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MONTHLY PE ACE,NOTES.
| ’The ‘•Church and Home - ' having given a
description of the great "Steven's Battery”—
the mammoth war ship which lias been in
(intermittent) course of construction at Ho
boken, New Jersey, for many years past
makes the following comment:
“There are evidences that the time is not
far distant when the use of such terrific ma
chines will no longer be needed; national
disputes will largely be settled by arbitra
tion, and the moneys hitherto expended for
armaments will be used for public improve
ments. Speed the day when the pen shall
take the place of the sword; when nation
shall not lift upsword against nation, neith
er shall they learn war an}’ more.”
Shortly before the assembling of the late
Pan-Presbyterian Council in Philadelphia,
the New York “Independent” published a
strong appeal for the direct recognition by
Christian societies and convocations, of a
more sensible and Christian method for the
settlement, of international disputes than
that which lias continued to prevail since
the time that Constantine made Christianity
the religion of the State. The Presbyterian
Council responded to this appeal by passing
a resolution affirming the obvious necessity
for the adoption oi the principle of interna
tional arbitration.
It would probably be difficult to find a
religious paper, which, were it asked for its
views upon this subject, would notexpress
a belief similar to that enunciated by the
Council. Yet there is a value indefinitely
declaring such views, seeking to influence
public opinion aright, and not waiting to be
drawn out by it. Tins tendency to tardi
ness upon the subject of peace and peaceful,
ness—whether in its individual, social, orin
ternational aspects, I apprehend to be ow
ingto thefact that so many of us allow, even
upon the slightest provocation, feelings of
enmity to be aroused, and then to let “the
sun go down upon their wrath”—which no
Christian surely ought to do. A mind so
conditioned can never heartily takeup the
pen for peace. When, however, our hearts'
■desires flow out in “good-will to men”—not
alone to men generally, but also to those
particular ones who may have used us de
spitefuliy—then may we experience a right
qualification to pronounce the benison of
‘‘Peace on earth.”
In tlie Notes of the preceding month, ref
erence was madetoSir E. J. Heed's late ac
count of the origin of the British quarrel of
1862 with Japan. Something similar, with
respect to Corea, appears in another new
publication,—the account of three brief vis
its paid to the “forbidden land” by a certain
Ernest Oppert. We are told, in this book,
that Corea’s policy of exclusion was begun
in A. I).. 1397, butthat it was rendered still
more rigidly operative in 1637, at the con
clusion ofa war of invasion by the Tartars
[ nto Corea-
In the 17th century some Coreans be
longing to an embassy at Pekin, having ems
braced the Romish faith, began its propaga
tion in their own country. About 1835,
several French Catholics secretly entered the
country, but being discovered and executed,
a severe persecution broke out against the
native converts. This was repeated in 1804,
when other French missionaries suffered
the same fate as their predecessors. The
unreasoningretaliation of theFrencb govern
ment, two years later, was directed against
an unoffending and unprotected town, many
cf the habitations of which were demolish
ed, and a large amount of booty, in the
shape of silver ingots, was carried away.
Opperts’ first two visits were undertaken
at the instance of an English commercial
firm of Shanghai, who were desirous of
opening trade relations with Corea. The
voyager met with no difficulty of any mo
ment in ascending one of the rivers, nearly
to the capital—the crowds of white-robed
people exhibiting a very friendly disposition
—but the Regent would not grant him an
audience.
The third visit, which was an exceedingly
rash and ill-advised one, was prompted by a
French priest and some exiled Corean con
verts, who informed Oppert where certain
relics, highly prized by the Regent, were
deposited, assuring him that if they could be
captured, the Regent would be brought to
terms. Piloted by the priest and tne ex
iles, Oppert reached the place where the
relics were hidden, but, not being able to
remove or break the great stone slab which
covered them, he was obliged to order a re
treat to the boats. The indignation which
this attempt at sacriligious robbery caused
the Regent, could not have been allayed
when he received Oppert’s notification that,
as he had not accepted the treaty which w>s
peaceably offered him, the time would come
when the voice of the cannon would speak
so loud that be could not help himself.
The report of the Secretary of War again
alludes to thefact that our sea coast defenc
es are In a condition to be easily captured
by any maritime nation with which we may
be at war; and that such a war must eventu
ally come, he lias no doubt. But, inasmuch
asthelong period of sixty-five years has
elapsed since this country was engaged in
any such contest, can it be either wise or
Christian to place ourselves in a state of
preparation for so remote and undesirable a
-contingency? Buch an act seems compara
ble to that of the individual, who, before
leaving his house, provides himself with a
revolver, for he is perfectly sure that some
body will at sometime, insult, impose upon,
or attempt to rob or kill him. But the man
who thoroughly intends to do right to his
neighbors, being equally determined neither
to offend nor to take offense, does not de
pend upon any such weapons. He feels
that he has a more sure reliance—even God
and the right.
