Newspaper Page Text
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For the lodex and Baeti-t !
THE GEORGIA COMMITTEE ON MISSION'S.
Messrs Editohs — A brief allusion
in the Religious Herald to the Commit
tee on Mi ssions, appointed by the |
Georgia Baptist Convention, at its last
session, gives an erroneous impression.
Permit me to state briefly the objects
of that Committee. It is not a Missutn
Commit t>e, in the sense of taking in
band a missionary work ; nor is it in
tended to manage missionary matters.
Its objects are three fold : 1. To
arouse a greater interest in missions, in
all our Georgia churches. 2. To in
duce those churches to adopt, each,
some systematic method for collecting
benevolent funds. 8. To promote co
operation (unity of aim and effort)
among the Georgia Baptist churches.
The money its Treasurer receives, is
applied, strictly, as the contributors
may instruct, whether intended for
Association Missions, Sunday-school
work, Indian Missions, Domestic Mis
sions, or Foreign Missions.
To these ends, the great general ob
jects of mission work aro presented to
the churches, and they are urged to
conti ihute; each church is earnestly so
licited to adopt some particular plan
or method of contributing, which will
obtain something from each member,
and persist systematically in carrying
out that plan ; and that these two ends
may be ; hieved, a mission enthusiasm
is sought to bo aroused in each church.
Having its Committee and agent, the
Convention seeks the co operation of
all the Aesociational bodies in the State,
and, through them, will endeavor to
arouse a mission spirit., and carry out
and perpetuate systematic methods of
collecting mission money in each church.
It, by no means, insists on being the
only medium of transferring funds, but
leaves that mainly to tile donors. It,
however, expects to receive an amount
sufficient to pay the salaries which the
Convention authorized to be paid to the
State Agent and Sunday-school Evan
gelist. Thus the Committee, by its
State Agent, becomes directly the col
lecting agent for the Home and Foreign
Boards, and they should so consider
and correspond * with that agent, as
though he were their own. Therefore,
there is no necessity for their sending
a paid collecting agent to Georgia.
The leat and ultimate aim of that
Committee is to increase Georgia's con
tributions to Missions, enlarging and
combining the contributions of the
churches, by a general and well-un
derstood effort “all along the lino.”
And to do this, wo seek first to increase
the interest in the Mission work. We
have no Statu Mission Board proper,
but work through the Hofne and For
eign Boards ; and if the plan does not
prove .successful, or if the j.gcnLelected
proves iy an. eat, it will he modified, or
another State agent will bo secured.
We are making an experiment, with
noble objects in view, and with the
highest and purest aims. Still, the
plan is not entirely satisfactory to all
in the State, and its continuance or
modification will depend upon circum
stances. We think the Virginia plan
cumber.-oni, though, I confess, we do
not understand it fully, and I wish
someone would send The Index a
brief and clear statement of it, and of its
operations and success. S. Boykin.
Macon, Georgia.
For tlic Index and Baptist.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE NEWS
Concord Atwooiatiou —Cumberland Association
Meetings and Labors.
Dear Index—Since my lust com
muuicalion, I have been so much op
pressed by hot weather, that I could
do nothing but preach and hence have
not sent you any thing for several
weeks.
Concord Association held its last
session nearly a mouth ago, hut I have
as yet, seen no notice of it in The
Index, but should you have published
any thing, you can mark this out. The
body was organized by the election of
elder J. M. Philips, of Lebanon, mod
erator, and elder W. H. Wallace, of
Franklin, clerk. I arrived on the second
day of the session and was welcomed to
a seat as agent of the Home Mission
Board for Tennessee. The Concord is
the Association into which I was bap
tized, the church of which I was first
a member, being in this body. Portious
of the Association are prosperous,
others declining.
Cumberland Association, lying ou
Cumberland river and north of it,
except the Nashville First and Third
churches, which are members, met a
fortnight ago, in Robertson county,
and organized by re-electing all of its
officers : W. A. Nelson, moderator; A.
