The Christian index. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1872-1881, September 04, 1879, Image 1

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The Christian Index. V0L.57--N0 34. Table of Contents. First Pa e—Alabama Department: Ramb ling Thoughts About Preachers and Preach ingr; Punctuality; Alabama News; The Re ligious Press; Religious News. Second Page Correspondence : Revival Scenes and Incidents—J H Campbell; Ministers and Deacons’ Meeting; Letter from Milner; From the Church ,at Madi son; Womans’ Missionary Societies; Pro gramme of the Rehoboth Sunday -school Con vention; A Deacon’s Request The Sun day-school; Missionary Clippi». Third Page—Oppressing the Indians; The Judson Family, etc Fourth Page—Editorials: For Cbri«’s Sake —The Other Side; Mercer’s Windfall; Church Fellowship; The Other Cheek; Rev J S Kalloch; D.D; Georgia Baptist News. Sixth Page—Obituaries, etc. Fifth Page—Morals in our Public Men; News from the Field; Boman; Notes of Travels, etc.;, The Whole Truth; Secular Editorials; A Good Man Gone; Legisla tive Summary; Georgia News. Seventh Page—The Farmers’ Index: Farm Work for September; Agricultural Educa tion. Eighth Page—Florida Department: Florida Associations; Banana, Florida—G W A Mcßea; Woman’s Mission Societies; Mis sions; Special Notices; New Advertise ments. Alabama Department. BY SAMUEL HENDERSON’. RAMBLING THOUGHTS ABOUT PREACHERS AND PRE A CHING. Os all men in the world, a preacher should be most disposed to learn, and yet we have seen some, who, of all other men, were least inclined to learn. Having had their own way so long in the pulpit, and having been deferred to so often in expressing their opinions, they have come to regard themselves as a kind of oracle, whose ipse dixit should seal conviction and be the end of all strife. It would be sometimes amusing if it were not so pitiable to see the air of importance with which some of those ministers deliver their senti ments upon the most abstruse and mysterious points in theology. They are never without an opinion upon any branch of Bible truth, and the minus of their knowledge is the plus of their assumptions. These, however, are rare exceptions, but such there are. But not so with your really improved and improving minister. True worth, whether intellectual or moral, and, es pecially when these combined, is always modest. It is one of the incidents of knowledge, one that marks bvery step of its acquisition, that the more a man learns, the more he is conscious he has yet to learn. The acquisitions of each day reveal ever enlarging regions of unexplored thought luring him on to still richer and brighter fields—his capacities meanwhile enlarging as he essays to “comprehend with all saints the height and depth, the length and breadth” of that stupendous theme “that passeth knowledge.” And this process, conceding a healthy state of mind and heart, accompanies him through life; nay, follows him into the world to come, where, in “that everlasting sun-light of the soul,” and amid happier auspices, this progress , will go on with the roll of eternity. Doubtless the reader can recall an I intance or two of a style of preaching —at least we have a confused idea of having encountered it at occasional in tervals—in which the preacher occu pied an hour and a half to tell—well, nobody could exactly determine what. He seemed to have set out in search of —nothing, and to have overtaken it. No mortal could tell why he might not have taken any other text in the Bible than the one he announced, as the starting point for his harangue. A confused idea that one has been con templating the gyrations of a wind mill, is about the kind of impression left upon the mind. Then there is another style of preaching—and it matters little whether the man is edu cated, in the technical sense of the term, or not, as in the former instance —in which, from the very first sentence, our attention is arrested, and held with a rigid tenac ity to the last syllable. Every word has a meaning—every sentence con veys a truth —every illustration flashes light——every argument seals conviction —every division and subdivision in-! tensities the grand doctrine or duty ’ in tended to be enforced—every intona-, tion of voice, expression of counte-1 nance, gesticulation, and the like, arc in full sympaty with the sentiment —so that when the sermon is finished it stays preach'd— it grooves itself upon the memory, and weeks, months, years afterwards one can recall, in good part, 1 the main substance of the discourse. ’ Now, has it ever occurred to you, | reader, to raise the question, why this , difference between two such preachers?' Certainly it is not altogether accounted for in the native capacities of the man ; ' for, in native endowment, the first may be superior to the second. Why, then, the difference? We answer, it is the indolence of the one, and the indus try of the other. The one has neither thought nor reajl upon any distinct topic, and when the time comes to SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST. of Alabama. preach, he “cuts for his text,* (or might as well do it for the crude mess he is about to inflict,) without any distinct conception as to what he is to say, or why he should say anything, or why he should speak ten minutes or ten hours. The other comes to his task with both “the preparation of the heart and the answer of the tongue.” His head and heart are full of his sub ject, and “the unction of the Holy One” accompanies his words to write them upon “fleshly tables of the heart.” “Words are but wind,” and common place thoughts thrown out promiscu ously from ah empty head, make no more impression than the idle wind. There is music in the wind, but all wind is not music. Instruments may be so constructed with proper tubes for the wind to pass through as to make it discourse the sweetest music. 