NATURE OF THE CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION. 535

gregation in any given place, is a proposition which I am prepared to demonstrate, if so be there are any sceptical on that subject in this our day and generation. I do not dogmatize on the subject, nor will I now inquire how or by what instrumentality or organization a community of churches will supply themselves with evangelists or such public functionaries as they may need. But this I must say, so long as the present irresponsible agencies are in being, we shall be ever and anon tormented with such inauspicious and unfortunate persons and events as that which I am now under the painful necessity to notice below.

Complaints are frequently communicated here of sundry imperfections in the present mode of supplying and sustaining evangelists. A few high-priced and popular proclaimers are in market, and the bidders are spirited. A cc-partnery of five or ten churches in some regions bid high, and they obtain some of the most gifted; while many more exemplary men are left unemployed, and many neighborhoods left wholly uncultivated. Some of these indiscreet, uneducated, but gifted and eloquent young men, instead of building up the cause, are often pulling it down from their self conceit, accidental importance, and self-willedness; and no one person, church, or community can restrain them until they have ruined several congregations and themselves into the bargain. But worse still, some gross hypocrites, and other ambiguous characters are sent, or run unsent by any respectable church for intelligence and high moral worth; and when once adrift, they migrate, like swallows, from one country to another, as their character wears out, and are ever and anon abusing the confidence and unsuspicious benevolence of the brotherhood.

The following case is one of that sort:-An individual, not authorized by even one whole community; with a sheaf of certificates in his pocket, picked up from every one with whom he has sojourned a night or two-setting forth his high qualifications, numerous virtues, and many great and wonderful works-is palmed upon the whole church and the world, to the public discredit and disgrace of the religion, and to the great injury of many souls. And who does not know that a consummate hypocrite and impostor can wheedle and beg from some two or three good-natured accommodating spirits a suit of travelling credentials, that will safely conduct a polygamist, a horse-thief, or a gambler, from one sta e to a other and aid him in his diabolical projects? It is time that something were done more efficiently to prevent so many and so frequent occurrences of this sort. I have for years been suspicious of the person below named, as I am now of some others who cannot be reached with certainty and without public detriment.

But

as I intend this only for an introduction to some essays on the importance of a community organization, more homogeneous with the nature of the kingdom of Christ than any yet developed amongst us, I hasten to the following melancholy disclosures:

JAMES MCVAY-not James T. McVay,

My dear brother Campbell,

OWINGSVILLE, Ky,, September 15, 1841.

The extracts of letters herewith sent you, will give you an idea of the character of JAMES MCVAY for 16 or 18 years past. What is added in this letter you may add to the foregoing extracts, and hold me responsible for it But before I proceed, permit me to say, when I saw you in Lexington, about the first of April last you told of some dishonnorable things which you had heard of James McVay in Baltimore some few years past; and I told you of some of his conduct in the part of country where I live; and, if I am not greatly mistaken, you then said that you intended to notice said McVay in the May number of the Harbinger Brother Campbell, am I mistaken in this matter? The cause of my naming this matter at present is this:-There was great confusion among some of the brethren here, growing out of what brother Moss had said to McVay; and hoping it would settle their minds, I told them what you said at Lexington. Nothing appearing in the Harbinger, two or three enemies have (as I have heard) been trying to use it to my prejudice. A word from you on this subject would be gratifying to many. especially to myself.

When James McVay came to this part of the country in the summer of 1840, he told many brethren that the mare he rode had the disease called the big head. He borrowed a horse of brother John Clark to ride about through this country, &c., and at the same time he had put his mare into the hands of his nephew (living between Sharpsburg and Carlisle) to prepare her for the Virginia market, take her there and sell her for him. His nephew accordingly fattened her, took her to Virginia, and sold her for him; and the brethren and friends bought him another horse. You may call this swindling connected with lying, or call it hy what name you please He was guilty of lying in more than half a dozen other cases, of such a nature that the falsehoods must have been wilful, This I can abundantly prove, and for it you may hold me responsible.

