Newspaper Page Text
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tsubx m& gajjtiist
Bt. D. E. BTJTLER, Managing Editor
Editorial Contributors :
Dr J. B. LAWTON Atlanta, Georgia.
Ret. J. 8. BAKER, D.H Quitman, Georgia.
Rkv. 8. G. HII.LYER, I>.D Forsyth, Georgia.
Bet. T. G. JONES, D.D Nashville, Tennessee.
ZEAL.
11.
We have said that the cause of God
should be the object of the Christian’s seal.
To promote this cause should be Ihc burning
desire of every pious soul. Let us, then, en
quire what this cause fairly includes. We will
mention first
TIIE CHUBCH.
This is God’s spiritual house The Temple,
with all its costly decorations, has passed away.
But there still remains that house which ts
“built upon the foundation of the Apostles
and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief corner stone, in whom all the building
fitly framed together, growetli into a holy
temple in the Lord : in whom, ye also are
builded together, for a fit habitation of God
through the spirit." This language, we un
derstand reters to the Church. Every Chris
tian, then, should direct his zeal to the perfec
tion of the church.
Ist. By laboring earnestly for its purity.
This was the point which engaged the Saviour's
v.eal, in the case to which we alluded last week.
It was to save Ilis father’s house from polu
tion, that He scattered the merchandize of the
traders, and rebuked the multitude who had
desecrated its hallowed enclosures. Bo let us
aim to protect the purity of the Church. First
BY GUARDING WELD TUB DOOR.
At this very point our zeal, we fear, is often
at fault. Urgeil by many subtle Influences,
of whose effects we are scarcely conscious, we
too frequently allow the unregeneratc to enter.
Such unfaithfulness is hurtful, both to the
Church and to him who is the unfortunate
subject of our misplaced charity. No occasion
demands a more watchful zeal, than when we
are admitting members. We should require
of every applicant satisfactory evidence of a
work of grace in the heart, before we receive
him into membership. What constitutes such
evidence may vary at different times, and un
der different circumstances. In the time of
the Apostles, so great were the obstacles to
making a profession of faith in Christ, that
whoever was willing to do it gave evidence of
a work of grace in the very profession. Not
so now. Professing Christ now costs nothing.
Hence a willingness to join the Church is not
itself a sufficient evidence of a change of heart.
Pastors, and churches, should, in some way,
become acquainted with the experience of the
candidate in the process of repentance, and
faith, so that they may judiciously advise
them as to the realty of their conversion. We
know no way more convenient than the good
old Baptist usage o( requiring the applicant
to relate wlmt is called hiH Olil'istian experi
ence. Do not let this custom > e abandoned.
We h: ive prospered with it heretofore. It
may sometimes be embarrassing. But it is a
good rule; and with kindness and care it may
be applied in every case.
But with all our best efforts to keep the door,
unfit members will sometimes enter. There
fore to maintain the puritv of the Church re
quires more than watchfulness at the door.
We must also exercise
A WHOLESOME DISCIPLINE.
When it is discovered that a brother is
alkinj.' d’sorderly, fidelity to Christ demands
that he should be subjected to such discipline
as the case may require. Advice, or admoni
tion, or reproof, or, if nothing else will do,
excision. To perform aright the delicate duties
involved in maintaining a faithful discipline,
requires that we should be sustained by a holy,
a consuming zeal. We naturally shrink
from giving pain. We are sometimes biased
by social tics, and devoted relationship, and
thus yielding to the weakness of the flesh, we
too often tolerate what we know is wrong.
Now a true Christian zeal overlooks all these
natural affections. It approaches the evil, and
deals with it tenderly and skillfully, but
faithfully. If the evil can be cured, all is well.
But if not, zeal would deal with it as the feel
ing, but faithful, surgeon would deal with a dis
eased limb. It must be cut off. The well
being of the whole body demands it. How
important is this work of discipline 1 Let
every Church see to it that yon have a clean
record on this subject. Oh, for a consuming
zeal, first to guard the door of the Church,
then 'to pass sentence, without fear, favor, or
affection, upon all wtio walk disorderly.