80 truth must take a particular course, must be moulded into a particular form, must be projected with a particular force, and must be directed to a particular object, before it can compass its last and highest results. And the man who undertakes to wield the truth without such preparation of heart and mind as will give it this distinct form and power, will almost make as blank a failure as the unfettered wind would 1 in making music. When a man con nects his name with a public service, whether stated or occasional, he brings himself under the highest obligation to his fellow men that he can assume to have something to say worth their hearing. Are his crude thoughts worth any more than the crude thoughts of any other man ? Can he meet the solemn responsibilities of his high call ing by throwing out the merest plati tudes, the vagaries, that could be sum moned from any other idle brain in his congregation? No, no! A right conception of his duty in this respect, will lay under contribution all his powers and resources to fit him for the sacred calling. And still further, in the higher ranks of ministerial talent and power, we are often struck with singular con trasts. We go to hear some public favorite, (as we did forty years ago, and how vivid the recollection!) and are absolutely entranced. We are scarcely conscious of the flight of time. The wholg discourse is like the unfold-* ‘ ing of a panorama—each scene is more enchanting, and awakens an intenser feeling of admiration. Or rather, it is as if we were to visit a vast flower gar den, in which there is everything that can awaken the rapture, and regale the sensibilities of the human soul. We pluck the most beautiful and aromatic flowers, intending to weave them into a bouquet, and place them in a basket at our side, and when we rise to pick up the basket, lo! the bottom falls out! To drop all figures, we have a pleasing sense that we were delighted at the time, but no abiding impression of the service remains with us. We go to hear another one of like reputation, and it is enough to say, we carry home a “Benjamin’s mess.” Great thoughts are thrown out with an ease, terseness, vigor, power, that well nigh stagger one in the attempt to grasp them as they come from a mas sive intellect, filled with the unction of the Spirit. No expedient is needed to keep up the connection between the pulpit and pew. It is as if the whole audience were one body/'swayed and impelled by the one master spirit that pours forth its fervid utterances, as if in mystic communion with the spirit land. Such sermons live in our minds through decades—and will live “ ’till life’s last hour is fled.” “But what are you aiming at ?” Don’t be too inquisitive, reader—noth ing very particular. “Havn’t you al most overtaken it ?” Well, yes ! “and here shall be an end.” PUNCTUALITY. The Rev. Francis Callaway, so grate ful to the memory of many of our readers both in Georgia and Alabama, and who was for many years the Mod erator of the Liberty Association, Chambers county, Ala., was singularly* I noted for his punctuality to his ap pointments. Nothing short of a di j rect, imperative providence ever hin | dered him. Referring to him once in ! our presence, Col. E. said to us, "When Bro. Frank Callaway fails to reach one of his appointments, you may go mak ing his coflin.” This was literally ful filled. The dear old man absolutely died on his way to fill an appointment. ■ Another brother, the Chancellor M. | said to us once, as indicating the com i plexion of his piety, "When Bro. Cal laway comes up to my gate of an even- 1 ing to stay all night, I always feel safe for that night.” Buch was the estima tion in which he was held, that we all felt that if any man could claim the benefit of the divine promise it was he. “He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways, lest at any time thou shall dash thy foot against a stone.” Atlanta, Georgia, Thursday, September 4, 1879. ALABAMA NEWS. —The health of Montgomery is remarka bly good. —There is a good opening in Butler for a? school. —The Alpine concert netted S7O to the church. —Rev. W. IL Armstrong will go from De catur to luka, Mias. —The new hotel at’Ewfcnla will be com pleted by September Ist. —Work has on the new Baptist church at Fort Deposit. —Gadsden has removed the license tax on private boarding houses. —The first bale of cotton at Union Springs brought 