ATHENS, Sangamon county, April 2, 1838. I again take up my pen to inform you of the success of the good cause of our Master since my letter of March. in which I gave an account of some forty-one or two immersions in Sangamon county. In the adjoining neighborhoods I immersed nine more, and the prospect is still very good. We meet with much opposition; but strong is the truth, and it will prevail. Babylon must fall, and all the kingdoms of this world must give place to the kingdom of Christ. May the Lord hasten its time. ROBERT FOSTER. JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ky., April 9 1838. I address to you at this time my first epistle; and O what are my feelings on the present occasion! it is more than tongue can express; and what is the news I have to relate to you? That my father is dead. My cup of sorrow is full. I have lost more than a whole world can restore-a kind, tender, and affectionate parent; one who has loved, caressed, and instructed me; one who has given me the best of instruction and advice; but the will of the Lord be done, and I know that I should not grieve as those that have no hope. When I reflect upon the manner in which he died, it gives me courage to go on in the good cause of the Lord. He was sent for by the brethren at Clear creek, as there was a prospect of his being of service to them, with the assistance of brother William Morton and brother Samuel Helin". He went up on Friday, and returned on Wednesday evening, sick. There were about thirty in all that made the good confession. He was sick twenty-five days, during which time he suffered immensely. He died on the 6th of April. I think it proper just here to state to you a few of his acclamations before his death. He spoke many things which I cannot relate, and shall only relate a few of the particulars. After knowing that he could not live, he exclaimed as follows: "Jesus can make a dying bed feel soft as downy pillows are, White on his breast I lean my head and breathe my life out sweetly there." And again he exclaimed, "Here, Lord, I give myself away: 'tis all that I can do!" "O! Grave, where is thy victory? O! Death, where is thy sting?" And again, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." Says he, "I want the churches around to stand fast in the reformation, and to reform indeed." Then calling me to his hed-side, and giving me charge of his correspondeuces, and calling his two servants to his bed-side, he gave them the counsel of a parent and a brother: then to my eldest sister-"O, Rebecca, love your sister-be kind and affectionate-love one another. I should like," said he, "to bid farewell to all the family, but I know it would affect them. I want any elder children, the neighbors and friends, to help mother (as he called her) to raise my three little sons, Standaford, Henry, and Francis. I hope they will be raised in the nurture and adinonition of the Lord. I have six children in the Lord: I hope they will walk worthy of their profession. O, my children, read the word of the Lord-treasure it up. I leave you in the hands of the Lord and the power of his will, who is able to make you wise unto salvation." Then exclaimed, “O that I could fall asleep now in the arms of Jesus! but the will of the Lord be done." But his cup was not full yet; he suffered some hours after in the most excruciating pains, and his last words were, (holding his hands up,) “Glory, glory, glory be to Him that sitteth on the throne!" JOHN T. ALLEN. Brother Benjamin Allen, one of the excellent of the earth. has gone home triumphantly. When I first became acquainted with him, some 12 or 13 years ago, he was a pious Baptist Minister, groaning under the boudage of many human traditions. He soon became acquainted with the principles of reformation through the Christian Baptist, and cordially embraced them, and ever since has zealously propagated them. He was, as I have personally seen and known, greatly esteemed and beloved, not only by his brethren and neighbors, but also by the pious professors of other parties in his vicinity He has been a faithful and highly useful laborer in the Lord's vineyard. May the rich blessings of the God of all the faithful rest upon his widow and fatherless children, and through the abundauce of grace and of the gift of righteousness, may they with him reign in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord! By the death of this beloved and esteemed brother, I am reminded of the most calin, rational, joyful, and triumphant repose of sister Mary Wolfe, of Pittsburg, on the 5th of February last, while I was in that city. She departed in her 32d year. As, methinks, the saints of the olden time were wont to fall asleep in the arms of everlasting love, so died Mary Wolfe.