Bedford, March 26, 1848.

Dear brother Campbell-It is a long time since you have had a word from me, and it seems to me longer since I saw you at our house. How strangely mysterious are the ways of God's providence! When you were here accompanied with three of your children, two years last fall, I look back and see of our own little circle at that time-and strange, truly strange and dark is the path we have trod! Many, very many dear friends are no more. Our own family and the church have been again afflicted. In our family, JOSEPHINE, eldest daughter, aged 10 years, departed in the triumphs of hope, on the 25th of January last. In twelve hours from that time, my brother HENRY, whom you saw at my house, also died. Since that, his child, about twenty months old. His wife's mother, (sister COLLINS,) and brother CHARLES F. BARTLETT, have died, all of malignant typhus. Brother Bartlett, you will remember, was one of our overseers, and one of the best of men. We cannot too deeply deplore his loss. Yet, praised be the name of the Lord, amidst all this, and the half is not told, we have just closed a meeting in our congregation, in which we were assisted by our much beloved brother A. S. Hayden, and visited and cheered by our venerable brother Father Bentley, thirty-one were baptized, two added from the Methodist church, who had been immersed, and one restored. Thus in midst of affliction, when his chastening seemed too much for us, God our Father has filled our hearts with the fullness of joy. Little did we think that in that dark cloud, or from behind it, from which seemed to issue the arrows of death, so bright a sun would so soon in his glory and power break forth, dispelling the darkness of death in our horizon, and thus condole-in the place of a brother dead, God has given us the last of a mother's sons to rejoice over. William is obedient to God. In the place of the affliction to the church, many sons and daughters. But no father now to fill the place of brother · Bartlett; and in the place of our little daaghter, it seems, brother Campbell, if any one can sympathize better than another, you can. Surely strangely mysterious are his ways, and past finding out!

J. P. ROBISON.

ANOTHER TROPHY OF THE LEXINGTON DEBATE.

Springfield, Illinois, March 30, 1848. In the fall of 1845 I commenced preaching in the town. of Macomb, M'Donough county, Illinois, in company with brother Isaac Murphy, now of Bethany, Va. We organized a congregation of about seventeen members, to which were added some twenty-seven or eight during the same meeting. Since that time I have. visited them occasionally, and the congregation has increased to 75 or 80 members. Among them is a very amiable sister, the wife of brother B. Naylor, who was convinced by the "Campbell and Rice Debate." She was a devoted Presbyterian for some time; but having heard her husband read the Debate in the family, during his leisure hours, she yielded to the power of truth, renounced infant sprinkling, and obeyed the gospel understandingly and for herself. A. J. KANE.

West Liberty, Morgan county, Ky., April 5, 1848. At a meeting held here the 4th Saturday and Sunday in March, by Elders Samuel McCormick and Joseph Nicholl, nine persons confessed the Lord, and one was received from the Baptists.

୮

We were entertained last night by à discourse from brother Harry, a black man, who has recently purchased his freedom from Mr. John Chapman, of your state. He is decidedly an interesting speaker, both in matter and manner, and I commend him to the favor of the brethren. He carries with him undeniable testimonials of character and standing.

JAMES W. DANIEL.

ACCORDING to the best a orities, the art of printing was known in China upwards of 900 years ago. In the time of Confucius, B. C., 500 books were found of slips of bamboo; and about 150 years after Christ, paper was first made; A. D. 745, books were bound into leaves; A. D. 900, printing was in general use. The process of printing is simple. The materials consist of a graver, blocks of wood, and a brush, which the printers carry with them from place to place. Without wheel, or wedge, or screw, a printer will throw off more than 2500 impressions in one day. The paper (thin.) can be bought for one-fourth the price in China that it can in any other country. The works of Confucius, six volumes, four hundred leaves octavo, can be bought for ninepence. For an historical novel, twenty volumes, one thousand five hundred leaves, half a crown is the price amongst the Chinese.

OBITUARY.

Corydon, Indiana, March 21, 1848. DIED, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Delilah Slaughter, in Corydon, on the 27th day of November, 1847, Mrs. ELIZABETH SPENCER, relict of the late Capt. Spier Spencer, aged 70 years. The deceased was born in Virginia, and emigrated with her father, Capt. Charles Polke, to Kentucky, at an early age When in her 7th year, she, with her mother, two sisters, and a brother, were taken prisoners at what has since been called "the Burnt Station," and endured the hardships of a march to Detroit, then in possession of the English, and commanded by Col. De Peyster, through whose kindness and good offices Captain Polke was afterwards enabled to ransom his family. At the age of 17 years she was married to Captain Spier Spencer, (who fell at Tippecanoe.") In 1807 Capt. Spencer and his family settled at Vincennes, in the then territory of Indiana; and afterward, in 1809, they removed to Corydon, where the deceased continued to reside up to the date of her death.

