reasons: I believe them all good and sufficient, and think that time and experience will justify them; but whether or not, I am perfectly indif. ferent, ifso be we can only possess the character and exhibit the virtues of the true followers of Christ.

But let all remember that those who were first called Christians in Antioch, were persons who had first believed the gospel preached by the Aposttles-had then repented of their sins-were then immersed into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-met the first day of every week-showed forth the Lord's death-contributed freely to the necessities of saints, and kept the apostolic ordinances. Will those who contend for this name do the same things, and exhibit the same moral excellencies! If so, I will call them Christians, if that will please them better than Disciples, or any other name; so far superior, in my judgment, is the thing to the name-the fruit to the blossom-the living man to the inanimate statue—the character to the profession. It will be remembered that I have used almost indiscriminately sundry names, and will likely continue to do so; for where the Lord has made me free, I cannot, without good cause, agree to bind myself.

Before I dismiss this subject, I must say, that I did not imagine that I could or did hurt the feelings of Father Stone, by any thing I had written on "our name." I am therefore sorry that I was disappointed in reference to him, and hope he will forgive me, when he is assured that I did not intend it. It is true, I knew he had partialities; but I had thought that both he and I had got beyond that point, and that he was able to hear, without feeling, the investigation of any question whatever. There are sundry points in his communication irrelevant to the point in hand, which I cannot now discuss.

Touching baptism, I must indeed say, I do not believe but in one baptism, and that for the remission of sins; but do not suppose it always necessary to say in the act of baptizing, "I immerse you for remission of sins;" but certainly the candidate ought always so to understand it. I conld not immerse an angel, nor a perfect Christian. But if one of these sectarian Christians, of which Father Stone and I speak, should happen to come to me desiring baptism, I would immerse him for the remission of his sectarian sins, and especially for his sinful ignorance of the Lord's ordinances and long neglect of duty. When a person has no sins to confess, I do not baptize him. Baptism can neither be the seeking nor "the answer of a good conscience" to the man that has no sins from which to be released.

A. C.

VOL. IV.-N. S.

3*

AN EXCURSION.

We have but just returned from an excursion of some 1200 miles, on which we spent just six weeks, and pronounced some forty public discourses. We visited the cities of Louisville and Lexington, and also the seats of literature, Danville and Harrodsburg, and some intermediate points in Kentucky. We also spoke a few discourses in Indiana, in the commercial cities of New Albany and Madison-and in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Our excursion, though exceedingly laborious, was nevertheless pleasing and interesting. We saw many brethren, both public and private, and had the pleasure of witnessing a number of accessions to some of the churches as we passed along. We occasionally enjoyed the company of many of our old acquaintances, fellow-laborers in the Lord's vineyard; as well as that of some new ones, amongst whom especially was that of brother Thomas Smith, of Kentucky; and brother N. Short, of Indiana—brethren of good intelligence, excellent spirit, and of eminent labors and usefulness in the kingdom; with the last of whom we had before no personal acquaintance, and not much with the former. With these brethren we had much communion, as well as with brother Stewart, of Albany; brother Creath,; brother Elley, of Louisville; brother Hall, of Lexington; brother J. T. Johnson, with the brethren Mortons; brother Taffe, my constant fellow-traveller; brother E. Smith, now I trust safely in the bosom of our South Carolina and Georgia brethren; and brother M. Cole, of Indiana.

I mention these names that the sources of my intelligence may be known, when I say, that the standard of Christian piety and the standard of Christian morality must yet be elevated higher before the ancient order of things is fully restored. I could name another class of men, of equally sound judgment, though not public men, consequently not of so conspicuous standing-old disciples, elders of churches; such as brethren Poindexter, Chinn, and Fitch, of Lexington; brethren Bullock, Curd, Craig, Duval, Payne, of Woodford; brother Sims, of Nicholasville; brethren Nuckols, of Shelby and Versailles; brethren Tibbs, Runyans, Sandige, of Mason. These represent a large class, who also join in the same judgment. These all will give their voice that the standard of piety and morality must be elevated throughout the land. Even the young evangelists themselves, such as brother Brown, of Indiana, and Pinkerton, of Kentucky, give the same testimony.