I will here give you a description of James McVay:-He was raised in Kentucky. When he first professed religion he united with the people who called themselves Chris. tians, (nicknamed New Lights.) He soon commenced preaching and left this country; has spent much of his time in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and is now living in Hendrix county, Indiana. Perhaps about seven or eight years ago he fell into the current reformation: but no reformation from his wickel conduct. From all that I can learn of him from 1823 to the present time, he has been the greatest curse to the cause of religion of any man I ever knew. He is about from 42 to 45 years old; about 5 feet from 6 to 8 inches high; well built; dark hair, I think; dark colored eyes; light beard; fair skin, forehead runs high up on each side; but he has two other marks by which he may be known to a certainty. One is a scar on the end of his nose, it having been badly bit in a fight. The other is his uncommonly sanctified manner and appearance. Brother L. J. Jameson, of Indiana, gives a perfect description of this mark in his letter to me, in these words: "I know him [McVay] to be the most complete personification of hypocritical affected sanctimoniousness that I ever saw." His wife has nearly lost her eye. sight. He has but one child (a daughter) living with him; and that is not his wife's, but is said to be his own illegitimate offspring. I ought to have said above that he has several letters of recommendation which he carries with him-some of which, at least, (you will see from the extracts) were fraudulently obtained.

Now, brother Campbell, you can publish as much as you think proper of this letterthe extracts I herewith send you-with any additional information which you may have received from other sources And it is my request that brethren Stone, Scott, Crihfield, and all the Editors of religious periodicals in these United States, in Canada, and in Texas, may give the same an insertion in their several periodicais A few pages devoted to this too long neglected subject would do more for the cause of Christ than any other matter with which the same number of pages could be filled. It ought to be attended to without delay. This is the decided opinion of your brother indeed,

JOHN SMITH.

The

I have files of certificates and documents recently sent me in full, alas! too full, and too satisfactory confirmation of the above. half is not yet told.

I have to apologize to brother John Smith for not publishing, as he states my intentions were, at an earlier date, this arrant impostor. I did not like to place myself in the attitude of one accusing and then

convicting by my own efforts a flagrant transgressor; and even some year or two since, when information was here given, (not, indeed, fully satisfactory,) I could not, (though I had little or no doubt myself,) bring my mind to publish one who had the reputation of doing much good, and especially as his name might so easily be confounded with that of a well known brother, distinguished for many virtues, James T. McVay, of Pittsburg, unless I were compelled by such evidence and authority as made it imperiously my duty. That day and that authority have come, and I have not shrunk from the discharge of a very painful duty. A. C.

From the Christian Messenger.

NOTE TO MY PATRONS.

I STATED in my last number that I should give a synopsis of the doctrine contained in the discussion between brother Campbell and iny self, and advise brother Campbell to do the same; and print no more in our periodicals on this subject. From the letter of brother Campbell, just printed, no other principle than what has already been discussed in our letters, is brought to view. I am perfectly willing to rest the whole of our discussion with our readers; and if they have received any profit from it, let God have the glory. We have written honestly, I hope; and if we have in any thing erred, (and who but His Infallibility is exempt from error?) we hope it will not be imputed to us for sin.

1 verily believe that in the manner our late letters are written, we might continue to write all our lives without any profit to ourselves or to our readers. We should involve every subject of theology. By long observation and experience I have found that when men have exhausted their sum of knowledge in debate, they supply that want with cynical remarks, which produce strife and angry contention. Brother Campbell and myself have not advanced thus far; but we are men, sut ject to like passions. I am confident we love each other as cordially now, as we did when we commenced this discussion. I speak confidently of myself We love the same God and Saviour as fervently as ever, and delight to advance his cause, and to hear of its advance on the earth.

If he

I have declined giving a synopsis of my views, as stated in our discussion; because I view it unnecessary. I do not expect to write more on this subject in the Christian Messenger. Brother Campbell must take his own course. But it is hoped he also will cease. should think it proper to continue his letters, I may reply in an extra Messenger hereafter; but not at the expense of my patrons. My days are nearly numbered, and I wish to spend the remnant of them in preparing myself and others for eternity. My path through life has been rough and thorny; yet have I been cheered with the hope of immortality. I am now on the bank of Jordan, awaiting the voice of our great High Priest, to move forward to the heavenly Canaan. Amen! B. W. STONE.

NOTE

SINCE the above was written I have had the painful intelligence that Elder Stone has been stricken with the palsy, and is not likely to recover. From recent accounts, indeed, it is probable that ere now he has passed the Jordan and gone to rest. Under all the circumstances I conceive it inexpedient to prosecute the subject farther at present. The discussion, on my part, was undertaken with a reference to two points: The first, the transcendant importance of the question itself— For what did Christ die? The second, a very general misconception and consequent misrepresentation of our views of it. I did, I confess, expect that brother Stone would have more fully and satisfactorily relieved himself and the cause of reformation from the imputation of some of our opponents on the subject of Unitarianism in its sectarian acceptation. In this respect, though measurably disappointed, I am persuaded it will not be without advantage to the cause of reformation that so much has been written on the subject in the way of discussion with one, too, who had spent so many years in debates and discussions on that or some kindred branch of the same subject.