Now, what happens—happens invariably,
I may say—when two nations get into a dis
pute, and some overt act of hoetility, or at
least a breach of the hitherto friendly na
tations of the powers, takes place. The
newspaiier press of the aggrieved nation,
voicing the people, straightway demands
satisfaction for the insult; the power and
readiness of the people to enforce that satis
faction, are loudly assorted, and the embers
of bad feeling are sedulous.y fanned into a
flame by bringing forward evil report and
ainister surmise. But, we are assured that
the individual who thus takes it upon him
eelfto return evil for evil, is building upon a
sandy foundation; he is none of Christ’s
and if he continues in his course, he must
reap the reward of iniquity. That this
turning from God will be visited upon
whole peoples, the fate of every one of the
great nations of antiquity toadies most elo
quently. Great pity it is, when nations fall
out. that the Bible itself is not the first text
book referred to!
The religious papers of very wide circula
tion, the London “Christian” and the
“Christian," of Boston, have of late spoken ’
verv pointedly upon this matter. The lat
ter paper, in its last issue, says: “There is in
time of war no lack of ministers who pro-1
claim its justice and holiness, and exhort I
their hearers to engage in it; and very fro- '
quently they pray for the success ot their ar
miee; and so we have pie strange spectacle
of ministers professing to serve the same
God, believing ip the same Christ,preach Ing
the same Gospel, and journeying toward the
same eternal home who, because they ijve
on opposite sides of some imaginary boun
dary by which men divide the Lord's world,
«xhort their brethren in Christ to go out to
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1881.
the baffle-field and kill each other; they
themselves leading the way and encouraging
them ii their carnal strife." The editor then,
by contrast, referring to Sir Charles Napier's
estimate of military glory, when in the
midst of his triumphs in India, he vehe
mently wrote - “Accursed war! May I never
see ar.otber shot fired!” aptly concludes—
“ What have Christians to do with such cru
elties and crimes against humanity and
against tho God of Peace?”
J.W.L.
Philadelphia.
WHAT IS THE OBJECT OF CHRIS
TIAN WORSHIP!
The assemblage of the disciples at which
the risen Redeemer made his first appear
ances after bit resurrection, as recorded by
the evangelists, when Jesus stood in the
midst where the eleven were gathered to
gether, the doors being closed for fear of
the Jews, were simply family gatherings, in
the abode which the eleven had secured as
their domicile, during their temporary resi
dence in Jerusalem. The fact seems to be
fully attested by the sacred narrative, more
particularly as recorded in the first chapter
of the Acts. Probably it was the “own
home” of John, to which that disciple had
4ed the weeping mother of his Lord, from the
hill Calvary, when she was specially com
mitted to his care by her expiring son. The
other women who were of their company,
the wives and mothers who ministered to
them, seem, for the time to have shared
this home.
That they "all continued with one accord
in prayer and supplication," under their
circumstances, so strangely sad—so fearfully
perilous—was but natural. A distinct inti
mation that public worship would be estab
lished, was several times announced by our
Lord hitmalfto his disciples, while he was
yet with them. As such we must regard his
promise to be with two or three wherever
they should assemble in his name. And
again, that if two of them should agree as
touching anything they should ask the
Father in his name, it slrt>uld be given
them. The multitudes to whom Jesus
preached, from the mountain-side, at the
well of Samaria, on the lake shore from the
deck of the fishing vessel, and when he
taught daily in the Temple, can be in no
sense regarded as Christian assemblies.
But we must look to a later day in the
history of the church for the institution of
public worship. Nor can we find it in the
occasion just after the resurrection and ns
cension of our Redeemer when Peter, with
out any shadow of Divine authority resorted
to the arbitrament of the lot to fill the va
cancy created by the fall of Judas. True,
there was solemn prayer offered on this oc
casion; butalthough the lot fell, of course
necessarily, on one of the two nominees,
the appointment was never sanctioned by
the Saviour; and we hear no more in the
Scriptures, and very little in the legends of
ecclesiastical lore, respecting this Matthias.
Jesus reserved to himself the right of filling
the vacancy in the apostolical ranks, to the
completion of which the number twelve
seems to have been essential. In his own
good time he called Saul of Tarsus to that
office, appointing him, a d qualifyng him
for his peculiar sphere of labor as the first
“Foreign Missionary.”
In the second chapter of Acts, in connec
tion with the account of the solemnities of
the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of
Pentecost, is found our first definite record
of the institution of public worship in the
Christian church. This worship included
preaching and ther efforts for the convinc
ing and c nversion of unbelievers, the baps
tisni of all who gladly received the Word,
instruction in Gospel doctrines, the breaking
of bread or showing forth the Redeemer’s
death in the memorial Supper instituted by
him on the night of his betrayal, and pray
ers and praising GOD. From Acts xx:7 it
would seem that these meetings, which were
originally daily occurrences, soon became
weekly gatherings, observed uniformly on
the first day of the week; which was thus
consecrated as the Christian Sabbath.
