Newspaper Page Text
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t£htr (Carrapottkitts.
For the Imlox and Baptist.
“ TERMS OF COMMIMON.”
Dr. Bledsoe in the Southern (Metho
dist) Quarterly Review, promises his
readers the following :
“ We shall begin (the Lord willing)
in the next. January number of this
Review, a series of art icles on the above
named subject, designed especially to
explode the Baptist notion of close
communion. Each number of the Re
view for 1877, will contain one article
from our nen on this subject, to which
we have given no little reading and
reflection.”
This is a huge task the Doctor has
determined to undertake. It is weli
that he has given himself a whole year
for the work.
We shall listen with no little interest
to the report of the explosion when it
takes place. Many of us are too poor to
take the Review, and will not be able to
keep pace with the work, and hence
will not know just when the match
will be applied, and when to listen for
the explosion, and to look for the flying
fragments of Baptist notions. To The
Index, the watchman on the tower,
will we look for a signal when this
grand exploit shall transpire. But if
Dr. Hibbard, a standard author among
the Methodists, and whose book on
“Christian Baptism” is recognized by
the General Conference as a standard
work, and is used as a text book for
their theological students, is correct,
then others besides the Baptists are
interested in this explosion. He says,
speaking of the Baptists, “ Their views
of baptism force them upon the ground
of strict commuiron, and herein they
act upon the same principles as other
churches, i. e., they admit only those
whom they deem baptized persons to
the communion table. Of course they
must be their own judges as to what
baptism is.*'
if it is asked what these “ same
principles” are, Dr. H. answers, “ It is
certain that baptism is enjoined as the
first public duty after discipleship.” “ It
is but just to remark, that in one prin
ciple the Baptist and Pedobaptist
churches agree. They both agree in
rejecting from communion at the
table of the Lord, and in denyiny the
rights of church fellowship to all who
have not been baptized.”
Now let Dr. Bledsoe explode these
Baptist notions with which Pedobap
tists agree, and upward will be seen
flying the fragments of the acknowl
edged principles of 4,000,000 Metho
dists with those of Drs. Hibbard and
Bledsoe included. It will be a grand
sight. Let us know, Mr. Editor, when
it will occur. G. R. M.
For the Index and Baptist*
THE COOSA A'SOClAptr*.
This body nmt at Pleasant Grove
church, near Ringgold, Friday before
the second Sunday. Deacon E. E.
White was elected moderator, and J.
Y. Wood, clerk. It seems to be thor
oughly missionary in spirit, yet the
amount of funds sent up would indi
cate that it is not fully so in jrractice.
This discrepancy between spirit and
practice, I was told, is the result of un
satisfactory management in the past.
The discussions were spirited and in
structive, evincing a disposition on the
part of the brethren to make an ad
vance moAement all along the line. This
Association lms received quite an acqui
sition in the person of Rev. J.M. Robert
son, who is an active, stirring man, and
a preacher of great promise. He is prin
cipal of a male and female school of
high grade, just established in McLe
more’s Cove. He will be aided by
brother Wood, one of the most popular
and successful teachers in Northwest
Georgia. I met brother W. T. Russel,
known to the readers of The Index,
and also other earnest brethreii in the
ministry, who are faithfully laboring
for the Master iu their respective fields.
A most favorable impression was made
upon the writer, and he does not see
why the Coosa should not he abreast of
anv Association in North Georgia.
T.C. B
for the Index and Baptist.|
4.001) MKKTIXG AT INDIAN CRKKR.
We closed a meeting of seven days
with this church, whose history is re
markable for precious seasons of reviv
als. Our church was much perplexed
to known how to dispose of a case of
discipline for the honor and glory of
Christ as king and the good of His
church militant. The case was dtoil
ed, but not to the satisfaction of all.
Our Holy Spirit meetings well nigh
burned up all the dross of sin, which
craped out in evil speaking. May the
spirit of unity make us all one “as Christ
and the Father is one!” Six hopeful
convotts were added to the church by
experience and baptism. There was
quite a developing of latent talent in
the young brethren of the church.
