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•A. ' •
HENRY If- TUCKER. Editor.
PEACE WITH GOD.
God is at peace with all them that
are at peace with Hirn. For one can
not be at peace with God until lie is
justified by faith ; and those who are
justified are most certainly predestina
ted, called and glorified. See Rom. 5 :
1. and 8. 30. To what are they pre
destinated? To be conformed to the
image of His Son, that is, to be like
Christ in character—a glorious predes
tination, surely. And to what are they
called? Called to be "saints.” I Cor.
1:2. Called also "bo eternal life.” I.
Tim. 6:12. Called, also, to "glory
and virtue.” 2 Peter, 1:3 ; and those
who are called are also “sanctified by
God, the Father,” that is made holy by
the power of the Almighty, and not
by any inherent force, and they aie
furthermore “preserved in Jesus
Christ.” Jude 1., preserved by the same
power that makes them holy, and by
the same power that preserves Jesus
Christ. According to what are they
called? “According to his purpose.”
Rom. 8 :28,and this is an ‘•eternal pur
pose” and is inseparable from the work
of Jesus Christ, our Lord,‘Eph. 3:11
and this purpose was "given us before
the world began,” II Tim. 1:9. The
gift ante-dates creation; there has
never been a period when the purpose
was not fixed; and as it was given us,
it is ours, and our title to it is as an
cient as the existence of God; and
again, as it is given, it is not acquired
by labor nor merit; we are simply do
nees; the mere recipients of that which
is graciously bestowed. And what is
the glory which is in store for us? The
answers to the other inquiries are also
answers in substance to this. To be sanc
tified by the power of God, is glory; to
be made meet for the inheritance of the
saints in light, is glory ; to judge the
angels, is glory ; to sit with Christ in
His throne, as He sits down with His
Father in //« throne, is glory ; Rev.
3 :21,and if all this seems too wonder
ful to be true, let us remember that
Christ said, “The glory which Thou
gavest me, 1 have given them.” John
17 :28.
All these things infinitely surpass
our sublimest conceptions. We use
the words which describe them, and we
know the meaning of the words, but
we have no capacity, whatever, to ap
prehend the things of which these
words are known to be a proper de
scription. But whatever the glory
may be that is promised us, we know
two things concerning it. 1. That is
a glory which is worthy of the eternal
purpose of an infinite God. 2. That it
is ours.
Peace with God! Surely this is a
peace which "passeth understanding.”
Phil. 4:7. How infinitely blest, the
man who enjoys it! How far is he re
moved above the joys and above the
sorrows of this life! How insignifi
cant is all earth-born joy compared to
the heavenly joy of him who is at peace
with God! And what does sorrow
amount to with one who knows that it
is "but for a moment,” and that it is
only a part of the preparation that is
necessary to fit him for the “eternal
weight of glory,” which these sorrows
will work out for him? II Cor. 4:17.
The saint is in the world, yet he is not
in it; he is above it; he shares its in
cidents, it is true, but his “conversa
tion is in Heaven.” Phil. 3 :20; and
from exalted heights he looks serenely
down on the petty turmoil of life, not
as an eagle above the clouds, looking
down on the storm below, for to that
very storm-smitten world he must soon
descend; but as an angel of God, look
ing down from heaven with benignant
eyes, on the little strifes of a far off
and inferior world, which he will never
deign nor be required to inhabit. Peace
with God! Oh! the heavenly riches! I
oh! the ineffable bliss! Is all this j
only a rapturous dream? No! it is a i
blessed reality. We are preserved in
Christ forever and ever. Billows can-'
not overwhelm us; ilaiues can- ’
not scorch us; nothing that is of I
earth can reach us; we are far removed
alike from its pleasures and its vexa
tions. But are we not still human?
and are we not still alive? Yes! but
there is something within us that is >
more than human : the grace of God is '
within us, Gal. 2 :20, and we have two
lives; the one that is earthly, is as
nothing the other is the life which is
“hid with Christ in God.” Col. 8 :3. j
That inner life, that superior life, that
life of unutterable complacency the '
world knows nothing of; it is like the
joys of the blest;; if we are not in
heaven, heaven is in us; poverty may
pinch, and disease may smite, and
earthly sorrow may crush us, yet we
revel in luxury; the tranquil soul
bathes itself in bliss, and forgetting all
earthly things, desires no greater rap
ture than to bo at peace with God.