21 cents a pound. —Mrs. Sapp, of Covington county, has cur a new set of teeth when 52 years old. —The new church at Calera is ready for the painter. —A protracted meeting is in progress with the Wilsonville Baptist church. —The new Baptist church at Roanoke is ready for occupation. —There Is a protracted meeting being held with the Evergreen Baptist church. ' —The protracted meeting at Forest Home Khurch, Butler county, closed with 22 accee -Mons. * —The 10th of August Rev. R. M. Trotter baptized 23 at Pilgrims’ Rest church, Eto wah county. —Selma is now enjoying the “very best Mobile oysters,” which are sent there in cans on ice. —The revival at Trinity Methodist church, rßrownville, continues. The people mani fest a great interest in the meetings. —W. A. Hancock and family and Edward McKenzie have moved from Eufaula to Texas. , —I. D. White, of Turkeytown, Etowah county, gave the Baptists a beautiful site for their church. —The Methodists expect to build a new church in Troy. —The Baptist church steeple at Tuskegee is being painted. —Col. James Jackson, of Lauderdale county, was thrown from a buggy and killed on the 14th. —A daughter of Col. Jackson, of Lauder dale county, had an arm broken at the time her father was killed. —A reward of SI,OOO is offered for the ar» rest Os Jakfe IL Pietbe, changed witk murder in Pickens county. —A postoffice has been established at Simpk'nsville, Monroe county; J. J. Simp kins, postmaster. —There have been over one hundred addi tions to the colored Baptist church of La- Grange this year. —There were fifteen additions to the Bap tist church at Satilla, Clarke county, during the recent meeting. —During a recent meeting at Pleasant Grove (Baptist) church, Clarke county, there were twenty-nine accessions. —To the 15th of August there had been 100,407 bales of cotton shipped from Selma, which left only 175 bales in the warehouses. —The protracted meeting at Wilsonville resulted in twelve additions to the Methodist church. —No rewards hereafter will be offered by the Governor for the apprehensiou of escaped criminals except on the application of the solicitor of ti.e circuit from which the crim inal escaped. —Mr. Wilson, a practical engineer and steamboat man, having leased the right to navigate the Sipsey river for ten years, is on the river surveying the stream. He says navigation is easy and practical as far as surveyed. —The orphan children of the late Charles Rosensthil, who left Union Springs some time ago for their father’s native land in Germany, have arrived safely in Bremen, at which place they were met by relatives. They were quite young to make the trip alone, and their frLnds will rejoice to le rn of their safe arrival. —The Troy Messenger states that there is a great demand for brick among those building in that city. All that the home yards can turn out are engaged weeks before hand, and orders are sent constantly to Montgomery, Columbus and Eufaula. It looks as if the brick makers at these points are evidently reaping a golden harvest, as they sell every brick as fast as made, and at a round profit, too. Texas has a new prophet, or rather two of them, Cumberland Presbyterian preachers, who claim to have direct visions and revelations from heaven. Their revelations seem very unintelligi ble, but they explain them to mean that a great conflict is about to occur between Catholicism and Protestantism. The beasts of prophecy are interpreted to lie the States of Europe and the United States. They announce that Anti-christ will appear in a few years, probably ten, as a great military ruler in Italy. They reject, however, the idea of Christ’s personal coming at the end of hits reign. It may be that these men arc sincere and are themselves de ceived, but the one thing certain is that they will add to the long catalogue of those who have ship-wrecked the faith of men and brought disgrace upon the church.— Record and Evangelist. The Religious Press. The Lesson of the Telephone.—Call > ing upon a business acquaintance the other . day, he suddenly interrupted our conversa tion with the words, “Excuse me a mom> nt,” J turned towards his desk and said—as if to a third person, though there was no third per son in the room—“ Well !•’ The person ad- J.dreseed—though quite invisible and inaudi ble to us—seemed to communicate intelligi bly with our friend, who uttered requests I. and made promises and expressed gratitude to vacancy, in away which would have led ‘one, a few years since, to have deemed him insane. But he wasn't insane, by any means. On the contrary, he was extra-sensible and clear-headed. Attached to his desk there was a telephone which communicated with bis home. In the midst of our conversation Mie had heard a call which my ear didn’t de ‘ 'feet. He had been talking with his father— -'acknowledging with gratitude the fulfillment W requests previously made, venturing upon blew petitions, encouraged by that father’s love, and in turn making such promises as were prompted by a filial heart. S Isn’t it a perfect parallel, we said, to pray er? The infidel taunts us with talking to vacancy when we pray. Sometimes