What a glorious era for the church
when her diversified gifts are utilized
for good ! Then there will be no ne
cessity for importing sensational tnin
ist rs, who frequently disorganize and
leave churches restive and dissatified.
If we have true revivals of religion, the
church must feel convinced of its
necessity. Must turn the eye of her
faith to the Great Giver of all good in
earnest supplications. Must have the
Gospel preached in simplicity and love
—welling up from a heart burdened
with the worth of souls. This done
and you have a genuine revival, and
all selfishness lost sight of, which is
the crying evil of the age in which we
l.ve. J. M. Stillwell.
Stone Mountain, August 13, 1876.
For the Index and Baptist.J
MEMORY.
I)o we live only in the present? are
those events now transpiring to be for
gotten? are they to be buried with the
past, or is there some secret chamber
where they can be stored for future
use ? There would be little encour
agement to strive for the attainment of
any object, did we know that it would
afford only momentary gratification.
Little interest would be taken in our
daily vocation were night destined to
close its usefulness. Little regard
would be given to our actions were
their influence to cease with the per
formance.
Were life merely a visionary state
there would be no use for a granary of
“facts and fancies but since it is real
we have need of every past action to
acquire a proper knowledge of our
selves. What a lamentable picture
would be presented if man were entire
ly oblivious of the past and disregard
ful of the future! He would be led
captive by every species of temptation,
every capricious device, and every work
er of iniquity. He would be as a ship
without a rudder, left to the mercy of
the billows which would roll around
him. His conscience would be so seared
that he would not shudder at the vilest
deed- Indeed, he would be of little
service either to himself or any other
person.
Man is not such a being. His con
ceptions may glide away, but not the
facts. Pictures of exquisite beauty
and loveliness may appear ; happiness
of an unalloyed nature may be almost
attained ; distinction, honor, and all
that heart could desire be reached by
allowing ourselves to revel too long in
the fumes of imagination.
Who has not visited Athens and
Rome when at their zenith ? Who has
not held converse with Homer and
Virgil in their own clime? Who has
not seen his own footprints on some
distant shore ? Who has not frequent
ed the beautiful lakes of Switzerland,
and seen reflected from their mirror
like bosoms the surrounding scenery ?
Almost eyery one in imagination—few
in reality. Those do not become facts
until perception is taken into account.
Very frequently we avow that we have
heard and seen things, where and when
wo cannot say. Unless time is con
nected with them they must be consid
ered as mere conceptions. When time
is connected with them they become
facts. Facts cannot be buried beneath
the sods of forgetfulness. In one’s
life they become so frequent, and are
of such a Vuried nature as to bo contin
ually striving to reach the surface of
memory. >
Association lending its aid, memory
is capable of reproducing and present
ing to the mind all past actions. Those
which appeared to us as insignificant
come to be considered of paramount
importance. Those which were com
mitted with little thought, and almost
forgotten in after years, are presented
to our minds in the brightest light.
Idle words are spoken which make an
impression never to be erased. The
poison may in after life arrive at afflu
ence, honor and respectability, yet this
one event of his life is an obstacle
winch cannot be surmounted. His
otherwise fair reputation is without a
blemish ; his daily walk may coincide
with all that people would deem reti
tude; his soul may be as spotless as
when placed on earth; his heart may
evolve none but right principles, yet
the power of memory is so strong as to
ret tin that one prejudice.
In laying the foundation let the ma
terial ho the very best Examine every
thought before expressed ; weigh every
word before uttered. Let every action
be done conscientiously ; let the memo
ry of those with whom you are associa
ted be stamped with favorable impres
sions.
What inducement would there be to
road the various histories, biographies,
works on ethics, as well as metaphys
ics, if the grand and important truths
therein contained were to be forgotten
as soon as learned? The exploits of
ancient warriors ; the suffering of mar
tyrs; the revolutions that have taken
place would have been buried long ago
had it not been for memory. The
improvements in the arts would not
have reached their present state; the
scientific world would long since have
ceased to move; religion would have
been superseded by atheism had not
memory been exercised. Improve
ments in education and the reasoning
ficulty, no doubt, have contributed
greatly to human advancement. Bat
then “it is well known that memory’s
presence and action is essentially in
volved in all the exercises of the rea
soning power and the imagination.’’
