Newspaper Page Text
The Christian Index.
VOL. 55— NO. 39.
Table of Contents
First Taoe.—Alabama Deoartmsnt: Record of
£ State Events; Supporting Ind. gent Ministers;
Forsaking Sins; Davs of Prayer for Sabbath-
Schools ; Personal ; Spirit of the Religions
Pres t; Baptist News and Notes ; Missionary
Field; General Denominational News; etc.
Secokd Page. —Our Correspondents: The Ben
efit of System—To the Ch irches of the Cen
tral Association -S. Botkin: To the Churches
of the Bethel Association—Wm. H. Cooper; In
dian Missions—J. M. Wood; An Ap: eal for
Help for B'unswick—T. B. Cooper; Rev. John
Mclntosh. Missionary o' Stone Mountain Asso
ciation. From the Associations : Mercer and
Washington As ociationß Ordination.
Third Page.— The Sunday-school; The Martyr
dom of Stephen—Lesson for Sunday, October
15th, 1876 : Children’s Corner ; The Bird w ith
Eight l egs: Sacredness of a Promise; A
Child’s Beautiful Faith; Let me Rest —Poetry,
Fourth Page.— Edit ral Paragraphs ; ‘ Open
Communion ;’’ Georgia Baptist News ; One of
the Saddest Chap: ers of a Christian’s Biog
raphy ; Christianity of the Catacombs; Giving
the Gospel—Rev. D. E. Bntler. The First
Point of Connection Between the Soul and
True Religion—Rev. S. G. H diver, 1). D. Ba
repta Association—Dr. J. 8. Lawton. A Chris
tian’s Cons< crated Life—Rev. J. S. Baker.
Fifth Page.— Secular Editoriils : Rev. Edward
H. Myers D.D.; Illness of Mr. Estill; Mrs.
Mary Bumstead Shorter; Literary Gossip;
A Fearful Responsibility ; A Book of Verse;
Georgia News; The Index and Baptist ; Tel
low Fever News.
Sixth Page.— Our Pulpit; Thou Shalt not Cov
et—An Essay read by brother A. J. Cooper, in
the Oeneral Meeting of the Fiist District Wes
tern Association, held at Lutherville, Geor
gia, and forwarded for publication in The
idex, by request of the members.
Seventh Page. —Agricultural: Plans for the
Month; Winter Oats in Cotton Laud; Indian
Clover or Beggar Weed ; Important Home
stead Decision—Georgia Grange. Training
Colts; etc.
Eighth Page. — To Indei Subscribers; The
Friendship Associa: ton ; Geueral Meeting at
Lnmpkin; Letter from Savannah; A Blessing
from the Start—Poetry; etc.
INDEX AND BAPTIST.
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT.
Selma has hid two frosts recently.
The public schools of Mobile open the 16th.
Selma and Montgomery continues ti be
very healthy.
To the 30lh ult., Montgomery had sent SBSO
to Savannah and Brunswick.
In Scottsboro pork has been sold for five
I cents net.
Mrs. Lott, of Mobi'e, was recently latally
-. x nby kerosene. *
( The Marengo county fair begins at Linden
; TANARUS: ere are several ca es of typhoid fever in
'Anniston.
Scarlet fever has made its appearance in
Tadsden.
A special term of the Fayette circuit court will
begin the third Monday in November.
Dr. Hawthorne has definitely accepted the
pastorate of the Montgomery Baptist church.
During a religious revival at Trinity .Morgan
county, there were sixty conversions.
The cotton crop around Shelby will average
two-thirds of a usual crop.
New corn in Eutaw is selling at thirty-five
cents per bushel.
Montgomery has anew paper called the
Monday Morning Timet
The concert at Allenton, Wilcox county, for
the benefit of the Methodist church will be re
peated the 9th inst.
The Asliville A£rjis predicts cold weather
about th Middle of October, and ice the last
of th< month.
Thirty-three persons have recently been bap
tized into Spring Creek church, Cherokee
county.