Larcombe, clerk ; Milton Green, treas
urer. The session was a pleasant and
successful one. Two new churches
made application for membership and
were received. Nashville Third, through
its pastor, L. B. Fish, aud Clarkesville,
through Dr. A. D. Sears, their pastor.
Elder W. W. Gardner aud “Recorder”
A. C. Caperton, of Kentucky,were visit
ors. The audiences were immense and I
orderly. The business was managed
well and dispatched, but not with “ iu
decent haste.”
MEETINGS AND LABORS.
I have labored in meetings at the
following churches: with elder W. A.
Whitsett, at Antioch, near Nashville,
where I preached only three times,
wh( n bishop Wallace assisted the pastor.
Results: the church revived, three
baptisms and others converted. I
labored with tny long-time friend and
co-laborer, W. B. Trenary, at two
churches in protracted meetings. At
Marrowbone church a brief meeting
was held, resulting in five additions by
baptism ; at Union Hill church, a five
davs meeting resulted in the church
being much revived, old and little
hopes brightened, and a number of
conversions. Eider Trenary is an old
man, 72 years old, preaches to four
churches, and makes a crop. He was
advanced in years before he commenced
preaching. He was the first to arrive
at the conclusion that I bad strong im
pressions of duty to preach, spoke to
me and encouraged me, and after I was
ordained, I helped to ordain him.
More anon, strength permitting.
W. N. Chaudoin.
+
For the Index and Baptist.
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
GLORIOUS REVIVAL MEETINGS —PERRY
SCHOOL HOUSE—MICANOPY —BRON-
SON—A NEW CHURCH TO BE
ORGANIZED, ETC., ETC.
Bronson, Fla., Aug. 24th, 1876.
Editors Index. —When I wrote last
I was at Pleasant Grove, engaged in an
interesting meeting. This meeting
closed on the 6th inst. Seven were
baptized and two others received, who
are awaiting baptism. The church was
very much revived, and brethren and
sisters who had been indifferent to the
great interests of the cause of Christ
and the salvation of souls returned
from their backslidings, rejoicing to
come up again to the help of the Lord
against the mighty.”
At Perry school house, eight miles
South-east from Gainesville, the wri
ter baptized five on Friday, the 11th
inst. These make ten that have been
baptized at this place within a month.
From this place writer went to Mi
canopy, where there was a Baptist
church before the war, but which has
bsen extinct for several years. In a
meeting of four days, beginning Friday
evening before the second Sunday in
this month, the attendance small at
first, increased to the end, and the in
terest increased. There was one clear
conversion during the night meeting.
After a discourse fiotn the tet, “Be
lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt he saved,” the happy convert
was baptized in a beautiful lake near
by, and went on her way rejoicing.
There are several very pious and
faithful sisters at this place, who have
been deprived of church privileges for
a longtime ; but we hope to organize
a church here next month, aud com
mence building a house for worship,
and we hope to seo a flourishing church
in this beautiful and pleasantly situa
ted little town before loig. t •
, V,’ho write! then preivednd on his
miesionary tour to Bronson, in Levy
county, and engaged in a meeting of
five days, which closed yesterday at
Corinth church, near Bronson, in which
we were abundantly blessed. Seven
teen were added to the church—twelve
by experience and five by letter and
restoration. This little church organ
ized in June, is growing very fast.
They have a house for worship nearly
completed.
The writer will proceed from here to
Cedar Keys to engage in a meeting
there of several days.
G. W. Hall.
For the Inti x and Baptist.!
LCTTI.H FROM AVAI/IHOIIRVILLK, GKOKGIA.
ltaptisms, cte. —Our Jiciv Mission Plan, aud ;lie
missionaries.
it was my privilege to baptize five
persons at South Newport church, be
tween the third and fourth Sabbath in
July. The meeting was begun by
brethren Atkinson and Mundy on Sat
urday before the third Sabbath. Other
engagements prevented me from reach
ing the neighborhood until Monday
following. At the next regular meet
ing I baptized two others. Some of
these were the fruits of a meeting in
November last.