Therefore destitute of this we would
be in need of many of our present ad
vantages.
11 affords the greatest pleasure, es
peciatlv while alone, to allow our
thoughts to wander back to the scenes
of yore. When innocent childhood
was passed in the enjoyment of every
thing ihat produced happiness; when
no care, trouble and disappointment
were ever felt; when night “stretched
forth the leaden sceptre” we were re
posing in the arms of Morpheus, there
jto await the matin songs of the early
vising birds. Happy ! delightful! ever
I memorable days 1 may you never be
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST
forgotten; the many bright anticipa
tions of a successful future, or the dark
clouds of adversity next rise on our
horison. It is a source of joy to look
upon those days as life’s most momen.
tous ; it is the period when we begin
to enter upon the duties of life; when
our infantine ways and ideas must give
way to those of an entirely different
nature; we are then subject to the law
of responsibility.
Can the picture of one’s Alma Mater
ever be forgotten ? are the associates
of collegiate life to be numbered with
the things that were? In these in
stances we would invoke thy choicest
blessings, 0, memory ! Deal not treach
erously with us, for their places would
ever continue vacuums. When youth
and manhood have passed, and we
commence descending the hill of life,
memory will seem dearer than ever.
We can, as it were, look down a long
avenue, and there see our past actions
crowding fast upon us. The time will
seem as but yesterday, should we rqach
three score and ten years.e It will be
a source of delight to recall our actions,
should they be of the right cast. Know
ing that such a day will come, and
that memory will remain,
“ Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours,
And ask them what report they bore to Heaven.”
A MODEL SERMON.
It should 1> brief, if lengthy it will steep
Oar hearts In apathy, our hearts in sleep,
The dull will yaws, theehapel-lounger doze,
Attention flag, and memory’s portals close.
It should he warm, a living altar coal,
To molt the Icy heart, and charm the soul,
A sapless, dull harangue, however read,
Will never rouse the soul or raise the dead.
It should be simple, practical and clear,
No tine-spun theory, to please the ear,
No curious lay to tickle lettered pride,
And leave the poor and plain unedifled.
It should he manly, lust and rational,
Wisely conceived and well expressed withal,
Not stuffed with silly notions, not to stain
A sacred desk, and show a muddy brain.
It should he mixed with many an ardent prayer,
To reach the heart, and fix and fasten there,
When <Jod and man mutually address’d
God grant’s a blessing, man is truly Mass'd
—Ancient Poems.
MOTNT 01.IVK CHI'RCH.
Deab Index. — Please publish the
following acknowledgment. Received
of the undersigned names the amount
annexed for the purpose of paying for
the house of worship, Mount Olive:
J. J. Wallace, 81 00; Jane Diggs, 25
cents ; Amanda Diggs, 25 cents; John
Dicen, 25 cents; 0. I. Culberson, 25
cents; W. A. Wilson, 50 cents ; A. K.
Seago, 50 cents ; Daniel Pittman, 81 00;
A. M. Perkerson, 50 cents ; A. Berter
ree, 30 cents ; J. M. Wilson, 25 cents’;
J. M. Johnson, 25 cents; W. F. Pool,
50 cents; Dr. W. D. Mitchell, 50 cents ;
M. L. Culberson, 25 cents; J. W.
Burke, 50cents; W. G. Honsby, $1 00;
Rev. W. E. Walker, 25 cents; J. S.
Stone, 50 cents; Jac >b Redwino, —;
J. O. Redwine, 84 00 ; W. S. Redwine,
50 cents ; R. P. Davis, 25 cents ; fctVhi
Middlebrooks, 81 00; E, M. JLa?to.
25 eents;‘A. L. Gilbert, 50 cents* H.
C. Dodson, 50 cents ; W. H. Bryant,
Jr., 25 cents; G. B. Alexander, 81 00;
William Bryant, Sr., 82 00; J. M.