The Jefferson county agricultural show at
Kuhama will be held November Ist. not Octo
ber 20th, as heretofore announced.
Gen. Bragg was buried in Mobile last Sat
urday, hie remains having been taken thither
ft jui Galveston.
A daughter of tt. H. Strong, of Madison
county, was thrown front a horse and killed,
cm the 23 ult.
The dry weather is seriously interfering with
the water mills and cotton gin operations
throughout the State.
Mr. DeLeon Whilden, lost in the recent
wreck of the steamer Rebecca Clyde, off the
c ast of North Carolina, was a son of Rev. Mr.
Whilden, of Pleasant Hill.
The annual session ol Conecuh River Prim
itive Baptist Association convened at Eb
enezer church, nearßamah, in Montgomery
county, Saturday, the 7th inst.
There is reason to believe the show of stock
at the District Grange Fair at Selma, will be
the best ever seen in Alabama.
The Governor offers a reward of S2OO for
the apprehension of Frank M. Manning
•bar ged with killing Thomas Benßon, at Jem
m>n, August 24th.
Mrs Charity Upton died on Sand Mountain
the other day, aged 99 years 8 months and 7
THIS SOTJTH-WESTEBF BAPTIST,
of Alabama.
SIPPORTING INI).CENT MINISTERS.
A good brother, writing from Coosa
county, Alabama, bewailing the pover
ty-stricken condition of the people in
that portion of the State, owiug to the
lo g drouth, and the ravages of the
cotton-worm, says of himself: “The
little service which I render as a pastor
is almost gratuitous ; besides I have a
wife and seven children to support,
hence mv disqualification as a minister.
I have thought of writing an article for
publication on that subject.
I am satisfied that it would be a
charity with which the Lord would be
well pleased, if a portion of the money
that is lavished in building fine church
edifices, were expended in giving aid
and support to poor ministers in this
country, who have to plow for a living,
and’ thus enable them to preach the
Gospel to the destitute.”
We agree with our correspondent
that the ambition of many congrega
tions to worship in fine, and conse
quently costly, church edifices, trenches
seriously upon means that could be
more usefully applied. The exterior
part of religion, the ornamental, that
shows itself to the world in costly
structures, elaborate furniture and
other evidences of affluence, are not es
sential to it; its essentials are true
piety, earnest and incessant efforts to
spead the light of the Gospel ; active
Mission labor, at home and abroad, and
consecrated efforts to make every pos
sible means available to these ends.
The support of efficient ministers in
destitute localities is a valuable means
to promote the cause' of our Saviour,
and should he diligently urged by every
church, even though its ambition to
hold services in a fashionably construct
ed edifice should be indefinitely post
poned.
We should like for some of our cor
refwondents to ciMargo upon this theme,
ana give expression to practical views
upon it.
Foesaking Sins. —ls there no giv
ing up to be done in order to be saved ?
Yes, a vast deal. Repentance is not
only sorrow for sin, but the prompt
abandonment of sin. When Christ
talked with a young inquirer, who
asted what he should do to inherit
eternal life, He commanded thejyoung
man to give up of his estate to the
poor, and “ come and follow him.” The
youth was not willing to make the eur
render. His besetting Bin was selfish
ness. Christ touched him “on the
quick” when He made that demand.
Much as the inquirer may have de
sired eternal life, he flinched >rom the
Saviour’s conditions, and went away
sorrowful.
Jesus bade Simon Peter forsake his
nets and lollow Him. You, too, must
forsake your “ net.” It is the favorite
sin (or sins) that has entangled your
soul in its meshes. God knows your
net; so do you.
If you are making money dishonor
ably, against the protest of conscience,
that “ net” must be flung away. If
you are cherishing a wicked grudge
against any one, then that must be
given up, cost what it may to your evil
pride. Fear of ridicule by associates,
may be your “ net.” You cannot live
on good teims with Christ’s enemies
and hope to die on good terms with
Christ. No cross, no crown! We
cannot specify all the nets of favorite
sins, or indulge doubts, which you may
be clinging to. No matter what the
binderance be, so that it keep you from
Christ. A man may be crushed by an
avalanche, or poisoned by an atom of
strychnine; each one takes life. The
sin that keeps you from Jesus takes your
life for all eternity !
