Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-01-07
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

| WHAT THE BAPTIsTs HAVE DONE FOR THE
| WoRLD.-This was the theme of Rev. Dr. Tay-
| lors discourse Sunday the 23rd ultimo, (being
the third of his SERIES which, owing to our issu-
ing half a-sheet, we we're unable to report last
week. The speaker said memorial celebrations
were rather the order of the day, having been
| recently held by several denominations and
made the occasion of "reminiscences and congrat-
| ulatIon; and this was the memorial year-the
Jubilee year of Virginia Baptists. Still he did
| not design to be boastful but only to inform his
people Of what they ought to know of Baptist
history. He was far from claiming perfection
| for Baptists or that they had the monopoly of
what was good. On the contrary he saw much
to admire and emulate in each denomination
As for social and christian virtues, they were
confined to cline or sect He thanked God
for the lives and labors and writings of good men
OF every name; and charged his people to cher
ish large heartedness that would take in all that
were Christ-like. For his own part a so-called
| close communsnist from principle he had gone
and would go as far as any to labor with all Chris
tlans and to show good will to all
The BapLists had ever been the firm friends Of
cavat as well as Religious Liberty. They had
been maligned for the Peasant war in Germany.
predominant and the manifesto was written by
Baptist Minister'S paper which Voltaire SAID
"a Lycurgas might have signed" Had the war
succeeded It mig ht have ranked with the Decls-
| ration OF American Indepena ence and the writer
with Jefferson and Washington. He quoted tes-
| timony to show the potential influence exerted
by the Baptists and the important part played by
them in the English Revolution of Cromwells
I'M nd oir -bor
Liberties of England, and lnfusing new vigor and
Hberality in her Constitution" Washington had
written that the Baptists were throughout
America uniformly the promoters Of the glori-
GUS American Revolution" And after Lord
chatham had deserted the cause Of the Colonies,
the English Baptists remained their firm friends.
In illustration OF this position, he related .
thrilling incident in connection with the father
OF Robert Hall and kyland of Northampton
1t was IN evidence that Thomas Jefferson, who,
years before the Revolution, frequently attended
a Baptist Church Monticello, acknowledged
his admiration Of Baptist church polity and his
own Indebtedness to it for ideas that were incor
porated in boththe Virginia and U. s. Constitu-
ton.
All the denominations exercise more or less
influence on each other; and the success Of the
Baptists must be measured not merely by their
numbers. but by the extent to which their views
had been adopted by other Denominations
Within h0ndrsd years, other denominations
had Appropriated to Baptist doctrines. Not on
IL was lafant baptism less prevalent but what
was far more important, the truth that credible
profession OF piety is prerequisite to church
membership and to communion, which century
ago was Baptist popularity, was now generally
acknowledged The speaker believes that all
Protestants, not rtuaiists. will ultimately aban-
don this rite.
Baptists had been the originators of modern
missions to the East; they had furnished the first
translation of the Bible into heathcn tongues,
and had rendered it into more tongues than any
other people. The first christian churches in In
dia, Burmah and China, were Baptist churches.
A Baptist originated the great British and For
eign Bible Society. A Baptist deacon divided
with Robert Parkes the honor of beginning the
Sunday School movement In word, the pro.
gross OF Christian civilization for the past centu-
~ could not be written without making large
| mention of the conceptions and achievements of
Carey and Ryland and Hughes and MarshS 1an
and judson, and other Baptists kindred in spir-
1t and labors.
given amount OF scholastic learning as prereq-
ulsite TO the ministry, aud had repudieted NAH
| made power. and had sought the masses of the
people, they had ever been the friends Of educa-
ton and boasted their rolls some OF the bright
est names of modern times. A Baptist family
had made munifcent benefactons to Harvard
and its first two Presidents, equal to any since,
Dunster and Chsuncey, were Bap.ists. He quo
ted glowing tribute paid by DIR. Chalmers to
The Eng lsh Baptists, in which DR.. Chalmers had
declared tn It the Baptists of England had en-
riched the literature of the country with aithor-
snip of the first talent and eloquence, and that
there not IN the kingI body of ministers
more intellectual or who had put forth more
mental power and activity. Similar testimony
was quoted from Dr. Baird touching the Bap.ists
OF this country. But, the speaker said, 10 such
testimony Was necessary. The great names the
Baptists had in every department were sufii-
cient vlldcation. He mentioned William Ca
reg, Robert Hail, Andrew FGller, John Foster.
Gle, Bunyan, Milton, Eavelock, Spurgeon. In
this country, Hovey and Conant and Hackett
stood in the front rank of American scholars,
while Virginia Baptists had given Broadus,
whose WoIk on Homiletics was genefely admit
ted the completesa III eXistencei and !. Toy. the
most learned man Of his age in America. The
plan Of the Southern Baptist Theological Semi
nary, unique, original and Baptistic, was win
ming golden opinions among all denominations
il this country and Europe Baptsls had been
accused Of neglecting tbs children, but it was
patea. fact tnat every where their Sunday schools
we're IN size and efficiency abreast with aey.
The increase of the Baptists had been remark
able, specially il the United States, where they
had been thoroughly, consistently Baptistic, in
viting to the communion table only those whom
they regarded as scripturally baptized They
had i membership Of million and half having
gained, net, last year seventy thousand. In 40
years they had gained nearly at the rate Of one
church every day.
Bot the BAptists must not glory in deeds
names OR numbers, but only in the cross They
must do their duty. Neander said they had
future. They had mission. Bishop Smith Of
Kentucky said God had raised them up to re-
store the primitive Baptism. Dr. Woods of An
dover, Congregationalist had said that the
Baptists ARE the Christians who are likely to
maintain Christianity and to hold fast the form
OF sound words"
This is imperfect sketch Of discourse,
which, notwithstanding its length, was listened
to with great satisfaction by those who heard it.
In the Baptist Churcl. Sunday, Mr. Taylor