Bryant, 50 cents; P. Scarbrough, 50
centp ; J. M. Baker, 81 00 ; R. A. King,
81 00; J. E. Tucker, 81 00 ;J. J. Fain,
50 cents; W. M. McGee, 50 cents; John
Yates, 50 cents; Joseph Hornsby,
81 00; William Wallace, 25 cents;
Elida Diggs, 5 cents ; N. E. Diggs, 25
cents; T. M. Holliday. 81 00; Sarah
Honsby, 25 cents ; John H. Williams,
81 00. Fraternally yours,
J". G. Speights.
Eaat Point, Oa.
A PASTOR WAYTKI).
The Baptist church in Gainesville,
Florida, wishes to get a pastor —an ed
ucated young mau preferred. Gaines
ville is on the line of railroad from
Fernand inn to Cedar Keys; about mid
way between the Atlantic and Gulf, and
is destined to be one of the largest in
terior towns, as it is situated in a fine
agricultural region, and uear the center
of the great orange producing part of
the State. Society is good, the country
is healthy, and population rapidly in
creasing.
We want a minister to come and lo
cate among us and grow up with the
place. We invite correspondence from
ministers desiring locations. Address
J. H. Tomlcies, Gainesville, Florida, or
M. B. Harrison, Arredondo, Florida.
J. H. Tomkies.
Gainesville, Fia., August 24, 1876.
OKIMISED.
Brethren John J. Williamson and
John C. Calhoun, zealous workers in
the Master’s cause, having produced
satisfactory evidence of good charac
ter, piety, soundness of faith and min
isterial gifts, were on last Sabbath set
apart by the imposition of hands, to
the great work of the Gospel Min
istry. Brother Williamson has .been
called as pastor by the church.’ May
the God of all grace bless our dear
brethren, and crown their ministerial
labors with abundant success in this
life aud immortal honors in His ever
lasting kiugdom.
J. L White,") n , ,
H. T. Smith, j p
Mt. Pisgab Church, Mont omerv county, Ga.,
Aug. 18, 1876.
For the ludex aud Baptist. |
1XQII&Y.
I desire to know if there is a Bap
tist church in Lincoln county called
“ The Goshen Baptist church.” If so,
has said church a record of its past
history ? Will some pastor in Lincoln
please inform me through The Index,
or address me at Madison, Georgia ?
J. W. Butts.
For the Index and Baptist, 1
Is it Bight te Take up Collections for Religious
Purposes In our Sunday-Sthoois ?
An Essay read before the North Georgia Sunday
school Convention, held in Acworth, July 28th
and 29th, 1876, by C. H. Stillwell.
[Published by request of tbt Convention.]
Id addressing myself to the subject
involved in the question, I find it rather
lean of such matter as would call forth
thoughts which give interest, eloquence
or beauty to language. It appears a
simple question of propriety or of dol
lars and cents. I shall, however, en
deavor to treat it as an important
question, for such it really is. Any
person who reads the word of God,
carefully! perceives that selfishness is
the mainspring of all rebellion against
God, the fountain from which flows
every sin. This fact is most clearly
and forcibly illustrated by John Harris,
in his prize essay on Mammon, a book
it would be well for every Christian to
read with the Bible in his hand.
As the true antagonist of selfishness,
the Scriptures insist upon and illus
trate the excellency of love and the
goodness and beauty of beneficienee.
There is nothing in all the Christian’s
experience which more emphatically
accomplishes the apostle’s injunction,
“overcome evil with good” than does
the displacement of selfishness in the
human heart by the introduction of
love and benevolence. Love worketh
no ill to our neighbor, though interest
be involved. Benevolence alone can
move the heart and lips to pray for
them who despitefully use us.