What dying men need is a Divine
Saviour. The doctrine of the atone
ment is only of value as it exhibits the
Divine Atoner. It is not the doctrine
which saves, but the omnipotent and
loving Being who laid down His life
for us. Thousands believe in the doc
trine who never believe on the Redeem
er. The most splendid preaching is a
splendid failure if it fails to point and
to press every guilty, hungry, suffering
soul right up to the Lamb of God as a
personal Saviour. That pulpit, that
FRANKLIN PRINTING HOUSE, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. OCTOBER 12, 1876.
Sabbath-school teacher, and that vol
ume, which Gcd will honor with rich
est success, is the pulpit, the teacher or
the book, which presents “no man save
Jesus only.” Here is the clew to the
best method of dealing with awakened
hearts. We are too prone to direct an
inquirer to attend a prayer-meeting, or
to read some pungent book or tract, or
to go and listen to some arousing
preacher. All this is but offering a
thirsty man a silver cup when he is
perishing for the water itself.
DATS OF PRATER FOR SABBATH-SCHOOLS.
By common consent of the various
Sabbath-school Uuions and Societies,
and in accordance with the custom es
tablished in 1872, Sunday and Monday,
October 22d and 23d, have been set
apart as days of united prayer on be
half of Sabbath-schools.
The representatives of tho various
committees say, relative to these exer
cises, and Sabbath-schools in general:
“The spiritual aspect of the work is
evidently more clearly appreciated,
whilst the increasing responsibilities
resting upon the Christian church to
provide suitable religious instruction
tor the young, call for more earnest
prayer and enlarged efforts on the part
of all Christians.”
In regard to the special exercises
of the appointed days, the following
recommendations are made:
That on the Lord’s day, October 22d, from
7 to 8 o’clock, intercessory prayer with thanks
giving should be oflertd in private by all
teachers.
That the opening engagements of the morn
ng school should be preceded by the teachers’
meeting together for prayer.
Ttiat ministers be requested to preach spe
cial sermons upon the claims of Sunday
schools.
That in the afternoon the ordinary routine
of each school should be varied by the scholars
being gathered for devotioaal exercises, inter
spersed with singing and appropriate addresses.
To this service the parents of the scholars
might be invited. . ?
Tt at it some time during the evening the
teachers should, in concert with other Christ
ians, meet for thanksgiving and prayer.
That on Monday morning, October 23, be
tween the hours of 7 and 8, teachers set apart
a time for aga'n bringing their scholars in
prayer before God.
That in the course of the day the female
teachers of each school hold a meeting for
united prayer and thanksgiving.
That in the evening each church or congre
gation he invited to hold a meeting, at which
the interests of the Sunday school should form
the theme of the prayers and addresses.
It being the supreme object of all Sunday
school teachers to lead their youthful charge
into close and vital union with the Redeemer,
the personal communion of the teacher with
the Saviour is essential, as well as a devout
recognition of the fact that it is the Lord’s will
that each child should be brought to love Him,
and to follow H.s commands.
The committee affectionately urge their lei
Jow-laborers to pray expectantly for the early
consecration of each of their scholars to Chrißt,
relying on the divine word, ‘‘lf ye abide in me
and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what
ye will and it shall be done unto you. Herein
is my Father glorified, that ye bear much
fruit,”
Peesonai..— Rov W H. Burton, of
Rock Mi 11.,, ei at.ii. ~ .w.is a situation
as teacher of a gouit school, and also
the care of one or two churches. He
has excellent recommendations.
Rev. J. E. Hutson, of Virginia, a
widely known evangelist, has accepted
an invivation to visit Baltimore and
conduct a series of meetings with the
Seventh Baptist church, of which Rev.
Dr. Brantley is pastor.