All this, as already said, can be only
when we an* justified by faith. Then.'
can be no real justification without a
genuine faith. God is not deceived by
counterfeits. No faith is genuine that
doea not manifest itself by a life of obe
dience, and by deeds of love. Humil
ity, gentleness, meekness, forbearance,
patience; living for others rather than
The Christian Index and South-western Baptist: Thursday, December n, 1879.
' for one’s self; zeal in good works, zeal
for the truth, and zeal for God ; loving
I God supremely, and loving one’s neigh
bor as himself, and exhibiting this love
not merely by word of mouth, but in
every practical way in which it can be
exhibited ; these are the evidences of
that faith, which alone can lead to
“peace with God.”
STARTLING AND SUGGESTIVE.
We give no clue to names, dates or
places, but will assure our readers that
the following statement of facts was
on a certain occasion received by us
from a perfectly trust-worthy source.
There was a Baptist church of sev
eral hundred members. Not more
than half of them, speaking in round
numbers, ever appeared at the Lord’s
Supper. At their conference meetings
held on Saturday, about half the male
members who came to the church,
never entered the house, but disregard
ing both the business and the devo
tional exercises of the church, remain
ed outside during the whole service,
and would spend the time in smoking
their pipes, "swapping horses” and
talking over the gossip of the neigh
borhood. After a time, the pastor un
der whose labors the church had grown
up, resigned his office and left the
neighborhood, and it was found diffi
cult to find any one who was willing
to fill his place. Now the story is all
told, and we are confident that we have
not overstated nor mistated any of the
important facts as they came to us.
We may add that the pastor of the
church was considered a very “success
ful” minister.
A few inquiries will now be in order:
1. In what did the pastor’s “success”
consist? What did he “succeed” in
doing? 2. How came he to meet with
that kind of success? On what theory
did he act? What principles lay at
the bottom of his practice? If he was
wrong, in what respect was he wrong?
3. We should have stated that there
was a number of most excellent breth
ren in the membership of that church ;
now how did it happen that these ex
cellent men, of whose piety and zeal
for God’s house there could be no
doubt, allowed their church to get into
the condition above described? 4.
What is the remedy for a church in
this condition! 5. This is evidently
i an extreme case ; but how many other
| churches are afflicted with the same
distemper in a somewhat less violent
form? Are there not evidences to
show that the disorder is very wide
spread, and that many churches are
more or less affected by it? Are there
any entirely free from it? 6. What
can each pastor do, and what can each
Christian do, and what can The Index
do, to correct the mischief? 7. Is the
disease acute or chronic? If the lat
ter, it will take a long time to get rid
of it. How long? 8. If we find that
we meet with no great success in curing
this malady, is there not at least some
way to prevent its attacks for the fu
ture? What means would be best for
this purpose? 9. In what does the real
i success of a pastor and church consist?
We have given and shall give noan
| swers to these questions; but we think
i that if each true lover of our Lord in
I Georgia were to give to each one of these
j inquiries, five minutes of prayerful
meditation, and were afterwards to act
on the conclusions reached, the prac
tical results would be somewhat as fol
lows : 1. We should eease to boast
; of our great numbers and of our rapid
! increase. 2. For several years to come
j our increase in numbers would be
I much less rapid than it has usually
j been. 3. For several years to come
the number of excluded ones would be
largely increased. 4. For seveial years
to come, our denomination would be
as it were in throes of agony. A body
which is troubled with wens, and
Warts, and tumors, and fungus growths
and cancers, cannot expect to be re
lieved of them without great pain. 5. In
a few years our prayer-meetings would
be twice or four times as largely attend
ed in proportion to numbers, as they
are now. 6. In a few years many
churches that now have service once a
month would have it once a week.
