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INDEX AND BAPTIST.
BEV. D. E. BDTLER Managing Editor,
ASSOCIATE EDITORS:
Rev. BG. llielyer, D. 1)... Forsyth, Georgia.
Dk J. 8. Lawton Atlanta, Georgia.
Rev. G. A. Ni ssai.i.v Rome, Georgia.
Editorial foulrlbntors.
Rev. P. 11. Moll, J>.l>. h L.D., Athens, Oa.
Rev. If. C. Hornady, Henols, Ga.
Rev. Win. T. Brantly, !>.!>., Baltimore, Md.
Rev. J. M. Wood, BarnesviHe, Ga.
Rev. Wm. C. Wilkes, Gainesville, Ga.
Rev. T. G. Jones, Nashville, Tenn.
Rev. A. J. Battle, R.lv, Macon, Ga.
We announce the brethren named as Edito
rial Contributors to The Index. Their pens
•will add to the Interest of the paper, and place
The Index In the front rank of religious Jour
nals.
ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN GEORGIA.
“Roman Catholicism in Georgia in making
rapid progress—no doubt of it. They are build
ing fine churches and gathering large congrega
tions. The old homo of Jesse Mercer, the
founder of Mercer University, is now the prop
erty of Catholic4.”— M. Ji. Wharton, J). ])., in
The Jieligious Uerald.
The above extract is well calculated
to awaken serious attention to the mat
ter which it contains.
That the Catholics have the legal
right to gather large congregations and
build fine churches, none will ques
tion. All who wish to unite with this
sect are free to do so, but the an
nouncement that they have succeeded
in securing the home of the venerated
Mercer, as school property, does not
look well for the Baptists of Georgia.
While we are not much inclined to
venerate relics, there seems to be a
propriety in the Baptists getting and
retaining possession of the home of a
man whose name is so identified with
almost our entire history as a denom
ination in Georgia.
The Baptisis, however, have never
contended for mere supremacy, but for
the truth as it is in Jesus, and it
is to be hoped that they will continue
to pursue this course in the future.
Men and places pass away, but the
truth of God never dies, and our great
duty is to plant that truth in every part
of the field, which the Saviour says is the
world.
But is it a fact that the Roman
Catholics are making rapid progress in
Georgia? Are they, indeed, pro
gressing at all ? To these questions
we may not be able to give answers
which will be entirely correct, but we
will venture to say that Romanism is
losing more than it is gaining in this
Stale. Outside of the larger cities of
the State there are but few Catholics
to be found, and they are, in almost
every case, persons of foreign birth or
of foreign parentage. The fact, how
ever, that so learned and sagacious a
brother as Dr. Wharton is known to
be, has had his attention drawn to this
subject, should cause the friends of a
pure and free Gospel to bestir them
selves, so as to pre-occupy the grand
old commonwealth of Georgia. They
have the mer. and means to do so, and
the State Mission Board is the organ
ization w’hich can send the Gospel to
every county and town in the State,
provided they can obtain the co-opcr
a'ion of the great Baptist denomina
tion.
What say our readers? Shall the
work be done ?
Rome House of Worship.— The
Hoard of Foreign Missions has lately
bought, in the city t>f Rome, Italy, a
building which is to he made suitable
for the service of God. The property
must be altered, repaired, etc., and the
expense will go beyond the means in
band.
The purchase was made and is now
sanctioned by the late Southern Baptist
Convention. Brother Tupper, Corres
ponding Secretary, has issued a call
for more money with which to com
plete this enterprise. Our readers will
find his paper in this issue entitled
“Rome Chapel,” and to which the at
tention of all Christians is earnestly
invited.
Brother C. M. Irwin will give his
immediate and continued efforts to this
undertaking. Contributions may be
sent to Dr. Tupper, Richmond, Va.,
or Rev. C. M. Irwin, Atlanta, Ga.