The deceased was a lady of no ordinary character. She possessed a mind of great native strength, and unaided as she was, except by a very defective education, she acquired a great fondness for reading, and became a person of great general information; and especially was she fond of poring over the pages of the inspired volume. Amid all the difficulties of a social and eventful life, she ever found consolation in its blessed promises. She sought no other comforter than her Saviour, and found him all-sufficient in every affliction. She early in life attached herself to the church, and died a member the Christian denomination, having early come out in the reformation. She has for many years been a subscriber to the Harbinger, which she has constantly read.

She had generally enjoyed good health; and when she was last attacked, she seemed to be impressed with the idea that she never would recover. She did not, however, regret her approaching dissolution. She had suffered many of the severest trials of human existence-had felt how worse than vain were all the enjoyments of this life, and hailed death as a welcome deliverer, who should translate her from this to a happier existence Her death was as triumphant as her life had been pure and useful.

T. C. S

Several obituary notices-a letter from Palmyra, Mo.,-and

some other articles are deferred till our our next,

TWENTY PAGES FOR ONE CENT!!!

Seven volumes of one of the most valuable periodicals ever issued, for One Dollar-bound in one volume.

The reduction in price is made by the undersigned, to compete with any religious or benevolent society, known in the circulation of useful knowledge; and also, to testify his willingness to do all in his power to induce his brethren to procure a useful family book, and one which they can afford to bestow upon those who need the information it contains.

The sixth edition of the CHRISTIAN BAPTIST will be ready for delivery in a few days. This was the first work of Mr. Alexander Campbell; and was commenced on the 4th of July, 1823, and was continued monthly for seven years. It sketched the outline of principles and measures, upon the filling up of which the other periodicals have been since that time engaged. In the nature of the case, in unity of plan and completeness of form, it must be without a rival among its successors. This appears the more obvious when it is recollected that upon its pages were concentrated the intellectual rays now diffused over so many contemporaneous publications. All our gifted writers of that period were contributors to the Christian Baptist, and its Editor concentrated his whole genius to its claims. The serial articles on the "Ancient Order of Things," and the "Ancient Gospel," with some few similar ones, confer upon it incalculable value, and are alone worth more than the price charged for this edition. Such essays will never be re-written, and he who would feel the full force of those reasons which operated the reformation of this age, would do well to consult the originals.

In the preface to the Christian System, Mr. Campbell says, "The Christian Baptist, in seven annual volumes, being the first of these publications, and affording such a gradual development of all these principles, is, in the judgment of many of our brethren who have expressed themselves on the subject, better adapted to the whole community, as it now exists, than our other writings. In this judgment I must concur."

TERMS: The Christian Baptist was first published in 7 unbound volumes, at one dollar per volume, or seven dollars for 2016 pages, large duodecimo; but is now comprised in one large royal octavo volume of 670 pages, at the following rates:

Single copy, half bound, cloth, $1,25; five copies, $5,50; single copy, full bound, leather, $1,50; five copies, $6,00; so that the price to companies is, for the half binding, $1,00; and for the full binding, $1,25. Single copies can be mailed to any address for one dollar, post paid.

To afford this standard work at these prices, it is necessary that a large edition be printed, and that the money accompany the order with the addition of 50 cents for box and drayage; and all letters must be post paid. Religious Editors publishing this, shall receive a copy of the work. D. S. BURNET.

Cincinnati, Ohio, April 3, 1848.

I regard the foregoing work as an invaluable acquisition to any library, and should be greatly pleased to see it in the possession of every family, and within the reach of every individual in America. At the preceding rates it may be regarded in the light of a gift, rather than a purchase. I see no good reason why one hundred thousand copies of that work should not be sold in the United States, with a proper effort. JAMES SHANNON.

Bacon College, Harrodsburg, Ky.