7. In a few years our pastors would
be better paid, and would have more
time for meditation and study, and
consequently they would improve in
preaching. 8. As a consequence of
more valuable instruction, and of more
efficient pastoral work, our member
ship would increase in intelligence and
in wisdom and the knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and in familiarity
with the general teachings of the
Scriptures. 9. In a few years the per
eentage of our members who contrib
ute to the efficiency of the church in
prayer, In alms and in Christian activ
ity, would increase ten-fold or twenty
fold ; rather let us say, indefinitely.
10. In a few years our contributions to
religious and benevolent enterprises
would be vastly increased, and by con
sequence the work which the Lord has
for us to do would be greatly expedited ;
and the answer to the prayer, “Thy
kingdom come” would bo hastened.
We close by saying that this article
will do but little good if carelessly read,
but an hour's hard thinking on it by
each of our brethren might lead to re
sults so practical and so important that
they might be called revolutionary.
We are for the revolution; and if this
be treason to “Baptist usage” it is not
treason to New Testament teachings.
Brethren, our heart's desire and prayer
to God for Israel is that they may be
saved.
LINE UPON LINE.
A friend at a distance asks us to give
our opinion as to the propriety of rais
ing money for “the benefit of the
church,” by means of exhibitions, fairs,
concerts, suppers, picnics, lectures,
“Christmas trees,” ete.
We are astonished that any one
should ask our opinion on this subject.
We have expressed it over and over,
times and again, and times without
number. Now then let us say once
more, but not once for all, for we ex
pect to repeat it as occasion may re
quire, that we most earnestly object to
any indirect means of raising money
for religious or benevolent purposes.
“He that giveth, let him do it with
simplicity,” Rom. 12 : 8, has be4n our
motto, and shall always be. We do
not object to fairs, concerts, shows,
picnics, (with a reasonable number of
and-so-forths,) if indulged in simpiy-as
amusements. We believe that amuse
ment is a necessity of human n&ture,
and that under judicious limitations, it
ought to be freely allowed. Some
amusements are vicious; others are
not. It is needless to say that it is the
latter class only which we approve.
But however innocent amusement may
be in itself, we do not believe that it is
proper to use it as a means of making
money for the furtherance of the
Gospel, or for the alleviation of human
suffering, or for any humanitarian pur
pose whatever.
Amusement is a kind of Caesar to
which it is lawful to pay tribute; but
there is another tribute which we owe
to God. Let each separately receive
his due, and let there be no putting
together of things which nature itself
doth teach are so manifestly incongru
ous. Hilarity on suitable occasion is
not improper, but it does not mingle
well with worship. The High and
Holy One that inhabiteth eternity
should be approached with reverence
and awe. Deep stillness and profound
solemnity should mark the devout
homage which we render to Him.
Worldly cares and worldly thoughts,
and above all the levities of life, though
innocent, should be banished from our
minds when we attempt to adore the
King of kings and Lord of lords.
Contribution of our substance to fur
ther His glorious work is as much a
duty to God, and as really an act of
worship, as praise or prayer. In fact,
it is praise—praise solidified—praise in
the concrete —praise in the form of
sacrifice, and the sacrifices of the Ixjrd
should be unblemished. What is given
to Him, ‘should be given wholly to
Him, and not partly to Him and part
ly to the god of amusement. To our
mind there is something i» ,
irreverent in laying our sac. the
altar of God, when omy mus of it is
intended for Him, All or none, if
belter. If it be wrong to mingle frolil
with prayer, so also it is wrong to min
gle frolic with praise, so also it
is wrong to mingle it with sacrifice.
