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The Christian Index and South-western Baptist: Thursday, November 20, 1879.
HKNRY 11. TUCKER. Kditor.
DECREES AND MEANS.
'l'he salvation of the people of God
is not a thing of to-day, nor of yester
day; it is of the determinate purpose
of G<xl from eternity. Nor is there
anything exceptional in this. AH God’s
purposes are eterral. With him there
is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning. With him there can be
neither change of purpose nor newness
of purpose, nor succession of thought.
Hence, in the immovableness of his
purpose to save his elect, there is
nothing peculiar; it has its origin in
his nature, and differs in no respect
from any other purpose which has the
same origin. But the points which we
wish to notice arc these : 1. The salva
tion of God’s elect is decreed and can
not fail; it is an eternal supreme in
finite certainty. 2. Nevertheless it is
brought about not immediately by the
decree, but by certain means or instru
mentalities, and these means are essen
tial to the carrying out of the decree.
The first of these means was the death
of Christ. Could not the Almighty
have saved his chosen ones without
the awful transactions of Calvary?
Without inquiring into the possibilities
of the divine nature, it is enough for
us to know that it is God’s purpose
that we shall be “reconciled to him by
the death of his Son.” Ro. 5:10.
The prayers of the Lord Jesus were
also necessary to the carrying out of
the scheme. None of Christ’s prayers
were superfluous ; none of his breath
was wasted; and he prayed for his
people. Although he says “thine they
were and thou gavest then: me,”
Jno. 17: 6, and while actually rejoicing
in the fact that they were in his pos
session, ho still prays, "Holy Father,
keep through thine own name those
whom thou hast given me.” Why
should this prayer have been made?
Had not the gift been already bestowed?
Had not the promise been made? Had
not the decree gone forth? Was not
the Father pledged in advance by the
eternal covenant to secure to Christ
his own inheritance? Yes! but the
intervention of means was a part of the
plan. Christ wax born, and lived and
died ; none of this was unnecessary ; if
not unnecessary, it was necessary, and
without this there would have been no
salvation, whether there could have
been or not. The same may be said
of his prayers; they were included as
part of the plan, and were therefore
necessary. We shall be saved in an
swer to them. Without them Christ’s
work would have been incomplete, and
an incomplete work would have saved
none.
The word of truth is another instru
mentality essential to the carrying out
of God’s work. “Sanctify them through
thy truth,” says the Savior, “thy
word is truth.” Holy monos God
were inspired of old to write down these
words of truth, and we have them with
us at this day. The labors of these
men were a part of the means without
which the plan would not have been of
any avail, for these were a part of the
plan. Could not God have communi
cated his truth without human inter
vention’.' Suflice it to say that he did
not. That word was written in languages
understood by only a small part of the
human race, and hence to all the others
it was no revelation at all. In order
that these others should receive it, it
was needful that it should be trans
lated. Learned men were raised up
for that purpose. They received their
training at the schools. When they
were little boys learning their letters,
God was preparing them for the work
that lay before them. Their teachers
may have been ungodly men; but
whether they were or not, they were
God’s instruments for carrying his work
to completion. Could not God have
given his word in all languages with
out calling on human effort and human
learning? Let us be satisfied with the
fact that he did not. In this as in
other things he works by means.
Ungodly men are all around us.
Among them are some of the redeemed,
whose names are written in the Lamb's
Book of Life,and whom the Father will
eternally preserve for a gift to his Son.
Are these to be saved in some exccp
tienal way? lx the old plan to be de
parted from, and lx something new to
t»e sulwtituted for it? Not at all; the
same mean* will be used ax heretofore
The mediation of Christ, the divine
word, and the presentation of that
word to men by other men are God's
selected instrumentalities, which will
not be laid aside. Men may think
that if God has already determined to
save his elect, it is "foolishness” to
preach to them in order that they may
lx' saved; but it is by this very “fool
ishness” that it pleases God "to save
them that believe.” I Cor. 1:21.
