CHRISTIAN BAPTISM: WITH ITS ANTECEDENTS AND CONSEQUENTS, We are Is now in the hands of our Philadelphia stereotypers and printers. We sent on, to-day, its last page, save a general index. getting it up in good Eastern style-on superior paper, and in neat binding. I presume the volume will contain not less than 450 pages; nearly equal to the contents of 450 pages of the Harbinger. It will be sold to subscribers at One Dollar. Those sending on orders, with cash or drafts, will be supplied as soon as the book can be issued in Philadelphia, at liberal discounts. This is intended to be, and, in all human probability, will be, our last offering on the subject of Christian Baptism, with its antecedents and consequents, and its bearing on the whole Christian institution. It is a condensation of much that we have written, and spoken, and read, and pondered upon, for forty years. He that candidly and impartially reads and weighs its contents, if not satisfied, we will only say to him as a prophet of old once said to a very distinguished man, a prop to a King in his devotions, "Go in peace!” We know too much of human nature to imagine that any book, human or divine, can convince every one. But after a certain effort has been made, all beyond is just as useless to cavilers, as a work of Roman supererogation is to a soul in purgatory. It will never bring him out. A. C. NEW POSTAGE LAW. HAVING, under the new postage law, been divested of the franking privilege, which I have enjoyed under the former law for almost a quarter of a century, as a remuneration, in part, of my services as postmaster, which has been mutually an accommodation to my subscribers as well as to myself, it becomes necessary that all our readers and correspondents should be informed of this fact, that they may prepay their letters; which, to them, will be a very small matter, but to me a very serious one, receiving, as I do, from fifty to one hundred letters per week. I do not hold myself indebted to the Postmaster General or the Government, for any favor bestowed on me since the days of the honorable Postmaster General, John SERIES IV.-VOL. I. 40* M'Lean. I have created to the department as much revenue as would now justify the Government to continue with me the franking privilege through life, provided it was compatible with the law. From absolute nonentity, during our editorial career, we have created a minimum revenue to the Government of at least seventy-five thousand dollars. True, they have had to carry, for myself and readers, at least one hundred and fifty thousand volumes during that time; but, as the saying is, they would have been obliged to have gone the same rounds without them. It will be obligatory on all our subscribers, except agents who send us money, as honorable men-and they are all, it is presumed, honorable men to prepay their three cents per letter, rather than oblige us to pay five cents on their business. When a number miscarries, it is enough to furnish the number, without having to pay five cents for the request to send it. The reduction of postage to 12 cents a year on the Harbinger, for all our subscribers within 500 miles of us, and proportionably in favor of those at a greater distance, will, no doubt, be favorable to all who desire knowledge. In our new conditions for the next year, we will communicate very freely with our subscribers, and will make liberal proposals for the increase of our readers. We desire to obtain ten thousand new readers; and that we could do, without any great sacrifice to any one, and with great interest to the present and next generation. But, of these matters, next month. A. C. KENTUCKY FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL. THE Trustees of this institution are happy in announcing to the brethren, that they have been so fortunate as to get the advantage of the labors of Bro. Ephraim A. Smith, in behalf of the Kentucky Orphan School. It is useless for us to say any thing in commendation of him to the brethren, as our authorized agent for obtaining donations or receiving dues to the institution. His disinterested labors of love have been known to the people of Kentucky and most of the Southern States for fifteen or twenty years, and we will say his labors in behalf of the Orphan School are as disinterested as his labors for other causes. He labors for the good of the poor-the good of our causethe glory of God. We hope he may meet, not only with success, but with that Christian affection from among those whom he may be thrown, that his Christian character so widely deserves. Bro. John