Brother W. H. Burton writes from R ick
Mills, October 3d; “The sixth annual session
of the Rock Mills Association has just closed
It convened with Rocky Mount Church Ga.
It was a hai monious session. The accessions
to the churches were Dirge. God lias greatly
blessed us in this section.
“The Index and Alabama Baptist were
recommended. A good move was made in the
direction of missions and Sabbath schools.
“The Index was the first paper I ever read,
and 1 don’t see how we can do without it.”
Governor Houston offers a rewa'd of four
hundred dollars for the apprehension of the
murderer of J. A. Mabry, the United States
Detective, who was recently assassinated at
Blount Springs.
Brother Bober has resigned the pastorate of
the church at Hayesville, and brother Goll md
succeeded him. Brother Holland resides at
Fort Deposit, is a graduate of the University
of Cambridge, and came to this country eight
years ago as an Episcopal preacher.
Concerning the Associational meetings last
week at Troy, the Messenger says:
Much disappointment was felt by those at
tending the association on account of the fail
ure of Eld. J. R. Graves to be presented. As
stated last week he intended to be here, hut
was detained in Collierville, Tennessee, where
a very gracious revival was in progress.
Spirit of the Religious Press,
The New York Methodist, commenting on
the recent lectures of Prof. Huxley, of Eng
land, deliver, and in New York city on the theo
ry of Evolution,and which created a great sen
sation in scientific circles, says:
We omit criticisms upon the details of Prof.
Huxley’s lalks. He seems to have an impres
sion that theologians are his enemies. The
criticisms of ihe daily-press ought to satisfy
him that the secular world is far from being
convinced by him ; and we should hope that
he might know hy this time, that American
theologians can comprehend and argument
and refute it without ayiealing to prejudice or
passion. It is idle to pretend that this is a sci
entific question. It involves science, but it can
never be a science. ltß chief importance and
its cliiel supports must be 100 ed for in the
fields of philosophy anp religion.
—The Christian at Work takes the following
view of church and Sunday-school;
Very much of Sunday is spent by religious
people in church and Sunday-school, and
therefore in public. Ira certain way there is
a sort o( insulated seclusion in the pew, and as
the service progresses, the devout worshipper
can lose the sense of neighborhood, and com
mune alone with God, helped, indeed, to the
highest spiritual delight by the feeling of the
communion of saints. In God’s house every
thing tends to quieting and subduing the soul,
and to resting it from the cares of the world.
The voice of prayer, the solemn chords of the
organ, the grand uprising ‘of the psalm, and
the persuasive force of the sermon, all help to
carry the hearer into an upper realm o peace.
The Sunday-school, on the other hand,
awakens and enlists quite another set of facul
ties. It is the place of plfces for natures which
are gregarious, social, sympathetic. It is live
ly, bustling. brisk, mirthlnl th-ough all its so
lemnity of pupose, as birdsare when they car
ol to the morning. The singing birds from
many nests are gathered thee,and what else can
there be but a jubilee ? What with the bright
eyes and the dimpled cheeks, the scarfs and
the sashes, and the ea;er, alert faces and ming
ling of ages and stations, !f;e Sunday-school is
like a great garden full of all manner of flow
ers in the flush and glory t f the summer.
—The Memphis Baptist off irs a voucher for
ilte genuineness of the In? w ng incident. A
colored preacher in aJV etboiiist church near
Dsrhtimville, addressed the
people at the close of a j V
We’e goin’ to open A ‘ ' .h. bnt
we’slih’all. Ef euy ut? iine. de
Bap"!’, y.P- V , jine „ • -re's
lih'atl. i J ;ne w hvMjrav cherrli you please.
But de door is ooeit here -fif ny ob yott
wants to be immersed, I kin (5o it jesaz well az
eny Baptist preecher But we's lib’all. So
cum ’long an’ jine de church. Why don't you
cum ’long an’jine de church ? What you set
tin’ dai for? I know what yon gwine to do.
You’se a gwine up to Durham’ille an’ jine dat
Baptis’church, bar’ll be blood ’bout dis thing
yit.