-A. C. Indiana, April 26, 1838. CHARLESTOWN. The good cause is progressing in various parts of this state. ing in this place, including the first Lord's day in this month. ms, and faithfully proclaimed the ancient gospel. Four made the good confession and were immersed, and one who had been previously immersed joined the congregation. The second Lord's day in this month I delivered a discourse at the Union meeting-house, four miles from this place. One confessed and was immersed. This night brother Brown commences a meeting here, to continue several days. We pray that much good may result from it. We do rejoice at the wonderful success of the gospel in Kentucky: it caused all within me to rejoice while reading over the hundreds who have recently bowed to the King of saints in that state. May the good work go on until our fellow-men shall have submitted to the Captain of our salvation! M. COLE. MADISON, Indiana, April 26, 1838. Brother Fassett and myself, during a two weeks' meeting at Columbus, Ia, immersed thirty-six persons in the name of Jesus. Twenty-five others have been added to other congregations—some here, others at Paris, others again at Charlestown; in all, sixty-one since the first of March have taken up the cross. May the good Lord make them a blessing to the brethren and an honor to his law! Amen. W. BROWN. CHARLESTOWN, Ia., May 1, 1838. We have had a glorious meeting here. Brother W. M. Brown commenced preaching the gospel of Jesus here on Friday night the 27th March, and continued twelve days, in which period thirty-three made the good confession, a large majority of whom are young men; amongst them two Doctors and one Lawyer. Some of these converts possess fine talents Two joined us who had been previously immersed. In my last I told you we had immersed tour, which add to the above number, will make thirty-seven by immersion. Brother Brown had to rest two or three days, but will commence again to-night I think several others will confess. May the good Lord bless those who have already obeyed! Othat they may walk uprightly before him! I must inform you that a few days after our meeting commenced, some four Baptist ministers began preaching here three times a day, with their mourning benches, aided y all the sects, Methodists, Presbyterians, &c. and are now in full operation Two of their own children were immersed yesterday. At the last accounts the above sects said they had preached the gospel; that they had not named baptism in all their discourses. They are egregiously misrepresenting us in private. Yours in the gospel, M. COLE. GEORGETOWN, Ky. April 13th, at night. 1838. I have just returned from Sharpsburg and Cane Ridge, in Bath and Bourbon counties. I spent eight days at the first named place, with brother John Smith, the war-worn veteran of the Cross. Thirty-six had obeyed up to Saturday night. Lord's day morning I was compelled to leave for Cane Ridge agreeably to appointment. Brother Smith obtained eight more on Lord's day, making forty-four in all, and left for home. Brother J. A. Gano, the Apollos of the West, met mne at Cane Ridge, where we exerted ourselves until Thurs. day forenoon meeting. Here the gospel proved the power of God to the salvation of fifty. six who confided in it. We gained ten the last day at Cane Ridge, and the prospects were better at the termination than at any other period of of both meetings. But we were com pelled to yield to other present engagements. I hope to visit all those places shortly again, and continue till the harvest is reaped. I never saw the like. You may present my compliments to Elders Stiles and Hendrix of the Presbyterian church, and inform them that we took captive several others of their valuable members, amongst whom was a distinguished Elder. While they are foaming out their shame, we will labor for the Lord. J. T JOHNSON. N. B. I was at Cane Ridge about 5 or 6 years ago, and brother William Rogers informed me that of about 26 who obeyed the gospel at that time, not one had fallen back, according to his recollection. The brethren are working finely. J. T. J. GEORGETOWN, Ky., April 24, 1838. If I recollect right, I gave you an account of the meetings I held with brother John Smith, the old veteran soldier, at Sharpsburg, where forty-four obeyed; and that at Cane Ridge with brother J. A. Gano, the Apollos of Kentucky, where fifty-six obeyed. I re turned home on Thursday and started again for Cane Ridge on Saturday morning, having made arrangements for my wife to meet me at her brother's, near there, on Friday. On Lord's day and Monday I obtained eleven at Cane Ridge, and left for Sharpsburg. But as there was no notice of it, the congregation was small and we had no success. The weather was very severe, and brother Ryan lost his youngest daughter during the time. having suffered greatly with croup for four or five days. Brother Raines joined me at Sharps burg. We left there on Friday morning He went to Millersburg, and I to North Middletown again. I addressed a good congregation on Saturday, and succeeded in getting seven to obey. My wife had failed to meet me. Next day, I have rarely seen such a crowd. By 10 o'clock I went into the pulpit, and a letter was handed me from brother Williams of Paris, informing me of the sickness of my wife. With a mind torn by contending emotions, I proceeded immediately to address the rougregation for about 50 minutes, and succeeded in getting nine persons to submit-making sixteen in the two days. I then mounted my horse and made for home; and, thanks to the Lord, found my wife recovered and out où a visit with the brethren. There was no person present to continue the meeting O what a disappointment! I believe we could have obtained fifty or one hundred more. Brother John Smith obtained forty at Somerset during that week, while 1 was at Sharpsburg. Most affectionately yours, J. T. JOHNSON. In a communication some time, Washington county, N. Y. April 30, 1838. since I informed you that under a torrent of clerical aluse and ecclesiastical censure, myself with some ten or twelve others, united upon the Bible alone, and organized according to what we consider apostolic order, our handful of friends calling upon me to preside at our weekly meetings, and our brother Isaac Sheldon to wait upon them in the duties of deacon. We have been oppressed and weighed down under a mighty load of calumny and detraction; but, blessed be