Newspaper Page Text
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Index and ffapttet
Rev. D. E. BUTLER, Managingl Editor
Editorial Contributors :
IST AWTON - Atlanta, Georgla>
£* T ■ HR* KRRDD Quitman, (ieorgla.
SBV5 BV - {• 5,‘ „7i rvPR 11 i) "!... Forsyth, Georgia.
Bet.' tl’CL JONES, Il'.D I..NaghTlile, dcnnessee.
Our Pulpit.— Our readers will find
in our Pulpit Department, a fine sermon
on “The Gospel, the only saving power
of God,” from the pen of Rev. W. M.
Bridges, of Sugar Valley, Ga., an able
minister and devoted pastor. Read it
carefully.
. —• • ■*'
Character grows; it is not some
thing to be put on, ready-made with
manhood or womanhood ; but day by
day, here a little and there a little, it
grows with the growth and strengthens
with the strength, until, good or bad,
it becomcsjalmost a coat of mail.
Religion is not confined to devotion
al exercises, but rather consists in
doing all we are qualified to do, with a
single eye to God’s glory and will, from
a grateful sense of His mercy to us.
This is the alchemy which turns every
thing into gold, and stamps a value
upon common actions.
“The Bright Forever.” — Under
this title will be found in this issue of
The Index a sweet, musical, pathetic
song, written by an accomplished lady
of Griffin. We commend it to the
perusal of all who yearn for “The
Bright Forever,” and the glory that
passetli all understanding, radiant in
the star-lands of the immortal soul.
Let no one comfort himself in the
intense activity of his mind on the sub
ject of religion. That is one of the
things to be dreaded. To be always
thinking, debating, scheming, in ref
erence to the great questions of re
ligion, without using any of the tal
ents that belong more appropriately to
God and the receiving of God, is just
the way to extirpate the talents most
rapidly, and so as to close up the mind
in spiritual darkness.
The new year has begun ; have we
advanced in purpose to a higher,
nobler, truer life ? The past wo can
not change, tho possibilities of the fu
ture are before us. Wo look back
sadly, saying, “It might have been.”
Will the future be equally marred by
failures ? Joyfully the successes of
the past rise to memory. Let them in
spire us to still richer ones in the future.
Has the Lord done great things for our
souls in 1875 ? He will do still more
in 1876, if faith is strong, and obedi
ence hearty. He is able to do wonders
in quickening and ennobling souls.
Will we test His utmost grace ? How
much Ho can do wo may not decide.
Grace has marvelous power; love
knows no limits; higher and still
higher, the Lord will lead us, if we are
prepared to follow. Beloved, let us all
follow. _
Early English Baptists. —ln are
sont discussion relative to the practice
of early English Baptists, we under
stand tho Religions Herald to deny that
that there was any satisfactory evi
dence that they (English Baptists)
adhered to the practice of restricted
communion. We invite the attention
of the Herald, and all others who may
feel an interest in the subject, to the
following testimony of Neale—speak
ing of the Anabaptists in England,
(Hist. Pur. anna, 1646.) he says:
“ The people of this persuasion were
more exposed to the public resentment,
because they would hold communion
with none but such as had been dipped.”
We highly respect the opinions of
tho Herald, but the ago and country in
which Neale lived and wrote, it appears
to us, render it far more reasonable and
safe to rely on his direct testimony, in
reference to tho fact in dispute, than
on the Herald's bare inference, based
on a train of reasoning artfully con
structed, but evidently logically incon
clusive.
The Offer.— The American Baptist
Publication Society, in honor of the
Centennial Year, make an admirable
offer to churches using the popular
“Baptist Hymn Book.” All churches
affected should make early use of this
splendid offer. See tho advertisement
in our columns this week, headed, “The
Offer.” _______
Our Foreign Missionaries. —Read
the article headed “Facts for the
Thoughtful and the Pious,” in this
issue, signed by brother H. A. Tupper.
Let immediate and effectual measures
be taken in behalf of the cause.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
ZEAL.
111.
We closed our remarks on this sub
ject, last week, by showing that a
Christian zeal should be manifested in
maintaining a wholesome discipline in
our churches. We now propose to
show, that a well directed zeal for the
house of God, would lead us to contend
earnestlv for the faith, which was once
delivered to the saints.