At these early Christian assemblages, or
church meetings, the members generally
merged their entire worldly possessions in a
common stock; which was distributed freely
among all, as every member had need; but
this practice "> as early discontinued. It was
never made obligatory on any by a positive
command. This is abundantly proved by
the expostulation • f Peter, addressed to An
nanias: VWhilst it remained, was it not
thine own? and after it was sold was it not
in thineown power? But the weekly con
tributions for the support of preachers, for
the spread of the Gospel of salvation among
the Gentiles—“or in the regions beyond"—
as Paul expressed it; ai d for the relief of
poor saints suffering under famine, or from
the disabilities of age, or the spoliations of
enemies and persecutors, were never discon
tinued; or at least not until after the canon
of Scripture was closed. Testimonies to this
fact might be multiplied, but we need only
cite Ist Corinthians xvi. 1-4, 6, 10. 15, 17.
In those early days of multiplied perils
and persecutions, no effort was made, as in
our time, to build church edifices so costly
and luxurious that no “poor man in vile
raiment” would have ventured to present
himself in the same assembly where the
“man with a gold ring in goodly apparel"
was accustomed to demand the honors
paid then as now, to wealth; nor was any
provision required for musical entertain
ments, either vocal or instrumental, to
“draw congregations.” Had such enter
tainments been interluded in the public
worship of the primitive Church, the Scrip
tures might probably have furnished us re
cords of "oyster stews," “ice-cream festi
vals," etc., etc., as a warrant for our resort
ing to such means for similar ends, instead
of representing all our benefactions as “fruit
that may abound to our account"—-“a sacri
ritlce acceptable, well pleasing to God.”
Note Phil, iv.,9 20.
The service of praise in the primitive
Church was conducted with singing of hymns
and spiritual songs; probably very like the
“spirituals" that formed so large a part of
the worship of the slave assemblies, before
freedom, in which one improvised the song,
all joining in the chorus. The writer well
remembers being present on many occasions
when these songs of the slaves, in the rough
prayer-houses of our plantations, often
drew tears of deepest sympathy from the
eyes of most refined and highly cultured
white listeners; albeit they came from untu
tored voices that could lay no claim to sci
entific art; inspiring enthusiastic and exalt
ed worship, such as was probably never
awakened by the performances of godless
choirs, whose highest aim is to secure for
their own performances the admiration of ,
the audiences they were employed to draw. I
Will The Index confers favor by explain
ing that the old-time correspondent, *’o" is
not identical with the “0” who comes out in
the issue of the 16th of December under the
caption: "Another Talk.” The older “0,"
though not an aspirant for fame, and not
expecting ever to pen many more lines eith
er for friends or for the public, on any sub
ject, would be deeplv grieved to be for one
moment suspected of sympathy in any snch
views as those in the article alluded to.
FROM EUFAULA, ALABAMA.
Editor Index : A happy New Year to you
and The Index, publishers and all! During
1880 I have welcomed with pleasure the
weekly visita of your excellent paper, and
feel that I have received much benent there
from. May 1881 give you an increase of
prosperity, and widely enlarge your sphere
of usefulness. Every Baptist household in
Georgia and Florida should weekly receive
a copy of The Index.
I am glad that a kind Providence has
opened for me, in the prosperous State of
Georgia, a field of tabor for the next year.
Brother W. H. Norton has resigned the
pastoral charge of the Shiloh Baptist church
ut Cotton Hill, in Clay county, and removed
to Madison, Georgia. The Shiloh church has
unanimously called me to take the pastoral
charge. I can easily reach Cotton Hill from
Eutsula by the cars which pass over the road
to Macon.
We have been much interested in the ser
mons and addresses of Dr. 8. H. Ford, of the
“Christian Repository,” published at St.
Louis, Mo. He has been with us several
days, having left St. Louis for a time to
avoid the severity of the winter in Missouri,
which acts unfavorably upon his health.
He proposes visiting South Georgia and
Florida, and remaining in the South until
the milder weather of the spring shall call
him home. His lectures on the Great Pyra
mid have awakened much interest in that
wonderful work of human ingenuity, and
aroused a spirit of investigation and research.
It is needless for me to ask for Dr. Ford a
kind reception from Southern Baptists. His
continued residence in Mobile, Alabama, —
his frequent visits to the South, and his long
editorial connection with the “Repository,"
whose monthly visits are enjoyed by many
8 ruthera Baptists, have greatly endeared
him to a large constituency, many of whom
would be glad to see the brother whose
writings have been a source of pleasure and
instruction to them.
I am glad to see that brother Henderson
will continue his connection with yout
paper. I have followed his pen-marks in
The Index with much pleasure and profit.
I have just read your appreciative notice of
his visit. It is a charming recital of a de
lightful interview. I said to myself, “Would
I had been there.” But we will all meet on
that blissful shore, when earth’s meetings
and partings shall all beover.
Again I say, a happy New Year to you and
your friends! Fraternally,
Thomas W. Tobey.
Eufaula, Ala.
ANOTHER~MINISTER PROVIDED
FOR.
Editor Index : In the providence of God
my steps were directed to Whitesville, Ef
fingham county, Georgia, to preach to the
New Providence church on Saturday and
Bunday, December 18th and 19th, 1880.