God! truth, Heaven's artillery, is mowing down whole ranks of opposition, and light is rapidly spreading through the community. On Lord's day before last 1 introduced two into the kingdom by immersion, of the first respectability in the vicinity; and on last Lord's day I immersed four more. Our meetings, except some unusual occurrence calls the people some other way, are large, respectable, and attentive, which you know augurs a great reaction in favor of the truth; when this same community once thought me on the very verge of destruction, and involved in "ruinous error," and which now come to hear my humble efforts in pleading the cause of our King! Success to the ancient gospel! Some have united with us from the Baptist society I could. were it worth the trouble, give you an amusing account of an effort recently made by the Baptists to draw us from the stand we have taken in defence of the truth, by proposing and tendering to us a proposition for a union. We listened to their overtures, and had well nigh consummated the affair, when, Jo! from the skirts of their managers peeped forth their darling creed, that bantling of the clergy, their beloved summary of their faith! Said I, "Gentlemen, this will not answer," and withdrew from any farther participation in the premises, assuring them that my faith embraced all that our heavenly Father had revealed to us, leaving my friends to such a course as duty should point out. The result was, they also withdrew from any further negociation, and returned with me to the high ground we had assumed. I learned sursequently, however, that had a union been effected, I was to have lost my head-to have been the first victim. I am, it seems, much in the way of a certain alass of men called the Clergy. Well, so be it; but while the Lord suffers me to live what few abilities he has given me are of right his, and no man or set of men shall ever prevent me from using them, if need be, to expose their usurpations or defend his truth. Is there within the range of your acquaintance, a bold, ardent, and talented proclaimer, who could be induced to come to our assistance. I am necessarily confined to the sphere of my professional duties, (to wit, the practice of medicine,) and can only meet with our friends on Lord's day; but could such an individual as I have named come among us, this section of country could be revolutionized with reference to religious subjects. We now number about five-and-twenty in our congregation. C. JONES WHITE MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va, May 1, 1838. I will inform you that the ancient gospel is gaining ground steadily, if slowly, in these parts, and would, I think, be triumphant if there were laborers. I commenced here, a young man, four years ago, without any influence apart from the Word I preached and the life I led. I had like to have been crushed in the onset. I have spoke to six persons as pleasant a day as the sun ever shone upon, without an inserfering meeting, and the first year I did not make one proselyte; but things have altered-I have full houses-I have planted four congregations-the nucleus for the fifth is forming. I speak in four counties, and public sentiment is in some degree disabused. Though I am poor and of fragile constitution, and cannot get any one to help me; and it being too painful and delicate a thing for me to tell the churches their duty in pecuniary matters-I say, but for these things I should expect to see the glory of the Lord prospering here. As it is, we are frequently made glad. A few days since from my own house (for I live on the water side) I led six into the hath of regeneration; and indeed in my immediate neighborhood we are becoming orthodox, and it may be some day that great good news, such as that coming up from Kentucky, which is now cheering and warning the hearts of pilgrims-it may be that such will one day he heard from here. That you may live to see your labors appreciated, and that your last days may be your best, is my prayer for Christ's sake. Amen! CHESTER BULLARD. PECUNIARY AFFAIRS OF THE HARBINGER. ON no persons has the deranged state of the currency borne a more oppressive hand, in proportion to their means, than on the proprietors of periodicals that circulate as ours does, from North to South, from East to West, over this continent of innumerable Banks, It has fallen upon us with treble vengeance: From some of the states we may say we receive no remittances at all, because their paper is so far under par, that our subscribers (generally very honorable men) will not send it, and they can obtain no better. From other states the pecuniary embarrassments have impinged the whole community and dried up the current of money. From these two sources our collections have fallen off this year full one half. In the second place, unuch of the money we receive is from 2 to 10 per cent. under par. And in the third place, robberies of the mail, owing to a system of peculation, which always follows one of speculation, have increased at our expense in an alarming ratio. The following sketch is but the list of a few months, and we have reason to fear we have not yet been apprized of all that has occurred within this limited period: ROBBERIES OF THE MAIL. Sums mailed for this Office. T. J. Jowett, Mount Sterling, Montgomery county, Kentucky, J Shannon, Jackson, Louisiana, Jolm Burden, Ladega, Benton county, Alabama, William Somerville, New Harmony, Indiana, W. Smith, Alexander, New York, William Morgan, Esq Post-Master, Burlington, Wisconsin, 50 00 300 5.00 W. J. Owings, Post Oak Springs, Roan