thousand, nay ten
thousand living witnesses will rise up when called for, who have
been Tedeemed and reclaimed by the instrumentality of the be¬
nevolent societies of the age. We can point them to a whole, na¬
tion which has been evangelized within a few years past by mis¬
sionaries, and where the sabbath is more carefully observed tftan
in the Kehukee Association.
No. nr.
" We do most sincerely believe that it is the Missionary procee¬
dings and beggars that have come among us that has been theprin-
pal cause of our distresses"—" and which we see daily increasing,
which we conscientiously believe we have not departed from the
ground upon which the Baptist denomination stood when we first
joined the community, nor swerved in doctrine or ordinance from
the long established principles of our venerable fathersPage %
Now if their venerable fathers were opposed to missions and
they have not swerved from the ground, how is it that Missions
have caused distress ? A person with an infectious disease trav¬
elling through a country does no injury, if no one contracts the
disease. It seems that none of these reformers have contracted
the Mission mania as they would represent it: Now how could
they be distressed by that with which they were not affected!
We had supposed that nothing could distress which could not ef¬
fect.
When the spirit of the Revolution wae leaping from one pat¬
riot bosom to another,—when father and son were shouldering
their muskets and rushing to the tented field to discomfit the
common foe or die in the attempt; suppose some dastardly tory
had cried out, in hearing of the British army, " The cause of Ijv-
dependence, is the principal cause of all our distresses": would
that have been a sufficient reason for abandoning the standard of
liberty which had been reared in " much fear and trembling,"
—payed all the taxes which our oppressors demanded and worn
rt
the yoke of tyranny for feat of " distresses?-' "No," "No/'
utters every friend of his country, while involuntarially ev¬
ery hand gripes the weapon of defence and would plunge it
through the wretch who should make the suggestion about "dis¬
tresses." The command " Go ye into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature" was given by the ascending Sa¬
viour more than J800 years ago. The apostles and primitive
christians obeyed as far as they were able. After their decease,
the cause flagged, because the church became worldly-minded,
cold, carnal, dead. In several centuries they slumbered &• slept
over the command. By the reformers of the 16th century she was
partly aroused but was soon lulled to rest. In 1793 a new im¬
pulse was given to the cause by the sailing of Messrs. Carey and
Marshman for India. Since that time, justly styled the era of
Missions, the christian world has been feeling more and more
the force of the injunction, and coming up to the help of the
Lord against the mighty. Now in what light will you look upon
that man or class of men, who, in regard to God's cause, should
insinuate or declare that it produced " distresses 1" It is not
strange however that those, who read the " Reformer," and
" Christian Baptist" which are supporting the cause of infidel¬
ity with considerable ability, should not discover the signs of the
times and the means which the Lord is using to take out from
the Gentiles, a people for himself. If, in North-Carolina the
mission ccjuse has produced discoi1d.and distorted religion, be it
known that in Georgia those churches and associations which
go the whole amount for the tfause have been much, yea abund¬
antly blessed during the past year and now the Lord is adding
to them daily! The enemies to missions themselves acknowl¬
edge this to be the work of the Lord and which now pervades
100 churches frlelidly to that cause in the State. Now if the
Lord's spirit w&s poured out on the Kehukee Association so won-
derful!y4liat it produced a " holy flame of brotherly love, eager
sh dicing hand, holy kisses" &c, &c. when they were putting
down missions ; while it encourages thostf who are using their ex¬
ertions to advance it in Georgia—either the spirit of the Lord does
not favor at oi^e time what it dots atanother; or the opponents to
missions in the two states have different views of this spirit.—
That it does operate on mission churches in this State, the oppo¬
nents admit; this spirit does not favor a cause at onetime which
it frowns upon atanother; the inference is fair then that this
spirit was not in operation at the Kehukee Association when she
uttered this bull against missions.
We meution it with gratitudeto God, not in a spirit of triumph,
that throughout these U. States, those churches, which have
been the most active in the cause of benevolence, have been most
singularly blessed. Even pagdobaptist churches, (although hold¬
ing to pnmp errors as tee svppnse) which have come up to the help
of the Lord against the mighty in the mission cause, have been
highly favored. Now if this fact proves any thing conclusively
and anti-mission churches are dead as many of them are, does
it not show that the errors of poedobaptism are not so odious in
the sight of the Lord, as that Antinomian, indolent, covetous,
soul-destroying% God-dishonouring spirit which obtains among
some Baptists ?
" Distresses." The authors of the pamphlet are assured that
in this State, several of the associations which oppose Missions
are in strifes and distresses; but those which go heart and hand
for them and Theological Seminaries, move on unobstructed
and smoothly as do our own mighty and majestic rivers.
No. IV.
" It w»uld be well for some of the officers and donors t» these
popular societies to recollect the proverb, that charity should be¬
gin at home, and first learn (teach we suppose they mean) their
own negroes to read the Bible fyc." Page 5 and 6. Members of
our churches may continue their membership by promising to re¬
nounce connexion with such societies" &c. page 7.