The church is said to be “the pillar
and ground of the truth.” As such it
is the sacred despository of God’s
Word. That Word whose breath is
life, whose instruction is wisdom, whose
every accent is divine. That Word ;
whose enduring nature, like its Author,
knows no change, but which has for
untold ages poured upon our world the
brightness of Jehovah’s presence.
Such is the precious truth committed
to the church. What a responsibility
is thus devolved upon it! It is no less
than to maintain the purity of God’s
Word through all time, and in all
places, and in all languages.
How CAN THIS DUTY BE PERFORMED?
Not by mere dreaming ; for dreaming,
when not sanctified by earnest and
humble piety, aided by the teachings
of divine grace, has often proved the
Bible’s most insidious and treacherous
foe. Nor can it be done by power ; for
power has been, in many ages, its jailer
and its persecutor. Nor can safety for
God’s Word be bought by money ; for
gold has often bribed its sentinels and
its watchmen, till, Judas like, they have
betrayed the cause entrusted to their
care. How, then, we again ask, can the
church meet tho obligation which rests
upon it ? They can do it under the
inspiring impulse of a holy zeal; by
holding forth in its faith, and in its
practice the whole truth as it is in
Jesus. Such a zeal, animated by the
love of God, may indeed press into its
service the resources of learning, the
power of social and of personal influ
ence, and even tho advantages of
wealth, whose inscription is, “Holiness
to the Lord.” We would not under
value these gifts when appropriated by
a right zeal in the cause of truth. In
deed, it is right that zeal should avail
itself of every instrumentality offered
by tho providence and grace of God,
for the prosecution of its work. But
let all such gifts be accepted as means
to an end, not as the end itself. That
end, now under consideration, is the
vindication of the whole truth as it is
in Jesus. How important is that truth !
It includes
First: The ordinances of the
church. Experience has shown that
these ordinances are liable to be altered
and mutilated, and perverted, whereby
the glory of God’s house is marred
and defaced. A holy zeal will not suf
fer these ordinances to be set aside as
of little importance. They figuratively
proclaim, wherever exhibited, the
fundamental doctrines of salvation.
Wherever tho Lord’s Supper is cele
brated, its silent emblems illustrate
the Saviour’s dying love, and the
expiatory nature of his shed blood.
Wherever baptism is administerd it
opens to tho eye of infidelity itself the
empty tomb of the Redeemer, and re
veals the sublime hope of the resur
rection. In the light of these facts
what shall we say of that man who
renounces his membership in a Baptist
church that he may follow a Pedo
baptist wife into another communion ?
One thing is certain, such an one can
not have a proper zeal for the ordinan
ces of God’s house. We admit, if one
should truly, and sincerely, become con
vinced that immersion is not scriptural
baptism, and that infants ought to be
baptized, then his zeal for truth would
not only justify but require him to vin
dicate his convictions by connecting
himself with the people who believe as
he does. But while he believes no
sch thing, but rather is convinced
that there is no valid baptism but
immersion, and that none should be
baptized but believers, yet, just as a
matter of domestic convenience, sacri
fices his own faith by connecting him
self with a people who he believes
are in error, he gives all his social
and personal influence to uphold that
error. To such an one we would
kindly commend the words of the
Saviour : “He that loveth father or
mother more than Me, is not worthy
of Me.” And, “If any man come to
Me, and hate not his father and moth
er, and wife and children and brethren
and sisters, yea, and his own life also,
he cannot be my disciple.”
The truth of God includes also, in
the second place, the doctrines of
our holy religion. These also should
be the object of our Christian zeal.
But we reserve our thoughts upon
these and some other topics for another
paper.
“A PECULIAR PEOPLE.”
The church, as aD organization, well
deserves the name, “a peculiar people.”
It combines every form of society into
which men have been gathered ; yet
such is the blending of colors that its
hue declares its celestial origin. It is
not a caste, for it despises none, and
rejects none ; yet, like caste, iW pre
serves amidst human change sacred
order; all are kings and priests unto God
It is not a secret society, for it makes
no reserve, yet its members have a hid
den life, and a joy with which the
stranger intermeddleth not. It is not
a nation, for it selects individuals from
among each of the nations, and flrill
.ultimately include all, yet it is as clear
ly defined, though more extensive. „ It
is not a family, yet its bonds are equal
ly tender, only they are incomparably
more expansive.