the skeptical doubt rushes upon the Christian in the midst of his supplications Is there an ear that listens and a voice that answers ? Why not ? If man, by the exercise of a little ingenuity, can communicate with his distant fellow-man—if, when he seems to be talking to vacancy, he is really pouring his requests into the ear of a friend—if his father, invis ible and inaudible to the bystanders, still does hear and does answer; why is prayer such an absurdity as it is sometimes repre sented? Wh r mav not divine ingenuity have established a spiritual telephone be tween earth and heaven, so that when the Christian is seemingly talking to vacancy, he Is really talking to God? There area good many people who believe that there is a God ; but regard it the height of absurdity to think that be hears and answers prayer. We commend to such the lesson of the tele phone. Why should God not be able to do on a large tcale what man has done on a little scale? There are many who believe that he is—that the heavenly telephone antedates the earthly—that from the place of business, on the pressure of sudden emergency, they S’ust as surely, just as sdfely, just as ily reach a neavenly as an earthly ir. — Examiner and Chronicle. Yes, and how will it do to say that CJUyist is the Telephone? Does prayer evtr reach heaven except through hint? And does any prayer ever fail toieach heaven when it does pass tfyqugh him? The little instrument a telephone which men use /o H times gets out of or4er and fails failfl! 4 . >n <y-Two classes of magistrates are not fi ll / «d in this country at the present xXne: One is, such as are in moral Sympathy with the vicious and disor derly elements of society. The other is, such as are weak-kneed, and there fore disposed to adopt a rose-water ad ministration of law. The times demand not only good men, but brave ones, to sit in the magistrate’s seat.— Christian Advocate. —The Evangelical Messenger does not like questionable expedients for raising church funds, and thinks that establishments which need such sup port are of doubtful value. It says: Coaxing the devil to support the gospel is a modern device. The primitive Church knew nothing of it. When Paul was col lecting funds to aid poor saints at Jerusalem, he used no fairs, lestivals, “mum sociables,” kissing games, or other sanctified snares, to accomplish his object. The Christiane paid their own bills, and did not expect Satan to pay for the weapons which they used in warfare against him. When the devil does support a church, he does so in his own in terest. He carries on his ope-atlons with a full knowledge of the fact, that “a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.” For every dollar paid out of his coffers to the Church, he receives full value. Churr h [mrtnershipe with the Evil One never benefit the former, but always the latter. Hands off! Untold harm comes to the Church by the use of even questionable measures to raise money for the support of God’s work. It creates the impression, in the minds of the worldly, that the Church is a kind of para site, dependent for its existence on the com munity ; that it is a sort of genteel beggar, which it i« proper and fashionable to sup port ; that it is an object of charity, or even pity and contempt, which is grateful for the tolerance of the people that let it live. The ungodly regard such churches as are engaged in seeking money, rather than souls, and valuing wealthy members more than poor saints. To stand before the world in this light is humiliating and degrading beyond expression. Such churches ought to be cleansed or closed, cured or killed. Churches that are doing the Lord’s work, and are worth supporting, esn be supported I without the use of questionable means. , Others deserve no support. Let them go down! —Here is good doctrine from the Lutheran Standard (Ohio:) God does not want us lo doubt his prom ises, ss some would have us think. He wants us to believe. He is faithful that promised, end doubt on our psrt is an im peachment of his truth. He has given his son to die for our sins, and through him our redemption is effected. He that btlieveth shall be saved. Our debt is paid, and by faith that payment is imputed to US. This Is what gives our souls gladness. No won der that many go bowed down all their days, when they refuse to believe what God says for their comfort and joy. Instead of en deavoring to justify doubt by the pretence of a deep humility tint will not presume to claim God’s promises of life and blessedness in our dear Redeemer, we should pray that our faith may bo increased, and daily medi tate upon the sure Word of God that our souls may become sure. It is a miserable caricature of humility that makes God a liar THE CHRISTIAN HERALD, of Tennessee. or the sake of not seeming presumptuous. True humility confesses man’s own unwor thiness, but does not limit God’s mercy and pronounce his promises doubtful, —And here comes the Record and Evangelist from away over yonder in lowa, with some good counsel, which we publish with our indorsement. The agricultural fairs we favor, and we belong for life to tlie State