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November 17, 1909. TI all, and that without taking a minute to sleep or to eat. Admitting that the twelve apostles baptized, it would take each of them eight hours to baptize the multitude, allowing two minutes for each convert, and without eating or stopping one minute to rest! If i o At- ? a? ? * .v mo uuv vcnaiii luui iub iweive apostles baptized. Peter's sermon, and the exhortation of the other apostles, lasted possibly till noon, so that we must come to the conclusion that this multitude was immersed in half a day; this is out of reason; no such ceremony could be conducted decently and in order, in such a short space of time. Furthermore, there was not enough water in Jerusalem to immerse all these people at that time. Water in Jerusalem is as precious as gold; it is sold by the quart; we are all familiar with the water carrier; now tlie apostles were poor men (silver and gold have I none, said Peter) how could they purchase enough water to immerse this great crowd? But what will our Baptist friends say to the 5,000 men who believed a few days afterwards and who were probably baptized also? Immersion is out of the question. Whereas, if we interpret the passage in the light of sprinkling, every difficulty disappears. The apostles, each holding a branch of the hyssop, would dip it into a basin of water, and as the crowd passed by in large groups, they would sprinkle them. The whole transaction was symbolical; the point to be emphasized was that they were washed from their sins, ?uu me simple sprinkling taught this very clearly. Nor did this baptism mean the death and resurrection of our .Lord, as our Baptist friends are wont to teach. But we have the assurance from Peter himself that baptism means the remission of sins in Acts 2: 38: "Peter said unto them, ltepent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." THINGS CIVIL VS. THINGS SPIRITUAL "The Presbytery of Florida views with no little concern the manifest confusion in the public mind, throughout the land, of thing's civil and things spiritual. "Our denomination holds as its distinctive principles, very clear conceptions on this matter. We take occasion in our pastoral relation, as a Presbytery, to the churches to recall to the minds of our people these distinctive principles. "The Church is a supernatural institution founded upon the word of God for the realization of the idea of Grace. This end is to be reached by bearing witness to the truth of God's word and prayer for the influence nf the Hniv nhnot the hearts of the hearer. Its work is by the ministry of God's word to call out Cod's elect and train them for glory. The Church as such in its courts and by its ministry, sustains no relation to matters of civil expediency which are committed to the state. i iE PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SC "Let not our people allow differences of opinion on questions of civil expediency to invade the church life or divide God's Church. The Church's mission is spiritual and not civil, individual and not social, for regeneration and sanctification and not for reform either social or politipol " ASSEMBLY'S HOME AND SCHOOL. Dear Friends: We wrote you some time ago telling you that the contract for the education of our young people in the Home with Fredericksburg College expired in 1908, and that since that time we have had a temporary arrangement with this institution. We have been notified that this temporary arrangement closes with this session, and we are now compelled to make a permanent one. The last two Assemblies have approved of iue ymu we nave in mind or purchasing or erecting necessary buildings, but we have not had the means with which to proceed. We again beg you to come to our help. It is estimated it will cost about $20,000 to complete the arrangement. We asked if there were not a sufficient number of God's servants able and willing to contribute $500 or $1,000 each to this cause, so that we may at once begin to arrange for the next session. In answer to that appeal we have in pledges and checks secured $4,100. Of this amount $1,000 each came from two, $500 each from four and $100 from one. We again appeal for help in this matter. The situation is serious and urgent We must act and we look for friends to help us in the emergency. Are there not many more in our Church who are willing and able to help us and to help us now? Brethren, the situation is grave, and you have before you a splendid opportunity to help in a cause dear and precious to n ? ? me uenn. ui me oaviour, me cause or the education of the children of our deceased brethren and of our ministers. Let us hear from you. Fraternally yours, Russell Cecil, Pres. Board of Trustees. 3. W. Somerville, Supt. and Treas. Send contributions to S. W. Somerville, Supt. Fredericksburg, Va. PALMER ORPHANAGE. "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord." Another day of national thanksgiving draws near, and we find it in our hearts to render thanks to the Giver of all good, for His manifold mercies the past year. He has blessed our home with unprecedented health, and a reasonable share of the good things of this life. There has been no case of serious or protracted sickness among our seventy Inmates. The Lord has put it into the hearts of a greater number of His people than ever before to come up to the help of our work. Trials and troubles have come upon us, but out of them all the Lord has delivered us. We know, too, full well, that our friends all over the country have had their share of blessings, for which they will offer thanks. May we not ask a share in your sacrifices of thanksgiving? >UTH. 15 Bear in mind God's instructions to Israel, "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared." Remember we have sixty-three fatherless ones for whom nothing is prepared save as God puts it into the hearts of his more favored ones to prepare something for fk/x? -r* * .Usui. rvtsniemDer tnere are others seeking admission but, for the present, we are full and have not the means to enlarge our borders. Remember there are other improvements needed to make our work more successful. Think of us in our utter helplessness, and may the God of the fatherless open your hearts to our work, that you may realize the glorious truth that "It is more blessed to give than to receive." And may heaven's richest blessings rest on you one and all. Your servant in the work, W. V. Frierson, Superintendent. Columbus, Miss., November 6, 1909. NOVEMBER NOTES FROM THE THORNWELL ORPHANAGE. The older pupils of the Thornwell Orphanage, with a number of their matrons and teachers, were given a great treat this past month. Mr. W. G. Childs, of the C. N. & L. R. R., placed two cars at their disposal for an all day's visit to the State Mechanical and Agricultural Fair at Columbia, 70 miles south of us. Mr. \V. A. Clark, of Columbia, met the young people at the train. Mr. William Elliott, president of the city railway, placed two observation cars at their service. They were taken all around the city, shown the colleges, the Capitol, the Theological Seminary, the streets gaily decorated for the reception of President Taft and thence to the fair grounds. They were met there by the ladies of the First Presbyterian Church ana given an ample dinner, were admitted to all the sights of the fair grounds free, and sent home at night a tired, but very happy crowd of boys and girls. Another very interesting event was f the contribution of $2,000 for the erection of a cottage for boys. This gift was made by a South Carolina lady, who asks that until the cottage be finished her name he withheld. This building is now in process of erection. It will be made a home for our farmer boys. We need a first rate farmer and his wife to take charge. In addition, Rev. J. B. Branch is now in Florida to secure funds for a Florida cottage, which will add more mouths yet to be fed. There are no sick in the Infirmary. We are under great obligations to the Ladies' Auxiliary Society of the Presbyterian Hospital of Atlanta and to the surgeons in charge, for their kindly giving many months' treatment to one of onr OrnhonoflrA ??* 1 ' * ? u.fua.mbc uuja wliu uas uaa. a aeformed foot straightened. Both we and he are glad and fervently sav, "God bless that noble work. Wm. P. Jacobs. Clinton, S. C.