T. Johnson, who has been so laborious in our behalf, will give himself more this year to the completion of the endowment. We expect they will visit the counties of Bourbon, Montgomery, Owen, Harrison, Fleming, Mercer, Lincoln and Madison, during the months of June, July and August; and Henry, Shelby, Jefferson and Oldham, in September and October. We hope to finish the endow. ment of the institution this year, and we trust the brethren, whom we may hereafter visit, will be as cheerful and as liberal as those whom we have; and if so, the school will be endowed before Christmas. The institution was never more promising than at present, and none has ever given more perfect satisfaction to its friends, than the Kentucky Female Orphan School. We shall labor faithfully to make it worthy of all confidence, and hope we shall meet with in the future, what we have in the pastthe confidence and liberal assistance of its friends. W. R. CHEW, SAM.'L NUCKOLS, L. B. CRUTCHER, [We cannot but commend to the high Christian consideration and regard of all the Kentucky brotherhood, the claims of this school. Its agent is so well known in Kentucky, that it would be as unnecessary to commend him, as to inform them that Kentucky is washed by the Ohio; that its soil is rich, and its citizens hospitable, gene. rous, and humane.-A. C.] BISHOP HUGHES. THE Bishop, in his fond anticipations of the decline of Protest antism, quoted a sentence from Macaulay's England, and to give it force, represented the historian as one of the greatest minds in England, who treated the subject in the light of impartial philosophy. The New York Commercial Advertiser, takes the Bishop at his word, and Macaulay being endorsed fully by his reverence, he offers for his meditation the following extract from his history: "From the time that the Barbarians overran the Western Empire to the time of the revival of letters, the influence of the Church of Rome had been generally favorable to science, to civilization, and to good government; but during the last three centuries, to stunt the growth of the human mind has been her chief object. Throughout Christendom, whatever advance has been made in knowledge, in freedom, wealth, and in the arts of life, has been made in spite of her, and has every where been in inverse proportion to her power. The loveliest and most fertile provinces of Europe have, under her rule, been sunk in poverty, in political servitude, and in intellectual torpor, while Protestant countries, once proverbial for sterility and barbarism, have been turned by skill and industry into gardens, and can boast of a long list of heroes and statesmen, philosophers and poets. Whoever, knowing what Italy and Scotland naturally are, and what, four hundred years ago, they actually were, shall now compare the country round Rome with the country round Edinburg, will be able to form some judgment as to the tendency of Papal domination. "The descent of Spain, once the first among monarchies, to the lowest depths of degradation; the elevation of Holland, in spite of so many natural disadvantages, to a position such as no commonwealth so small has ever reached, teach the same lesson. Whoever passes in Germany from a Roman Catholic to a Protestant principality, in Switzerland from a Roman Catholic to a Protestant Canton, in Ireland from a Roman Catholic to a Protestant country, finds that he has passed from a lower to a higher grade of civilization. On the other side of the Atlantic the same law prevails. The Protestants of the United States have left far behind them the Roman Catholics of Mexico, Peru and Brazil. The Roman Catholics of Lower Canada remain inert, while the whole continent around them is in a ferment with Protestant activity and enterprise. The French have doubtless shown an energy and an intelligence which, even when misdirected, have justly entitled them to be called a great people. But this apparent exception, when examined, will be found to confirm the rule; for in no country that is called Roman Catholic has the Roman Catholic Church, during several generations, possessed so little authority as in France." NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES. OHIO.-Bro. James Porter reports 13 additions, the result of the joint labors of himself and Bro. Hayes, of Mt. Vernon, which were continued for days, at Nottingham, Harrison county; also, 4 wanderers returned to their former place in the church. A good impression appeared to be left on the community around. This, with the former meeting at this place, made 25 additions by baptism, and 7 reclaimed. The church was strengthened, and the prospects favorable.