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The Christian Index. TTHEj SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST, THE CHPTffTT A ~NT HEE/^LD - oir .* T ’ A " AMA : ' okTenvkssbh, VOL. 57—NO. 50. Table of Contents. First Paor— Editorials Highest Reason ; God’e Works Oppositely Viewed ; Now Look at These ; Christ Ever Faithful ; Spirit of the Religions Press ; Foreign Missionaries. Domestic Missions. Chapel Fond. Take Notice, eto. Sicokd Page —Special Contributions: Rtsto rationists No. III.—S. G. H.; Not the Horse and his Rider—G. A. N.; Birthplaoe of the Term •‘Christian’’—B. P. O. General Correspon dence : Letter from Texas ; Notes on the Aot of Baptism, No. XLVII—Rev. J. H. Kilpat rick ; The Ministry, No. IV—B. W. Whildeu ; Corsets—H. C. H.; An Impostor; etc. Third Paor.—Our Pulpit : Lecture to Students, University of Georgia, by Henry H. Tucker, Chancellor. The Sunday-School: The Dedi cation-Lesson for Sunday, January 12th, 1879. Obituaries; etc. Fourth Pao*.—Editorial: Christmas; Eben- Ezer ; The New Year ; Christmas for the Sor rowing ; Dr. Fuller ; An Honeßt Answer to a Surprising Question ; Hostility to the Negro ; State Mission Board, etc. Fifth Page.— Georgia Baptist News. Secular Ed itoritls; Beaconsheld; Georgia News; The Bubjugarion of the South ; Spirit of our Maga zine Literature; At the Close, etc. Sixth Paor.— The Household : Christmas Med itation ; The Infinite Love : Faith—Poetry ; Pray Without Ceasing, etc. Useful Hints and Recipes. New Advertisements Seventh Paor.— Childrens’ Corner : Jesus' Seat —Poetry ; The Christmas Story ; Mistletoe Gathering in Normandy; Joe White's Temp tation; Christmas— Poetry ; etc. New Adver tisements. Eighth Paor.— Florida Department ; Attention Florida Baptists; State Items. New adver tisements. Publisher’s Departmsnt, THE CHRISTIAN INDEX ALABAMA DEPARTMENT. BY SAM’L HENDERSON. TUK HIGHEST REASON. We were once asked by an intelligent minister, if we were required to give one reason, which above all others, would be most conclusive as to the truth of the doc trine of election, as taught and believed by our denomination, what that be ? Our response then wns, although over twenty years ago, just what it would be now. We immediately quoted Luke x : 21: “In that hour, Jesus rejoiced inspirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord if heaven and earth, that thou hast hid those things from the wise and the prudent, and hast re vealed them unto babes; even so, Father ; /or to it sesmed goad in thy tight." Can the di vine conduct be based upon a higher rea son than “the good pleasure of His will t” It comes not within the capacity of man or angels to conceive of one above this. It absolutely exhausts Ihe whole question. We ascribe every conceivable perfection to Jehovah—nay, we may affirm, that if there be any perfection which surpasses all human comprehension, aud which is essential lo exclude all possible imperfection —it exists in Him. Buch a Being never can act below Himself. His own will—liis own honor and glory, must ever be the all animating motive of all his works; and it is only as the human is absorbed in the divine will, that our fallen nature can glorify Him. Does not every time our lord’s prayer is ut tered, iff word or spirit, acknowledge this ? That He chooses “babes” instead ol the “wise and prudent”—“weak things’’ instead of “mighty”—is that “no flesh should glory in his sight;” but that he that “glorieth should glory in the Lord.” Why should bu man neseieene undertake to instruct omni science T How presumptuous, to expect God to act from a lower, when He bases His whole administration apon the highest con sideration that can exist— liis own sovereign will l Again : “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” We may easily conceive of a mere creature so completely under the law of holiness, as that it would be impossi ble for him to do wrong. "The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus," would practi cally repeal, or rather emancipate him from the law of prescription*, pains and penal ties ; so that holiness would be the native element in which he would live, move and have his existence. Now, conceding this to a mere creature that is holy, an angel for in stance, much mote may we ascribe eternal rectitude to Him who is not only holy but holiness itself. He needs no law to prescribe to nim what He shall and what He shall not do. He is "a law unto himself. ” His very perfections rendering it impossible lor him to act otherwise than as He does—right. He can have no higher law from which to act than His own nature. The source and fountain of all law must be above all law— above all law in this, that His actions spring from the very fountain head of all that authority which prescribes that obedience which is the test of holiness. This brings U3 back to the same principle with which we set out, to-wit: that God can have no higher reason or motive to actuate Him, than the "good pleasure of His will.” This is the crowning excellence of His divine ad ministration. This gaurantees everything that equity, truth and justice can demand, as it will seal every lip in silence when the decisions of the great day will be read out by the final Judge. The sublime chorus that celebrates the last redemptive act of our Immanuel, constitutes the perfection of heavenly bites; —"Alleluia! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth 1” fiOU’S WORKS OPPOSITELY VIEWED. Nothing so readily shows the true charac ter of the righteous and the wicked, as the effect of a like striking providence upon each. While the one is humbled under the mighty hand of God, and in the direst ex tremity, plaintively responds, “Shall we re ceive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil Y’’—the other, fretting and chafing under the adversity, impiously de mands, “Who is the Almighty that I should serve him f* The reason of this difference is to be found, not in the providence, for, as indicated, that may be the same in kind and degree, but in the The same thing may affect the same person differently by a change of time and circumstances, much more may we expect that two persous of opposite character may be oppositely af fected by the same occurrence. It is lo this that I’aul in his, epistle to Titus refers, when he says, “To the pure, all things are pure, but unto them that are defiled is nothing pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” The beams of the same sun exhale from a flower garden the most delightful odors, while from a stagnant lake, they draw the most insufferable stench and deadly ma laria. So also the Sun of righteousness, as lie throws His beams over our fallen world, develops those forms of moral bcauly which constilute the true nobilily of our race, on the one hand; and on the other, manifests those types of abandoned depravity which arc ‘ fitted lor destruction.” The same cloud that gave light to the camp of Israel, threw a horror of great daikncss upon the camp of the Egyptians. Indeed, it is of the nature of all God’s works, both in providence and grace, to call forth the excellencies of genuine faith in His people, or to develop the “exceeding sinful ness of sin’’ in the wicked. This was the effect which marked the labors of the first ministers of the gospel. They were “a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death.” That is, if we grasp the t rue idea of the inspired dec laration, there is in the Gospel, as faithfully preached, believed and practiced, a constant revivescence—a perpetual renewal of intel lectual and spiritual life—an ever augment ing of its power to sanctify and save; and there is, also, in this same gospel, the effect of manifesting in those who slight, resist, and contemn its truths, still deeper stains of moral guilt than would otherwise appear— a treasuring up of wrath against the day of wrath —a constant accumulation of guilt and remorse which gather upon the soul till the end of life, and doubtless through eterni ty ; thus presenting, side by side, the high est forms of godliness that can adorn the Christian ; and the last gradation of moral turpitude that cun blacken human destiny. And the like result is seen in the ministry of our Lord Ilimself. Old Simeon, going into the T cmple at the time the holy infant was being presented to the Lord, according to the law of Moses, “Took him in his arms and said, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be spoken against.” So that Christ is presented to the world ns the true touch-stone of character. We are each now making up our estimates of Ilim, and these estimates are to decide our destiny forever. If to us Ho is “a root out of dry ground, hav ing no form nor comeliness—no beauty that we should desire Him,” then in the day of wrath burning mountains will be a chosen refuge from the insufferable splendors of His judgment throne 1 But if now lie is to us “Ihe fairest among ten thousand—the One altogether lovely”—ii now “having not seen Him, we love," honor and obey Him, then, in ‘•‘that day,” rising from our tombs, we shall greet Him with exultant joy, ‘:Lo, this is our God, we have waited for Him P Ilow solemn the thought, that in such different characters and states will the whole human family spend an eternity ! Header! “What think ye of Christ ?’’ As you think of Him here, you will think of Him forever! God has, according to those eternal principles of rectitude which govern His administration, linked your everlasting destiny with the manner in which you treat His only begot ten Son. Realize it as a truth founded alike in reason and revelation, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anath ema maranatha /’’ That day will reveal: “ The righteous saved, the wicked damned, “And God’s eternal government approved!’’ NOW LOOK AT lllhSE. Last week, we discussed some of the sterner tests of character —the great underlying prin ciples that give solidity and strength to it. We now propose to furni-h two other illustra tions or examples, by way of exemplifying the more amiable virtues—those virtues which adorn rather than solidify Christian character For if we are to be “ rooted and grounded in the truth,” it is that we may “bear our fruit unto righteousness.” Christian temperaments, like the soil, differ in the fruits which they bear. Some are adapted to one kind, some to another—all, however, like the varied pro ductions of a farm, good in their place. Hut we suppose all will agree that benevolence, or rather beneficence, is a fruit which all are expected to yield. And as all the plants in the garden of the Lord are not of His planting, we can only distinguish them by their fruits. Let us apply this test: Here are two aged FRANKLIN PRINTING HOUSE, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, DECEMBER 26, 1878. men, both members of the same church, who have been equally successful ia business. They have, hv a course of honest industry and economy, accumulated as much of this world’s good as can answer the demands of a laudable ambition. An object of universally acknowledged benevolence is presented—say to relieve the poor—or to tend the bread of life to the perishing millions of the earth. One of them gives a cheerful and prompt re sponse to every such appeal. So long has his hand been obedient to his heart—so promptly lias he carried out in action the purposes of a philanthropic soul, that every man in the community in which he lives, knows that no worthy object will ever appeal to him in vain. It has become a confirmed habit which will just as certainly execute its benevolent im pulses as that the occasion will be offered. His portrait was drawn by the pencil of in spiration more than three thousand years ago: “ When the ear heard him, then it blessed him ; and when the eye saw him, then it gave witness to him : because lie delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him; and lie caused the widow’s heart lo sing for joy. .... He was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame: and the cause which lie knew not, he searched out.” Now, mark the other character: lie lias been alike successful. God has blessed him with equal temporal prosperity. The same appeal is made to him for the same object— but a stolid negative meets every demand of benevolence. The man lias so fatally suceeded in shutting up his bowels of mercies toward the noblest objects that can arouse the sympa thies of men or angels, ihat really when the appeal is made to him, he is not sensible of the existence of such a thing ns compassion. Never having reduced this God-!ike virtue to practice, it seems to have disappeared from iiis moral constitution. He cannot understand that there is any difference between himself, rolling in luxury, and the most destitute wid owhood and orphanage that can arouse the sensibilities of the human heart. So that when an appeal is made to him to relieve such destitution, his only response is, (and we give almost the identical words that were once given to our knowledge,)—“Nobody ever gave me anything, and how can I be expected to give others, anything!” In the matter of giving, lie is upon a par, or even below the most abjectly poor,but in the matter of receiving he is the most greedy and successful man iD his community. Our moral feelings, unlike our intellectual faculties, become deadened by the frequency of appeals to them, unless we promptly carry out in act their benevolent im pulses. This is a wise economy, since God designed them to be exercised. They are tal ents which can only be kept atid improved by use. To hide them is to lose them. tOBIST I VEK I'AIIIIFIL. Tliere lx; some who teach that ChrLt’s love may be set upon a man and afterwards may be removed , Where ih< n remains the c< rafort of God’s people if this statement be true ? But Jesus ‘ rests in His love.” Where is the value of His affection at all? In what re spect can Ho be ea : d to stint closer than a brother? How can it be true that many wa ters cannot quench His love, neiiher can floods drown it? if these men be righ’, must not the apostle Paul have been wrong when lie was persuaded that neither height, nor depth, n >r things present, nor things to come, nor any creature whatsoever should be able to sepa rate him from the love of God which was in Christ Jesus his Lord ? Shall we imagine that the aiiostle was incorrect in order that this heresy may be thought to be right ? Shall we turn away from the pod ive testimony of holy