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4 H ttlcx and fkjitisi Bev. D. £. BTJTLEB, Managing Editor Editorial Cohtribotors : Pb J. 8. LAWTON.* * Atlanta, Georgia. R*V. J. 8. HAKKK, D.D Quitman, Georgia. Rky. 8. O. HILLYER, D.D.. Forsyth, Georgia Rkv. T. G. JONES, D.D... Nashrllle, Tennwwee. He who is strongly fortified in love abides firm in the midst of temptations, and heeds not the suggestions of the enemy. He lives in adversity as well as in prosperity. ♦—— ■ . Action has its claims. Duty, done in hard and difficult ways, tests and proves the life that now is. And yet there is a time when the highest duty is to be still —to withdraw from the throng, to court solitude, and invite the thoughts which are uttered by the still small voice. There is in the moral straits a cur rent from right to wrong, but no reflex from wrong to right; for which desti nation we must hoist our sails and ply our oars incessantly, or night and the tempest will overtake us, and we shall shriek out in vain from the billows, and irrecoverably sink. It is of immense importance whether the very earliest impressions are for or against religious truth. Even before any intelligent estimate can be made, there may be an unconcious bent of thought, a mental attitude taken which is of the greatest consequence. Such a bent of the mind may color all sub sequent teaching. Think. —Thought engenders thought. Place one idea upon paper—another will follow it, and still another, until you have written a page. You cannot fathom your mind. There is a well of thought there which has no bottom. The more you draw from it, the more clear and fruitful it will be. If you neglect to think for yourself, and use other people’s thoughts—giving them utterance only—yon will never know what you are capable of. At first your ideas may come up in lumps, homely and shapeless; but no matter, time and perseverenco will arrange and pol ish them. Learn to think and you will learn to write. The more you think, the better you will express your ideas. A Recognized Pact. —It is a fact, recognized by many, that in those con gregations where The Index is most generally read, the largest amount of intelligence, liberality, and Christian zeal, is manifest, showing itself in am ple compensation to pastors, and gen erous contributions to all religious ob jects- One of our brethren, pastor of a church, called a few da) s since with the money for a club of subscribers, and informed us that when he solicited the subscriptions, several of those who subscribed threatened to deduct the price of the paper from their contribu tions to him for the year. Instead of doing so, each of them had enlarged his contributions to him, and had also increased their gifts to all church en terprises. This is only one of many practical illustrations of the fact above stated. The love that survives the tomb is the noblest attribute of the soul. If it has woes, it has likewise its delights; and when the over whelming burst of grief is lulled into the gen tle tear of recollection, then the sudden anguish and convulsive agony over the present ruins of nil we most loved are softened away into pensive meditation of all that it was in the days of its loveliness. Who would root such a sorrow from the heart ? Though it j may sometimes throw a passing cloud over the bright hour of gaiety, or spread a deeper sad ness over the hour of gloom, yet who would exchange it for the song of pleasure or the burst of revelry ? No; there is a voice from the tomb sweeter than song; there is a remem brance of the dead to which we turn even from the charm of the living. It is of immense importance whether the very earliest impressions are for or against re ligious truth. Even before any intelligent estimate can be made there may be an uncon scious bent of thought, a mental attitude taken, which is of the greatest consequence. Such a bent of the mind may color all subse quent teaching. The young man who conceives in the vanity of his mind that he can pursue a course of evil to a certain length and stop, is in fearful danger. He who says, “ I am strong, lam a tower of adamant, 1 can conquer temptation,” and then runs into temptation’s way, goes out upon the field and courts a passage at arm H with the foe; that young man will fall. There is in the moral straits a current from right to wrong, but no reflex from wrong to right, for which destination we must hoist our Rails and ply our oars incessantly, or night and the tempest will overtake us, and we shall shriek out in vain from the billows and irre trievably sink. THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST. MANNA FOB GOD’S PEOPLE. When the Lord delivered His people from Egyptian