Every devout exercise involves in itself
the elements of every other; praise is
prayer, and prayer is praise, and sacri
fice is both. In worship there should
be nothing but worship. When we
bring our offerings, let us bring noth
ing else; when we we come to God, let !
us forget all other gods.
But it is said that more money*can
be raised by resorting to the means re-!
ferred to, than in any other way. We
do not believe it; we do not believe .
that more money can be raised for the 1
cause of God, by debauching His ser
vice than by keeping it pure; nor that
He can be more honored by being put
in partnership with another, than when
worshipped alone. A straight-forward, '
honest, manly appeal to Christian con
sciences will, “in the long run,” raise
more money for Christian purposes,
than any means that can be substituted |
for it. We shall never concede that
there is any power in this world that ,
can do more for God than the grace ■
which he has implanted in the hearts
of His people. There is no need of
any strange fire on His altar; what
He does not kindle, ought not to be
kindled; it does Him no honor; it
does us no good.
But may we not get something in
aid of the cause from the men of the
world in this way, which could not
otherwise be obtained? No. We get
nothing from them but harm. The
means which they contribute diminish
by just that much, the amount that
ought to be raised by us, and we are
therefore deprived of the benefit, and
pleasure, and sacrifice, of doing it our
selves ; nor is it of any advantage to
them, because it is not a free gift, it is
in part a purchase. If they would
give nothing without the bait that we
hold out to them, they give nothing
with it; what they seem to give is not
given ; they are only paying an extra
high price for the bait. They are
cheated and so are we; the transaction
is a mistake and a fraud on both sides.
Still the money which they actually
contribute—does it not go into the
treasury of the Lord, and is it not that
much more than would otherwise go
into that treaury? Here are two ques
tions. Admit that it does go into the
treasury of the Lord, there is not
enough of it to pay for the harm done
to both parties by the mutual fraud;
and this holds good no matter how
large the amount thus contributed. It
goes into the treasury it is true, but it
is not in aid of the cause; it is against
the cause—against the cause of true be
nevolence —against the cause of Chris
tian effort; it is put in the treasury of
the Lord, but it is in aid of the enemy.
A church edifice that is built on a
foundation of frolic, is built on a very
poor foundation; every sentiment of
Scripture discountenances such pro
fanation; the corner-stone of every
house built for the living God should
be laid in the hearts of the people of
God, and the work, when completed,
should tell a tale of devotion and sac
rifice, not a tale of worldly enjoyment,
and above all, not a tale of mirth and
frivolity. We have spoken of a church
edifice, but the same remarks apply to
any other work done for the Lord, and
in the name of the Lord.
After all, however, is not the amount
actually increased? No! there would
be more money received without these
tricky methods than with them. We
have formed the unfortunate habit of
relying on these methods, and ihus we
have weakened the power of Christian
principle. Discarded and forever dis
honored be the wretched habit, and let
the Gospel rely on itself for its own
success, and its progress will be far
more rapid than when it coaxes
wheedles, and bribes the world to give
it assistance. The Gospel ought to
succeed and will succeed on its own
merits; it is very certain that it will
never succeed in any other way.
Have you tried the direct method,
and found it to fail? Such has not
been our experience; but we should
fail a thousand times, and fail forever,
rather than achieve so-called success
on wrong principles. It is no wonder
that we fail, for we feel that we have
the reserve of picnics and fairs to fall
back upon. It took a long time to
get us into our present condition, and
it will take time to get out. Persever
ance in right methods will be sure in
the end to accomplish satisfactory re
sults.
But in the meantime, what shall we
do for a church building, if we cannot
raise the means to build -it without re
sorting to the customary methods? Do
without. The blessing of God will do
more good without the building, than
the building will do without the bless
ing of God ; and we do not believe that
the blessing of God will come on means
raised in His name by methods not
countenanced by His word.