The membership composing the body
is “peculiar.” Individuality is preserv
ed, each soul’s personal responsibility
is undiminished, and his accountability
is undisturbed ; yet he forms a part of
the sovereign unit. Self, in its '#flar{|
ly defined demonstrations, is
yet the soul is fearfully conscious of iw
claims, its wants and its obligations.
The man moves, seemingly, unseen
and unfelt in the multitude, a mere
atom in an unbounded universe; yet
he stands .in an oppressive solitude,
as if alone accountable for the
conduct of the whole people. The
perfection, unity and strength of the
church, as a body, are attained not by
asserting its corporate authority, but
by developing, protecting and demand
ing the outgrowth of the individual
character.
The mission of this people adds to
their peculiarity. It is not to devise
constitutions for State governments,
yet it cannot exist and withhold its
infiaters from the halls of legislation.
It is not to assume control of the edu
cational facilities of the age and count
ry ; yet it cannot be silent, when scep
ticism wraps itself in the cloak of
science to deceive the unguarded stu
dent. It is not to direct the sails of
commerce, give speed to the spindle or
generate steam for transportation, yet it
cannot submit to a base application of
any of these powers. It is in the world,
yet not of the world ; in its spirit it
breathes upon everything ; in its pow
er it lays its hand on nothing. It en
joys a slavery that is compatible with
perfect freedom ; a freedom from one’s
own will, and a servitude to the will of
another; yet it breaks no chains to
free the captive, and forges no mana
cles to bind the slave.
. Bibliophiles. —The word pre
fixed to this article, is the plural of
the word Bibliophile, which is defined
by Webster, “a great lover of books.”
AVe doubt not that there are many
%rnong our readers who are not only
great lovers of books, but ever watch
ful for opportunities to add to their li
braries rare and valuable books. For
the benefit of such we state, that there
is, in the city of New York, a company
organized as the “ American Book Ex
change,” that issues a monthly cata
logue of books which they offer to sell,
in many instances, at reduced prices,
and to receive in part pay for the same,
second hand books at a fair valuation.
They furnish a “ Book Exchange
Monthly,” containing a list of their
books, prices, terms of exchange, etc.,
to subscribers at 25 cents per year.
They have books published in differ
ent languages and in different coun
tries, some very rare, curious and cost
ly, and others at very low prices.
Among the Southern publications re
ported in their catalogues, we find
“ Bill Arp, Illustrated” —price, §1.00,”
“Christian Paradoxes, by N. M. Craw
ford, D. D.,” and “ Mind and Heart in
Religion—Abraham Jager, an ex-rab
bi,” each offered at 75 cents. A prop
osition will probably be submitted at
an early day, by one of our corres
ponding editors, to furnish free of
charge a copy of their catalogue to
persons who will engage to send,
through him, their orders for such
books as they may wish to procure.
The do-nothingness of Christians is
the bane of the church. Live with
respect to business auJ society as you
do the church, and there will soon be
neither shop nor store, nor will there
be a fireside to invite you to its com
forts.
“IS TIME.”
A proper apprehension of the char
acter of the congregation is essential
to the success of the ministry. Many
efforts from the pulpit fail, not because
they were lacking in truth or iD earnest
ness, but because they were ill-timed
and not adapted to the condition of the
hearers. The Gospel truth is a unit,
but it has many sides, and the congre
gation is not always prepared to take a
full and comprehensive view of the
whole truth. The world was four
thousand years in approaching the
“fulness of the times” when Jesus —
the Truth —should be made manifest.
There were promises and prophets,
bleeding victims and smoking altars,
cruel bondages and wearying returns,
oppressive kings and bloody wars,
weeping seers and sighing bards; these
were the probations of works, and the
faint strugglings of hope and faith.