bondage, and led them across the Eed Sea into the wilderness of Arabia, His purpose was to conduct them to the “ Promised Land.” That was their destination. The way was rough; the region through which they passed was sterile, scarce of water, and wholly destitute of ordinary means of subsistence; hence to supply their wants, it was necessary to work mir acles. God gave them water from the rock, and manna from Heaven. Thus sustained, the people of Israel prose ecuted their journey ; but before they reached that journey’s end, they grew tired of the manna; they remembered the flesh-pots of Egypt; they mur mured against Moses, and against God. In the impatience of their discontent, they said: “Our soul loEtheth this light bread.” Yet that bread teas suf ficient for them. It was wholesome food ; it was nu tritious and strengthening; it sustained them under the fatigues of their toil some march ; hence they ought to have felt that they had what was sufficient. Had they looked forward to their journey’s end—to the land “ flowing with milk and honey”—to the inher itance which God had promised to their fathers, they would have felt that their “ light afflictions” were but for a mo ment —not worthy to be compared to the blessedness which awaited them beyond the river. But, alas! they looked at the present, and at the past. They felt the hardships which they were suffering, and remembered their former abundance, and disgusted and discontented, they loathed that “ light bread.” This incident in the history of Is rael, conveys to us an important lesson. In the the fulness of time, another prophet, like unto Moses, arose. That prophet was our blessed Saviour. He came to deliver His people from a more dreadful bondage than that which Is rael suffered in Egypt. He came to set them free from the powers of darkness and to clothe them with the liberty of the children of God. He has under taken to conduct them through this wilderness of sin, to an inheritance of which the earthly Canaan was but a feeble type. In accomplishing His gracious purpose, He exercises over them His providential cake. Of that care tbo manna in the wil derness was a beautiful illustration. The Israelites were dependent on God for their daily supply. He did not mean that they should be satisfied, with it- He provided what was sufficient to sustain them on the way; had he poured upon them the luxuries which their carnal hearts lusted after, they would have ceased to look forward to the Promised Land. They would have been content to linger out their days in the wilds of Arabia; therefore He rebuked their earthly cravings, whTe He continued to sustain them, He vis ited upon them such judgments as made them eager to enter into the promised inheritance. In like manner Christ deals with His people now ; His providential care is over them; He is conducting them along life’s weary pilgrimage, and He furnishes them with all that is needful for their journey. But He docs not intend that they shall be satisfied with this world. Heuee He does not gratify their carnal desires for its luxuries and its pleasures. When their souls “ loathe the light bread” supplied by His prov idential care, He rebukes and chastens them; He means that they shall learn that this world is not their home—that here they are strangers aud pilgrims, so that they may look forward to the Heavenly Canaan beyond the skies. This,method of dealing with them ex plains the fact, that God’s people are often an afflicted people; they suffer disappointments and losses, and be reavements, and “ through much trib ulation they must enter into the king dom of Heaven.” But amidst all their troubles, Jesus never forsakes them ; if He does not give them all they de sire, His providential care still sheds around their dwellings all that He sees is really needful for them, and He whispers in their ears the gentle ad monition “ having food and raiment, learn therewith to be content." The foregoing reflections seem to be specially adapted to the present dis tressed condition of our country. The sources of revenue seem to be dried up; trade and commerce yield no profit; pecuniary obligations are shamelessly repudiated; men’s hearts are failing them for fear; confidence between man and man has been shaken; and even the touching calls of charity itself, are for the most part unheard. Amidst the confusion of this universal crqsh, how is with the people of God? Are they complaining, and murmuring on account of their hardships, and say iD-.r, “ Our soul loatheth this light bn ad?” Or, like Caleb and Joshua, an they “following the Lord fully,” looking for the “ city that hath foun dations whose maker and builder is God ? ” Are they content with