Newspaper Page Text
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HK.N ItV H.TVI’K HR. Editor.
TEMPERANCE.
Many things art* Mid on the subject
of temperance, with which The Index
has no sympathy. The most shocking
and blood-curdling thing we ever heard
from any but an avowed blasphemer,
was uttered a year or two ago, ( we
learn from the Messenger), by an edi
tor who said that "If our Lord used
and blessed the Sacramental Wine, he
was kept from the grave of a sot, only
l>ecauae his end as a drunkard was an
ticipated by his death on the cross."
Surely this is a horror which cannot
be outdone: but there seem to be
some who are trying to equal it. And
in general, it appears to us that the
language of those whom we may call
temperance apostles is intemperate.
They talk like drunken men; and we
incline to think that there are more
ways than one of getting drunk.
When a wan allows an idea, or a sen
timent, or a doctrine, to bestride his
brain and ride it, he is for practical
purposes, as thoroughly intoxicated as
if he were saturated with whiskey.
The difference between these men
and those commonly called drunkards
is, that these prefer one form of intox
ication while the drunkards prefer an
other. We doubt whether the annals
of the grog-shop can show anything
more frightful, than the blasphemy
which has occasioned the writing of
these lines. The real friends of tem
perance shrink away from such com
panionship, and are intimidated from
saying what they would like to say on
the subject, because they do not wish
to be associated with these frenzied
fanatics.
We are happy to say, however, that
these wild utterances came from a
number comparatively small. The
vast majority of the friends of temper
ance are sober people, sober in every
sense of the w’ord ; and these are no
more to be held responsible for the ex
travagances of the few, than ministers
of the gospel are responsible for the
ravings of religious mania in the Luna
tic Asylums.
Coming down now to a plain com
mon sense view of the subject, what
shall be said on the prohibition ques
tion now so generally discussed before
the American public? It is our opin
ion (speaking for Georgia), that a law
■of the State prohibiting the sale of in
toxicating liquors could not be enfor
ced. There are in the State some com
munities in which public opinion
would oppose it so strongly as to make
it inoperative. In saying this, we do
not feel that we are making a confes
sion of any peculiar weakness in regard
to our ability to enforce law. It has
been the" experience of every State in
the Union, that when the people gen
enally, or a great majority of them, or
even a very large minority are deter- i
mined to oppose the execution of law,'
they can almost always do it. It may ■
be that this is one of the evils of free |
government, deriving its power from j
the people, and one which must be
compensated for by some correspond
ing advantage. But it is not clear that
even an autocrat could enforce law, if
the people are determined to resist it.
A law that cannot be enforced, with
at least a tolerable degree of certainty,
ought not to be enacted. The tenden
cy is to bring contempt not only on it
self, but on all law, and thus to engen
der a general spirit of disregard for
authority. Nothing is more disorgan
izing, nothing is more calculated to sap
the foundations of good order and of
society, than laws which command no
respect, and which excite nothing but
derision. A lion with neither teeth
nor claws will be insulted by every'
donkey. There is no wisdom in at
tempting to do that which we know
-cannot be done ; and legislation which
proposes to accomplish ends known to
lie impracticable, always injures the
■cause which it is intended to sustain.
With these views, we as friends of
temperance, would not favor a general
law in Georgia wholly prohibiting the
sale of liquor, except for legitimate '
purposes.
There arc many neighborhoods,■
owns and counties in the State where
;ich a law could be enforced, and
where in fact it is now enforced. Those ;
who have tried it arc delighted with
its results. The amount of crime in |
counties that have procured for them
selves a local option law, has been i
gieatly diminished, the public expense j
■has been largely reduced, and the value
•of property has been much enhanced, i
The people have less to pay, and more i
<0 pay it with. Besides these results I
visible to the public, there is no telling
how much the social peace and do
mestic happiness of the people have
been increased ; and the effect on re- j
ligion, and on the destiny' of men for
another world, eternity alone can re
veal. For these reasons, it is cer
tainly desirable to have a law prohib
hibiting the sale of liquors in these
places, and in all other places of like
'j character. Where the people of a
town or county, taken as a whole, de
sire the law, it is a blessing to them to
I have it; on the other hand, where a
J majority of the people oppose the
law, or even where there is a minority
large enough to succeed in ob
structing its operation, no good
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 188 I.