A great deal is said in the Scriptures
about tithing and giving, and about
charity and hospitality, and about love
to God and men, and about sanctified
effort generally, but not one word is
said about raising money for holy and
heavenly purposes by means of musi
cal or other entertainments, diversions,
festivals, or merry-making of any kind.
The appeal of the Scriptures is an ap
peal to godly principle, and to nothing
else; our appeals should be of like
character. The modern invention of
pressing the world into service is not
an improvement; it is a shocking
degeneracy ; it is giving that which is
holy to the dogs.
He that giveth let him do it with
simplicity. Let it be simple giving,
and giving simply ; let it be pure, un
mixed giving; giving and nothing but
giving ; let it not be partly a gift and
partly a purchase; it must all be gift;
it must be on the principle of givfng,
with no motives and no feelings but the
motives and feeling* of a giver. The
The Lord loveth those who give in this
way; their gifts He will graciously ac
cept, and His blessing will attend them.
Trust in the Lord, and do right, and
He will take care of the consequences.
MERCER UNIVERSITY.
College commencements were form
erly held at the close of the ydar.
They were naturally succeeded by a
vacation ; and the summer heats de
manded a second vacation. Hence the
custom of two vacations, of about
equal length. For various reasons, the
times of commencements and A vaca
tions have been gradually changed;
and most colleges now hold their com
mencements in June and July, and
combine all their vacation in one long
summer vacation of two or three
months. The college terms thus avoid
summer, and are confined to the cooler
months. This arrangements suits ad
mirably the climate of Macon. Its
winters are soft and balmy, with little
snow or sleet, and exempt, in a great
measure, from acute diseases, as pneu
monias and catarrhal attacks, which
prevail in a more severe climate. At
the same time, the thermometer de
scends to 25 J F. or below, several times
every season, giving the tonic and brac
ing effects of moderate cold. In the
climate, in the tried experience of its
Faculty, and in facilities for instruc
tion, Mercer presents a strong claim
on the patronage of every Georgia Bap
tist; and the editor of The Index
having had, as is well-known, the best
possible opportunities for knowing the
intrinsic as well as the relative merits
of Mercer, has no hesitation in recom
mending it strongly to the confidence
of his brethren and of the public.
Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary.—The Mississippi Baptist
State Convention at its session just
closed, recommended all the churches
connected with it to observe the last
Sunday in December as a day of prayer
for the Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary, and requested all other Bap
tist churches in the South to do the
same.
Will each church thus observe this
day, and at that time take up a col
lection for the Seminary, unless it
has done so already?
James P. Boyce.
Louisville, Ky., Dec. 4, 1879.
REV. HUGH E. CASSIDY.
Southeastern Georgia is bereft of
another of her most prominent and
efficient ministers, by the death of Rev.
Hugh Emmet Cassidy, of Guyton.
Brother Cassidy was a native of Sa
vannah, and died here while seeking
medical treatment.
The deceased was a pupil of the
State University, and a law’ student at
Harvard College, Mass. He practiced
law for a short time, and then entered
the ministry. Some will remember his
speech before the Georgia Baptist Con
vention in behalf of his mission in
Brunswick, about twenty years ago.
He was pastor at Walthourville for a
few years ; chaplain of a regiment dur
ing the war, and since the war pastor
of the church at Guyton, and other
churches in the country. He was an
earnest, faithful and successful preach
er. He held many protracted meet
ings, and was the strongest and most
influential preacher in the section of
country were he resided. When out of
the pulpit he labored on his farm for
the support of his family. Os course,
in his circumstances, he could not do
pastoral work. He wished to be inde
pendent as to his support. Indeed, he
was distinguished for his independence
in thought and conduct. He over
tasked his strength, and broke down
his constitution. He died of con
sumption. He was fifty-five years
of age, and had been a preacher
for twenty-four years. He was buried
in Laurel Grove Cemetery, at Savan
nah, leaving a wife and a daughter,
who have hope of meeting him in the
“better country.”