such manna as their great Prophet gives them, knowing that if the “earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens ?” Oh, brethren, “ lift un the hands that hang down, and confirm the feeble knees.” “ Fear not little flock, i t is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” He may feed you while here, only upon manna, but before long, you shall pass over Jordan into the place which he has prepared for you. “ Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.” Then they shall want no more, they shall weep no more, they shall eat no more inanna, but they shall he filled with all the fulness of God. Having, therefore, food and raiment, let us learn therewith to be content. THE liIBLK IV TIIE SCHOOLS. At a meeting of the Common Couneil at Philadelphia, last week, a resolution was adopted that the Board of Public Education be requested to inform Council, by what au thority the reading of the Bible lias been dis continued in certain public schools in the city. — Exchange. It seems to us that the violent agita tion of this question, all over tbM coun try, is neither beneficial to the true in terests of education, nor in continuity with the principles of good taste. It is not necessary for the good of our system of public school education, that the Bible should be embodied in the curriculum as a text hook of theolog ical controversy, or to favor the pecu liar views of various creedsf but, as Christians, and for the maintenance of the principles of Christianity, it is nec essary that its Divine teachirAishould be recognized as of paramowHimpor tanco in that system, and itJpecluca tional programme. The employment of Christian teach ers,who practice, in their daily lives,the duties imposed by the Scriptures is, of course, an essential element, which can not he omitted without serious loss to all concerned. No education has auy practical and permanent value for this life or the life to come, unless it has the Bible for its foundation, nor can the beauties and graces of scholastic attainments in their fullest perfection be attained, without the blessing influences of Gospel truths. The reading of portions of the Scrip tures, at stated periods in the daily rou tine of study, cannot fail to he of in finite use in school-life, and will have a tendency to keep alive in the minds of our children thoir religious obliga tions to God and man. This can be accomplished without any leanings to this or the other creed, or attempts at proselytism in favor of opposing church polities. This use of the Bible, in our public school system of education, seems to us unexceptionable, and approaches near est to the maxim which maintains, that the standard of our civil polity should be, ‘‘the greatest good to the greatest number.” Rev. Dr. Spalding, pastor of the Second Baptist church in this city, was the recipient on New Year’s day, of a card from the Finance Committee of the church, which bore the usual greet ings of the occasion, and was ac companied by a gift of flour, lard, hams, and a full supply of canned fruits and vegetables. This was 1 well de served and practical token of esteem, for a good and useful man. Rev. C. M. Irwin. —This brother has returned from South Georgia to Atlan ta, and will be glad to hear from breth ren and sisters, specially to receive contributions for Foreign Missions. We regret to say he failed to reach most of his appointments in South Georgia, because of repeatedattacks of chills and fever. He is now greatly improved, and hopes soon to be all right. Son* persons pass their wretcled days like so many swine ; they never look up to heav -1 an till God lays them on their bade. SECOND BAPTIST CBrBCH. SUNDAY, JAN CABY , 1876. Sermon—Morning—by the Pastor, Ber. A. T. Spalding. Revelations xxi:6, “And He said unto me, it is done. X am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give nnto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” The preceding verses of the chapter were read by the minister, which con tain an account of the Apostle’svision of anew heaven and anew earth ; of the holy city —New Jerusalem —com- ing down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband ; old things passing away and a great voice out of Heaven declaring that the tabernacle of God shall be with men ; that He will wipe all tears away, permitting no longer death, sor row, crying nor pain. He then an nounced that thu speaker in the text was Jesus Christ, and that a period in advance of the present was contem plated, a period in which all things we now behold, will have passed away, sub stituted by the glory of anew heaven and anew earth. Christ, he said, is 1. The Alpha and Omega of the ma terial universe ; without