This old objection to Foreign Missions has been re-iterated
these fifteen or twenty years. Whensoever it is made, we have
told the anti-mission party to form a Society for the melioration
of the blacks and we would join them heart and hand,—but yet
they have done nothing! No, when pressed to do their duty,
they pary the force of it by calling up the negroes and condemn¬
ing what we endeavor to do, because we do not begin every
thing! They think it a sufficient salvo to their consciences in
sitting down and doing nothing, because we will not interfere
with the civil restrictions of some of the state laws and educate
the blacks 1 We admit the blacks need instruction, but they
have the privilege of hearing the gospel and many we hope are
decidedly pious, but the heathens have never heard of Jesus.—•
Now to which patient would a doctor first hasten—to one liv¬
ing in the midst of physicians, or one in a dreary wilderness
alone? The blacks can hear and understand enough of the gos¬
pel for purposes of salvation, but to the heathen (except by a
few missionaries) no herald has announced the way to the hol¬
iest of holies through the blood of Jesus. Which has the strong*-
est claims on our charity?
Take this illustration: A. and B. are brothers and in the same
church: A. bestows some of the necessaries of life on a poor
cripple two miles distant: B. quarrels with him and has him ex¬
communicated because he does not give to one who is able to la¬
bor in some degree for a livelihood,—one whom B. prefers to
have assisted because he is nearer,-—thereby assuming the right
y
M control the charities of A.! Now if A. will "renounce con¬
nexion," with all who help the cripple, he may be restored!
We wish to benefit the blacks and every friend to missions are
instructing them in Sabbath Schools,—an Institution with which,
i suppose, the Kehukee Association, to be consistent, has waged
a war of extermination. We know " charity begins at home"
but never knew it was limited by God's word tintil it reaches
every hamlet and every sinner under the whole heaven, " It
would be well" forthe Kehukee Association, to recollect the pro¬
verb themselves, for we are informed their negroes need instruct
tion inthe Bible as much as those owned by the "officers and
donors" of the societies so loudly condemned. Xet pfoper
means be devised to better their condition that we will not be be¬
hind them in that kind of charity. If they do nothing in for¬
eign missions, it is their duty to commence the other plan.
But a man with half an eye can see through this canvass ob*
jection,—it is a mere get-off—-it may cause to blind the sight of
the vulgar,—some dark corners in N. C.; but will have a very
different effect in Georgia. The friends of missions, have rea¬
son to fear, if they undertake to better the condition of the
flacks, that their anti-mission opponents would construe it into
an attempt to set them free and thus bring down the indignation of
the government. Now such a thing is much wanted, ' but if it
should become "popular in the hands of mission friends, it would
be cried down with the same loud vehemence as is now heard
in the bounds of the Kehukee Association against mission and
other benevolent societies.
A stranger, in reading the pamphlet before me, would natu¬
rally inquire, what the advice in our text to "officers and donors"
has to do with a " Declaration" of faith for " Reformed Ghurch-
cs"\ He would infer that a publication was not so much for
their own special benefit and behoof (for this could have been
made without printing and for which there is no scripture) but,
like the other societies which they condemn, " all this" printing
a*d sending about this pamphlet, is " to get more money and ob¬
tain greater renown in the eyes of the world"!! ! |page 5.]
" The first Bible that was ever printed in America, toe arc in-
formed, was.jprinted for the Nantic Indians." What connexion
is there between this and an anathema against Bible Societies
unless it be to discover the extensive reading and learning of the
Reformers, But do not they cry down learning"? Yes, but these
men are the very ones most anxious to display it. You will al¬
ways find it the case, that men of little learning, labor the most
industriously, to make it known by some long words and learned
phrnses which they have gleaned from others.
No. V.
" Incredible sums of money have been expended for converting
the various tribes" of Indians, page 5. " For want of a true
call to this work, bad management, or through a neglect to set a
proper example, or all these put together, the Indians in almost
every instance have been only made worse, more profligate, and
dissipated<$*c. page 5. Not a thousandth part of the money
has "been expended for converting"Indians since the late mis¬
sions began with them as has been for spirituous liquors within
the bounds of the Kehukee Association.
It would be well for the christian world, if in the charity which
" hopeth all things," we could attribute the other broad asser¬
tions in our text, to misunderstand, misstatement, or give them
some paliatives as resulting from haste or injudicious zeal against
missions; but we cannot, we dare not,—and although we will
not shew our want of politeness so much as to proaounce them,
down-right falshood, open-day calumnies; we affirm there is no
truth in them. The Kehukee Association knew better, unless
tkey have shut their eyes, not against the accounts published by
the missionarits themselves of the "benefit" which has arisen
from their labours; but against those also from officers of the
General Government, Governors of the States, Members of Con¬
gress and respectable travellers from England and various parts
of these United States. These have represented the condition
of the Indian^ missions as prosperous and doing great good.
To all general rules there are exceptions,—some stations have
not prospered as well as was desirable,—but where is the warrant
for such a sweeping declaration, unless it was engendered in a
heart "desperately wicked"1? Is there any scripture for it?
These incredible sums" for missions have been contributed
voluntarily, and who has not a right, in this free country, to do
as he pleases with his own, without asking leave of the Kehu¬
kee Association 1 I have not heard of a complaint from any one
(except kindred spirits* with those of the K. H.) who regrets
that he has bestowed too much on the benevolent objects of the
age. I can point that association to persons, who have given
hundreds, yea, thousands of dollars for these onjects, beside
years of labour, and not a cent for compensation would they re¬
ceive ; for there entered into their composition something that
loved to communicate for the glory of him, who " laid down bis
life" for sinners. To shew too that those " missionary -beggars"
as they are called, are men actuated by a praise-worthy disinter¬
estedness and do not beg for their own profit and advantage» I
can point to some who have labored for years and who have now
scarcely a coat to their back. The missionaries in India throw
' * There is one man among us who says if the Lord will forgive him for
the Bin of giving to the mission cause, he will iiever give again ! !! Oh shame
wher» is fhy blush 1 !