Perhaps my dear brother, S. Boykin,
will think that I have “grasped the
true idea of the sphere of duty occupied
by brother Irwin,” when I say that he
expresses my idea of it in the first
paragraph of his communication pub
lished in a recent issue. I don’t think
that brother Irwin’s efforts in ;he line
of his duty “to arouse a Mission spirit
and iuduce the churches to collect their
own funds,” systematically and regu
larly “from conscientious motives,”
wiU be in va>n. “Our plan would, by
no means, prove a failure, were brother
E. W. Warren’s prophecy to be fulfill
ed ; for in a year or two it might result
in increased contributions, though
falling short the first year.” It might
result in increased contributions. I
believe it will so result. But this
falling short the first year! The con
tingency calls to mind the old saying,
"while the grass grows the steed
starves.” Our missionaries are in the
field and cannot —must not starve. It
was in view of this contingency that I
ventured to express the opinion that
[ agents would bo useful, in preventing
the contingency, and in aiding brother
Irwin to hasten the introduction of
system among tho churches. It was
only an opinion which I did not expect
to influence any change, and no one
will be better pleased than I to fiud, in
the working of “our plan,” that it was
a mistaken opinion. Yes, it is our
plan, and I expect to work as sincerely I
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST.
as any one to make it suejeeed in the
face of prophecy acd fears.
D. G. Daniell.
Walthourville, August 21, 1876.
For the Imlcx end Baptist.]
OUR VIRGINIA LETTER.
A Centennial Association.
The Centennial sessions of the Straw
berry Association were h§ld the Bth,
9th, 10th and 11th of August, with
Mt. Olivet church, in Bedford county.
The Ii troductory sermon was preached
by Rev. Dr. Montgomery, the Modera
tor. A great effort, in which were pre
sented and discussed with logical clear
ness the fundamental principles of our
denominational faith and polity. You
may rest assured that there was no
sentimentalism in the discourse; no
emasculating of the Gospel, nor dodging
logical conclusions or sequences, for
charity or policy’s sake. At this par
ticular time, when we have*so much
"gush," so much prating of charity for
“the brethren who differ with us,"
so much destroying of the Word
for “my congregation’s sake,” such
sentiments are truly refreshing food
for the soul.
“pikeism.”
The sermon, and a speech or two,
claiming that consistency and fidelity
to Christ, made it the duty of Baptists
to teach their own doctrines in their
Sabbath schools, had the effect to
develop the “ Pikeism ” in the
delegation. It was ascertained, how
ever, that those who were in the
habit of holding union meetings, (and
not infrequently for Pedobaptists)
and whoso churches were working in
Union Sunday schools, were those who
indulged most freely in the sentiments
of Professor Fox. The prevailing sen
timent is opposed to this virtual ad
vocacy for a surrender of our princi
ples, and a coalescing with errorists. In
the Appomattox Association, held last
week, near this city, there were no Pike
utterances. On the contrary, the se
verest denunciation of his liberalism.
It is hard for brethren to realize the
consistency of not communing with
Pedobaptists before receiving them into
the fellowship of our churches if their
baptisms are valid. “ Does the act of
receiving them make the baptism
valid ? ” inquires the member when the
Methodist or Episcopalian is received
on his immersion. Whenever such a
jiolity is to control us, wo had better
turn our churches over to the Free
Will Baptists.
Well, let Pike, like Alex. Campbell,
set up his standard, start a now sect,
and sec how long his Utitudinarianism
will flourish. However unpopular Dr.
Pendleton’s “ Landmarks Reset ” may
lie, one fact is not to be questioned :
That this little book has jetyr been an
swered. . Keep this bofo> Yfcfcs world.
V , aof wrut * 4
'liev. dI. Bitting delivered the His -
torical discourse, which embraced much
of the history of the denomination in
the United States. This was necessary,
in order to the development of the
histoiy of the Strawberry Association,
There was no Pikeism in this review of
a hundred or more years of history.