Agricultural Society, and take great interest in its proceedings. But agriculture is one thing and race-horsy-culture is another thing. If fairs cannot be kept up without races, the sooner we are rid of them the better: In the lapse of eighteen centuries there has been some change in the character of the public diversions. The amphitheatre of the fair grounds has taken the place of the Coli seum, or arem. The gladiatorsand the lion fights have disappeared before the advancing wave of civilization. There remain the races, ‘he bets, the fever of excitement, and the admiring crowds of gentlemen and ladies, wonien and children. There is one feature in these modern entertainments unknown in ancient days. Christians are among the spectators. It would be the natural inference from this fact that all was conducted with the greatest decorum, and that the diversion had been brought up to the Christian standard of mor als. Ancient Christians refused to sanction the amusements of their times because they deemed them wrong. If modern Christians patronize, it must be because they deem them harmless. Go once to the race course : behold the cruel race! Hear the oaths! See the trickery! Take note of the gam bling ! Mark the kind of men who are the backers! Christian, do you observe and seek here “Whatsoever things are true, what soever things are honest, whatsoever is just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report?” When Christ was upon the earth he sought the throngs of men at the Jewish feasts, in the cities and on wedding occasions. Could you imagine him, if on earth now, sitting as a spectator in the am phitheatre of a race track, and looking on approvingly amid the lashing of the panting horses, the oaths, shouts and bets of excited men I Anciently advertisements of the public entertainments would run as follows: "Grand entertainment! A gigantic and ferocious Nubian lion which has already killed a dozen men I A score of Christians exposed to him in the amphitheatre of the Coliseum!” A modern advertisement differs a little. It runs somehow as follows: “Great agricultu ral fair! The largest premiums ever offered for speed ! The fastest horses of the country on the track I Ranis, Reconstruction and otljer noted raceft on hand!” etc. It might « added and is Written on the bills in in vis- ‘ e Ihk by the tftiseen mauagkn *'Su ,lres’ of Christians exposed; their souls fearfully mangled, or slain outright.” We ask every church member to take heed what example he places before those less strong than himself. We ask him to consider upon his knees, before the Redeem er’s throne, the question of sanctioning what is questionably wicked by his presence. We ask him to fervently pray: “Not my will, but thine be done,” and then and there to decide whether it is Christ’s will that he should be a patron and partaker of flagrant sins. The Central Baptist ( St. Louis thus delivers itself: The majority of the Baptists of this coun try, while they regard immersion as a cere monial prerequisite to communion, do not believe it is the only, or main, prerequisite to the ordinance. They believe and teach that the Lord’* Supper is strictly a church ordinance, only to be celebrated by a church ■s such, and that church membership is consequently the main prerequisite, and that without it even immersion by a Baplist minister does not entitle a person to the com munion. This is the only consistent position for Baptists to take. In their closeness, which has never degen erated into persecution, Baptists show the world that they regard true doctrine and consistent practice of far more worth than that sickly sentimentalism which sees in the Lord’s Supper an occasion of social enjoy ment, rather than the solemn witness of His broken body and shed blood. Do the Bap tists exclude their members who commune with other denominations? They should do it. A man who has no more principle than to voluntarily join a Baptist church which he knows to be close communion in belief and practice, and then insult that church bv communing with other denominations should be excluded at once, unless he ac knowledges his error and promises to refrain from suon conduct in future. We believe a “sensible worldling” would say precisely what we say on thia point. We certainly agree with the Central Baptist that Baptism, while it is pre requisite to communion, is not the only prerequsite; church memliership is quite as essential. It is a church ordi nance, to be celebrated by a church as a church, and by a church only. The Lord’s Supper is observed not as mere matter of sentiment sickly or other wise, but as an act of obedience to Jesus Christ, and it should not be done in any way which is not consistent with the principles taught by him and the Apostles. Our feelings have noth ing to do with the matter. We have only to “look to our marching orders.” Good old-fashioned talk from the Lutheran Standard : But even the sweetness of the Gospel only provokes bitterness in the world that Heth in wickedness. “We preach Christ cruci fied, unto tho Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greek*, Christ the tower