1 can come from it. The wisest
| course therefore, for the friends of tem
perance to pursue, is to try to get the
people in small municipalities willing
to have the law; the most unwise
thing they can do is to try to force leg-
I islation on people who are unwilling
to submit to it. It is well, too, for
them to remember that the best way
to persuade is—to persuade. Mere
abuse convinces nobody, and intemper
ate language is the poorest expedient
ever yet resorted to, to promote the
cause of temperance. What would be
thought of a preacher, who in endeav
oring to persuade people to cease from
sin, should curse and swear at those
who declined to yield to his solicita
tions? If we would have people be
temperate, we must set them the ex
ample. It is in vain for a man to say,
that he does set the example by mere
abstinence from drink; he must ab
stain from vituperation, and from all
extravagance as well. A cool, fair, ra
tional discussion of the subject will
succeed in many of the counties in
Georgia, in bringing the great majority
of the citizens to favor the prohibitory
law. The increased prosperity and
well-being of the counties adopting it,
will be an argument of immense power
in adjoining counties, and thus the in
fluence will spread, until very few
will be left without that protection
from the evils of intemperance which
law affords. The process may not be
as rapid as we could desire, but it may
be well for us to temper our zeal with
the reflection, that it is not possible to
regenerate the world in a day.
It is our opinion that in the larger
cities where there are so many places
for hiding and so many ways of dodg
ing, and where there will always be a
large and refractory minority, prohibit
ory laws can never be enforced. There
is no wisdom in shaking a fist which
can never strike, and hence in such
places the proper course is not to pro
hibit the sale of liquor, but to regulate
it. We shall make some suggestions
on this subject in a future article.
There is no general law in Georgia,
which gives to the people the right to
vote on the question of "license” or
“no license;” but various counties
have, by special act of the Legislature,
secured the right for themselves. It
is proposed now to ask the Legislature
to pass a general law of the same char
acter, the effect of which will be that
the people of any county, city, town
or militia district, can say for them
selves whether they will permit liquor
to be sold or not. We are in favor of
the law. It is based on the principle
of local self-government; it allows the
people of each community to have their
own way, and do as they please; and
contains no objectionable feature. The
following is a copy’ of a petition now
in general circulation:
To the General Assemby of the State of
Georgia:
Tn view of the misery, poverty and crime
resulting from intemperance we. the under
signed citizens of the State of Georgia, re
siding in the county of . . . . , do most res
pectfully and earnestly petition you in favor
of the passage of a la* allowing the qualb
tied voters ot cities, towns, counties and mi
litia districts, at any election held therein
(except localities where the sale of intoxica
ting liquor is already restricted or prohibited
by local law), to decide by ballot whether
they will prohibit the sale of intoxicating
liquors (except for medicinal, mechanical
and sacramental purposes) in their several
localities.
Persons signing the petition are re
quested to give their post office address.
The petition when signed should be
sent by mail to “The Woman’s Chris
tian Temperance Union,” Atlanta, Ga.
A letter addressed to this Association
will secure printed forms of the peti
tion, with place for signatures. We
heartily favor the enterprise.
The Irrepressible Musquito!—A
| man once passed the night on the edge
iof a great swamp. He slapped at a
' musquito; but the wind of his stroke
: blew the creature away, and it escaped
| unhurt. History repeated itself many
, times, and many mosquitoes in like
: manner escaped. Several, however,
i became victims, and in the course of
i the night, the man had succeeded in
I killing twenty or thirty. But there
I were 214,973 other musquitoes close
1 by, and there was music in the air.