Who will take the vacant fields of
Atkinson, Cassidy and Davis?
S. Landrum.
Savannah, Nov. 25, 1879.
REPORT TO GEORGIA BAPTIST
ASSOCIATION.
“Your Cominittee desire to emphasize
the duty an®importance of prayer
meetings. God has many precious
gifts in store for His people; but He
has ordained that they shall ask, if
they would receive. We do not pro
pose to inquire into the philosophy of
prayer. God’s word is philosophy
enough—a philosophy all-sufficient
and satisfactory. And according to
this word, prayer is a means of obtain
ing blessings for ourselves, for our fam
ilies, for our churches, for the world.
And then there are special promises to
united prayer.
“But, notwithstanding the commands
to pray, and the encouragement to
pray, many do not love the prayer
meeting. Many profess to love Jesus,
but they do not love the prayer meet
ing ; they profess to love the cause of
Jesus, but they do not love the prayer
meeting; they profess to love the
brethren, but they do not love the
prayer meeting. There are many who
seem to love the house es God, but they
do not love the prayer meeting ; they
seem to love the Sunday-school,but they
do nut love the prayer meeting; they
even seem to love the preaching of the
Gospel, but they do not love the prayer
meeting. Yes, many who glory in be
ing Baptists, and rejoice in hope of the
inheritance that is incorruptible and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
nevertheless, sad to say, do not love the
prayer meeting. How do we know
that so many who profess such great
things, yet do not love the prayer
meeting? Simply because they do
not attend the prayer meeting. Some
of our churches have no prayer meet
ing at all, and most of those who have
them cannot count on one-fourth of
their members as regular attendants.
“The Psalmist said, “One thing have
I desired of the Lord, and that will I
seek after.” If prayer meetings were
loved, they certainly would be attend
ed—the mole-hills of difficulty would
no longer be mountains in onr eyes.
“Every church should have a regular
weekly prayer meeting at its house of
worship, and if there be members who
live too far for convenient assembling
at this place, they should either go in
conveniently, or else hold meetings iq
their own neighborhoods. There may
be only a few, but let them meet. The
Savior said : “When two or three are
gathered together in my name, there
am lin the midst of them.” A prayer
meeting preceded the deliverance of
Peter; a prayer meeting preceded the
wonderful out-pouring on the day of
Pentecost, and often since, prayer
meetings have been the birth-place of
gracious revivals of religion. Let these
questions be pressed upon every one:
Has my church a prayer meeting? If
not, why not? Do I attend the prayer
meeting? If not, why not? Do I love
the prayer meeting? If not, why not? If
I love not the prayer meeting, can I love
Christ and his cause? If I love not
Christ and his cause, have I been made
partaker of his salvation?
J. H. Kilpatrick,Chairman.”
Copying from one of our secular ex
changes, we recently announced that
our beloved brother Mitchell, pastor of
the Baptist church in Griffin, Ga., had
resigned his charge, and accepted a
call to Galveston, Texas. We are hap
py to learn that this is a mistake ; and
that brother Mitchell has declined the
call to Texas, and will retain his pres
ent position. We congratulate the
church in Griffin, and condole with the
church in Galveston.
GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS.
—Two of the children of the late
Rev. W. D. Atkinson have found a
home, since his death, with their uncle,
Judge N. L. Atkinson at West Point.
—Rev. J. J. Hyman after serving
the Baptist church at Ohoopee for
seven consecutive years has resigned,
and will give his entire time to the
Riddleville church. Rev. T. J. Veasey
has been called at Ohoopee.
—The Augusta Evening News says,
in its “Johnston Items:” Since the de
parture of Dr. Furman the Baptist
church has been without a pastor. It
is thought that the Rev. C. H. Strick
land, of Augusta will ascept a call
here.”
—The Quitman Reporter says: We
understand that the Rev. J. M.