5.0
-ill their earnings into a common stock and it all goes lor tbe gen¬
eral good of the mission,—it is probable that the Indian stations
are conducted in this way,—so that they have a bare living and
thisis on coarse fare. It is no pleasant task to solicit donations
among a liberal people in a cold time in religion, and much to be
questioned whether any member of the Kehukee Association
could be prevailed upon to undertake the task, especially, if lie
were unacquainted with other than their own bounds.
As a report has been whispered about that the officers in mis¬
sionary societies in this State get large salaries for their services;
now be it known to all such whisperers, that "There are no such*
things done as thou sayest; but thou feignest them eut of thine
own heart." (Neh.) No officer of a missionary society in Georgia
receives a single cent for his services !!! The Missions in India
were attacked by a Mr. Troining, a Bengal officer, and Major
Waring. That men of such principles should oppose the influ¬
ence which pious missionaries would exert on a community and
who exposed their vices and endeavoured to dry up the sour¬
ces which ministered to their insatiable cupidity, is not strange,
—nor that the pope, whose interest it is to keep his people in ig¬
norance, should utter his anathemas " ex-cathedra," upon all
who spread the Bible or truths of the gospel; but that an Asso¬
ciation of protestant ministers and lay-members, should so far
coincide with the spirit of antichrist as to adopt, in regard to
the Lord's cause, sneers and calumnies similar to those disgorg¬
ed from the foul mouth of infidelity, is passing strange, and, in
the language of an enlightened Editor, " it is a lamentation, and
shall be for a lamentation."
No. VI.
" And we furthermore declare that, no missionary preacher or
beggar, being known to be such, shall by any of us be invited in¬
to our pulpits, or hate his appointments published by us, to beg
and cheat people" Page 3.
" Are there not often poor laboring ministers and destitute in¬
dividuals in their very neighborhoods who stand in need of, and
have claim on their charity, whom they pass by, and give with
a liberal hand to some distant object for the sake of having the
praise and honor of great and wicked menPage 0.
The ministers of this Association knowing that whatsoever is
given to 44 distant objects," would not of course come into their
pockets, have adopted this restrictive system to detain within
their own bounds the loose change in circulation,—thereby in¬
timating, pretty plainly too, that the "poor laboring ministers" on
the ground do not wish others to deprive them of their salaries !
Well done for Joshua Lawrence, and those over whom he acta afl
n
a kind of Episcopos ! One would have supposed that a more
modest method of begging would be pursued by those who have
undertaken to cry down " beggars;" but if the churches have
not eye enough to penetrate this gauze scheme, and discover that
avarice furnishes one of the grand objections to the benevolent
plans of the age, we shall put but a low estimate on the instruc¬
tions they have received.
But on the whole, who coujd blame men for evincing their re¬
sentment in some way or other when they discovered themselves
thus neglected and "passed by ?" Is it not enough, in the sen¬
timent of Horace, to " gall one's liver," even if he had the pa¬
tience of Job, to behold his people flocking after more accepta¬
ble preachers 1 Who would not devise some plan to keep such
il preachers or beggars" at a distance even if he had to publish
and widely scatter a pamphlet for this purpose 1 It would be
almost too bare-faced begging to assign as a reason that such
preachers curtailed his own salary,—but a broad hint that such
preachers were " beggars," that money was their object, &c. &c.
would be a more effectual barrier. But would not an enlighten¬
ed community see his object 1 Suppose J. Mercer, J. Armstrong,
and B. M. Saiders of the Eastern, and J. Reeves, B. H. Wil¬
son, and Wm. Mosely of the Western section of this State, should
put up an advertisement that " no missionary preacher or beg¬
gar" should be invited into their pulpits 1 What would our
community think ? Why, that they were a Cabal of avaracious.,
monopolising speculators!—tnen, not fit to breath the air of
Georgia, and they would soon be advised to decamp and strike
their tents on the banks of theKehukee Creek, in North Carolina.
Any man who is called of the Lord, and sent by Him and the
Church to preach the gospel in various parts, is a missionary.—'
The Greek word used by the Saviour is apostolos, apostle, one
sent, from the verb apostello, mitto, I send. The Latin partici¬
ple is missus, one sent, a missionary ; the- noiin is missio, a mis¬
sion or embassage. You see now that missionary, either from
the participle missus, or noun missio, is easily formed. If the
word itself is not in the Bible, the signification is there, and this
is all that is wanted. Is association in the Bible 1 Does it matter
whether you denominate a petty officer in our Districts, a Jus¬
tice of the Peace, or Magistrate ? No. So it matters not whe¬
ther you designate a travelling minister a missionary or one sent.
He is an apostle, in one sense, because he is one sent, and there
would be no impropriety in retaining the name, were it not that
the twelve, though ministers, were endued with extraordinary
powers from on high, qualified to work miracles, and therefore
distinguished from ordinary ministers. We hope then that per¬
sons, when they are condemning the missionary cause, will re¬
member that it is the cause which the Saviour established, and
the apostles and primitive preachers labored to promote. Will
> ou accuse ihcm ot *•cheating the, people <" Wouidyou drive
them from your house and "pulpits?" The same spirit which
would denounce the sent of the Lord now a days, would have
turned out of doors, those of whom the " world was not worthy."