The world is full of heathen who
have never heard of God. Among
them are some of those of whom Christ
spoke when he said, “Thine they were
and thou gavest them me,” and who
will certainly shine as gems in our Sa
viour's crown of rejoicing. How are
these to be saved? Just like all the
others. Christ died for them. They
are to be “sanctified through belief of
the truth” 2 Thess. 2 :13. How is this
truth to reach them? Just ax it reach
ed us. No new scheme will be devis
ed : the same old plan will be adhered
to. God raised up men to write down
his truth, and raised upothersto trans
late it for our benefit; and he will raise
up still other men to translate it for
them who still sit in darkness. From
among whom will these men be raised
up? Necessarily from among those
who already have the word. Can any
translate it except those who have it?
We then are they from among whom
these translators and preachers are to
be selected. Cannot God carry on this
work without us? He will not. It is
included in his plan that this work
shall be ‘‘preached,” and not only so,
but that it shal be preached to “every
creature.”
What was the duty of our Lord Je
sus Christ on earth? To suffer and
die ; and he did suffer and die ; he took
his pl :ce in the chain of causes that
were needful to tho execution of God’s
purpose of mercy. What was the duty
of the holy men of old to whom the
word was revealed? It was their dutj
to write ; and they did write; they took
their place in the line, as they were
appointed. What was the duty of the
Apostles and early preachers? It was
to preach and they did preach ; and the
Gospel was widely diffused as the re
sult of their labors. What wax the
duty of the scholarly men, who by
translation made this word accessi
ble to men of our language and of va
rious languages? To qualify them
selves by arduous labor for this enor
mous work, and then to do it. They
did it; they fell into lino as they ought
to have done. Millions of our race are
still without that word, and millions
who have it arc regardless of it. What
is our duty? Shall we fall into line
or not? If those who performed the
duties above specified had refused
to do so what would have been
their fate? If we refuse to do our
part, what may we expect?
Blessed are (hey whom God uses as
willing instruments in accomplishing
his gracious work! Happy are we
who have the privilege of volunteering
into the line! We cannot all trans
late, and we cannot all "go,” but we
can help those who do these things
and thus identify ourselves with their
sublime and glorious work. If what
we can do amounts to only two mites
or to one mite, yet if we do what we
can, the blessing and the glory will be
ours. To those around us, we can all
“preach,” not always publicly, but al
ways by loving words and by holy ex
ample. Thus all the saints are twisted
into the divine decree.
“The work to be performed is ours;
The strength is all bis own.”
REV. E. DUMAS.
This brother, long and well-known
as an abie and faithful minister, writes
to us a kind letter, heartily endorsing
the doctrine of our article recently
published on “The Lump of Figs.”
Glad are we to enjoy the approval of
our distinguished brother, and the
more so, as he is supposed to entertain
a view of Christian doctrine, which we
are supposed not to agree to. Brother
Dumas is a representative man of that
class of our brethren who byway of
pleasantry arc called “Hardshells.”
We have always known that the un
fortunate separation between ourselves
and this branch of our Zion, has arisen
not from any real difference in doc
trine, but simply from a misunder
standing. We are very sure that the
doctrine of our article is acceptable to
our side of the house; and we must
suppose from its strong and unsolicited
endorsement by brother Dumas, that
it is acceptable to his side. So those
long parted, (unnecessarily as we
think,) have now come together again.
There has been no change on either
side ; we simply understand each other;
that is all. The virtue of that lump
of tigs has not died out in twenty-five
hundred years. It healed Hezekiah’s
sore, a-id now the very story of it seems
to be healing an old denominational
breach which has afflicted us. Io! these
many years. Bless God for that lump
of figs! It was His instrument when i
Isaiah prescribed it, seven hundred i
years before the coming of our Lord ; 1
it is Hix instrument still, eighteen hun- I
deed years after our Lord’s death,'
Brother Dumas and we are both feeling !
its beneficial effects at this very mo- *
tnent.