Beloved brethren, our theory, in the judgment of most of the sects themselves, is excellent-the best, as we solemnly think, in the world: our practice must therefore be the best. It will never do for us to say we are as good, as excellent as our sectarian professors. We must be primitive in spirit, conversation, behaviour, and universal excellence. I rejoice that all classes are beginning to awaken to this subject-the Elders of the churches, the old Pastors, the young Evangelists-all, all say we must go forward. In the name of the Lord, then, brethren, let us march up to the standard of ancient godliness and righteousness. Of this, much more hereafter.

The work of conversion in the Western States has gone on this year

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in advance of all former years. Thousands have been added to the Lord, and the work still goes on. Senior brethren are improving in their taste for the good intellectual and moral training of their children, and in their care for the new converts. They are also increasing in the liberality of their contributions for the gospel, and for the building of convenient and comfortable meeting-houses. We had the pleasure of speaking in several new houses much more scientifically and comfortably constructed; several them on the plan suggested in our former numbers The brethren in Woodford, bordering on Mount Vernon, have erected a very convenient, substantial, and, for a country place, a capacious building during the last season; so have the brethren in Brunerstown, Jefferson county, Kentucky. Since last we visited New Albany, the brethren there also have builded themselves a large and commodious house, well constructed. In Madison the brethren have just completed for themselves a suitable house. In Ohio, too, the good work of erecting comfortable meeting-houses has increased much during the last year. Although a good meeting-house is not an infallible test of the intelligence, devotion and zeal of a Christian community, it is a very prepossessing and favorable one; and certainly a house in ruins is very decisive evidence of a declining, weak, and tottering community.

A. C.

THE COLLEGE AT HARRODSBURG.

THE removal of Bacon College from Georgetown to Harrodsburg appears to me, since my visit there, to be even more judicious and advantageous than I had before imagined. Amongst the advantages gained I rank that of the surrounding atmosphere as very important to the prosperity of the institution: I mean, neither the superior salubrity of the air, nor the justly celebrated efficacy of its mineral waters; but I allude to the moral atmosphere, as breathing more auspiciously upon the youth and destiny of the College. There was a prejudice-a deep and dark sectarian prejudice against the College, from neighborhood rivalries and clashings, which exist not at Harrodsburg. It is the wish and the effort, so far as I could learn, of all the circumjacent country to foster and cherish the institution without regard to creed or party. The difficulty of maintaining discipline in the midst of an extensive opposition to an institution few persons can estimate. I hold it to be impossible. Whereas, when all the neighborhood round seeks the prosperity of an institution, the arm of discipline is strengthened, while the necessity for it is diminished. It is as impossible to have a good, healthy, moral institution flourish amidst the bitter jealousies and sectarian hates of an opposing neighborhood, as it is to have the delicate and tender shrubs and plan's of India to bloom and flourish in the boreal winters of Asiatic Siberia.

The fears and the objections which arose in my mind on first hearing of the location, from the fact that it is one of the most popular and fashionable watering places in all the southern country-the resort not merely of age and infirmity, but of youth and gaiety, of beauty and fashion, have been happily removed in learning from the accomplished

Dr. Graham, the proprietor of the springs, in person, that the two months of that species of resort, and almost exclusively the only season of it, are the very two months of the vacation, and a withdrawal of the students to their homes. Those who attend these medicinal waters for real benefit, the sick and the afflicted, attend occasionally at all times during the summer; but these are quite a different complexion of spirits from those July and August visiters, who have other motives and other interests than bodily cures in both their heads and hearts, which during the dog days attract them to this Kentucky Elysium.

While there I learned from the Professors that the College was constantly receiving new accessions. At that time they had about 80 students, to whom I had the pleasure of addressing a few extemporaneous remarks on the claims and pretensions of Philosophy compared with those of Revelation.