On the contrary, there was a martyr
spirit brought to light, for holding just
tlte converse of Pikeism. Dr. Bitting’s
effort was worthy the man and the oc
casion. It will be published, and will
make a book of more than one hun
dred pages. B. G. M.
Lynchburg, Va., Aug., 1876.
For the Index ami Baptist.]
LETTER FROM TIIOMiSTOX.
On Monday, August 14th, I uiet elder
H. S. Moore, at Calhoun ; he is the
beloved pastor of the church at that
place and had just closed a week’s
meeting with the church. We had
known each other intimately before the
war, and this was the first time we had
met in twelve or fifteen years. He was
on the point of returning home, and
invited me to accompany him as far as
Sugar Valley, where he thought a
meeting was in progress, aud where
ministerial help might be needed. I
accepted, aud soon we vere traveling
the once very familiar road from Cal
houn through Sugar Valley and Snake
Creek Gap to Villanow.
Arrived at the church we found the
congregation collecting for the eleven
o’clock service. Neither brother Moore
nor I, knew whether any one present
would be able to recognize us. But we
had no sooner driven up than several
brethren recognized us. Many whom
I had not seen since the first year of the
late war were present. When I en
tered the church I mot familiar faces ;
there sat dear old brother Roaz, with
whom I had passed so many happy
hours, aud whose brotherly hospitality
I had so often enjoyed ; there was my
dear old brother, deacon John Haines,
once the companion of elders Posey
and Gordon, and by whose self-deuyiug
labors in part, Sugar Valley church
had been organized years before the
war. Brother Haines was the most
prominent deacon, and one of the most
active members of the church at Villa
uow, when she called for my ordination
as a minister of Jesus Christ. There
too, was his excellent lady, so remark
able for her deep piety, and for her
Chnstian kindness and many labors
for the Lord aud His people. Faithful
veterans of Jesus, you have borne the
burden and heat of the day, aud
possibly are not far from your ce
lestial home. May the peace of
Jesus rest upon your honored
heads! Then there were brethren
Harbor, Wright, E. Haines, and many
others, whom I had begun to love as j
Christians before the war. There, too,
was brother‘o. H. Davis, whom I had
known as deacon of Bethel church,
Early county. My heart was filled
with deep emotiou as I looked around
upon these dear faces, so familiar in
other days.
I made the acquaintance of elder W.
M. Bridges, the esteemed pastor of the
church, whose failing health had pre
vented him from preaching for several
weeks. I found him a warm-hearted
Christian. I also met for the first time,
Elder S. R. C. Adams, who had been
raised in the neighborhood, but had
moved to North Alabama within tbe
last live or six years. He is a young
brother of earnest, warm-hearted dispo
sition, with quick perceptive powers,
and good delivery.
The church had been much depress
ed at the idea of having to close the
meeting for want of ministerial help.
Only one sermon had been preached up
to Monday morning. They did not
know where they could procure help.
By the arrival of three ministers they
were much encouraged, and recei
ved us most cordially. With renew
ed courage and zeal they took hold
of the meeting. The membership of
the church was much revived. Sin
ners flocked to the anxious seats, ask
ing, “What shall I do to he saved ?”
Mourners were comforted, and such
were added to the church as we hoped
were saved.
The meeting continued day and night
till Sabbath afternoon. The mourners
exhibited very deep penitence, many
crying aloud for mercy. I shall not
soon forget the plaintive cry of one
dear young lady as she continued to
send up the petition, “O, God! save
me!” I hope she has long since found
that peace for which she so passionate
ly prayed, and is now sweetly resting
on Jesus.
On Saturday night, before the meet
ing closed on Sabbath, we supposed
sixty or more must have come to the
anxious seat. As the immediate result
of the meeting, fifteen were baptized
and received into the fellowship of the
church, and two others are awaiting
baptism. Brother Adams and I did
the baptizing for the pastor. I had
the pleasure of baptizing sister Georgia
A. Bridges, the wife of the pastor.
May the Lord abundantly bless them
both, in their relations to each other,
his people and the world.