WORTHY OF IMITATION.
One of our correspondents, in an article
which appeared in our issue of the 14th ult.,
over the signature of “Once-a-Month” re
ported something of the trial of a pastor’s
faith, who was tempted to divide his time be
tween a school-room and his churches, his re
solve to continue to give himself wholly to
the ministry, and the happy results that fol
lowed his determination to do so.
Not only do we commend as worthy of imi
tation the example of that faithful pastor, but
the example as well of him who reported the
case for publication in our columns. We
would like to have a column or two filled
every week with similar reporta They are
better calculated to inspire us with trust in
God, conform our will to His, than are the
most learned discussions of the question rela
tive to the participation of Judas in the Lord’s
Supper, or that of the re-baptism of the disci
ples at Epnesus.
A Christian pound weighs sixteen
ounces down weight; a Christian yard
.is thirty-six inches, cloth not stretched;
a Christian ton is two thousand pounds,
not “ estimated,” but weighed.
DEATH’S TERRORS.
The Christian’s fear of death is, to
many, a cause for surprise. Even the
best men and women with whom we
meet, tell us that while they desire to
be entirely submissive to God’s will,
with reference to death as to all other
things, they shrink back in terror from
the mysterious process that dissolves
the connection of body and soul. The
fact of this fear sometimes leads the
most pious to doubt their conversion.
The solution of this question is, to
us, quite clear and satisfactory. We
are in a world of trouble, disappoint
ment and great trial. If we were con
vinced of our preparation for final sal
vation, and all fears of death were re
moved,when sorely pressed by the cares
of life, we would scarcely be able to
either engage in or pursue the duties
that devolve upon us here.lmpatience to
depart to the perfect inheritance would
enslave and control ns, and we would
be unfit for the necessary labors of this
present existence. Indeed, if this fear
were altogether destroyed, there would,
in many instances, where troubles op
press, be danger of neglecting the pres
ervation of health and life. God’s
wisdom is manifest in attaching terrors
to death in order to keep the Christian
in condition to perform his relative
duties to humanity, and to save him
from intense impatience to escape earth
for Heaven.
All along his pilgrimage the Chris
tian is fed with the manna of God’s
love, and while the contemplation of
death may excite fear, still there is al
ways an admixture of faith and hope.
The grace of God is promised and
bestowed as required by his servants.
Saving grace is now being enjoyed by
every child of God on earth. The
promise of its sustaining influence is be
ing performed for each at every step
in life, and it would be sinful to doubt
the gift of dying grace when it shall
he needed to conquer death and banish
its terrors. Surely no Christian who
is feeding continually on the grace of
God, which is sufficient to sustain him
in all of life’s conflicts, however severe,
will he so ungrateful, or so unreason
ably doubtful, as to apprehend the
failure of God to bestow dyiug grace
in the dying hour.
Think how many have been blessed
with this grace at the proper period,
and, resting on the Saviour, go on in
the performance of your duties to God
and your fellow-man, assured that He
who has promised to be with you al
ways, will not forget or neglect you in
the final period of your mortal exis
tance. Trust His promises and all will
be well.
CHURCH HERTS.
In a late number of Sehribner, there is a very
sensible and seasonable article on the subject
of church debts. The writer very justly con
demns the practice of dedicating to God church
buildings encumbered with a heavy debt. The
objects—
1. In the first place, it is not exactly a Chris
tian act for a body of men to contract a debt
which they are not able to pay. It is hardly
more Christian to refuse to pay a debt which
they know they are able to discharge. It can
hardly be regarded as a generous deed to
bequeath a debt to succeeding generations.
2. The first result, perhaps, is the extin
guishment of all church beneficence. The
church debt is the apology for denying all
appeals for aid from all the greater and small
er charities. A church sitting in the shadow
of a great debt, is “not at home” to callers.