Scripture, when that Scripture is in it self so full of consolation to God’s people that, if once proved to be un'rue, they may put their hands upon their loins, and go to their grave full of misery and despair? But ye know right well that Jesus Christ’s love, when once it has engraved his name upon His hand, can never suffer that name to be erased. Ye believe, and ye believe right well, that he who hath a portion in the heart of God has an eternal portion. He who can claim for himself a share of the Father’s love, of the Son’s redemption, and of the Spirit’s care, neel never be a f raid that all the thievish hosts of hell (hall rob h’m of his di vine inheritance. Can sin ever make Jefuscease to love me? If so, He would have ceased to love me long •go. If there be any iniquity that Icm com mit that wou'd divide me from Ohrl-t’s love, methinks 1 should have been separated long ere this. He might have said : “Thou art un worthy of Me, and, therefore, I will he un mindful of thee.” And more, if Christ bad intended to cast us away for our sins, why did He ever take us on? Did He not know before hand that we should be rebellious, and did not His omniscient eye see all our sins, and detect all our follies? Are we ungrateful? Yet He knew we should be. He could fore see all in His mind’s eye. Every spot that was to be upon us, was upon in when He chose us Before H s omniscient eye, every fault that we might commit was already com mitted in His estimation. He foreknew, foresaw ail ; and yet, He took us just as we were. If He hail intended to abandon us and cist us away, would He ever have taken us at all? if Je?us meant to divorce His bride, fore-knowing ail her faults, would lie have ever espoused her ? If he meant to cast away tiis adopted child, since He knew that child’s unfaithfulness, would He ever have adopted him? Oh, think not, beloved, that Christ would have done all that lor nothing—would have come from Heaven to earth, and have gone from earth to the grave, and allowed His spiiit to descend into the shades of Hades— would have c me all this way, and suffered all that awful amount of torture which is com prehended in the curse, on a baot’ess errand. Would He not iiave started back, and said, “I know my bride to be unworthy, therefore, I will not redeem her—l will not espouse her”? But since He has done it, has espoused her, has put the red ring of His own atonement on her finger, and has hitherto been faithful to her, what shall divorce her? Whnt shall cast her from His bosom, whom He died to save ? Oh, beloved it must be true that He will rest in His love, if He has rested in it though [lie has had much to distract Him therein. — Ptople’ a Pulpit. Spirit of the Religious Press, —The New York Observer (Preebyteriau) takes a cheering view of a subject, which is usually regarded with great alarm. We are glad to see that in the opinion of the as tute Observer, the relation of the silver lining to the cloud is such, that the principal part of what we see, is the silver lming. But hear the Observer : Much is said, and said truthfully, of the fearful amount of bad reading inflicted upon the public. But there is more that is good, a hundred fold more, yes a thousand fold more. There are millions of money employed in publishing good books, where there are only thousands spent in making the other kind. The devil has many printers ; the Lord God has more. In the early years of the art of printing, there was a widespread impressiou that it was a species of black nrt, the invention of the devil and worked in his service. Yet there were more Bibles printed than of any other book in the world. There are vast societies and institutions, whose only object is to multiply Bibles and other good books, and from year to year they go on increasing their issues, until we might fear the world itself would not be able to contain them. Has the devil such societies at his com mand ? Is there a building like the Bible House in this land, devoted to the manu facture of infidel works? Where are the publishing houses, and where are the books that may be set down as positively injurious, bad books, as they are justly called ? There are such publish ers and such books. But they work in the dark, because their dteds are evil. They do not advertise in the papers that good people read. They scarcely advertise anywhere. They push their business by agents and circulars, and means that the regular trade disavow. And as compared with the respectable and honorable men, whose business it is to furnish books for the million, these purveyors of the devil are happily few and far between. Think of the mischief that would be wrought, or that had already been wrought, if the demand for vile reading were so great as to employ such gigantic establishments as are now at work to supply the world with good books