The readers of The Index are now
receiving feasts of good things from
our weekly visits. Our special and
editorial contributors are providing
much interesting and instructive nut
ter, which is being noticed and appre
ciated by many readers. An esteemed
brother writes; "Dr. Mell's articles
are the best I ever saw. He is so clear,
so conclusive, and so scriptural!"
We feel sure that all who have read
his articles agree with our correspon
dent.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST June 20.
THE fill Mil MISSION.
I use Ihe word church in its generic senno. If
I was called upon to answer the question what
is tho mission of tha church ? I would answer,
that it is at least three-fold. Evidently the
growth, the well-being of those who compose it
is one object; to carry out the provisions of
the great “commission” is another, and the ul
timate glory of God is the third. First:
THE \vEEC-BEING OF THOSE WHO COMPOSE IT.
As it is a theme worthy of a volume of the best
thoughts of our best writers, it may be well for
us to confine this article to the first proposi'ioa
and (IJ. V.) to notice the others hereafter. The
family of Jesus upon earth is made up of very
varied material, as seen from a human stand
point, and all are at variance with unconverted
men. We have the rich and the poor, the learned
and theuolearned, the high-tempered, the quiet,
the formerly profligate, the superstitious and
apparently abandoned—in a word wo have every
phase of human character. To prepare this
material for tho great spiritual temple is a work
of no small import. To hew, shape and polish
these living stones for God’s wonderful building,
ean he effectually done only in God’s way, and
as ho lias directed. He puts life into the mate
rial itself so as to become by gracs divine self
growing, self-developing. We are to grow up in
Christ Jesus and to edify (build up) one auother.
It is claimed by the most learned modern scien
tists, that fundamental to ail organism is the
element or germ of life which science cannot
explain. Of this the wisest philosopher can
only note the fact, looking upon it witli amaze
ment and regarding the great Author of Life.
Tins subtle olement, perhaps for the want of a
bettor name, is called “bioplasm.” This germ
is in all animal and vegetable organism. It is
not llie result of organism, but is that which,
seemingly, by self-intelligent action constructs
organisms and never makes mistakes. Bene,
muscle, sinew, artery, vein—all the parts of an
imal organism—do not construct themselves, or
oven exist so as to produce life, but are con
structed and matured by this wonderful and ap
parently hidden principle of life. Tho wren’s
egg novor mistakes and hatches a sparrow. But
til's life germ seemingly with wise design, forms
all the outward and inward parts of what, put
together, makes a perfect living wren. In all
this there is no visible extraneous machinery.
But there is development and grow til, each part
being the ally of all the rest. Bo tho wonderful
thing we call the family or church of Joeus.
The life-germ, or if yon please tho “bioplasm, ’’
is in it for its development and growth. And
tins life element is God-given and God-directed.
But taking the subject from tile field of philos
ophy to tho field of theology aud olear revela
tion, wo arc taught to love one another, to for
give one auothor, to hear one another's bunions
and to edify one another, that we may grow up
into Him in all things, who is the head, oven
Christ.
It is worthy of notioe that this growth is to
take place amidst thorns, briars and the most
violent opposing surroundings, ami without out
side help. Tho world with its fashions, flatter
ies and captivating allurements ; the flesh with
its lusts, appetites and passions ; the devil with
all his adroit enchantments, using, as he does,
tho world and the flesh as his willing tools—ail
are opposed to tho development, tho growth,
oven the existence of Christians. Add to these
tho old, sinful nature of men, with their consti
tutional defects and disabilities bolstered up, as
they are, liy past bad habits and associations,
and then add the opposition of had and worldly
inindod men, and false religionists and wo can
begin to appreciate the suggestions of tills
article that Christians should work for the well
lioing of one auotlier. Awake thou that sleep
oat and arise from tho dead aud Christ shall
give thee light! There is no help for us but in
God ; in Christ as lie exists in His word aud in
His people.