Suppose that these musquitoes had
had the power to consolidate them
selves into one huge musquito, the
size of a wild-cat, and suppose that
this creature had attempted to slake
his thirst for blood from the veins of
this would be sleeper. A single shot
from the man’s revolver would have
brought him down!
Hire fabula docet, that Satan may
slap at our independent little churches
as much as he pleases, and the result
will be, that he will only bruise him
self without hurting them! Occasion
ally he may destroy one, but there will
be plenty of Baptist music left, and
each little church will go to singing,
“Should earth against my soul engage,
And fiery darts be hurled.
SHU I can smile at Satan’s rage,
And face a frowning world.”
I-et us once consolidate and unify,
and every shot from the enemy will
tell; whatever hurts a part of an or
ganized l>ody hurts the whole of it.
Let us not be integrate, but as we are,
forever differentiate, and we shall be
forever irrepressible and invincible.
—The following is reported from
Washington to the Atlanta Constitu
tion that “the Rev. M. B. Wharton, a
prominent Georgia Baptist minister, is
an applicant forthe consulship at Basle,
Switzerland. He is here to look after
his own interests.”
THE SWORD AND THE PLOUGH
SHARE.
In passing through the office where
The Index is printed, we saw a glow
ing furnace of coals, and on it a strong
iron vessel filled with some kind of met
al in a state of fusion. On inquiry we
learned that the contents of the vessel
consisted partly of old type and other
metals, but largely of melted bullets,
and that the whole was about to be
cast into stereotype plates for the use
of the printer. The surface of the
earth, for miles around Atlanta, is
strewn with bullets —a suggestive relic
of the bloody struggle of sixteen years
ago. These are picked up in large
quantities by those who have no other
employment, and sold to such as can
make use of them. A quantity,of them
found their way to The Index office
and are now cast into type, which will
be used for the distribution of knowl
edge. What a change of destiny! If
they were rational and moral, how
should they rejoice that their mission
of death is exchanged foi a mission of
peace! Every one of these bullets has
been aimed,and sped atahuman breast
Some of them have probably plunged
through human hearts; many of them
doubtless have ploughed their way
through human flesh, or crashed
through splintered bone.
They are still aimed at human hearts,
now not to injure but to bless, to bring
not death but life. Bless God for the
happy reversal! Ah! if all the imple
ments of war, and murder, and destruc
tion could thus be turned to profitable
uses, what a grand advance would be
made toward universal prosperity and
toward the highest and best develop
ment of the race! Is this too much to
hope for, and to pray for? Doubtless
we shall be called visionary if we even
suggest such a thing; so we refrain.
But we venture to copy an extract from
the second chapter of the prophecy of
Isaiah, which we submit to the criti
cism of oqr readers.
"And it shall come to pass in the last
days, that the mountain of the Lord's
house shall be established in the top of
the mountains, and shall be exalted
above the bills; and all nations shall
flow unto it. And many people shall
go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to
the mountain of die Lord, to the house
of the God of Jacob ; and he will teach
us of his ways, and we will walk in his
fiaths; for out of Zion shall go forth the
aw, and the word of the Lord from Jer
usalem. And he shall judge among the
nations, and shall rebuke many neople;
and they shall beat their swords into
ploughshares, and their spears into prun
ing-hook«; nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn
war any more.’’
How happy they, who now, at this
distant day from the glorious consum
mation, are taking part in bringing it
to pass! Their efforts may seem to be
feeble and futile, and may excite the
derision of many. But the eye of God
is upon them, and in due time he will
reward them openly. When the work
becomes popular, it will be easy' to en
gage in it, but the true heroes are they
who commit themselves to it now,
when they are sneered at as enthusiasts
and dreamers.