Though the institution is well superintended by a pro tempore President, I think had it a regular and fixed head of celebrity, such as I have reason to think they may soon obtain, it will certainly be an institution deserving not merely the support of our brethren in Kentucky, but the community in general. The Professors are spoken of not only by our brethren, but by the community, who know their worth, as men of the right stamp, both as respects literature, science, didactic talents, and moral excellence. With the respectability and prosperity of this institution to a certain extent the literary and political respectability of the cause of reform in Kentucky is involved; and therefore it behooves those who have put their shoulders to the wheels to be persevering and energetic in all lawful means of increasing its patronage and extending its usefulness and respectability-in doing which, they have my most cordial wishes for their success. A. C.

DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM, DANVILLE;

AND

MR. LEONARD'S SCHOOL, LOUISVILLE.

HAVING in contemplation a new Literary and Moral Institution, of enlarged dimensions, in harmony with the entire constitution of man, physical, intellectual, and moral, I feel myself obliged, as far as my opportunity affords, to visit all schools of acknowledged merit, as I do to examine all the reputable systems and theories of education of this age of reforms. In pursuance of my plan I visited the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Danville. If I recollect right, the accomplished President of this Institution informed me there were not yet more than some forty mutes in attendance. This ingenious and useful art of instructing the deaf suggests many reflections to those who address the ear. The visibles and the audibles would mutually improve each other if they would more minutely study the philosophy of their respective systems. Those who teach the deaf have to do exclusively with the eyes; while those who address the ear are not obliged exclusively to adapt their instructions to that organ. Yet they are almost exclusive in their manner. This ought not to be. We were much pleased with

the display of the proficiency of the students of this Institution. Mr. Leonard, of Louisville, has most happily combined in his plan the advantages of both systems, and superadded something of great value of his own. I was astonished to find in the city of Louisville, so distinguished for its literary taste and the number of its well educated, and indeed learned men, so small a school under the tuition of so accomplished and so original a teacher as this truly scientific and practical man. Only twelve boys, at the moderate fee of 100 dollars a-year for tuition Some would call this immoderately dear. Verily, I hazard nothing in saying that it is cheaper than the best common system of education for boys from 6 to 12 years, at one-fourth the price. I had not examined his plan and his pupils more than one hour, before I began to regret that the school was in a city, else I would forthwith, for at least a couple of years, have sent my son of 8 years old to it. I would rather pay 100 dollars than 20 for one year's training of a child in such an institution. Does any one ask, What is the mystery of the plan? I answer, It is a very great mystery. Mr. Leonard cultivates the understanding and makes his pupils understand every thing they do-almost, too, without the use of books. He teaches orally, yet uses some books; yet I say he teaches orally. He has his black board, and the boys have their slates; and he makes them look, and reason, and comprehend. They learn to read by writing, and learn to write by reading. Lads of 8 and 9 worked for me simple equations in algebra, and explained every thing they did, as though they comprehended the whole elements of the science. Those who had never learned a grammar were skilled in the elements of that science, and lads were trained to commit their thoughts to writing on every thing propounded-if they had any thoughts at all on the subject.

Thus reading, writing, grammar, composition, the elements of geometry, algebra, arithmetic, were taught thoroughly, and habits of reasoning, discriminating, thinking, communicating, were forming, which must develope all the powers vouchsafed the lads. Perhaps am too much in admiration of this plan, because it proves the practicability and utility of a favorite view I have long cherished-viz. of cultivating the understanding, and leaving the memory to take care of itself, which I now see it can do better far than under the old plan. The habits of observation, discriminating, reasoning, thus acquired, besides the actual avails of information gained, will doubtless commend the system of Mr. Leonard to all men of reflection, as the best conceivable mode of educating lads in their first setting out in the paths of real learning. Besides, and, though last mentioned, not least in value, such a school is not a prison, nor the teacher a mere keeper of a penitentiary. Boys regard much of the course as a real amusement, and often regard it as an affliction-a punishment to be kept from school. As a school for lads from 7 years to 12 or 14, this is decidedly the best I have yet seen.

A. C.

DIFFICULTIES IN CHURCHES-No. I. DIFFICULTIES in churches arise through want of discipline; and lack of discipline arises from inattention to the nature and necessity of it.