3. Again, a church debt is a scarecrow to
all newcomers. A stranger, taking up his
residenc e in any town, looks naturally for the
church without a debt. He has a horror of
debt of any sort, perhaps, and, as he had no
responsibility for the church and ebts he finds
he does not propose voluntarily to assume any.
So he stays away from the debt-ridden church,
and the very means that were adopted to make
the edifice attractive, become, naturally and
inevitably, the agents of repulsion.
4. Still again, church-debts are intolerable
burdens to their ministers. They must “draw,”
in order that the debt may be paid. If they
do not “ draw,” they must leave, to make
place for a man ho will. * * *
The writer concludes his article with the
following paragraph:
Now, isn’t it about time to make anew de
parture? Isn’t it about time for the debtor
churches to take up their debts like men, and
discharge them ? Isn’t it about time to step
dedicating church edifices to Jehovah, subject
to a mortgage of one hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars? Isn’t it about time that churches
become sound in their moralities, as they re
late to the contraction of debts which they
either will net, or cannot, pay? We say
“yes” to all these questions, and we know that
the good sense and Christian feeling of the
country will respond, Amen? jJet that
“ Amen” be put into practical shape at once,
so that Ja thousand churches, now groaning
ui der their debt, may go into the next year
with shoulders light, and hearts not only
lighter, but ready for all the good work that is
going on around them.
The trials that come upon us are
only the faithful perfotmance of Qod’s
everlasting engagements.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
MOTIVE POWER —PUZZLING QUESTIONS.
One of our readers states that Dr. Battle’s
late article on motive power has so disturbed
the compass of his conscience that he is at a
loss to ascertain his true position on life’s nar
row sea, and has left him in doubt whether
the prow of his little barque points to the
haven of enduring bliss, or to the port of eter
nal perdition. He states that he has ever felt
a deep interest in onr Theological institution,
and thought he truly desired to promote its
prosperity, but the numerous, cogent and pa
thetic appeals of Dr. Boyce, and others, for
funds to secure for it an adequate endowment,
failed to arouse the spirit of benevolence in
him to sach an extent as to lead him to con
tribute the small sum of one dollar, for which
they so piteously pleaded. But, he states, that
no sooner did they offer to return, for every
dollar received, a receipt with the liknesses of
the six erudite professors, whose province it is
to illumine the benighted minds of young
preachers who aspire to render themselves
both honorable and useful in the work of the
ministry, to which they believe they have re
ceived a special call from Heaven, then he felt
a spirit within him prompting him to con
tribute the dollar called lor. He yielded to
the promptings of that spirit, pulled out and
handed over to one of the collecting agents of
the Seminary a dollar, and charged him to
be sure to send him a receipt duly ornamented
with Jac similes of the physiognomies of our
six illustrious radiators of theological light.
Our deponent further states that, on reflect
ing upon the occurrences above reported, his
mind and conscience have been seriously dis
turbed by several perplexing questions, among
them are the following -.
1. Whether he was influenced, in the con
ti ibution he made to the funds of our seminary,
by the spirit of Chi ret —a purely benevolent
spirit—or hy a spirit of carnality—a spiritthat
would subject even our holiest acts to the grat
ification of our animal propensities?
2. Whether he may not have been influenced,
in the contribution he made in part by the one
spirit, and in part by the other? In other
words, whether the two spirits may not have
entered into a partnership in this instance to
influence his act? If this was the caae, he
acted under the joint influence of a spirit of
benevolence and a spirit of selfishness—then
3. In the great judgment day, when the
books shall be opened in Heaven, in which are
registered our good and evil deeds, how much
of the one dollar given will be credited as giv
en to promote the honor and glory of the gra
cious Redeemer, and how much as given to
gratify the carnal inclinations of a corrupt
and depraved human nature?
As we are incompetent to solve those ques
tions, we respectfully refer them to Drs. Battle,
Boyce, and others whose actß or writings may
have been instrumental in originating them.
In addition to these inquiries which have dis
turbed the mind of an individual, there is an
other which appears to us as worthy of the
prayerful consideration of Christians generally.