How wretched they, whose influ- j
ence, in the least degree, retards the
coming of the universal brotherhood
of nations! The type though cast in
the interest of light, and knowledge, and
love, may be more deadly than the '
bullet. Every’ printed word which I
tends to excite public animosities, or to I
alienate those who are, or ought to be,
friends, has in it the germ whence j
strife, and slaughter, and murder pro
ceed. Evil speaking, as between mere
individuals, is bad enough, but bitter
words which tend to array nation
against nation, or a nation against
itself, are sin-breeders, and death-deal
ers, and destroyers, on a vaster scale.
How careful should we, of the reli- ■
gious press at least, be never to say a !
word calculated to engender the least j
unkindness of feeling between men, |
communities or nations. How care
fully should we guard against being i
drawn into the whirl of public excite- ;
ments,and participating in the strife of
parties. Is it not possible, that if the I
religious press of the United Stateshad :
done its full duty, the frightful scenes I
of twenty years ago might have been [
avoided? The carnage of that dread
ful era was but the culmination : many J
years of evil-speaking preceded, and ;
led to it. Let no one say, that he had I
no hand in the war, who twenty, or I
thirty, or forty, or fifty’ years ago, said, |
or printed a word calculated to stir up
the feeling which brought it on. Is it I
true that the religious element was at <
the bottom of the whole of it? Is it
true, as is often said, that the religious
people, and especially the ministers of
the Gospel are the hardest to recon
cile? If so, let shame and confusion
of face overwhelmn them. Let them ;
cease to utter words of railing, and let,
them pray’ for that spirit which must '
be the forerunner of the coming of I
the Prince of Peace.
A Text without a Sermon.—Some
times a sermon without a text is good ;
sometimes a text without a sermon is
better. We have heard sermons which,
instead of illuminating the text, seemed
to darken it, and which, instead of en
forcing it, seemed rather to deprive it
of force; and often in our ministry we
have been tempted, after reading the
text, to say no more, lest we should
spoil it. The pure word of God, undi
luted to what men may say, has a
power m its own; the concentrated
wisdom goes to the spot like a shaft
from the quiver of the Almighty.
Hence the importance at proper times
of reading the Scriptures, in public
and in private, without note or com
ment.
With this preface we present to our
readers the following text: “There is
that maketh himself rich, yet hath
nothing; there is that maketh himself
poor, yet hath great riches.” Prov. 13 :7.
We have no sermon to preach
from this text. We leave each reader
to preach a sermon from it to himself.
But we remark, 1. That this is a part
of the word of God. 2. That it means
something, and it means nothing else
but that 3. Whatever the meaning
may be, it must be of profound impor
tance. 4. Two classes of persons are
spoken of.
Now let the reader ask himself, “To
which class do I belong? If I belong
to the first class described, what are my
prospects for the eternal world? If I
belong to the second class, what are my
present hopes? Leaving out all con
sideration of the future life, which of
the two men spoken of is the happier
in this life? Which is the most useful?
Which is the most honorable? Which
is most likely to bequeath a valuable
inheritance to his children? Which
will be most gratefully, reverently and
affectionately remembered after he is
dead?”
We omit the sermon, but repeat the
text: “There is that maketh himself
rich, yet hath nothing; there is that
maketh himself poor, yet hath great
riches.”
Mr. George I. Seney of New York,
on his own motion and unsolicited has
made several donations amounting in
all to $50,000 to Emory College, Ox
ford, Georgia. Since then he has been
beset by an army of beggars whose per
sistent and shameless importunities
have extorted from him the following
note which we copy from The Wesleyan
Christian Advocate:
New York, March 18 1881.
My Dear Doctor Haygood : Can you help
me? Bach an avalanclif of letters," begging
for aid, ponrs in upon me that lam over
whelmed. It is simply impossible for me to
investigate one-tenth of the applications.
Good people from all over the South are im
portuning that I shall removedebts on chur
ches and parsonages, and that I shall relieve
individuals innumerable, etc. etc...referring
me to your Bishops, leading ministers, to
Judges, Senators, members of Congress, etc.