Now let us distinctly declare our
belief that no soul was ever saved,
nor ever will or can be, except by
the sovereign eternal unconditional
grace of God. But if He commands
us to apply a lump of figs as the
means whereby His eternal purpose is
to be a'complixhcd, it is our glorious'
privilege, as well as ourliounden duty, I
to apply it. The Gospel is no .v the lump I
of figs. Every creature needs it, and
we are commanded to “go into all the
world,” and give every creature the
benefit of it.
We hope that our brother Dumas
will read the article with which he was
so much pleased to his people, and tell
them that we send it to them with our
loving salutations, greeting.
Dr. M arrkn.—By an accident in I
the make-up of our paper last week, an *
article on Dr. Warren's work in Rich- {
mond wax left out, although the odito- I
rial notice of the same was published. I
It will be found in another column to- 1
day.
THE REVIVAL SEASON.
The following article is frwij <tur ex
cellent contemporary the New’Wleans
Christian Advocate Methodist, of
course, as all the “Christian Advo
cates” are. Judging by the drift of
opinion in our Methodist exchanges,
a change is taking place in the minds
and methods of our brethren of that
denomination. Until recently they
seem to have relied chiefly on
spasmodic excitement for the increase
of their numbers. We have always
thought that they were wrong in this,
and have always regretted the fact that
we Baptists have followed too largely
I their bad example. Unless we are
greatly mistaken, they have seen the
1 evil of their way, and their best coun
■ sellers, we are happy to say, art! advis
i ing reform. Their sound advice is
i quite as appropriate to Baptists as it is
ito their own people, and for that rea
son we reproduce some of their whole
some words in our columns. We un
fortunately followed our Methodist
bethren when they were wrong, and
even outdid them on their own plans;
it is to be hoped that we will follow
them with equal zeal now that they
! ari right.
Having thus said amen before-hand
we cheerfully yield our pulpit to the
Advocate hoping that our readers will
all say amen at the close :
"In the South the revival season is
in the summer and fall; in the North
the winter is spoken of as the revival
season. The time when outward con
ditions are most favorable for special
services is the time when the greatest
results arc looked for. The limitation,
if there be any is on the human side.
With God, who giveth ihe increase, it
can make no difference. He is ready
to save at all seasons, but, as he works
in connection with the church and its
instrumentalities, the Hood tido of
grace comes when there is leisure and
other favorable conditions for the gath
ering of the people. Ministers and
Godly members make special personal
preparations for the work by conse
crating themselves to God afresh, and
by fervent and persistent prayer. These
seasons are looked forward to with ex
pectant faith, that at a given time the
fire will burn, and that the Holy Spirit
will come in converting power. Nor
are the devout often disappointed. The
work may be of more oj less extent,
but usually something is done. Re
freshing comes upon the church, some
sinners are brought to Christ, and
there has been a good time.
“The matter for reflection in these
facts is that we have revivals by our
own appointing. This magnifies the
instruments, but, in so doing, are we
not in danger of limiting God? The
mercy of Heaven is not held subject
to our civil calendars, it cannot be re
strained by the position of the earth in
its orbit, nor regulated in its bestowal
by circumstances of barometrical pres
sure. We believe fully in these speeik,
efforts to save souls, but the danger
lies in over-looking the ordinary means
of grace. If Christians would come to
everjjj service with this expectant faith,
with this thorough preparation of
heart, and with this deep concern for
souls, and if preachers would preach
to awaken and save on all Sundays of
the year, could we not have a revival
season, or something as good, nearly
all the time? And then, in the gra
cious spiritual state there would come
frequent revivals of a more genuine
and deeper sort than we sometimes
have at protracted meetings appointed
in an arbitrary way.