Sugar Valley church is a noble hand
of God’s people. Nestled in their
beautiful little valley, and shut in by
the surrounding mountains, they al
most call to mind some of the churches
of the Vaudois in Piedmont R or
ganizd“since the war, they now have
a membership of nearly two hundred.
The church practically recognizes the
, hi '2. 06 Jesus Christ—“JThe laborer is
worthy of his hire,” and lienee a collec
tion was made for them.
May the Great Head of the Church
bless Sugar Valley, and her devoted
pastor.
T. H. Stout,
Tliomaston, Ga., Sept. 4tli, 1876.
For the Index and Baptist.]
ELDER It J BOGIE.
Dear Index.— It has long been my
purpose to offer a few words in regard
to tho good brother whose name stands
at the head of this paper. He has been
among the Indians of the great West
for fifteen or twenty years, and, I think,
was once the Missionary of tho Bethel
Association. Owing to tho hardness of
the times, and greater hardness of
hearts, I fear, of those brethren who
sent brother H. to the Indians, it was
proposed that he return and labor at
home till his health should become
better, etc. Suffice it to say, the con
nection of brother H. aud the Associa
tion ceased, by mutual consent. Broth
er H. refused to leave the Indians, how
ever, and is laboring without assis
tance, except small voluntary contribu
tions from individuals and churches.
These are inadequate to the demands,
and he is too valuable a man to be left
to struggle alone in so vast a field. His
modest, retiring nature will not allow
him to plead his own cause ; therefore,
he labors unaided.
Is it right, is it wise, to thus neglect
an intelligent, experienced, minister iu
this field, when a few hundred dollars
might make him the center of some
work sirnhar to that now done by breth
ren Murrow aud Buckner? Such an
expenditure of means would be far bet
ter than if spent in arms, ammunition
and soldiers, sent there to destroy those
deeply injured people.
This information about brother 11.,
was obtained mainly from brother Mur
row, and without the knowledge of
brother H., and I make the suggestions
on my own responsibility, hoping that
some Association, able to sustain the
brother properly, will this fall provide
him a suitable field whore he can work
to greater advantage.
Meanwhile let the friends of this
brother, who have heretofore given
their mites, uow make a thank-offering
of the large crops God has given, by
sending, either directly to brother H.
or to the Bethel Association, and it will
be, no doubt, treasure in Heaven to
those who give freely and liberally.
W. M. Howell.
Fcr the Index and Baptist.
BRIEF TENNESSEE NOTES.
Many brethren in Georgia recollect
elder Win. Huff, who visited the State
during the war in behalf of Army Mis
sions. He lives at Bell Buckle, on the
Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad,
and preaches to the church there and
at Wartrace. He is a good brother,
solid, sound, practical.
I visited Mrs. A. C. Dayton, widow
of Dr. Dayton, at her house in Shelby -
ville, Tennessee, this week, and some
of your readers will he glad when I say
I never saw her in so good health.
Miss Laura was in school, and I failed
to meet her. At Shelbyville, elder J.
H. Thompson baptized five in the pool
in his church last Sunday night. Grown
persons never saw a true baptism be
fore. W. N. Chaudoin.
For the Index and Baptist.
A BAPTIST CHURCH CONSTITUTED.
On Thursday last, after preaching
by Rev. VV. M. Williamson, fifteen
brethren and sisters covenanted to live
together in the bonds of church fellow
ship, and to keep the faith of the Gos
pel. The church called Rev. H. T.
Smith to act as Moderator during con
ference, and also elected brethren John
F. Currin and Hardy J. Walden offi
cers of the church —the former clerk
and the latter deacon. The church
hears the name “MRway.” Brother
H. T. iSmith is pastor for the remain
der of this associational year.
Malcomb Currie,
W. M. Williamson,
H. T. Smith,
Presbytery.
Laurens county, Ga., August 17, 1876.
For the Index and Baptist.]
SINS OF OMISSION AND COMMISSION.
Haralson, Ga., Aug. Ist, 1876.