If the blessings of God are precious
to the soul, we should spare no pains,
but by all laudable efforts seek to put
the soul into a habit pleasing to God,
that His blessings might flow into its
experience to enrich and to strengthen
it while in this world of trial. He de
clares in His word that “the liberal
soul shall be made fat, and he that
watereth shall himself be watered
again.” Even the temporal blessings
of this life are thus promised to him
that haveth an open hand ; and God is
pleased to enforce His precepts with
kind promises; saying, “honor the
Lord with thy substance and with the
first fruits of all thine increase, so shall
tby barns be tilled with plenty and thy
presses shall burst out with new wine.”
Our faith should cause us to see in
these promises great good to the future
man or woman who by our training
has been brought to understand the
true nature of Christian beneficienee,
and delight in the practice of that
virtue.
A fair analysis of this question will
show that it is right for us to encour
age our children to make their offer
ings to the cause of Jesus by bringing
the gifts, though ever so small, into
the Sunday school when asked to do
so for a good purpose, and with their
parerit’s knowledge and consent.
1. The minds and hearts of children
are peculiarly impressible. It is an
instinct of their nature to place the
most unquestioning confidence in the
teachings of those older and wiser than
themselves, and to receive impressions
both by precept and example which
would pass entirely unnoticed by older
persons. This is no doubt a provision
of nature, which is constantly sound
ing a call to parents and teachers not
only to supply the ever recurring want
of the soul with wholesome instruction,
but to guard it vigilantly against the
introduction or use of that which is
hurtful. This superior impressibility
of the child invites the best efforts of
its elders and the exercise of all their
wisdom to make these efforts such as
will result in the greatest and most
lasting benefit to the rising genera
tion.
2. It is universally admitted that
early impressions are most lasting; (i e.)
impressions made upon the mind of
a child will influence the future man ;
while the same mind, when fully devel
oped in manhood, will be subject to a
thousand touches of influence, impres
sions, from which will be effaced by
tho next breeze of thought and never
return. It becomes us to remember
that the child of to-day may live to be
an hundred years old. When old age,
decrepitude, loneliness and disease shall
be his daily burden, how terrible if,
with all his other miseries, he must
carry the memory of some dark remin
iscence haunting him as a spectre or
mingling in every cup of comfort a
drop of bitterness ? If he be living the
life of alien from God, without God
and Christion hope in the world, those
early impressions, if evil, prove to be
chains of the “strong man armed,”
holding the affections of his wicked
heart captive to Satan, and making any
struggle he may attempt ineffectual
for his deliverance. How many wretch,
ed creatures such early impressions
have tormented into insan'tv or driven
to suicide, nothing short of the records
of eternity will disclose.
How noble, therefore, the work of
impressing, fixing in the hearts and
minds of the children, sentiments of vir
tue and goodness; and among others the
sentiment of benevolence, the thought
•f good to others culminating in bene
ficience—the act of good to others.
Time and language would both fail to
portray the benefit we confer on the
boy or girl whose heart we teach to
beat responsive to the call of distress
and want. Could the departed forms
of Elizabeth, Countess of Huntington,
Howard, the philantropist, and Pea
body, the last remarkable friend of
youth, with the thousands who have
done less with as pure a spirit, stand
before us and rehearse the peaceful
joys and foretastes of Heaven which
filled their loving hearts and strength
ened and brightened their good hope
through grace, while here on earth,
with tearful eyes ar.d earnest hearts
we would pray to God that it might be
our happy task to open, in many pre
eious young minds and hearts a foun
tain from which should flow such
streams of beneficienee as would en
rich their own soul, cause the widow’s
heart to sing for joy, and throw beams
of Go3,>el light into the inoral darkness
of the world.
3. The condition of the Lord’s cause in
the earth demands that any and all
laudable means be used to improve aud
enlarge His people’s views on the sub
ject of Christian beneficienee. 1. The
churches are suffering from a dearth of
the Word. We certainly do not derive
the practice of having preaching once a
month from the New Testament. It
is a practice firmly fixed, aud will never
be broken up till men an women com
pose our churches whose views of
Chsistian duty are different from those
of this day. As to the importance of
this change let us notice—
1. The very small portion of time
really devoted to the service of God.