Philosophy, no-called science, an employed by
ungodly mon, bring* us no nutriment, no assist
ance, but rather poison and harm. These help
us only as used by Christian philosophers and
scientists. So the true pabulum is, under God,
in tlie keeping of Christ’s family. In tho pro
cess of development and growth there may be
many a wonder, many a conllict, many a day of
hunger a nd thirst, many a winter season, many
summer suns may scorch us, yot spring-time
and autumn will be interspersed, so that as iu
naturo, som graco, our maturity may be ac
cording to God's appointments. But mark . It
is not impious to say that oorn grows, nor is it
impious to say that Christians grow. The oue
grows by tho food which God has placed in tho
eaitli and air for it; tho other by tho food of his
Word and Spirit, given to Ills people. This
subject enlarges as we think of it, but the body
of this article is quite long enough for a weekly
journal.
CLOSING THOUGHTS,
X. Let no ono suppose that the writer teachos
that no oue can be saved without organic cou*
nection with God s peoplo. Ou the contrary, no
ono is tit to form such a connection who is not
in a saved eonditiou. Even if one nut iu this
condition should form such a connection it
would only be iu name, and it would do him no
good. Still, after all, whoever saw, read or
heard of a symmetrical Christian, one who had
grown and made largo attainments in tho divine
life, who had not formed such a connection ?
The writer when pastor at Newnan, Georgia,
made the acquaintance of au old sister, who, a
short time before, hid offered herself to the
ohurch at that place, aud commenced her expe
rience by saying . “Fifty years ago, when I was
a girl, I embraced a little hope, and have been
trying ever since to get a better one, and de
spairing of this, I have come with the same
little hope.” She then gave an account of her
oouversion, was received aud immersed. She
told me that she had in a few months after hor
connection with ttie church, enjoyed more spir
itual happiness than during the whole fifty years
alluded to This is oue of many cases concerning
which pastors have made observations.
2. Although there is the idia of the aggregate
of God’s people, it has pleased Him not to have
ou earth au aggregate organization. But rather,
it is ths plan of Diviue wisdom to have separate
and loeal visible organizations, each commis
sioned with the same laws and appointed to the
same work. The particular work uotioed iu this
article is the edification or well-being of Chris
tians. To accomplish this, we find in each
Scriptural organization pastors, teachers, dea
cons, prayer-meetings, pulpit ministrations and
all the appliances for development and gtowth
unto the perfect day.
The Fifth Avenue Baptist ehareh,
New York, celebrated the thirtieth an
niversary of the pastorate of Dr. Ar
mitage and the final payment of a
large church debt with much spirit and
enthusiasm on the second Sabbath of
this month. There were four exorcises
during the day—historical, social,finan
cial and thanksgiving. The church ed
ifice was profusely decorated with flow
ers, the pastor preached one of his best
sermons, aud many eminent clergymen
and speakers of the Baptist and other
denominations took part in the joyous
exercises.
THE EVILS I.V THE COLORED CHIKCHES,
AM) THE CAI’SE OF THEM.
Rev. E. K. Love, State missionary at Camil
la, Ga., haswritena letter to The Index upon
the above Bubj set, which will be found in an
other column.
He writeß in behalf of the colored churchee.
We suggest to the writer :
1. That poverty does not hinder the enjoy
ment of true religion. It was the poor to whom
the Saviour preached tiie Gospel.
2. The remedy for the evil attending his
method of taking the weekly collections, is to
change his method. Instead of calling for the
congregation to come to “the table,” to put
down their contributions, let the deacons carry
around the hat through the congregation,
while the second hymn is singing. If the peo
pie are not all in by that time, let the hat he
carried round while they are singing the last
hymn. Then every one, without leaving his
seat, can drop into the hat what he is able to
give. All will be still and quiet to join in
the closing prayer, and will be prepared in
good order to receive the benediction. Weekly
contributions are not too frequent. They arc
exactly in accordance with Scripture. There
is hardly a Colored man or woman in the land
who could not contritbute, if they would, a
nickel a week for Christ and his cause. A
great many could give a dime, and some |ier
haps two dimes. Thus, in the course of a year,
a handsome sum might he raised. If not
enough to meet the obligations of the church
the balance must he raised by special contri
bution.