Paul, thou " missionary preacher or beggar" a phrase, so ex¬
ecrable in the eyes of some modern christians, why didst thou
leave Judea and travel away to Europe to " beg and cheat the
people ?" The Athenians worshipping the " unknown God,'1
and Romans " without natural affection," " haters of God," did
not ask you to come to them and tumble down their altars and
destroy their beautiful temples,—in his own time, God would
have made them willing to hear you. It seems however, from
Philippians iv. 13, 17, that the " Bishops and deacons" of that
church instead of uttering denunciations against travelling
preachers and accusing them of coming after money, com¬
municated with him, and when he was in prison at Rome "sent
once and again to his necessity." We hope, notwithstanding
the declaration sin this pamphlet, that should any travelling
preachers unawares get into the bounds of the Kehukee Asso¬
ciation, they will be kindly asked to withdraw, and not treated
as was Paul at Thessalonica [Acts 17.] That is, provided they
tvill promise to carry off no money, which would have gone into
pockets of the resident ministers !
No. VII.
" Convinced that the Theological Seminaries are the inven¬
tions of men" Spc. Spc. introducing a proud, pomptus aud fash¬
ionable ministry, instead of an humble, pious and self-denying,
one." p. 4.
Do the young ministers in the Kehukee Association never ride
about with Joshua Lawrence and other, aged men to be instruct¬
ed and assisted by them 1 Do they not visit them, ask them
questions on abstruse subjects in Theology, and do not these El¬
ders point out their faults and suggest remedies for the defects
in their junior brethren ? It is understood they have corrected
them even in the pulpit much to the abashment of the young
learners. Now this instruction constitutes the essence of the
Theological seminary, only it is given occasionally, and while
riding ; but that at a Seminary is given statedly and in the house.
We know, since a seminary was first named in this State, vari¬
ous conjectures have been afloat in regard to it; some supposing
it was a kind of machine like a saw-mill,—others like a steam¬
boat, propelled either by water or steam power and into which,
young men, with all their native corruptions were cast and
brought into the shape of ministers ! Hence it has been termed
bv the wickedly ignorant 11 the minister''s mill." Perhaps some
I'd
&ucli notions, about a seminary, have been entertained in the Ke«
hukee Association, for if we are not misinformed, no one of the
clergy of that Body has seen a Theological Seminary.
But let us see if a Seminary is calculated to introduce " a
proud pompom and fashionable ministryinstead of a meek and
humble, and on& like that in the Kehukee Association. The
Seminary of the South Carolina Convention admits as benefici¬
aries, none but, " indigent pious young men approved by their
churches as men called of God." "Every person proposed to
participate" asbeneficiaries of the Georgia Convention, "shall
produce a regular license from the church, of which he is a
member, to-preach the gospel in her bounds, accompanied by a
certificate of his good acceptance among his brethren, and of his
good report in the community at large. Now are individuals
thus introduced into Theological Seminaries, "called of God"
and licensed by the churches, mere apt to become " proud and
pompous" than those start up like themushroon of the night?
These rulea arc btrieter than those in the churches which com¬
pose the Kehekee Association ; for any one of those churches
can license a man and send him abroad to preach ; but to be in¬
troduced into a Seminary, he must be licensed by a church and
also have the approbation of neighboring churches and commu¬
nity. Does lemming or ignorance engender the most pride 1 We
admit that a Seminary tends to produce that urbanity of man¬
ners so desirable in a minister (rather than that clownishness
and vulgarity which drive refined people from their company) and
many persons have construed this into pride and pomposity.
So, many individuals judge of th& residents of a village or a large
town, that they are all proud because they are not clownish like
the rusticks of the country.
Here now is the substance of a theological Seminary : B——■
a poor young man is called of the Lord to preachy—his church
licenses, him,—he is ignorant and unlearned,—his brethren de¬
sire his improvementand each throws in his mite to support him
while learning to read correctly, Grammar, &c. &c. as his age
and situation admit. If three or four get together, one set of
books will sertre them all, one minister can instruct them and"
they can exercisetheir gifts as occasion offers. Now what
there more horrible in this than for the same young men by turns
to ride abouty attend meetings and ask questions of Joshua Law¬
rence? If there isrit must lie in the jaundiced vision of those
who will not see.
But is there any Scripture for studying after one is called t
We answer YES. By comparing Acts XVI. 1. 3. with 1. Tihi-
othy IV. 14. it will be seen that Timothy being called was or¬
dained by the presbytery of Lystria to preach the gospel and
went forth with Paul. Some time after this, he is left at Ephe-
sus. [1 Tim. 1. 3.] and directed to " give attendance to re a-
i 4
dingy to exhortation, to doctrine;" to " meditate upon these
things; give thyself wholly to them that thy profiting may ap¬
pear to all." [1 Tim. IV. 13. 15.] We know a great cry is
made about the waste of time in studying ; but nothing is said,
if young men called, preach only once a month, while they work
in their fields, or in some way engaged in worldly business during
the week ; but if these young men should take up some book
but the Bible and begin to read it, asking questions of some old¬
er minister, they must become " proud and pompous." immedi¬
ately and terribly loud lamentations are heard all over the land
because a Theological Seminary has been established and soul*
are perishing while young men are studying I ! " Oh shame
where is thy blush ! i" Now you see that the objection against
Seminaries does not rest in solicitude for the salvation of sinners,
but in a settled enmity to education.
But the Lord will qualify them.. Why then do they ask ques¬
tions of Joshua Lawrence and other oido* brethren,—the Lord
will instruct them ! Why do the churches ask any questions or
put any queries to their Association,—will not the Lord instruct
them "?