—Says the Religious Herald :
“A biother writes us that he held a union
meeting with a Methodist fn West Vuginia,
and that, at the close of the fleeting, he baptiz
ed the converts, and also thelMelhodist preach
er and several of his members. What say
you, who oppose union meetings, to this?’’
To which, the Baptist Bejlector replies :
“We say the end does not justify the means
Brethren Carter and Manly baptized nearly
the entire Methodist membership at Maynards
ville, Tennessee, and without the help of a
'union meeting.’ ”
The Baptist Weekly is sometimes disposed
to he piquant in its comments, and has a dainty
way of being pleasantly sarcastic at the expense
of some of the minißtered brethren who write
for the press; for instance:
“When you report your protracted meeting,
do not devote three-fourths of your article to
writing up the ministerial brother that aided
you. Leave something to be said about him
when his obituary is to he written.’’
“So says a Southern paper. But suppose,
the ‘ministerial brother that aided you’ is very
urgent that you send an account of the meetings
to the paper, and hints, rather broadly, that he
ought to be in the forgronnd of your word
painting, how can you help your eulogy trench
ing on the obituary style ?”
—“A tremendous ‘Arne ' from his vast con
gregation followed Mr. Spurgeon’s prayer the
other day, that the Turks might soon be driven
out of Europe and the whole of the Moham
medan power swept away from the face of the
eart h.”
So says the Journal of this city. Mr. Spur
geon’s petition will doubtless be upborne upon
the “Amens” of millions of American Chris
tian!, who are looking for the triumph of the
Gospel.— Boston Watchman.
BmiST NEWS AIVII NOTKS.
—The Rev. C. R Blackall, ol Chicago, lias
recently visited the Indian Territory. In an
account of the meeting of the Choctaw Baptist
Association he says: “Among the native
preachers is the Rev. Peter Folsom, who was
converted and baptized in 1829, when about
eighteen 'ears old. His father was one of the
earliest interpreters in the government service.
After brother Folsom’s conversion, being the
only Baptist of his Nation, lie backslid for a
time. His uncle was chief of the Nation, and
Peter was his secretary. On one occasion,
while at a general council of the Nation in
open woods, Peter was awakened from sleep
by hearing a discussion concerning the value
of the Christian religion, the old chief declar
ing that there could not be anything in it, as
his nephew had tried it and abandoned it.
Like Peter of old, at the Saviour’s reproving
look, Peter. Folsom wept, and turned anew
to his first love, and from that day has been a
faithful servant, always in the front rank, and
wielding a powerful influence for good. He
has aided in building five Baptist churches.
His figure is commanding, tall, erect, and his
bearing is dignified. At times he is very elo-
THIS CHRISTIAN
of Tennessee.
quent, and being able to speak readily in
Choctaw and English, he is a good interpret
er. It was deeply interesting at the Sunday
evening meeting to hear him speak alternate
ly in English and in Choctaw, interpreting his
sentences to his own people.”
—G. W. Riggan in speaking of the labors
of Dr. E. W. Warren, of Richmond, in a pro
tracted meeting in Caroline county,says: “By
his unmistakable earnestness in the work of
saving souls, and by his eloquent but simple
presentation of the gosple, he has won the af
fections of this people, saints and sinners.”
—Our colored brethren in Kentucky have
commenced the publication ol a monthly, at
Lexington. It is a very commendable enter
prise, and we wish for it the most unqualified
prosperity. The editoris Rev. William Gray.
His salutatory is conceived in excellent spirit;
Among other good tilings he says : “Our ob
ject will be the elevation of the people, the
negro especially, with reference to his assum
ing the exalted position of man, citizen and
practical Christian ; to enforce the needs of an
educated ministry among us ; to do our earnest
best for the establishment of a theological in
stitution for the training of colored ministers
in the State of Kentucky.”
—Dr. Montgomery baptized two young la
dies in Lynchburg a few days ago. His church
and brother Manard's also, are gradually grow
ing stronger.