By vote of the General Meeting of
Fourth District Western Association
you are requested to publish a query
sent up to ns from Providence church :
“Why is there so much coldness and
indifference among us, as Christians
and Baptists ?"
Good, noble and timely reasons were
given by our dear brethren H. C.
Hornady, W. C. Barnes, James Barrow,
A. T. Barnes, A. Moses and C. J. Fall.
The reasons given were : “The Sins
of Omission and Commission.”
W. L. Taylor,
Clerk General Meeting.
For the Index and Baptist.]
REV. W. D. ATKINSON.
Baptist Church, Brunswick, Ga.,
August 20,1876.
The following preamble and resolu
tions were thts day adopted unani
rnouslv by this church :
Whereas, Our pastor, Rev. W. D. Atkinson,
lias tendered to the church his resignation.
Resolved, That we accept it wiih regret,
thanking him for his zealous labors in behalf
of the church, and cause of his Master Jesus
Christ during his stay with “us, and that we
recognize in him a faithful Christian minister
and an earnest worker for the Gospel of Christ.
JJBwolved, That a copy of these resolutions
be forwarded to brother W. D. Atkinson, also
a copy to The Christian Index for publi
cation.
11. A. Ken rick, Chetk.
— . -a
For the Index and Baptist.j
QUERY.
Dear Index—l wish to present a
query for the consideration of your
readers. I desire light on the subject.
Is it right and in accordance with
our faith as missionary Baptists, to re
ceive a member from the Hardshell
persuasion without rebaptism ?
Brother Kilpatrick's “ Notes on Bap
tism,” should he published in hook
form. W. L. Taylor.
Haralson, Ga.
jMbsioit department.
For the Index and Baptist. |
An Address to the BaptUt l.adies of Georgia.
Dear Sisters. —ln a recent issue of
The Christian Index, brother Irwin
appealed to us to form “Women’s Mis
sion to Women” societies throughout
the State, for the purpose of supporting
the four female missionaries who have
gone from Georgia to China. Shall
we allow that appeal to pass unheeded?
Before deciding this let us consider
the love of Jesus for us, His claims up
on us, the lost condition of the heathen,
and then ask ourselves if it is not as
much our duty as that of the missiona
ries to do all in our power to furnish
them the gospel. An opportunity is
here offered us to display our love for
Christ and His cause. In no other
way can we more glorify our Saviour
than by helping to diffuse among the
nations of earth a knowledge of that
gospel which has secured to us so
many rich and precious blessings.
But for the beneficent influence of
the gospel our condition to day would
be similar to that of our sisters in pa
gan lands : not the helpmeet and com
panion of man, but his servaut, his
slave, and viewed by him as almost
destitute of intellect and very little su
perior to the brute creation. It is
only where the beams of the sun of
righteousness shines that woman is
elevated to her proper sphere and posi
tion in society.
How sacred the obligation resting on
Christian women to honor their Re
deemer by putting forth great efforts
to enlighten those who are yet oppress
ed and degraded. The gospel, is iu a
two tell sense, to the heathen females,
“glad tidings of salvation.” It not only
delivers them from the wrath to come,
but raises them from the depths of deg
radatiou and wickedness into which
they are plunged, and confers on them
the privileges and enjoyments of their
sisters in Christian lands.
My sisters, should we not esteem it a
privilege to participate in the great
work of rescuing the women of heath
en nations from the baneful influences
of idolatry and superstition, and of be
stowing upon them the elevating power
of Christianity? While we rejoice in the
blessings that are vouchsafed to us in
the Bible, we should temember that we
have it in our power to make our un
fortunate sisters “across the waters”
blessed and a blessing. Shall we not
do it?
“Work such as this might angel hands employ.
Work such as this might augel hearts enjoy'”
It i3 a work in which we may labor
like Jesus, for Him, and with Him.
We may not feel it our duty to go in
jerson to present to them the enno
bling and saving gospel, but we can
pray for and support those who have
gone, and through their agency be in -
strumental in the salvation of our be
benighted sisters, and of extending the
knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.