It is this : *
Is it right to appeal to a spirit of carnality
to aid us in collecting funds for benevolent
purposes ?
It appears to us that many of the artifices to
which agents resort to draw out congregations
and collect funds, amount to evidence, not
only that they believe it lawful to appeal to a
spirit of carnality to aid them in good work,
but that they believe, also, there is not enough
of a spirit of benevolence on earth to enable ns
to sustain our benevolent enterprises without
such appeals. To admit this to be so is dis
creditable alike to Christianity and our com
mon human nature.
AN INVITING FIELD OF LABOR.
We would invite the attention of the friends
of Missions, both white and colored, to the
following extract from a letter in the Western
Recorder of the 20th ult., from Eev. J. W.
David, our missionary in Africa, who has
been sent out by our Southern Baptist Conven
tion to cultivate a field in which our brethren
Clark, Phillips, and others, labored success
fully prior to the civil war. We trust the Lord
will enable and dispose our colored brethren
to send out many laborers to assist in thecnlti
vation of that, and other equally inviting
fields of labor in Africa, the land of their an
cestors. Ethiopia is now literally stretching
out her hand to us and calling for help; and
the Lord, in His providence, is bidding us
enter that field and work, assuring us ol success,
and an ample reward for all our labors in
His cause, if we are obedient to the heavenly
call and faithful in our worki
Here is the extract to which we refer:
“I made my second visit to this place (Lagos)
in company with brother Calley, October 14.
The opening of the Toruba country, brings to
ns a call ot over 3,000,000 of heathen in the
same language. Surely this is a great field,
and our denomination have only brother
Calley and myself to labor among so many
men and women perishing for the want
of the Bread of Life. In this place,
Abbeoknta and Ogbomoshaw, we find
a few converts left by our former
missionaries, who have continued faithful
amid heathen daskness, without a shepherd
or teacher. The little flock at Ogbomoshaw
have sent messengers to this place more than
once to inquire whether the missionaries have
come back or not. The distance they have
traveled is ten days journey. These' people
ought to be encouraged by giving them a mis
sionary, as they have not had one for about
13 years. Can a Christian imagine a little
group of heathen converts meeting 13 years
under their oft-repaired thatch shelter, to read
the Bible and pray for help—then not feel
they should have assistance at each of the
three above mentioned places. May the Lord
of the harvest send us more laborers, as the
harvest is great and the laborers few.
Very True.—“A consecrated religious ed
itor is one of God’s mightiest agencies for
good.” So writes a devoted and talented sis
ter in Alabama. It appears to us if our
Georgia brethren and sisters believed as she
does, they would be much more active and
persevering in their efiorts to extend the cir
culation of The Index than they now are.
OBJECTS OF CHRISTIANITY.
The objects of Christianity are to
promote happiness in this life, and pre
pare the soul for happiness in eter
nity.
These great purposes are the legiti
mate consequences of true religion of
heart and of action. The love of God
assimilates man in his motives and
conduct to the character of the Saviour,
and prompts the imitation of His life
on earth, which was made up, in the
main, of beneficent actions to our sinful
race.
The conscious pardon of sins and
infusion of God’s love, give not only
unspeakable happiness, but constitute
a motive power of noble and generous
deportment in all the relations of life.
To do good is the fruit of true re
ligion, and it is so arranged by Provi
dence that the act of doing good, with
pure intent, always brings happiness
to the actor.
The heart of the true Christian is
free from revenge, and full of forgiv
ness and charity. Love becomes the
law of its being, and gives character to
every motive and every action. Through
the medium of this power, the evil
passions are subdued and temporal hap
piness to the Christian assured.
Love leavens the heart, bringing it
in perfect accord with the will of God.
Obedience to every requirement of His
law, is the pleasure of the real Chris
tian. Yielding to the power of God’s
love in his heart, the preparation for
eternal life is complete. Love is su
preme in its dominion over the soul—
every motive is the result of its influ
ence, and the whole man is in willing
subjection to its power. When this is
true the soul may be said to he love, as
God is love, and only fit to dwell eter
nally with Him.