3. We agree with the writer tlmt the color
ed churches need an educated ministry. Eepe
ciaily do they need men who can read the Bible,
and in some good degree understand it. We
do very much doubt whether any man, white
or black, ou s ht to be called to ordination who
cannot read.
4. While it is desirable that pastors should
have time to study, yet it does not follow that
they may not employ as much time as may be
necessary Jin providing for their own supjiort.
Paul, the great Apostle, supplied the means
for his own support, by his own labor, while he
was preaching to the poor. He not only did
that hut he found time to study very hard. He
almost knew the Old Testament by heart. Be
sides all that, he found time to write his nu
merous letters, which makeup a large part of
our New Testament. Oh, no; it is no harm f<>*
the preacher to work for his living when his
people are too poor to support him.
Lastly. We earnestly wish that all the col
ered brethren in the State would take The
Christian Index. They may not all be able
to read it. But in every neighborhood they
could form little clubs, and each club could
find one or two perhaps who could read for the
rest. In this way (hey would learn a great
deal. They might at Sunday-school study the
Bible in the same way. Let those who know
how, read for those who cannot. In the mean
time let the people, as last as they can, learn to
read,and send their children to school, so that
the good time may soon come whenall the pres
ent ignorance may he in a great measure re
moved.
Such are the redactions suggested by the let
ter of our correspondent, and we offer them
for the benefit of all our colored brethren who
may feel as he does, and who may have access
to our paper.
We are much gratified to know that
Dr. Teasdale is inour city, and will re
main during the week, assisting Dr.
A. T. Spalding in a series of meetings
at the Second Church. Dr. Teasdale
is not only a man of profound piety,
but one whose preaching is frequently
accompanied by the power of God’s
Spirit in the conviction and the con
version of sinners. He has just con
cluded a glorious revival meeting at
the church of Dr. Skinner, in Macon,
which was preceded by a gracious re
vival under his ministry at Forsyth.
He is a noble man, full of good works.
The Albany Church.—We are rejoiced
to have the following good news from our
brethren in the city of Albany ;
Aq interesting and gracious meeting has
just taken place, the pastor was assisted by
brother Underwood, of Cam'dla. Ten were
added to the church. The building, to a
great extent, has been repaired and a complete
renovation will occur by winter. Tbe young
ladies have been organized into a Mission ary
Society, and a mission Sunday-school and
prayer-meeting has been established in tbe
suburbs of the city. Our informant believes
that this band of female workers is tbe best
in the Slate. And, in keeping with all this
state of things, one month's rest and vacation
has been given brother Riley to begin July Ist.
Tbe pastor is blessed, the church is blessed,
and we doubt not the cause of Christ has been
advanced.
A note from our esteemed brother,
Rev. Lewis Ayer, Murfreesboro, Tenn.,
says:
“As Bro. Muudenhall informed you, we
have indeed had in our little church a glori
ous refreshing trom tbe presence of tbe Lord.
Five prolessed conversion before be left, and
several more are expected to join. Gad be
praised.”
Editorial Coutrlbutbns on Clinrrk Polity.
BY DR. P. H. MELL.
CHURCH POLITY—CAN THE SISTERS VOTE
IN THE RECEPTION OF MEMBERS? THE
SCRIPTURAL POSITION OF WOMAN IN THE
CHURCHES OF JESUS CHRIST.