The great bosom of humanity was torn
with doubts, and again it rejoiced with
the hope of glory. The race of man
kind marched on slowly upon an un
trodden waste, with now and then a
gleam of the far off dawn falling across
theigr]sath. And time and again the
deep felt sigh went up to God for de
liverance —a prayer broad as the nation,
earnest as life, for the Messiah.
But God said, “not yet,” and com
manded them to the task of preparing
for His coming. When that felicitous
moment arrived—when the world was
ready for His appearing; when human
frailties had been demonstrated by re
peated failures; when the mental,
moral, and physical condition of man
kind were best adapted to the full rev
elation of God’s purposes of grace,
then “ Jesus was Bent forth, made of a
woman, made under the law, to redeem
them that were under the law.” At
any other age of the world His mission
might have proved a failure; His life
a vain existence ; His teachings an idle
rehearsal of incomprehensible verities,
and His death a magnificent sensation
for the novelist. So with much of our
preaching, it fails because it is not “ in
time.”
THE MODERN JI DAS.
In the history of the church, we have
the reproduction of the ancient dis
ciples. The apostles forcibly stand out
as types of those who should after
wards ibelieve on JeßuJ. John was a
representative of the tender and sym
pathetic ; Peter, of the bold and im
petuous ; Thomas, of the doubting and
sceptical; Matthew, of the deliberate
and thoughtful. We likewise find that
Judas represented no small class also.
Tho discipleship, or character of Judas,
was deficient in many features; his
conduct on several occasions betiays
his inconsideration, and doubtless, he
began his course without first “ count
ing the cost.” He followed Jesus with
the expectation of immediate reward—
relying more on the “ things which are
seen,” and looking less “ to the things
which are unseen.” The Godliness
which he professed had the promise of
the “ life that now is,” and but little
hope of the “life that is to come.”
He followed Jesus, but took up no
cross, neither did he practice self
denial, for his ruling passion was
strong to the last, and, finally, led him
to the perpetration of the fatal act —
his Master’s betrayal. While he may
have stripped himself of many weights,
he never laid aside his besetting sin.
The portraiture of his character, and
the analysis of his failure, will admit
of the following: Inconsideration, hence
an imperfect apprehension of the rela
tion he assumed in becoming a dis
ciple ; present gratification, hence the
development of the baser parts of his
nature ; selfishness, which was the seal
to his perdition, and the barrier to the
Spirit of his Lord. With this simple
portrait, the modern Judas is easily
discovered. Reader is it your like
ness?
Index Advertisements. —A letter
just received from one of the best
known wholesale firms in Nashville,
Messrs. T. H. Jones & Cos., concludes as
follows:
“Letters are already coming in fro m Georgia,
South Carolina and Alabama, saying: ‘We
saw your advertisement in The Index.’ ”
This unsolicited and suggestive en
dorsement of the wide influence of The
Index as a medium for advertisements
unrivalled in the Southern States, we
submit to the earnest consideration of
every one in the United States who
desires to promote his interests by ju
dicious advertisements, such as are
sure to reach and influence thousands
of substantial readers.
GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS.
On the 11th (Friday), the Mercer Universi
ty Band will give a concert in Macon, for the
benefit of the members, who are students of
Mercer, and who desire to perfect their praise
worthy organization by engaging the services
of a thorough instuctor in music. The con
cert will embrace vocal and instrumental mu
sic, aided by the best amateur talent of Macon-
The entertainment will, doubtless, be pleasant
and prosperous.
—Rev. L. M. Berry, corresponding editor of
the Central Baptist, St. Louis, recently held a
protracted meeting in the Baptist church in
Rome, with most enceurrging results. He is
an able minister.
—The handsome church edifice in Thomas
ton narrowly escaped destruction by fire recent
ly. After a meeting the fire in the|stove was al
lowed to burn, and during the night the fire
had burned the timbers from around the chim
ney that passed out through the roof and the
the chimney had fallen igniting the floor
of the church and setting it on fire. Mr. S. W.
D. Caraway, discovered the fire early in
the morning, and it was soon extinguished.
The damages have been repaired.
—From the we learn that a very
interesting meeting was held in
Americus the
The 3pa*ious builamg was crowdl(H mem
bers of all denominations. The Wp\tblican
says: aS
The exercises were opened with prayer
Rev. Dr. Geo. F. Cooper. Short addresses
were made by Revs. Boykin and Fish pertain
ing to the importance of Sunday-school work.