While there the writer was permitted to wit
ness the bounty of a donation party tender
ed to their worthy pastor, Rev. T. W. La
nier. who has served the church since the
death of the lamented Cassidy. He is a son
of Mercer, and has rendered good service—
endeared himself to the good people of
Whitesville even while contending with a
chronic disease of' the head—has made sac
rifices to fill his appointments and, as it
seems, has gained the affections, not only of
his own, but of other congregations. I judge
that, the ladies of the entire place must have
contributed, as the pile of goods was quite
large. The gentlemen were not behind in
handing in their contributions of their sub
stance to the worthy Treasurer, "as the Lord
had blessed them.” The ladies—ever ready
and on the watch—have been at - much ex
peme with their building: placing new pews,
carpeting, furnishing hymn books for every
seat, and now, to add to all this, have sent
in tbeir Christmas offerings to comfort the
pastor and his dear ones. The money value,
in itself larjje, is not to be compared to the
valuable satisfaction it affords to the pastor
to know that his services are appreciated.
Question : Are other congregations non
appreciating who do not show, by public or
private donations, their esteem for the pas
tor in ills labors of love? May the Lord
bless these dear ones, and make their bounty
an example to other congregations.
Yours in Christ,
Lewis C. Tebeau.
Savannah, Ga.
IN MEMORIAM.
Our Father in Heaven, in his wisdom, has
seen fit to remove from us our brother,
Charles C. Green, who died in Augusta, Ga.,
December 16th, 1880. And feeling the loss
of a faithful and loving friend, a sympathetic
and earnest Christian, we wish to express
our sorrow and confidence in the following
resolutions:
Resolved, Ist. That Christianity at large
has lost a devoted and faithful worker, and
our church and denomination a consistent,
pious member.
Resolved, 2d. That the Young Men’s Evan
gelical Association, of tha First Baptist
church, has sustained the loss of a fellow
laborer much to be lamented.
Resolved, 3d. We beg to express our con
fidence in his readiness for the call of his
Father, and we feel that his is the victory
through the Savior he trusted.
Resolved, 4th. That we sympathise with
the bereaved family, and would humbly
pbint them to bis Redeemer for strength in
this affliction.
Resolved, sth. We dedicate a blank page
in our record book to his memory.
Resolved, 6th. That we request The Index
to publish the preamble and resolutions.
B. A. Daniel,
R, A. Monteith,
C. L. Newman,
Committee.
A MISSIONARY MOTTO.
isaiah 54: 2-5.
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them
stretch forth the curtains of thine habita
tions; spare not, lengthen thy cords, and
strengthen t'ly stake*;
For thou shall break forth on the right
band and on the left; and thy seed shall in
herit the Gentiles, and make the desolate
cities to be inhabited.
Fear not, for thou sbalt not be ashamed;
neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt
not be put to shame; for thou shalt forget
the shame of thy youth, and shalt not re
member the reproach of thy widowhood.
For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord
of hosts is his name: and thy Redeemer the
Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole
world shall he be called.
When the first convention of English
Baptists met at Nottingham, nearly a centu
ry ago, for prayer and conference about the
duty of sending the Gospel to the heathen,
in an age when missionary societies were
unknown, and only the Moravian brethren
had as yet entered into the moral darknets
of Greenland and Africa, Win. Carey was ap
pointed to preach the opening sermon. He
selected the above text, and proceeded to
explain the beautiful imagery, wherein the
Church is represented as an impoverished
widow sitting desolate and childless In her
narrow tent. Suddenly the command comes
to her to enlarge her accommodations and
prepare an ampler habitation, for she is about
to receive a new and larger family from the
right hand and the left, and from the Gen
tile nations- She is amazed at the strange
command, until Jehovah assures her that
she is to have a new husband, even the Holy
One of Israel, and that be is to be the God of
the whole earth, and to givwher a posterity
that shall overflow the nations, and cause
the desolate cities to be inhabited. And then
the preacher proceeded with.apostolic unc-
tion to enforce these two propositions, into
which he divided his sermon: Ist, Attempt
great things for God. 2nd. Expect great
things from God. God blessed that sermon
as perhaps no other ever preached by human
lips. William Carey himself, and his glo
rious work in India, were only part of the
fruit. The Baptist Missionary Society, and,
very soon after, the London Missionary So
ciety, grew out of the mighty impulse which
took possession of the Evangelical Cnurcbes;
and these words, ringing like the call ofa
great leader, have been echoing for nearly a
century, in thousands of hearts, as the in
spiration of faith, courage aud victory in the
battles of the Lord. This is the spirit of
Christian missions. “Call unto me, and I
will answer thee and show thee great and
mighty things;” and God has been glorified
in it, not more by the multitudes who have
been saved, than by the magnificent quality
of Christian character it has developed. We
want more grandeur in our missionary en
thusiasm; and, if we would rise to a nobler
faith we must learn to realize more implic
itly that mighty promise—“ Thy Maker is
thine husband.” If the Church would but
fully know that she is the bride ot theas
cencled Lord, that all bis omnipotent re
sources are hers, all his glorious aims must
be hers, and that he is only waiting to clothe
her with the glory alrea iy given him as fast
as she will put iton; what would she not at
tempt for God and expect from him?—Gos
pel in all Lands.