How can a Seminary makeyoung men " called of the Lord'*
fo preach, " the greatest curse V Either they must, fall from
grace or they cannot become so; that they cannot fallr is the creed
of the Kehukee Association, therefore they cannot become u tfie
greatest curse."
" O, but men will creep in who are not called of the Lord!" Does
not this objection rest as much against the manner in which the
Kehukee Association receives young ministers as against a Sem¬
inary t Certainly,—for the same guard is placed at the door of
those churches who patronize Seminaries as of those who do
not, beside the examining Committee and the approbation of
neighbouring churches!
Where is there a more " proud and pompous" ministry than
in the Kehukee Association 1 The ministers in Georgia are
•content with publishing the simple proceedings of their anniver¬
saries ; but those of the Kehukee Association desirous to display
their parts, attempt to write down the opinions of the most en¬
lightened and pious of the age, and scatter their pamphlet to the
four winds of heaven. Some of them may wear homespun in¬
dication of their humility, but rags have covered many a proud
heart. No one can read their pamphlet without discovering, all
through it, evidences of mortified pride, because the Lord is rear¬
ing up, in these Seminaries, young men, who will become more
acceptable preachers than themselves.
15
No. VIII.
In regard to the spread of the Bible and Bible Society tac
believe that no one man is competent to the task of translating
the Scriptures into another language in the short time which seems
to. be practised in India.'''' p. 5.—" And no person who is a mem¬
ber of any such Bible Society, shall have membership with us,
except he first renounce his connexion therewith; for we are fully
Assured, that as a worldly minded Judas betrayed Christ, so will
these worldings, in Bible Societies, betray the cause and church of
God." p. 6.
Now it looks pretty for a set of ignorant men, who do not write
the English language correctly, to form an estimate on the qual¬
ifications of translators, and thas set at nought the learning and
intelligence associated in the Bible Societies of the ege! It
brings to the one's recollection the story of the Freshman in
College, disputing with the whole faculty pbout the translation
of a difficult passage in Longinuo, and descanting largely on
their errors in calculating an eclipse of the sun! Because a
" worldly minded Judas betrayed Christ," therefore, " worldlings
in Bible Societies will betray the cause and church of God'''! I
Down with Locke, and Duncan and Watts, and burn their works,
fpr they knew nothing about logic ; the true princiyles of this
science were to be developed in the year 1827, on the Tar river,
in North Carolina f Philosophy however teaches us, that matter
can act only where it if; now if" worldings in Bible Societies,"
can only act where they are, they cannot betray the cfiurch of
God," where they are not. Is there are any more harm for a per¬
son not a church member to give for the purpose of spreading
the Bible,- the news of salvation by Bible Societies, than for indi¬
viduals, in similar circumstances, to give for the support of the
gospel 1 We hfive understood that such individuals give liberal¬
ly to the ministers of theKehukee Association; even.more lib¬
erally than some members. Is it not to be feared that they will
41betray" "the church"? Or do the ministers compromise
their fears by the hope of gain which is so near their hearts 1—
There is now just as much ground to apprehend, that because some
4'worldlings" give to promote the preaching of the gospel in their
several neighborhoods, that they will betray the churches, as that
the same persons will "betray the church" because they sup¬
port bible societies; yes, the ground of apprehension is stronger
for the former than for the latter. What would the Jews have
done, if the Saviour had performed nothing as the occasion on
which they could raise objections and suggest their suspicions 'J
And- what would our North Carolina friends do, if they had not
some supposed ground of objection on which to free their mal¬
ice and envy t
We are told on the 5th page, that in order to give his subject?
our present translation of the Bible, King James selected fifty
lour persons eminent lor their learning and knowledge, and uu
indirect compliment is paid to the King for the blessing thus con¬
ferred on the world. Yes, this " worldling" has been the in¬
strument of good to christians of all denominations, especially to
those in the Kehukee Association, for they would hare known
nothing of the Bible, had not some one translated^. Yet* strange
to tell, towards the bottom of the page it is insinuated that " great
men of this world," in Bible Societies, will betray the church; but
are they not as pious as King James ? "Why do you read his
translation ? It was effected by men under pay. If God direct¬
ed the second temple to be built through the instrumentality of
Cyrus, will you refuse the contributions of men for the distribu¬
tions of the Bible, because tbey are not in the pale of the
church %
" To us it seems surprisingly' strange that those, who neither
read the Bible, nor lone its truths, nor practice its precepts, should
undertake to send the Bible to others." p. 6.—But your surprise.
is not the thing: the country boy was surprised when he first
discovered how the clock of St. Paul's could point out the hour of
the day—but the question is, whether it matters by what means
the Bible is procured in order to its doing good. Will not stolen
food nourish the body? Is a Bible, because sent by "great men
of this world," deprived of its power to carry conviction 1 The
ark of the Lord lost not its wonder-working power when in the
hands of the Philistines; and will his word, though purchased by
the money and circulated by the hands of men who do not "love
its truths"1 Can you. prove that the widow, who by two mites3
cast, in more than all the others, was a church member ? But
it is represented in the pamphlet before us, that " worldlingsM
alone are the chief directors of the Bible and other Societies ;
this is not true; the majority of officers are church members,
and though some " worldlings" are received into membership
of the Society, (not " into half~broihership with the cihurckV)
will this blunt the edge of the sword which the Bible carries?
