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2 ’/ - - - ■■ 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