Him nothing was made which was made ; the stars sang in harmony on the morn of crea tion, proclaiming Him the Alpha of material matter, and the radiant glory of the now creation shall reveal Him the Omega of the old. 2. Ho is the Alpha and Omega of the Bible ; its compendium of plans, purposes and events affecting the hu man race. He is mentioned first in Genesis, as the seed of the woman, and is typified along the whole course of time to His actual coming, as the Alpha and Omega of the plan of sal vation, appearing then as tbe sacrificial offetiug for sin, uttering on the cross, the greatest words ever spoken—“ It is finished.” His history culminating in the last book of the Bible, where it is declared He shall come again to judge the world. 3. He is the Alpha and Omega of the ministry. In every age of the world men have been called to preach, and Christ has ever been the burden of this message to the human race. 4. Ho is the Alpha aud Omega of the Gospel ordinances—Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. He is represented as passing into the river, buried beneath its waves, rising therefrom, recognized by the Father and the Spirit. Finally, He is the Alpha and Omega of our redemption ; not by our suffer ings, nor by our works, but by the grace alone of Jesus Christ, is our sal vation assured. Whosoever will, may come to Him and find forgivness and, eternal life. There is a veil over the pathway of all of us, and sometimes we become impatient to penetrate the future. No doubt there are powers antagonistic to God, that may cast some light upon coming events, hut the child of God is prohibited, and ever has been, from having any intercomße with these, and commanded to walk by faith at all times. Though clouds and darkness may iiuger about the Christian pil grim, God has hung out light ahead ; beyond the storm the gorgeous light appears. It is said that the ushers at the temple of Diana, proclaimed to those entering within, “ take heed to the eye,” lest the sight should be dimmed and destroyed by the grandeur and magnificence of the inner courts. How much more will be the glory revealed to the Christian when he shall have passed away from the clouds of earth to the radiant splendors of Heaven. The union of many voices in har mony, has often caused tears of rap ture to flow in this world, but how transcendent the glory of those emo tions which shall spring in the soul from the songs of the redeemed who shall proclaim Christ the Alpha and Omega of their redemption. Then, in the last day, when our sor rows are all gone, “ It is done” shall sound above the glory of the new cre ation, and Christ will then appear as the Alpha and Omega of all things. It is impossible to do justice to this sermon hv anything less than a ver batim report. The sublime theme was treated iu a masterly style ; Christ was shown to be the Alpha and Omega of all material and spiritual things, and the Christians of the audience must have been profoundly impressed by the portravel of the glories of that day when they shall dwell with God, free from all sorrow, in the city which is to comedown from heaven. The Chrißtiau’s armor will rust, except it be furbished with the oil of prayor. GEOBGIA BAPTIST NEWS. —Brother Landrum has accepted the call of the First Baptist church of Augusta, and will assume the pastorate within a month. —The mother of Dr. James Horsey died recently at his residence in Campbell county. She was the oldest lady in that county, being one hundred years old, lacking one month. She had been a member of the Baptist church seventy-five years. She had a remarkable memory, and recollected many things connect ed with regard to the revolutionary war. —At the request of the Second Baptist church, Macon, Ga., a presbytery, composed of A. J. Battle, D.D., J. Thomas, and the pas tor, J. A. Ivey, melon Wednesday evening, January sth, to set apart Bro. Elias L. Vaughan to the full work of the ministry. Dr. Battle preached the sermon, brother Thomas conducted the examination and made the ordaining prayer ; charge and presentation of the Bible by tbe pastor ; benediction by the candidate. Bro. T. W. Dupree was ordained a minis ter of the Gospel at Big Sandy Breek Church, in Wilkinson county, on the 2d of January, 1870. The examination was conducted by Kev. W. D. Horn ; the sermon was preached by brother R. W. Fuller ; the charge was de livered by brother E. B. Barrett, and the pray er was offered by Rev. B. C. Green, with the imposition of hands by the presbytery. —We are very glad to a ee that our brethren in Forsyth have completed their new church building, and that it was formally dedicated on the 2d inst. The building is very hand some and