Membership in a Bible Society does not constitute churehmem-
bership, nor " ha2f~brothtrship" as you suppose. We might
with as much propriety, cry out that the colonels, ai^d captains, and
corporals, and magistrates, &c. &c. who aremembers of church-
esin the Kehukee Association, would pollute the. cause of:Christ*
How dani( such menwith their epauletts, " and And such tmasr
ures promote the humble and self-de&yii$g, religion of Jesus Christ
in the earths! All such aspiring men, who aire learning the ait
of 'war, ought to be excluded your chiirches, before youtLenourice
Bible Societies. If you say, you are obliged by. thegaverninent
to mwterandbear armsi&c. as- good citizens, I. answ&jj ^ that you
are not, if this is a matter of conscience with you ;. for you can
get olearof thejn as do the Quakers. Now if it is . submitted to
flecause thelaws of. the land required it, you* know you tan ge*
i J
round it by u small tine ; and if yau can see no harm in your
church members being engaged in the bustle of musters and of
courts, and yet you can see harm in their attending a Bible So
ciety, and assisting to spread the word of life, there must be a
power in your moral vision peculiar to yourselves. The Jews
could see no harm in neglecting the " weightier matters of the
law," but set up a terrible hue and cry because the Saviour heal¬
ed 11 poor and blind man on the Sabbath. Yes, they could see
a mote in the eye of others, but not a beam in their own; and
could, from one kind of beverage, not very palatable, strain out
a gnat, but with other kinds, which their voracious appetites crav¬
ed, they could swallow down a camel without any difficulty. If
we have not a race of fault finding people, similar to the Jewss
now in existence, we have misunderstood the meaning of the
Saviour.
I know it is said that "Merchants keep Bibles, in their stores,
and let those who want go and buy for themselves." If the fact
of there being Bibles in stores for sale, supplied all our wants,
how is it that Bible Societies have circulated in the last twenty
years, more than six millions of copies ? Do you not see that
stores do not and cannot put into every house a Bible ? Hun¬
dreds of persons are too poor to purchase ; but even suppose they
are not; if they will read it when given them, will you refuse
your mite for so desirable an object 1 If you should object that,
it would do them no good, unless they were willing to payfor it,
you might also refuse to preach the gospel to all, who would not
before sermon, pay for it, least it would do them no good. Per¬
haps this would be a popular sentiment for the ministers in the
Kehuhee Association to inculcate, as they connot now raise as
much money as they want, and least any should be carried off,
they were denounced ail " travelling beggars."
Can you devise a better plan than Bible Societies, to supply
the destitute"? If you can we will put them down and join with
you. It is possible that there are no families within the bounds
of the Kehukee Association, but who have, or are able to buy
Bibles for themselves; (though if every house were searched,
a hundred could be found destitute) yet in other sections of our
country, in one eounty alone, some hundred families, even some
ministers, have been found without the Bible!! If the pious
members of the Kehukee Association, without having a " word-
ling" or any of the "great men of this world" with them to
"betray the cause and church of God," will supply those desti¬
tute of the Bible in their own bounds, we shall be glad; and if
they will extend their hand of charity to so great an extent that
Bible Societies are not needed, we will, that very hour, annul the
•whole of them ; yes, throughout this whole land, it shall be an¬
nounced, as with loud trumpets, that a year of release has come
.romthe pollutions und vexations ot Bible Societies; because
the cause which created them has ceased,— the world' ha» beten
"applied!1' Lord send that happy day.
No. IX.
htor already since the commencement of these Seminaries
Ltheological]-and the numerous societies for theit support± there
is less vital practical godliness, less harmony, peace, and christian
feeling, than has ever been within our remembrancep. 4.
Well did Gen. Gage know and fear the influence of John
Hancock and Samuel Adams in 1774, and therefore he stigma¬
tized them as rebels, and ordered his soldiers to seize ami hang
them. But we maintain that they were as pure patriots as ever
breathed the air of heaven. The name given them, however;
served the purpose of their enemies in some degree,and-fired the
British soldiery with a thirst for their blood. Not doubt aH along
the lines of the army their names were associated- with many a.
bitter curse, and their persons held up to the grin of ridicule arid"
scowl of contempt. But you ask if all the British troops could*
be persuaded to believe these men to be rebels, if they were pot
sol Without wasting time to answer this question, Iadmitthat
they did rebel against the oppressive enactments of tjie King of
England, the master of those soldiers, and did j)ut down his au¬
thority in the colonies; but did this constitute them bad men, and!
for their exertions, do they dteserve th« detestation of tire good and1
the wise? No. For these very acts, the whole American people
revere their memories, and will hold in grateful reiperabraiico
their patriotic virtues as long as this Republic has existence. So
these Seminaries of sacred learning are held up by their enemies
as dangerous engines to the interests of the Church, as iiiftwlu-
eing " a proud, pompous, and fashionable ministry," and as di¬
minishing " vital practical godliness." But does thei^ c^luniny
make them so? No—no more than that slavered against thosfc
noble patriots, made them rebels. As it is not to be supposed
that unregenerate men known the value, #nd will plead fof the
value of vital religion, so it is not expected th$t ignorant: men
will ndvocate the cause of those Seminaries, for they know' noth¬
ing about their value. Do you ask the opinion, of an unregefier-
ate man in regard to the excellency of piety 1 No—so you woufd
j>ut no confidence ip the expressions of an ignorant one ill re¬
gard to these Seminaries. A man of genuine piety never Cried
down the cause of true religion ; nor one of real science, that of
learning. A mere formalist or hypocrite may decry the Orte, frpd
fi. mountebank the other.