i One of the great publishing houses in this city would be enough to print all the vile works that are circulated in this country. —The Journal and Messenger (Baptist. Ohio) copies from the New York 'limes the following: “The Southern pastor brave enough to preach against the inhuman, ungodly prac tices of the KnKlux, and the White League, has yet to be heard from.” If there is an evangelical preacher of any denomination in the Southern States, and identified with them, who fails of being brave enough to preach against anything inhuman or ttngodly, The Index has never heard of him. So far as our knowledge goes, it requires no bravery at all to do this. The writer, however, does us the justice to say that in the churches they (the preachers) have not a word to say about affairs of the State, but he adds alas! that in all their per sonal and private relations, they are very bitter, etc. He goes on further to say: ‘‘The parsons and the women are respon sible for much of the ill-feeling between ri val political organizations in the cotton States.” We are sorry to see it implied that the Christian religion hns so pernicious an effect on preachers and women. If the statement be true, it would seem to be a good thing either to dispense with the Christian religion altogether, or to dispense with preachers and women altogether. The Index is strenuously opposed to either alternative. —Zion’s Advocate (Baptist, Maine) men tions a number of what are considered well authenticated cases, in which diseases have been cured by prayer One Dr. Charles Cullis, of Boston, Massachusetts, is the man whose appeals to the Divine Mercy are said to be so efficacious. Our own hesita tion in accepting jthese accounts is consider bly greater than that of the Adiosate, who speaks as follows : “Now what shall be said of these cases ? Hive these persons been the victims of a diseased imagination, or has mi id, or spirit, when powerfully exercised, such a mighty power over matter, or are those wonderful cures wrought in answer to the prayer of faith ? We would not be faithless. Un doubtedly, as Tennyson says, “More things are wrought by prayer, Than this world dreams of.’’ But of these cases, and others like them, we have no personal knowledge. Can those who have give us further light ? The development of the prayer-cure iu connection with Dr. Cullis’ work is such, that a fund lias been started to provide a building for the accommodation of persons who come to the Consumptives’ Home to oe healed in this way. Several hundred doL lsrs, it is said, l.ave already been contribu ted for this purpose. —The BaplUt Weekly lias the following: “To represent that the attitude of science toward the Christian religion has shaken the faith of any considerable number of men as to its claims, is a concession we cannot make. And as to its causing men to “stag ger in their pulpits” and make the theologi cal seminaries “shaky places, I "we do not be lieve a word of it. Never more than at the present day have the great truths of the Christian religion taken hold of the hearts and! consciences of men, and the faith of men is all the firmer in these truths because ol their more intelligent apprehension. Men of science shake our faitli! It is not in their power, because matters of faith are beyond their province. Dr. Holland him self admits that science has not been able to prove anything against our faith, and in bis conclusion all intelligent men must con cur. Science has never proved that theie is no personal God, no soul, no immortality, no Christ,these.are matters that we have always taken on faith. Not only this, but they are matters which science is utterly incompetent to handle. They are outside of the domain of science. Science can no more touch them than it can touch anything that it confesses to be “unknowable." —The Interior says ; “It is remarkable that the Afghans, who, with a great degree of prohabilty, claim that they are Israelites, and of the ten tribes, should now be attacked at the instigation of Beaconsfield, who is of the tribe of Judah. The Afghans are recognized by e'hnologists as of the same linguial stock with the He brews. and the Hebraic features of the race are said by some observers lo be un mistakable. —The Christian Leader, New York, (Uni versal ist) says. “It would seem that the morals of Maine and Vermont need sadly to be mended ; for, last year, in the former State there was one divorce to every twelve marriages, and in the latter State, one divorce to every sixteen marriages.” We hope that the Leader is mistaken in his facts and figures, though we have not seen them contradicted. Taking the statement to be correct, wc should suppose that such a state of society would tend to drive both capital and population from the States nam ed ; for where the marriage tie ■is so loose, everything