Now, I cannot even answer the letters,
much less send the money asked for. The
purpose of this letter is to beg that I may be
relieved from the charge of a lack of court
esy, in not answering the hundreds and
thousands of letters that reach me, and to
state that in the matter of local suffering
there is enough at my own doors, in these
two great cities, to exhaust all I can give in
that direction-
If you will publish this it may give needed
light, and relieve
Yours very Respectfully
Georoe I. Seney.
From the same paper we learn that
one of these beggars had the impud
ence to ask Mr. Seney, “to send his
daughter a gold watch!” And another,
still more brazen-faced and audacious,
begged for “a piano for his daughter!”
From another source we learn that
scores if not hundreds of letters whin
ing for help, are laid on Mr. Seney’s
table every day. We blush for human
nature. And we take this occasion to
remark that when a man is known to
be liberal he is persecuted with applic
ations for alms, and if he declines to
give, he is denounced as a hard hearted,
miserly man. Such is the tax that
one must pay on his own benevolence.
Speaking on this subject the N. Y.
Christian Advocate says:
Such as are refused attention grow angry,
and depart with an air of injured innocence;
those who are rejected after investigation
become vindictive and slanderous; and
nearly all who are helped once are certain
to return soon, and if ever the supplies be
stopped, are even more revengeful than
those who were peremptorily dismissed in
the outset. Often the liberal man, who
never supposed he had an enemy, finds that
he has many, and sometimes where he least
expected it. Nor is this all. He must sub
mit to the imputation of evil motives. The
devil’s suggestion, “Doth Job fear God for
naught?" is always applied by those who are
of his spirit to tho e who perform good acts
for which they have no disposition, and
springing from’motives which they cannot
comprehend, because they never possessed
them. The misetl r man who gives little or
nothing will shake his head knowingly, or
try to condemn with faint praise what he
could not heartily commend without a des
grec of self-condemnation which would lead
him to renounce his narrow and selfish
wa.v of living Those who have been refused
are the first to impute false motives; and the
envious, who think they ought to have had
what others receive, are filled with gall and
bitterness.
All this is annoying enough ; it is
exasperating. Still the man of God,
who happens also to be a man of means.,
will not allow the meanness and rude
ness of these impertinent creatures to
prevent him from doing his duty. He
will continue to give liberally as the
Lord has prospered him, selecting the
objects of his bounty according to his
own judgment: and we should not
blame him if he should dismiss his
tormentors with a rebuke.
On our third page to-day will be
found an admirable address on “The
harmony of the various departments
of missionary work” by our brother
James 11. Kilpatrick. We give one
impressive sentence as a sample of the
whole. “The religion that becomes in
tense at once becomes diffusive.” This
is really the whole discourse in a nut
shell, but the thought is expanded with
great clearness and force. We com
mend the address to the most careful
attention of our readers.
—The Sabbath school convention of
the Columbus Baptist Association will
be held in Hamilton on Friday before
the sth Sunday in May.
Rev. J. Hyatt Smith, who is pastor
of a so-called Baptist church in Brook
lyn, and also a member of Congress,
declares that he can discharge the du
ties of both offices at once. It is pos
sible that he may do both together as
well as he could do either by itself.
Now, if in addition to his present
engagements, he were captain of an
ocean steamer and colonel of a regi
ment in the Indian Territory and proof
reader for a daily paper, his measure
of duty would be full. Seriously we
think his church must be easily satis
fied, and the religious wants of his peo
ple must be very few, whatever their
needs may be.
Mr. Smith was formerly a Baptist,
and we suppose still claims to be one.
He began with open communion;
next he sprinkled people instead of
baptizing them; now he has developed
into a Universalist. We learn that
after the expression of his views on
this last point a vote was taken,
whether the church would adhere to
the views of the pastor, and nearly all
present voted in the affirmative! And
this pretends to be a Baptist church!
Drab Index : In your issue of the 2d inst.
are the the proceeding, of a Union meeting,
in which the following query occurs: “Does
regeneration take place before or after bap
tism?'' with the answer, “After baptism.’