substantial, reflecting great credit upon the contractor, Mr. J. C. Keys. The edifice is an ornament to Forsyth. The inte rior is beautifully furnished. The cost of the furniture was covered by a fund raised through the enterprise and energy of the ladies of the church. Many obstacles and embarrassments were most successfully overcome. From the Monroe Advertiser, of the 4th, we take the following notice of the dedication exercises: Services were suspended at the Methodist church on last Sabbath, and both congregations united at the Baptist church to witness the for mal dedication and setting apart of the build ing to the service and worship of Almighty God. Dr. Hillyer, the pastor, officiated, as sisted by Rev. Geo. E. Gardner. The sermon of Dr. H. was eloquent and instructive. The text was, “ I was glad when they said unto me, let us go up to the house of the Lord ;” The theme of the di-coutoe was the vast benefit of the church and public worship upon the morals of a people, individually and as a nation. At night Rev. Geo. E. Gardner preached a pleas ant and interesting sermon upon the “Unity of the Church.” —The Augusta Constitutionalist, of last Sun day, gives the following particulars of the or ganization of the new Baptist church in that city : Anew Baptist church was constituted on Friday night in Curtis’ Chapel, which bears the name of Broad Street Baptist church. Thirty three members form the original organ ization. Many were present to witness the constitution, and the services were deeply in teresting and impressive. This is the enter prise started llwoiigh the liberaVity-of David Curtis, deceased, and which has been sustained by a few earnest workers of the Greene street church, aud others in the immediate neighbor hood. The Sunday-school, under the efficient superintendency of C. Z. McCord, has long been a flourishing one, and is the basis on which the church may hope for great prosper ity. The church meets a want which has long been felt by the Baptists in that portion of the city, and bids fair 19 be an instrument for the accomplishment of much good. The building is neat and commodious, the situation eligible, and $5,000 in cash was donated by Mr. Curtis, the interest of which will go towards the cur rent support of the enterprise. Kind Words.— Our firm, having printed the Minutes of many Baptist Associations, we have noticed that, almost invariably, they re commend Kind Words to the churches and Sunday-schools. That they should do this, simply because it is the paper of the Southern Baptist Convention we do not bel.eve; and, therefore, we think it must be because of the intrinsic value of the Sunday-school paper it self. That Kind Words should have attained its present large circulation, and be able to sus tain itself in these hard times is, itself, a proof of its acceptability with the denomination and of its own excellence. But, from a personal acquaintance, we can commend Kind Words as worthy of the encomiums bestowed upon it by various Associations. It contains good ex positions and questions on the International Series of Uniform Lessons, so generally adopt ed, and, also, seeks to indoctrinate our young people in Baptist faith and practice; and is the only Sunday-school paper that does so. But its chief aim is, we know, to lead the young to Jesus. At a lime when our Marion Board was pressed for funds the present pub lisners of Kind Words bore the burden of pub lication, and several thousand dollars are yet due them on that debt. It appears to us that, at least, a generous and general subscription to the paper, by all our churches, is no more than just and proper, since the publishers now look to receipts for their pay in publishing for the Convention. As Baptists, then, we urge all our churches and Sunday-school?, for the benefit of the chil dren and young people, and in justice and fair ness to the publishers, to solicit liberally for Kind Word*, our Southern Baptist Sunday school paper. Narrow Escape. —The residence of the pastor of the Newnan Baptist church, was entered on the 24th ult., by an excited crowd of females, and he and his family were “ overwhelmed” in sacks of flour, hams, turkeys, gro ceries, and sweetmeats of all kinds, jars, bottles, cans, crockery, ladies’ and gentlemen’s, and children’s clothing, bedding, etc., indeed, everything the ingenuity and liberality of ladies, backed bv men, could provide. Pbaykr is an humble appeal from our irapotenev to God’s omnipotence. MACON LETTER. To the Editors of The Index: Christmas has come and gone, crea ting very little sensation in our city be yond the donation of the usual presents of the season, and affording the usual display of pyrotechnics. Our new