else, we should think, would be equally loose. Should more favorable in formation reach us, we shall be in haste to publish it. —The Western Iteco-der (Baptist, Ky.) proceeds to say: “Reverence is not “Young America's’’ strong point. Your average boy or girl of “the period,” is quite superior to most of the traditional forms and, we regret to add, tra ditional civilities of the past. Perhaps ihe stately manners of a half century since, were a little more stiff and mechanical than this active, matter-of-.'act age demands. Still the tendency now is all in the opposite di rection. Forms are the decorous garb in which feeling clothes itself. They have their place. They cannot with safety be al together laid aside. It is no sign of genius or independence in young or old to bid de fiance to the recognized proprieties or even minor civilities of social life.” And having spoken further of the “minor morals of social intercourse,” the Recorder asks: “Can aDy fortunate admirer of “the grand old name of gentleman,’’ call to mind even a skgle family now-a-days where these an cient and honorable customs are still rigidly enforced ?” Yes I The Index knows a number of families where the ancient and honorable customs are kept up, just as they have been for many generations past; but must con fess that the general tendencies of the times all seem to point in the opposite direction. Can any one tell why this is so ? It must be that there is some broad underlying cause for this social degeneracy, for it ap pears to affect every part of the conntry alike. What is the matter ? Here is work for thinkers. —The Presbyterian (Philadelphia) makes some happy remarks on the subject of “Alms-giving in relation to Revivals.” Was such a subject ever beard of before 9 What have alms-giving and revivals to do with each other ? Hear him : “In the Church’s search to discern the signs of the times, and in her efforts to fulfill the human conditions made necessary by divine appointment to fruitful revivals.it is needful that those who direct the public thought to this end be specific. There can he no mistake on the subject under consider ation for the divine command is, “Bring your tithes into the storehouse, and prove me now.” And this divine order is demon strated by the liberality that a revival of re ligion always begets.” We have put the word always in italics. Is our contemporary right in using this word. We are not inclined to dispute it; but we have seen revivals so-called, which were not attended by alms giving or ever followed by them afterwards, so far as we could learn. The Preibytertan continues : “As long as Pentecost stands as the brightest jewel of history, this conviction must be abiding.- But cncry successive awakening, from P enteccst until to-day, has begun and ended in a sense awakenedto the duty and privilege of alms-giving. God will not encourage any neglect here, or suffer the passing by of this condition. The eflective ness of prayer is joined to this sacrifice, and as revivals come in answer to prayer, it is easy to see how there is so much fruitless prayer. We have put the word joined in italics. Is there not some authority for the sentiment thus brought out in Acts x: 4 ? Listen again : Tliere is more intimate connection between free-will sacrifices on onr part and the great sacrifice, than the close-fisted and avaricious have been willing to know by study, or admit as duty. A stunning blow, the Index thinks! And it is followed by some advice Vihicli may startle by its originality and novelty ; but its origin is on High, and it is as old as the Bible. Here it is: We are asking, “ What can we do to pro mote a revival ?” We can ask alms and take them up in collections—give until we feel it —cut off worldly indulgences, if we can do no more for Christ’s needy ones. We have no doubt that the evidences of the Spirit’s pres ence on the day of prayer, week before last in the Chambers’ church, Philadelphia, would have been far more satisfactory if the sacrifices of giving had been as prominent as of the heart and will in praying. If we had tnken three collections, and each had Bliown marked increase, wc might have been sure a revival had begun. This would have been a far let ter evidence than merely feeling good and hopeful. WHOLE NO, §350 If two or three thousand dollars had gone to our needy Boards or hospitals, or to the poor, we might have said, and the world would have said, “ Such praying as that means business.” Now if you want to comply with one of the divine conditions, and to have one of the unmistakable evidences of a revival, bring the tithes into the storehouse, crowd the mercy-seat with prayers and alms, and make the alms as long and loud as the prayers, and see what God will do. “ I will poor you out a blessing until there shall not be room to receive