“Instead of looking for conversions
under the stated preaching, and in the
weekly prayer meeting, the bad habit
is fostered of aiming at the conversion
of souls at one time, and that but once
a year. Is it not possible for a
church to be kept in a such a state of
spirituality that there shall be a uni
formly flowing stream instead of an
annual freshet? Is it not so in fact,
except in a comparatively few instan
ces, but if faith and effort can com
mand a revival season, may they not, i
also secure a measure of this power for
all seasons? There is as much of the
intermittent and of periodicity about
the life and work of some churches as j
there is in taking off a sugar crop. For 1
a couple of months, more or less, the
sugar house is enveloped in steam and
smoke, the fires are kept hot night and ■
day, and the stream of saccharine
flows as a river from the huge rollers.;
Everybody is busy, and the sugar ■
house is filled with roar and commo-1
tion. But the work is shortly done,'
and for the balance of the year the '
machinery rusts in idleness, and the 1
great building is as silent as the grave. I
“The spiritual rolling season surely |
ought not to lie followed by rust and
inaction, and the quiet of death. There
were four months to the natural harv
est, but the Master’s words were: I
“Lift up your eyes, and look on the I
fields, for they are white already to >
harvest.” Between what are called I
revival seasons sinners are perishing, I
Christians are blacksliding, and the [
fruits of the rivival itself are being
scattered. Let us have protracted
meetings, revivals once a year, if we
can, but let us also try to have a good
lively, spiritual church all the time.
We are not sure that God in mis deal
ing with souls, waits for the revival
season. The cumberers of the ground
are being cut down all along through
the year, the Holy Spirit is striving
with souls, and the Gospel message is:
"Behold now is the accepted time; be
hold, now is the day of salvation.” In
accepting and using what has proved
a means of many conversions let us
guard against a possible damage to
our faith, and our habitual spiritual
life.”
DR. WARREN’S WORK~IN RICH
MOND.
Extravagant eulogy of living preach
ers is always out of taste, and ought to
be out of vogue. It is not intended to
i exclude just commendation. The
fruit of one’s work is his highest praise.
I The sum of his excellence is generally
the abundance and beneficence of- his
labors. Not to praise him, but to tell
what Dr. E. W. Warren has done in
Richmond, and the spirit that moved
him, as pastor of the First Baptist
church, is the object of this article.
In the spring of 1876 he succeeded
Dr. Burrows, now of Kentucky, a man
cultivated, successful and pious. It
took a man to fill his place. The con
gregations did not diminish under the
change, but on Wednesday and Sab
bath evenings they grew irf interest
and numbers. The varied religious
i efforts of the membership suffered no
detriment. All church work went for
ward with unimpaired vigor.
During Dr. Warren’s charge, three
extra or protracted meetings were held,
(in which he did most of the preaching
I and labor. Over one hundred happy
I converts and the quickening of the
church are some of the results of the
earnest, precious meetings. While he
was connected with the church, one
hundred and thirty-four persons were
received by baptism. If dye allowence
is made for diminutions by removals,
and erasures or “dropping” on account
of unknown residence, the increase of
the roll strength of the church may be
fairly stated at 175. The Young
Men’s Missionary Society of the church
has grown in zeal and activity. It
supports a laborer in the State Mission
field, and contributes annually S3OO to
the Baptist German City Mission.
The Ladies' Missionary Societies are
also doing a noble work. One of them
supports a native Chinese missionary,
and the other assumes $550 of the
support of Miss Stein, our accepted
mis.-ionary to China. The Sabbath
school continues large, flourishing and
efficient. The poor, sick and liereaved
have been tenderly cared for, and in
his nine hundred annual pastoral visits,
all hearts in our families have been
won by the light and love and warmth
which Dr. Warren’s presence diffused.
Evidently all his powers were conse
crated to the cause of the Master, and
his teaching and pure example stimu
lated the graces and developed the
Christian character of hi* flock.