pastor, Dr. T. E. Skinner, has arrived aud entered upon his duties in real earnest. His introductory sermon created a sen sation by its freshness and originality, and by its plain, outspoken sentiments. It was more a lecture upon the duties and responsibilities of a pastor, and the mutual relation of pastor and peo ple, than a sermon. His chief aim was to show what are the things that de press and discourage a minister, and what unreasonable demands church members sometimes make upon him. While the discourse was written and read, (and I may say well-written and well-read), he threw in much of an impromptu character, appropriate to the occasion, which added greatly to the interest of the sermon. I feel safe in saying that no pulpit iu town is more ably filled than ours, aud that our audiences are large and attentive, oven the very young being interested by Dr. Skinner’s fresh and attractive style. Some men in the city, not in the habit of attending Divine services, are drawn to our congregation by his sermons. He takes a hearty in terest in Sunday-school matters, and I am really in hopes of seeing some de cided interest in the different Sunday schools of our church manifested by the church itself. Of course I refer to that interest which manifests itself in attending, supporting and looking after the interest aud prosperity of the schools, and which our church proper had hitherto left to take care of them selves as best they could. The Doctor is concentrating our ef forts in this wo!k, and I look for a de cided improvement, and an “ up-hill” course for our schools in the near future. Brother James Mcßryde, you know, has left Macon, and taken charge of the church at Valdosta ; he writes me, “ I am now in my new home, and have begun my work iu this part of the Lord’s vineyard. The brethren have received me kindly, and I am pleasantly situated.” Brother Ivey, who recently graduated at Mercer University, has charge of the Second Church here, aud is work ing hard, but the church is not flour ishing. In fact, it would not be true to say that the Baptist cause is flour ishing in Macon. We need stirring up wonderfully. In a population of 15,000 or 20,000 it would be difficult to find 600 or 800 Baptists, and impossible to find 100 real Baptist workers at pre sent. I hope Dr. Skiuner develop a great mafiy such oiit of W large young membership. Please allow me to mention an inci dent that someone may send on to President Grant if they see fit. Dr. Warren accompanied Dr. Skinner from Atlanta here, and assisted in his for mal inauguration as pastor, preaching an excellent and telling sermon at night. On his return home, Dr. Skin ner sent him a twenty dollar bill, witfi which to defray the expenses of his trip ; but brother Warren returned it, saying he was repaid by the enjoyments of the trip itself for his trouble and expenses. On Wednesday night last, the sth, Rev. Elias Vaughn was ordained by a presbytery, called by the Second Bap tist church. Dr. Battle preached the ordination sermon. Bro. Jeff Thomas, of this county, conducted the exami nation, and the pastor, brother Ivey, presented the Bible and delivered the charge. Brother Vaughn is a good man, and will do good as a minister. He will soon be called by two or three of our neighboring churches. With many others, I rejoice that young brother W. W. Landrum is to take charge of the Augusta church, and predict for him great success. He is an able and very promising young minister, who was educated at Brown University and Greenville Theological Seminary, and ordained during the session of the Southern Baptist Con vention, at Jefferson, Texas. I have it, on good authority, that in a revival in his father’s church, of Memphis, he did most of the preaching, and was, therefore, entitled to a large part of the credit for numerous additions to the church. Yours, S. Botkin. Macon, Ga., January sth, 1876. Gainesville College. —We call at tention to the advertisement of the Gainesville (Ga.) Male and Female College, iu this issue of The Index. This flue institution is now presided over by Rev. Wm. C. Wilkes, A.M., who ranks deservedly high among the prominent educators of our State. He is assisted by a corps of trained and accomplished teachers. From the Cat alogue for the current scholastic year, we learn that the number of pupils en rolled is two hundred and ninety. The location is proverbially healthy, and the society excellent. We ootn mend the Gainesville College to the patronage of the public. I have received the following contributions to Mercer University: Rev. Chas. D. Camp bell, $97; W. W. Wash, $1; 8. R. Garrison, $1; J. N. Hames, $1; Mrs. J. N. Hamea, sl. E. W. Warren, Chairman Endowment Committee.