Can the sisters vote in the reception of mem
bers? Why not? Are they not as able as the
brethren to apprehend the points of a Chris
tian experience ; and to leei and manifest fel
lowship? Is it not as much their interest and
duty as it is that of the other sex, to guard the
purity and harmony of the church against the
intrusion of unconverted or otherwise unwor
thy persons? There has been in all past time,
and there is now, much confudon of mind in
regard to the position woman occupies in a
church of Christ—as to what are her duties
and responsibilities, her rights and her priv
ileges. All admit that by unobtursive piety,
by an orderly walk and a godly conversation,
she can exert potently an influence in favor of
the cause of Christ. It is even admitted, that
at home, in the privacy of the domestic circle,
she cannot only act hut speak in favor of the
ciuse of Christ. The Grandmother, Lois,
and the Mother, Eunice may, by precept and
example, so teach and influence the young
Timothy that from a child he may know the
Holy Scriptures—that, under God’s blessing,
he may like them, have “unfeigned faith,” 11.
Tim. i : 5, and be made “wise unto salvation.”
iii : 15. No one piacesa restriction upon wo
man in her own sphere, the domestic circle.
But can she say or do nothing in public for
the interest and advancement of the cause of
Christ ? Does God intend that as a church
member she shall be a mere cypher? What
rights, what duties, and what restrictions,
do the Scriptures prescribe for her in this con
nection ?
Whatever may be true in other things, it is
evident, and it ought to be admitted by ail, that
the Scriptures forbid a Christian woman to be a
preacher or a lecturer to promiscuous crowds.
God not only does not call a woman to preach,
but He specially and emphatically forbids
her to do so : “But I suffer not a woman to
teach nor to usurp authority over the man,
but to be in silence.” I. Tim. ii : 12. “Let
your women keep silence in the churches; for
it is not permitted unto them to speak," etc.
I. Cor. xiv : 34. The injunction, to “keep si
lence,” and the prohibition “to speak,” are to
be limited to public speaking; for all admit
that the sisters can sing in the public congre
gadon, and relate their Christian experience
when they apply for baptism. Upon what is
this prohibition to preach based ? I answer,
1. Not on the ground that the sisters have
not the piety requisite to qualify them to be
preachers. Woman’s piety and devotion will
not suffer in comparison with those of man.
No woman forsook Christ in the hour of His
great extremity. An honored Peter, though
when the Master is arreated is seined with the
same panic that caused all the disciples to for
sake Him and fly, and even when rallying
somewhat, he yet follows afar off with a state
ol mind ready when the emergency comes to
deny Him with cursing and swearing. Hum
ble women, “daughters of Jerusalem,” accoin
pany the Saviour on Hiß way to calvary, after
condemnation. No fears of the authorities or
of the mob deterred them, but they “bewailed
and lamented him” so significantly and unre
servedly as to arrest His attention and elicit
from him the public remark, “Weep not for
me, but weep for yourselves, and for your
children.” Luke xxiii: 27, 28. And at the
last hour when Jesus “cried with a loud voice
and yielded up the ghost,” “many women
were there beholding afar off, which followed
Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him.”
Matt, xxvii : 55. The came of only one of
His male disciples, is mentioned as being
prwent on this interesting occasion, “the dis
ciple whom Jesus loved.” John xix: 26. Wo
man was not only last at the cross but first at
the sepulchre; and to pious women Jesus first
appeared after His lesurreclion. Matt, xxviii:
9; Mark xvi :9 ; John xx : 16. In all ages,
woman has had at least as much as man ot
that piety which manifests Itself by regular
attendance at the House of God, and in a de
vout participation in the worship of the
sanctuary. Women are forbidden to preach
then not on the ground that they cannot have
the requisite piety.
2. Nor are they denied the privilege to
preach because they are destitute of the needed
capacity to understand and communicate the
truth as it is in Jesus. All educators know
that, while there are mental characteristics
peculiar to each sex, the feuiiuine intellect is
on an average at least, equal to that of the
masculine. But the sex have vindicated their
capacity in the presence of the world. How
many gifted pens, wielded by female bands,
are now instructing and delighting mankind !
To how many is the privilege and ability
given, through the press, to invite and lead
sinners to Christ; and to build up Christians
on their most holy faith; for though God
shuts the pulpit against them He does not
prohibit to them the use of the printing press.