This just tribute, more fully embodied
in resolutions, is attested by the una
nimity with which the church and con
gregation adopted them on the Sab
bath after his resignation, when a
large audience was present. To say
that Dr. Warren’s connection with the
church marks a period of her brightest
history, is no disparagement of his em
inent predecessors.
He leaves the church full, strong,
united, active. The Lord has given
him success in Richmond, and the
church which he leaves declare that
they will “part from him with sorrow,
and he will bear to his new field their
undivided love, and also their prayers
for his greater usefulness.” The saint
ly Payson advised a brother minister,
“Paint Jesus Christ upon your can
vas, and then hold Him up to the peo
ple; but so hold Him that not even
your little finger can be seen.” If our
late beloved pastor hail been so ad
vised, he could scarcely more fully
have followed the counsel, for he liter
ally hid himself behind the cross.
A Member.
—Religious Herald,
BERNARD MALLON.
His Funeral Obsequies —Over Ten Thousand
People in Line Embracing Every Class of
Our Citizens—Heart-felt Tribute to his
Memory by Those Who Knew him Best.
On Thursday last the 13th inst., the
funeral obsequies of this distinguished
citizen took place in this city. The
following announcement of the cere
monies from The Atlanta Constitution,
will be read with interest:
“Atlanta has witnessed many great
occasions and affecting ceremonies,but
never before have her people united in
a nobler tribute to exalted worth of the
living or dead than that of yesterday
in the burial of Bernard Mallon, the
lamented organizer of our public
school system and long its devoted su
perintendent.
“The out-pouring of the people,men,
women and children, white and black,
on yesterday, was enormous. The
ceremonies occurred in the city hall
Park, where a platform had been built
at the southern portals. The children
of the high and grammar schools were
assembled at their respective buildings
and marched to the grounds taking
position in front of the platform. The
children of the colored schools were
present in almost complete numbers.
The ranks of the others were full and
no less than three thousand children
were thus massed around the stand,
wearing sad facesand bearing in their
hands floral tributes for the tomb of
tdieir friend. Surrounding the chil
dren were thousands of the citizens of
the city, ladies and gentlemen, who
stood sorrowfully awaiting to respond
in heart-felt ‘amcns’ to the eulogies of
the deceased. It was estimated by
careful judges of numbers that about
the platform, in carriages, along the
route and at the cemetery, there were
all of ten thousand participants in
these sorrowful popular obsequies.
“On the stand were grouped most of
the exalted personages of the State and
city, including the Governor, Judges,
Congressmen, distinguished ministers
and educators, as well as many of our
local officials and fellow-citizens of
all pursuits.
The casket containing the remains,
after being watched throughout the
night in the hall of‘the Browning So
ciety of the Girl’s High-School, was
brought to the park and placed upon
the platform. An organ was near by,
played by Professor Guilford, and a
large choir led the singing.
“The religious services were conduc
ted by Rev. Henry H. Tucker, D. D.,
and addresses were delivered by His
Excellency, Governor Colquitt, by his
Honor,Mayor Calhoun, and by Rev;
Atticus G Haygoqd, D. D., President
of Emory College.
“After singing of the Hymn, “I
Would not Live Al way,” the floral of
ferings which were in the greatest pro
fusion and many of remarkable beauty,
were deposited at the foot of the casket.
Upon the top was a deep layer of me
morial crosses, anchors, crowns and
like devices. Several massive decora
tions were carried in the procession to
the grave. The procession was formed
by Chief Marshal Anderson, assisted by
Col. John Milledge and Captain Burke
who were very efficient.
The procession was nearly one mile
in length, and formed in itself a scene
never before equalled for solemnity in
our city.
The city council donated a special
lot in the new addition to the ceme
tery for the burial of the body.
Judge Hillyer, upon motion of Col.
N. J. Hammond and with the consent
of the bar, adjourned the Superior
Court, after the morning hour, in re
spect to the memoiy of the deceased.
One of the most touching
lof the obsequies was the sorrow and
real grief of the colored people present
and in behalf of whose educational
progress Mr. Mallon always felt a deep
interest.”