of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Cor. 1, 23-24. The way of Men tion through the righteousness of another, so that no room whatever is left for any honor to himself. Is an offence to the natural man. He would be something himself, and not give all the glory to another. He cannot bear to be told that all his efforts and works Whole No. 2384 will only bring damnation, and that his only hope of salvation rests in the works and sufferings of One who pitied us in our mise ry and helplessness and laid down His own life to deliver us from the curse which was justly .our due. Therefore be persecutes Christians who bring the Gospel as people who offer insults to the dignity of man. So far is then the hatred of the world from being a proof that Christians are pur suing a wrong course, that it is necessary as a consequence of true charity. Therefore our Lord says: “Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6, 26. It is a sign that they conform to the world. If they reprove the world, they must expect the world’s hatred. We copy the two following items from a respected exchange but, we do not know the authority of our con temporary for the truth of the state ments ; we presume it is good, or he would not have published them. Our observation is that whenever anybody is dissatisfied with anything, and de sires to leave, the best that he can do for others (whether for him self or not) is for him to leave. Nothing is gained, but much is lost, by holding on to discontented elements. Malcontents are always a nuisance; the sooner they leave the better. This applies on a large scale, and on a small scale, and on all scales, to all kinds of people of all colors, and of all con ditions, “previous” and present: . The colored excursionists from Mississip pi, who went to look at Kansas a few days ago, have returned satisfied that, while it is a lovely land, it is no place for colored peo ple or any other people without money.. A number of emigran s returned with them. The exodus in Texas is assuming a queer phase. Near Galveston the negroes, having become dissatisfied with their condition, had determined to emigrate. The white people approved the decision of the colored breth ren, and formed a committee on emigration to raise money to send the negroes North, and soon steps will be taken to bring in white men to replace the blacks. RELIGIOUS NEWS. —The meeting at Town Creek Bap tist church, near Moulton, Ala., closed with twenty additions. —Rev. G. N. Shishmanian, a Turk, recently graduated at the Kentucky University, married a native and will shortly return to his native land. —Deacon Frank E. Block has been IftHtajpr) to fn)j( JfUpwgJjijr in the Qfy tral Prestiyterian church of Atlanta. —Rev. W. R. Manley, of Ken tucky, leaves his home in America (D. V.) October Ist, to go as a foreign missionary to Rangoon, Burmah. —An Association of Baptist churches in Japan has been formed, and at the first council, recently held, sixty repre sentatives were present. —A gentleman and his wife, both members of the First church, Kansas City, Mo., are building a new edifice for it, which is to cost $40,000, at their own expense. —The Trinity Baptist church of Brooklyn, N. Y., is in a very prosper ous condition. Rev. O. E. Cox became pastor of this young church three years ago. It then had some forty members; it now numbers two hundred. —The Baptist denomination num bers in Michigan 330 churches and has an aggregate of 17,441, making an average of eighty-three members to a church. Seventy-nine churches only exceed one hundred members each. —There has been an extensive re vival among the Baptist churches of South Wales, chiefly as the result of Miss Sheppard’s preaching. The con verts were so numerous in some in stances as to require a whole day to baptize them. —Mrs. Thomas of Philadelphia, a lady more than eighty years old, has built a neat stone church in Kane, Pa., at a cost of $2,000, and presented it to the Presbyterian congregation there. The old lady each year, says the Titus ville (Pa.) Herald, spends a part of her large income in building a church somewhere in the country. —The Union Theological Seminary, of New York, has $200,000 in buildings and grounds, $750,000 invested funds, and an income of $50,000 a year. The Theological Seminary at Princeton has $925,000 in property and an income of $48,000 a year. Lane Seminary, at Walnut Hills, near Cincinnati, reports $160,000 in buildings and grounds, and $230,000 in productive funds which yields an income of $16,000 a year. • —A novel Sunday-school convention is to be held in Muskogee, Indian Ter ritory, October Ist. It is the week of the International Fair of the five civil ized tribes, and their wild cousins—an event of great importance to the people of the Territory. The directors have consented that one day be given to tno Sabbath-school cause, and our brother, Rev. John Elliott, pastor at Muskogee, has invited prominent speakers to be present. A large choir of Creek and Cherokee children will furnish the sing ing, led by Rev. D. C. Milner, of Ottawa, Kansas. It will be a rare and interest ing occasion.