Large Ocean Steamers —The Cunard
Company have concluded contracts for the
construction ofthree powerful screw steam
s ips for the trans-atlantic service, the larg
est of which is to oe built of steel, and will
be of 7,000 tons, with 8 500 indicated horse
power, and is to be called Aurania. The
other two vessels are each to be upwards of
5 000 tons and 4 500 horse power, aud are to
be called I'avoniaand Cephalonia.
The Alaska, now building on the Clyde for
the Guion line, is to be 6 500 tons. Her di
mensions will be: extreme length, 500 feet;
breadth of beam. 50 feet, and depth of hold
from main deck, 38 feet. There will be 150
state rooms in the first cabin, and the saloon
will accommodate 350 passengers. The sec
ond cabin will contain berths for 50 persons,
and on the after end of the main deck will be
quarters for 120 steerage passengers. She
will have a capacity for carrying 2,000 steer
age passengers.
The Great Eastern (built at London, begun
in 1854 and finished in 1858) was of 18 916
tons, length 679 feet 6 inches, breadth of
beam 82 feet 8 inches, depth of hold 45 feet
2lnches. Thelo s to her owners firstand
last was estimated at $5,000,000.
The Furnessia, launched at Barrow on the
20th ult., is the largest steamer now afloat
next to the Great Eastern, but the telegram
announcing her launch does not give her
dimensions.
Studies in Statistics.—From the Sup-rin
teudent of the United States Census we have
received the following statement, with the
note that it is still subject to possible correc
tions by discovering omissions or duplica
tions of names in the list of inhabitants re
turned.
Total population of New York city, 1,206,-
577; male, 590,762; female, 615 816; natives,
727,743; foreigners. 478.834; white, 1.186 144;
colored, 20 433—the last including 747 Chi
nese, 15 Japanese, and 44 Indians.
Probably, of the native population there
are 125,000 children of foreign born parents,
and if you add this number to the foreign
population, you will have 600,000 foreign
population, and this will show the popula
tion about eq ally divided between foreign
and native.
From the data at hand we may safely say
that the Irish population is not far from
300,000. The German population approxi
mates 250.000 There are only tjyo or three
cities in Germany whose population exceeds
this So that we may say that New York is
the third or fourth German city in the world.
This city has more Irish than Belfast, and
has live times as many Jews as the whole
land of Palestine. Fifty languages and dia
lects are spoken in our streets. But we shall
await other figures from the Censns before
proceeding farther. —L. E. J. in New York
Observer.
A New Volume.—Littell's Living en
ters upon its one hundred and forty-eighth
volume in January.
Foreign periodical literature embraces
more thoroughly every year the work of the
foremost writers in all departments of litera
ture, science, politics and art; and the Liv
ing Age, which gives in convenient form the
best of this literature, can therefore hardly
fail to become of more and more value every
year to its readers.
The first weekly number of the new year
and new volume —a good one with which to
begin a subscription—has the following table
of contents: —Village Life in New England,
by a Non-resident American, Contemporary
Review ; The Marshal Duke of Saldanha,
Quarterly Review ; Lyme Regis; A Splinter
of Petrified History, Cornhill; My Holiday
in Jamaica, Chambers’ Journal; The Photo
phone, Spectator; Girl and Grandfather,
Temple Bar ; Sir Alexander Cockburn, Spec
tator ; Jewish Success and Failure, Spectator;
and a variety of select poetry. For fifty-two
numbers of sixty-four targe pages each (or
more than 3,300 pages a year), the subscrip
tion ($8) is low ; while for $10.50 the pub
lishers offer to send any one of the American
$4 monthlies or weeklies with the Living
Age for a year, both postpaid. Littell de Co.,
Boston, are the publishers.
Make the Best or Things.—We excuse a
man for an occasional depression, just as we
endure a rainy day. But who could endure
i three hundred and sixty-five days of cold
1 drizzle? Yet there are men who are without
' cessation, sombre and charged with evil
, prognostication. We may be born with a
; melancholy temperament, but that is no
: reason why we should yield toit. There is a
way ofshuffiing the burden. In t>e lottery
of life there are more prizes drawn than
blanks, and to one misfortune there are fifty
advantages. Despondency is the most un
profitable feeling a man can have. One good
laugh is a bombshell exploding in the right
place, while spleen and discontent is a gun
that kicks over the man that shoots it off.
Listen for sweet notes rather than discords.
In* world where God haslputan exquisite
tinge upon the shell washed in the surf, and
planted a paradise of bloom in a Guild's
cheek, let us leave it to the owl to boot, and
the frog to croak, and the fault-finder to
complain. Take out door ex -rcise and avoid
late suppers, if you would have a cheer
ful disposition. The habit of complaint
finally drops into peevishness, aud people
become waspish and unapproachable.—Bap
tist Weekly.