Mr. Mallon was some time since dis
missed by letter from the first Baptist
church of this city. Whether he ever
joined any other church we are not in
formed.
DR. LOVICK PIERCE.
This venerable man, the father of
Bishop George F. Pierce and oldest
minister of the Gospel in the State,and
doubtless one of the oldest in the world,
breathed his last at about half past six
o’clock on Sunday evening November
9th, at the residence of his son, the
Bishop, in Hancock county, Georgia,
at the advanced age of ninety-five
years. The Wesleyan Christian Advo
cate comes to us this week appropri
ately dressed in mourning. Resolu
tions of sorrow and sympathy have
been passed by various religious bodies
of the' Methodist connection. From
among others we select the following:
RESOLUTIONS OF THE FACULTY OF VANDER
BILT UNIVERSITY.
Whereas, We have heard of the death of
the venerable Lovick Pierce, D. D, which
sad event took place Nov. 9th, 1879, at his
residence in Georgia;
And, whereas, Dr. Pierce was one of the
oldest preachers in the world, and one of the
foremost of his age—the fathei ot the distin •
guished Bishop, George F. Pierce, D, D.,
and of other in the s icred profexsion-and was
one who did much to promote the interests of
Christian education in this country—there
fore,
Resolved, 1 That we, the Faculty of
Vanderbilt University, are deeply afl.'cted
on hearing of the death of Dr. Pierce, the
venerable patriarch of the Methodist min
istry—a connecting Ijak between the first
age of Methodism ana the present.
Resolved. 2 That we gratefully recognize
the eminent services which God enabled him
to render to Cthe hurch and to the world
incl .ding the cause of sanctified learning,
which he so long and so successfully labored
to promote.
Resolved, 3. That a copy of these resolu
tions be transmitted, by the Secretary to
the Rev. Bishop Pierce —with whom and
other relatives ot the deceased, we tenderly
sympaihiz'—and to the Wedeyin Christian
Advocite, Macon, Ga., Southern Christian
Advocate, Nashville. Christian Advocate,and
t*>e Western Methodist, and to the Nashville
daily papers for publication.
J. M. Leech, Sec’y of Faculty.
Our Methodist exchanges will doubt
less soon furnish us with interesting
particulars of the life of the departed
patriarch, which we will present to our
readers as we have opportunity. His
life was long and laborious and useful,
and now he rests from his labors, and
mingles with the saints whom God has
garnered into his great treasure house
from the beginning of the world. A
glorious place it must be ; the spirits
of just men made perfect, are all gath
ered together, and where nothing un-!
holy can ever intrude. The joy that
is set before us is truly a great incen- 1
tive to follow the example of those who
have consecrated their lives to Christ.
The Mercer Memorial Church.— i
The pastor of the Washington Baptist I
church takes pleasure in acknowledg- !
ing, through The Index, the reception
of contributions to the “Jesse Mercer
Memorial,” amounting to $163.75. It
is hoped that a spirit of generosity will
constrain many more to take part in
this work. The church ought to be
built; and it will be done, if the Bap
tists throughout the State will contrib
ute only a small amount. God has
blessed the people with good crops,
and good prices, and they are able to
give liberally.
GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS.
—The body of the Church building
at Waynesboro and the steeple are
completed. The church will be fin
ished by the first of January.
—West Point Press: “Rev. S. T. Ful
ler preached in the Baptist church on
Sunday night. He visited West Point,
we believe, with reference to a call to
the church here next year.”
—A writer in the Washington Ga
zette says : “Hephzibah Baptist church
esteemeth the entire ministry so highly
that she is unable to decide who shall
be her pastor.”
—Rev. J. M. Strausberry having re
moved from Taylorsville, Ga., to Tunnel
Hill, Ga., his old home, correspondents
are requested to address him at the
latter post office.
