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February g, igio. TH]
THE LAYMEN'S CONVENTION AT
MACON.(We
are glad to be able to give to our
readers this excellent report of the Macon
Convention as made to the West
End Presbyterian Church by one of its
efficient Deacons.?Ed.)
Tho T -
~ ..v. &io. uajnueu s ijonvenuon was
held in the city of Macon on the 21, 22
and 23 of January. This church being
represented by our pastor and myself.
Representing you as I did I feel that
it is my duty to comply with the pastor's
request that I convey to you some of
the prominent features of the convention.
It is not necessary that any explanation
of the cause of this gathering together
of men from the various churches and
denominations of the state be made at
this time, further than to say that one
of the prominent banners in the convention
hall read, "The World for Christ in
This Generation."
Another feature very much in evidence
was the brotherly love and unity of purpose
which prevailed throughout the.
entire period.
Just here I will state that at one of
the meetings the chairman?for the information
of those present?requested
the delegates to stand by denominations
as they were called, and it was gratify
ing to all, 110 doubt, to see that all
denominations were about equally represented.
A most excellent programme was carried
out?the speakers coming from all
parts of the country and foreign lands?
representing the pulpit and the professions,
men of prominence, many of tnem
having visited mission stations in all
parts of the world, two of them having
iuuuc ?. Lutu ul me wunu witn more or
less doubt as to the wisdom or efficiency
of the foreign missionaries and to ascertain
the amount of good, if any, being
done by them as an individual or as a
class; the result of their relations to
th native and the country in which they
were located.
These travelers are men of note in
our country and their conclusions, based
on actual observations as stated by them,
are accepted without doubt.
Without exception these men gave
most emphatic testimony to the very
great benefit our missionaries are to
the spiritual and moral interests of those
with whom they are brought in contact.
These witnesses also referred to the
high esteem in many places in which
l\e missionary is held by native ruler.
These facts were very clearly hnd
forcibly shown in the addresses of Wm,
T. Ellis, editorial writer of The Philadelphia
American; Hon. Joshua Levering,
of Baltimore; Dr. Willingham, secretary
""oreign Missions, of the Southern Bapt.st
Church; Dr. Reid, of San Francisco,
and others.
Let me now say a word about duty.
This assemblage of laymen has some
significance and thrusts some responsibilities
upon us, and it is well for us
E PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOU
to consider opportunities which are presented.
It is our duty to seize these opportunities
and to do that particular part of the
work which we may be personally fitted
for. None can be excused.
We need not worry about results?
they are in God's hands.
Some may say that we have the heathen
at our door who first need our assistance.
?
Hon. Joshua Levering, one of the com
mittee of fifty, sent out by the Laymen's
Missionary Movement, brought out very
intelligently and reasonably the nearness
of all parts of the world under modern
conditions and the mutual benefits derived
from the evangelization of the
heathen.
Another banner in the convention hall
read, "The Light Which Shines Farthest
Shines Brightest Nearest Home "
Often a lack of interest in Foreign
Missions is due to a lack of information
as to existing conditions. Humanitarianism
is one of the least pleas, and
yet I believe you would have been filled
with pity and amazement could you have
heard the addresses of two of the medi
cal missionaries to China and India, reciting
their observations and experiences,
and delighted to hear them tell of the
results of their modern medical treat
ment and gentle nursing.
It would not be becoming in me to
specify the particular manner in which
you should engage in this great move
ment which is now interesting this country,
but I would request that you give it
your thoughtful and prayerful consideration,
taking advantage of any opportuinty
to aid in the fulfillment of the
effort now being made to "win the world
for Christ in this generation."
An V df?srrintinn of
? Vi. WHO lOOUUIUlil^t;
would be incomplete if no mention were
made of the hearty singing by those men
assembled for a common purpose. '
The selections of hymns were the old
familiar ones, sung with vigor, rendering
honor to whom honor is due as was
evidenced by the frequent singing by
the whole assembly of that grand old
uj mu~~
"All Hall the Power of Jesus Name."
IS PRESBYTER I AN ISM DRYING UP?
The News and Courier of Charleston
brought this charge against us some time
since. On December 15, in our Presbyterian
of the South, Dr. R. C. Reed gave
us some history on the subject, but I fear
the News and Courier came just about
as near the truth as our beloved Doctor
did.
Our country churches in the Atlantic
States are being somewhat neglected.
Some of these churches have been closed
for over one year. Some for six months,
with or* a/?/>ooIaw?1 1-~ Al?
..??u Mu ovvuotviiai nut uiuii, iu Keep IQ6
Elders in hopes, that some day they may
get a preacher. While the whole attention
of our Synods is for the regions beyond,
we have agents innumerable; Just
think of three of these men in a small
town in one week, calling for money,
rTH 1/5
money, money, and eight churches within
one hundred miles of that town closed
until a good lady told one of these agents
you had better go back in the pulpit
where you came from. Let us awake toour
duty and see to it that all of these
churches are supplied at once with men.
In this country the Methodist Church, I
am told, is expending one thousand dollars
a year for its weak churches. The
Synod of South Carolina as a Synod is
not giving a dollar i 41?*- ?
_ w ? v*o oco mill we^
arise to the help of the Lord in this home
field ,and give Brother Mayes our hearty
support, till all our suffering fields be
made to rejoice and blossom as the rose.
James Russell.
THE DANCE.
I heard a Christian young lady say a
few days ago: "Yes, I am going to the
dance; it is a square dance, and it is not
wrong. Is it so much a question of right
and wrong? Is it not more a question of
expediency? You may go to the dance,,
dear young lady, and come home with noharm
to your own self?your love for
PhHot - -
_? uuuiiumcu; your spiritual faculties
unimpaired. Mark you! I say may
do so, not will. But we are not all so
strong. We are all creatures of influence.
"For none of us livetu to himself and no
man dieth to himself." Howe* 3r innocent
this amusement may seem and be
to you, there is some one who is going to
be influenced by you, some one, not so
strong, possibly, whose spiritual vision
may be obscured, or there may be some
one turned away from Christ by this
spirit of worldliness you are manifesting
by engaging in this amusement that isacknowledged
everywhere to be a purely
worldly one. If you had a friend whom
you loved dearly, would you be willing ta
engage in anything, just for your own
pleasure, if there was even a chance that
in so doing you would wound that friend?
Would you do more for this earthly
friend than you would for your Saviour?
In other words, there is a chance that
your influence will do harm to Christ's
cause and you are His friend. Are you
willing for a few hours' pleasure to take
the risk, when a soul's eternity is at
stake?
Be careful, O young lady, how you an
swer this question. "If meat make nr/
brother to offend, I will eat no meat
while tho world standeth, lest I make my
brother to offend."
L. R. I.
A correspondent of a medi ,al paper
writes: "I know a woman, who, at the
age of forty-nine has the complexion of
a peach, and the health and vigor of an
Irish peasant; who is out in all sorts of
weather, and will walk about all day in
snow or rain with feet and ankles wet,,
and never take cold. Salt tho
.w ?MV o^cviuv;,
She uses it in her bath, as a dentifrice,,
and to gargle her throat."
We dishonor the ordinances of our religion
if we place them on a level with
any human requirements.