The Bondholders.—The question, “Who
are the bloated bohdholders?’’ has been par
tially answered by a treasury report. This
report shows how more than 698,000,000 of
registered fours and four-and-a-halfs are
held. Os 528,000,000 millions of four per
cents, 271,000.000 are in private bands, and
the rest are held by banks and other compa
nies. Os 170,000.000 of four-and-a-half’s
about 72,000,0000n1y are in private hands.
Os both classes of bonds, over 72,000,000 are
held by women. In‘the East, thirty per
cent, of the holders are women; in the Mid
dle and Western States, nineteen per cent.;
in the South, twenty per cent. Os the 343,-
000.000 of these bonds held by persons, 61.-
600,000 are held i.i the Eastern States, 221,-
000,000 in the Middle, 12,000.000 in the
Southern, and 48,000.000 in the Western
States. The most notable features of the dis
tribution is the large slice taken by the wo
men of the land-
The Sunday-School.
Xnternatienal Sunday-School Lessons.
[Prepared specially for The Index by Rev. 8. H.
Mlrick, of Washington, D.C.)
Lesson IV. —January 23, 1881.
THE BIRTH OF JESUS.
Luke 11:8 20—B. C. 5.
Read Matt. 1:18-25.
Joseph, though be lived at Nazareth in
Galilee, being a descendant of David, went,
in answer to the decree of the Emperor, Au
gustus, to Bethlehem, a distance of about
seventy-five miles, to be there registered for
taxation. He took with him Mary, his es
poused wife, and so, as predicted. Jesus was
born at Bethlehem. Possibly Mary, in read
ing the prophecies, understood that the Mes
siah wa- to be born tbere. Our lesson con
tains the announcement of his birth by the
angel to tae shepherds and their reception
ot the news. We may study it with the fol
lowing
OUTLINE.
I. The song of the angels, v. 8 14.
11. The joy of the shepherds, v. 15 20.
NOTES.
I. The song of the angels.
V. 8. “In the same country." In the re
gion of Bethlehem. "Abiding in the field,”
that is, remaining all night in the open air.
“Their flock.” They had made one common
flock for convenient watching. “Keeping
watch by night.” Literally, watching the
watches of the night Probably taking turns
in watching and sleeping.
V. 9. ‘Lo.” Denoting an unusual and im
portant event. “The angel.” Should be an
angel. Probably Gabriel. See chapter 1:19.
'Came upon them,” or, stood near them.
The phrase implies a sudden appearance.
Probably be appeared in human form. “The
glory of the Lord.” The supernatural bright
ness so often mentioned in the Old Testa
ment. “Sore afraid,” as was Zacharias. 1:
12. Since the day of Adam, supernatural
appearances have produced fear in the minds
of men.
V. 10. “Fear not.” These were real words
uttered by a real being. The same cheering
words had been used to Zacharias (1:13) and
to Mary (1:30). Christ came to takeaway
the fear of men. “Good tidings of great joj.”
No more ioyful tidings could come to sinful
men. "To all people ” Literally, to all the
people; that is, to all the people of Israel.
V. 11. "Unto you.” You Jews. “This
day,” on the night of which the angel ap
peared. “The city of David.” Bethlehem,
so calles! because David was born there. It
was in existence as early as the time when
Jacob returned from Padan-aram. “A Sa
vior.” Blessed announcement which only
a messenger from God could make. “Christ."
The Anointed One. “The Lord.” The ruler
of men. Luke uses this word here and else
where to designate the Jehovah of the Old
Testament.
V. 12. “A sign.” Should be, the sign.
God condescends even to give proof that
what he says is true. Compare Mai. 3:10.
Jehovah lias given so many signs of his love
to man in Clirist, that he only, who is wil
fully blind, can fail to see them. "Lying in
a manner.” Jesus began his earthly life in
humiliation.
V. 13, “Suddenly,” while the angel was
still speaking. “The heavenly host.” See
Rev. 5:11. Ps. 68:17. “Praising God” in the
words which tollow. The birth of Jesus,
then, was a subject of devout praise to God
among the angels. They know something
of men, and are interested in this wonderful
display of divine love towards them.
V. 14 “Glory to God.” Words expressive
of adoring praise. "In the highest.” Among
the highest intelligence in God’s universe.
"Peace,” between God and man. See 2Cor.
5:17-21. A restful quiet from the upbraid
ings of conscience. "Good will toward
men.” Rather, satisfaction among men. A
calm resting in God's plan of salvation.
11. The joy of the shepherds.
V. 15. “Were gone,” or were going. “The
shepherds.” Literally, “the men, the shep
herds,” as distinguished from the angels.
“Now.” An immediate inquiry. The gos
pel does not shun investigation. “Even to
Bethlehem.” To the very spot where the
declaration of the angel could be verified.
Do not these men seem to be devout believ
ers? “And see” for themselves. “The Lord
l hath made known.” They recognize the
angel as the messenger of Christ.