Was the Uoio Meeting composed of Bap
tists, Campbellites or Catholics? Thev
were certainly not like our Baptists. I ex
pected to find in the columns of The Index
tne antidote promptly applied Such poison
should always be quickly followed by the
antidote. Respectfully,
Jno. T. Albritton.
Mount Olive, N. C.
The answer given was utterly sub
versive of the doctrines held by Bap
tists. We have always held, and will
forever hold that none are proper sub
jects of baptism except those who
have been regenerated by the power
of the Holy Ghost. This above all
others is the distinctive feature which
marks us as a peculiar people. When
we surrender this, we cease to be Bap
tists. The gross heresy which appear
ed in our columns escaped our notice,
and we thank our correspondent for
calling our attention to it.
Our brother Jackson F. Turpin died
at his home in Augusta, on Tuesday
the 22nd March, at the age of 72 years.
He was a native of Richmond, Va.,
but had resided in Augusta for many
years, and bad been a member of the
Greene Street Baptist church in that
city since 1336. As a church member
he was always punctual and faithful,
and was in his accustomed place at a
regular prayer meeting only two weeks
before he died. He was a man greatly
respected and beloved, and in his death
the church has lost one of its most
valuable members.
Notice to Baptist Jurors.—Many
of the readers of the Index arc liable
to be called on by law to serve their
country and their God. in the capacity
of jurors. In the discharge of our own
duty, we serve on such the following
notice, “He that justifieth the wicked
is abomination to the Lord” Prov. 17.
15. What shall we say of those jurors
who declare on oath that a criminal
not guilty when they know he is guil
ty? The curse of Scripture above re
corded appears to be for’’ them. “He
that justifieth the wicked is abomina
tion to the Lord.”
See here Bro. Central Baptist ! you
have mistaken an illustration for an
argument. Put on your logical specs
and you will do better next time.
TO THE FRIENDS OF THE SEM
INARY.
We are within forty thousand dol
lars of the two hundred thousand dol
lars which we had to raise by the Ist
of June next. This amount has to be
secured and paid in to the Financial
Board in cash by the Ist of June. To
save all risks we are trying to get it
all paid in by the Ist of May. Success
is certain if all our churches will now
make one earnest effort for us. I ask
a cash collection to be taken up in each
church on the second Sunday in April
or some other Sunday in that month,
the amount to be forwarded to me at
latest by the 20th of April, in time to
be incorporated in my report to the
Board. I have divided out the amount
needed among the different States as
follows:
Maryland 2,000
Virginia 4,000
North Carolina 2,000
South Carolina 3 000
Georgia 4,000
Alabama 3 000
Mississippi 3000
Tennessee 3 000
Texas /......‘.XoOO
Louisiana oo)
Florida 1"...... 400
Arkansas „ ...j 000
Missouri 0)0
Kentucky .'.iojiOO
Total $40,000
The division shows how easily the
sum can be raised with an earnest and
determind effort. There are some
churches in the Sc nth, as I know by
happy experience in the past, which can
even give one thousand dollars of the
amount allotted to their State. In more
than half of the States I mention, are
several churches which can give five
hundred dollars. I hope for such sums
as these from about ten to fifteen of
our largest and wealthiest churches.
But in all the States I have mentioned
except four, there are enough churches
that can each give one hundred dol
lars, and that will do it if a vigorous
appeal be made, to make up the quota
of the State. But I depend noton these
alone. *1 ask of each church to do
something. I wish each church, that
has in it a friend of the Seminary, to
place itself on the roll of those who
help this year, and especially in this
final effort of this year.
If we secure this two hundred thous
and dollars, the Seminary will have a
foundation which will make its future
existence sure. Not that we shall have
then all that we shall need. This is
not the half of the $500,000 which I
have always urged as necessary. But
with this, and the collections from the
bonds already given as they mature,
and from future donations, we shall
secure that sum and even more. Mean
time what we shall annually need in
addition for our current expenses, will
be easily procured.