Who has not enjoyed the privilege in the so
cial circle of listening to a “Mother in Israel,”
ripening for Heaven, as she talks about the
doctrines of God's word, and the methods of
God’s grace! Priscilla was not permitted to
“teach” (bidder uuv) I. Tim. ii : 12, or to
“speak” (.iaAetu ) I. Cor. xiv : 34, but it was
her privilege to "expound” (ij-{Oevio) Ac.
xviii: 26, to the eloquent Apollosthe way of the
Lord more perfectly. The woman of Samaria
was able to communicate effectively the truth
about Jesus. She “saith (kiyet), John iv : 28,
to the men. Come see a mas which told me
all things that ever I did. Is not this the
Christ ? “And many of the Samaritans of that
city believed on him for the saying of the wo
man, which testified (yaprupoiiOi]') he told
me all that ever I did.”
3. Nor is the prohibition imposed because
women are not competent to mate public speeches.
The history of all times has shown that they
may be skilled in elocution. In oar own
times, the stage, the platform, and, in defiance
of God’s prohibition, the pulpit, furnish not a
few instances of women able to address pro
miscuous audiences gracefully, forcibly and
eloquently.
4. Women are prohibited from preaching,
not because it is forbidden them to take any
public part whatever in the promulgation of
the truth; or in labors lor the advancement of
the cause of Christ. The Prophet, Joel ii;
28, 29, foretold that in the last days God would
pour out His Spirit upon all flesh, “And your
sons and your daughien shall prophesy;” and
Luke tells us that “Philip the Evangelist”
“had four daughters, virgins, which did
prophesy,” Ac. xxi :9. Paul testified that
Priscilla was his “helper in Christ Jesus.”
Rom. xvi :3; and in Phil, iv :3, he entreats
his “true yokefellow,” “help those women
which labored with me in the Gospel.” In all
the departments of church activity women are
found to be efficient workers. In the Sunday
school, in visiting the sick and afflicted, in
welcoming strangers to the benefits of church
influence, in maintaining the tlecency and
comfort of the house of worship, in the sympa
thy and encouragement they show to the pastor
in his responsible and difficult labors, in the
contributions to the finances which their ad
dress ar.d their own hands make, and in the
influence they exert lor the salvation of souls
and for the maintenance of sound doctrine by
their “sayings” like the woman of Samarica
and by their expoundings” like Priscilla, the
the women of the churches have and fill a
boundless field of influence and usefulness.
Every pastor has occasion to speak of them
gratefully as “those women which labored
with me in the Gospel,” and as “my helpers
in Christ Jesus.”
If all these things be true, why is woman
denied the privilege of “preaching” the Goa
l>el ?
1. Because God has made her the queen
of the family, and He would require or
authorize nothing which would take her
away from her domestic realm. The
family is God’s original institution which
has survived the fall. True, there must
be a bead to it—a power to decide in
the last resort—and He has made the hus
band that head, giving as a reason for such
decision, “Adam was first formed, then Eve.
And Adam was not deceived, hut the wo
man being deceived was in the transgres
sion.” I. Tim. H: 18,14. But by requiring
the husband to love the wife, all despotism
and tyranny arc made impossible; and a
headship secured which seeks not its own
will but the wishes of her placed in nominal
subordination. God has given to the husband
no authority over the ici/e excepting that which
i administered ley lute. The wife is made
the head of the domestic household; and she
reigns there not to gratify her own willful
ness, but to please her husband, and to se
cure the interests of her children and her
self. The influence of the true wife and
mother is well nigh omnipotent; and God
would secure it, and preserve it, for that in
stitution which is at once the place of nur
ture, and, according to His purpose, the
home of all the people in the world. In the
family are the people trained for the duties
and the conflicts ol life ; and iu the family
may all find shelter, and comfort, and a
home. It is God’s will that the “women
marry, bear children and guide the house,”
etc. I. Tim. v: 16. Anything which would
call woman away from the domestic circle,
aDd thus deprive the family of her gentle and
potent influence, would be a calamity to the
world ; and therefore, God forbids her to be
a public speaker.