V 16. “With haste.” Fully believing
what had been told them, and anxious to
see the new-born Savior. “Mary and Jos
eph,” now rejoicing and adoring the good
ness of God. "The babe.” Promised, con
ceived by the Holy Ghost, holy, called the
Son of God.
V. 17. “When they had seen,” that it was
as the angel had said. “They made known
abroad.” These words are generally inter
! preted as making known the facts outside
■ the collection of people at the manger. They
i mean, however, ns well, made particular
i inquiry concerning, indicating that the shep
j herds endeavored to learn all they could
about the babe. No doubt they told Joseph
and Mary all about tbe coming of the angels
and the message, while Mary told them of
the announcement made to her by Gabriel.
V. 18. "Wondered,” at such unusual
things. Some, it may be, believed, some
doubted, some were puzzled.
V. 19. “Kept.” Noticed carefully, and re
membered. “Pondered." Thoughtfully
compared th An one with another, tbe things
which had been said Dy Gabriel to her, and
those' which had been said by tbe angel to
the shepherds. Did Mary furnish the ac
counts contained in these two chapters?
Says Godet, "The oftener we read the 19th
verse, the more assured we feel that Mary
was tbe first and real author of the whole
narrative. This pure, simple and private
history was composed by her, and preserved
for a certain time in an oral form, until some
one committed it to writing, whose work
i fell into the hands of Luke, and was repro-
■ duced by him in Greek.”
V. 20. “ Returned” to their flock. Con
vinced that a Savior has come to earth they
adoringly praise God, as the author of the
salvation. “Heard, seen, told.” Tbe bear
ing and the sight agreed. Full proof, full
faith, full rejoicing.
REMARKS.
1. The gospel produces joy in heaven as
well as on earth.
2. Thebe is a Savior born to us.
3. We should Inquire into the evidences
which the Lord gives us ot his grace toward
us.
4. Those who And Jesus will rejoice and
praise God.
6. Tbe shepherds talked about Jesus, Ma
ry meditated about him. Both did well,
illustrating different phases of Christian ex
perience.
A New Heart.—An anecdote published
many years ago of the Indian chief Teedy
uicnng, king of tbe Delawares, is too valua
ble to tie lost. "One evening he was sitting
at the fireside of a friend. Both of them
were silently looking at the fire, indulging
ing their own reflections. At length the
silence was broken by tbe friend, who said,
‘I will tell thee what I have been thinking
of. I have been thinking of a rule delivered
by the author of the Christian religion,
which, from its excellence, we call the Gol
den Rule. 1 ‘Stop,’ said Teedyuscung, ‘don’t
praise it to me, but rather tell me what it is,
and let me think for myself. Ido not wish
for you to tell me of its excellence; tell me
what it is.’ •‘lt is for one man to do to an
other as he would have the other do to him.’
‘That’s Impossible. It can not be done,’
Teedyuscung immediately replied. Silence
again ensued. Teedyuscung lighted his pipe,
and walked about the room. In about a
quarter of an hour he came to his friend with
a smiling countenance, and taking his pipe
from his mouth, said, ‘Brother, I nave been
thoughtful of what you told me. If the
Great Spirit, that made man, would give
him a new heart, he could do as you say, but
not else.’ Thus the Indian found the only
means by which man can fulfil his social
duties.”—S. Allinson.
The most magnificent monument that a
Christian man can erect for himself is the
endowment of a Christian school, a theolog
ical seminary, university, or college. It will
endure for centuries, outlasting generations
of men, dynasties and empires. Nothing in
this world seems more durable than an in
stitution of Christian learning. It is most
beneficent in its influence. It ennobles, pur
ifies and enriches every soul which comes
fully under its power. Its work is for eter
nity. It reaches countless multitudes. It
penetrates every part of society. It encir
cles the globe. Certainly one or tbe highest
privileges that can be enjoyed in this life is
that of bestowing one’s wealth in the estab’
lishing of a great Christian school. What a
fitting terminus ofa long and successful ca
reer in business, would be the founding of a
school which shall continue its noble work
fora thousand years. Millions will rise up
to call its founder blessed
This is an era of princely giving. It is
likewise an era of boundless possibilities and
blessed privileges. —T: J. M. in the Stand
ard.
Missionary Department.
' Mission Board Georgia Baptist Convention, At
lanta, Ga.—J. H. DeVotie, Corresponding Sec’y.
and Treasurer.
Foreign Mission Board Southern Baptist Con
vention, Richmond, Va.—Rev. H. A. Tupper, D.
D., Cor. Secretary. *
Home Mission Board Southern Baptist Conven
tion, Marlon, Alabama.—Rev. W. H. Mclntoah.D.
D„ Cor. Secretary.
RECEIPTS OF MISSION BOARD OEOROIA
BAPTIST CONVENTION.
From November 20th to December 21st, 1880.
STATE MISSIONS.