A month of 31 days contains 744
hours. When the day of the meeting
arrives, the concerns of the world
occupy the attention of members till
time to go to meeting, and as the
common rule about one hour is filled
up with actual worship ou Saturday
On Sunday, perhaps, as much as two
hours may be thus filled. Thus the
Lord who asks us for one-seventh of
our time gets j4B pait of a long month,
or j4O of a short month.
2. The discrepancy between the or
dinance of God, as understood by or
dainers aud the actual state of the
facta, God has ordained that he who
preaches the Gospel shall live of the
Gospel; but taking the present condi
tion ol the ministry as the criterion of
duty, we must believe there is a mistake
somewhere. Authentic reports would
show that Georgia contains over 500
ordained Baptist ministers, and not
one in ten of th -m is receiving his sup
port from the churches. Facts exist
which prove, beyond doubt, that wealth
does not always explain why sufficient
is paid, nor poverty excuse the small
pittance received by the preacher.
Churches exist which contribute for
pastor’s salary and all other religious
purposes two and perhaps three thous
and dollars a year; while other churches
of greater wealth do not contribute for
all purposes two hundred dollars. The
constant stream of essays and sermons
which has poured forth from the press
all over the land for many years past,
urging improvement in this line of
duty, has been addressed to the adult
members. The signal failure of the.
desired result shows us that we must
look elsewhere for real advance in this
ceaprtment of our work. Train the
children aright, and the future men
and women will do their duty.
Our vie-> s of Christian duty should
not be limited to the churches. “The
field is the world.” Christians owe to
Christ a soul-felt devotion to His cause
in all the earth. Everywhere, in
Christian and in heathen countries,
sinners are perishing. God is daily
dishonored by the wickedness of men,
and His people are commanded to
preach to them, and to teach them, and
to win souls for Christ. Were all the
people of God filled with the Spirit of
Jesus, millions of dollars would flow
into the treasury of the Lord instead
of the few thousands which are now
employed in the holy aud blessed work
of sending the Gospel to the destitute.
We should consider also the reflex
influence which the Scriptures plainly
teach us shall flow back upon the be
nevolent heart. The Lord assures us
that a cup of cold water given in a
Christian spirit shall not be without
its reward. He receives every act of
true Christian generosity as offered to,
and received by, Himself. In reading
the Epistles of Paul we are struck with
his exultant rejricing in Christ, his
Saviour. Even in those passages
where he beclouds the fact with the
paradox the good triumphs over the
evil. He dissipates the cloud of sorrow
with the light of joy ; suffering pover
ty, he glories in making many rich
Stripes, imprisonment, tumults, labors
and even fastings he must endure; yet
he glories in that he serves God by
pureness, by knowledge, by kindness, by
the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by
tie power of God,and by the a r m >ur of
righteousness. "Xes, he rejoices in it all,
for God makes known by him in every
place the Saviour of His knowledge.
If we enquire whence this enthusiastic
devotion to his Master, accommpanied
by this elasticity of Christian spirit,
shall we not find it in part explained
by the grand sacrifice with which by
grace he was enabled to commence his
Christian carter P Friends, family,
wealth and position, present and pros
pective, were all resigned for that
Christ, of whom he asked, “Lord what
wilt thou have me to do ?” He receiv
ed the Spirit which enabled him to say
he “counted all things but less for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus his Lord.” Many, since Paul’s
day, have exhibited the same spirit and
devotion, and it is remarkable that
those converted in their, childhood, or
well trained in childhood and convert
ed when older, more nearly approxi
mate the character of Paul in these
graces than others do. They love
Jesus, are ready to make sacrifices for
Him, and their Christian light burns
with a steadier brilliancy.
For the happiness then of the future
man or woman, and for the advance
ment of the kingdom of Jesus, which
of all the lessons we may have it in our
power to teach our children, shall carrv
with it more of the lustre of grace or
fill their hearts with purer love ? bap
tizing them in the mild radiance of
Gospel light, and moving them in the
very spirit and mind of their divine
Mastor to go about doing good. In
the light of that graphic picture of the
Judgment drawn by the Saviour
himself, we find a cogent argument for
the practice of training the mind and
heart while most impressibleyriu such a
way as will bring the servant of the
Lord to all his duty.