2. Nor is this a sacrifice required at her
hands for the public good. The domestic
circle is the place for her own development
and happiness. That is tho soil in which
her own gentle virtues grow and thrive, as
well as bear fruit; and there her character
expands to the true proportions of woman
hood. A gifted lady, now in Heaven, once
said to me that God required of husband and
wife the thing that to each was most diffi
cult. Oi the husband, who, engaged in the
business and conflicts of life, was in danger
of forgetting bis wife, He required love: to
the wife He laid stress on that which lie
knew would to her have the only difficulty,
viz: obedience. He said nothing at all to
her of love; for He knew that nothing would
be more natural and easy to her than to ren
der that. Whatever may be thought of the
former part of the statement, all will accept
the last proposition as true —woman is form
ed to love and to be loved. Let her feel sure
of the affection of husband and children, and
she has all that heart desires for this world.
Now, let the wife and mother be enticed
from her proper sphere, and be introduced
into public life—let her ascend the platlorm
and the pulpit, to say nothing of the hus
tings, and not only will home run to waste,
and children to ruin, but she will lose her
own delicacy, and loveliness, and feminine
ness, and harden into the masculine woman.
From public life she may obtain notoriety
and intoxication, but she will never secure
true admiration such as her feminine heart
craves; and she will be a stranger to true
happiness. No woman can subserve the
purposes of her creation, and secure her own
happiness, who revolutionizes her own na
ture, and unsexes herself. God meant to se
cure to the churches woman’s true influence;
and, therefore, He prohibited to her the pul.
pit and the platform. Let her not murmur
at this. Let her thank God rather, and con
tinue to wield her own true influence—an in
fluence second to none from earthly' source
operating in the cause of God and humani
ty, for '.he interests of the church and the
world.
Granting then, that the pulpit is closed to
woman, why, I ask, should she be denied a
voice on questions touching fellowship, and
in the selection of a pastor ? Is she not as
competent as those of the other sex ? Has
she not as great an interest at stake ? Is not
the cause of Christ as dear to her, and are
there no responsibilities in the premises at
tached to her? The principles and influen
ces that operate in the ministry have no place
here. By taking a part appropriate to her
in these questions, she is not enticed from
the domestic circle and drawn into notoriety
and before the public gaze. Her feminine
character is not jeopardized nor her happi
ness sacrificed.
But someone may object that the right to
vote implies the right to debate; and there
fore the requirement of woman to he ailent
in the churches demands that she refrain
from voting. To this, I reply that speaking
and voting in a deliberative body do not
necessarily go together. In Congress, dele
gates from Territories are permitted to de
bale but prohibited from voting—so the sis
ters in the churches are permitted to vote
though by implication forbidden to debate.
Is it said, again, that the sisters would
shrink from the sound of their own voices
pronouncing the words aye; and uo ; then,
I reply, the difficulty can be obviated if, on
all matters touching fellowship, the question
be put in the following form: “Brethren and
sisters, all in favor,” etc., “will show it by
holdiug up the right hand.”
God did not design that the sisters should
be cyphers in the churches; and it is clearly
their right and duty to vote at least in the
selection of a pa3tor, and on the reception
and discipline of members.
GEOBGIA BAPTIST NEB'S.
—Rev. Mr Ramsay, of Dublin, preached
at Eastman, June Ist and 2d.
—A Baptist church, with eleven members,
was constituted at Eastman on the Ist inst.
Time for regular meetings was fixed on
every third Sabbath and preceding Saturday.
—An interesting meeting is progressing in
the Baptist church of Albany.
—Rev. E. Z. F. Golden assisted Rev. B.