I am encouraged to make this re
quest from the fa’ct that in 1874 an
appeal for $75,000 for annual support
was promptly responded to, and the
Seminary was thus saved. That ap
peal was made, not personally, but
through the public prints, and by let
ters. I ask now, not for what may keep
alive for five years, but for what will
assure the future. I ask it too not, as
then, in a time of financial depression,
but when money is generally plenty.
To each pastor I now come as
though I were speaking personally to
each, and beg him, if he feels any in
terest at all in our work, not to fail to
present this matter earnestly to his
church or churches, and to urge them
to make a liberal contribution.
Then let the money be forwarded at
once to me in check on any bank
(draft on New York, Baltimore, Phil
adelphia or Louisville preferred), or by
express or in money order, or in a re
gistered letter. Don’t send cash by
mail except in registered letter. The
cost of registry or money order or ex
press may be deducted from the amount
sent. Address
James P. Boyce,
810 Fourth avenue, Louisville, Ky.
GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS.
—The Baptist church at Decatur
gave Dr. J. H. DeVotie a unanimous
call to the pastoral charge of that
church.
—Rev. A. J. Battle entered on his
pastoral duties at Sardis Baptist church
in Barnesville last Sunday morning
and at night.
-The Eatonton Messenger: The ladies
of the Baptist church are at work try
ing to start contributions for the erec
tion of a new Baptist church. We wish
the ladies success.
—Rev. James H. Weaver, who has
been pastor of the Baptist church at
Barnesville for the last two years, has
resigned his charge and will likely loc
ate in Nashville, Tenn.
—The Baptist church at Oconee,
Jackson county, has invited the com
mittees who were appointed to examine
their action in regard to some exclud
ed members to meet with them on
Friday before the first Sunday in
April.
—Sandersville Herald: Rev. J. J.
Brantley, D.D., of Macon, met his ap
pointment at Bethlehem on Saturday
and Sunday last. We learn there was
quite a good congregation on Sunday,
and universal gratification was expres
sed at the able and deeply interesting
sermon of this excellent divine. He
may be expected at Bethlehem again
on the 3rd Sunday in April and on
Saturday before.
—Macon Telegraph and Messenger
26th: “A very encouraging religious
meeting has been in progress at the
Baptist church during the latter part
of this week at night, led by Dr. War
ren, assisted by Dr. Battle. There is a
good state of feeling. Large congrega
tions attended, composed mostly of the
younger members of society. The in
dications are that the meeting, which
will be continued next week, will be a
very good one.”
—Augusta News, 23rd : We are in
formed that the congregations of the
four Baptist churches of the city will
meet at the first church next Sunday
afternoon at 3.30 o’clock to take part in
union services. For first time in
several months, all the churches of this
denomination have pastors, Rev. Mr.
Perryclear, of the Kollock street church,
now supplying the missing link in the
chain, and it is thought proper to cel
ebrate this happy state of affairs by a
consolidated gathering in the old mo
ther church on Greene street. Addres
ses will be delivered by distinguished
speakers whose names will be given at
another time.
—Macon Telegraph and Messenger:
“The Senior class of Mercer University
made the following election of speakers
at the class tree exercises, to be held on
the college campus during the com
mencement of the University next
summer:
“Mr. W. W. Solomon, of Bullard’s,
Twiggs county, class orator; Mr. Jule
Rodgers, of Waynesboro, historian;
Mr.W’. C.Bunn, of Cedartown, prophet;
Mr. R. D. Evans, of Sandersville, med
al deliverer; Mr. Lawson Brown, of
Sandersville, secretary.
“The class tree exercises of the college
have always been extremely interest
ing, and will necessarily be more at
tractive than ever this year, owing to
the able and eloquent speakers chosen.
That brilliant orator, Mr. John Rodg
ers, was also selected to respond in be
half of the Senior class at the alumni
banquet, to occur at the coming com
mencement of the college.”