True it is, that when the love of God
is enshrined in the heart, the enemies of
man’s temporal and eternal happiness
wage against it continual and relentless
war. The conflict is often fierce, threat
ening to return the newborn spirit to
the passions that prompt to the com
mission of sin. Paul, in such a con
flict, was led to exclaim, “ Wretched
man that I am ! who shall deliver me
from the body of this death ? ” Love
was the germ of life, while the vicious
principles of the old man could promise
only death —the death of happiness, of
Christian virtue, and the final death of
the soul. Hatred, malice, and every
impurity are the actuating influences
of the natural man. These are the
centrifugal powers which, while they
have dominion, are continually.driving
the soul from God —hut love is the cen
tripetal which brings it hack from i*s
wanderings in sin to assimilation and
union with God.
If in this conflict with the old
powers, the Christian seems to he van
quished, he should remember in whom
he has put his trust; who it is that
has promised to be with him always;
who it is that fixed in his heart love,
as the germ of temporal and eternal
happiness, that linked his soul by love
to God. These reflections will cause
the renewal of his faith and hope,
making the exclamation of Paul ap
propriate, in which the apostle declared
that neither principalities nor powers,
things present or to come, heights,
depths, or any other creature, would be
able to separate him from the love of
God in Christ.
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY.
The Methodists of the South have
much reason to be prond of their great
University. Almost as by magic, it
has sprung in+o full grown proportions;
by a happy combination of men and
measures, the work has brought into a
harmonious co-operation the talent and
wisdom of that denomination in the
South with the immense wealth of the
North. These two —wisdom and wealth
combined —have established the North
ern and Southern Methodists, upon this
enterprise, in close and paternal ac
cord. An accomplishment like this is
a great step in the direction of denom
inational peace and restoration of the
old fraternity. The men and women,
all wise and pious, who were the instru
ments in the work, deserve well of this
generation, and are entitled to a place
among the good and great of any age
or people.
Revival in Ireland. —The Rev.
Mr. Leonard, an American clergyman,
has been preaching in Ireland for the
last six months with great success. A
great revival has followed hi.s labors in
Denegal, where two hundred persons
have professed conversion, and the
work is still going on.
AN ITEM IN PAST HISTORY.
The extracts from Scribner in another article,
on the subject of church debts, revive the re
collection of incidents in the history of one of
the oldest and most flourishing city cbnrches
in Virginia. This church, when we first be
came acquainted with it, was blessed with the
pastoral labors of one of the most talented and
popular ministers in the South, who obtained
an enviable reputation, not only as a preacher
but also as a theological writer. His books
and reputation will be preserved in grateful
remembrance by generations yet unborn.
Under his labors the church of which we are
speaking was greatly prospered. As its old
house of worship became insufficient for the
comfortable accommodation oi its growing con
gregation, its members thought they would be
justifiable in incurring the expense of erect
ing anew and larger one; but to provide a
building which would compare favorably with
other church edifices in their town, it was nec
essary to incur a debt of several thousand dol
lars. They flattered themselves that the popu
larity of their preacher and the increase in
their congregation, would enable them to dis
charge the debt in a few years; but in that they
were sadly disappointed. That debt remained as
an incubbs upon them for years, and was, doubt
less, one consideration which induced their
pastor to remove to another field of labor.
After he left, the church declined, became di
vided in sentiment, and remained in a very
unsettled state for two or three years. They
finally had their attention directed to a com
paratively young preacher, unknown to fame,
who had been connected with the denomina
tion but a few years. When conferred with in
reference to a call to the pastorate, he inform
ed them that he could not, at that time, say
whether he could accept of a call from them
under any circumstances, but it was certain he
conld not be brought to accept a call unless
they were uniled, and made provision for lift
ing the debt of the church within a reasonable
time.
To his surprise, when apprised of his elec
tion as pastor, he was informed that the call
was unanimous, and that provision had been
made for liquidating the church debt by the
time he could enter upon his labors with them.