The opposition to Theological Seminaries, founded and endo^r-
■? to educate r"a! m^n of <*«d.a»d thus fit them for greater use-
id
fulneS?, lias its origin in a deep laid pian ol one -
in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon."—lie as well knows the in¬
fluence of an enlightened godly ministry against his cause of dark¬
ness and destruction, as did the British King that of the two
patriots mentioned above, against his taxes and oppression; and
to prevent their number from being increased, he stirs up wicked,
and sometimes even good men led astray by him, to oppose those
means of instruction; for he is conscious of the moral power
exerted by them, and will leave no expedient untried to crush
the instruments by which they are multiplied, and their influence
strengthened and extended. We hdpe, should these remark?
ever meet the eyes of the Kehukee Association, that they will
lay them to heart, and that they will seriously inquire whether they
know the origin of their opposition to Theological Seminaries.
Suppose the King of England had persuaded the American?
that they had better fight with corn stalks, for muskets were dan¬
gerous weapons, and would catch fire and destroy their own sol¬
diers ! what would our fathers have thought of him ? Why,
that he intended to dupe them, and prevent them from injuring
his cause. Just so the sagacious personage mentioned in our
last paragraph. It is as much his policy to praise an ignorant
ministry, and seduce others to do it, as it would have been for the
King to have magnified the value of a light weapon, instead of
a musket or rifle i for he is as well convinced of the difference
of power wielded by the unlearned and learned against his cause
of darkness, gs the king could be of that of the force of the two
weapons.
We do not mean here by learned, men who have received a
diploma merely, for one is no test of ripe scholarship; but wc
mean men of education —men who know something, and we care
not where or how they obtained it, whether in a College, or at
home over a pine knot light. Nor do we intend by unlearned all
who have not shared the advantages of a collegiate life; for wc
know many men self-taught, who better deserve the appellation
of scholars, than many who have been " graduated." Our
opinion is, that a College is the best place to acquire a thorough
education, and a Theological Seminary the most suitable nur¬
sery for Biblical knowledge.
That these Seminaries have lessened " vital practical godli¬
ness" is a gratuitous assertion, the very opposite of truth. Ifthe
Kehukee Association mean by the phrase " practical godliness,1"
opposition to missions and every other benevolent plan of the age,
it does wear the aspect of truth within their own bounds, but not in
these United State3 generally. It is well known that the denom¬
ination to which the Kehukee Association belongs, has been
four times doubled both in. England and America, since thest-
Seminaries exerted their benign and happy influence. Rea
14 practical godliness," and pound theological knowledge, haw
£<>
kept pace with them , lor wheresoever they have been establish¬
ed upon the principles of the Bible, fanaticism and bigotry rc-
rire and the religion of the heart is cultivated.
It is quite probable that " practical godliness" is at a low ebb
in the Kehukee Association, and one reason may be, their avow¬
ed opposition to plans calculated to revive it. It is to be feared
that they are in a luke-warm, Antinomian state, and if either
by encouragement or faithful reproof, we can arouse them from
their lethargy, and " provoke them to love and to good works,"
and to the use of the means designed to better their own condi¬
tion, and make them more useful, we shall have rendered them
essential service.
No. X.
With the remarks below, we take leave of this venerable body.
It is a subjectof deep regret that any thing should render it neces¬
sary to review the proceedings of a religious association; but wc
could not look tamely and silently upon the calumny thrown up¬
on a cause, which ought to be dearer than life to every christian
heart. We could not suffer misrepresentation to be so widely scat¬
tered without lifting our feeble? voice against it; for we should
have felt that we were treacherous to interests, which, as loyal
subjects of the King of Zion, we are bound to watch and de¬
fend, if we had held our peace. We dobelieve that the members
of the Kehukee Association have been led astray by some restless
spirits, that they will discover the tendency of their proceedings
and will retrace the hasty and unscriptural steps they have taken.
The spirit of the Rebukee Association as exhibited in the
Pamphlet before us,
(1st.) J.s a spirit of avarice. It fears all the money will be
sent out of the country for " distant objects" and therefore none
will flow into the pockets of the resident ministers. [See No. VI.]
!t sees that Seminaries will be the means of rearing up young
preachers, who will be more acceptable than those who wrote
the pamphlet, and of course they will be left in the back ground
and their salaries go over to more popular ministers. Avarice
cannot endure this. [See No. VII.] It perceives that the various
means of improvement in operation, the giving a Bible to every
family, circulation of Tracts, Sabbath Schools, &c. will enlight¬
en the public mind, and that people will not contentedly listen to
llie same sermon for years. Ministers of a kindred spirit in this
State, have urged as an objection to Missions, that before their
origin and progress, " tliey could go out on a tour of preaching
and collect 30 or40 dollars; but now since so much was given
?V>r impsiopc'. tbov eonld Iwrdlv nothing ! !*' Let these s=uffiw
tor proof that the spirit of opposition ta the benevolent objects
of the age, is a spirit of avarice.
(2d.) It is the spirit which lords it over God's heritage. It ex¬
communicates its members for assisting to spread the Gospel, the
Bible and religious Tracts ; but has not shown, nor can it shew,
any scripture for this inquisitorial act. The attempt to control
the charities of any individual is tyranny and oppression. What
renders this affair worse is that men of this stamp are whining
about the liberty and independence of the churches and insinua¬
ting that their opponents are dangerous men, specidators seeking
to abridge their privileges ! Akin to this spirit, is the clause in
the Minutes of an Association in Georgia, the substance of
which is, " that any person, who should introduce the subject of
Missions or education, should be reproved by the Moderator ! !"