The singing by Mr. Fish was fine, and never
fails to attract the attention of his audience.
He is a fine talker as well as an excellent
singer. The audience was highly delighted
with the services thioughout.
A collection was taken up for the interest of
the good work that these men of God are en
gaged in, but we have not learned what
amount was contributed.
—A correspondent of the Sparta limes and
Planter writing from Linton, and alluding to
the fact that the Trustees of the Washington
Institute have secured Mr. R. S. Baker as
Principal, says :
A grand entertainment was given here last
night by the young folks, for the special bene
fit of the new teacher—Prof. Baker. The_ per
formers were former pupils of the Institute,
trained by that distinguished pianist, Prof.
Gorris, now of Savannah, formerly teacher of
music here. The whole affair, was a grand
success. It reminded us of by-gone days,
when the .Institute was in its glory. Denom
inational schools stand the wreck of wars.
The Baptist Association stands pledged by
resolutions to foster this Institution with ten
derest care. They are proud of their ‘‘Mercer,’’
as a grand achievement of Baptist co-opera
tion, and they expect by the blessing of God
to. make their Washington Institute a lasting
monument of their zeal, in the education of
youth. More than two thousand members
are united in this glorious work with thous
and of friends to aid and to cheer, who will
crown their laudable efforts with lasting and
triumphant success.
—“ H. H. J.,” the versatile corresponding
editor of the Macon 1 digraph & Messenger has
the following pleasant allusion to brethren
Boykin and Fish, in one of his recent letters
dated from the M. & W. R. R.:
These gentlemen are fellow-passengers, and
the writer has been deeply interested and edi
fied by the narration of their journeying and
labors in Georgia and Florida.
The former is the State Agent of the Baptist
Publication Board, and an ordained minister
also, but chiefly confines himself in addition
to the sale and distribution of books to the
work of visiting the Sabbath-schools of the
country, with his co-laborer, Rev. T. C. Boy
kin, who is the General Superintendent of the
Baptist Sunday-schools of Georgia.
Their plan is to organize what they term a
“Teachers’ Institute” in each village, which
consists of certain exercises and addresses
agreeably to published programme, and has
the effect of developing the zeal and local tal
ent of each community, thereby greatly in
creasing the numbers and efficiency of its
Sunday-scheols. Singing, which is always an
attractive feature with the children, is made a
specialty. And here the sweet voice and musi
al proficiency of Mr. Fish add, in no little
degree, to the success of the work.
On their present tour, a number of new Sun
day-schools have been established, and those
previously existing greatly strengthened and
increased. Many of your readers, the writer
included, had the pleasure of hearing these
good men in Dr. Skinner’s church yesterday,
and some account of.one of their meetings was
prepared for publication in the Telegraph.
They are very genial and pleasant in their
manners, and we commend them to the favor
of all Christians wherever they may go.
—The Bamesville Gazette gives us the fol
lowing :
The ladies of the Mite Society, of the
Baptist church of this place, have recently,
with their own funds, carpeted the aisles of
their church and in front of the pulpit. It
has a very lady-like, neat appearance. If it
were not for the Ladies’ Aid Society of the
Methodist church and the Mite Society of the
Baptist church, we do not know what would
become of the brethren and the rest of us.
—The West Point Stale Line Press says:
We were mistaken in giving out last week
that Mr. W. A. Callaway had resigned the
Superintendencv of the Baptist Sabbath-school.
He did not resign, .but Mr. Bookhart was
elected his assistant.
—Brother Weekly, missionary of the Col
umbus Baptist Association, preached in the
Methodist church in Howard, on the loth
instant.
—The Butler Herald says: Mr. E. B.
Waters, is having a handsome picket paling
placed around the Baptist church. When
completed, it will add materially to the ap
pearance of the building. Near two hundred
handsome new volumes have been aided to
the Baptist Sunday-school library.
—Eatonton Messenger, sth inst.: Dr. Battle,
President of Mercer University, has accepted
the call of the Eatonton Baptist church to
serve them once a month for the present year.