county, Tennessee, I say it not with a reference to the above named Post Offices, especially or emphatically; but I say it with a reference to all our losses per mail, that by far the largest proportion of them occurs when our agents make it known to Post-Masters or their Clerks that their letters contaiu money, or when they enclose it in their presence! I state the fact withou comment, to show that thus to mail money is no guarantee of its safe passage. I will of course forward this list to the Post-Master-General, whose vigilance and ability to detect frauds I presume have never been surpassed by any of his predecessors. Meanwhile, we are obliged to run the risk, for we cannot get along without noney; and without our subscribers and agents are more prompt and forward in their remittances, we must soon be seriously embarrassed. Accounts are being made out for all persons owing two volumes and upwards, and will be forwarded forthwith. Owing to discounts and various severe drawbacks, $2,50 will be expected from all persons who have not paid their subscriptions for each volume within the first six months of the year. Of course those subscribers owing for 1st and 2d volumes, new series, not contiguous to agents, are requested to remit to us 5 dollars in their own currency, provided said currency is not more than 6 per cent. discount in the eastern cities. When agents can get drafts ou mercantile houses in Wheeling, Pittsburg, or the eastern cities, or on our Virginia or other Banks of good standing, payable to myself or order, it is much safer and will be preferred to cash remittances; and when sums froni 20 dollars and upwards are remitted, we will ask the favor of being informed of it always the mail before or after, that we may at least aid in detecting the frauds being so grievously practised upon us. Agents will please in this emergency be as active as possible in collecting and forwarding our dues. Brother M'Vay & Ewing, whose co-partnacy ceased on the 1st of April last, most respectfully signify to all who are indebted to them for books forwarded them, that they have a large sum scattered throughout the United States, owing them for books forwarded from six months to more than two years since, much to their pecuniary disadvantage, and that they earnestly request those to whom they have written and given directions about remittauces, to be as expeditious as possible in complying with their requests. A. C.. PAPAL CANON AGAINST READING THE BIBLE. Council of Toulouse, Nov. 1229,-Canon 14th. "We prohibit the laics from having the books of the Old and New Testaments; unless it be, at most, that any one wishes to have, from devotion, a psalter, a breviary for the divine offices, or the honor of the blessed Mary; but we forbid them, in the most express manner, to have the books translated into the vulgar tongue."-[Labbei, Concil. Tolosa, Tom. 5, p. 1784-1786, et Sig. Fleury, Hist. Ecc. liv, 79, N. Vide Sismondi, p. 227. Also, Du Pin, vol. ii. p. 456.] MR. BADGER. THE Editor of the "Christian Palladium" is one of our most constant, reckless, and unchristian traducers and calumniators. He will have to answer for as many falsehoods, slanders, and perverse misrepresentations of our views as any other great little man in the ranks of opposition. He dare not permit me to state my own views in my own language to his readers. Satan quoted and applied more scripture and with more justice in one temptation, than Mr. Badger has ever quoted from my writings in any one number that I have seen from his pen. That all the world may know that I do not misrepresent him, I here put to him the question-Will you, Mr. Badger, permit me to occupy six pages of your Christian Paliadium on the office of the Holy Spirit, and as many pages on the meaning and design of Christian baptism? You shall have a similar opportunity of stating your views on the same subject to my readers. Answer me Yes or No. If you do not, your silence shall be understood by me as an emphatic No. THE "LAYMAN," alias S. M. M'Corkle, has forwarded a communication entitled "Strictures on the Essays of a Reformed Clergyman." This communication we would wish to lay before our readers immediately; but we cannot have the "Reformed Clergyman" and the "Strictures" at the same time. I agree with our brother M'Corkle that the Reformed Clergyman gets along too leisurely for the eagerness of our readers; but as he has intimated a more rapid sketch in the conclusion of the number now on hand, I cannot say to him, 'Give place,' espe cially as he has not yet occupied so many of our pages as the "Layman,” if I remember right. My wishes are as follows: That the "Reformed Clergyman" would soon close the second department of his plan, which I perceive he intends, and then permit the "Layman" to take up some one grand point and decide it; as for example, the 3d chapter of the 2d epistle of Peter, on which the "Layman" has again rallied. The new heavens and the new earth, and the previous deluge of fire, on which the "Layman" has now written, I move shall be the theme between the parties until it is decided. All of which is respectfully submitted. The following communications are also on hand-T. J. Mattock; A Reformer; M. Clapp's letter; J. Allen Gano's letter; Daniel Monroe's letter; T. M. Henley's letter; R. L. of Baltimore; Charity, &c. &c.all of which in due time. Our regular essay on the Kingdom of Satan, as also our Letter to England, have been crowded out. In lieu of the latter, by way of apology, will our friends there allow me to dedicate to them the Essay on Co-operation? A. C. |