Nov. 20. Previous reports ............ $3665 34
22. I> G Daniel received on field 123 M
Sylvania Baptist church, H J Ar
nett 1 W
Wades’Baptist ch, H J Arnett.... 160
Dravton BaptL-tchurch, “Friend
Missions" .. 8 84
28. Joshua Gonacky, collected on
field 15 00
Joshua Gonacky, order on W J
White 2T 50
Joshua Gonacky, A. B. H. M. So-
ciety - 27 50
26. Social Circle Baptist church, T A
Gibbs, Tr 4 10
Dec. 2. Joseph E Brown 5 00
9. Geneva Baptist church, R J W il
lingbam 50 00
15. George Milner : 100
18. Mrs. Hambrick 50
21. Rocky Creek Baptist church, W
M Verdery 3 45
Brunswick Baptist c’h through
A C Ward 25 00
J H DeVotie 10 00
25. C F Newton, Griffin - --... 100
Pope Newton, Griffin 10
Dr J R Ckaveland 2 00
27. George B. White 50
J G Rhea 1 00
James Newton .25
31. Line Branch, J E Pittman 3 55
Wm Mickelberry. Atlanta 5 00
Geo A Blount collected on field.. 20 42
Geo A Blonn’ contribution 5 00
Acworth Baihist church, J G
Ryals, D D - 500
Fifth Baptist church, Atlanta, V
C Norcross - 2 00
J W White, sale books 2 90
Jas P Harrison & Co —. 2 CO
A Corn, reported paid him 100 00
84115 23
HOME MISSIONS.
Nov. 20. Last report $1667 67
22. North Newport Baptist church,
D G Daniel 1 00
Jones’ Creek Baptist church, D
G Dani 1 _... 72
Drayton Baptist church. Friend
ot Missions 8 33
Dec. 1. Indian C-eek Baptist church,T
G Hndson, Tr 4 08
21. Talbotton Baptist church, R J
Willingham .. 75
Geneva Ba; tist church, RJ Wil-
lingham ........... 100
Rocky Creek Baptist churcn, W
M Verdery 3 45
Received at Marion direct from
contributors .......... 14 85
J H DeVotta 5 00
31. Line Branch Baptist church, J
E Pittman 3 55
Acworth Baptist church, J G
Ryals, D. D - 5 00’
Filth Baptist church, Atlanta, V
C Norcross for Hartwell 3 40
sl7lß 25
INDIAN MISSIONS.
Nov. 20. Last report $ 500 71
Dec. 31. Union C. H. Sabbath school for
Peter Folsom 1 78
$502 49
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
Nov. 20. Previous report $3022 24
Mrs W P Price, C M Irwia 13 00
Miss Bell Bell proceeds Miss Hen 200
21. North Newport Baptist church,
D G Daniel 1 00
Jones Creek church, D G Daniel 75
Drayton Baptist church, Friend
of Missions 8 33
26, First Baptist church, Columbus
J Albert Kerviu, Tr 20 35
Dec. 1. Indian Creek Baptist c hutch, T
C Hudson, Tr 4 02
2. Jos. E Brown 5 00
9. Received direct from contributors
Sept. 16 to Oct, 19, H A Tupper 215 00
H A Tupper, direct from contri
butors, Oct. 19 to Nov. 16 34 30
13. Mrs Norcross, draft Jan. 1 10 00
15. George Miluer 1 00
18. Mrs. Hambrick, 2 pair socks 50
21. Rocky Creek Baptist church, W
M Verdery 3 45
21. J H DeVotie
23. Ladles' Missionary Society Bap-
tist ch., Rome.'Ga., Sarah J
Hair for Bible Woman, Miss S
Whllden 18 00
31. Line Branch, J E Pittman 8 55
Acworth Baptist ch, J G Ryals... 6 00
Cassville Baptist ch., through W
M Dyer for scholar in Mrs
Holmes'school 5 23
Cross Roads Baptist ch, W M Dyer 7 75
Fifth Baptist ch, Atlanta, V C
Norcross .tor V C Norcross, Chi
nese boy 8 00
$3389 47
RECAPITULATION.
State Missions $ 4115 23
8 S Evangelist :. 661 71
Home
Indian MlHslptuu. 5. 60S 49
Foreign MisafdW. .1;. „....„ 8389 47
Educational 64 60
Indigent Ministers 464 10
SIO9OO 76
J. H.DeVotie, Treasurer.
The curious fact is noted by a London
health officer that, whatever may be tbe
cause, a Jew's life is undoubtedly worth
twice as many years as a Gentile’s. In proof
of this be reports that in the district of
Whitechapel, on the north side of High
street, which is occupied by Jews, tbe aver
age death rate is twenty per thousand; while
on tbe south side of the same street, where
tbe English and Irish live, the rate is forty
three per thousand. If this singular differ
ence bolds good in other parte or tbe world,
It is not only an additional reason for con
sidering the Jews a peculiar people, but a
good one for studying them from a physical
standpoint.—Examiner and Chronicle.
Lsdiee' and children’s boots and shoes
cannot run over if Lyon's Patent Heel Stif
feners are used. jsnl3-lm