All admit the excellency of the character of Elder Stone, however they may regard him as muddy and confused on some aspects of that all-important question. For my own part, I much desired, that, as he had ceased from all preaching and teaching of his former speculations on this and other questions for which the commencement of his career some forty years ago was distinguished, he would also in writing have given a permanent and full exposition of those points more in harmony with the developements and objects of the current reformation. Some of our readers have thought he has done so, while others are of a contrary opinion. For my own part, I can, and do make great allowance for early and long established habits of thinking and speaking on all religious questions; and therefore, regarding brother Stone as confiding in the sacrifice and death of Christ as indispensable to salvation, although by no means acquiescing in some of his views and interpretation of the meaning and designs of the Messiah's death, I can bear with a difference of opinion on a subject so vital, which many would regard as an insuperable obstacle to Christian communion.

Men may and do hold the Head, Christ, and his death and mediation as indispensable to salvation, who nevertheless have very inadequate conceptions of some of the aspects of these transcendant subjects. And as we are not saved by the strength and comprehension of our views, but through obeying from the heart the apostolic mould of doctrine, more stress ought to be laid upon moral excellence than

upon abstract orthodoxy; especially when all the great facts and documents of Christianity are cordially believed and cherished. Our bond of union is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one body, one spirit, one hope, one God and Father of all. And as many as walk by this rule peace be on them and mercy, and upon the whole Israel of God! A. C.

CARLYLE.

"If a bad man had honesty enough to lay bare all his thoughts; if the profligate threw aside his shame; if the moment we ceased to act up to the principles we profess, and lost the spirit from which the forms we use first emanated, and which they were intended to preserve, that moment we threw those forms away, and every pulse and fibre of the human heart were stripped of its disguise-would this be the truth for which Carlyle sighs? Alas! he knows little of human nature, who could dream of living in a world such as would then surround us! God himself has hidden the soul beneath a covering of flesh, that we may not behold it naked in the deformity of its imperfect nature, and be shocked by it or tempted to imitate it, or be hardened in our own evil by universality of evil around us. And be assured, all is not hypocrisy in which actions do not correspond with words. How many miserable men are there who believe-believe most deeply, who would and do pray to be made the means of conveying truth and goodness to others-who, in sincerity and honesty of heart, would try at least so far to do the will of God-and who can command their lips and outward members, though as yet they cannot command their hearts-and who are to be pitied, chastised, even condemned; but not condemned as wholly liars, like those whose hypocrisy is selfish. If no men could speak of truth or honor, virtue or holiness, externally, but those who are holy within, where should we find human beings to stand on every hill, in every church, day and night, through the world, throwing up the beacon light of truth, and passing it on from generaion to generation.

"Let us distinguish between the messenger and the message, and guard and keep the message, even where the messenger is unworthy to transmit it."-London Quarterly Review.

*

OBITUARY.

Died, July 16th, 1841, 25 minutes past 11 o'clock P M at her residence in Monticello, Lewis county, Mo., of pulmonary and hereditary consumption, sister SUSAN CREATH, the wife of brother JACOB CREATH, Jr., aged 32 years, 8 months, and 9 days. She died a Christian, with a hope full of immortality. She had labored three years under the disease that finished her earthly career. She suffered greatly during that period. She was often summoned in that time to leave this world, as she thought, and the messenger always found her ready to go, completely armed for the last battle. Besides her publie profession of Christianity, which she made eight or nine years before her death, she sus fained the relations of life well as wife, mother, daughter, sister, neighbor, and mistress. She was closely confined to her bed one month before her death in that intensely hot weather in June and July, during which time she manifested complete resignation to the will of God. She greatly delighted in singing, prayer, praise, and conversation abont futurity. She would sit and sing by herself, and then she would send out for the brethren to come in and praise God with her, and she would sing and praise God and exhort till exhausted. She exhorted sinners to repentance, and her brethren to do better than thev had done to love the world less, and God and the brethren more-to devote more time to prayer, praise, and n eetings. She cautioned them against the love of this poor vain world. A few minutes before she died, she had her servants called one by one, and