—The next union meeting of the
Houston Baptist Association will be
held with Antioch church, Pulaski
county, commencing on Friday before
the fifth Sunday in this month.
—The Cartersville Express says:
“The Baptist church of this place pays
two hundred dollars a year for missions.
We'venture the assertion that few
churches of the size in our country pay
so largely in this good cause.”
—Toe Adult Bible Class connected
I with the Savannah Baptist Sunday
school observed their second anniversa
-1 ry last week, presenting a varied and
entertaining programme, embracing
addresses, reports and music, and clos
ing with a half hour spent socially.
—Rev. Wm. L. Mitchell, M. D., pas
tor of the Baptist church in Griffin,
has accepted a call to the Broadway
Baptist church jn Galveston, Texas.
He left a few days since for his distant
field of labor. Dr. Mitchell, though
i quite young, has won an extended repu
tation as a minister by his abilities and
eloquence.
—The Dawson Journal says: “The
I committee recently appointed by the
Baptist Sabbath-school to solicit sub
. scriptions for the purpose of buying an
' organ for their school, have worked
' faithfully during the past week, and
i succeeded in raising s99.7s—nearly
the necessary sum required. The or
gan will be bought.”
—A supper was given by the ladies
j of Waynesboro last week for the bene
' fit of the Baptist church. [We wish
well to this church and to all others,
but we disapprove of the plan of rais
ing money for religious or benevolent
purposes by means of suppers, fairs,
picnics, festivals, concerts or lectures,
j “He that giveth let him do it in sim
plicity.” Ro. 12:8.—Ed. Index.]
—The Sandersville Herald, of last
week, says : “Rev. E. R. Carswell, Jr.,
of Stellaville, preached an interesting
j sermon on an interesting theme—the
second coming of the Savior—on Sun
day last in the Baptist church in this
city. The facts adduced as evidences
of the fulfilment of prophecy, pointing
! significantly to the second advent of
I the Messiah as being at hand, were
j highly interesting and were heard with
marked attention by the large congre
gation.”
—From the Herald we clip the fol
lowing : “The Baptist church at San
dersville in conference assembled, ex
tended at its late meeting a call to their
present worthy and efficient pastor,
Rev. T. J. Adams to serve them during
the next year. We believe this action
of the # church will receive the cordial
endorsement of the entire community.
A call after a pastorate of six years is
certainly a striking proof of the confi
dence and appreciation of the church.
Mr. Adams, we doubt not, will signify
his acceptance, at least by the next
monthlj- conference.”
—The Washington Gazette, of last
Friday, says: "We were shown the
plan of the Mercer Memorial Church
by Rev. Mr. Whitman a few days ago.
The plan was drawn by a skilled archi
tect, and the estimated cost of the
structure is ten thousand dollars. It
is the modern style of architecture, is
of brick, and the proportions are mag
nificent. The Sunday-school room is
separate from the audience room, and
all the necessary apartments are most
conveniently arranged. The church
is calculated to comfortably seat four
hundred and fifty persons, the pews
ranging in a semi circular manner
across the building. Our Baptist
friends have the most desirable lot for
such an edifice in town, and we hope
soon to see a fine specimen of archi
tecture adorning it. The amount of
money requisite is not nearly raised,
but the energetic efforts of the parties
most interested betoken success; and
there is as little doubt that the object
will be fully accomplished as there is
in most human affairs. We are de
cidedly in favor of fine houses of wor
ship, and believe they would be con
ducive to the prosperity of the church.
The world would then know that the
free-will offering of the membership
was adequate to all the needs of the
church. All should be interested in
thus aiding to perpetuate the name of
a man whose good deeds deserve to
have the light of their influence shed
upon all future generations. The Rev.
Jesse Mercer was not only a man dis
tinguished within the pale of bis church,
but a Georgian of whom Georgians are
proud. For so many years a citizen of
Washington we hope to see our citizens
manifest a lively interest in honoring
his memory.”