11. Ivey, pastor of the church at Gordon, in
the ordination of two deacons for that
church list week. He writes in high praise
of brother Ivey, regarding him as a minister
of great piety and promise.
—Rev. XV. L. Kilpatrick will preach the
Commencement Sermon- at the Southern Fe
male College, LaGrauge.
—Rev. J. L. Underwood rendered much
assistance at the recent revival meeting in
the Baptist church at Albany. He is the
pastor of the church at Camilla.
—Rev. C. H. Strickland has been visiting
Athens, and while there assisted in the revi
val meeting in the Baptist church. His
preaching is highly complimented by those
who were so fortunate a3 to hear his ser
mons.
—Rev. W. N. Chaudoin will preach at
Bowdon on tho 2d July, 11 o’clock a. m., in
the Baptist church.
—Rev. J. M. Cross preached an eloquent
and impressive sermon in the Baptist chqrch
of Wadley last Tuesday.
—A gentleman by the name of Hale, living
near Gainesville, has renounced the Catholic
faith, joined the Baptist church and is now
studying for the ministry.
—The North Georgian contains a large list
of subscribers to the Baptist Female Semi
nary at Gainesville. This will be one of the
most popular and prosperous institutions in
the South.
—Rev. \\. L. Kilpatrick is delivering a
series of highly interesting lectures on the
“Israelites,” at Hepzibah church, the night
of the first Sunday in every month.
—Baptist Sunday-3chools have been or
ganized at Toccoa City and Belton.
—Rev. E. S. V. Briant, pastor ol the
church at Toccoa, has been blessed with a
revival meeting in his congregation. The
meeting continued for two weeks, during
which he was assisted by Rev. Dr. Wilkes, of
Gainesville.
—The Sunday-school recently organized
at Buford is in a flourishing condition.
—Judge E. R. Harden, of Brooks county,
delivered an eloquent address to the Baptist
Sunday-school at Bowen’s Mill, in that coun
ty-
—Rev. J. Oscar Harris, of Quitman, re
cently ordained to the ministry in the Bap
tist denomination, preached two splendid
sermons in Valdosta last Sunday week. He
is said to be a young man of great promise.
—On the last Sunday in May, Rev. A. C.
Ward was ordained, at the call of the Bruns
wick church, at Brunswick, Ga. The Presby
tery con-isled of Rev. D. G. Daniell, Dr. J. H.
DrVotie and Rev. W. E. Porter. Dr. DeVo
tie preached the ordination sermon; Rev. D.
G. Daniell conducted the examination ; the
prayer was made by brother Porler; and the
Bible was presented by Dr. DeVotie.
Brother Ward is a young man of great
promise, who has enjoyed the benefit of a
course in Mercer University, and of two terms
in the Southern Baptist Theological Semina
ry. He has taken charge of the church at
Taylor’s Creek, is hard at work, and, no doubt,
a bright and useful future is before him, pos
sessed as he is of health, ability, piety and a
good education.
—On the third Sunday in June, 1878, the
Baptist church at Brooks’ Station, in Fayette
county, called a Presbytery for the purpose of
ordaining brother Leroy H. Boykin to the Go
spel ministry. There were present the pastor,
R. E. Pittman, H. S Reese, I. G. Woalsey.J.
R, Smarr and H.C. Hornady.
The examination was conducted on Saturday
by H, S. Reese. Brother Boykin gave a sat
isfactory account of his conversion and call to
the ministry, and upon a thorough examina
tion he was also found to be sound in the laith,
whereupon the church and presbytery unani
mously decided to set him apart to the min
istry by prayer and the imposition of bands.
Sunday morning, at 11 o'clock, the sermon
was preached, by H. C. Hornady, from Ez.
xxxiii: 1-7. The ordaining prayer wag made
by I. G. Wooisey, and the charge delivered by
H. 8. Reese.
The right hand of fellowship was extended
by R. E. Pittman, followed by the presbytery,
the church and congregation.
The benediction was pronounceDby the can
didate