On last Sabbath, at 11 o’clock, he preached his
first sermon from the text, “ Lord, remember
me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” It
is needless for us to say that the subject was
thoroughly discussed to the good and edifica
tied of those who believe in the simple story of
the Cross. At night he took for his text the
answer which Jesus made to the thief by his
side: “ Verily, I say unto thee, this day shalt
thou be with me in Paradise.”
In the morning sermon his touching allu
sion to the tragic scene upon Cavalry and its
surroundings, was surpassed only by his beauti
ful description at night of Paradise, the place
of rest to which the thief had gone, and to
which Jesus invites His people.
“Special Contributions.” —We de
sire to call the attention of every reader
of The Index to the Special Con
tributions department. In the col
umns devoted to this department, will
be found regular contributions from the
very ablest writers in our denomina
tion, on subjects of general or special
interest. The choice thoughts of our
best minds, and the fruit of the exeget
ical labors of our most scholarly
brethren, in and out of the ministry,
will there be found, carefully prepared
for the edification of our readers, and
for the promotion of* the cause of
Christ’s truth, and Christian excellence.
Wa will spare neither labor or expense
to keep this special department up to
the highest standard of excellence, and
enriched with the jewels of refined
thought.
When we feel the inspiring influence
of books; when we are lifted on the
wings of ancient genius, we should
jealously avoid the perversion of the
gift. The children of this world have
their research and accomplishment, and
enough is done for pleasure and fame ;
but the Christian scholar will rebuke
himself, unless he finds it in his heart
to be more alive in devotion to heavenly
things, at the very moment when he
has breathed the aroma of poetry and
eloquence.
Personals. —We had the pleasure
of calls during the week from Hon.
Mark A. Cooper, the veteran Georgia
Legislator; also from Captain Thos.
A. Cabaniss, and Wm. L. Lampkin,
Esq., of Forsyth. The former is the
popular Solicitor General of his dis
trict. Mr. L. was, for a long time, a
prominent banker of Forsyth, but has
now removed to Dalton.
Hon. T. S. N. Bloodworth, of High
Falls, Monroe county, spent a few
pleasant days in our city. He is a rep
resentative Georgian, and has served
his people faithfully in various offices
of trust and honor.
We also had a welcome calf from
that veteran editor and thorough South
ern gentleman, Hon. J. N. Christy, of
Athens. His paper is the reflex of his
own character, honest, upright, frank,
able and genial.
Rev. J. L. Jordan called upon us last
week. He has resigned the pastorate
ofjthe Sixth church in this city, and, at
the solicitation of many friends at the
Theological Seminary, has accepted the
call of the church at Greenwood, S. C.
He is now at his new post of duty.
May blessings attend him.
The active and faithful Sunday-school
Evangelists, Rev. T. C. Boykin, and
Rev. L. B. Fish, spent several days with
their families here last week. Brother
Boykin is laboring zealously in au ar
duous field, and the brethren should
give him strong and united support.
His map of churches of the Associa
tions, now being engraved, is bound to
be of great historical service to the
denomination. Brethren who have not
yet answered his card, requesting infor
mation, should answer him at once.
Brother Fish will give up his labors
as S. S. Agent, etc., after May Ist.
The braneh of the American Bible
Publishing Society which he repre
sents, has failed to pay expenses, and
incurred heavy indebtedness, hence the
Society has determined to withdraw its
agent. Brother F. has been energetic
and efficient in his work in Georgia,
and has, no doubt, accomplished much
good.
Dr. Battle’s Essays. Number
viii, of Dr. Battle’s excellent essays
on “ The Human Will,” will appear in
our next issue. Owing to misplacement
of the manuscript, we were unable to
give it place in this number.
The Secretary of the Southern
Historical Society, replying to Sec
retary Belknap’s letter to him, says :
“ The people of the South are not only
willing, but anxious that the whole of
their official records should be given to
the world, and that the future histo
rian should have the opportunity of
judging them in the light of those
records. Be assured then of our hearty
co-operation in supplying your depart
ment with missing Confederate docu
ments. We will have furnished you
properly authenticated copies of such as
are in our possession, and will assist
you in procuring others, it being un
derstood, of course, that your depart
ment will afford us similar facilities in
the prosecution of our work.”