Under these circumstances he felt it his duty
to accept their call. He labored with them
three years. During the first year of his la
bors 101 were baptized into the church ; about
fifty the second, and fifty the third year. At
the close of the third year of his pastorate, the
impaired health of his wife, and other circum
stances, induced him to accept a call to a
church in a State further South,
The debt of the church, at the time of her
release from it, amounted to about $4,000. It
was assumed by individual members of the
church, and thus was verified the old saying)
“ where there is a will there is a way.”
The church of which we have written, has
had its ups and downs. A large number of its
wealthier members took letters, organized anew
church, built an elegant church edifice in a
more aristocratic part of the town, and has
even had its pulpit filled by men of superior
abilities. The old church, though thrown into
the shade for a season has emerged from it,
enlarged and beautified its house of worship,
and enjoyed, for several years, the services of
one of the oldest and most distinguished pas
tors in the State, who, on being called to re
ceive his reward and enter into his rest, seems
to have dropped his mantle on his well edu
cated and talented son, who has been called to
enter upon the bishopric, made vacant by the
death of his father. The church to which he
ministers is believed to be in as healthful and
prosperous a condition as ever it was.
This brief but truthful history, not only cor
roborates the statements of the wtiter in Scrib
ner, but, if properly considered, may suggest
useful reflections alike to churches oppressed
with debt and to those who are considering
the propriety of incurring a debt in the erec
tion or enlargement of church edifices.
> <
Increase of Christianity. —Whilst
many Christians in our couutry are sad
at the thought of so much demoraliza
tion, we “ thank God and take cour
age,” that, as our population increases,
Christianity is also spreading and
growing in a greater ratio. The num
ber of members of evangelical churches
in 1872 in the United States, is put
down at 7,339,888, or about eighteen
members to every hundred of the pop
ulation. If the membership of evan
gelical churches in 1850 was 3,750,000
(which was the estimate) then the in
crease since that time has been about
ninety per cent., while the increase in
population has not been quite sixty-five
per cent. How wonderfully has God
blessed America. Let us go more ac
tively to work, and determine to be co
workers with Him in evangelizing the
world; God intends to convert the
world; will we not aid by our contribu
tions and prayers to establish His
Kingdom in the earth.
The Home of Rev. Jesse Mercer.
—We are informed that not long since,
the former residence of Rev. Jesse
Mercer, in the town of Washington,
Georgia, was bought by the Roman
Catholics. A school, under the care
and supervision of the Sisters of Char
ity, is to be established there, and every
facility given for cheap, Catholic edu
cation.
The Baptists of Georgia declined,
many years ago, to locate Mercer Uni
versity on that very spot. Another
people, now, see the advantages of
the place, and have now occupied it.
GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS.
—We have to-day, through the medium of
our exchanges, paid a visit to nearly every
county in Georgia, to gather, if possible, news
of religious movements that might cheer the
hearts of Christian readers of The Index. It
is sad to tell, but true, that scarcely any items 0
of a religious character have been found.
This indicates a degree of inactivity among the
followers of Christ that is incompatible with
both duty and interest. Time is rapid in its
flight; life is but a span ; the impenitent are
hastening on to ruin; and activity should
characterize those who have put on an armor
for the service of the Master. The fact that
we are passing through the winter of the year
should not bring winter upon the church.
The hearts of Christians ought to be ever warm
with the love of their Saviour, and no torpor
should be allowed to abate their zeal and ener
gy in His service.
—Brother J. B. Cheves, pastor of the church
at Cuthbert, writes that his brother, Rev. Geo.
W. Cheves, late of Kentucky, preached his
first sermon in Georgia in his pulpit, recently.
He wishes; to give his entire time to the
ministry. He will reside in Cuthbert for
the present. Address him there. We hope
brother C. will succeed in getting a suitable
field of labor in Southwestern Georgia.
—The Ladies “Improvement Society” of the
Cuthbert Baptist church, gave an entertain
ment, on the night of the 18th ult., for the pur
pose of raising funds to repair the edifice.