Owing to the distinctions subsisting be
tween the sexes, our male missionaries
have no access to the Chinese home.
It is only the female missionaries and
Bible women who can penetrate the
stronghold of idoiatry and present the
way of life to the heathen mother and
child. The evangelization of the heath
en must be effected through the moth
ers. They being reached it is easy to
secure the minds of the children. In a
letter to me Dr. Tupper says, “The
conversion of one woman in China is of
more value, humanly speaking, than
that of five men. In my opinion the
women of our land must prove the
power, under God, of saving the na
tions.”
We may safely conclude that no
evangelic work is of more importance
than that being performed by our mis
sionary sisters, whom ire are urged to
sustain. They have sacrificed the
pleasant associations of friendship and
all the endearing ties of home, that
they may be embassadors of mercy to
our down-trodden, grief-laden sisters
of China. Their lovely and Christ like
example should inspire us with an in
tense desire to aid in sustaining them.
In the prosecution of their Heaven-horn
mission, many hardships and privations
are endured by them. Should we ask
them why tbe surrender of home com
forts anil pleasures for a life of toil aud
sacrifice, their ready response would he,
“The love of Christ constraineth us.”
Sisters of Georgia, let us arouse from
our apathy. Let us feel that we can
and must do more in the glorious work
ot Foreign Missions. A work render
ed sacred and binding on each one of
us by the expressed command of the
blessed Saviour. Here a noble field
of usefulness is opened to us, one in
which may be found abundant scope for
out energies and zeal. Let us joyous
ly enter it at once and improve it, as
we shall certainly wish we had done
when called to give an account of our
stewardship. I will say, in the lan
guage of a South Carolina
“Time is too short, Heaven too glorious,
Hell too horrible, and eternity too long
for us longer to pass unheeded the cry
of the perishing heathen.”
While a female missionary was talk
ing to a number of heathen women
about the love of Jesus for a sinful
world, the glories of Heaven, and the
hopeless conditihn of the finally impen
itent, she was interrupted by one
one of them asking, “Do all the women
of your country believe these things ?”
“Oh, yes they all believe them,” was
the reply. “I can’t think, I can’t think
so ; no, they don’t believe them, if
they did more of them would come
to tell us about them,”
Should not these words of a heathen
woman cause us to feel much self-re
proach for our indifference concerning
the salvation of the millions of our
race who have never heard the gospel ?
Shall we not awake to the responsi
bilities of the hour, and make amends
for our past neglects by renewed zeal
and energy ?
Iu Georgia there are over 1650 white
Baptist churches, with a membership
of 105,500. I presume it is safe to say
that at least one-half of their number
are females, and yet there are only
twenty-three “ Women’s Mission to
Women” societies. Notwithstanding
the oppressed condition of South Car
olina, the Baptist ladies of the State
have about seventy missionary societies
in active operation. We should emu
late their zeal. “There should be hun
dreds of ‘Women’s Mission to Women’
societies in our churches,” is the lan
guage of our State Mission Agent.
That there are not, is a sad comment on
our missionary spirit.
Will not the ladies throughout the
State organize a missionary society in
every church. Surely there may be
found in each one at least one or two
active workers, whose hearts are filled
with the love of Jesus, and who will be
willing to evince that love by visiting
the ladies of their church and enlisting
their sympathies and co-operation in
this work. No sacrifice of labor or time
should be considered too great for us to
make, when the promotion of the Re
deemer’s kingdom is the object. Jesus
sacrificed the riches and glories of
Heaven for us. “Though He was rich,
yet for our sakes He became poor, that
we, through His poverty, might be
rich." Dear sisters, let us honor our
Saviour, cheer the hearts of our mis
sionaries, and encourage brother Irwin
by organizing a missionary society in
each of our churches. The pleasure
we will realize in performing'this duty
will amply compensate us for all the
trouble and self-denial it will cause us.
Of our work, Jesus will say, “Ye did it
unto Me ” Mrs. N. A. Bailey.
Quitman, Aug. 29tb.