Rush in has accepted the call of the
Valdosta Baptist church and will
preach there once a month. He is a
good preacher, and we congratulate
the church that it will have/ his
services even for once a month.
—The Albany News says: “For
several days religious services have
been held in the Baptist church in
this city, conducted by R. T. Hanks,
the pastor, assisted by Rev. C. H.
Strickland, of Augusta. The meetings
have been very interesting and well
attended. Mr. Strickland is well
known and loved in Albany, and his
sermons have been greatly enjoyed by
all who heard them. These services
will continue during the week. We
hope that the meetings will continue
to be well attended and will do much
good.”
—The Early County News, writing
of a sermon recently preached by Rev.
T. C. Boykin, to the children at
Blakely, remarks : “Tho'e who heard
this sermon went away feeling that
it was good 'to have been there.
Those parents who might have heard
it, but did not, lost something that
would have been profitable to both
them and their children, if properly
heeded. Mr. Boykin is engaged in a
good work, for which he is well quali
fied, and we would advise Christians,
wherever he may’ go, not to fail to
hear him and aid him in his labors.”
—“The Rev. N. A. Bailey, our much
esteemed and highly appreciated fellow
townsman,” says the Quitman Reporter,
“has accepted the call of the Baptist
church at Madison, Florida, and will
preach at that place, so we learn, two
Sundays in each month next year.
We congratulate the good people of
Madison in procuring the services of
so able and so excellent a minister.
They will find embodied in Mr. Bailey
the ennobling qualities of the Chris
tian gentleman, an exemplar of the
Christian faith, a ripe scholar, and a
pastor whom all classes will love and
respect for his goodness.”
—The Georgia Board of Missions met
at its rooms in this city on Tuesday the
9th inst. Present J. G. Ryals, R. B.
Headen, G. A. Nunnally, F. M. Daniel,
Virgil Norcross, and J. H. DeVotie.
Cheering reports were received from
the Missionaries in the field. The
Treasurer reported over SIO,OOO re
ceived and disbursed since last May.
This amount is largely in excess of
what it was at this time last year. The
expense, attending the working of the
new plan under which these collec
tions were made is much smaller than
formerly. The outlook is cheering,
but the Board is determined in the
management of State Missions to incur
no debt, hence a strict eye is kept
upon expenses, and the contracts made
with its missionaries.
They find from a voluminous and
widely extended correspondence with
the pastors over the State, that the
plan is meeting with universal favor,
and its mode of operations is being
generally approved. Let the pastors
and the people support the cause as
they can and ought, and, as we believe,
they will, and Georgia will make a
better showing for the cause of mis
sions than she has done for years.
—The following communication ap
pears in the Quitman Reporter of De
cember 27th, from the pen of Rev.
J. H. Campbell, relative to the neg
lected grave of the venerable and
distinguished Baptist minister and
writer, Rev. Joseph S. Baker, D. D :
“Yesterday evening I stood by’ the
unmarked grave of this great and good
man. It has been in this condition
about two and a half years. The
Mercer Association, at its late session,
appointed a committee to raise funds
and have a slab or a monument
erected to mark the place of his sepul
ture. lam sure the citizens of Quit
man, and of the county generally, will
cheerfully contribute to this object.
It is my purpose to do all in my power
outside of the Association. I learn
that Mrs. Hilliard and Mrs. A. J.
Rountree are members of the foregoing
committee. I trust I shall not be
considered officious when I request
that your readers will not wait to be
called on, but will send in liberal con
tributions to either of those ladies.”
I “The Reporter comments on the
above as follows: “The cause which
the reverend gentleman has espoused
is a noble one, which we all, as friends
of Dr. Baker, and as citizens of Quit
man, should feel a lively interest in.
We will cheerfully co-operate with the
committee in consummating the pur
t pose of their appointment, and do not
j hesitate to say that all the fri ends of
1 Dr. Baker will do likewise.”