Sixty-three dollars were realized in aid of the
fund.
The annual meeting of Randolph county
Bible society was held in the Baptist church,
in Cuthbert, Sunday night, 23d inst. The so
ciety is in a prosperous condition, and is ac
complishing much good.
—Rev. L. R. L. Jennings, pastor of the
Baptist church at Crawfordville, has received
a call from the church at Elim, and has its ac
ceptance under consideration. If he should
accept, it will not interfere with his present
pastorate. Rev. J. A. Shivers is expected to
preach one Sunday in each month at the
Crawfordville church.
—The Telegraph and Messenger makes the
following complimentary mention of the Sab
bath-school evangelists of this State, Revs-
Boykin and Fish, who have been laboring, du
ring the last week, in Macon: “The latter, by
his sweet singing, attracts maßy, who but for
this, would remain away from the Sunday
school and the sanctuary. This seems to bean
era of triumph to those who possess the pow
er to charm by Bweetly singing the songs of
Zion.”
—We regret to learn, from the Home Jour
nal, that Rev. B. F, Tharp has been seriously
ill with pneumonia, but feel gratified that he is
convalescing.
—Rev. W. H. Carroll, evangelist for Eas
tern Alabama, preached at West Point, last
Sunday, on the importance of the Christian
ministry. Under the auspices of the
Baptist Heme Mission of Alabama, he is en
gaged in the noble work of preaching the Gos
pel to the destitute of that State.
The sermon at night was preached by Rev
R. W. Fuller, of Atlanta, who is traveling in
behalf of our Baptist Orphans’ Home. His
discourse, which was founded on the text, “He
Baw of the travail of his soul and was satisfied,’)
is said to have been beautiful and touching.
—A Bible class for yonng men has been or.
g anized in Louisville, and a Young Mens
Christian Association is proposed. Better late
than never; but Louisville being one ef the
oldest towas in the State, we cannot avoid sur
prise that she should be so far behind in this
matter.
—Rev. J. M. Berry, of St. Louis, preached,
last week, a series of sermons, at night, in the
Baptist church at Rome.
—Union prayer-meetings are held regular,
ly in Carnesville, and a deep religious impres
sion prevails in that village.
—Rev. H. M. Barton, of Fair Play, S. C., a
worthy and able minister, has consented to
preach for the Baptists of Hartwell, Hart
county, during the present year.
Dr. Battle, President of Mercer University,
preached in the “Old Church” at Eatonton
Sunday last.
—Rev. Reuben E. Oslin, a Methodist min
ister, and a resident of Atlanta, died, near Fre
donia, Ala., last week.
—Rev. A. B. Nuckolls met, a few days
since, with an accident by which one of his
ribs was broken, causing him much suffering
— Bev. Mr. Atkinson, paetor of the Baptist
church at Brunswick, will preach one Sabbath
in each month at Darien.
SOME OF Ol T R THOUGHTS
Every child, as soon as he learns to read,
should be furnished with a complete copy of
the Bible, and allowed to claim it as his own
private property. As our readers are neither
Infidels nor Romanists, we deem it unnecessa
ry to sustain the truth of this assertion with
arguments, but would respectfully invite atten
tention to the advertisement headed “to Parentß
and Teachers,” in our advertising columns.
They who accept of the offer therein contained,
may, to use an old saying, “ kill three birdß
with the same stone.” 1. They may benefit
materially those for whom Bibles are purchas
ed. 2. They may aid an old, impoverished
and enfeebled minister in securing himself from
the suspicion of being aD infidel, by enabling
him to provide, honestly, for the necessities of
his afflicted household; and 3. They may ena
ble him to aid the editors of The Index in
supplying the public demand for intellectual
food. Only think of it 1 Three copies of the
Bible for $1 00. If the children in our fam
ilies and congregations are not ppeedily sup
plied with copies of the Bible, most assuredly
sin will rest upon someone or more of us.
Reader, shall any of it rest on you?
Please answer, not by words but by acts; and
answer speedily. it