Rev. J. W. David, a missionary of the
Southern Baptist Board to Lagos, Central
Africa, finds a few converts who have remain
ed for thirteen years without a shepherd or
teacher. They sent messengers a ten days’
journey to enquire if they could not again
have a missionary. Is not this appeal irresist
ible?
—Anderson Gibson, a full blooded Indian,
was ordained at Covington, Kentucky, Sep
tember 17th, to preach the gospel. The ordi
nation ceremonies were conducted by colored
Baptist ministers.
The Louisiana Baptist Stale Convention
reports 745 churches, 333 ordained ministers,
49,000 members ;an increase of 2,000 by bap
tism the past year.
The Corresponding Secretary of the
Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, states
•hit during its thirty yvrs’ work about a mil
lion dollars had passed through its hands, and
that for every $25 spent by it a conversion had
been reported.
Rev. W. E. Hatcher, in a recent address at
a meeting of the Portsmouth Virginia Associa
tion said: “A pastor who devotes himself
largely to his farm, or school, or store, or su
mac mill, should not expect a support from
the churches. The millenium will never come
until our pastors consecrate themselves to their
great work. The man who undertakes to run
a farm and half a dozen other tilings, in con
nection with his churches, will do but little in
any direction.”
Missionary Field,
—The death Jr announced of the Rev. Dr.
Henry Nishet, for many years a successful mis
sionary of the Scotch Presbyterian Church in
the Samoan Islands. In the year 1844 he es
tablished the Samoan Missionary Seminary,
which has since sent out 600 native agents to
do Christian work.
—Mr. H. B. Cotterill, a son of the Bishop
of Edinburgh, recently sailed on a missionary
exploration to the suggested new settlement of
Livingstoniana, in Africa. He received many
offerings to help him in his work, the most
touching of whicn lie thus describes: “Three
little children, th* eldest of them nine years
old, came to nte one d.iy, and said they had
heard me say that in Africa a slave could be
bought (or one shilling and liberated. They
brought eight shillings and wanted eight
slaves liberated, to he named after themselves.”
Mr. Cotterill promises that this item in his
account-book shall be most faithfully kept.
—The Maulmain Baptist Association of
Buruiah reports 18 churches, 86 baptisms for
the year, and 1,080 members. Tnere are 878
pupils in the schools, and nearly 4,000 rupees
were contributed. These operations are car-
ried on by American Baptist missionaries, who
have achieved a greater success in Burmah
than is recorded of any heathen country.
The grand total contributed by these women
societies amounts to $1,563,668.68. The total
of missionaries on the foreign field now sup
ported by them, is two hundred and eighty
aeveu.
—A Medical mission in connection with the
Baptist Missionary Society has Ken begun at
Delhi, India, with many encouraging signs.
—At the late meeting of the Greenbrier As
sociation, brother Allen, of the Missionaiy
Union, proposed that the churches raise among
them money sufficient to support a native
preacher among the Karens, present
ing the name of A Tho Ta, a young man of
much promise, recommended by brother Bunk,
ol Toungoo. The proposition was at once ac
cepted, and so great became the enthusiasm
that pledges were made on the spot sufficient
to cover the whole amount required,
and brother A. was obliged to beg them to
stop, lest the amount pledged lead to embarasH
ment—not knowing just how to dispose of it.
Such is the interest in missions among West
Virginia Baptists.
WHOLE NO- 2239
General Denominational News.
—Miss Anna Oliver has for some time been
preaching in the First Place Methodist church
of Brooklyn to very large audiences. It is
stated she has declined to serve as the pastor
of an independent church, which a number of
her hearers offered to form. Miss Oliver gave
as one reason for her refusal her intention to
apply again for admission into the ministry
of the Methodist church.
—A sect of Buddhists in Japan are prepar
ing young men to preach against Christianity.
In order <o fully grasp their own doctrines,
students have been sent to China to examine
the Chinese forms of Buddhism, and two young
men have gone to England. After their stay
in Eng.and they are to go to India to receive
instruction in the Buddhism doctrines of that
coui'ry.