--Bro. E. S. Faris states that 20 persons were recently added to the church at Danville, by the labors of Bros. Hon and Thompson.- -Bro. James Rossell's report of the progress of the gospel in Belmont county, especially at Flushing, is, indeed, encouraging. Some 8 persons were persuaded to confess the Lord, and a church was organized at the above place, with its elders and deacons. INDIANA. The cause of Christ continues to advance in the southern section of the State. Bro. J. L. Martin reports 7 restored to the church at Martinsburg, and I added by baptism; also, to the church at Mill Creek, some ten miles from the former place, 6 were added by baptism and 1 restored. ARKANSAS.-Bro. R. E. Arrington wishes to have the statement contained in the March number of our paper, respecting the success of the truth in Camden, corrected. The statement is, that Bro. J. S. Wade had baptized 20 persons in Camden. This, though a simple oversight in us, has, by an opponent of the truth, been construed into a wilful publishing of lies. When corrected, the statement stands thus: That by the labors of Bro. James S. Wade, "there were about 20 accessions made from September to the time he wrote; but they were all, except one, residents of this and the adjoining counties." Bro. R. E. Arrington reports 16 additions recently made in this county, and the prospects very encouraging. TENNESSEE.-Bro. B. F. Hall reports 14 persons added to the church at Memphis, all by baptism. "Scarcely," says he, "has there been such a change wrought in any community in so short a time. The harvest is ripe all through this country, but the laborers are few." KENTUCKY.-Bro. Challen attended a four-days meeting at Covington, including the 3d Lord's day in June. Great interest was manifested-3 confessed the Saviour, and 2 were added who had been previously immersed. Also, at Caveridge, a meeting of four days, embracing last Lord's day, during which 5 persons hearing, believed and were immersed, and the brethren generally were greatly refreshed. Reported by Bro. John A. Grano, July 4th. VIRGINIA.-Bro. W. A. Belding, who writes June 23d, reports 33 additions to the church at Beeler Station-27 by baptism, 4 reclaimed, and 2 by letter; amongst whom was a lady about 80 years of age. Bro. B. adds, "Since I last wrote you, I have baptized about 80 persons." We have also had 7 baptisms recently at Bethany. At West Liberty, also, 7 disciples were added by Bro. Myers. PENNSYLVANIA.-At Dutch Fork Church, six miles from Bethany, through the labors of Bro. Hough, and Bro. Myers, student of Bethany College, 21 persons were recently added, all by baptism. ILLINOIS.-Bro. John W. Taylor reports 50 persons added to the church at Mechanicksburg, Sangamon county, by the labors of Bros. Cane and Brown. The meeting continued for several days. At Lick Creek, 12 additions by Bro. Cane. At Hand Grove, 13 disciples were added by Bro. Brown, assisted by another brother. At Clarie's Grove, by the joint labors of Bro. Brown and others, 16 persons were discipled. At various times, in our own congregation, says Bro. Taylor, 8 additions have been made, and in the vicinity of Richland, 3 persons have since been added. Bro. P. Vawter, within the last year, reports over 200 persons. A part of the time was spent in the Military tract, and the remaining time in Sangamon county. Bro. Happy, Bro. Brown and others, about the beginning of winter, discipled more than 50 persons. The same brethren, at Linville, persuaded more than 50 to turn to the Lord; and 10 others at Beardstown. Bro. Brown's labors in Pike county, for six weeks, added some 100 persons to the church in Pittsfield, and 50 to that in Barry. All reported by Bro. John W. Taylor, June 20th. LOUISIANA. Bro. A. A. Jones reports 11 additions to the church in New Orleans, by the labors of Bro. J. D. Ferguson. MISSOURI.-Bro. T. M. Allen reports an interesting visit to Huntsville, Randolph county, in company with Bro. Wills. He says: "We had a good hearing, and 1 lady heard, believed, and was baptized.' The following interesting letter from Bro. Allen, we copy entire: ELLERSLIE, BOOn County, Mo., May 8, 1851. Brother Campbell: Yesterday evening I reached home from Fayette, where I had been conducting a meeting for several days, with Bros. M. E. Lard, A. Proctor, and J. H. Harden. It was an interesting and pleasant meeting, with five additions-one reclaimed. The others heard, believed, and were baptized. On this day week, Bros. D. P. Henderson, G. E. Taylor, and my |