it.” And happy would the Index he to see revivals which would show their influence on tlie heart by their power over the pocket, and that, too, in the way of almsgiving, rather than in the way of paying the revivalist. FOREIGN MISSIONARIES. These devoted servauts of our blessed Lord must bo fed and clothed. The quarterly duo3 to these brethren and Bisters must be sent to them about the first of January. Every pastor a affectionately asked to present this subject to liie churches. It is hoped the Woman’s Mission Societies will not overlook this call. The reader of this short article is respectfully aud affection ately asked if ho or she has done their whole duty to this causo of their precious Saviour. Do lot us hear from you. 0. M. Ibwin, Ag’t Foreign Missions. ROME CHAPEL Brethren aud sisters will excuse me for re minding them that the balance duo on the Rome (Italy) Chapel is very much ncoded. Ido most earnestly appeal to every Baptist of Georgia to forward at once a contribution for this object. Many thanks to those who have responded to the call made by Dr. H. H. Tucker and the writer. Send contributions to Dr. Tucker or myself. 0. M. Ibwin, Atlanta. Domestic Missions. —Let not our churches forget to make a “New Years Gift” to our Do mestic Mission Board at the opening of the New Year, worthy of the cause. The great work of this Board yields in importance to none that is under the supervision of the South ern Baptist Convention. In addition to the obligations the Gospel imposes, patriotism comes in to enforce its claims. The most pas sionate utterance that Paul ever wrote related to his “own kindred according to the flesh.” No claim ever imposed by human or divine law can surpass that which requires us to “ begin at Jerusalem,” at home, in preaching the gospel to every -reature. Rome Chapel Fund —We regret to say that Alabama has not completed her pre rata share of this funft’. Something over a hundred dol lars are behind We were assessed only SSOO o> the last Southern Baptist Convention, and surely we can ruise this amount. It cannot be doubted that if the matter were presented to a dozen churches that we could name, the am ount would be forthcoming. Will not that number of pastors take it in hand, and give their churches one of the rarest opportuni ties of doing a noble work that can occur in a life time—that of erecting a Baptist meeting house right by the side of the Vatican? Is there anything more animating to the zeal of Christians than to re-establish the gospel ns Paul preached it eighteen centuriu ago, in the city of the Casars ? It seems to us that there should not he a Baptist in all the land that would not hail it as the grand opportu nity ofliis life to aid in so glorious an enter prise. TAKE NOTICE. The editor of The Index has nothing to do with its business afftirs. If you wish to send money to pay for your subscription, do not send it to the editor, Bend it to James P. Harrison & Cos., Atlanta, Ga. If you wish to discontinue your paper, do not write to the editor about it; write to James P. Harrison & Cos, Atlanta, Gi. If you want to know the price of printing, etc., do not write to the editor; write to James P. Harrison & Cos., Atlanta, Ga. In any business matter whatever connected with The Index, write to James P. Harrison & Cos., Atlanta, Ga. For the Index and Baptist.) PLEASE HELP HIM ! Help whom? Why, brother S. Boykin. Why help him ? Became he is trying to do a good work, which he can’t accomplish with out help—that of furnishing materials for the Georgia Department of a “ Baptist Encyclope dia]’ soon to be published in Philadelphia.” It ia gratifying to notice that acme interest is being excited on the subject of the history of our denomination in the State. An experi rnce of thirty five years has convinced the wri ter (hat this Interest hitherto has not been great. Much important history has been lost tieyond recovery. Yet much may be preierv <d, if all who can, will lend a helping hand. J. H. Campbell., Terms ol Subscription. Cash in advance, six months, $1.35; twelve months, $2.60. To ministers, six months, $1.00; twelve months, 2.00. Club rates; five copies, each, $2.25; ten copies, each, $2.00 Extra copy to person making up a club. Send us a club and instruct us to send the paper to your pastor oneyear free. Read This. <3T Any one who will forward to us now, in addition to his or her own annual dues, paid in advance, the name of anew subscriber, accom panied by the snbscription money, shall have The Index for one year, post paid, acoording to the appended sohedule : With one new name, the two for $5 00 With two new names, the three for 7 25 With three new names, the four for 9 40 With ten new names, the eleven for 24 80 With twenty new names, the 21 for 40 20 With 30 new names, the 81 for 60 CO taTSend The Index a clnb.