—The Presbyteries of the Presbyterian
Church in the North will before long
begin to vote upon the overtures in relation to
the basis of representation sent down to them
by the General Assembly. Tlie first overture
substitutes fifty ministers for twenty-four as
the basis. The second provides one represen
tative for every twenty ministers in a Presby
tery. The adoption ot the second plan would,
it is said, reduce the number of ministers of the
General Assembly to about 300.
—Mr. George Muller of Bristol, England,
has just published the thirty-sevenh report of
the charitable institutions under his care.
Within the past year he has established five
additional day schools, making in all 75 day
schools, 29 Sunday-schools, and six adult
schools, supported by the funds he has received.
His income for the year was £45,000, all of
which came withoui request. In the 42 year’s -
of his work Mr. Muller has received the sum
of £710,000
, Recently, at Lovedale, South Africa, Dr
Stewart being about to go to the new Living
stoma Mission, called among the native con
verts lor volunteers to go with him and labor
in that field. Thirteen Kafirs responded many
more than were needed. After sifting out
some who were engaged in work which they
could not well leave, and those who were too
young, four were selected. This fact i„ consid
er'd as an affirmative answer m the mirctrW
£*•* Kafa ™ eV<,r Wo “ , ‘ * missionary
Thirteen students from Yale Seminary,
three from Hartford and two from Chicago!
spent their vacations in Nebraska, supplying
vacant churches, assisting over-worked pastorsi
and’working up new fields.
“ There still remains to be paid the sum of
$2,000. before the statue of Dr. Witherspoon
can be unvailed in Philadelphia. The Pres
byterian women of Philadelphia have formed
an association to solicit subscriptions.
—By a recent act of the Venezuelan Gov
ernment, religious liberty is guaranteed and
the support of religion is made entirely volun
tary, and it is decreed that there shall not be
admitted to its territory archbishops or bish
ops, ecclesiastical chapters, or any ecclesiasti
cal hierarchy, as it considers them incompatible
with the rights of independence and the sover
eignty of the country.
—The secularization or confiscation of the
monasteries and convents in Greece is pro
posed. There are now 138 monasteries and 7
nunneries, with 1,729 monks and 168 nuns in
Greece. The yearly income of the conventuaJ
property is about SIOO,OOO, and the full value
of the monasteries is estimated at from $6 000 -
000 to $10,000,000.
Anew religious belief is gaining ground
in Ohio. Its adherents are called Eternjlists
They hold that the soul is immortal, and oc
cupies a succession of bodies on earth—both
men and animals
—The churches which by far outstrip all
others in cont ributions to hnovclcnt otjects
are the First Presbyterian church of New
York city, of which Dr. Paxton is pastor,
which gave over $97,000 to benevolence, and
the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, of
which Dr. Hall is pastor,which gaveto thesame
causes over $95,000, as reported in the minutes
of this year.
None can tell what life may bring,
Little child, to thee ;
But the Father’s tender lore
Cares for you and me.
We can truut His sleepless eye*
Though our sight be dim ;
Safe in any path we tread,
If we walk with Him.
—Ker. J. B. Hawthorne,in a leUer published
in the Alabama Baptist of last week, touching
ly says: “Alter an absence of eight years, 1
have returned to make my home in my d’eat
native State. Separation from her has given
me the opiamunity of testing the reality and
strength of that feeling which we call patriot
ism. Often as my thoughts have turned to
wards her in her poverty and persecution, I
have said, “If I forget thee, nay my right
band forget her cunning and my tongue cleave
to the roof of my mouth.”
I came here to fulfill a temporary engage
ment with the First Baptist church, but so
enthusiastic has been my reception, and so
persistent is the church, and indeed the whole
city, in their efforts to retain me, that I am
made to feel that it is the Lord’s pleasure that
I slttuld remain with them. 1 have preached
nowhere to larger and more appreciative con
gregations. I know no place where I can be
more extensively useful than Montgomery.