Encourage, therefore, the children to
bring their offerings to the Lord;
teach them it is to show their love to
Jesus and His cause, and when they
can understand that in this way thev
can please God, they will delight "in the
service. When it shall please God to
call them fully into His work aud ser
vice by regeneration, the Spirit will be
in them a well spring of the Water of
Life, gushing forth more freely and
blessing more largely themselves and
all others with whom they come in con
tact.
deleft llliscdlang.
EXPLORATIONS ABOIMI THE RIVER JORDAN.
[Jerusalem Cor. Boston Advertiser.]
One of the most remarkable things
connected with the Jordan is its jung
les, which are confined to the banks of
the river. Thistles, briers, canes, vines,
willows, tamarisks and many other trees
and shrubs grow so thick and rank that
it is impossible to penetrate to the wa
ter s edge. After having once seen
these jungles one ceases to wonder whv
the boars and the other wild animals
which frequent such places have never
been exterminated. Here their retreat
is secure. One day recently, in a cane
brake or jungle where I had succeeded
in penetrating a short distance, I started
a wild boar not ten feet from me, and I
may say that he start' and me, or startled
me at least. But as he ran it did not
become necessary for me to do so, even
if I had been able. He made a tre
mendous crashing as he dashed through
the dry canes and bushes, but the jung
le was so thick that I could not point
my rifle at him at all. Beside boars,
jackals, hyenas, ichneumons, and other
wild animals, frequent these jungles,
and birds also are found here in great
numbers and variety. We have already
nearly one hundred in our natural his -
tory collections, some of which are rare,
while many of them are exceedingly
beautiful. We have Smyrna kingfishers,
frankolins, eagle-gulls, cormorants,
partridges, quails, kestrels, griffon
vultures, ducks, storks, herons, Phara
oh’s chickens, ravens, nightingales, be
side a great many others, of some of
which we do not even know the names.
The heron is a very difficult bird to ob
tain, and no less so are the beauuful
frankolins. The frankolin resembles
in shape the guinea-hen, and is twice
♦he size of the largest of the two kinds
of partridges found here. They have
a small head and short neck and legs,
and the colors are exquisite. The flesh
is white and delicious, but inclines to
be dry. They have a peculiar call of
five or six notes, and hide in the grass
and run under it in such a stealthv
way that it is only by rare good luck
that one gets a shot a r , them. The ea
gle gull which we have spreads five-feet
and eleven inches. The immense grif
fon vultures, of which we have a pair,
male and female, measure the same ;
that is, three feet six inches from tip
of beak to tip of tail, and spread re
spectively eight feet three inches and
eight feet four inches. TVhile they mea
sure the same in length, the female
makes the biggest spread by exactly
P ne inch. Among four-footed animals
in Syria, the leopard is destined soon
to become extinct. They are found
now only in the wildest and most
inaccessible gorges, and even there but
seldom. Large amounts have been of
fered for their skins, and native
hunters are constantly on the lookout
for them. A few years ago one could
obtain a reasonable number of leopard
skins without any difficulty, while now
it is impossible to get even one at anv
price.
The party under my charge have been
already about six weeks in the Jordan
Valley, and we have yet two weeks’
work to do at the northeast corner of
the Dead Sea. I came up to Jerusalem
to get our letters, and to let the outside
world know, after six weeks’ hard work
in exile, that we were still alive.
Another object was to meet *he
venerable Dr, Thomson, who goes with
us to Kerak. Besides natural history,
to which reference has been made, *1
have paid special attention to the
botany, geology and archaeology of the
region visited, and hope that the results
of my explorations will be found to be
of some importance.
Mr. C. A. M. Fennell, late fellow
of Jesus College, Cambridge, has nearly
finished a full and systematic treatise
on the comparative philology of the
Aryan nations, with especial reference
to Greek, Latin and English. The
work will contain a general introduc
tion and an appendix, composed of
essays on various interesting problems
of the linguistic science.