We are glad to see the "Christian Baptist" offered at less than cost to the public. Not less than cost to the publisher; yet, in fact, less than cost. Brother Burnet has stereotyped the work, and from the sale of sundry editions the plates are paid for. He paid nothing for the copy-right; and, therefore, can now publish it for less than cost. To him it costs no labor,

supervision, or expense beyond the simple material and workmanship. Still he is entitled to the thanks of the brethren and the interested public in now asking no profit on the work: for he might, doubtless, have a respectable profit per copy for every one sold. But now it would appear that he is willing to forego even this, and to offer the work absolutely at the price of materials and workmanship, including, of course, incidental expenses for boxing, forwarding, &c. We hope the brethren and friends of the cause will be at pains to circulate it as a collection of tracts-as a pioneer in the work of reformation. A. C.

THE BRITISH MILLENNIAL HARBINGER. Such is the title of the periodical now published by our brethren in Great Britain. Brother Wallis' "Christian Messenger" is now merged into the "British Millennial Harbinger," and has obtained a much larger circulation this year than did its predecessor. It republishes many of our principal articles, and gives a very full and free circulation to our most prominent essays throughout Great Britain. We copy the following from the cover of its March number:

"The British Millennial Harbinger contains 48 closely printed pages, in double columus, on fine paper, and is published monthly, price sixpence. Several communications, recommending this periodical, have come to hand during the past month. We publish the following:

"Dear Sir-I cannot speak too highly of the British Millennial Harbinger, for it is upon every subjecta complete storehouse of instruction. A stamped edition, however, is a desideratum, to which too much importance cannot be attached at this new and eventful epoch in the spread of Primitive Christianity; for it remains beyond question it would be attended with the most happy, the most beneficial, the most permanent results. It is one of the best defences of Christianity, at the present time published, and I feel assured if you would but mature your plans for its circulation at home and abroad, with an advertising sheet, it would have a monthly sale of 50,000. Its articles reflect the highest honor upon the profonnd talents of the writers. The claims of the Harbinger should occupy a special address at great length to friends at home and abroad, and with your future places for its circulation in all directions. I will do my utmost to promote its sale "BRITANNICUS.'

"The prominent features in the character of this periodical are similar to those which distinguish the American "Millennial Harbinger." It has for its primary objects the restoration of primitive Christianity, and the physi cal amelioration and moral elevation of society. Its pages are devoted to the discussion of the most important subjects affecting Christian learning, as well as to an examination of the means by which humanity is to be improved and raised to a higher standard. It endeavors to sustain original and apostolical Christianity against the assaults of infidelity, while it seeks to rescue it from the corruptions of sectarianism, so as to restore to the religi ous world a satisfactory basis of Christian union and co-operation in the great work of human salvation. It brings under the notice of its readers, from time to time, the various measures by which it is sought to promote the physical, intellectual, and moral improvement of the young; laboring to advance the cause of universal education. The range of subjects which its pages embrace, is, consequently, extensive. Biblical criticisms-notices of the progress of the Reformation-the state of the churches both in Europe and America, with a variety of interesting matter-poetical, historical, and literary-will embody a part of its contents."

TRACTS FOR THE PEOPLE-No. XXV.

BAPTISM-No. XVI.

REVIEW OF PROFESSOR MILLER, OF PRINCETON; DR. WALL, VICAR OF

SHOREM IN KENT, AND OTHERS.

It is presumed that quite enough has been said on the main pillars of infant baptism-its antiquity and generality. On the same foundation stand five of the seven sacraments of Roman Catholocism, together with a bachelor priesthood, and the paramount virtues and powers of celibacy and the monastic life. We have also shown, I hope, to the entire satisfaction of every honest mind— of every inquirer after truth-that there has always been, even in the most degenerate days, a valiant band of saints and martyrs bearing testimony against these encroachments of "THE MAN OF SIN" upon the institutions of the Lawgiver and King of the Christian people. From all of which documentary argument and proof, we learn how little credit is due to those most reputable "Doctors of modern Divinity" who endeavor to produce the impression that the "German Anabaptists" of the 16th century were the first people in the world that either opposed infant baptism or assumed the ground on which the present Immersionists, commonly called Baptists, raise their banners and collect a community for the Lord.

Still, that no point in this controversy may be wholly overlooked or disparaged through apparent ignorance or neglect, I think it expedient to say a few words upon the ancient, though not primitive, institution of the CATECHUMENS. By the catechumens we mean those children admitted into the schools of the ancient church for the purpose of being prepared to make an intelligent profession of Christianity. That all our readers may have an impartial history of them, I will quote the whole article concerning them from Buck's Theological Dictionary, which I find generally quoted in Dictionaries and Encyclopedias of more modern date: