much good, rather than being any part of a reason for its remaining untranslated (for if any word fails to be translated, it certainly is not a translation,) becomes one of the most satisfactory and indisputable reasons why we should attempt a revision promptly, that, if possible, we may procure a pure English Bible.

TESTIMONY OF THE VENERABLE BROTHER, ELDER WM. CLARK, OF MISSISSIPPI.

Brother Campbell: I regret, exceedingly, that the publication of notes on your lectures at Bethany, does not meet your approbation. They must be, of course, but a meagre outline of what you did say, yet I, for one, am unwilling to lose even that little. They make suggestions to my mind which, but for them, might never reach it. Although I am now more than three score years old, yet my thirst for divine knowledge was never greater, if as great, as at present. I have now but little to do but to grow in knowledge, and impart that knowledge to others, so far as my physical ability will permit. Like a poor laborer, I have toiled through my day, and now the evening shades appear, and soon I shall lay me down to rest in my grave, until the Lord comes. As to this world's goods, I have enough for myself and family: thanks to my gracious Lord, who has so abundantly blessed my efforts in life! My business concerns are nearly closed, and as to this world, am ready to die; and did I know that I had to die before night, I think there is nothing remaining to be done.

As to the next life, I know in whom I have trusted, that he will deliver me, from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Yes, my brother, if the earthly house of this my tabernacle were dissolved, I have a building with God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. There is one thing, however, that concerns me greatly, and it is this, that I have so little treasure there. I have laid up so little in heaven, but I intend to add to it what I can whilst I yet remain on the earth. I have been a preacher for between twenty and thirty years, and I have never yet entertained one thought of abandoning that holy calling. All that I regret is, that I have not abounded more and more in it. At first I was a Baptist preacher, of the strict Calvinistic order; my only brother was also a preacher of that denomination, and most of my relations were of that order. My father and mother lived and SERIES IV.-VOL. I.

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died in that church. I am sure in my mind, that no similar struggle can await me in this life, as the one that I encountered in departing from them. As a Baptist preacher, I had been very successful, was the pastor of several churches, and was happy in the confidence of my brethren, whom I loved dearly; and never shall I forget the struggle of soul that I had when I went into my pulpit and said, "My brethren, I have been wrong." The shock, too, upon them, was very great. Never, whilst I have consciousness, shall I forget that solemn moment. I had become fully convinced, and, if possible, am, after a lapse of many years of critical investigation, more fully convinced that the London, Philadelphia, and Kentucky Confessions, or articles of faith, were wrong, with scarcely one redeeming article. I examined Fuller's doctrine, and found that even worse than Calvin's, for to the objectionable features of Calvin and Gill, he had added that of hypocrisy and mental reservation; for to my mind, it made no difference as to the sinner, whether the limitation was in the atonement or in its application; for if those who were elected before this world or themselves were in existence, were, by an irrevocablc decree, to be the only beneficiaries, then the condition of the non-elect was precisely the same.

Renouncing these fooleries and speculations, I stood alone for some time. I knew not what to do, or where to go. Finally, I resigned my pastoral office in the church where I had my membership. I think that there were one hundred or more members in that church. The church insisted that I should take the charge of them again. To this I agreed, upon the following condition: “That they should enter upon their church book a renunciation of every thing of human origin, written since the close of the Sacred Scriptures, and that I should be permitted to preach what I understood the seriptures to teach, irrespective of the writings, or creeds, or confessions of faith, before alluded to." In other words, we renounced human authority of every description whatever, in matters of religion. We sent a copy of what we had done to some of the churches adjoining us, and I think seven churches adopted them. It was just in this state of affairs that your venerable father visited us. We rejected him, (for which I have heartily repented,) and refused to come into the Reformation. We were ignorant of your writings. I had taken the Harbinger for but a short time, and I do not know that any other person took it. We were almost entirely ignorant of your views; and all that we had done, was to renounce human dictation in matters of religion, and owe allegiance to God and his word alone. One of my brethren said to me one day, "Bro. Clark,

I do not know what to preach or how to pray; but upon one thing I have determined—that I will study the scriptures, and learn them, so that I may know what to preach and how to pray." These very sentiments had passed through my own mind only a few days before, and I had also adopted the same resolution.

About this time Elder John P. Dunn, Abraham Congleton, and myself, were denounced and published by the Naise Association, as being Campbellites, and holding the fundamental doctrines of a certain A. Campbell. This was not true, for we did not know what you taught. We had adopted the Bible as being alone sufficient for us as Christians, and this, I suppose, was the heresy charged upon us, and against which the world was cautioned, as being Campbellism. At this period the Harbinger became more generally read by us, and we profited greatly by it. The subject of faith was, with me, of very difficult solution. How it could be the gift of God, and yet the duty of man, I could not for my life perceive. I wrote to you upon the subject. In some short time I saw an article on the subject in the Harbinger, that faith was produced by evidence. As soon as I read the article, the whole subject matter was plain to my mind, and I wondered why I could not perceive this plain and simple truth before. Our brethren having learned it they taught it, and other denominations, also, learned it, and now teach it. Before this I had never heard it from another, nor thought of it myself. Your other teaching is just as plain and simple as the one alluded to, when understood. I have heard some persons say that they had read your writings for twenty years or more, and yet denounce them. I was sorry to hear them say so, for either they must possess a strangely organized mind, inclined strongly to the disbelief of the scriptures, or they must be insincere. I am the only preacher of our denomination in this section of the State, and we have four or five churches. We have, for years past, kept an evangelist in the field, but last year employed one to preach to those congregations. This year we have none, which leaves me alone. Bro. J. E. Matthews is now employed in business in the Northern portion of this State. We got Bro. J. T. Johnson to spend about a month with us, hoping, from his wellknown reputation, that he could produce an interest. He labored faithfully, but obtained no accessions, either in this city or in Brandon. In Raymond he labored about two weeks, and only obtained three, I think, by baptism. It is generally believed, that were you to come, that you could give a start and overcome all obstacles. We, perhaps, are as needy as any poor souls can be. The few of us here have toiled and stemmed the current, but at present we seem

to be at a stand. I do not ask you to come: this I have done so often, without success, that I have decided not to teaze you again with my importunities; but this I will beg you to do, to publish your lectures yourself. If you will, you may put me down for one dozen copies more, if necessary. The good that they would do is, in my opinion, invaluable. I want them. Oh, how rich you must be in heaven, when you get there! The value of the work that you have done, can never be fully appreciated until the Lord comes. Good by. May the Lord protect your useful life yet many years, and I believe he will. My love to your father and family.

Your friend and brother in Christ,

W. CLARK.

THE CHRISTIAN CHAPEL,

CORNER OF CAMP AND MELPOMERE STREETS, NEW ORLEANS. SUCH is the name of a meeting-house, or chapel, erected by our brethren in New Orleans, during the last year. We much regretted our inability to attend with them at the opening of their house in this great Southern emporium, agreeably to their request: but on receiving the Delta report of a discourse delivered by our Brother Ferguson, of Nashville, Tenn., on that occasion, we were, except in our desire to see them, relieved from any regret on the account of any apprehended disappointment which they might suffer from our failure.

The discourse is highly commended by the public press, for its literary character, its very popular style, and its appropriateness to the occasion. We see that some of the most important propositions discussed in the current Reformation, were clearly propounded and very ably enforced and sustained by our brother.

We are happy to learn that, by great exertion and liberality on the part of our brethren, this commodious building has been reared; and that our many brethren from abroad, visiting that great theatre of commerce, will now enjoy, on the Lord's day, the worship of his family, and the means kindly ordained for their sanctification and comfort.

THE CHRISTJAN UNION, edited by our young brother Orvis, at Baltimore-co-editors, Austin Craig, J. M. Shepard, N. J. Mitchell, and J. R. Frame-has reached its third or fourth number, and has recently fallen under my eye. It is better to have five editors to

one periodical, than five, or even two, periodicals to one editor. Having hastily glanced over these numbers, in the midst of the piles that crowd our table, and having some knowledge of almost all the brethren above named, I have no doubt that they may make a very interesting monthly visit to the families of its patrons, and cannot but wish them many such pleasing and interesting visits. Its readers will find full value for their one dollar, in perusing its thirtytwo pages per month, and we must solicit for them a candid and attentive hearing. A. C.

IRVINE GROVE ACADEMY.

THE first regular session will commence on the first Monday of September, and end the last Friday of January, 1852. And as the number must be limited, application had better be made to me as soon as possible. Boarding can be had in families at $150 per week. The tuition agreed upon is $30 a session. A library and suitable apparatus will be obtained as soon as circumstances will admit. H. HENDERSON.

WE are glad to learn that our most estimable brother, Henry Henderson, has located himself in Decab county, Mo., and has, in part, devoted himself to the very useful and important employment of teaching and training youth in useful learning and moral excellency. For this he is well prepared, both in theory and practice. While at Bethany College, he was not only engaged in College studies, but also a portion of his time was employed in teaching several classes, much to the satisfaction of the Faculty, and the pupils under his care.

We should not, indeed, be gratified to learn that he has wholly devoted himself to the education of youth. We think that he ought to spend a portion of his time in a still higher sphere of action-in teaching and preaching the gospel, and in thus promoting the highest interests and happiness of man. We have no doubt that his location will afford him many such opportunities. We cannot but congratulate our friends in that portion of Missouri, in having located amongst them one so well qualified to meet their interests and their wishes, as a teacher of whatever he undertakes, and whose example as a gentleman and a Christian, cannot but have a most salutary influence upon the youth committed to his care. A. C.

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