We had supposed that liberty of speech was guaranteed by our
excellent Constitution ; but this right is taken away by a Body,
which piques itself on its republican form of government and
hurls its censure on one who should dare to speak his mind !
(3d.) It is the spirit of pride. Because these ministers are
ignorant themselves, they cannot endure the thought that the be¬
nevolent societies of the age shall make others more enlightened
and of consequenee more useful and respected ; therefore they
oppose the means whieh would render them so. It has been
said openly in view of the establishment of Theological Semin¬
aries, designed to render young men more acceptable ministers,
that they " will not let us poor ignorant preachers preach!"—
Now it is not to be wondered at that such men oppose plans cal¬
culated to effect that which they fear and which their proud
hearts cannot bear to see accomplished.
(4th.) It is the spirit of popery. It cries down the means of
information, Bible, Mission and Tract Societies; so does the
Pope, &-c. keeps his people and priests as much as possible in
ignorance, and has caused many a box of Bibles to be burned
on the shores of the Mediterranean. It denounces Missionaries,
persuades the people that they are a race of unprincipled beg¬
gars and dangerous men, and casts upon them an odium, similar
to that thrown upon a horse thief, by a virtuous community :—
This is the very spirit of popery. The Missionaries in Pales¬
tine and elsewhere, have felt his giant hand of persecution, tho'
hundreds of miles from the " Vatican,"—secret emissaries having
been sent to calumniate these men of God and privately assas-
sinate them. Here follows extracts from the Pope's Bull vs. Bi¬
ble Societies in 1816, addressed to the Archbishop of Gnesn,
Primate of Poland : " Venerable Brother, health and Apostolic
benediction"-—" In our last letter to you, we promised very soon
to return an answer to yours, in which you have appealed to this
Holy See, in the name of the other bishops of Poland, respect-
in? what are called Bible. Societies. We have been truly shock-
cd at this most crafty device, by which the very founuuciona v-
religion are undermined ; and having because of the great im¬
portance of this subject, conferred in council with your venera¬
ble brethren, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, we have
with the utmost care and attention, deliberated upon the mea¬
sures proper to be adopted by our Pontifical authority, in order
to remedy and abolish this pestilence as far as possible // For
the general good imperiously requires you to combine all your
means and energies to frustrate the plans, which are prepared
by its enemies for the destruction of our most holy religion ;
whence it becomes an Episcopal duty, that you first of all ex¬
pose the wickedness of this nefarious scheme with all the wis¬
dom which you possess, viz: that the Bible printed by heretics
is to be numbered among other prohibited Books." The Bible is
all truth and nothing but the truth. Every christian wishes truth
circulated ; but in opposing Bible Societies, he fights against the
the cause which he professes he desires to be prospered, and thus
manifestly takes sides with the Pope. Now let any one compare
the above extracts with the pamphlet before us and see if they
are not both dictated by one spirit. Though one was written in
Rome by Pope Pius VII. and the other by a Protestant Associ¬
ation in North Carolina ; yet they both oppose the spread of
God's word,—this is Antichrist.
(5th.) It is the spirit of infidelity. When 14 churches in
North Carolina protested against Missions two or three years
years ago, infidel papers rejoiced and said the Baptists were
coming over to their principles ; and when any failure has hap¬
pened in the Mission cause, it has excited much gratulation
among the enemies of the Saviour. " Plain Truth" and the
" Reformer," papers set up to slander down missions and other
benevolent institutions, are supported by infidels, universalists, a
few cold-henrted professors, who have not religion enough to
pray in families, and scores of drunken apostates from various
denominations ! We now beseech the Kehukee Association, if
the adage is true, "a maw is known by the company he keeps" to
reflect when they have placed themselves by their opposition to
every thing which the christian holds dear.
Infidel papers cry down the cause of Missions aud other means
of improvement and virtue, because they know in proportion as
these gain upon the feelings and affections of the community,—
their theatres, and gambling houses, and dram shops, and broth¬
els will be deserted; therefore they have played up the old tune,
■' money, money," when we have asked for the support of a few
men, going to tell of a crucified Saviour to a world lying in
wickedness. One man last winter acted a few weeks in Savan¬
nah and Augusta and, as a remuneration, carried home with
him $2500 ! ! Nothing is said about " money" when it is ex¬
pended to corrupt the youth of the land and niin female virtue—*-
no, this is in tune with the opposers of missions ; but when cha¬
rities are asked to found and endow institutions to promote vir¬
tue and science that shall tell, when we and our children's chil¬
dren are mouldering in the dust, a terrible cry is raised about
beggars arid speculators. The expense of the theatres in our
great cities are threefold more than that of all the benevolent in¬
stitutions in our country. The expenses of our spirituous li¬
quors are annually about forty-five millions—more than ninety
times ste much as is given for all our charitable objects ! Now
who cannot discover that the objections of the opponents to our
cause, do not lie in their economy, but in a settled, deadly hosti¬
lity to the kingdom of Christ ?
But we have done—we have discharged a duty, which regard,
for a much abused and much injured and calumniated cause,
would not allow us to see mangled by the barbarous hands and
trampled upon by the unhallowed feet of infidels and apostates
united. We should have been silent, if some able pen had ta¬
ken up this subject and given merited castigation to these per¬
versions of truth ; but as no one appeared, we have done the
best we could,
RWIIINEX&ai«